University College Dublin Students' Union

University College Dublin Students' Union
Institution University College Dublin
Location Student Centre, UCD, Dublin 4.
Established 1975
Members Approximately 23,000
Affiliations Union of Students in Ireland
Website www.ucdsu.ie

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]

Contents

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 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:

Sabbatical Executive Officers

directly elected by Union members

President Education VP Welfare VP Entertainments VP
(formerly Social & Cultural VP)
Campaigns & Communications VP
(formerly Deputy President VP)
1975/76 Enda Connolly Joseph Little Billy McGrath Billy McGrath
1976/77 Charles McNally Joe O'Reilly David Kavanagh Marcus de Cogan
1977/78 Conall Ó Móráin Mary Raftery Tommy O'Connor Anna Purcell
1978/79 Dave Waddell Brian Macaba Brighid Ruane Kenin Higgins
1979/80 Chris O'Malley Derek McDowell Colm de Bhaldraithe Oliver O'Rourke
1980/81 Marguerite Aherne Billy Linehan Diarmuid de Paor/ Greg Byrne Lughaidh O'Clerigh
1981/82 Conn Gregg Aideen Hayden Moire Leyden Patrick Ralph
1982/83 Giollaisa Ó Lideadha Tony Medhurst Hubert Mannion Billy Linehan
1982/84 Giollaisa Ó Lideadha Catherine Neville Rosa Meehan Paul Hickey
1984/85 John O'Neill Sean Kinneane Josephine Kirwan David Ralph
1985/86 Diarmuid Flemming Sean Kinneane Stephanie Walsh Mickey Rourke
1986/87 Ulick Stafford/ Andrew Burke Yvonne Judge Finnola MacAodha Andrew Burke
1987/88 Kevin McDermott David Hughes Belinda Flaherty Dave Kilroy
1988/89 Diarmuid Coogan AnnA Farrell Anne-Marie Keary Francois Pittion
1989/90 Tom Duke Eoin O'Neill Joan O'Connor Lorcan Fullam
1990/91 Joe Delaney Denis Murphy Elaine Butler Mark Collins
1991/92 Denis Murphy Ollie Doyle Muireann Grogan Mark Collins
1992/93 Barry Roche Liam Kelly Cydney Foote Karl O'Hanlon
1993/94 Liam Kelly Shaymus Kennedy Noeleen Hartigan Paul Davis
1994/95 Aisling Ní Bhriain Malcolm Byrne Stephanie Leahgy Conor O'Kane
1995/96 Loughlin Deegan Garrett Tubridy Shane Fitzgerald John Mitchell
1996/97 Shane Fitzgerald Cormac Moore Fiona Hannon Darragh Purcell
1997/98 Ian Walsh Liam Dockery John Nisbet Darragh Purcell/ Niall Donnelly
1998/99 John Nisbet Charles McConalogue John Moynes Scott Millar
1999/00 Carol Fahy Eamon O'Lionáinn Alison Gibney Niall Donald
2000/01 Eamonn Ó Lionnáin Michael Shovlin John Paul Swaine Paul Burke
2001/02 Aonghus Hourihane Aisling Maguire Róisín McKeon Eoin Holohan Christian Hughes
2002/03 Aonghus Hourihane Abey Campbell Séamus Ó Maoinaigh Marc Ryberg Ross Higgins
2003/04 Paul Dillon Oisín Kelly Jennifer Allen David Sherry Aidan Regan
2004/05 Fergal Scully James Carroll Shane Hennelly Gearóid Cashman Ciarán Weafer
2005/06 James Carroll Jane Horgan-Jones Dan Hayden Anthony Kelly Dave Curran
2006/07 Dan Hayden Brian Doyle Barry Colfer Holly Irvine Dave Curran
2007/08 Barry Colfer Ronan Shanahan Vivian Rath Stephen Quinlivan Ciara Brennan
2008/09 Aodhán Ó Deá Paul Lynam Conor Fingleton Gary Redmond Dan O'Neill
2009/10 Gary Redmond Donnacha Ó Suilleabháin Scott Ahearn Mike-Pat O'Donoghue Paddy Ryan
2010/11 Paul Lynam James Williamson Scott Ahearn Jonny Cosgrove Pat de Brún
2011/12 Pat de Brún Sam Geoghegan Rachel Breslin Stephen Darcy Brendan Lacey

Non-sabbatical Executive Officers

Elected by Union members

Non-sabbatical Executive Officers (directly elected by the Union Membership)
2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12
Irish Language/ Oifigeach na Gaeilge Colman Mac Shealaigh Neasa Nic Shealaigh Sinéad Ní Mhaolmhicil Órla Ní Threasaigh Dónal Ó Suilleabháin Aodhán Ó Deá Donal Hanratty Aoife Nic Shamhráin Sarah Ní Mhuirí Caoimhe Seoige
Finance Oisin O'Sullivan Donnachadh Woulfe Anthony Kelly Eugeniya Kazakova Stephen Quinlivan Natalie Dunne Position Abolished
Communications & IT Philip Gilsenan Brian O'Farrell Ciaran Melody Pierce Farrell Gary Redmond Stephen Fitzpatrick Position Abolished
Women's Dave Doran Brendan Crowley Tobie Marven/Louise Troy Michelle Killeen Carol-Anne Rushe Aisling O'Connor Isobel O'Connor Jacqueline Brennan Regina Brady Renamed Gender Equality Officer
Gender Equality Officer Previously Women's Officer Patrick Wolohan
Postgraduate, Evening & Mature Students' Officer Sinead Mac Bride Dan Finn James Redmond Patrick McKay Denis Ryan Position Abolished
Postgraduate Officer Previously Postgraduate, Evening & Mature Students' Officer Stephanie Cremen Kimberly Foy Martin Lawless Martin Lawless
Environmental Officer Previously elected by Union Council Kimberly Foy Ruth O'Ghormain Alan Pierce Conrad Richardson

