DCU SU elections candidates.

Winters · 07-04-2009 01:00AM

Reina Witty Gin wrote: »

The return of a full bar, complete with an allround good social scene is in my opinion, the utmost priority for the DCU SU president for next year. We can all see how dead the campus is this year. If it wasnt for the quite 'colourful' dramasoc and stylesoc people, the place would resemble some sort of drap 1970s U.S.S.R. university. I can see where your coming from regarding the role of the SU president but at the same time, you have to realise that if they fail in providing us with a good social scene, they've failed as a president.

You are basing this on the fact that the SU presidents single only role is that of an entertainer. I dont think you quite grasp the full role of the SU President.

The bar is quite an issue in DCU. When I started it was busy, every day. There was not a time you couldnt go into it inbetween a break in lecturs for a pint and see someone you didnt know. However this changed the years I was was in and around dcu. The bar itself did constantly try and combat it, opinions were usually always taken onboard but the dcu bar became a loss making business. DCU were not going to keep the bar open, while running at a loss and while also receiving a large increase in the amount of complains from local residents.

May be the students themselves were to blame? Year after year they did nothing to incrase the atmosphere and numbers in the bar but choosing to instead drink elseware or not at all during the day (what happened to that?) and then cause large increases in public disturbances outside. Any student that says the way they could have saved it was to pump money and make it into some tendy bar shows just how ignorant they are of the actual issue and just how fickle they are to drinking. A bar is what you make of it, with your friends and the people there, not the surroundings.

You [students] were not going to it enough to warrent it staying open, and your [students] antics around the area made it impossible for dcu to get its continued support from the locality (police, residents, emergency services) to keep the bar open to the extent you would have wished.

Reina Witty Gin wrote: »

It is college, where is the one place you would expect incoming first year students to make friends?

The same place it is done in nearly every other college and university in the country. Through the housemates you have, through the person you have to sit beside in the class room and most importantly through the clubs and socities you join and visit each week or so. If someone actually beleives the only place they will make friends is in a bar and nowhere else I predict a sad and meaningless life ahead of them.

Reina Witty Gin wrote: »

Of course the issues will be tackled, all that comes with the role. Getting a decent bar off the ground wouldnt require 40 hours a week. Even lecturers have office hours.

It would infact require a lot more. Planning, negociating prices, licencing issues (?), getting staff ... it would all clock up and not just on how long it would take but the sheer cost. Due to students attitutes in dcu in the recent years the idea of a full time bar, as it was when I first went to dcu, is nothing but a distant dream.

How many students go to the trouble fo even walking down the road to the other local pubs? Is 10 minutes that far to walk for a pint? These pubs have more than just a lick of paint on the old dcu bars, and yet even with the dcu bars closing they did not see a large increase in numbers as people expected.

Students in DCU love the idea of an oncampus bar, its just a pity that it was never used and they annoyed one too many neighbours.

Reina Witty Gin wrote: »

Not taking the mans side, but how do you know of all these incompetencies?

I think listening to any of the hustings or the dcufm speaches shows just how absolutly incompetent and unprepared he is for the role at hand. Infact I would nearly go so far as to say the person in question has no real intrerest in doing anything of real benefit for the student body as if they wanted to they would have done the research, known what they can work with and what they cannot work with and made promises based on this, much like the other two canditites.

If you want to make change, if you want to make promises there is no point going blind. You need to know what you can do, what you can work with. Thinking you can just go up and ask for a meeting with someone in dcu and expect things to get done is on a par with walking into a KKK meeting and asking them to just be a little bit more politically correct. Ever dealt with the finance office, the registry? Think about the fact that those are the two offices generally actually receiving money. Think what it must be like trying to actually *get* money from dcu?

public_enemy · 07-04-2009 02:13AM

After seeing the debate tonight, my opinion of Cillian has certainly improved a lot. He was a competent speaker with some decent ideas. Al Keegan is still the clear leader for me though and if there was a winner, it would be him.

Mortimer was a complete joke, the guy clearly has no idea what he's doing and every confused, rambling, nonsensical answer was greeted by a chorus of cheers from his travelling GAA posse. He and his minions all got up and left halfway through the debate, too.

yellowcurl · 07-04-2009 03:37AM

Ok, so i wasn't at the debate tonight but after reading other peoples comments on it i do have two small questions: Is conor mortimer actually taking the p*ss by running? He left the debate before it was over??? ---> just going by what the poster above said.

Garseys · 07-04-2009 10:32AM

yellowcurl wrote: »

Ok, so i wasn't at the debate tonight but after reading other peoples comments on it i do have two small questions: Is conor mortimer actually taking the p*ss by running? He left the debate before it was over??? ---> just going by what the poster above said.

