LET'S MAKE A RADICAL SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN
Hey, Ciarán Mac Domhnaill (he/him) here. I’m running for President, on a slate (a joint campaign) with Thomas Cury (candidate for Vice-President). We have a shared vision for a radical and participatory Student Union. We’re both MA Curating Contemporary Art students and Student Representatives.
I’m originally from Ireland and previously a member of the EDI Group at the Glasgow School of Art, advocating for Queer and neurodiverse students. Furthermore, I was a member of an independent union-led committee fighting for a fair and transparent complaint procedure at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, Fashion & Design.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
ACCESS IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE
Access to campus facilities is a right of every RCA student. Yet, many across the three campuses struggle to access overbooked workshops. Similarly, students are faced with overcrowded studio spaces - some programmes do not even have a dedicated room. To address these issues, we will push for greater transparency and conduct research on student numbers in comparison to space availability. We will work closely with Estates & Campus Operations to ensure fairer access for all.
DEGREE SHOWS AND CONVOCATIONS - WE DESERVE TO BE CONSULTED
Major events such as degree shows and convocations are organised without properly consulting students. We want the Student Union (SU) to have a seat at the decision-making table so that our interests are listened to and represented.
YOU SHAPE THE UNION
The union is shaped by students, for students. We pledge to open up the SU as a participatory space, by hosting summits, open forums and assemblies. This allows students to come together and put forward ideas of how we can enact anti-racism policies, sustainable strategies, LGBTQ+ liberation, gender equality and disability justice on campus and beyond. We also think that students should be able to submit motions (ideas and actions) the union should take. Following regulatory procedures and a democratic vote, these motions could then be incorporated into Union policy, helping create long term change.
STUDENTS BEFORE PROFITS
The commodification of education is not just an RCA problem, but a systemic and nation-wide one. This is why we plan on strengthening ties with trade unions both within the RCA and nationally. We will pledge solidarity with nation-wide campaigns that fight for our shared interests. By building power collectively, we can build a fairer higher education system.
Get in touch via instagram: @c.mac.d