Students' Union Elections 2023 - The Leadership Race!

 

TU Dublin Students’ Union is the representative organisation for all TU Dublin students, it is led by students for students and advocates on behalf of the student body to advance and defend their rights within the university and at national level. All student vote to elect the new SU Leadership will take place on campuses on 28th, 29th and 30th March 2023. 

Here are links to help you find what you are looking for: 

 

What are the elections about?

Students of TU Dublin will elect their new SU leadership via on-campus elections. Polling will take place on campuses on 28th, 29th and 30th March, and all registered TU Dublin students are eligible and encouraged to use their voice in electing the leadership for the Academic Year 2023-2024. The elected students will represent and work for the Union in the following roles:

  1. President (elected by all students)
  2. Vice President for Academic Affairs (elected by all students)
  3. Vice President for Welfare and Equality (elected by all students)
  4. Vice President for Events and Engagement (elected by all students)
  5. Vice President for Communications and Media (elected by all students)
  6. Campus Vice President for Blanchardstown (elected by Blanchardstown Campus students)
  7. Campus Vice President for City (elected by City Campus students)
  8. Campus Vice President for Tallaght (elected by Tallaght Campus students)
  9. Postgraduate Officer (elected by Postgraduate students)

 

Candidates 2023

1. President - Candidates

Saoirse Daly

Making it into third-level education is an amazing achievement. I want to ensure that TUDSU does everything within our power to make the student experience as best as it can be. That means affordable options for food and socialising. We also need to see fairer policies within this institution, and facilities that enable students to feel like they have a safe home away from home. If elected, I will effectively fight for all of the above and more. 

Social Media Handles: @Saoirse_4_President - Instagram

Read Saoirse’s full Manifesto that sets the goals for the year here

 

Brian Jordan

Hello everyone! My name is Brian Jordan and I’m running to be your President of TU Dublin Students’ Union for a Second-Term. Over the last 8 months, I passed a record-breaking referendum, ensuring the Students’ Union wastes far less of your money. I also increased events and engagement on-campus and off-campus, with TU Dublin’s largest ever Freshers and RAG weeks. Our democracy has never been so strong (over 800 class reps, 100% student councillors), and above all, we’re FINALLY. GETTING. MICROWAVES. Vote for me this year and I promise you 1) Radical Student Action (let’s protest), safer campuses, and a 3 year funding agreement with the University (better events!)

Social Media Handles: @Literal_perfection_exists - Instagram, @brianjordan100 - TikTok

Read Brian’s full Manifesto that sets the goals for the year here

 

 

2. Vice President for Academic Affairs - Candidates

Shauna O Toole

Hey! My name is Shauna and I’m running to be your VP for Academic Affairs. I’m a final year Film & Broadcasting student who is specializing in Radio Broadcasting. I have been actively involved in a number of extra curricular activities while also attending to my studies.I have a wide range of experience in various leadership roles and I am extremely passionate about equal opportunity in education. I truly believe there is a huge amount of strength in the student voice and I want to be one of the officers you elect to help you, as a student, use that voice to make real change to your own college experience.

Social Media Handles: @shaunaotx - Instagram

Read Shauna's full Manifesto that sets the goals for the year here

 

3. Vice President for Welfare and Equality - Candidates

Hazel Doran

Hi, my name is Hazel. I’m your current VP for Welfare and Equality in city campus. I’m asking you to re-elect me as VP for Welfare and Equality overall.The wellbeing of all our students is paramount to me. I'm so passionate about this role and about fixing the disparity that exists between different TU Dublin locations. There are many issues that need to be tackled in the coming year. These include increasing engagement, lobbying for improved health services in Tallaght and Blanchardstown, Better supports for mature students, internationals, and postgrads among others. Please Vote Doran #1 from March 28th!

