Students ‘locked in’ to Dining Hall as protest over TCD exam fee ‘escalates’

Students claim their access to food and water has been blocked.

Security services have been called to Trinity College Dublin after a student protest occupying its Dining Hall moved into the second day. The officers were called to the dining hall, where a group of approximately 60 students were protesting against the introduction of fees to resit exams. A spokesperson from the protesting group, called Take Back Trinity, claimed the the students have been locked in - and that "no food or water" will be permitted into the area. [caption id="attachment_393924" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Photo provided by Take Back Trinity[/caption] Calling it an "escalation" on behalf of the college, they said that the external security services were blocking all entrances into the Dining Hall. The statement read:

"This evening at approximately 5pm 60 Trinity Students were locked into the Dining Hall as part of the ongoing occupation in Trinity College Dublin.

"External Security services are now blocking all entrances into the Dining Hall.

"Security have made it clear that no food or water will be permitted into the Dining hall.  Toilet access has also been cut off.

"Students will be permitted to leave the building if they wish.

"Access to all other parts of the Dining hall have been cut off, and students have been warned that the doors are now alarmed. If the alarm is triggered an emergency response unit will be immediately sent."

A spokesperson from the Trinity College press office denied the claims, saying that students were free to leave. They added:

“The students are not locked into the Dining Hall.  They can leave at any time they want, and the College is taking all steps to ensure that the students inside are safe. "However, we are not letting anyone else into the building, as there were concerns that large numbers of non-students had been invited into the building through an open call, and this would result in unacceptable risks for all concerned.”

The students are protesting the implementation of supplemental exam feels at a flat rate of €450. They said that on January 23, Trinity College proposed Supplemental (Repeat) Exam Fees of €200 per exam with a cap of €1000 to Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU).

Following this, the Union proposed the motion to the Student Council, and the decision was moved to a referendum.

[caption id="attachment_393923" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Photo provided by Take Back Trinity[/caption]

Out of a valid poll of 3,504 students, 82% voted strongly against the implementation of Supplemental Fees.

Despite this, the College Board have decided to ignore the voice of the students, and implement Supplemental Fees at a flat rate of €450.

The Take Back Trinity group blocked the Front Arch at the college and shut the Book of Kells for two hours during a protest on March 9.