STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY College Cork have been asked to sign a ‘pledge of honour’ in a bid to crack down on anti social behaviour during Freshers week.
The written agreement was issued to more than 4000 first year students by president of the university Michael Murphy, following complaints from local residents over rowdy and drunken behaviour during previous Fresher and Rag Week celebrations.
It calls on students to “abide by the UCC Code of Honour” and “endeavour to show respect to fellow students, staff and members of the wider UCC community.”
Residents of Glasheen, Bishopstown and Wilton around University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology have made repeated complaints over incidents of drunken and rowdy behaviour by students.
Meanwhile Cork’s Lord Mayor John Buttimer recently called for the expulsion of students engaged in such activities.
However according to UCC Student’s Union President Eoghan Healy, significant progress has been made in preventing such incidents from arising.
“The Student’s Union has an initiative called ‘Student Community Support’ where students patrol the local streets at night” he told TheJournal.ie. “They are there for the residents to pick up any rubbish but also to tell groups that are rowdy to keep it down.”
First year students are also issued with a survey that asks them to consider their drinking habits.
The move is the latest bid from an Irish university to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, after NUI Galway banned Rag Week last year. UCD students Union was recently forced to condemn anti-social behaviour on Dublin bus services, while a helpline has been launched in Limerick for residents concerned by student activities.
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