SU Elections 2015

The Lost Sheep · 27-02-2015 2:54pm #1

The Candidates are.....
President:
• Ross Doyle
• Phelim Kelly...
• Cian McLoughlin
• Cillian Moran
• Karl Picard
Vice-President/Education Officer:
• Joanne Duffy
• Rebecca Melvin
Vice-President/Welfare Officer:
• Shane Broderick
• Jimmy McGovern
• Megan Reilly

SU Council Chair Candidates are..
*Ronan Gallagher
*Cathal Sherlock

Hustings in the College Bar 3pm Tuesday 3rd March (President) and 3pm Wednesday 4th March (Vice Presidents) hosted by DJ Byrno.
VOTE on Thursday 5th March 10am-8pm!

Who are people thinking of voting for?

mrkiscool2 · 27-02-2015 5:48pm

Will be extremely interesting! The Presidential Race is going to be so close! Ross Doyle, Cian McLoughlin and Phelim Kelly all have different followings. Phelim ovbiously well known from his time and great work in the SU, Ross Doyle with Law Soc and Cian with Biz Soc. It's going to be quite tight. Not sure if Cillian Moran is serious or taking up the "El Presidente" mantra. I'm kinda hoping he is because that was the highlight of the elections last year. Can't see past the first three guys mentioned though, would vote for Kelly here.

Rebecca Melvin and Joanne Duffy will be interesting. I'd say it'd be close but I've always found Duffy can be quite hostile if you are in anyway opinionated and your opinions are contrary to hers whereas Melvin is so approachable. If this was a Welfare race there would be absolutely no contest, I'd definitely give Melvin the nod. Not sure who will win for Education though. Duffy can be quite hostile but she would make a hell of an Education officer as she wouldn't take BS from anyone trying to fcuk over students. Not sure if Melvin could do the same but I'd still vote for Melvin.

As for Education I don't know any of them that well so will refrain from comment on that.

Again, these are my opinions and you should read all the manifestos and make your decision based on that and who you think would be the best person for the job!

louiseber · 27-02-2015 5:53pm

Surprised Joe Loughnane isn't on the ballot. Was he finally banned? I regularly see him still hanging around campus promoting the Palestine solidarity society despite not being a student for several years now.

ciano1 · 27-02-2015 6:23pm

Is it that time of the year again already?

Fuck.

Mr. G · 27-02-2015 7:05pm

This is going to be tight. Especially with Welfare and President.

Lockstep · 27-02-2015 7:13pm

Moran is a joke candidate, apparently McLoughlin and Doyle are as well. Will be interesting to see how that goes.

Ficheall · 28-02-2015 12:44pm

Hustings are in the college bar and hosted by DJ Byrno - everyone is a joke candidate.

empacher · 28-02-2015 1:50pm

so really president is a two horse race between pheilim and karl?

PomBear · 28-02-2015 9:25pm

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

Rebecca Melvin and Joanne Duffy will be interesting. I'd say it'd be close but I've always found Duffy can be quite hostile if you are in anyway opinionated and your opinions are contrary to hers whereas Melvin is so approachable. If this was a Welfare race there would be absolutely no contest, I'd definitely give Melvin the nod. Not sure who will win for Education though. Duffy can be quite hostile but she would make a hell of an Education officer as she wouldn't take BS from anyone trying to fcuk over students. Not sure if Melvin could do the same but I'd still vote for Melvin.

I disagree with your points regarding Joanne there. She's quite an intelligent person, I think a lot of the time she doesn't hold back on issues but for an Education officer, you need a person who's willing to speak up and be effective in the endless amount of committees they're on. A quiet education officer is one who's not speaking up for students!

mrkiscool2 · 28-02-2015 9:35pm

PomBear wrote: »

I disagree with your points regarding Joanne there. She's quite an intelligent person, I think a lot of the time she doesn't hold back on issues but for an Education officer, you need a person who's willing to speak up and be effective in the endless amount of committees they're on. A quiet education officer is one who's not speaking up for students!

