Kevin Keane, a fourth year Law student, has been elected President of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) on the 1st count.
Out of a valid poll of votes, Keane received 1,584 first preferences, amounting to 51.9 % of the total. Bryan Mallon received 29.5%, or 901 first preferences, while Thomas Emmet received 12.2%, or 373 first preferences.
Trinity News spoke to the presidential candidates before the final tally was announced. Keane said: “I’m nervous, definitely, but I’m hopeful. It’s great to see such a great turnout, we had just over 3000 which is brilliant, and hopefully things will go as we hope.”
Asked how he was feeling before the result, Bryan Mallon said: “Very good, it’s hard to say what’s going to happen but I’m looking forward to it, it’s very exciting. Just looking forward to it, simple as that. Looking forward to getting it over with.”
Thomas Emmet said: “I’m feeling good. I’ve run a campaign that I’m really proud of, and whatever the result I’m very very happy.”
In a poll conducted by Trinity News last week, Keane was predicted to receive 48% of first preference votes, Mallon 31% and Emmet 17%. The poll, which asked 1010 students how they would vote, also suggested that Keane would beat Mallon on the second count, 63% to 37%.
During the campaign Thomas Emmet focused on diversity and representation, promising to organize town hall meetings and work towards a Union that “values all its diverse voices and encourages loud, vocal participation.”
Mallon campaigned on a platform of inclusion and accessibility. Emphasising his unconventional background for an SU candidate, Mallon said he would strive to increase investment in the Trinity Access Program and make College more accessible to those with disabilities. However Mallon lost control of his campaign’s narrative quite early on, when student attention swung to several controversial social media posts made by Mallon in the past, which drew apologies from the candidate.
In his campaign, Kevin Keane spoke of empowering students and strengthening a sense of community within Trinity. He promised to improve external SU campaigns on issues such as student fees and accommodation, and also reduce waste by printing fewer University Times articles and spending less on class-rep training.
Additional reporting by Cathal Kavanagh, Aisling Grace, Oisin Daly, Oisín Vince Coulter, Johnny Byrne, Niamh Moriarty, Michael Foley and Alice Whelan.