Read Hazel's full Manifesto that sets the goals for the year here

 

Nekesa Khisa Nancy

Hi everyone, This is Nekesa, a Postgraduate Student in Public Affairs & Political Communication with a deep passion to serve who believes that Student’s lives, and how they enjoy or do not enjoy their college years largely depend on welfare. Because let’s face it, the welfare of students is everything as it determines the quality of life. But the link breaks when this becomes a school management issue, rather than a student-driven issue. I believe we are still struggling with this balance. Our voices have not been heard loud enough! As VP, Welfare and Equality, I want to return this power to the students for our voices to be heard.

Read Nekesa’s ful Manifesto that sets the goals for the year here


Sophie Warren

I believe all students should be well educated on various topics within the college and that everyone should know they have a voice, and that there voice will be heard. Regardless of gender,sex, sexual orientation or race.

 

Read Sophie’s full Manifesto that sets the goals for the year here

 

 

4. Vice President for Events and Engagement - Candidates

Ian Kelly

Build on the success of this year’s Freshers Fest; More subsidised events for students! (spending student money on students); Events, Events, Events!!! (Build on the night time experience across multiple venues with an added focus on more evening common room events that tie in with clubs and societies); RAG Year not week!; International trips and challenges; Free pool tables; Updating of common room spaces (New furniture, updated games consoles, basically investment in infrastructure); Free stuff! (There is a cost of living crisis, and although I’ve had a lot of free stuff across all campuses this year. I want to double it); Crews!! (Events crew, student media crew, etc); Vending machines 

Read Ian’s full Manifesto that sets the goals for the year here

 

5. Vice President for Communications and Media - Candidates

Louise Kavanagh

Hello TU Dublin! I’m Louise Kavanagh (Pronouns She/Her) and I am running to become your Communications and Media Officer. I’m currently your Deputy President for Blanchardstown campus. I graduated with a BA Hons Creative Digital Media in 2022. I’m passionate about activism, social issues and helping students feel empowered. Students need to know about TUDSU but also the power we hold when we come together as one union, one voice. Students need to engage with the union, but TUDSU needs to make the experience inclusive, transparent and effective. Students need access to accurate, unbiased information and TUDSU will provide a student media outlet.

Read Louise’s full Manifesto that sets the goals for the year here

 

6. Campus Vice President for Blanchardstown - Candidates

Jeremy Lawler

My name is Jeremy Lawler, and I am running to be the Campus Vice President for Blanchardstown. I want to represent the Blanchardstown campus because I am hugely passionate about creating a better and more accessible learning and social environment for students. My main areas of focus include events and engagement, accessibility, and facilities. I will work to enhance engagement, improve accessibility, and ensure the facilities are kept to a high standard. I will work hard to address the needs and wants of all students. This is an incredible opportunity, and I would be honoured to represent Blanchardstown campus.

Read Jeremy’s full Manifesto that sets the goals for the year here

 

7.  Campus Vice President for City - Candidates

No nominations (nominations will be reopened)

 

8. Campus Vice President for Tallaght - Candidates

Sheran Bahadir

Sheran Bahadir – Year 1 Computing  - Manifesto For Campus VP of Tallaght

Experience: Class Rep and Student Councillor, Was in Student Council of my secondary school for 5 years, Scouting , Debate Team, Vice Executive in ‘The Imagine Project’ and won the Global Education Award


Priorities: Host more Tallaght based and inclusive events, Get more local deals for the Class Rep cards, Fix timetable issues, Get a bigger praying room and a sensory space, Get better equipment for labs, Get experience spokespersons to inform and educate students about different cultures, disabilities and sexualities, Get affordable accommodation on campus/close to the campus

Social Media Handles: @sheranforvp.tc and @thewormgirl - Instagram, badadez - TikTok

Read Sheran’s full Manifesto that sets the goals for the year here

 

9. Postgraduate Officer - Candidates

Jessica Perez

As postgraduate officer, I can give you a voice in the Governing Body, Academic Council, Graduate Research Board, Research Programme Committee, Union Student of Ireland Postgraduate Working Group, & Student Council. I am passionate about improving the lives & college experience of postgraduate students & aim to focus on the following three key areas: (1) build the postgrad community, (2) postgrad welfare and mental health, and (3) raise the postgrad voice.

