Wednesday, April 3, 2019
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CRC’s decision to rerun BDS and drug referenda to be appealed Brendan Fernando Kelly Palenque Deputy News Editor @BrendanFKP
DCU’S Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) society are appealing the decision to not accept the results of the referenda held during the Students’ Union (SU) election. On March 20th, the Class Representative Council (CRC) voted against accepting the results of the referenda. As a result, it was decided that the referenda would be ran before the end of the semester. SJP delivered a motion contesting the CRC’s decision at an emergency CRC held on March 26th. The motion said the CRC’s vote was unconstitutional based “on the grounds that the BDS [Boycott, Divestment and Sanction] referendum achieved all constitutional requirements.” According to the chairperson of DCU’s Students for Sustainable Drug Policy (SSDP) society Declan Moore, SSDP was told that it was a possibility it could be brought to the CRC – not a guarantee. Moore said: “We wished SSDP had been informed of the decision to bring the matter before CRC because it would have allowed us to partake in the discussion in some way and help us prepare for the next steps in this campaign.” SJP similarly faced issues with miscommunication, particularly with Democracy & Development Officer Podge Sheehan. Stephanie O’Toole, chairperson of SJP said that Sheehan, in general, has been co-operative and operated an “open-door policy”. She said: “He is genuinely very excited that students were engaged in the democratic process in DCU.” Issues only arose for SJP after the referenda results were not announced. O’Toole said that the SJP campaign team were only made aware the referenda would be voted on in the CRC after receiving a screenshot of the motion by a class representative. “We were not told by Podge or the class reps… I mention that because I think there was an onus on the class
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reps,” she said. While a class representative did tell SJP about the CRC motion, the class representative in question was Cormac Ó’Floinn. Ó’Floinn is an Ordinary Member on the SJP committee. O’Toole had meetings with both Sheehan and SU President Vito Moloney Burke on March 27th, but can still say “nothing concrete” about the referenda. Moore said that SSDP has been “fairly underwhelmed” by Sheehan’s performance on the issue overall. He said: “We were making attempts to get a referendum since early semester one but it would appear Podge was never available to meet with us in all that time nor able to respond to any mails.” Sheehan told The College View that both societies were informed that the issue would be brought to the CRC. He added that: “a formal notification was not issued which appears that this may have contributed miscommunication.” Moore attributed the lack of communication to “pure complacency” to engage with SSDP. “I think us not being contacted about the decision is essentially just laziness,” he said. He added that he supports SJP in their effort to contest the CRC’s decision to not accept the referenda results. SJP tried to reverse the decision at the last emergency CRC, but there were not enough class representatives present for a vote to be considered valid. The society plans on holding another emergency CRC as soon as possible to try and hold the vote. If they are unable to hold the vote or if the CRC does not accept their appeal, both referenda will have to be rerun. They would take place during week 11, along with another new referendum on introducing smoke-free zones on campus. Sheehan said that having the referenda so late in the semester could present challenges around scheduling, particularly as students focus shifts toward completing course work. He added that: “it certainly can be done and we shouldn’t let scheduling issues get in the way of democracy.
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Ireland’s success and struggles in the Special Olympics Page 20
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They sang to a sold-out crowd of approximately 1,300 people.
Credit: Aoife O’Brien
New gender identity policy excludes non-binary students Nonetheless, O’Reilly said there as possible and to work within the exBrian Mahon Contributor @thecollegeview
DCU’S new gender identity policy has failed to take into account non-binary students. DCU LGBTA Society Chairperson Dean O’Reilly told The College View that his “greatest disappointment (if that’s the word) with the policy is that non-binary students have been left behind yet again. As the policy puts forth procedures in line with the Gender Recognition Act (2015), of which does not allow individuals to self declare gender outside of the binary, the same stands for DCU students.” O’Reilly said it was a “real shame” that non-binary students essentially have to “wait their turn” for laws to catch-up to the reality of the individual experience, adding that the five-year time review for the policy was too long. Author of the report and Director of Student Support and Development Claire Bohan said she hadn’t got that feedback from the society but added that they “now need to see the policy being used and come to life and we can learn as we go and work with student groups who are happy to help with that development”. The policy said it is due to be reviewed at five year intervals.
were some “fantastic elements” to the policy. “Under the Student GI policy, harassment or bullying or discrimination of any member of the university is not tolerated on the premise of gender identity or expression,” said O’Reilly. “As someone who is rather non-conforming in their own gender identity, I’m comforted that this safeguard exists.” Rubberstamped last week, the policy on gender recognition states: “Gender identity and expression is a positive, core part, of being human and experiencing wellbeing and fulfilment.” The policy document, which will inform how DCU interacts and engages with students on this issue, states that the university supports an inclusive environment of dignity and respect, “whereby anyone can develop to their full potential free of discrimination”. Additionally, the policy commits DCU to provide “reasonable accommodation” to any community member that is undergoing social or medical transition while also removing “unnecessary gender distinction” within the university. In return, DCU is seeking from those students who may be undergoing social or medical transition to inform the university of any support needed as soon
isting deferral or postponement system of examination and assessments. The policy also states that DCU is working toward a more inclusive sports arrangements and asks that any students that faces difficulty accessing physical or team sports to contact the university about the matter. The document lays out how DCU will work with a student to help them transition, should the need arise and sets out a number of steps the university will take to ensure the student is safe and comfortable. O’Reilly added that he would have seen it as a “personal failure” if the policy had not been enacted during his time as auditor. He also said an “imperfect policy” was better than no policy at all but “after all this time it is finally available to the students that need it.” DCU will not be putting new funds to ensure this policy is implemented, instead, reallocating existing funds to the policy. “We will re-direct existing funds if required for training. Many members of SS&D staff have had training from TENI and found it excellent. As we move along, we’ll decide who is required,” said Bohan.
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Let’s talk about sex baby
Laethanta saoire mar mhac léinn
And that’s what you missed on Glee
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