Ben Archibald couldn’t be busier. USI’s newly elected President is in the throes of what has turned out to be an exceedingly hectic day for the man from Belfast. “Today has been the busiest day of my life”, he says with the voice of a man who seems on the verge of collapse.

Earlier that morning USI held an extremely well attended press conference outlining their objections to an OECD report on higher education in Ireland, which included proposals for the re-introduction of tuition fees. “I’ve been everywhere today. Obviously I had to greet everyone, press and politicians, coming to the press conference. I had to make myself available to the press. We then held a protest at Dublin Castle, which went well. That was followed by a meeting with regards funding for one of our campaigns. Then it was back to Dublin Castle because RTE had missed the protest and wanted us to re-enact it for the cameras! After that more press!”
It’s been worth it though. “Minster Dempsey tonight ruled out a return to fees so we’re quite happy with how things went,” he says with some delight. It’s evidence of the power of the union that they can generate such media interest and push to the forefront issues that effect their student membership. It may have been an exceedingly busy day but, as he sits back in his chair deservedly with his feet up, Ben puts us in no doubt that everyday is a busy day for USI.
“We begin at 9:30am and after an hour of getting set up for the day and clearing bits of business, we all gather at about half past ten to establish priorities for the day. My first priority is then to deal with finance issues, things such as paying bills, invoicing for money we are due and stuff like that. Then I go through my 100 emails a day responding to requests or questions from students on a variety of issues. The other officers suss out if there are any media opportunities for us that day or if there’s anything relevant we need to move on. After lunch I’m usually on the phone, checking in with the various student unions and such. That’s a standard day when I’m in the office but typically I’m usually out and about meeting people and chatting to students letting them know what we are doing.”
The USI offices are housed in a fine building on Dublin’s Lower Mount Street and Ben, as President, has a fine office: “I love it. It’s fantastic. Nice big office as well. In my previous student Union positions, in Queens in Belfast, the offices were open plan so it’s nice to have your own space.” When he’s not running from meeting to meeting, and does get five minutes to himself, he likes to chill out in his office and throw on some music. “At the moment I’m playing a lot of The Divine Comedy in the office as well as some ’70s Robert Palmer. When I do get time I listen to that and reply to personal emails or catch up with my friend on messenger.”
He is a particular fan of Robert Palmer. “I’m not like some of your readers who may say they only like his ‘70s stuff, I love all his stuff,” he says. As a huge fan he admits to being devastated when he heard of the singer’s death last year. “He died two days before my birthday. I was getting off a bus and my girlfriend phoned me and said that she had really bad news. So she told me what it was and sad though it may be, and not what the president of USI should be doing at all, I had to sit down and be very very upset.”
Music seems particularly important to Ben. Across from his desk is what he calls his “inspiration wall.” It features two paintings he did as well as pictures of his friends and family, and copies of song lyrics to Talking Heads ‘This Must Be The Place’ and The Finn Brothers ‘I won’t give in’.
“The pictures are two childish paintings really. One is of a star and the other of a blue circle in a sea of red. It’s just something I like to do as a bit of a hobby or whatever. I chose the lyrics because the Talking Heads song is one I’ll always remember. It’s just such a cute song and one that will always stick in my head. It makes the office feel more like home. With The Finn Brothers tune I just like the lyrics. It’s a song about not giving up and fighting your cause so it’s sort of apt. The wall just inspires because the rest of the office is so grey, it’s something to look at.”
Outside of his office, the USI headquarters has the feel of a student environment. The kitchen houses a washing machine and tumble dryer as many of USI’s staff live in student flats absent of such luxury. Also, in case one works through the night, all the toilets function as proper bathrooms with shower facilities. You need never go home!
For the coming year Ben has a number of priority issues he hopes the union can tackle. “The level of the grant and the abolishment of registration fees are both do-able and therefore both priorities for the coming year”, he says. “The registration fee is a barrier to access. It stands at €750 currently and has jumped from about €150 in the last five years. Also the grant is not sufficient at all. It is at least 50% deficient of what it should be. I mean with the grant, students’ are receiving a substantial amount of money, but it’s nowhere near the figure of what they need.”
Both are issues which USI have fought in the past, and along with those ongoing campaigns they will run welfare and education campaigns. Ben also hopes to look at the issue of immigration. “We were pretty concise on our opposition to the referendum,” he says. “We are concerned that not enough care is being taken with asylum seekers in terms of deportation. We have been very active in lending our support to groups such as Residents Against Racism and we want to make sure that the students who are studying in Ireland are treated as absolute equals. They all have the right to expect a decent quality of treatment and unfortunately Ireland is sometimes not its welcoming self.”
The issue of racism plays close to his heart though; as a Northerner with UK allegiances, he admits to finding the Irish in the south very welcoming. “I’ve had no problems and all I’ve met are great as you’d expect, though there is still a problem with immigration issues. I think that this is an important issue for Ireland and if USI is to have an important voice on this matter, and students are to become more than then sum of their parts, then we need to tackle some of the bigger issues nationally.”
It’ll be tough year and a huge challenge but it’s one that Ben relishes. “It’s a fantastic job, an honour to do. I ‘m very much looking forward to the year ahead and I’m confident we’ll once again make a difference for students and have a great year.