College Tribune - Volume 33 - Issue 1 by College Tribune

COLLEGE TRIBUNE

Issue_01.33

Indepentent Student Media

AN CUAS

News

In Memory of Ciarán O’Boyle

REMOVED

“

Offices. The development occurred during the summer with students to return to UCD with this surprise discovery. In an interview with the Tribune, Siewierska said in response to claims that the SU agreed to this development in advance: ‘No, we were not told of this. We weren’t consulted, we weren’t told. We noticed it when we were grabbing coffee in Newman.’ Siewierska went on to say, ‘I know there have been developments, there is renovations going on in Newman,

NovaUCD Announces E-Scooter Startup Neil Stokes - Business Writer It’s proven to be yet another busy and bounteous summer in NovaUCD. The Belfield-based innovation hub has quickly gained recognition as one of the country’s leading facilities for transforming budding ideas into successful start-ups via its comprehensive business support programme as well

as its facilitated access to the NovaUCD network of researchers, business leaders and investors. One of the latest in a string of exciting ventures to emerge in recent months is that of recent BComm graduates, Charlie Gleeson and Ian Kinsley (both Class of 2019).

Big Reads

AFTER “

We’re not really student orientated anymore.

yet. They’re spending all this money to establish a private club, to kick the teachers out of their own faculty, so I’d be against it [Arts & Humanities Programme Desk development].’ In response to SU not being informed about the development in advance, Darragh Kane O’Toole said, ‘that’s very UCD-like of a thing to happen that no one with any real use of the facility was asked about said facility being gotten rid of completely.’ Clodagh Scott said, ‘It’s a disaster. We need An Cuas. An Cuas is the quiet space in Newman. It’s off the corridor, there’s no traffic passing by, it’s key.’ Roisin Ryan said, ‘I feel like there’s not as many plac-

The duo were runners-up in the UCD “Start-up Stars Programme” and are currently taking part in NovaUCD’s Venture Launch Accelerator Programme. Their startup, BLUE Scooters will launch in 2020 and will be Ireland’s first dockless scooter rental service. The service aims to mitigate the impact of traffic congestion, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to cars in the process. BLUE will offer a quick and convenient way to travel around

“

BLUE will offer a quick and convenient way to travel around the city

“

We weren’t consulted, we weren’t told. We noticed it when we were grabbing coffee in Newman.

but we have not been part of the consultation for what those developments should be.’ When asked if UCDSU is planning on any new seating areas to be introduced, Siewierska responded ‘We are working actively with the Estate Services in Newman and with the management staff in the building and are now looking for an alternative student space, […] we are looking at the Newman Basement and how that can be improved as a student space.’ To find out more about how UCD students feel about the Arts & Humanities Student Desk development, we took to the halls of UCD to find out. Philsoc Auditor Katia Papageorgiou said ‘As a society that wants to rebuild itself [UCD Philsoc] we were planning on running our coffee mornings there [An Cuas]. The fact that this happened without any of the student body’s consent or previous notice is completely unacceptable.’ Paddy Flynn said, ‘It’s reflective of the policy of President Deeks, the college is becoming too business orientated. It’s not pro-students it’s pro-money. It’s pro-hisagenda, which is about making profits, very much like [Hugh] Brady his predecessor. [We’re] not really student orientated anymore. We’re not seeing anything being pushed for that’s benefitting students. They’re getting rid of places where we can relax and study. The library is still not 24 hours

“

Conor Capplis - Editor The leisure space formerly known as ‘An Cuas’ has been replaced by an extension of the Arts & Humanities Programme Desk. This summer development has gained much student backlash and occurred without the prior consent of UCDSU. SU President Joanna Siewierska has said the space is ‘not what it used to be.’ The SU has plans in place to develop the Newman Basement area in response to the loss of seating. The seating area has now been replaced by the Arts & Humanities Programme Desk and Student Advisor

18.9.2019

es just to sit and chill out with your friends anymore. There’s no place to sit with big groups really. We’ve all migrated to Quinn which is lovely.’ Emily McMeehan said, ‘When you first come in you just see the arts office, it’s not unwelcoming but you just kind of feel like it’s way more academic or serious than it was usually when you would see people milling around. You can definitely see more people sitting on the floor now, along the side of lecture theatres.’ Jennifer Leff said, ‘I do think lack of common study spaces where you can actually talk rather than the library is vital to educational development.’ the city and will provide customers with a ‘last-mile’ solution to and from public transport links. The inspiration for the idea was borne out of the pair’s growing awareness and personal frustration concerning the issue of inadequate public transport connections in Irish cities. “We recognized that there’s currently a significant “last mile problem” in Ireland that is acting as a deterrent to public transport use and is leading to increased congestion. We witnessed the emergence of

Implants Could Help The Blind To ‘See’ Again

Culture

Ways to Kill Time in UCD

Sport

Rugby World Cup Preview

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Editorial

elcome one and all to Issue 1 of Volume 33 of the College Tribune! It is with great pride and pleasure that our Editor Conor Capplis, our section editors, our contributors and I will be presenting to you some of the best independent student journalism Ireland has to offer in the 2019/2020 college year. We have some ambitious plans ahead, some great stories in the making and a full year of investigative journalism to come. Our goal for the coming year is to maintain and build upon the legacy of the College Tribune from previous years. The first step of this was to implement a fresh re-design, as you will find from today’s issue onwards. Secondly, we wished to continue probing and asking the necessary, hard questions to the UCD stakeholders, from the academic staff to the Students’ Union and the student body itself, as this is the fundamental basis of our award-winning journalism. We have already uncovered some interesting news, and have much, much more in the pipeline. Lastly, we have implemented a digital strategy to support our print editions. You can find us using the social channels below, where we aim to interact with our readers and post small, topical updates on a regular basis.

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

The Team College Tribune 0133

In this particular issue, you will find articles relating to the latest developments on campus, such as the building of the new Moore Centre for Business, the campaign to keep Dublin Bus serving the main entrance bus stop or the removal of An Cuas. You will also be entertained with some of the best spots to eat on campus and where to kill time in between lectures. Outside the confines of UCD, there are also some great guides to exploring and eating out in Dublin, music and Netflix recommendations, quality sports journalism and some trending Irish legal issues. I would like to take this time to personally thank you for picking up a copy of the paper, and hope that it matches the high standards that have come to be expected of the College Tribune. As aforementioned, we have a value-packed, dirt-digging, Freedom-of-Informationrequesting year ahead. We hope to take you on this journey with us, and that you enjoy it as much as we do.

Editor’s Picks

Conor Capplis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Editor Alex Lohier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Deputy Editor

9 to 5! An Examination of the American Work Ethic

Aisling MacAree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Features

By Aisling MacAree

The Far-Right in Ireland

Conor Paterson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Politics

Adam Boland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Science Aaron Collier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Philosophy

Faction or Fringe?

By Caoilfhinn Hegarty

Matthew Derwin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Music Brigid Molloy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Film & TV

Electric Picnic 2019 Festival Mania

Film Review:

Mallika Venkatramani. . . . . . Arts & Lifestyle Matthew Dillon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sport

By Ciaran Brown

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood By Brigid Molloy

Newspaper Design Newspaper Produced By Samuel Mc Sherry By Conor Capplis @sms.studio

Contributors

Enjoy the issue, Alex Lohier Deputy Editor

Robert Behan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Law

Rugby World Cup Preview

By Matthew Dillon

Molly Greenough Law Marcus Dupuy Opinion Eva Earner Features Caoilfhinn Hegarty Politics Georgia Stynes Science Richeal Ni Laoghaire Science

Contact Us Editor@collegetribune.ie +353 1 716 8501 PO Box 74, Student Centre, UCD, Belfield Dublin 4 Letters to the Editor should be sent via email and no longer than 600 words.

Connect With Us

News Tips Sometimes the best news story is right under your nose. For any news tips, on and off campus, please contact the editor via telephone, email or traditional mail.

@collegetribune www.collegetribune.ie

Alternatively, you’re welcome to stop by our Newman Building Office.

Kasia O’Connor Music Niall O’Shaughnessy Music Nicholas Lane Music Ciaran Brown Music Anton Rivas Partile Film & TV Katie MacRedmond Film & TV Alex Mulhare Film & TV Luke Murphy Arts & Lifestyle Rian Cassidy Sport

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

Write For Us. Go to www.collegetribune.ie or email editor@collegetribune.ie

Joint Campaign to Keep Dublin Bus Stopping at UCD

4 Opinion: You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have an Anxiety Disorder (Probably) 6 University and Happiness

A look at student mental health during the transition and experience of thirdlevel education

By Conor Capplis

RSA Cracking Down on Learner Drivers

By Alex Lohier

The Hunt for Habitable Exoplanets By Georgia Stynes

Possible Implementation of a 12 Gross Negligence Rape Offence in Change & The Now Ireland By Molly Greenough

By Conor Paterson

Searching for Earth

The Philosophy of Change By Aaron Collier

Sound Waves 24 Electric Picnic

By Eva Earner

Broken Parliament, Broken Politics

By Conor Capplis

Moore Centre Opens for Business

By Marcus Dupuy

By Conor Capplis

UCDSU President Faces Criticism from DCU Professor

Culture Sport

Big Reads

News

Festival Mania By Ciaran Brown

Film Review: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

By Brigid Molloy

Netflix 27 Recommendations

By Katie MacRedmond

Freshers Guide to Dublin: 22 Things You Cannot Miss By Mallika Venkatramani

Irish Cricket â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A success story waiting to happen?

By Rian Cassidy Rugby World 32 Cup Preview By Matthew Dillon

News UCDSU President Criticised by DCU Professor

USI Reveal Groundbreaking Mental Health Survey Results

Comment: UCD Racks up High Flying Flight Fees

Joint Campaign to Keep Dublin Bus Stopping at UCD

Conor Capplis - Editor CD Students’ Union have launched a campaign to ensure Dublin Bus resumes full service to Belfield during night-time hours. In a press statement on September 3rd, Katie O’Dea (UCDSU’s Campaigns & Engagement Officer) and President Joanna Siewierska made the announcement. The campaign proposes to end decades of struggles between students and Dublin Bus with Siewierska stating that ‘Dublin Bus are once again stopping at all times on UCD campus.’ O’Dea added that ‘over the past 30 years the evening bus service to Belfield has been hit ’n’ miss because of anti-social behaviour on buses leaving campus at night time. Bus unions (SIPTU and NBRU) told their drivers not to stop at UCD after 10pm. This meant that many students studying in the library, attending society events or training with

“

Drop the pints at the pre-drinks, get the bus into town. Keep going once you’re there.

“

sports clubs in the evening had issues getting home afterwards.’ The SU partook in the inception of a ‘community forum’ that will meet 5 times

throughout the academic year. This aims to continue dialogue between UCDSU, Dublin Bus Management, Bus Unions, Donnybrook

The campaign proposes to end decades of struggles between students and Dublin Bus Gardaí and UCD Estate Services. One meeting took place in August and a further four will happen in October, January, March and May. In an interview with the Tribune, Siewierska explained that if an incident happens ‘there’ll be a pause for an hour of the buses,’ the Gardaí will be contacted to

sort the issue rather than having the buses not stopping at Belfield anymore. Such incidents will be discussed at the community forum in order to ‘air issues’ and enable a continued service to Belfield. She also gave further advice for students saying to ‘drop the pints at the pre-drinks, get the bus

into town. Keep going once you’re there.’ Footage posted to Facebook on September 12th by Lisa Frank Murnane shows shocking scenes on a Dublin Bus from UCD. Young people can be seen chanting loudly and banging on the bus roof. A nearby passenger is covering her ears attempt-

ing to talk on the phone. The group did not heed an individual’s call to ‘stop.’ The campaign comes after a history of ‘very serious antisocial behaviour’ on buses serving commonly drunk students heading into the city. Siewierska added: ‘As a Students’ Union we are keen to ensure that this positive

Members of the Dublin Bus Campaign at the UCD Belfield bus stop on Thursday 12th September.

relationship continues and that buses continue to serve our students and the local community, while bus drivers remain safe at work. We hope that the small number of people who engage in this behaviour will act responsibly and respectfully when travelling to town at night from UCD and that all members of the UCD community will be able to benefit from a fully running service.’ In a website post and on flyers available at the SU Offices, UCDSU included some ‘Easy Tips’ for travelling on Dublin Bus at night: ‘Throw your drinks in the bin before getting on the bus. Don’t shout or cause loud noise it can make passengers feel uncomfortable. Be sound to bus drivers - they are part of the UCD Community too. Don’t bang on the roof of the bus - not sound. Don’t jump out in front of buses - surprisingly this is very dangerous.’ These tips ended with a reminder that students can be arrested by Gardaí for harassing the driver or causing damage to the bus.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The College Tribune

News

18.09.2019

Comment: UCD Racks up High Flying Flight Fees Alex Lohier - Deputy Editor

CD have, quite literally, begun the new college year with a flying start. On Monday, 16 September, the Irish Times reported the findings of a Freedom of Information request as to the premium fares spent by universities across the country. It has come to light that UCD spent just shy of €1 million on business and premium seating for academics last year. Some fares cost an astounding €6,000 each way. This puts UCD in proud first place for this type of spending amongst its rivals Trinity (€259,084) and UCC (€96,978). This expenditure is presumably funded using the plethora of student fees we cough up each year, making this a very relevant story for every college student in Ireland. The Irish Times’ article on the issue centred on a conversation with an unnamed UCD spokesperson. The main line of defence was, at best, pretty weak. The first reasoning for this absurd figure was that these

premium flights were scrutinised heavily prior to being approved, and required ‘written approval’. Most of these flights were supposedly to recruit international students for UCD, or to train academics abroad. The second rationale was that, when compared to UCD’s overall scale, this price-tag represented ‘excellent financial value’. I’m not so sure that this sort of comparison is financially savvy; let’s examine some prices and compare them. At the time of writing, a same-day Ryanair flight to Paris would set you back €135.99. The most expensive direct flight I could find was €493 with Air France. This makes me wonder the aptitude of the person scrutinising and approving a €2,338 flight to Paris. Similarly, a same-day flight to Kuwait with one stop was €2,081 at its most expensive. UCD’s budget for one? €6,419. Bear in mind that the people organising these trips have weeks, if not months, of advance planning to book flights, which should reduce the prices I found even fur-

ther. Sourcing flights as expensive as UCD have managed to do is an achievement in itself, albeit one that is not worth bragging about. Assuming the same savings can be made across all of UCD’s premium flights, the existing figure of over €960,000 could be reduced to below €300,000 without too much effort. Aside from these questionable fares, the destinations of some of these flights may raise some eyebrows. Trinidad and Tobago and Ulaanbaatar (the capital of Mongolia) are, the last time I checked, not the foremost centres of education. Yet, UCD dished out €5,268 for these flights. If the point of the exercise is to recruit top-talent, perhaps flying to countries known for their educational excellence would be easier to defend, and would reap more rewards for the university. Is this spending ever justifiable? Do academics really need to fly business class? Why can’t they simply sit in economy, like the overwhelming majority of people do? And, if attracting international students to

It’s been my biggest challenge.

