Those students who indulged in the type anti-social behaviour that shocked Galway last week must “meet the rigour of the courts and be expelled”.
This is the view of Labour councillor Billy Cameron who described such students as “louts” and accused them of inflicting “destruction and outright terrorism” on local communities in the city during Rag week.
A meeting of residents of the Newcastle was held in the Westwood Hotel last Thursday to discuss the aftermath of what Cllr Cameron has called “the most offensive and appalling Rag Week ever in the city.”
“Photos were shown of students drinking on the flat roof of garages while burning fires in a supermarket trolley adn suites of furniture in green areas in order to facilitate outdoor drinking,” said Cllr Cameron.
He said residents are demanding that Rag week in its present form be disbanded.
“The ‘Raise and Give’ concept is a noble aspiration and should be maintained as part of college life but surely it can be spread throughout the year with various concerts and gigs,” he said. “I am tired of listening to the mantra of €20,000 for charity being raised. It is in fact a pittance of slightly less than €2 per head of student population.”
Cllr Cameron also organised meetings on this issue, which took place last night, with Keith Warnock, NUIG’s vice-president for physical resources, and immediately afterwards with SU president Peter Mannion.
