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FOR USIPRESIDENT

#1HARMONLAURA

WHY AM I RUNNING FOR PRESIDENTOF THE UNION OF STUDENTS IN IRELAND?

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As President, I will bring the student movement together by engaging and listening to our members. I want to see a USI that stands for something, that isn't just against something. I want to see an education system that delivers for students and society. I will assert USI as one of the most powerful campaigning and lobbying organisations in the country.

I believe in this organisation and our power to effect change. I have a vision for the future of USI and the determination to deliver results. My experience is diverse. I will not shy away from the bigger picture or from the youth crisis we have in Ireland at the moment. I will be a knowledgeable, passionate and strong voice for students.

1Education is the biggest source of social good and social mobility in the country. We cannot allow education to be painted as a commodity that can be bought and sold. Education and work will always be linked but I believe industry should be led by education and not the other way around. I will campaign to highlight the intrinsic value of education in and of itself to both the individual and to society. We are facing a crossroads when it comes to how higher education is funded. We cannot afford to lose this battle. Graduates pay on average 70% more tax in their lifetimes than non-graduates and I will stand firmly against any proposals for a deferred payment scheme. I have always been an advocate of USI’s policy for an exchequer-funded higher education system. I have the vision and knowledge to steer the narrative around education in our favour and to bring other civil society groups with usus - because we are all fighting for the same thing. An accessible, quality education system is a keystone in building a more equitable society.

As USI President, I will:● Work with community and civil society organisations to expand the support and reach of our National Campaign● Mobilise students and our allies for a national day of action● Utilise the funding proposals from the Nevin Economic Research Institute to lobby the Government on equity of access to education and the value of education to society● Campaign for the protection of student supports and Grant reform in line with the policy paper USI wpaper USI will vote on at Congress 2014 ● Campaign against fee increases for apprentices● Incorporate the FE sector into USI’s strategic planning aims ● Consult art and design students on the messages and look of our National Campaign as well as drama students who can bring a new creative edge to it

MY AREAS OF FOCUSAT A GLANCE

1. Education Funding and the National Campaign: What are We Fighting for?2. Employment and Workers’ Rights3. Higher Education LandscapeLandscape4. Marriage Equality and Social Issues5. Mental Health Campaigning and Training 6. Championing Strong Unions and Training7. 7. Postgraduate Students 8. The Trilateral Agreement and ESU9. The Value of USI and Member Satisfaction10. Promotion of the Irish Language

Education Funding and the National Campaign: What are we fighting for?

employment and workers’ rights2

Our graduates are being devalued everyday by the culture of unpaid internships that has been allowed to permeate. I will be a strong voice on this issue. I will ensure USI defends the rights of workers and their right to a living wage. I will call for proper investment in our young people and in the youth guarantee.

Higher educationlandscape3

The Higher Education Landscape is changing in Ireland and this will impact on our members. USI must support our members in Technological University formations and regional cluster processes.

As USI President, I will:● Campaign for a Living wage, an end to zero hour contracts and collective bargaining rights for workers● Lobby for investment in the youth guarantee and the phasing out of JobBridge● Continue USI’s ‘Future Focus’ campaign and promote and expand Jobs.USI.ie● Continue to fight for fair pay and conditions for Nursing graduates and interns● Lobby for increased accreditation for volunteer work and civic engagement and support the cthe creation of a national student charter on civic engagement● Assist MOs who want to work to embed entrepreneurship into course programmes● Ensure USI runs a campaign to inform students of their rights as workers

As USI President, I will:● Assist local unions throughout merger processes if necessary and continue to host merger working groups at National Council● Ensure that Unions can protect their ethos and what they do best in any mergers● Ensure the student voice is represented throughout the HEA’s Strategic Dialogue process●● Ensure that mergers of institutions have quality and student needs at their heart and aren’t just a cost-cutting exercise● Ensure that all of Officer Board are trained and knowledgeable on these issues

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As USI President, I will:● Oversee the implementation of USI’s ‘Students for Marriage Equality 2015’ campaign● Pressure the Government to hold the marriage equality referendum in early 2015●● Create ‘students for marriage equality’ groups linked to each MO● Work with the VP Equality and Citizenship to organise a national student planning day in Semester 1 for the 2015 marriage equality referendum● Oversee the implementation of mass voter rregistration drives ● Support the VP Equality and Citizenship in expanding the USI Ally campaign

More Social Issues I will ensure USI leads on:● Accommodation availability and the cost of accommodation affects students across the island. I will ensure USI leads the campaign on the student aaccommodation crisis● Repealing the 8th Amendment to the Irish Constitution● Trans* Rights and campaigning for inclusive Gender Recognition legislation● Equality Budgeting in Budget 2015

marriage equalityand social issues4

USI is arguably one of the largest social movements on the island with 354,000 members. Under my Presidency we will assert ourselves at the forefront of social justice issues.

mental health campaigningand training5

This is an area that I am extremely passionate about. The effects of the recession have impacted negatively on young people’s mental health. The stress and uncertainty associated with financial difficulties have undoubtedly contributed to this. Under my Presidency, USI will lobby intensively on funding for mental health services and increase training for students on the issues.

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As USI President, I will:● Lobby for the full €35m committed for investment in community mental health services to be allocated in Budget 2015, along with the €15m of the underspend in Budget 2014, totalling a €50m investment in these vital services● Ensure USI provides extensive training to Welfare Officers during the summer including ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills) training and work with MOs to organise rregional ASISTs on their campus for students. Given the worrying statistics, I feel it’s important USI also organises SafeTALK specifically for LGBT Societies● Highlight how financial strain impacts on mental health as part of our pre-budget lobbying and campaigning● Work with the VP for Welfare to ensure that reducing stigma and equipping students with the knowledge to recognise the signs of depression is a key focus of the overall mental health campaign

championing strong unionsand training6

I want USI to help our MOs to be as strong as they can be. USI often fails to engage the people who run our clubs and societies and volunteer in our students' unions. We must engage them now and develop them into the activists of tomorow. I have successfully organised USI’s largest and most prestigious training event two years in a row - Pink Training. We should have the same prestige as Pink Training for all of our events.