And my greatest achievement. Graduate Area Manager Programme • €61,000 starting salary (rising to €101,600 after four years) • Pension • Healthcare • Audi A4/BMW 3 series • Closing date for applications is November 30 2019 The Area Manager role gives graduates real responsibility and opportunities to progress. You’ll need to combine intelligence and fresh ideas with a determined ‘roll your sleeves up’ attitude. But from day one I had a plan for the whole year. I was given world-class training from a global retailer and a dedicated mentor who helped me throughout. By the end of the year I knew I was making a real contribution to the success of one of Ireland’s fastest-growing supermarkets. Amazing when you think about it.

Find out more at aldirecruitment.ie

UCD (who pay fees up to €30,000 per year) is the exercise in question, surely minimising travel expenses of these travel excursions

would increase profit margins for the college? Michael O’Leary, who I am sure is appalled at his alma mater’s (Trinity) expenses on flights,

albeit running his hands in the proces. could certainly teach universities a thing or two on minimising costs.

News

Conor Capplis - Editor The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has called on multiple learner permit holders to apply for their test ‘without delay’. In a recent statement, the RSA announced that 41,316 people are on their fourth or subsequent learner permit for a car. Of these people 8,663 are on their tenth or successive permit. In a statement last month RSA CEO Moyagh Murdock said that ‘The practice of people continuing to drive on learner permits without ever taking a test is unacceptable and unnecessary in today’s circumstances, where the national average waiting time to take a test is just over six weeks.’ He followed by announcing considerations to increase the cost of a learner’s permit, decrease the duration of the permit, introduce mandatory lessons with an approved driving instructor or a requirement to take an additional driving test before another permit can be issued for a fifth and subsequent learner permit holder. New legislation introduced in December 2018 allows for harsher penalties on unaccompanied permit holders. Chief Superintendent Paul Cleary of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau has said that since the introduction of this legislation ‘more than 1,600 vehicles have been

New legislation introduced in December 2018 allows for harsher penalties on unaccompanied permit holders.

impounded by An Garda Síochána from unaccompanied learner permit holders.’ Murdock also said that ‘there’s never been a better time than now to book it.’ With the national average wait time to take the test at just over six weeks, learner drivers are being ‘caught off guard by how quickly they are being called for a test.’ Throughout 2018, the RSA has recruited 83 new driver testers and opened four new test centres. Murdock hammers home his point: ‘Passing your test could mean lower insurance costs in the order of 20-30%, and, more importantly, make you a better, safer driver, so no more excuses!’

18.09.2019

In Memory of Ciarán O’Boyle

Written By Niall Dolphin iaran, 22, had recently graduated from UCD in Computer Science and was really excited to return to Ireland and begin a career having been offered employment in his field of choice. It is hard to find all the right words to describe Ciaran and do the man justice. He was the most genuine, down-to-earth, intelligent, caring, attentive and wholesome human being I have ever met. He had every positive trait you would look for in a friend. He had his own style of humour and mannerisms that would make you smile and laugh every time he spoke or did something. He was different to everyone I know in that sense and no matter what the situation or circumstance, Ciaran would always take the positive outlook on the matter. He was an extremely popular man amongst his peers and well-liked by everyone he met. He had perfect man-

ners and would always treat anyone he met with the same respect he would show his friends. The photograph of Ciaran inserted above was one I took of on our first day in Vancouver, as we sat and waited to be called to get our Social Insurance Numbers. He loved cartoons and superhero movies, especially The Incredibles. I would consider Ciaran as a Mr. Incredible due to the character of the man. I was lucky enough to share a house with Ciaran on two separate occasions in my life and he was an exemplary house mate who would always be in a great mood when returning for work and get you motivated to go enjoy the evenings. He loved the outdoors and physical activities whether it was chilling in the park outside our house in Dublin or on the beaches of Vancouver, going for walks around the city or playing basketball. Ciaran always wanted to be

active and enjoy life. Tragically, on the night of Wednesday August the 21st Ciaran accidentally fell from an elevated height in New York and passed away from the injuries he had sustained as a result. He had left Vancouver two weeks prior to travel across North America with other friends that lived with Ciaran and I in Vancouver, visiting Seattle, Chicago, Toronto and Montreal in the meantime with New York the last stop of the trip. It is an abso-

“

I would consider Ciaran as a Mr. Incredible due to the character of the man.

UCDSU President Faces Criticism from DCU Professor Conor Capplis - Editor

n September 3rd, UCDSU President Joanna Siewierska published an article in the Irish Times entitled ‘Time to change our unfair CAO points system.’ This scathing opinion piece presented a forceful critique of the Leaving Certificate system and proposed several alternatives intended to improve the current system. Two days later Associate Professor Greg Foley of the School of Biotechnology at Dublin City University published a letter in the Irish Times in response to Siewierska. Foley’s letter, entitled ‘Moving away from points system may not level the playing field,’ presented a dissenting rebuttal to a number of points Siewierska argues. The SU President touches

on a number of topics including stress, competition, inequality and social justice. Siewierska comments on the Leaving Certificate’s approach to different ‘styles of learning,’ saying: - ‘The pressure to perform well in order to access your future can be immense. If a student’s style of learning does not suit the limited assessment techniques used in the Leaving Cert, and they cannot afford grinds or expensive tutors, it can have a crushing effect on their confidence.’ Foley responds to this point saying, ‘this notion has an intuitive appeal but is discredited.’ He argues that ‘when students differ in terms of exam performance, it is often as a consequence of a combination of genetic factors and behavioural ones,’ disagreeing with Siewierska’s sug-

“

The pressure to perform well in order to access your future can be immense.

“

RSA Cracking Down on Learner Drivers

The College Tribune

“

Volume 33 - Issue 01

gestion. In her article, the SU President advocated for a ‘fairer approach to allocating places in colleges and universities, rather than solely based on points accumulated during a high-pressure exam season at the end of school. This new approach should assess the diversity of skills and talents of young people and its underlying aim should be to minimise systemic inequalities and injustices.’ Foley responds to these claims saying that ‘the Higher Education Authority produces data on an annual basis that shows that a lack

lute travesty that someone as incredible as Ciaran is no longer able to continue to touch the lives of every person he would meet and enjoy the life a man of his quality deserves. However, everyone who knew Ciaran will forever remember how much of a brilliant, funny and kind gentleman that he was and how good of a true friend he was. Ciaran will always be missed but never forgotten.

of achievement at secondary school is a good predictor of failing to progress at third level.’ He also goes on to suggest that all the evidence points towards these being ‘highly context-dependent.’ In an interview with the Tribune, Siewierska responded to Foley’s arguments saying, ‘When you look at the leaving cert as a whole and the way it assesses students, I stand by the fact that a twoweek exam period, that is pressurised and intense, will not reflect the talents and skills of students.’ She later went on to add that the current Leaving Certificate system ‘is recreating inequality. There’s some students from a particular background or school [that] will always go on to higher education. And other places we see year in year out very low numbers of students progressing. I would say that there’s a problem within the system that’s causing this.’

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The Newsstand Ascough Engaged Former UCD Student’s Union President (2017) Katie Ascough is engaged to be married next summer. She will marry fiancé Edward Barrett-Shortt.

Dublin House Prices Fall According to latest CSO figures, average Dublin house prices have fallen for the first time in seven years. The fall stands at 0.2% in the 12 months preceding July 2019.

THE UNION OF STUDENTS IN IRELAND NAT REPORT ON STUDENT News MENTAL HEALT The College Tribune

USI Reveal Groundbreaking Mental Health Survey Results Conor Capplis - Editor

n August 27th, the Union of Student’s Ireland (USI) revealed the results of a monumental survey on the mental health of Ireland’s student population. This survey provides reliable self-reported figures that will provide lobbyists sufficient evidence to demand action from Universities and the Government. Over 3300 students took the survey, and some of the key findings are as follows: ‘Students are experiencing extremely severe levels of anxiety (38.4%), depression (29.9%) and stress (17.3%). Close to a third (32.2%) of

ascending from the depths and only now are we beginning to realise how bad the problem is. Although the data is concerning, UCDSU President Joanna Siewierska is looking on the bright side saying, ‘It’s just great to have data that we can continue using for lobbying. We always knew this was happening before this report came out, but it is great to have the data to continue pushing.’ To find out what UCDSU is doing in the wake of this survey, we talked to Una Carrol (UCDSU Welfare Officer) on what part she has to play here. She said, ‘UCDSU are already speaking with and lobbying different TDs about

USI NATIONAL REPORT ON

STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH Tuairisc Náisiúnta AMLÉ ar Mheabharshláinte na Mac Léinn in Oideachas Tríú Leibhéal

of third level students has been largely absent at government policy level, im-

Bernard Shaw to Close in October After 13 years of service, the Richmond Street pub will close it doors for the last time. Calls of sympathy and well wishes have been sent in to the Bernard Shaw from thousands across Dublin. The venue is set to close at the end of October. Percentage of waiting times for students to see a college counselor

2020 World University Rankings Trinity drops 44 places to 164th in the world. Followed by UCD staying in top 201-250, NUIG 251-300, Maynooth University - 301-350, DCU - 601-800 and TUD - 801-1000.

students had a formal diagnosis of a mental health difficulties at some point in their lives. A fifth (20.9%) of students did not have someone to talk to about the personal and emotional difficulties. Most students (35.3%) were made aware of support services through their Students’ Union. A free on campus counselling service was important for students.’ These statistics are worrying, although of no surprise to the college student of today. The mental health crisis on our hands is not emerging from nowhere but

students’ mental health and the impact of the modern student experience on young people and their mental health.’ When asked on waiting lists, as this is a common complaint amongst student in UCD, Carrol responded, ‘I am working closely with the counselling service in UCD to help develop new ways of looking after our students and tackling the issue of waiting lists and delays in support.’ The survey is available online and comes with an extensive list of recommendations and critical evaluations: ‘Mental health

18.09.2019

pacting on the sectors ability to respond to the growing problem of student mental health. […] Students value the free student counselling

services on campus, and this should continue to be supported and funded. Care for those on waiting lists should be prioritised and promoted. This may include utilisation of online services, peer support and group workshop and/or sessions. More investment is needed to meet the growing demand for services. […] Institutions should review their balance of coursework and assessment and consider what impact this has on students. Students should have free periods and should be facilitated to access supports available to them when necessary.’ UCDSU has had a reasonably rocky recent history when it comes to mental health campaigns. Last year’s ‘392’ campaign bombed hard with many students. Last year’s Tribune Co-Editor

Percentage of students with an official diagnosis

Muireann O’Shea published a scathing commentary on this campaign, with many such issues being confirmed with the data now available through the survey. She said, ‘Student backlash against the campaign has been mounting, the general consensus is that it was ill-conceived, insensitive and even harmful to students.’ The campaign centred around the advertisement of the mystery number ‘392’ followed by a grand reveal of it being the rate of suicide in Ireland over one year. O’Shea commented: ‘the binary number removes all nuance and does exactly what the campaign claims it is trying not to do; reduce these lives to numbers.’ UCDSU Welfare and Mental Health team has a tough year ahead. Tackling this issue will certainly define their sabbatical.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Campus

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

Fresher’s Society Spotlight 2019 The Investors and Entrepreneurs Society (I&E)

Alex Lohier - Deputy Editor he Investors and Entrepreneurs Society (I&E) is one of the most renowned on the UCD campus and is a career-oriented and business-related society. What is it exactly that has attracted some 15,000 students to join? Well, there’s a plethora of reasons. Firstly, the I&E are known for organising weekly poker tournaments, where students pit off against each other using real money. At only €5 buy-in, it’s accessible to everyone, whether they be a beginner or skilled gambler! The second factor that makes I&E a good society to join are the speakers they attract. Last year, these included Sean Gallagher (Presidential candidate), Fergal O’Rourke (MD of PwC), Gary McGann (MD of Paddy Power) and Tom

Gleeson (founder of Bunsen). This year will see Sonia Deasy (co-founder of Pestle & Mortar), Ann Hunt (founder of Chasing Returns) and Brody Sweeney (founder of Camile Thai) attending the Speaker Series. Other initiatives are no-

The Women in Business programme aims to connect women across UCD with successful female alumni

(This is a Sponsored Article) less special. The Women in Business programme provides support for, well, women in business. It aims to connect women across UCD with successful female alumni. Their Accelerator Programme helps students develop business ideas into

UCD Science Society (SciSoc)

Alex Lohier - Deputy Editor he UCD Science Society is one of UCD’s largest and more interesting societies, offering science aficionados the opportunity to mingle with like-minded students in the various events they organise. The most im-

(This is a Sponsored Article) The society also has movie nights and game nights, so there is no shortage of choice for its members. Aside from these. SciSoc host guest speakers that could be of interest to science students but also the wider student population. Speakers cover each stream of science,

The I&E are known for organising weekly poker tournaments and the speakers they attract

tangible, functional entities. Their Student Managed Fund holds over $25,000

worth of assets and allows students to dip their toes into the life of an investment manager. Lastly, the I&E are launching a new Mentorship Programme this year, which aims to partner students looking for graduate roles or internships with someone in their industry/company of interest. Naturally, the I&E isn’t for everyone. But, if you’re looking for a society with knowledge in the financial markets and entrepreneurship, or one which brings in great speakers, then this could be a good one for you to join.

pressive one is their headline-grabbing ‘Scicle to Galway’, where students and staff cycle over 200km from Dublin to Galway, all in an effort to fundraise funds for Crumlin’s Medical and Research Centre. Elsewhere, SciSoc also organise a glamorous annual ball, which was hosted in the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire last year. Other smaller events include their famous weekly ‘Co-Fe Mornings’, where students are paired with mentors over a coffee and get a chance to learn from and mingle with each other. The

SciSoc donate all of their profits to various charities

society also has movie nights and game nights, so there is no shortage of choice for its members. Aside from these. SciSoc host guest speakers that could be of interest to science students but also

though this year there will be an emphasis on speakers from the Biopharmaceutical fields. Keep an eye on their social

SciSoc holds movie nights and game nights

media channels if this is of interest to you! SciSoc donate all of their profits to various charities, which can’t be said for all societies. So, when you’re downing their coffee and munching treats on game nights, you can rest assured that your contribution is going to a good cause! To finish off, we will leave you with a few words from the SciSoc Auditor Paddy Donlon on what the overall aim of the society is; ‘The society creates a space for all Science students to interact and learn from each other, as well as providing them with many ways to take a break from the typical Science student’s hectic timetable”.