Well he did give reasons for leaving early as he had to meet with someone(I've heard that it was his Sponsors).

I'd be very worried if Mort did get in, In the debate you could tell that he'd be a president that would be relying heavily on someone else to fill in while he's off kicking a ball somewhere.

echoing the others in the thread, I was really Impressed with Cillian in both the radio debate and the debate yesterday. He seems like someone who would take to the job very well and I would be very happy to see him as SU pres if he won.

The Radio debate chair was very pro-usi, as if he was sitting on USI at the moment. I think at one point he told Alan "he was wrong".:rolleyes:

Still not too sure about Education and Welfare, i'll probably make my mind up heading out to DCU today.

tnkrbell · 07-04-2009 11:25AM

Possibly the best photo I've seen from the Elections:

3418182100_a79fb3ec2f.jpg?v=0

Just after the debate from last night. 2 of the 3 candidates spoke very well and seemed to know what they want to do and how to do it if they got elected. As for the 3rd one well ....
The questions put to the candidates I thought could have been a bit harder and they could have been answered a bit better but I was happy enough with the answers given. I'm just sorry that Conor wasn't there when I asked my question regarding sports scholarships and whether they should be capped and if there is a need for other scholarships in the college

dramabob · 07-04-2009 12:40PM

I was chatting to a mate about the whole election thing and he asked me to post this for him/her - he/she doesn't have an account on boards, and can't be arsed setting up one.

Remember, this is my friends opinion/rant, not mine :P

Hmm. Well, seeing as I did my undergrad degree in DCU and am now doing my doctorate in DCU, I've been here a grand total of 6 years. During that 6 years, I spent 3 years on committee of one of the biggest societies on campus and 1 year on the SU exec. And I have remained involved, but have drawn some conclusions about the SU;

(1) There is general ignorance about the way things work in DCU. Martin Conroy always outranks the SU, and his projects (Trispace, Campus Res) have thusfar always won in any 'battle'. Even if concessions are made, they're forgotten as soon as the new batch of SU officers come in. If someone wants a chance at making lasting change, it is imperative that know the system well when they come into office and furthermore, make sure they're fully informed about what they can and can't do.

(2) Some officers make some spectacularly empty promises, made to usher a candidate into office. An SU officer has to be realistic about what they can and cannot do. I become more convinced each year that some candidates are either pathological liars or functionally brain dead reading some of their 'ideas'. On top of that, they have got to be sufficiently hard working (and sadly, it is hard work if you want to do a good job, from organising good events to making improvements on campus) to get the job done. No single SU is going to stop Fees or bring down the registration, but they may be able to reduce some costs in some areas.

(3) At the end of the day, the candidate with the clearest mandate and the work ethic to get something done should be the one elected. If the impression is they have no passion to get anything done and just want it as a CV booster / reason to stay on and get paid / a laugh, why the hell would you vote them? They actually have a say in some important matter. Oftentimes seeing as DCU is so small, it becomes little more than a popularity contest.

(4) SU officers should know where their input is just plain counter-productive; maybe this is based on an ignorance of academia, but at the end of the day, our primary goal is to obtain the dest degree / masters / Phd possible. I have seen SU officers (and the president of the university!) argue earnestly for the 'simplification' of science and engineering degrees to improve pass rates, seemingly totally oblivious to the fact that reducing the quality of a degree course will be reflected in the reduction in attractiveness of that degree.

I could go on with such observations but the more astute students will get it anyway, Based on this, the only reasonable candidate for SU president is Alan Keegan; he is realistic, hard-working and not dumb enough to shoot his own academic credits (or anyone elses') in the foot. I do hope he gets it, as I think he's smart enough to know the system and how to make changes where needs be, and I'll certainly vote for him. That said, I find student politics increasingly disdainful.

myk · 07-04-2009 12:42PM

dramabob wrote: »

I was chatting to a mate about the whole election thing and he asked me to post this for him/her - he/she doesn't have an account on boards, and can't be arsed setting up one.

Remember, this is my friends opinion/rant, not mine :P

that sounds like David Grimes

dramabob · 07-04-2009 12:45PM

myk wrote: »

that sounds like David Grimes

Myk, you make it sound like I only have 1 friend!

