Representation still a sticking point among students

THE students' unions in all seven of the universities appear to be unhappy with the Bill as it affects student representation.

At a meeting in DCU last month, representatives of six of the universities and the Union of Students in Ireland met for the first time to consider the Bill. Among their grievances was the fact that while the Bill provides for up to three student representatives on governing bodies, in reality this is unlikely to exceed two, in most cases.

In the case of TCD, which seemed to be on the verge of giving four students voting rights at board level, the Bill is actually a backward step in student representation.

The union initially seemed to welcome its allocation of three student representatives with voting rights on the board (an allocation assured under the provisions of TCD's Private Bill), but now seems to have revised its opinion and may well press for greater representation and more safeguards to ensure those students who sit on the board are representative of the college's population and, equally importantly, the union's policies.

This concern arises because another problem for the unions is that the Bill makes no stipulation that elected student representatives should sit on governing bodies, a source of particular discontent for the students' unions.

"Colleges basically can do what they want," says Stephen Cass, communications - officer in TCD students' union. "They can just pick three people out of a hat and still be within the letter of the law."