SU protest at Gala Banquet to go ahead

The SU are staging a protest at the Gala Banquet on Saturday March 6^th outside of Áras na Mac Leinn from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. The protest is in response to University Management’s position over the use of the Bailey Allen Hall.

At a UCPMG meeting held on March 1^st members of management including Keith Warnock, VP of Capital Projects and Mary O’Riordan, VP for the Student Experience presented a draft proposal which was rejected by the SU Executive.

The draft policy proposed, “Alcohol, with the exception of wine will generally not be permitted to be served in the Bailey Allen Hall unless a substantial meal is being provided.” It also proposed that wine could be served at events only if finger food was provided but alcohol could not be brought into the Hall from the College Bar under any circumstances.

The SU queried what the term ‘substantial meal’ implied and were told something with a knife and fork. When the SU asked if a meal such as burgers & chips came under the term, they were told it did not.

Donna Cummins, SU President said the SU were rejecting the proposal for four reasons;

1. Management’s definition of a substantial meal.

2. Impractical as societies have limited funding.

3. Unfair onus on students to have a meal in order to hold an event.

4. No alcohol being allowed from the College Bar.

“New societies get €200 per year and cannot afford to provide the catering Management is proposing” said Donna. She added, “It costs €1000 to set up a mobile bar and it is unfair to have to do so when the College Bar is next door. Management is saying that the carpet could be damaged but it can be covered for events and there is a greater potential for damage from food.”

This Saturday the University is holding the Gala Banquet complete with full bar facilities in the Bailey Allen Hall. Tickets for the event are €150 each. The SU informed Management, the Alumni Office and the Conference Office of its plans to stage a protest outside the event.

“We apologised in our letter stating we are sorry for the inconvenience as we understand that many months of work went into organising the event. This is a last resort as we feel we have exhausted all other channels” said Donna.

By Deirdre Judge