Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) Council tonight passed a motion to mandate the union to campaign for the construction of a new student centre in Trinity.
Speaking about the centre in his sabbatical officer report, at council this evening, McNulty said that “hopefully [the centre] will be integrated as part of the Colleges Estates Strategy”, and should be built within the next five years.
Speaking ahead of the motion, McNulty said that not having a designated student hub in Trinity is “not good enough”, and that students should say “loudly to the Provost and the university, that we want our student space”.
Speaking about generating other spaces on campus and off campus, McNulty said that this issue is “at the very bottom of colleges agenda, and it is very frustrating to keep pushing”.
“It is very difficult when college doesn’t want to give up spaces to students”, added McNulty.
McNulty referenced the fact that Trinity is is the only university in Ireland that does not have a designated student space.
The University Times reported in September that TCDSU had submitted a proposal for a student centre to be included in College’s new Estates Strategy, which is in the process of being developed by College.
A number of locations on and off-campus have been considered by College for a new student centre. McNulty confirmed that the proposal has been considered and with cost projections also made by College for the potential project, and added that students will be asked to vote on the proposed centre in a referendum first.
The plan currently is for the project to be paid for by an increase to the student levy. This increase amount has yet to be decided. Speaking to The University Times about the submission of the plans in September, McNulty expressed that he hoped only students who will use the centre on completion will pay the increased levy.
Following a report by Turnberry Consulting, the College Board in June put forward a plan for implementing the new estates strategy. Library space, residential units and sports and leisure facilities were included in this plan. The plan, obtained by The University Times, outlines the key areas addressed over the next 12 to 24 months by College in order to achieve immediate and radical change to overcome the existing dire circumstances.
The implementation strategy is due to to be completed and a final report submitted to Board by June 2017. College plans to have the implementation strategy complete by June 2017 before going to Board for a final report in June the following year, at which point the implementation of the estates strategy will begin.
McNulty also spoke about other student spaces opening around campus, including the new break-out space in 4017 in the Arts Block which was opened in early September, and the space on the mezzanine floor of the Hamilton Building.
McNulty also gave an update on the nap room and break-out space in the Parlour of Goldsmith, saying that “as of yesterday the orders been put in for new blinds” and the room will be painted. A partition will also be installed soon to be ”part of it will be the respite room”.
Loughlin added that the Parlour nap room is an immediate addition as part of her manifesto promise to install nap rooms around campus saying that the second part of the plan, which would see more permenant nap rooms around College: “The second stage is more difficult but we’re moving ahead with that.”
