Your complete guide on what the Student’s Union is, what’s going on, and how to vote in the upcoming CMLONG Elections on 12 March.
It’s the Students Union election season, as I’m sure you are aware by now. Faces never-seen before (and some seen plenty before) are now cropping up everywhere across campus. Within regulation, of course! You may have already met a canvasser or two by the time you are reading this, or even been followed by a few of the big accounts.
Think of election season as a reset; a time to forget all grievances* and decide, for yourself, who is most deserving of your vote. If you know how to vote, that is. This guide will explain all. Also within this guide is a handy explainer of what the Students Union (CMLONG, for short) is, how they run, what they have power over, and (most importantly) how to vote for someone who best represents you! This article also discusses the upcoming referendum about the University’s relations with Technion.
*Election season may also see grievances reignited, so be wary and be ready with some popcorn… if that’s your thing, of course!
So, what IS the CMLONG anyway? What do they do?
CMLONG is the representative body of students at University of Galway, as elected by the students, as according to the University of Galway. CMLONG offers a range of services to better help students within the University, such as Sult, the Sibín, and Smokey’s (and us at SIN, of course!). These services are funded through the Student Levy, paid at the beginning of the academic year.
CMLONG also has a seat on Údarás, or the University Governing Authority, the main decision making body of the University, which it uses for lobbying on student issues and causes. Recent issues and causes on which the CMLONG has spoken about include the Technion deal, the ongoing accommodation and cost-of-living crisis’, and parking.
The Union also is the main organiser of student activities across campus, including RAG, SHAG and Mental Health week.
Who run the world? Girls (Girls!)
Who runs the Union, that is a very good question. The Union has four full time Officer positions, as well as fourteen part time Officer positions. The roles are listed as follows
Full-time Roles:
1. The President
2. Vice President – Welfare and Equality
3. Vice President – Education
4. Leas Uachtaráin don Ghaeilge.
Part-time Roles:
1. College Convenors* (There are four of these, one for each College of the University).
2. International Students Officer
3. Mature Students Officer
4. Ethnic Minorities Officer
5. Disability Rights Officer
6. Gender & LGBT Rights Officer
7. Environmental Awareness & Sustainability Officer
8. Postgraduate Taught Officer
9. Postgraduate Research Officer
10. Clubs Captain**
11. Societies Chairperson**
*You can only vote for one College Convenor, and that is for the College your degree is being issued from. So, for example, a Medical student cannot vote for the Arts College Convenor.
**The Clubs Captain and Societies Chairperson are voted in separate elections, where only the Clubs and Societies’ Auditors can vote.
There is also an administrative team behind CMLONG, who regularly assist with the inner workings of the Union.
What does an elected CMLONG Part-Time Officer actually do?
Aifric Nevin, who serves as the Students’ Union’s Gender & LGBT Rights Officer, said the role involves working to represent student interests and improve aspects of student life. Emails are a big part of the job, with them saying they “get emails from current, past, and future students, and parents, inquiring about various LGBTQ+ related issues on campus such as name changes, social spaces, support in transitioning etc.”
Speaking further about wider Officer responsibilities, Nevin mentioned that being a team player is critical, and as a part-time officer, “you’re only as strong as the rest of the executive.” As a result of this, event planning and preparation is often the work of multiple officers.
Sometimes it involves going to an event and shaking a bucket to collect money for the CMLONG charities, or going around campus to collect signatures for a referendum, or handing out bingo cards at Sex Toy Bingo. You work within your role but you’re also part of the wider Union body. – Aifric Nevin
Finally, they spoke about how the part-time role is quite flexible in the day-to-day, with some days focused more on academics (Part-time officers are still students. Full-time officers are either on leave from their studies, or have graduated), and other days on the Students Union.
And what does a Full-Time Officer do?
