Offical results of USI election

by Congress delegate Tue Mar 23, 2004 14:52

BEN ARCHIBALD HAS BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF USI FOR 2004/05
BEN ARCHIBALD HAS BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF USI FOR 2004/05.

by Bye,bye USI, hello thatcher Tue Mar 23, 2004 15:12

Bye,bye USI, hello thatcher....congrats to TCD hacks and right wingers in electing a Tory to head a union in Ireland!
Smart move!

by UCD Class Rep Tue Mar 23, 2004 15:13

What are the figures??

How did Hearn do?

by student Tue Mar 23, 2004 15:15

This is terrible. Now that he is in his Tory background will emerge. Expect more deals with the state and an agreement to increase fees. Time to put pressure on this fucker and not let him away with it.

by Pundit Tue Mar 23, 2004 15:34

Unlike Hearn, Ben is prepared to follow a democratic mandate.

by UCD Class Rep Tue Mar 23, 2004 15:38

Unlike rory Ben will will only ever do that. He will never do what is needed to represent his members properly. He is a bureacrat and a careerist. He also lied several times regarding his Tory links. He represents all that is wrong with USI. I would not be surprised if we see more and more disaffiliations and more and more financial crisis.

by Ray Tue Mar 23, 2004 15:40

Now will you all please SHUT THE FUCK UP? Or are we now going to have millions and millions of comments about the L&H elections in UCD, or UCG's 2nd Year Arts Class Rep elections, or the thrilling contest between the right and left in Crawford College? (No, how silly of me, Cork is too far away for the navel-gazers of UCD and TCD)

Enough, its over, no more Radical Rory and Tory Ben, no more UCD Welfare and TCD Education elections. Go study for your exams, or organise protests in Shannon, or sit on top of a pole. I don't care. We're bored, and you are boring, so do something else, or go somewhere else, or be somebody else.

Enough.

by Freedomofspeech Tue Mar 23, 2004 15:42

You don't have to read it.

by Ray Tue Mar 23, 2004 15:46

Brainless echoes and reflex responses are not 'speech'. Say something original, thought-provoking, or relevant, or say it to yourself in your bedroom.

by frank Tue Mar 23, 2004 15:57

Boring Socialist non-thinkers!

by The Observer Tue Mar 23, 2004 16:04

As a TCD student can I just say that I am absolutely ashamed of our union that we did not support Rory Hearne. I disagree with him on many things but he is a man of principle who would have fought for students. TCDSU is a disgrace especially those of you who claim to be 'on the left'. Bollocks. You have handed the USI to a right wing Tory, fair play.

by Trinity Hack Tue Mar 23, 2004 17:39

Congratulations to Ben. he'll do a great job.

Anoter year in the wilderness for UCDSU, I see. Sensible students across the country reject your methods. Until ye elect somebody sensible, you will be on the fringes. Unless, of course, Fergal Scully is the centrist in lefty clothing I hear some on the UCD right say he is.

by USI- useless stupid idiots Tue Mar 23, 2004 17:58

USI is irrelevant. It's bankrupt. it can't even get access to the Minister for Education for its members. The state's biggest university (UCD duh) pay €60k per annum to be members of this sham. What a waste!

by shinner Tue Mar 23, 2004 18:02

sour grapes

by Cian Tue Mar 23, 2004 19:41

Some good news on another front.

by Chill Ray Tue Mar 23, 2004 20:34

Though I know where you are coming from, If you are bored why are you reading the comments?

"We are bored"

I don't think you should so audaciously place yourself as spokesperson for EVERYONE.

Telling & ordering people what to do with their lives - are you now a dictator as well?

"SHUT THE FUCK UP" - Any chance you could make your arguments with a bit more maturity?

by BIFHE MOLE - NUS Wed Mar 24, 2004 15:06

??????????????
A Conservative elected in an undemocratic Union ballot
What the fuck is going on? How can an unadulterated reactionary conservative whose sole concession to youth" is to wear fred perry polo tops, be elected to the USI presidency. I can only assume that the 250 elected officials do not in any way represent the feelings, opinions and consensus of te 250 000 members of the usi nationwide. Ever get the feeling you've been cheated??

by Fergal Wed Mar 24, 2004 18:24

"Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?"

If only Johnny Rotten knew that his valedictory words were used to lament the result of a student election, he'd be turning in the grave of his career.

by congress delegate Thu Mar 25, 2004 04:19

those are the results - respect democracy! we need to look to the future rather than focus on the past and irrelevant issues!

by Conor - SA ucd Thu Mar 25, 2004 12:53 Conor at ziplip dot com

Archibald is a reflection on the tory policies and personalities of usi over the years.

hes a right winger, and a lot more i wouldnt offend people with here. question is : is he any further to the right of colm "le shit" or slickkly priestly? not really.

this isnt a reflection on students.

sacrificing power to 1st your class rep, then your union, who in turn sacrifices it to an unrepresentative tatcherite is not, by any means "democratic".

im glad ucdsu got behind rory hearne. unlike big ben, his politics are socialist (as ANY union officials should be), and he is an honest non carreerist.

lets try for next year!

untlil then, watch mr tory like a hawk. chancer.

by Small college delegate Thu Mar 25, 2004 14:14

Ben has shown that he does not get his politics in the way of the student movement. He is going to be a great president and I'm proud to be a member of USI. USI is democratic. Nothing will convince me otherwise. Left wing people don't think so because they don't always get their way.

