From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Anti-social behaviour in the city centre – associated with drink-fuelled third level students on ‘Christmas Jumper Day’ last year – and its potential for ‘reputational damage’ to the University of Galway, was discussed by its Governing Body.

One member of Údarás na hOllscoile “expressed concern over recent anti-social behaviour in Galway city centre associated with the recent Christmas Jumper Day”.

The member said that “practical supports and training are needed to deal with the fall-out from alcohol and drug misuse incidents, which are arising in those circumstances”.

According to minutes of the meeting, released under Freedom of Information (FOI), the discussion concluded that “there was agreement that this was a serious matter requiring further attention”.

An Údarás member said they recognised the proactive work the university had done in introducing a ‘consent framework’ and “reducing harmful consumption of alcohol on campus”.

But this member recommended that training around “discourses on sexual assault” for staff and students should be prioritised.

“In addition to the devastating impact on individuals, this concern is a risk for the University both reputationally and also potentially finically in the long run,” the minutes said.

This member suggested the university should, “consider working with students to host student events in an official capacity”.

The Governing Body meeting heard that it would be appropriate to “give deeper consideration to the university’s approach to this issue”, at its strategic planning, audit, or risk committees.

The meeting also noted that the Dean of Students was alerted to the possibility of formalising student events in future.

Last November, during ‘Christmas Jumper Day’ Galway Gardaí drafted in additional resources around the city to police the large numbers of students and young people socialising on the streets.

Gardaí reported lengthy queues outside several city pubs on the morning of Christmas Jumper Day last November 18, where young people – many of them in Christmas jumpers – queued for admission.

There were several arrests reported, and concerns were expressed by the then Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Tony Holohan, urging people to reduce their level of socialising in the context of Covid-19.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, and support our journalism, see the October 28 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.