Demand a Better Future

LauraHarmonFor USI VP Equality & Citizenship

1. Training & EmpoweringI believe that quality training can not only equip students to take acon on issues they care about but it can also change hearts and minds. If re-elected, I will:

Organise Regional Equality Training to give students the knowledge and skills to campaign on equality issues they care about Ensure comprehensive Equality modules are delivered at Students’ Union Training Work to implement the content of the USI Equality policy Source the best trainers for Equality & Cizenship events

2. Engaging and Building NetworksI believe that if we are to build our Union as I believe that if we are to build our Union as strong as it can be, USI must improve the level of engagement it has with its member stu-dents. If re-elected, I will:

Connue to create online and offline networks for every area of the brief Consult and engage more with the Northern Region and ensure that USI runs more equality campaigns in that region Work with Students’ Unions to create a best pracce document on engaging effecvely with students to promote an awareness of USI Work with the rest of Officer Board to compile a short informaon video on what USI is and what USI does that can be screened by Students’ Unions during orientaon weeks and throughout the year

Overview of mymanifesto’s keythemes

As students and as members of society, every individual USI represents deserves equality. I want to connue campaigning for equal rights and represenng you to the best of my ability.

I have seen firsthand how the USI Equality and Cizenship campaign directly benefits students and raises awareness of students’ rights. I see a huge potenal to build upon my work this year and to expand our naonal equality and cizenship campaigns. It’s been a privilege to work for you so far and I know I have the energy, experience and passion to be privilege to work for you so far and I know I have the energy, experience and passion to be your naonal officer for another term.

Why am I running for re-election?

3. Research & Informed CampaignsIt’s fair to say that the USI Equality and Cizenship campaign is a wide-reaching, diverse campaign. I believe that research and involving those who are affected directly by issues should be at the heart of all directly by issues should be at the heart of all of our campaigns. To execute effecve campaigns, planning and knowing what to priorise is key. If re-elected, I will:

Connue to create online and offline networks for every area of the brief Create Advisory Groups for each area of the equality brief as needed to ensure that grassroots members are at the core of our campaigns Build relaonships with the liberaon officers in the Naonal Union of Students officers in the Naonal Union of Students in the UK to compare best pracce and share ideas Connue to run soluon-based campaigns and use research I have conducted this year to inform new campaigns

My plans for each section of the briefEquality BriefsIn addion to campaigns in each equality area, I will run a USI Diversity Week which will integrate and highlight all of the equality briefs. This week will celebrate the equality briefs. This week will celebrate the fantasc diversity of our membership. It will also draw aenon to and engage students with the range of inequalies that sll exist for many of our members.

LGBTQUSI connues to play a crical role in campaigning for equality for LGBTQ campaigning for equality for LGBTQ persons in Ireland. It is vital that the USI persons in Ireland. It is vital that the USI connues to harness the power of this movement to effect change, especially as we are facing into a potenal referendum on marriage equality. I believe that we are turning a corner in Ireland on LGBTQ rights and USI must connue to play a key role in this area. If re-elected, I will:this area. If re-elected, I will:

Ensure that Marriage Equality is a key focus for USI using my extensive experience in campaigning on this area to lead this campaign. I will build the structure of USI’s Marriage Equality campaign by working closely with LGBT sociees and Students’ Unions and cre-ang ‘Students for Marriage Equality’ chapters linked to every campus in the countrycountry Connue to engage acvely with the Constuonal Convenon Expand the USI LGBT Ally campaign and source funding for the campaign Connue to campaign for respecul and inclusive gender recognion

in Ireland Organise training for student health staff on LGBT issues Campaign for a repeal of secon 37 of the Employment Equality Act Highlight the inequality of the MSM Blood Ban

DisabilityWhile overall parcipaon rates for stuWhile overall parcipaon rates for stu-dents with disabilies are increasing, the numbers of students who are deaf or visu-ally impaired are decreasing. We need to ensure equity of access and that higher edu-caon instuons are providing adequate support for all students. If re-elected, I will:

Connue to work with the Associaon for Higher Educaon Access and Disabil-ity to counteract cuts to support funds for students with disabilies Connue to work with the equity of access secon of the HEA to highlight the current shortcomings of the Fund for Students with Disabilies, including extending the fund to part-me students Seek funding for a longitudinal study on the experiences of students with disabilies in higher educaon so that we disabilies in higher educaon so that we can run informed campaigns on this area

Ensure all USI publicaons on and off-line are accessible to dyslexic or visually impaired students Hold an open forum so that disabled students can give feedback to USI on accessibility issues and feed this into the Higher Educaon Authority’s new Naonal Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Educaon Assist the development of student sociees for students with disabilies and provide training on issues of acces-sibility to Students’ Unions

MatureMature students comprise 15% of students in higher educaon. Increasing equity of access and supporng these students during their me in educaon is crucial. If re-elected, I will:

