"Maynooth Students' Union Snubs Hanafin Visit"

Alt_Grrr · 08-09-2010 7:07pm #1

It seems the planned presence of Mary Hanafin on campus has raised some eyebrows in the SU.

So much so that they intend to boycott the proceedings. (Which is also what happened when they opened the engineering and bio-sciences building).
SU Press Release can be found Here

But the real question is, what do you think?

banquo · 08-09-2010 7:08pm

What do think indeed...

(Sorry Karl, couldn't resist...)

J.D.R · 08-09-2010 8:35pm

I think the SU is entirely justified to boycott the visit. Fair deuce to the college for further expansion, but why does a minister need to come down when we are only a few months away from unveiling the 2011 budget?

Would her time not be better served finding out how to improve educational standards in teaching, decrease the cost of education, or finding out how to make eduction more accessible to the population, instead of coming down to the college for a cup of tea and an opening ceremony?

Kiwi_knock · 08-09-2010 9:07pm

Agree with the move from the SU, it is the right move to make on behalf of the students of this college even if it makes you unpopular with the University authorities. A worthy stance to take and I applaud the SU for taking this difficult choice for the benefit of the student body.

Seren_ · 08-09-2010 9:28pm

J.D.R wrote: »

I think the SU is entirely justified to boycott the visit. Fair deuce to the college for further expansion, but why does the minister of Education need to come down when we are only a few months away from unveiling the 2011 budget?

I know I'm being pedantic, but she's actually Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Sport.

Anyway, I think it's good that the SU is standing up for what they believe in and not pandering to ministers, makes a change from some previous incarnations.

J.D.R · 08-09-2010 9:31pm

Your Text Here wrote: »

I know I'm being pedantic, but she's actually Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Sport.

Anyway, I think it's good that the SU is standing up for what they believe in and not pandering to ministers, makes a change from some previous incarnations.

Oh god your right:o. I keep getting hanifan and coughlin mixed up.

chillian17 · 08-09-2010 10:06pm

"Maynooth Students’ Union Snubs Hanafin Visit"

I f*cking love this college.

Kiwi_knock · 08-09-2010 10:14pm

J.D.R wrote: »

Oh god your right:o. I keep getting hanifan and coughlin mixed up.

To be fair Hanafin is a better politician than Coughlan and her being an alumnus I can understand why she was invited to this ceremony. But the SU rightly took the right step in not being affiliated with anything that is associated with FF.

Ostrom · 08-09-2010 11:02pm

Should amend for the sight of last years union representatives enjoying tea in their sunday best with Batt O' Keeffe

Ian Beale · 08-09-2010 11:55pm

Their thinking of raising the charges to €2500? :mad: ffs it's painful enough paying the €1500. Unless it's all a ploy to make them look good by turning around in a months time and saying they won't be increasing the charge.

If there looking to get a few million quickly I have a suggestion for them, cut all of the politicians salaries by a minimum of 50% and scrap all of their expenses. Sorry for the slight off topic rant but quite frankly I'm sick of the lot of them swanning around in expensive cars at our expense while they've put the country in debt for god knows how many years for us to pay off.

smiles302 · 09-09-2010 1:11pm

There's going to be a protest now?

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=100200956709558

hypersquirrel · 09-09-2010 4:03pm

Ian Beale wrote: »

Their thinking of raising the charges to €2500? :mad: ffs it's painful enough paying the €1500. Unless it's all a ploy to make them look good by turning around in a months time and saying they won't be increasing the charge.

If there looking to get a few million quickly I have a suggestion for them, cut all of the politicians salaries by a minimum of 50% and scrap all of their expenses. Sorry for the slight off topic rant but quite frankly I'm sick of the lot of them swanning around in expensive cars at our expense while they've put the country in debt for god knows how many years for us to pay off.

2500 is a pittance compared to other countries. Honestly I don't see that we have anything to complain about here.

Anyway I can't say I'm bothered by Hanafin visiting but it is good to see the SU getting off the fence.

titi · 09-09-2010 11:49pm

hypersquirrel wrote: »

2500 is a pittance compared to other countries. Honestly I don't see that we have anything to complain about here.

