In-person campaigning for the 2024 UCDSU Executive Elections kicked off today, with the first hustings debates for the Social Science and Law College Officers Positions.
In-person campaigning for the 2024 Students’ Union executive elections officially began on Monday, 25th March. Formal campaigning commenced with the first hustings debates.
Starting at 5 pm in the Meeting Rooms of the New Student Centre, candidates for the position of Social Science College Officer and Law College Officer presented their manifesto to the attendees and took questions from the Returning Officer and The University Observer.
Despite this being the first instance of college officer hustings being separated from the sabbatical debates, over thirty people were in attendance.
Candidates for the position of Social Science college officer took the stage first.
Peter Falvey, Stage 1 Economics, presented his manifesto, which heavily highlights transparency and accountability. Notably, Falvey pledges to share regular reports on his work with his constituency.
Jan “Jamo” Hatje, Stage 2 Economics & Politics, focuses his campaign on empowering students’ voices and increasing both representation and communication. For instance, he proposes setting up a Whatsapp group to ensure a quicker flow of communication between students and the SU: “The problem is not that there isn’t a way to know who we are, but that people still need to seek us out”.
Taking questions from the public, President Martha Ní Riada asked the candidates what they would change about the Newman building if money was not an obstacle; both candidates agreed on the necessity to “fix the drip in [theatre] L.”
The Social Science college officer race is extremely amicable; after they gave their final statements, Falvey and Hatje concluded the address with a friendly handshake.
Two candidates are also racing for the Law College officer positions. Incumbent Aisling Maloney is running for a second term with a manifesto that hopes to extend on the points she has been working on for the past year.
Against her, Ben Casey presented a manifesto heavily focused on improving accessibility in Sutherland.
Both candidates can benefit from extensive experience within the SU - which led an audience member to ask them what their favourite part of their involvement within the Union is. Casey cited his experience as a class rep, which resulted in an update to the law feedback system. On her part, Maloney teased an upcoming motion at the SU council on the topic of Erasmus and internships as her favourite thing she has done in her tenure at UCD.
Both Law College officers' candidates place a lot of emphasis on accessibility - for instance, access to lecture recordings and material; other points on their manifestos, too, overlap. This prompted The University Observer to ask in what way they aim to stand out from each other; Maloney cited the work she has done this past year as evidence of her commitment to further deliver on her promises, whilst Casey justified the overlap on the fact that the issues both candidates bring up are the most pressing for Law students in UCD.
UCDSU President Martha Ní Riada asked Maloney and Casey what they would change about Sutherland if money was not an obstacle. Casey suggested extending the café opening hours since it closes at 3:30 pm despite some classes commencing at 5 pm, whilst Maloney suggests the need for more study and social spaces.