Vol. 23 #10 15 Mar. 2022
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Winner: Best Newspaper at the National Student Media Awards 2019
Student Independent News Nuachtán saor in aisce · Vol. 23 Issue 10 · 15 Mar. 2022
From left to right – Joe Mee, Sai Gujulla and Imogen O’Flaherty Falconer are the new 22/23 NUI Galway SU Full-Time Officers
New Students’ Union Full-Time Officers elected By Valerie McHugh NUI Galway students have elected their three full-time Students’ Union officers for the term of 2022/2023. Sai Gujulla has been elected SU President, Imogen O’ Flaherty Falconer has taken on the role of Vice President/ Welfare & Equality Officer and Joe Mee will undertake the position of Vice President/ Education Officer. Speaking on his election, Sai Gujalla told SIN that “it was the best moment of my life and it is something that I can never forget. It still feels like a dream and I couldn’t have done it without the support of everyone.” Gujulla will take over from current SU President Róisín Nic Lochlainn on the 1 July and plans to implement new ideas and strategies from day one. He told SIN; “When it comes to Academics, I hope to start working on the implementation of a Reading Week as soon as I start on July 1st as I believe it is one of the first things that has to be done due to time constraints and the planning that is involved. “When it comes to Welfare I hope to collaborate with Imogen in implanting the Free Taxi Scheme and preparing the
necessary plans for the distribution of Free Drink Spike Test Kits and personal safety alarms in September.” Newly appointed VP for Welfare and Equality Imogen O’ Flaherty Falconer also told SIN of her plans for July 1, stating that; “increasing engagement through fun events for everyone on campus” will be first on the agenda alongside whatever welfare issues that arise over the summer. O’ Flaherty Falconer also spoke of her passion for student welfare and expressed her gratitude to the students who voted her into this position. Gathering 69% of the vote in her category, she told SIN; “I feel incredibly privileged to be in this position, to be able to advocate for student rights as my job really excites me, and I’m genuinely over the moon about it all.” Newly elected VP for Education Joe Mee also expressed his appreciation for all of his voters telling SIN that when he ran for the role of SU President in 2021, he “was not even in contention for the win.” “When the result was announced this year I was delighted. It did not sink in on the night and to be honest it still hasn’t. I felt so grateful for all the support I
received from my campaign team they put in a huge effort. It was wonderful to have them by my side to celebrate the win. Outlining his plans for his term, Mee told SIN that; “the first thing I will do once my term begins is preparing for the year ahead. I will be meeting many members of the outgoing and incoming executive ensuring continuity and making a strategic plan for the year ahead. I will also avail of training, complete a literature review and start research. “I hope with these steps I will be well informed and equipped for all the challenges I will face.” The team will work together, alongside a cohort of newly appointed part-time officers, throughout the next academic year to provide students with information and advice covering the whole spectrum of student life from academic issues to issues regarding welfare, finance, accommodation, equality, clubs, societies, the Irish language and much more.” To contact the Students’ Union about issues relating to the aforementioned topics, you can visit https://su.nuigalway.ie https://su.nuigalway.ie// about-su-nuigalway//executive-committee about-su-nuigalway executive-committee//.