SU President – Róisín Costelloe
Uni is more than just academics. Extra-curriculars improve employability, mental health and wellbeing, yet students are struggling and must prioritise working to survive. Every student deserves a transformative student experience. Vote Róisín, current student officer, to reduce barriers through: Cost of Living Initiatives. Clubs & Societies Support. Student Safety & More.
Introduce yourself; what is your campaign most fundamentally about?
My name is Róisín Costelloe, I’m the current Activities & Engagement Student Officer, I was an undergraduate in Law & Politics, then a Masters in International Commercial & Business Law. I’ve been an exec on QUB Nights, QUB Swift Soc, I have had experience as a Course Rep at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as a counsellor representing all students, AHSS and postgraduates. I love the uni through and through, so that’s why my campaign now going for President is basically this: a vote for me is a vote in support of student academics.
I’ve noticed this year that a lot of students have ISSAs – Individual Student Support Assessments – and they feel almost ashamed to use them; they are afraid to use them even though they’re entitled. Some schools are not properly upholding them, so I want to make sure that people can use them without fear, because they are entitled to them.
As well as that, lecture recordings. We do have some schools working with lecture recordings but it is often the case that they are not actually implementing them, because it is an opt-out system. Our postgraduate students are at a disadvantage; even though there is a lecture portion of the seminar, they’re not being recorded, so if you miss university – it could be due to sickness, work, periods, or the cost-of-living crisis that is going on (so even for work) – you’ve no way to catch up what you missed in that class. I would really like to see if we can expand lecture recordings, and also if the seminar is included with the lecture aspect, because I don’t think any student should miss out on learning, especially if they cannot be in the room for any reason.
What were – and are – the main challenges and achievements you’ve faced the past year as Activities & Engagement Officer?
I think the main challenges are that it takes some time for things to actually come into fruition. In August there was a PEC increase, so clubs were not consulted; we just got an email from the PEC saying “we’re going to have an increase of £7” – which is a big difference to students. What I was told is that you have to give it time so they can see their numbers, so I set meetings up with Queen’s Sport representing clubs, and now I’m in talks with the head of sport about reduced PEC fees, but I am aware that this could take a few conversations, and also that it takes 3 months for a new direct debit to come into effect. I think Queen’s students who are athletes – you represent Queen’s – see essentially a hidden cost to your sport. You need to have a club membership, pay PEC fees; you could have a uniform fee or travel fees, competition fees, and you also have to pay tuition fees to entitle you to discounts for a student membership. I really want to make sure we can get that by the end of the year.
At Fresher’s last year there was only a ~2-week period were students can try clubs for free and get a taste in the activity to see whether it’s for you or not before you commit. I was able to get [this period] doubled, so students had a month to go out and try free activities, and see what they liked if they did it. I was able to put on different activities like President’s forum and Clubs & Societies forum where people can come together and actually talk about their issues; they could come back to me to which I could follow it up. One thing that came out of our President’s forum was handover, so I’m really focused on that at the moment to make sure that the handovers for future societies is easier. We do have a Clubs & Societies handbook online, however there’s no Ctrl+F function to find anything; what I’m working on at the moment is a booklet that is more searchable to anything you want to do. I’m also working on a points system which we aim to roll out next semester, to encourage engagement from clubs and societies, and bringing about SU awards for best club and society. Some of the biggest things have been talking to students; students have had issues and they’ve been able to come to me, which I’ve been able to help them with certain things like that.
As a Gaeilgeoir, what are your goals towards policy regarding Irish-language signage?
This is something I find very important. Coming from the Gaeltacht, I did my Leaving Cert through Irish. I think it’s a really big shame that we had Irish-language signs in the Union years ago, and we don’t now, and I know that we do have policy and there is stuff ongoing as well. I would love to see if we could get bilingual signage about, because I don’t really see any issue how they couldn’t. I think some people are focusing on a digital medium, potentially the university, but I think we need physical signs; they are necessary, not everybody can use technology. I don’t see an issue with it at all. I know the university are looking at potentially doing subjects through Irish and hope Irish grows beyond classes in the Language Centre; just for Irish to have a more physical presence on campus would be amazing.
It is home: I was in Cork,, and seeing the bilingual signage everywhere makes me feel at home, even just speaking it. Even if it is rusty, it comes back to you so naturally because it is just such a part your identity, which sometimes you can forget about, especially as it is the case that some people grow up without Irish. But then, there are so many people wanting to learn Irish; as long as you’re trying, that’s all you need. I think that having conversations with people and making an effort; there is opportunity to make bilingual signs, posters and the like: definitely! One of my campaign posts I’m trying to do is to do English and Irish, so you have the option… the whole thing as well with a Fáinne for example – which I now have on my Officer jacket – it is about the choice; you have the choice; it’s kind of like “my language, my choice”; even if you don’t use it, it is there, is comforting, and should be there, especially regarding the Identity and Language Act here in 2022, and policies from Belfast City Council.
Can you elaborate your goals surrounding “Green Dot Training” to help further student safety?
Green Dot highlights the 3 D’s in Bystander Intervention Training; Direct, Distract and Delegate. It gives students clarity in how to put this into action. This came about in response to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), and the amount of incidents and reports that were happening, such as 96% of girls having faced gender-based violence in NI. With Direct, it encourages people to be direct in saying “that’s not okay, that’s not appropriate”. You can Delegate, e.g., if you don’t feel safe enough to do that (because your safety is your priority no matter what), we have 24-7 campus security so try to use their help if you don’t feel safe being Direct, or for example in the SU bar were you can ask for help from the bar staff, or if you’re anywhere in an establishment that has a manager or security, go to them; it doesn’t mean you’re ignoring the issue; it means you’re delegating it to someone who is in a higher position of power or authority, and that they’re able to follow up with that.
The official launch will be on March 13th, Bystander Awareness Day. We have been involved very recently in filming content to spread awareness. On our Officer jackets now you will also see the Green Dot; the more people who wear it, you can see a sense of community. For example if you’re in a bar alone you may feel nervous but if you look around and see 5 people with the Green Dot, that is five allies you can come together with the address the situation. Especially if some people may not know whether something is inappropriate or wrong, that creates the confidence to explain how and why. We are working with the university, and all the staff in the SU are trained on the Green Dot, and ideally one person on every SU committee would be the goal, to create a safe space for everyone.
Describe your campaign in five words or less…
Transformative Uni Experience for All
Favourite cafe around QUB?
The Social; the only mochas I’ve ever had have been at Social, and with my free drink tokens.
You can view Róisín’s manifesto here.
