USI Free Education Protest

by John Tue Nov 30, 2004 23:40

Starstruck claims Students didn't know what the demo was about, yet he/she seems to be the one who doesn't have a clue...

Mistake 1:
"The Union Of Students Of Ireland National Demonstration took place today in Dublin city centre."

Truth:
It was a demo called by 'Education is not for Sale': a group set up by the SIPTU Education Branch. Supported by INTO, TUI, ASTI, USI, SIPTU, IFUT, etc.

Mistake 2:
"A group of 30-40 students,mostly made up of UCD students decided to actually march to the Dail"

Truth:
It was actually 10-12 protesters, who did not involve or inform anyone else they were taking the action.


Mistake 3:
"A bunch of students,most of whom just there for a laugh,who know nothing of the serious underfunding issues throughout all levels of education and the serious hardships thousands of families face in attempting to give their children a decent education."

Truth:
This is elitest rubbish. Who are you to say the students there did not know of the hardship of underfunding and access to education? Are you the enlightened one?

Mistake 4:
USI "careerists...in search of photo opportunities and personal publicity at the expense of the students who they received their mandate from."

Now Starstruck is worried about the mandate of the very same students he/she claims were "just there for a laugh...(and) know nothing of serious underfunding issues throughout all levels of education..."
Either they are worthy of proper representation or they are clueless idiots, according to you, Starstruck.

As a teacher who deals daily with underfunding, privatisation, hardship issues in the classroom, I find the cynical comments of Starstruck sickening- quit the boring moan and next time tell others what you plan to do- if anyone is angry about the state of education I'm surely one and I believe today was a great day bringng all unions together to say no to privatisation and underfunding in education. We have to involve everyone together in classrooms, lecture theatres, etc. not bickering with eachother.

by Starstruck Tue Nov 30, 2004 23:47

Leave it out...I'm actually a unelected union hack in UCD! I am my own mandate!

by singalongasam Wed Dec 01, 2004 12:04

Well, Starstruck, dahling, I'm sure your friends in the head-the-ball contingent who tried to rush a crowd of Gardaí (who had more numbers out than the 'RADICALS" and who split from the USI and Maynooth contingent are feeling very proud of their immediate arrest (by which I mean halting).

You attempted to turn a dignified, peaceful build-up protest into a mosh, and you failed.

USI and Maynooth attempted to run a demo to the Dáil, let the students hear themselves speak out on education and then disperse, having built a solidarity with the Unions. They succeeded.

Time to build!

sas

by privilage buster Wed Dec 01, 2004 14:23

Mnnnnnn….think privatiastion could actually be a good thing. It seems the well-to-do are clogging up the education system. The re-introduction of tuition fees with compulsory loan might stop rich wasters using it while it might give less advantaged students a chance to go. It would also switch around the unequality of the current relationship between lecturer and student which can lead to power abuse. With fees the student becomes a customer with consumers’ rights- a big improvement -except you’d still have to get round those damned public sector workers’ unions.

by James Redmond Wed Dec 01, 2004 14:39

The more interesting thing is the manner in which Archibald and Helledd Whatever the Fuck trampled all over decisions that were made democratically at a campiagns working group meeting.

The decision was made to blockade Kildare St, did this happen, like fuck it did. Instead Tory Boy and herself took it on themselves to block everyone off and direct them up Molesworth St.

And yes John, people were asked to join the break away and chose not to.

After three years of USI demos, I can definitely conclude that they are a farce. You be be content to walk around in circles as careerists like Archibald and that Kiernan fucker from Trinity act like rock stars in front of the nations media . A hell of a lot of us aren't.

Every year one thing annoys me at these demos more so than anything: the numbers of people walking away during speeches with glum faces,

You are fooling only yourselves USI.

by Education is not for sale?Build? Thu Dec 02, 2004 00:08

The protest yesterday was maerely one of a long line of failed national demos which end up just building to the next and the next.
Siptu involved eh?
that explains why we didnt actually march to the Dail as Mr Archibald so proudly stated at the beginning of the march.
Starstruck s argument is flawed but is essentially true as the Government never listens to pathetic pop concerts and only understands action.

Oh and the decision to march down Kildare street was NOT adhered to.

by Peter McIntyre Fri Dec 03, 2004 15:09

re: "Lack of Democracy" - it seems strange that someone who represents a college who was involved with scuffles with the Gardai will then comment about the lack of democracy.

Should you, or anyone else actually bother to read this, please remember these words. Causing riots will never accomplish to do with education in this country. All it will do is aggrevate the Gardai, and get students into more bad press. Why don't you, James, as Communications officer, communicate this back towards your union, about how stupid it is to violently protest about something. Perhaps once USI can prove it isn't inhabited by unintelligent planks, progress can be made and meetings can be secured.

It is more beneficial to beat someone through their intellectual abilities, then by force.

by pc Fri Dec 03, 2004 15:20

repeatedly using the words riot and violence doesn't mean there was any?