Newly elected USI President John F. Logue from UCD Students Union at the Union of Students in Ireland Congress.
BY C.J.MCGINLEY
A YOUNG Letterkenny man is the new President of the Union of Students of Ireland. John F Logue (23), a law student at UCD, was elected to the post at the annual congress in Ballinasloe, Co Galway on Wednesday.
Speaking to the Donegal News, John said he was ‘shocked, but honoured’ to have been elected to the post he assumes in May.
He replaces Gary Redmond as the President and has warned he will be campaigning against increases in student fees.
A son of John and Siobhan (nee Kelly) he is a former pupil of St Cholmcille N.S in Letterkenny and St Eunan’s College. He follows in the footsteps of Stranorlar man Shane Kelly who was President in 2007.
“The big issue for us is increases in fees. There are many students who are just above the threshold for grants and cannot afford the contribution fees,” he said.
Significantly, Logue says he in favour of campaigning for a graduate tax rather than continuing USI’s current fight for free fees.
“I think we need to introduce a graduate tax here similiar to other countries to ensure that education at third level is open to all students regardless of their financial means.
“It is hard to understand that people will not pay the €100 Household Charge yet they continue to fork up for the increases in student fees which is basically another tax,” he added.
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