Meet the MSU’s October Elections Candidates: Hustings Highlights

As Ireland prepares for the upcoming presidential election, Maynooth University students are also heading to the polls for their own vote - the MSU October Elections, taking place on Tuesday, October 14th.

Students will elect new representatives to the MSU Student Senate, with two key roles on the ballot: President and Equality Officer. The Oifigeach na Gaeilge (Irish Language Officer) position has also been re-opened, but as only one candidate is running for the part-time position, it will be absent from the ballot.

Despite the significance of these roles, fewer than a dozen students attended the hustings on Tuesday, October 7th, echoing persistent challenges with engagement. Compounding the problem, two out of the three positions are running unopposed, which not only diminishes the incentive for students to participate, but also raises broader questions about the structures that allow uncontested races. When so many opportunities to shape the community are effectively predetermined, it highlights a need to rethink how elections are structured and how students are encouraged to take an active role in them.

For those who missed it, here’s what the candidates had to say.

Oifigeach na Gaeilge (Irish Language Officer)

Candidate: Jess Ní Mhionaigh

Running unopposed, Jess Ní Mhionaigh opened her hustings speech in Irish before switching to English. She proposed making the role of Oifigeach na Gaeilge a full-time position, like structures in place at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Galway.

Jess supports expanding Irish-language services across campus, including the option to order in Irish at the campus bar or Londis, along with clear identification of staff members who can facilitate this. She argues that the MSU should actively support and promote the use of Gaeilge in everyday student life.

She also addressed the closure of Seomra na Gaeilge; the university’s dedicated Irish-language space on campus. Although it was scheduled to reopen in March, Jess stated that - despite communication from the Uachtarán na Cumann Gaelach - the university deemed the space “not important enough” to prioritise. She described the room as a valuable space for those wishing to engage with Irish freely, beyond classes and events.

When asked about the yearly spike in enthusiasm for the language during Seachtain na Gaeilge, Jess said “we are happy for that peak,” but suggested that Irish-language promotion should begin earlier in an academic year and should be integrated consistently across university life.

Equality Officer

Candidates: Cal De Nicolas and Gracious Momoh

Gracious Momoh was not present at the hustings. Silver Hand Journal has an interview with her, catching up on her aspirations for the role, to be published soon.

Cal De Nicolas is running for Equality Officer, with a focus on fostering accessibility, belonging, and community at Maynooth University.

One of Cal’s main priorities is to ensure that students’ voices are heard throughout the year. He proposes implementing a feedback form that remains open year-round, which Cal would check several times a week and more frequently during periods of high engagement. He also plans to establish peer support groups and mentorship programmes, like those currently offered by the Law Society.

Other proposed initiatives include reviewing the accessibility of doors and facilities across campus, to ensure that all students and staff – particularly those with physical disabilities – can move around the campus safely and independently. In addition, Cal hopes to provide staff with equality, diversity, and inclusion (or EDI; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) training, aiming to raise awareness of common biases and prevent issues such as microaggressions; subtle, often unintentional comments or actions that can make individuals from marginalised groups feel excluded.

When asked about hate speech and exclusion within wider Irish society, Cal explained that these peer support programmes would create safe spaces for minorities within the Maynooth community. The issue of poor campus lighting was also raised, with Cal expressing their intention to improve lighting across campus and develop a system for alerting security to groups that may be more vulnerable to targeted harassment.

Cal emphasised the importance of events in making campus not just diverse, but actively inclusive, particularly for minority cohorts - including ethnic minorities, migrants, disabled students, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. They hope to strengthen engagement between clubs, societies, and the Students’ Union by collaborating with Club and Society Senators to encourage more students to get involved in the SU movement - the collective initiatives and activities led by the Students’ Union - to represent students, foster inclusivity, and enhance life across campus.

When asked on how he aims to support sabbatical officers in advocating for more accessible and affordable accommodation, especially for students from low-income, disabled, or rural backgrounds, Cal plans to push for improvements to pre-existing accommodation, focusing on accessibility and sufficient living space. Cal hopes to survey students from DARE/HEAR and other equity-based schemes to better understand their experiences and design targeted solutions.

As Cal put it, the goal is to “have them understand that their voice counts, their voice matters - that’s really going to go a long way in being able to implement measures that will have an impact on their student experience.”

In closing, Cal expressed their passion for Maynooth students and a desire to promote equality and foster a stronger sense of community on campus. He wants every student to “feel like they connect and belong here” at Maynooth University.

President

Candidate: Charli Middleton

Charli Middleton is running for the position of MSU President. Reflecting on her time in office, she described the past four months as the “best four months of [her] life” and hopes to continue the initiatives she has already put in place. As the current Vice President for Academic Affairs, she brings experience in advocating for student needs in the classroom and addressing issues related to teaching, assessment, and education, all aimed at enhancing the overall student experience.

Her key goals include developing MSU student storage, improving academic support for students affected by the cost-of-living crisis, and ensuring access to necessary equipment and services in partnership with departments and the MSU Info Centre.

Charli also discussed parking issues, which are particularly relevant to the recent Mill Street roadworks. She plans to collect student feedback on how these challenges impact wellbeing and academic performance, calling the current situation "unacceptable." She wants to push for improved transport links, such as more reliable access to routes such as the 115.

To address low student engagement, Charli said, “it starts with being on the ground with students,” and spoke about increasing visibility and improving communication between students and their academic representatives.

She was also asked about the long-delayed plans for a new student centre, stating that the current SU building cannot accommodate the needs of a student body of 16,000, particularly given the majority of commuters.

Regarding student accommodation, Charli raised concerns about the focus on expensive, purpose-built options, noting that some students lack basic, functional spaces for daily life. She expressed support for students in digs and informal housing arrangements.

In her closing remarks, she said her goal is to continue advocating on behalf of students and build on the work started during her time in office: “I want to fight for the student movement.”

Don't sit this one out – every vote counts.

The issues raised by candidates span a wide range of student priorities - from language rights to equality to academic support, housing, and transport. These elections offer students an opportunity to shape the direction of their union, and how Maynooth University represents them, for the year ahead.

Voting will be available both online (from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and in person at booths (open from 9:00 to 7:00pm) in the Arts Block, TSI, Library, MSU Club Foyer, and MSU Info Centre – the latter will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Whether voting online or in person, students are encouraged to take the time to review each candidate and make their voices heard on October 14th.

Happy voting!