Sabbatical Officer hustings took place this evening at 5.30pm in the O’Connor Theatre of the O’Brien Centre for Science, a new venue to its regular home of the Student Centre atrium.
Voting for the UCDSU elections will open at 8am on Tuesday the 3rd of March, and will close at 8pm on Thursday the 5th of March. Voting will take place online via the Mi-Voice platform. Results of the elections will be announced on the 6th of March.
There are twelve candidates for the six sabbatical officer roles, with all but two races being contested - President and Education Officer. Eleven candidates were present at the hustings. Shreyansh Jagtap, contesting for Entertainment Officer and current Graduate Officer of UCDSU, was not present and sent his apologies.
Presidential Race: Enzo Crothers
Enzo Crothers is running uncontested for the role of President. Crothers is a Stage 3 History and Politics student. He is currently one of three House Debates Convenors with the Literary and Historical Society (L&H). He has also formerly been a member of the committees of the Politics Society and the History Society. Crothers works in the Clubhouse, the student bar on campus.
Crothers began his opening remarks to cite his experience and involvement in societies throughout his time in UCD. “Throughout every single one of these experiences, there has been one force keeping me going, and that is representation,” Crothers stated. He believes that student societies and the Union need to collaborate more with one another, saying that, “I do genuinely believe the marrying of the SU and societies is the best way to go in terms of engagement.”
Crothers also cited his campaign experience, which includes campaigning for the election of now President Catherine Connolly, along with the re-election campaign of Sinn Fein TD John Brady, and involvement in the 2024 Palestine solidarity encampment on campus. “I’ve been actively engaged in campaigns in UCD,” Crothers continued.
Crothers placed further emphasis on the importance of representation, stating that, “I will strive to represent the collective, the 40,000 students here in UCD.” He further said that he will, “push for the change that we all so desperately want and need.”
“My manifesto is a bare bones example of what I hope to achieve,” Crothers said, jokingly adding that, “My manifesto was fifteen pages in its first draft.”
The University Observer asked Crothers whether he could concretely make any promises to students regarding affordability, a key focus of his manifesto. Crothers responded,”A big thing to note when talking about affordability on campus, it’s not the President who decides this [alone]. I can make a commitment to challenging these issues but I won’t make any promises on what this will look like in the next year.”
An audience member queried Crothers’ membership of Sinn Fein, to which he responded, “I am absolutely open to rescinding any membership.”
The College Tribune asked Crothers what tangible change he intends to bring about, noticing that previous SU presidents have made great promises but struggled to fulfil them. Crothers responded, “I was careful of my language in my manifesto. I did not say I would abolish fees. I want to set up for the following years.”
The University Observer inquired into Crothers’ beliefs regarding the Palestine movement on campus, noting that two of this year’s candidates have refused to express their support for the Union’s mandate to support BDS, and that UCD currently holds academic ties with Israeli universities. Crothers replied, “I would like to reopen talks with the university - but making sure we do get [the severing of academic ties] back on the table,” He continued, “I do believe [the BDS movement} did die off this year which is an awful shame.
In his closing remarks, Crothers simply added that he will be going to the Clubhouse after the hustings, and if anyone wished to ask him further questions he’d be happy to answer them then - but to please keep them to the first hour or so.
Education Officer Race: Jessica Klein
Jessica Klein, running unopposed to be Education Officer, began her speech by reflecting on her time involved with the union throughout college, saying she went for the position because she’s “passionate about all the work I have done so far and achieved”. She plans to take her work further.
Klein is focused on four main issue areas: Fees, AI, Learning and Access to information. She says that UCD students are paying “outrageous fees” to be treated with such “indifference and disrespect”. She emphasised the importance of students feeling “heard and respected”.
In response to a University Observer question on her manifesto promising to ensure lecture recordings for all modules, Klein cited the upcoming curriculum review as an opportunity to get meaningful reforms passed. Klein suggested as a middle ground that lecture recordings only be accessible for a certain number of days as an option which would be “more attractive” to lecturers.
