The Run for President: A Look at Upcoming Candidates and their Manifestos
By Deputy News Editor Marc Galdes, additions by Editor-in-Chief Claire Watson.
Update: As of editing, Brian O’Kane is no longer in the running for President of the Students’ Union.
Katie is a final year BA History and Gaelige student from Rinn ua gCuanach in the Waterford Gaeltacht. She is currently the Ionadaí Gaeilge agus Cultúir (Irish Language and Culture Representative) on the UCCSU Executive. She has been active in this position for two terms always lobbying for the Irish Language.
Katie told the University Express, ‘I’m running because I want to make a real difference for people. It’s never been harder to be a student than right now.
‘The cost-of-living crisis is impacting every element of our university experience. Students are paying extortionate rents, soaring fees, rising food costs on campus – it’s not good enough. We need to come together to fight this, and the union needs a strong President who has the experience and passion to lead a real movement that will make life better for every student.’
She added, ‘I want to build a union that works for you – a union that makes a real impact on the things that matter to you.’
Brian is currently reading a master’s degree in International Human Rights Law and Public Policy after previously graduating with a Law degree. He is currently the Chair of the LGBT society and the LGBT rights officer on the UCCSU Executive.
‘I want to be President to make everyone feel welcome and part of the fight, that will educate others and give them leadership skills. It’s time to work as a real team,’ Brian told the Express.
Dimitar Bonekov is a first-year student studying Business Information Systems (BIS). He is from Bulgaria, but has been living in Ireland for the past 6 and a half years. He is currently a class representative, as well as an activist, helping charities such as Cancer Research.
He tells the Express that ‘I want to build a better UCC, a more friendly one, a more educational one, a more inclusive one. […] We are are the foundation of which the future is built. We are the future of this university, of this country, and most importantly, the world.
‘I want us to be the best so we can make the best future possible. We already have it within ourselves, I just want to make those voices heard and acknowledged.’
Will they solve the housing crisis?
Unsurprisingly, the hottest topic on the agenda for candidates has been the housing crisis. Although the housing crisis is seen as a national (European even) problem, this has not discouraged these candidates from including ambitious promises about addressing the housing crisis in their manifestos.
In her manifesto, Kaite began by criticising the lack of regulation there is for landlords. Although Cork City is a rent Pressure Zone, landlords are still increasing the rent by more than 2 per cent every year, she said. Therefore, she pledges to push the authorities to enforce this further.
To put pressure on landlords to meet better standards, she proposes the Trusted Landlords Network, which would be a ‘programme (like Fairtrade) where landlords can sign up and be recognised if they comply with standards.’
In addition, she pledges that she would get students represented on Cork City Council’s Housing committee.
For on-campus accommodation, Katie said that as president she would conduct a review that all amnesties and services are up to standard and put pressure on the Board of Directors for the UCC Campus Accommodation if not.
Overall she promised that as president, she would introduce a 5-year Accommodation specific to Cork City, to solve this crisis.
‘Housing for Dummies’ is the slogan you are met with in Brian’s manifesto. He describes himself as being ‘hugely involved in Housing activism in Cork’ To back this up he claims to have reported every illegal Air BNB in Cork.
Housing took up a big chunk of Brian’s manifesto, even listing an in-depth 10-step plan to achieve a housing referendum.
He promises, that if he were elected before week 1 was over, he would reach out to key housing organisations that the SU can work with to eventually come out with a policy document that will be released, ideally, before week 3.
Protesting was also given a lot of importance to put pressure on the housing crisis. Brian proposed that instead one-off protest, the SU will push to have volunteers frequently placed on busy streets in Cork City in pairs of 3, encouraging a discussion on this topic.
The implementation of a Housing Body for students was also proposed by Brian, who would be tasked with collecting funds and building affordable housing for university students.
Dimitar explains the reality of students in the cost-of-living crisis, has many work full-time to support their studies, or to make long commutes when accommodation in Cork is not feasible.
He aims to reduce rent prices and encourage the construction of new buildings. This goal is in reference to Colm Foley’s, the current SU president, statement of sourcing accommodation through Digs.ie. Dimitar wants to create a sponsorship with Digs.ie to increase student’s chances of accessing accommodation.
Dimitar also pledges to fight for international students and those coming from outside the Cork City area and provide them with further access to local accommodation.
No more repeat exam fees
Katie strongly pushes for hybrid lectures to be available, in some capacity, for all students. Also, she states that she will continue her predecessor's work to get digital student cards.
For those complaining about unpaid placements, Katie also says that she would ‘challenge the legality of unpaid placements as part of university degrees.’
For starters, both candidates pledge that they would lobby to remove repeat exam fees. Brian takes this a step further and said that he would extend the number of resists a student can sit for before they are given a fail.
Still, on the topic of exams, Katie explains that not all schools have an extension policy, therefore, she promises to lobby a university-wide policy for granting students extensions. Similarly, Brian promises to push for a no-excuse required one-week assignment extension.
An interesting point Brian proposed was the implementation of a 4-day university work week. Due to the housing crisis, people are struggling to commute for a 5-day week, therefore, Brain proposes this as one solution to ease the financial burden.
Repeat-exam fees does not feature in Dimitar’s manifesto. However, accessibility in education is a primary feature of his goals.
Dimitar notes that he would like to improve the distribution of information in and outside of lectures, ensuring the recording of lectures, the use of closed captions on all video content, and that graphics used are accessible to students with visual impairments.