Never said she wasn't intelligent, she most definitely is. She is also capable. However, she will need to deal with not only government, officials in the college and different areas of employees in the college, she will have to deal with students. Casework takes up a huge amount of an officer's role and I don't think Joanne is as suited for that as Melvin is.

That being said, if I was still in the college and could vote, if Joanne's manifesto was better than Melvin's I'd vote for her. My personal opinion on the girl isn't enough to make me not think she would be a good officer, just not sure if she would be a better officer than Melvin. Melvin would fight just as hard for students

RachelMx · 01-03-2015 5:54pm

This year will be a toughy for deciding, especially for role of President. I think Phelim and Karl are the forerunners in that category. They're both have plenty of experience with the Student Union, they're great speakers, genuinely care about Student issues and wouldn't hesitate to get things done! I think it will be a tight competition between those two.
I think Rebecca is the better choice for Education for a couple of different reasons. She's had a great year as Equality Officer by raising awareness and highlighting the important issue this year which is Marriage Equality. She also arranged successful events such as Equality week, the anti-racism poster campaign, appeared at the gender inequality demonstrations held by Micheline Sheehy Skeffington. She also has experience with public speaking, she spoke at the Young Fine Gael panel about same sex marriage, class rep training, and gender inequality demonstrations.

pmasterson95 · 01-03-2015 8:35pm

**** time to try and avoid those mobs in the concourse shoving flyers at ya. Bloody annoying.

mrkiscool2 · 01-03-2015 8:39pm

pmasterson95 wrote: »

**** time to try and avoid those mobs in the concourse shoving flyers at ya. Bloody annoying.

Yup, people running for your benefit to help you out for the next year, trying to show you how they are going to help you are SOOOO annoying :rolleyes:

pmasterson95 · 01-03-2015 8:42pm

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

Yup, people running for your benefit to help you out for the next year, trying to show you how they are going to help you are SOOOO annoying :rolleyes:

Tryna get to a lecture and eejits blocking your way tryna chat ****e when your running late. How beneficial.

mrkiscool2 · 01-03-2015 8:44pm

pmasterson95 wrote: »

Tryna get to a lecture and eejits blocking your way tryna chat ****e when your running late. How beneficial.

Just say "no thank you" or wave your hand. Very easy. If they are blocking lecture halls then complain to the SU elections committee. Quite simple really. I was never late for a lecture during full time elections.

Ficheall · 01-03-2015 9:56pm

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

people running for your benefit to help you out for the next year

Let's not get carried away here...

Still - it's hardly any worse than here in Birmingham where there just seem to be loads of posters all over the lovely campus saying "Vote [First Name] [NICKNAME] [SURNAME] For [POSITION]! #HASHTAGSOME****E " and no mention of any policies anywhere.

Mr. G · 02-03-2015 12:42am

RachelMx wrote: »

This year will be a toughy for deciding, especially for role of President. I think Phelim and Karl are the forerunners in that category. They're both have plenty of experience with the Student Union, they're great speakers, genuinely care about Student issues and wouldn't hesitate to get things done! I think it will be a tight competition between those two.
I think Rebecca is the better choice for Education for a couple of different reasons. She's had a great year as Equality Officer by raising awareness and highlighting the important issue this year which is Marriage Equality. She also arranged successful events such as Equality week, the anti-racism poster campaign, appeared at the gender inequality demonstrations held by Micheline Sheehy Skeffington. She also has experience with public speaking, she spoke at the Young Fine Gael panel about same sex marriage, class rep training, and gender inequality demonstrations.

I think you hit the nail on the head there.

Personally I'd vote for Melvin, I think she's very approachable and not sure if her contender would do the same. I liked how she was able to stand up for herself at the Fine Gael panel in fairness.

The reading room can be mobbed at times and people just through their shit on tables and head off for a few hours. If the library had more plugs we wouldn't have as much of an issue I think. If that's all I got I would be happy

.