UCD Volunteers Overseas Society (UCDVO)

Alex Lohier - Deputy Editor he UCD Volunteers Overseas (‘’UCDVO’’) society encourages UCD students, staff and alumni to raise awareness and fundraise for a multitude of causes. UCDVO is not similar to any of the other societies you will find on campus, which makes it a worthy one to highlight. The group partakes in environmental, educational, healthcare and development programmes in the aim of positively impacting societies. Not a bad mantra to have if you ask us! UCDVO is most famous on campus for its ‘’Projects Overseas’’ initiative, where students go to India, Tanzania or Uganda for one month and assist local NGOs. Prior to this, students will participate in activities in UCD

It promises to be as rewarding as it is challenging.

to prepare them for the upcoming projects. These include team-building workshops, study sessions on topical societal issues and development education and fundraising events. This

is all to ensure that those who go abroad are adequately equipped to contribute efficiently to the local NGOs. Participants can expect to

(This is a Sponsored Article) provide genuine value to educational, health and general community development, all whilst immersing themselves in new cultures and travelling as they do so. As cliché as it may sound, anyone you ask who has participated in the UCDVO Projects Overseas can-

UCDVO is most famous on campus for its Projects Overseas initiative not recommend it enough. It’s not a cushy holiday, and you’ll be worked hard, but it promises to be as rewarding as it is challenging. This year, the UCDVO programme is overseen by Sarah-Jane McCusker. Aside from aiding communities and making a positive societal impact, Sarah-Jane told us that her favourite aspect of UCDVO were the people involved in it. ‘The group of volunteers who I went to North East India with are my best friends, and if it wasn’t for UCDVO, I probably would never have met them!’ Applications for the

2019/2020 programme open in late September, so keep an eye on their website if this interests you!

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Campus

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

STRESSED ABOUT PRINTING?

Setanta Centre Nassau St. Dublin 2

Phone: 01 679 917 E-mail: info@reads.ie

L OW E S T PR IC E S I N IREL AND!

ADVERT

FASTEST TURNAROUND ON PRINTING & BINDING

BLACK & WHITE 100GSM

HARD BINDING

COLOUR 100GSM

SOFT BINDING

€25.00

Only 5C

Only 25C

from

€3.50

U P L OA D YOU R T H E SI S / P ROJ E C T / E S S AY ON L I N E

@ WWW.READS.IE

A N D C O L L E C T T H E S A M E D AY OR

T&C ’S APPLY

N AT I O N W I D E P O S TA G E AVA I L A B L E

Y O U C O U L D PAY M O R E E L S E W H E R E Y O U C OBUULTDWPAY RLED EYLOSUE?W H E R E H Y SM HO OU thesis_flier3.indd 1

BUT WHY SHOULD YOU?

07/08/2019 16:22:04

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Interview

The College Tribune

An Interview With...

Rory O’Connor Rory O’Connor (32) is one of Ireland’s largest online comedians. In a short few years he has amassed over half a million followers on Facebook, all flocking to see his hilarious skits. To find out more about the famous Meath man, his new show and everything from his favourite sandwich filling to prolific life advice, we sat down and had a wee chat. So, who is Rory O’Connor? Well he’s the man behind Rory’s Stories, which actually turns out to be fairly representative of his own life. O’Connor makes video skits and posts them online, gaining tens of thousands of views on videos regularly. I asked him how he comes up with all these relatable Irish skits. He replied: ‘Just living my life, honest to God. I just spot something, think ‘that’s a video idea,’ WhatsApp it to myself to have it down and then generally film it a few days later. You’d be out chatting to someone and the you’d spot something [and think] that’s actually a good video, then film it.’ O’Connor doesn’t need a film crew to help produce his work, he relies on technology a little closer to home: ‘I film a lot of it on my mobile phone. Mobile phones are so good now, I don’t need [a camera].’ The secret to his viral GAA personality skits, is fairly straightforward: ‘During the [GAA] season if anything happens in a match, I’d usually get a supporters opinion on the game. I’d get a county jersey and put on their accent and have the craic and take the piss out of their county.’ I mean,

“

I’d get a county jersey and put on their accent and have the craic and take the piss out of their county.’

“

who doesn’t love a good rant about their home county? The Guinness loving comedian has written two books to date – Rory’s Stories Guide to the GAA (2017), The Rory’s Stories Guide to Being Irish (2019). As a young father, O’Connor had to find a convenient time

to write. ‘When I was writing my books, I was getting up at half-four/ five in the morning and writing. […] I find that the human mind is sharpest first thing in the morning.’ He goes on to talk about future projects adding ‘We are looking at one for next year. […] The Rory’s Stories Guide to Life could be a good steppingstone.’ In the past, O’Connor has received considerable online backlash for

“

I did Sports Management, lasted six weeks – they asked me to spell ‘anatomy physiology’ and I was out that door quicker than my shadow!

“

Conor Capplis - Editor

skits that, for some, cut a bit too close to the bone. In August 2018 he posted a video entitled ‘What greets a man when he comes home from work...’ This video depicts a couple arguing. Content that a ‘vocal minority’ deemed offensive. In response to these past events, O’Connor said ‘I think if you want to get into comedy and you have a fear of offending people, you’re not going to be good at your job. Good comedians speak the truth, so you’re going to get backlash.’ He talked about the August 2018 video admitting ‘That got a lot of backlash. I got absolutely lashed out on Twitter over that for three of four days. I actually deleted my Twitter, I was sick of looking at it. […] It’s not nice, but I’ve a thick neck and I just move on. I certainly wouldn’t be apologising for my content anyway.’ To all the students in UCD who aspire to O’Connor’s level of success, rest assured it didn’t start out that way. O’Connor spoke to me about his brief college experience: ‘I did Sports Management, lasted six weeks – they asked me to spell ‘anatomy physiology’ and I was out that door quicker than my shadow!’ After a sold-out tour in Spring 2019, he is playing eight shows around Ireland across October and November. He summarises his shows as ‘Honest. Relatable. Funny.’ Tickets are available online on Ticketmaster.

18.09.2019

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Continued from Cover*

Full Speed Ahead: NovaUCD Announces E-Scooter Startup

The College Tribune

2017 and gained a foothold in over 100 cities in the first 12 months. However, many cities such as San Diego, Tel Aviv and Paris have experienced problems with ‘scooter littering’. The lack of

sidewalks and causing serious frustration. Thankfully, Dublin City Council will ensure a far more regulated market, limiting the number of scooter-share providers as well as the number of

Business

panies in Dublin which has worked to great effect thus far. Whilst welcoming this approach, Gleeson outlines how BLUE will address the scooter-littering problem even further: “We will also

Neil Stokes - Business Writer to be taxed and insured) or “mechanically assisted vehicles” (meaning they’re classified the same as regular bicycles). Leaving the Minister’s warnings aside, recent developments have fallen in BLUE’s favour. The Department of Transport recently commissioned the RSA to carry out a safety review of e-scooters, focusing specifically on their use in other European countries. Thankfully for BLUE, their report card was clean and the RSA have now advised the Department of Transport to begin the process of legalising e-scooters. There is now an 8 week consultation period where the public can have their say on the topic before Shane Ross makes a final decision. Gleeson is upbeat in this regard, affirming that “all arrows are pointing to legislation in 2020” Despite being a recent phenomenon, scooter-share services have been eminently successful where they have been established in locations ranging from San Diego to South Korea. The concept gained traction on the west coast of America in

“

The plan for now is to launch in Dublin before expanding into other Irish cities.

“

scooter-share companies in the US and thought that Ireland would benefit from increased urban micro-mobility to provide a seamless link between public transport networks and a solution to the “last mile problems” asserts co-founder Gleeson. Evidently then, this appears to be a great idea that addresses a widely-experienced problem for Irish commuters. What’s more, growing numbers of commuters are using e-scooters - some of which can travel at more than 30kmh - for short distances to work. Indeed, more than 2,000 people are believed to glide around the streets of Dublin at present. However, the issue of regulatory concerns- under notable media scrutiny at present- is an obvious threat to this startup’s feasibility. In recent weeks, Minister Shane Ross has warned that e-scooters remain illegal on public roads. A further legal vagary concerns the precise legal definition of e-scooters, with. Current legislation is ambiguous as to whether e-scooters constitute “mechanically propelled vehicles” (meaning they need

Pictured Left: Charlie Gleeson and Ian Kinsley Founders of BLUE Scooters

regulation around e-scooters has led to scooters being dropped anywhere and everywhere, blocking up

scooters per provider. This approach is in keeping with the Council’s stratagem regarding dockless bike com-

Alex Lohier - Deputy Editor Dr. Moore. Guests included three generations of the Moore family, corporate partners, lecturers, alumni of the Business School and students. In a heartfelt speech, Angela recalled the

Study with possibly one of the most unique views on campus: Top floor and sit near the outdoor bee pollinator rooftop! successes of George and wished that the new school would open as many opportunities for students as were

presented to George during his time in UCD. The Moore Centre is home to some interesting, forward-thinking spaces. Students will now migrate from the decaying Arts building to the new 320-seater PwC Lecture Theatre,

with its throwable microphones and amphitheatre seating. They may also find themselves in the EY Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub or the KPMG Skills Zone, both of which encourage teamwork and side-by-side learn-

will keep our streets clear.” While on the topic of dockless bike providers, it would seem that tapping into their loyal customer base will prove difficult. Dublin Bikes for instance have significantly improved transport in the city since their emergence at the start of the decade. Nearly 17,000 avail of the service everyday, a marked rise from the approximate 4,500 daily users in 2010. Gleeson, however feels that BLUE can offer a more comprehensive transportation solution altogether. “Dublin Bikes is a solution to one side of a two-part problem. Although Dublin Bikes may get you from your workplace to the Dart station, it doesn’t get the person from the Dart station to their home. BLUE Scooters will not be limited to the city centre and will solve both the first and last mile problem.” The plan for now is to launch in Dublin before expanding into other Irish cities. From there, the pair hope to expand further into European cities around the two-year mark. Armed with a fantastic idea and a highly capable support team, BLUE looks to be scooting on good ground right now. However, given the nascent stage the industry currently finds itself in Ireland, a bumpy ride undoubtedly awaits. Then again, entrepreneurship isn’t supposed to be easy.

have automated smart-locks on our scooters and will require them to be attached to bike racks. This technology

Moore Centre Opens for Business n September 2nd, UCD officially opened the latest building in its ever-growing Belfield campus. The €20 million Moore Centre for Business is the new, shining branch of the Quinn School, and is set to be a hub for creativity and collaboration. The building is named in honour of Dr. George Moore, a UCD alumnus who is regarded as ‘’the founding father of data analytics’’. As an advocate for the importance of education and the benefits it brings, the building is aptly named in his memory. Opening the ceremony was Angela Moore, the highly successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, founding donor and wife of the late

18.09.2019

ing and are the results of donations of an undisclosed amount from these companies. State-of-the-art facilities for students to work outside of class time are also present in the building, in the form of a Media Suite, where

students can record and edit podcasts and videos. There is also the THINK Lab, which resembles a modern office environment, and the Immersive Room, with its mobile seating and numerous white boards. And, if you want to study with possibly one of the most unique views on campus, go to the top floor and sit near the outdoor bee pollinator rooftop! All of the above are seamlessly connected to the existing Quinn building on all three floors. The purpose, according to Maeve Houlihan, Director of the School of Business, is to stimulate ‘collision and collaborative coworking’ between students and staff alike. If the Moore Centre for Business is symbolic of the talent that will emerge from UCD and go into the professional working world, it’s safe to say the future is bright.

Law

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Brexit: Not so Unexpected?

Robert Behan - Law Writer been foreshadowed since the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, to which British government rejected. The idea of European political integration has always been a controversial topic in British parliament. This did not stop British Membership to the then, European Communities, on 1 January 1973, succeeding in their third application. Just one year later British Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson promised a total renegotiation of the terms of their membership, particularly in areas of Community Budget, CAP, unemployment and retention of internal political powers. The Referen-

n recent times, it proves virtually impossible to avoid the phenomenon that is Brexit. Each day we are reminded that this country’s future draws closer to an uncertainty as our closest neighbour plans to bid farewell to their EU Membership. One thing we can be certain about, however, is the Britain’s history with the Union. For many, the result of Britain’s 2016 referendum favouring to leave the Union with a 51.89% majority seemed to come as quite a surprise, [however, this was not the country’s first referendum on the matter]. After a brief examination of Britain’s history with the Union, this result could have

The College Tribune

dum Act 1975 was shortly enacted which, for the first time, empowered the British people to decide whether or not they should remain in the Union. With an over twothirds majority in favour of remaining, British membership was democratically reinforced. Only four years later, the rise of the Thatcher’s Conserva-

Possible Implementation of a Gross Negligence Rape Offence in Ireland Molly Greenough - Law Writer

“

While consent in concept is as easy as tea, the legislation surrounding consent and rape law it is not quite as clean cut.

