Students walked out of classes today at 11.11am to protest in solidarity with the Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) and Union of Students in Ireland (USI). The National Student Walkout, carried out at several universities across Ireland, addressed the rising accommodation prices, inadequate SUSI grant payouts and lack of government concern for mental health.
Speaking at the protest, Senior Tutor Stephen Smith said, “It’s not a good situation … How can you learn if you’re hungry? How can you learn if you’re broke? How can you learn if you don’t have a place to sleep at night?”. These sentiments were echoed at campuses around Dublin and the country.
In a statement to The University Times via email, Ailish Smith, the TCDSU Mature Students Officer who was at the walkout at St James’ hospital, said: “The government gives with one hand but takes with the other. A reduction in the student contribution is made obsolete by the rise in the cost of living. The students of Ireland are not a means to an end. They are an important part of this country. They need to join together all across this country to show this government and future governments that enough is enough”, she said.
The protest has been in the works since August but gained urgency when Budget 2023 was announced in late September, which has left many students and officials within the further and higher education sector disappointed. “Budget 2023 was a joke”, said USI President Beth O’Reilly. “Third-level education should be open and accessible to all.”
Themes surrounding accessibility to third-level education emerged from multiple speeches as student officials addressed the thousands-strong crowd with their concerns.
With students gathered outside the Dining Hall, TCDSU President Gabi Fullam gave an opening speech concerning the present state of student–government affairs. Fullam spoke in favour of more student involvement with College politics, more government funding for the higher education sector and increased student activism to pressure the Department of Further and Higher Education to take action.
“We own this College”, said Fullam, in the opening lines of her speech. “It is for us, not for the tourists. We deserve an education … we’re not asking for much.”
O’Reilly congratulated the scores of protesters in Front Square on their huge turnout: “Today, you have proved that you are still a threat to the government.”
Stephen spoke next, offering the perspective of a senior staff member who attended Trinity in the 1980s. He compared his experience as a student to what he considered to be the much more tumultuous and stressful life of being a college student today. “As the Senior Tutor, I work with a committee to look over applications for student aid, and there’s just never enough”, he said.
The speeches proceeded with David Tracey’s address. He spoke on behalf of the Trinity Access Programme (TAP) in favour of increased accessibility for college. “The history of students being exploited – it’s not new”, he said. “People are stuck couch-surfing or taking two to three buses a day. It’s just unacceptable.”
László Molnárfi, speaking on behalf of the Community Action Tenants Union (CATU), spoke further on access and accommodation issues within Trinity and other universities around Ireland. “When the government tells us to be grateful, essentially to shut up, we cannot accept that. Budget 2023 is a spit in our faces”, said Molnárfi.
He also cited several statistics to bolster his statements, one being that 88 per cent of students worry about their financial situation at Trinity. Another statistic from the National Youth Council of Ireland says that 70 per cent of those aged 18-24 in Ireland are considering emigrating.
Julie Bekkevold, on behalf of the Postgraduate Workers Alliance (PGWA) spoke briefly on the plight of PhD students in Ireland. She pointed out that PhD researchers are not considered workers and are consequently paid less than Ireland’s working minimum wage. She called for increased stipends for PhD students, a subject of many previous Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) and PGWA protests. “Ireland needs to show us that they are serious about funding education”, Bekkevold said.
Speaking next was Jenny Maguire, the TCDSU Gender Equality officer. She spoke against the government’s weak effort in the higher education sector and the need for students to continue the fight for change. “Students are hoping for a better future, but if this is the future, then I don’t want it”, she said.
The last to speak before Fullam’s closing remarks was Dr Roja Fazaeli, the Warden of Trinity Hall and an associate professor of Islamic Civilisation and Near & Middle Eastern Studies. She ended the procession by congratulating the hard work of the student body. “It is good to see you standing up for your rights”, said Fazaeli.
To close the day, Fullam retook the stand to recount the goals of the student walkout and to plead with students to use their voices to their fullest potential. “Our asks are so small, and yet we are only powerful when we work together”, she said. “It’s really staggering to see everybody together now and building that community. I also hope that we can continue the conversation afterward.”