Asked again by the University Observer on her pledge to have all past exam papers published, Klein said that she would focus on working with college officers and actual class reps because they are "humongously underutilised” within the SU. She also underlined her concerns about exams becoming increasingly common due to AI and said she would push for “an alternative” to exams.
In her closing remarks, she further remphasised the importance of the upcoming curriculum review and a unique opportunity for change. “Students deserve to be respected and I will fight for that”.
Campaigns and Engagement Race: Tom Conway
Tom Conway greeted the crowd as Gaeilge, saying he agrees and understands that engagement is not where it needs to be in relation to the student body and their union. Conway commented on how students are exhausted and said that their survival is priority and engagement is a luxury.
Conway supports AMLÉ, he says it’s proof that students believe in something. Passionate for change, Conway is pushing for national coordination of students within AMLÉ to lobby for a reduction of fees saying he will help with the cost of living crisis by getting fees as low as possible. He plans to take up this campaign beginning in June and leading up to Budget day in October, launching social media campaigns, and protests; “Engagement is built when students see the union fighting for issues that impact their daily lives.”
While focused on the long term vision and what his impact could do, he also would like to generate enjoyment through engagement from events such as UCD Ball and a Fleadh. When asked what he would do to ensure students make the most of their inclusion as a member of AMLÉ, he commented on how he wants to open up the dialogue to ensure there is a diverse representation within the student delegates, striving to keep continuous communication and information readily available. When asked if artificial intelligence was used at any stage during his campaign he said that he did not use AI at any point during his campaign.
Campaigns and Engagement Race: Chesi Anne Basil
Chesi Anne Basil began by admitting her uncertainty around her decision in putting her name forward for this role. Her drive to campaign came from the fact she felt this was not a responsibility but an opportunity to ensure that no student is sitting alone in their room, worrying about where to go or what to do. She commented that you don't have to figure it out all alone and that she wants to make a cultural shift to change the UCDSU from your last resort to your first instinct.
Basil distinctly refused, as she did within her University Observer interview, to comment on Palestine and apologizes for it.
She openly admits when asked that she used AI in her research for her campaign and writing her manifesto, asking it to filter through Reddit to find problems facing UCD students to ensure her points were relevant.
One of her plans is to install anonymous booths for feedback where students can comment on events and voice their opinions. When asked about her opinions on student fees she declined to comment. She also had little to say on AMLÉ and students' engagement with it stating, “I’m sorry, I don't have an opinion.” In her closing Chesi explained she wanted to start small, build structure by changing the systems, making students feel as though they can reach out to their Student Union.
Graduate Officer Race
The Graduate Officer Race is being contested by two candidates, Anushka Baisoya and Niamh Andrews Fraher.
Baisoya began by stressing on the fact that “change doesn’t happen overnight,” highlighting her focus on realistic goals and consistent collaboration and hard work. Drawing on her own experience as a graduate student, she pointed out the multiple burdens that students face: funding issues, mingling with different crowds, and finding jobs, all while juggling their academic workload. In her words, graduate students “are the backbone of the university, but are unheard.” Baisoya restated her qualifications for the role, with a focus on her knowledge about student representation structure and experience as president of her student union.
Andrews Fraher began her opening statement in Irish, followed by her observation about the shared concerns of graduate and mature students. She restated her commitment to three points as per her manifesto: inclusion, connection, and belonging. As a mature, and now graduate student, she has experienced herself what it feels like to be “on the outside looking in” and she highlighted how graduate students are often left to fend for themselves when it comes to introductory events like orientation and campus tours.
In the Q&A, both candidates stressed that they would work on securing more scholarships for postgraduate students. In response to a question about the lack of postgraduate members of societies, Andrews Fraher said she would work with the societies council to improve things, while Baisoya said she would focus on communications and marketing.
