Students curtail Waterford ragweek over binge drinking fears

RAGWEEK celebrations in Waterford have been scaled back to three days in a bid to curb binge drinking by students. But its campus bar has been allowed to stay open this year.

Traditional week-long festivities at Waterford Institute of Technology have been cut back to three days this week after beginning yesterday.

Students union president Mick O’Sullivan said many of the key activities are being taken out of the bar area and the whole focus of the three days of celebrations will be away from drinking, towards fundraising for worthy charities.

“We’ve cut back on ragweek for a number of reasons. We want to get away from the notion of people drinking all week.

“Secondly, we’re very close to the Easter exams and also, so many students are working to stay in college that they just can’t party for the week,” the 21-year-old said.

Last year, college authorities closed the Dome bar during ragweek in an effort to curb drinking on campus. It sparked controversy among some students but focused the spotlight on the college as one which was taking a very pro-active stance on curbing binge drinking by students.

This year, the Dome is open and some activities will run there. But college authorities yesterday said they will be keeping a close eye on behaviour there.

WIT has a strict policy of not allowing drinks’ promotions and sponsorship or promoting alcohol through sporting or social activities. Free kegs, cheap pints and anything that glamorises alcohol has been banned.

“What we’re doing for the next few days is organising fun activities which will help raise money for charity,” the Students Union president said.

“We’ll have a tug-of-war, leg-waxing and, rather than the traditional yard of ale, we’ll have people drinking gruesome concoctions.

“What we want to emphasise is that people can have a good time without getting drunk and there are alternatives to spending ragweek in a haze,” the Students Union president added.