In an event that was intended as the last chance to participate in a hustings, but which in fact saw few in attendance beyond core campaign teams, the candidates in this year’s Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union’s (TCDSU) elections gave their pitches in what was the second time they had the opportunity to give speeches to a gathered audience rather than be intensely quizzed on their manifestos.
With many candidates choosing to open by reflecting personally on their own time back in Trinity Hall, something that would surely be effective if many first-year students had been in attendance, they then launched into their manifesto policies, with questions from the audience, which was largely made up of those who would have heard these points already, focusing on the practicalities of achieving their aims, or offering candidates the opportunity to continue on the points they had been making before running out of time.
While the event in Trinity Hall has traditionally marked the opening of the voting period, this year’s shorter campaign period saw voting open in on and off-campus locations earlier today, something which could perhaps explain the event’s low turnout, despite the free pizza on offer.
When speaking, candidates largely focused about the ideas they care most passionately about, distinguishing themselves from their opposition and largely proving passionate about the roles as we head into the last two days of voting.
President
Taking to the stage in alphabetical order, the candidates for President of TCDSU reiterated their manifesto points on engagement and bringing the union out to Trinity Hall.
Thomas Emmet, speaking from a notebook, went through his main manifesto points and policies in his speech, touching on his themes of visibility and involvement. Emmet then briefly mentioned his campaign policies including introducing town hall meetings for debating union issues as well as making Trinity Ents “more political” in his short allotment of speaking time.
Emmet was asked one question from the floor, regarding how he would ensure that students would attend these town hall meetings in sufficient numbers, a recurring question throughout his campaign. He responded by saying that he would make them “themed” and making sure that students are encouraged to speak.
In his final hustings appearance, Emmet reiterated his key manifesto points, coming across as confident in his policies but not actually moving on from what is included in his written manifesto, a recurring issue for Emmet from the beginning of his campaign.
In Kevin Keane’s final hustings speech, Keane looked at the union in general, its positives and what more can be done rather than his manifesto points. Taking to the stage amid rapturous applause, Keane stressed that the “SU is there to better your life” and encouraged students to “believe in the SU’s positive power in College”. He then made mention of the “incredible community in Halls” before moving onto the issues of isolation and finding accommodation, before finally moving onto his manifesto point of introducing a ‘Know Your Neighbour” scheme as time expired.
Fielding questions on this scheme and accommodation issues in general, Keane dealt with the points raised from the floor with confidence, although not going into too much policy detail, potentially caused by the tight time-restrictions on answers imposed by host, Jenna Clarke-Molloy, Chair of the union’s Electoral Commission.
Keane was also asked about whether he would lobby for legislated rent caps, and said that he would not, but would support a student-enforced guideline to maximum accepted rent prices rather than a government imposed-cap.
Fourth-year Irish studies student Bryan Mallon brought this year’s hustings series to a close with a more informal style speech resembling a conversation more than a prepared oration. Although being briefly interrupted by a masked student, Mallon touched upon his key manifesto points of inclusivity, accessibility and representation as he has done throughout the campaign while also mentioning the need for students not accept “subpar accommodation”, referring to his own poor living conditions at the same time.
Questions from the floor were, in general, about equality – with Mallon being asked about including Northern Irish students, his proposals for transgender and non-binary students and women in leadership. In his responses, Mallon emphasised the importance of inclusivity which he hoped to achieve through local, on-the-ground policies such as liaising with sports clubs and giving lecture addresses.
Without going into specific policy details due to time-constraints, Mallon addressed the audience not as a presidential candidate but as a fellow students, rounding-off the hustings with a strong performance.
Education
Also running uncontested, Alice MacPherson, the only candidate for education, took to the stage with a plea to students, asking them to “trust” her with their education. Running through the main points of her manifesto, MacPherson noted her desire to see a 24-hour study space in Halls, attempting to forge a link with those present. She also addressed the disparity between on-campus locations and off-campus ones, noting that “I think off-campus spaces should be just a s well equipped as on-campus”. She referenced her desire for a diversity and leadership campaign, telling the crowd that “we need to figure out why women, students of ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, don’t run for leadership”.
When asked what she would do for Erasmus students, MacPherson said that it was not sufficient to merely ask students what it was like when they return to College, but that it is vital to give them advice before they leave the country, Central to this is her promise of Skype hours, and she suggested having Trinity representatives in colleges accepting visiting Trinity students.