His manifesto states that he will ‘personally ensure that every student lecture is recorded and posted for people who wish to revisit their lecture or are not able to attend due to actually good reasons “I didn’t want to go” isn’t an actual good reason. Attendance is still mandatory.
Improving student life
Amid the cost-of-living crisis, Katie pledges to push to reduce to cost of food prices by first conducting a review of costs in the production of food served by KSGCatering. Also, she says that she would lobby for the addition of vegan, halal and kosher food options.
Moreover, she promises to communicate with the Governing Authority and push for a raise in the student help pay rate.
Red flags were also raised by both candidates regarding the subject of drugs.
Brian labels this as being Ireland’s ‘Drug crisis’ and insisted that there is a need for an ‘immediate addiction and substance abuse de-stigmatising campaign.’
Katie says that she aims to conduct a trial of the HSE drug testing scheme, similar to the one at Electric Picnic, during RAG Week next year.
With regard to safety at events, Brain promises to hold all venues to account so that they would ensure protection against spiking and harassment. He further stresses that he will not sign off on funds for events for venues that do not guarantee safety.
For events in general, Brian proposed including more events that cater to everyone and not just events that involve alcohol. Whereas, Katie spoke about supporting any events that include Cork-based talent.
For healthcare, Katie is pushing for a pharmacy on campus that offers ‘services targeted at students on an at-cost basis.’ She further pushes for a psychiatrist to be reinstated ASAP.
She said she would lobby for additional funding for the Student Assistance Fund and the SU Emergency Fund.
Dimitar strives to improve the introduction of first-year students to campus, ensuring that information is accessible to new students. He wants to resolve this issue by recreating ‘MyTimetable’, updating StudentIT’s welcome videos, and by producing new pamphlets to distribute to incoming students.
He endeavours to work with the Comms and Engagement officer to ensure that resources available to students are communicated effectively. These include services such as mental health facilities, sexual health facilities, and grinds.
He pledges to create new courses providing information on sensitive subjects such as sexual assault, unplanned pregnancy, drug use, suicide, and other topics that ‘can induce harm or long-term hardship.’
Inclusion and Diversity is a core aspect of Dimitar’s campaign. He pledges to work with the Racial and Ethnic Minority Rights Representative to ‘develop a campaign which centres and celebrates racial & ethnic minority students in UCC.’
Welfare is an important topic in Dimitar’s manifesto, and he expresses concerns for the welfare of female, male, LGBTQIA+ students, and those experiencing issues with mental health.
He also explains that he will push for a campus free from racism, sexism, transphobia, and homophobia.
Furthermore, he will work work with the University of Sanctuary Committee, the Education Officer and Fáilte Refugees to widen the Sanctuary scholarship and further support for students who are refugees or asylum seekers.
Environment
Climate change was also not too big for our candidates, as they both presented environmentally friendly promises in their manifesto.
Katie proposes the expansion of the To-Go Cup scheme to also include takeaway bowls. On the topic of cups, Brian proposed the use of reusable plastic cups rather than single-use cups for balls.
Katie reveals that UCC emits 32,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, therefore, she will push to conduct a review of the UCC’s power consumption and propose alternative eco-friendly options.
Dimitar states that he wishes to help UCC in becoming carbon neutral by 2030. He proposes to work with the Green Campus and Commuter Officer to create freshers’ packs that encourage sustainable modes of transport to students.
He also endeavours to push the University to end partnerships with ‘vulture funds’ and businesses that refuse to switch to sustainable practices.
He also wishes to see an increase in climate strikes and encourage students to put pressure on the government.
Brian spoke out against the needless demolition of UCC property and promises to lobby for the maximisation of the land to be used, whenever construction works are ongoing.
He proposes working with local green activists and organise new green spaces across the city.
Opening up the SU to students
Katie and Brian were both very critical of the SU. Katie flat out said the ‘Union is not working,’ whilst Brian did not hold back when he told this newsroom that ‘the student movement is failing.’ He further slammed the SU for being ‘too isolated and cliquey’ and not properly representing students.
If Brian were president, he pledged that he make the union more open for students and he would make sure that he would strengthen the union by coordinating with local experts.
Brian also proposed the introduction of Welfare representatives, who will be tasked with looking after the well-being of their classmates, and Campaign representatives, who will be focused on pushing for political change. These representatives, he added, will be chosen based on an expression of interest and they will be offered full training over the summer.
If Katie is to be president, to start, she said that she would conduct UCCSU’s first constitutional review since 2020. The goal is to implement a reform that works for students, she said.
Furthermore, to be better in touch with students she said that she will introduce a UUCSU module on Canvas which will include all the information students need to know about the SU. Also, she pledged to open a drop-in clinic where students will be met with Officers who will work to answer their queries.
Dimitar wants to improve the accessibility of SU services and information for incoming students, ensuring that all graphics, videos, and letters engage with all students, in particular those with visual and/or hearing impairments.
Ar son na Gaeilge
Katie and Brian, both spoke in favour of putting pressure on the University to have a bilingual campus.
Keeping up with her activism, Katie continues to advocate for the Irish Language to be more present on campus. One of her goals would be to secure permanent funding for the translation of SU content.
Brian mentioned how, as much as possible, events need to be bilingual. He further proposed that there should be a designated Irish speaker at every event. Even on social media, Brian also said that all social media posts should be translated into Irish.
While the topic of Irish does not feature in Dimitar’s campaign, he also encourages the bilingualism of events for Irish students to understand the cultures and languages of international students. He strives to provide support for international students in their adjust to Irish university life, and expand opportunities for Irish students to study abroad.
