So...how's life. Every time I do this I find it more and more difficult to find something new and interesting to say.
I'm finding an awful lot less students coming trhough the building at the moment now that week 10 has hit. Again, if you have any problems come in and I'll see if I'm able to help with them, or if I can't try and point you towards someone who can.
After all my complaining it's been almost a month since I updated. Soooo there's some of the usual boring stuff to contend with.
FUSU
Myself, Ruán and Aoife Ní went to this in Maynooth in October. It was very worthwhile and we got some stuff around Raising and Giving week back, as well as some innovative ways to calm noisy students in the estates (which are all practically empty anyway)
Community Forum
The DP Welfare doesn't actually sit on this, but as Aoife Ní was out sick that day I went with Ferg. Some of the stories we heard were just ridiculous, so we would urge you to tell your fellow students (and non-student) neighbours to cop themselves on from time to time when they're making an ass of themselves (and you too!). Disability grants were declined last year by Limerick County Council because of essential repairs and cleanup necessary after RAG Week and it's just not on!!
Shag Week
This finished today. Thanks to the sperm volunteers. It seems to have been a great success. Thanks Ferg
I was over at Mary I conferrings for one of the days, though the UL contingent was small it was appreciated by the Mary I SU guys and President Don Barry. It was all a bit wierd with the Bishop of Limerick being their Chairman and everything and the big empasis from their President Peadar Cremin on Catholic Education.
Oooh...I was President for a week while Ruán was on holidays during Open Days...not as fun as you'd think :( Lots and LOTS of boring stuff.
I would like to thank here, Fr. Koenraad for the Mass for Deceased Studetns in Milford Parish Church last Sunday week.
I also attended:
Student Experience, SE Under Represented Students, Governing Authority, GA Access and Student Affairs, Medical Cnetre Meeting, Alcohol Initiative meeting, Graduation of Student Advisors, and AGMs for Javas and the Stables.
There's a lot more boring stuff I do at my desk.
Showing posts with label FUSU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FUSU. Show all posts
11 November 2009
16 October 2009
Hello Again Blogland
Hi guys,
My apologies that no office hours were put up this week. I was avaialble all week anyway.
I'm finishing on a half day as soon as I finished telling you what I've been doing for the last while.
It's been about 3 weeks since I updated....madness. I don't know how it's taken me so long!
So...here goes:
The RAG Charities submissions have been reviewed. I've whittled it down to 8 from 20 and the Union Executive will make the call on the final 4 next Thursday. More on that when we have the news. I must organise some bagpacking now!!
Financial Aid is still taking up a nice chunk of my time as is dealing with Accommodation issues. PLEASE, PLEASE mind your accommodation and housemates. If you have done something wrong, all the arguing in the world from me won't help you a whole lot.
I'm trying to organise some Please Talk mugs for Teach Fáilte and ourselves in the Union building. Let me know what ye think?
I've met with a number of the groups who are marketing the Union as part of a module for John Fahy's 4th Year class. The feedback is quite interesting and it will be great to see what their findings are.
I attended KBS Faculty Board, there was nothing of much great interest going on there, but if you would like anything raised let me or Aoife F know. All you need to know is that they are working away on getting KBS degrees as well accredited as possible internationally.
Silver Apples Creche Committee didn't throw up any major shocks and I'm happy enough that the creche there is providing a top class facility, however there are still student spaces in some age groups.
The RAG Charities collection form condoms is coming along nicely, they can now be procured from SU Reception.
I attended a Limerick Association of Students' Unions meeting last week also. Fees was much discussed, but has since gone away as an issue for the immediate future. We will be working on ensuring the University is properly funded. We will be going to FUSU next week in Maynooth.
Prior to the meeting with LASU, I met with Minister Peter Power along with the other Sabbats and we impressed upon him the hardship that fees would cause. See An Focal on tuesday for further details.
I'm sure there's some other stuff falling through the cracks that I've done, but it escapes me right now.
So...off to get a haircut!!
Cya
D
My apologies that no office hours were put up this week. I was avaialble all week anyway.
