Student societies at UCC have taken a dispute with the college societies' governing body a step further by threatening to take legal action following its decision to suspend them. As reported in Campus Times before Christmas, four societies were suspended from the college for their part in disrupting the proceedings of another society, which had invited right-wing historian David Irving to speak.

The University Examiner reported that a solicitor's letter, written on behalf of three of the societies, was received by the chairperson of the Societies' Guild, Richard Hammond, before Christmas. The letter, from a Cork law firm, was written on behalf of the Socialist Worker Student Society, the Socialist Society and the Socialist Party. The fourth suspended society, Young Sinn Fein, was not mentioned.

The argument presented by the societies is that sanctions imposed by the guild were made with no regard to the elementary rules of natural justice or fair procedures. They also claim that the complaints made were not adjudicated upon by an impartial unbiased body. In response, the guild says that the societies do not have grounds for legal action and that other avenues of appeal are open to them. As part of their campaign the suspended societies held a students' union extraordinary general meeting; but this meeting, which would have had no jurisdiction on the case anyway, was inquorate.

As yet no further action has been taken by either party. Before the Christmas recess, Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said he would bring it up in the Dail. He said that "natural justice" had been denied to the societies who "were opposing fascism and Nazism".

UCC's rag week kicks off next Monday. Among the highlights of the week are the fancy dress Tramps Ball, the biggest social event on the campus calendar, with over 3,000 people expected, and the "Dandelion of UCC", where eligible males dress up in drag.