Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) have released a statement apologising for protests for Sexual Assault Awareness Month which took place this week. The protests took the form of effigies hung upside down and statements from sexual assault survivors pasted in prominent locations across campus, including the Junior Dean’s Office and the Arts Block.
The protests generated controversy across student media and online, with former Gender Equality Officer Anna Kollár’s story decrying the direct action in Trinity News, a campaign for TCDSU officers to resign appearing on Instagram and TCDSU President-elect Séan Thim O’Leary’s release of a statement condemning the protest.
“We, TCDSU/AMLCT, acknowledge and fully accept the concerns raised by so many members of the College Community,” the statement read. “We, TCDSU/AMLCT, are so deeply sorry for the distress and harm caused by the Union’s actions this week.”
A prominent critique of the direct actions was the use of sexual assault survivor’s statements without permission from the students who submitted stories. The statements were posted next to the effigies, some telling personal stories of sexual assault. The statement recognised the move as “inappropriate and deeply hurtful, especially to survivors of sexual violence.”
The Union also said it has been “in contact” with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC), Women’s Aid, and Student Counselling, saying they will be present on campus next week to “offer support” to anyone affected by the protests.
The statement announced a town hall is to be held next week “to ensure that [TCDSU] can learn from our mistakes, and ensure that future campaigns and actions are shaped by the voices and experiences of our members.”
An new Instagram account called “SU_resign” has denounced the apology, saying that it’s “four days late”.
