College Tribune Volume 27 Issue 5 - Full Paper

COLLEGE TRIBUNE The www.collegetribune.ie

Paris On A Budget

Can you travel to Paris without flashing the cash?

Travel, page 11.

SINCE 1989 - VOLUME 27 - ISSUE 5 TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5 2013

Guantanimo Bay

Hunger strikes, force feeding and illegal detention Features, page 9.

Inside T+ The Mighty Stef

T+ sits down to talk life and music T+, Pages 5 - 6.

“YOU - WHO” SAY HELLO TO UCD A LOOK BACK AT STUDENT MEDIA P7 UCD Descends into Darkness

A copy of “You - Who” a paper produced in UCD during the 1950’s which was presented to the library archives at an event recently.

Rachel Carey News Editor UCD was submerged into darkness last Friday evening following a power cut to the Belfield campus and the surrounding area. The cut was caused by a fault on a high voltage transformer in the Mount Merrion substation, according to a spokesperson from the ESB. The power cut lasted for approximately two hours from 4pm until power was eventually restored at 6.05pm. Due to the lack of electricity many services around campus were forced to close, these included the Student Desk which closed early and the James Joyce Library which had to close for the rest of the evening.

Students were also greatly affected by the power outage, UCD’s student run radio station, Belfield FM, were forced to put a halt to operations following the power cut. “The power outage in UCD stopped Belfield FM right in its tracks as we can’t do anything without electricity. However as there was nothing student Tribune that “UCDSU, as fundamentally stated in its constitution, centre staff could do to prevent it, we can’t really complain as is a democracy. Students make they were very helpful with decisions on all issues, and in regards to our studio equipment.” such cases the referendum is the Station Manager, Adam Turner, supreme decision making structold the College Tribune. ture.This democracy is reflected Students who were busy workthrough all structures in the Uning in UCD at the time were ion. During the recent abortion also affected. 4th year Zoology preferendum, no campaign was organised in favor of either option student Fiona Gough was runContinued on page 3 Continued on page 3

Petition Handed into UCDSU Asking for Reversal on Abortion Referendum Thomas Cullen News Writer UCD student and spokesperson for UCD Students Against Abortion Samuel O’Connor has handed in a petition to UCD Students’ Union President Mícheál Gallagher asking him to reconsider the Union’s current position on abortion.

UCDSU recently adopted a stance that supports the legalisation of

abortion in Ireland upon request of the woman, after students voted on the issue in a preferendum which was held on campus.

The petition, which was organised

by O’Connor and handed into the UCDSU offices last Friday, has so far gathered over 45 signatures.

The petition is addressed to Gallagher and asks him “to re-consider the pro-abortion stance and

return to the situation that existed before the preferendum, where every student’s personal beliefs on this delicate issue were respected.”

It also explains that those who have signed it no longer feel that UCDSU represents them or their views.

Gallagher has defended the union taking a position on the abortion issue, telling the College

UCD RFC BEAT DOLPHIN’S P30 | CHERRY PICKING RESEARCH P12 | TRANSPORT PRICE HIKE P9 | AGONY AUNT AL PORTER T+

2/NEWS

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

05.11.2013 Contents NEWS

Dramsoc’s Mental Health Campaign Attracts National Attention | Page 5

TRAVEL

We take a trip to Paris and find out how to get around the city on a shoestring student budget.

| Page11

COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE

Niamh Crosbie takes a look at the false widow’s invasion of Ireland. | Page 13

Fare Rise for Buses, Trains and the Luas the day to day trips to and from campus with the popular “student rambler” bus ticket also expected The recent budget dictated that to increase by at least 10 %. The 5 Irish rail and Dublin bus fares will day ticket will rise from €18.30 to increase by a minimum 10 per cent €20.00. The 30 day ticket will rise to “protect service delivery” the Na- from €91.50 to €100. These rises tional Transport Authority (NTA) in pre-paid bus tickets will not be has announced. implemented until 1st December.

The decision will see a rise in Tickets bought before the 1st Deall public transport fares by an cember will not be affected by inaverage of 10 %. The most drastic crease and will continue to be valid changes will take place on Dublin until December 2014. Students are Bus Xpresso lines, with an increase being urged to invest in a student in fares of 39%. The NTA released travel card as the card, costing 12 a statement claiming that the rise euro, is outlined to have the best is “to protect service delivery at a savings after all the changes come time of reduced incomes”. In their request to the NTA, Dublin Bus outlined how €2.1million will go towards the “service level increases to meet growing customer demand” with the bus company expected to get an additional €9 million in revenue from the proposed changes.

Meanwhile the increase to Irish Rail tickets will see a return journey on the commuter line increase from €31 to €34.65, while Bus Eireann ticket fares are set to increase by 6 to 7%.

These increases will also affect Kerry Sheridan News Writer

into place.

Students have been outraged by these increases. Third year Arts student Emma Lane told the College Tribune “it’s an awful inconvenience that every year they go up, there’s never a year where they stay the same or go down, it’s a never ending thing and it’s frustrating as a person who depends on public transport every day.”

Students are also annoyed by the quality of services being so low when prices are increasing. Lesley Ring, also a third year Arts student added “I wouldn’t mind the increases as much if I thought the

services was at all improving, but every year they remove more routes and just make life more difficult for everyone.” Third year Archaeology student Megan Kavanagh also added “I have to pay 3.05 euro to get into town, despite the fact my bus never arrives on time, completely disregards its timetable and disappears off the real time info.

This means I regularly have to stand at a bus stop for over an hour.”

Further information on the fare increases can be found on www. nationaltransport.ie.

SPORT

UCD and Dublin star Jack McCaffrey adds to growing honours after International Rules series. | Page 19

Editorial Team:

Editors: Ronan Coveney Amy Walsh News Editor: Rachel Carey Sport Editor: Sean Cummins Online Editor: Jonny Baxter

Features Editor: Ciara Roche Arts Editor: Daniel Nolan Music Editor: Thérèse Walsh Fashion Editor: Lauren Tracey

Business Editor: Shane O’ Brien Eagarthóirí Gaeilge: John Mac Conchoille Aisling Ní Shírín College Knowledge Editor: Niamh Crosbie

Tech Editor: Kate O’Brien Turbine Editor: Matt Knight Chief Photographer: Sean O’ Reilly Illustrator: Robert Mulpeter

Contributors:

Diarmuid Burke Rosanna Cooney Daragh Connolly Thomas Cullen Adam Duke Georgina Dwyer Liam Forbes Eoin Holohan Emily Kielthy

Emily Looney Coiré Mc Crystall Richard Mitchell Áine Ní Chianáin Emily O’Brien Darragh O’Connor John O’Donnell Peadar Ó Lámhna Áine O’ Sullivan

Donie O’Sullivan Catriona O’Malley Geneva Pattison Al Porter Kerry Sheridan James Walsh Grace Williams Stephen West

NEWS\3

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

UCD Saint Vincent de Paul Launch Homeless Week Eoin Holohan News Writer

The UCD Society of St. Vincent de Paul (UCDSVP) Homeless Week will be taking place from the 4th to the 6th of November. This annual charity event is to raise awareness and to raise funds for homelessness in Ireland. The main events of the week are nightly sleep-outs on the concourse outside the James Joyce Library. Students in the SVP along with anyone else who wants to take part will sleep on the concourse from 9pm for one or more nights during the week. The event was launched on Monday at 6.30pm with guest speakers talking about the issue of homelessness in the red room of the student centre.

The SVP is also encouraging any buskers that want to perform for the students sleeping on the concourse to come forward. These performances will be taking place from 12 to 2pm over the course of the four day period.

Along with the sleep-out, numerous other events are tak-

UCD Saint Vincent De Paul at their sleep out outside the Library last year.

ing place under the concourse.

An outdoor movie screening, leg wax, and a Father Ted marathon will take place over the course of the week before the nightly sleep-out. All of the above events are free, but the SVP has said that any donations will be greatly appreciated. A debate on the issue of homelessness will be held in the Fitzgerald Debating

Chamber at 6pm on Thursday 4th November.

A charity clothes initiative is also taking place over the week and the UCDSVP are making an appeal for unwanted hats, gloves, scarves and sleeping bags. These items can be given to a member of the UCDSVP committee, who will be at the concourse all day and night dur-

UCD Petition Handed Descends into UCDSU into on Abortion Darkness Referendum

Continued from Front Page ning experiments as part of her thesis, at the time of the power cut. “Everything was going well until the electricity in the building went while I was running additional experiments. As I was using a dissecting microscope which requires electricity for light and a magnetic stirrer it meant I couldn’t continue with my analysis,” Gough told the College Tribune. “To top it all off the lab began to flood as the pumps in the large fish tanks stopped working. As inconvenient as it was trying to clean out the tanks in the dark, not being able to finish running my experiments means extra work in the coming weeks and less accurate results for that experimental run,” she also added.

Continued from Front Page

A or C.” He also stated that he believes the union should have a position on matters that are relevant and of interest to students.

However the students involved in the petition believe it was “profoundly unwise of union officers to try and force a one-size-fits-all morality on the student body” and that “association with an organisation that actively campaigns for something which runs contrary to the very core of my morality is not something which is ethically conscionable”. If the SU refuses to change their stance on the issue, the students involved have threatened to disassociate themselves from the Union and will advise the University to withdraw their names from the list of Union members. They have also stated that any funds which would have been paid to the Union stemming

from their attendance in UCD should be redirected to another part of the University.

According to Gallagher, it is possible for another referendum on the issue to take place if students want to change the Unions stance once again “a student could collect the required signatures to have another referendum on this or any other issue. Alternatively, they could have a referendum by direction - in which a motion passed by council will mandate a referendum to take place.”

The abortion preferendum took place on the 1st and 2nd of October this year and had a total valid poll of 2527. 45% of votes were in favour of legalising abortion upon request of the woman whereas only 8% supported an antiabortion stance. 19% of the voters believed that the Union should take no stance on the issue.

ing the week.

The Homeless Week has been taking place annually since 2008 and in that time has raised several thousand euro for the homeless of Ireland. Last year alone the Society achieved a target of €4000. The funds raised will directly support the SVP’s activities in coping with this issue, as well as providing a social

event for participating students.

These include soup runs and homeless shelters such as the Back Lane hostel in the city centre. It is one of the largest and most active student charity societies on campus.

The SVP is attempting to tackle the problem of homelessness against a backdrop of economic recession and increasing number of people living on the streets every week. A census report was published in September 2012 on Homeless Persons in Ireland showing the total figure of homeless people to be 3,808.

The figure for Dublin alone is 2,375, and there were 94 persons confirmed sleeping rough on the night of the most recent count in April 2013 The SVP are welcoming students who want to take part in any of the events or make a small donation to the various members around the concourse during the week. Future events that the organisation are involved in include a charity skydive, homework and youth clubs, as well as hospital visitations.

Trinity SU President Resumes Duties after Impeachment Vote Defeat

Lenihan admitted to taking a note into the exam. While accepting that his action was “wholly wrong TCDSU President Tom Lenihan and unacceptable,” not to mention has returned to his duties as presi- “uncharacteristic,” the only son of dent following the defeat of a mo- former Fianna Fáil minister Brian tion requesting his removal from Lenihan also used the statement office. 62% of students in Trinity as an opportunity to clarify that voted no to the motion “Do you he had been recently diagnosed support the removal of the current with depression, and due to his SU SU President from Office?” in a duties had neglected his medireferendum that was held Wednes- cal treatment. He claimed that he day and Thursday of last week. brought the note into the exam folThe referendum was announced lowing a panic attack that mornon 15 October after the passing ing, an action which he described of an emergency motion by the as a “random irrational reaction.”

TCDSU Council, in response to Due to Lenihan’s family backdebate that has been convulsing ground, the incident has been the across Trinity College since the subject of much national media end of May this year, when Tom coverage over the last few months, Lenihan confessed to cheating in a particularly after he told Ryan third year Law exam.

Tubridy of an attempted suicide Out of the 11,977 registered at the age of eighteen during an undergraduates at Trinity College, interview on RTE 2fm earlier this 2,730 handed in valid votes. year in September.

In a public statement at the time Liam Forbes News Writer

4/NEWS

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

10 Years Anniversary for Innovation at NovaUCD

Rachel Carey News Editor This year marks the 10th anniversary of the official opening of NovaUCD, the centre for new ventures and entrepreneurs in UCD. To mark this anniversary, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, has officially launched a report highlighting the economic impact of the centre.

The report, which is titled ‘NovaUCD – Celebrating 10 years of Entrepreneurial Success 2003-2013,’ claims that by 2016 the centre will support a total of 2,527 jobs, 1,934 of which will be in Ireland. By this time the centre will also contribute €66.1 million to the Irish economy, this will be achieved through both the entrepreneurial and commercialisation activities of the centre.

NovaUCD aims to nurture and support new high-tech and knowledge-intensive start-up companies, in the hope that this will enable them to develop, grow and create jobs. Also based at NovaUCD is UCD’s technology transfer team which is responsible for the commercialisation of the intellectual property emerging from UCD’s world-class research programmes.

Since its establishment in 2003

NovaUCD has supported 126 companies through its incubation services, it has also incorporated 30 new UCD spin-out companies during that time. In 2013 these companies, supported by NovaUCD, have a combined annual turnover of €71.2 million. Already collectively employing 599 people directly, of which 489 are based in Ireland, these companies hope to create 851 new jobs in the coming

3 years, 630 of which will be based here in Ireland.

During the 10 year period in which NovaUCD has been in existence 445 inventions have been disclosed by UCD researchers to UCD’s technology transfer team and 318 patent applications have been filed by UCD. As well as this, 81 licensing deals have been reached with a variety of both Irish and international businesses. As a

direct result of reaching licensing agreements with UCD, businesses have been able to increase their turnover in Ireland by average of €3.6 million and internationally by €5.8 million annually.

Currently over 45 innovative new ventures are based at NovaUCD. The majority of these ventures are spin-out companies, such as HeyStaks and Oncomark, these companies are commercialising

research specifically undertaken at UCD. The remaining companies are primarily spin-in companies who have located to NovaUCD as they wish to interact more closely with the university; examples of these include Enbio and Tethras.

When speaking about the launch of the official report, Minister Bruton told UCD, “a key part of the government’s plan for jobs and growth is ensuring that we derive more benefit, in terms of commercial outcomes and jobs, from the State’s investment in science and technology – turning good ideas into good jobs.”

Minister Bruton also commended the work being done at NovaUCD adding that the report “showing that over 1,300 jobs have been created as a result of NovaUCD’s activities, illustrates clearly what can be achieved in this area. I comment them on all their work and wish them every success for the future.”

Professor Peter Clinch, UCD Vice-President for Innovation, also spoke to UCD at the launch of the report adding, “the impact of NovaUCD has been far greater than could have been imagined 10 years ago when if officially opened and I have no doubt that an exciting future lies ahead for NovaUCD.”

UCD Denies Claims UCD Alumnus Fails in Bid for of Gender Mercury Music Prize Discrimination Diarmuid Burke News Writer

expressing concerns about some aspects of the UCD promotions process including the gender UCD academic, Dr. Eleanor composition of the UCAATP O’Higgins, who is a senior leccommittee which heard the apturer in the School of Law and plication, which consisted of 12 Business, claimed that she was not men and 1 woman, and the fact promoted to a professor because that there was no written record of her gender rather than her of UCAATP’s deliberations, the quality of work.

Labour Court ultimately deDr. O’Higgins was initially termined there was no gender recommended for promotion to discrimination in the rejection of the UCAATP committee, which Dr. O’Higgins application. is the promotions committee in Dr. O’Higgins has appealed UCD, in 2007 by both a commit- this decision to the High Court tee from the UCD School of Law on the grounds of the manner in and Business and by an external which the Labour Court assessed assessor. O’Higgins was one of the evidence in relation to her 19 candidates of which 4 were promotion. Disputing this, on female. From these candidates 2 behalf of UCD, was Cliona Kimwomen were promoted along with ber BL, who argued the evidence 6 men, 3 of which were promoted indicated the Labour Court had to professor within the School properly scrutinised the informaof Law and Business. The two tion before it and correctly came women were promoted within the to the decision that UCD was not Arts faculty. guilty of gender discrimination.

The case was brought to the To date there has been no resoLabour Court and was heard lution to the matter and proceedin November 2012. Although ings are ongoing.

Rachel Carey News Editor

There was disappointment for Irish band Villagers last Wednesday as their second album {Awayland} lost out to James Blake’s Overgrown for the 2013 Mercury Music Prize. The Malahide based indie-folk trio, who are fronted by former UCD student Conor O’Brien, were facing their second Mercury Prize defeat, having seen their 2010 effort Becoming a Jackal lose out to xx by The xx.

The announcement of Blake came as a slight surprise in the industry, with many large bets being placed to Birmingham native Laura Mvula to win on the night, the odds of her debut album Sing To The Moon being cut from 16/1 to 8/11 by bookmaker William Hill leading up to the ceremony.

Villagers had the worst odds at 50/1 with the same bookmaker, Blake also had far out odds at 21/1.

