“RON, that is why it must be you”.
Trinity’s Student Union politics often reminds me of that scene from Ridley Scott’s Gladiator. Upon realising his son’s vaulting ambition makes him (slightly) too despotic for the job, a dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius asks the film’s protagonist, Maximus (not R.O.N. in this case), to become the next Caesar of Rome. Not to spoil the twenty-five year old film, but if things did pan out that way, there wouldn’t be a movie to quote. What the scene does show us however is an interesting paradoxical metaphor about leadership: if you truly understood power, you wouldn’t want it, yet conversely not wanting power for yourself is a trait all good leaders should possess. Take for example George Washington, who is remembered as one of the greatest presidents of the United States and yet was entirely reluctant to accept the role. This goes without saying that the Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU/AMLCT) presidential elections are an entirely different type of battleground from anything Washington would have encountered in his time, however I believe this metaphor still to be true. Leadership positions are often poisoned chalices and this can certainly be said for the role of President of The Student Union. In a job that leaves so little room for error and so much for scrutiny, you’d certainly want to know what’s floating around in your cup before you take a sip. And since there’s no 20/20 vision quite like hindsight (or gustatory memory), I got some former presidents to share their thoughts.
I managed to get in touch with three former presidents, Gabi Fullam 2022/23, László Molnárfi 2023/24, and Jenny Maguire 2024/25, and asked each of them to reflect on their roles. My question was as follows: “If you could go back in time to the start of your term, what advice would you give yourself?” What I noticed was that all three presidents touched on similar ideas.
The Student Movement Comes First
There’s a style of leadership known as “servant leadership”, where a leader puts the needs of those they lead before their own, essentially being “in service” to them. Interestingly enough, each of the three responses reflected elements of this style. “It’s not about you”, states Gabi Fullam, “sometimes it’s going to feel like it is, especially when things get difficult. The union works best when leadership can be decentralised and group centred. It’s collaborative and reciprocal relationships that build the power needed for collective action.” Jenny Maguire presents us with a visual description of this type of leadership: “I cannot stress the importance of teambuilding and working together enough…Your title is President – but you are the bottom of the pyramid. Be the support, not the anchor weighing others down.” Lázsló Molnárfi’s advice is also of the same vein: “It is important we all work together for the sake of the student movement.” Although it’s not a perfect science –and can be subject to human error (or even human pyramids)–it can be agreed that this is a fairly democratic way of viewing a leadership position.
It’s An Uphill Battle
Although not Sisyphean, being the president of TCDSU/AMLCT is definitely a demanding role, and criticism can take its toll. Referring to the difficult task of maintaining group-centred leadership, Fullam admits that “It’s difficult to balance this reality with the pressure of the job.” Maguire reflects on the extent of the true work the role entails: “She’d [referring to herself] already be aware of it, but I would reassure her to do all she can: It is not enough to check in, you must constantly work to create an open environment where everyone can contribute as equals”. In his response, Molnárfi acknowledges that no president is perfect: “Making mistakes is part of the job. It is inevitable. People will criticise you, but do not let that deter you,” says Lázsló, “being President for 21,000 students is not easy, and there will be scandals at times due to slip-ups and press scrutiny.” Not in the words of a former president but Lady Macbeth: “Screw your courage to the sticking-place, and you’ll not fail”.
Accountability Is Key
For any leadership role, the ability to take accountability for your actions is crucial for maintaining trust amongst those you represent. Fullam makes this clear, saying that “Ultimately, you are responsible for the welfare of TCDSU when it is under your care, and you must take ownership and accountability of that stewardship role.” “Through collective organising, we can work towards counter-balancing the tendency of individual errors of judgement, ” advises Molnárfi. Maguire also reemphasises the importance of putting other’s needs over your own, stating that “Sometimes you have to put the foot down, but only for the greater good, not your own opinions. Your job isn’t to believe in yourself – believe in the union.” Words even a cynic like little old me would find inspiring.
When it comes to being SU president, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, nor ring to rule them all. The common attributes we can pick out amongst these former presidents don’t have to be possessed by every former president nor candidate that puts themselves forward, nor should they dissuade you from staging your coup (regicide style). While we’re here, it is important to acknowledge the change the union has made over the years. The Union has gone through cycles of being a lobbying focused body (changing the name of the former Berkeley Library to The Boland), to collective action (divesting from Israel), then back again. As for what’s next, we’ll have to wait and see. To finish with a final piece of advice from Fullam: “leave The Union better than you found it” – just don’t forget to refill the chalice when you’re done.