Maisie Hall, current President of the Student’s Union, and Chloe Anderson, current VP for Equality and Citizenship at AMLÉ (the national Students Union for Irish universities), both acknowledged the ever-changing role of the job. Casework is one such role; students often reaching out to the CMLONG with queries, concerns and complaints. Chloe discussed how, often, you will be “there to listen to any issues they may be having and signpost to assistance that is relevant to them.” These issues can range in nature and severity too, with each one being handled accordingly to best suit the students needs.
Meetings across and outside the University are a key part of the job, Maisie says, mentioning the Academic Council, different TD’s in Leinster House and University staff as just a few of the ever-changing meetings that must be attended.
You could be speaking at an Oireachtas Joint Committee meeting on Monday, organising sex toy bingo on a Tuesday, attending Údarás (the University Governing Authority) on Wednesday, acting as a soccer match referee on Thursday, and in a dunk tank on Friday! – Maisie Hall
Chloe and Maisie also discussed the events nature of the CMLONG, and how SHAG, RAG and Mental Health week are often planned well in advance.
Why should I vote, anyway? My vote won’t make a difference.
Faye Ní Dhomhnaill, current VP for Campaigns at AMLÉ, and former CMLONG President, cannot stress enough about how important voting is. Last year’s election, she remarked, saw the highest ever turnout for a CMLONG election, with 4,895 students casting a vote. Elections can run down to the wire, Faye also noted, with some decisions made by a mere few votes. “We’ve seen officers elected with 1 vote before, full time officers elected with 14 votes in the difference.” Fair to conclude then, your vote will matter.
Don’t forget, RON is always an option too if you’re not happy with your candidates. It happened a few years ago where UCDSU candidates were all RON’ed because the students weren’t happy with their candidates, and it really goes to show the power the students who are voting had. – Faye Ní Dhomhnaill
Faye also acknowledged the upcoming referendum, highlighting that CMLONG’s position on the matter “will decide the Union’s stance for years to come.” She also acknowledged a prior interaction; while being questioned on her stance on Palestine, she acknowledged that the Union’s position was not hers to make, as the decision had been made years prior in a passed referendum on the issue.
Who is running this year?
This list is incredibly long, perhaps too long for this already lengthy article. The list can be found here, on CMLONG’s website.
So, who should I vote for?
That is not for SIN to decide for you. Instead, there are a number of activities ongoing throughout the week, where you will be able to find out more about the candidates and their policies. This includes the official Hustings hosted by SIN in Sult, taking place on Monday and Tuesday, as well as the Lit & Deb’s public forum events on Monday and Wednesday. The times are listed below in order of occurance, and further details can be found on the CMLONG and Lit & Deb Instagram pages respectively.
● Part-Time Officer Hustings #1: 11am, Monday 9 March, the Corrib Room at Sult.
● Part-Time Officer Hustings #2: 2pm, Monday 9 March, the Corrib Room at Sult.
● Lit & Deb Students Union Forum: 7pm, Monday 9 March, CSB-1006.
● Inside the Issues 101.3 Debate: 12pm, Tuesday 10 March, FlirtFM 101.3 & Livestream on YouTube.
● Full-Time Officer Hustings: 2pm, Tuesday 10 March, Sult Main Stage.
● Lit & Deb 2026 Presidential Debate: 7pm, Wednesday 11 March, Kirwan Theatre.
And what is the referendum about?
The referendum on the University’s association with Technion is also going to be voted on on 12 March. The referendum, in a simple yes/no question, will ask students whether the Union should demand the cutting of ties with Technion, an Israeli research university that the University of Galway is in a research project with. UG has faced criticism from students and human rights organisations for it’s continued participation in the project, which it coordinates.
How do I vote?
Voting this year, like last year, will be completely online. All voting is done through YourSpace. Simply log onto your Yourspace account, there should be a notification indicating where to vote.
If you have any issues with voting, or need help with YourSpace, there will be an informational booth in the Sibín on election day.
Voting takes place next Thursday, 12 March, from 8am to 8pm, with the results announced shortly afterwards in Sult.
And may the odds be ever in your (favourite candidate’s) favour!
