Recession results in student discontent

Joseph Loughnane says there is a growing undercurrent of discontent growing among the NUIG student population.

With everyone being hit by the severe cutbacks that this government has imposed on us, one group that are especially vulnerable are students. In a time where a young man/woman has to spend every minute they have to spare just to get a few hours in a part-time job, or no job at all; surely the time is right for an action group to form that is committed to representing student anger at such injustices.

Last Wednesday, around 25 students sat in The Space in Áras na Mac Léinn and discussed the possibility of such a group coming into existence. Those present were invited due to them having been previously involved in protests or demonstrations aimed at changing proposed or installed government legislation. Many ideas were thrown around, a wide spectrum of ideas was discussed, but the final decision was to focus on the economy and how it was affecting the general well-being of your average student.

The college year of 2008-2009 in NUIG saw a movement grow quite quickly, a movement that was devoted to opposing all forms of 3^rd-level fees. Students joined it of their own volition, quickly making it one of the most visible forms of student opposition in recent years. A year on, and the economic situation is a lot worse, making the groundwork for such a movement a lot easier to complete. The biggest factor this time around is the current group of first years. These new students have come into college with the prospect of paying full fees hanging over their heads as well as a whole host of other difficulties. The vast majority of this group will have been hit hard by rising unemployment and cutbacks across all areas. A large number of them will have parents who have been forced to take pay cuts or even worse, have lost their jobs, and as a result are coming to college with little to no pocket money at all. The untapped potential of such students is what we want to harness into this new movement, helping those to affect decisions being made on their part by those who could never put themselves in our shoes.

One thing is important, such a movement will not be a talking-shop, and every decision made will be followed up by action generated to put pressure on those making our lives hard. For those reading this, see it as a general invite to you to get involved and put your anger and stress into something productive, you are more than welcome.

For more information contact: Brendan on 087 9479557 or Joseph on 087 2729021.

By Joseph Loughnane