Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) delegates will vote to reopen nominations (RON) in the Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI) presidential election, following a ballot of Trinity students.
Despite three candidates in the race for president, RON was selected on the third count having received 38.2% of first preference votes.
Both Trinity candidates in the elections received the overwhelming support of Trinity students, and will receive TCDSU’s votes.
TCDSU International Student Officer Zaid Albarghouthi, running for Vice-President (VP) for Campaigns, received 78.1% of votes, while Jeffrey Sardina received 73.6% for VP for Postgraduate Affairs.
In the presidential race, MTU Kerry Students’ Union candidate Chris Clifford received 13.7% of first preferences, while SETU Waterford Students’ Union’s Patrick Curtin received 15.7%.
Comhaltas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe candidate Sai Gujalla received 32.4% of first preference votes. Following the elimination of Clifford and Curtin, Gujalla received 48 votes, while RON received 49. Gujulla was the only candidate to attend TCDSU Hustings last week.
USI Comhdháil 2023 begins today at the Clayton Hotel in Co. Sligo and will run until Thursday. There, students’ union delegates will elect officers to USI Coiste Gnó for 2023/24.
The TCDSU Electoral Commission (EC) conducted a poll from March 30 to March 31 inviting all students to select their preferred USI candidates in each race.
Candidates were selected in every race except for the presidential race. TCDSU delegates at Congress must vote in line with the results of these polls.
Five of the eight elections for USI Coiste Gnó are uncontested. Both Albarghouthi and Sardina are running in contested elections.
