“Vote  Yarrow  For  a  Better  Student  Experience”  

Hi,  my  name  is  Marcus  Yarrow  and  I  am  running  for  the  position  of  UCC  Students’  

Union  President.  Having  completed  a  Single  Honours  B.A.  in  Economics  last  year,  

I  am  now  studying  for  a  MBS  in  Management  and  Marketing  in  UCC.    

 

From  my  own  four  years  of  experience  as  a  UCC  student  I  know  what  problems  

students  meet  with,  from  the  ongoing  irritating  things  like  library  opening  hours  

to  the  larger  issues  such  as  finance  and  worry  about  the  future.  I  have  worked  in  

many  areas  of  college  life,  from  being  a  class  and  entertainments  representative  

to  a  promoter  of  various  pubs  and  nightclubs   in  Cork  City.   In  addition   to   this   I  

have  worked  for  large  multinational  firms  such  as  Red  Bull  and  Apple  and  feel  I  

possess  more   than  enough  experience   that  can  be  highly  beneficial   to  YOU,   the  

students   of  UCC.  My   goals   are   attainable   and   realistic   and   I   am   confident   they  

will  be  achieved  should  you  choose  me  as  UCC  Student  Union  President  for  the  

coming  year.  

 

 

Experience  

During  my  four  years  as  a  UCC  student  I  have  learned  a  lot  about  myself  and  also  

how  the  Union  operates.  Through  my  various  work  experiences  in  college  I  have  

built   up   relationships   with   many   members   of   UCC   staff   and   have   established  

strong  working  relationships  with   the  Cork  business  community,  be   it  pub  and  

nightclub   owners   to  managers   of   companies   and  multinationals   who   can   help  

generate  more   part   time  work   for   you,   the   student.   I’m   an   experienced   leader  

with  the  ability  to  drive  initiatives  thanks  to  captaining  various  sports  teams  as  

well  as  my  Class  Representative  duties.    My  experience  across  a  wide  variety  of  

areas  will  be  used  for  your  benefit  as  UCC  students.    

 

 

Entertainments  

We  have  seen  some  great  developments  in  campus  entertainment  this  year,  and  

the   success   of   R&G   week   was   brilliant   for   all   involved.   We   must   continue   to  

maintain  this  high  standard  for  the  coming  year  and  make   it  bigger  and  better.  

My  entertainments  plans  will  not  be  beaten  by  any  other  candidates  due  to  my  

wealth  of  experience  in  this  area  and  the  group  of  contacts  I  have  built  up.  This  

will  ensure  you  have   the  best  entertainments  possible,  which   for  many,   can  be  

one  of  the  most  tangible  services  the  Union  has  to  offer  you,  the  student,  and  as  

President   I  will   ensure   the  high   standard  will   not   only   be  maintained  but   also  

improved.   This   will   be   achieved   by   working   closely   with   both   the  

Communications  &  Commercial  Officer  and  the  Entertainments  Officer  to  ensure  

all  dates,  locations  and  ideas  are  locked  down  and  ready  to  go  once  the  students  

come   back   to   college   after   their   summer   break.   I   fully   support   our   current  

President’s   policies   on   improving   media   attention   during   R&G   week   and  

introducing  more  alcohol  free  events  such  as  the  highly  successful  “Hands  off  my  

car”  or  stand  up  comedy  acts.  

 

 

Sorting  The  Smaller  Things  

While   not   necessarily   considered   the   most   urgent   of   matters,   the   smaller  

challenges  and  frustrations  that  persistently  irritate  you  take  away  from  a  good  

quality   student   experience.   Here,   the   most   pressing   issue   has   to   be   library  

facilities.    Yes,  we  know  we  should  never  leave  those  assignments  until  the  last  

minute,  but  the  fact   is  many  of  us  are   ‘last  minute’   finishers  and  the  demand  is  

genuinely  there  for  extended  opening  hours  at  peak  times  of  the  year.    This  has  

been  an  ongoing  issue  with  responses  that  security  costs  are  high  and  so  on,  but  

we  must  push  to  get  this  demand  met  once  and  for  all.    We  also  need  the  number  

of  books  in  heavy  demand  and  put  on  reserve  to  be  increased.  It  would  also  help  

greatly  if  more  sockets  were  provided  in  the  older  parts  of  the  library  or  if  more  

student  parking  was  made  available  at  a  reasonable  rate.  The  water  facilities  in  

the  Mardyke  Arena   and   the   last   Park   and  Ride   bus   leaving   at   half   6   are   other  

issues  that  annoy  you,   the  student,  and  as  President  I  will  strive  to   fix  all   these  

nagging  issues  which  will  help  you  experience  a  greater  quality  of  life.      

 

 

Finance  

The   Department   of   Education   spent   €336   million   on   third   level   grants   to  

approximately  80,000  students   last  year.  This  represented  a  €25  million  cut   in  

funding.   Thresholds   have   changed   this   year,   which   may   mean   up   to   a   1,000  

students   will   lose   their   grants.   In   recent   weeks,   Minister   Ruari   Quinn   has  

proposed  means   testing   thousands   of   families   involved   in   farming  with   assets  

over  €750,000,  causing  not  only  a  rift  between  Fine  Gael  and  Labour  but  also  a  

rural/urban   divide.   This   has   divided   our   government   and   has   the   ability   to  

divide  society  in  a  similar  fashion.    