Social Media Handles: @jess4tudsupgo - Instagram

Read Jessica’s full Manifesto that sets the goals for the year here

 

 

When and where to vote?

Polling takes place on campuses with paper ballots on Tuesday 28th March, Wednesday 29th March and Thursday 30th March. Please find the times and locations of where you can vote below.

Polling takes place on campuses with paper ballots. On the main campuses the polling takes place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as follows: 

Blanchardstown C Block Foyer 28th, 29th and 30th March 2023 9:30am – 7:30pm
Central Quad Foyer 28th, 29th and 30th March 2023 9:30am – 7:30pm
East Quad Foyer 28th, 29th and 30th March 2023 9:30am – 7:30pm
Aungier Street Main Foyer 28th, 29th and 30th March 2023 9:30am – 7:30pm
Bolton Street Stage Area 28th, 29th and 30th March 2023 9:30am – 7:30pm
Tallaght Main Foyer 28th, 29th and 30th March 2023 9:30am – 7:30pm

On the annexes polling takes place on Wednesday as follows: 

BIMM Foyer 29th March 2023 10:30am – 2:30pm 
Linenhall Foyer 29th March 2023 10:30am – 2:30pm 
Premier House Foyer 29th March 2023 10:30am – 2:30pm 

 

All registered TU Dublin students can vote on any campus (Student Card or official ID is required). The votes will be counted on Friday March 31st in Bolton Street and the names of the successful candidates who will lead the Students’ Union in 2023/24 will be announced. 

 

How to vote?

In order to vote, you will need your student card or a valid photo ID. The Clerks will then give you ballot paper(s). Please follow these voting instructions and in the end, pop your ballots into the ballot box.

TU Dublin Students’ Union elections are conducted under the PR-STV system. You are asked to rank the candidates in order of preference – 1, 2, 3 etc. An option to “Re-Open Nominations (R.O.N)” will also appear on all ballot papers.

Please vote for your candidate(s) by marking your preference (1, 2) on the boxes under the candidates, 1 being your first preference. You can vote for as many or as few candidates as you wish, but your ballot must indicate a clear preference. If you put any other mark on the ballot paper it may be deemed a spoiled vote and will not be counted in the final tally.

 

Leadership debate 

The Leadership Debate includes all TU Dublin SU Full-Time and Postgraduate Officer candidates outlining what they hope to achieve if elected, relevant experience, skills, passion, why they should be chosen, as well as answering questions from students on what they have proposed. The Debate took place on 23rd March 2023, and you can watch the Leadership debate recording via the following link:

 

Tally of votes

Here you can find live updates on the total tally of votes for each position in TU Dublin SU Elections 2023. 

  President VP Acaddemic Affairs VP Welfare & Equality VP Events & Engagement VP Communications & Media VP Blanchardstown VP Tallaght Postgraduate Officer
Tuesday 12pm 888 878 884 883 886 84 105 25
Tuesday 2pm 1650 1633 1636 1635 1649 172 158 49
Tuesday 5pm 2197 2183 2187 2183 2198 221 204 80
Tuesday 7:30pm 2367 2352 2357 2353 2366 232 215 97
Wednesday 12pm                
Wednesday 2pm                
Wednesday 5pm                
Wednesday 7:30pm                
Thursday 12pm                
Thursday 2pm                
Thursday 5pm                
Thursday 7:30pm                

 

Candidates' Campaign Expenses

All TU Dublin SU Officer Candidates have a budget that they have to follow during the campaigning period. The budgets and allocations used can be found here. 

