An Focal
RAG Week hangs in the balance Official Paper of the University of Limerick Students’ Union
17th Movember 2009 Tuesday
Volume XVIII, Issue 6 FREE
By Aoife Ní Raghallaigh – Editor
THE future of Raising and Giving Week remains uncertain following continual displays of antisocial behaviour by students in the Castletroy area. The threat comes after increased pressure on the Students’ Union from the University, the Gardai and local residents to cancel the week long event which will take place late in semester two. Members of the Castletroy community are very aware that drunken and antisocial behaviour increases during Raising and Giving Week and as such are calling for the 2010 event to be cancelled. Since the beginning of this semester Castletroy residents have been subject to nightly displays of antisocial and drunken behaviour from students. These events include students throwing loud house parties before going out or shouting on the
streets on their way which prevents permanent residents and their children from being able to sleep. Students are also repeatedly leaving broken bottles on the paths and roads around the area. This poses a threat of serious injury to children who are playing in the area. Welfare Officer Derek Daly said students need to “Respect your neighbours and respect your housemates.” Students are also reminded of the serious events which occurred during Raising and Giving Week last year. In 2009 students overturned a resident’s car in one of the off campus estates and also lit numerous fires which posed a danger to everyone living in the area. In one of the most serious events an object was thrown through a window of a young baby’s room which could have killed
or maimed the child. Mr Daly also stated “We all know that the freedom of being away from home may facilitate behaviour that is not acceptable in your home environment but it is not acceptable here either. While we don’t want to ruin all your fun a bit of cop on wouldn’t go astray.” Mr Dillon McLoughlin also said “Unfortunately some students have lost sight of the true meaning of RAG Week, this being the Raising and Giving aspect for charity.” Last year students raised €20,000 for four worthwhile charities but caused over €45,000 worth of damage over four days. When faced with figures like this one can’t help but wonder if Raising and Giving Week really holds any sort of worthwhile future at all. Campaigns and Services Officer, Fergal
Dempsey, echoed this stating that “the essence of RAG Week is lost.” Mr Dempsey said that if students wish to see Raising and Giving Week continuing in future then it is up to them to save it. Mr Dillon McLoughlin explained “If RAG Week or any entertainments are to be secured into the future it’s going to have to take the average student to stand up and vocalise that this behaviour is not acceptable in UL and will not be tolerated by UL students.” For the future of Raising and Giving week to remain safe students need to remember that the event is about helping those less fortunate and is not about getting drunk and making life hell for everyone else. An improvement in night time behaviour throughout the year is also necessary.
Parking situation escalates off campus By Aoife Ní Raghallaigh – Editor
STUDENTS and residents living in off campus estates have been forced to take drastic action to combat the parking situation in the areas. Double yellow lines will soon be painted on the roads in College Court and Elm Park in order to deter those who are not resident in the estate from parking on the roadside. The situation has been ongoing for a number of months and was previously highlighted in An Focal when the path of an emergency vehicle was blocked by cars parked illegally on the roadside. After this incident students were urged to park elsewhere but residents now feel they need to take further action as the situation has not improved. Students
have also raised complaints regarding the issue, stating that they are unable to have their rubbish taken away as rubbish trucks do not have the space to get to all the houses. A number of reasons have been suggested as to why parking is so bad in these estates. It is believed that a number of students are parking in College Court in other to gain closer access to the Kemmy Business School, which backs on to the estate. Others believe that numerous students are driving from nearby estates, including Briarfield or Courtyard, and parking in College Court or Elm Park as they cannot find parking on campus. Such students are urged to avail of the pay car parks on campus, which are rarely full, or use alternative means of
transport such as walking, cycling or the Brookfield shuttle bus. Students are also encouraged to car pool to college rather than having numerous cars from the same location driving to college. The double yellow lines will be painted in College Court and Elm Park as soon as possible and will be policed by Gardai from Henry Street Garda Station. Anyone found parking on a double yellow line will be subject to a €40 fine per offence. Residents of the estates will soon receive parking permits which will give them permission to park on the street but until these permits are received students living in the estates are urged to park on their lawns or in a place where double yellow lines are not present.
Cars parked illegally in College Court