Build on the exisng working relaonship between USI and Mature Students Ireland and work with them to Students Ireland and work with them to campaign against further cuts to the Back to Educaon Allowance Connue to work with the Naonal Access Office of the Higher Educaon Authority on equity of access for mature students

Organise another mature students’ convenon, with a focus on building networks between mature students Provide training to Students’ Unions on represenng mature students Work with Students’ Unions to lobby for sufficient childcare provisions in higher educaon instuons

InternaonalIt’s important that Ireland maintains a posive reputaon abroad for the quality of educaon we provide. It’s also important that internaonal students are important that internaonal students are well supported during their me studying here. If elected I will:

Ensure that USI obtains a seat at the High-Level Group, an advisory group to the Minister for Educaon and Skills on the internaonalisaon of educaon Provide training to SU Officers on the needs of internaonal students using the DVD that USI and ICOS (Irish Council for Internaonal Students) have worked on this year Connue to lobby for an Internaonal Students’ Hardship Fund In conjuncon with ICOS and USI Of-ficer Board, I will engage with Quality and Qualificaons Ireland (QQI) on the criteria for the Internaonal Educaon Mark (IEM) that is being created Include cultural diversity and an-racism in USI Diversity Week

Gender EqualityGender inequality and gender stereotyping sll exists in Ireland and affects all genders. If elected, I will:

Engage with the new Aboron Rights Campaign in Ireland to work towards fulfilling USI’s fulfilling USI’s pro-choice mandate Build a network of ‘Students for Choice’ Work closely with Women for Elec-on to provide training to students on how to run for elecon Use the results of the USI ‘Say Something’ survey to inform a Zero Tolerance to sexual harassment cam-paign similar to that offered by the Na-onal Union of Students in the UK Lobby the government for a more equal approach to parental rights which recognise in law the rights of both the mother and the father Organise a networking day for Gender Equality Officers & sociees

CizenshipStudents, collecvely and as individuals, connue to play an important role in shaping our society for the beer. I believe in expanding the USI’s Cizenship cam-paign.

The student movement has significant vong power. In conjuncon with the Campaigns Officer and Regional Vice-Presidents, I will organise large scale voter registraon drives throughout the year I will prepare a campaign on why it’s important to vote before the important to vote before the 2014 local elecons I will connue to work closely with community groups related to the cam-paign areas and make students aware of volunteering opportunies

I will work with Campus Engage, a network for the promoon of civic engagement acvies in Irish Higher Educaon

Other Areas of the BriefTraveller students

Work more closely with Pavee Point and the Irish Traveller Movement on equity of access to educaon for Travellers in Ireland

Workers’ Rights

Engage more with other organisaons who are defending and promong workers’ rights and run an awareness workers’ rights and run an awareness campaign on this area

Key achievements so far Mobilised and organised a large, visible student conngent for March for Marriage (August ‘12) Draed and passed USI Equality Policy at USI Naonal Council (September ‘12) Launched USI’s first LGBT Ally iniave (October ‘12) Organised the USI Mature Students’ Convenon (October ‘12) Represented USI at March for Choice (October ’12) Co-organised Green Training with Young Friends of the Earth (October ’12) Represented USI as speaker at Ireland’s first Trans Rights Rally outside Dáil Eireann (November ’12) Organised USI Pink Training on its 20th anniversary with a range of new workshops, high-profile speakers and extra workshops, high-profile speakers and extra addions to the event (November ’12)

Organised the USI/ICOS Internaonal Students’ Forum (November ’12) Project manager of the USI ‘Say Something’ survey on students’ experiences of violence – the first online study of this scale to be run in Ireland (January – February ’12) Organised the USI ‘Women in Society’ seminar series (January ’12 - ongoing) Addressed the Constuonal Convenon on Women in Polics/Role of Women following the USI submission I wrote (February ’12) Delivered training to many Students’ Union Officers and students on equality issues since I started in my role Improved parcipaon at USI Equality & Cizenship Working Group Currently working with Volunteer Ireland on a joint student volunteering guide Currently developing a training DVD for staff on internaonal student issues with the Irish Council for Internaonal Students

Other experiences and achievements Completed the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Wave Change/Youth Civic Acon Iniave (10-month programme 2012) Elected as UCC’s first LGBT Rights Officer (‘10/’11) Restarted Cork Acon for Equality and fundraised 3,000 euro for Marriage Equality from two successful fundraisers (’12) Chairperson of UCC Amnesty Internaonal Society (’11) UCC LGBT Society Chairperson and Cam-paigns Officer (‘10/’11) & Membership Development Officer (‘09/’10) Cork Rebel Award for Volunteer of the Year (’12) Gold Student Leadership Award from UCC (‘11) Bene Meren award for outstanding contribuons to UCC sociees (’11)

LauraHarmonFor USI VP Equality & Citizenship