Bernard Ryan | Senior Staff Writer
The 44th Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast, has accepted an invitation to address a meeting of Students’ Union Council on January 20th next. This will mark the second time in three months, and the third time since his election in 2011, that the Provost will have attended an event organised by the Students’ Union.
This will also be the second time that Prendergast has attended a meeting of SU Council, the most recent occurrence being the last meeting of the academic year 2009-10, in his capacity as Vice-Provost. The address is reflects Prendergast’s escalated efforts to address a perceived deficit in consultation between the student body and decision-makers in College.
Issues expected to be discussed at the meeting include the escalating accommodation crisis in Dublin, cuts to the five capitated bodies, queries regarding the recent unveiling of College’s five-year Strategic Plan and the proposed introduction of increased levies for commencement ceremonies, replacement student cards and a flat-rate fee to sit supplemental examinations.
At the most recent engagement, a question and answer session facilitated by the University Philosophical Society and the Students’ Union on October 6th, Prendergast was in defensive mode as he frequently interjected to correct misunderstandings and inaccuracies in questions put forward by students. He told one journalist from Trinity News that she could use “a lesson in College history” in response to a question regarding funding for a Student Centre allocated in the the last Strategic Plan. Plans for a student centre were voted down by students in February 2011.
At the Q&A event, TCDSU President Domhnall McGlacken-Byrne noted that, while Prendergast was in defensive form, it represented another landmark in relations between College and the student body: “In my three years in Trinity, I have already seen an alarming degradation in the dialogue between the people who govern this college, and the people on whom it depends – its students”.
Speaking to The University Times McGlacken-Byrne said “The Provost’s attendance at SU Council can only be seen as a positive step towards better relations between college authorities and the students, particularly the Students’ Union. It’s a clear committal to listening to student’s voices, and a re-focus on internal communications, with a more personal touch. We’re delighted to welcome the Provost to Council, and look forward to engaging in healthy debate over student issues.”
Prendergast was due to speak at first meeting of SU Council of the academic year, which took place on Tuesday October 21st, however he was forced to cancel his appearance ahead of the launch of the College’s Strategic Plan which took place the following day.
