Being a first year in a new University is hard enough, but it is made a lot harder when your safety is purposefully being put at risk. This is the case of the first years of BIMM Institute Dublin when the Instsitute decided to welcome convicted sex offender Shane Byrnes into their  Commercial Modern Music course.

The offender in question has already been in school a year but has stayed in first year. The first years of 2022-2023 have already pleaded with the institute to deal with the situation however nothing has been done and the offender is still free to roam the halls, despite many people expressing extreme discomfort at his presence.

"A probation report indicated that Byrnes was at high risk of reoffending and moderate risk of carrying out another sexual assault within 12 months. [He also has] failed to complete a course to deal with his sexual offending [and has been] placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years."- Neasa Cumiskey, Sunday World.

This situation affects everyone as it creates a hostile learning environment for students, especially survivors of sexual assault that feel unsafe and unheard in their own university.

On behalf of the first years of BIMM Institute Dublin (2023-2024) we demand action be taken to increase student safety and well-being within this college. Help us put Women's Safety above all.