A lot of Left wing policies were passed at USI congress this year

Support USI, support Ben, support your own union

Unity is strength

by shinner - you know who! Thu Mar 25, 2004 14:46

It appears to me that the only college in the country that appears to have a problem with this election is ucd. However, this organization is a democratic one, the delegates have spoken, all that is said here is irrelevant.
Tiocfaidh ar la, usi.

by anon Thu Mar 25, 2004 15:09

Look, you're saying that it's undemocratic to hand over power to SU representatives and USI, but that's exactly what democracy is, as you should know! The whole point is that its impossible for everyone to make decisions together, mainly for logistical reasons, so you "elect" a "representative" to put forward your point of view. the main problem with democracy is that it opens the door for a bunch of no-goods to represent you, because the majority of people don't really care enough about the issues to represent their people properly, or to run in the first place, or to vote with a social rather than a selfish conscience. That's not to say that the system doesn't, or couldn't work - rather to say that its a problem with the candidates. Were I faced with a choice between Ben and Rory I think I would (albeit reluctantly) have had to go for Ben. The point of having a leader is that your leader must be able to represent your views. Who will represent your views in a practical (note: practical) way which may achieve results, ie through dialogue,through lobbying, through the ways that decision makers actually listen to; as opposed to refusing to talk to those who disagree with you, organising boycotts and occupations of anything and everything? Aims and methods are two very different things, the problem with Rory is in his methods, not in the things he wants to achieve. Unfortunately those methods are counterproductive, as they are only appreciated by the few who also engage in them, who interestingly are usually also the ones who don't like being disagreed with and engage in childish back and forth arguments and insult trading rather than accepting that opinions do differ, and no matter how much you abuse someone you will not make them "see the light" through it, you can only hope to do it through rational and ordered discussion. Think about how your mind has ever been changed, and let that be your model.

by Observer Thu Mar 25, 2004 17:26

So what about this election. USI are always right leaning in their actions. Can anyone really remember left leaning officer board members in the last few years who were true to their credentials. It is about time a Northener was Pres again although there have been stronger candidates from the North in the past few years who didn't run, for whatever reason. Such is Union politics.

by another tcd student Thu Mar 25, 2004 19:15

If as a TCD student you felt that TCDSU should support Rory Hearne, then why didn't you make your feelings known to your class rep? The decision to vote for Ben was made at an SU Council meeting, and the people who made that decision were the elected representatives of Trinity College.

And it was no close contest; a clear majority supported Ben over Rory. Rory actually came third in the ballot.

As a Trinity student, do you seriously propose that the delegation should have ignored the views of its elected council? What you feel is shame at the democratic process. And I doubt anyone will sympathise.

by delegate Thu Mar 25, 2004 22:00

TCD is a very right wing union! they were a disgrace at congress and every single one off them put their hack friends first and their students second. Good thing UCDSU was there to make the left argument.

by delegate Thu Mar 25, 2004 22:28

TCD is a very right wing union! they were a disgrace at congress and every single one off them put their hack friends first and their students second. Good thing UCDSU was there to make the left argument.

by tcd class rep Thu Mar 25, 2004 23:42

Yes, what a disgrace TCD were. In fact so disgraceful that they were given the best delegation. Brilliant argument. Take a bow.

by conor - sa Fri Mar 26, 2004 09:11

did yez all get a little pin and badge?

by another tcd student Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:29

I'd like to see exactly how the TCD delegation could be classed as right wing. On several free votes there were individuals speaking on a right-of-centre position, but exactly what evidence would anybody care to produce to show that the delegation as a whole took a rightwing approach to every motion?

And to be honest, the biggest disgrace of the week was Mr Cogavin from UCDSU, who apparently accused Falun Gong members of being Nazis, before equating bin tax protests with being tortured in Chinese prison camps for religious beliefs.

by TCD delegate Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:55

When a delegation accuses their own delegate leader of being too right-wing for being a member of Labour, it is not surprising that they call Trinity right-wing.

TCD's delegates were representative of the diversity that exists within our student body... And nobody can convince me that the population of UCD has a majority of Trotskyites and Anarchists.

by Delegation Fri Mar 26, 2004 13:10

Darren Cogavin is an idiot!

He said that Falun Gong were a fascist movement because they use a swastika (as a thousands of years old religious symbol of peace) and then ranted about Dave Murphy. The motion was about torture in China!

