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Tuesday 26 September 2023
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Ireland’s Oldest Student Newspaper
Vol. 70, Issue 2
!"##$%$&'(()$(& !"#$%&'$())*($+,-./,/.01$203$45016$/)37$ 3)-3)()1/,/.01$02$!3.1./89($-0(/63,:;,/)$3)(),3+<)3(= *+$,-+.,/'"01& "0&2)//$+3& It is proposed that TCDSU represent postgraduate students in academic affairs, while PWO represents research postgraduates on issues such as workers’ rights and departmental disputes <#-0$.*,(0=>. !"#$%&'(')*()%+,*-./
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HE POSTGRADUATE W O R K E R ’ S O R G A N I S AT I O N (PWO) has submitted a formal request to the Capitations Committee through Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU). The PWO seek €6,500 in funding, of which it says €4,000 will be allocated to campaigns, €1,000 to events, and €1,500 to communications. In a statement provided to Trinity News, the PWO said: “Trinity College has an obligation to ensure full and democratic representation of all the postgraduate researchers (PGRs) in its community. “After the dissolution of the former Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) postgraduate researchers have not had a distinct, dedicated body with high expertise in representing them and their needs,” the statement said.
“Capitation of PWO TCD is necessary to ensure long term representation of all of Trinity’s postgraduate researchers. Postgraduate researchers chose overwhelmingly in the plebiscite last year to form an independent body – thus providing a direct mandate to college for Capitation of our Union. “PWO is currently the only dedicated body representing PGRs at Trinity, and the PWO and its precursors, PCAU and PGWA, have already provided substantial support for Trinity’s postgraduate researchers and representation of their demands at a local and national level. The Capitation Committee oversees the funding of five capitated bodies in College, and is made up primarily of student representatives from the five student capitated bodies. These are the Students’ Union (TCDSU), Trinity Publications, the Central Societies Committee (CSC) and the Trinity Sports Union (DUCAC). PWO also requested that the estimated €83,500 remaining of the former GSU’s funding be retained by TCDSU “to accommodate Taught Master’s students in their Union infrastructure.” Under this proposal, TCDSU would retain its statutory representation of all postgraduate students in College with respect to academic affairs, student services, “and all other aspects directly relating to their student status within College”. TCD PWO would be given representation of all research postgraduates, including PhDs and Master’s by Research researchers but excluding Taught Master’s Students, as a Capitated Body. This would cover all aspects of postgraduate researchers’ lives that relate to their research, departmental and College disputes, work conditions, workers’ rights, *+$!#$,&-.+$./01&.233
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OLLEGE HAS ISSUED A CLARIFICATION on the seating policy in the Buttery and Dining Hall, ‘reaffirming’ that students and staff are permitted to eat their own food in the building. In a statement released to Trinity News, College said: “Trinity has reaffirmed its arrangement that students and staff are welcome to eat homemade lunches in the Buttery.” Commenting on the statement from College, TCDSU President László Molnárfi said that the union was “happy” to see the removal of the “classist practice”. “Direct action and being radical works, because it makes those in power listen to us” he continued. “This is the result of campaigning by students, including a policy paper drafted by the TCDSU and *+$!#$,&-.+$./01&.233
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TCDSU and students formed a blockade of the Long Room on September 13 in protest of the 2% fee increase in College accommodation. Read more on pages 4 and 5
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