Seven of Trinity’s political societies have signed a letter protesting new rules implemented by the Central Societies Committee (CSC).
The letter expresses discontent with the CSC’s new policy that any society that fails to sign up less than 50 members yearly over two consecutive years may face potential de-recognition.
Trinity Social Democrats, Trinity Young Greens, Fianna Fáil (Cumann Wolfe Tone), Ógra Shinn Féin TCD, Workers’ Party TCD, TCD People Before Profit and Trinity Young Fine Gael have signed the letter.
The letter states that “As parties we cannot attract the same membership base as most societies. We face two particularly acute problems regarding society membership that we believe has not been considered; firstly a student must have an interest in politics to consider joining a political party; and secondly they must support a given party in order to join it.”
The letter further continues that the new rule does not consider “the fact that many within our parties often opt to devote themselves to their local branches or to youth wings instead of the college branches. The members we do have are particularly active, and we are comparatively very active societies.”
A spokesperson for the CSC believes that all of the seven societies listed in the letter can achieve 50 members in one year at least once in two years. Jack Palmer, the Secretary of the CSC stated: “The goal in introducing this minimum is simple. A baseline of fifty members, out of a student and staff population of over 22,000, is a fair expectation to place on societies to ensure they are actively promoting themselves enough to reach any and all members of the university community who may be interested in a given society.”
“We appreciate any society may be concerned about changes such as this, though the vast vast majority of societies voted in favour of this minimal requirement of having at least 0.23% of the university community sign up to your society at least once every two years.”
Seán Thim O’Leary, Chairperson of the Trinity SocDems stated their reason for signing the letter was not to “be confrontational. This is a serious matter that we want resolved.”
According to the Secretary and Chair of the CSC, this letter is the first time that they have formally heard a complaint regarding the new rule. Both members of the CSC Executive Committee have confirmed that no spoken objections to this new rule were brought to the Term General Meeting, and that these seven societies could have raised an objection to the new rule during the meeting.
The Chair of the CSC has since emailed the listed societies to explain the reasoning behind the new rule.