  1. President - Budget €100
    • Saoirse Daly - €93,36 used on 27.03.2023 on candy, €1,50 used on 27.03.2023 on blue tack, €1,50 used on 27.03.2023 on blue tack, €3,64 of budget remaining
    • Brian Jordan - €69.92 used on 19.03.2023 on lollipops and €30 used on 22.03.2023 on election video boost, €0.08 of budget remaining
  2. Vice President for Academic Affairs - Budget €100
    • Shauna O Toole - €13,83 used on 27.03.3034 on lollipops, €86,17 of budget remaining
  3. Vice President for Welfare and Equality - Budget €100
    • Hazel Doran - €58,13 used on 27.03.2023 on lollipops and candy, €41,87 of budget remaining
    • Nekesa Khisa Nancy - €34,50 used on 28.03.2023 on lollipops, €65,50 of budget remaining
    • Sophie Warren - €0 used
  4. Vice President for Events and Engagement - Budget €100
    • Ian Kelly - €96,64 used on 28.03.2023 on candy, €3,36 of budget remaining
  5. Vice President for Communications and Media - Budget €100
    • Louise Kavanagh - €66 used on 20.3.2023 on lollipops, €33 used on 27.3.2023 on lollipops, €1 of budget remaining
  6. Campus Vice President for Blanchardstown - Budget €75
    • Jeremy Lawler - €74,70 used on 24.3.2023 on lollipops, €0,30 of budget remaining.
  7. Campus Vice President for Tallaght - Budget €75
    • Sheran Bahadir - €59,39 used on 15.3.2023 on energy drinks (€43) and on lollipops (€16,39), €15,61 of budget remaining
  8. Postgraduate Officer - Budget €100
    • Jessica Perez - €68,20 used on 14.3.2023 on coffee and tea and €30,99 used on 27.3.2023 on coffee, €0,81 of budget remaining

 

There is a separate printing budget for each candidate.

 


Leadership of TU Dublin Students' Union

 

The Leadership of the Union is made up of 8 Full-time and 10 Part-time Officers. The recent Referendum to the Students’ Union Constitution approved the following Officer structure for next academic year: 

 

Full-Time Officers 

 

Part-Time Officers 

 

All TU Dublin Students will be able to vote for the team that will lead the Union in 2023/24 in Elections that take place for 3 days from March 28th.  

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The section from here on includes information for candidates. 

 

Role Descriptions 

 

Please find a document that outlines the Post Specification for all TU Dublin SU Full-Time and Part-Time Officer roles here: 

 

 

Electoral Information Manual - Rules for nominations, campaigning and elections

 

The independent Electoral Commission of TU Dublin SU is regulating the SU Officer Elections 2023. All Candidates must read and agree the terms as set out by Electoral Commission here in this document:

 

 

Full-time and the Postgraduate Officer positions 

 

The term of Office for the Full-time Officers runs from July 1st, 2023, to June 30th, 2024, and are paid positions. For the Full-Time Officer positions, candidates can either take a gap year in their studies or have completed their programme. 

These positions are open to all registered TU Dublin students to consider, with some specific restrictions as follows:  

1. The Postgraduate Officer is a Part-Time position and candidates must be current students registered on a taught Postgraduate programme or as a Research student in TU Dublin.  

2. For the Campus Vice President (VP) positions, candidates must be registered on a Programme that is primarily based on the specific campus where they are running for election – e.g., in Blanchardstown for the Blanchardstown Campus VP position, in Aungier St, BIMM, Bolton St or Grangegorman Campus for the City Campus VP position, and in Tallaght for the Tallaght Campus VP position.  

 

The Full-Time Officer roles according to the new TU Dublin SU Constitution are as follows:

  1. President
  2. Vice President for Academic Affairs
  3. Vice President for Welfare and Equality
  4. Vice President for Events and Engagement
  5. Vice President for Communications and Media
  6. Campus Vice President for Blanchardstown
  7. Campus Vice President for City
  8. Campus Vice President for Tallaght

In addition, a Postgraduate Officer will be elected.

 

Interested in running for election as Full-Time or Postgraduate Officer? Here’s what you need to do!  