However, it is not all bad news for O’Brien, as {Awayland}, un-

like its predecessor, did get to the number one spot in Ireland. In addition to this, this year’s nomination gave Villagers the title of the only Irish act to have been nominated twice for the Mercurty Prize, with U2, Fionn Regan, The Thrills, Gemma Hayes and Lisa Hannigan all nominated once.

However, questions have once again been raised over how much credence the Mercury award should receive within the music industry. Irish guitarist Kevin Shields of the band My Bloody Valentine accused the Mercury Prize of “banning” the shoegaze band from their nominations.

Speaking to the Guardian in September of this year, Shields noted that mbv, the band’s first album in 22 years, had been unceremoniously ignored by the Mercury selectors because of the band’s decision to bypass corporate organizations such as Apple and Amazon, as well as bypass record labels. Under the terms and conditions of the Mercury website, qualifying albums must have “a digital and physical distribution deal in place in the UK.”

NEWS\5

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

Dramsoc’s Mental Health Campaign Attracts National Attention sion, the campaign reminds viewers that it is always possible to confide in a friend, and moreover UCD’s Dramsoc have launched a that it is your responsibility as a friend to ask someone how they brand new campaign with leading Irish mental health charity are.

As Ireland‘s best known charAware, in an attempt to increase ity in mental health awareness, awareness of depression among students. The promotional video, Aware‘s involvement is natural in entitled “#howareyou”, stresses a campaign of this type. “From the benefits of genuine conversa- the second the campaign was thought up, I thought Aware were tion in helping students facing the ideal choice to link with the the reality that life sometimes campaign,” added Moroney on isn’t “grand”, as we tend to say. “#howareyou” looks at the dif- the involvement of the charity, “The vision of their charity is the ferent responses to the everyday question “How are you?” and in exact vision of #howareyou, so it particular the way in which ask- was a clear choice from the start.”

With the video reaching ing it as more than just a friendly thousands of views within its greeting can show someone that first week online, the campaign they are able to confide in you.

This could lead to a more honest has attracted the attention of the answer than simply “ok” or “fine.” national media, most notably that of RTE’s Morning Ireland, Dramsoc auditor, Cathal Moon which Dramsoc have been roney told the College Tribune that “We want to encourage peo- asked to appear. “The response ple to express themselves if they from the national media has been extremely exciting.” admits Moare feeling down.”

The video has a simple, yet roney. “Being the first campaign powerful message and with many of this nature that we’ve ran in causes of and solutions to depres- Dramsoc, I wasn’t entirely sure Grace Williams News Writer

how well this would work but I am blown away with the feedback.” he also added.

Along with the video, Dramsoc are hosting performances of original pieces in early November also tackling the same “how

are you?” theme. Plans for the campaign are big, with Dramsoc hoping to carry on this success into next semester. “I hope that semester two can revisit this theme, again in association with Aware,” says Moroney. “It’s

extremely encouraging that an issue so prevalent can create such a buzz on a national basis.” With the help of different fundraisers, events and, most likely, some more original pieces, Dramsoc hope to continue in spreading their message of confiding in a friend, and being the friend someone can confide in.

With their own campaign starting out so successfully, Dramsoc now hope that this will have a domino effect on the rest of campus, with more students and societies getting involved.

“The more and more this is done, the more people will hear this message and ultimately, the more people will benefit positively from it.” Moroney told the College Tribune. With Ireland having the fifth highest suicide rate in Europe, sometimes concluding the question “Are ya well?” with the response “ “Cause you’re looking well”, isn’t enough to aid students whose mental health issues don’t appear on the surface; sometimes all that is needed is a genuine, “how are you?”

Newman Fund

Have you a great idea for an event on campus? Why not try the Newman Fund for funding? The Newman Fund is a sum of money arising from that part of the Student Registration Charge which the university allocates to support organised student activities. It is designed to fund activities which are organised by individuals or groups, other than the recognised clubs and societies in the University, whose aim is to improve student life on campus. Any individual or group of students may apply for financial support for their project. The Newman Fund is administered by a committee of the Student Consultative Forum Last year, the Fund provided substantial support for the UCD Fashion Show, for an academic conference organized

by PhD Law students, for a sports blitz for Res students, for Belfield FM, for a reception for postgrad Engineering students in Newstead, for the Please Talk campaign, for Relay for Life, for an Entrepreneurship Forum and for a Vet student Rugby event.

Applications are now invited for grants from the Fund for the current session. There is no standard format for applications but they should include full details of the applicants, the use to which any funds granted will be put and detailed costings.

Applications for support in this session must be submitted by November 15th to: Elizabeth Cronin, Student Consultative Forum, Student Centre, UCD or email to: Elizabeth.cronin@ucd.ie. Further information may be obtained from Liz or from Paddy O’Flynn at 1patrickoflynn@eircom.net.

6/NEWS IN FOCUS

“Change, or Let Us Leave” Demand Students

Donie O’Sullivan Reporter

UCD Students’ Union is facing an unprecedented challenge from over forty of their members who are demanding that the Union revert to a neutral stance on abortion. The Union recently adopted a pro-choice stance on abortion following a referendum. The students say they will seek to leave the Union if it does not revert to neutral on the issue.

Only 12% of students voted in last month’s referendum, which saw UCDSU join the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), and local student unions in universities in Cork, Galway, and elsewhere in the adoption of a prochoice stance.

Third year law student, Samuel O’Connor, presented a petition signed by over forty students to the Union on Friday. O’Connor believes that the Union should not take a stance on an area as divisive as abortion.

“It’s not something we want to be associated with. We are asking [UCDSU President] Michael Gallagher to review the stance and repeal it, and to go back to the situation as it was before the referendum where they had no stance.

If that isn’t forthcoming we will have no choice but to seek to withdraw our names from the list of Union members.”

The debate raises two issues that are fundamental to the operation of students’ unions.

The first is whether students’ unions should take a stance on social issues such as abortion. Students’ unions have had a proud tradition of affecting change throughout the latter years of the twentieth century in Ireland, playing important roles in campaigns on the availability of contraception, and the decriminalization of homosexuality.

Secondly, the debate raises important questions on the constitutionality of the current system of student union membership and how they relate to our rights as Irish citizens, particularly to freedom of association and, perhaps particularly relevant in this case, freedom of conscience. The current system sees students automatically become members of their local students’ unions with no obvious means of withdrawing their membership.

There is no national framework to decide fund allocation for students’ unions, and it is not as clear-cut as students paying a set amount to be a member of their union. Thus, it is unclear if a student were to leave their local students’ union how they could be reimbursed monetarily.

Although O’Connor, a third year law student, believes abortion is wrong in all circumstances, except when the woman’s life is at risk, not all signatories are of the same mindset. O’Connor says several pro-choice students have signed the petition who still believe it is

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

Donie O’Sullivan examines the potential implications of an ultimatum put to UCD Students’ Union unhappy with the Union’s stance on abortion.

to earn its right to exist each year would run the risk of pursuing populist policies at the expense of more important issues. Unlike trade unions and other representative bodies where members are primarily attracted for political reasons, in ensuring their views are represented to government, this is not necessarily the case in students’ unions.

Unions may focus more on the organisation of social events than campaigning for adequate library services.

As is the case at the moment, a social event run by UCDENTS makes the SU more popular than the hundreds Samuel O’ Connor, spokesperson for UCD Students Against Abortion outside UCDSU’s offices last Friday afternoon with of hours Union representatives sit on the groups petition which he submitted to UCDSU President Mícheál Gallagher. important university boards each year. not right for a students’ union to take a would be allowed, or able to do so. leave the union in the morning.

It is perhaps this very dilemma that stance on such an issue.

UCDSU claims to be a democracy, Students have threatened to leave makes the system of student union The debate questions whether the and to most extents it is. However, if their students’ unions in the past. As far membership so vague and ambiguous.

Union should merely be a service the Union’s stance on abortion does not as UCDSU are aware no student has With a changing amount of memprovider or should also engage, as they revert to neutral, and subsequently the done so successfully in UCD, however, bers, and if capitation was adjusted traditionally have, in activism reprepetition signatories are not allowed to it is understood two DCU students accordingly, changing funds, Unions senting student’s views to government. freely leave - that is if, in the meantime, disaffiliated from DCUSU last year. would not be able to guarantee the It would appear that many students are they are not convinced that staying a The constitutionality of the system provision of important services like happy for the Union to act as both. member of the SU is more beneficial - it of student union membership has student counselling. While SU critics If the Union is to be an effective raises some serious questions on the been debated many times before. What may say that services like these should body, which represents students’ views, constitutionality of students’ union makes this occasion significant is that not be the responsibility of the Union it does have to take stances on immembership. these students could potentially be the in the first place, rather be provided by portant issues. “UCDSU, as fundaMembers of political parties, trade first to have the means to challenge its the university or the HSE, it is certainly mentally stated in its constitution, is a unions, and representative bodies often constitutionality in court. no harm having additional services like democracy” says SU President Micheal disagree with the policies these organiIt is no secret that the pro-life lobby these available to students through the Gallagher. sations pursue. However, most choose is well funded and it in not beyond students’ union.

Samuel O’Connor says that although to stay within the organisation, often the scope of possibility that a pro-life O’Connor says the Union’s stance he has disagreed with stances UCDSU because of the benefits of membership organisation could provide legal supon abortion doesn’t rest well with his have taken in the past, including their to them as an individual. port to students if their secession was morality. It was put to him that his stance in support of same-sex marriage, The importance here is that those obstructed. O’Connor says he wouldn’t actions could inadvertently lead to the these issues do not go to the “core” of members are afforded a choice. They rule out pursing legal action if the removal of important services like the his morality, as the issue of abortion have the option of leaving.

Union’s stance remained unchanged SU welfare service. does.

O’Connor says students’ unions and he was obstructed from leaving the O’Connor says that while he is On same-sex marriage for instance, “want to be treated like a real union.

Union. generally supportive of the concept of O’Connor says, “it’s really a matter of They want to run with the big boys but In legal terms, this is certainly student unionism and appreciates the legislation and of civil rights, it’s not the they don’t want the rules applying to unchartered waters. The 1997 Universi- important services the union provides, same as what some people will view every other union in the country apply ties Act does not explicitly state that he says he cannot remain a member of as murder, which is how some people to them.” all students must be members of their an organization with a pro-life stance. view abortion.”

“If they were democratic they’d let local students’ union.

O’Connor says that the Union O’Connor says he is happy for the people leave when they want to leave,” Article 40.6 of the Irish Constitucannot hope to be a unifying force on Union to pursue a pro-choice stance he claims. tion states that citizens have the right issues that directly affect students, such as long as he is allowed to disaffiliate Student union supporters have to form associations. Article 40.6 has as student grants, while pursuing a from the Union. The demand may criticized petition signatories on social been interpreted by the Irish Courts particular agenda on an issue such as seem naïve - but O’Connor is anything media, claiming that it is a case of in Educational Company of Ireland v abortion. but, and fully understands the potenpro-lifers throwing their toys out of the Fitzpatrick, to implicitly provide for the Many students, on the left and the tially far-reaching implications of this pram. Those students who threaten to freedom of disassociation. right, and in the youth wings of political ultimatum. leave the Union based on one issue are A successful challenge to the current parties, have questioned the system of Another referendum would be being irresponsible as it could potential- membership policy of UCDSU, argued student union membership in the past. required for the Union to revert to its ly impact on the provision of important on the basis of the constitutional freeIt is unlikely that many of these groups neutral stance on abortion. It is unlikely services that the Union provides such dom of disassociation, could possibly will be willing to indirectly get involved that the referendum, unless the Union as the welfare fund and counselling, result in an “opt-in” system whereby in a debate on abortion in order to itself campaigned in favour of a neutral they say. students would need to sign up to their pursue this issue. stance, would achieve this.

One student wrote of the petition, students’ union in first year, and posThe Union will be able to use to their This would then put the Union in “This attempt to overthrow the demo- sibly reaffirm their membership annu- advantage the simple fact that many the unenviable and awkward position cratic decision of students is unbecom- ally. This would fundamentally change students in UCD are pro-choice, and it of what to do with forty of its meming. The students have spoken.” the nature of the student movement in is likely most are more pro-choice than bers who wish to revoke their Union Although the “students” in this Ireland. they are pro-life. membership. If the Union allows them case included only 12% of the student SUs would essentially have to prove The Union will hope that this probto leave freely, it may set a dangerous population. to students on an annual basis why lem will go away, maybe that another precedent. Equally, if they do not allow The issue of student engagement membership was worthwhile. referendum will be called, or one will be the students disaffiliate it may result in with their students’ union and with Although it could make unions promised to coincide with the sabbatical legal proceedings, which could poten- politics in general is hugely important work harder to be more efficient and elections in the spring. Then hopefully tially have a profound effect on student and needs to be addressed. However, effective, and increase accountability, it the summer break will help the issue representation in Ireland. with turnout so dismal, that 88% of the could have some hugely negative effects fizzle out, as many issues often do. UnThe Union did not indicate whether student body did not turn out to vote, also. fortunately for them, O’Connor doesn’t a student who sought to disaffiliate given the choice, many of them may A Union that would essentially have seem like he is going to let this one lie.

FEATURES\7

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

“YOU-WHO,” a UCD Newspaper in the Grey 1950’s

As the UCD Archives were presented with copies of “You - Who” a UCD paper published in the 1950’s last week, John O’Donnell writes about his experience of editing one of UCD’s newspapers in 1959.

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If you should meet with Emma, the diocesan dilemna, she’s Franciscan and she’s forty but she’s fun.

This ditty, published in a contemporary Trinity newspaper, was the unlikely spur for me to enter the world of student publishing. Among its student publications, Trinity had two newspapers and it was galling that the rival college could publish such irreverent verse, while UCD, in 1959, appeared to have had no facility for publishing even serious student writing. (A long established paper, “The Student” did put in a solitary appearance later in the year).

After Christmas, a group of us established The Co-operative Publishing Society to publish a student newspaper in UCD. Despite the grand title of the publisher, many of the tasks of producing the paper such as editor, finance manager, goffer and vendor, fell to one person. As a student in the school of architecture, I had few contacts but others in the Society brought contributors from many faculties .The paper was published weekly in the Spring and Summer terms. Some writers for the newspaper made distinguished careers in journalism.

“You-Who” was not well received in many quarters. A well-dressed young priest on the stairs of “86”, gratuitously offered his opinion that the publication was gauche! His judgement was certainly sound. As the first edition included a message of welcome from the college chaplain inadvertainly alongside an attack on the rumoured ambition of John Charles McQuaid to be Chancellor of the National University, the comment was understandable.

Members of the philosophy faculty

(then dominated by diocesan clergy) made frequent complaint to the college president. Staff in the “Annexe” (the basement cafe in Earlsfort Terrace) threatened to refuse service because of their objection to a cartoon. On another occasion, when selling the newspaper in the main hall, I was knocked to the ground (spilling the day’s takings across the floor) by an enthusiast, annoyed by the placing of rugby results above the GAA results on the sports page.

Editorial control was not a strong point.

Articles in Irish were frequently mangled, provoking a satirical verse which was published. Another embarrassing episode was the printing of an article by a respected member of staff, which included passages in French, without the benefit of proof reading.

On the other hand, design and layout were considered important and, although readers would have been unaware of it, the pages of the paper reflected the layout of “Die Welt” and European news magazines. Under the Feuilleton caption were printed worthy contributions, including weekly satirical social commentaries by a commerce student, under the pen name “Cato” and ”Fred Addison II” and an interview with

Department Store. Mr Hodkinson, the proprietor of “Lykenu”, drycleanBrendan Behan by two architectural ers in Stephens Green, cheerfully colleagues and a law student (Behan paid for his regular advertisements. was supportive of a U.S.Senator, who Hodges Figgis was another who was was critical of the decision to placed large advertisements and build the US embassy in Balllsbidge, promptly paid, though one had to a slum in his view). rigorously account for publication An opportunity to revise the by personal delivery of the newslayout and increase the size of page paper. Some advertisers turned out to A3 (tabloid size) came through a to be slow or non-payers, despite sudden need to change printers, the frequent calls to decrepit offices, original ones being looften located up many flights.The recated in Naas. The need sulting deficit had to be made good arose because of their by generous donations, principally refusal to continue, by the Humpreys family. following a threat of a Luck ran out for the newspaper libel action. The action when the authorities considered was initiated because a report of a student barbecue in of a contribution to the the Dublin mountains too graphic paper which speculated for consumption by parents. The on what the initials embarrassed President conceded a “HCE” stood for, the disciplinary hearing, news of which name adopted by a made the front page of the Evening group prominent in Herald.The gravity of my situation the affairs of the L&H. was lost on me as I was pleased to Despite an assurance note that all the members of the from an eminent solicidisciplinary board were avid readers tor that no court would of the newspaper. Dr Tierney and take seriously anything the Board imposed no penalty other published in a student than requiring a change of title and newspaper, a new less frequent publication. printer had to be found.

At the end of that academic year, The Frederick Press in Botanic Road UCD had a publishing company that agreed at very short notice to print produced a successor newspaper the further editions. No longer in “Awake” and a magazine devoted to existence, these printers could not more serious student writing. As have been more helpful. regards the YOU-WHO venture, I The amount of advertising carbelieved when something needed to ried, mainly by local traders supplybe done, it was worth doing badly! ing goods and services to students, In retrospect, however, many of the is a tribute to the dedication of the contributions seem worthy, earnest co-operative group. Someone even and witty. secured the support of a major

“You-Who” was not well received in many quarters. A well-dressed young priest on the stairs of “86,” gratuitously offered his opinion that the publication was gauche!

