FAQs on Students' Union Elections
By University Observer | Mar 7 2017
What am I voting for? All students can vote to choose next year’s sabbatical and college officers for UCD Students’ Union. You are also being asked your opinion on two policy referenda.What are the sabbatical officers? Sabbatical officers are students who take a year out to work for UCDSU in certain areas. There are 5 positions open: President, Welfare, Education, Campaigns & Communications and Graduate.What are college officers? College officers are there for each faculty and manage all the class representatives in each faculty. They also sit on the union executive, the body of UCDSU that deals with the day to day direction of the union, with the sabbatical officers. This also includes the Irish officer, who is responsible for advancing the Irish language.What referenda? There are two referenda on the table. One calls for students’ opinion on fees, offering them three options based on the Cassells’ report. These are: a loan system, free fees or continuation of the current system (with the student contribution charge).The other referenda is on a union stance on the unity of Ireland.What is RON? RON stands for re-open nominations. This is available in every race and is an option students’ can use if they do not feel the candidates currently standing are suited to the job. Traditionally, unopposed candidates have higher RON votes though it is very rare for a candidate to be refused and nominations to be re-opened.When are the elections? Elections are on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th March, or in week 7 of the academic semester.Where can I vote? Polling stations are opened in each faculty building, with most people voting on the second day of polling. For more details on where you can vote across campus see here: Tuesday 7th of MarchAg & Vet StudentsVet Building – 9.30am – 5.15pm (Outside the canteen)Business and Law (Postgraduate)Carysfort – 10.00am – 5.00pm (in the recreational area in the common room in the Smurfit School)Engineering & Architecture StudentsRichview – 9.15am – 1.15pm (main foyer)Newstead – 1.45pm – 5.30pm (in the main doors, on the right)Law (Undergraduate)Sutherland School – 9.15am – 5.30pm (main atrium) Wednesday 8th of MarchAg & Vet StudentsAgriculture Building- 9.45am – 5.15pm (main foyer)Arts & Human Science StudentsNewman – 9.00am – 5.15pm (An Cuas)Business Students (Undergraduates)Quinn School – 10.00am – 5.15pm (left of the main stairs)Engineering & Architecture StudentsEngineering Building- 10.00am – 5.00pm (opposite main stairs)Health Sciences incl. Nursing StudentsHealth Sciences Building – 9.30am – 5.30pmScience StudentsScience Building- 9.30am – 5.30pm (Zone 4, opposite Pi restaurant)All Students, all schoolsNewman – 6.00pm – 9.00pm (An Cuas) For more information see www.ucdsu.ie/elections