The new president of the Union of Students in Ireland will be Mr Richard Hammond, a UCC law graduate, who was elected at the union's annual conference yesterday.
Mr Hammond, who is currently southern area officer with the union, said he would persist in the fight for better financial support for students.
He will take up his position in July. He said "the creeping moves to turn our colleges into degree factories" had to be tackled and he called for accreditation for student involvement in clubs and societies. "Such accreditation is a crucial step in encouraging and enabling students to receive a fully rounded third-level education," he said.
Students and their unions had to be empowered through the ballot box. "Issues such as on-campus ballot boxes, Sunday voting and Internet voting must be addressed," he said.
The other incoming officers are Mr Ross O'Donoghue, of Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, elected deputy president; Mr Colm Jordan, DIT, Aungier Street, Dublin, education officer; Mr John Paul Swain, of UCD, welfare officer; and Mr John Friend-Periera, of Mary Immaculate College, equality officer.
Earlier, the 200 delegates voted unanimously to initiate a campaign for the reintroduction of medical cards for all students. Ms Alison Gibney, welfare officer, said a recent MORI/MRC survey, carried out for the union, found that almost one in five students did not see their doctor during illness because of financial reasons. Colleges with medical facilities were under-funded and understaffed, she said.
"It is also clear that many colleges have failed to provide any form of student healthcare. Many students are living away from home for the first time and are setting lifetime health patterns and habits."
Mr Julian de Spainn, the USI president, said students were being denied healthcare because they could not afford to pay.
"USI will maintain pressure on all health spokespersons until the medical card is reintroduced for all students," he said.
Opposition political parties now supported students' demands to increase maintenance grants and broaden the qualifying income bands. "In general, the current maximum maintenance grant gives students only £49 a week. Many students are in the vicious circle of having to work longer and longer hours to the detriment of their studies," he said.