Students occupy President’s Wing

UCC students occupied the President’s Wing yesterday to protest against the university’s capitation fee increase.

The President of UCC Prof Patrick G O’Shea, in response, invited Student Union representatives to meet about their sit-in.

UCC have brought in a 150 per cent increase to their capitation fee which is to be paid in addition to the €3000 paid by all third level students in Ireland.

The fee is currently €170 per student per year but is increasing to €250 for incoming first years this autumn and will continue to rise until it reaches €370 in 2023.

This increase is being brought in without a student referendum despite one being asked for by the Students’ Union.

Speaking to the Cork Independent during the sit-in with about 20 students, Michelle Byrne, Vice President for the Campaigns with Union of Students in Ireland said this direct type of action was decided upon last week after news of the increase came to light.

She said those involved in the planning kept the occupation quiet so as not to let the college know what was planned.

“This is better and more direct that a protest on the campus,” she said.

She said she felt it was deliberate that UCC announced the increase when majority of the students had finished college and weren’t on campus.

During the protest, UCC Student Union President Alan Hayes told the newspaper that it was a peaceful sit-in.

He said: “We’ve no time frame as to when we will finish up. The UCC President has acknowledged that we are here and has emailed to say he is willing to have a meeting with us this (Wednesday) evening. UCC security are here with us and we told them on Tuesday night that we would be here. It’s in no way an aggressive sit in, it’s all very relaxed.”

The meeting between the SU and UCC President was due to start after the paper went to print on Wednesday.

Mr Hayes outlined what he will be asking the UCC President to do. These are:

• To stop the fee increases for incoming students in September

• To allow the Students' Union to hold a referendum on the issue

• To commit to holding referenda for future decision that impose on accessing education

• To commit to lobbying the Government for investment in higher education