SU Council’s last meeting before the Christmas recess passed three amendments to the SU constitution and unanimously backed the reports of each sabbatical officer. Tuesday’s meeting also witnessed lengthy debate both on last week’s student protest outside Belfast City Hall, and on the proposal for a Republican Congress society at Queen’s.
BY CONNOR DALY AND SEAN ASHFORD
Queen’s Socialist Society intends to protest outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office next Tuesday afternoon in opposition to the Browne review. This comes at a time when its members have been increasingly critical of the Students’ Union’s tactics in its campaign against the Browne review, and argue that the SU should hold more large demonstrations similar to those held previously in the campaign. Announcing the protest for next Tuesday at 1.00pm, Queen’s Socialist Society Secretary, Tyler McNally said “You can’t just go out and go home.”
BY CONNOR DALY
QUB Fianna Fáil this evening called unanimously on Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil party leader, Brian Cowen to resign. The announcement comes just days after the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition government’s formal decision to apply for a multi-billion Euro rescue package from the European Union.
BY CONNOR DALY
Queen’s SU representatives will meet on Wednesday to discuss the option of a sit-in for Wednesday 24 November. What would be a “tokenistic gesture”, VP Campaigns and Communications, Fiona Kidd, said a potential sit-in would take place in conjunction with similar sit-ins planned throughout the UK in opposition to an increase in tuition fees.
BY CONNOR DALY
Richard O’Rawe launched his second book, Afterlives, this evening in front of a Queen’s Bookshop filled to capacity. This sequel comes fives years after his bestseller Blanketmen. In his book the former hunger striker claims efforts to reach a settlement between republicans and the British government in July 1981 were thwarted by Gerry Adams and his five-man committee. Guest speaker at the event was Liam Clarke, journalist and co-author of Martin McGuinness: From Guns to Government.
BY CONNOR DALY
An estimated 40,000 students marched in protest against the Irish government’s intention to increase the university registration fee in the Republic of Ireland. A bus load of students and student representatives from Queen’s University joined the demonstrators in opposition to the potential hike.
BY CONNOR DALY
Down Down Deeper and Down is essentially a chronological account of Ireland’s woes, and at times successes, throughout the ’70s and ’80s with little analysis of events. Nevertheless this is a period which has arguably received somewhat limited coverage from academics. The most today’s younger population may have gathered from this period may have came from RTÉ’s Reeling in the Years series, but herein lies a grand story of battles, political as well as social, and the account of how Ireland began to improve its economic standing, at least until recent years.
BY CONNOR DALY