Anyway I can't say I'm bothered by Hanafin visiting but it is good to see the SU getting off the fence.

1500 is already a lot!!! commonnnnn in france we pay something like 300 euros a year (undergraduate level)!!! this year i paid 4.57 euros!! yayyy

Sardonicat · 09-09-2010 11:58pm

Great! I did four years in Maynooth and finally they've got a decent SU! Well done.

J.D.R · 10-09-2010 12:49am

hypersquirrel wrote: »

2500 is a pittance compared to other countries. Honestly I don't see that we have anything to complain about here.

Anyway I can't say I'm bothered by Hanafin visiting but it is good to see the SU getting off the fence.

I don't mean to get personal, but just because you may think 2500 is a pittance definitely does not mean others do. I can personally say if it wasn't for the grant scheme I would not have any chance of being able to afford college, and that's at the current €1500 level.

If it was raised to a further €2500 it would put too much strain on the committee and would therefore seriously restrict the amount of aid they could issue those who need it to gain a third level education.

TouchingVirus · 10-09-2010 1:01am

Who would you prefer open the building, while we're discussing it?

I'll be there, but only as a matter of formality because I work there. I'm completely against the reintroduction of fees and the increase in Student Services charges. I fully applaud the union's stance on this.

J.D.R · 10-09-2010 1:34am

TouchingVirus wrote: »

Who would you prefer open the building, while we're discussing it?

I'll be there, but only as a matter of formality because I work there. I'm completely against the reintroduction of fees and the increase in Student Services charges. I fully applaud the union's stance on this.

I don't think any of the ministers should be there. Not in this day and age. This seems to be the kind of thing the Mayor would do, but for any member of Daíl Éireann to come down to open a building short while away from announcing one of the most crucial budgets of the last 10 years is beyond a joke. If they have the time to take a day out to do ceremonies like this, I say they are an unnecessary expenditure to the taxpayer and should be sacked.

This is the kind of thing we have mayors for, to deal with local issues. I know Maynooth is an NUI, but that does not mean we need the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport to open a new building, alumnus or not.

irish_goat · 10-09-2010 1:43am

J.D.R wrote: »

I don't mean to get personal, but just because you may think 2500 is a pittance definitely does not mean others do. I can personally say if it wasn't for the grant scheme I would not have any chance of being able to afford college, and that's at the current €1500 level.

If it was raised to a further €2500 it would put too much strain on the committee and would therefore seriously restrict the amount of aid they could issue those who need it to gain a third level education.

How do you think people who don't get grants pay for college...?

mickstupp · 10-09-2010 9:17am

TouchingVirus wrote: »

Who would you prefer open the building, while we're discussing it?

Personally, I'd prefer if the Student's Union opened the building.

To hell with politicians.

Kiwi_knock · 10-09-2010 10:00am

If they are looking at famous alumni to open the building they may as well have opted for Craig Doyle.

J.D.R · 10-09-2010 1:42pm

irish_goat wrote: »

How do you think people who don't get grants pay for college...?

I'm sorry, what do you mean?

irish_goat · 10-09-2010 2:00pm

J.D.R wrote: »

I'm sorry, what do you mean?

You're saying the grant is essential for you (and others) to go to college but I'm wondering if you realise that there's plenty of people who don't get the grant and manage to make it through college.

J.D.R · 10-09-2010 2:05pm

irish_goat wrote: »

You're saying the grant is essential for you (and others) to go to college but I'm wondering if you realise that there's plenty of people who don't get the grant and manage to make it through college.

I fully realise that, but like I said, I was speaking from personal experience. I was saying that without the grant I, myself, would not be able to get to college. I was not saying that everyone who goes to college is receiving a grant

irish_goat · 10-09-2010 2:16pm

It's high time there was a state backed low interest student loan provision introduced in Ireland. The current system whereby your parents income decides if you get funding for college (as if a family earning over 50k is able to afford to spare 6k (per child) to send them to college is a joke. There's also no reason why graduates can't be expected to pay back their maintenance allowance if they start earning a decent wage.

