The Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) has announced the results of elections for its executive officers for the academic year, with most new officers echoing similar problems around social and financial challenges faced by postgraduates as their priority for the next year.
This newspaper reported earlier today that hustings were not held for the contested races, which the GSU’s electoral commission is constitutionally mandated to do.
Mengdi Wang, a third-year PhD student in the School of Education, was elected arts, humanities and social sciences (AHSS) officer. Speaking at the AGM, she said she wanted to “extend the GSU influence among Asia-group students”, asking “what can we do for them?”.
She also mentioned “high living expenses” in Dublin and said that postgraduates “need more financial support from the college to attend academic conferences”.
Nilki Weerawardana was elected engineering, maths and sciences (EMS) officer. Weerawardana said that “we need all people from any place in the world, any background, any ethnicity, any race to have equal rights”.
She also referred to the fact that postgraduates who work giving demonstrations “are not being paid well”.
“I look forward to trying to stand for people who are struggling with living in Dublin”, she added.
Julia Wall, a PhD candidate in physiotherapy, was elected health science officer. She remarked that “one of the new challenges” for postgraduate students was the “lack of being able to be together”.
St James’ campus, she said, can be “cut off from the rest Trinity pretty easily”.
Elena Schaa was elected equality officer. Schaa referred to “the struggles you have with equality and diversity” in Trinity, adding that she wanted to “bring forward” issues with equality and students with disabilities.
Serena Foo, a PhD student in molecular rheumatology, was elected for a second term as research officer. Foo said she was looking forward to “working closely with the PhD workers’ rights group” and to “repairing the damage” done as a result of a dispute between the group and the GSU over the results of a survey written by the group.
She also pointed out that there were “a few breaches of constitution” at the AGM – this newspaper reported this week that hustings for contested races were not held as they should have been, and insufficient notice was given for the date of the AGM.
Sara Kift was elected disabilities officer and Nivali Mantramurthy was elected Environmental officer.
Kift said she was “really really looking forward to having a voice on the GSU” for students with disabilities.
Mantramurthy said she was “really passionate about doing something with the environment” and was looking forward to implementing more “sustainable methods into the College”.
Today’s AGM was initially supposed to take place on Monday. However, in an email to postgraduate students at 12.23am on Sunday night, GSU President Gisèle Scanlon postponed the AGM, which the union is required to run before the end of the first full week of November according to its constitution.