...I have at least two, y'know...

randomcountdown · 07-04-2009 12:48PM

walls of text so many walls of text

The best thing is yer man is going to win regardless of how many words you type cause people love to see you lot get pissy.

adamski8 · 07-04-2009 01:11PM

ok lads i think we've had enough talk about this bar situation for now.
There are some other issues that need to be discussed.
What will the new president do about this north korea situation?

riemann · 07-04-2009 01:19PM

randomcountdown wrote: »

walls of text so many walls of text

The best thing is yer man is going to win regardless of how many words you type cause people love to see you lot get pissy.

You my friend are a winner.

If you find everything here so boring why do you continue to read it?

gizmo · 07-04-2009 01:31PM

randomcountdown wrote: »

walls of text so many walls of text

The best thing is yer man is going to win regardless of how many words you type cause people love to see you lot get pissy.

riemann wrote: »

If you find everything here so boring why do you continue to read it?

Clearly because, judging by his previous posts, he has a problem reading large volumes of text and enjoys giving out about it, despite the fact that some people may find said posts informative or even vaguely interesting.

randomcountdown, I do find your posts rather amusing however they are completely unconstructive and, to be quite honest, nonsensical. People will not vote a certain candidate in just to see other people get pissy, that would only have a detrimental effect on their own time in DCU. That being said, you don't even go to this college so I'm guessing you're just in for a quick troll. Either way, change your attitute or stop posting in here, thanks.

eoin2089 · 07-04-2009 01:35PM

I know a lot from my class have voted for Alan....but im sure Conor willl will get a lot of votes from the GAA side and Cillian the rugby side...so whats the betting like i wonder

Alan 4/5
Conor 5/4
Cillian 2/1

maybe....Are votes directly proportional to lollies handed out??

i know who im voting for:

http://images.nextnewnetworks.com/9570.jpg

IS Ken Barlow running???

dizzywizlw · 07-04-2009 01:57PM

Two of them sent me an unsolicited e-mail, they can go to hell, plus the fact the Conor plays GAA and is from Cork makes me not want to vote for him, after all it IS a Dublin Uni

07-04-2009 01:57PM

dizzywizlw wrote: »

Two of them sent me an unsolicited e-mail, they can go to hell, plus the fact the Conor plays GAA and is from Cork makes me not want to vote for him, after all it IS a Dublin Uni

CORK?!?!?!

Green Hand Guy · 07-04-2009 02:39PM

Let's face it, electing Mortimer President would be the equivalent of making a Labrador head of NATO. It wouldn't have any idea what it's doing there, and would probably to a ridiculous amount of damage.

Also, I'm not fond of his cronies heckling people outside Spar with that megaphone. Or the fact that he spammed my classlist.

I used to think he was just a bad candidate, I've come to realise he's a wanker too.

07-04-2009 02:40PM

Green Hand Guy wrote: »

Let's face it, electing Mortimer President would be the equivalent of making a Labrador head of NATO. It wouldn't have any idea what it's doing there, and would probably to a ridiculous amount of damage.

Also, I'm not fond of his cronies heckling people outside Spar with that megaphone. Or the fact that he spammed my classlist.

I used to think he was just a bad candidate, I've come to realise he's a wanker too.

Don't forget the exit poll...

tnkrbell · 07-04-2009 05:26PM

dizzywizlw wrote: »

Two of them sent me an unsolicited e-mail, they can go to hell, plus the fact the Conor plays GAA and is from Cork makes me not want to vote for him, after all it IS a Dublin Uni

If you've been paying any attention to what he has been saying you would know he is in fact from Mayo

tnkrbell · 07-04-2009 05:34PM

Green Hand Guy wrote: »

Let's face it, electing Mortimer President would be the equivalent of making a Labrador head of NATO. It wouldn't have any idea what it's doing there, and would probably to a ridiculous amount of damage.

Also, I'm not fond of his cronies heckling people outside Spar with that megaphone. Or the fact that he spammed my classlist.

I used to think he was just a bad candidate, I've come to realise he's a wanker too.

From listening to him last night at the debate when the question was put to him and the other candidates regarding outside involvement and how it may impact on his job as SU pres he seems to be relying on other members of the exec if he gets elected to help him out while he kicks a ball!

riemann · 07-04-2009 05:38PM

tnkrbell wrote: »

If you've been paying any attention to what he has been saying you would know he is in fact from Mayo

Its good to know that this county of origin is featuring so heavily in his manifesto.

Im sold.

andrew163 · 07-04-2009 06:11PM

tnkrbell wrote: »

From listening to him last night at the debate when the question was put to him and the other candidates regarding outside involvement and how it may impact on his job as SU pres he seems to be relying on other members of the exec if he gets elected to help him out while he kicks a ball!

