The Gown (Election Edition): 3rd March 2015

3rd March 2015

Northern Ireland’s Only Independent Student Newspaper, Established 1955

SU Election Edition 15 CANDIDATES RUNNING BUT TWO POSITONS UNCONTESTED

Conversation with Dominic Doherty, Deputy Director of QUBSU Pete Hodson News Editor @PeteHodson

Raymond Dillon

Caoímhe Mac Neill

Seán Searle

Fifteen candidates are now standing for election in the SU Leader Elections 2015, after current VP Welfare Patrick Sally withdrew from the race late last week. Sally had intended on running for the position of VP Community.

In a statement to The Gown, he commented on his reasons for withdrawal. “I decided to stand for the role of Student Officer Community as I am passionate about improving life for all students at Queen’s.

“Over the past number of days, I have taken some time to reflect on the year ahead and I have come to the conclusion that I would like to direct my focus on developing a career outside the student movement.

I wish all the candidates the best of luck in the election and I am delighted that there are so many people strongly committed to making our Students’ Union stronger for all students.”

2015 sees a significant im-

provement in terms of the number of candidates running. Raymond Dillon, Caoímhe Mac Neill and Seán Searle are running for President. Mac Neill has been VP Equality & Diversity for two years, Searle is captain of the Hurling club and Dillon is a Computer Science student, who founded the Computer Society.

In 2014 the only position contested was that of President with Ciarán Gallagher, Katie Matthews and Martin Lilly running. The remaining six positions were uncontested with all from the ‘Breakin’ Thru’ ticket narrowly beating RON (Reopen Nominations).

Seén Fearon, most known on campus for leading Sinn Féin activism and Caitríona Keenan, captain of QUB Knights are running for VP Campaigns and Communications.

The position of VP Community is contested by RAG chairman Connor Malone, 100 Help the Homeless co-founder Paul Loughran and Queen’s Radio’s Tori Watson.

VP Equality and Diversity also has strong interest. Mature postgrad and student mum Nicole Quinn, LGBTQ activist Dervla McGaughey and another candidate with a history of Sinn Féin activism, Oísin Hasson, are running.

Current VP Community Chloe Patterson hopes to switch portfolio to VP Welfare and is contested by geography student Ellen Haveron.

VP Clubs and Societies Niall McKenna and VP Education Hannah Niblock run for the second year in a row, uncontested.

The seven party ticket system does not present itself this year but looser tickets are present. Mac Neill, Hasson, Loughran and Fearon and Keenan, McKenna and Searle have banded together. Niblock and Patterson have also united under the ‘We Deliver’ banner.

Polls open 7am today on QOL and will close on Thursday 4th March at 5pm.

As this year’s elections kicked off, The Gown spoke to Dominic Doherty, QUBSU veteran and returning officer for student elections since the late 1990s. Mr Doherty attended QUB during the 1980s, being elected as a student councillor, VP Clubs and Societies, and in 1989-90 SU President, before assuming a permanent administrative role at the Union.

Mr Doherty ensures that the elections pan out smoothly and in accordance with the SU constitution.

Along with voluntary assistance of Caspar Love of QUB Information Services – “a true friend of the Students’ Union”, Mr Doherty plays a crucial behind the scenes role in the election process.

The software developed for the online elections, which superseded paper votes and ballot box counting several years ago, prompted a significant rise in voter turnout from around 1800 in the Presidential elections to the current figure hovering around the 4000 mark.

Mr Doherty did, however, express his disappointment that despite the leap in electoral participation several years ago, having roughly 80% of students abstaining “is obviously a matter of concern”.

Discussing last year’s student officer elections, Mr Doherty reflected on the fact that six (out of seven) VP posts went uncontested last year, despite a robust marketing strategy organised by the SU aimed at generating candidature.

Mr Doherty remarked “for union democracy, last year’s situation wasn’t healthy” (Continued on page 4)

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THE GOWN The Gown Team: 2014/15 Editor: Kylie Noble editor@thegown.net News editors: Liam Cassidy Pete Hodson Niamh Mc Govern gownnews@outlook.com Features editors: Amy Slack Niall Coleman gownfeatures@outlook.com Arts editor: Laura Shields gownarts@outlook.com Lifestyle editor: Chantelle Frampton gownlifestyle@outlook.com Opinions editor: Kaity Hall gownopinion@outlook.com Sports editor: Ryan McDowell gownsports@outlook.com Business manager: Philip Barr gownbusiness@outlook.com Events Manager: Orry Robinson Design editor: Amy-Leigh Shaw Amy Slack Web Designer: Ronan Rogers Photographer: The Gown Team

Editorial Kylie Noble Editor @Noble_Kylie

seem), and I feel an odd mixture of weariness and hopefulness for the whole business. Several people have asked me this year if I would not consider running and there was are times in the past that I have pondered it. I very nearly ran for Student Council last year.

Yet the honest truth is I’ve cared and written about the SU a heck of a lot, for nearly three years and I feel I’ve given all I can give. I am starting to look forward to not having to spend frequent week nights live tweeting the intricacies of SU Council.

Elections are the holy grail of student jour- There are many great activists and much passion within SU circles but there’s also nalism and leading the election coverage is hard earned. By the time you get to lead pettiness and egoism. Whether candidates coverage of the most important fixture in win or lose, it needs to be remembered that the SU calendar, you’ve spent several years the SU is not everything, it is not the be all caring far too much about the democratic and end all. God knows I’m guilty of think(or more often undemocratic) workings of ing the same of this paper. The SU is one small microcosm of democracy and there is the Students Union. To most people, the a bigger, badder world beyond.

SU is a place to get loaded on a Monday night and to buy cheap but fairly unpleasant sandwiches. To a newspaper editor, it’s In my time here I’ve seen two years of the place you probably spend significantly lacklustre Law/GAA student officer teams more hours in than your student house and and with the election of the independent Gallagher to President last spring, the fracthe McClay combined. turing of that system. Tickets may still exist this year but they are severely weakened This is the third SU election I’ve covered in some extent (how long ago the days of and we are seeing several activists running. creeping around Elms for several hours in Candidate question time was a refreshing occurrence this year with all candidates’ acthe dark looking for candidates cheating

The Hood

tually seeming quite on the ball and giving decent answers, which admittedly makes it a little less fun, without the mess ups.

It appears that our SU could truly be on the cusp of taking a much more activist and engaged direction and if so, despite my weariness, parts of me are sad that I won’t be here next year to see it all unfold. No doubt I will miss the SU bubble in many ways. I graduate in July and my time is up.

So if you will be at QUBSU next year, get involved in some way. Be that standing for Council, through clubs & societies or writing for a certain newspaper because my best memories and everything truly worth learning, I’ve learnt within the SU or from the friends and activists I’ve met through it. At the very least use your vote in these elections. I hope this issue provides an informative aid in doing so.

The Hood is the Gown’s anonymous whistleblower cum satirist. Founded in 1976 by a generous donation from the Sir Humphrey Hood Foundation, the Hood has consistently broken news of wrongdoing in the elected officials of the Students’ Union, as well as the wider student movement and the university itself. Loved by people who care too much about SU politics and despised by officers who should care more, the Hood delivers the news and the schmooze on those who waste your union dues. @upthehood

With thanks to our printers, The County Down Spectator.

