For even the most disillusioned of students, the race to become Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) Entertainments Officer will always pique some vague intrigue. Responsible for some of the biggest nights of the College year, the officer is often the most visible in the union.
Last year’s tense race was defined by two candidates with varied levels of experience and ambition. It was often that Midnight Disco’s Matt Dundon openly questioned the feasibility of many of David Flood’s ideas, with incumbent Flood emphasising the importance of being ambitious and offering something new for students.
This year, three candidates from very different backgrounds within the College are jostling to secure the position – each promising to deliver a different experience.
Judith Robinson, the first female candidate since Katie Cogan, who won the 2016 race, is a third-year music and drama student. She is currently the Entertainments Officer for DU Players, and is also involved in DUDJ, Trinity Orchestra, Surf Club and Trinity Musical Theatre. Robinson is keen to draw on this varied and extensive experience should she be elected. Putting an emphasis on a candidate’s ability to navigate the ins and outs of arranging large-scale events of the role, she said that “you need to think out logistically. Can the event work? Can this actually happen?” Robinson, like Dundon last year, would rather get everything right and within budget than tread new ground, it seems.
You need to think out logistically. Can the event work? Can this actually happen?
Meanwhile, Luke Rynne Cullen, a fourth-year English and history student, has had ample experience through his heavy involvement in Trinity Orchestra since first year – he is now Auditor – and his current role as the Live Music Officer for the Ents Committee. Rynne Cullen will rely on his experience throughout the election. In an interview with The University Times, he said that his role in Trinity Orchestra has allowed him “to organise events that boldly went where no orchestra has gone before”.
He also cited his experience as founder of start-up company Applaud, an online booking agent for musicians. “Running online marketing campaigns for the last two years with Applaud has given me great insights into how to ensure the right people see the events and minimise excess expenditure”, he said of his experience. Often, candidates have experience running events, but when campaigning and canvassing, students are more likely to look for ideas and new events that will capture their imagination when choosing who to vote for.
Jerico Alcaras, a fifth-year computer science student, adds an interesting dimension to the race – and indeed the entire election – as the only postgraduate student running. A self-taught guitarist and rapper, it is his love of music that drove him to run for the role. While he is comparatively new to the event-planning milieu in comparison to the other candidates, he is approaching the role with the mantra “celebration, not limitation” in mind.
In his role as public relations officer of the Korean Society, Alcaras helped organise the Crazy Rich Asians Ball, which took place in February. Alcaras’ small-society background will surely only add to his unique perspective on events.
For any Entertainments Officer, experience will only go far – though candidates’ reputations can be built on the success of as few as one or two popular events. In previous years, candidates have promised film festivals, open-air events and an international mystery tour among others. Each year, candidates are forced to get more and more ambitious, promising the world, sometimes neglecting to remember the more mundane but necessary events. It’s a tough balance to strike and candidates will have to impress on both levels to really convert savvy union heads and engaged students.
Each year, candidates are forced to get more and more ambitious, promising the world, sometimes neglecting to remember the more mundane but necessary events
“You have to be creative, You have to be imaginative. You have to come up with great ideas, with events that people want to go to”, Robinson says. Taking inspiration from Trinity’s socially “woke” students, Robinson organised an event with DU Players called Respect in November, which combined a consent workshop with an Aretha Franklin-themed party. She also touched on accessibility and inclusivity – two themes that last year’s candidates sparred over. Organising daytime events for commuters, or events that work around the placement schedule of health science students are avenues she is keen to explore, picking up on issues that are on the minds of candidates in other races, such as education.
Rynne Cullen has financially ambitious plans to create paid work for “the best student sound engineers, creatives, videographers and photographers”. Most TCDSU activities are run using volunteers, but Rynne Cullen maintains that not only would this foster homegrown talent, this would actually cut production costs. It’s a notable step away from the norm, but one that could win him voters among campus musicians, producers and DJs.
Hailing from the Philippines, Alcaras would like to bring greater attention to Trinity’s multicultural side, through events that bring food and drink to the fore. For Alcaras, food, as well as music, are key ways that students can be brought together and be exposed to new cultures.
It seems that this year’s entertainments race will flit from issue to issue, with candidates trying to highlight their unique experience and backgrounds. Both Robinson and Alcaras have zoned in on Trinity Ball as an area that could be improved on, with Robinson looking to build on Flood’s promises of more wheelchair accessibility and Alcaras zeroing in on a seated area that could be used by students who needed a rest during the night. Rynne Cullen too plans to choose event venues based on their ability to accommodate those with disabilities. “We want a College that is informed with events that cater for everyone”, he said.
This year’s candidates in the entertainments race – the most contested race of the elections – couldn’t be more different, and how much consensus or conflict emerges is yet to be seen. Ultimately though, real events that draw excited students will trump any rhetoric in this race.
Jordan Nann also contributed reporting to this piece.
Eliana Jordan is the Deputy Opinion Editor of The University Times. Jordan will edit the welfare race in this year’s TCDSU elections. Jordan Nann is a Staff Writer of The University Times. She will act as entertainments correspondent during the election period.
