The
Union of Students in Ireland (USI) have elected Shane Kelly as the
incoming president of the group at their annual congress last week. The
candidacy was unopposed, making it the fourth such USI election in the
last five years.

Kelly, who has been the president of the Waterford Institute of
Technology Student Union since 2006, replaces the current interim
president, Hamidreza Khodabakhshi, after from July 1.

The outgoing president said his successor has “demonstrated first-class leadership as president of WIT
Students Union.”

Khodabakhshi, the first Muslim head of the national union, was elected when former president Richie Morrisroe
resigned after a no confidence motion was passed against him at a USI
national council in Galway last October.

Morrisroe’s departure was preceded by the leaking of a letter attacking him,
which was also sent to all student union presidents at USI-affiliated
college. Its author, the then USI equality officer, Steven Conlon also
resigned on the day. Conlon confirmed he was its writer, but denied
leaking it.

According TCD newspaper Trinity News, Shane Kelly – while representing Waterford Institute of Technology – called for the motion of no confidence on Morrisroe.

USI to campaign TDs and senators
Khodabakhshi will be spending the remainder of his term actively, he is
head up an USI campaign looking for support of TDs and senators on the
issues of increasing assistance for part-time students and to push the
Government to deliver their pledge of a student accommodation taskforce.

Commenting on Kelly’s selection, Hamidreza Khodabakhshi said: “Shane
Kelly has demonstrated first-class leadership as president of WIT
Students Union… When
he takes over from me in July, I know that Mr Kelly will further
advance the critical campaigns that we – the students of Ireland – are
bringing to our lobby of the Oireachtas.”

Kelly, a Donegal native, said, “My focus from July will be on ensuring
wider and improved access to education. USI will continue to fight for
all students in third level, as well as prospective returnees to
education who, after leaving school, may have embarked on family life
or entered full-time employment”.

He added: “I want to see educational inequality replaced by proper
funding for all people to pursue further studies. The more people in
our society that can pursue opportunities in education, the greater the
social-economic benefits to everyone.”

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