8/FEATURES

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

Fear and Loathing in Guantánamo

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As the world questions why Guantanamo Bay still fails to be shut down, Liam Forbes discusses the recent hunger strikers attempt to reignite the injustice in the lawless U.S naval base.

On the 11th of October, a short animation was released on the Guardian website that detailed the treatment of prisoners staging a hunger strike in Guantánamo Bay that had been ongoing since February. The prisoners’ decision to go on strike was allegedly in response to guards seizing legal documents, family photos, and other personal belongings during cell searches in February.

Security personnel were also accused of mishandling Korans, a claim denied by military authorities Based on the testimony of five current inmates, four of whom are still held despite being cleared for release in 2007, the video graphically depicts the psychological intimidation and forced feeding of detainees. Initially denying that an organised hunger strike had ever been taking place, military authorities have since admitted that around one hundred inmates were originally involved, a figure raised to 130 by several detainees.

Representing seventeen prisoners who are currently being held without charge, human rights lawyer David Remes has described prisoner’s horrific treatment such as having nasal tubes that are akin to “having a razor blade go down through your nose, and into your throat.” in order to force feed the strikers. Security forces in the detention centre are also allegedly using tubes with a wider circumference than necessary to cause extra pain. “They’ve been held for twelve years, without being accused of any real crime, separated from their families and homes.

They have no end in sight. They don’t want to live out the rest of their lives there,” argues Remes.

Nonetheless, controversial practices by the U.S in Guantanamo Bay are not a new story.

Opened in January 2002, Guantánamo Bay was established by the Bush administration as an extension of an already existing naval base on the south-eastern end of Cuba. Under the 1903 agreement with the Cuban government, the United States was given complete control and jurisdiction of the area, while paradoxically agreeing to recognise Cuba’s ultimate sovereignty over the bay. This jurisdiction limbo is what allows the U.S to hold prisoners without warrant or trial in a location that permits them to act outside U.S law and International law.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International have campaigned for the closure of the detention centre due to its ‘gross evasion of human rights’ and use of torture and intimidation methods such as ‘including stress positions, sensory deprivation, prolonged isolation, the use of 20-hour interrogations, hooding during transportation and interrogation, stripping, forcible shaving, and “using detainees individual phobias (such as fear of dogs) to induce stress.”

These methods used by the centre have been attempted to be justified by the U.S Government. Force feeding is regarded by the UN Human Rights Commission as a form of torture, and was condemned by the World Medical Association in 1975.

Similar to Guardian video producer Guy Grandjean’s animation, in July of this year actor, rapper, and activist Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) allowed himself to be force fed using the same methods in a video by UK based human rights group Reprieve, in order to help raise awareness. Naval medics based in Guantánamo have insisted that the procedure is not nearly as painful as he makes it out to be in the video. In any case, both Grandjean and Def’s productions are examples of the power of online media in rallying members of the public towards a cause.

On the 22nd of January 2009, two days after being sworn into office, President Obama suspended any military tribunals of detainees for 120 days. An executive order was then issued pledging to shut down the controversial detention centre. Since then, Obama and his administration have made a u turn on their stance against the detention centre and the area is still facilitating the unlawful detention of prisoners and suspected torture. Obstacles to the closure of the site included the objection of several new administration officials, who argued that there was not enough information filed on several prisoners to warrant whether or not they could be transferred to a prison within the United States. Guantanamo’s location outside of

American jurisdiction has allowed them to detain possible terrorist threats with the U.S legal procedure of a fair trial and evidence before prolonged detention. The lack of information filed on prisoners that have been held for many years in the detention centre is the reason many cannot be transferred to U.S prison. To transfer these inmates would be to adhere to the U.S legal system. Possibilities of these prisoners being allowed to leave detention is a risk the U.S is not willing to take. Plans to move the prisoners to a jail in Illinois after it was brought under federal ownership were also soon scrapped that year.

In 2011, despite strong personal objections, Obama signed the Defense Authorization Bill for the year into law. The order contains clauses that both prohibit the transfer of any prisoners to American soil, and the use of state or federal funds to construct new facilities to house detainees. Imprisonment, prosecutions, and torture at the detention centre have therefore de facto been permitted to continue.

Regarding the hunger strikers, two judges sitting on an appeals court in Washington questioned the idea of force feeding being necessary to maintain order in the prison last October, during a hearing held for four detainees seeking transfer. Obama earlier

defended the practice at a press conference in April by stating: “I don’t want these individuals to die.” With the House of Representatives currently controlled by the Republican Party, it can be easy to think that Obama’s intentions have simply been frustrated by political opponents. Yet the actions of an increasingly partisan lower house does not explain why the Senate, with a Democrat majority, narrowly voted against an attempted amendment of the Defense Authorization Bill in November 2012, which would have allowed for the transfer of prisoners.

If anything, recent events suggest that Obama can push controversial legislation through Congress, provided he can successfully exploit divisions within the GOP. However, with the economy continuing to be a central issue for both parties in Washington, any new serious legislative measures are unlikely to be proposed from within government in the short term. It therefore falls to committed organisations and individuals to continue pressuring the Obama administration to carry out its original promise, both in the interest of preventing a further eroding of American credibility in the face of its allies and zones of conflict, and in the name of preserving human dignity.

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THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

Bus Bankers

As Dublin Bus fares increase for the third time in four years, Kerry Sheridan offers advice on how UCD students can prepare their already tight budgets.

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The announcement made by the National Transport Authority (NTA) on the 23rd of October, stated that transport costs would increase in the coming months to “protect service delivery”.

Amongst government tax rises for alcohol and tobacco products, Dublin Bus and the Luas are set to rise their fares another 10% despite raising prices just last year. The NTA released a statement claiming that the raise is only to “protect service delivery at a time of reduced incomes”. The statement goes on to further entail the full economic picture. While Dublin Bus claim to need the additional revenue to maintain regular routes and services, it is the consumer who will pay for it. In a request to the NTA, Dublin Bus outlined how €2.1million will be spent on “service level increases to meet growing customer demand”. It is debatable whether the effect of quality or quantity on this improved service provided will be seen by customers. The bus company is expected to get an additional €9 million in revenue for the proposed fare changes.

What does this translate to for the student population? It will mean that from this month any person purchasing annual or monthly public transport tickets can expect increased fare prices on our infamously already tight budgets.

A return train ticket on the commuter line costing €31 will become €34.65 euro once the changes are made. In UCD this may mean less trips home for the rural students. The news is not all bad as Bus Eireann is only facing a 6 to 7% increase.

As for the day to day trips to and from campus, the ever popular “student rambler” is also expected an increase of at least 10 %. The 5 day ticket will rise from €18.30 to €20. The 30 day ticket will rise from

€91.50 to €100. The most drastic changes have been made on the Xpresso lines, as they have increased by an additional 39%.

The somewhat good news is that these rises will not be implemented until 1st December.

This gives students with low income some time to prepare for fare increases.

As previous tickets are valid until December 2014, an option can be to stock up on tickets now to avoid paying the increases later.

While these changes may not seem drastic to some, they are a drastic scenario for others. Those who live just outside the walking or cycling parameters of UCD will be affected the worst by the changes. First year student Claire Hackett faces increases in both her weekly bus to Kilkenny and her weekly student bus card. “I was finding budgeting my money for the first time quite difficult, every penny seemed stretched” explains Claire, “the bus increases are a real blow to me as it takes almost an extra 30 euros off of me a month.” For students living on less than €50 a week, the extra €9.50 a month will prove a little more trying with Christmas

just around the corner. With mounting costs decisions made to save money may be damaging. The main concerns are that the cost of getting to class will far exceed the benefit derived from going. It will make student life harder for students already living on the edge.

Nonetheless, bus fare hikes are being a commonplace pain for students. For student Matt Breen the mounting fares still annoy.

“When I came to UCD in 1st year my fare was €1.80, which then increased to €1.90.

Last year the fare rose again to €2.15, a huge difference in my opinion.

To see the same route I take into town now raise to €2.35 is very annoying.” Echoing many disenchanted students Matt also adds, “I don’t see where my raised fare is going to. Services have not been improving and I regularly wait for buses long after their timetabled appearance.”

Dublin Bus is notorious for it’s no change policy that sees many people drop

Dublin Bus is planning on taking the cost of two pints a month away from you, that’s 24 pints a year you won’t get because of the price increase.

Now that’s a sobering fact.

in a round amount of money to cover the fare. With prices now at €2.35, That round amount could see many students dropping €2.50 into the bus fare calculator. For a return journey that can see students paying a whole €5 just to travel into town.

With already tight budgets, transport fares are further neglecting UCD students, who mainly live in the surrounding UCD area, from enjoying the city they chose.

If you only plan to use the bus when it rains as an alternative to biking it is preferable to invest in a Student Travel Card to curb the effect of these increases. The card costing €12, has the best savings after all the changes, and also offers various student deals in other retail and service outlets. The Leap Card is also a great option for students to curb increases. The card can be topped up at many outlets and lowers fares by almost 10%. A student Leap Card may also be purchased, with ownership of a Student Travel Card, that gives even further reductions.

Suggestions by the government being made to help students who are affected by the extra cost including “car – pooling” and “cheap bike solutions”. While these ideas are acceptable they don’t quite suit students who live just that bit too far away. While the NTA claims that the fares are fixed for the year 2014, there is no optimistic opinion that fares will not rise again in next year. For those of you who are still a little confused let’s put it like this, Dublin Bus is planning on taking the cost of two pints a month away from you, that’s 24 pints a year you won’t get because of the price increase.

Now that’s a sobering fact.

To find out how the fare increase will affect you visit www.nationaltransport.ie for details.

10/COMMENT

A Union at a Crossroads

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As the story broke in the last of issue of this paper, a group calling themselves UCD Students Against Abortion has been set up by students in the university, who feel that they are no longer represented by UCDSU. This follows on from the preferemdum which took place at the beginning of October in which students decided that UCDSU should take the stance that an abortion in the

Republic should be legal and at the request of a woman. The preferendum passed with a 12% turnout and a total valid poll of 2,527.

The group, while small in numbers, are most certainly one that has the potential to cause damage to the students’ union, if their request to reverse the policy is ignored. Along with that the fact of the matter is they could, if needed challenge the

#UCD

validity of mandatory union membership. One can see their point of view and understand why they are taking this position, as they are members of a union that differs with their own beliefs.

However, by opening the floodgates to non mandatory membership of the union, this weakens the position of the union to lobby on behalf of UCD students and weakens their position when dealing with university authorities.

One of the biggest questions that this situation poses is whether UCDSU should act as a union or more like a service provider. At the moment we see the fault lines in place, with a union stuck in the middle, veering towards a type of service provider to students.

A union that stands together as one is best, but the union itself needs to identify what it is. Is it a service provider or is it a union fighting for a common cause? UCDSU needs to decide what bed to sleep in.

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

Homeless Week in UCD

With the SVP Homeless Week well in progress, it is shocking to note that at any time in Ireland up to 5,000 people are homeless.

What also must be taken into account is the welfare of the so called ‘hidden homeless’.

The hidden homeless involve a variety of different situations including sofa surfing, squatting and overcrowded housing.

Students form a significant proportion of the hidden homeless

and it is worth noting that over a third of those homeless have health problems, compared with 10% of the general population.

Any student currently experiencing unexpected hardship can apply to the student welfare fund.

We all need to be looking out for our friends and those around us, especially coming up to exam time and ensuring that all of us have a place that we can call home.

05.11.13

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[The Mighty Stef]

Contents

T+ 05.11.2013

Arts edi

tor - Da niel Nola n

Music e dit

or - Tras

ditor - L

auren Tr

acey

Arts

Music

Fashion

3 Caution: Spoilers!

7 Examining Art and Music – The White Stripes

9 How to Dress like Emma Stone

3 Film Retrospective: The Raid 4 BILL HICKS

8 Album Title: Teenage Dirtbags

Eds pick of the week.....

The Mighty Stef

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a Walsh

Fashion E

Thérèse Walsh caught up with The Mighty Stef to talk about their new EP, social networking and their own record label….

10 The Boyfriend Coat 10 Iconic Designers

Social Guide

05.11.2013 T+

Archive at Lunchtime

Wed 06 Nov

RDS Library Book Sale

13:00

Wed 06 Nov

IFI

10:00 – 17:00 RDS

Free

Corn Flakes and Commerce with Constantin Gurdgiev Thu 07 Nov 07:00

Open Data Event: “Open Brew” Thu 07 Nov 18:30 Inviting al active Open Data developers to work on a variety of projects.

Film Screening: Thank Goth it’s Friday Fri 08 Nov 15:00 – 17:00

Nothing to do?

Hot date? Broke and bored? See our social diary...

National College of Ireland, IFSC, Mayor Street, Dublin 1 Dr. Constantin Gurdgiev talks about human capital.

Needles and Pens: Tattoo Art Exhibition Dublin Book Festival

02 Nov – 01 Dec White Lady Art, 14 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2

14-17 November Smock Alley Theatre, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Bleeding Horse Creative Space, 24-25 Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2

Eds pick Alliance Francaise Life-size Cluedo Fri 08 Nov 19:30 Alliance Francaise, 1 Kildare Street Life-size Cluedo - what is not to love?

Scheherazade – Lucy Doyle 07-24 Nov

Free

Doorway Gallery, 24 Frederick Street South Dublin 2 Lucy Doyle’s exhibition is worth a visit

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Arts

T+ 05.11.2013

Caution: Spoilers!

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Darragh O’Connor writes an article on spoilers - but that’s absolutely all we’re telling you...

Is there anything more ridiculous? A few weeks ago, I accidentally ‘spoiled’ the ending of Breaking Bad as I tried to engage a discussion about the laziness of the final episode.

This produced a difficult series of reactions from people. A few claimed that they could “no longer watch the show as I had ruined it for them.”

This puzzled me. Can you really not watch a show if you know what will happen? I believe that you can and, in fact, it can actually help you enjoy it more.

Calm down and let me explain: Have you ever gone to see a Batman film? Did you like the Titanic film?

If the answer is yes, well then you can still watch a film/ TV show etc while knowing what will happen. The answer is very simple; if you know what will happen you watch

the show in a new light and without the distraction of the plot. The focus is moved towards something more important, the overall journey that the narrative takes: the sets, characters, story arc etc. These are things that you’d notice upon a second or third viewing.

and who the villains are and that the hero will win. That is not the point, it will be very boring if it was. To allow you to overcome falling into these traps, comics may even tell you the end of the story in the title: Death of Gwen Stacy, Death of Captain America, Birth of Venom etc.

Comics also understand that you know how they work and create an experience and play off the ground rules of storytelling as laid down by Joseph Campbell in the 1940’s. Toying with or omitting from this structure while arriving at the end point of the hero winning is the fun. I know that Spider-Man will beat Dr. Ock but how did he do it? What did the fight look like? And how did it make him feel and develop him as a character? A spoiler does nothing to ruin any of this for me.

Can you really not watch a show if you know what will happen? I believe that you can and, in fact, it can actually help you enjoy it more...

The critical eye is sharpened when it is ‘spoiled.’

I read a detailed recap of the Dark Knight Rises prior to viewing it and I was able to understand the deep and gawping flaws of that film almost as it was happening.

Rather than being distracted by the reveal of Talia al Ghul’s machinations; I could stew on the fact that Bruce Wayne stops being Batman! Now there is something to be annoyed about.

The plot is important but it is the vehicle to the overall experience of the tale. Comics are the best example of this. You enter the world of any superhero knowing the basics. Heck, you will probably know what will happen

Campbell outlined that almost every story will follow the same story, in one way or another, so stop thinking the point of a film, TV show or a game is to be surprised by the ending. You will miss the point and allow writers to be lazy with their work. TV series’ will always end with a death, a marriage, a baby, a combination of the three, or a set for a spin-off. Films will always play it safe and reality TV will never end. These media are a vehicle to share something with you, the point is the journey not the end. We know the Odysseus gets home but the point of Odyssey is his journey.

Before you consider something ‘spoiled,’ watch it anyway and see if it did anything for the character, the show/game or if it was even well written. The ends may justify the means, but you still need to know what those means actually are.

Film Retrospective: The Raid

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It was originally my intention to retrospectively review Terry Gilliam’s classic sciencefiction 12 Monkeys this week, but after the painfully disappointing experience of revisiting Commando for the previous retrospective I felt I had to reaffirm my love of action as a genre, lest it be forever tainted by subpar Schwarzenegger flicks. And so this week I re-watched The Raid.

