A campaign has been launched calling for students to vote to re-open nominations (RON) in the University Times (UT) Editor election.
Mairead Maguire, the incumbent deputy editor, is running unopposed for the position.
An Instagram page promoting the campaign was launched this afternoon alongside candidates’ campaign pages as the election period officially began.
Speaking to Trinity News, the admins of the page said they had launched it in response to allegations that Maguire leaked the names of anonymous sources and other confidential information while reporting on bullying and harassment in Trinity’s debating societies. Maguire has called the allegations “wholly false and defamatory”.
“The impact this has had on those affected is colossal,” the RON campaign organisers continued. “The use of such power and the sharing of this is incredibly harmful, particularly by someone planning on running for a position of power on campus as editor of one of Trinity’s newspapers.”
The campaigners continued: “It is not representative of good conduct by a journalist, and makes campus unsafe for victims if their stories are not treated with respect and dignity when shared.”
“We will soon be posting more formal responses to what has happened, the response, and why we think a RON vote is necessary.”
Speaking to Trinity News, Maguire said: “There is a reason that re-open nominations is an option on every ballot paper in TCDSU elections – students are free to decide in every race that none of the candidates are up to the job. I’m looking forward to talking with students over the next two weeks – and telling them about my plans for The University Times.”
This is the first active RON campaign run in a TCDSU sabbatical election since Muireann Kane ran unopposed for Communications & Marketing Officer in 2019. That campaign was started midway through the election period and was ultimately unsuccessful, with Kane elected on a 51-49 margin.
Three of the six races in this year’s sabbatical elections are only being contested by one candidate, also including the Education Officer and Comms & Marketing Officer races.
This article was updated at 8:49pm to add a statement from Mairead Maguire.
