UCC students have elected Asha Woodhouse as their next Students’ Union President, this mornings’ results announced, making her the first female UCCSU President in 18 years. Alongside her on the Executive sits Caoimhe Walsh as Welfare Officer, Maeve Richardson as Communications and Engagement Officer, Sinead Roche as Education Officer, Luke Mulcahy as Entertainments Officer and Siobhán Murphy as Communications and Fundraising Officer.
Voter turnout surpassed that of previous years, with 5,899 students in total casting their ballot versus approximately 4000 the year prior. Following a virtual election season of hustings and social media campaigning, students voted online in the highest turnout seen in recent years.
In a total valid poll of 5,398, Asha Woodhouse surpassed the quota and was elected on the first count over opponents Adam O’Brien and Dave Collins. “Asha” consequently began trending in Ireland on Twitter as the results were announced via livestream on the UCCSU Facebook page. She is the first female President of the SU since 2003, and the sixth ever woman to hold the position since 1919. She is joined by a majority female Executive.
Part-time campaign positions were also filled. Uncontested, Alicia O’Sullivan was elected as Environmental and Sustainability Representative after the first count. The position of Equality and Diversity Representative was filled by Daniel Byrne following the second count and that of Irish Language and Culture Rep was filled by Darragh Ó Caoimh.
A representative from all of the four Colleges is elected to the Students’ Union to represent the students of each: Business and Law; Science, Engineering and Food Science (SEFS); Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences (CACSSS) and Medicine and Health. Meadhbh Kehoe was elected as representative of the College of Business and Law, Alex Angland was elected as SEFS Rep, Daniel Cunninghan for CACSSS and Abbie Moloney for the College of Medicine and Health.
Students in the college of Business and Law made up the largest vote share of all colleges with 1,754 votes cast. They were joined by 1,505 students of the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science and 1,699 students of the College of Arts Celtic Studies and Social Sciences. 915 students of the College of Medicine and Health voted. 24 students from Adult Continuing Education cast their votes, with just 2 students from the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CITRL) participating in this years’ election.
Results are available at uccsu.ie/2021electionresults/, with the live announcements available for playback on the UCCSU Facebook page. The full breakdown of results is available below:
Total turnout: 5,899 (approx. 25%)
SU Executive
UCCSU President
Total valid poll: 5,398
Asha Woodhouse: 2,927
Adam O’Brien: 1,251
Dave Collins: 1,187
Re-open Nominations (RON): 33
Asha Woodhouse is deemed elected on the first count.
Communications and Engagement Officer
Total valid poll: 5,007
Quota: 2.504
Maeve Richardson: 2,943
Aisling O’Sullivan: 2,011
RON: 53
Maeve Richardson is deemed elected on the first count.
Communications and Fundraising Officer
Total valid poll: 4,684
Quota: 2,343
Célem Deegan: 1,619
Siobhan Murphy: 2,998
RON: 67
Siobhán Murphy is deemed elected on the first count.
Entertainments Officer
Total valid poll: 5,208
Quota: 2,605
Aimee Cummins: 2,406
Luke Mulcahy: 2,753
RON: 49
Luke Mulcahy deemed elected on the first count
Education Officer
Total valid poll: 4,841
Quota: 2,421
Sinead Roche: 4,661
RON: 179
Sinead Roche is deemed elected on the first count.
Welfare Officer
Total valid poll: 4,701
Quota: 2,351
Caoimhe Walsh: 4,516
RON: 185
Caoimhe Walsh is deemed elected on the first count.
Equality and Diversity Representative
Valid Poll: 4,531
Quota: 2,266
COUNT #1
Daniel Byrne: 2,231
AJ Nagle: 2,161
RON: 139 (Eliminated)
COUNT #2
Daniel Byrne: 2,240 (+9)
AJ Nagle: 2165 (+4)
Non-transferable: 126
Daniel Byrne is deemed elected on the second count.
Environmental and Sustainability Representative
Valid Poll: 4,783
Quota: 2,392
Alicia O’Sullivan: 4.646
RON: 137
Alicia O’Sullivan is deemed elected on the first count.
Irish Language and Culture Representative
Valid Poll: 4,656
Quota: 2,329
Katie Halpin-Hill: 1,309
Megan Ní Dhugain: 522
Darragh O’Caoimh: 2,773
RON: 52
Darragh O’Caoimh is deemed elected on the first count.
Executive Representatives
Medicine and Health Representative
Valid Poll: 803
Quota: 402
COUNT #1
Samin Abrar: 261
Abbie Moloney: 340
Jennifer Okparaeke: 192
RON: 10 (Eliminated)
COUNT #2
Samin Abrar: 261 (-)
Abbie Moloney: 341 (+1)
Jennifer Okparaeke: 192 (-) (Eliminated)
COUNT #3
Samin Abrar: 292 (+31)
Abbie Moloney: 413 (+72)
Abbie Moloney is deemed elected on the third count.
Business and Law Representative
Valid poll: 1,433
Quota: 717
Meadhbh Kehoe: 750
Cian O’Rourke: 509
Martin Peter Rahill: 138
RON: 36
Meadhbh Kehoe is deemed elected on the first count.
SEFS Representative
Valid poll: 1,414
Quota: 649
Alex Angland: 828
Colm Maye: 421
RON: 47
Alex Angland is deemed elected on the first count.
CACSS Representative
Valid Poll: 1,432
Quota: 717
COUNT #1
Daniel Cunningham: 571 (+1)
Mossie Lyons: 332 (+2)
Rebeckah McCarthy: 492 (+1)
RON: 37 (Eliminated)
COUNT #2
Daniel Cunningham: 572
Mossie Lyons: 334 (Eliminated)
Rebeckah McCarthy: 493
COUNT #2
Daniel Cunningham: 572 (+56)
Rebeckah McCarthy: 493 (+70)
COUNT #3
Daniel Cunningham: 628
Rebeckah McCarthy: 563
Daniel Cunningham is deemed elected on the third count.