UL PSU Elections and SU Elections

Ave Sodalis · 11-03-2015 1:54am

The reason I haven't said much on it was because I don't really have much of an opinion on any of them and I'm in fourth year so it's not going to affect me anyway. My post was directly in response to yours just. In my four years here, I'm gonna be honest and say I never really gave a fudge who was elected.

What was your original name, since you know so much about Boards? Maybe the election just isn't a very interesting topic...

Beargrylls01 · 11-03-2015 12:30pm

Got bombarded with nonsense pamphlets around the college today.

Colin Clarke (President):
All of it is absolutely useless except;
Kitchen Facilities in Red Raisin?

Vanessa (Welfare):
Literally the same, completely useless except;
LGBTQ+ Friendly Campus

Ciara (Welfare):
Actually like all of her ideas but they are sparse and we don't need it enough to pay someone to do it.

Dumped the other leaflets so no review.

If someone voted on the platform that their salary would be donated to charity (Milford Hospice?) and just move on with their life, graduating or whatnot, instead of pretending they do anything remotely worthwhile, or that affect the majority of students, they would romp home to being elected.

Chris Martin · 11-03-2015 12:55pm

I like this new poster..
Don't usually comment on it, in fact I actively avoid it, but like to see where this is going now.. :P
No idea how last crowd did this year but I suspect a lot of people will try and follow Bolgers remarkably successful strategy of doing something out of the ordinary. This will make/break candidates and imagine it will be interesting and cringe-worthy to behold.
Never had any dealings with SU really but going into 4th year I might so might have a look at some stuff.
Everyone gets stick from everyone when campaigning and when rumours kick off, everybody's running for every position. Remember a friend, <snip> was supposedly running for some post. Bright lad, probably could've done it as well, and there was uproar about him being a racist because him and a friend have a joke about calling each other racists, the other lad being asian. It was absolutely nothing and blown out of all proportion, better yet, had no intention of running for anything as far as I know.. :P
Love how everyone goes ape sh*t around this time although it means Red Raisin off limits for a week or so..
Think this year will be a lot of trying hard to be funny though and I'm glad I'm 1500km away.. :P

Jen_Jane_Ryan · 11-03-2015 1:30pm

Everyone is compaining about Danielle using her looks, a picture had to be taken....its not her fault she took a good one!! Her ideas are original and different to the welfare jargon used by previous candidates. All of the welfare candidates are running really good campaigns and have strong manifestos, it is unfair that Danielle's posters and campaign are being targeted. she is a pretty girl but has brilliant credentials, she has been president of the law society, has competed for Ireland in many sports and is extremely passionate about UL. All of her manifesto is achievable and if people would get passed the "pretty photo" they would realise she is a legitimate candidate. This campaign should be based on what the candidates are doing, commenting on anybody's looks is not right and unfair when each of them have put a lot of time and effort into their campaigns. Everyone has there opinions but being harsh and getting personal is demeaning the election as a whole.

Chris Martin · 11-03-2015 1:49pm

Strange how good looks are used to negatively portray people now when I often thought it was a good feature. Never vote of someone based on their looks though good or bad. I would have a problem if they tried to force it down my throat or it was used as part of their campaign.
Like if I was targeted by good looking girls, telling me nothing about campaign manifesto or anything trying to woo me into a vote. Being a gent I'd listen to what they had to say then when they're done, forget everything except the candidates name as one I definitely won't vote for.
A lot of advertising teams have cost their candidates my vote in the past.
Anyone that hands out sweets and lollies I try to avoid..
I won't be bought, Ill vote for person I find most suitable and if I don't find anyone suitable, I won't vote. Simple as that..
Give everyone a chance but coming at me with sweets and forcing flyers into my hand isn't going to do it for me.. Especially if I'm late for something, which I often am, and am clearly making it known I don't want to talk to anyone.
Have in the past after trying to plead my case, taken a flyer and gone back on myself to bin it so I can pass person again..
It's like charities again... not saying charity is bad, but stickers are necessary so you won't get badgered by other people when you're walking around town/city..
Sometimes feel the need to keep all flyers on you just to wave people off..

