Occupy students set for mediation talks

Students sleeping in tents on the grounds of UCC say news of the planned mediation talks won’t stop them from protesting.

The students began their sleep out, called Occupy the Quad, over a week 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. They don't intend on stopping their occupation until these demands are met.

News emerged of planned mediation talks this week and speaking with the Cork Independent, David Condon, Commercial and Communications Officer at UCC Students’ Union (UCCSU) said that an independent mediator will be brought in for talks between the union and university management. He said: “UCCSU will clearly lay out what the issues are, what we want and we will show them the facts. No date or time has been arranged yet but I understand that it will be this week as it’s a top priority for UCCSU and UCC.”

David said that the protest on UCC’s iconic quad would continue until both parties come to a resolution.

A statement from UCC to the Cork Independent said: “UCC can confirm that the executive of the Students’ Union has accepted an offer to enter into independently mediated talks with the management of campus accommodation UCC. “These talks will seek to establish mutually agreeable proposals that will subsequently be put to the board of Campus Accommodation UCC for consideration.”

The statement added: “Our goal is ensure the provision of high-quality and safe student accommodation at a fair price, significantly below that of private operators. The board has already committed to waive the increase in rates for students who are in receipt of student hardship funds.”