UCD FEE launches three sabbatical SU election campaigns alongside referendum

dublin | education | press release

Monday February 16, 2009 10:38

by UCD FEE - Free Education for Everyone

stopfees at gmail dot com

With the government's decision to introduce third level fees expected within two months, the student campaign against fees, Free Education for Everyone (FEE) is stepping up its campaign across the country.

A crucial step is fighting to build genuine campaigning students' unions capable of leading a mass movement to defeat the government's threat. In UCD, FEE is standing a slate of three candidates for sabbatical office in the Students' Union as well as running a referendum committing the union to serious action against fees.

Explaining why FEE has taken this next step, Presidential candidate, Julian Brophy said:

"We are facing an onslaught of attacks on education by this government. To defeat fees and cutbacks, we need campaigning democratic students' unions that don't just posture at being opposed to fees, but really try to organise a mass movement to force the government back."

Ben McCormack, the FEE candidate for Education Officer continued:

"The FEE candidates stand for a radically new approach for the Students' Union. Instead of lobbying to try to change the government's mind, if elected, we will use the resources and authority of the union to seriously mobilise mass opposition to the government's attacks on our right to an education. In that way, we can defeat fees and cutbacks."

The FEE candidates (Julian Brophy standing for President, Ciaran Fitzgerald for Campaigns & Communications and Ben McCormack for Education) are standing together to try to maximise the vote for FEE candidates committed to a serious approach to tackle fees and cutbacks and to build the FEE campaign.

Together with the election campaigns, FEE is also running a referendum campaign. The campaign has collected over 1,000 signatures for a policy referendum committing the Students' Union to a serious campaigning approach to defeat fees and to organise a one day shut down of the college in advance of the scheduled discussion at cabinet to decide on fees in April. The vote on this issue will take place on the same date as the SU elections.

Ciaran Fitzgerald, the FEE candidate for Campaigns and Communications commented:

"Over 15,000 students protested on 4 February against the re-introduction of fees, yet the government is continuing to indicate that they are still on the agenda. We have to organise to shut down the third level education sector across the country, in conjunction with the college staff and their unions before the government decides on fees. This will serve as a powerful warning of the movement that will face them if they proceed."

About FEE:

Free Education for Everyone (FEE) is an active campaign against fees that strives to organise second and third level students across the country. It is currently organised in UCD, Trinity, Maynooth, NUIG, UCC and UL. FEE has organised a series of protests, blockades and occupations against fees.

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Comments (7 of 7)

Student unrest around the world

by Jay

Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:44

Updates here:

http://free-education.info/category/other-press/

Well Done and Good Luck

by Mark C - ASTI + CCFE (Pers. Caps.)

Mon Feb 16, 2009 22:33

I think my subject line says my message for me, but once again, well done FEE and good luck with this campaign. Although I don't know any FEE members personally, you come across as a very well organised and dedicated bunch of young people with the interests of the full student body as your inspiration.

Of course, for this you will have your detractors (for whatever reason), but whatever the outcome you will have, as Ken Saro-Wiwa said to William Boyd in a letter shortly before being hanged, "the moral victory". (And that in itself is no small thing.)

fee not wanted

by su hack

Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:34

Hmmm so FEE are running a joint campaign, hope that you do better than you have done previously at SU Council whether there is a strong dislike for the politics of FEE and motions mentioning FEE get defeated even the simple ones.

As for the elections the runners are

President: Gary Redmond - Ents Officer and FF
Julian Brophy - FEE
Chris Bond - Labour Youth
Donal Hanratty - Irish Officer

Redmonds to lose, the 2 left wing candidates will split the vote and hanratty will transfer to Redmond

Deputy: Ciaran Fitzgerald - SF & FEE
Paddy Ryan - Eng PRO

Fancy Ryans bogger vote to pip Fitzgerald at the post

Education: Donnacha O Suilleabhan - Science PRO
Kim Foy - Environment Officer
Ben McCormack

O'Sullieabhan should win but will he ? I fancy that McCormack might stage a surprise

Welfare: Welfare Scottie Ahern - FG & Disabilities Officer
Dani Pender - FF

Two faced versus two bland, Ahern to win but just

Ents: 4 running who cares really. Gary Ward to beat Mike Pat O'D

So overall FEE if lucky might get one person elected............................GO FEE

The realist
Newman

FEE

by kb

Tue Feb 17, 2009 19:09

Are FEE running candidates in any other SU elections aroound the country?

Cork

by @

Wed Feb 18, 2009 09:58

Pretty sure FEE in Cork are running candidates.

NUIG Students Union Elections

by Joseph Loughnane - FEE

Thu Feb 19, 2009 07:00

Yes, FEE are running candidates in NUIG for the SU elections also. I, Joseph Loughnane am running for President and Richard Manton is running for Vice President/Education Officer. We are in the process of selecting candidates for Welfare, Student Development, Equality and Irish, so we can have a complete slate of 6 FEE candidates running.

Did it all go well for fee

by FEE watch

Wed Apr 28, 2010 15:25

Their passion was admirable, but what happened to one of their candidates, for all his radicalism back then, he is now the poster boy for FF http://www.universityobserver.ie/2010/03/30/a-safe-ship...ters/

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UCD FEE launches three sabbatical SU election campaigns alongside referendum

Comments (7 of 7)