Update: The Trinity Dining Hall Occupation Continues With Outdoor Concert
It's day three of the dining hall occupation as campaigners, Trinity SU and students try to #takebacktrinity and negotiate the removal of the proposed €450 resit or repeat exam fee.
Last night #takebacktrinity was the most trending hashtag on Twitter after a private security firm, brought in by the college, closed off Trinity's dining hall. The strong 60 plus group were originally denied bathroom access but it was eventually negotiated, though it's understood they were still cut off from accessing food and water, other than the supplies they had with them. After the hashtag began to trend on Twitter more students arrived to help their peers protest and to deliver supplies to the group inside of the dining hall.
Private security attached alarm systems to the doors in and out of the Dining Hall which caused outrage. According to Twitter, private security was called into the college after campuses security guards allegedly refused to shut down the protest:
Trinity security guard came into the occupation last night and said "well comrades?" ? #TakeBackTrinity
— Jessie Dolliver (@PoppyDolliver) March 14, 2018
A rally took place in the Front Arch as students wanted to show solidarity to their comrades inside the dining hall:
Front Arch now closed due to overwhelming numbers of students rallying in solidarity with those trapped inside the Dining Hall #TakeBackTrinity #OccupyTCD https://t.co/0QO0omcaHV
— TCD Students' Union (@tcdsu) March 14, 2018
TCD tweeted this morning that Provost Patrick Prendergast will have an urgent discussion about fees at next Board meeting:
Provost @pjprendergast agrees with @tcdsu & @trinityGSU that Trinity will seriously consider alternative proposals on supplemental exam fees, modular billing & PG/Non-EU fees at next Board meeting #TakeBackTrinity https://t.co/ZMgIThtcMr
— Trinity College Dublin (@tcddublin) March 14, 2018
Other students' unions, politicians, bloggers and famous faces shared the #takebacktrinity hashtag in solidarity and declared their anger at how the situation is being handled:
@tcddublin, is your biggest concern right now that people may review your institution negatively due to the fact you've raised some of your fees and shunning the rights of your students? As some who works in social media marketing, this won't help you. #OccupyTCD #TakeBackTrinity pic.twitter.com/LR0n8A82Re
— Kieron Pierson (@KieronPierson) March 15, 2018
Just in shock over #TakeBackTrinity.. can’t believe students were treated like that last night. Also, cheek of the college attempting to lie about the situation whilst students were live-tweeting what was happening. Horrendous.
— Lᴇᴀɴɴᴇ Wᴏᴏᴅғᴜʟʟ (@LeanneWoodfull) March 15, 2018
We asked the group how they were getting on and two beautiful protestors sent us this heartfelt tweet:
Very tired, but holding in there! ❤❤❤ #TakeBackTrinity #OccupyTCD pic.twitter.com/SOQhsVOHOH
— Christina (@XtinaHammy) March 15, 2018
If you want to show solidarity with the students, a free open-air concert will take place from 1 pm today in Trinity to show support for the protestors. Click here to attend.