Left Wing candidate elected Deputy President of UCDSU

by ex student Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:25

The jury is still out about Dan's far-left credentials. He hid his blog called "Proud to be left" during the election campaign. He failed to mention his membership of Labour in his election material. He is not the founder of the anti-health levy camapign. Active in it, yes, but his role is inflated by his own spin. I hope that Dan is a left-wing Deputy President. But for me the jury is out.

by Chris A.Bond - Campaign manger-Dan O'Neill Campaign Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:51

Dan is not ''far left'', nor does he define himself as such.

Dan didnt mention his political affilation because he ran on a non partsian ticket, union officers are there to represent students and not the line of their political party. his campaign team consisted of members of four different political parties, but most of his campaigners were in no party at all.

UCD students for Free healthcare was founded by myself, Dan O'Neill and Rory Geraghty, we postered and organised the meeting, it was the best attended issue based meeting in UCD in years.

Dan doesnt need to explain his left wing credentials to cowardly anonymous begrudgers on indymedia, his record speaks for itself.

by Student Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:45

There was a pretty good vote for the left-wing candidates in the Queen's University Belfast Student Union elections.

Apparently People Before Profit candidate Michael Collins took nearly 1000 votes to the current Union backed careerist's 1300.

A rise in Student militancy perhaps?

by Dermot Lacey - Labour Sat Mar 08, 2008 13:52

Congratulations to Dan on his much deserved victory. Dan will be great Left wing Student Union Leader.

by Jo Sat Mar 08, 2008 14:02

You know your politics are worthless when someone like Dermot Lacey comes out and support you. Great sell out in regards to your blatant support for the bin tax there Dermot a few years back. This is a person who supports a social policy which is to the detriment of working people and who at the same time attempts to convey himself as a 'true' representative of the people. Unlike social activists who fight and/or fought alongside working class people against this disgusting tax, this careerist smugly sat back and supported the implementation of this taxation measure.

'Those who stand for nothing, stand for nothing'

Expect the same from Dan O Neill in University College Dublin Students Union. A couple of token statements and soft pickets against the government and the college authorities but no real grassroots activism which would involve challenging real social injustice.

by Dermot Lacey - labour Sat Mar 08, 2008 15:18

Jo,

I don't know what Dan's views are on the Waste Collection Charge. I do know that I stood for public office when the electorate knew my position and they elected me. I also know that I have a positive track record of delivery on housing, equality, public services, employment and many other progressive issues. I will debate your record anytime in public with mine.

In the meantime I am simply offering congratulations to a good progressive young person who happens to live in the same City Council estate as I do on his achievement.

Grown ups and generally progressive people are pleased when good young people progress. They don't wallow in their own sanctimonius purity.

by Don Sat Mar 08, 2008 15:24

I like Dan. One of the few people in Labour Youth that I would consider reasonable. He's against agressive far-left tactics. One of the few lefties in UCD that understand what democracy is.

by Red Wedge Sat Mar 08, 2008 19:02

This is a good victory and was hard won. Conragts and best wishes to all involved.

by d'other Sat Mar 08, 2008 23:35

Red Wedge should give the good readers of Indymedia one of his great pieces on the student movement/event reports about the win. What the politics of the guy, what was his manifesto? Why was it hard won? Does it say anything to a rising student consciousness or is it more lowest common denominator politics with even a personal blog hid to play into it?

by EFox - LY Sun Mar 09, 2008 16:58

Congrats comrade. Fair play. I dont know if it represents a increasing trend in student conciousness, but its certinly a step in the right direction. Hopefuly we can build on it across the country in the coming years with progressive left candidates standin for positions in IT's and universities. Well done again

by Pierce Farrell - Member of UCDSU Sun Mar 09, 2008 22:50

While I would welcome a victory for a competant and genuine left-wing candidate in any students' union the overriding fact in Dan O'Neill's election victory is that he did NOT mention his Labour Youth membership anywhere on his manifesto. Dan O'Neill got elected because he was Dan O'Neill and pledged to be "Your Voice in the Union" NOT because he talked up the position or policies of the Labour Party, or any other moderately non-conservative group, and convinced students to vote for those policies. His opponent's ideas were less 'sexy' because they did not involve the same requirement for capital expenditure - capital investment which the senior Labour party is having trouble convincing the government is necessary.

While Dan might be viewed as being 'proud to be left' in some people's eyes he made dam sure the ordinary students of UCD did not see him that way!

by JP Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:55

First of all I've to take issue with Dermot Lacey's remark "Grown ups and generally progressive people are pleased when good young people progress". How patronising is that? Whe does someone become a "grown up"?

I think Dan should have said he was a member of Labour Party. That's honest thing to do. Surely you are proud to be in that Party and surely the core principles of that Party will the the core principles you use everyday as DP? Rather than Dan being a broad-based candidate, from my view it's opportunism. It's about dropping important information the electorate should have so that you can get more votes from people with problems with Labour. I also have to ask why did Dan's blog get removed from public viewing during the election? Surely it would be good to get your views known by people that may google your name. Why take it down? This does not augur well for the next year.

by jmp - ? Mon Mar 10, 2008 13:38

Quote from Dan on another message board:

"I did not hide my political leanings.