The non-left people from my college and the ones sitting near me switched off to some of the UCD pretend radicals. They were much more likely to listen to lefts from Trinity like Luke Rider and Mike Miley and Daithi MacSithigh (apart from when he insisted in speaking in Irish...whats with that?) when they spoke about privatisation, gay rights, immigration. Even Francis "Fianna Fail" Kieran spoke in favour of anti-Bush and anti-war protests.

by conker-all Fri Mar 26, 2004 13:58

A Chara,
I must say that I have never seen a group of people have such an inflated ego and cause so much disruption as UCD. They need to realize that while they have a good election machine in UCD the far out left in this country represents only a tiny proportion of students, this is evidenced by their votes at the last general election. Their fascist belief that only they are right, and only they have the solution and all others are wrong is why they will never achieve real power.
Officer board this year will operate very well as it has on it a good mix, there are people who are center left to center right. There is nobody who will run off and try and impose their narrow believes on the majority. Well-done USI officer board for their work this week. Well done the staff of USI, and well done particularly those SU's which actually decided to participate in reasoned debate.
Finally I feel the worst comment clearly came from the biggest fool of the week David Cogavin. UCD will, by the looks of it, Remain in the wilderness next year wandering a track, which is greatly removed, from reality.
Finally, Well done Will for the year that you have put in, it has not been easy to say the least and you have preformed remarkably well. You deserve the plaudits.
Go on USI. Ni Neart Go Cur Le Ceile.

by Non-student Fri Mar 26, 2004 14:02

The Chinese had the right idea for students, anyone for a bit of tank action.

by Darren Cogavin - UCD Fri Mar 26, 2004 14:05

I haven't got a lot of time to refute the scandalous accusations being thrown at me so i'll be brief.

I did not equate the Falun Gong with the Nazis. What I did say however, was that the Falun Gong are a racist, homophobic and anti-woman organisation. To refer to them simply as a 'spiritual movement', as the motion did, was grossly misleading and as an anti-fascist ACTIVIST, i felt obliged to inform the delegates present about the reactionary nature of the Falun Gong.

The Falun Gong's leader, Li Hongzhi, views mixed race children as a symtom of societal decline. He is quoted as saying a race has its own particular 'biosphere', and wherever children are born of a mixed-race relationship, they are 'defective persons'. I find Li's doctrine of racial purity and the segregation of the races(even in heaven!) very disgusting and i find their liberal use of the swastika (given the context of the holocaust, nazism, and neo-nazism) deeply offensive. Though they are a racist and reactionary organisation, they are not a fascist organisation. Unlike those apologists for the Falun Gong and the hacks that jeered me, i actually did my homework on the organisation.

None the less, I did state i supported the motion calling for the release of the two Falun Gong students incarcerated in a Chinese labour camp and I expressed my solidarity with them because I believe the USI has a duty to defend all its members. However, with regards the imprisonment of Dave Murphy, a UCD student, peaceful protester and anti bin tax activist, the USI failed in its duty. They also failed in their duty to defend student anti-war and anti-privatisation activists before the court. When i pointed out to the trinity delegates that a UCD student and anti-privatisaton protester was in the courts that morning and faced the very real possibility of imprisonment, i was booed. Oh yes, shame on me indeed!

Just glad to clarify all the shite being written by hacks about me, and to all those who who still think the Falun Gong are the bees knees, check out the link below.

by m Fri Mar 26, 2004 14:26

Come on Darren is the David Murphy thing not gettin a bit old!!! we all know that the only reason the union were fighting this issue this year(among other Non-educational issues!) is because the SP like shove there politics down the throats of UCD students and anyone else who'll listen!! the David Murphy issue was being hammered about the place by our union and SOME of its sabbats while students faced cuts in the library hours. nothing was done about this issue which actually effected the student body of UCD and the bin taxes didn't!! get another cause Darren cos this issue is dead!

by Oisín Kelly Fri Mar 26, 2004 15:00

"the David Murphy issue was being hammered about the place by our union and SOME of its sabbats...."

And the entire SU Council and the students in the Faculties of Arts, Human Sciences and Celtic Studies who VOTED to support David.

"...while students faced cuts in the library hours. nothing was done about this issue which actually effected the student body of UCD..."

I seem to remember the 4 library occupatons that won a restoration of hours and the introduction of 24 hour library access this term. This is "nothing"?

I think that Darren was taken up wrongly. He was not saying that the Falun Gong are fascist. He was saying that he does not support their ideas and he is against the jailing and torturing of them by the Chinese government. He then went on to say that the USI should be supporting students who are jailed for exercising their rights- like David Murphy and the students from DLIADT who are in jail in China.

by Dermot L - UCD SU Fri Mar 26, 2004 15:07

If UCD were such a far-out bunch of radical Trotskyists and anarchists, why then did our motions get passed? The majority of delegates from all colleges I spoke too were very complimentary of the UCD delegation, who included a democratically-elected broad base of students from Fianna Fáil across to the far left. Homogenisation of our delegation just doesn't work.

As for Archibald's election, his comments directed towards the UCDSU delegation during the hustings were appalling. Undoubtedly one of the most successful and active SU's in the country, we were called the "Comintern." However, his election, while a backward step for the student movement IMHO, is democratic and I hope he proves us doubters wrong.

