Grian ‘ecstatic’ to be new student president

 

Grian Ní Dhaimhín (23) clinched the highest number of ballots following two days of online voting this week, beating her nearest rival by around 150 votes.

 

The history and social anthropology student will take up her new position this summer, after she graduates.

 

“I’m ecstatic. I’ve over the moon, I really am,” Grian exclaimed. “It was two days of voting, so it was also two solid days of canvassing.Trying to get students to chat to us and talking about policies. It was really close in the end. There were three others running against me. 

 

“I think ultimately in the end there were only about 150 votes between myself and the fella in second – who is a friend of mine, Aodhán Ó Baoill. It went to the third or fourth count. It was definitely nail-biting.”

 

Grian added, “I take up my role in July when I finish studying – hopefully I’ll be graduating this year – and then I’ll begin doing a hand-over with the sitting president and sitting in committees and getting used to things.”

 

Ultimately, Grian will be representing the 24,000-plus students who attend Queen’s.  In the run up to the election, she canvassed on fighting slum landlords, mental health training, free printing in the students union and achieving a carbon neutral university.

 

“When I take up the post the work will involve sitting on a lot of committees,” Grian continued. “It’ll  be working a lot with the university and it’s going to be a whole range of things around mental health strategies, planning and finance, things like that.

 

“I’ve been lucky. For the past two years I was elected to the university senate on a voluntary basis. So I’ve a bit experience of what’s coming towards me.”

 

She concluded, “But now it’s back to being a normal student and finishing my degree.”