MSU President 2024/25: Meet your candidates
BENJAMIN “BEN” HOLMES
Q: What year are you currently in, and what course are you studying?
A: I’m a final year Media Studies and Marketing student.
Q: What inspired you to run for elections?
A: I was heavily involved in mental health activism and web safety for young people when I was in secondary school. During my first year in Maynooth, I stumbled into being an academic rep, and became a member of Senate soon after. I then became a part-time officer in the SU, a position I currently hold. But, although I wouldn’t say that it was always in the books, I feel like I’ve been oriented towards the presidential role for a long time. When I won the President’s award in first year, the then president said he could see me taking up the role someday, and that really gave me hope. At first I considered running for other positions, but I believe my institutional knowledge would be best served as President of MSU.
Q: How would you plan to make a change in Maynooth?
A: My manifesto has three points: transparency, community and advocacy.
In order to implement a more transparent SU structure, I plan to introduce a weekly mailing list, which I think would especially be helpful to international students who do not follow our social media pages. I’d also engage with underrepresented groups on campus, such as ethnic minorities, in particular when it comes to elections. We’ve always been a heavily white Union, so it’s incredibly important to encourage groups that do not necessarily feel represented on campus to give it a try and stand as candidate in the SU elections.
With regards to community, I would work towards improving student engagement. I feel like we need to introduce more creative ideas, as opposed to the same points we bring forward every year. With that in mind, it is my intention to re-introduce RAG week, the time of the year in which our charity fundraising would be centralised. While the planning of events for RAG week would be in the hands of the VP for Student Life, I would encourage the introduction of alcohol-free events in order to reduce drug harm and as a sign of respect to students who do not feel comfortable consuming alcohol.
Finally, I would focus on advocating for students’ issues such as the accommodation crisis we are facing. Our university is gaining an extra thousand students each year, and it’s simply impossible to bring them in if we do not have enough facilities for them. Last year, for instance, there were only seventy-six beds available for continuing students, and three thousand students in line to book a room. I would advocate for the construction of additional accommodation facilities, as a long term solution to the problem. In the meantime I would ensure that students who have no choice but commute have accessible and affordable public transport. The last element of advocacy I would focus on is increased and better exploited student space.
Q: Who is your biggest role model?
A: Since we’re answering in terms of the MSU, I would have to say Anne Marie. She works in the Info Centre and is one of our longest serving staff members. No matter what problem she faces, she always shows up to work with a smile on her face. Whenever I’m having a bad day, her commitment to our amazing community reminds me of why I’m involved in the SU in the first place.
Q: Are you involved in any club or society on campus?
A: I’ll give anything a try. I’ve been pseudo-involved in a number of societies, such as the trampoline society and the classics society to help out friends whenever they needed a hand. But, recently, I’ve mostly devoted my time to the SU.
Q: How would you describe yourself using one to five words?
A: Two words I would use is “love people”. I just feel like they capture my love for the community here on campus. Despite Maynooth having some issues that need addressing, I would never regret coming here because of the amazing people I’ve had the opportunity to meet and learn from.
Q: Do you have a campaign motto or a favourite quote?
A: The concept at the centre of my campaign is “your community, your voice, your union”. It really gets across the message that a vote for me, is a vote for a union that asks what students actually want, instead of assuming what they need.
GAVIN FANNING
Q: What year are you currently in, and what course are you studying?
A: I studied MH201, Single Major Biology.
Q: What inspired you to re-run for elections?
A: I've been involved in MSU since 2018, and felt I still had more to give!
Q: How would you make a change in Maynooth if you were to be re-elected?
A: I want to work
Q: Are you involved in any club or society here on campus?
A: I'm involved with the Drama and Games Societies heavily, and have also helped out events for Cancer Soc such as their 24 hour Relay for Life.
Q: Who is your biggest role model?
A: My Dad.
Q: How would you describe yourself using one to five words?
A: Beard.
Q: Do you have a campaign motto or a favourite quote?
A: When I first got involved in elections a friend told me to "Always have fun with it!" and that's something I've tried to carry on!
