UCD students stage protest calling for change after circulation of intimate image of student

"What has brought students together today reflects something much deeper than one moment or one case. It has forced a wider conversation about how institutions respond when survivors come forward. From the classroom to senior leadership, cultural change is needed to ensure dignity, fairness and accountability are at the heart of every process."

"Students are angry because they expect better from their university. Survivors must never feel retraumatised by the very systems that are supposed to support them. This rally is about setting a clear expectation: UCD must lead on survivor-centred practice and demonstrate that institutional culture will change."

A student-led rally at UCD, organized by UCDSU in partnership with organizations including the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and Unite the Union, addressed institutional failures in handling sexual misconduct. The demonstration was triggered by an incident involving circulation of an intimate image with threatening messages, which was raised in the Dáil by Socialist TD Ruth Coppinger. Student leaders emphasized the protest reflects broader systemic concerns rather than a single case. They called for survivor-centered policies, cultural change across all institutional levels, and stronger accountability mechanisms. Students demanded that universities prioritize dignity, fairness, and support for survivors without retraumatization.

Read at Irish Independent