NUACHTÁN SAOR IN AISCE VOL.20 Issue 04. 23 OCT 2018
Student Independent News
“We invited Granny initially… but then we had to tell her she couldn’t come.” Conferring students only allowed two guests at their graduation By Áine Kenny The University reduced the number of guests conferring students were allowed to invite to their graduation ceremonies this year, SIN has learned. This year, graduates were allowed to invite two guests. In previous years, students were given four tickets to hand out. Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, Registrar and Deputy - President of NUI Galway, explained that there was a review of the graduation ceremonies in August, and a number of issues came up. “One [issue] was the high number of graduation ceremonies relative to other
universities, necessitated by the policy of allowing four guests, which was out of line with other Irish universities, which usually permit two guests per graduate.” “This in turn led to significant extra costs for the University in terms of catering, security and senior staff time. It was felt that this was not a prudent use of University resources.” “All staff and students were informed on 23 August and all graduates were invited [to their ceremonies] on 21 September.” Ross Wilson, a graduate of Arts, conferred on Monday 15 October. He says he can understand there is an issue with
space, but he was sad that he had to leave some of his family behind. “Four tickets would have done me great, because I have two parents and two brothers. It is going to be one parent and one brother there… and the other two are going to have to wait outside, which is unfortunate. I’d like all of them to be there… I really would.” Erin Kelly, another graduating Arts student, said she too had to tell family members they couldn’t attend her graduation.“I was hoping to bring my granny along, but I couldn’t anymore because we only got two tickets.” “We invited Granny initially but then we figured out we only had two tickets…
and we had to tell her she couldn’t come. I think the college should have informed people earlier, defintely.” The Students’ Union were also critical of the new regime and the high level of security and disruption at Áras na Mac Léinn as a result. “Regarding the graduation issues, the President tasked the Registrar with overhauling our conferring ceremonies. We were left out of the meetings until the third meeting, we were essentially forgotten about until then,” said Megan Reilly, SU President. “To the best of my knowledge, students were notified in August but staff were told
in June. The decision was made to bring us in line with other Universities. While I understand the logic behind it, I frankly think it’s been handled extremely poorly by the University.” “It has caused a lot of grief to people who have been planning their graduations well in advance, and phasing it in would have worked a lot better from the look of things.” “The communication with students has been abysmal, further shown by the fact that students were given no warning about the changes to Áras na Mac Léinn being cordoned off this week, and an email wasn’t sent out until I asked for one to be sent.”
In August 2017, former GMIT and NUI Galway Student’s Union Presidents issued a statement against this strong opposition. Former NUI Galway President Lorcán Ó Maoileannaigh said; “A few years ago, redevelopment and increasing capacity of Trinity Hall in Rathgar was met with resistance of the local community, protesting against over - concentration of students in that area.”
“Today, the Hall that accommodates 1,000 students is well integrated into the community, and offers student housing in a convenient location. Diverse and well-balanced local communities have a great potential for regeneration, civic activities and engagement.” Despite being highly contested, the residences are expected to be open by September of 2020.
Westwood Hotel closes to pave way for student accommodation despite controversy By Olivia Hanna The Westwood Hotel in Newcastle closed its doors on 1 October after being purchased in June 2017 by the Ziggurat Student Investment Fund. The Westwood is currently being demolished to make way for student accommodation to be built on the site. The proposal, approved by An Bord Pleanála last month, includes five blocks of apartments, making up a total of 63 apartments that will house up to 394 students. While the new accommodation is expected to help relieve the student housing crisis, the development has been highly contested by local residents. Residents set up a committee called Save The Westwood Hotel Campaign, which is against the dismantling of the hotel and the development of the residences. Committee chairperson Basil Fenton spoke with SIN to explain why the local residents wanted to keep The Westwood. “This closure is a loss… it is removing the centrepiece/heart of the community. The secret is in the name of our campaign:
Save the Westwood Hotel. Our objections are many and totally ignored by An Bord Pleanála.” Fenton then shares why residents oppose the new construction; “[reasons for opposition] include the unsuitable location to plank a high rise residential accommodation in the middle of an established residential community.” “We object to the imposition, irrespective of who resides in the new buildings. The fact that it is going to be students rubs salt in the wound.” “The University has more than enough space to accommodate the building of such accommodation in their own property, in a much nicer and more suitable and spacious [way], with direct access to University and its many facilities.” But the residents did not feel as if their concerns were heard. “Three public meetings were held to ascertain the feelings of the community, and based on the very large participation and feelings of anger and dismay, the campaign was launched and publicly monitored.” “Neither the University Management or Developers availed of these public
meetings to present their case. Public representatives did and vocally and actively supported the campaign.” “A committee was formed after the first meeting. This committee had a meeting with three members of the purchasing team and student management. They outlined their plans and committed to engage and respect the community concerns.” “Last we heard from them, until shortly before the end of the public responses to the planning notice, they requested a meeting at such short notice that no suitable person was available from the committee.” “After the second public meeting, we hired a planning consultant to guide and advise. The third meeting was to ensure that everyone understood the objection process and that all relevant objections were noted.” “83 planning submissions were sent outlining all objections, and those also sent by public representatives. All of these were totally ignored by An Bord Pleanála, and everything the developer had requested was granted. Our request for an oral hearing was also dismissed out of hand.”