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As USI President, I will:● Make all USI training events inclusive of students from the Northern Region● Organise a full day of Entertainments training at Students’ Union Training (SUT)● Increase focus on casework at SUT with real life scenario examples from past officers● Organise intensive lobbying training for all officers, with introduction modules at SUT and a further full day of training after that being offered to sabbatical officers●● Bring back a national Activist Academy training event for students in Semester 1● Draft a white paper for the HEA on best practice for student involvement in Governance structures in Higher Education Institutions● Compile a best practice model to be given to MOs on class rep systems, governance, council structures and Students’ Union elections ● Encourage Regional VPs to attend all MO students’ councils where possible to give verbal USI updates

As USI President, I will:● Work with NUS-USI to register students to vote in the General Election in 2015● Organise monthly teleconferences with the Presidents of NUS-USI and NUS ● Organise networking opportunities for the relevant OOfficer Board members and their counterparts in NUS-USI and NUS● Give regular updates on the European Students’ Union (ESU) at National Council

The trilateral agreementand esu8

I look forward to fulfilling our trilateral agreement next year and I think it is of utmost importance that we continue to foster our relationships with NUS and with NUS-USI.

postgraduateStudents7

USI needs to do more to represent Postgraduate students. This cohort of students has been severely impacted with financial cuts in recent years.

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As USI President, I will:● Ensure a low interest loan scheme for Postgraduates is ready to go in 2014● Campaign for reasonable working hours/contracts for Postgraduate teachers● Create an alert system for postrgraduate funding application deadlines that students can sign up to via www.USI.ie● Call for Postgraduate students who teach to be given graduate studies modules that can be used to offset modules in a thimodules in a third level teaching qualification● Request that all HEIs provide training to postgraduates in a number of areas: methods of teaching and engagement, learning outcomes for students and best practice for assignment setting● Create a USI working group/forum on postgraduate students’ issues

the value of usiand member satisfaction9

USI needs to consistently deliver value for our members if we are to thrive as a national union. We need to satisfy our current members and always strive towards full-affiliation. I will consult with our affiliates and non-affiliates on what they think are USI’s key benefits and key areas where USI needs to improve upon.

promotion ofthe irish language10

USI has had a vibrant Irish language campaign this year and I want to see this continued and expanded upon next year.

As USI President, I will:● Run a national USI-awareness campaign in Semester 1 including promotion via the USI Freshers’ packs, posters, traditional and social media● Draft a Strategic Plan for the Organisation● Deliver on USI’s 5 year plan for income diversification ● Create an internal sponsorship team for each big event●● Assess why Students’ Unions leave and why Students’ Unions have stayed within USI● Widely market the USI discount card and the USI online shop

As USI President, I will:● Ensure USI works with all Cumann Gaelí to promote the use of an Ghaeilge● Support the VP for the Irish Language in every way I can● Lobby to ensure that the Irish language community are stakeholders in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language● Campaign for services in Irish to be made available to the same standard as those in English

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N.B. Some areas of focus in this manifesto are pending the approval of motions at USI Congress

WHY LAURA STANDS OUT

LAURA HAS DIVERSE NATIONAL EXPERIENCE

● The role of President has many hats. Laura has two years of broad-based experience from social justice campaigning, involvement in the pre-budget campaign, addressing the constitutional convention, writing policy, communicating in the media, overseeing research, chairing the Task Force on Volunteering and Citizenship and organising demonstrations

● Laura is best placed to organise Students’ Union Training having twice organised USI’s most prestigious event - Pink Training

● Laura has extensive media experience as well as experience in speaking at rallies and pprotests, conferences, addressing Oireachtas committees, addressing the Constitutional Convention, delivering training and lobbying

● Laura is a proven strategist and wrote USI’s voter registration strategy, led discussions on USI’s political reform document and is currently writing USI’s Marriage Equality strategy

● Laura currently sits on the HEA’s Equity of Access Advisory Group and is best placed to represent students on the HEA Board next year

● Laura has experience in scrutinising finances - she is on the Board of Directors of the Association of Higher Education AAssociation of Higher Education Access and Disability, the Irish Council for International Students and the Irish Family Planning Association

● Laura is best-placed to lead USI’s marriage equality referendum campaign with 5 years campaigning experience in this area

● Laura has a proven track record of delivering results and innovation in a large brief

● USI Vice-President for Equality and Citizenship ‘12/’13 and ‘13/’14● Extensive public speaking experience, including national and local media, on a range of issues● Member of the HEA’s National Access Office’s Advisory Group on Equity of Access to Education ‘12-present● Chair of the USI Task Force on Volunteering and Citizenship ‘13/’14● Drafted the USI Voter Registration Strategy●● Drafted USI’s Constitutional Convention submission on marriage equality● Organised USI delegation at March for Marriage in ‘12 and ‘13● Board of Directors of 3 organisations: AHEAD, ICOS, IFPA● Organised USI Pink Training on its 20th and 21st anniversary in ‘12 and ‘13● Organised the USI Mature Students’ Convention ‘12● Project managed USI’s ‘Say Something’ Report ●● UCC Students’ Union LGBT Rights Officer ‘10/’11● Gold Student Leadership Award - UCC Accreditation Committee ‘11● Completed and spoke at NUS-USI Lock Inn Training ‘13● Widely published in college and local media