Students Blockade Minister In Buildings.

Hundreds of students blockaded the Minister of Eduaction, Noel Dempsey, into the new Vets building for 2 hours. The Campaign for Free Education is calling for a gaurantee from the Government that fees will not be re-introduced.

Today's protest co-incided with a visit by the Minister of Education to officially open the new Vets building in UCD. Hundreds of students protested outside the building. The protesters then jumped the barricades erected by College security and sat down on the main entrance to the building to revent the minister leaving.

On the side exits barricades were erected to prevent the minister's car leaving the college. No person was able to enter the building without the approval of the students at the entrances. For 2 hours the minister was prevented leaving. The college authorities had to sneek the minister out in a jeep hidden around the back of the building.

One feature of the protest was the role of the Students' Union officers. Students at the main entrance questioned the Education Officer Abey Campbell. The former Fine Gael member was quizzed by angry students about the lack of support the full-time SU officers gave to the CFE. However most anger was directed at Aonghus Hourihane, the SU President. Hourihane walked by the protest earlier in the day and went into the building to have cheese and wine with the minister. It was noted by many protesters that Hourihane is a member of Fianna Fáil, the same party of the minister, and the party that increased the registation fee by 69% in the summer.

The blockade of the Vets building was a success. It gave the minister a clear understanding of the anger felt by most ordinary students against the possible re-introduction of fees and the governement's cut-backs. Today's protest, along with yesterday's occupation of the dual carriageway, shows an increase in militancy among students against the governments cut backs in education.

The mainstream media chose to ignore the protest, when one student rang RTE, he was told 'you are a disgrace'.  That said station then hung up on him!

Photos available here