Both candidates spoke about bridging the gap between Smurfit and Belfield and were asked to elaborate on how they would do so. Baisoya spoke about her plan to start a “Smurfit Day” and to start a Commuter Brunch in the first semester. Andrews Fraher highlighted how students at both campuses are “in the same boat” and questioned why they did not have the opportunity to interact with one another. One of her ideas is to start cultural events split between both campuses that highlight the diversity of the graduate students on campus
Baisoya and Andrews Fraher both stated that they would continue the Graduate Crew that current Graduate Officer Shreyansh Jagtap started last year.
Given the similarities in their manifestos and goals, the candidates were asked to explain why a student should vote for one over the other. Baisoya responded by explaining that her previous experience and her approachability gives her “an edge” in the race. Andrews Fraher pointed to her existing relationships within the university and said, “this is not a job for me, this is what I want to do whichever way this election goes.”
Andrews Fraher ended by saying that she would be here to listen to people’s concerns and help them with that. Baisoya closed by saying that she was “here to add colour to graduate life,” and in her words, “you’ll be glad if you pick this grad.”
ENTs Race: Chetan Sanjay Khanna
At the start of his speech Chetan Sanjay Khanna mentioned his favourite album is “To Pimp a Butterfly”, by Kendrick Lamar, which he says people think is about racism but is more about caterpillars turning into beautiful butterflies. “We are the caterpillars", he said, and UCD is the environment that invites us with all these different opportunities. He wants his events to be a part of the giving nature that UCD is a part of.
He thinks there should be more communication of when events are happening and where they are happening, especially in the Smurfit campus.
Additionally, he wants events to be more frequent and more diverse. He said if you’re a social person, he’ll do karaoke nights and DJ nights. But if you're someone who's less social, he’ll do low stakes events, like painting. Being asked what theme nights he would like to do he said he would love to do a jazz night, or game of thrones themed event.
Additionally, he wants events that will make students learn and improve their lives such as survival, cooking, or reading events. “I want you guys to learn. I think learning is fun. If I can help you guys learn something while having fun, that's a win for me”.
For him an event isn’t successful when it’s packed, but when students go out feeling more comfortable about themselves. It’s important for him that events are safe spaces, and to create love, respect growth and fun.
He was part of the cultural team in junior college, and used to run events without budget. He said “we always had fun because people are the main part of the event”, saying it’s them that bring the joy, and you know events are successful when you walk out smiling.
ENTs Race: Patrick Henríquez Bruce
Patrick Henríquez Bruce started his speech thanking his campaign team. He said his manifesto is not exhaustive and he will maintain active dialogue with the student body throughout his term. He wants to host events students care about, and bring back the most popular events he has seen the SU run these past four years saying his goal is “making what's good better”.
These include commuter breakfasts, Thursday food markets, petting zoos, food stalls, de-stress corners. Additionally, he said we can improve UCD Christmas day by increasing tickets and adding noise shields outside of clubhouse to make it a quiety zone. When asked what theme night they would run, he suggested a white T-Shirt night.
He discussed the idea that students have that events should only be nights out but how wellness is at the center of his campaign too, to help students with stress which will help them in other aspects of their lives and student experience, including with exam performance.
He will also focus on being accessible to students with office hours, saying students can come to speak to him about anything that concerns them and that his job is in each and every one of students, on expanding what’s being built. Additionally, he will also work on having an online anonymous form to submit any critique for events.
In closing he said “vote for a better union that supports you. If you think that sounds good you should vote for Patrick.”
Welfare Race: Sneha Choudhary
As the first welfare candidate up to the podium, Sneha Choudhary began her speech with a Dia Duit before declaring that “I’m looking forward to being your next UCD welfare officer.” She immediately began speaking about her experience as a social care worker with young refugees in Ireland: “What I do is I take care of them. I help them feel safe” and that “this is the type of care that I want to bring to UCD.” Choudhary also said, “I’ve run campaigns that join communities together. I'm the one that can make things actually happen. It's not about policies or meetings but about real people.”
