TCDSU passes motion to create an “anti-spiking policy’

The motion was proposed by JS CSL class rep Seán Lysaght and seconded by Welfare and Equality Officer Sierra Mueller-Owens

Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) has passed a motion to create an “anti-spiking” in nightclubs.

The motion mandates the Welfare and Equality Officer and the Entertainments Officer to aid the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) “in anti-spiking policy where possible and ensure that TCDSU follows the policy when it is completed”.

The motion was proposed by Seán Lysaght, junior sophistor’s class representative for Computer Science and a Language (CSL) and Ordinary Committee Member (OCM) for the Education Committee, at the union’s Council this evening. It was seconded by Welfare and Equality Officer Sierra Mueller-Owens.

Speaking to Trinity News before the meeting, Lysaght called the rising cases of spiking in the country a “major problem” for all students and that the SU “can no longer remain silent on the issue”.

“My motion is a first step towards this goal”: he continued.

This follows the announcement on November 5 that the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Research Simon Harris will jointly launch a campaign to raise awareness about spiking.

Harris said that he would discuss spiking with the Minister for Justice, and the awareness campaign would be launched in the next few weeks.

There have been 198 confirmed reports of drink spiking across the UK in September and October alone, as well 24 reports of injection spiking, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

On November 4, University College Cork Students’ Union (UCCSU) and University College Cork (UCC) Bystander Intervention held a protest against drink and needle spiking, as part of their Take Back the Spike Campaign launched earlier in the week.

An Garda Síochána are calling on victims of any form of drug spiking to report incidents to local Gardaí.

Kate Henshaw

Kate Henshaw is current Editor-in-Chief of Trinity News, and a graduate of Sociology and Social Policy. She previously served as Deputy Editor, News Editor and Assistant News Editor.

Bella Salerno

Bella Salerno is currently a Deputy News Editor of Trinity News. She is a Senior Fresh Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilisations and French student.