New SU speak of challenges ahead

Following an exciting and at times controversial election, DCU’s new SU sabbatical officers - Alan Keegan, John Murphy and Melanie Farrell - are set to take up their roles of president, education and welfare officer and campaigns and information officer on June 15.

Speaking to the College View, the three gave their reactions to the campaign and what the student body can expect from them in the upcoming year.

President-elect Alan Keegan had the most time to reflect on his win as he was elected on the second count on Thursday morning. He said that although there was a lot involved in the campaign, he enjoyed the experience. “[It was] a busy, busy week and a half”, he explained. “I’d do it again just because it was such great craic… it’s a good excuse to talk to loads of people.”

Explaining how he’s preparing for his new role, the current SPC chair detailed how the experience he has gained from his present position will be invaluable next year.

“I understand the functions of the office of Student Life already and where the money comes and goes and how it’s distributed. [I understand] a lot of the background stuff of the clubs and societies and union that you wouldn’t necessarily know,” Keegan said.

Keegan’s manifesto was centred on bringing the social aspect of student life back to DCU and this priority will be his immediate focus.

“The main thing to do is to get the bar open because two years ago, everything ran from there… clubs and socs did all their events from there, there was always a buzz on campus, no matter which week it was; that’ll be one of the main things that we’ll push for.”

He is anxious to tackle this issue as soon as possible by negotiating with Trispace management in the near future. ”I’m sure I’ll be able to sit down [with Trispace] before I take over, in the two week transition period with Niall [McClave],” he said.

When asked what other issues his presidency will be concerned with, Keegan said it will be crucial that the SU is prepared for the fall-out from the re-introduction of tuition fees.

“One of the main things is that we stop fighting the fact that fees are coming in and start accepting it and working towards getting the right path to go down and having the support systems in place for students next year.”

Having won the election by a comfortable margin Keegan is optimistic about the future. He acknowledged the student body’s endorsement saying, “Thank you for giving me your vote and your support and I look forward to working for you next year.”

The winner of the closely contested education and welfare officer’s position said that he hasn’t had time to digest his victory. “I still haven’t taken it all in. I’m ecstatic with being elected and I promise to make students’ interests my priority, said John Murphy.

Having fought the tightest election of the three sabbaticals, Murphy was never confident the job would be his throughout the race. “When there are only a handful of votes between you and another candidate you can never assume you’ve won,” he said.

Despite the win not having completely sunk in as yet, Murphy is clear on what his objectives are for his year in office. “My main priority is to ensure marks and standards gets covered… it is vital that everyone gets the degree they deserve and I will not accept if methods in DCU are not in line with other colleges.”

Murphy is also adamant that he will tackle DCU’s practice of capping degrees – where students cannot get higher than a pass in their degree if they have failed a module throughout their final year at university. “It is ridiculously un-student friendly and I will put all my effort into fighting against it,” he said.

The deputy president says that as it’s his responsibility to ensure students are assisted throughout the year, his “office will always be open for students to discuss their problems in confidence.”

“I will also combine my skills with those of Melanie and Alan to work to resolve the issues students care about,” continued Murphy. He believes these issues to be softening the blow of tuition fees, re-launching the old bar and working to negotiate lower prices in the canteen.

Melanie Farrell, newly elected campaigns and information officer, expressed her delight at being chosen by students to represent them: “I’m so thrilled to be elected. I know it sounds cliched but I just want to give something back to the college that has provided me with three unbelievable years”.

Farrell went on to say how she hopes to make the role a key component of the SU and just how important its function is.
“Students have to have confidence in their union and for that to happen, they have to be informed about what we do; and more importantly, what we can do for them,” she said.

In explaining how she hopes to achieve this level of interaction, Farrell detailed her plans for utilising new methods of communication and what to expect in the year ahead.

“One way of getting to as many students as possible is through social networks; so many people use them and we need to take advantage of that. I want to get more students involved in activities and campaigns such as Road Safety Week and the Drink Aware campaign”.

Echoing Keegan’s assertion that the SU will have to cope with the return of tuition fees, Farrell said that she will be there to support those affected.

“Obviously fees are coming in but I will fight to ensure that the impact on students, especially those who can’t afford fees, is as minimal as possible.”