UCDSU to support national student protest – Wednesday 4 October

UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) is calling for UCD students to take to the streets tomorrow in support of struggling students across the island.

The ‘It’s Raining Now’ protest, scheduled to take place tomorrow, Wednesday 4 October, aims to drive home the point that students who are currently in the higher education system need a genuinely student-friendly budget. 

The demonstration has been called by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and seeks to send a message to parties and politicians that they either support students now or face them at the ballot box in the next local, European and general elections.

Commenting ahead of the protest, UCDSU President Martha Ní Riada said:

“Our team has spent the summer lobbying TDs and raising the challenges that students currently face in the media. The SU Executive considered the formal invitation from USI to join the protest and we feel that it is the right time for UCD students to take to the streets too. Issues like student accommodation and access to grants affect students across this island, not just here in UCD.”

UCDSU Campaigns & Engagement Officer Miranda Bauer added:

“As the country moves onto an election footing, we have a duty to do our bit for the national student voice. Too many UCD students are struggling as a result of choices made by successive Governments.”

The decision of the Executive to join the protest comes following the publication of the UCDSU Pre-Budget Submission, which, among other measures, called for the full abolition of the student contribution charge. UCDSU will also use tomorrow to reiterate the call for the Government to introduce meaningful legislation to protect students living in digs.

The demonstration will start from the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square at Noon, Wednesday 4 October.

All UCD students are invited to a poster-making session in the Atrium in the Student Centre at 10 AM, departing for the city centre by Bus at 11AM.