University College Dublin Students' Union

University College Dublin Students' Union (UCDSU; Irish: <Aontas na Mac Léinn UCD) is the Students' Union of University College Dublin, and has been an active part of campaigns run by its national equivalent, the Union of Students in Ireland. It was founded in 1975 as the successor of the Student Representative Council and began operations in 1975, under the presidency of Enda Connolly. Its primary role is to represent its members views and defend their interests.^[1]

All students of UCD who are studying for a degree or postgraduate diploma of the National University of Ireland are, on registration at the university, members. The Union is funded by a membership fee paid at the same time as the student services levy ("registration fee") at the start of the academic year. In addition to its campaign work the Union also provides some services such as five shops; a photocopying bureau; Belfield FM (radio station); Welfare and Education services such as a second-hand bookshop and Niteline phoneline; and the provision of a full-time Accommodation and Employment Officer. UCDSU has offices in the Student Centre and Library Building in Belfield.

The Union is a constituent organisation of, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).^[2]

Structure

The main governing body of UCDSU, subject only to referenda and General Meetings of the members of the Union, is the Union Council, which meets every second week of term. The Union Council is composed chiefly of the Class Representatives elected in their respective constituencies. These constituencies are elected at a flexible ratio, far lower than a previously arbitrary ratio of one representative per 125 students. The power of Union Council is conferred in a de facto manner on the Union Executive outside of term. The Union Executive, composed of all elected Union Sabbatical and non-Sabbatical Officers as well as the Union Secretary, meets weekly during term and fortnightly outside of it. There are five Sabbatical Officers, who are involved in the day-to-day running of the Union. The President and two nominated Vice-Presidents, as agreed by the Executive, are student representatives on the UCD Governing Authority. A Sabbatical term of office is twelve months in duration and commences on July 1 each year, although the incoming officers are, in accordance with the UCDSU Constitution, given job training by the incumbents from June 15. Sabbatical elections take place in late February–early March of each year. Sabbatical officers take a year out from academic studies and work full-time for the Union.

The composition of the Union's Council includes^[3]:

• The five full-time directly elected Sabbatical Executive Officers
• The directly elected non-sabbatical Executive Officers
• The Council elected Executive Officers
• The Programme Officers
• Class Representatives
• Four Residence Representatives
• Four members of the Union elected by a general meeting of the Students’ Consultative Forum
• One member of the Union nominated by the Committee of Management of the Student Club
• One member of the Union nominated by the Management Committee of the Student Centre Forum Club
• One member of the Union to represent the interests of students with disabilities and elected by such a body as may be recognised for this purpose by the Independent Appeals Board
• One member of the Union to represent the interests of mature students elected by such a body as may be recognised for this purpose by the Independent Appeals Board
• The immediate outgoing President and Vice-Presidents

The President is the First Officer of the Union in accordance with the Union Constitution, and the other four Sabbatical Officers are equally ranking Vice-Presidents of the Union. The five Sabbatical positions are:

• Union President
• Campaigns & Communications Vice-President (formerly Deputy President Vice-President)
• Education Vice-President
• Welfare Vice-President
• Entertainments ("Ents") Vice-President

Sabbatical Executive Officers

directly elected by Union members

Non-sabbatical Executive Officers

Elected by Union members

Elected by Union Council

Usually elected at the first Union Council meeting of the year.

Programme Officers

Cian Dowling elected in by-election October 2011

Union staff appointed on an annual basis

Mr Patrick McKay is the only staff officer to have ever produced a written report.

Other Offices and Administrators

• Fergal Scully Resigned for Personal Reasons in January 2006.
• Scully's replacement, Patrick Carroll, resigned due to election to the USI in September 2006. The functions of the 05/06 Chair were completed by Michael D Clark due to Gary Redmond's incompetency..
• Gavan Reilly resigned for academic reasons in November 2008.
• Johnny Cosgrove resigned in January 2010.
• Jen Fox resigned her position in January 2010 to take up position of Secretary.

The supreme judicial organ of the Union is the Independent Appeals Board as detailed in Article 18 of the Union's Constitution.

The individual who has been the longest involved and longest associated with the Union is Patrick J. O'Flynn, the Union's Chief Returning Officer and an employee of the University. Most of the ground-work involved in Union elections and referendums is performed by the Union Returning Officer, currently held by Morgan Shelley BBLS. Both of these office holders sit on the Independent Appeals Board.

The Union Financial Administrator, Dave Carmody, is not a Union employee, but is permanently seconded to the Union by the university. He is the only other university employee who sits on the Independent Appeals Board. As of late 2011 he is on extended sick leave. ^[4]

The Union Legal Advisor is Leo Mangan of Mangan O’Beirne Solicitors.

A full-time PA is employed by the Union. It is now held by Giselle Jiang.

External links

• University College Dublin Students' Union — the official website of UCDSU.
• Union of Students in Ireland — the website of the Union of Students in Ireland
• UCDSU Constitution — The most recently amended form of the Union's Constitution.

References

Official Union archives, Student Centre, UCD, Dublin 4

1. ^ Constitution of UCD Students' Union, Article 2 - Fundamental Objectives
2. ^ A list of the Constituent Organisations in USI
3. ^ Article 8, Section 3 of the Constitution of UCD Students' Union
4. ^ http://www.collegetribune.ie/index.php/2011/09/de-brun-considers-implementing-new-staff-structures-in-the-su/