“

ost UCD students are familiar with the animated ‘tea’ consent video, often shown in the first days of orientation to newly accepted students. While consent in concept is as easy as tea, the legislation surrounding consent and rape law it is not quite as clean cut. In 2o18, the Law Reform Commission (LRC) published a paper entitled “Knowledge or Belief Concerning Consent in Rape Law,” in which various aspects of current legislation were discussed, and recommendations for reform given. Of reforms suggested, perhaps most controversial is that of implementing a new offence of gross negligence rape, for situations in which the accused honestly, but mistakenly, believed there was consent during the time of the rape, thus resulting in lower penalties. The distinction between rape and gross negligence rape is comparable to that of murder and

manslaughter in killings. Gross negligence rape would be incorporated into the Criminal Law (Rape) Act, 1981; however, strong arguments pervade both sides of the proposed reformation. It must be noted that including the new offence might also result in changing the current test of “honest belief” of consent, to a more objective test of “reasonable” belief; the aforementioned is another suggested reform from the LRC. The primary advantage of including this new offence would be the ability to criminalise non-consensual intercourse in circumstances where the defendant’s belief that consent was given is unreasonable; as well, this lesser offence would recognise “a lower degree of moral culpability associated with that wrongdoing than with intentional or reckless rape,” according to the LRC’s discussion. However, one could argue that implementing this new offence would only damage an already flawed criminal justice system. One disad-

tive Party reinstated public European scepticism. Large budgetary contributions grew as an area of concern, with Thatcher aiming to significantly reduce them, famously asking for Britain’s ‘own money back.’ By 1984, the Council reached an agreement to grant a rebate of approximately 66%. Satisfaction was short lived as ne-

gotiation towards European political integration horrified the British Conservative Party. In 1988 Thatcher referred to the EC as a ‘European super state exercising a new dominance from Brussels,’ which planted a seed of Euroscepticism within the party, only to be further cultivated with further political integration.

18.09.2019

The 1992 Treaty on the European Union marked a milestone in European Integration, creating an ‘Economic and Monetary Union,’ to which Britain successfully opted-out of. The 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam acted as another opportunity for Britain to opt-out of the Schengen Agreement. Reluctance in satisfying ‘full’ membership obligations prevailed in 2007, with the United Kingdom partially opting-out from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and The United Kingdom is undergoing final preparations to leave a Union which they have only been a partial member of for decades. While the aforementioned history confirms Brexit was not an entirely unpredictable outcome, it will still be difficult for both parties, the EU, especially Ireland, and the UK to deal with the repercussions of this final farewell.

vantage of incorporating gross negligence rape into the 1981 Act is wthe risk of compromising rape prosecutions and making them more difficult, with regards to convicting the accused of the lesser rape offence in circumstances where rape, or an acquittal, may be the true verdict. As well, runs the danger of only the most violent rape cases with overwhelming physical evidence being prosecuted as rape. In turn, if this distinction were to be made, each sexual offence with the element of non-consent would require the same distinction, opening the floodgates of sexual offences without necessarily resulting in more convictions. The chief concern of criminal law is to prohibit acts which attack not only the rights of individuals, but also the fundamental social and moral values of our society. The issues surrounding rape law in Ireland are complex and multifaceted, but one could argue that the introduction of gross negligence rape as an offence has the potential to significantly weaken current rape law.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

GET €50 AND UN-CANCEL YOUR PLANS Get €50 when you open a KBC Student Current Account, so you won’t need to live like a student.

ADVERT

KBC.ie Terms & Conditions and eligibility criteria apply. Other fees and charges, including non-euro fees and charges, will apply. For full Terms & Conditions, eligibility criteria and fees & charges see www.kbc.ie/students. KBC Bank Ireland plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Big Reads The Far-Right in Ireland: Faction or Fringe?

Searching for Earth: The Hunt for Habitable Exoplanets

Opinion: You don’t have an Anxiety Disorder (Probably)

Marcus Dupuy - Opinion Writer n order to qualify for a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, there are several criteria that must be met according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. One of the main criteria is irrational and excessive levels of stress and worry surrounding events that don’t warrant it. So, every student who is claiming to have an anxiety disorder, here is a message to you. You don’t have one, stop claiming you do. That’s because most, if not all the anxiety you are feeling is entirely warranted and rational. Although many outside of university like to believe that we spend 3-4 years drinking, partying and burning through the SU’s free condoms, for most of us, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Anxiety over deadlines, exams and grades hang over us all like a guillotine, ready to snap. For a lot of us, the guillotine is getting closer and closer as each day passes. For some of us, its already snapped. Most worryingly, many students are also under financial burdens. Some struggle to work 20-hour weeks to pay off student loans while also trying to keep high enough grades. The most depressing fact of all is that many of our peers are forced to skip lectures, the very thing they are paying for, in order to work to pay off student debts. For some of us, failing a few modules to be able to pay your way is just part and parcel of university life. Its no wonder that a recent USI study reported that nearly a third of all Irish students are reporting “extreme anxiety”. Why wouldn’t they be anxious? After all, its only their futures being played with. Yet, we are faced at every turn with many university staff that don’t care, a mental health center doing its best to cope under the monumental strain and a resounding silence from those with the power to actually affect change. Want to talk to a counselor? Here’s a microwave instead! Feeling depressed and lonely because you are struggling with course loads? Don’t worry, the new University Club won’t help in the slightest, but it looks nice. Feeling anxious all the time? Why not clear your mind with a walk through the Confucius institute.

“Anxiety over deadlines, exams and grades hang over us all like a guillotine, ready to snap.”

Change & The Now: The Philosophy of Change

After all, if the university was willing to run a few million over budget to fund it instead of directing that money towards health services, it must be worth it. This stress and worry we face as students didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Rather, we live in a society that is quickly becoming hyper competitive. With so many people now attending university, students are pushing themselves harder and harder to stand out from the crowd. As a result, employers are expecting more and more from us, continuing the vicious cycle. We have to be stressed. We often must choose between sleep or study, just to try stay in a race many of us have already lost yet still struggle on to finish. I don’t want to be molly coddled. I don’t want to be handed a degree I did not earn. I don’t want my hand held. All I want is to be able to talk to someone if times get tough. I understand that UCD needs money to run all these facilities and as such, certain aspects need to be run like a business. However, that doesn’t mean that UCD should treat us like annoying employees that it must placate once in a while to

stop them moaning. We are not employees. A lot of us are scared young people still trying to navigate our way through a world we’ve had very little time to enjoy. So, excuse us if we sometimes drink too much or go a little wild on nights out. When you’re dealing with thousands in student debt or the crushing weight of exams with no one to talk to, sometimes you need to blow off some steam. To all those students convinced they have an anxiety disorder, you don’t. University life and being a student is a very anxiety provoking and stressful thing to undertake. After all, with waiting lists as long as they are for the counseling service, its not like you’ll actually get to see someone to diagnose you anyways.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The College Tribune

Features

18.09.2019

Aisling MacAree - Features Editor

9 to 5! An Examination of the American Work Ethic struggle financially. Although, financial strain is not the sole motivator of the American workforce. Some of their tendencies towards workaholism are maintained through social and cultural structures, echoing the ideologies of hard work upon which their nation was built. However, many are also promoted through direct and enforced laws. For example, the US is the only country in the Americas not entitled to parental leave. For that matter they are the only industrialised nation in the world not entitled to this leave. In contrast, European countries average greater than twenty weeks parental leave, and non-European countries average roughly 12 weeks. In addition, there is no law requiring paid sick days in the US. In fact “the U.S. remains the only industrialized country in the world that has no legally mandated leave”. They also have no set laws stating the max-

imum length of the work week, unlike many of their European counterparts. The stereotypical image of the lazy American does not corroborate these statistics, in fact it seems to directly oppose them. Europeans may be shocked to learn that those in the US simply work a lot more than they do, with

Americans working “260 more hours per year than British workers, and 499 more hours per year than French workers”, according to the ILO. At this point, it is evident that worker’s laws and rights certainly play a role in the arduous hours kept by Americans. Howev-

“

Aside from the vertigo inducing buildings, the single-minded approach towards working was the greatest culture shock that many Europeans experience across the seas.

“

here is a general sentiment amongst Europeans that Americans are lazy. Every country has their unsavoury stereotypes. The Irish are drunks and British have a stick placed in a rather distasteful area. While these generalisations are nothing more that caricature, they are usually born from cultural tendencies. The American stereotype arose from a nation that worshipped fast food and Netflix. However, despite European notions (and the over-abundance of Dunkin’ Donuts) these generalisations about Americans are shockingly untrue, particularly when it comes to their work ethic. I stumbled upon this little-known fact after travelling to Boston on a J1. After decades of exposure to shows such as “the Office” and “Friends”, I was under the impression that the American workplace was more of a hangout spot than a place of legitimate business. You can imagine my surprise when I was introduced to the authentic, and rigorous, American workplace. In fact, aside from the vertigo inducing buildings, the single-minded approach towards working was the greatest culture shock that many Europeans experience across the seas. One quick google search about the American work ethic will reveal a litany of confused Irish immigrants who find themselves suddenly bereft of a lunch break, sick days or a social life as the American Dream takes its hold. As such, it is unsurprising that many Europeans consider the United States to be a country of workaholics. Americans work longer hours with fewer vacation days than their European counterparts. However, if we examine the financial, federal and cultural pressures that swarm the American workforce, the perceived workaholism begins to make sense. Firstly, America has a highly developed market economy. However, with college debt at a staggering height of $1.28 trillion dollars as of 2018, and an ever-deepening, blue shifting divide in class, many Americans

er, it is not only federal intervention that keeps US workers in the office longer than would be expected by Europeans. In fact, many of these long days are self-imposed, whether due to a cultural or financial pressure. In a surprising statistic, only 51% of Americans actually take the entirety of their ‘paid vacation time’. Some cited a lack of belief that others could do their job and others feared they would be looked down upon by co-workers or passed over for promotion by managers for taking their vacation. Not only do they not take the vacation time they are entitled to, according to NPR, 1 in 5 Americans admit to eating their lunch at their desk. This immersive attitude toward work is surprising and alien to Europeans who luxuriate in the well-earned time off they acquire. However, for us it is seen more as a necessity than a luxury. Further to the subject of

a national refusal to take a break, Project Time Off conducted a survey revealing that 29% of Americans considered themselves to be a work martyr (“someone who feels ashamed to take time off”) and a further 50% of millennials wanted their bosses to view them as work martyrs. As such, it appears that being attached to their desk is an admirable trait in an employee and exacerbates the pressure on American workers to chain themselves to their job. So where does that leave the American workforce? There is pressure from every angle to work long hours with precious few days off. From a European perspective they can seem like a nation of workaholics, overworked and underpaid. However, to many U.S. workers, they are labouring under the ideals that built their nation; that hard work is a noble and worthwhile endeavour. There are still questions as to whether a life of all work and no play is admirable or pitiable, however we can rest assured in the fact that American workers are most certainly not lazy!

Features

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

the students involved, working had a negative impact on their ability to socialise with other students. Students are clearly under a high amount of pressure, with factors varying from living arrangements to academia to doubts regarding sexuality and gender. It also must be considered that not everyone is well-suited to the type of learning environment provided at third-level. In an article for The Irish Times titled ‘Are we sending too many young people to college?’, Carl O’Brien suggests that in a country where 14% of students do not continue onto the 2nd year of their degree, the transition from secondary to third level education may do well to be re-evaluated. In the Ireland of today, third level education is taken for granted by the majority. Among the middle and upper classes, it is the thing that is done, often regardless of personal circumstances. Leaving full time education following a young person’s completion of the Leaving Certificate is often frowned upon. However, the question must be asked; who is anyone to say that lecture-based learning is of equal effectiveness to all students? Students who feel a consistent disdain for their course should ask

“

A look at student mental health during the transition and experience of third-level education

Eva Earner - Features Writer pon beginning in UCD as a freshman, what will be surprising to many is the degree of loneliness that can be felt on campus. Compared to a school environment, it’s suddenly a lot harder to catch up with friends. As well as the largeness of campus, clashing timetables can quickly become a hindrance to staying in touch with pals as much as we’d like to. It happens. It also means that for many, college is not necessarily the fun-filled, carefree experi-

ence they might have expected. Not everyone becomes accustomed to campus life quickly, and the day-to-day college experience is not always an easy one. One look at the bathroom graffiti in the Newman building and you can be certain of that. One of the primary complications of this daily reality is how unprepared most incoming third level students are to deal with it. Combine that with the academic pressure of college and the demands of a different kind

of social life, one peppered with the responsibilities that come with involvement in clubs and societies, and it can seem daunting to many to make your college years the “best years of your life”, as the media often purports them to be. It’s unrealistic to expect any 3 or 4 year window of time to be superior to all others past, present, or future, let alone one packed with deadlines, demands, and the expectation to kick off a career. The Union of Students in

Ireland National Report on Student Mental Health, published this year with the HSE, found by surveying over 374,000 third level students across the island of Ireland that 38.4% of students are experiencing severe levels of anxiety. A further 29.9% of participants reported high feelings of depression, and 17.3% were susceptible to considerable stress. A shocking fifth of students said they had no one to talk to about their personal and mental difficulties, and for a majority of

“

University and Happiness

It can seem daunting to many to make your college years the ‘best years of your life’, as the media often purports them to be

themselves whether their course is right for them. Moreover, students have the right to ask themselves that question without shame. It is, after all, the responsible and self-regarding thing to do, even if it goes against the values of family or their peers. It must be emphasised however, that this is not an easy decision for most to make. Students need and deserve support in difficult times such as these. It would be untrue to say that there are no support services available to students who

are struggling. Destigmatization of mental health in Ireland in recent years has spawned more student led initiatives towards mental healthcare, such as Niteline and Please Talk. In UCD, free counselling services can be accessed by students through UCD Health. However, the waiting list for an appointment is a cause for concern. The information leaflet for the UCD Student Counselling Service divulges that ‘At times during the year

“

The transition from secondary to third level education may do well to be reevaluated

“

Volume 33 - Issue 01

students may have to wait a number of months before receiving an initial counselling appointment.’. Staffing may very well be a challenge, but a waiting list as lengthy as it is vague is not encouraging. Returning to the USI’s key findings in the National Report on Mental Health, students who reported being involved in activities outside of their coursework had better mental health than those who didn’t. While it may very well be daunting not only to approach a society but also be involved in it as an operation, many society events are not only easily accessible on campus but also a good way to meet people with common interests. While college can often feel like an isolating place, it is vital to keep in mind that, in some unfortunate irony, you are not the only one to feel that way. Academic resources such as assignment extensions and leave of absence exist to be used, and there is no shame in taking advantage of them should they be needed. Services such as Niteline and Please Talk are in place for a reason, and serve numerous college campuses in Ireland, such as ITT, ITB, MU, NCAD, NCI, RCSI, TCD and UCD. Though mental health services for students in Ireland are far from perfect, and being a student is not always easy, there is always help available, even be it as simple as a chat with a friend.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The College Tribune

EY Undergraduate and Graduate Opportunities NATURAL TALENT, DEVELOPED NATURALLY.