BTW well done to some of the TCD speakers, including Mike Miley and Dáithí Mac Síthigh, whose speeches on certain motions we were supportive of helped carry the vote. An interesting Congress, passing a couple of anti-war motions.

by UCDSU Delegate Fri Mar 26, 2004 15:24

The UCDSU delegation were not totally comprised of Anarcists and Trotskyists. We had Anarchists, Socialist Party members, Labour Party members, Fianna Fáil members, and mostly people not in any party but are active in the SU. In my opinion we were the best delegation. We discussed all motions openly and fairly and then decided what our vote would be, which was the wish of the SU Council. Most of the delegates spoke at the Congress. We held 'fringe meetings' like the Students Against Poverty and IEF. We also contributed greatly to the Pat Paterson debate.

I have to say that Trinity College also had a good delegation, although I do not agree with how they voted much of the time. They spoke on most motions. They put forward motions. And like UCD, they had people of different and diverse views. As said previously Mike Miley spoke well on the Citizenship Referendum motion, Daithi MacStighigh spoke well on the recent cuts in social welfare.

I do not have much respect for NUI Galway's delegation and Dublin IT's delegation. NUIG were very right wing and ignorant and didn't really contirubute seriously to any debate. DIT were a disgrace. On the last morning they stayed in the Bar and call Quorum counts rather than even debate the Constitutional Amendements from UCD.

by Electionwatcher Fri Mar 26, 2004 16:47

ok, ok , we're hearin' the same arguments come from both sides, but I have to say that this year's congress heard quite a few debates which crossed over party and idealogical lines, and left people wondering which way to go - I think that that shows true democracy - Let's hope Officer Board next year with its mix of opinions will give an even more representative view of issues in Ireland. By the way, anyone heard who's running for DP, EO or the Regional Positions ?

by USI insider Fri Mar 26, 2004 16:57

It's rumoured that Rory Hearne will go for Deputy President. He was only narrowly away from winning Presidency. If one of the other universities gave him a higher preference he would now be President elect. It's also touted that UCD's Aidan Regan will go for Equality Officer. In the Area Officers elections the usual people that run are existing sabbatical officers that fail to get re-elected in their own college or don't have to return to a course. It's interesting to hear that David Murphy is thinking of going for Eastern Area officer.

by USI Delegate Fri Mar 26, 2004 18:09

I heard that about Rory too - I also heard about David Murphy. In the Northern Region, I think Andy Ward had said that he was running, as did Damien Kavanagh - That seems interesting as they're from the same Union - QUBSU.

by tintin Sat Mar 27, 2004 12:08

As for the David Murphy imprisonment, this week is the FIRST time UCD has EVER raised this subject in USI.

UCD were an absolute disgrace. They sat at the back shouting, heckling and banging their desks whenever they didn't get their way. They cheated in the votes by getting their observers to use bits of paper pretending to be delegate cards (those cheating UCD observers should have been expelled from congress).

The reason Trinity won Best delegation, is because they attended EVERYTHING, and most of their delegation spoke on motions and spoke well. UCD on the other hand couldn't have been bothered to stay for the working group and officer reports, to find out and question the officers on their work this year. This would have been the opportunity to hold USI officers accountable, but instead UCD left en-masse for an old chin-wag and had a delegate meeting.

DIT would have been in a better position for best delegation, though they didn't speak on much, and their behaviour on the last day boycotting the motion to re-instate Women's officer was an absolute disgrace. If you don't agree with the motion, then speak against it an vote against it, but don't deny us our democratic right by boycotting the event and calling quorum count to make sure the debate cannot even be held. Shame on DIT!

As for the elections, well done to UCD for making sure Ben Archibald got elected! By convincing UCC to vote for Rory Hearne (who was never really in the running), you made sure Tony McDonnell and JP McArdle got eliminated, and their transfers all went to Ben of course. Delighted to see UCD having an influence (though not the influence they would have expected I'm sure!!)

by caustic Sat Mar 27, 2004 16:49

I can't understand why TCD and UCD have developed this so-called rivalry. Both spoke often and spoke well and encouraged debate by their presence. If both delegations had followed the lead of the likes of UCC or NUIG, Congress would have been a bland affair, with no discussion. The two Dublin universities actually spoke together on many issues but because of their vocal natures, it was bloody obvious when they disagreed.

Yes politically, they differ... but we're all in the game of student politics and I think we should be criticising the likes of JP McArdle and those who supported him on his narrow minded, fascist motion to ban all non-affiliated colleges from USI training events and autonomous campaigns. Both UCD and TCD spoke strongly against this motion but were outvoted by the rest of Congress. Whether this was due to some sort of misplaced sympathy for JP after his presidential loss or because of historical rivalries between the likes of UCC and CIT I don't know, but this result could be even more fatal for USI than the election of Big Ben.

Now a few other things I have to get off my chest... Why the fuck did no-one from USI Officer Board bother attending the IEF? Neither meeting was attended by even one of them.

Also, I hope Rory does go for Dep Pres. He's got the potential to save USI's ass... Hopefully those who had problems with his politics for president will realise that in order to survive USI will need strong campaigns on a tight budget next year. He's the only one I'd trust to do this.

And finally, the Trinity delegation is not quite as conservative as you'd think. A lot of their mandated block votes were less than left, but out of their current sabbats, one's a nationalist and one's in Labour.

by The Observer Sun Mar 28, 2004 00:14

First of all can I just say to all of you to grow up very quick. All this absolute rubbish rivalry between UCD and TCD is oh so middle class! I go to trinity but i recognise that its just one of many third level institutions no better or worse than other. Seriously folks wake up this stupid rivalry save that for rugby heads.