That question sort of summed up his entire reason for running. He's a fourth year, leaving DCU next year. Technically getting elected will make him a first year again (SU1). In direct contrast to the other two candidates, who both said that the students and SU will always come first over any clubs, societies or other involvements (more or less), he effectively said GAA comes first, but sure the SU has other people in it who'd be happy to do his job while he's off playing sure.

Then he leaves early, a few seconds after the rest of the GAA team leave. Leaving early for a "meeting with his professor" my ass. He not only has no clue what he's doing there, but anyone with a mind sharp enough to bang two rocks together to make fire would be quite justified in suspecting that he's already blatantly lied to the student population about that.

eoin2089 · 07-04-2009 06:23PM

Who cares where the SU president is from:
The most important thing is that he/(no she in this case) can do his job properly.

It is also about representing the college. I knew the GMIT president a few years ago and he said "by the time you get to know how the system works, your time is up".

However I think most students see the role as a waste of time and only lazy 4th years go for it, who want some extra cash and those who are afraid to join the workforce.

Is it is just a nice thing to put on your CV? Conor Mort, that lad can't even represent himself well never mind DCU. (Also I don't care about the fact it is a dublin uni..so a dub should be president bullshi*)

Best of luck to all running...You need a lot of balls to put yourself out there to try and get it.

Katniss everMean · 07-04-2009 08:54PM

andrew163 wrote: »

That question sort of summed up his entire reason for running. He's a fourth year, leaving DCU next year. Technically getting elected will make him a first year again (SU1). In direct contrast to the other two candidates, who both said that the students and SU will always come first over any clubs, societies or other involvements (more or less), he effectively said GAA comes first, but sure the SU has other people in it who'd be happy to do his job while he's off playing sure.

Then he leaves early, a few seconds after the rest of the GAA team leave. Leaving early for a "meeting with his professor" my ass. He not only has no clue what he's doing there, but anyone with a mind sharp enough to bang two rocks together to make fire would be quite justified in suspecting that he's already blatantly lied to the student population about that.

The debate could have been much harder as in the questions, it showed though that Conor has no clue, he didn't even seem to bother to swot up on what his job and the other positions jobs are. When asked about soc/clubs getting in the way of the job as president, his response was somewhat like "i will ensure we work like a team so when I am off training or during a match that things will be handled." Whereas Alans was if drama comes and asks for help, if im free that night ill help, else sorry.

At this stage its to obvous that he only wants this so he can keep playing (imo before someone shouts at me) and (again IMO) he already put footbal ahead when he went to a "meeting with his lecturer" he brought his ENTIRER team with him to it to! He must of needed alot of support, if they where not going to a match his team should have stayed to show they give a crap about the elections and not only about him.

dizzyniki · 07-04-2009 08:54PM

dizzywizlw wrote: »

Two of them sent me an unsolicited e-mail, they can go to hell, plus the fact the Conor plays GAA and is from Cork makes me not want to vote for him, after all it IS a Dublin Uni

Typical Dub....thinkin theres nowhere else outside the smoke....mort isnt from Cork you basoon!!!

oh look someone got there before I did!!!

Katniss everMean · 07-04-2009 10:52PM

There are more views on this thread then votes. Get out and vote people! so far we have 16% of the college population only after one day, its up compared to previous years (one more hundred to be higher then gizmo and als)

tnkrbell · 07-04-2009 11:02PM

any chance we could get the exact number of people who voted and also what time was quorum reached??

Katniss everMean · 07-04-2009 11:11PM

tnkrbell wrote: »

any chance we could get the exact number of people who voted and also what time was quorum reached??

1300 votes = 16%

quorum is 10%

glenn3ie · 08-04-2009 01:16AM

Have to agree with the comment about the heckling outside Spar. Mortimer is the ONLY candidate running for ANY position who hasn't come forward and introduced thesmelves to me. Megaphone or no megaphone he didn't get my vote.

Fuhrer · 08-04-2009 01:21AM

A couple of us were walking by when his posse of morons started sounding their idiot horn.

We promptly went and voted for everyone but him.

W106 · 08-04-2009 10:04AM

Wow,

I've spent the last while reading this thread, and have to admit I'm very worried.

Very worried.

Just to get this out of the way first (Hi Gizmo), this is not a troll and not a flame either. This is simply my humble opinion, based on evidence that I have seen around campus this week, the incidents already noted in this thread and the assorted hustings/debates etc during the course of the election.

I am not here to endorse any particular candidate - leave that to their campaign teams. I'm here to make an attempt to be the voice of reason, at a time when there are students out there who are under the delusion that Conor Mortimer will make a good Students' Union President.

