A date of February 26th has been announced for the long-anticipated referendum on whether DCU should re-affiliate with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).
Returning Officer of the Class Rep Council (CRC), Jack Butterly, has urged students to “take the few minutes that is needed to get to know both sides of the debate during campaigning and make your own informed decision as it is the best way to represent your views on the topic and make your voice heard.”
Last year’s decision by then Students’ Union President Paul Doherty to nullify the ‘yes vote’ on re-affiliating with the USI was marred with controversy. He took the decision after it was decided that the executive did not run an information campaign for the referendum.
Under the SU Constitution, members of the executive are responsible for the promotion and wording of an upcoming referendum.
SU President Aaron Clogher said that the Returning Officer of the CRC “will be meeting with the SU Marketing and Communications Manager to discuss the best way for the SU to act and provide a neutral campaign to students over the coming weeks. It will be quite a short campaign.”
Chairperson of the CRC, Rónán Ó Dálaigh, formally resigned from his position at last week’s CRC meeting as he is adopting a yes stance in the upcoming referendum. This decision was taken to stay neutral to the Constitution.
A CRC informative debate about the referendum will be held on Monday, February 24th.
Ciara Moore
Image Credit: Eimear Phelan
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