Press Release

Wednesday, May 2, 2013

For Immediate Publication

The students of Cork Institute of Technology have voted to re-affiliate with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) after a 14 year absence from the national union. After two days of voting, 71.2% voted in favour of re-affiliation. The final tally was 630 in favour and 255 against. 

The result of the referendum will see over 7,500 members CIT Students’ Union engage with the national union in campaigns relating to third level funding, marriage equality and mental health awareness, among others.

This positive result for USI follows referendum victories in Trinity College, NUI Maynooth, Queen’s University Belfast and DCU.

John Logue, President of USI, said: 

“We are delighted to welcome the students of CIT back to the national union. The 7,500 voices of CITSU will now be added to the 250,000 that USI already represents, making our union an even more potent agent for progressive change in the higher education sector and society in general. The members of CITSU voted for unity because they realise that students must speak clearly, in one voice, if our opinions and views are to be heard and taken seriously. USI, and all our member colleges, are looking forward to working with the students of CIT in the hope of ensuring equity of access to higher education and the promotion of rights for the vulnerable and marginalised members of our society.”

-ENDS-
 
For more information, please contact Ronan Costello, USI Media and Communications Executive, on 085 1164263 or media@usi.ie