I'm finishing on a half day as soon as I finished telling you what I've been doing for the last while.
It's been about 3 weeks since I updated....madness. I don't know how it's taken me so long!
So...here goes:
The RAG Charities submissions have been reviewed. I've whittled it down to 8 from 20 and the Union Executive will make the call on the final 4 next Thursday. More on that when we have the news. I must organise some bagpacking now!!
Financial Aid is still taking up a nice chunk of my time as is dealing with Accommodation issues. PLEASE, PLEASE mind your accommodation and housemates. If you have done something wrong, all the arguing in the world from me won't help you a whole lot.
I'm trying to organise some Please Talk mugs for Teach Fáilte and ourselves in the Union building. Let me know what ye think?
I've met with a number of the groups who are marketing the Union as part of a module for John Fahy's 4th Year class. The feedback is quite interesting and it will be great to see what their findings are.
I attended KBS Faculty Board, there was nothing of much great interest going on there, but if you would like anything raised let me or Aoife F know. All you need to know is that they are working away on getting KBS degrees as well accredited as possible internationally.
Silver Apples Creche Committee didn't throw up any major shocks and I'm happy enough that the creche there is providing a top class facility, however there are still student spaces in some age groups.
The RAG Charities collection form condoms is coming along nicely, they can now be procured from SU Reception.
I attended a Limerick Association of Students' Unions meeting last week also. Fees was much discussed, but has since gone away as an issue for the immediate future. We will be working on ensuring the University is properly funded. We will be going to FUSU next week in Maynooth.
Prior to the meeting with LASU, I met with Minister Peter Power along with the other Sabbats and we impressed upon him the hardship that fees would cause. See An Focal on tuesday for further details.
I'm sure there's some other stuff falling through the cracks that I've done, but it escapes me right now.
So...off to get a haircut!!
Cya
D
31 July 2009
It's tricky thinking of titles for these posts
Anyhow...what have I been at....Well I'm actually off today, but I completely forgot to do the blog on Wednesday again when the BlackBerry told me to.
I'm just back from having a bit of craic in Galway with the NUIMSU President Brian and a few friends. There were some very well dressed ladies about for Ladies' Day at the races (which I missed because I didn't leave on time.).
We met with Jono, The Southern Area Officer from USI last week and had a bit of a chat about student issues and the thorny subject of Fees. USI still doesn't have a solution, but then again, neither do we.
Our good friend Batt O'Keefe hasn't increased the grant for the coming year, but more of you should be able to get what of it is there...which is always a good thing. Find out more on www.studentfinance.ie. Essentially those of you whose households earn less than €51,360 won't have to pay the €1,500 Student Service Charge. I still reckon more needs to be done with the grant, but Rome wasn't built in a day and all that jazz.
I've been chasing a few issues for a number of students around fees and accommodation.
FEES
If you repeat a year, you normally have to pay fees, the same if you are a non-EU student. Ignoring the letters the University sends won't make the issue go away. If you owe fees, try and pay them every year, otherwise you're going to end up seriously stressed when the University tells you you can't graduate (which you can't if you owe them fees). I can only do my best to have decisions around this dealt with consistently, after all it's not fair for those who have paid their fees, if someone else doesn't have to...so in essence....keep on top of your fees.
ACCOMMODATION
Don't sign anything if you are unsure. Our student solicitor has told us this week that students sign away a whole load of rights simply through not reading leases. He is available to check them out for you if you have any questions. Give myself or Ruán a shout for his contact details.
I have looked into a query on on campus accommodation pricing. Cappavilla was the particular query. The cost has not increased this year, but did increase last year to provide an extra Resident Assistant, extend opening hours and provide more security. I will still be requesting Campus Life Services to review its pricing strategy as soon as I have figures for national trends in rental, but the fact remains that there is an abundance of accommodation in various price ranges from approx €40 per week to €110 per week depending on quality and service. On campus is obviously at the higher end of that scale due to the services provided that are not provided off campus.