Beargrylls01 · 11-03-2015 3:13pm

Jen_Jane_Ryan wrote: »

Her ideas are original and different to the welfare jargon used by previous candidates. All of the welfare candidates are running really good campaigns and have strong manifestos,

Could you please share her ideas if you have them on hand?

Jen_Jane_Ryan · 11-03-2015 3:18pm

A free weekly legal advice centre for students- we are the only university in Ireland without one.
Free self defence and student safety workshops
A Freshers buddy programme similar to the international buddy programme
Exam time activities like 5-a-side soccer and boardgames in the courtyard
Student friendly spaces not based around study and alcohol- improving the SU common room
Late night phone line developed with the counselling service
They are the main points

Beargrylls01 · 11-03-2015 3:20pm

Jen_Jane_Ryan wrote: »

A free weekly legal advice centre for students- we are the only university in Ireland without one.
Free self defence and student safety workshops
A Freshers buddy programme similar to the international buddy programme
Exam time activities like 5-a-side soccer and boardgames in the courtyard
Student friendly spaces not based around study and alcohol- improving the SU common room
Late night phone line developed with the counselling service
They are the main points

Fair enough, they are actually good ideas for the most part. Happy to be wrong with my condescension.

They should give up on the SU common rooms, it's impenetrable.

BrandonF1993 · 11-03-2015 3:56pm

NO BIAS OR AFFILIATION TO ANY CANDIDATE JUST MY OWN OPINIONS

PRESIDENT:
Tadhg O'Donovan: Why has his manifesto not gone up yet? Great numbers behind his campaign and the parade and puppy drew big attention but where are the ideas to back it up?
Colin Clarke: impressive manifesto by the looks of it! Really strong presence on campus and seems like a nice guy to talk to. Although I don't understand his point about bringing back race day but maybe I'm just not involved enough in SU related things to know what's going on there. He seems to have a lot of experience with SU though and seems to be a popular candidate on campus.
Stephen: WHERE IS HE??? Haven't been approached by one person from his team. Went to the stand in red raisins and his campaign team barely registered with me when I took a manifesto which actually looked like it had decent ideas but there was no one to ask for more details from.
It's between Tadhg and Colin for me so far but Tadhg's manifesto could swing that when/if it happens.

WELFARE:
Vanessa O'Brien: Really strong manifesto with detailed plans of how to achieve her aims and really strong presence on campus. Her team are really enthusiastic and friendly and the stall outside the ski slopes giving out tea, fruit and sweets is a solid idea! Not sure if her involvement in drama soc will bring her the numbers she needs but she's by far the most present on campus out of the 3 candidates. Awful video though.
Ciara Corcoran: Massive manifesto that doesn't actually say much. Her team are doing good work but personally not liking the "Welfare Woman" slogan, cringey. She does seem really passionate about the role but doesn't seem to have any momentum behind her.
Danielle O'Sullivan: Getting a lot of stick on here for relying on her looks. Fair enough people defending her a pretty girl shouldn't be penalised for being pretty but a guy from her team did approach a few male friends and myself on Monday and he said "she's hot" as part of his speel about her so she really does seem to be going for the "I'm a hot blonde" vote. Which is fair enough if it works for her because her manifesto probably isn't strong enough to stand up on its own two feet, some pretty good ideas but no method for achieving them set out. Her minions are very enthusiastic though which might swing her the vote.

ACADEMIC:
Kevin Cahir: Seems like a really impressive guy with really impressive ideas. Very strong manifesto but out of the 3 candidates probably the smallest campaign presence. Really needs to get numbers on the ground if he has any chance of fighting the momentum of Marian and Tom. Strongest and most original manifesto of the 3 by far.
Tom Egan: His manifesto is very meh and he doesn't seem to have any credentials to make him suitable for the role. I heard a bit of the ULFM interview with the candidates where he admitted that he hadn't even attended the UGM. If someone is totally unfamiliar with the SU I really don't see why they're running. Having said that his team full of good looking girls and guys will go a long way I'm sure and he seems to be hitting the Bolger territory with his "big balls big ideas" slogan and auctioning off dates. Will probably get the votes of the "off campus" crowd.
Marian O'Donnell: Impressive lady but utterly unlikable (I've no idea why that is, she just seems to be). Big emphasis on co-op office as she worked there but beyond co-op reform the manifesto is pretty weak. Personally I think the 24 hour study area would be a complete waste of resources and is utterly unnecessary. However, her team seem to be the most committed out of all of the candidates in all of the positions which will go a long way in getting her votes.

