Sir, - I am writing to you as a skint student in response to the utterly pathetic displays of protest the USI organised in response to recent outrageous Government behaviour towards students.
Take the cosy picture on page four of your edition of August 28th a student "protester" meekly handcuffed to a pillar outside Fianna Fáil headquarters, smiling blandly at P.J. Mara as he leaves the building. Later on (after a previously stipulated time handcuffed to pillars and railings) our champions helpfully unlocked their restraints and went home.
If a State-wide teacher's strike can't raise a response from this Government, what chance a couple of students engaging in sad little photo-opportunity stunts? What we students need is real activism and it is clear that the only way to get on to this Government's agenda is to scare them.
So, where, might I enquire, are the calls for non-payment of the increased registration fees? Where are the real protesters who don't helpfully un-handcuff themselves after they've had their photograph taken for the papers? As far as I am aware this "activism" hasn't even persuaded the Education Minister it is worth his time meeting student bodies for talks.
I ask this question of the USI leadership: is an education worth fighting for? - Is mise,
SEANÁN KERR, Bothar Mín, An Uaimh, Co na Mí.