Visit eyirelandcareers.ey.com to apply

18.09.2019

Volume 33 - Issue 01 The Newsstand US National Security Advisor departs White House John Bolton, Trump’s third national security advisor has left the presidents administration. Bolton was fired by Trump in a tweet but claimed he resigned. The former diplomat was a key part in the US withdrawal of the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Fine Gael attacks Fianna Fail’s ‘reckless’ spending plans Fine Gael set out its stall for what it expects to be an upcoming general election by criticizing its €4.35bn spending plans without providing details as to how it would be financed.

USI encourages students to register to vote The Union of Students in Ireland has launched its ‘generation vote’ campaign in an effort to get third level students to be on the voting register for upcoming referendums and elections.

Hogan nominated for senior EU role Phil Hogan has been nominated as EU trade commissioner by the incoming EU commission president. Hogan was previously the agriculture commissioner.

Politics

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

The Far-Right in Ireland: Faction or Fringe?

Caoilfhinn Hegarty - Politics Writer

ver the Summer the Google European Headquarters on Barrow Street were the stage for prolonged demonstrations as freelance journalist Gemma O’Doherty protested the ban handed to her by the video-sharing platform YouTube, one of the company’s many subsidiaries. O’Doherty, joined by supporters from her organisation Anti-Corruption Ireland, alleged that Google had given no legitimate reason for her de-platforming and that the tech giant was guilty of censorship. The ban in question occurred after the journalist uploaded a video that was critical of ethnic minorities in Ireland and received a seven-day suspension. O’Doherty circumvented this suspension by continuing to upload content to a secondary account, which a spokesperson from Google said in a statement meant the sites Terms of Service had been breached, thus invoking a ban. During the course of the protests O’Doherty and her allies earned forty formal complaints to the Gardaí from local residents as well as a special meeting of local councillors, despite the fact that city councillors do not generally meet at all during the month of August. O’Doherty also sparked a counter-protest march by a group calling themselves Speakers Unicorner, who accused the ACI of spreading hate speech. On August 10th, Green Party councillor Hazel Chu gave a speech on Barrow Street that was heard by a crowd of approximately 250 people. 200 of that number made up those who had marched together from the nearby Irishtown Garda station in protest of O’Doherty. The rest were O’Doherty’s supporters, several wearing high-vis ACI jackets and waving tricolours. Councillor Chu recently became the first Irish Born Chinese politician in the state and as a local politician she had already been aware of the action on Barrow Street and later attended the special meeting of councillors. However, Chu

became personally involved after a number of comments were made both online and during the course of O’Doherty’s demonstrations regarding her Chinese heritage, a video on social media shows one of O’Doherty’s supporters using a loud hailer and referring to the councillor as ‘that immigrant’. Cllr Chu is an Irish citizen by birth and has lived in the country her whole life, as referenced by her Instagram handle ‘irishbornpanda’ and it was on social media that she responded to these comments tweeting: ‘I will always fight hate speech so my kid doesn't grow up listening to the likes of [the ACI]’. She also urged her followers to join the Speakers Unicorner counter-march. Although her initial protest was relatively small in numbers, Gemma O’Doherty’s profile and the nature of her accusations against Google (in one video recorded outside the headquarters she asserts that the company is protecting paedophiles) meant that it wasn’t long before she started receiving coverage from the mainstream media. On July 17th, a day after her ban, several newspapers, such as the Irish Times and Irish Examiner were already reporting it. O’Doherty was already familiar to many from her failed bid at a presidential nomination in 2018 and her campaign to be elected to the European Parliament in 2019, where she placed twelfth out of nineteen at the first count. Former-

ly chief features writer for the Irish Independent she had received much praise for work as well as several awards, however she was fired after an instance of malpractice while investigating for an article. Since then she has become a controversial figure due to her views. During her campaign for the European Parliamentary elections she outlined a platform that included preparing for an ‘Irexit’ and the removal of ‘cultural Marxist ideologies’ from school curriculum. She has also been accused of espousing homophobic and racist viewpoints on her social media. In 2019 she founded Anti-Corruption Ireland to fight for ‘justice, truth, and integrity.’ As of September 2019 it has not been officially granted status as a political party, although O’Doherty still used the name and imagery on some of her campaign material. Despite the fact that O’Doherty only received 1.8% of first preference votes in the European Parliament elections and the size of her protest was relatively small in number, anxiety surrounding herself and the demography which she represents has been mounting in the general public. The founding of the Speakers Unicorner is a prime example of this, on their Facebook page they write that ‘we have seen all over the world what happens when hate speech goes uncontested.... violence and the death of innocent people’. Over the past several years

there has been a surge in right-wing politics globally, with a spike in the far-right in particular. This spike has made itself felt in elections and governments around the world with varying degrees of success. In France Marine Le Pen of the Front National was defeated by Emmanuel Macron in the 2017 Presidential Elections and that same year Geert Wilder, the leader of the Party for Freedom, suffered a significant defeat in the Dutch parliamentary elections. Countering these losses have been the recent wins of right-wing politicians in Brazil and Hungary. In August 2018 the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán became the second longest-serving minister at that post. Orbán has painted himself as a defender of Europe against Muslim immigrants and refugees, and it is in Europe specifically that the ongoing refugee crisis has sparked support for the right-wing in recent years, Ireland being no different. A number of new right-wing parties have been formed in the last decade such as Identity Ireland in 2015, the National Party in 2016, and most recently the Irish Freedom Party in 2018. All three parties advocate for stricter immigration control and are heavily Eurosceptic. Identity Ireland in particular has been accused of racism, with a number of its meetings being disrupted by protesters or cancelled by venues. At the time of writing none of these parties are represented in government. Although Anti-Corruption

Ireland is not a formal party it espouses similar views and has shown evidence of attracting extreme elements. On August 10th a video surfaced of a young man standing with O’Doherty’s supporters and performing the Nazi salute. After several weeks of O’Doherty’s protest An Garda Siochána became involved after receiving numerous complaints from local residents and business owners, who said that the noise levels were disrupting their day to day lives. On the 13th of August Gardaí read out the Public Order Act to the protesters, asking them to desist playing instruments and using speakers. Following this the protests began to dwindle. The Gardaí also met with local councillors on Friday the 16th of August to discuss the concerns raised by locals. Media attention surrounding the demonstrations has since died down but Councillor Chu’s Tweeted claim that she had gained ‘a few hundred followers, a good 1/4 of a million tweet engagements & lots of support by good people wanting to make sure fascism doesn't win in our country.’ suggests that a vocal section of the Irish public will continue to take a keen interest in preventing the proliferation of the far-right in Ireland.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Politics

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

Broken Parliament, Broken Politics Precedent has been thrown out the window and the UK’s unwritten constitution looms large. On the 28th of October Boris Johnson and his government took one of the boldest decisions in UK political history and shocked his political opponents. The prorogation of parliament is simply the gap between one session of the parliament and another. When applied as normal, prorogation is simply another standard procedure, however, this is not standard procedure. The timing and result of the prorogation currently in effect is undeniably an attempt from the UK executive to circumvent parliament in its plan to deliver Brexit. Even the speaker of the house, John Bercow, who’s role is totally bound by impartiality described the prorogation as a ‘constitutional outrage.’ The prime minister’s decision sparked not only protests around the UK but also court proceedings. Legal challenges to prorogation were filed in London, Belfast and Edinburgh. So far, the only success in court for the 75 MP’s and peers who took this legal action was a ruling on the 11th of October by the Scottish Court of Appeals, the highest court in Scotland, that the prorogation was unlawful and declared it ‘null and of no effect.’ The case will now be heard on the 17th of September by the UK supreme court.

The news of the prorogation of parliament shocked opposition MP’s and those opposed to Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy of leaving on the 31st of October deal or no-deal. The effective shutdown of parliament made their plan to pass a bill in the house of Commons and the house of Lords to force Boris Johnson to extend the Brexit deadline beyond the 31st of October a lot more difficult. Astonishingly, by the 4th of

Following this heavy blow to the government the bill was passed swiftly in the House of Lords. The bill stated that unless the UK government could agree a deal with the EU by October the 19th or get a majority in parliament for a no-deal Brexit then by that date an extension must be sought by the European council, which is made up of all the heads of states of EU members. The passage of this bill was such a stinging blow to Boris Johnson as it

“

The timing and result of the prorogation currently in effect is undeniably an attempt from the UK executive to circumvent parliament in its plan to deliver Brexit.

“

utside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster there is a daily clashes. Pro-European protestors chant ‘stop the coup’ and enthusiastically wave the EU flag. They are passionate, noisy and vast in numbers. For one particular protestor, it is his life. Steve Bray is known as ‘stop Brexit man’ and he has stood outside Westminster every day since September 2017. A menace to TV reporters and arriving politicians alike, Steve has become a symbol to the unrelenting opposition to Brexit. Also, pro-Brexit demonstrators are present, angry at what they believe is a Remainer parliament thwarting the will of the people. The result is ferocious tension and clashes with the police nervously watching on. These clashes however are nothing compared to the chaotic and ill-tempered scenes inside the houses of parliament. In recent days the proceedings in the chamber have become almost like a reality TV show. A high stakes drama which would be funny if it was not so serious. The events in the Commons these last few days have been almost like a tragicomedy of Shakespearian proportions. Parliamentary proceedings have descended into petty and personal bickering. Tribalism has taken over and fractured the parliament and the entire country.

September, by a majority of 22 MP’s, the opposition parties and some tory rebels passed the Benn Bill.

forces him to go against his promise made in the tory leadership elections that the UK would leave the EU on

the 31st of October deal or no-deal. The result has put huge pressure on prime minister Johnson. He appears to have been cornered by opposition MP’s and to have underestimated their ability to organise and work together to pass the required legislation in such a short time period. His desperation to see the bill fail could be seen when he said he would apply the whip to any conservative MP who voted against the government. In total 21 tory MP voted in this way and have now been expelled from the conservative party. This swift and ruthless action has shocked many in UK politics. Among those who have been expelled were senior figures in the party like Phillip Hammond the chancellor of the exchequer under Theresa May, Sir Nicholas Soames the grandson of former prime minister Winston Churchill and Ken Clarke who is known as the father of the house being the conservative parties longest serving MP of 49 years. These recent votes have sent shockwaves through Westminster and have split the Conservative party. The work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd resigned citing her objection to the expulsion of her former colleagues and her rejection of Boris Johnson that serious renegotiation talks are taking place with the EU. Also, Boris Johnson’s own brother Jo Johnson resigned

from cabinet saying he was ‘torn between family loyalty and the national interest.’ While everybody seems sick of the entire Brexit fiasco, its conclusion is now more uncertain than ever. The prime minister’s next move will undoubtedly define his premiership. Will he ask the

“

‘Torn between family loyalty and the national interest.’ - Jo Johnson

“

Conor Paterson - Politcs Editor

EU for the extension and break his promise to leave the EU deal or no-deal by the end of October or will he break the law and descend the UK into political and legal turmoil just as the country faces a potential no deal cliff edge? The hatred evident for him within the Commons means he is sure not to have the option of a snap general election as an escape route. In parliament, there is a particular contempt reserved for Boris Johnson which has further fuelled this astounding debacle. The drama is undeniably entertaining but outside the Westminster bubble, in Dublin, Brussels and across the UK people watch on in horror as the once parliamentary democracy envy of the world descends into a crisis of its own making.

Brexit As It Stands May 23rd

May 24th

June 20th

June 23rd

UK holds European parliament elections. Brexit party landslide with 29 seats and 30.5% of vote. Explicitly pro-remain parties= 40.4%. Labour = 13.6%. Conservatives finish in 5th behind Green Party

Theresa May announces she will resign as Conservative Party leader on the 7th of June and will also resign as UK prime minister

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are the final two candidates in the leadership election

Labour fail to secure a majority in parliament in order to take control on commons business and pass a bill to rule out no deal by 11 votes

July 23rd

August 28th

September 4th

September 9th

Boris Johnson wins leadership election and is appointed prime minister the following day. Johnson faces one day in the commons before summer recess

Queen accepts UK government request for prorogation of parliament from the 10th of September sparking public anger and legal challenges

By a majority of 22 MP’s pass the Benn Bill which orders the prime minister to request an extension or get a majority for no-deal in the House of Commons. Boris Johnson say we will not ask for an extension

Boris Johnson loses his 6th Commons vote to have an early general election. Parliament is then prorogued

Science

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The Lab Report

Researchers have discovered that two holes in the top of T. Rex’s heads most likely functioned as an air conditioner, regulating the body temperature of these massive lizards.

Ocean acidification may affect the ability of diatoms to build their ‘glass houses’. The tiny algae will be slower to make their silica shells, reducing their effectiveness as a carbon sink.

A new centre for research into the use of psychedelic drugs to treat mental health disorders is to be opened in Johns Hopkins. The centre received $17 million in funding from donors.

London has become the first city to announce its willingness to become a national park. The move will see an expansion of parks, with the ultimate goal being a 50% greenspace London.

Scientists have traced the origin of a massive radioactive cloud, which was the largest release of radioactive material since Fukushima, to a nuclear reprocessing plant in Russia.

Researchers have recently discovered a new species of pterosaur (the group to which pterodactyls belong) which had a wingspan of about twice as long as a giraffe is tall.