PREDICTIONS:

Should win: Colin, Vanessa and Kevin.
Will win: Tadhg, Vanessa and Marian.

Roll on hustings!

(In other news that John Spillane page is absolutely hilarious.)

Ave Sodalis · 11-03-2015 4:05pm

Is Marian still going on about that? Myself and herself nearly had an argument one day over it. I was just back from CoOp and doing orientation and we were stuck outside waiting on something. She was talking about the CoOp office and how great it is and how lucky we are to have it etc. Unfortunately, I had a terrible placement where I was nearly hospitalised and got little to no support from the CoOp office for it. When I mentioned it to her, she didn't like me saying something bad about the place at all so she got quite narky and defensive with me and basically told me that it's not the CoOp office's job to sort out problems like that and that it's not their fault the industry is so bad etc. I'd forgotten abouot that until you mentioned it there. That's another no from me so!
That's my Academic vote sorted so.

wnolan1992 · 11-03-2015 5:00pm

Second last bit of shameless promotion, Presidential candidates discussing such topics as USI membership, the UGM, alcohol and a whole bunch more: https://www.mixcloud.com/ULFM/ulsu-elections-2015-presidential-candidates/

LilRedDorcha · 11-03-2015 5:40pm

Chris Martin wrote: »

I like this new poster..
Remember a friend, <snip> was supposedly running for some post. Bright lad, probably could've done it as well, and there was uproar about him being a racist because him and a friend have a joke about calling each other racists, the other lad being asian. It was absolutely nothing and blown out of all proportion, better yet, had no intention of running for anything as far as I know.. :P

I don't recall there ever being uproar about this?

Must be something wrong with me because I haven't been approached by them at all :P But I'm happier to just read their manifestos than to have to listen to their campaign team so that suits me

Precious flower · 11-03-2015 6:29pm

Really have no idea what anyone's manifesto actually is, and to be honest I don't actually care all that much which is an awful thing to say. But in the fours years I think I've never voted on this but I've voted twice on the referendums. Welfare issue is important though so it is actually good to get someone good for that!

iLaura · 11-03-2015 10:36pm

Anyone else go to hustings? Opinions?

wnolan1992 · 12-03-2015 12:50am

iLaura wrote: »

Anyone else go to hustings? Opinions?

I did, but I found it difficult to concentrate on what was going on because of that eejit sitting behind the candidates wearing headphones. What was that lunatic at lads?!

Answer: This: https://www.mixcloud.com/ULFM/ulsu-elections-2015-hustings/

:pac:

(last spam, I SWEAR!)

wnolan1992 · 12-03-2015 12:55am

On a serious note though, this was one of the strongest Hustings in all my time in UL. All 9 candidates have some very good ideas and it's hard to rule out anyone as a complete non-runner like previous years.

For me, Colin won President (but I'm biased, so make of that what you will), tough call between Marian and Kevin for Academic, Marian probably shaded it (again, bias), and all three Welfare candidates spoke very well, Ciara probably the one that stood out most to me.

iLaura · 12-03-2015 1:09am

wnolan1992 wrote: »

On a serious note though, this was one of the strongest Hustings in all my time in UL. All 9 candidates have some very good ideas and it's hard to rule out anyone as a complete non-runner like previous years.

For me, Colin won President (but I'm biased, so make of that what you will), tough call between Marian and Kevin for Academic, Marian probably shaded it (again, bias), and all three Welfare candidates spoke very well, Ciara probably the one that stood out most to me.