@TheGownQUB /TheGownQUB Letters@thegown.net The Gown Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union University Road Belfast BT7 1NF 028 9097 1057 thegownatqub.wordpress.com

but the large number of RON votes and uncontested positions last year may have caused an epiphany among the incumbent officers that victory under such conditions is like a diet made exclusively of Easter A friend once advised me that when cast- Eggs, initially satisfying but ultimately ing a wager, the optimum stake is between hollow and certainly less than healthy. £5-10, it being enough to make things in- Hopefully, a few well placed toecaps could teresting, but not so much that the bowels ensure that the beast remains dormant, but are filled with squirty dread. In many ways, we daren’t hold our collective breath. the SU Elections are similar. The office is an important enough bauble to be worth In place of the usual seven person behethe interest (unlike NUS-USI rep elections), moths, two mid-sized tickets are intent on but the existence of a permanent and well having a square go. The first might loosely be termed ‘the Nationalist Ticket’, consisting staffed bureaucracy ensures that the role of incumbent VP Equality Caoimhe McNeill is not so important that the prospect of (for President), Chariteer Paul Loughran (for wasting it on an over-filled sports jersey is unthinkable. Although the elections are Community) and Sinn Fein mouthpieces generally as formulaic as an Easter pageant, Oisin Hassan and Sean Fearon (for Equality & Diversity and Campaigns, respectively). every so often a dab of mustard appears Although they’re well known among union among the limp cabbage. Some of these hacks, one is left wondering to what extent dabs add delightful flavour, like electing they can rely on the famously quicksilver a pirate, and others fly into the nostrils causing much agony, like the ‘Super Seven’ goodwill of the council, especially given the controversial nature of these menfolk campaign of last year. on the ticket.

The first major change in electoral practice is the absence of seven person tickets. They Incumbent officers Hannah Niblock and Chloe Patterson are also looking to stay had become a major part of the electoral in the glass office under the menacing landscape over the last number of years,

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title ‘We Deliver’, with Hannah seeking re-election and Patterson slinking out of Community and into Welfare. Although the girls from the office enjoy a good working relationship, they are not running alongside the others, possibly due to partisan disagreements with Hassan & Fearon, differences which came to the fore during their abortive October plebiscite. That said, the nationalist ticket aren’t putting up any rivals to the deliverance’s on any of their positions, and with good reason: If the ticket candidates were to win, the atmosphere in the office would be comparable to a uranium sauna for the rest of the term, whereas if Niblock/Patterson were victorious, it would be so for the next year-and-some.

Opposing the ‘Nationalist Ticket’ is the ‘Sports Team’, a throwback to ancient electoral practices. This ticket boasts Hurler Sean Searle (President), incumbent Niall McKenna (Clubs & Socs), Cheerleader Catriona Keenan (Campaigns) and (until very recently) VP Patrick Sally (sublimating into VP Community). Sally, unfortunately, recently dropped out, but fair play to him, there’s many an officer stuck in for the sake of the CV and delivered a lacklustre (Continued on page 3)

The Hood (continued)

THE GOWN Diversity), mature post-grad Nicole Quinn (Equality & Diversity), geographer Ellen Haveron (Welfare), Raggie Connor Malone (Community) and blogger Tori Watson (Community) all have a difficult fight on their hands, but thankfully not an impossible one. Although independent candidates winning are as anomalous as albino crows, they do exist, as proven by incumbent and lame duck president Ciaran Gallagher (who is not seeking re-election, to the despair of the ground floor). Both Quinn and McGaughey would prove a welcome break from the usual rotation of ‘straight, undergrad, woman’ and ‘gay, undergrad, man’ Equality and Diversity incumbents, but the usual question involving the extent to which they can be truly ‘representative’ will surely raise its head.

without having had to compete an actual election shows what a trifle the whole game is. Interestingly, we are also faced with two candidates for VP Campaigns who have never actually won a political campaign at QUB, although the prospect of having a dyed-in-the-wool Shinner in office during the centenary of The Easter Rising might set a few nerves on edge.

likely to have been under discussion for months before the incumbent takes office (especially those promises made by union insiders and hacks), and all the rest are suggestion box fodder and idle vapour. In any case, it’s not my place to tell you how to vote, other than advising you to vote cinematically: demand surprising results, vote for the plucky-yet-incompetent underdogs, if you don’t like a candidate, tell them With three candidates in the running, the to re-open nominations, if you don’t like post of VP Community is as hotly contested the results, throw cake at the winner until as the presidency: an interesting devela new election is called: it’s your union too, opment given that the community role by the gods! consists mostly of weathering the spittle of the residents. And an especially interesting performance. McKenna has proved very idea in light of the council decision that it capable of holding his own in the inhospiwas better to throw the role under the bus table environment of C & S, and between than countenance a slight pay cut for the him and Searle they can certainly secure a other officers (given the number of officer lot of the GAA vote, but whether this can hopefuls in the room, this came as no surbe leveraged when their traditional turf is Although nowhere near the abysses of apathy plumbed last year, there are still two prise). Perhaps people want to be the last uncontested is an unknown. uncontested positions: the ones occupied incumbent of the role, or maybe its near

by Niblock and McKenna. Although this extermination brought the existence of the Which leaves the Independents; those could be construed as a sign of their comrole to public attention, like a panda. essential folks at the bottom of the electorpetence (they do the job so well that noal food chain on whom the eco-system of My only advice for vote casting is to ignore democracy is nevertheless dependent. En- body is willing to put in the work to try to the manifesto pledges, they don’t mean a gineer Raymond Dillon (President), LGBTQ* be better than them), their having served thing. Any policies which come to pass are petitioner Dervla McGaughey (Equality and the maximum number of terms in office

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R E D A LE CTIONS E E G N L E015 EAD the CHA 2

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#LeadQUBSU

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Choose who represents you and leads your Union. www.qubsu.org

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INTERVIEWS

Conversation with Dominic Doherty, Deputy Director of QUBSU more generally, wryly noting that “we live in a world where Russell Brand has three times as many followers as all MPs combined”.

Mr Doherty called for greater recognition of that fact that “students these days are activist in a different way.”

(Continued from front page) He pointed to those quietly labouring and hoped that at least two candidates away on committees and articulating would put themselves forward to contest grievances at student council sessions as the positions in the forthcoming elecevidence of a “redefined” student activtions. ism. Mr Doherty argued the image of

It is understood there has been students holding a placard and causing considerable preliminary interest this disruption as the only form of activism is year from across campus. Prior to last enduring, and that the work of members year, 16-20 candidates standing for the on the various committees defending VP positions (which at present come student interests should attract similar with a £17.5k stipend) was the norm. levels of esteem.

Despite the growing lack of interest in

Reflecting on the student counstanding for VP elections, Mr Doherty cil, Mr Doherty recalled the situation in was of the opinion that “the quality of the 1980s and 1990s when council meetstudent officers gets better and better ings sometimes had to be abandoned and better. The best part of my job is in because of a lack of councillors present.

July when a new team of officers arrives “Council is a lot more respectful than it full of new ideas and enthusiasm….. was in the 1980s….it is a different planet we’re very respectful of their mandates”. to my time when it was a talking shop Mr Doherty attributed the decline in for people having their particular rant interest to the growing disillusionment on an aspect of Irish politics”. Mr Doherty among young people towards politics judges the student council to be “much Pete Hodson News Editor @PeteHodson

more unified and focused” these days, “a body which is recognised as being representative of all students” whereas during the Troubles QUBSU was something of a “cold house for certain sections of the student body, who would have shunned the union”.

The student council used to be dominated by student branches of local political parties, with the majority of councillors sharply divided along party-political lines. Numerous former QUBSU councillors have gone on to Stormont and high office, including Simon Hamilton and Arlene Foster.

Most councillors today are nominally independent, with limited or no ties to political parties. Mr Doherty expressed his disappointment “that political parties haven’t put up candidates for March elections. Rightly or wrongly this happened in the 1980s. It all brings diversity and entertainment to the whole process if you have different candidates from different backgrounds with different ideas. It gives the electorate choices”.

Mr Doherty was asked what the most challenging period was for QUB-

SU during his thirty years of experience, and replied with little hesitation “now, there’s no two ways about it.” Mr Doherty was at pains to stress that SU management will strive “to ensure our funding is allocated to the absolute core essence of what students want…..the bottom line is no matter what level of funding the Union has, we will use every single pound as sensibly as we can to bring the maximum benefit to students based on what they ask us to do with it”.