I am now referring all deposit issues with individual landlords directly to the PRTB. You can get one of the dispute resolution forms from me and I will go through the process with you, however calling landlords is heavily time consuming. One case can take upwards of 2 hours over the course of the dispute, whereas explaining the PRTB procedure takes less than 10 minutes, so I am discontinuing the practice of phoning landlords in order to be able to represent all students more efficiently.
For students living in places like Troy, Groody, Brookfield, Parkview and Courtyard it is quite easy to deal with issues in these villages as they are easily identifiable companies who do not want to gain a bad reputation and will speak with me and move to resolve issues quickly, whereas landlords are pretty much anonymous and have no great desire to follow my advice or listen to complaints from me.
Long story short......have leases checked by a solicitor before you sign them!
We met with the Student Representaiton Solicitor during the week to review the service....it's all pretty mundane, but we'll be hanging on to him. He has lots of experience in dealing with student cases and we're considering expanding the service to incldue one evening a month on campus to start with and that might become more frequent if it gets used.
Condoms for next year should be ordered next week after some (ahem) investigation.
There's lots more mundane boring stuff that isn't all that noteworthy.
All the best
D
I'm just back from having a bit of craic in Galway with the NUIMSU President Brian and a few friends. There were some very well dressed ladies about for Ladies' Day at the races (which I missed because I didn't leave on time.).
We met with Jono, The Southern Area Officer from USI last week and had a bit of a chat about student issues and the thorny subject of Fees. USI still doesn't have a solution, but then again, neither do we.
Our good friend Batt O'Keefe hasn't increased the grant for the coming year, but more of you should be able to get what of it is there...which is always a good thing. Find out more on www.studentfinance.ie. Essentially those of you whose households earn less than €51,360 won't have to pay the €1,500 Student Service Charge. I still reckon more needs to be done with the grant, but Rome wasn't built in a day and all that jazz.
I've been chasing a few issues for a number of students around fees and accommodation.
FEES
If you repeat a year, you normally have to pay fees, the same if you are a non-EU student. Ignoring the letters the University sends won't make the issue go away. If you owe fees, try and pay them every year, otherwise you're going to end up seriously stressed when the University tells you you can't graduate (which you can't if you owe them fees). I can only do my best to have decisions around this dealt with consistently, after all it's not fair for those who have paid their fees, if someone else doesn't have to...so in essence....keep on top of your fees.
ACCOMMODATION
Don't sign anything if you are unsure. Our student solicitor has told us this week that students sign away a whole load of rights simply through not reading leases. He is available to check them out for you if you have any questions. Give myself or Ruán a shout for his contact details.
I have looked into a query on on campus accommodation pricing. Cappavilla was the particular query. The cost has not increased this year, but did increase last year to provide an extra Resident Assistant, extend opening hours and provide more security. I will still be requesting Campus Life Services to review its pricing strategy as soon as I have figures for national trends in rental, but the fact remains that there is an abundance of accommodation in various price ranges from approx €40 per week to €110 per week depending on quality and service. On campus is obviously at the higher end of that scale due to the services provided that are not provided off campus.
I am now referring all deposit issues with individual landlords directly to the PRTB. You can get one of the dispute resolution forms from me and I will go through the process with you, however calling landlords is heavily time consuming. One case can take upwards of 2 hours over the course of the dispute, whereas explaining the PRTB procedure takes less than 10 minutes, so I am discontinuing the practice of phoning landlords in order to be able to represent all students more efficiently.
For students living in places like Troy, Groody, Brookfield, Parkview and Courtyard it is quite easy to deal with issues in these villages as they are easily identifiable companies who do not want to gain a bad reputation and will speak with me and move to resolve issues quickly, whereas landlords are pretty much anonymous and have no great desire to follow my advice or listen to complaints from me.
Long story short......have leases checked by a solicitor before you sign them!
We met with the Student Representaiton Solicitor during the week to review the service....it's all pretty mundane, but we'll be hanging on to him. He has lots of experience in dealing with student cases and we're considering expanding the service to incldue one evening a month on campus to start with and that might become more frequent if it gets used.
Condoms for next year should be ordered next week after some (ahem) investigation.
There's lots more mundane boring stuff that isn't all that noteworthy.
All the best
D
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