F R E E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R , V o l . 1 2 I S S U E 9 , 0 1 . 0 3 . 2 0 1 1
SU comes under criticism for College Week acts By Grainne Coyne
Labour’s Ruairí Quinn signs the USI pledge not to re-introduce fees of any form
Anti-fees Labour poised to enter coalition with pro-fees FG By Richard Manton In the lead up to the
The headline acts for College
is a disappointment compared to
Week are David McSavage and
other years. I was hoping for
The Rubberbandits. The lack of
better music acts like Calvin
better quality acts has led to
Harris last year and more comedy
criticism of the Students’ Union
acts.”
by many students, claiming that higher profile acts were sourced
Another Final Year Arts student
in other universities this year and
said: “I heard that Jessie J is
in NUIG in previous years.
performing for Trinity and other colleges seem to have better acts
According to Melissa Mannion,
than we do here. There is nothing
consequences of reneging
Mannion continued: “Over
the SU Irish Language Officer,
to look forward to for College
general election, the
On Saturday Ruairí Quinn,
on clear promises made
the last 12 months the
“The acts question of College
Week.” However Melissa
Labour Party reaffirmed its
participating in RTÉ’s
about education.
strength of the student
Week is an interesting one
pointed out that “It's very
commitment to quality
Election Coverage, said
voice has been seen over
because the SU, as is the norm,
difficult to gauge what sort of
and publicly funded third
that the Labour Party had
Peter Mannion, President
and over. On November
are always interested in
acts people would like to see
level education. Ruairí
no “red line” issues, which
of the Students’ Union
3rd over 40,000 students
suggestions and ideas for the
when students don't provide
Quinn and Eamon
could not be negotiated on
said: “I am hugely
took to the streets of
week. Anything that will help us
input, which we receive much
GIlmore, on behalf of the
during talks with Fine Gael
concerned by Ruairi
Dublin to show their
raise more money for our
more of after the act has been
Labour Party, signed the
on forming a coalition. In
Quinn’s comments last
support for publicly
charities is obviously a good
announced.”
USI Election pledge and
response, the Students’
weekend. The pledge he
funded education. Since
thing.”
thereby promised not to
Union has reconfigured
signed, on behalf of the
then thousands of
re-introduce third level
the TellYourTD.com
Labour Party, is very clear
students registered to vote
The majority of students are
week there main act was also
fees in any form including
website to send an email
and guarantees Labour
on campuses all over the
comparing this year’s College
‘The Rubberbandits’ as well as
student loans, graduate
to all new Labour Party
Party support third level
country. The voice of
Week acts to last year’s ones,
many fundraising events such as
taxes and any further
TDs urging them all not to
education. I encourage all
students is clearly
where international DJ Calvin
bungee jumping and tomato
increase in the Student
forget the promises which
students to go on to
strengthening and I warn
Harris, The Coronas and Jason
fights. UL’s Charity Week, which
Contribution to Higher
were made during the
TellYourTD.com and send
all of the new Labour Party
Byrne performed and many
coincides with NUIG’s College
Education. The Labour
General Election
an email to the new
TDs that we will punish
students expected similar acts to
Week, is focusing on fundraising
Party also pledged to
Campaign. The email
Labour Party TDs
any political party who
perform this year. Geraldine,
events such as Wet T-shirt
protect the Higher
draws parallels with the
reminding them of their
thinks they can lie to us for
Final Year Arts students told Sin:
competitions and their main
Education Maintenance
plight of the Liberal
promises and the strength
their electoral gain.”
“I expected better acts for
headliner act is also The
Grant and to tackle the
Democrats in the UK who
of the student vote.”
College Week, this year’s line up
Rubberbandits. ...
graduate emigration crisis.
are suffering the
GMIT’s Rag Week was held last