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

Searching for Earth: The Hunt for Habitable Exoplanets Georgia Stynes - Science Writer

n exoplanet is any planet that is in another solar system, orbiting around a star other than our Sun. In this piece, I’ll be looking at some of the methods we have for detecting exoplanets and some of the interesting things we find when we take the time to observe them. In my opinion, the study of exoplanets is one of the most interesting in astrophysics due to our current environmental crisis here on earth. Considering who we are relying on to fix our planet (a pair of dumb blondes), it may become necessary to look to the skies for our new home. Or, if you want to take a more positive perspective; ALIENS! COOL! YAY! So how is it that we can see planets that are so far away? The short answer is that we can’t. Though astrophysicists can’t always see the thing we are studying, whether it is with the naked eye or even a regular old telescope, there are ways of inferring information about the celestial bodies. If an exoplanet is particularly large, physicists can detect it using a technique with a very funky name; the ‘stellar wobble method’. You may have seen those ads for science week on the DART which said something along the lines of ‘everyone is attractive to everyone around them’. The point of those highly cheesy ads was that everything, no matter how small or large, has a gravitational pull. We may not always notice these forces at work, but that is only because we are so infinitesimally tiny on a universal scale. Every planet exerts some sort of gravitational force, but the larger the planet, the greater the pull. When a distant star wobbles from side to side, physicists can detect this movement by observing colour changes in a spectroscope reading. If something is moving away from you, the colours will shift towards the red end of the spectrum. As

the object moves away, the distance between you and it gets larger and the wavelength of the light is stretched out. This is called the doppler effect and is the same reason an ambulance siren will appear to become higher-pitched as it moves towards you, then lower-

The habitable zone (HZ) is traditionally defined as the area around a star where an earth-sized planet with an atmosphere similar to ours can sustain liquid water on its surface.

pitched as it moves away. If this colour-shift method reveals that a distant star is wobbling from side to side, the best explanation is that

there is something orbiting that star; an exoplanet! The seemingly invisible planet pulls the star towards it as it rotates around, creating a wobble that can be measured and analysed. When I was researching an exoplanet, I used a technique with a less funky name; ‘transit photometry’. This method is perfect for smaller planets with weaker gravitational fields. In transit photometry, the first step is to observe the light coming from a distant star using a telescope. When an exoplanet passes in front of the star, it casts a shadow. The characteristics of that shadow can then tell us everything from the size of the planet to the distance from its star. With the right algorithm, we can infer quite a lot about distant planets just by observing these tiny dips in the light coming from distant stars. The habitable zone (HZ) is traditionally defined as the area around a star where an earth-sized planet with an atmosphere similar to ours can sustain liquid water on its surface. If the planet is too close to its star it is too hot and there will be no water, as is the case with

Venus. If it is too far from the star, however, it gets too cold and filled with CO2 as a result of volcanic activity, as is the case with Mars. But what if the exoplanet is not like earth? The majority of the exoplanets we have discovered are not earthlike. So is studying them

Exomoons have the potential to be ‘super habitable’ because their host planets offer them a diverse range of energy sources.

completely useless if we’re looking for somewhere that could sustain life? Not exactly. One of the most interesting things I found out when studying a large exoplanet was that if the planet is in the habitable zone and has a moon, then that moon could be

habitable. The large number of moons in the solar system indicates a high probability of moons orbiting giant exoplanets. Jupiter alone has 79 moons that we know of! Exomoons have the potential to be ‘super habitable’ because their host planets offer them a diverse range of energy sources. The biosphere of a super-habitable exomoon could receive energy from the reflected light and emitted heat of its host planet and from the planet’s gravitational field. In a sense, the giant exoplanet would act as a miniature host star for its exomoon. It is expected that an exomoon would have a more stable, longer period in which the conditions would be suitable for life to form. It is likely that each of these giant exoplanets has more than one exomoon, just like Jupiter or Saturn in our own solar system. If this is the case, then the number of potentially habitable exomoons is far greater than the number of potentially habitable exoplanets. I don’t know about you, but I find that pretty damn exciting!

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Science

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

Artificial Visionaries: How Implants Could Help The Blind To ‘See’ Again

Adam Boland - Science Editor completely blind for a number of years. However, this surgery is quite risky. ONIs allow people with damaged eyes to recover sight without the need for invasive brain surgery.The researchers at EPFL have shown that ONIs can produce specific and unique responses in the

For cases in which this pathway is itself damaged, a device can be implanted directly into the visual cortex. brain. This means that the artificial vision produced by the implant can theoretically inform the user about

things like the location and movement of objects. When you close your eyes and put pressure on your eyelids, the flash of light that you see is known as a ‘phosphene’. In other words, phosphenes are the sensation of seeing light without any light actually entering the eye. This is roughly what artificial vision looks like, so people must undergo training in order to interpret what they are seeing. The WHO estimate that

“

The WHO estimate that around 1.3 billion people worldwide suffer from some sort of vision impairment. That’s about 1 in every 6 people on the planet.

“

esearchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland are investigating the possibility of partially restoring sight to the blind by using a device known as an optic nerve implant (ONI). The vision created by these ‘bionic eyes’ is known as artificial vision. The device works by bypassing the eyeball and sending electrical signals directly to the optic nerve, the pathway through which visual information reaches the brain. For cases in which this pathway is itself damaged, a device can be implanted directly into the visual cortex. One such implant, known as ‘Orion’, was recently used with great success to restore partial vision to 6 people who had been

around 1.3 billion people worldwide suffer from some sort of vision impairment. That’s about 1 in every 6 people on earth. It is easy to see how this technology could have a truly positive impact on the lives of countless real people. EPFL’s Diego Ghezzi has recently said that “from a purely technological perspective, we could do clinical trials tomorrow”.

Rumble In The Dumbbell: How To Grow A Muscle Richeal Ni Laoghaire - Former Science Editor

hen we exercise, this puts a stress on the body which is ultimately beneficial because it causes our body to adapt to this stress. As we repeatedly exercise over time our bodies undergo physical changes which help our bodies tolerate the stress caused by exercise. One of these adaptations is a growth in muscle size. Most of us have heard that resistance training like weight training can make our muscles bigger but not many of us really understand why. The physiological process whereby muscle tissue grows in size through increased protein synthesis is called hypertrophy, and it plays a crucial role in the health, growth and athleticism of all human beings. There are three major theories about how hypertrophy

occurs, although these theories are not seen as mutually exclusive so the real question is which theory describes the dominant mech-

Most of us have heard that resistance training like weight training can make our muscles bigger but not many of us really understand how or why

anism of hypertrophy. Mechanical Tension is thought by most research-

ers to be the most dominant mechanism. When the human body partakes in resistance training the weights used in the training session subject the body to mechanical tension. This mechanical tension disrupts the integrity of the muscle which

stimulates cell signalling responses which encourage protein synthesis. Muscle Damage is another theory of how hypertrophy occurs. This theory states that during training your muscles are damaged and during the recovery process

they are healed in such a way that they become bigger and stronger. Muscle Damage is the major cause of soreness in your muscles after a training session. The final major theory of hypertrophy is Metabolic Stress, which hypotheses

that the increased blood flow to muscles as a result of their repeated contraction and relaxation during training is responsible for the build-up of metabolites which then leads to changes in cell signalling which stimulate muscle growth.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Philosophy

The College Tribune

Change & The Now h September! A month full of hopeful aspirations for the future, budding plans and exciting opportunities, a new college term, fresh faces, a renewed energy and bustle of sorts, a new lick of paint as we mentally prepare ourselves for the term ahead. Yet for many, September signals the arrival of new

new house, a new school or college, making new friends or getting fitter. Sometimes on a more external scale towards social activism and the immense changes in our planet’s climate. The question that arises from this however is how do we confront the outcomes of change in our lives and deal with our fear of the future? Since philosophy’s earliest

Socratic Greek scholars. The world of the ancient Greeks was conflicted, violent, superstitious and often quite short. As Bertrand Russel states; [the Greeks] “were passionate, unhappy, at war with themselves, driven along one road by the intellect and along another by the passions.” In the face of a constantly changing socio-political environment,

involving lathering himself in cow manure to fight off dropsy, imagine doing that to fight a post-session hangover? Yet in relation to change, Heraclitus compared existing things to the mighty flow of a river, whereby in his view we cannot set foot in the same river twice due to the fact that the current will always pull the water onwards away from our cold feet sinking into the sand. He also extends this theory to social relations in which we can’t even truly encounter the same human being twice, as they are technically older even though they may physically look the same. In

stresses, a feeling of being overwhelmed by the sheer pace of life, heaps of work and a renewed social life to match. Certainly, for new students at UCD being thrust into a place of this scale, often far away from home, alongside everyday adulting can be difficult, frustrating and even make us frightened of what the future holds. When we hear the word “change” our minds rush in every direction, some towards getting older, moving to a

instances scholars have tried to wrap their heads around everything from the changing seasons, night, day, the movement of the planets, life, death and the growth and collapse of entire states and peoples through disease or war. While we may not deal with these subjects in exactly the same way as our philosophical predecessors, in our equally as complex life and times I believe it to be beneficial in some ways to glance back to our old friends, the Pre-

and a physical world veiled in superstition and mystery the Pre-Socratics inquired and theorised into the nature of our world on an admirable scale, eventually being classed by future generations as the first philosophers. One such man was Heraclitus of Ephesus, who attempted to deal with the very nature of change, albeit cryptically. Heraclitus is considered most notably in philosophy as the scholar of flux, second to his strange death

discussing Heraclitus, the philosopher David Hume comments that, “a river is a remarkable kind of existent, one that remains what it is by changing what it contains.” This view can uniquely be applied to modern times, as our social and personal lives along with our physical selves go through significant change over time but still remain our human lives and physical being. Life is always life, because it constantly changes. We can grasp constant

The Philosophy of Change

Aaron Collier - Philosophy Columnist

change as intrinsically part of life, even the foundation of the modern human experience, but the question remains in how to deal with or accept our fear of change in the future. On this end of things, we should glance further east towards ancient China. The philosophy attributed to the semimythological figure Lao Tzu incorporates similar terms surrounding flux and change. At the core of Lao Tzu’s Taoist tradition lies the “Wu Wei” or “flowing” which describes a state of harmony with the natural world and an acceptance of the ever-changing nature of life that every human

inevitably faces in order to fully grasp the “Dao” or the “way of life.” In order to do this, Lao Tzu claims that in simple terms we must let go for a little while, make your mind still and purposefully appreciate the little things in life. Taoists and Buddhists attempt to achieve this through meditation and sacred pilgrimages, but it can be used far more modestly within our current setting through the appreciation of the now. In a similar

18.09.2019

way to the natural world, we mustn’t rush ourselves but take our sweet time to be present. We should on occasion postpone hectic timetables, dates with friends, college stress, your job and for example appreciate a nice coffee in the morning, a nice sunrise, the voice of a loved one or a comforting embrace. Accepting change as just another part of life’s course may make those towering bridges to cross in the future a little less tall and far more manageable. Starting college again, my advice to any first year feeling sort of lost,

overwhelmed or anxious about their future at UCD, (we’ve all been there) to attend that society event, talk to the person beside you in a lecture, do that audition or pick up that sport. Because when we try to live within the now more often, we can finally place things in perspective and can possibly see the beauty and pleasure in even a little moment before its eventually washed away by the ever-present winds of change.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The College Tribune

CT Write for Us

Go to www.collegetribune.ie or email editor@collegetribune.ie

18.09.2019

Culture Electric Picnic 2019 - Festival Mania

Blinded by the Light: Why Cheesy Period Pieces Serve Us Better Than Nostalgic Romps

Freshers Guide to Dublin: Things You Cannot Miss

Sound Waves

1000 gecs

For Those I Love

Metawar

★★★★

★★★★★

★★★

100 gecs

Kasia O’Connor - Music Writer As someone who spent the summer months almost exclusively listening to painfully unironic, post-emo songs about beer and basements, I was unprepared for the phenomenon that was 100 gecs’ newest release. 1000 gecs is the first full-length release from Laura Les and Dylan Brady. The album started trending on Twitter in record time, swiftly expanding their audience past the Soundcloud niche. They combine about a dozen alt genre trends onto a 23 minute record that if I wanted to describe as anything other than “experimental” it would just be an over-hyphenated genre conglomerate, that frankly, I don’t have the word count for. All you need to know is that in the midst of a electro-rap-pop-punk record, there’s always room for a ska song about horse racing. So if you’re looking for an album to play out loud, and then have to explain to whatever boring people you may happen to live with, this might be it.

For Those I Love

Niall O’Shaughnessy - Former Music Editor The context for For Those I Love’s self-titled is best presented as a timeline. The project’s lead, David Balfe, began creating songs about friendship and support against the backdrop of post-austerity Dublin. A year into the process, his friend and collaborator in Burnt Out, Paul Curran, died by suicide. The result is For Those I Love, a gripping insight into how, in the depths of grief, fighting the temptation to assign blame and presenting an honest narrative is the best path to healing. This record isn’t rap, spoken word or electro. It takes cues from the above but with the mix of emotions Balfe works through on the album- frustration, despair, perverse optimism- the consequences could only produce music so idiosyncratic. The piano line running through ‘I Have A Love’ could easily morph into a house classic in someone else’s hands. Instead, it’s left sparse, accented by acidic synths. This contrast is the album’s lasting impact - a blueprint for hope told through tragedy.

