Presidents Report
posted 09th Dec < back to all newsHi All,
Firstly I’d like to wish you all the best of luck in your exams.
The postgrad reading room has been a topic of conversation for many of you – the lighting seems to be a major concern and I have lodged a complaint with the Building and Estates Dept that has thus far received no response. I will email the head of that department if there is still no response by the morning and in the mean time if you would like to complain please email me back with “postgrad reading room” in the subject line and I will pass them on.
I was in Dublin on Monday for a meeting with the President and Vice-President of Trinity GSU – the only other separate representative body for postgrads in Ireland. With two full-time sabbatical officers and a budget that far outweighs our own I can confirm that they are light years ahead of the PSA in many ways. The fact that they have been at it longer and possibly with more involvement from their 5,000 postgrads it is understandable but it is not something I accept easily. I want to submit a strategic plan to a meeting of all interested postgrads early next semester so please keep an eye on your emails and the website for more information. The PSA is a huge asset to all postgrads in UL but it is also true that many people don’t realise we are here until they need us. I’d like to change that and develop the PSA as a social, cultural, representative and academic organisation that responds to the needs of its members. The PSA has many strengths to build on and weaknesses to cured but at the base of it; the PSA needs you its members so any feedback ranging from comments to criticisms are always welcome.
The PSA will be holding a mulled wine reception in the Common Room on the last Friday of the exams (the 18th) and that will be the final event of this semester. The PSA Annual Charity Ball is already being organised and the most likely date will be the 26th of February and I will confirm that as soon as the exec meets next. The tickets will be as low as possible as I’m hoping to have about 250 tickets on sale by week one of next semester. Tickets will hopefully be priced close to €35. It’s probably the best night of the year and tickets do sell out fast so keep an eye out for more info soon.
As the semester is drawing to a close any feedback you would like to pass on to me is always welcome so please don’t hesitate to let me know if you think I can be doing a better job.
I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved throughout the semester and I look forward to continuing to work with you in the New Year.
The PSA Common Room will close on the 18th of December at 5pm (and reopen for the mulled wine reception at 8pm) and be closed for Christmas until the 4th of January.
Best of luck in your exams etc,
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Kind Regards,
Michael J Bourke
President, Postgraduate Student Association, University of Limerick.
Uachtarán, Cumann na nIarchéimithe, Ollscoil Luimnigh.