On the forthcoming elections, Mr Doherty reminded students that “the officers chosen will be your voice for the year. They will be speaking in your behalf. Give them a proper mandate by finding out who they are and what they stand for, and above all stop these candidates and challenge them. Even if you don’t like any of the candidates, vote for reopen nominations just to show that you’ve engaged with the process.

It’s very important we increase voter turnout, because low turnout affects the overall credibility of the Union”.

Caoímhe Mac Neill, SU President Kylie Noble Editor @Noble_Kylie

Why do you want to be President?

I want to be President because I think I’ll be the best person for the job, quite frankly! I’ve been VP Equality and Diversity for two years now, which has been amazing, but it’s also been challenging to see all the problems faced by students, both on an individual level and what they’re facing as a whole. There’s cuts being made across the board that are detrimental to students.

I feel that I have the experience and the knowledge to really tackle that, and to empower students to stand up for themselves, and to make people see that we’re not going to be taken for granted. We’re not an easy cut to be made.

Also, I love Queen’s, just the sense of community that the Students’ Union has. It’s for everybody, not just people on council or in clubs and societies, it’s for everyone.

What do you think needs to change?

I think engagement is something we definitely need to improve on. I think there’s been a lot done this year with the likes of the SU Popups, and engagement has definitely increased. We need to build on that and get out there. If I’m President next year we’re not going to be sat behind desks and wait for students to come to us, we’ll be out engaging with students. That’s my favourite part of the job, talking to people on campus and attending events.

What are your top three issues?

expressed frustration at the objection of ‘Ireland’ First, if I’m elected I’ll continue the Popups, being used over ‘Norththey were incredible. I’d want to build on ern Ireland.’ Some Unionthat, and also bring them up to the Ashby ist councillors didn’t take and School of Architecture. To complewell to this. With the Sinn ment that I’d have ‘Sabbatical Surgeries,’ Féin referendum, do you fortnightly sessions where all seven of us feel that Unionists feel go somewhere like the Enterprise Unit, less welcome in the SU, where students can come and chat to us. and if so, how do you feel It’s the chance to raise any issues they you could deal with that? want to raise, but are maybe afraid of finding the office, they know a time when they First, I’d like to clarify that can call in. It just makes us more visible I wasn’t trying to demean and approachable. their objection. There was

Also, student poverty is an issue people from both sides that’s been highlighted this year, which making their argument I’ve been aware of, having worked with on the names used. I had student carers and international students. no intention of offending But it’s something that affects all students. anybody. I was trying to I want to bring a café to the SU with not- refer to the island of Irefor-profit food available, as well as a com- land. We refer to the mon room area where students can bring regions – the South, Dublin, Border-Mida packed lunch. You can’t take a packed lands-Western, and the Northern Region. lunch into Clements, but you could bring So whenever I bring the motion to conyour own there. gress they’ll and understand I’m talking

Then the assembly elections. about all the members USI have. I probably That’s going to be a massive thing for didn’t explain it very well, but it wasn’t students. I want the student agenda to political. be a serious one that MLAs don’t take for I t would sadden me to think that granted. The student vote is a massive people do feel excluded from the Union. I vote. I want to mobilise students with talked to a number of campaigners during voter registration drives, loads of things to the neutrality referendum about my empower students. We need to be aware experiences of feeling isolated from the that the fees battle isn’t over. At the last Union, and I would never want any other general election the SU called for a masstudent to feel that. I would like to think sive campaign for the cap to be mainthat, if I become President, students can tained – and it was. Students are a force to bring their concerns to me or bring it up in be reckoned with and we’re not going to council. That’s what it’s there for – to hold be screwed over by the government. sabbatical officers to account if they’re being isolating to any student or group.

At a recent USI council meeting, you The ‘engagement’ section of my manifes-

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to states that every student is a member of their union, and the thought that any student feels isolated from the SU isn’t one I’d like to entertain.

If elected, you would be the first female President in over a decade. How did this impact your decision to run?

It’s definitely influenced my decision to run. I think it’s disgraceful that the last ten Presidents have been men. I’m not saying they’ve not been fit for the job, but there’s definitely something to be said, especially when we’ve seen some great female candidates missing out on the presidency.

I know of women sabbatical officers who wouldn’t run because they knew of other men that were running, which astounds me.

INTERVIEWS

Raymond Dillon, SU President Kylie Noble Editor @Noble_Kylie

Why do you want to be President of the SU? I can answer that in one very simple sentence: I want to help. Through my time at Queen’s I haven’t had a straightforward run through.

I’ve had hiccups, academically and with different things, but because I had links in the SU, I knew what was available. I knew you had your education advisors, I knew what was there, and I experienced first-hand how good the services at the Students’ Union actually are. But my concern last year when I was School Rep was that students don’t know what the SU has to offer, and I plan to make it plain as day. What they have in terms of Clubs and Societies, Education, Welfare – the whole lot.

because I feel that some students who make contact with the SU who mightn’t hear back for 2-3 weeks might think ‘well they’re not here for me.’ Like it’s been a false promise. Whereas I want, if they get in touch, within 24-48 hours they’ll get some sort of answer back, even if it’s just to say ‘look, we’ve got your query, we’re working on it.’ Just keep the communication open at all times.

What are your top three issues for your campaign?

Education, Clubs and Societies, and overall Student Union image – how it’s presented to students. In terms of marketing, general opinion to what they have to offer, where to go when things go wrong – or are going well, in terms of the SU Awards and Volunteering Awards. Let students know that the SU has so much to offer.

Could you expand on your first two points?

One of my major gripes with Clubs and Societies over the years is the financial system Is there anything you feel needs changed from in place. From my background of computer how things happen at the moment? science, I know of four or five ways it could be improved in a matter of weeks – bringing One major criticism I have, and you’ll find it in the finances online could be very easy to do. I my manifesto, is that response times to queries know in terms of booking rooms there’s a pacould be slightly better. I know from having set per-based form. It’d be nice if there were capaup the Computing Society and being involved bilities for clubs and societies to go on the SU in different things, sometimes you’re waiting website’s Clubs and Societies section and see two or three weeks for a simple answer to a what rooms are available. If it was in black and question, and you’ll find some of my plans white, on the screen – finances, room bookings, about that later on. Basically I intend to make it’s all explained in the manifesto. the waiting time for queries as short as I can

My thoughts on education are based around my time as course rep and school rep, and it’s basically to instil in students not to be afraid to admit when things aren’t going well and look for help. I know of students in the past that’ve had trouble at home, financially, or with a wide range of issues, and have been afraid to go to a personal tutor or advisor of studies to ask questions. I want to bring forward that students shouldn’t be afraid to ask, that there’s help there, and the likes of advisors in the union, financial advisors, and that, if worst comes to worst, they can appeal.

Next year we’ll likely see a lot more cuts to the university/union. This week we had a referendum from the Socialist Party on the union supporting strike action. Do you agree that a large part of the student body is apathetic, and do you think that more of an activist spirit needs brought back to the union?

It’s getting better. I think the evidence of it is the amount of people who are running for Student Officer posts. The activism is improving.

There’s a long way to go with it. I think part of the reason why it’s improving is that the SU is affecting a wider range of students now. Something as simple as the cost of printing – I know

myself, I’ve had to spend £7 printing notes. It’s very dear, something that needs acted upon.

With the poppy debate last year and the Irish Unity referendum last term, some Unionists feel a bit alienated from the SU. Do you see this as an issue, and how would you combat feelings of alienation from those students or any students in general?

It is a tough call. I can understand how any section of the community can feel alienated when certain contentious issues do come up, whether it be in council or just amongst the student body, but I think at the very least the union can reiterate the same message, that we’re here for all students and to not be afraid or feel alienated, and to get involved.