When the University Observer asked me if I was in a political party I said "The Labour Party"

I also answered the question honestly at the hustings.

When voters asked me whether I was ever a member of a political party I told them .

To say I hid that fact is completely slanderous, untrue and unfair.

I never watered down any of my beliefs for the sake of the election....

One main example of this was my venomous opposition to the invitation of Jean Marie Le Pen just a few weeks before the election....If I was in the business of kissing ass for votes, I would not have taken such an unpopular stance against one of UCD's largest societies. http://www.therecord.ie/content/view/105/26/ "

by Pierce Farrell - Member of UCDSU Mon Mar 10, 2008 13:59

In UCD a society's membership is largely but not exclusively determined byu the amount of 'freebies' they give out during Fresher's Week. LawSoc are well funded, even have Coca-Cola sponsorship if I recall, so they can give out plenty of stuff that justifies a student handing over €2 membership fee. LePen is largely unknown to most students and hadn't acutally accepted the invitation at that stage or at all.

If you want to judge Dan's confidence in left-wing ideas ask him about his decision not to propose a motion fopr Students' Union Council, drafted by a Socialist Youth member, that called for the Union to withdraw its support of Miss UCD? This competition bans mothers, wives and those under 5'4".

by ex student Mon Mar 10, 2008 14:44

If what Pierce claims about Dan not willing to be identified with opposition to Miss UCD competition is true it's fairly strong evidence for a flip-flopper with a constant eye on what is "popular" and not a constant eye on his principles. This alongside hiding his blog & not mentioning his Party smacks of opportunism.

by enda Mon Mar 10, 2008 17:46

A few things,

1. Dan did not hide his political affiliations. He mentioned them to both news papers ( don't blame Dan if the junior journos failed to publish them) and at the hustings. He is not required to put them on a manifesto. Allegations like this amount to nothing more than sour grapes. If we really want to discuss candidates hiding political affiliations we should discuss the acronym that appears on the back of Ogra Fianna Fail members every time they run for election. Further to this it would not take a genius to deduce that Dan was left wing, all you had to do was read his manifesto.

2. I would ask the moderators to delete the comment made above by Pierce Farrell in relation to Dan not proposing a motion on Miss UCD. Pierce makes an accusation that is not supported by any evidence. Unless he can prove it then it should be deleted immediately.

by redstar Mon Mar 10, 2008 18:02

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUkkxjUr-7Y

by class rep Mon Mar 10, 2008 21:20

If anyone thinks that Dan's election is an advance for the left in UCD did not see his campaign. If you check the minutes of previous motions from Le Pen to Charlie Donnelly you will see that the Union Council is a fairly conservative body that will keep young Daniel well in check if he oversteps the mark.

Anyway he will have 2 FFers with him to curb any excitement along with O'Dea whose old man is big in FG

by Pierce Farrell - Member of UCDSU Mon Mar 10, 2008 23:31

Putting the word 'active' and several variations of it does NOT make it clear that you are left-wing. As one of the last radicals in UCD I know what true change involves and while Dan has promised a lot of it and could deliver if he was in Hugh Brady's job the primary differences between Isobel O'Connor's and Dan O'Neill's manifesto are how realistic the promises are and the use of the words 'active' and 'campaign'. As someone who recognises left-wing ides and being one of the few people to bring them to the Union membership, I can unequivocally say that Dan O'Neill's manifesto is NOT left-wing. When Oisin Kelly and Darren Cogavin ran for Eucation Vice-President of the Students' Union in 2003 and 2004 respectively they put the phrase "No to a War for Oil and Profit" Oisin Kelly won by 50 out of over 4200 votes and mentioned the CWI in his victory speech while Darren Cogavin lost by a ratio of 35-38% to 60%+. The absence of left-wing ideas and Dan's pre-emptive hiding of his "proudtobeleft" blog spot shows that his election victory, by a margin of about 400 votes or 10% of the turn-out, is NOT a victory of left-wing ideas or people in UCD.

Now to the Miss UCD topic. Dan was asked by a student member of the Socialist Party through an email to propose or second a motion calling for UCDSU to withdraw its co-operation with and support of the Miss UCD contest. He said he'd get back to her and when he did he said he wasn't in a position to support the motion because he had just supported the controversial anti-LePen one two weeks before hand.

by Wolverine Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:07

"As someone who recognises left-wing ides and being one of the few people to bring them to the Union membership, I can unequivocally say that Dan O'Neill's manifesto is NOT left-wing."

Quiet, everybody! The Oracle has spoken.

Should you wish to be judged on the strength of your left wing beliefs, approach the Oracle and prostrate thyself before his highness.

Begin the ceremony by praising the ego of our Glorious Oracle, who lest any of us forget, is one of the few people who brings true left wing ideas to the Union membership.