Also when the hustings took place at Trinity SU council . The chairperson (Francis Kieran) of the debate distracted Rory Hearne and the council by putting a picture up on the screen behind him. It was deliberate, cynical and childish. Also most class reps in trinity are self appointed hacks.

Getting people on the left elected to positions is important. But as we on the left always say change comes from the ground up so lets prove it next year. Fuck Tory boy!

by true advocate Sun Mar 28, 2004 16:32 Ireland

Ask some of those elected - why they covered up the fact that 6 bullets were sent in the post to students living in Belfast's Holy lands area. Shortly afterwards students were attacked by gangs with baseball bats and other students were forced to flee the community. One of your officers went on tv and depicted students as people who deserved this treatment another goes to washington every year as a model PSNI man.

Ask them about their horrific porn, racist, sectarian, sexist and hate filled personal web sites?

Ask them - do they afford Irish Republicans a full parity of esteem as human beings? Let alone Student members.


Ask them also about their support for the Clery Act styled egislation re Security on Campus for students proposed by Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Fein???


Ask them about their abuse of students who were campaigning to highlight DRUG RAPE and spiking of drinks at UU?


Ask them are Irish Students in the North of ireland afforded full USI status ?????

Ask them how many direct action student protests they have been involved in ????


Ask them will they restore Bi lingual signs at QUB?

Ask them these few questions ???? There is a list ad infinitum......
of NUS/ USI North representatives and representation where Irish Nationals living in the 6 counties are deemed invisible or worse. The NUS/ USI has voiced (Faxed a statement) to support the "Brethren's" march through Irish nationalist communities at Drumcree in Portadown. FACT.

Ask these new officers about comments relating to Three Irish citizens murdered by the SAS in Gibraltar???? Ask ask ask???


You have elected officers this year without any information about these people and more importantly their record. Let these people speak about their actions above??

by delegate Sun Mar 28, 2004 17:26

This congress put usi back a long way and highlighted exactly what is wrong with our student movement. firstly the elections were a farce. ucc changed their vote at the last minute from tony to rory. rory had no chance of winning as most of tonys votes (all of nuig and a lot of western ITs) were transferring to ben, so now we have a person who refuses to take irish citizenship (and only ran for usi cause he knew he would never get the tresurer of nusuk) leading our national union. The amount of delgates who never spoke at all is a disgrace. I got up to spoke several times but always got caught by a 9a. Nuig proposed so many of these because they basically didn't give a shit about debates, all their votes had been decided already. Whatever respect i ever had for Nuig is gone now. last year and especially this year they have shown themselves to be fasict, right-wing homophobic bigots, with a few exceptions. tony is one of them and while i don't know how he would be as usi president, he stood out from his delegation as someone more open minded and left wing than the rest. still, the fact that the delegation made up their minds before all debates and then slept or read newspapers throught the debates is disgusting and not representative of their students. The most active political party in nuig is SF so i can't believe that their delegation representatied students properly. Other delegations that attended congress but did not attend the debates is also shit. A lot of country ITs were not seen until the bar in the evenings but still used the swimming pool every day.

by small college delegate Sun Mar 28, 2004 22:18

I agree. There were people there who should have got up to speak but let TCD and UCD take over. USI is more than just TCD and UCD though you wouldn't think from that congress

by another tcd student Mon Mar 29, 2004 11:14

Firstly, Francis didn't put a picture up on the projector to distract Rory. Given that he was six feet from a PC, it'd take superhuman abilities.

And in any event, it wasn't deliberate. A presentation was due to be made afterwards on disability awareness, and the first panel was accidentally projected. Hardly evidence of a vast rightwing conspiracy...

by ucd insider Mon Mar 29, 2004 12:39

The UCDSU did raise the issue of Dave Murphy's imprisonment with the USI officers. FACT.

They did not do anything. FACT.

They are scum bags completely unable to represent their members and are a disgrace. FACT.

by USI Delegate - UCDSU Mon Mar 29, 2004 13:28

I would agree with a lot of what you have to say, but take exception to your implication that representatives in the North are neglecting the rights and needs of Irish students in the 6 counties. As a delegate to congress, I can assure you that delegates from both UU and QUBSU were in attendance at each session, although QUBSU did have a delegation of 5, with 3 of them making the best use of the hotel facilities, if you know what I mean. We were constantly reminded by reps from the North, when speakers were referring to what they called "26 county" issues, that representatives were in attendance from the 6 counties and that Congress related to all 32 counties of Ireland.

Please rest assured, from what I've heard from delegates up there (in the 6 counties), those issues which you have mentioned won't go unnoticed now or in future years to come.

by working class hero Mon Mar 29, 2004 14:48

So still talking bout congress even though its last weeks news. Face it lads, whats done is done. Elections were fought and lost and nothing much you can do now, except work with the organisations, as so many of you already claim to do...do ya?? Not from what I can see.

