http://s7.postimage.org/t09by7gh7/The_Sad_Truth.png

Of course the fact that QR runs on old sofas (and old equipment) is just one illustration of how underfunded societies are, meaning that some spend all their year putting so much effort into one-shot ‘big nights out’ in the Mandela rather than being able to concentrate on running events that really add something extra to the student experience for their members.

No harm to them, I’m sure they are great nights out (as you can guess I don’t go dancing much…) but the SU has a whole entertainments department who can put on nights out. Societies could do so much more for their members if they weren’t so hamstrung.

The reason I’m worried about the commercial attitudes of Team Connected is because in my own small way I’ve learnt this year that it doesn’t work. I’ve been a member of the Queen’s Radio Committee for a year and a half now and at least half of our time is spent trying desperately to find enough funds just to get the basic technological resources we need. I’m aware of financial struggle. It has been suggested by Connor that financial rewards be given to presenters but it’s only through working for the station for so long that I can see how wrong this is. We too looked “from the out in” at the beginning of the year, reaching out to commercial outlets, focussing entirely on listener figures but by working with student radio stations in Ireland we learn how misguided that approach is- and keep in mind that one of these stations won the award for Society of the Year in Ireland last year. Finally we encouraged presenters to not care about listener figures- yes we promote ourselves but now we focus more on the quality of the show, the music, the music interview technique the production value and slowly listener figures have crept up slightly. In other words giving the best media training possible. But more importantly I have heard our presenters progress all year- It was awesome to tune in and hear the first presenter I’d trained, who was very shy and unsure to begin with, a few weeks into his own show sounding very professional, confident and comfortable

But this is just my experience. This can apply to every society/experience in Queen’s. The best pub crawl with your society was unlikely to be the one where you were in VIP but the one where to made loads of new friends and had a great laugh. The article you worked to hard on to write for the Gown was because you cared not because of a paycheck at the end. I know for a fact I work harder at Queen’s Radio than I do for my actual part-time job.

Students don’t just want free THINGS/ a paycheck. The reason Aidan’s ‘Are Ye Well’ (and btw I don’t think I can be counted Anti- Connect when I gave my first choice vote to both Aidan and Nuala) worked so well in the library over exam time was not just because we got free tea/coffee but because there was a feeling that the university cared. The people serving were up for a chat and people took a break from work to have a laugh over a cuppa.

To summarise my lengthy rant I am fully aware that the union has to make money and that without it a lot of the schemes we want to put in place but it cannot be equated with a student experience. My student experience is being able to go to the Sabs office for a chat, lying on our broken second hand sofa in radio for many hours before slowly moving down to speakeasy and caring far more about who else is there than whether my pint is £2 of £2.50. And I wouldn’t change it for free access to a VIP area all year….

Tuition Fees, no matter what level they are set to, act as a barrier to people in lower income brackets to step into higher education. Surely all education is a right yes?

at the end of WWII, a post war, debt stricken Britain established the Welfare State, the NHS and Free University tuition, now this of course was in response to the growing demand for professional labour from the markets coupled with the people’s want for a better world and way of life after decades of economic woe and two world wars!

That said, The people who went through this free tuition, contributed back to society through income tax after they Graduated, a fair contribution surely….that off working in society and paying yer taxes?!

in 2012, with a deficit of 80billion…..but unclaimed corporation taxes of 128bn…..the argument for free education (inside the arguments of the wider anti cuts movement) has strong economic sense and viability on it’s side. That said, when we live in a world where that which is good is that which is profitable….we should be able to see that something is wrong.

I wonder of Nietzche was talking about this thread, full of big lads saying big words behind nice wee Pseudonyms. I for one have never been afraid to express my opinion, and don’t need a false name on Cyberspace to do so either.

My opinion has always been placed within what the objective situation of what the next year will hold for students, the objective situation that urged me to try to stand for Campaigns, only for a failed exam to stop me.