When asked about course changes, MacPherson noted that the problems arising from that factor into her strategy for transition workshops, adding that she wants “practical” workshops offered to students. She stated: “Failure, switching course, having to repeat a year are not sources of shame.” Finally asked about JCR support, MacPherson conceded that getting involved in college life is integral to a college experience, but that “but education is the main reason that we come here”.
Welfare
The five welfare candidates – notable throughout the past week of campaigning for their niceness and general subdued natures – took to the stage tonight, mercifully armed with microphones. With poll results predicting a considerable lead for Grady, the hustings had the air of a final push, a consolidation of the very similar points they have attempted to hammer into the student consciousness over the course of the campaign.
Meabh Cullen was first up. Perhaps mindful that many residents of Halls might be unaware of the salient points of her campaign, she attempted to cover all bases, though she struggled with the time limits allowed for speeches. First, Cullen discussed her experience with welfare in college, running out of time while detailing the “four main points” of her manifesto campaign. However, she successfully conveyed the specifics of her “Mental Health Mondays” – a series of “lunchtime activities just focused on yourself”. Her other points revolved around securing accommodation for students registered with the Disability Service, safe drug use, and the installation of sanitary vending machines in both male and female bathrooms in college.
Laura Grady followed her onto the stage, putting in a demonstrably confident performance. She focused again on the issue that has come to define her campaign: engagement. Her “Welfare Wednesdays” have, at their heart, the aim of getting more students involved with welfare in college and she also placed emphasis on interacting with societies as a means of making students feel comfortable “engaging with their Welfare Officer”. Having mentioned her ideas for an “Inner Child Day” in her speech, she went into its technicalities in response to a question from the audience. She described them as “fun and silly but really important” as a way of “dealing with stress”.
Damien McClean’s campaign, strong on policy, has arguably been undermined by errors in speech over the course of several hustings. However, there were no such missteps tonight, as McClean delivered his strongest performance of the campaign so far. He described his “proudest moment in Halls” as having helped a student of non-binary gender to obtain a spot in spite of the fact that accommodation in Halls has traditionally been gendered. He returned to the subject of policy as a less “sexy” but perhaps more effective way of dealing with problems. “Casework is about solving problems, policy is about stopping problems from happening”, he stated. Quizzed on his ideas for a “Walk Home Safe” campaign, he identified the American app “Companion” as a potential model to follow. He also detailed his experience on the Campaigns Committee and as LGBT Officer of the union.
The fourth candidate to take to the stage was Emma Purser. Refusing the microphone from Clarke-Molloy, she chose instead to speak to the crowd purely with her own voice. She proceeded to speak about her drug testing policy, a main focus of her campaign. Once again, the questions from the floor mainly revolved around the feasibility of this idea as well as the legality of the testing. Despite providing strong answers and referring to proven methods, it still seems to be a policy that voters are finding hard to get behind. She also emphasised the need to continue the “What’s in the Pill” campaign and extending it to cover lots of different types of drugs. Mentioning sexual health, she noted that “students don’t know where or when to get checked” and this is something she wants to improve. At this point, Purser became emotional on stage, telling the crowd through tears that she “wouldn’t be here without the help of my welfare officer”. Cheered on by the crowd, she continued on saying she wants “to make sure that all of you know that there is somebody there everyday making your life easier”. She finished her speech with a standing ovation from many in the crowd.
The final candidate to take the stage was Rachel Skelly. Once again, Skelly led with her involvement as the Gender Equality Officer in TCDSU as well as her work with the consent workshops and repealing the eighth. “I want to bring in some more practical and everyday solutions to stress”, she told the crowd, by reaching out to the gym to provide one hour a week for beginner gym-users to learn the basics of gym going. Her “Back to Basics” policy for students made up an important part of her speech. Describing it as a “simple guide on the students’ union website”, Skelly emphasised its usefulness as a place where students can go to get practical information such as how to get an extension on a college essay. She finished her speech with a slightly doctored quote from the Princess Diaries: “When I become Welfare officer then my thoughts and the thoughts of those smarter will be much smarter will be heard and just maybe those thoughts can be turned into actions.” Questions from the floor revolved around the consent workshops, repealing the eighth amendment and how she was going to encourage people to come into the office. Skelly noted that she has sat down with the Chaplains and believes “discourse” is an important part of the debate and that students shouldn’t be afraid to come forward with their views.