Ultimately, Commando bored me because it is impossible to believe that the main character could have lost. In The Raid it’s almost impossible to believe that the main character could have won. Set in a crumbling apartment block in a Jakarta slum, the film follows a squad of heavily-armed police officers as they attempt to fight their way to the top of the building in order to arrest the crime boss that runs the place as his own private kingdom. The only things standing in their way are the psychopathic occupants who

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Richard Mitchell looks back at one of the more surprising successes in recent cinema...

will all get free reign to stay in the building as long as they like if they kill one of the cops. Eventually there is only one officer left standing, Iko Uwais’ Rama. This is when the film transforms from procedural SWAT drama into the single most brutal, kinetic and gleefully violent action film since the days of Bruce Lee. Uwais is a force of nature; discovered by director Gareth Evans whilst still in training in his native Indonesia, his incredible fighting style of Silat which specializes in full body contact is thrilling to watch in action and is used to great effect in a series of complex fight sequences where he takes on corridors full of killers with his bare hands. It’s the trope of the one-man army on show again but here every fight feels hard-fought; this is not a man breezing through faceless grunts, this is a man whose every step feels like it will be his last.

The film is driven by this desperate energy, its few characters running on pure survival instinct and doing whatever it takes to make it to safety.

Surprisingly, the screenplay even manages to build a pretty fun little plot around the various set pieces that manages to elevate the action above just punch-ups. But such punch-ups! This is one of the few films you will wince

at when you watch. Watch it on Netflix today and prepare to meet Iko Uwais, action cinema’s next superstar.

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05.11.2013 T+

Arts

BILL HICKS

As we approach the twentieth anniversary of his death, Catriona O’Malley looks at the career and legacy of the iconic comedian...

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Bill Hicks, the late comedian, has a great gag about playing a gig in a redneck American town.

After making a joke about Jesus, he was confronted by an angry audience-member when trying to leave. “We’re Christians, and we don’t like what you said,” the man snarled.

“Well forgive me,” was Hicks’ witty and simple reply.

It sums the man up perfectly. Rather than becoming embroiled in conflict, he attempted to diffuse the tension of the situation with a joke. It was what he did best. Hicks could be a deeply cynical and biting comedian, but he ultimately had an unwavering respect for his fellow man. Well, most of them.

The title of his book, Love All the People, which combines biography with stand-up material, might seem like an unusual title for something about a man who made jokes on topics such as suicide and paedophilia. However, it may sound saccharine, but he did love his audience, and wanted to educate them and enlighten them to his world view. When he died in 1994, he left a huge chasm and stunned fans worldwide who were unaware of his illness. Such was Hicks’ passion for his vocation that he toured until the bitter end.

William Melvin Hicks was born in 1961. He sometimes joked that, being a Southerner with a name like Hicks, he was doomed from the beginning. He started performing stand-up in comedy clubs in Texas at the age of sixteen, when he was still in high school and in awe of the older comedians. It wasn’t until the late ‘80s that Hicks started becoming successful. In 1990, he released an album, Dangerous. Some say that his comedy was more popular in Ireland and the UK than in his native America, as many of his countrymen found him to be vulgar and offensive. He toured throughout 1991, attracting the attention of many and acquiring fans through the old-fashioned methods of a well-honed set and hard graft.

I first became familiar with Hicks a few years ago when I saw one of his early ‘90s sets on Comedy Central. I loved his dry humour and deadpan expression. He could deliver the most

searing, withering one-liner with a blank face.

Later, I read the aforementioned Love All the People. It bears a glowing review from English comedy legend John Cleese on the cover, which is testament to Hicks’ legion of famous fans. The extracts from his stand-up pep-

1993, when his pre-recorded routine on David Letterman’s show was removed. It was the first time a comedian’s set had been cut after recording. It was to be his last appearance on the show, and he was left feeling deeply betrayed and hurt. In 2009, fifteen years after Hicks’ death, Letterman had the good grace to air the set and to invite the comedian’s mother onto the show. Still, the snub cut Hicks deep. He might have been biting, but he was human all the same, and vulnerable.

Tragically, midway through 1993, Hicks was diagnosed with cancer, which spread. He performed his final show in January, 1994, with his fans oblivious to how sick he was. He died in February, 1994, aged only thirty-two. He has a wonderful and poignant monologue called ‘It’s just a ride,’ about how life shouldn’t be taken seriously, but rather should be enjoyed together. Hicks’ legacy looms large to this day.

Comedians such as Russell Brand and David Cross have cited him as an influence. The large number of YouTube videos dedicated to him are proof of the adoration he receives in death. Would he take this reverence seriously? Probably not.

In his own words, “It’s just a ride.”

Hicks could be a deeply cynical and biting comedian, but he ultimately had an unwavering respect for his fellow man.... pered throughout the book are priceless. Hicks made other jokes about the weakness of his government and the pointlessness of conflict which seem eerily prescient today. Some of his political jokes about George Bush Senior can easily be applied to his inept son. Bill despaired at the hysteria seeping through American culture which illogically demonised pot smokers but celebrated boorish alcoholism. He was a proud smoker, mocking those who judged him for the habit. One of my favourite Hicks jokes is about Christians wearing crucifixes. He wondered if Jesus ever wanted to see a crucifix again on his return and compared it to flashing a rifle pendant in Jackie O’s face and saying “just thinking of John, Jackie. Just keepin’ that love alive.” It is a perfect example of how Hicks could see through hypocrisy and wasn’t afraid to question it, even at the risk of being accused of blasphemy in the deeply religious pockets of America.

One of the most controversial moments in Hicks’ life was in

Ruination of Beauty - “I Judged a Book by its Cover Quotes….”

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Look, this is very embarrassing. I wouldn’t even want to discuss it if I didn’t feel so aggrieved, so very victimized by the grubby world of literature.

Surely not, you may say, shaking your head. Slander against the literary industry?

The last vestige of honorable media left in this world? Books are the precious indicators of culture and a reasonable attention span, and you dare lump them as grubby? Yeah, I do.

I was gullible, a fool, it was late at night and I just wanted something for an hour before bed. This was my weakest moment, making a choice this important, in a vulnerable state, sucked in by a nice cover and good reviews.

No, not just good reviews, wildly raving spectacular reviews. Shamefully I digested the fantastic snippets; “a high wire feat of bravura storytelling” a ‘literary miracle’ even, and I kick myself now for believing that a book which uses comic sans on its jacket could be “the

Rosanna Cooney vents some serious rage… best novel of the year.” There was even that holy headline, the one authors and publishers salivate over. You know it: #1 New York Times Bestseller. Because, you know if The New York Times ranks it then it must be worthwhile. No. Never. Stop now. Better to stick fingers in your eyes rather than look at their quantitative lies.

The book in question even had one of those bright stickers, slapped on after the first print when a novel has been long listed for an Orange prize or Tiddlywinks award. I honestly think I was just attracted to the glamour of it all. 100 pages in and I was suspending my disbelief, hanging in that swinging stage of; “I must be missing something” rather than acknowledging my folly of selection. It was on page 251 that I realised I didn’t know the book’s title. I had picked it up and put it down any number of times yet the name eluded me.

Ten minutes after finishing the book I was unable to recall any of the main characters’ names. It was a meandering love story which took the author years to write, fifteen to be exact, and only moments to forget.

My complaint here however is not with this novel in particular, there are a lot of trite books and they serve their purpose on shelves and under tables. And it’s not the author’s fault his novel was amplified above its literary

station. But how are we supposed to filter out the stunted from the worthy if the critics have gone all soppy?

(The book in question is Jess Walter’s- Beautiful Ruins)

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The Mighty Stef are an experimental rock group from Dublin who have have been touring, traveling and performing intensely over the past few years. The band itself is made up of Stefan Murphy [Vocals / Guitar] Gary Lonergan [Bass/ Vocals] Brian Gallagher [Keys/ Vocals] and Brian Farrell [Drums]. All members play a part in the songwriting and they are currently working on material for their redefining fourth studio album. The band is fresh from supporting the Boomtown Rats and has seen collaboration in recent years with Ronnie Drew, Shane MacGowan, Dave King & Bridget Regan of Flogging Molly from the US and Cait O’ Riordain of The Pogues. These collaborations, were all organized by Murray [exmanager of the Pogues] who did a huge amount to raise Stef ’s profile as a performer and bring his songwriting to the attention of a much wider audience.

[The

I caught up with the Mighty Stef himself in between a busy rehearsal for their many upcoming gigs. Their new release is a three track EP taken from a full length album that was recorded in L.A during the past year. “We’re putting this EP out just to create a buzz about our new album,”Stef said. This album will be available after christmas, “we chose three tracks that seemed to go well together which we wanted to release as singles.”

And what can fans expect from the new EP? It has been dubbed a ‘redifining album.’ The main change behind their sound comes from the producer they were working with – Alain Johannes a Hollywood based producer (working with the Arctic Monkeys, No Doubt and Queens of the Stone Age to name but a few) has also managed to see the group produce some of their best work to date.

The band found themselves in Hollywood for three months describing it “more like a J1 then anything else but that was an experience in itself.” Great things came from that trip to the states and the tracks produced have brought the band a lot of attention.

Their new track Vampire, Hold me Tight has seen large interest in the last few weeks with Phantom FM calling it “a must on any Halloween playlist.” The song ironically wasn’t written for Halloween purposes but due to timing and popularity it’s seen lots of airing on Irelands rock stations. The band itself was on UCD campus on the 30th of October for a live broadcast with Phantom FM - Dublin’s largest rock music station. The Vampire Hold me Tight song became a sort of Halloween anthem during the past weeks and has certainly “been creating a buzz.”

The Mighty Stef are not shy of touring and have been playing quite a bit around Dublin recently. They are doing a three week residency of shows in a live venue in November and December. Whelans is the bands favourite venue, “the upstairs of Whelens is just a great venue – it’s a really packed atmosphere.” Even though the band have previously sold out the downstairs area before, they still prefer playing the upstairs where the crowd is slightly smaller but more intense.

The band has a huge Facebook following. During the interview we begin discussing the pros and cons of social networking, “at first we were reluctant at the beginning with all it’s faults but now I think it’s as important idea of social networking,” said Stef. He mentions a friend doing a PHD on whether it’s better to be “sitting behind a computer promoting your band or actually be out in the field playing shows…..I would be 100% willing to admit that it’s a vital part now of being a band in this day and age.”

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Thérèse Walsh caught up wit their new EP, social networkin

e Mighty Stef]

As long term musicians themselves, the Mighty Stef had this advice for young musicians - music DIY. Learning how to produce has become the freedom of musicians in our generation - with social media and music sharing websites making it easier than ever before to get your sound heard. The band has plenty of DIY experience itself with Stef forming his own record label in recent years so that the band could go on producing. And what you may ask goes into forming ones on record label? First Born and Dead Recordings is Stef ’s own label, which was created to cater to the needs of their own band.

Learning how to produce has become the freedom of musicians in our generation

The Mighty Stef ’s third album, TMS and the Baptists, was recorded in Berlin. This was the third in a series of acclaimed records produced and released on a lo-fi budget with his own label The Firstborn is Dead Recordings. The Baptists record was Stef ’s most personal songwriting and marked the end [for the time being at least] to his folk arrangement approach to songwriting. It also marked the beginning of a new collaboration with Gary Lonergan and Brian Gallagher who went on to form a new songwriting partnership with Murphy and also provide the basis for a full-time band.

Speaking of their major influences as a band, Stef mentioned the death of Lou Reed, referring to him as “possibly the biggest influence of their sound.” Velvet Underground has been to the forefront of musical pioneering with the myth behind their first album being that it “only sold a few thousand copies, but everyone who bought one formed a band.”

From these roots rise The Mighty Stef, whose momentum has started to increase rapidly. They are getting mightier each and every day.

th The Mighty Stef to talk about ng and their own record label….

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Music

es t p o em ru e m u i m d u ciu m a u si d qu a m e m deo et d i s lo vor a ni tiis s l a a ut tq v o uia l t esiu la m ut ad e m iu ad tas v e et rn , qu a t is r e qui ct v em o le se c dita o se n q al u i s ig d enit ex i s c tu e a rm l u ote Ut m . e ex x pl iq v uia o l p uit m ior o m ol s ta u p cu sa

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American garage rock duo the White Stripes, formed in Detroit in 1997 went on to produce some of the most eye catching album covers of their time, with their backto-basics take on musical work reflected harmoniously in their cover art. This is mainly due to the ‘Wellesian’ creative control held by frontman Jack White in style, music, substance and running concepts.

An ongoing element retained throughout the White Stripes’ career circled around their use of colour to create a solid, memorable function in forming their image.

The systematic use of red white and black in all elements pertaining to the band proved to be both powerful and salient, as explained by Jack White “they are the most powerful colour combination of all time, from a Coca-Cola can to a Nazi banner. Those colours strike chords with people …. When you see a bride in a white gown, you immediately see innocence in that. Red is anger and passion.

It is also sexual. And Black is the absence of all that.” This set construction of authoritative colour scheming did exactly what it was envisioned to do. It echoed the command of the music and the sometimes innocent, childlike lyrics effortlessly.

Their debut album, self-titled The White Stripes, introduced an associative symbol of the band, the red and white peppermint sweet. This was initially due to drummer Meg White’s favouring the candy, but it also fortified further a sense of incorruptibility and infantile purity, which one can expect from a band’s maiden expedition into the music industry. They stated that “it’s the most raw, the most powerful and the most Detroit-sounding record we’ve made.” With songs such as the menacing Cannon, I Fought Piranhas and the pivotal song Screwdriver spanning their live career, it’s an inarguable truth.

The second album to be released by the duo, De Stijl, saw the band draw on the Dutch artistic movement of neoplasticism, which illustrated an uncluttered approach to creativity, focusing on that of form and colour. Again in terms of colour we see the minimal tricolour theme of red, white and black with alternating rectangle shapes adorning the cover, continuing to demonstrate the basal link to The White Stripes’ simplistic garage/blues sound, which was largely alluring to fans.

2001 saw the pair return with White Blood Cells and a cover that poked fun at the farcical nature of the music industry. On the front we see the twosome clad in red and white against a backdrop of a red brick wall being ‘attacked’ by black shadows wielding cameras.

To further satirise the band’s growing popularity in the mainstream music culture, one of the lyrical themes of the album comprises of paranoia, as seen in songs such as I Think I Smell a Rat.

Their fourth album, Elephant, which included their most renowned song, the anthem Seven Nation Army still promotes the elemental sound they had become known for, but takes a looser approach thematically. We see the two on the cover sitting with backs turned to each other, on a circus travel trunk. “If you study the picture really carefully, Meg and I are elephant ears in a head on elephant. But it’s a side view of the elephant too, with the tusks leading off either side,” along with this clarification, Jack White goes on to divulge that the reason for this ambiguous construct was so that fans would be staring at this cover for years till finally they realise “hey, it’s an elephant!”There are also other allusions to the album’s overall musical theme, including the death of the ‘American sweetheart’ that you see on the cover.

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Examining Art and Music – Eds Pick The White Stripes

Get Behind me Satan, the penultimate release from the band takes a different slant on the band’s previously heavy guitar laden songs in favour of the piano. The album’s title is derived from a biblical story about the temptation of Jesus and these theological notes can be seen on the cover, namely the symbol of the white apple held by Meg, a nod to the story of Adam and Eve, the other being the fact that

An ongoing element retained throughout the White Stripes’ career circled around their use of colour to create a solid, memorable function in forming their image.

the two are not facing each other, depicting both as Satan. Truth and the corrupting nature of lies are the main lyrical themes for the album, which aside from the cover art, we hear clearly in the majority of the tracks especially Blue Orchid and The Denial Twist.

The final album of new material released by the pair saw the creation of Icky Thump come to fruition.

Despite maintaining certain practical elements evident in previous albums, this is an extreme move from their earlier work due to the musi-

cal inspiration behind much of it, including Scottish folk and Spanish flamenco. The title song of the same name as the album, Icky Thump, deriving from a northern English saying ‘ecky thump,’ presents some irony, as the band feature on the cover in black and white, ornamented in pearly kings and queens costumes which are traditionally cockney attire. This album, artistically and musically represents a ‘mix and match’ of styles which although strangely complimentary of the complete work, also show a loss of strict uniformity previously seen in the older albums of The White Stripes.

Having disbanded in early 2011, The White Stripes made a unique impression on the current music scene through their rigorous desire to carve both an explosive musical sensation and conceptual visual dexterity to their presentation and calling.

