Student Union Elections 2025: Results Breakdown
By Katie O’Doherty
The annual chaos of campaigning, candidate’s faces splashed on every corner of the student’s union and dinosaurs (?) has finally come to a halt. The student union elections, a memorable and chaotic time of each school year, ran from the 3rd to the 6th of March, and the anticipation ended with the announcement of the winners on Friday 7th. According to the SU Instagram page this year featured their second highest voter turnout with 5,397 voters. So, here’s our breakdown of the results.
Student Union President
The new Student Union President is Amy Smith, who also happens to be this year’s current postgraduate officer. In a landslide win she gained 2980 votes- giving her a 2259 lead. [1] She campaigned on the four main issues of placement support, cost of living, academic assessment reform, and mental health. [2] In her manifesto she detailed how she strives to tackle these issues through various methods. For placement support she calls for decreasing time for reimbursements and free parking for students. In tackling cost of living, she strives to increase the amount of free meals given by the SU throughout the year as well as gaining increased visibility for the advice department. Regarding the issue of assessment reform she advocates for lighter assessment load to take pressure off students and seeks to expand services offered by the SU targeted at student mental health.
Undergraduate Education Officer
The current Undergraduate Officer Eli McBriarty is once again filling the position for 2025/26, gaining the highest amount of votes out of any candidate with 3057 votes. [3] In an interview with The Gown, the former Irish Language and History student stated his campaign is mainly about representation and improving student life. [4] In his manifesto he proposes to raise the 40% resit cap and lighter assessment loads- common issues that affect a wide range of students. [5] He also campaigns for fair compensation and acknowledgement for student reps. [6]
Postgraduate Education Officer
Elected in this role is final year Biological Sciences student Nadine Curtis with 1960 votes. [7] She has previous experience as a Biological Sciences School Rep and MHLS Faculty Rep. [8] In her main priorities she hopes to address issues surrounding education accessibility, mental health support, and ensuring that the post-graduate student voice be heard by Queen’s. [9] She also wishes to tackle fees and funding, pointing out the stress that PG students face, having only a £6,500 loan with almost £10,000 in tuition fees alone. [10] “Lower fees and increase funding-that’s my goal.” [11]
Student Officer Activities and Engagement
In the role of Student Officer Activities and Engagement is Róisín Costelloe with 2258 votes. [12] Her past experience is certainly wide and varied, being a part of the Elected SU council and the Clubs and Society Committee as well as being a part of many societies. [12] She campaigned on many issues, most notably on issues such as more support, workshops and incentives to engage students in SU initiatives. [13] She also campaigned on the more unique issue of reduced PEC fees for Queen’s athletes as well as increased funding for clubs and societies.[14] In an interview with The Gown she outlined her priorities as “to remove financial barriers so that students can fully enjoy their university experience.” [15]
Accessible Education Officer
Morrigan McEvoy was voted to be the 2025/26 Accessible Education Officer, campaigning in her manifesto that, “A vote for me is a vote for you!” [16] One of the closest votes she triumphed with 1528 votes. [17] She is an activist and protestor on issues such as Palestine, and a member of the Psychology, French and Walkie Talkie Girlie’s societies. She advocates for better lecture conditions, particularly for disabled students who have a harder time locating their lecture venues. She also prioritises Community and Cost of Living, and boosting sustainability in a communal effort towards net emissions and bigger events in the SU.
Student Officer Welfare and Community
For Student Officer Welfare and Community, Jack Lydon will take this position after a win of 1987 votes. [18] They have been active in the SU for over 2 years and strives to improve student Wellbeing. In their manifesto they campaign for better student housing, resolving to cooperate with Renter’s Unions as well as potentially adopting Household Cooperatives. They also are keen to improve transport for students, striving for better parking on campus as well as more secure bike storage. [19] In addition, they aim to tackle Violence against Women and Drug and Alcohol Harm Reduction- two very prevalent issues in Belfast currently. Part of this initiative would include incorporating more consent training and offering drink spiking and drug testing kits. [20]
References
[1] ‘QSU Elections 2025’ Queen’s Student Union, QSU-SU-Election-2025-Full-Time-Student-Officers-Results.pdf
[2] ‘Amy Smith Manifesto’ Queen’s Student Union, Candidate for the position of Students’ Union President
[3] QSU-SU-Election-2025-Full-Time-Student-Officers-Results.pdf
[4] ‘Undergraduate Education Officer – Eli McBriarty’, 2nd March 2025, The Gown, Undergraduate Education Officer – Eli McBriarty – The Gown QUB
[5] ‘Eli McBriarty Manifesto’ Queen’s Student Union, Candidate for the position of Student Officer Undergraduate Education
[6] Candidate for the position of Student Officer Undergraduate Education
[7] QSU-SU-Election-2025-Full-Time-Student-Officers-Results.pdf
[8] ‘Nadine Curtis Manifesto’ Queen’s Student Union, Candidate for the position of Student Officer Postgraduate Education
[9] Candidate for the position of Student Officer Postgraduate Education
[10] Candidate for the position of Student Officer Postgraduate Education
[11] ‘Postgraduate Education Officer – Nadine Curtis’, 2nd March 2025, The Gown, Postgraduate Education Officer – Nadine Curtis – The Gown QUB
[12] ‘Roisin Costelloe Manifesto’ Queen’s Student Union, Candidate for the position of Student Officer Activities and Engagement
[12] QSU-SU-Election-2025-Full-Time-Student-Officers-Results.pdf
[13] Candidate for the position of Student Officer Activities and Engagement
[14] Candidate for the position of Student Officer Activities and Engagement
[15] ‘Activities and Engagement Officer – Róisín Costelloe’, 2nd March 2025, The Gown, Activities and Engagement Officer – Róisín Costelloe – The Gown QUB
[16] ‘Morrigan McEvoy’ Queen’s Student Union Candidate for the position of Student Officer Accessible Education
[17] QSU-SU-Election-2025-Full-Time-Student-Officers-Results.pdf
[18] QSU-SU-Election-2025-Full-Time-Student-Officers-Results.pdf
[19] ‘Welfare and Community Officer – Jack Lydon’, 2nd March 2025, The Gown, Welfare and Community Officer – Jack Lydon – The Gown QUB
[20] Welfare and Community Officer – Jack Lydon – The Gown QUB
