Students’ Union Education Officer, Ashley Cooke has spoken with The University Times about the next step in the campaign for better library facilities.
“If our demands aren’t met by the end of the occupation, the Students’ Union will intensify its campaign”, Cooke said.
Asked to specify what this further intensification would involve, Cooke mentioned that the SU had “plans for further alternative action.”
“We feel that college has not been taking this issue seriously, despite the fact that it is perhaps the number one issue affecting students in Trinity.”
Cooke anticipates communication with college authorities on this issue, either tomorrow or early next week.
“Our demands are not unreasonable”, he says. “We feel that the resources are available. At the same time, College have to be aware that, on our part, we will use all resources available to us to ensure adequate study facilities for our members. That is what this sit-in is about.”
At the moment, the Provost is refusing to talk
to the sit-in protesters. Students’ Union President rang the provost’s office and was informed that the provost was away.
Meanwhile, the door to the library was locked at 7pm to ensure that there would be no outside interference in the sit-in.
However, protesters are allowed to leave and re-enter the building whenever they want and students have been making use of this to smoke or to bring back hot food.
Security arrangements for the night mean that one sabbatical officer will always be a
ccompanying the security guard at the security desk in the library lobby. Two lists have been drawn up, both containing the names and student numbers of those involved in the protest. Both lists are being held by sabbatical officers – one outside the library and one within. These lists will not be released to college authorities.
Cooke says that security have been “very co-operative.”