Seán Searle, SU President Niamh McGovern News Editor @mcgovern_niamh

The Disability Officer within each School should make contact with a student two or three times a term to see if they are copying with both their studies and university life. Communication between the university school, Disability Services and the student must be improved.

Are there any particular community projects you’ve mentioned in the manifesto that you feel make you suitable for the role?

What do you think makes you stand out from the other candidates, as there seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for running this year?

I have been a community activist for most of my adult life, campaigning for their rights and services. As stated in my manifesto, through my time at Queen’s I have developed a sense of community with the students here, and as President I will protect and fight for the rights of the student community.

There are a number of things that make me stand out from other candidates. However I would firstly like to say that it is brilliant to see so many committed and motivated people standing for this year’s election.

I stand out from other candidates because I have been involved in numerous leadership roles during my time at university.

A community project that I have mentioned in This year, as chairman of the Hurling Club, I was my manifesto that I feel makes me suitable for who are attempting to secure safe accommomuch as possible. I plan to encourage students the founding member of a GAA tournament, the role of President is that I plan to continue dation in Belfast. If elected, I plan to relaunch to utilise the services that the SU has made which was praised for its professionalism and and expand the current resistance to educathe SU Lets service in a different format so that available to them by working with the different success all over Ulster. I stand out from other tional cuts. From listening to students, it is students can be protected and made aware of schools within the university to inform and edcandidates because of my leadership, organisaclear how much these cuts would affect their their rights when renting. I hope myself and ucate students about the services the SU offers. tional and management skills gained from both university life and our Union should be at the the next VP Community will be able to work sitting on the finance committee of the historic forefront fighting against these cuts. together to continue the brilliant work done by Are there any specific areas you feel lacking GAA festival and chairing the Hurling Club. I our current VP. in terms of how the university accommodates care about students, I want to try and make Will you be working closely with VP Commudisabled students? their time at university a positive influence on nity, if elected, to support safe housing for How would you encourage students to utilise their lives and if elected I will work every day students, and do you perhaps have some ideas the services available to them in the SU? I feel that the university is still developing for this to become a reality. to ensure students feel safe and valued within and learning how to accommodate disabled their residential areas?

The Students’ Union currently offers some great students. This however does not mean that services to our students, but in my opinion Disability Services itself is not working to try Firstly, I would like to say that if elected I try these are not communicated well enough to and accommodate students. I feel that the indiand work as closely as possible with the entire our students. Our VP team, along with the SU vidual schools within the university are letting VP team. As stated in my manifesto I want to President and individual schools within the disabled students down. Schools need to take a reorganise and improve advice for students university, should be promoting SU services as more proactive approach to disabled students.

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INTERVIEWS

Connor Malone, VP Community Niamh McGovern News Editor @mcgovern_niamh

Your manifesto has a significant emphasis on volunteering. Will this include new volunteering opportunities for students?

My plan would be to create new opportunities and events that are more wide ranging, alongside volunteering events this year. I think if we can diversify, yes, we should add new opportunities, but I actually think there is a lot of volunteering opportunities that aren’t being currently subscribed to. I think we should try to make the volunteering opportunities that are there more widely available. A lot of students aren’t aware of what’s available to them. Only 50% of students volunteer, which is obviously good, but I think there needs to be more. My focus will be on those opportunities that aren’t currently being promoted properly, and anything else that diversifies this is definitely good.

interesting people with different areas of expertise and talent, who talk about their various cultures. This is the main project I want to focus on, while taking on board extra student ideas; people on the community, equality and diversity committees come up with great ideas that aren’t taken forward, I want to take students on board with other projects.

On the topic of culture, you pledged to support students who come into difficulty with the university on residential issues. Should the SU become more involved with this problem?

taken to date, for Marie Curie, quite often involved very emotional experiences with people affected by personal issues. I would say I’ve always dealt with this well. By being known, and getting involved with all aspects of the Student Union, I can encourage all students to come to the office, and create co operations other sabbatical offices. The Student Union and Student Guidance Centre have great initiative to deal with these issues as well.

I would say there is a minority of students who bring an issue to residents in the area, and the issue is wrongly associated with particular residential areas. I think the university took over this issue incorrectly, and don’t think it’s a university issue to get involved with, perhaps even illegal, for such a small segment of Queen’s students. Based on the statistics, Queen’s only owns around 1/3 of the population in problem areas, and this is an issue I wanted to tackle in my manifesto. I think it is a minority and gets How do you, and your manifesto stand out blown out of proportion for students, and holidays can get ruined by outside agents who from the other candidates, for such a highly coveted role this year? bring Queen’s reputation down.

would try to be in the role, coming up with new angles for funds. So I’d say I stand out from a creative point of view. I also stand out, because of the nature of the role. One of Community’s mandated roles is to be involved with RAG - in You pledged to raise funds for projects in the As VP Community, how would you encourage Well, I would say - have you seen my posters? lots of years, this hasn’t happened. I feel none SU, is there anything in particular that you want students to bring these sensitive issues to you, I’ve tried to be creative, I would say a lot of the of the other candidates can tap into this eleCommunity role is about creativity, and coming ment of RAG involvement, which a Community to invest in? and utilise the services available to them? up with creative initiatives. While it’s had good officer is consciously mandated to do.

Yes, I mentioned a planned ‘Culture Day.’ I’ve I’m quite a personal person, and I do have very progress this year, budget constraints have been involved in the International Buddy good student engagement, this year the RAG held back projects. RAG is a creative institution, Scheme for a few years, and I’ve met a lot of has shown that. The most personal role I have and I think my campaign shows how creative I

Paul Loughran, VP Community Niamh McGovern News Editor @mcgovern_niamh

There is a lot of focus on the newly ratified Student Poverty Alliance in your manifesto, what are the most important issues and plans of action to prevent student poverty?

This originally started when a friend of mine, Kyle, had spoken to a number of students who hadn’t eaten in a few days, and we decided we had to start something to highlight this. A number of people got involved, and we decided we needed to set up a food bank. This was put to council, and is going to be the first plan of action for the charity.

One of the main things we’re trying to get students involved in is the cost of printing, because it’s something everyone can relate to, which is astronomical at Queen’s. At the minute, we have a full business plan awaiting approval by management at SU, which plans to set up printing costs at 1p. Also, talks at the minute have aimed at stopping cuts to tuition fees; we shouldn’t be trying to prevent higher tuition fees, we should be trying to eradicate fees altogether. We’re trying to start a massive student movement, getting students back on the streets fighting, as they were in 2010.

Could you define Time Banking for readers, and how students will get the most out of this?

Time banking is something I spotted a year ago, which has already taken off in the UK. Basically, people volunteer their skills, and in return they can redeem lessons or services from someone else. For example, if I volunteer teaching French for an hour, that student could volunteer to teach me Spanish. It basically removes the need for currency; a friend told me this would eradicate all the world’s problems!

One of the ideas for this would be student time banking in the community, say if a student volunteers in the local community, he or she can redeem a cost- free lunch as reward, which would in turn limit the need for currency and student poverty.

You’ve mentioned strong working relationships with other officers. Do you plan to initiate any larger projects with a number of officers?

Yes, I think this has perhaps been a trick missing in the past. While we all have our own remits, the role descriptions fit very well together.

Seven officers on one project will ensure that in one area, this will be highlighted in the project really takes off, as opposed to several newsletter, and recruit volunteers to help out. personal projects.

In return the residents will see how students are enriching the area, the kinds of volunteerYou’ve mentioned a residential news letter in ing they are doing, and how they are making your manifesto, how will this serve to benefit South Belfast a better place. students in the wider community?