1. The abuse of certain delegations by other delegations was disgraceful. Let people have their own opinions. If you don't agree with them, well then argue your case. Don't reduce yourself to constant heckling or constantly 9a'ing. This upsets the speakers train of thought. It is a spitful and malicous thing to do.
2. How unfairly trated were NUIG? In fact how unfairly was everyone treated the was not part of the UCD or TCD delegation. In fairness, if it was up to me, I'd say UCD were the rudest shower I've ever seen. Again, don't be so dogmatic with your opinions and let others have their say. God help any of the smal delegations. UCD completely intimidated other speakers and dlegations and last type I checked, this is a completely undemocratic thinh to do!!
3. Taking away OB's right to vote at NC. What a compleltly stupid shoot yourself in the foot thing to do. Not only will this make voting at NC biased and unfair, it will drag out the whole process. I can't wait to see OB trash out all thier opinions so hey can cast their ONE VOTE!! Talk about taking away OB's right to represent their members. Last time I checked the constitution, thats what OB were elected to do. You silly, silly little middle class children.
4. I could go on, but as I said before, a working class hero is something to be ... a dogmatic jumped up little wannabee politician with an ego the size of south america is not....

by Dublin Student Mon Mar 29, 2004 14:53

Previous posting talked about representation in the North. Are Union politics dominated by the centre -right in the North. There don't appear to be too many republican minded people getting elected, at least I haven't seen too many. Why is this? It is good to have a broad representation though!

by working class hero Mon Mar 29, 2004 15:05

Its probably best that ther are students in the north being elected on their ability rather than their political backround....you know that whole troubles era they had that they're trying to get over.....

by shinner. Mon Mar 29, 2004 15:08

Student unions in the north have had many republicans elected in recent years, very capable officer such as Mr John Mackel as well as the former president of UU and now sinn fein pres officer for the european elections. Also Cora Grogan is a former dep of queens who stood in the last assembly election. I stand to be corrected but in recent years I would say that the majority of student union elected reps have been from sinn fein.

by SFwatch Mon Mar 29, 2004 18:30

The fact that SF have been very dominant in Su's in the North tells alot about their party. SF claim to be a radicla left wing party, this is clearly not true when you look at their record when they take positions. In the SU's in the North and in the South for that matter when Shinners are in nothing really changes. SU's still remain playgrounds for hacks and careerists and they do nothing to mobilse ordinary students.

by Bureaucrat watcher Mon Mar 29, 2004 18:55

I was a delegate at the USI congress representing UCDSU. I think that it makes sense that they don't get votes.

Every sabbatical officer in the country does not get a vote at NC. It's the Presidents that vote, in accordance with the wishes of their Executives. Why should every Union Exec get one vote but the National Exec gets votes per member.

When a card vote is called then each member of Officerboard gets a vote each, and then each College gets votes according to their size.

USI hacks remember: you guys don't have sole monopoly on representing students. You have little mandate and little authority. How many ordinary students know who you are? Most students vote for and have contact with Sabbatical officers in their college.

by realistic republician Tue Mar 30, 2004 17:05

I must say that i view the election of a tory to the head of the usi as an absolute disgrace. he fraternisies with dup bigots like the milkey bar kid in queens. this is a man( ?) who will not represent the views of the majority of students on this island. in qubsu there is no parity of esteem for republicians the executive at the moment is full of watery careerists who only care about their positions. However to the elite,in queens the students will speek and next year the union will be equal and representative. there can be no place for bigots or racists at queens. THIS MEANS THE BIGOTED DUP AND THEIR TORY CRONIES ON THE USI

by Congress Delegate Wed Mar 31, 2004 13:47

Did you hear DITSU have asked that lunatic J.P Mc Ardle to run for Deputy President.

by VenusInFurs - UCD Wed Mar 31, 2004 13:59

He's like a charachter from a Pat Short sketch, sure he knows no better!

by Working Class Hero Wed Mar 31, 2004 16:33

I think that you're attitudes are a disgrace. If someone wants to go for election, let them and let them fight it out through the ballot box.thats democracy isn't it?Better than havin no campaigns officer in fairness.
but why bother running for OB.you'll have no votes, so its not as if you'll be properly able to represent the students you're elected to represent.
role on the locals.....

by NORMAL student, UCD Sat Apr 03, 2004 13:15

Shocked to see so many bad reports about the UCD delegation. it really is embarrasing for the college.
not all us UCD students are socialist, narrow-minded slobs! Its unfortunate that 21,000 of us are represented by such a group.

by kid A Sat Apr 03, 2004 17:51

"but why bother running for OB.you'll have no votes, so its not as if you'll be properly able to represent the students you're elected to represent."

So the only reason we have national officers is so that they can outvote sabbats??? Is that what representation is all about? It's opinions like this that result in OB whining and whingeing about the world being against them and never getting anything concrete done.

National council is all about getting results from the bottom up. If OB can block vote, COs have their powers taken from them. They're directly representing the grassroots student. OB are supposed to be there to coordinate campaigns and do what the COs want them to do. Get your priorities right.

Anyway, I'd say the lack of wages might put off more people than the lack of an NC vote. Maybe I'm wrong...

And on another issue, nobody should be ashamed of the UCD delegation. They were vocal and had their priorities right. Maybe their politics weren't representative, but with Dillo at the helm, they were never gonna go mad.