I like how Colin (at least I think it was Colin) did a little shout out to you :P
I think that votes will be tight and that it'll be really close between all candidates. I went in this evening with who I was gonna vote for set in my mind, and now I'm conflicted. The only person I know I'm definitely voting for is Ciara

iamyourending · 12-03-2015 1:58am

iLaura wrote: »

Anyone else go to hustings? Opinions?

My third time attending in my four years here, and it was the most impressive I've seen. Everyone spoke very well and some great points were raised. Definitely agree that it's hard to rule anyone out entirely.

I reckon some of the results will be very close tomorrow, especially between Tadgh and Colin for President.

Aragneer · 12-03-2015 10:41am

Well that's my vote in for the final year. I have never had a year that a person I voted for was elected..Kinda hoping this year I made a correct judgement!

MarkNother · 12-03-2015 11:16am

Am I the only person to ever just use their name?? =P

I was at hustings last night and to be fair all nine spoke very well and answered some difficult questions well enough.

I'm biased in Welfare as I'd made up my mind earlier in the week for Vanessa through both knowing her and the layout of her manifesto; I think it's important candidates actually explain how they plan on achieving their goals. Ciara will be getting my number two after last night, thought she was excellent. Danielle, despite the unfair abuse she has been getting, has proved a good candidate throughout the week to be fair, and although she would probably to a decent job I feel she's unlucky to come up against two stronger candidates this year.

As for academics.... Where do you start... None of the three have exactly emerged as a favorite nor do I feel they have managed to capture the imagination of the campus. Don't get me wrong the campaigns, though all different, are reasonably strong but none of them have in anyway done a Paddy Rockett style approach and been on the tip of everyones tongues. And to give Paddy credit, no matter what your opinion on him or his time in office, he ran ground campaigns immensely well during election weeks. If I had to pock one I think Marian slightly shaded hustings. Some people may say she went on about her experience in co-op but who cares, if she managed to make any reforms would that not be achievement enough for a term in office??

Obviously my own interests lay in the presidential race. If I'm honest, and I think most people will agree, the race seems to be shaping up like last year with Tadgh, Colin and Steve playing the roles of Tommy, myself and Lorna...probably in that order when the result comes out as Tadgh has gone for the majority populist vote (which is a solid tactic because it works) while Colin has gone for the more informed/class rep/council vote. I think both Colin and Tadgh would be very strong presidents, different, but strong.

You have to commend them both on their amazing campaigns, the knowledge and commitment of Colins team met with the enthusiasm and commitment of a different style of Tadgh's team has led to a two horse race that I really can't call.

Maybe you disagree but that's my thoughts on the week so far. If you expected me to slate anyone sorry to disappoint but from running myself last year I know it's tough and the effort that goes in the 80% of people will never see. So in advance I'll congratulate them all on the week and hope that whomever is unsuccessful can still see the week for the fantastic experience that it is.

M

iLaura · 12-03-2015 11:51am

Over 660 votes cast so far. Remind all your friends to vote!

Personally I'm voting Ciara #1 for welfare. I think her manifesto is very achievable and has so much to add to campus, especially the Love Your Body week. It has great potential to raise awareness with body issues that I know a lot of people, including some of my friends, are dealing with.
All 3 welfare candidates have placed strong emphasis on mental health and safety issues which are hugely important especially considering the recent student deaths on nights out etc.

And then I'm torn between the other two positions. Marian Vs Kevin for academic and Tadgh Vs Colin for prez. I feel bad ruling both Tom and Steve out, but I dont think that this year is their year, especially when you take into account the CV of the other candidates

North of 32 · 12-03-2015 2:27pm

I must commend all candidates on their excellent campaigns. The university was awash with bright ideas and striking enthusiasm!

I'm sure that, regardless of who is elected, the future of the Students' Union is in good hands. Or rather I should that no matter the outcome, the union and the student body will benefit from engaged, intelligent and committed sabbatical officers.

Good luck to all.

iLaura · 12-03-2015 9:58pm

Results;

President: Colin Clarke
Academic: Marian O'Donnell
Welfare: ?? Haven't heard anything/see anything on facebook as of yet.

aineb100 · 12-03-2015 10:01pm

I heard Ciara got welfare.