3TEETH

Matthew Derwin - Music Editor Evoking memories of the industrial titans of the past, 3TEETH assault the listener with suffocatingly dark waves of sound on Metawar. Blending Skinny Puppy’s snarled vocals with early Ministry’s harsh, thumping guitar lines, they wear their influences with pride, yet still manage to carve out their own unique brand of leather-clad industrial metal that’s a breath of fresh air in a genre that has been lying stagnant for some time. The album’s downfall is, ultimately, its length – certain tracks are generic and almost slip into familiar pitfalls of the genre, but these missteps are more than made up for by unique pieces like ‘President X’, ‘Affluenza’ and ‘Surrender’. In an unexpected move, the finale is a chilling cover of Foster the People’s ‘Pumped Up Kicks’, finally doing justice to the original’s grim subject matter while injecting it with a primal energy Trent Reznor would be proud of. Metawar is more than worth battling through the filler for.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The College Tribune

Music

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

Upcoming Gigs

Bandana

Nicholas Lane - Music Writer

n an age where it seems that most entertainment is made up of remakes and sequels, targeting our wallets through nostalgia, rapper Freddie Gibbs and producer Madlib’s second collaborative album solidifies this duo’s legacy, rubbing shoulders with its 2014 predecessor. 2019’s Bandana had big shoes to fill in the wake of Piñata, a classic rap album which received enormous praise from critics and rap fans alike upon its release. This new effort maintains the same grimy sporadic urgency of its 17-track long forebear. Over 45 minutes and 15 tracks, Gibbs’ lyrics etch vivid images of poverty, desperation, drug dealing, and street violence. These themes are enhanced by Madlib’s instrumentation which while in parts is sleek and polished, remains raucous, jarring, and entirely riveting. This contrast plays perfectly into the album’s portrayal of the harsh gangbanging lifestyle Gibbs, and many American rappers, lead “before this music shit was moving, man”. The production on Bandana is a breath of fresh air in a rap landscape saturated by repetitive, bass-filled trap beats. Madlib’s samples range from 70’s soul and funk

★ ★ ★ ★ bands, to 90’s reggae and the iconic James Brown. They all flow harmoniously into one smoldering, preposterous soundtrack that bolster’s Gibbs’ wordplay, wit, and vision. The guest features on this album are tighter and more stringent than Piñata - artists like Anderson .Paak, Pusha T, Yasiin Bey, and Black Thought all add layers of character to the tracks they appear on. This intense, engrossing album has affirmed

Conor McCloskey - Music Writer The Last Boys x Atticus

September 20th @ 8pm Whelan’s, Wexford Street

both artist’s reputations as two of the best working in their respective fields right now. Once more, MadGibb has produced a classic album which will appeal to the casual rap fan and the enthusiast alike. At a time where the rap zeitgeist lacks excitement and innovation, Bandana has delivered with ferocity, emotion, and intelligence.

Electric Picnic 2019 - Festival Mania Ciaran Brown - Music Writer

his year was my first at the annual festival of Laois’ sleepy town, Stradbally - Electric Picnic. While that may put me in a turbulent position of not really being able to judge the festival through-and-through, I’m going to do it anyway. From the outset, I had thoughts of blood and war given this year’s lineup which I considered to be a true shambles. Nevertheless, I kept an open mind in the weeks leading up to the event. I arrived early on Friday morning to a field filled with silhouettes who would most certainly not get lost late at night. Amidst a thin fog, even the blindest bodach could make out the incandescent glitter and starlike luminous outfits which, in their thousands, formed a serpent of a line from the bus depot to the festival’s entrance. The thrill of the Friday was no doubt founded upon the palpable collective anticipation of two performances - Billie Eilish and Hozier. While I wouldn’t frequent the former’s Spotify page all too often, I can safely say she surprised me. Everything from her stage presence to her sheer and raw appreciation of the starstruck crowds before her - reveling in their tangible delight - set her aside from the vast swathe of the acts to come. In this youthful prodigy’s wake, we awaited Dermot Kennedy whom admittedly I had not been previously acquainted with. While he certainly didn’t receive the same reception as Eilish, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that his passionate display turned a few heads. Hozier, on the other hand, is one of my favorite artists. At 10.30 p.m., we sat - not-soquiet - envisioning the rapture to come. Once met by the Irish musical colossus, both I and

the boundless arena of enamored fans burst into a frenzy. The Bray-born blues player held us captivated from the outset and finished his performance with a powerful rendition of Take Me To Church as he clasped a Pride Flag tight with his beloved fans stretching their hands before him in defeaning awe. Saturday morning left much to be demanded. One didn’t have to look far to see the aftermath of the ‘Rave in the Woods’ which followed the headlines each of the nights of the weekend. All across the jampacked campsites, many a lost soul found their stomachs grumbling… only to be filled by another Heineken. I myself sat just outside my tent, shirtless and in my finest trackie bottoms, brushing my teeth as best I could with the last of what was left in my water bottle (which had been heated to boil in my double-layered tent). There before me as I contemplated my existence was nothing short of a gentleman - a giant of a man clasping an obnoxiously large speaker over his head as he bopped away. He and his entourage didn’t sleep a wink the whole weekend - they just knocked back can after can… and whatever else they could find. ‘True festival-goers’ I thought. But that’s neither here nor there. At 1.30 p.m. we made for the Three Made by Music Stage to experience a Uly performance. This Dublin 18 resident astrophysics graduate turned multi-instrumentalist deepsoul, jazz, and funk artist had his audience entranced in one groovy fit. With a cover of D’Angelo’s Feel Like Makin’ Love, he seduced an even larger crowd in, all of whom put their hands together for his emotional and personal outro track, Pak It In. Admittedly and purposefully, I did miss the 9.15 p.m.

18.09.2019

performance of The 1975 and the Saturday headlining act, The Strokes, as neither were really my ‘cup-of-tea’. However, I’m sure given the undeniable success of both, many were left speechless by their respective displays. Sunday was a bit of a lull for all. I found myself wandering through Body & Soul in a haze only to be swiftly rejuvenated by a burger and battered chips. While the food on-site was far from cheap, I’d struggle to criticize its quality. Everything from the falafel wraps to the bloodiest beef burgers was sublime. Acts on Sunday included J Hus and The Streets in the Electric Arena and Kodaline and Florence & The Machine as the headline on the Main Stage. During the latter’s show, my friends and I sat towards the back already ready for a warm bed. I gripped a piping hot cup of coffee and beheld Florence’s otherworldly stage presence. I didn’t know someone could move that long without breaking a sweat. At one point, her ethereal voice incited one festival-goer to comment, “someone’s had one too many bags of ketamine”. It has to be said though, her spaced-out demeanor made for better energy with her rendition of Cosmic Love moving some to tears. I left that night at 3 a.m. leaving behind all who would awake to be tortured by the burning. Not because I was THAT fed up… I just had a flight to catch. But on the way back to the Customs House Quay I realized that Electric Picnic really isn’t about the lineup.

Alt-rock co-headline show featuring The Last Boys and Atticus with support from fusion group Cinnte. Describing their music as “postalternative rock”, The Last Boys are a duo that are storming Dublin’s modern rock scene with the energy of 1980s East Bay punk scene. Atticus are a rock four-piece rock group who have combined elements of grunge, postpunk and funk to shape their unique sound. Tickets are available now for €6 or for €8 at the door. Crywank

September 22nd @ 7pm The Workman’s Club, Temple Bar Following their recent successful shows in Fibber Magees and Whelan’s, British anti-folk duo Crywank are returning to Dublin to headline The Workman’s Club. Like that of a modern-day Elliott Smith, the music of James Clayton and Dan Watson is honest, poetic and utterly heart-breaking. Featuring support from Anna’s Anchor and further acts to be announced. Tickets are available now for €10.

Peasant to a King

October 4th @ 7pm Fibber Magees, Parnell Street Peasant to a King will be headlining Fibber Magees on Parnell Street. Originating from Ireland’s midlands, this band have established themselves in Dublin’s thriving underground metal scene with their combination of deathcore and mid-2000s metalcore, bringing a tight, nostalgic sound to what will be their biggest show to date. Support to be announced. Tickets are available for €8 at the door.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Film & TV

Film News: Disney Streaming & Blockbuster Remakes

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

Film Review: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood ★★★

Anton Rivas Partile - Film Writer During the recent D23 expo in Anaheim, California, Disney unveiled a plethora of new shows and exclusive content for their new Disney+ streaming service. Titles ranged from a new High School Musical television series to a live-action remake of ‘Lady and the Tramp’, the iconic Disney animation. The move comes amid the news that Apple, HBO and NBC will all be launching their own streaming services to compete with the changing landscape of online media and aim to pull shows they previously allowed on Netflix, such as The Office, back to their own respective platforms. Other news involving Disney include the end of Spider-Man in the MCU as Sony pull out from the multi-billion dollar franchise. The new deal, as Deadline reported, would have made

Disney own a 50/50 co-financing stake in all new Spiderman films, compared to the current deal of circa 5% that exists on first-dollar gross. Sony has, up to date, earned no profits off MCU films featuring the web-slinger. In other news, the release date for Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune has been pushed back to December of 2020. The sci-fi epic, long awaited by fans, stands as an outlier among the many reboots of popular franchises, David Lynch’s 1984 version was critically panned and regarded as a commercial flop. However, Villeneuve is not new to gambling on large productions, having previously directed Blade Runner 2049, a film considered financially unsuccessfully after failing to double its $259.2 million budget in box-office revenue. The upcoming film’s success will mark a decisive point in whether large studios decide to focus on more creative ventures for blockbusters or return back to household names such as Ghostbusters, Terminator and Rambo, the latter of which will be releasing a new sequel, titled ‘Rambo: Last Blood’ this month.

Brigid Molloy - Film & TV Editor nce Upon a Time…in Hollywood is Quentin Tarantino’s highly anticipated tenth film. It is set in 1969, during the final months of the golden age of Hollywood, a time that Tarantino is clearly nostalgic for. The cast is impressive- Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie are the stars and even Al Pacino has a small role. DiCaprio plays Rick Dalton, an actor who has found success in TV but is struggling to break into film. His neighbour Roman Polanski, at the height of his career, only serves as a bitter reminder of his lack of success. Pitt plays Cliff Booth, ostensibly Dalton’s stuntman but in truth his most loyal and ironically, under-appreciated friend. It is exciting to see Pitt and DiCaprio act alongside each other especially because they are both famous for being 90’s heartthrobs. I found Pitt the most enjoyable to watch however because it is clear he had the most fun with his part. Margot Robbie plays an exuberant Sharon Tate who can usually be found smiling or dancing. At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Tarantino was challenged about how few lines Robbie was given in the film. It is notable because she is the female lead. I felt we never got to know her character, and it is precisely because Robbie is not given much to say. The portrayal of Tate is lovely in that the film shows how happy a person the late

actress was but unfortunately, because the character is no development, it also means she lacks in substance. Although I liked the performances and cinematography, I cannot say I especially enjoyed watching Once Upon a Time. The film does not have enough plot; the first two

The prospect of the Manson Murders looming of course, but this did not prevent the film from feeling overlong and sluggish.

hours of the films simply follow the days in the lives of the characters without any clear focus. There is the prospect of the Manson Murders looming of course, but this did not prevent the film from feeling overlong and sluggish. There is a spectacular, violent finish- beware squeamish viewers! Even

after the exciting finale, I left the cinema wondering what the point of the film was at all. Tarantino did not succeed in making me care about this era of Hollywood and without an engrossing plot or the chance to care deeply for the characters, there was nothing to pique my interest. I also feel it is important for me to acknowledge that there were things that made me feel uncomfortable in this film. It is strange to see Roman Polanski depicted in film when in the modern day, we know about the allegations of rape against him. Bruce Lee is portrayed in the film in such a way that his daughter has declared racist. I would say that it is good to bear these things in mind while watching. I can appreciate that this is an original, well-made picture released during the summer and it is the type of cinematic release that is unfortunately becoming increasingly rare. Nevertheless, it has many underlying problems; it is certainly not Tarantino’s masterpiece.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Film & TV

The College Tribune

Netflix Recommendations High Seas

Red Sea Diving Resort

★★★

★★

Series

This Agatha Christie style murder mystery is a Spanish Netflix series (don’t worry, it comes with subtitles), enrapturing audiences in heartbreak and heart-warming family, love and moral responsibility narratives. With frustrating dynamics for the female characters that show physical and emotional abuse of the 1940’s, while also wrapping the audience in criminality and romance, all while aboard the Bárbara de Braganza. On a ship headed for Brazil, watch as you root for the writer and the lieutenant, the singer and the wife and last but not least the servant and the sweetheart.

Film

Loosely based on real life events, Chris Evans leads a band of his merry men and women, Israeli Mossad agents into Sudan in the 1980’s to help evacuate Ethiopian Jews to safety in Israel. It isn’t my favourite Chris Evans movie, but he fits into his charming role of reckless leader like a glove, as the handsome devil with a heart of gold who saves countless lives from persecution. A time of conflict that I had scarcely heard about myself is brought to Netflix, it is unfortunate that there isn’t much time for character development in the movie,

ranking the movie quite low on my go-to Netflix recommendations.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile Film

★★★★

18.09.2019

Katie MacRedmond - Film & TV Writer

Derry Girls Series

★★★★★

Starring Zac Efron and Lily Collins this docu-film is about the life of Ted Bundy and his girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer, during his trials, this film may be shocking to some so caution is advised. Many would

say this film grossly romanticises Bundy; however, the effect is to show Elizabeth’s life of falling in love and raising her child with him, while also showing how effective his charms were on his victims. One cannot deny how effective Zac Efron’s performance is nor can one unsee the effects of such a character can have on him, seen clearly in the uncomfortable and eerie interview he had on the Graham Norton Show.

Relatively new to Netflix, Derry Girls has been circling the block for a while, with season three greenlit by Hat Trick Productions, I for one am tingling for more and spring couldn’t feel further away. Derry Girls is a comedy that tells of a group of teenagers who know nothing but a society interwoven with violence and segregation. It’s perfectly timed; during a table read at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the shows writer expressed how this show couldn’t have been made ten years ago due to so much conflict in the last few decades, children have grown up desensitized to violence being raised through World Wars and Irish Civil War.

Blinded by the Light: Why Cheesy Period Pieces Serve Us Better Than Nostalgic Romps

Alex Mulhare - Film & TV Writer

ur contemporary media has seen a recent influx in the number of film and television series which are set in the 80s. The sociological reasoning behind this trend is a subject for another article entirely, however in its simplest terms, simulated 1980s environments are products of nostalgia. They are just far enough in the past so that young people may idealise the decade for its vibrant fashion and music, while older individuals tend to view the period through rose-tinted glasses. This proves to be a profitable combination in terms of media productions, and although it is often an exploitative endeavour, I would argue that the 2019 film, Blinded by the Light, remains acutely self-aware of its setting and does not approach the campiness of the 80s from a manipulative angle. On the very contrast, Blinded by the Light stars a Pakistani immigrant as its protagonist, and we are presented with the

★ ★ ★ ★

rampant racism of the decade, as opposed to the popular interpretation of seemingly better times that we are typically confronted with. Were times actually better in the 80s? Absolutely not and Blinded by the Light sets out to illustrate the case in opposition of this now popular sentiment. Despite the flamboyant costume design that the film emphasizes to us in its opening scenes, the melancholy of Javed’s existence is quickly brought to the forefront; as a member of an immigrant working-class family under conservative government, he is miserable, and his existence as such during the British

1980s is never romanticised. Perhaps the film is riding upon the coattails of our contemporary love affair with 80s culture, however, Blinded by the Light firmly establishes its endorsement of the decade as nothing more than a surface-level facade. Javed serves as a source of realism and authenticity as he finds himself yearning for a less conservative world, wherein he is free from the control of his father and far beyond the reach of a local fascist organisation. Racism runs rampant through Javed’s teenage experience of the world; we witness both him and his family falling victim to

violent, racially-motivated crimes, thus we are forced to re-think our idyllic view of the 1980s. Blinded by the Light’s brilliance comes about through its ability to embrace the light-hearted and sinister all at once; the film is simultaneously an often cheesy period drama, and a damnation of British conservatism. In this way, it establishes itself as a poignant reminder that while we should revisit the 80s through our media under a critical lens, we must not fall prey to the common pitfall of convincing ourselves that we were better off in bygone times.

