Our very own Deputy-Editor has put his name forward for this year’s SU Presidency.
Below are some of his manifesto committments…
More Skills, Less Bills! Vote for Edward Ferrin!
Manifesto Commitments:
If you are a student at Queen’s amid the cost of living crisis, lack of community on campus, little communication with staff and a general dissatisfaction with student life – have you had enough?
If so, I am asking for your vote for SU President!
I am determined to make it worth your while to be at Queen’s. I am a final-year undergraduate studying in the HAPP school. I am 20 years old – I live at home and host my own youth radio programme called ‘Ed’s Guests’ for Radio YNP. With that, I have interviewed various people of note like Nichola Mallon (Head of Devolved Policy at Logistics UK), Michael McGrath TD (Ireland’s Minister for Finance) and Doug Beattie MLA (the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party). I have found confidence in asking those in office the tough questions that we all want to see answered.
I am also currently Deputy-Editor of the Gown Newspaper at Queen’s University Belfast – we have met various journalists of note including Mark Carruthers of BBC NI.
Below are my hopes for the year ahead – I am not promising you the world, but I will try my best to deliver…
Access for all clubs and societies – The Gown Newspaper at Queen’s should be entitled to have an
office inside the new Student’s Union building. Every society formed should be allowed to access
funding and facilities from the SU when needs be.
Mental Health Awareness – The SU must work together with outside bodies and organisations as to
improve the accessibility of mental health services on campus for students facing tough mental stress
and loneliness throughout term.
Student Housing – The SU must do more to represent students in their battles with landlords amid poor conditions of tenancy and damp, cold and cramped homes being rented. Furthermore, the SU must encourage Queen’s to improve access to affordable accommodation for students from various socio-economic backgrounds.
Playing a Bigger Role in Belfast – Belfast is now a university city, with the expansion of the new Ulster University site. If elected, I will aim to communicate much more and collaborate on student projects with the Ulster University Student’s Union President.
Accountability – the Vice Chancellor and QUB Senate must be held accountable with transparent scrutiny for all their
decisions in relation to student life on campus. The lack of communication between academic staff and the students highlights a lack of respect for students who are paying university fees, accomodation fees and transport fares to attend class on campus.
Culture, Language and Flags – Queen’s is a place for learning, education and skills. The SU should sanction any club or society which wishes to promote a sectarian, divisive or extreme agenda into student life here. The SU must form a strict ‘Fair and Equal Society Committee’ to process complaints from students and determine whether a specific club/society has been to have promoted division among students on campus.
Strikes – the SU must present a much clearer policy and attitude to strikes on campus. The SU must be fair in its support for striking staff and academia, but firm in its robust defence of the students heavily affected through semester with lecture and tutorial cancellations. Standing strong for students to receive the value their student loans are for money.
Fair Student Policy – the SU should make a stronger effort in building a much more sociable and united student community on campus. The SU should write up a ‘community charter’ for all students
to follow – equal right to voice an opinion, whether conservative or liberal and the responsibility of all students to ‘work for a cause greater than themselves.’
A Better Union – there should be a student referendum held on introducing rules that prevents full-time officers from seeking election to a seperate role at the end of their term.
The Introduction of a new position of Vice-President – upon the approval of a student referendum, the SU should jointly elect a President and Vice-President for full-time office beginning in the 2024 SU elections.
The Gown Online 