Communications & Marketing
Úna Harty, the only candidate in the communications & marketing race, took to the stage, attempting to forge a connection with those present by noting that “two years ago [she] used to live in Halls as well”. Repeating her tried and tested method of listing manifesto point in staccato, Harty asserted that “I’m with modernisation, I’m with engagement, I’m with college services, I’m with sponsorship”, a fittingly concise summation of her promises. She noted that online communication would be central to her aim of alleviating the accommodation crisis and promoting student jobs, promising to make the portals “more accessible”, as well as using Snapchat to reach students, referencing “updates”, presumably referring to her goal of securing a Trinity Snapchat filter. Highlighting her plans for better communication technology on campus, she promised to introduce “graphic-based videos”, as well as answering common student questions such as when the gates on Pearse St open, an addition that raised laughs from those present.
In response to a question on how her engagement strategy would reach students who are visually impaired or have dyslexia, Harty stated that “a few lines of code” is all it takes to make the TCDSU website accessible for the former, while featuring large, clear font will cater for the latter. A second question addressed how Harty would work to break the “Halls bubble” that frequently develops around students. She highlighted lecture addresses and sending weekly emails early, particularly to prospective Halls students, so that they’re engaged from the start. Finally, answering a question on how she plans to improve the TCDSU website, Harty stated that expanding the Communications Committee would be central to her strategy, and noted that the union has already set aside money for such a redesign.
Entertainments
Jonah Craig, the sole candidate for entertainments officer, used the last hustings event to reiterate many of his key manifesto points, following the suit of the other candidates. Having seen his support grow over hustings events in the last week, Craig, who launched a popular and well-received campaign video on Sunday evening, was met with a raucous reception, which reflected the large proportion of students planning to vote for him as revealed in polls released by The University Times today.
Craig began by recalling his fond memories of Halls as a first-year student and as last year’s Entertainments Officer for the JCR. Craig was visibly more comfortable on the night than he had been for last week’s hustings and began by explaining his desire to “take Trinity Ents further down the unique path”. Touching on his manifesto point of unique events at unique venues, Craig warmed the crowd by exclaiming: “Pearse station is sitting right there, on our doorstep and why aren’t we having a party there!”
Before finishing his pitch, Craig described that under his leadership Trinity Ents would have an increased on the ground presence explaining: “I think we should be doing more, more hype around the college. Make it a more personal thing, more posters, more fliers.”
When questioned once again on non-alcoholic events by questions from the audience, Craig returned to his promise of entertainment workshops before referencing his freshly announced Card Soc event tomorrow night: Casino at the Pav. When pressed on his ability to offer affordable events, Craig revealed his aspirations of specially incorporating societies for workshops in order to keep the majority of workshops free so as to increase engagement.
Craig’s increased confidence on the night reflects a campaign that has been relatively comfortable and with victory now in his sights, his upcoming events will offer a fascinating appetiser to what is to come next year, starting with his Wall Street-themed event, Blue Chip, in the South William tonight.
Editor
Sole candidate for The University Times editor, Dominic McGrath, took to the stage tonight to open the hustings. McGrath spoke engagingly, outlining the fact that over the campaign period he has given lecture addresses detailing his experience with the paper, and poignantly noting that this timeline of experience begins with one of his first articles – a piece covering the annual Halls Musical. McGrath said that piece, entitled “Provost Enjoys Halls Musical”, remains one of the pieces of which he is most proud.
McGrath has covered the Halls musical every year since, and quipped that he is The University Times’s unofficial Halls Musical correspondent, drawing laughs from those present. McGrath said “this shows how passionate I am about covering every part of campus”. He went on to reference a series of Halls-focused articles published by the paper, such as pieces on the consent workshops and Cunningham house, effectively stressing his connection to the location.
McGrath then turned to his manifesto points, specifically that of writing workshops, saying that writing workshops in Halls should be regularised. The first question of the night was on this point. When asked how attendance at the workshops could be ensured, McGrath noted that although The University Times has run Halls-specifc workshops in the past, they have not been as successful as they should be. However, he asserted that “if we can establish a sense of tradition, people will come to them”.
McGrath was then asked whether he would consider establishing connections with professional publications, to give student writers access to internships and perhaps a platform to be published in professional publications. In response, McGrath said that he believe that “The University Times already exists as a great platform”. He contended that the paper covers student issues better than professional publications and said “I think we really do showcase students work whether it’s the broadsheet, the magazine, or Radius.” He finished by expressing a hope that “we can widen our readership, but I do think already we have a great platform”.
Ciarán Molloy, Donal MacNamee, Morgan Clarke and Charlotte Ryan contributed reporting to this piece.