If thou art lucky, our glorious oracle of UCD student politics shall offer his opinion on the fidelity of your leftist beliefs, after which thou may depart with the blessings of Pearse.

Seriously man, stop waving that "years of wisdom and experience" stick around. You'll poke someone's eye out!

by ex student Tue Mar 11, 2008 19:13

Enda says that putting your party membership on your manifesto is not a requirement. True, but you are not required to put anything in particular in manifesto. If you choose to you can put no photo! or you don't even have to have any policies outlined!

It's dishonest not to mention that Dan is a member of the Labour Party. Dan is active in Labour and is the chair in UCD. It's a big part of what he has been up to in college. To leave it out is not just an oversight, it's a conscious decision. If I had run for office in the SU I'd have mentioned I was a member of an organisation that I was active in, particularly if I was an active member of a political society and I was running for a political/campaigning office.

Only question is why did Dan drop any mention of Labour? Does he think students are naturally right-wing and would be hostile to a liberal party? If they think this about students I don't hold much hope for Dan's plans for the year ahead unfortunatley.

by enda Tue Mar 11, 2008 20:58

I think it would be best if we wait until around this time next year before we pass judgement on how good/bad left/right Dan is. Considering he does not take office until July we are getting a little presumptuous here. We should give him the opportunity to do the job as deputy president even though he failed to mention the CWI in his victory speech, before we judge his left wing credentials.

In relation to Pierces comments I almost fell of my chair when I read the following statements "As one of the last radicals in UCD" and "As someone who recognises left-wing ides and being one of the few people to bring them to the Union membership" atributed to himself. Beggars belief to be honest, to hear comments like that from someone who has consistently attacked the left in UCD for the past number of years. No doubt his new 'left wing credentials' have something to do with his infatuation for a certain new female recruit in the Socialist Party, look out lads Comrade Pierce is filling out his application form as we speak.

by Don Tue Mar 11, 2008 21:43

"infatuation for a certain new female recruit in the Socialist Party."

I think I know who that is. And I also think whom the poster is. Anyway, my awesome detective work aside. Pierce what makes you a radical lefty? Were you not hanging around the Dublin YFG christmas party? Maybe you are left, but you never seemed that way to me before. Or maybe I'm left and I just dont know it?

by JMP - ? Wed Mar 12, 2008 00:34

"I can unequivocally say that Dan O'Neill's manifesto is NOT left-wing"

Throughout history, students have worked to create substantial political, environmental, economic, and social change. Since the 1880s, students have been involved in Student Unions fighting for what they believe in. As Deputy President, Dan will reignite this tradition and bring real activism back to the heart of student life.

- Fight to Retain Free healthcare on campus

- Campaign against the sale of UCD land to private developers

- tackle the lack of adequate free psychiatric care available for students

Dan believes the union is at its best when it is campaigning in the interest of students. In the past students defeated fees, campaigned against nuclear power, fought for social equality and won. We have strength when we stand together

- fight for truly free education

- reinvigorate the student movement

-Set up a student campaign group

All of the text above was in Dan's manifesto

Maybe not left wing but more to the left than most.

by Pierce Farrell - Member of UCDSU Wed Mar 12, 2008 17:26

The above post simply lists the buzzwords Dan O'Neill used.

I am politically independent so I can socialise with whomever I wish.

I have been crtitical of the UCD 'left' for so many years because of their conservatism.

by ex student Wed Mar 12, 2008 18:43

I made a few points to Enda and what do we get? We get untrue speculation about my identity. You don't know me Enda & I only know of you from when you ran in the elections. We get quasi-personal remarks about someone. We get Pierce Farrell thrown into the mix. Pierce is very much irrelevant to SU from what I can see. So why are we getting this? I think it's because Dan, Enda & Chris are trying to deflect from the core questions asked of them.

by Mentat Wed Mar 12, 2008 19:02

Could we please get off the issue of personalities and who is 'relevant' or not? At this stage we all need the questions restated.

by exs student Wed Mar 12, 2008 20:54

I mean relevent to this SU discussion.

by Mentat Wed Mar 12, 2008 21:19

Thanks for the clarification. Pierce will always give out about the UCD Labour crowd until they get Lenin tatooed on their chests!

The core questions for Dan, Chris and Enda are:

If you want to judge Dan's confidence in left-wing ideas ask him about his decision not to propose a motion for Students' Union Council, drafted by a Socialist Youth member, that called for the Union to withdraw its support of Miss UCD?

Only question is why did Dan drop any mention of Labour? Does he think students are naturally right-wing and would be hostile to a liberal party? If they think this about students I don't hold much hope for Dan's plans for the year ahead unfortunatley

by Pierce Farrell - Member of UCDSU Thu Mar 13, 2008 21:08

The silence is deafening! If the questions aren't being answered we can take it that there are no answers!

by Delphi Fri Mar 14, 2008 09:24

If you argue with an idiot they only reduce you to their level

by Mentat Sun Mar 16, 2008 00:26

but the rest of us want substantive answers to the questions above.