N.C.A.D. Students Say F.U.C.D.

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | feature Monday October 31, 2005 19:01 by NCAD Campaigns Officer - NCAD Student's Union

It was first revealed to the NCAD Students Union on Thursday 20th October, by an anonymous source, that the Board of NCAD were strongly considering the possibility of relocating the college to the Belfield campus of UCD. Students have reacted swiftly to this largely unwelcome development. The Campaigns officer of the NCAD SU submitted this report on the first student action taken in opposition to the proposed move.

On Thursday (27th October) we held our silent protest as all members of staff went to the 'Questions and Answers' meeting regarding the proposed closure of our Thomas Street campus... The silence lasted only until the meeting began, to be followed by 3 hours of colourful and noisy opposition to the move! Hundreds of students lined the corridors around the meeting and shouted slogans, many directly to Colm O'Briain, the director of NCAD, one of the main men involved in the proposal of this plan. As of yet, there's no official word from the government in relation to the move.

Local Counciller's have been contacted and many are in opposition to the proposed plan, and will meet with City Council officials and Colm O'Briain on November 11th. . . . Local business' have been contacted and are all generally in disbelief about these plans, and are entirelly opposed to the porposal. Our local Centra even got involved at the protest with the manager bringing boxes of bottled water to the students in order to encourage us to continue the protest.

As the staff finished their meeting, the protest again moved to the entrance in order to allow staff to hear our opinions as they left. With music and chants ringing loudly through the campus, the staff walked through and applauded our protest, thanking us for having enough respect for ourselves, the staff, and the local community. The director, Colm O'Briain, left through the fire escape and walked around the campus in order to avoid having to face the students!

Overall, we believe the protest was hugely successful, and we promise the staff of NCAD, the local business' of the area, and the local community who benefit so much from the college's presence that we will continue to fight for an independent National College of Art and Design on Thomas Street!

Background Information On Proposed NCAD Move to UCD Campus