Accommodation crisis and advocacy brought up at recent Student Forum
THE UNIVERSITY of Limerick’s Student Life Executive hosted their Autumn 2026 Student Forum on October 21, providing updated agendas, advocacy and support for the student population.
At a time of increasing accommodation uncertainty, the Student Life Executive established their aims and advocacy in helping students across UL with their housing concerns. This included holding preliminary conversations with UL’s Governing Authority Chancellor on the accommodation situation that students are facing.
On this matter, Eva McCormack, President of the Student Union, stated, “We took our message directly to national decision-makers lobbying at the Fund Our Future protest, writing an open letter to Dáil Éireann, and bringing the reality of the accommodation crisis to national radio and television interviews to ensure UL students’ struggles were heard across the country.”
McCormack explained, “This semester, the Student Life team at the University of Limerick has been relentlessly focused on championing the welfare, financial stability, and personal rights of our student body through active, visible, and persistent advocacy.”
For individuals finding UL’s academic systems inconsistent, unclear, or difficult to navigate, McCormack reported that the Vice President is aiding in the implementation of the Academic Transformation of Operating Model (ATOM), a project that seeks to fix these inconsistencies by streamlining and standardising UL’s systems, simplifying the academic experience for students, and removing unnecessary confusion. McCormack stated, “Our Vice President has continued to work collaboratively with the University and those leading the project”.
When it came to advocacy on social issues, McCormack emphasised her and the executive’s attendance at protests and marches regarding student fees, LGBTQ+ rights, and Palestinian emancipation. She said, “Every protest attended, letter sent, and broadcast appearance made this term reflects our dedication to protecting student welfare.”
The Executive also reported their work on implementing an updated Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) list within student life, and a preferred name system throughout the university. “UL Student Life remains steadfast in ensuring our students are supported, represented, and heard at both a campus and national level,” McCormack added.