What do you want from next years SU?

Dakota Salmon Second wrote: »

So because one person failed it's impossible?

You're shifting the goal posts. I cited the example that she had last year, and yes it was impossible, the library staff insisted it wasn't happening ffs. Yet she still campaigned on it.

I still think there is more pressing matters than the library but i'm interested why so many people want it.
At closing time their are so few people their it doesn't seem to make much sense to keep a whole building running all night. Think electricity costs too, it would double them.
What do people need at the library at night they can't get elsewhere?
Would a quiet study room somewhere fulfill the needs?

Noodleworm wrote: »

I still think there is more pressing matters than the library but i'm interested why so many people want it.
At closing time their are so few people their it doesn't seem to make much sense to keep a whole building running all night. Think electricity costs too, it would double them.
What do people need at the library at night they can't get elsewhere?
Would a quiet study room somewhere fulfill the needs?

I was citing it as an example of what I don't want from a candidate. Promising something and not getting it done.

The fact that it's the library is trivial

i would want free student parking in the multi story,or more space for students to park like the overflow being open all the time

the canteen sorted out the prices are a joke they even charge for hot water !

some facilities in the canteen to heat your own lunch eg microwave or something

and a quite study room besides in the library which is too far away from everything when you finish a class early and want to do a bit of reading for 20-30 mins there is no point walking down the library again you walk down and back it does hardly be worth going

alot of these things are achievable and would benefit us all !

We'll Canteen is expensive and that needs to be looked at for sure.

I think a few things will improve the college...

#1 Library opening earlier

• I don't think it needs to open later because ten o clock is late enough. The majority of people who attend dcu would either go home or have to leave because of bus times and public travel times. The only students who could avail of it are students on campus.
• And I might be wrong but one of the main purposes of a Library is the ability it gives to rent books and read at home.
• If you have an earlier start students might come in earlier to study ahead of classes. When you think about it the average secondary school opens their doors between 7-7:30. The restaurant, gym and library dont open till 8:30.

#2 Cheaper Food

• I think there's a lot of slating of the SU on this thread but I think we've got to remember that any political job the majority of the work is never seen. So if something in the end doesn't go ahead that doesn't mean that meetings and discussions and the idea about it wasn't pushed at a university level.
• The Spar and Nubar might have expensive food but 10% of their profits go back into Union funds. There is always a push to have lower prices but I think people need to address what are their needs rather than their wants actually are, i.e. Do they want cheaper food? Do they want a free area/canteen to sit and eat their own food? ; Do they want outside companies to come in and sell food? or Do they want a facility set up for the union to subsidize traveling outside to get food off campus? If people have a problem with were their SU money is going its a matter of getting involved in the Union because its the Class Reps that approve the Budget and where the money goes towards.
• The SU have recently achieved being able to set up microwaves, kettles and toasters in the Mezz. This might be hard to view as an achievement but people have got to remember the insurance costs, the running costs, the administrative costs (Yes, with most of these things they're needs to be supervision. ) .
• The mention of Trinity and other colleges having easy access to shops and fast food outlets. Well hopefully with the introduction of the metro north in maybe 5 years students will be able to take a trip into town that will only take 10 minutes or so.

#3 Better Rag Ball/Events

• Like all things in life that involve business the better a thing is the more it costs. If people have a problem with the quality of the events in dcu then they've either got to accept that in a bid to not spend a lot of student money on events that the quality will be lower or you can mandate your class rep to spend more money on a better event.
• It also takes more involvement and consultation of students. This year the Rubberbandits were very popular in all colleges and so all colleges signed them for their Rag Ball. But if students demand or want an act they've got to show up...I don't think 500 people showed up to the Bandits. This is where a Union will make loses and where students miss out because of apathy.

#4 Campus Residency

• I do think the costs are way too high to live on campus and feel the full benefits of the University. €4000 for essentially 8 months in a dorm room is ridiculous. I honestly don't know what can be done about this at the moment with so many areas to look into, i.e Who pays for the upkeep? Was student money invested? Does any SU representative sit on any committee relevant? But the issue needs to be looked at!

#5 Communication & Interaction

• Ive found that one of the main problems in DCU is the 80% student apathy rate and the fact that students don't get involved enough in their Students Union. Essentially 20% of students control all the power of the Union and I don't see this as healthy. It is mainly those that get involved in SU politics and Clubs & Societies that are those 20%. Its true that if you don't show up you wont be heard...
• The ability of the an SU to communicate is vital to student engagement. We need a more active system that engages students. Perhaps every semester two weeks be dedicated to getting students involved on SU issues alone and informing them on the power they hold to control their Union.