Change is Possible.
Language rights are possible. Proper mental health provisions are possible. A university that every student can afford to attend is possible. A carbon neutral QUB is possible.
Vote Aodhán Ó Baoill #1 as your Students' Union President and all of this will be achieved.
Vote Aodhán Ó Baoill #1 as your Students' Union President and be a positive force for change within your Union and within your university.
Change is Possible. Make it happen.
ABOUT ME
Is mise Aodhán Ó Baoill. My name is Aodhán Ó Baoill. I’m a final year student of Irish and on the 24th and 25th of February, I’m running to be your Students Union President. Since coming to university, I have become involved in and impassioned about Students Union politics. I’m passionate for change within the university and determined to make the student voice heard.
I have four key issues:
Irish Language Rights
Affordable University
Mental Health
Environmental Issues
From my experience over the past three years at Queen’s, it’s clear that these are issues that students care deeply about. I’m running to bring these issues to the heart of the Students’ Union.
IRISH LANGUAGE RIGHTS:
Last year, I was elected as the first ever Irish Language Officer in the Students Union. I have striven to make that role as visible as possible in continuing the campaign for bilingual signage and supporting an Irish Language Act. I also successfully fought against planned cuts by the university to the Gaeltacht courses for students studying Irish
I have liaised closely with colleagues in Students Unions round Ireland to gain their support in the ongoing campaign for bilingual signage and language rights on campus.There is a clear demand for bilingualism within the university. The rights of Gaeilgeoirí have been denied for too long, and as President, I want to importance and deserve to be treated as such. I will push to create a full time SABB Officer for International Students as part of this policy.
MENTAL HEALTH:
Mental Health is a huge issue for young people and students today. At the start of this academic year, there were two suicides in the Holylands area within the first two weeks of term.
This must change, and the Students Union must be at the forefront of this change. Students are supposed to enjoy their time at university with as little worry as possible about financial matters, relationships, or work.
I will work with the university to introduce two classes per semester on dealing with stress and coping with the pressures of deadlines. Why shouldn’t this be possible? Why shouldn’t the university be questioned for their lack of concern for their students’ health?
A huge part of a healthy mind is a healthy body. I will lobby the PEC to work alongside the university to introduce a Mental Health Awareness week, based on the experiences of other universities. This will include, amongst other activities, yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops on coping with stress, and fundraising for mental health charities.
I will continue to work on the OMNI Mental Health campaign launched at the beginning of last year, but also lobby the university to include workshops on mental health as part of both welcome week and development weeks.
There is no one way to deal with mental health issues. However, I want to provide every service possible to support every student in times of need.
AFFORDABLE UNIVERSITY:
Your university experience is only aimed at people who can afford it, I want to make it for everyone. The pressures of university deadlines and work are enough to deal with without worrying about extra financial pressures.
As your Students Union President, I will work to abolish GRADUATION FEES, abolish LIBRARY FINES and reduce the rate of membership for the PEC.
Students currently pay £22.50 per month in membership for the PEC. I will aim to halve this, making facilities that should be available to all students much more accessible.
We already pay thousands of pounds per year in tuition fees, and yet we still have to pay £47 to graduate.
Despite this, the Vice Chancellor is paid nearly £300,000 per year. How is this allowed to happen? Queen’s need to be taken to task for their blatant disregard of student welfare and wellbeing. This university is being run like a business, and we are being treated as a means to an end.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
The Students Union declared a Climate Emergency towards the end of last year. Young people have brought the Climate Emergency to the forefront of politicians’ minds.
A greater awareness of the Climate Emergency within the university is crucial. I will lobby cafes within the university to replace single use plastics with environmentally friendly materials.
A simple way to reduce plastic use, as well as student expense, is to introduce a discounted price to students who bring a reusable cup to cafes.
I campaigned as part of the Climate Action Group for a successful “yes” vote on QUB’s Green New Deal. I will continue to work with the Climate Action Group in developing a plan to ensure the university is carbon neutral by 2030.
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