Viva la revolution!!

by congress delegate Mon Apr 05, 2004 12:42

For gods sake lads, leave it. i can't understand why people feel obliged to come on to a chat room and slander people for their own beliefs. just because someone is of a certain politics does not necessarily mean that they will not do a good job and represent the students of this island, all 32 counties that is.

Democracy has spoken and Ben, Heledd, Layne and Emma have been elected to officer board 2004/2005. it is now up to us to make sure that they serve the students correctly. Contrary to popular belief, Ben cannot run off and destroy USI, even if he so chose to do (which i seriously doubt). there are 250,000 students in Ireland. there are 3 other members of officer board 2004/2005 already elected and there will be another 11.i doubt very much that they will be anyones puppets. there are 52 colleges, therefore 52 SU's and it is up to them to make sure the organisation is run properly. the students are the bosses.

Yes, UCD and TCD spoke alot at congress, because they had alot to say, is this a bad thing? they represented their students and the majority of what they brought to the floor was useful, intelligent debate. What the problem?!!!! they also encouraged many others to speak by speaking against 9a's and also by making some people so angry that they simply had to speak! again, not necessarily a bad thing!isn't this what debate is all about? different sides of an argument? personally, i thank god that UCDSU are so incredibly different to last year, they have been a breath of fresh air in USI and while being radical, are also intelligent and honest people. what difference does their political beliefs make? of course they're a little annoying but sure, isn't everyone sometimes?!

i beg of you to stop using this site as a slander pit before someone has it closed down. it is a very useful resource for good intelligent debate so please, lets start using it for that purpose.

by UCD head Mon Apr 05, 2004 12:57

The UCD delegates were far more representative than delegates from many other colleges. 10 were directly elected and the remaining 18 were elected by SU council which was elected far more democratically than most SU's councils. The positions taken by the delegation is in line with the views on the ground if going by recent election results and referenda in UCD.

The right winger that claims the delegation was 'unrepresentative' is talking rubbish. He jsut can't accept that the current SU is far more representative and in touch than the FF/Hourihane regime that favoured fees, cut backs... spent thousands on junkets, free drinks, free tickets.....

by Pól Mac Cathmhaoil - Aontas na Macléinn, Ollscoil na Banríona Mon Apr 05, 2004 17:02

I take great offence and exception to your comments - I am a close friend of this year's current VP Education, Damien Kavanagh and really don't appreciate you making comment on something and indeed SOMEONE who you know little or nothing about - Do you know him? Do you know what he stands for? I guess you don't, cos if you did, then you would know that he does care about his position, that he does care about the views of others and that he is definately NOT a careerist - I'm sure he'll be happy to speak with you at some stage if you call up to his office - He is actually an allround good guy who represents his community very well.

by Pól Mac Cathmhaoil - Aontas na Macléinn, Ollscoil na Banríona Mon Apr 05, 2004 17:04

The above point was in response to "Realist Republican", Tues.

by UCD student Mon Apr 05, 2004 17:16

Pól, why do you use the irish language translation of your university's name? "Ollscoil na Banríona"

It shows that you are insecure about language. Surely language is all about communicating. Yet you are determined to use it just to get accross that you are of a nationalist tradition. That is sectarianising the language.

I am a UCD student. I went to an Irish langauge primary school and I know the language. But I have the maturity to know that this is an English language University and Irish is not used as a functioning langauge here (except in the Faculty of Celtic Studies). I do not use UCD's irish language translation except where I'm communicating in that language.

ANSWER THIS: Why did you use "Ollscoil na Banríona, Béal Feirste" instead of "The Queen's University, Belfast"

You Shinners really sectarianise the language, it's disgusting!

by Gaeilgeoir Mon Apr 05, 2004 19:22

How do you know he's a Shinner? There's only one person insecure about language and that's you, "UCD Student". The fact you object to anyone from an "English language university" using Irish shows you as an anti-Irish bigot. Grow up.

by UCD Student Mon Apr 05, 2004 21:08

I do not object to Irish speakers using their language. I never siad that. Read what I said.

The FACT is that according to the Charter of University College, Dublin the College is an English language University. This is FACT. A number of departments do use the Irish language as a funtioning language and I defend that. Irish is used in the University and there is a vibrant Irish language community in UCD. This does not mean it is an Irish or even bi-lingual university.

That bloke still has not justified why he put "Ollscoil na Banríona" when he was not using the Irish langauge in his positng. Why put it in? Political reasons I suspect.

