[dropcap]T[/dropcap]here are two candidates running for the position of Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty Representative in this year’s DCU Students’ Union (DCUSU) election.
Glen Scanlon Tims is a first-year economics, politics, and law student. He is running for the position as he believes in trying to achieve the best student experience in the DCU community.
As class rep for his course, Scanlon Tims has experience representing students and listening to students’ requirements.
Scanlon Tims hopes to set out a guide for newly elected class reps on how to best represent their course. He also hopes to evolve the Peer-to-Peer mentoring scheme introduced by the current HSS faculty rep into ‘FacultyFeeback’ a forum where reps come together to talk about issues within their course.
Another point in his manifesto is to advocate for a more sustainable future at DCU, recommending that most future assignments be submitted online, and more water fountains added to the Henry Grattan building.
Scanlon Tims is also advocating for better Erasmus opportunities by ensuring that students are made more aware of the necessary requirements for Erasmus and INTRA at the beginning of their studies.
Another goal he is campaigning for is to make the HSS a more Gaeilge-friendly faculty by sending out a weekly newsletter in both English and Irish.
Scanlon Tims wants to ensure there are better library resources available and if elected will request that the library ask publishers for more textbooks for modules.
Scanlon Tims did not respond to a request for an interview before publication.
Zak Aboukrhes is a first-year Law and Politics student hoping to represent the faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Aboukrhes is running to represent student views and ensuring everybody is heard on a more accessible and diverse platform.
“I believe every student should be given the chance to voice their opinion and becoming the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty representative will ensure I am able to create this forum,” he said.
Having served as class rep, Aboukrhes understands the responsibilities of an SU representative and has always had a keen interest in student activism and representation.
He proposes “three main pillars of engagement” focusing on communication, outreach, engagement, and equality.
In his manifesto, Aboukrhes highlights the importance of strengthening communication between reps, students, and faculty and ensuring that reps are given sufficient training in conflict management.
He is also proposing forming a Faculty Rep Council to openly discuss issues and initiatives with course chairs, giving both students and lecturers an opportunity to tackle any problems they may have.
Digital learning due to the pandemic has taken away a college experience from students, many students don’t know each other as a result.
Aboukrhes hopes to create a forum for students to communicate and socialise through larger group chats on platforms such as Slack.
If elected he is most looking forward to bringing his ideas to the faculty.
“I think with my three pillars we will be able to create a strong foundation for restricting student governance here in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. This will allow students to have a seat at the table and I can help students make a real change happen in the faculty,” said Aboukrhes.
Voting for DCUSU elections takes place on March 24th and 25th. Information on all candidates can
be found at https://www.lead.dcusu.ie/
Shauna Ledwidge
Image Credit: Lead DCUSU