Geneva Pattison

Music

E p lest e o em si um r u a m u id m ni od dam uc is iu s ti et um aut et que m le , ve la la vo de se r u tq lo r d n t ce ita at q em uia ati at co u a v is vo ur m nse isqu di u ole s l et upi olu quis i re tas r i l c t p e e m a i te a t a il ro nim sti en s m or m lig em d m ius vit, h is sa t v i, in mo . Ut end vo ta in ae si ilit m ol c s m e it qu e q ihic nu reiu esc us s ores tia olu x ex is e m a u te ll m id u t su p p xso in ssin e et m abo el it a nt v ut d m r ta c liqu c lu cu it o qu rr lo u ol e er u ia qu on p pta s, u lau ffici i qu um ris d t ve um llen em sa n A isi or qu nt t d d u e qu el nd eu dit re on p e e m n p i i o n s O s m no ore con qua lup de it er bus cer bis ex fug uda a a i i l p u n e t iq r q f q s p nv . e v e es uo ed . V at a ui e, c uid erf t d eli Fa o u - t nda m dio ma olor lig a n us ers eria i re gna ces ian o p m ru m r io e n em e t so lupt upt s c pta is ad vo st o el i qu m l vo te m lum ae at um m i s ac e le ffi n m o at ur m re , iu str sti cim cull sita cat m m n u b e o t e lu qu in fa ur t e e ci ce a od q tia ntu era nt a ri d pa l r u i l i p p q ac oss ui l e ta qu su ibu non r an eca cca em cil ep eq o cti qu am nt s se di e s tu . A lan et et a qui tata i co ris e xiM ta uis ffic atur ia f us no et ip , a d s o tu ug lib p d ns ru ve ate n e rep am vell lup stia a. F usc ore ole equ pe c i ru ac os e r u s ta m er us c u is or m la eaq a s ch lpa mo era , om ovid , om one s de im is cc u ap iliq v m e m e m d e ha quo us aten itat uis enim olu vo olu liqu olo t q is l q up p i u re ui ru di u is us c o t da m q os a am et q un one o dol ta taq t v m as nt ui s u es u di sti dis up s ui olu ve di qu s si llab t, se i au t e be tion tu inis cup pti ne t t pi i d a re it o. f r ib c s s o c v ip tur icili itae . Be ulla enis ugi usa pari tor aud qua Ut ita is t e n aq bo u t b e a u m u p m tius qu te a aute ven eca uo t rep t vo nte esc sam ed . un atu i o s qu se is e bo em ta lor p iis e r t e r ffi t q a l p a e ? i au c e n u la e e a r r t e iti e s e s bo cea ore m f chil um stia qua mp s r . s o , m i a x i u q i M Nu pl qu s te s d u a c u , r m acc am ess du agn e v sap ea c m la intu i re qu Te qua ul re ed sap ihi end id e on bo r s ium o l e t ut ur m s t ecto ctat ven e n llup ess tur pre . Ut itin ni ec r in i el b is eca ta e ip aU hen en ctib s ta ep cil ti ed e a lam usan re, s tur volu san t qu t a tis e us. ac ic tu d re to i de su pt t d ia p sse lit m e n m am it o qu am cu ia sa po tu is e s m ep e r iss r s ia i r n r ea o on m ribu ? Q arci t eiu em ime ed m dol u vo ent e p olo sam iat l ipid sap qui sim od r lo o vo em un eru tora po ut rro ei rae lu pe t, u m n rr u vit r, er pt lic t d i h un u qu odi m m atib te p et in ole illes e s a ab inu us or cu sci tiis m di or s a n ro pt ent i , t e ae os vid a c em so u re et up lo m, il i nt im tia r ia q l i i n s uo ma cti o. N inc m qu d gn os eq ium ui is ol ie du du up nis nt tur se t nt. en a di ib di s t us s co vo . a b r i lu or co pep ns er ed is di t,

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Album w e i v e R

It seems to be the case that just around the turn of the millennium everyone’s taste in music was solely informed by the soundtracks of American Pie movies and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games.

It was a magical time when everyone spoke in barbed witticisms ripped straight from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the world seemed like it could break into one big breakdance fight at any moment. This is the soundtrack of that time.

Nostalgia is a powerful drug. Like most opiates, it isn’t very good for you, but you don’t take it for its benefits. You take it because it’s addictive. The people at UMTV are keenly aware of the massive population of recovering pop-punk addicts out there and have released Teenage Dirtbags – a compilation so ‘of-its-time’ it could have been crafted solely from teenage angst and abandoned skateboards. It’s hard to review a compilation that essentially takes one’s adolescence ransom. On the one hand, the vast majority of these songs are bereft of artistic to the point of contempt. On the other hand it has All-Star by Smash Mouth on it! And The Rasmus! Remember ‘The Rasmus’?

Because that’s what this album does best. It’s a parade of things that you’d forgotten all about when you were busy getting that puberty business over and done with.

Beginning with the titular Teenage Dirtbag; a song which itself is a parody of the very thought of this album, the compilation flicks through hits from bands who had way too many tattoos and too few original thoughts. Examining these songs in 2013 gives the listener the distinct impression that there are two types of song featured here: songs soullessly focus tested and designed specifically to appeal to the mass market; and songs dedicated to making fun of that first type of song. While Bowling for Soup is joking and having fun, we have Papa Roach trying to make suicide look appealing. This is an album that knows exactly what it is doing and tells you as much with its inclusion of Reel Big Fish’s Sell Out towards the end of

Album Title: Teenage Dirtbags Artist: Various Artists Release Date: 19/08/2013

disc one.

Before the term ‘pop punk’ was forced into the zeitgeist, hardcore punk bands like Black Flag and Fugazi expressed an anger and discontent that would influence the likes of Pixies and Nirvana. After Rage Against The Machine started, well, raging against the machine, the commercial appeal of the counterculture aesthetic could no longer be denied. Then, in the mid-90s this approach to music was neutered and defanged by record executives and overzealous producers and marketed as ‘pop punk.’

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – at least twerking wasn’t

It’s hard to review a compilation that essentially takes one’s adolescence ransom.

Coiré Mc Crystall

a thing yet, but it created an atmosphere where everything sounded so similar that it raises questions, one of the most prominent being ‘why do so many tracks on this album sound like they are being wailed by the same nasally, high-pitched malcontent?’

There are some real headscratchers featured here. Why is 1994-Weezer rubbing elbows with Metro Station? In what way is Queens of the Stone Age ‘pop punk’? How on earth can Evanescence and The Bloodhound Gang be put alongside each other? And in a compilation featuring “the greatest pop-punk anthems” where-oh-where is Good Charlotte’s The Anthem – a song that literally touts itself as ‘The Anthem’? Another gripe, albeit a pedantic one, is that this compilation boasts itself as ‘The United State of Pop Punk,’ clad in red, white and blue, in a baffling attempt to tie the music to some romantic idea of America. Not only is this an inexplicable

Lou Reed Obituary

Few people have understood, or influenced, Rock and Roll as much as Lou Reed. The transgressive musician, whose career lasted the best part of five decades, passed away last Sunday following a complications that arose from a liver transplant. His death has sent reverberations among not just the music world, but entertainment in general.

A significant portion of Lou Reed’s career was dedicated to tearing down boundaries in popular music. An early guitar teacher once told him that he only needed to learn three chords to emulate the music he heard on the radio, and Reed took this to heart, creating churning and aggressive songs that sounded like nothing that had come before. He never learned, or indeed even tried, to sing, at least not in the conventional sense, instead delivering his lyrics in a wry monotone, sometimes bitter, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes heartbroken, but always unique. As a lyricist Reed looked inward to the dark side of America, particularly New York, delving into the underbelly and coming back with tales about heroin, transvestites and S&M, that nobody had reported on before.

With the Velvet Underground, Lou Reed led what is possibly the second most influential rock band after the Beatles. Though never commercially successful, the band was at the forefront of the late sixties counter culture movement. Associates of Andy Warhol, the band quietly killed the hippy dream, eschewing peace and love for an altogether darker set of ideals.

From the feedback laden jams like Heroin, where Reed gives a blow by blow account of shooting up the eponymous drug, to sprawling epics like Sister Ray, a seventeen minute track about gay sex, the Velvets understood music like few others, realizing that it could be subversive, redemptive, heartbreaking, and destructive, something that was both beautiful and ugly. Reed

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point to sell the compilation on; it’s also patently false.

Sum 41 is Canadian. The Rasmus is from Finland. The frustratingly named A, though you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise, is an English band. But, inarguably, the bands themselves do contribute to an aesthetic that is unapologetically American in spirit, if not necessarily American.

Suffice to say, Teenage Dirtbags is a perplexing album. If this is the type of music you listened to in its heyday, you probably already own most of the lead tracks on this album – those by Blink-182, Bowling for Soup, Wheatus and Sum 41. However, there is a lot of stuff on this album that, while obviously not new, is still quite revelatory. Len’s Steal My Sunshine is an altogether pleasant if inconsequential listen, whereas Head Automatica’s Beating Heart Baby is a horrific car crash of misguided creative decisions that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. The album itself is a serviceable amber for preserving a bundle of songs, though not particularly well curated, which you might have forgotten until they featured on the soundtrack of a major motion picture. On the whole, Teenage Dirtbags is practically a tax on your teenage years, but is a price worth paying.

left the band after just four years (and four albums) in 1970, amid infighting and (heavier then normal) drug abuse.

Reed quickly embarked on a long a fruitful solo career, which was both restless and iconoclastic. David Bowie, who viewed Reed as something of a muse, produced his second solo effort, Transformer, which wielded some of his biggest hits, such as Walk on the Wild Side, and Perfect Day, perhaps the most sordid songs ever to become hit singles. Its almost impossible to categorise or pigeonholed Reed, because with each album he changed tact.

From the dark, gothic, novel-as-a-record Berlin, a rock opera which deal with themes such as suicide, lost love and loneliness, to Metal Machine Music, an hour of shapeless feedback, which many saw as a joke (Reed always maintained it was a serious effort), to the Raven, electronic beats set to Edgar Allen Poe stories, its impossible to try and pick out a highlight from his solo career.

Although always a committed outsider, Reed’s presence hung largely over nearly every music trend to come after him, from glam to post punk, showing that he had been ahead of his time. He was reluctant to embrace his status as a figurehead, and wasn’t shy to criticise those that held him up on a pedestal. He kept his best insults for journalists, often delivering brutal and frank answers to interviewers, and making no effort to disguise the disdain that he felt for some of them.

From the grinding industrial beat of Nine Inch Nails, the atonal freak outs of Sonic Youth, the noise pop of My Bloody Valentine, Lou Reed has got a frightening influence. Anybody that’s weird, strange, an outcast or a misfit, that picks up an instrument and decides to go for it should remember Lou. He was one of the first.

Adam Duke

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Fashion

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How to Dress like Emma Stone...

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One celebrity who seems to be emerging as a modern style icon is the adorable girl-next-door, Emma Stone.

Fashion magazines and bloggers have been cooing over her effortless sartorial choices since Stone first captured our attention with her breakthrough role in Easy A (2010). On the red carpet, Stone makes daring choices while still maintaining elegance and sophistication. Off-duty, her casual looks exude her own brand of cool. And the best part is that her looks are so easily achieved on the high street - no Brown Thomas loyalty card required. The looks which are analysed in this article are deceptively simple; Stone chooses one stand-out piece and builds an interesting look around it with other wardrobe staples. It’s a winning formula for anyone, not just a Hollywood actress.

At the 2012 premiere of The Amazing Spiderman, Stone stepped outside the box with this strikingly androgynous yet glamorous look. She struck the perfect balance between sexy and sophisticated; this is night-time dressing at its best. The combination of this sleek black River Island body (45e) paired with New Look’s on-trend black and gold jacquard trousers (29.99e) is a 2013 take on classic black.

Stone accessorised this look simply; a gold plated belt such as this Asos number (6.73e) and simple black court shoes, like these classic Miss Selfridge beauties (£39) will give this night-time look a polished finish - something that Stone has in spades with this look.

This casual winter look shows that even off-duty, Stone still has her finger on the fashion pulse. Often photographed out and about with boyfriend Andrew Garfield, Stone consistently exudes coolness effortlessly. Masculine tweed coats are a huge trend for autumn-winter 2013, so this look is highly attainable on the high street. Miss Selfridge’s grey boucle jacket (£49) is a cosy nod to this trend, while Stone’s staple navy skinny jeans can easily be replicated with the help of Topshop (£38). She softens the masculinity of

this look with a pretty monochrome blouse, and New Look provides a feminine affordable version (22.99). Lastly, a simple pair of neutral pumps from Office (£16) rounds off this casual, relaxed look.

The reason for choosing Emma Stone as a style icon is simple; her look is simple but effective. She chooses one key item; be it a daring jumpsuit or a stylish jacket, and builds an outfit around it with basic yet fitting ancillary pieces. Stone understands the balance between red carpet and off-duty looks and she is confident in her own personal sense of style. Learning how to dress like a celebrity isn’t difficult when you aspire to someone whose look you can break down

Each season, catwalk trends are filtered down to the high street so swiftly and affordably that achieving your favourite celebrity’s style is easy.

into several key wardrobe pieces that are readily available on the high street. Each season, catwalk trends are filtered down to the high street so swiftly and affordably that achieving your favourite celebrity’s style is easy. Although Penneys isn’t featured in this article, for every item mentioned, it is nearly guaranteed that a Penneys alternative will surface at some point!

Emily O’Brien

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Iconic Designers

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different” - Coco Chanel

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What’s in, what’s out, what’s dated, what’s dead. How do we even know these things?

And why do we even care? Who has the power to say what’s fashionable and what’s not?

Surely we could say that what’s fashionable to one depends on what they like and what they don’t. If you asked Gucci or Armani this they probably wouldn’t say the same! There is no right or wrong when it comes to fashion but there is a yes or no. Fashion designers are powerful people who influence many of us hugely. We fashion forward divas are very much concerned about what we’re wearing, where we got it and how much it cost. And of course, we are very hugely concerned that it is this seasons!

Nowadays, we have new up and coming fashion labels constantly breaking into the fashion scene. Are these the ones we adore or is it the more traditional designer that holds our heart in 2013? Many older women, maybe just over thirty, will be more inclined to keep their eye on the designer they have loved since they were young. Where as many of us

younger girls like to experiment with these rather new labels such as Porter Grey.

In 1971, Coco Chanel stated ‘’In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.’’ And in 2013, being different is a rather popular idea. Chanel is a label we have always and will always love. Coco Chanel is definitely an icon of the fashion industry. Chanel Number 5 is the world’s best known and best-selling female perfume, which is still very much being eyed up on the shelf, tested and bought today. With Chanel, we get fashion, fragrances, make-up, skincare, fine jewellery and watches. What more could a woman want? In 2007, Keira Knightley followed Kate Moss as the new face of Coco Mademoiselle. The clothes, that were first created by Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel, were designed primarily for comfort but have now got a little more edge to them.

We see sparkles, beads, feathers, interesting shapes and ideas. The brand has come a long way since the opening of its first shop in 1913. Chanel bags are still very much adored and a huge part of the Chanel brand. I think every lady either has or would love a Chanel bag. It is definitely something they dream about! Coco Chanel is an icon so loved that fans of hers make pilgrimages to her apartment where she is said to have lived for thirty years. A little over the top?

Coco Chanel is a brand that will, without doubt, continue to grow and be adored.

Another great quote by Chanel was; ‘’A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.’’ Well, ladies, this is something we can live by. That ‘lbd’ and pearl earrings will never be a no, but the feather coat may not always be a yes!

Emily Looney

H

The Boyfriend Coat Has there ever been an item so suitably named as The Boyfriend Coat? At the rate the female population of the world is falling in love, it definitely doesn’t seem like it. This iconic piece became a must-have when women were entering the workforce. Inspired by the men’s suits, women wore power outfits to look ultraprofessional. Over time the jacket has evolved, the hemline went from the knee to just below the hip, the neckline got lower and the fit became more feminine.

The piece is the most versatile one on offer, second only, perhaps, to the Little Black Dress.

In modern fashion, the most flattering and popular silhouette for casual wear is a skinny leg and oversized top. This is for a very good reason, as it achieves the easy, breezy, effortless glam we all yearn for. The boyfriend jacket is currently the most sought after contender to complete this look.

The cropped sleeves, baggy shape and the desired woolly fabric hang over the figure flawlessly, and never cease to compliment a distressed skinny jean. As an added bonus, the secret quality of the length is that the jacket covers the hips and derrière, leaving only the nicest part of the leg on show and hiding any knicker-lines for those legging-lovers!

On the other hand, if you prefer a more tomboy-inspired look for your casual life, the versatility of this jacket

triumphs once more. Think of a pose with one hand on the hip, the coat held back, the other hand loose at your side and your knees relaxed. The boyfriend blazer flows seamlessly from pretty cami tops to graphic tees. Pair this with vintage mom jeans to achieve the same flattery as the previous look, but with your own twist! For the ultimate laid-back ensemble, ribbon-laced white converse add a feminine and yet simple, casual touch.

When it comes to partying, the boyfriend coat is just as valuable. Long gone are the days when a night out meant chattering your teeth off in the cold. As we grow up, we realise that we look most sophisticated when we look relaxed and comfortable. Bringing a coat out with you creates an alluring look of maturity. On another positive note, this jacket will only ever add to your outfit. The low neckline makes it perfect for showing off the statement necklace trend, and the hemline stays in classic harmony with the length of most dresses – not too long or too short. For maximum elegance, try out some super sexy stilettos. This look is all about glamour.

When heading off to the workplace, or even just trying to make the perfect first impression as an intern, take a moment to praise women in history for giving you this ultra-reliable garment. This is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of style and vintage culture. The tailored look of this jacket is absolutely heavenly when paired with cigarette pants for a modern take on the classic power suit. For a more feminine finish, try a high-waist pencil skirt. With your most comfy heels and an ever-flattering sheer blouse, your life as a working woman will incorporate fashion, sophistication and professionalism.

The reasons for The Boyfriend Coat’s climb back to the top of everyone’s fashion fantasies are endless. The plunging vertical neckline is extremely slimming, as is the single button at its close. It draws attention to the waist in a wonderful way. Any savvy shopper knows that with the right basics and style-staples, any look can be achieved without a dramatic amount of clothes, and this jacket fits the bill. If only Rebecca from Confessions of a Shopaholic had read the Tribune!

