Vote O'Brien Adam - VOTE #1 MARCH 29TH - 31ST 2021 - UCC Student's Union

Vote
 Vote
 O'Brien

 O'Brien
 Adam

 Adam

VOTE #1
MARCH 29TH - 31ST 2021

About Me:
Hi my name is Adam O’Brien. I am a final year computer
science student and hoping to be your UCC Students Union
President for the year 2021/2022.
My main message this year is to present the university,
the students and the student union as a united,
sustainable and progressive front.
I also want to strengthen our students, increase their
mental health and well-being, while simultaneously
increasing their employability and overall learning
experience.
I plan to be an open, honest and approachable leader. I
have spoken to a lot of students and asked them of their
concerns in order to build this manifesto not on what I
want for the university, but what its students need.
I’ve worked with charities my whole life and plan to bring
this experience to our students union. Having already
donated a non-profit, phone charging station to the UCC
library courtesy of my start-up company Phone-Dock. All
proceeds from this are donated to the Simon Community.

Mental Health:
• UCC counselling: A lot of students have opened up to me
  about their experience and dissatisfaction with the
  university counselling services. I would see to it to improve
  this important facility and give the students a more pleasant
  experience.

• Sexual assault support: Increased support for sexual assault
  victims, as well as campus wide consent awareness. I want
  every student to know how to make a sexual assault
  complaint and ensure they are carried out in a just manner. I
  will ensure that anybody who finds themselves in this
  situation will be treated with respect, empathy and
  understanding throughout the process.

• Suicide support workshops: Many of us have been affected
  by suicide. I want to run a workshop to help people see the
  signs when someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts,
  and show them how they can help. Early recognition of the
  signs may just save someone’s life.

• Stress management workshops: Many students can become
  very overwhelmed with the college workload, and it can
  sometimes be challenging to deal with this stress in a
  healthy manner. I plan to run workshops teaching students
  practical and healthy ways to deal with stress.

• Information on addiction: Addiction is a major problem
  among students. I want to promote youth information
  websites such as Spunout and FRANK in weekly emails to
  the students offering advice on alcoholism and drug abuse.

• Petting zoo: During tough times such as study weeks I plan
  on having a doggy day and a small petting zoo for students.
  To try and relieve a little bit of the intense stress.

Education:
• Student Card: I want to revamp the student card. I have
  already gathered a team to digitalise the student card,
  which will then be available to keep in your apple and
  google wallet.

• Library reservation: As someone who spends a lot of time in
  the library, I am no stranger to the issue of the new seat
  reservation system, and the awkward situation created with
  someone sitting in your seat. I will change the library check
  in service to allow for booking a certain floor as opposed to
  booking a specific seat.

• Library check in: I will also abolish the current check in
  system as I know a lot of you have found your reservation
  accidentally cancelled. Students will now be automatically
  checked in from where they already scanned their card at
  the library entrance.

• Library hours: Due to covid the campus has shortened the
  library hours. This has caused more stress on students and
  there is a large group who hope for these to be extended. I
  will see to it that this is the case.

• Paid placement: Numerous courses have placement in their
  degree with a lot of companies expecting free work which is
  unacceptable. I plan to try work with the departments to
  offer students a more suitable and paid placement.

Education:
• Entrepreneurs: Ever since the loss of Blackstone Launchpad,
  entrepreneurial students have found themselves somewhat
  homeless. Having spent my first three years in the
  launchpad I plan on creating a new home for students
  looking to develop their business idea.

• Past exam papers: While a lot of courses have past exam
  papers available online, there is still a lot that barely offer
  any papers online. I plan on not only changing this for the
  future papers but also scanning in past years to the system.

• Healthier food: I and many others feel that the campus does
  not offer sufficient healthy food options. I plan on bringing a
  healthier option to our campus by working with companies
  such as jump or other natural food companies.

• Improved printers: Many of us have not been happy with the
  printing system in the university. I plan to revamp the
  system and make it more user friendly.

• Stationery and energy drink vending machine: Many of us
  have experienced the need of stationary or a red bull in the
  Boole, only to find out the student centre is closed. I want to
  bring a dual-purpose late-night vending machine to campus
  to try and solve this issue.

