Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) Council have voted to back Lorna Fitzpatrick for a second term as president of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).
The results of an online vote of members of TCDSU Council on which candidates to back for USI executive officer positions were announced this morning.
Members of Council were voting on how to instruct the union’s delegates to vote at USI’s national congress, due to be held in April. Council members voted on a total of eight positions.
For the position of deputy president of the USI and the national union’s head of campaigns, TCDSU has decided to back Craig McHugh, USI’s current vice president for the Dublin region, over Aodhán Donnelly, the only Trinity student candidate running .
TCDSU have also voted to support Kevin McStravock for the position of vice president for academic affairs, Clare Austick for the position of vice president for welfare, Marie Lyons for vice president for equality & citizenship, and Megan O’Neill for vice president for the Dublin region.
Council members voted to support Clíodhna Ní Dhufaigh for the position of Leas-Uachtarán don Gaeilge and Adam Clarke for vice president for postgraduate affairs.
Members of TCDSU Council were asked to vote on USI executive officer positions online for the first time this year. This was due to the coronavirus pandemic which has caused the closure of Trinity and the cancellation of union council meetings.
Under normal circumstances the candidates would take part in a hustings event held in college. This year council members were asked to make their decision based on the manifestos produced by candidates.
USI’s nation congress is due to begin on April 6 in Trim, Co Meath. Trinity is set to send 17 delegates to the congress.