Note: nominations for the positions have closed on Friday 10th March 2023 and the nominees will be announced on the week of the 13th March 2023 here. 

  1. Decide what position you are interested in: Remember, you can only be nominated for one position;  
  2. Write your Manifesto: this is the document that tells students what you hope to achieve if elected, outlines your experience, skills, passion, why you are the right person to lead the Union etc  
  3. Find your Campaign Manager: this is the student who will help you to organise and run your Election Campaign and must be a currently registered TU Dublin student. 
  4. Get the required number of TU Dublin students needed to formally ‘nominate’ you. Candidates for all positions must get nominated by current students, these are called ‘Proposers’, and are students who support you running as a candidate. Proposers must be registered TU Dublin students. For Full-Time positions you need 75 ‘Proposers’ and for Postgraduate Officer it is 25. 
  5. Complete the Nomination Form: Nominations open at 9am on Monday 27th February and close at 1pm on Friday 10th March. 
  6. Get your Proposers details, write your Manifesto and get Election Photo:  Send all to elections@tudublinsu.ie before the close of Nominations at 1pm on Friday 10th March.  
  7. NOTE: Late / incomplete nominations cannot be accepted – for a successful nomination you need to have filled out the Nomination form correctly and the documents must be received before 1pm on March 10th.   

 

After the close of Nominations, you must: 

  • Attend the Candidates meeting with your Campaign Manager on Monday 13th March 2023 at 6pm in Bolton Street room BST281.  
  • Start Campaigning after the candidates meeting!  
    • Each candidate is allocated a budget for promotional activities. This will be explained in detail at the Candidates meeting.
  • Attend the ‘Leadership Debate’ on Thursday 23rd March 
  • Voting takes place on all TU Dublin campuses from 9.30 to 7.30pm on March 28th, 29th and 30th. 
  • The Votes will counted on March 31st and the names of the successful candidates who will lead the Students’ Union in 2023/24 will be announced.

 

The Term of Office for the Full-time and Postgraduate positions runs from 1st July 2023 to 30th June 2024. We encourage all TU Dublin students to consider running for election to lead the Students’ Union next year!  

If you have any questions about the Positions, the Nomination process or any aspect of the Leadership Race 2023, please contact elections@tudublinsu.ie  

 

Part-Time Officers (with the exception of Postgraduate Officer)

 

Part-Time Officers are student representative roles, for which students will act in a voluntary basis. These positions focus on student rights in specific areas and are as follows  

  1. Gender Equality Officer 
  2. Sustainability Officer 
  3. ACCESS Officer 
  4. Ethnic Diversity Officer 
  5. Mature Student Officer 
  6. International Student Officer 
  7. Gaeilge Officer 
  8. LGBTQ+ Rights Officer 
  9. Disabilities Officer 

 

Once elected the Part-time Officers become ‘ex officio’ members of the Student Council for the period of their term of office, which is from July 1st, 2023, until to 30th June 2024 and as such can bring motions and policies for the attention of the President and Vice-Presidents (the Executive) and hold these Officers to account. Candidates for the Part-Time Officer positions must be registered TU Dublin Students for their term. All other Part-Time Officer roles for 2023-2024 are now filled, with the exception of LGBTQ+ Officer. The elected Part-Time Officers for 2023-2024 are:

  1. Gender Equality Officer 
    • Silvie Molloy
  2. Sustainability Officer 
    • Magdalena Sedlmayr
  3. ACCESS Officer 
    • Jack Jennings
  4. Ethnic Diversity Officer 
    • John Benedict Divinagracia
  5. Mature Student Officer 
    • Roberto Leahy
  6. International Student Officer 
    • Christina Grammatikopoulou
  7. Gaeilge Officer 
    • Éadaoin Ó Snodaigh
  8. Disabilities Officer 
    • Ciara McKenna

 

Interested in running for election as a Part-time Officer? Here’s what you need to do! 

Nominations for LGBTQ-Officer are currently open.

