Interview by Finnian Cox
Welfare is a broad brief. What specific issue (mental health, housing, financial hardship, accessibility, etc) would you prioritise, and why?
“I believe all of these areas should receive equal attention; however, financial hardship is one of the leading causes of stress for students. Prioritising this would hopefully help students to breathe a little easier.
“For example, if you can go to a shop and afford to buy food for yourself, you’re feeding your body and your mind, which contributes to your overall mental health.
“Not feeling anxious about money allows you to prioritise your studies, while also absorbing college life. However, while financial stability is an ongoing cause of stress, housing is a major contributor to overall stress and anxiety. A roof over your head and a hot meal should be a non-negotiable for anyone.”
How will you ensure marginalised students (including disabled students, LGBTQ+ students, and students from minority backgrounds) are not just consulted, but actually represented?
“In my time at this University, I have witnessed the many struggles of marginalised students. If you look around on campus, I guarantee you’ll see it too.
“I’ve noticed that wheelchair accessibility is severely lacking around campus. To ensure these students feel represented within the University, I would work with Societies such as Bród Soc and the Disability Services.
“I would also work to increase the communication between the Students’ Union and the Access Centre. I don’t think many people realise the hard work and dedication the staff in the Access Centre do, and how much they can help students. Through working with these services, I plan to have a full review of accessibility around the college. We should all be able to move freely without hassle.”
What would you do if the university fails to act on welfare concerns raised by students?
“I’m a big believer in the phrase ‘actions speak louder than words.’ Therefore, if the university fails to act on the welfare concerns raised by students, I believe the students should take action.
“Things like protests, lobbying, and walkouts are effective when done correctly. The welfare of students should be a top priority of the university at all times. The job of the Student Union Welfare and Equality officer is not only to listen to students’ concerns, but also to act on them.
“If the University is failing to listen and to act, they should be held accountable. For example, if elected, I intend to review all University policies and projects. One particular ongoing concern amongst students is the University’s ties to Technion, which after years of lobbying from student union members is finally being addressed by referendum. If such issues arise in the future, I intend to employ similar strategies to ensure student voices are heard.”
How will you measure whether welfare initiatives are actually working, rather than just looking good on paper?
“The best way to measure welfare initiatives and their true effectiveness is to talk to the students. I have found that talking to people face-to-face is the most effective way to get any answers.
“My hope is that when people are met with a familiar face, they will be comfortable voicing their thoughts and concerns. It’s easy to make things look good on paper, but if there’s no actual impact and no noticeable change, it’s just a façade.
“I remember in 1st year, I never knew I could go and talk to members of the Student Union about welfare. If elected, I plan to run a ‘come and talk to me’ session once a week, where students can meet me for coffee or just meet with me in a less formal setting than an office, and truly feel they can tell me what is or isn’t working.”
What is one policy change you believe would have the biggest immediate impact on student wellbeing?
“Rather than addressing a single policy, I would review the Sexual Violence and Harassment procedure in its entirety, given its reactive rather than preventative nature.
“The university’s goal should be to prevent cases of sexual violence and harassment rather than just addressing the aftermath of such cases. I’d like to ensure policies surrounding the topic are airtight in light of the incident that occurred in UCD, which we have only recently been made aware of.
“The university should be more vigilant in preventing recurrences of such life-changing events. It is not fair to students at the University of Galway to wait for an incident to take place internally before action is taken.”