 

Even   with   eligibility,   the   manner   in   which   grants   were   dispersed   last   year  

through  SUSI  is  perhaps  the  most  offensive  fiasco  experienced  by  students  under  

this   government   and   has   resulted   in   hardship   for   thousands   of   students.   By  

January   of   this   year,   28%  of   eligible   students   had   still   not   received   any   of   the  

funding  they  are  entitled  to.  Speaking  on  national  radio,  the  President  of  DkIT  SU  

reported   that   the   Union   had   approached   local   supermarkets   and   businesses  

seeking  donations  of   food   for   students  who   literally  had  no  money   to  eat.  This  

situation,  which  was  not   confined   to  Dundalk,   cannot   happen   again,   and  while  

the  Department   of   Education   issues   reassurances   of   extra   staff,   fixing   teething  

problems,  clearer  information  on  forms  to  avoid  appeals  and  so  on,  working  with  

the  Welfare  Officer,  I  commit  to  closely  monitoring  how  SUSI  operates  from  Day  

1  and  to  ensure  all  students  are  supported  in  receiving  their  grants  on  time.    

 

 

More  Part  Time  Work  For  Students  

I   intend   to   promote   the   recruitment   of   students   seeking   part   time   work.   The  

presence  of  a  University  in  any  town  or  city  generates  millions  in  revenue  for  a  

wide   variety   of   businesses,   pubs   and   clubs   and   landlords.   I   intend   to   canvas  

businesses  that  benefit  hugely  from  student  resources,  however  meager  at  times,  

to  reciprocate  and  commit  to  hiring  students.  I  will  encourage  them  to  advertise  

posts   which   become   available   on   our   website   and   display   stickers   on   their  

windows  saying  they  support  UCC  which  will  encourage  more  students  to  spend  

there.    It  needs  to  be  a  give  and  take  system.    

 

Along  with  the  opportunity  for  work,  I  would  like  to  persuade  large  outlets  like  

Tesco,  Dunnes  and  Spar  to  provide  food  for  a  week  for  fixed  amounts  like  €15  or  

€20   and   upwards.   It   would   generate   income   for   the   supermarket   and   help  

students  avail  of  a  more  balanced  diet  at  an  affordable  price.  

 

 

Graduate  Employment  

What  happens  when  we   finish  College   is   a  huge   concern,   and  not   just   for   final  

year   students.   I   plan   to   increase   the   awareness   amongst   students   of   the  many  

companies  who  offer  good  graduate  programmes  in  Ireland  and  abroad  and  also  

internships   and   exchanges   with   foreign   Universities.   We   need   to   increase   the  

number   of   companies   who   visit   campus   on   the   milk   rounds.   I   would   like   to  

stagger  these  visits  so  that  companies  visit  on  a  sector  by  sector  basis  in  the  form  

of  an  Employers  Fair.    Meeting  representatives  from  a  company  is  a  good  help  in  

decision  making  and  getting  a  feel  for  the  company  ethos  and  how  you  might  fit  

in  is  invaluable.  

 

Related   to   this   is   the  need   to  maintain   the  quality   of   our  Degrees   so   that   they  

continue  to  be  held  in  high  regard  by  employers  and  other  Universities  here  and  

internationally.  With   the  current  cuts  and  the   fear   that  more  are  coming   in   the  

future,   this   is   more   important   than   ever.   This   means   we   need   to   maintain  

pressure   on   the   Governing   Body   to   protect   our   reputation   as   students   and  

graduates  and  ensure  the  current  standards  in  teaching  are  maintained.  

 

 

Student  Support  Systems  

While  there  is  a  good  range  of  supports  available  for  students,  I  believe  many  are  

under-­‐utilised  and  I  would  like  to  highlight  what  is  in  place.  I  also  want  to  know  

from  you  when   there   is   a  need   that   is   not  being  met   and   commit   to  providing  

that   service.   The   peer   support   system   is   available   for   first   years,   uLink   Peer  

Support,   and  also   the  Genio  Trust,  which  provides  mentors   for   first   years  who  

may  have   experienced  mental   health   issues,   such   as   depression,   and  who  may  

find   it   difficult   to   cope  with  or   integrate  with  University   life.   This   is   a   brilliant  

service  but  not  enough  students  are  aware  of  it.  

 

There   is   ongoing   emotional   support   available   for   all   students   through   free  

counseling   services.   Everyone   has   to   be   aware   of   these   services,   both   for  

themselves   or   those   they   may   know   who   are   experiencing   problems   around  

exam   stress,   image   and   financial   problems,   depression,   drug   experimentation  

which  leads  to  addiction,  feelings  of  overwhelm  and  many  more.  I  would  like  to  

take  away  the  stigma  from  what  are  broadly  called  mental  health  issues.  We  are  

all   likely  to  experience  some  of  these  problems  at  some  point,  and  encouraging  

students   to   both   talk   about   these   issues   and   to   increase   the   uptake   of   the  

services  available  is  part  of  this  process.  

 

Students   are   finding   it  more  difficult   than  ever   to   find   employment  when   they  

leave   College   and   I   would   like   to   see   the   Careers   Office   having   a   bigger  

involvement   in   seeking   employment   for   UCC   students.   I   propose   to   set   up  

workshops  for  students  which  will  be  given  in  areas  that  you,  the  student,  would  

like   to   improve   on.   This   would   include   areas   such   as   interview   techniques,  

computer  skills  and  ways   to   improve  and  enhance  your  CV.   I  would   like   to  see  

the  Careers  Office  encouraging  and  helping  students  to  think  outside  the  box  and  

explore   less   conventional   areas   where   their   skills   and   knowledge   could   be  

valued.   These   workshops   would   give   UCC   students   a   huge   advantage   when  

hunting  for  employment  at  the  end  of  their  college  life.    

 

Thank   you   for   taking   the   time   to   read   my   manifesto   and   please   feel   free   to  

contact  me  on  the  details  below  if  you  have  any  queries  or  would  like  to  be  part  

of  my  campaign  team.    

 

Remember  vote  Yarrow  number  one  on  March  11th  and  12th  for  a  better  student  

experience!  

 

Yarrow4president@gmail.com  

 

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