The ones I was meant to post last week but got distracted

BOTH OF THESE ARE FROM 26TH OF MAY 2009

Housing You Well
I met a member of staff at PCC for an hour and a half this afternoon. Even though I’m not officially in handover yet, I want to get around to as many people as possible before all the madness starts next week.
He was extremely helpful and a mind of information. We discussed various issues from my manifesto and the complete feasability of them. Much of what would be involved is well within reach, but needs a bit of focus from me.
I did get one word of warning, that PCC will be adopting a ZERO-TOLERANCE approach in the on-campus villages next year after some of the "goodbye presents" they were left. Some of the damage caused to bedrooms and whole houses was a complete disgrace and looking at it I couldn’t imagine even trying to justify such damage.
I will also be making an effort to have an accommodation scholarship made available to one student every year through the offices of the Students’ Union President and DP/Welfare. This is in addition to a number of ACCESS Accommodation scholarships available directly from PCC.
We discussed a number of issues raised by students while I was on the campaign trail all those weeks ago and I will continue to work with PCC, who will be very supportive of all students this year.
The Campus Villages Council pilot can be rolled out this September, but given that PCC has its own quality review process the focus of this will be on Civic Engagement. So if you don’t want to be a class rep or join a club/soc, or even if you do, we’ll be encouraging ideas like a village soccer team etc that can culminate in a league final during RAG Week. It was suggested to me that a Student Residents Council in each of the off campus estates may prove to leverage more power against landlords acting the bollox, problem student houses dragging everyone down with them, and act as a a support to community relations.
Laundry prices are intended to be standardised across campus from September, which was an issue raised by some international students during both the Presidential and Deputy Presedential election campaigns.
An accommodation advice leaflet will be sent to all first year students this year, but I hope to get this online too. PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT SIGN A LEASE YOU HAVE NOT READ. If you want me to have a look over it, then contact me -> suwelfare@ul.ie
If you experience ANY difficulties with your landlord during the year, please contact me and I will work with you to resolve the issue. I will be reminding you of this later in the year closer to the start of semester.
PCC will have a specific postgrad block this year. This was raised as a concern to me during the course of meeting you all when campaigning for election. The issue seemed to be that noise from undergrads whose academic work stacks up at a different time of the year was affecting postgrads doing their thesis or other assignments in September and after exams in particular.
PCC is going to accommodate me by sending landlords information on deals I’m working on for them over the next few weeks and inviting them to come and meet as a group.
The issue of broadband in Brookfield is something I intend to work on over the summer too.

D
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Governing Authority - Take 1
So today I went with Caitríona to GA to get a grasp on what goes on. It was a very interesting meeting and there was plenty of discussion. It gave me a good insight into what exactly happens at the top.
GA is a 32 member body chaired by UL Chancellor Peter Malone and is effectively the University’s executive, where all decisions are approved or questioned.
I met a good few of the members of GA and made a good few notes for next time, considering I was only observing today and didn’t want to speak over the person currenty in the job.
As well as having me and Ruán on your side at this meeting, I get a really good first impression that there is nobody here out to get you and look forward to representing you with them this year.