Like I said, Welfare and President is going to be the tight ones. Will all depend on how the week plans out.

shruikan2553 · 02-03-2015 1:32pm

Any idea when the concourse becomes a no go area?

LoonyLovegood · 02-03-2015 2:37pm

The twenty minute period around classes, and from 12 - 2

laoch na mona · 03-03-2015 1:42pm

anyone got a brief synopsis of the candidates main points, and personal politics. I'm on work placement so getting the info here would save me time.

Member 420 · 03-03-2015 4:57pm

What about this referendum happening?

Can't see anything other than a comfortable win for the Yes side.

mrkiscool2 · 03-03-2015 5:00pm

Member 420 wrote: »

What about this referendum happening?

Can't see anything other than a comfortable win for the Yes side.

Neither can I to be honest (although your username suggests why you brought it up). It's less harmful than drugs and tobacco and has already been proven to be a financial success in the States, I see no reason not to bring it in here and having a SU agree to that stance is a good, if small, first step towards that

shruikan2553 · 03-03-2015 5:06pm

LoonyLovegood wrote: »

The twenty minute period around classes, and from 12 - 2

Thankfully it will be over on Thursday.

Member 420 wrote: »

What about this referendum happening?

Can't see anything other than a comfortable win for the Yes side.

Im assuming you are talking about the cannabis vote. Probably will be a yes. I have no idea what the other is about despite reading it twice. Something to do with president not voting for something.

mrkiscool2 · 03-03-2015 6:08pm

laoch na mona wrote: »

anyone got a brief synopsis of the candidates main points, and personal politics. I'm on work placement so getting the info here would save me time.

Here are their facebook pages, easiest to find out from them

President
Phelim Kelly
Karl Picard

Education
Joanne Duffy
Rebecca Melvin

Welfare
Shane Broderick
Jimmy McGovern
Megan Reilly

Joke Candidates
Ross McLoughlin
Comrade Moran

So far, the 3 people I'd vote for would be Kelly, Melvin and Reilly (loving Reilly actually incorporating what she wants to do while in office into her manifesto such as the running campaigners handing out leaflets)

pmasterson95 · 03-03-2015 8:12pm

Melvin wants to convince the college to increase bus services. Hasn't realised if thats done it will only increase fees or cut services elsewhere ain't nothing free major flaw when she was speaking to our class.

mrkiscool2 · 03-03-2015 8:25pm

pmasterson95 wrote: »

Melvin wants to convince the college to increase bus services. Hasn't realised if thats done it will only increase fees or cut services elsewhere ain't nothing free major flaw when she was speaking to our class.

It would probably just be an increase in fuel costs though? The drivers are paid per hour, not per trip. They can do the trip in 10 minutes so they could easily have 15 minutes per service up until 7. Not that it will happen.

pmasterson95 · 03-03-2015 8:30pm

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

It would probably just be an increase in fuel costs though? The drivers are paid per hour, not per trip. They can do the trip in 10 minutes so they could easily have 15 minutes per service up until 7. Not that it will happen.

No she meant the exam buses to the kingfisher sorry I left that out by accident thought I'd included it. Those buses are rented by the college I think so yeah thats an increased expense. She also wanted the library from like 7am to midnight which is an extra like 3 1/2 hours wage to pay.

I doubt she did economics or accounting anyway. A very poor presentation.

Mr. G · 04-03-2015 2:49pm

pmasterson95 wrote: »

No she meant the exam buses to the kingfisher sorry I left that out by accident thought I'd included it. Those buses are rented by the college I think so yeah thats an increased expense. She also wanted the library from like 7am to midnight which is an extra like 3 1/2 hours wage to pay.

I doubt she did economics or accounting anyway. A very poor presentation.

