in this issue: Special Sin investigation into Reg. Fee, Is the SU a waste of space?, Granny O’Grimm, sex, headshops, Winter Olympics, Hamlet,Youth in Revolt, Overheard in NUIG, Ball pics, SU elections, posters controversy, mature students up in arms
F R E E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R , V O L . 1 1 I S S U E 9 , 2 2 . 0 2 . 2 0 1 0
Management pull plug on College Week campus gigs By Deirdre Judge The refusal of NUIG management to allow the Bailey Allen Hall to be used for events during College Week led to a last minute scramble by the SU to find alternative venues. Alcohol consumption in the hall was the main reason behind management’s refusal. This has led to a complete turnabout for the SU who had for months publicly stated their desire to keep events on campus. However, the headline acts, Calvin Harris and The Coronas will now play in the Black Box and the Radisson Hotel respectively. “We had no other option. It was not what we wanted at all,” said Donna Cummins, SU President. “The situation would have been very different if we had been told months ago rather than having the rug pulled from under us at such a late stage. We are very disappointed,” she added. The SU are now planning to picket two upcoming major events which are taking place in the Bailey Allen Hall- the €150 a head Gala Banquet and the national Labour Party conference-in protest at the situation. What makes the management decision so contentious is that recent non-student events including the Bailey Allen official opening had full bar facilities available inside the Hall. At a recent Class Reps Council, students
Keith Warnock
voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing alcohol to be available at the main events during College Week. Despite the SU giving assurances that they would enforce restrictions on alcohol consumption in the Hall, such as only allowing plastic glasses and
SINderella makeover queen Orla Keane ready to motor to the ball in style. See inside.
Staff angered by lack of consultation on UL Alliance By Karrie Kehoe
implementing a no shot policy, management refused to budge on the
Concerns have been voiced by staff over
over the merits of such an alliance.”
issue. In response Keith Warnock,
the newly announced strategic alliance
The lecturer added, “The worry is that
Director of Safety said, “I consulted a
between NUI Galway and the University
this alliance would define NUI Galway as
of Limerick. An NUIG Arts lecturer says,
having a predominantly regional mission,
“While the initiative is clearly significant
rather than a national or international
for both institutions it has taken place
one, a move which appears to have been
without including academic staff in the
facilitated by the dissolution of the NUI
discussions. All of us have a stake in this
and existing relationships with UCC,
and would want to participate in shaping
UCD and Maynooth.”
wide range of people on the issue and the unanimous view was that it would not be appropriate to have the events in the Bailey Allen Hall with either a bar in the Hall itself or an arrangement for alcohol to be brought into the Hall from the Student Bar.” continued on page 4
developments and to engage in debate
continued on page 4