STUDENTS of Trinity College, Dublin, have joined academics and other staff in expressing concern at the Minister for Education's proposed new university legislation.
The TCD students' union says that Ms Breathnach's proposals would reduce student representation on the board from four seats to one or two. This would be in conflict with the Minister's commitment in the education White Paper to greater student representation.
Currently, four students, including one postgraduate, attend the board as observers. The union claims that, although they cannot vote, the students effectively have the same rights as other members. An internal report agreed by the board last year proposed that the students become full members.
The proposals in the position paper that "at least one but not more than two registered students" sit on the board would force the college either to deny a seat to postgraduates or to cut students' union representation from three to one, according to the union.
"This would have a devastating effect on the union's ability to represent undergraduate students at board level", said Mr John Walsh, education officer of the unions.
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