Students disrupt lectures during GMIT Rag Week

There was little anticipation of disruption when it came to GMIT's RAG week, given the distance from NUIG and perhaps the size of the college in comparison. However it would seem that these assumptions were incorrect. SIN was informed that on Monday 24^th February in the middle of a Social Methods lecture that there were many disruptive outbursts from students in the back of the lecture hall. Students reported it to be loud, disruptive and annoying, so much so that it was they who apparently requested the lecturer to ask them to leave promptly. Dr Henrike Rau, the lecturer in question spoke to SIN and stated that, " There was a group of people who were rowdy and noisy in the back, I couldn't really see them, but after the students asked me, I asked them to leave."

There was speculation that the students were from GMIT, but this could not be confirmed.

The students would appear to have been RAG week enthusiasts whether they had origins in GMIT or not, it would seem that the disruptions caused by RAG week cannot be contained by simply changing the dates of the concerning colleges.

As many will already know the original plans were to host College Week in the week that has just passed. However in the following few months the NUIG management changed the dates, allegedly not to clash with GMIT's RAG Week. This was implemented in theory to minimise damages and disruption in the city and surrounding areas. However it will be impossible to make valid judgement upon this until College Week is over.

By Méabh McDonnell