I'm not meaning to jump at you JDR but i'm just a bit pissed off by the fact that I needed to work 6-7 nights a week this summer to be able to afford to go to college this year. Luckily I had a job but if I didn't I'd not be going anywhere and if I don't land a job in Maynooth I'll probably be skint by Christmas. So I get a bit pissed off when I hear grant holders moaning about losing 5% of the grant...

J.D.R · 10-09-2010 5:07pm

irish_goat wrote: »

It's high time there was a state backed low interest student loan provision introduced in Ireland. The current system whereby your parents income decides if you get funding for college (as if a family earning over 50k is able to afford to spare 6k (per child) to send them to college is a joke. There's also no reason why graduates can't be expected to pay back their maintenance allowance if they start earning a decent wage.

I'm not meaning to jump at you JDR but i'm just a bit pissed off by the fact that I needed to work 6-7 nights a week this summer to be able to afford to go to college this year. Luckily I had a job but if I didn't I'd not be going anywhere and if I don't land a job in Maynooth I'll probably be skint by Christmas. So I get a bit pissed off when I hear grant holders moaning about losing 5% of the grant...

I fully understand where your coming from. But, just so you know, it's not like I sat back this summer knowing I would have a grant next year. I sent out 57 CV's (I counted) and went to 7 interviews this summer, and got about 2 weeks work with odd days here and there. It is very hard findgin emploiyment nowadays at 17 with 2 years experience, when your fighting against 35 year old college graduates with 15 years experience. I would have jumped at the chance to work for my money this summer.

And, I would have no problem paying back every cent of my grant when I graduate. I just also get a bit peeved off when people feel that grant holders don't deserve their qualifications, as if they didn't work for it or something.

hypersquirrel · 10-09-2010 5:40pm

J.D.R wrote: »

I don't mean to get personal, but just because you may think 2500 is a pittance definitely does not mean others do. I can personally say if it wasn't for the grant scheme I would not have any chance of being able to afford college, and that's at the current €1500 level.

If it was raised to a further €2500 it would put too much strain on the committee and would therefore seriously restrict the amount of aid they could issue those who need it to gain a third level education.

I didn't say I think €2500 is a pittance. I said it is a pittance compared to other countries. I'm actually currently €6000 in debt having taken out a loan to do masters. I have never been eligible for any grant money or assistance of any sort. I worked 2 part time jobs and an another temporary job at Christmas in order to pay for it. I'm now coming back to do my PhD so that's going to mean another loan. Even when I finish my PhD my debt is going to be less then my cousin in England after his undergraduate.

J.D.R · 10-09-2010 5:55pm

hypersquirrel wrote: »

I didn't say I think €2500 is a pittance. I said it is a pittance compared to other countries.

But, you can't just look at the cost compared to other countries. You have to take in many other factors, like government policy, tax levels, value of the qualification, cost of living etc, and in Ireland, I can safely say that a further increase to 2500 for fees alone would drastically cut into Irelands reputation of having a highly educated workforce

hypersquirrel · 10-09-2010 6:19pm

J.D.R wrote: »

But, you can't just look at the cost compared to other countries. You have to take in many other factors, like government policy, tax levels, value of the qualification, cost of living etc, and in Ireland, I can safely say that a further increase to 2500 for fees alone would drastically cut into Irelands reputation of having a highly educated workforce

It could also be argued that if we introduced proper fees the money could be used to improve the facilities and quality of the education we receive..

smiles302 · 10-09-2010 6:25pm

Yeah I sometimes think full fees would be better for all involved, once there were proper student loans easily available. Proper students loans as in you don't start paying interest until you have finished your degree.

But I don't know where the money goes or how much control the government has over spending. So I probably shouldn't comment haha.

CFC1905_NK · 10-09-2010 9:58pm

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Agree with the move from the SU, it is the right move to make on behalf of the students of this college even if it makes you unpopular with the University authorities. A worthy stance to take and I applaud the SU for taking this difficult choice for the benefit of the student body.

I second this, great that the SU is showing its priority towards student's welfare instead of conforming to the powers that be. Kudos to Aengus and co.

funky penguin · 11-09-2010 4:04pm

Congrats SU, long may it continue.

In similar news, I cannot wait for the postgrad/international mentor reception at Iontas on Friday, break the place in.

"Maynooth Students' Union Snubs Hanafin Visit"

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