MEMBERS of UCC students’ union have received angry calls and messages from members of the public who believed they were encouraging partying by hosting a virtual Freshers Week this week.

The traditional Freshers Week has not gone ahead this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Instead, there were events streamed online, including live music, comedians, and question and answer sessions.

However, students’ union president Naoise Crowley said opposition raised against the virtual events by local residents resulted in members of the public believing that physical events were being organised.

He said: “A lot of people who were ringing us and shouting down the phone to us were asking why Freshers Week events were taking place in person, not realising that the events were online. The parties and gatherings in pubs are nothing to do with us."

He said people who contacted the union’s representatives were “seething with rage.”

He also pointed out that there were a number of house parties held on Sunday night, despite there being no virtual events taking place.

And he said UCC’s Campus Watch have had less cases to deal with as the week has gone on.