Two from Trinity to contest USI elections, seven positions uncontested

There are 17 candidates in the running for 10 positions, with just three contested races

Two Trinity students are candidates in elections for the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) Coiste Gnó, both in one of only three contested races.

Zaid Albarghouthi is one of four candidates for Vice-President (VP) for Campaigns.

A  fourth year law student, Albarghouthi is the current chair of Trinity Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) and International Students Officer of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU).

He previously served as International Officer of the Trinity Hall Junior Common Room (JCR) committee.

Albarghouthi faces three opponents for the role, Aoife Hynes from Maynooth University Students’ Union (MUSU), Kieron Portbury from Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union (QUBSU), and Christine O’Mahony from Dublin City University Students’ Union (DCUSU).

PhD candidate Jeffrey Sardina is one of three candidates in the running for VP for Postgraduate Affairs.

Sardina was the founder, former president, and later vice president of the PhD’s Collective Action Union (PCAU), now the Postgraduate Workers’ Organisation (PWO) following a merger.

Sardina was also chair of the editorial board of the University Times, before temporarily stepping down to run for USI. Sardina will resume his role as chair of the chair of the editorial board after the election. His PhD research focuses on knowledge engineering and artificial intelligence.

He is contested for the position by Muhammad Mubashar Saeed and Muhammad Sayyam Afzal, both from DCUSU.

The president is the only other contested role in Coiste Gnó elections, with three candidates.

The presidential candidates are Chris Clifford from Munster Technological University Students’ Union (MTUSU), Patrick Curtin from South East Technological University Students’ Union (SETUSU), and Sai Gujulla of Comhalatas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe (CMLOÉG).

Bryan O’Mahony from SETUSU is the sole candidate for VP for Academic Affairs, while Collette Murphy of DCUSU is the sole VP for Welfare candidate.

James Curry from the Technological University of Dublin Students’ Union (TUDSU) is running for the position of VP for Equality & Citizenship.

There are three regional representative positions. Kimberley Austin from St Angela’s College Sligo Students’ Union is uncontested for VP for the Border, Midlands & Western Region.

MTUSU’s Kelda McManus from MTUSU is uncontested for the role of VP for the Southern Region, as is DCUSU’s Nathan Murphy for VP for the Dublin Region.

Alicia Lewandowska is running uncontested for the position of Leas-Uachtarán don Gaeilge (VP for the Irish Language).

The NUS-USI President is an additional member of the USI Coiste Gnó, and represents students in the North in both USI and the UK National Students’ Union (NUS). They are elected separately at the annual NUS-USI Conference.

Campaigning for USI Coiste Gnó elections began today.

This article was updated on 22 March 2023 to update the profile of Jeffrey Sardina, who has temporarily stepped down from his role in the University Times to run for USI elections. 

David Wolfe

David Wolfe is a Junior Sophister student of History and Political Science. He is the current Social Media and Managing Editor of Trinity News, having previously served as News Editor, Assistant News Editor and copyeditor.