Elijah Burke, brother of imprisoned former history teacher Enoch Burke, is continuing the family’s commitment to conservative initiatives in his campaign for president of the University of Galway Students’ Union.
In an interview with campus paper Student Independent News, Burke said if elected his main priority would be to “bring back open debate and free speech” to campus.
In his manifesto, Burke alleges that a referendum to “remove all gender specific pronouns” from the union’s constitution was held without “proper debate”.
Burke also pledges to “bring back paper cups” and to create an accommodation officer, claiming such a role would be “far more useful for our students than the long list of tokenistic positions” specifically naming the gender & LGBT rights officer, ethnic identities officer, and the environmental awareness and sustainability officer.
On Wednesday, Burke posted a video with the caption “a vote for Elijah is a vote for respect and free speech” wherein he accused a student of attacking him when they hit the camera to avoid being recorded. The student stated in that same video, “you were recording me multiple times. I did not attack you”.
Comments on Burke’s social media have been overwhelmingly negative throughout his campaign, with many of his posts inciting both anger and mocking from his fellow students.
Polling has also indicated that Burke is not a favored candidate. A poll conducted by SIN found 8% support for Burke among students, compared to 28.6% for Sonny McGreevy, 61.7% for Maisie Hall, and 1.8% to re-open nominations (RON).
His unpopularity is likely compounded by the notoriety of the Burke family, in particular Burke’s older brother Enoch.
Since 2023, Enoch Burke has been intermittently jailed on charges for contempt of court after returning to Wilson’s Hospital School to protest his suspension.
The lawsuit began between Enoch Burke and his former employers after he continued to enter school grounds after being fired with paid leave.
This week saw other members of the Burke family picket in Washington D.C demanding Enoch Burke’s release.
Voting in the University of Galway students’ union elections took place today, with results due to be announced later this evening.
