The Equality debate in UCC student elections

cork | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Friday February 17, 2006 20:54 by Paul McAndrew paulmcandrew at gmail dot com

don't dare mention the E word

From the UCC Student's Union debate board:
http://bb.ucc.ie/viewtopic.php?t=6102&postdays=0&postor...art=0

I'm not going to vote for a president who doesn't mention equality issues in their manifesto and I'm sure I'm not the only one - Paul McAndrew"

From Richie (one of three candidates): Quote:
"Sorry paul, what do you mean by equality issues?"

From me: Quote:
"tackling barriers faced by students with disabilities, LGBT students, Muslim students etc"

From Richie: Quote:
"Well of course That's important, however i believe that it is not as important ascatering, printing or the library. If you want equality prioritised over these issues then perhaps you should vote for mariel. They are part of my goals but they are not my number one priority"

http://bb.ucc.ie/viewtopic.php?t=6102&postdays=0&postor...art=0

UCCSUPresident
Paul, I'm going to try to explain this to you really, really slowly and methodically, and hopefully you will understand. Please concentrate. Any campaign must list the priorities for the year. A SU should prioritize things that are going wrong in the university. That means the library, Campbell's, postgrad space. these are genuine problems that hundreds and even thousands of students face. There is a massive problem with postgrad space, it needs to be addressed. There is no massive problem with equality. UCC is a bastion of equality, a place where everyone, be they black, gay, Chinese or disabled are treated equally. Are you seriously suggesting that there is a problem with inequality? For someone who talks and talks and talks about openness, you can be a very small-minded and petty man. I suppose I'm being homophobic now as well. I'm very annoyed. You (a) made Richie look bad by suggesting he doesn't believe in equality, and (b) you made Mariel look bad because people are going to think you are on her campaign.

Pádraig
_________________
Padraig MacAmhlaoibh
UCCSU President