Photos from this mornings SIPTU UCD protest

by Andrew Thu Nov 10, 2005 13:25

Theatre A is in Science, not Arts

by Des Derwin Fri Nov 11, 2005 02:25

Well done, all.

So, in UCD as well as Trinity they are trying to get rid of support staff. The public sector! Then Shannon Airport too: outsourcing. Etc., etc.

Rogue Irish Ferries? But how do you square this - not to mention An Post - with another social partnership deal?

by Dermot Lacey Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:15

Interesting that not one of these protestors nor SIPTU nor the Students Union ever stood by the residents of the only Corporation Housing Estate adjoining the college grounds when UCD in collaboration with Developers sought planning approval for over 500 apartments, offices etc towering over those residents homes.

It is not today or yesterday that local people discovered the arrogance of UCD President Hugh Brady. That being said good luck to the Protestors we support them even if we could have done with their support in our battles.

by SH Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:26

Did you ask SIPTU and the Students Union for their support?

You are a member of SIPTU so you are in the perfect position to take up your grieviances with them. However if they were not asked for support over that issue then the blame lies with that particular campaign.

Can you please give us some more details of the campaign?

by Trotwatch Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:46

Kieran Allen was prominent on the news last night complaining about new promotion structures in UCD. But Dr Allen has just been promoted to Head of the School of Sociology under the new system. Surely he should have turned this promotion if the system is flawed.

by heidi - not a swapper Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:53

isn't kieren allen well respected in his field? not his trottiness obviously, but sociology and all that. if he truly deserved the post he should have taken it despite the flawed system. sure he probably would have got it even if the post had been advertised. sure what with all the arselicking thats going on in ucd at the moment i doubt kieran allen is the first in the queue to have a go with president hugh "i'm a first class tit" brady.

by former SU officer Fri Nov 11, 2005 14:18

Why didn't Dermot Lacey ask the SU or the UCD Unions to stand with them? Lacey was on the UCD Governing Authority he's not a stranger to the place and would be easily be able to contact the SU and Unions. But he didn't and is now sitting back winging. If you are genuine about taking on Brady why not stop your postering and get active and support common-enemies of Brady.

by Kevin Mannerings Fri Nov 11, 2005 14:23

Trotwatch, you are a laugh a minute. Keiran Allen wants democratic promotion structures at universities. If all you can do is make a personal attack, at least have the guts to do it under your own name.

by Trotwatch Fri Nov 11, 2005 14:24

Theres either something wrong with the new promotion system or there isnt. How can anyone know whether Dr Allen deserved his new post?

by Dermot Lacey Fri Nov 11, 2005 20:59

1) The Students Union were contacted and did not reply.

2) The Governing Authority were contacted and two members replied.

3) Anybody working within the College was aware of the row as it was very well covered in the College Tribune.

by dave Sat Nov 12, 2005 00:50

he took the position on the terms that some of his wages would go to anti-war causes,fair play to him.

by Trotwatch Sat Nov 12, 2005 14:32

'he took the position on the terms that some of his wages would go to anti-war causes,fair play to him.'

Who would believe a line like that? The SIPTU Campaign will be brought into disrepute as long as Allen remains involved with it. How is it ok for Allen to be appointed Head Of the School of Sociology but not ok for Mary Daly to be appointed as Vice President?

All animals are equal; but some animals are more equal than others.

"The animals looked from pig to man and from man to pig; but could not tell the difference."

George Orwell, Animal Farm

by Lesley - . Sun Nov 13, 2005 13:14 .

In response to Trotwatch and his personal attack on Mr Allen I would like to state for the record that Mr Allen DID NOT know he would receive a ' few euros extra' for Head of Sociology. And I can assure you - Trotwatch that it defintely goes to some worthy causes that are very dear to his heart (i.e anti-war or some other social injustice). And I bet you didn't know this Trotwatch, - he was 'Voted In' by his department to take the job. I'm sure if Hugh Brady had his way - he would NOT have appointed Mr Allen. As you know, Mr Allen is Head for one year and I bet there are some lapdogs already in place to take that position. Somebdoy who will dance to the same tune as Hughie Baby!
So Trotwatch, you should assign yourself to doing some research before mouthing off your own ignorance -its not very becoming!!

by Bakunin Sun Nov 13, 2005 13:16

If what he says is true then Kieran Allens continuing membership let alone leadership of the SWP should be in question. SIPTU should also expell Kieran Allen.

SIPTU and UCDSU should then call on Allen to resign as Head of Sociology and demand an open competition to fill the post.

But if its untrue then its appalling trolling.

Some members of the WSM, SP and ISN work and study in UCD. Would they please tell us what the real story is?

by Joe - WSM personal capacity Sun Nov 13, 2005 15:15

I think Trotwatch is a overcome by his dislike of the SWP/KA and is pretty much just trolling here. As far as I'm aware Kieran was elected head by the academic staff of his department (a procedure management would like to get rid of) specifically to resist some of the changes. He certainly wasn't appointed by Brady!

Under the old system a lot of departments were run by a monthly assembly of the academic staff and the position of head was little more than the person who did stuff in between such meetings. It was often rotated between the academic staff with sufficent experience and a willingness to do it.

by Trotwatch Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:55

Do you work in UCD? Have you consulted any of the WSM in UCD regarding this? It is the Dean of the Faculty which is the elected post. These Dean posts have now been converted to Vice President posts.

The problem is as follows: Head of School is not an elected post. How did KA get this position; was the post advertised? If so where and on what date? When was KA interviewed for the post? How many candidates were there?

Interviewer: What makes you qualified for this job?

KA: I'm the only candidate.

Interviewer: Ok, you'll do then.

by Pat Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:02

Trotwatch is clearly a troll. Ask anyone at UCD, especially in the social sciences. I'm a post-grad student and I can tell you,KA is Head of School for one reason only and that is to try to stop the corporate takeover of UCD that Brady wants to push. He was the unanimous choice of the staff [and students], not because everyone agrees with his politics - few do, but because we know he will not put his career first as most of the rest would. He is trusted to stand up to Brady and few others would be trusted as much.

Trotwatch has done what he wanted - stopped a debate about how to oppose the privatisation of education and instead turned this thread into a discussion of an individual.

by Trollwatch Mon Nov 14, 2005 14:58

The fact is that the lack of transperency in the selection of Heads of Schools does not reflect badly on Dr. Kieran Allen. In the past the way it worked is that there is a consensus reached in the department, that person is then nominated to be ratified by governing authority to be head for 3 years or so. Now, who knows how it is done? Hugh Brady would love to have businessmen head up schools. forexample the new head of the College of Commerce has no qualifications as an academic other than being a businessman and senior civil servant. He's not got a clue. Dr. Allen was not elected. Brady does not want any elections anymore or any consultation with staff or students. This is not Dr. Allen's fault. Brady's ramming his agenda through without any consideration of standards or good pratice. Trotwatch should see where the real enemy is, it's not Dr. Allen.

by Aileen Mon Nov 14, 2005 20:53

I work in the school of sociology in UCD, and I can confirm that Kieran Allen was elected by the members of the sociology department to be the head of department/school. He agreed to take the position for a year, after which time, we will (hopefully) elect a new head of school.