A number of DCU students walked out of lectures in protest of government inaction on the rising financial costs of third level education.
The protest was one of many across the country. Organised in conjunction with DCU and USI, the walkout took place at 11:30 on Thursday morning and saw a small group of DCU students gathered outside the U building on Glasnevin and on the green on the St. Patrick’s Campus. On Glasnevin campus, a number of speakers addressed the crowd including members of the SU, politicians Claire Daly and Conor Reddy, and a representative of the Revolutionary Communists of Ireland.
The speakers highlighted multiple financial issues that face third-level students that they felt the government isn’t acknowledging. Largest among them was the issue of accommodation. Student Union Vice President of Community and Citizenship Brandon Perry told the crowd “this isn’t a housing crisis, it’s an education crisis”. Lack of housing for students was repeated frequently during the event. Student Union President Karl Ormsby stressed in his speech that nobody at university should be “choosing between going to college and getting a house”
The anger towards government inaction was reiterated amongst the crowd. Two students Sinéad and Rob told the College View that “the government has made an absolute mess” and that the accommodation situation was a “disaster”. Echoing a common complaint about the impossibility of accessing accommodation, Rob told The College View that “there’s no time to exist”. Both students stressed that the inability to find adequate housing not only adds financial pressure to students but also can dissuade people from taking up third-level education.
Speakers also highlighted that the walkout acted as a means of ensuring the government knows students are unhappy. In a statement Brandon Perry stressed that the government must be aware that students of DCU “can be mobilised” and that “action needed to be taken”. Similarly, politicians Claire Daly and Conor Reddy spoke about how important the student presence was. Reddy stated: “I have seen the power that students have”. Both were impressed to see students standing up and ensuring their voices were heard.
In a statement to The College View, Karl Ormsby stated that turnout was not as high as he’d have hoped for. But he was “appreciative of those who did show up”. He further stressed the importance of the walkout, saying “the SU did not make people leave their lectures” and if the government refused to further acknowledge concerns that “much more pressure can be given”. He remained adamant that the SU would continue to ensure student concerns are heard and expressed on campus.