The reading room isn't manned, just swipe card entry. Surely it can't be hard to find another room to study in? That wouldn't cost anything, except light and heat.

mrkiscool2 · 06-03-2015 3:21am

From what I've seen and heard I want it to be Kelly, Melvin and Reilly. I think it will be Kelly, Melvin and Broderick though. Broderick is a good choice but I think Megan had more experience and better ideas. Be interesting to see anyway!

Mr. G · 06-03-2015 8:21am

I think that Welfare's going to be tight. Megan or Jimmy I think.

mrkiscool2 · 06-03-2015 8:29am

Mr. G wrote: »

I think that Welfare's going to be tight. Megan or Jimmy I think.

Wasn't really exposed to Jimmy at all so have no idea. Any of the three of them could take it, would love to see Megan win it though!

LoonyLovegood · 06-03-2015 12:43pm

Rebecca won education, looks like Jimmy will get welfare, depending on Brodericks transfers

The Lost Sheep · 06-03-2015 1:25pm

Jimmy got welfare on second count. Count has started for president

The Lost Sheep · 06-03-2015 2:00pm

Phelim 1110 and Karl 996 in first count
quota 1338
Everyone else being eliminated

pmasterson95 · 06-03-2015 2:03pm

Suprised at Melvin

Lockstep · 06-03-2015 2:11pm

Kelly elected without a quota.

Doyle: 283
Kelly: 1110
McLoughlin: 60
Moran: 193
Picard: 996
Ron: 32

Transfers brought Kelly to 1298 and Picard to 1152.

So it's Kelly, Melvin and McGovern.

Part time candidates are as follows:
Equality Officer:
• Richard Heavey
• Ciaran Maher
• Cíara Molloy
• Catherine Ryan
Oifigeach na Gaeilge:
• Lucy Costello
Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies Convenor:
• Kevin Murphy
• Jasmine Shaw
Science Convenor:
• Ronan Gallagher
• Brian Regan
• Tara Ward
Engineering & Informatics Convenor:
• Ryan Coleman
• Kate Kerrane
• David Newell
• Lydia Shirley
Business, Public Policy & Law Convenor:
• Niall Gaffney
• Cara Hegarty
• Darren Reilly
• Sean Reilly
Postgraduate Officer:
• Cian Moran
Societies Chairperson
• Patrick O’Flaherty

Clubs’ Captain:
• Joss Myers

Noone is running for Mature Students' Officer or Medicine Convenor so there'll be by-elections soon enough.

mrkiscool2 · 06-03-2015 3:20pm

pmasterson95 wrote: »

Suprised at Melvin

Why? Because you disagree with her policies? Melvin had the better fanbase and the great work she did as equality officer this year stood to her. I do feel bad for Duffy, it's not easy putting in the work for the week and losing (I know from experience) but IMHO the better candidate won.

pmasterson95 · 06-03-2015 4:14pm

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

Why? Because you disagree with her policies? Melvin had the better fanbase and the great work she did as equality officer this year stood to her. I do feel bad for Duffy, it's not easy putting in the work for the week and losing (I know from experience) but IMHO the better candidate won.

Suppose she had the "fans" alright.

mrkiscool2 · 06-03-2015 4:41pm

pmasterson95 wrote: »

Suppose she had the "fans" alright.

Meant to right policies instead of fanbase but yeah, she did. She convinced more people she was the better person for the job. You can't complain because democracy didn't go the way you want. At least give the woman a chance!

Lostman1990 · 07-03-2015 12:06am

Disappointing turnout...at least thought the cannabis referendum might boost numbers...
Thought the SU were pretty visible this year myself and had a feeling they were gaining greater support. Not sure if I'd put it down to quality of campaigning or increasing apathy among students. Probably a bit of both...extra buses...free fruit...another shag week...pretty low-key stuff really. It's a shame really....a strong union would be fantastic.

