‘Please vote no’: Katie Ascough pleads with UCD student body

With more than 1,000 UCD students having petitioned for her impeachment, UCD SU President, Katie Ascough, has released an open letter via the Fight4Katie Faceook page.

Katie was the subject of intense criticism in August when she made the decision to remove information pertaining to abortions in the university's Fresher handbook Winging It.

Ahead of today's referendum, which was set in motion by the petition and will ultimately decide Katie's fate as SU President, she chose to issue a letter to the student body.

"I have put my whole heart and soul into being your SU President for the last four months. UCD is an incredible place, and I am so grateful to be elected to represent the 30,000+ amazing students of UCD. You have my commitment, you have my all," she began.

"The Impeachment referendum was initiated because of my decision not to distribute the Winging It books. Doing so would have been illegal. The advice I received on the issue was clear. It said that the prudent action was to redesign the books or, if it was too late – and it was – to cancel them."

"Some have referred to the SU’s “proud history” of breaking the law, especially in the 80s and 90s, but the question is this: Is it fair to demand that I break the law, too?" she asked.

"I ran on a platform of things like cutting the cost of college and improving mental health supports. I did not agree to break the law and run the risk of a criminal record for the rest of my life."

In the lengthy message, Katie was keen to clarify the issues at the heart of the controversy.

"Regarding the Winging It books – I ask you to please place yourself in my shoes. I kept my election promise and delegated tasks to my team; I trusted my team. In trying to respect the pro-choice mandate of the Union, as I had promised, I allowed another officer to sign off on the content of the books."

"I realised the book contained abortion information. Never for one moment did it look illegal to me, it just looked like abortion information. No one on the team told me that I was signing off on something illegal, despite the fact that they admit they knew."

Looking to the future, Katie insists she prioritises the needs of the student body, writing "I am willing, ready, and determined – if UCD students Vote No – to return to my job on Friday morning and begin to mend what has been broken."

"Please Vote No to see your representation restored. Please Vote No for fair treatment of someone who chose to not break the law. And please Vote No to stand up for a President who is committed to you."

Those championing Katie have been vocal in their support of the post, but a number of students have dismissed Katie's protestations.

"Liar, Bigot, and Coward, removing comments and blocking those who go against you on this page," wrote one Facebook user. "Dont let the door hit you on the way out."