NUI GALWAY students’ union has decided to abandon its annual rag week due to the “negative publicity” generated by a “minority”.
The union says it took the decision by a “majority vote” in favour, in return for a series of concessions offered by the university.
This year, there were 30 arrests during rag week and many complaints from residents. NUIG management attributed these to the “easy availability of cheap alcohol” at off-licences and supermarkets, along with special offers and extended drinking hours organised for rag week.
At a meeting of students on Monday night, it was decided by a 95 per cent vote to accept concessions from the college in return for abandoning the festival. The concessions include an almost-trebling of the university’s contribution to the student assistance fund from €33,000 to €93,000, and a guarantee the campus health unit will not introduce charges.
The students’ assistance fund will amount to about €500,000this year, with additional finance provided by the Government and the European Social Fund. It allows students receive help to remain in third-level education.
“Over the past four years alone, the students’ union has raised over €100,000 through rag week – however, this is often forgotten,” said union president Emmet Connolly yesterday. “The actions of a minority of people, many of whom are not NUIG students, have been very destructive and the students’ union has decided not to continue with something seen to support the behaviour of that minority.”
The union would continue itsfundraising work for the Galway Rape Crisis Centre and the youth website SpunOut.ie, he said.