Does anyone have the info about the voting numbers?

iLaura · 12-03-2015 10:05pm

aineb100 wrote: »

I heard Ciara got welfare.

Does anyone have the info about the voting numbers?

Thanks! I haven't heard anything from her yet about it.

Liz posted the number of votes cast at about 5.20ish and it was over 2000 at that stage. I know nothing about the votes cast for each candidate though

TwilightFan88 · 12-03-2015 10:14pm

Marion? Academics and Fine Gael ...... fan_f-ing_tastic

iLaura · 12-03-2015 10:23pm

TwilightFan88 wrote: »

Marion? Academics and Fine Gael ...... fan_f-ing_tastic

Kevin Cahir announced yesterday at hustings that he was once part of Fianna Fail soc (whatever they're called), and then part of YFG :P

aineb100 · 12-03-2015 10:35pm

I'm more worried about her love of the co-op office, seems unwillingly to acknowledge any faults that they have.

Ave Sodalis · 12-03-2015 10:50pm

aineb100 wrote: »

I'm more worried about her love of the co-op office, seems unwillingly to acknowledge any faults that they have.

That's what I'm worried about too. If she refuses to acknowledge where the CoOp office has problems, despite working in it, then is she going to acknowledge where the SU have problems?

Gael23 · 12-03-2015 11:10pm

iLaura wrote: »

Kevin Cahir announced yesterday at hustings that he was once part of Fianna Fail soc (whatever they're called), and then part of YFG :P

Other way around, he left YFG to join ogra FF. I lived with Colin Clarke in 1st year and we stayed friends, he's going to do a really good job.
Also know Marian through YFG, she won't let that affiliation get in her way I believe.

North of 32 · 12-03-2015 11:21pm

80 responses and over 6500 views - who is reading this thread?

Boards has quite a reach.

Polar Ice · 12-03-2015 11:41pm

F5 F5 F5 F5 F5

iLaura · 13-03-2015 12:13am

Breakdown of the votes as follows;

Academic:
Kevin - 685
Thomas - 899
Marian - 1414
RON - 52

Welfare:
Ciara - 1182
Vanessa - 870
Danielle - 840
RON - 39

President:
Colin - 1821
Stephen - 361
Tadgh - 1057
RON - 58

wnolan1992 · 13-03-2015 12:32am

Wow, didn't think Kevin would come last in Academic if I'm honest. And holy hell that's an impressive margin for Colin, I thought it'd be way closer than that.

Fair play all round, all very strong candidates, 3 very deserving winners. Best of luck to them all.

iLaura · 13-03-2015 12:36am

wnolan1992 wrote: »

Wow, didn't think Kevin would come last in Academic if I'm honest. And holy hell that's an impressive margin for Colin, I thought it'd be way closer than that.

Fair play all round, all very strong candidates, 3 very deserving winners. Best of luck to them all.

Yeah, same. I honestly thought that all the votes would be so much tighter than they were. Colin was the only one who broke quota also. Looks like people really want his UL fest and better wifi in Raisins (though afaik that is very unlikely to happen unless the university invest some serious money)

wnolan1992 · 13-03-2015 12:54am

Hail, Mr. President.

(Forgot this video existed, with good reason probably)

YFlyer · 13-03-2015 1:08am

TwilightFan88 wrote: »

Marion? Academics and Fine Gael ...... fan_f-ing_tastic

Contacting Enda that the student body has faith in Fine Gael?

Chris Martin · 13-03-2015 7:06pm

iLaura wrote: »

Breakdown of the votes as follows;

Academic:
Kevin - 685
Thomas - 899
Marian - 1414
RON - 52

Welfare:
Ciara - 1182
Vanessa - 870
Danielle - 840
RON - 39

President:
Colin - 1821
Stephen - 361
Tadgh - 1057
RON - 58

There's always a Ron enters it for the craic...
He'll win one of these days... :P

UL PSU Elections and SU Elections

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