"Pól" is the real bigot. He is the one turning the language into a political football.

by Dermot Looney - UCD SU Mon Apr 05, 2004 21:21

I couldn't give two tugs of Michael McDowell's Armani coat whether this bloke's a Shinner or not. Gaeilge needs to be reclaimed from the politicians and the daoine líofa who sneer at those with poor grammar/vocab but genuine interest. If anyone wants to use Irish, give them the right to explore what they feel is their culture. Mar Oifigeach den Aontas na Mac Léinn, An Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath, úsáidim an Gaeilge gach lá san Pasáiste an Aontais - agus an ainm Gaelach an choláiste.

by SU Officer - IT Tue Apr 06, 2004 14:26

Allowing this person to become Deputy President would be a major mistake not least because of his lack of professionalism at National Council and lets not forget his outbursts at Congress but because I believe he lacks the character needed for a strong national representative voice for USI.

by A Congress Delegate Tue Apr 06, 2004 16:07

I think its a bit rich giving out about the outbursts from J.P Mc Ardle considering all the roaring and shouting UCD and Trinity did at Congress and I hear they were pretty good at screaming and bawling at National Council. Could it be that because J.P is unafraid of the big college's and does'nt agree with them on most things is why he getting crap about how he spoke at Congress.

by Dublin USI Delegate Tue Apr 06, 2004 16:17

The fact is that any delegate and any college had the ability to fully participate in the Congress. From what I remember NCI put in a good preformance too. The fact is that UCD and TCD are paying the guts of €10k to go down to congress. It would be a disgrace if they did not fully participate and submitt motions etc.

Of course, we all know that those Colleges are just naturally better any way. Even if University College and Trinity College only had 1 delegate each they would far out shine and out work all the others!

by I.T Delegate Tue Apr 06, 2004 16:26

I have never heard such a snobbish remark in my life before. That person should be ashamed of themselves.

by SU Officer - IT Tue Apr 06, 2004 16:31

To Congress Delegate - if you'd bothered to read my message properly you would have realised there is no point in preaching about UCD's and Trinity outbursts to me. I am a SU representative of an IT and I believe UCD and Trinity were vocal on important issues where it was needed whereas as JP Mc Ardle was loud and pointless!

by IT Delegate Tue Apr 06, 2004 16:44

Why do you consider him loud and pointless.

by College Sabbattical Tue Apr 06, 2004 17:01

Just reading some of the comments. I thought JP spoke quite well at congress. My college gave him the number 2 for President. Yes he is a bit loud but so what he know's what he is on about and there is no bullshit or hidden agenda, neither is there a whole pile of political clap trap. From what I hear he did a damn fine job as President in Carlow I also have been told by most of the Colleges in the South that he worked very hard as Southern Area Officer. If he ran for Deputy President my college would back him as he is a fierce hard worker and thats what USI needs is hard workers not self important political idealists. USI also needs people who speak their minds. Role on JP.

by Mossie - Armed Wing of the IFA Tue Apr 06, 2004 18:27

.....not remind you of Maurice Hickey?

by Another Sabbatical Officer Tue Apr 06, 2004 18:33

It appears that "College Sabbatical" thinks that JP has 'no political agenda'. He is a member of Fine Gael.

"College Sabbatical" also thinks that JP is a hard worker. From what I hear he is not. Not hear of the stamp incident in UCC? Apparently when he was in UCC one of their officers gave him the small task of liking a few stamps as it was a particularly busy time. After about 10 stamps he stopped and said he ran out of saliva. Another time in UCC he was asked to help count money after a fundraiser for Chernobyl. After about 10 minutes he stopped and said he was tired.

This man is a joker.

by College Sabbattical Wed Apr 07, 2004 13:39

Stamp licking and counting money. I find it hard to believe that stupid story.

by disgusted usi member Wed Apr 07, 2004 16:57

JP has done nothing but frustrate many of us this year. His bigotted (and unfortunately successful) campaign to dis-unite the students of Ireland proved this.

Does the fool honestly believe that we will achieve more for students by reverting to childhood - "you're not in my gang" mentalities and banning non-afiliated colleges from participating in USI's autonomous campaigns, protests and officer training. Does he really think that the students of Ireland will be better off without trained officers?

At the end of the day, students are going to lose out, not stubborn sabbats. I would not like to visit an untrained welfare officer.

As it stands, we have to put up with the result of his motion, but it would have been a dark , dark day for USI if this ignorant man had been elected as their leader.

Long live the Union of Some Students in Ireland.

by IT - SU Officer Thu Apr 08, 2004 13:30

Right on. JP would destroy an orgnisation that is already in dire straits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Claire Voyant Sat Apr 10, 2004 15:06

Spooky. USSI sounds like USSR. Rory's a commy and he's running for Dep Pres of USSI. Ooooh. JP's been responsible for ensuring he has no place in next year's team by changing it's name from USI to USSI.
Soooo sppoooooky.

by trotsky Sat Apr 10, 2004 17:17

Rory is a SWPer so cheered when the planned and state owned economy of the USSR fell and capitalism was restored.

by RUSSIA and USSR Sat Apr 10, 2004 19:20

I heard that JP had been talking about setting up RUSSIA and USSR

Regional Union of Southern (I can't remember whta the SIA stood for)

Union of (I can't remember whta the S stood for) in the Southern Reginoi

by USI head Thu May 20, 2004 12:23

Who is going for Dep Pres? Rory or JP? Who will the big colleges back?

by not left turn at this junction. Thu May 20, 2004 12:50

Rory should get on well with Ben, after all his party is calling for the re-unification of Ireland with Brittan into a single socialist state. Should make him popular with the Lads from UU and QUB.

by VenusInFurs - UCD Thu May 20, 2004 13:37

Tit