She also spoke about her experience volunteering and working with people with disabilities in India.
In the speech Choudhary reiterated some of her key manifesto points such as on mental health and accessibility and faster access to counseling. She said “affordable housing shouldn't be a luxury” and that she would host workshops to help students find better housing and publicise information on emergency housing supports.
Finishing her opening statement Choudhary said that working as welfare officer she would be “visible accessible and consistent.”
Welfare Race: Nidhi Hiranwar
Nidhi Hiranwar began her speech with a question: “How many of you have said you’re fine when you’re really not - “okay same, now I’ll start my speech” Going on Hiranwar said, “Most of us know what it's like to struggle quietly while still going to lectures handing in essays and living life [and that] “stress doesn't look that dramatic…it feels like being alone in a room while surrounded by people…if that sounds familiar I’ve been in the same shoes.”
Hiranwar spoke about her experience as an international student having moved to Dublin and struggling, saying, “welfare is not only about crisis, it's about being seen before things fall apart” and said she wanted to make sure that asking for help “isn't scary” and ensuring students can “just exist without expectations.”
Hiranwar emphasized that “belonging really matters “ and “I don’t pretend to have all the answers” but promised to be an approachable, understanding, welfare officer.
Welfare Race: Éabha Hughes
Éabha Hughes began her speech about her personal experience motivating her to go for the role saying, “I know what a less than smooth ride is like” and “can understand students because I’ve been there myself.”
Hughes argued for students to vote for her because of her experience both with the union but also as the cofounder of UCD BDS. Her experience with the encampment and working for a rent freeze will be “a core part of the work I will be doing” if she is elected. She highlighted her ability to negotiate and advocate on behalf of UCD students having been involved in the encampment negotiations and achieving 10 out of their 11 demands.
Hughes admitted that as someone who is white and Irish she “can’t pretend to understand the experience of students of colour or religious minorities” but when it comes to many of her manifesto points she wants to work with advocacy groups that represent minorities. Hughes wants to “institutionalize representation.” She wants to expand student counselling services and work with Black Therapists Ireland to make sure counseling is representative while pushing for an Ethnic minority officer in the college.
Hughes wants the student health service to offer HRT for trans students citing a statistic that 50% of trans people in Ireland self administer. She also wants to work with organizations like Catu on digs campaigns, housing workshops.
When asked about her attitude to a more political and partisan union, Hughe reiterated what she had said to the University Observer previously, saying “the union is inherently political” and that was its “historical purpose” which “should never change.”
Welfare Race Q&A:
The welfare candidates received the most questions out of all candidates from both reporters and students in the audience.
Candidates were asked about their opinion on women’s safety on UCD campus in response to Nidhi Hiranwar’s initial comment in her interview with the University Observer that she had no opinion on sexual consent on campus before talking about it later in the interview.
Hughes said that there needed to be a mandatory course on consent so people know exactly how to intervene and how to report. She said there should be training in particular in conjunction with clubs and societies. She also said that serious news shouldn't be election fodder.
Choudhary said that the recent incident involving a UCD student was “completely unacceptable” and that UCDSU should work on generating more policies and laws to restrict people who have committed violence. She also said that penalties should “be very strict.”On her previous comments Hiranwar said that she “did not want to give any controversial opinion” and “as a woman myself… I don't think it’s acceptable” and that the recent story “gives her goose bumps".
Each candidate was asked on what their approach to disability at UCD would be.
Choudhary said that “I have friends who are disabled” and that she understands people with disabilities, saying it’s about “accessibility and inclusion” and expanding access for things like washrooms.
Hughes said that the Disability coordinator should work more closely with the welfare officer to host town halls with the disability rights coordinator for affected students. She also critiqued the decentralised approach to accessibility in UCD.
Candidates were asked on what NGOs or organisations they would work with, with Hughes having the most extensive list in comparison to the Hiranwar who had yet to make plans and Choudhary who referenced her plan to make peer support groups.