Given the fierce competition for VP CommuniI plan to highlight residential problems in ty, how do you stand out as a candidate? these, say there is an extreme amount of litter

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I think if anyone looks at my CV, or manifesto, I have the most experience relevant to this post.

I’ve co- founded a charity, I’ve been involved in and led several societies, fundraised thousands of pounds and have network contacts with non-profit organisations and political parties that could all get involved with the SU.

Tori Watson, VP Community Niamh McGovern News Editor @mcgovern_niamh

So you’ve advocated for “dog petting and bubble wrap popping”, but under the surface, how important is student relaxation?

INTERVIEWS

to university, as do many students. Sometimes I find there simply aren’t enough docks waiting for me. Also, there aren’t any lockers for cyclers to use. Bringing in helmets - and we want students to wear helmets - can be cumbersome and we don’t want students to have the hassle of carrying these all day. Great for student cyclists, and great for students who have thirty books to carry around. I imagine this working similarly to the PEC system, no costs to students but a vital necessity. In terms of expanding the Belfast Public Bike Scheme, I don’t see why our city can’t allow students to use this facility, and why there shouldn’t be a dock up at Elms, or on the Lisburn Road. It’s very clear not a lot of students have a car at their disposal, especially when doing a weekly shop!

showcasing this? It’s a diversity of events that need radio support.

How would you encourage students to utilise these new campaigns and services?

I think I’m a pretty open person, and easy to work with. I understand issues like noise complaints are within the Community role, but In terms of ‘shoutout’, do you feel the radio there needs to be needs to be diversified, for students at home, or a balance, listening studying off campus? to both sides of the picture; it’s not a one Completely. Queen’s Radio are trying to beway street. We need come more professional, and lobbying to to demonstrate to broadcast in the SU shop. If the radio was residents that student give to the community. played in Elms, in the MBC, in the SU, the radio I would encourage people to knock down my itself would be forced to diversify even further. door constantly, if elected. That’s what I’m there On similar terms, community radio Blast found for, and I need to know how I can help you.

Is there demand for a campaign like ‘Dock and that listeners wanted 90% of music; Q Radio Lock’ from; does the university have a responsi- needs to push surveys like this and also estab- What can you exclusively offer as VP Commulish a community show. Through my 6 month nity? bility to keep campus environmentally effiexperience at the radio, I’ve found that people cient? have been knocking down my door with opCommunity stuck out for me as one of the roles that faced cuts by the SU this year, I feel It’s a bit of both. I personally cycle in quite a lot portunities they want on air. Why aren’t we So important. It becomes particularly crucial around exam time. It’s important for students to get out of the library, and for me personally the library canteen just isn’t big enough and doesn’t let me completely relax. I want to create a safe space, where students are transported across to the Space and clear their minds.

They have dog petting in Leicester, and there are studies that show this activity can calm you, it’s beneficial for rescue dogs and beneficial for students. In terms of the bubble popping, everyone loves it and to be honest, it is a stress reliever! It’s key we make sure mental health is monitored at these key times, like the exam period.

this is the year for the role to prove itself and its necessity. I think the best thing I can offer something is something a bit different, and a bit wacky. Looking at the wider sphere and giving people a passion and a drive for their community.

Hannah Niblock, VP Education Pete Hodson News Editor @PeteHodson

good practice and where other things are not working. The University knows what problems that are out there, they just don’t want anyone else to know. I’ve been lucky having a Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education that is really student focused and honest.

Any new ideas in the pipeline?

A lot of continuation. Part of the reason why I want to stay on is to see things through. I’d What’s your plan of action if you get a second term? What motivated you to stand for re-elec- like to push the University to create a few solid policies on things that are lacking at the mintion? ute. One particular is ‘fit to sit’. The idea is that if you go into an exam and sit it, even if you’ve There’s just so many things that are not tied had other issues, the fact that you’ve gone up. I feel that I can’t wrap a bow around it and into the exam hall and sat it you’re saying “I’m leave it. There are things that have been initiokay to do this exam. I’m ready to accept these ative this year that I’ve been working hard on, like the planned restructuring to the academic marks.” Students don’t really understand that and the University doesn’t actually have a year. I am 100% in support of that. I’ve made policy on that – they just talk about it. It’s not sure that students are consulted, where they really written down anywhere – apart from on weren’t really being before. I was the only a website where people go when they’ve alstudent involved in the process beforehand.

All school reps have had a working group with ready got into trouble. It’s hard to get information out to students, but we’ve put it on QOL. David Jones, Pro-VC for Education. From what I can tell a lot of councillors are excited by it. It There’s no money for anything. I spend a lot of didn’t happen last year as council blocked it but my time trying to get money and sponsorship, whereas if you just had the money there you’d that was because of misinformation, because be able to get your head down and get on certain individuals didn’t tell them what was with it. going on.

I’ve tried to make sure information is

Are DEL cuts a source of concern? available, so at least people can have an informed opinion. There are certain things that People would probably be surprised that are undecided yet, such as the three week Easter break. Catching problems at school level I would be against cuts, because I would probably vote Conservative. But I think highis important. I just wanted to make sure I was er education is different. I think we need to here to see the whole thing through. fund it, particularly in Northern Ireland – we

Queen’s also faces a higher education don’t have anything else. I found the thought review next year, which is a document which process behind what they were doing bizarre, explains how good it is – then the SU submits pumping money into enterprise and chipping a further document highlighting areas of

away at education.

There’s only so much a Students’ Union can do. To be fair I think we did quite well with the first one [budget cut]. There really isn’t going to be much of a change in the University’s attitude towards cuts. It will have to cut places, courses, departments. Paddy’s [Johnson] vision, as far as I can see it, is to create a university less dependent on funding.

It could mean more private sector contribution, but then you have a University that is entirely driven by industry. I think that companies and big industry already have enough influence over society. University is a place that you should come and be able and get an education, sit around and think about things.

At the minute I’m flat out going to various meetings, there’s so much to do. I know that a lot of people see that and rethink. As far as I’m aware there were a few people that looked at my role and switched to other things, because This is the second year VP Education is uncon- people have told them Hannah’s in here from tested. Why do you think VP Education has 9 in the morning to 12 at night. Now that’s proved an unpopular portfolio for which to not every day, but it is a lot of the time. I could seek candidature? come in here at 10 and leave at 4 but there’d be a lot of unhappy people standing around.

It’s not very sexy is it? It’s hard work. I have to It’s not in me to do it half-assed. It’s the one do kind of what the President does in the sense that interests me. It’s my mission to have 4 because I go to so many committee meetings. people going for my role next year.

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INTERVIEWS

Niall McKenna, VP Clubs & Societies Amy Slack Features Editor @amyizzylou

You’re the current VP for Clubs and Societies. What made you decide to run again?

I enjoyed the role. I felt that I was doing a good enough job and I am passionate about improving all the systems that are currently in place. I didn’t think there was anybody better in terms of experience to get real change to happen in the next year.

What has been your proudest achievement in the role this past year?

I suppose maintaining the services we provide even though there’s no staff member for clubs and societies. Obviously I’ve had help from a few interns but the large part of the work has fell to me. At least four days a week I look after all the clubs and societies, you know any events that are coming up.

My biggest achievement was probably organising Refreshers’ Fair all by myself, and if I get elected I’ll probably be organising Freshers’ Fair all by myself. Big events

like that would probably be my proudest achievement.

Is there anything you plan to change or improve about clubs and societies this upcoming year?

I think we need to take a real strong look at the subvention for societies. I’ve already started looking at different universities and looking at how they’re resourced, how much money they get, how many societies there are, you know. I’m drawing up a plan basically to bring across the university to get the subvention increased. Ultimately, they make the call on it, but having a quality plan or report in place will be a big part of getting it increased.

