Union of Students in Ireland
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The Union of Students in Ireland (in Irish Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn) is the national representative body for third-level students' unions in Ireland. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is the sole national representative body for students in Ireland. Founded in 1959, USI now represents more than 250,000 students in over forty colleges across the island of Ireland.
The Union works for: a) An education & training system open to all, irrespective of any consideration of national origin, race, sex, sexuality, creed, political beliefs or economic circumstances, so that each individual can realise their full potential in the service of the Irish people. b) An education & training system that through the development of art and literature, natural and social sciences truly serves the interests of the people of Ireland. c) The right of students to a decent standard of living, with the right to adequate financial support, proper housing and future prospects of employment in Ireland. d) The defence and promotion of all democratic and human rights. e) The provision of student services for the benefit of the membership on the principle that control of student services should lie with the membership.
The Union's sovereign body is its Annual Congress, and its executive authority is its National Council, comprising representatives from each member organisation. Members of the Officer Board of USI serve a one year term beginning on July 1st. As of 2006, the president of USI is Colm Hamrogue of IT Sligo, who succeeded Tony McDonnell.
Chief Justice John L. Murray was President in 1966/67 and broadcaster Joe Duffy held the post in 1983-84. Several prominent Irish politicians also started their careers through involvement in USI, including Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte, SDLP Leader Mark Durkan, Labour TD Eamon Gilmore, Fianna Fail Councillor Malcolm Byrne, Socialist Party councillor Mick Murphy, Labour's Ivana Bacik and former Mayor of Tuam, Colm Keaveney.
In Northern Ireland, USI jointly operates NUS-USI with the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom, with students being members of both national unions.
USI is member of both ESIB and EURODOC and have provided officer-holders in both organisations.
Contents |
[edit] Presidents of USI
| Past Presidents | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years of office | Name | College | |
| 2006-2007 | Colm Hamrogue | Institute of Technology, Sligo | |
| 2005-2006 | Tony McDonnell | National University of Ireland, Galway | |
| 2004-2005 | Ben Archibald | Queens University Belfast | |
| 2003-2004 | Will Priestly | Trinity College Dublin | |
| 2002-2003 | Colm Jordan | Dublin Institute of Technology | |
| 2001-2002 | Richard Hammond | University College Cork | |
| 2000-2001 | Julian De Spáinn | National University of Ireland, Galway | |
| 1999-2000 | Philip Madden | IT Carlow | |
| 1998-1999 | Dermot Lohan | Dublin City University | |
| 1997-1998 | Colman Byrne | Dublin Institute of Technology | |
| 1996-1997 | Colman Byrne | Dublin Institute of Technology | |
| 1995-1996 | Colm Keaveney | Letterkenny Institute of Technology | |
| 1994-1995 | Helen O’Sullivan | Dublin Institute of Technology | |
| 1993-1994 | Tom Duke | University College Dublin | |
| 1992-1993 | Maxine Brady | Rupert Stanley College, Belfast | |
| 1991-1992 | Maxine Brady | Rupert Stanley College, Belfast | |
| 1990-1991 | Karen Quinlivan | University College Dublin | |
| 1989-1990 | Stephen Grogan | University College Galway | |
| 1988-1989 | Tadhg Daly | Cork RTC | |
| 1987-1988 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1986-1987 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1985-1986 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1984-1985 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1983-1984 | Joe Duffy | Trinity College Dublin | |
| 1982-1983 | Joe Duffy | Trinity College Dublin | |
| 1981-1982 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
[edit] Deputy Presidents of USI
| Past Deputy Presidents | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years of office | Name | College | |
| 2006-2007 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 2005-2006 | Ruth Ní Eidhin | Trinity College Dublin | |
| 2004-2005 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 2003-2004 | Gareth Keogh | National College of Ireland | |
| 2002-2003 | Noel Hogan | NUI, Maynooth | |
| 2001-2002 | Colm Jordan | Dublin Institute of Technology | |
| 2000-2001 | Julian De Spáinn | National University of Ireland, Galway | |
| 1999-2000 | Julian De Spainn | National University of Ireland, Galway | |
| 1998-1999 | Ronan Emmett | Dublin Institute of Technology | |
| 1997-1998 | Helen Ryan | Dublin Institute of Technology | |
| 1996-1997 | Noeleen Hartigan | University College Dublin | |
| 1995-1996 | Bob Jordan | Dublin Institute of Technology | |
| 1994-1995 | Colm Keaveney | Letterkenny RTC | |
| 1993-1994 | Damian O'Broin | Dublin Institute of Technology | |
| 1992-1993 | Tom Duke | University College Dublin | |
| 1991-1992 | Tom Duke | University College Dublin | |
| 1990-1991 | Maxine Brady | Rupert Stanley College, Belfast | |
| 1989-1990 | Mick Murphy | Cork RTC | |
| 1988-1989 | Mick Murphy | Cork RTC | |
| 1987-1988 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1986-1987 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1985-1986 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1984-1985 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
| 1983-1984 | Mark Durkan | Queens University Belfast | |
| 1982-1983 | Mark Durkan | Queens University Belfast | |
| 1981-1982 | Enter Details | Enter College | |
[edit] External links
- Union of Students in Ireland — the USI website
- USI LGBT Campaign website — the USI LGBT Campaign website
[edit] Campaigns of USI
USI has a number of different campaign that it runs. Campaigns are National Council led or Autonomous. Autonomous Campaigns are those campaigns that have a Standing conference to decide the policy and direction of the campaign.
The largest of these automous campaigns is the USI Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Campaign.
The LGBT Campaign has been existence for over 10 years. The campaign is directed by an elected USI Officerboard member known as the LGBT Rights' Officer. The current USI LGBT Rights' Officer is Steven Conlon (of Institute of Technology, Sligo).
The USI LGBT Campaign has a number of different campaigns that it runs these include:
- Homophbia campaigns - Sexual Health - Coming Out - Gay Marriage - Anti- Discrimination - Gay Blood Ban
The campaign also runs the largest training event that USI hosts, known as Pink Training.
Pink Training is an event primarily aimed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and is the largest training event for LGBT students in Ireland and Britain.
Pink Training is a safe space for all delegates regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This weekend of modules and workshops is designed to obtain information both about yourself and the world we live in.
The entire weekend is a safe space for individualisation, expressing yourself and your sexuality on your terms, without fear of any negative repercussions outside of Pink Training. All delegates agree to this air of freedom and abide by the regulations of recognising peoples’ individual needs from the weekend, and by attending the event you are agreeing to respect the wishes of other people.
The event takes place in October/November and runs over a weekend. Pink Training is a series of workshops, talks and discussion groups that allow an individual to participate on their own terms, to share what the participant feels comfortable with and to learn from the experiences of others.
The campaign also supplies information and resources to Students' Union Welfare Officers on LGBT issues. The LGBT Campaign also has a website [1]
[edit] LGBT Rights' Officers of USI
| Past LGBT RO's | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years of office | Name | College | |
| 2006-2007 | Steven Conlon | I.T. Sligo| | |
| 2005-2006 | Charlie Atkingson | Trinity| | |
| 2004-2005 | Charlie Atkingson & John Dunne | Trinity & DIT| | |
