FREE STUDENT NEWSPAPER
VOL 13, ISSUE 5
7 NOV 2011 From Áras Na Mac Léinn to Áras an Uachtaráin INMO to Vote on New 2 Proposal for Nurses’ Pay
By Katie Finnegan Former NUI Galway Students’ Union President has been elected as president of Ireland. In a dramatic t u r n a r o u n d , L a b o u r ’s Michael D Higgins topped the presidential poll with 701,101 first preference votes. The politician and poet received 39.6% of the vote, ahead of independent Sean Gallagher who trailed behind with only 28.5%. Higgins received an unprecedented swing in support after Mr Gallagher was publicly derailed by Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness in a pivotal Frontline debate. Michael D. grew up in County Clare with his aunt, uncle and younger brother. He moved to Galway and some spent time working in factories before getting a job in the ESB. He spoke of it as being a “wonderful time.” He made an impression on an ESB worker who gave him a £200 scholarship to attend the then University
Opening Up Government Data
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Top 10 Productivity Apps for Students
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Sin’s Guide to (Un) Healthy living
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Bulmers Galway Comedy 23 Festival Highlights NUIG Kayak Club Does Donegal
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Michael D. and his wife Sabina in An Bialann, NUI Galway on the final day of his successful Presidential campaign College Galway. Serving as Students’ Union president during 1964/65 in University College Galway Michael D. famously led over 600 students in a march to protest about poor relations between the university and the local community.
Higgins served as the Chairman of the Fianna Fáil Cumann before meeting controversial minister Noel Browne who convinced him to join the Labour party instead. He held positions as auditor of the Literary and Debating society and as editor of the
college newspaper. He graduated in 1965 and later returned as a professor in the Faculty of Arts, Commerce, Celtic Studies and Law. He was also appointed Adjunct Professor affiliated with the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI, Galway.
Current SU President Emmet Connolly says “It’s a great day for NUIG. It gives hope to the students that they’ve come to the right place to study. It gives them optimism. Michael D. has always been a friend of the students and the Students’ Union. He’s
helped us in the past and I hope that will continue. I think he’s inspired a lot of students to get involved in the community and volunteering. It’s a good day for the college. We’re very proud.” Continued on Page 2
FEE Presence Shakes up Campus Party Politics By Ian Colgan Chaos erupted at a meeting held by NUI Galway’s Ógra Fianna Fail Society recently, as fur flew between society members and members of Free Education for Everyone (FEE). The incident occurred at an open meeting in AC201 on the evening of Monday, 24 October, when a FEE group showed up, planning to generate debate. An awkward presence was created, escalating into an ugly exchange of abuse which culminated in Ógra Fianna Fail members locking themselves inside the room. The incident mirrors
that of a similar episode that occurred at a talk by Fine Gael TD Ciaran Cannon that same day, when about twenty-five FEE campaigners materialised at the back of the room. They remained quiet during his speech, before mercilessly questioning him in a subsequent debate, causing Young Fine Gael members to have to interject repeatedly to plead for them to let the man speak. “They let him speak, but then they were interrupting,” said newly-appointed Ógra Fine Gael Auditor Rory Boyle, who stressed that Young Fine Gael didn’t mind the company of FEE
and that, if anything, they functioned to create a more lively talk. “The worst thing was that they were cursing — there were some insults thrown around … But in fairness, I was expecting a lot worse,” the Fine Gael Auditor continued. “There was no physical or verbal intimidation [and] the minister said he’d be happy to come back.” This was in stark contrast to what happened at the Ógra Fianna Fail meeting that same evening, when FEE’s like intention of a healthy debate went awry, prompting Cumann de Barra members to walk
Liam Mcguire gets jungle fever between Noreen Coen and Bronagh Larkin in the College Bar this Halloween. out before returning to lock themselves inside of the room. This caused a student to voice concerns
for fire safety based on the belief that the room had not been booked. The Societies’ Office confirmed to Sin that
the room had in fact been booked. Continued on Page 2