Covid-19: Occupy the Quad protest halted
The protest which saw students sleeping in tents on the grounds of UCC has been halted in the wake of today’s announcement to shutdown colleges and schools.
The students began their sleep out, called Occupy the Quad, over two weeks ago on 25 February to protest against the three per cent rent increase announced on UCC-owned accommodation.
These students are demanding that the increase be reversed and a rent freeze on all UCC-owned accommodation be put in place for a period of three years.
UCC Students’ Union President Ben Dunlea informed students of the decision by email this afternoon.
He said: "During our time on the quad, we’ve been watching the spread of Covid-19 throughout the world, and most recently in Ireland. Over the course of the past week, we’ve been closely watching the virus and have been assessing the situation with the Head of Student Health, Dr Michael Byrne.
“Following the World Health Organisation's classification of the virus as a pandemic last night and this morning's announcement from the Taoiseach, we’ve made the decision, for health and safety reasons, to halt our occupation of the quad until further notice. Whilst the occupation may not continue, the mediation process we have entered with UCC Campus Accommodation will.”
He added: “It is with a heavy heart we must take down our tents and fail in our promise to the student body to remain in place until the increase was reversed and a rent freeze implemented. We are entering a period of uncertainty and we must prioritise the health and safety of our fellow students and the community.
“While there may no longer be the visible opposition to this increase on the quad, know that the Students’ Unions opposition to this decision remains unwavering and we shall continue to fight against this increase in the mediation process," he concluded.
The protest began with only a handful of students and has grown over the past number of weeks to 200-plus students camping, day and night, on a rotational basis through all sorts of weather warnings, including Storm Jorge.
A previous statement from UCC management said: "Due to major refurbishing work, the rise in security and maintenance costs, and the investment required to provide additional accommodation for students, Campus Accommodation UCC has decided to raise its campus accommodation rates by three per cent for 2020/21. Income generated by Campus Accommodation is exclusively used by the company to meet such costs. UCC is extremely conscious of the financial challenges faced by students and has decided to undertake to review the applicability of the 2020/21 increase for students in receipt of student assistance funding."