Welfare:
• Drug testing kits: I want to offer students access to drug
  testing kits on campus to ensure those who are using are
  doing so as safely as possible.

• Tenants handbook: I want to offer students a small
  handbook to learn their rights with their landlords. I feel
  landlords are left away with too much as students are
  unsure of their rights. This will be distributed in the fresher
  packs but also available to all other students.

• Garda handbook: After speaking to a lot of students, quite a
  high number of them will have an encounter with the police
  in their time at college. However, students still seem in the
  dark when it comes to their rights. I want to offer them
  advice on their rights when they are dealing with the guards,
  again distributed in fresher packs and also available to all
  students.

• Satellite campuses: I want to offer students more access to
  microwaves, kettles, toasters and seating areas on campus
  and in the surrounding satellite campuses.

• Outdoor tables: I will address the lack of tables and benches
  around campus. This would give students a more enjoyable
  way to spend their lunch during a post covid era.

• Rental board: I want to work with CITSU to create a cross
  college rental board. This board will work with UCC, CIT and
  landlords to try and tackle the current rent crisis in Cork.

Entertainment:
• RAG recovery week: RAG week can be a very a trying time,
  with students perhaps taking the fun slightly too far. I want
  to offer a Mental and physical health week after rag week.
  This week would be focused on workshops for looking after
  your mind and body.

• Techno Tuesdays: Every Tuesday night I will have a line-up of
  local DJs around the university playing in the new bar. DJing
  has become a very popular hobby among students, with very
  few of them getting a place to show off their talents.

• Live campus music: Live music builds to the atmosphere of
  Cork city. I want to give local musicians a place to play
  during the day to help get them noticed. It would also add to
  the atmosphere of the campus.

• Student discounts: I want to work and link with local
  companies such as coffee shops and restaurants to
  encourage the offering of student discounts.

• Satellite campuses: I want to bring more events to satellite
  campuses for weeks such as Freshers and RAG. All events
  seem to take place on main campus leaving the students
  out there out of the fun.

• Markets: I want to see more markets around the campus
  during the year as well as on special occasions, giving
  students a place to buy from small businesses and try new
  foods. I will also encourage swap shops for both clothing,
  books and other loved items.

• Cooking classes: A lot of first years and others struggle with
  learning to cook for themselves when they leave home. I
  want to offer students a place where they can learn easy,
  healthy and fun recipes to cook.

Sustainability:
• Cycling initiative: I will collaborate with green campus to try
  build on the existing cycling initiative. Trying to find ways to
  promote the use of biking to school.

• Bike sheds: I will campaign and work with the green campus
  for bike sheds on campus. An improvement of the current
  and lack of stands will hopefully increase the numbers who
  cycle to college every day.

• E-Scooters: I will try to promote the use of electric scooters
  around campus. This will include the introduction of safe
  and secure charging huts.

• Correct disposal: I will work with all clubs and societies to
  ensure the recycling of materials for events such as banners
  and flyers are done so properly.

• Online tickets: I want to make college balls and other events
  an online ticketed event to reduce the waste of bands and
  paper tickets.

• Recycling bins: I will place more recycling bins around the
  campus. While they exist inside buildings, I feel the outside
  campus is lacking in this regard.

Conclusion:
My 4 years at UCC have been the most fulfilling, enjoyable years
of my life. However, UCC is not perfect and I am eager to help the
college on its path to becoming so.

I want to be your UCC Students Union president because I believe
I have the skills, the experience and the know-how to lead the
college in the right direction. I promise to make sure every
student has an even better experience than I did, and that they
learn the skills and gain the experience’s to be high functioning,
well capable individuals when they graduate.

I hope this manifesto outlines my goals on how to make our
university as united, progressive and sustainable as we possibly
can. I also hope that you can see how much I care about the
students, campus and experience of UCC with every bone in my
body. I know I am the right person for the job and I hope you do
to.

  I hope I can count on your support on March 29th – 31st
                     with your #1 vote.

                           Thank you!

        #VoteAdam4President
                  @adam4president_ucc