http___www.universitytimes.ie_2018_04_nior-chuidigh-agoid-truamhealach-dcusu-leis-an-bhfeachtas-mac-leinn__1.xml
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On Tuesday, barely a dozen students from Dublin City University Students’ Union (DCUSU) turned up to the union’s own protest against price hikes for student accommodation on Kildare St. It was an embarrassment for several reasons, but not least of all because a number of politicians, including Darragh O’Brien, Fianna Fáil’s housing spokesperson, and Róisín Shortall, co-leader of the Social Democrats, had made their way out of the oasis that is Leinster House to support the demonstration, which didn’t even start on time. One of the biggest issues for the student movement in recent years has been its struggle to be taken seriously by the country’s political classes. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has made little or no substantive progress when it comes to expediting a decision on higher education funding – not to mention one that will actually be favourable to students. To what extent this is the fault of USI’s lobbying efforts is up for debate, considering the chronically under-engaged cohort of the population the union purports to represent. But that’s kind of the point. Politicians in Ireland really orbit only one nucleus: that of the average voter. So far, students haven’t convinced anyone that they actually make their way to the country’s ballot boxes in sufficient numbers, save for when marriage equality and, presumably, repeal of the eighth amendment are concerned. On Tuesday, DCUSU undoubtedly convinced a few politicians that students can’t even turn up to their own protest. Though it may already be a few years since students “rocked the vote”, it’s only a few weeks since the perseverance of students captured the nation’s attention. Take Back Trinity achieved its aims in a kind of resplendent fashion that hadn’t been seen in decades. They say a week is a long time in politics because political fortunes can flatline in a matter of days, but also because the memories of those who shape the country are short. DCUSU should make sure it doesn’t make it seem like the fervour of students is already in danger of petering out.
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Dé Máirt, is ar éigean a freastaladh dáréag ó Aontas na Mac Léinn Ollscoill Báile Átha Cliath (DCUSU) ar a n-agóid féinn i gcoinne árdaithe costais do lóistín mac léinn ar Sráid Cille Dara. Ba náire í, go háirithe mar tháinig roinnt polaiteoirí, ar nós le Darragh O’Brienn, urlabhraí tithíochta Fianna Fáil, agus Róisí Shortall, comh-cheannaire na nDaonlaithe Sóisialta, as ósais Tí Laighean chun tacaíocht a thabhairt don agóid, agus fiú níor thosaigh an agóid in uair. Sna blianta deireanacha, bhíodh feachtas na mac léinn ag obair go tréan chun áitigh ar na aicme polaitiúla go bhfuil siad i ndáirire. Níor éirigh leis an Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (USI) cinneadh a spreagadh ar maoiniú ard-oideachais – ceann a bheadh fabhrach do mhic léinn. D’fhéadfá áitígh faoi méid an locht atá ar obair stocaireachta an USI, ag cuimhniú an easpa rannpháirtíochta sa earnáil a ionadaíonn an aontas. Ach sin í an pointe. Tá fithis amháin ag polaiteoirí in Éirinn: timpeall núicléas an meán-vótálaí. Go dtí seo, níor áitigh mic léinn ar duine ar bith go dtéann siad chuig boscaí ballóide na tíre in uimhreacha sách mór, seachas nuair atá an comhionnanas pósadh agus, is dócha, leasú an tOchtú Leasú i gceist. Dé Máirt, is cinnte gur áitigh DCUSU ar roinnt polaiteoirí nach féidir le mic léinn freastal ar a n-agóid féin fiú. Fiú is go bhfuil cúpla blianta imithe ón am a “luasc mic léinn an vóta”, níl ach cúpla seachtaine imithe ón am a tharraing buanseasmhacht na mac léinn aird na tíre. Bhain Tóg An Tríonóid ar Ais a mianta amach i mbealach nach chonachtas i deicheanna. Deirtear gur tamaill fada í an seachtain i bpolaitíocht mar is féidir le gairm polaitiúil bás a fháil i gceann cúpla lae, ach freisin mar tá cuimhní muintire na tíre an-ghearr. Ba cheart go ndéanfaidh DCUSU a seacht ndícheall áitigh nach bhfuil dochar ann go bhfaighidh dúthracht na mic léinn báis.