Three referendums held in Dublin City University (DCU) have had their results voided, due to not enough students turning out to vote. Each of the three referendums failed to reach a quorum of 10% of the student population, which currently equates to 1,762 votes.
Despite all three proposals receiving majority support from those who did turn out to vote, the results have been deemed invalid by Dublin City University Students’ Union (DCUSU).
In a poll on whether DCU Students’ Union should remain affiliated with The Union of Students in Ireland (USI), a total of 909 students turned out to vote, with 785 voting in favour of continued affiliation and 124 voting against.
DCU students also voted in favour a DCUSU campaign for the college to remove and ban the sale of all tobacco products and e-cigarettes on campus. This vote saw a slightly higher turnout of 1,067 students, with 634 voting in favour and 433 voting against. The referendum with the lowest turnout was a vote on a change to the union’s constitution, which would have reconfigured four of the sabbatical officer positions. Only 814 students voted, 684 in favour and 130 against.
In a press statement to the DCU Yes to USI campaign said before the vote was announced: “For the last seven years, USI has worked with DCU students in campaigns such as #ShanowenShakedown, repeal the eighth, marriage equality, the reinstatement of the Gaeltacht grant for student teachers, and so many other victories for the student movement.”
“While DCUSU lobbies Dublin City University, the USI allows us to influence our government on issues that represent all students.” The campaign lists USI’s lobbying for the introduction of rent caps in student accommodation and campaigning against the introduction of a loan-based scheme for student grant as among the union’s recent achievements.
The statement continued: “Being a member of the USI allows DCU students to be part of the national conversation, and have a say in the focus of campaigns. The President and Vice-Presidents of the USI provide crucial support to our own Sabbatical officers, offering advice and resources in new situations to better serve the needs of the students of DCU, with learned experience from assisting other colleges.”
Speaking to Trinity News, a DCU Yes to USI campaign manager, Lucien Waugh-Daly, said that he advocated for a yes vote because bigger unions can fight the loudest for crucial rights and student wellbeing is no exception”. He continued: “The USI has the resources and scale to be a fundamental force for student activism and DCU students can prosper from being a part of it.”
DCUSU or the DCU Yes to USI are yet to comment on the outcome of the referendums, which seem to suggest a lack of enthusiasm among students for the partnership with USI or for union issues in general.
The vote on changes to the DCUSU constitution would, had it passed, changed the make-up of the DCUSU’s four vice presidents. The new proposed vice presidents were for academic life, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, and community and citizenship, with the remit of each position laid out in the new constitution. The change in the constitution would also have seen the removal of a first year officer from executive and the introduction of a recruitment process for the returning officer.
The current vice president positions are academic affairs, education and placement, welfare and equality, and engagement and development.
In February, the DCUSU executive, which consists of DCU’s five sabbatical officers and the Union’s part-time officers, faced heavy criticism after voting to support disaffiliation from the USI without consulting class representatives.
DCUSU has previously had a tumultuous history with the USI. DCUSU had voted to rejoin the national union in 2013, following over 10 years of disaffiliation. However, that referendum was declared invalid as the union’s executive failed to promote the campaign, which it was constitutionally mandated to do.
DCU students voted on USI membership again the following year, rejoining the USI by a one vote margin. Two years later, another USI membership referendum was held, succeeding by a wider margin.