Emily Kielthy

05.11.2013 T+

advice

‘

Let Al reach out and touch you

with

Al Porter

Tallaght’s local treasure Al Porter kindly corresponds to those who write to him seeking advice. This week, as always, Al responds to the socially challenged individuals who write to him with a healthy combination of care and condescension.

Q: Dear Al, My friend is trying to get off cigarettes, and I totally applaud him for it. Have you any advice on how I can best support him in this decision?

Ronan Dearest Ronan, I’m afraid I must discourage you from offering him any support other than kind words. As I write this reply I am fucking dying for a cigarette. It wasn’t always like this. My good mate Patser was a chain smoker. I had never smoked. When he decided to give them up, he didn’t want to do it alone.

So, I was supportive and we went on the nicotine patches together.

Now I smoke twenty a day.

Q: Dear Al, I recently turned twenty one and with a bit of help from the folks, got myself a car. I’m a learner driver and I was fucking loving it... At first it was great – giving my mates lifts, being the one with the independence... I even went dogging, on my own. Class! But now I’m not sure if my mates are taking advantage of me?

They seem to always need a lift and I’m not sure if it’s me or my fuckin’ sweet micra they like? How do I let them down gently, and put a stop to all this taxi work?!

Fran.

‘

Fran, my darling, The simplest way to bring an end to this situation is not to stop giving them lifts, but rather a simple change in attitude. When you’re giving lifts and you ask them where they’d like to be dropped off and they say “wherever suits”, take it literally. They don’t mean it, and you know it. Next time someone says ‘wherever suits’, fuck them out at the side of the motorway.

That’s where suits. They’ll soon stop asking.

Howya Al, Liv here...I’m a bit embarrassed writing to ya...’cos like, scarlet for me life even lookin for advice. But, I feel pure conflicted. Ye see, I went out into town with the girls for Halloween.

Then I won the fancy dress competition. Your man the DJ calls out, “Congratulations to this girl here. Our favourite Slutty Nurse”. But that’s just it Al – I wasn’t a slutty nurse, I wasn’t even in costume. I’m just a Nurse. I’d come from work.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted I won but, it doesn’t feel right?

Olivia.

Nurse Liv, What’s to fret about? ...It’s a simple mistake. Everyone’s Halloween costume is just a slutty version of someone else. Ever hear about the time Cher came second in a Drag competition to find the best Cher impersonator? Or when Morgan Freeman won first place for best costume last Halloween, for coming as ‘Slutty Nelson Mandela’? How about when Noam Chomsky won for ‘Slutty Noam Chomsky’? Make like an undeserving Nobel peace prize winning Barack Obama and embrace your win shamelessly! !

Yours, Al.

Al Porter hosts Rammed on Monday’s fortnightly in the Woolshed on Parnell Street. Tickets €5 for students.

11

Yours, Al. Send your questions to

al@collegetribune.ie

TRAVEL\11

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

Paris on a Shoestring.

With the economy in crisis, part-time jobs few and far between and the cost of third level education rising, it is no wonder that student travel is fast becoming an occasional luxury. This series explores travel plans which save money and maximize experience. We will even tot up the cost for you….

Paris is the romantic capital of the world and if you think ahead you could make a trip to this notoriously expensive city affordable.

Flights.

Cost

When flying into paris you can choose to land in Orly, Charles de Gaulle or Beauvais. Charles de Gaulle is probably the easiest way to access the city centre, however, Ryanair do really cheap flights to Beauvais Airport. The downside to this is that you have to do a bit of travel on the other side. You can get a taxi or a shuttle bus for a couple of euro to the centre of Beauvais and then you can get a train to Gare du Nord station in central Paris for about €12. This will take about an hour and a half - leave two hours to be safe.

Flights to Beauvais booked well in advance: €40.00 + Transport to and from airport: €32.00 + Aircoach from UCD: €14.00 + Maison Internationale de la Jeunesse et des Étudiants (three nights): €87.00 + Metro travel (book of ten tickets): €11.50 + Food on a budget: €60.00 + Admission costs: €20.00

Travel.

Like London, Paris is widely accessible by the metro. However, travel is cheaper than London. You can pick up one ticket for about a euro or a book of ten tickets (a carnet) for about €11. Remember to keep you tickets as you leave the station as there are often inspectors.

Language.

Obviously language is something you have to factor in on a trip to Paris, most people who deal with the general public in the capital have good English but there is no harm in brushing up on a few local phrases to get you by. Pick up a phrase book and download an app for translating anything you come across. Google maps is useful for deciphering tricky directions.

Total: €234.80 *Based on Saturday March 1st 2014 to Tuesday 4th of March 2014 (the flights leaving early morning, about 7am on the Saturday and arrive back at about 4pm on the Tuesday - so you get three and a half days in Paris.

Accommodation.

There are loads of great budget places to stay in central Paris.

We recommend the Maison Internationale de la Jeunesse et des Étudiants in the Marais et Bastille neighbourhood, where rooms start from €29 euro per night. This hostel is comprised of three different period buildings and comes highly recommended. It is also close to central Paris.

Stuff to do.

There are so many things to do for free in Paris while tourist attractions which are not free are usually heavily discounted for under 25’s. Start your stay with a visit to the huge park, the Jardin du Luxembourg - bring a picnic if the weather is good. Close by is the famous cathedral, Notre Dame. Both attractions are free. The Musée d’Orsay, an incredible gallery on the left bank of the Seine, houses pieces from Manet, Renoir, Degas and Van Gogh and is free for under 25’s. It is well worth a visit. Two of the most iconic and best loved things to do in paris include visiting the Eiffel Tower and taking a boat trip down the Seine. The Eiffel tower costs about €3.50 to climb to the second platform. Go at night when it is beautifully lit up. A boat trip down the Seine is a great way to see lots of the tourist sites in Paris and is really beautiful when

the light is fading in the evening. The Bateau Mouche is great value at €11.00 and is about 70 mins long, leaving ten times a day. If you are feeling adventurous, walk up the hill at Montmarte - a whole 234 steps. Arrive on the top to see the famous basilica, the Sacre Coeur and a panoramic view of the city. Afterwards, head down to the red light district, Pigalle, to see the real Moulin Rouge. If you are feeling especially hipster you could head over to the Père Lachaise Cemetery, home to Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and Proust. After that, you must see the Louvre which is one of the largest museums in the world. You would need days to see it all so grab a walking tour handset to pinpoint the main draws in this massive building. The Louvre is not open on Tuesdays and is free for under 25’s. Lastly, head over to the Arc de Triomphe at the centre of the Etoile roundabout, you can climb it for €6.00 or you can view it from a distance for free. From here you can window shop along the Champs-Élysées, the most exclusive and well known street in Paris, the take-away crepes are to die for!

Food and Drink.

Paris has such great options for budget eats. Grab coffee and Croissants to go for a couple of euro in the mornings. You can pick up sandwiches in the afternoon and you should go all out and buy some fresh bread, dark chocolate, brie and a big bottle of white wine and bring it back to your room for dinner. Try the Marché d’Aligre or the Rue Mouffetard markets for incredible fresh food and local produce which you can take away. French food is so good that it is probably worth spending some money on a dinner or two. Alternately, you can sip a very expensive cup of coffee on a terrace overlooking the river Seine.

12/TECH

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

Cherry Picking?

H

Kate O’Brien looks at the implications of cherry picking in research…

Here is the paradox. In science, we design every study as cleanly as possible. Experiments are designed carefully to ensure that the findings we get really do reflect the thing we’re trying to measure. But experiments are not the end of the story. There is a second, crucial process, which is putting that evidence together to create a coherent picture.

Cherry picking is selecting a small amount of results to represent an entire area of research; sounds like any essay I’ve ever written, selectively referencing only the studies that support my views; yep definitely one of my essays, while ignoring contradicting information; well one has to stick to the word count.

The likely origins of the term cherry picking illustrates the concept perfectly. When picking cherries, a person might search for only the best cherries, such as those that are the healthiest. Another person may make the incorrect assumption that all cherries on the tree are as healthy. Or a person might only select the cherries that are easiest to reach, regardless of quality.

The second two people may end up with an unripe or diseased batch of cherries that doesn’t present the correct picture of the quality of the

In research, one is striving for objectivity. tree’s fruit. It’s the same with picking references for any essay.

A person can cherry pick information either on purpose or inadvertently, such as when a person might only look at data that is easy to find. The term is more commonly used with someone who purposefully ignores contradicting information, however, it’s done unintentionally; we all prefer the familiar and easily explained to strange and confusing evidence but we must get over these preferences.

Suppressing evidence, is only using the data that seems to confirm your particular position, while ignoring a significant portion of related cases that may contradict that position. Extreme cherry picking occurs when extraordinary lengths are gone to in discrediting a study whose results contradict your point. Insignificant or minor aspects of a study’s methodology can be blown way out of proportion in an attempt to invalidate the study. Hypocrisy occurs when one then fails to hold up research that you do like to that exact same standard.

Systematic reviews are a way to avoid cherry picking. They are a series of reproducible ways for searching information, to ensure that your evidence synthesis is free from bias. You describe not just what you found, but how you looked, which research databases you used, what search terms you typed, and so on. This apparently obvious manoeuvre has revolutionised the science of medicine.

In debating, everything put forward is promoting a side in the argument. But in research, one is striving for objectivity. When reading an essay it usually isn’t obvious that the evidence presented was deliberately incomplete.

Decisions are made based on research. The interpretation of research is key. Those silly essays are the few times we get to practice those skills in a safe environment. Are we going to waste them?

Are we going to fail to develop the skills for which they are intended because of the effort it would take? Are we going to get into the habit of cherry picking?

James Walsh writes about his experience of the recent Dublin Web Summit....

Hi my name is James Walsh, I’m a computer science student and a founder of a small Irish tech startup named Adme. I recently attended the Dublin Web Summit and it was an experience worth talking about.

The Web Summit is the largest tech conference in Europe and focuses mainly on mobile and web companies. Attendees include representatives from some of the worlds largest companies in these areas: Google, Facebook, PayPal all the way down to Irish started companies like Halo and Young Scientist winner Patrick Collison who is a founder of Stripe, a web and mobile payment provider worth 500 Million.

The main focus of the event was on the Irish and international tech startup market, there were more than 250 early stage startups with stands on the show floor displaying their wares. Talks were given by some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk, founder of Paypal, SpaceX and Tesla Motors who talked with Enda Kenny about the future of technology and how Ireland, due to it’s cultural compatibility with America – the current world leader – and its tech savvy young graduates is poised to contribute some big changes to the tech world in the coming years.

I saw a couple of talks given by organisers from some of the social groups from Dublin and around the world who are focused on tech communities. I had heard of some of these before but I had no idea how many of them there were or how active they are, if you go to meetup.com and search for tech meetups in Dublin you will find more than 14 events to go to before the end of the month. There’s something for every tech taste and these are by no means only for pros, anybody with an interest is welcome. They’re all free and generally provide free beer and pizza. There are also some specifically targeted at women like rails girls and pyladies who try to bridge the gender gap present in the tech industry at the moment by making it as easy as possible for women to get involved in these communities.

The Summit gave me a better perspective of what it means to be a young techie in Dublin and how the Dublin tech social community is a significant force in the technological future of the world. As the Taoiseach said during the closing event, any innovative startup in this country will receive every possible support available to ensure their success. This is the time to try and see if you can make your ideas into reality.

The Summit will be on again next year and I would encourage anybody with an interest in becoming involved in this thriving industry and social community to attend, and don’t be put off by the ticket prices, most colleges got a couple of free tickets to give out to eager students so an email to the head of your computer science department might get you on the short list for next year.

COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE\13

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

True or FALSE…?

T

Niamh Crosbie takes a look at the false widow’s invasion of Ireland...

Thought to have originally come from Madeira and the Canary Islands, steatoda nobilis arrived in Britain around 100 years ago. Thanks to the effects of global warming, we are now seeing these “false widow” spiders in Ireland – in the south and east in particular. Chances are you’ve either come across one, or have read on Facebook that a friend has just found “a massive false widow spider in my garage OMG!” Whether you’re a sufferer of arachnophobia or not, a new, seemingly harmful eight-legged friend in your home can appear to be a distressing thought no matter which way you look at it. In the midst of a constant buzz about the subject, this spider invasion in Dublin, now home to a significant population of the spiders, is something that cannot be ignored.

However, the professional media and word-of-mouth alone can blow a situation like this to ridiculous proportions and it can be difficult to know what to believe. There are some things that are important to know - if not for safety purposes, than simply to put a spider-hating mind at ease.

At the size of a 20c coin, the spiders are black, shiny, and have very faint markings. Irish arachnologist Myles Nolan has stated that they are very easy to distinguish from regular spiders, when he spoke about the new inhabitant on RTÉ Radio 1 with Derek Mooney. He declares that

They don’t leap at people from trees or anything like that..

@1littlebluedove

like that.”

The severity of a bite from the false widow spider depends on the area that receives the bite and the amount of venom released. The spider is only likely to cause serious harm to those who are allergic to its venom, much like the stings and bites of numerous insects.

In fact, the spider has been said to be even less of a threat than the wasp.

Symptoms identified include chest pains, swelling and tingling of fingers, and medical attention is strongly urged as soon as a bite occurs. However, the people of Dublin can be somewhat reassured by the fact that no deaths have been recorded in relation to this spider’s bite.

Happily enough, the false widow spider will scuttle away at the first sign of a threat, just like a money-spider. They will only bite if they sense danger or are attacked. It is at times like this that we can cling to the good old reliable “it’s more afraid of you that you are of it” rule. And some of us, I can say, are truly glad of it.

the spiders are nowhere near as dangerous as their lethal cousin the black widow, and makes it very clear, stating that, “they don’t leap at people from trees or anything

I WANT

WRITE

14/GAEILGE

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

Sorcas Cyrus.... l ach fiche bliain slánaithe ag Miley Cyrus agus tá an saol ag caint uirthi ar na mallaibh. Rugadh agus tógadh í leis an gclú; b’aisteoir agus amhránaí do Disney í Miley agus í níb óige, bhain sí cáil idirnáisiúnta amach sa ról Hannah Montanna agus deirtear gur ghnóthaigh sí níos mó ná $15,000 do gach eipeasóid de. Bhí sí níos saibhre ná a hathair cáiliúil, Billy Ray, agus í cúig bliana déag d’aois.

Feictear fadhbanna ag teacht chun solais go mion is go minic leis na réaltaí óga ón Oileán Úr, áfach. Chaill siad aois a leanbhaoise de bharr gur chaith siad aois na hóige mar shiamsóirí agus chothaigh sé sin fadhbanna dóibh féin. Cuir i gcás Macaulay Culkin agus an cúpla Olsen, bhí orthu teacht i méadaíocht le gach mac agus iníon máthar beo ag faire orthu agus feictear ciallachais mhóra ag eascairt as an míshásacht seo níos moille ina saol.

Le fíordhéanaí is léir go bhfuil Miley i lár géarchéime féinaithne. Nochtadh é seo dúinn sna VMAs i rith an tsamhraidh nuair a chaith sí culaith áiféiseach ar an stáitse mór ann; bhí fo-éadaí lonracha uirthi agus í ag critheadh a tóna lena ceol, nó ag twerkáil, mar a thugtar air. Cheapfeá go raibh sí i gclub damhsa théisiúil agus is follasach go bhfuil sí ag aithris ar Madonna, Rihanna, Lady Gaga agus a macasamhail. Níor bhronnadh aon ghradam uirthi an oíche sin ach tá sí i mbéal an phobail ó shin i leith. An í Miley an fíorbhuaiteoir?

Ní háibhéil é a rá go bhfuil an domhan gafa léi ó shin agus tá sí tar éis níos mó poiblíochta a bhaint amach ná riamh. Dar le Nuacht NBS bhí 306,100 tvuít fúithi ar Twitter in aghaidh an nóiméid ar oíche na VMAs agus d’éirigh léi 100,000 leantóir sa bhreis a fháil ar Instagram an lá dar gcionn fiú. Léiríonn na staitisticí go raibh níos mó Meirceánaigh ag caint uirthi ná ag trácht ar bhuamaí na Siria ag an am. Is féidir aip a fháil anois ar Google Chrome darb ainm “No Miley” a chuireann cosc iomlán uirthi i d’Fhotha Nuachta ar Facebook agus ar a leithéidí.

Is é an t-amhrán Wrecking Ball a heisiúint is úire ar Youtube óna halbam nua Bangerz, albam a bhí suite ag barr na gcairteanna i seachtó tír ar iTunes. Tá an t-amhránaí lomnocht ina físeán is déanaí agus tá an mhír mhullaigh aici anois, toisc 100 milliún lucht féachana a bheith bailithe aige níos tapúla ná aon fhíseán eile ar

domhan, agus ní dheachaigh aon duine ina marc go fóill.

Déanann an dream sna luathdhéaga uillín óir de Mhiley agus is cúis imní é sin.