Lockstep · 09-03-2015 9:53am

It was fairly clear Melvin and McGovern were going to win, both had large campaign teams, were active and managed them well. That said, I'm impressed with how well Broderick did considering he basically had no campaign team and Broderick, Reilly or Duffy would all have been excellent if they'd been elected.
I'm surprised with Picard losing. Kelly was a good candidate but Picard ran one of the best elections campaigns I've seen in NUIG: he did excellent in the hustings, had clear and coherent policies and his team were large and active.

I'm voting Molloy for Equality. She has the best track record out of the 4 on fighting for equality. Ryan would also be good but given she's only a first year, I think she's a bit inexperienced for the position which involves a large workload and working with different groups. Would be delighted to see her run again next year though. Maher has done a lot of work on Palestine and drug legalisation but as these are areas where NUIG has very little influence, he's getting no.3 from me. Really though, any of these would be grand as they've all put in work into equality campaigns before. Not voting for Heavey, given his views on abortion and gay marriage and I doubt he'd reign them in if elected.

Hoping Murphy gets Arts convenor, he's been a very active class rep so it'd be great to see him in the role. Ditto for Sean Reilly as Business convenor and Gallagher as Science Convenor.

Unfortunate Derivative · 11-03-2015 12:33pm

Any other thoughts on part time candidates?

Mr. G · 12-03-2015 2:17am

I think Kevin will get Arts Convener. For Engineering Convenor, there's really only two people that are seriously running. For Science, I think Ronan Gallagher might get it. I think it will all depend on turnout, as usually it's very low.

Celestial12 · 12-03-2015 11:46am

Voted Tara for science convenor. Hope she gets it, she's been a chemistry class rep for two years. Really nice person.

Pen Rua · 13-03-2015 12:42pm

Part Time Results

RESULT: Equality Officer
Heaney, Richard: 66
Maher, Ciarán: 155
Molloy, Ciara: 121
Ryan, Catherine: 384
Re-Open Nominations: 21
Quota: 374
Catherine Ryan Deemed Elected.

RESULT: Postgraduate Officer
Total Poll: 43
Spoils: 1
Quota: 22
Moran, Cian: 34
Re-Open Nominations: 8
Cian Moran Deemed Elected.

RESULT: Societies Chairperson
Total Poll: 17
Spoils: 0
O'Flaherty, Patrick 15
Re-Open Nominations: 2
Patrick O'Flaherty Deemed Elected

RESULT: Oifigeach na Gaeilge
Costello, Lucy: 673
Re-Open Nominations: 78
Lucy Costello Deemed Elected

RESULT: Convenor of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law
Gaffney, Niall: 53
Hegarty, Ciara: 25
Reilly, Darren: 1
Reilly, Sean: 24
Ron 4
Quota 53
Niall Gaffney Deemed Elected

RESULT: Convenor of the College of Engineering & Informatics
Coleman, Ryan 18
Kerrane, Kate 66
Newell, David 70
Shirley, Lydia 23
Ron 1
Quota 90
2nd count
Ron, Shirley & Coleman eliminated
Newell, David 90 (+20)
Kerrane, Kate 76 (+10)
David Newell deemed elected.

RESULT: Convenor of the College of Science
Gallagher, Ronan 22
Regan, Brian 43
Ward, Tara 109
Ron 7
Tara Ward Deemed Elected

RESULT: Convenor of the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies
1st count
Murphy, Kevin 140
Shaw, Jasmine147
Ron 13
2nd count
Ron eliminated
Murphy, Kevin 143 (+3)
Shaw, Jasmine 148 (+1)
Jasmine Shaw deemed elected

RESULT: Clubs’ Captain
Total Poll: 6
Spoils: 0
Myers, Joss: 2
Re-Open Nominations: 4
Quota: 4
Nominations for this position will be reopened.

Referendum
Yes / Tá 554
No / Níl 180
Referendum Passed

We will be advertising details shortly of how to run for the 3 vacant positions of Convenor of Medicine, Clubs' Captain and Mature Students Officer. If you are interested in running email studentsunion@nuigalway.ie

SU Elections 2015

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