INSIDE FREE STUDENT NEWSPAPER | VOL 16, ISSUE 9 | 09 FEB 2015
NEWS
Shave or Dye or ‘Oh My’ 2
Students’ Union lends its support to campaign for same-sex marriage
LIFESTYLE
the bill would “try to cut us down” but urged everyone to stay strong and not to give in and to “stand together”. She said that people would attack same sex marriage, accusing it of being a gateway to “marrying our pets or the pole in the garden” and adding that no one had married their pets in other jurisdictions where they had marriage equality. NUI Galway Students’ Union Equality Officer Rebecca Melvin highlighted another difficulty saying that May is a very difficult time for students as it is exam time. But she hopes that students will overcome any challenges to get to the ballot box, where they plan to make “grá the law”. “In many years to come we will look back at this referendum and I myself would like to think I contributed to it to the best of my ability,” she said.
ENTERTAINMENT
to get on the register so that they can vote for Marriage Equality next year.” However he warned against the threat of complacency, saying it was the biggest threat to the campaign for marriage equality; “There is an assumption that because opinion polls show strong support for the Yes side, that the referendum will pass. However, it will only pass if those who support Marriage Equality are on the register and go to the polling station to vote.” But like all campaigns, there will be difficulties along the way according to Annie Hoey, USI Vice President for Equality and Citizenship, who warned students involved in the campaign for same sex marriage that it may take its toll. She said that people’s “sense of self ” could be attacked as opponents of
SPORT
Many politicians have praised the movement, including Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer in Cork, and labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin from the Dublin North–Central constituency. Both have said that the movement is very important, saying that “hand of history” is balancing strongly with the student population of Ireland, and the votes of students from colleges, universities and Institutes of Technology throughout the country will play a crucial role in deciding the vote. “Over the last month the Union of Students in Ireland has worked very hard to ensure that the voice of students and young people can be heard in next spring’s Marriage Equality referendum,” said Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, praising USI on its “proactive campaign to highlight the need for students
FINAL WORD
The Students’ Union has launched a taskforce, which aims to run events and campaigns in support of same sex marriage ahead of the marriage equality referendum, which will take place this May. The task force is to consist of five members; two Students’ Union executive committee members, two class representatives, and one GiG Soc representative. The taskforce was established in lieu of the upcoming referendum, and the Students’ Union decision (which was voted on and passed last year) to support the marriage equality bill. The taskforce looks to run events and campaigns as the vote draws closer. Among the many aims of the taskforce are to show students the importance of voting yes, and voting for the bill. The movement is gathering momentum, especially with social networks, with the hashtag #MakeGráTheLaw. The #MakeGráTheLaw c a m p a i g n e n c o u ra g e s students to consider why they’re voting yes in the referendum and took place on Wednesday 4 February in NUI Galway. There was also a banner which on which students wrote their reason for why they are voting YES. The Students’ Union has said that they believe, like many others that marriage is a basic human right, not a heterosexual privilege. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is also supporting the movement. The president of the USI, Laura Harmon has said that the campaign is not about equality but about love.
VALENTINE'S
By Cathal Kelly
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#MakeGráTheLaw
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