Vito Moloney Burke is a third year business student, the current Chairperson for the DCU Society Life Committee, and is the only candidate in the running to be the next DCU SU President.
He plans to roll out free pregnancy tests for all students, introduce a ‘diversity in leadership’ series of workshops and host an All Hallows carnival.
“I think the president has to know the way the university works, from grassroots and students all the way up to senior staff members and I have been fortunate enough given my role at the SLC this year, and other positions that I have been working with senior staff members on different projects, I believe across the board I have the experience,” said Moloney Burke.
He credits his confidence to his time in university. “DCU has given me that, I wasnt that person, the Vito that a lot of people know in DCU, I probably wasn’t that guy in secondary school,” he said. “DCU fulfilled my potential and I really want to help other people achieve that. It’s a lovely feeling.”
One of the candidate’s main goals is to introduce diversity in leadership workshops.
“I want to encourage a widespread mentality stemming from class reps and society members, that you can get involved in any kind of way you want.”
Vito wants to increase engagement and visibility from the executive as well as from students.
“The hub, the development has been a curse on DCU. I came in in my first year and the venue was still there and because of that I know what student engagement looks like.”
“It’s not just about those five people up in those offices. We’ve all seen sabbaticals over the last few years, and it’s been them, and they are the poster boy, here’s your 12 months of fame,” he said.
“If I’m elected, from day one it’s about dispelling that throughout the team, that’s not what we are. I think it’s important to be visible and for people to know your face, but there’s a fine line.”
Addressing the fact that he is the only candidate in the presidential race, he attributed this to a decrease in student engagement with the SU, calling it a “crying shame”.
“For me personally to properly represent my students I would need to see them day in day,” he said. “I found my identity, I found my direction through engagement.”
Vito also plans to distribute crisis pregnancy information and safe drug use information to all incoming first years in fresher booklets.
“I’m trying not to get too carried away this week because I am uncontested, but I am getting a little bit more excited. It does fill me with joy that finally I can be that person who gives back to the students, and I feel that across the board I can, so I’m very excited.”
Fionnuala Walsh