  1. Decide what position you are interested in: Remember, you can only be nominated for one position;
  2. Fill out the Nomination Form - nominations are open until Sunday 16th April 2023 1pm.
    • Fill out the LGBTQ+ Officer nomination form here
    • For the nomination form, you will need 1) two proposers (other TU Dublin students who support your nomination) and 2) a short manifesto (maximum of 100-word text about yourself and goals) which will be circulated with the voting form
  3. Send your election photo to elections@tudublinsu.ie. For the Part-Time Officers this is not mandatory, but we highly recommend it. This photo will be circulated along to Student Council along with your name and manifesto.
  4. Attend the Student Council meeting on Wednesday 19th April 2023 6pm – All the Candidates must attend this meeting. This where the ‘Hustings’ takes place, and each candidate can outline what they hope to achieve if elected, relevant experience, skills, passion, why they should be chosen. They will answer questions from Student Councillors on what they have proposed. 
  5. The Election: Following the Student Council meeting, the Councilors (members of the Council) will receive an online Ballot paper and select the Part-Time Officers of their choice. At the conclusion of the 24-hour voting period, the names of the successful candidates will be announced.  

 

We encourage all TU Dublin students to consider running for a Part-time Officer position.  

If you have any questions about the Positions or the Nomination process, please contact elections@tudublinsu.ie 

 

 

Experiences of previous SU Leaders

 

You can read about experiences and thoughts of former TU Dublin SU Officers here:

 

Queries and Complaints

 

If you have any queries or complaints, please contact elections@tudublinsu.ie or fill out a complaint form here. Queries and complaints will be dealt with as soon as possible by the Electoral Commission.

 

Election Glossary

 

Ballot Box: A closed container into which voters deposit their ballot papers during an election. 

Ballot Box Election: The ballot box election is the traditional form of voting which takes place directly at the polling place. 

Ballot Paper: The ballot paper is the form which eligible voters fill out in order to exercise their right to vote. 

By-election: By-elections are held to fill vacancies which arise before the end of the officer term. 

Candidate: An applicant for an (SU) position. 

Constituency: A constituency is a defined area in which voters elect a representative to a specific body. In SU elections, the general constituency is all TU Dublin students. For Campus VPs they are the students of that specific campus (Blanchardstown, City or Tallaght), for Postgraduate Officer it is all postgraduate students and for other Part-Time Officers it is the members of Student Council.   

Constitution: A constitution is a set of fundamental rules that determine how the Union is run. 

Democracy:  Democracy is a term used to describe systems of governing in which power ultimately lies with the people.  

Election Campaign:  During an election campaign, candidates compete for votes. 

Election Results: The election results are the final results of a concluded election. 

Elections: An election is a democratic procedure through which one or more persons are chosen as executives or representatives in certain bodies. TU Dublin SU Officers are chosen via elections. 

Executive: The executive in TU Dublin SU is made out of 8 Full-Time Officers, and it is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Union 

Full-Time Officer: This is an elected Officer role in the Students’ Union. Full-Time Officers are elected each spring to work for the Union for a one-year term from 1st July to 30th June  

Hustings:  An event where  each candidate can outline to the potential voters what they hope to achieve if elected, relevant experience, skills, passion, why they should be chosen for the position. The candidates also answer potential questions from the voters.  

Manifesto:  Manifesto is a written document that tells students what you hope to achieve if elected, outlines your experience, skills, passion and why you are the right person to lead the Union.   

Polling Place: A polling place is a physical location where people go to cast their vote during an election. In TU Dublin SU Officer Elections polling places will be located on each campus, generally in the foyers.  

Quorum: A quorum is a threshold of votes which has to be crossed in order to have a valid vote or election. In the SU Officer elections, there is no set quorum.  

Spoilt Vote: A spoilt vote is a ballot that has been declared void and will not be included in the vote count. 

Voter Turnout: Voter turnout shows the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast a vote.