Chesi Anne Basil is running to be your Graduate Officer.
Chesi Anne Basil is one of two candidates running for the role of Campaigns and Engagement Officer. She is currently pursuing a MSc in Marketing in UCD’s Smurfit Business. Basil’s slogan for the campaign is, “Make the SU your first instinct - not your last resort,” and her manifesto states that Basil is not promising dramatic transformation overnight but a promise for something deeper: A cultural shift. Engagement is her priority, letting students know what the SU is and that it is there for them.
When asked by The University Observer what qualifies her for the officer role, Basil believes that her current studies in marketing “connects to campaigns and engagement,” and that her charity work will also benefit her during her term. “I am working for Make A Wish, I’m also working as a volunteer for Irish Cancer Society, and I am running for PETA as well. I am also very much involved in S.V.P doing food banks and outreach [...] Always in my mind I want to make a change or an impact to serve a purpose [...] So, these things have actually changed my perspective on how I think - to make things easy for people and help out in a way that I make a difference [...] and that I can contribute to something.”
Basil was asked why she decided to run and why it was important. “There is a huge gap between the students and the SU because [...] I didn’t used to know much about what the SU does. It’s all about freebies and free stuff and breakfasts and all these things. But more than that, I’m an international student myself, so when we come here, we actually need some support. Like whom to go to when we have an issue or something. So people don't know they can come up to the SU, like, even if they have, you know, the smallest of issues. [...] So I felt maybe I can change that because I am experiencing that first hand.”
“[For] international students, when you are in a country you should feel safe being a student. It is a responsibility to the Union to protect them.”
On engagement between the current SU and students Basil stated that she did not think that SU “have engaged much. It’s more about freebies or free breakfast. That’s what I came across with the SU, just free events, but I feel they should be more involved in all aspects, just not with free stuff. They should be concerned about the overall well-being of the students.”
In regards to how she would increase engagement Basil said she would like to “install a board [...] so that people can come and post their opinions or the issues they are going through, and that would be anonymous and it would be much easier for them to approach us.”
When asked by The University Observer how she would respond to a mandate that she disagreed with being passed by Council, Basil stated that “I might have an opinion, I might try to tell them what my take is on the discussion or the issue,” but she would ultimately agree with the majority.
Regarding her support of a full time Gaeilge officer, Basil states, “I do believe where you are living or where you are you should be in touch with the roots of that place or country. I do support the idea of that, nobody wants [their culture] to erode away.”
The Union has been mandated by the student body to follow BDS and support Palestine. On this topic, Basil said that she would not like to comment.
Basil did confirm that she would follow the Union’s mandate to provide gender-affirming products for transgender students in UCD. On this, Basil said she would support the mandate and agrees with the mandate being passed.
Basil also supports the Union’s mandate to address racism, anti-migrant and refugee views on campus. “Those are the issues that are faced by mostly international students, when you are in a country you should feel safe being a student. It is a responsibility to the Union to protect them.”
When asked how she would keep track of the “huge gap” hopefully decreasing during her term Basil said she would keep track of the students coming to the SU with issues to see the increase in engagement. “I plan to keep in check with students by holding random pop up stalls and asking students what they're facing. I want to touch base on every aspect, if they're doing well.”
Basil also plans to begin, if elected, “The Unspoken Board” which she describes in her manifesto as “a physical installation across different parts of campus with one simple anonymous prompt: What’s something you’re struggling with that no one talks about?” Basil wrote in her manifesto that she would publish anonymised themes so students can see they’re not alone - so it would clearly outline what the SU can do about each issue raised and Basil would then identify the patterns and bring them directly into SU meetings. When action is needed, Basil wrote that she will push for campaigns grounded in real student voices.
Voting in the sabbatical officer elections is open online from the 3rd to the 5th of March. Results will be announced on the 6th of March.