Our fight didn’t end with Fees being frozen, this freeze is only temporary (2years) it marked the beginning of our fightback, as it was only the beginning of the attacks. Our courses are being cutback on through the seemingly benevolent and abstract notion of voluntary redundancy, entire pathways are being left for dust and thats only with 150 staff gone, and not all of them were academic staff! This Union needs to be prepared for a fight on it’s own doorstep, a fight for our education funding. but with quotes such as those from Jason O’Neill in The Gown basically accepting the merely ideological premise that “cuts have to happen” I have very little faith that this years team will form any credible form of defense for students, but that’s ok!

we’ve worked outside the SU before, when we were branded extremists and brainwashed mentalists, we can go back to working outside of the SU again. Because if students’ education here at Queen’s is to be protected, we clearly have to look into building a grassroots campaign of ordinary students.

Just today, what we know to be the NHS has been effectively dismantled (in GB), we await word on the future of EMA, we’re dealing with the closure of City A&E, Our courses are being cut, Our education is under threat.

Queen’s Student Union is steeped in a radical history, particularly around it’s formation when there were sit in protests and occupations to get the space they now have. QUBSU needs to fight again, before we lose all we hold dear, If we fight, we cannot guarantee victory, but if we don’t…..we can guarantee defeat!

If I had one question to give the Sabbatical team of 2012/2013 it would be “what are you, prepared to do?”

On the Election Courts, I’d say evidence is ample and strong…..I guess all I can hope is that a fair result is given and that we can all move on from this. I also hope lessons are learned for the next elections the following year.

Whilst I accept that due to the nature of our unique Students’ Union in that we owe a substantial amount to the University with which we are unfortunately fully affiliated with there is no need to treat this Union as a fully commercialised comodity as if it is there to be ran in a money making focussed way because it simply isn’t.

I would like to reference that I actually listen, read and analyze all the figures and understand at present the Bars make for 42.6% of the annual turn over (approximately) and other areas make up the rest.

This means there is 50 – 60% that isn’t alcohol orientated.

Lastly I would say that next year its very unlikely we will support a VIP seciton in the Students’ Union especially considering the nature of which would most likely be for you and your wee group to shuffle into every time you feel important.

Balls – I have plenty and would happily state my criticisms to your face.

Much love xx

#Facepalm

Well it worked for your canvassers I suppose.

The name ‘Team Connect’ came whilst the campaign theme was in development and actually had not a single thing to do with the SU’s Monday night entertainment offering.

Reference ‘the SU becoming a commercial commodity’ – granted there are many things aside from commercial activity that the union is there and stands for, but when it boils down to it, it needs to make money to survive, the main way to do that is through the bars and entertainment offerings, which presently, in some ways, don’t compare to other venues in the city in terms of offerings.

Finally, it takes MANY hashtag retweets to trend on twitter, we never expected to and just thought it apt to include it in our social media-themed campaign. Additionally, we knew that you cant have apostrophes in hashtags, but we thought it better to use correct grammar, especially considering it was the focal point of our poster & as it was already split over three lines.

Furthermore, if anyone has any problem with me personally, I’d prefer they have the balls to say it to my face than being a little bitch and wimpering to other people or anonymously on a forum..

#CLEANSWEEP #WINNING

5/7 affiliated strongly with law/gaa, hardly representative is it?

You are obviously coming from a position where you regard those opposed to team connect as sore losers in a fair fight which is perfectly fine of you to do however given that the vast majority of students (not just candidates and their canvassers) who followed the elections think something is up then we simply can’t ignore it.

Like I have already said I happily voted for Jason, Nuala, and Aiden because I have watched them and questioned them thus to make an informed decission on whether they do a good job or not. Whilst I am critical of Jason on some issues he still works hard and maintains the correct level of diplomacy between the SU and university on important topics. If he ever becomes too chummy with the University or does something that does not benefit our students I would be more than happy to be more harsh in my criticism.

Nuala proved herself an excellent candidate for the job given she has saved countless students in need of her assistance this year including actually my own degree for which I am eternally greatful to her for in that regard.

All of that being said I really have to find fault with a lot of things you have said in your post. You firstly clearly have me or have in the past had me on facebook which I would like you upon reading this response to use to double check what I am putting down here (In fact anyone who has me on facebook is free to check what I am saying here).

