UCD students have voted to rejoin the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), following a referendum taking place over the last three days.
UCD students have voted to rejoin the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), following a referendum taking place over the last three days. 5,952 students voted in the referendum, meaning quorum was hit on campus for the first time since 2019. Of the 5,952 voters, 3,244 voted in favour of rejoining USI while 1,851 voted against the motion. 857 voters abstained.
The result comes as somewhat of a surprise, as nearly every candidate running for sabbatical officer roles had expressed their intention to vote no in the referendum. Outgoing UCDSU President, Miranda Bauer, has spent much of her week campaigning for the yes vote in a personal capacity, approaching students on campus while members of USI encouraged voters just outside UCD grounds.
Vote Yes:
In a comment to the University Observer, USI President Chris Clifford commended the team effort that went towards the win. “This is a statement that the students are united now. This is a massive statement. I can't thank everyone enough. I can't, honestly. People that voted yes, the campaign, the yes team, USI as a whole. I couldn't have done this alone. That's the biggest thing - I am the president, but this goes down to on the ground, direct action, that we don't do, apparently.” He continued, “Quorum hasn't been hit in almost a decade. It shows that USI, a motivated USI team, and getting students that really care about it, is what we need.”
He also commended the No Campaign. “But I also want to include to the No Campaign, the people that did vote no - they're the people I do want to see in the room at Congress next year. I want to see them there. I want them to hold our officers to account. And I'm sure our incoming president, the incoming team will say the same. So if you did vote no, don't look at that as discouragement. Look at it as an opportunity.”
Aaron Duke, who ran the Yes campaign, shared similar sentiments to the University Observer. “There was a real appetite for USI. People want to band together. They want to be with the rest of the students across the country.”
Vote No
Speaking to The University Observer after the results were announced, Wedge Egan, who led the charge for the no vote, reflected on his team’s campaign. “We picked what issues mattered to us most. We picked the issues that students resonated with.”
In Egan’s comment to the UO, he didn't back down on his stance or take the opportunity to congratulate members of the Yes campaign, rather he expressed his doubts that students had made the right decision. “I guarantee that there is no direct democracy in two years' time (...) and USI does not pursue meaningful change”.
During referendum hustings, Egan made the claim that if students vote yes, there will be a repeat referendum in two years time where students will once again vote to leave USI, stating it will be “another €3500 down the toilet”. Post-referendum, he stands by this claim, saying, “We’ll have this question on the ballot again. We want to work with USI, but USI has to work with us first”.