FUSE Newsletter 22 March 2008

Dear Friends,

It has been another busy week for FUSE both in the media and behind the scenes. The campaign is getting closer and closer to the time when the government will make their initial decision regarding the proposal to establish a university in the South East of Ireland. Your support so far has been fantastic and it is ensuring that we are being noticed; people are paying attention to our campaign. The time before the government decision is now running short and more than ever, we need your support to help give this campaign the one big push before the Dail reconvenes in April. Write to the TDs and Ministers; write to the national press; make sure your voices are heard!

Last Sunday FUSE was at the Kilkenny vs. Waterford National Hurling League match in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny. Former president of the GAA, Paddy Buggy, was on hand to show his support for the campaign. See the updated photos on our website; there are some great action shots of the match too that you can use as wallpaper for your computer desktop. Passions always run high at this hurling fixture but it was great to see that passion for the university campaign was equally on display, two great hurling rivals united by a common goal.

On Monday, the entire country celebrated St. Patrick's Day and in Waterford City, the parade was helping to advertise the big issue of the university campaign. Banners were carried by supporters of FUSE and other entries in the parade did their bit to raise awareness about the desire to have a university in the South East. The banners of the FUSE campaign even made the main evening news on RTE, in the parade highlights, on the day. This was great national publicity for the campaign.

During the week, members of FUSE were engaged in a huge organisation effort to plan an event for Dublin on April 2nd. The logistics are almost finalised and details of this exciting event will be published soon, on the website. If you want to get out and show your support and can be in Dublin on April 2nd then we strongly encourage you to be there. If you are already living in Dublin or know family and friends living there then pass on the message to be ready - we need every person possible to show their support. Stay tuned for further updates.

Also during the week, FUSE members hit the national media with letters to the editors. Letters were published in the Irish Examiner and also the Irish Times, showing support for the University of the South East and dispelling many incorrect and negative rumours that have been wrongly circulated. This engagement with the national press was bolstered by the publication to two other articles in the papers. Firstly, Jim Power, Chief Economist with Friends First published a hugely supportive article in the Irish Examiner on Friday, March 21st stating that a university in the South East would economically revive the entire region. On March 22nd, Noel Whelan, Irish Times columnist, published an article in the Irish Times highlighting explicitly, that WIT's application for re-designation should not be stalled purely because of other "me-too" applications.

Also on Saturday, members of FUSE were in Clonmel talking to local shop owners and handing out information leaflets to people in the streets. Many thanks to the Beat FM crew for stopping to talk to us and for giving us a shout-out on the radio at regular intervals. So as you can see, another great week with high profile coverage of the campaign. We're all set for a strong run-in to the Dail reassembly on April 2nd and keep watching the website for more updates. If you've missed any of our previous newsletters you can get them from the website, in the news section. Remember that together we will make this happen; we will improve all our futures; we will deliver a university to the South East!

Have a Great Easter Weekend,

Friends of the University for the South East