Also probably the financial system will need looking at. I wrote that in my manifesto. I just think at the minute it needs cleaned up, some of the systems. It’s too hard for some of the societies to function in terms of getting finances out and buying VP Clubs and Societies has been unconthings. tested for two years running. Have you any thoughts as to why this might be an unYou mentioned subvention. Could you popular position to run for? clarify that for anyone who doesn’t know

what that is?

I don’t know why it wasn’t contested last

year, and I don’t know why it was unconThere’s a clubs and societies subvention tested this year either. I don’t really have every year, money given from the universi- an answer for that. Clubs and Societies ty for all our societies but it’s never enough. is probably the thing that engages most

people within the Students’ Union, so I felt there was going to be a lot more competition this year compared to last year, and I was surprised that there wasn’t. I think next year there’ll probably be a lot more running for it. I always thought it would be most contested.

Dervla McGaughey, VP Equality and Diversity Niall Coleman Features Editor

student, and to have this burden upon you when you are studying, and will surely have an impact upon your university experience.

During your time thus far as a QUB student, what aspects of campaigning and activism can you say you’ve been involved in?

Why do you want to run for the position of VP Equal- Most recently I have been the person to start a petition against the DUP’s conscience clause. I ity and Diversity Officer? have pushed this case on social media as much as I can, and I am now happy to say that the petition I want to see the improvement of the ‘Mind Your has 20,821 signatures. I’ve talked at meetings and Mood’ and ‘Are Ye Well?’ campaigns, because stuprotests across Northern Ireland - it was scary stuff! dents suffering from mental health issues have, to this point, been quite neglected. I also want to bring It has prompted me to become more outspoken more awareness to conditions such as schizophrenia on certain issues such as sexism and abortion. I regularly attend a transgender and gender-variant and borderline personality disorder - the less ‘media-friendly’ ones - because they are equally as valid meet up group called Gender Jam. It’s a community as the ‘safe’ ones. I myself suffer from severe anxiety, scheme where people who identify as being outside of gender roles. There is not a lot of education about so I understand the difficulties these people face. these concepts, and this is something reflected in my manifesto that I would like to see changed. We Another issue I wish to work towards is a campus-wide integration of students of all backgrounds, need to see these grassroots campaign go higher regardless of their religion, or where they are from. I than that - we need to see our aims reach Stormont.

Students need to become more politically engaged, want to see a Queen’s where everyone feels welas Equality and Diversity Officer I would very much and different cultures. We need to see this enactcome. I would like to see a large event on campus ed in the Students’ Union! I want to promote ACE like to see that! celebrating equality and diversity, with a cooperaAwareness week, promoting awareness of people tion and input from a mixture of groups within the who do not feel assigned to any certain gender or Your manifesto states your intent to educate the university. student body on LGBTQIA issues and promotion of sexuality - they feel like there is something deeply wrong with them, and we need to address this. I The role of Equality and Diversity Officer fundamen- relative causes. How, in practice, do you intend to intend to campaign against the NI Blood Ban. We do this? tally concerns representing marginalised groups. need to reduce stigma, and increase awareness.

As a student, do you feel that you can relate to this In working with the LGBT Society at QUB I hope to aspect of the role?

Tell us about the ‘F-Word’ Campaign, and your desire bring their issues into the limelight. The pride flag to promote feminism & gender equality through wasn’t even hanging from the Students’ Union in I can definitely fit into this role. I am a member of that medium.

February, I was very disappointed by that!

February the LGBT+ community, and I am part of the growing is LGBT History Month, and there was no representanumber of people that have suffered from mental tion of this at Queens. University should be a place health issues. I can never account for all groups; I where you learn about different people, can only empathise with them. It’s tough being a

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It is horrible to see how women are treated for simply wanting the same things that men have. You look at the satirical representations of feminists, and it is just so wrong. The name suits the campaign - today, people are more comfortable with saying “F***” than feminism. This is about reducing the unfair stigma feminism has placed upon it - we need to promote this ideology as a cross-gender concept. It is frankly ridiculous that we need to define someone as different for having a different set of organs - we need to address this issue at QUB.

INTERVIEWS

Oísin Hassan, VP Equality and Diversity Niall Coleman Features Editor

Why is it that you have decided to run for this particular position within the Students’ Union?

My main goal as Equality and Diversity Officer at Queen’s would be to see the creation of Liberation Officer roles within the Students’ Union. I realise that if I am elected, that I cannot personally represent everyone. You can’t be a voice for all groups; you can only facilitate these groups. There would be a representative member of staff to work on behalf of marginalised groups. This would be on a part-time, voluntary basis - a post created to facilitate and organise these students. There are many universities which have these officers, and I would very much like to see the same here at Queen’s.

At the minute, I don’t think the Union is an accessible and open place. A lot of students feel that there is no space for them where they feel comfortable.

The role of VP Equality and Diversity Officer fundamentally concerns representing marginalised groups within the student community.

To what extent to do you feel you can personally relate to this aspect of the role?

As a white male, for a start, I would say not particularly - not at all. This is something I am very conscious of, and I am very aware. I can relate

regardless of their own political views. I will never let any of that get in the way of fulfilling As a student with an interest in the pursuit of my role - if equality and diversity, what campaigns thus far you’re good in your life as a QUB student can you say you for the role; have been involved in? you won’t let that get in I suppose the first time I got involved in liberthe way. ation issues was around two years ago, when I was involved in a demonstration on InternaWhat meastional Human Rights Day. Council has been ures do you fantastic this year, and I have found it to be plan to take an incredibly humbling experience working to create a with such a diverse group of people. I like to more Equal think that I have made a real difference during and Diverse my time on council - all university forms, for Students’ example, now have provisions for transgender Union? and gender variant members of the community. We discussed how to rephrase questions In terms of to reflect a diverse student body - that motion students of has passed, and I am really pleased about that. faith, or of I would like to see gender-neutral bathrooms none, on - I would like to look at the viability of such an that matter idea, and I want to continue looking into this I would like to see a provision of space for idea during my time on council. these groups to practice that. For example, we have the Catholic Chaplaincy - a lot of other As an active and prominent member of QUB faiths have nothing. We have a huge internaSinn Fein, do you feel that you can truly fulfil a tional community at Queens, across a whole balanced role as Equality and Diversity Officer? range of ethnic groups. We need to recognise this diversity - we need to tie all of this togethPast sabbatical officers have been affiliated to er, and celebrate our university’s multicultural political parties, and this is on a personal level. nature. We need to allow international students We are here to represent all students, regardto integrate - they are under a lot of stress. They less of what background they come from, to these groups - with pressure from politicians on issues such as the DUP’s conscience clause, I understand that these issues have reverberations across the student body. I can escalate the voices of these people who feel ostracised and marginalised - a microphone to their concerns.

need to be made to feel welcome at Queens!

We need a visible celebration - a festival, perhaps! We need to look at this, not just on my remit, but anyone’s! I would love to see that stalls, music, festivities and diversity. As Belfast continues to establish itself as a multicultural and diverse city, we must encourage that and develop that within our own union.

Nicole Quinn, VP Equality and Diversity you say you’ve been involved in?

As soon as I started my PhD in 2011, I became research cluster representative in my school. In 2012, I was chosen as school representative to the PG forum, but in September 2013 I stepped down from both roles due to personal and health reasons. I am not interested in university politics or in politics at all. Obviously I want to work for the representation of all students, inWhy do you want to run for VP Equality & Diver- cluding those who support same-sex marriage and those who are involved in the pro-choice/ sity? pro-life debate. You don’t need to be politically active – you just need to be human to underMy experience as a postgraduate, a student stand respect for the opinions and feelings of parent and a student with a mental health disability, and as a student rep to the PG Forum, all. plus my school has taught me that certain categories of students enjoy equality of opportuni- You state in your manifesto that students expety only on paper. At times, I have even doubted rience prejudice due to their backgrounds. Can of the actual utility of the Students’ Union itself. you expand on this, and give examples of what Now, I believe it’s time to change things and it you would do to combat such incidents?