You claim that I have already begun spamming the life out of everyone let us review this shall we?

“Gary Spedding
19 hours ago near Béal Feirste via Facebook for iPhone
Hit hard by tonight’s results not going to lie like…”

Is actually the only status update I have made since the elections that is on the said topic. I have posted in three other places including the thread where I stated that I would be in political oposition to Team Connect next year.

Unless of course you mean this photo which i posted 7 hours ago is also spam?: http://s7.postimage.org/t09by7gh7/The_Sad_Truth.png

Or perhaps you discuss the fact that it is Friday and i get tagged in all the images and pictures flowing from the occupied Palestinian territories updating me on the number of people brutally injured in nonviolent protests against a fascist apartheid state that is crushing the life out of Palestinians in their homeland?

Could you maybe be refering to the ony post I made regarding the fact it is the Jewish holiday of Purim and the Shabbat today?

Any ways I think I have sufficiently proved I am not on this occasion spamming – Believe me I can and do recognize that I spam a lot most times but it is because I find I have important things to say.

Regarding my political oposition against Team Connect – It really boils down to the fact Student Council and NOT the sabb team determine policy in the Students Union and how it is run for Students hence the term “Ran by students For students”. This is important because there are many things that some of the incoming sabbs wish to implement which are just ridiculous if not bordering on treating the Students union as a commercial commodity.

For a start I seriously worry about the future of SU lets given it has taken over two years to fully implement – I know Adam McGibbon has bent himself over backwards to get this implemented. I have doubts regarding incoming VP Welfare and their abilities not because I don’t like her (she is a wonderful person actually) but because she simply doesn’t know enough about the position including the fact there is a welfare committee in the Students Union which the other candidate (Chloe Minish has sat on for at least the last two years and chaired for the past 6 monthss).

I have concerns over the future of campaigns & communications given Conor Daly’s priorities do not rest with completing the hard fought and earned work of outgoing sabb Fiona Kidd – i.e. I fear for Queen’s Radio, SU Media and other important if not vital forms of communication which if implemented like Fiona intended would improve communication ten-fold.

Regarding Equality & Diversity I will put it bluntly, whilst I am sure Jessica is a wonderful person it is important to recognize that most people who require assistance with equality issues do not actually know her and we must also note her policies were exceptionally lacking. As a bisexual man who also has the autistic condition Aspergers I do not feel I can trust her to deal with some of my many issues as if I struggle to cope, then it will likely overwhelm anyone who is less dedicated than Treasa who has put up with me exceptionally well this past year.

To answer the question of who exactly I think I am? Well the fact is I know who I am and so do over 7500 students at this University. I am not saying that I do not have my faults which get huge criticism from many more often than I can actually cope with however the fact remains (and I can’t say this without sounding arrogant so I apologise) more students know who I am, know what I am politiically capable of and also are supportive of my views than who actually know the name of or indeed the role of most Sabb officers.

It is a simple fact that because of both good and bad press that a lot of people have heard of or know me through one way or another.

Let us also be very frank, I do perhaps need to reassess my life because when I read criticisms from people who prefer to remain anonymous like yourself it really disheatens me because If I am honest (Again this is going to sound ridiculously arrogant) I work my fucking arse off for a lot of things here at Queen’s, attend a lot of events, ask the right questions at the right times all whilst running a successful society and trying to do a degree. I have made myself very ill these past few months trying to get things done for other students and nobody except my close personal friends bother to say thank you or recognize that fact and that is perfectly fine – Just don’t dare suggest that I need to reassess my life when you a person who likely doesn’t get involved in jack shit seems to think they can criticise me for having a very valid opinion and viewpoint on these elections.

There is no point even addressing the rest of your post as this is turning into one of my reknowned essays which I didn’t intend it to do…

Nothing I have said is a personal dig at anyone here by the way I am and hope to remain good friends with many of the sitting and ingoing sabbs, however I will not stay quiet or suck up to the boss so to speak because it makes people politically inept and also makes them appear foolish and treated without any kind of seriousness at all as if they are a joke to be laughed at which is a disgrace in and of itself.

Thanks.

Second: Team connect have cheated, in this I am in no doubt what so ever.