Adhmhaíonn sí go mbíonn sí ag glacadh drugaí. Dúirt sí gurbh aoibhinn léi bheith ag caitheamh raithní agus ag baint leasa as an druga Molly. Anuas air sin mhaslaigh sí an amhránaí Éireannach Sinéad Ó Connor ar Twitter le gairid, ag cur i gcéill gurb ionann Amanda Bines agus Sinéad mar tá an bheirt acu ar mire. Ach ba cheist chigilteach í cás Bines mar bhí sí san ospidéal le meabhairghalar uirthi ar an lá céanna gur maslaíodh í. Bhí tinneas intinne ar Shinéad chomh maith san am atá caite agus tá sí tar éis cúpla litir oscailte a scríobh

chuig Miley ag rá nár cheart di a bheith ag spocadh astu agus go bhfuil sí aineolach ar na cúrsaí seo. Is gá a bheith cúramach faoina ndeirtear mar tá modhanna áirithe saoil nach dtuigeann sí, is léir. Is cirte a rá gur cheart do Mhiley fanacht glan ó ábhair conspóideacha nach dtuigeann sí agus nach dtagann aon mhaitheas as an gcibirbhulaíocht.

Tá an t-uafás gustail ag Miley, tá sí faoi luach thart ar $150 milliún. Ba cheart comhairle a chur uirthi ionas go mbeadh nósanna ciallmhara á gcothú aici agus í ag fás aníos amach anseo. Mar bharr ar an donas tá a máthair ina bainisteoir uirthi faraor, agus aontaíonn sí le gníomhartha déanacha a hiníne. Ní heiseamláir mhaith í

Nuacht an Chumainn Ghaelaigh UCD le hÁine Ní Chianáin

Bhí Lá na Gaeilge ar siúl Dé Máirt an 22ú Deireadh Fómhair. Cuireadh tús leis an lá leis an mBricfeasta Gaelach.

D’éirigh muintir Tí na Gaeilge, baill an choiste agus an t-Oifigeach Gaeilge Caoimhe Ní Chobhthaigh go luath ar maidin agus an-chuid cócaireachta le déanamh acu sa Seomra Caidrimh.

Díoladh os cionn 100 ceapaire le hispíní is bagún ar euro an chinn, agus an t-airgead go léir á bhailiú ar son na carthanachta Self Help Africa.

daithe! Bhí gach duine ag súil go mór le hAvicii agus Macklemore as Gaeilge a chloisteáil agus an áit ag preabadh! Bailíodh níos mó ná míle euro ar son Self Help Africa, agus guíonn muid gach rath ar Seo Linn agus iad ag obair leis an gcarthanacht san Afraic go luath. Ár mbuíochas leo as ucht oíche den scoth a chur ar fáil dúinn!

Ag a cúig a chloig bhí díospóireacht ghrinn idir ollscoile ar siúl sa Seomra Dearg in Ionad na Mac Léinn. An rún a bhí ann ná “An t-aon áit don Ghaeilge ná an Ghaeltacht”.

Bhí Caoimhe Seoige agus Donal Ó Cathain ag troid ar ár son in aghaidh beirte ó ChoTá an deireadh seachtaine is fearr ar domláiste na Trionóide. Dar ndóigh bhí an lámh hain ag druidim go tapa linn. Dár ndóigh, in uachtar againne, mar is ceart! is é ar a bhfuil mé ag caint ná an turas chuig an Oireachtas atá ar siúl i gCill Airne Ach gan amhras, b’í ocáid mhór Lae na i mbliana. Díoladh na ticéid go h-an sciGaeilge ná Seo Linn ag casadh i mBeár na obtha ar fad, cúpla soicind a bhí ann de Mac Léinn. Ceolchoirm saor in aisce do réir an Uasail Peadzy Uí Lamhna. Beidh mhic léinn a bhí ann, agus bhí an beár pló-

dá lucht leanúna óg agus is ag dul in olcas atá sí gan smacht.

Tá sé soiléir do chách nach dtuigeann Miley gur féidir léi a hamhráin a dhíol gan dul thar fóir leis na seifteanna seo. Tá bua an cheoil aici agus níl a shéanadh air gur duine ildánach í. Níl an locht iomlán uirthi féin ach ar a comhairleoirí, ar a teaghlach agus ar a cairde. Is gá cabhrú léi bheith níos stuama agus níos saoithiúla. Is féidir léi íomhá tharraingteach agus ghnéasach a chruthú di féin gan féachaint le haird phoiblí a dhéanamh gan snáth uirthi. Tá sí tar éis ciall uirthi féin a chailiúint ach tiocfaidh sí le haois…nó le rehab!

Aisling Ní Shírín

an turas lán go béal le craic, ceol is diabhlaíocht den scoth leis na Cumainn eile ó cheann ceann na tíre. Beidh comórtas feistis bhréige ar an Aoine, mar sin tabhairigí libh bhur bhfeistis! Ar an Satharn beidh beirt ó Teach na Gaeilge ag díospóireacht ar son an Chumainn. D’éirigh go maith leo sna réamhbabhtaí le linn na seachtaine i gcoinne mhuintir Choláiste na Trionóide agus Ollscoile na hÉireann Má Nuad, ar son an rúin “Ní chomhlíonann Éire sainmhiniú an fhocail náisiún a thuilleadh”. Táimid ar fad ag tnúth go mór le díospóireacht na Sathairne, agus le lucht tacaíochta chomh mór is gur féidir linn a bheith againn ann, le cúnamh Dé beidh an corn Gael Linn ag teacht ar ais linn go COBÁC ar an mbus!

GAEILGE\15

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

Céim ar Chéim

Tá sé 7:30 ar maidin. Shiúl mé 10CM to dtí seo agus tá thart ar 7CM fágtha romham. Táim ar an Camino le mála mór trom ar mo dhroim agus le spuaiceanna ar mo chosa. Cén fáth ar ghlac mé chugam féin ceann dos na rudaí is deacra a rinne mé i mo shaol riamh? An freagra ná Gaisce.

Is é Gaisce- Gradam an Uachtaráin, an gradam is airde in Éirinn do dhaoine óga idir 15 agus 25. Le linn na h80idí bhí an-rath ar an nGradam Diúic Dhún Éideann ,nó an “Duke of Ed”, a bhunaigh an Príonsa Philib i Sasana le linn na 50ídí.

Bhunaigh an t-Uachtarán ag an am Pádraig J. Ó hIrghile a ghradam féin i 1985 le linn Bliana Idirnáisiúnta na nÓg,. Tugtar Gaisce, an sean Gaeilge ar “éacht mór”, air. Tá trí léibheal den ghradam (Cré Umha, Airgead agus Ór) agus éiríonn siad níos deacra céim ar chéim. Bronnann an t-Uachtarán an bonn óir i searmanas stáit i gCaisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath gach bliain.

Ach conas gur féidir Gaisce a bhaint amach?

Tá ceithre chuid de ghach dushlán gaisce le chomhlíonú chun an bonn a fháil. Caithfidh gach duine óg spriocanna pearsanta a leagadh amach agus a shaothrú i gceithre réimse gníomhaíochta; Rannpháirtíocht Pobail, Scileanna Pearsanta, Áineas Fisiciúil agus Turas Eachtraíochta. Tugtar tacaíocht ón Presidents Award Leader, nó an PAL. Don Gaisce Ór, caithfear uair a chloig a dhéanamh gach seachtain ar feadh 52 seachtaine i ngach réimse, agus

Peadar Ó Lámhna ag caint ar shiúlóid an Camino agus léibhéil éagsúla an ghradaim Gaisce

turas eachtraíochta a dhéanamh ar feadh 4 lá agus 3 oíche, agus tú ag siúl ar a laghad 80CM. Níl aon duine ag cur iachaill ort na dúshláin a chríochnú. Is fút féin atá sé. Níl comórtas i gceist leis, tá gach dúshlán gaisce difriúil do ghach rannpháirtí sa tír.

Chomh maith le mo Camino, rinne mé 52 sheachtain ag snámh, chabhraigh mé leis an gCumann Gaelach anseo i gCOBÁC, agus mhúin mé rang tarrthála gach seachtain i Rath Maonais le Cumann Sábháilteacht Uisce na hÉ-

ireann i Ráth Maonais. Anuas ar seo, caithfidh gach rannpháirtí ar mian leis/léi an Gaise Ór a bhaint amach tionscnamh cónaithe a dhéanamh. Rinne mise cúrsa ceoil i Maigh Nuad le linn an tsamhraidh.

Gan dabht, is é an Gaisce Óir an rud ba dheacra, ach, os a choinne sin, an rud ba thaithneamhaí a rinne mé i mo shaol. D’fhoghlaim mé an-chuid scileanna agus bhuail mé le go leor daoine nua le linn dom 3 bliana a dhéanamh.

Gaisce UCD Chun mic léinn a spreagadh a bheith bainteach leis an ngradam, bunaíodh Oifig Ghaisce i UCD, le cabhair ón Leas-Uachtarán um Mhic Léinn Dr. Martin Butler i Meán Fómhair 2013,.

Más mian leat páirt a ghlacadh i nGaisce agus tú i UCD, cuir ríomhphost chuig gaisce@ucd.ie agus beidh tú in ann tús a chur le do dhúshlán féin!

Get your free condoms from the SU Welfare & Equality Officer in the Student Centre.

The welfare office also provides advice to students on mental health, healthcare services, safe sex and accommodation.

It’s Satire, STUPID!

INSIDE “Hugh Brady to erect monument to Hugh Brady celebrating Hugh Brady’s accomplishments as Hugh Brady” “Slutty or sexy?

The controversy over male Halloween costumes continues inside” “Rihanna able to accelerate puberty in males by 4 years’ reports study” “Hearing the number 69 still cause for amusement” “Pinocchio dies of alcohol poisoning following intense game of “Never have I Ever”

This is a non smoking area...

Ná caith tobac

The Campbell Psychology Centre?

In the wake of Alastair Campbell’s visit to UCD at the behest of the Law Society last Wednesday, UCD’s faculty have decided to once again honour a non-academic by naming a building after them.

This decision follows controversy surrounding the naming of the O’Brien Science Centre that was opened in October of this year. The Centre, named after a man that is not only a non-scientist but also a media mogul, is a striking leap forward for the UCD science community, allowing them more room to expand their minds and egos in modernity and comfort under the patronage of a man who has had run ins with the

Moriarty Tribunal.

Although O’Brien may have an honorary doctorate from our University, the naming committee were not informed that it was in Law, not Science. This turned out to be inconsequential however, as the Turbine was told that O’Brien is in fact; very wealthy, instantly justifying the decision. We can assume that Campbell’s worldwide fame and popularity holds similar weight in such decisions.

UCD’s campus will soon be graced with a new building for the School of Psychology that will bear Mr. Campbell’s name. The announcement shall certainly be welcomed by the student body, which has a very positive view of

L&H Under Fire Following Provocative Advertisement The largest society in UCD, the Literary and Historical Society, has been criticised recently because of the posters used to promote the annual Strauss Ball. The Ball, due to be held on a boat docked at Dublin’s Quays, was advertised using posters depicting scenes from the blockbuster movie Titanic.

However, the Men’s Rights Movement (MRM) in UCD has criticised the posters, describing them as “uncouth” and “overly romantic.”

The MRM argues that L&H’s use of Jack, the tragic hero of the film, is done in a manner that harms the public’s perception of men as a whole. Speaking exclusively with the Turbine, the head of the MRM, Neal Savage, revealed his societies views of the posters.

Mr Savage explained that the depiction of a poor man canoodling with a wealthy woman is “scandalous” and “imposes false romantic expectations of men onto women. Just

as men do not expect women to be slappers, men should not be expected to throw themselves at women who give them the cold shoulder. Jack was completely abused in this film, to the point where the leading lady refused to accommodate him on a life saving piece of debris during the films climax. It is outrageous that a society as prestigious as L&H should stoop this low in attempting to provoke a certain response from the student body.”

Despite our best efforts, Mr Savage refused to comment on whether he will be attending the Ball, but he did say the MRM would be planning to boycott future L&H events unless an apology is issued.

L&H denied an interview with the Turbine in response to this affair, and the Strauss ball will probably go ahead without a hitch. However, this scandal underlines an inherent prejudice against men as a gender that must be addressed, lest it get out of control.

the Labour Politician. LawSoc’s facebook page was awash with cordial anticipation in the buildup to his visit, so one can only imagine how the overall reaction will be once the news officially hits campus.

Campbell, who is well known for the accuracy of his predictions in the past decade, could not comment extensively on the upcoming building in his name. However, he did assure the student body that it will definitely be a success and absolutely worth the proposed two million Euro.

Building work is due to begin next year; the estimated finish date is 2093.

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

Facebook – Taking Stock In an ever-changing social networking environment, and with Twitter going public this week, we ask if the Facebook juggernaut has run out of steam?

Concerns that young people could be bored with Facebook and that its advertising growth may be unsustainable threatened to overshadow strong quarterly results last week, which showed a surge in mobile advertising for the Nasdaq-listed tech giant.

Facebook’s financial performance has improved significantly in 2013. The company generated $2bn in revenue, beating analyst estimates of $1.9bn. Net a income for the quarter was $425m, compared with year. last d perio same net loss of $59m for the Expectations were already high after a near 40 per er, cent rise in Facebook’s share price during the quart ts targe price their raised had and several analysts tisin anticipation of strong growth in mobile adver hs mont t recen in stock the aced embr ing. Investors le mobi in th grow ted nstra demo any after the comp advertising, which had weighed on the shares since last year’s initial public offering.

Competitive Forces Several analysts had raised their price targets for the stock on the strength of the mobile advertising . growth, the expansion of video ads and Instagram Fathat rned But some analysts have also been conce who cebook was going out of fashion with teenagers, as chat, Snap and er are keener on rivals such as Twitt . gram well as Facebook-owned Insta

Outlook

UCD Investors & Entrepreneurs Society

Top Tips for Surviving the Application & Interview Ratrace

Mixed Bag

Financial Performance

BUSINESS\17

Shares in Facebook jumped as much as 14 per cent last week after the company said mobile advertising accounted for almost half of the social network’s ad revenue. Pre-IPO worries about the company’s ability to monetise its vast user base were centred on its ability to generate ad revenue into the future. That’s the good news.

The bad news for Zuckerberg & Co was that stock rapidly lost all of its gains after the company said it saw a decrease amongst younger teen users, and warned that it would not be increasing adverts in the newsfeed at the same rate in the future.

The social networking site beat earnings forecasts by about 30 per cent in the third quarter as advertisers followed users on to mobile and the number of people using Facebook on smartphones soared. This presents a stark contrast in performance to Twitter, who will this week launch an initial public offering, valuing the company at c.$11bn, despite continuing to post balance sheet losses.

Yet CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains positive, saying that better targeting of users meant the average user now clicked on an advert once a week.“This is a great sign that people are finding ads useful,” he said, adding there was still “a lot of room for improvement”. But has business’ interest to advertise on Facebook leveled off?

The Financial Times, last week, pointed to more marketers, big and small, using Facebook, with more adverts appearing in the mobile feed and more adverts in the newsfeed, rather than the right hand column of the site, and engagement has steadily improved.

Competitive Forces

Several analysts had raised their price targets for the stock on the strength of the mobile advertising growth, the expansion of video ads and Instagram. But some analysts have also been concerned that Facebook was going out of fashion with teenagers, who are keener on rivals such as Twitter and Snapchat, as well as Facebook-owned Instagram.

David Ebersman, Facebook’s chief financial officer, said there was a lack of reliable data about the number of teens on the site, as they were less likely to be honest about their age. Attempting to assuage concerns about the lack of growth among teen users, he said: “We remain close to fully penetrated among teens in the US.” However, he also warned that growth in the number of adverts in the newsfeed, which had been a “meaningful driver of revenue”, would not continue at the same rate in the future.

Mobile revenue rose in the third quarter to reach 49 per cent of total advertising revenue – up from just 14 per cent in the same quarter last year. Mobile monthly active users were 45 per cent higher than the year before at 874m, and more than 500m people used Facebook on their mobile devices each day on average during September. Total monthly active users rose 18 per cent year-on-year to 1.2bn, and daily active users rose 25 per cent in the same time period to 728m.

Facebook was trading at around $47 at week end. This compares with an IPO price of $38 in May last year and a subsequent low of under $18 in September last year. With last week’s announcement of Facebook’s new goal to connect the remaining five billion people not currently subscribed to the site, the company certainly does not lack ambition. Competitors will continue to emerge with virtually no barriers to entry in the market, but Facebook isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Shane O’Brien

The annual warfare of applications and interviews is well and truly underway. With deadlines fast approaching, interviews ongoing and the competition for graduate positions and internships escalating, here are a few tips to remember from Áine O’ Sullivan Apply Early For some reason, we all tend to see deadlines as challenges.

“How close do you reckon I can cut it?” As I’m sure you’ve heard before, this isn’t the best strategy to employ when submitting an application. Many firms now recruit on a “Rolling” basis. This means that they will start screening applications and interviewing candidates as soon as applications open despite the deadline being a long way off. If you’re only submitting an application 5 minutes before the deadline, the position may have already been filled. The simple solution – stop putting it off and APPLY NOW! Treat each application like it’s “the one” We all know that applications are tedious, boring and time consuming to complete. We have all exhausted the various ways to say “good team worker” and “excellent communication skills”. But, if this is the attitude that comes across in your application, you will be sure to be tossed straight into the reject pile.

