VP for Welfare and Equality - Dean O’Reilly - reflects on the SU’s work in semester one.
In my first few months as VP for Welfare & Equality, there were plenty of surprises that I didn’t expect to be dealing with. From following the ever-changing government guidelines, to ensuring DCU committed to in-person graduations for the 2020 graduating class, all the way to ensuring students were aware of the sexual health services that remained open during COVID-19. One of my proudest moments was during Orientation this year, which not only saw DCU train more students in Active Consent than any other Higher Education Institution (2308 students overall!), but we also saw the first-ever LGBTQ+ specific orientation-embedded event for First Year Students. Getting to meet some 60 odd LGBTQ+ first years, many of whom I imagine were very nervous joining a zoom call from their family home, really was a highlight for me.
We also saw an overhaul of dcusu.ie, where I contributed to the Accommodation, Finance, Sexual Health, Physical Health, and Mental Health sections. I helped launch our postal services for free, anonymous pregnancy tests to ensure folks had access to pregnancy tests during COVID-19. We now also provide free drug-purity test kits through the post, as well as LGBTQ+ badges. Many of this has been aided by the SU Helpdesk team, too, which this wouldn’t have been possible without. Let’s not forget about Mental Health Week, either, where we delivered gift packages to students isolating in Campus Res, and gave away over 50 prizes!
We saw the launch of DCUSU’s Black Students & Students of Colour Advisory Group and the Students with Disabilities Advisory Group. I can’t wait to see how these students go on to shape the work of the SU in the coming months. All-in-all, I think it’s been a successful semester, considering the circumstances. With that said, there’s much more to be done in Semester Two!