As I have an international background (I’m half is time for the SU to take a more pro-active or even activist stance, on fighting the inequality Italian, I grew up there and studied there), I of opportunity and of access to resources that tend to be friends with international students.

I was very saddened to hear what a Chinese exists for vulnerable students. friend of mine went through during her first The role of Equality and Diversity Officer funda- year in Belfast, going through discrimination of all kinds, due to her gender, her appearance mentally concerns representing marginalised and her race. Sometimes, not all students know groups. As a student, do you feel that you can how to interact with students from different relate to this aspect of the role? cultures. Sometimes even those who do have Indeed. My experience as a student parent and prejudice don’t know they have it. What I would as a student with an invisible disability taught like to do to counter this would be to organise a series of workshops in the schools about me how hard it is to be a student and at the difference and diversity. I would like to help same time be ‘invisible’ within much of the inspire students to think of themselves in other student body. We risk lagging behind in our studies for reasons that are no fault of our own, people’s shoes – people from other cultures, religious backgrounds and social classes. or better, that should not be a fault. The University should be for us a place of development and personal growth, not a nightmare or a very You highlight in your manifesto that 80% of student parents and mature students and nearrocky road. ly 70% of students from interface areas admit regularly worrying about not having enough During your time thus far as a QUB student, what aspects of campaigning and activism can money to meet basic living needs. How to do

Kylie Noble Editor @Noble_Kylie

you aim to decrease these worries? In an era of cuts, is it realistic to expand the student support and hardship funds?

Unfortunately, I alone cannot decrease these worries. If elected, I will fiercely campaign for these inequality issues to be addressed. I am aware we are experiencing an era of cuts, and also of cuts scaremongering. Whilst funding cannot be created out of thin air, existing funding could be re-directed where there is more need.

You state you wish to see QUB promote a culture of the individual, does this jar with promoting community conclusion among a diverse student body?

I may not have phrased that very clearly, and I apologise for this. What I mean by ‘a culture of the individual’ is a communal culture where individual human beings are not labelled and ‘classified’ according to the group they fall into.

And here I am referring to race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, appearance, age and so on. I would like to see a student body where one is not described anymore as being part of a category, but as a human being, an individual as we all are.

You’re the only student with children running in the elections. Has there been any ways in which even the election system and culture is inaccessible and if elected would you work to

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change any elements?

There are so many ways in which the whole university system, and the election process has been no exception, has proved difficult to access. The lack of childcare arrangements and help with childcare fees for postgraduate students makes it difficult for me to be on campus at all times, and it is very difficult to keep up with all that is happening in the Union.

I believe things need to be changed and can be changed, and at the same time I believe that only a student who knows what it is like to go through anything like I have been going through for the past three years would be knowledgeable and motivated enough to work towards a change in this direction.

INTERVIEWS

Chloe Patterson, VP Welfare Liam Cassidy News Editor @casdee

President will address that to management that we need money to do things, if I can’t carry out campaigns, what’s the point? I like to think we’ve been very resourceful this year already, with SU Pop-Ups, Hey Neighbour and Pushing Boundaries, we’ve found ways around it [funding issues]. Budgeting is always an issue, but it’s something I’ve fought for this year and will continue to fight for next year.

block, how did that come about?

In my opinion Welfare and Education go hand-inhand, they’re intertwined – it didn’t make sense not to run with Hannah because Given your current position as VP Community, our campaigns will work why have you chosen to run for VP Welfare? together and we will work Are your aims achievable even with the chaltogether on disciplinary I’ve always been interested in welfare, but it re- lenge of funding? and appeals procedures. ally came to light when I was at training down Hannah and I are very I know I have a lot of campaigns planned, and I good friends outside the South with USI (Union of Students in Ireland) and as I am the only VP Community in Ireland, I know it’ll be a lot of work. But, I believe they are office as well so we work always worked with the Welfare groups during tangible goals and we can achieve them if we well together and provide training. Being surrounded by such inspiration- all work together. drive for each other. al and passionate people gave me a vision for what Queen’s could do. I feel we’ve lost our am- Do you think your experience as VP Community There is the chance that gives you an advantage in this election cambition and our drive in recent years and we’re a lot of the current sabpaign? only seen for doing ‘Are Ye Well?’ and giving batical officers will be out tea and coffee. I really want to change that. re-elected, would that be I would say yes, because this year with DEL cuts something you look forward to?

Welfare is a role where you can do so many the officer board have been at the forefront things and campaigns, and now students are becoming more vulnerable due to cuts, I really of that campaign and it would provide a bit Yeah the four of us [Caoímhe McNeill, Niall of continuity [if I were elected] because we want to help those students.

McKenna and Hannah] have all been here, and know what’s going on. I can speak for myself so it would provide continuity, and I think that You mention financial cuts, and it is clear from and for Hannah [Niblock, current VP Education continuity would be fabulous actually. But fresh and running partner] that we have been very your manifesto and what you have said that faces are always welcome, I’ll work with anyone vocal in our opposition to these [cuts] and we and the point is we are here for students, that’s you wish to establish more campaigns as VP will continue to do that. We will not be taken Welfare; do you see any issues with funding? it. We’ll get the job done. advantage of because we know how it commitFunding is a major issue for the Union. The of- tees work and how to be heard. ficers this year had no budgets for campaigns, You mention your campaign with Hannah Niand that is a major issue. I hope next year’s

Why should students vote for you?

I’m incredibly passionate and I think that has shown this year. I have such a vision for the Union, I’ve been to other institutions and I’ve seen what they do and I know that welfare is such an important issue and that it needs to come to the forefront of what we do. Student welfare is paramount, and I feel I am the right person to drive that and to establish fun campaigns to get students to think about these issues.

Ellen Haveron, VP Welfare Liam Cassidy News Editor @casdee

So do you think you can share these experiences with students to perform the role of VP Welfare?

Yeah I feel like I represent your average student because I’ve dabbled in a lot of activities during my time in Queen’s and got involved with so much, and that’s all on Why have you decided to run for VP Welmy manifesto, so I think I can speak to stufare? dents on more of an equal level. I suppose As a final year student, and coming towards everyone’s kind of like ‘been there, done that’, but I think I can use my experience to the end of the year I was reflecting on my represent students well. time at the university and as much as I’ve had a blast, there are parts when I have Do you feel at a disadvantage given your been severely stressed. And after talking opponent, Chloe Patterson’s experience of to other students, I was like, oh my goodness there are so many issues and stresses a year in office as VP Community? acting on us all the time, and if they weren’t there, life would be so much better. Being Chloe maybe does have an advantage, but she was in a different role. Although she VP Welfare would give me the chance to may have more of an understanding of change those things and help. the ins and outs of how things work in the union and policy at Queen’s, we’re both What would you bring to role of VP Welstill going to need to train for the role of fare?

VP Welfare and be trained in the different Well, I think I’ve had personal experience of disciplinary procedures for example. It’s all kinds of issues. For example I’m paying a different role, so we’ll see. And as well, two rents for two places at the minute and Chloe has had a year not living as a student have had horrible time with landlords, so I so that would be my advantage I think. think I’ve got that basic experience. I work There are a few current sabbatical officers two jobs and manage my finances really well and still manage my time, studies and running for election again; do you think freshness would be a good thing to bring have a good social life. in?