You need to portray how eager you are to work for the company, that when the other kids longed to be astronauts, you dreamed and aspired to work at this particular job, and that you may in fact die if you don’t get the job.

Be prepared Another obvious one, but its crazy how many people are caught on the hop by questions such as “What do you know about our company?” and “Why do you want to work for us?” These basic questions WILL be asked, so be prepared and have responses ready!

Also have a couple of questions of your own up your sleeve to ask when prompted. Asking questions about the company will show initiative and interest, and will be expected of you by your interviewer.

Also be sure to keep up to date on current affairs. Depending on the type of job you’re interviewing for, you could easily be asked about a relevant recent news story, so be ready for it.

Know your CV backwards While most people embellish certain aspects of their CV to make it sound more impressive, it’s extremely important to able to discuss everything on your CV in detail. You need to be prepared to elaborate on your “extensive public speaking experience” or “in-depth knowledge of financial markets”. If you have very little to say about a particular aspect, you should consider taking it off your CV! Social Networking While it’s great that you were “Sittin dyin in lectures” last week, or that you have considerate friends who post photos of you with last night’s conquest, your prospective employer mightn’t be quite so impressed. Perhaps you should consider monitoring your facebook activity and removing anything unseemly, or else change your profile name in some way so that you don’t show up when searched for. It’s far too easy to make a snap judgement based on the contents of an applicant’s facebook page, so don’t give anyone that opportunity.

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THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

Physical UCD Side Tough it Out Against Dolphin RFC try. The clinical push came from

UCD RFC.........................22 the powerful prop Rory Harrison, DOLPHIN RFC.................7 whose strength carried him over Jack Power Sports Writer UCD secured a forth win from four games against Dolphin RFC. Despite the poor conditions in Belfield, the game of first place versus third was set up to be an exciting display of rugby. Dolphin’s only defeat this season came at the hands of Clontarf RFC, but another strong display from Collidge saw the Cork outfit leave the capital again in defeat.

The game kicked off with both teams going toe to toe in a fierce physical contest of scrums, rucks and mauls. The first ten minutes saw players from each side putting in crunching tackles, and both backlines looking to break dangerously. It was the UCD fullback Andrew Boyle who turned up the heat, breaking the Dolphin line and racing into the ’22. UCD pressure was met with a wall of defence, but the forwards began to move through the phases, pushing for a

the line for a Collidge try. Out-half Thornton pushed his conversion wide, wasting an opportunity.

Collidge pressure and domination continued for the majority of the first half, penning Dolphin into their own half and keeping possession. The Students backline was as impressive as ever, executing complex passing moves with ease and easily could have had a handful of tries. The Collidge forwards worked tirelessly as well, over turning rucks and stamping out any Dolphin momentum. UCD were also clinical going forward with Conor Gilsenan and Joyce combined well to gain ground.

Dolphin were handed an opportunity when indiscipline from Risteard Byrne saw Collidge reduced to 14 men for the remainder of the half, forcing the UCD coaches to reshuffle their pack. Dolphin took their chance and in turn pushed deep into Collidge territory, their star man Rory Scannell starting to show his class. Tensions mounted as Dolphin twice crossed the

Students try line only to be held up by a defiant defence. UCD looked certain to leak a try in the face of the advancing Cork attackers, but somehow held on until halftime. In a half where Collidge dominated yet Dolphin ran out only 5 points behind, leaving Collidge to rue their wasted chances.

Collidge came out all guns blazing in the second half, dispelling the gloom of the grey skies with an electric backline display. A team move of quick passing, incisive runs, and offloads left Dolphin scrambling to keep UCD out. The break came when a finely weighted pass to winger Alex Kelly split the Dolphin defense, Kelly arching his run around the fullback to score under the posts. Leaving Thornton a simple tap over, which he converted to give Collidge a 12-0 lead.

A weaker team might have rested on their laurels, Collidge instead moved up the gears and increased their pace. The Student’s backline again ripping apart the Dolphin defence, fullback Boyle racing clear before smartly passing to the supporting no. 8 Eoin Joyce, who crossed the Dolphin

line unchallenged for a third try.

Thornton however skewed his kick wide, and missing a later penalty to leave Collidge at 17 points to nothing. The game wasn’t over for Dolphin though, who began to fight back. Lead Scannell whose determination drove him past the Collidge defence, brushing off tackles to dive over the line for a great individual try. Bannon notching over the conversion from a difficult angle, to set the score at 17 – 7.

Collidge, who were relentless from the restart, went searching for a bonus point forth try, snuffed out any hope of a comeback. Runs from Gilsenan, Boyle and winger Coghlan-Murray were capitalized on as Collidge overran the fatigued Dolphin defenders. The killer blow came from the substitute Alan Clarkin, who ran a fantastic line to slide over for a coveted forth try.

Thornton again pushed the conversion wide, the strong winds in part to blame for a terrible day at the office for the Collidge kicker. The whistle blew with the scores standing at 22 – 7 to UCD, a solid win putting Collidge firmly at the top of the Ulster Bank League.

UCD XV Harrison Byrne Hyland Grannell (c) Mac Mahon Leavy Gilsenan Joyce Glynn Thornton Fletcher Murphy Kelly Coghlan-Murray Boyle

Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling – Women in Sport

the Football Association of Ireland position in the board room, “the (FAI) and is also a member of the board room is still a lonely place for UEFA HaTrick Committee. women” she said. Heather Rabbatts The position of women in sport has The British FA have been no spoke of her experiences and how been brought to the forefront in stranger to controversies over the she felt she didn’t receive the respect recent weeks. A survey carried out years but when Heather Rabbatts she deserved and sensed that the

by Sky Sports News illustrated that spoke of her experiences first hand majority of her colleagues thought only 25% of British national govern- it rose many questions over women’s she was just there because she was ing bodies had female members on rightful position in sport. Rabbatts a woman. She is adamant that she their boards. The perception out was the first female to sit on the has the adequate skills and relevant there is that sport is very much a English FA board. She has recently knowledge to justify her position on mans game which needs to change. criticised the lack of ethnic diversity the board.

In an Irish context the simion the FA commission. Rabbatts Currently, British sport is aiming larities are quite shocking. To this further went on to describe her for change and under the guidday there has never been a female representative in the GAA’s highest position with all of the previous 38 presidents being male. Even on pitch side the support for women’s sports is only a small percentage of men’s games. September is a month which highlights this more than any with the contrasting attendances at the various All-Ireland finals.

When the FAI’s position is examined it is quite evident that the board of management is a collection of men. It is only when in-depth examination of the specific roles and functions becomes clear that we fully see the role of women in sport. For instance when we peel away the exterior and examine John Delaney’s executive committee we are introduced to the first lady in Irish soccer. Sarah O’Shea is the current Chair of the Federation of Irish Heather Rabbatts, the first female board member to be appointed to the English FA. Sport and is the Legal Director at Seán Cummins Sports Editor

ance of Maria Miller, Minister for women; moves are being made to introduce quotas for women representatives on various boards.

Speaking of the clear lack of women in influencing sporting positions in Britain Miller was quick to add that the new policies are “not just about tokenism, not just having a women on the board to say we have ticked the box, it is actually about representing the views of women and making sure that sporting bodies are making their sports more acces-

sible to women of whatever age” she said.

Debbie Jevans, Rugby 2015 CEO, believes that the introduction of such quotas will have a negative impact on women in these positions.

She indicates that many boards in the past have placed females on boards which have had a negative impact on the quality of women employed and they are just there to “meet a statistical mark.”

Gail Emms, Olympic Silver medallist, also seemed dissatisfied with the government’s plans to employ quotas on the number of women representatives on various boards.

“I don’t think they are going to do what they set out, I don’t think they are going to match the quota, but at least it is a wake-up call, maybe it’s a wake-up call to the governing bodies on how they structure their sport” she said.

Finally, let me remind you of one day in the summer of 2012. The country stood still as Katie Taylor won gold for Ireland at the London Olympics. It stalled a nation, clutched at our heart strings and filled the nation with a joy that had not been experience by a new generation. So the next time you wonder what female members of sporting boards can do, remember that day in August when our Bray native filled the nation’s hearts with pride.

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THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 05.11.2013

European Success for UCD Acrobat Seán Cummins Sports Editor This week we talk to UCD medical student and member of UCD trampoline club Mary Barrett after her excellent achievement at this year’s European Senior acrobatic gymnastics final in Portugal. Barrett along with members of her Carlow Gymnastics Club were the first Irish group to place in a European Senior final in 20 years.

Her road to success has involved hard work and heartbreak. She began to train at the age of five with Carlow Gymnastics. At just 11 she attended her first international event along with her sister Catriona in an invitational competition in Germany. In 2011, Mary Barrett represented Ireland for the first occasion when she competed as part of the Irish team in the European age group games in Greece where they finished 8th.

Disaster struck in 2007, having

already qualified for the 2007 European championships held in the Netherlands, an unfortunate training injury saw the promising young gymnast restricted to the use of crutches which forced a restricted performance.

“I tore multiple ligaments in my right ankle and ended up on crutches. I managed to compete but our routine had to be altered to avoid aggravating my injury. It was not our best competition which was a great disappointment for us after years of training.”

Qualification for the European championship first began in April.

The talented trio of Mary Barrett, Sara Rennick and Laura Holohan had to impress the judges to ensure their participation in this year’s event. The collective had to somewhat rush their fitness to guarantee qualification but Barrett assures us that it was their class and experience that allowed them to achieve the qualifying score with Gymnas-

UCD Hope to Play Big Part in Lacrosse Team Stephen West Sports Writer UCD hosted trials for the Irish national Lacrosse team recently. Over 70 players tried out with the hope of making the final 23 man squad.

The trials included players from many countries including Ireland, UK, Canada and the USA. The Irish team will travel to Denver, Colorado next summer to compete in the World Lacrosse Championships.

The men’s team are looking forward to the event after two glory packed seasons. In 2012 the national side lost out to our closest neighbours in a thrilling final. The Irish contingent came away with a silver medal after a 16-6 point loss to England in the European Championships in Amsterdam. In 2013 the Irish side tasted victory, as they won the Celtic Cup in Limerick against a travelling French side. Irish Lacrosse are on the up with the team currently ranked number 9 in the world.

The 2012 team contained two current UCD students: Seán O’Shaughnessy and Paddy O’Leary.

The team was also made up of 8 UCD alumni and was under the guidance of Seán Bodie (Assistant

coach) who is the current head coach of the UCD men’s team.

Tadgh Bolger, a current UCD student was included in the 2013 squad.

Coaches are currently in deliberation and are assessing the performance of the players for their inclusion in the final squad. This process is expected to take 2 weeks but it is widely anticipated that a number of UCD students, both past and present will play a major role in Denver next summer.

Current CEO of Ireland Lacrosse and founder of the UCD club expects that UCD will play a major role in the squad to be announced.

Michael Kennedy added “UCD players (current and past) have played a big part in recent national teams, and there isn’t likely to be too much change to that.” “It’s fair to say that traditionally UCD provides a significant number of the national team players” he said.

Ireland Lacrosse is currently planning on entering a team in the world men’s under 19 Championships in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada in July 2016. This will be the first time that Ireland will be represented at this level.

tics Ireland to be considered for the Irish team.

“Our journey began in April when we would compete as a trio in the All Ireland Championships in Tuam. It was quite a rush to get up to competition fitness for the All Irelands but the three of us have a large amount of experience and so we managed to achieve the qualifying score which Gymnastics Ireland” said Barrett.

They also had to compete in two further trials to ensure their place in Portugal. The trials were held in Cork and Carlow in June and August respectively. One week following the final trial the results were announced and the girls were set for Portugal along with three other underage groups from the same Carlow club which was an extraordinary achievement.

The Irish team arrived in Portugal in October and immediately began to settle in for the qualifying competition. Barrett, Rennick

and Holohan proceeded to the final round in 7th position under a strict judging panel. The girls were originally disappointed with their result but it was enough to see them through qualifying beating participants from Hungary, Israel and Portugal to name a few.

There finals were quick to arrive and took place on the Sunday. Unfortunately the routine didn’t go as planned and a minor slip up caused the group to be heavily penalised.

This dropped them to 8th position however they were delighted with their finishing position.

“We were thrilled to have achieved a place in a senior final at European level, something which has not been achieved by an Irish group in 20 years” said Barrett.

Barrett added that training is extremely difficult. The group train 6 times a week and with Barrett and Rennick both attending college time constraints come into play.

There is a particular emphasis on

running, strengthening and weight training, flexibility work and of course practicing their gymnastics elements in their training sessions.

The group maintain a strict diet and they are currently on a low fat diet.

The group also make a great deal of sacrifices “missing holidays, parties and nights out while all the while trying to fit in our studies”. One of the hardest aspects of the sport as described by Barrett is funding.

Acrobatic gymnastics is a minority sport and that receives no funding.

The Carlow Gymnastics club had to organise fundraisers to allow their participation in the international event in Portugal.

“I owe a lot to my family for supporting me through it all. Carlow Gymnastics Club did organise a number of events to help fundraise but this didn’t come near to covering the costs of everything involved in the competition.”

Jack McCaffrey Adds to Growing Honours McCaffrey who is currently an Ad Astra Scholar and studying medicine lined out at half back for Ireland. The Clontarf native scored a UCD student and Dublin senior footballer Jack McCaffrey played an well taken goal within the opening quarter. Following a flurry of scores integral part in Ireland’s astonishfrom both sides McCaffrey’s goal ing victory over Australia in the widened the gap and the home side Irish Daily Mail International lead 26-8 after the opening 15 minRules series to claim the Cormac utes. This series victory only adds McAnallen cup. The home side dominated the second test in a life- to McCaffrey’s growing honours less encounter to crush the Austral- along with his All-Ireland, Leinster ian outfit 101 points over both legs. and national league titles.

Seán Cummins Sports Editor

The visiting side seemed to have an up-hill battle coming into the second test with a 22 point deficit. But with the ease at which Paul Earley’s side demolished the indigenous outfit, questions begin to appear over the future of the international test series. However this week GAA president Liam O Neill has publicly backed the continuation of the series which gives GAA players an opportunity to represent their country.

UCD XV

UCD’S JACK MC CAFFREY PLAYS BIG ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL RULES SERIES>>>>>>PAGE 19

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IRISH LACROSSE TRIALS TAKE PLACE IN UCD

FULL REPORT: PAGE 19

UCD AFC Season Draws to a Close

one in the league. UCD AFC’s ball retention and passing have continued to impress, the team striving to play a brand of football As the Airtricity League season drew to not often seen in the Airtricity League.

Martin Russell has to be commended for a close, UCD AFC required three points his footballing philosophy and the number against Shelbourne FC in their final match to guarantee their survival and place in of young players he has introduced into the team throughout the season. Obviously the 2014 Premier Division. ‘The Students’ arose superbly to the task in Tolka Park and having had such an inexperienced and their 2-1 victory cemented their Premier Di- youthful squad has at times led to inconsistvision status for another season. The victory ent results, which have failed to accurately itself was no more than the team deserved reflect the level of performances throughout the season. for an intensively fought season. Although the team was one of the youngest and most A number of players, especially David O’Connor and Robbie Benson, have inexperienced of the last few years, some had break-out seasons. Robbie Benson in tremendous performances have given a glimpse of the potential the team has for the particular has grown into his attacking role and his goal scoring form has helped to fill future.

The final league standings fail to reflect the gap left by David McMillan’s departure to Sligo Rovers during the season. David some of the excellent football produced at times by the team. It was obvious through- O’Connor has also been impressive this out the season that when confidence was season and was recently named UCD AFC’s high, the team were capable of beating any- Player of the Year in acknowledgement of Daragh Connolly Sports Writer

his performances. He has formed a formidable partnership throughout the season with captain Mick Leahy in the centre of defence and many will hope that this will long continue into next season. Barry McCabe has also been one of the success stories of the season, bringing a new found maturity to his play and has established himself as a regular in midfield throughout the season.

New players like Craig Walsh and Cillian Morrison have begun to force their way into the team and will be ones to watch coming into the new season.

After the final whistle in Tolka Park, all that mattered to the club and players was survival in the relegation battle. To have been relegated would have been an injustice when one reflects on the hard work and attractive football played by the team this year. In retaining their status in the Premier Division, it gives another opportunity for UCD’s young players to play display their talent for prospective clubs, at home and

abroad, in the hope developing a career for the future. Former players like Paul Corry, who is currently playing for Sheffield Wednesday in the Football Championship, have followed a path that many players on the team are wishing to emulate.

Although the winter break will be welcomed by many on the team, a discernible sense of change seems to be on the horizon for next season. The League of Ireland managerial merry-go-round appears to be in full swing. Recent rumours in League of Ireland circles have suggested that Martin Russell is preparing to step down as manager and is currently being linked with a number of managerial posts throughout the league. Regardless, Russell can be proud of his tenure as manager since being appointed in 2009. Many at the club have expressed a renewed sense of optimism for next season and the belief that the team can sustain a level of performance which offers the hope of a higher league finish next year.