This is not a personal attack on Mr. Mortimer, but rather an examination of his behaviour/attitude, his campaign tactics, his knowledge of the position that he is running for, his experience and his motives.

I will also do my best not to invoke Godwin's Law, but it might be difficult...

1): Behaviour/Attitude

Mr. Mortimer left the recent debate early (along with his large group of supporters), ostensibly to meet his "Professor". J'Accuse, Mr. Mortimer. You find me a DCU Academic on campus after 6pm, and I'll wager he/she has been chained to their desk as a prank.

Upon being questioned as to whether external activities would have an effect on his presidential duties should he be elected, Mr. Mortimer replied that his team would fill in if he had to play a game, or words to that effect.

Wrong answer.

A student running for SU President should put that position first amongst their priorities. It is a position that demands the highest level of dedication and hard work - not to be fobbed off in the name of sporting responsibilities (or any other external concerns).

2): Campaign Tactics

Mr. Mortimer and his team have been noticed outside the campus Spar in the last day or so, using megaphones to promote their campaign. Noise pollution nothwithstanding, it is more the content of their sloganeering that has caused offence and concern amongst the student body. At one point, Mr. Mortimer's team announced that candidate Andrew Harford's campaign lollipops contained anthrax. At another point, a chant of "Who are ya? Who are ya?" was directed at another election candidate. These tactics of false accusations, intimidation and abusive behaviour have already resulted in Mr. Mortimer's team having an official complaint lodged against them with the Electoral Committee.

3): Knowledge of the Position & Experience

Mr. Mortimer has claimed never to have been "part of the SU" - this can be read in two ways: Literally, in that he claims he has never been a member of the Students' Union OR figuratively, in that he claims that he has never been involved in the SU or any of its actvities. Either way, this is cause for concern.

Every student in DCU is automatically a member of the SU, for Mr. Mortimer to claim otherwise reflects a high level of ignorance on his part.

For Mr. Mortimer to claim that he has never been involved in the SU or its activities, but now wants to run for the position of President, is worrying to say the least. Some would argue that "fresh blood" would be good for the position, but I beg to differ. The SU President has but a year to make a difference, and the difference between "fresh blood" and a president with previous knowledge and experience is that the latter won't have to waste precious time at the start of their tenure attempting to acclimatise to the position and its myriad of duties and responsibilities.

Example of Inexperience: when asked about canteen prices, Mr. Mortimer's reply was that he would meet with the Canteen Manager and request that the staff "put a little more" on the plates, reasoning that students were already paying enough for the food, why not make the portions a little bigger?

Mr. Mortimer has no concept of the following when it comes to the catering industry in general, and Trispace in particular:

- portion control
- product yield
- the utter stinginess of Trispace.

Example of stinginess of Trispace in the past:

During the ill-fated "Rip-Off DCU" campaign of 2006/07, a major sticking point was the 37c price of a sachet of mayonnaise in the canteen. After much hullbaloo, the price was reduced to 20c, a seeming victory.

In fact, what Trispace did was change the brand of mayonnaise from Hellmans (which cost 12c, with the 37c price representing a 308% markup) to Blenders (which cost 6c, with the 20c price representing a 333% markup). Trispace thus made more money on the mayonnaise than before.

For Mr. Mortimer to reason that a quick meeting with the canteen manager will result in increased portion sizes displays a disappointing level of naivety in the way that Trispace operates. DCU will never subsidise the canteen; the official line is that the canteen is run as a business to make a profit, unlike many canteens in other HEIs across Ireland, whose purpose is to provide affordable food for cash-strapped students.

4): Mr. Mortimer's Motives

Here's where the rumour mill really kicks in. Why is a candidate, who openly admits to having nothing to do with the SU or any other students activities (apart from the Men's GAA Football team) in his 4 years at DCU, and has displayed a shocking level of ignorance of procedures, duties and organisational responsibilities of the position, suddenly running for SU President?

The popular theory is that Mr. Mortimer wishes to remain in DCU for one more year, thus retaining eligibility to play football for another season. This remains to be seen.

In casual conversation, from sources that shall remain nameless, Mr. Mortimer has been overheard to remark that his motives include "doing it for a laugh" and "so that *insert candidate's name here* doesn't win."

Bravo, Mr. Mortimer.

I applaud your sterling efforts and your obvious dedication to the welfare and concerns of the student population of DCU.

In conclusion, I hereby urge the students of DCU: today is the final day of voting at the polls and remember this:

A vote for any other candidate is a vote not given to Conor Mortimer.

Thank you.

DCU SU elections candidates.

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