Aideen McMullen will contest the Queens Students' Union election for the post of Women's Officer on 12 May. Standing for the Socialist Society, Aideen is putting forward a fighting, socialist alternative for the Students' Union.

The Socialist Society has had a very successful year in Queen's University organising anti-war activities, anti water-charges campaigning and organising international solidarity with Sri Lankan socialists. Standing in the Students' Union election is the finale of a year of sterling work!

Aideen is highlighting the complete lack of free creche facilities in Queens as a key issue which she would fight on. These vital facilities must be defended as they play a key role in letting women but also all parents attend and play a full role in student life. Another key issue being highlighted is the safety of female students around Queens University.

In the past year, there have been cases of rape and the safety of female students must be a top priority for any prospective women's officer. Yet the night time bus service is still infrequent and badly organised. The inequality women still face in terms of wages in the work place and domestic work is also being highlighted by Aideen; only a strong socialist solution will end the double-exploitation women face in society.

In student politics a strong anti-sectarian voice must be registered. The Students' Union is dominated by right-wing, sectarian careerists who are not interested in defending and fighting for students. These so-called "representatives" of students are merely in it for a good CV. Aideen McMullen will be putting forward a clear, positive programme for a fighting Students' Union that really makes a difference to students' lives.

Every day I see new problems, global issues that our governments fail to act against. Global issues; illegal wars for oil in the middle east, supported by our so called democratic government, the ongoing destruction of precious natural resources, the increased effect of global warming, poverty in less developed areas of the world, the continuing spread of HIV/AIDS.

And there are problems closer to home, sectarian and racist violence, the failure of our corrupt politicians to cooperate and basic issues such as low pay, directly affecting me.

These, and many other problems aren't going to 'sort themselves out', the polarised, sectarian politics of Northern Ireland certainly do not hold the answer. It was only when I was handed a Socialist Youth leaflet on my way home from school one day that I thought about taking action. I was interested by the claim that capitalism was to blame for these problems, I had never thought of this as a cause.

So, accompanied by my friend, Gavin Knox, I attended a Socialist Youth meeting on 'The Case for Socialism Today' in Enniskillen. This provided me with the answers to my questions. I made the decision to join Socialist Youth. Through this movement I hope to take action and make a real difference. You can't wait for other people to resolve problems, or for the problems to resolve themselves, you must take it upon yourself to act, for yourself and for the people.