 change, challenges and concerns. The role that faced this year's DCU Student Union was far from simple. Following the successful completion of the DCU Incorporation Programme earlier this year, a single Student Union now oversees all of DCU's new campuses, including St Patrick's College from Condra and Matter Day Institute of Education. With the 2017 Student Union elections upcoming, welfare and equality officer Cody Byrne took time out to give us an insight into his personal experience over the past year. The year's been really weird I think. It was a bit of a unique year with obviously the incorporation and then with the lack of venue and lack of space. I really enjoyed the year and I've actually had a really good time. I think all the campaigns, even though they're really stressful to organise, it's kind of nice just getting out of the office and chatting to students and stuff. Yeah, I suppose just engaging with students on a daily basis. I actually thought that would be hard because there's only so much small talk you can do. But it's actually fun because you meet all these different people and stuff, so it's nice. But yeah, I've had a really, really good year. More than I thought I would actually. Sometimes it's hard. To be 100% honest, it's probably been three times where I went home and genuinely cried, probably. But then it's okay because then you're like, it's great, it's fine. I actually have a folder on my computer that says positive messages. I say them all because you need to remind yourself. He also offered a few words of advice for students considering running for his particular position. My advice is irrespective of whatever ideas you have for policies or campaigns. The main part is for you to just basically not be in our soul and be a really approachable person and just kind of empathetic and you don't need to change the world with the response because you never will be able to do that. But even if you're just a good listener, that's a reason enough to run for the role. Nominations for the Student Union elections will open Tuesday the 28th of February and will close at 6pm March 7th. This is Rachel Kalleher for DCU TV News.