UCD students barricade minister into building

Wednesday October 16, 2002 16:15

by OK - CFE

Today hundreds of students sat down to prevent the minister of education, Noel Dempsey, leaving the Vets building in UCD. Barricades were erected to prevent his car leaving

The protest organised by the Campaign for Free Education assembled at 12:30 and then proceeded to the Vets building where the minister for education, Noel Dempsey, was opening the building.

The hundredds of students sat down on all the doors and prevented access to the building. All people wishing to enter the building had to seek approval of the students by a vote.

At the sides of the building all exits for the ministers car were blocked by barricades errected by the students.

For 2 hours the minister was unable to leave the building. The college authorities eventually snook him out a fire exit.

Another feature of the protest was the presence of SU president, FF member, and supporter of fees, Aonghus Hourihane in the building, and not outside it! Aoghus Hourihane made himself into a hate figure by prancing in the front entrance in his suit. After the protest students went to the Student Cente to demand Hourihane's resignation.

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Comments (12 of 12)

Labour (sic) Party members support fees

by I hate Social Democratic sell-outs

Wed Oct 16, 2002 16:52

On the Labour party website a poll was taken and 64% support the re-introduction of fees!! Check it out yourself.

These are the people that call themselves the leaders of the Irish left, their members support fees and they want us to 'hold our fire on FF and vote Yes to Nice.

Here is the question, result and one particular comment I picked out:

The question for the week Monday, 19 August 2002 to midnight Sunday, 25 August 2002:-
Would you support the re-introduction of third level fees?

Yes
64.0%
No
36.0%

Of COURSE i do, provided that fees are only introduced for high income families while low income families should be exempt so that this will encourage working class students to go directly into Third Level Education.
Ross Murphy, Ireland

Re: Survey

by Terry

Wed Oct 16, 2002 17:13

Was the survey done through the website? Either way
it can be hard to trust the figures and for the website
particularly, one individual could easily vote several
times.

I would take all website polls with a pinch of salt.

And what was the sample size -because the smaller the more
sensitive it is to bias.

It's representative of labour members

by Labour hater

Wed Oct 16, 2002 17:17

Who goes to the Labour Party site? Those that are Labour supporters, I would say it is fairly representative of Labour supporters.

Lets just face it, the Labour party are just another right wing capitalist party.

Impeach Aonghus!

by Brian Jennings

Wed Oct 16, 2002 17:21

The sooner he's gone, the better.

Let's face it, the guy is just destroying UCDSU. let's kick him out before he does any more damage.

Does anyone know how many signatures are needed to call an impeachment referendum, or if there are any motions going to council calling for his impeachment?

Organise and get active in CFE!

by Finghin - CFE & SYUCD

Wed Oct 16, 2002 17:27

You can impeach the president through a referendum which can be got by collecting 500 signitures. That's what I think anyway, I'm not an expert on the constitution.

I don't think we should get too caught up in an anti KBC/Hourihane campaign. People like that will be completly side lined when student are mobilised into action. This is evident from today. 500 students were protesting and where were the union officers? Abey Campbell (Education officer) and Hourihane were inside having cheese and wine with the minister of education. There will be plenty of oppurtunities to reclaim our union over the next year. What is important that we organise the campaign, get people active and make the links with other colleges etc.

Debate tomorrow?

by Jim Bob

Wed Oct 16, 2002 18:04

Did I hear that there's a debate tomorrow on Fees and that Aonghus is speaking in favour?

Get Hourihane out

by Martan - Sinn Fein

Wed Oct 16, 2002 18:11

It was a good protest, although I'm not sure 500 people
were there.
Did you see that about 6 or 9 campus security personnel
came to the Union corridor after everyone left? I'd say
Hourihane will brick himself tommorow at the lunchtime
debate.

A lot of people would resent the re-introduction of fees
and it's inportant to mobilise the students. I think a
campaign to impeach Hourihane could be a very positive
thing for some reasons;

1. If Hourihane is associated with government (which he is)
and if enough people are mobilised to vote for his impeachment
it'd send a message to the establishment both within UCD and
without that students are prepared to oppose this.

2. A campaign to impeach Hourihane on the basis of his
support for the re-introduction of fees would itself raise
the profile of the campaign. Most students are not aware
that the government is seriously thinking about re-introducing
fees. This might surprise some people! It also might sting
them into action. If they bothered to vote Hourihane out because
of this they might bother to attend a protest.

3. These class reps on the CFE ticket, if elected, could raise
the profile of the CFE campaign in their classes and could canvass
for Hourihane's impeachment.

4. It'd be great craic.

5. Aonghus Hourihane is a total bastard.

Hold your fire - Aengus can wait

by Cian

Wed Oct 16, 2002 21:49

I'm not sure that this is the proper forum for discussing a possible impeachment of Aengus but here goes..

I reckon that it would be a mistake to impeach Aengus on the basis that it is precisely what the government and the establishment would like to see from students. Nothing better than students fighting amongst themselves rather than fighting the government.

While I would agree that on the issue of fees Aengus is more a part of the problem than part of the solution I still think that CFE should adopt tatics that will unite as many students as possible in the fight against fees rather than alienate them by engaging in what may appear to be political manouevering and back stabbing.

If people want a chance to see Aengus whipped at the polls then get involved in fighting his attempt to break up the national students union at the very time that we need them most. There will be a referendum on leaving USI within weeks.

As for Aengus' Fianna Fáil KBC lackies they will get whats coming to them. Just give it time. The best way to fight them is to stay focused on the fight against fees and get more students involved. Its what the KBC fear most and its the best way of clearing them out of UCD students union for good.

Its important to remember that their best tactic is to try and get us to descend to their level so that students can't see any difference but can just see two sides squabling rather than fighting on the issues that matter.

Cian

Wed Oct 16, 2002 21:57

No-one who is in the "labour" party has a right to tell anyone how to deal with FF.

Is Aonghas going to offer you a Merc and a personal assistant?

Hold your fire.....

by OK - SY

Wed Oct 16, 2002 22:31

Where have I heard that before? The same party that want Nice Treaty to be passed and the privatisation that goes with it, want students to hold back their anger towards the government and it's representatives in UCD.

I think that concentrating on getting that little fucker Aonghus Hourihane out would be wrong. We need to concentrate on the Government and we need to get people active in UCD and in other colleges.

I think that the impeachment of Aonghus Hourihane would be something we could rally around later in the year. We will have the opportunity to make his life a living hell as SU President over the next number of weeks. If there is a strong left wing SU Council, a defeat on USI referendum and a rise in protests against fees Aonghus may jump before we decide to push him.

eat the peach 'impeachment'

by star

Thu Oct 17, 2002 12:32

let´s impeach them all!

Labour must wait

by Militant UCD

Thu Oct 17, 2002 18:30

For fuck sake - How often are members or supporters of the Labour party going to hold back real movements of workers and students? the students in UCD have taken a militant stand which is good and everything should be done to move forward. Linking up with other colleges building a real fighting campaign with democratic structures. Calling for impeachment is only one part of the struggle. Congratulations to all those involved - keep up the good work

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UCD students barricade minister into building

Comments (12 of 12)