By Clubs & Soc Editor Zöe Percival.
Constitutional consultations were held this week on campus and online, in an effort for students to learn about the proposed changes to the SU constitution and to share their thoughts.
What major changes have been proposed?
Full Time Officers
The proposed constitution states that full time officers will no longer have “Wall of Text” style responsibilities, and will instead have, “Clear, specific provisions”.
To “align more closely with other Irish Students’ Unions” the VP for Academic Life, and the VP for Wellbeing, will be respectively known as the VP for Education, and the VP for Welfare.
Similarly, to “more closely reflect the purpose of the role”, the VP for Diversity & Inclusion, and the VP for Community & Citizenship, will be changed to the VP for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and the VP for Citizenship, according to the proposal.
The Irish Language
Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge will be a newly added role. Its purpose, according to the proposed constitution, is to “be the main representative for Irish speakers and Irish language issues and facilitate the continuous expansion of the use of the Irish language in all aspects of the Union”.
Any public communications issued on behalf of the Union should give “equal status to both the Irish, and English languages, with the exception of Irish language only content”.
The constitution and website should be available in Irish language versions.
The Union’s Executive will be referred to as the “Coiste Gnó, and the Class Representative Council (CRC) will be known as “Comhairle”.
Part Time Officers & Postgraduate Representation
The International Officer is a new “engagement-focused” role for international students, which make up 20% of the student population.
The Postgraduate Officer role will be split up, as the proposal states that “Taught postgraduate students and postgraduate researchers require different forms of representation. One role is not enough “. Postgraduate Taught Officer, and Postgraduate Research Officer, will “represent Postgraduate Taught students in a similar capacity to the current Postgraduate Officer”. Elections will take place for these roles in September.
A Researchers Representative System will consist of two Postgraduate Researcher Representatives for each school. Any PGR specific student issues brought before “Comhairle” should be voted on only by Research Representatives.
Anyone who missed the consultations can email President Shane Murphy, or VPs Emily Cathcart and Seán Greene to request a copy.