Elected by Union Council

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

Executive Officers elected by the Union Council
2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12
Environmental (no such office) Patrick Quinlan Patrick Quinlan Molly Walsh Luke O hEideain Luke O hEideain Position Upgraded
LGBT Paul McGann/John Murray Tobie Marvin Sarah O’Sullivan Dave Gilsenan Angela Tuite / Laura Finlay Robert Doyle Ryan Griffin / Laura Finlay Colm Maguire Evan O´Leary Jamie Black
International Students' Abir Puri Michael Langtry Patrick Wall Niall Dolan Laurence Banville Manuel Yoacham Helena Conway Kevin Regan Helena Conway Stephen Stokes
Outlying Faculties (no such office) Peter Reynolds Peter Doris Colm Byrne Alison Ryan Colin Scally Position Abolished
Disability Rights Niamh Hayes Eamonn O'Raghallaigh Naoise Waldron Vivian Rath Jean Daly Benjamin Boyle Scott Ahearn Deirdre Breslin Ger Gallagher Conor Roe
Mature Students' Position Created in 2008 Denis Ryan Martin Lawless Miriam Fitzgerald Alexandre Chavanne-Wallace

Programme Officers

Programme Officers (Created in 2006 and directly elected by the students in each relevant University Programme
2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12
Arts, Celtic Studies & Human Sciences Paul Lynam & Chris Bond Scott Ahearn & Jonny Cosgrove Jonny Cosgrove & Adrian Grogan Jonny Cosgrove & Madeleine Ní Ghallchobhair Edel Ní Churraoin & James Doyle Mícheál Gallagher (Mícheál Ó Gallachóir) & Aisling Sheerin
Business & Law Patrick Rath Conor King Separated into two positions
Business Previously Business & Law Michael Patrick O'Donoghue Gohar Abassi Emma Fortune Roisin Conran
Law Previously Business & Law Aíne Gilhooly Pat de Brún Conor O'Hanlon Catherine Murnane
Science Jane Tiernan Paul Fannon Donnacha Ó Súilleabháin James Williamson Maggie O'Connor Chris Wong
Health Sciences Colm Byrne Isobel O'Connor Caitríona Quinn Donal Hanratty Aoife Nic Shamhráin Aidan Conroy
Engineering & Architecture Jennifer Murphy Conor Fingleton Patrick Ryan Simon Keating Patrick 'Patch' Alvarez Cian Dowling
Agricultural Science & Veterinary Medicine Helen Keane Helen Keane Separated into two positions
Agricultural Science Previously Agricultural Science & Veterinary Medicine Eva Griffin Brian O' Connor Cian O’Donnell Emma Lynch
Veterinary Science Previously Agricultural Science & Veterinary Medicine Andrew Springer Browne Aisling McGrath Aoife Nic Samhrain Rebecca Keeffe
Nursing Anthony Pender Position unfilled Colette Leneghan Unfilled Position contained in Health Sciences

Cian Dowling elected in by-election October 2011

Union staff appointed on an annual basis

Staff Officers (appointed by a panel headed by the President in accordance with Article 15 of the Union's constitution)
2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12
Design & Communications Officer (no such position) James Redmond Patrick McKay Patrick McKay Al Kennington Al Kennington
Accommodation & Employment Officer Finbar Dwyer Enda Duffy Shaun Smyth Mike Pat O’Donoghue (position merged with Research & Development) Danielle Pender David Jones
Research & Development Officer (previously two separate positions) Anthony Kelly and Dermot Looney respectively Dan Finn Peter Doris (position redefined) (position merged with Accommodation & Employment) Colin Scally
Publications & Communications Officer (no such position) Eoghan O’Duinn (position abolished)
Accommodation, Employment, Research and Development Officer (previously two separate positions) Gavan Reilly (position abolished)
Ents Events & Logistics Coordinator (no such position) Gary Redmond Paul Sweeney Paul Kilgallon

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

Other Offices and Administrators

Voluntrary administrative positions incumbent until the election of their successors at the first Council meeting following Council elections each October.
2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12
Chair of Council Séamus Ó Maonaigh Shaun Smyth Fergal Scully / Patrick Carroll* Michael D. Clarke Gavan Reilly Gavan Reilly/Colin Scally* Colin Scally Áine Gilhooly Aoife Nic Samhrain
Vice-Chair of Council Pierce Farrell Morgan Shelly Patrick Carroll / Gary Redmond Gary Redmond Isobel O'Connor Isobel O'Connor Paul Lynam Dearbhail O'Crowley David Farrell
Secretary Robert Morrogh Jane Horgan-Jones Gavan Reilly Colin Scally Rory Geraghty Treasa Coleman Edel Ní Churrain Jonny Cosgrove/Jen Fox Regina Brady
Vice-Secretary Aoife Ni Bhrian Stephen Kelly Ryan Griffin Isobel O'Connor Treasa Coleman Deirdre Breslin Vacant Jen Fox/Sam Geoghegan Dave Reily

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

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/