The Print Volume 3, Issue 10

Page 1

THE

PRINT

The official publication of Maynooth Students’ Union

Wednesday 14th March 2012 - Volume 3, Issue 10

Editor@ThePrint.ie

Maynooth Students’ Union Executive Elected For 2012/2013 Academic Year SHANE KIERNAN Technology Editor @shanezor101

On the 8th of March, the following day of voting for the Maynooth Students’ Union elections, counting of all voting ballots began. The day proved to be quite an accomplishment for the student body of Maynooth as it was the highest turnout of voters in the history of the union with roughly two thousand four hundred students voting, as well as votes being cast by students from Froebel College Blackrock. While the counts were being carried out by the Returning Officers Ciaran McFadden, David Ruth and their team in the Your Clubhouse Venue, all candidates arrived throughout the day and were in attendance for their respective counts. In addition to the candidates, many campaigners and friends of candidates attended to provide support, as well as The Print and Student Observer providing media coverage for the count. The order in which the counts were carried out began with the four faculty representative positions, Science and Engineering, Social Science, Theology and Divinity and Arts, Celtic Studies and Philosophy. The faculty counts were then followed by Irish Language and Cultural Affairs Officer. The sabbatical positions were then carried out in the order of Vice President of Welfare and Equality (VPWE), Vice President of Services, Events and Communications (VPSEC), Vice President of Clubs, Societies and Union Development (VPCSUD) and, lastly, President. While the count was carried out, developments were covered from the media hub set up by the Student Observer and The Print, with Twitter and Facebook being updated with arrivals of candidates and count updates. As there were no candidates for Social Science

rep, the counts for RON votes amount to 516 to reopen the nominations for the position. Following this, the Arts, Celtic Studies and Philosophy votes were counted with a large number of spoiled and RON votes. However, despite this sole candidate Dave Flanagan was elected with 942 votes. The first Science and Engineering count then took place, with candidate Darren Buckley being eliminated after the first count with 107 votes. With the second count, Ryan Cahill was deemed elected with 201 votes, edging Shauna Kelly’s 171 votes. The count for Theology and Divinity rep was then carried out with a total of 99 votes and candidate Stephen Graham being elected with 64 votes, beating Sean Smith’s 41. After the faculty rep counts were completed, the count for Irish Language and Cultural Affairs Officer began. Candidate John Ó Liodáin was elected with a count of 1244 votes opposed to Dean MacCearaín’s 891. Sabbatical officer counts then began with VPWE up first due to the position having the smallest number of candidates, including current officer, Fiach O’Neill, Podge Sheridan and Danielle Clare O’Sullivan. The count was the first of two records broken that day, with Fiach being elected with 1586 votes, the highest number of votes for a single candidate in the history of the Students’ Union, breaking a record held previous by the current MSU President Robert Munnelly when elected to the now defunct position of Vice President for Communications & Development. VPSEC then followed, along with mild controversy in the form of a court restart following the discovery of a calculation error following the elimination of RON. Candidate William Blumlein was the first to go with 350 first preferences, then Steven Fleming with 541 after the distribution of RON and Will’s second preferences. Ailbhe Mahon and Malachy Callan were the final two candidates, having a respective 801 and 1331 when Steven’s

MSU Sabbatical Officers-elect Seamus Reynolds, Malachy Callan, Fiach O’Neill and Lorna Deegan. second preferences were distributed, resulting in Malachy being elected. Following this, VPCSUD was then completed after five counts, with the final two candidates being Lorna Deegan taking in 990 votes and Maeve Kavanagh taking in 719, with Lorna being elected. The first preference record broken by Fiach ealier in the day would be shattered once again cone the

count of the Presidential candidates. As the final count of the day was carried out, Naoise Ó’Cearúil took in 531 votes and Seamus Reynolds was elected with a record breaking 1852 votes/ Those elected will begin their term as officer of Maynooth Students’ Union on Sunday the 1st of July.

Staff And Students Shave Or Dye Across Campus KEITH BRONI Editor-In-Chief @keithbroni

Monday the 5th of March saw the beginning of Maynooth Students’ Union’s involvement in Today FM’s Shave Or Dye campaign. Organised by current MSU Science & Engineering Faculty Representative Mark Kelada and Class Representatives Sean Smith and Stuart Cameron. Over 50 members of both NUI Maynooth staff and the Maynooth student body took part in the event hosted within the Your Clubhouse Venue, with over €2,000 being raised for the Irish Cancer Society. Sponsers for the event included Charlie’s Barbers within Manor Mills, the John Adams Salon in Rathmines, Hickeys Pharmacy and Maynooth’s Homeworld Discount Store. Three members of the NUI Maynooth teaching staff took part in the event. These were Dr. James McInerney from the Biology Department, Dr. John

Facebook.com/ThePrintMSU

Stephens from the Chemisty Department and Dr. Marcin Gradziel from the Experimental Physics Department. These lecturers raised €800, €500 and €400 for the Irish Cancer Society respectively. The top two fundraisers were the aforementioned James McInerney and student Stacey Chilvers, who both received vouchers for Homeworld Discount Store for their efforts. Speaking to The Print, Mark Kelada had this to say: “I am very thankful to all those who took part and even more thankful to those who helped make it happen. Not only did we raise an amazing amount for charity but we also provoked civic engagement as well as staff involvement. A huge thank you to all the staff members who took part and to our sponsors. This is the first time this campaign has been done by MSU and I hope to start a great tradition for the future.”

Maynooth campus character David Dunne getting both his mohawk and beard dyed in The Venue.

Twitter.com/ThePrintMSU

Printed in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford via Datascope and Impression LTD.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
The Print Volume 3, Issue 10 by Maynooth Students' Union - Issuu