Final year English and Sociology student, DramSoc Diversity and Inclusions Officer and SU Non-Alcoholic Events Officer Shauna Young is seeking election as UCD's next Welfare Officer. Her campaign is inspired by a desire to increase accessibility, revitalise the SU's grassroots engagement and transform UCD's failing mental health approach
This year’s UCDSU Executive Elections see three candidates running for the position of Welfare Officer. Final year English and Sociology student, DramSoc Diversity and Inclusions Officer and UCDSU Non-Alcoholic Events Officer Shauna Young is one of them. Her campaign is inspired by a desire to increase accessibility, revitalise the union’s grassroots engagement and transform UCD's failing mental health approach.
Young demonstrated a strong knowledge of both UCDSU and UCD management’s structures in her interview, naming boards and individuals when asked with both speed and confidence.
Asked about what experiences makes her most qualified for Welfare Officer, Young cites an involvement in student welfare stretching back into secondary school. "It's something that I've always been involved in, in relation to student wellbeing. In secondary school, I founded the Mental Health Committee, and I was also very heavily involved in the Student Council." Turning to campus, Young has served as this year's Diversity and Inclusions Officer for DramSoc, "looking after students if they're upset," and the SU's Non-Alcoholic Events Officer which entails "making sure students feel included."
Young believes that the most important part of the position is ensuring the union and the Welfare Office is approachable, and ensuring students know, "that there is someone there to listen." Young acknowledges that venturing into the office can be an intimidating prospect for many and is keen on changing this. " [… ]make sure they're comfortable enough to come in, and know that there is a safe place for them to go on campus. I don't want students to be afraid of the SU."
During our conversation, Young refers to her lived experience with disability and mental health issues, and believes this experience gives her critical insight into the hard reality of accessibility and health services on campus. "I am disabled myself, I am autistic and I have an invisible disability […] and I have experienced levels of inaccessibility on campus." Young references the critical lack of accessibility in Newman lecture theatres, the inability of many students to gain access to invaluable lecture recording materials, and a general lack of information on how campus works. "I've experienced all this, I've experienced not knowing what to expect or to ask for … I feel like I could help students, or rather work with them rather than for them to provide the access they want, to provide the information they want."
Young references the critical lack of accessibility in Newman lecture theatres, the inability of many students to gain access to invaluable lecture recording materials, and a general lack of information on how campus works.
Quizzed on what she believed were the most relevant issues facing students, Young referenced the urgent demand for more Sensory Rooms across campus, and discussed her initiative to arrange for the provision of another one next year. "I've already organised the ability to set up a sensory room twice a week, next year, if I get welfare …"
Another issue Young emphasised is the importance of accessing lecture materials. "You shouldn't be penalised because you're not mentally well enough, or physically well enough to make it into class."
"You shouldn't be penalised because you're not mentally well enough, or physically well enough to make it into class."
The third issue identified by Young is the need for an attitude change toward welfare, which involves acknowledging the lighter side of wellbeing: "The SU should be fun, and welfare in particular should also have a fun aspect to it. It is serious, but students want to see more… more engagement, more fun events, more picnic days, trips away with the SU… Welfare is not just therapy and counselling and negative issues, it's also making sure that you're taking care of yourself and that your wellbeing is prioritised."
"Welfare is not just therapy and counselling and negative issues, it's also making sure that you're taking care of yourself and that your wellbeing is prioritised."
Asked whether she believed the past year had been good for SU engagement, Young said; "Engagement has been very up and down but mostly down." To improve this low trend, Young advocates a grassroots approach: "We can't expect in the SU to reach for the skies when we've just hit ground level. We need to establish footing with the students. Establish who we are, what we are, why were there… And engagement can only be improved by actually talking to students. Reaching out to them. What issues do they want covered, what's happening nationwide, what's happening worldwide."
Young highlights the SU's approach to Palestine as "phenomenal," but believes that the recent referenda set to vote on March 8th should have seen greater coverage. Some of the measures Young would take to increase engagement include visiting those oft neglected corners of UCD – Smurfit and Richview – and an increased focus on lecture addressing; not just at the start of term, but year round: "Engagement is making sure that they know that you're there."
Young is a strong advocate for the completion of the UCD Village apartments, and contends that “the building of the next three blocks would also equate to lowering the costs. If there is more accommodation, there is less reason for the prices to be so high." Young also promises she will continue to fight for change in the meantime, referencing the fact that "... a lot of times, the residences aren't equipped with what you're paying for. You should have a liveable standard, you should have hot water, you should have no fear of rats in your bins […] the costs have no right to be as high as they are."
Counselling is another issue Young is driven to improve, fighting for the provision of more staff. "The standards for counselling in UCD are portrayed as very high, but you can't portray them like that when the students can't access them. I've heard from people who've been on the waitlist for two years."