Culture
16 Oct 21

Trinity students march on the Dáil in continued protests over reopening of the university

The protest is the second event of its type organised in recent weeks by Students4Change and other student representatives over what they are calling the "botched" reopening of TCD

Trinity students today (Saturday 16th) marched on the Dáil to protest against what they call 'major shortfalls' in the student experience.

Led by members of Students4Change and the Graduates Student Union (GSU), the students marched from the Front Square of the university to outside Leinster House at 4pm.

In a press statement they said the protest was as a result of "Trinity College Dublin’s constant disregard for our needs, [which] continues to decimate our community."

A number of student representatives addressed the crowd gathered outside Government buildings, including GSU President Gisèle Scanlon; and Jared Reilly, a second year Philosophy, Political Science, Economics & Sociology student and a member of Students4Change, who called for legal action to be taken by the students of Trinity against the university.

"The university may not care about its students but it cares about its image, and it certainly cares about its bottom line," he told the crowd. "So as long as we keep making a fuss, and as long as we start proceeding with some legal action, I'm hopeful that we can actually get something going."

This is the second protest in recent weeks by students of Trinity College Dublin, who feel let down by what they call the "botched" reopening of the university.

The protests are being organised by Students4Change, an open-forum, democratic alliance of students from Trinity College Dublin and elsewhere, focused on issues such as student accommodation, SU reform and other matters of student politics, along with other student representatives from TCD. They are have been vocally critical of the reopening process for TCD, which they say is "chaotic and essentially non-existent."

They have made calls for the university to refund student fees; for a reversal of the 2.3% and 4% rent hike in Trinity Accommodation; the installation of proper hybrid learning systems within TCD; and a committal to make sure that face-to-face education remains a vital part of their education, while allowing choice for students for inclusivity reasons. Their full list of demands can be read here.