 I'm here on the Glass 7 campus student union where the anticipation for the SU 2017 elections is slowly but surely building. I got a chance to sit down with the two candidates running for this year's position of VP for Engagement and Development, Sean Cares and Siobhan Muktaik. So I spoke to them but what they feel makes them suitable for this role. So Siobhan, I'm correct in saying you're running for the role of VP for Engagement and Development. I am indeed. And can I ask what made you run for this role in particular and what made you choose this one? Well, it's the only role on the exact that I'd go for, like it's perfect for me. Engagement and Development. Got your task reps, volunteering, clubs and societies and being on the ground. And that's me, that's what I've done for the last three years in college and that's what I'm going to continue to do and help students to do next year. Okay, perfect. And what do you feel like you can bring particularly to this role? I can bring a real personal element to it, like that's my whole thing about behind the whole students union. Like I want to bring it back to basics, back on the ground, get out of the offices, get out there, meet students, let students know we're here because at the moment I don't think any of you even knows, like none of the people even know about students union, let alone utilize it. So I want to change that. And this is the second year in particular for this particular role. So say Emer would have had this the first year for Engagement and Development. What do you feel like you can change this year? Say as it is going into the second year, like learn from say the mistakes maybe made or kind of like run off while Emer has done. What do you feel like you can do to better say how far they've come so far? Emer has had a very hard job the past year because a new position you've known to turn to like the others. But what I really want to do is define it, like nail it down what the role of Engagement and Development is. And that's going back to my four key areas. So your prospects, volunteering, clubs and societies and the rolling out of campaigns like what best campaigns work on each campus. I'll know what that is. Yeah, of course. And so as well then you can imagine this year there's obviously been a lot of controversy over the whole, you know, the incorporation and everything like Pat's students aren't, they've expressed their concern over like the lack of community spirit down in St. Pat's. You'll obviously be based down in St. Pat's with your office there. Hopefully, regarding legacy and how things go. How do you feel like you can kind of work with the Pat's students and like you're not a Pat's student yourself or you're made based up in here? Well, I'm the first example of a multi-campus goer. So I have media studies on Glaston Avenue campus. I work on the All Hallows campus and then I have my musical rehearsals on St. Patrick's campus. So I understand that each individual campus has its own spirit and I really want to maintain the spirit of each campus because we are different. We're all one university now but the differences are there and I want to keep those differences because no point trying to make the three campuses the same because that's not realistic and that's not what DCU is. Well, we wish you the best of luck for it and fingers crossed. Right, so, Sean, I'm correct in saying you're running for the role of VP for Engagement and Development. I am indeed, yeah. What made you choose this particular role? Well, I'm coming towards the end of my four-year degree in St. Pat's campus doing the B-Ed degree, so qualified private school teacher at the end of this year and I feel like I have a lot of skills to offer the job. It's the right time for me to do it as well. I'm 21 now, going on 22. Just, I feel like I've learned a lot in my time in college here and I feel I have even more space to grow and develop as a person and I feel like I have a lot of ideas to bring to the table for clubs and societies, class rep councils in DCU. And what do you think personally, like in particular, you can bring to this role, this role like? I feel I have a good personality for the job. A lot of the Engagement Development remit, it comes under a deal with people, whether it be class rep council or your clubs and societies. I feel like I have a lot to bring to the table there. So, if we think about, say, Emer this year had a very tough job, this was the first year for this particular position. So, this will be the second year of this position. What kind of, how will you bring this forward in your... I'd like to put my own stamp on it. As well as developing the students academically, I'd also like to develop them holistically. So, even if it was just to bring in that the students on class rep council are trained to sit on program boards, which is very daunting for students, especially coming in first year. Program boards, you're sitting on a meeting with lecturers from the college and you need training to sit in that kind of an environment. As well as that, I feel peerless in workshops so people can help deal with their friends with mental illnesses, something like that. So, working with the students. And being a past student yourself, I'm sure you're very aware of the kind of controversy with the incorporation this year and how past students feel that there's a lack of community, the past community spirit. What will you do, I mean being a student yourself in past, what do you feel like you can bring to kind of encourage the amalgamation of both campuses when there has been such a difficulty this year? Yeah, well, the difficulties we've seen is there's been an increase in the number of students, but it didn't decrease in engagement with society or with events and things like that, especially on St Pat's campus. There's 1600 more students on that campus and there's students from Matter Day, CIC and St Pat's and it's a lot in one campus now and they're all from separate institutions and they're all coming under the one banner, just DCU. You just need to make them feel welcome in their college. There's always been a community spirit in Pat's and we need more engagement up in DCU as well on the Glass Network campus. There's a lot of clubs and societies can learn from some of our students as well and CIC in Matter Day. Okay, well, yeah, that's all for you in a minute. Thanks for your time. Well, there you have it. That's what this year's candidates for VP for Engagement and Development, Sean and Siobhan have to say. Don't forget to tune into DCU TV News Live Debate at 6.30pm next Monday and of course, don't forget to vote. Calla Her for DCU TV News.