Yeah I think in an ideal situation, I’d like a bit of a balance. I feel like if you brought in a whole wave of new people it would be hard to build on what they’ve done, whereas if it were a bit of a mix then you’d have some fresh ideas that are coming in with new candidates to build on their work. Like this year with the campaigns against the [DEL] cuts, it would be good to have some people carrying on in office to next year.

to be way more accessible. So I need to make myself more available around campus so students can recognise me and say, ‘oh, there’s that girl that can help me with this problem’. It’s slightly based on the idea of the Pop-Up SU campaign this year, I thought that was great because the sabbatical officers were out on campus all the time and moved around the key buildings. If I do get elected I’ll make it a thing throughout the year, once a month, just Your ‘Contact Couch’ seems to be a key part to remind people, ‘I am you welfare officer of your manifesto, how do you hope to and this is what I can do for you’. Pop-Up implement this around campus?

SU has been great this year at making the SU more accessible, I feel that needs to be That’s definitely one of my main points done more and developed. because [as a sabbatical officer] you need

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INTERVIEWS

Caitríona Keenan, VP Campaigns and Communications really passionate about.

Pete Hodson News Editor @PeteHodson

What’s your motivation for standing for VP Campaigns and Communications?

This year I led the girls through a battle against Queen’s Sports who pretty much denied us sports club status even though we do what Americans consider one of the most dangerous sports. We weren’t getting the funding, I promised them that I would sort it out and I did. I launched a big campaign and got UTV, Sunday Life, Blast FM, Queen’s Radio and The Tab involved. I was determined that we were going to get sports club status and we did. A lot of petitioning and demonstrating around campus but we got there.

You’re not a student councillor. Do you consider this a problem, considering many standing are?

A lot of the other candidates maybe are (on student council), but I have skills that they don’t.

I am very busy with the cheerleading team, we compete in Ireland, the UK and later this year in Spain for the European competitions. From that I’ve picked up a lot of people skills, rather than sitting on council I’m out there with the students working out what they want. I lead the biggest sports club at Queen’s – over 270 girls and boys. I’m working to do my best for them.

I’m not just dealing with sport. I’m dealing with issues that they come to me with, personal issues. People come to me with a lot of issues, a lot of problems such as depression, which I’m

it. I’d like to make the Are Ye Well campaign bigger and Why exactly VP Campaigns and Communicabetter, to show the students tions? that there is support for them. Half of those bits in This year I’ve had to go through such a journey my manifesto are things that and it’s been absolutely crazy to get sports club have come to light over the status. We could do with a lot more funding for past year from sports clubs, mental health. I worked at the Student Finance being approached by peooffice late last year, it was absolutely shocking ple. to find the number of students who just don’t know what financial support is out there for What’s your stance on DEL them. This year they were telling people about cuts? the Student Support Fund because no-one was applying for it. Students are crying out for One of the first issues on my money and support, and they just don’t know manifesto is the DEL cuts. what money and support is there for them and They were a massive scare the student officers need to do more to comthis year for students, they municate that to them. I’ve had the experience affect everything, they affect which puts me in a strong position to help the the SU, they affect sports student body. People that have been on coun- clubs. It will be the first and cil may think they’re ideal for the job, but that foremost thing that I will be doesn’t mean a thing. I’m a strong leader. I’ve campaigning about because taken leadership roles in my stride. it affects every student. I don’t think this year that stuWhat’s your plan of action if elected? dents really appreciated how big of an impact that would have had, so I think one of my tasks First and foremost student leaders are there this year would be getting that out and getting for the student body regardless of political students to realise what DEL cuts are. A lot of background, race or gender and I feel that I’m students didn’t understand what DEL stood for the perfect candidate to represent them. A lot or what it meant, or what the cuts would entail. of different people are involved in societies and political parties, but I’m the captain of the Do you think there’s a lack of engagement with biggest sports club in Queen’s. We have interstudents? national students and all political backgrounds and denominations. I want to represent them At the start of the year I’d like to run a meet and not run the campaigns that I think are your VP campaign. A lot of students don’t know important. Every campaign has to be for the who they are, what they do. Get our faces out benefit of every student. Fair placements and in campus; let the students know we’re here more money and support for student nurses to help them and making us more accessible – that’s a big thing I want to address. I want through social media. The prospect of being to work with the VP C&S in order to get more a first year and emailing someone you don’t sports made into clubs, that have been denied know is daunting. I want to get out there and

see what students want from their VP. The position you’re running for is a two-horse race. Disappointed that you only have one rival?

You never really know what to expect. Take nothing for granted. I don’t assume anything.

We’re two very different candidates so I think it’ll be interesting to see what comes of the election. I don’t come from a political background, which is why I think I’m the perfect candidate for this position as I don’t think there’s room for party-politics or personal politics. It has to be a really neutral place where the candidate represents the student body as a whole. I hope many people will identify with me because of that.

Séan Fearon, VP Campaigns and Communications

like a noticeboard and posters around campus saying this is what happening Pete Hodson at the latest council meeting this is how News Editor it affects you. For every month of the academic term I’d showcase one theme @PeteHodson in accordance with council or a survey, just find out what people are interested in. Student poverty would be of primary importance around Christmas and New Year. I’m only taking a living wage from Motivation for standing for VP Camthe 17.5k stipend. I’ll be taking around paigns and Communication? £14.5-15k. The other £2.5 will be going towards hopefully setting up an emerCampaigning is a passion. I have great gency relief fund for students which will faith in collectivism and an indescribable be operated through direct debit. That’s faith in humanity. The student body at the idea at the moment.

QUB can be harnessed for unprecedented change. It simply hasn’t been the last Most people know you from the poppy couple of years. Recent protests against motion and Irish unity referendum. Does DEL cuts simply weren’t good enough. this risk segments of the student body Based on current political circumstances being unable to pledge their support for and what may exist after the next gener- you? al election – it could prove a very tough year for students and young people.

Now more than ever is the time to get Now more than ever we need a strong one voice that was not heard specifically Campaigns officer. I’ve been campaign- with the poppy motion. I suffer from ing since 16 or so. I’m 20 now, and there’s anxiety and I was not in the right place unprecedented potential here at Queen’s at the time of the poppy motion to voice for the student body to collectivise. my opinion. WIP (Washington Ireland Program for Service and Leadership) Do you think there is a democratic deficit gave me confidence to speak my mind and/or lack of engagement with stuon the issue of the Irish unity referendents? dum. The poppy debate was entirely blown out of proportion. I firmly believe I can understand how many people in the idea of parity of esteem, neutrality feel that after last year with 6 of the 7 and equality. No way would I want the positions being uncontested. Obviously Easter lily sold here and I’m an Irish there’s a much stronger field of candiRepublican, because I know it would dates now. People don’t understand disillusion and disengage a lot of peowhat the student council does - they see ple. I recognise that the poppy had a this random box on their QOL. As part of similar effect on many students, and for my manifesto I want to do simple things, that reason and that reason only I want-

ed a mature debate on it – of course we didn’t get that. We needed a secret ballot that night, there was security and there were death threats made to myself and others. With the Irish Unity referendum the effect was quite similar. It does affect us in this part of the world and there’s no point running away from it. Specifically for people with national aspirations within Northern Ireland, whether they’re British or Irish, let’s have a debate on it. If elected in no way will that be an issue. My national aspirations are private. They are of no concern to any students and the help they may need with campaigns or communications.

To those hysterically calling me sectarian, they should take the time to get to know me personally.

What’s your plan of action if elected?

With the resources the position has, they simply aren’t being used for a network of volunteers. There are a lot of activists around Queen’s that want to be involved, to get those people involved together and actively resisting against cuts, any increase in student fees which may well come down the road, these are the things that are going to affect the fabric of society at Queen’s. If we don’t organise on that

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basis there will be problems.

Message to the electorate?

Unite behind a candidate that is absolutely in this for political reasons and no personal gain. The student body is so overwhelmingly stronger than we realise and we can accomplish infinitely more than we have done, whenever we realise our similarities and not our differences. Unite under everything we can and resist everything that comes out way, be it a Tory or Labour government or whatever Stormont decides to do in the next couple of months of years. It’s the first port of call to protect every single student from those decisions if the negatively affect us.