Former Trinity College Students’ Union (TCDSU) education officer Jack Leahy has announced his intention to run for the position of Deputy President for Academic Affairs and Quality Assurance on the board of Union of Students in Ireland (USI), the umbrella body for third-level students’ unions.
The final-year history student will need two nominations from current members of the USI before he can being considered as a candidate.
Leahy announced his intention on his Facebook page on Monday night, saying the decision to seek nominations was not a difficult one, “because I still care a lot about the associated themes and issues, and because I genuinely believe I still have it in me to positively affect them.”
Speaking to Trinity News last night, Leahy said he believes that there are many things the USI do well, but that he would like to see more frequent and meaningful interaction with education officers, believing that this would lead to a greater say for the students of these colleges.
He added he would like to contribute to this, hoping, if elected, to be able to visit all local education officers around the country within his first few months on the job.
While acknowledging the high calibre of people expected to run for the position, Leahy said he does not think that juggling a campaign and managing his final year will impede his chances.
He said that he has a strong relationship with the USI “on a personal level” and cited many friends who have roles within the USI, but added that, because of the amount of work involved with final year, he has not had as much of a chance to work with them on a professional level as he would have liked to.
The election will be held at the 2015 USI Congress, due to held in Athlone between March 23rd and 26th, and the successful candidate will be in office for a single year, beginning on July 1st.
