Trinity College Dublin Student Union (TCDSU) reflected on class representative elections and elected the BDS chair and ethnic minorities officer at their second meeting of the semester on November 5th.
Additional concerns came up throughout the meeting, including limited spaces for students in the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI) to eat and rest between classes, lecturers refusing to use Blackboard, and the removal of a microwave installed for students on the third floor of the Arts Block.
Class Representative Elections Report
With over 700 self-nominations, TCDSU saw a 65% increase in voter turnout from last year at over 2,750 votes cast. After the nominations closed on September 27th, work began on the creation, printing, and sorting of ballots for over 350 individual elections, to be distributed across six polling stations. A delay in this process led to a decision from the Chair of the Electoral Commision to suspend the first day of voting after ballots were not received until 1p.m. on October 2nd.
Moving forward, the Chair of the Electoral Commission has requested more than 2-3 working days to complete “the massive administrative task that is creating, printing, and sorting ballots”. He also said he will investigate accessible online voting options, with over 700 individuals applying for online voting after TCDSU promoted online voting as an alternative for those who were unable to cast their ballot in-person on October 3rd or 4th.
Elections
Patrick Keegan was elected as the Chair of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) after the chair elected by the committee at the end of the last term resigned earlier this term. Keegan, who is the current secretary of the youth wing of Sinn Féin, was last year’s secretary, and brought up his experience organising last year’s encampments.
Problems accessing the voting link occurred due to students inputting their student numbers incorrectly, causing election results to be delayed.
Gavin Li was elected as the Ethnic Minorities Officer of the Students Union, running upon the idea that students of color have every right to be angry. “We should not be taking any of this shit.” He won the election against two other candidates after Welfare and Equality Officer Hamza Bana highlighted the importance of the role and the need to diversify the union.
Six postgraduate students nominated themselves to be Postgraduate Representative of the University Board, the highest decision making body of the college with TCDSU representatives. Garbin Jovan, a co-founder of the Postgraduate Workers Organisation, was elected. Jovan spoke on the continually inadequate treatment of post-graduate students and the need for post-graduate students to stand up for their rights.
Motions
A motion was passed for the integration of postgraduates into TCDSU, with Education Officer
Eoghan Gilroy wanting to ensure postgraduates are adequately represented and that the TCDSU is the sole representative body for all students at Trinity. Procedural motion E was proposed by Maths Convenor Conchúr Ó Cathasaigh to make amendments to create an ad hoc postgraduate taught officer with additional technical amendments proposed. Seathrún Sardinia spoke in favour of the motion, citing accurate representation as a major stepping stone for postgraduate worker rights.
Gilroy then motioned to suspend standing orders and elect the new postgraduate positions now to facilitate the postgraduate forum before next council. Sardinia was elected for postgraduate research officer and Sarah Edwards was elected for postgraduate taught officer
There was also a motion to create a Student IT Officer, which was withdrawn.
Town hall
As council concluded, there was a town hall to address a mandate made by the sabbatical team at the last council last year to address part of the union’s constitution, which states: “The Union shall pursue these objectives independent of any political, racial or religious ideology”. Approximately 41 people were present at this discussion.
Student Union President Jenny Maguire argues that the work of the union is political. She said “My existence as a trans woman is political”. Maguire stated that when she was elected to the position, there were calls made to the university calling her a threat and demanding she be removed from her position.
One student disagreed, stating that the original wording is “very sound,” and the union shouldn’t bring ideology into its work to avoid isolating students. The student said “We’re not a lobby group. We’re here to serve students”.
However, Pádraig Mac Brádaigh stated that the union is here to be a democratic voice to the students, citing a situation where he received a three-page “hate letter” for his Irish language initiatives from a man in Belfast. He highlighted the importance of listening to student voices.
Another student argued that changing this clause wouldn’t change the way the union operates but applies to what is already being done, citing recent matters where the union has appealed to the government. “The idea that we could do what we are doing apolitically is not representative of what we are currently doing” she said.
Maguire proposed a new clause to replace the current wording, which states: “This union shall practice the above aims and objectives independent of any political party or religious organisation”.
A speaker proposed new wording: “The Union shall pursue these objectives whilst remaining neutral to any political, racial or religious ideology”.
Another student suggested completely removing the clause, arguing that students will stick to their beliefs regardless.
Fourteen students voted to decide today, while eleven voted to postpone the matter. However, after the three students each spent a minute arguing for their respective proposals, Maguire still held a vote to “get a feel” for student perspectives ahead of the next town hall. 21 people voted for Maguire’s proposal, two voted for the neutral wording, four voted to completely remove it and two voted to keep it as is.