You say ” Are they really so idiotic and deluted (deluded) that they think a few canvassers showing students how to find the voting area on qol (QOL) (which may I add most of the people I have talked to didn’t know how to access this either) made them absolutely anialate (annihilate) yous (you) in the poles?”

The Truth, “Team Connect knowingly and willingly had their canvasser’s commit electoral fraud by pressuring students into voting for their candidates. There is a wealth of evidence to support this including an audio recording where a Team Connect canvasser is in direct breach of the electoral rules”

So as the Union is about to come fully under the control of a bunch of dishonest, cheating, hypocrites I will post the following in the hopes that a Google search of their names will always have this as a top search.

Jason O’Neil, Studnets’ Union President
Niall Mc Shane, Vice President Clubs & Societies
Connor Daly, Vice President Campaigns
Nuala McAdams, Vice President Education
Jessica Kirk, Vice President Equality and Diversity
Aidan Hughes, Vice President Community
Joanne O’Neill, Vice President Welfare

and the canvassers of Team Connect, knowingly and willingly participated in electoral fraud with the aim of getting themselves elected to the Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union Sabbatical Positions for 2012-2013.

Now suck on that you pricks.

On a happy note, well done to Connected and good luck to future candidates next year, try not to get your knickers in a twist

Not only have a group of people who can be classed as “one-party” all been elected, but they named their party after what is effectively the SU only student night, highly original.

The fact that someone can be elected on the premise and main points of their ticket being “a vip area for Mandela” is complete nonsense, despite the fact that it against everything the SU stands for. Im sure our Equality and Diversity VP will agree? Not likely, as she’s probably looking forward to the free jaeger and strutting about on a Monday looking important too much.

This is not to say that I support the FEE candidates as they don’t seem to hold a shred of economic viability between them. So if we are all at university studying forever, who actually pays for any public services? This is a question they seemed incapable of answering when asked.

Team Connects canvassers were out of order on several occasions and I witnessed first hand their pushy tactics (said incident involving a recording) and hovering on voters shoulders to push buttons and ensure a vote for O’Neil and his chums.
With our new rulers all consisting of one-party, and they certainly aren’t the left party, are we in for a year of Secret Police and armed take overs of the Mandela balcony to appease these “Very Important People”?

Maybe its time for an SU Resistance Movement?

Students dont want a copy of someone else :)

Here you go Gown this ones on me use it however you please

http://s7.postimage.org/t09by7gh7/The_Sad_Truth.png

If you had researched this properly, you would have realised that Joanne o’neill is in fact an employee of the Hatfield bar, Belfast.
Nothing wrong with a student bar supporting their student employees!!

If you had researched this properly, you would have realised that Joanne o’Neill is in fact an employee of the Hatfield bar, Belfast.
Nothing wrong with a student bar supporting their student employees!

For someone who is all about the protection of human rights, the british government and army have been a huge offender!!”

[Insert sarcasm here] To my absolute shock and surprise someone is yet again using an ad-hominem attack against me…

Lets be very clear here regarding the differences between terrorist organizations and none terrorist organizations.

For a start a Terrorist organization is defined as a group that uses terror (violence or otherwise) to achieve a political aim. This is the most basic definition of Terrorism or a terrorism organization which is why the groups I listed are defined as terrorist as they use means such as terror and the murdering of civilians to achieve what they want.

Lets be very clear in that I fully condemn the actions of any group even if it is an institution such as the British Military where there are instances where certain platoons have used terror or harmed civilians deliberately through misconduct this includes incidents such as Bloody Sunday.

However for people to still use such incidents to incite hatred and anger especially after the Bloody sunday enquiry conclusion is disgraceful.

Back on topic: The British army do not espouse political aims nor do they use or say that they will use terror as a means to achieve what they want unlike some other groups.

You can support the existence of the UOTC whilst condemning the events of things like Bloody Sunday. I will quite happily attend a UOTC event and ask them to fill out an anonymous survey asking them all about their views on such things im sure the results would surprise you since your hardened ideology clearly displays your hatred for them including the 24% of them who are Catholics and Nationalists.