Arts & Lifestyle

any believe that Dublin is currently being engulfed by high-end shops and hotels, draining the soul of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. However, Dublin still holds some of the most unique, traditional, and Instagram-able streets that attest its charm. Here are four of my favourite streets in Dublin City:

The College Tribune

Dublin’s Lovely Lanes Luke Murphy - Arts & Lifestyle Writer

Anne’s Lane, Dublin 2 It’s just off Grafton Street, making it easily accessible for everyone who wants to kick off their Dublin experience on one of its most prominent streets. What allows Anne’s Lane to stand out is the artistic installation of umbrellas strung overhead across the width of the street! This was set up by Zozimus, one of Dublin’s most cosmopolitan bars. Not only does it allow for some gorgeous photos, but it also serves as a constant reminder of the number one thing to carry in Dublin: a brolly! Take a few pictures and grab one of Zozimus’ lovely signature cocktails.

18.09.2019

Love Lane, Temple Bar. Temple bar is one of Dublin’s hotspots when it comes to tourism as many of the streets leave both tourists and locals alike in awe. The cobblestone lanes are filled with murals and street art, but none is more special than Love lane. This secluded love-themed lane links Essex Street and Olympia Theatre. Complete with sweet messages, paintings, and impressive colourways, Love Lane is a perfect spot for a first date. If you aren’t going on dates yet, get yourself down to Copper Face Jacks nightclub. Thank me later.

“

Get yourself down to Copper Face Jacks nightclub. Thank me later.

“

Volume 33 - Issue 01

Great South George’s street. Last, but not least, this is one of Dublin’s most iconic streets. Great South George’s Street is home to many pubs and clubs, such as the famous gay-friendly, craic-filled club ‘The George”, but it also boasts many vintage, architectural marvels like the George’s Street Arcade. This is one of the oldest Victorian-style markets in Europe with a variety of stalls that sell everything from bubble tea to vintage records. This street cannot be missed if you admire Victorian architecture.

Moore Street Around the corner from the Spire lies one of the most traditional and celebrated streets in Dublin: Moore Street. During the day, it holds one of Dublin’s oldest markets. The Moore street market has been in operation for decades, providing various kinds of food and drink barrow stalls. It’s one of the most iconic streets in Dublin as it celebrates the cities sense of community and holds a level of tradition. Running from Monday-Saturday every week, it is a must-see.

Ways to Kill Time in UCD Mallika Venkatramani - Arts & Lifestyle Editor

W 1

alking into the sprawling UCD campus can be daunting for newcomers, especially when bombarded with countless ongoing and upcoming events. Where does one start? Here are some things you should do to make the most of your time at UCD! Attend Freshers’ Week and get involved! Freshers’ Week brings the buzz of the entire campus all under one roof. Held in Week 2 at the Freshers’ Tent, this will give you a picture of all the clubs and societies that operate all year round. Purchase membership with those that resonate with you and get involved in their events.

Check out the New Student Centre This is hub of state-of-the-art recreational facilities. Other than having a cinema, debating chamber (Fitzgerald Chamber), theatre (used by DramSoc) and a radio unit (used by Belfield FM), there are numerous facilities for sports – from an Olympic-sized swimming pool to squash courts. There are also fitness classes (yoga, pilates, Zumba, etc.) you can sign up for. Not all facilities are free, so check

the UCD Student Centre website for more information.

Feed the swans One of the main symbols of our university are its swans. They inhabit both the Upper Lake and Main Lake along with ducks and (annoying) seagulls. Take some time off to give them some tidbits. Just remember to feed them the right items – contrary to popular notion, bread, biscuits and other “human food items” aren’t healthy for them. What you can feed them: sunflower seeds, uncooked oats, sliced grapes, shredded lettuce.

Explore UCD’s Woodland Walks Did you know that there are 8 kilometres of walking trails around campus? This is a great way to relax between classes. Walk along tree-lined paths and take a moment to appreciate the greenery. I recommend the path that snakes along the Secret Lake as well as the path adjacent to Belgrove Student Residences.

UCD Fashion Show Most years, UCD organises a studentrun fashion show that aims to raise money for a charity in April. A

striking feature of this initiative is that they recruit models representing most ethnic groups to showcase the university’s diverse student population. Just audition for it; you never know – you might be lucky! It is a great cause, and who doesn’t like getting some limelight?

Probably Attend lectures Jokes apart, this is why we all are at university! Sure, there are ample happenings to always keep you involved, but it goes without saying that the most important thing you should do while at college is attend your classes.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The College Tribune

Arts & Lifestyle

Freshers Guide to Dublin: Things You Cannot Miss Mallika Venkatramani - Arts & Lifestyle Editor

hen I arrived in Dublin 2 years ago, I was told that the number one place to visit is the Temple Bar. It’s been two trips around the sun, and I still haven’t popped into the pub for a pint, because I’ve been too engrossed exploring other gems around this beautiful city. Trust me, Dublin has something for everyone!

Howth Head and Killiney Hill Park You can’t come to Dublin and miss aweing over the iridescent Dublin Bay. There are two spots which allow you to do exactly that – Howth Head, a gorgeous cliff walk, and Killiney Hill Park, which is composed of two adjacent, easily-scalable hills Dalkey and Killiney. Whichever you choose, you’ll be greeted with unforgettable views.

National Gallery of Ireland Who doesn’t love galleries? The National Gallery of Ireland, right in Dublin city centre, boasts a fabulous collection of artistic installations, from paintings to themed exhibitions. Admission is free, just walk in and spend a peaceful afternoon exploring the collections that resonate most with you.

18.09.2019

The Blind Pig Speakeasy Dublin 2

★ ★€ €★€ ★

Alex Lohier - Deputy Editor This week, I’m serving up a review of The Blind Pig. Hidden (literally) just off Grafton Street, this spot serves some great food and THE BEST cocktails in all of Dublin. For starters, go for garlic bread; The Blind Pig offers two kinds, one with cheese and one without. Get both, trust me. Order a few olives and you’re sorted for starters. If you’re less enamoured by garlic bread than I am, I’d recommend the Charcuterie Board, which offers a nice taster of cheeses, meats and olive.

Dublin is always buzzing with events, and here are a couple of upcoming ones:

Blackrock Market While George’s Street Arcade is Dublin’s most well-known traditional markets, my vote goes to Blackrock Market. Open on Friday’s and weekends, this vintage market on Blackrock Main Street boasts of shops selling vintage knickknacks and homemade snacks, designers selling adorable accessories and even an award-winning Indian restaurant! Bonus – there’s a fortune teller who runs her business here.

4 5

Dublin Theatre Festival (26 September – 13 October) If you’re nuts about theatre like me, this is a dream. This festival will showcase stunning performances by local artists that add to the cultural and artistic flair of the city. It will be held at various locations and you can find ticketing information on their website.

Moving to the main course. I’ve had the Lentil Spaghetti Bolognese, which is a traditional, hearty dish. I’ve also had their Gnocchi with Prawns and Buratta. Both are good, but by no means amazing. The pizzas look very nice, though I’ve yet to taste one myself. The star of the show is the Grilled Seafood Plate. I’ve never ordered it (stupidly enough), but judging from the salivation of those who have, it’s sensational.

Dublin VegFest 2019 (28-29 September) Current reports state that livestock farming for meat consumption is one of the biggest causes of global warming. Simultaneously, a booming trend of vegetarianism/veganism has been observed globally. Come attend Dublin VegFest to learn how colourful, delicious and meaningful a plant-based diet is! It will be held at Griffith College. Check out their website to get tickets in advance!

Great Dublin Bike Ride 2019 (29 September) Prefer something sporty? The Great Dublin Bike Ride is a big event for cyclists of all abilities. You can opt for a shorter route (60km) or a longer one (100km). The routes will cover various landmarks around Dublin and will begin and end at Phoenix Park. What an exhilarating way to spend your Sunday! Sign up through their website today! Dublin has enough to keep your weekends filled – take your time to explore this fascinating city!

If you’re still hungry after your first two courses (an unlikely occurrence, as the dishes are deceptively filling) I suggest a coffee. The desserts I’ve had there don’t warrant their price, but their coffee is exquisite and a nice way to wash down your meal. Overall, an incredible experience (if you know, you know). Definitely a brilliant location for an anniversary, birthday etc. With average prices for Dublin, above average food, and the tastiest, most creative cocktails I’ve ever had anywhere, it’s well worth a visit.

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The College Tribune

INTERNATIONAL

GRADUATE

PROGRAMME

ARE YOU AD CUT OUT TO JOIN US?

Do you know a serious character who is a creative, innovative, self-starter and wants to launch their career in marketing on an international stage working for the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s #1 Irish Whiskey brand? Great! Encourage them to apply at jamesongraduateprogramme.com Applications Close 1pm Wednesday 15th January 2020

@JAMESONGRADPROG

18.09.2019

Sport Irish Cricket – A success story waiting to happen?

Rian Cassidy - Sports Writer Slam, will feature each team playing the others twice, with all games taking place in Malahide CC starting with Ireland v Netherlands this Sunday at 1:30pm. Ireland will then fly out to Oman where they’ll take part in a five team tournament comprising of Oman, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Nepal. These warm-up events will provide Ireland with much needed exposure to the T20 format as well as helping to familiarise them with local conditions ahead of the crucial World

“

The tri-series will provide Ireland with crucial practice ahead of the World T20 Qualifiers which are set to take place in the UAE next month.

“

reland head into next weeks’ tri-series against Scotland and the Netherlands buoyed by the recent news of Paul Stirling signing a deal with Cricket Ireland, putting an end to his long, illustrious career with Middlesex. The tri-series will provide Ireland with crucial practice ahead of the World T20 Qualifiers which are set to take place in the UAE next month. The triseries, which was hastily put together by the three boards off the back of the late cancellation of the Euro T20

Cup Qualifiers next month, where Ireland will aim to be one of the six sides to qualify for the T20 World Cup next October in Australia. Ireland enter this period in high spirits, coming off the back of a positive summer, where several new faces made huge strides in the international arena, most notably Mark Adair and James McCollum, who were instrumental in Ireland’s creditable performance against England in their one-off test in July. Other youngsters such as Gareth

Delany and Lorcan Tucker have made big impacts in the shortest format, as part of the Irish management’s ongoing attempt to rejuvenate what was seen as an ageing Irish team that had lost its way in T20 cricket. Less then a year ago, Ireland fell to the bottom of the T20 World rankings having experienced some shock defeats against Hong Kong and Oman, which prompted Cricket Ireland to turn their attention away from many of the experienced players who had brought Ireland

to where they are today, in favour of the next generation of players, who are better suited to the shortest format, where power and pace are essential. This poses the dawning question: could Ireland’s upcoming cricket squad be a success waiting to happen?

Volume 33 - Issue 01

The College Tribune

18.09.2019

Rugby World Cup Preview

Matthew Dillon - Sports Editor eptember 20th 2019; the start of the 9th Rugby World Cup. This is the first time the competition has been hosted by a non-tier 1 nation. While the early stages of the competition are bound to see some heavy rain during matches – the later stages will probably see drier conditions with temperatures of around 17 degrees; arguably the perfect conditions for rugby union. With the so-called “warmup” games completed this is a suitable juncture at which to take stock of Ireland’s chances.

warm up games rather unsurprisingly brought out the plethora of armchair pundits and psychologists that seem to appear at every shortcoming in Irish sport. Every counter of every public house in Ireland is home to at least one expert on Joe Schmidt’s shortcomings –

their World Cup squad; and nobody seems to bat an eyelid. Franks is the holder of two world cup winners’ medals. We are too loyal to individual players in this country. Nobody is bigger than the team. The counties that have won the World Cup seem to understand this.

The reality is, Devin Toner is 33 years of age. At one stage in his career he was one of the most efficient lineout operators in the world. Under Schmidt he bulked up considerably; and became more of a force in open play than he traditionally had been. However, over

the last year it has become apparent that we need a more dynamic pack than we have had in recent years. The introduction of Jack Conan and Tadgh Beirne are just two examples of this. Dropping Devin Toner seemed to be a return to the old Joe Schmidt; ruthless,

Earlier in the year I wrote a piece entitled: “Does The IRFU View The Grand Slam As More Important Than The World Cup?” The general idea was that in order to offer Ireland their best chance in the World Cup the team’s depth and structure would need to be developed; likely to the detriment of results over the course of the Six Nations Championship.

“

And so, for the first time ever Ireland go to the Rugby World Cup ranked at the best team in World Rugby.

“

We are too loyal to individual players in this country. Nobody is bigger than the team.

“

The Six Nations; and indeed the first two World Cup

and the psychology of World Cup preparation. The fact is that the intricacies of modern sports psychology are a mystery to most. Besides, there is not one perfect tried and tested way to prepare for a competition in sport. Then came the dropping of Devin Toner from the World Cup squad. Queue the reemergence of the armchair pundits. On the other side of the globe, the All Blacks omit Owen Franks from

“

To quote the aforementioned “Giving all members of the squad opportunities to play in high-pressure test games cannot be framed as anything but adequate preparation.” Schmidt made a very definite statement of intent by selecting Robbie Henshaw at fullback against England. While this, and indeed many of Joe Schmidt’s other attempts to increase squad depth did not yield immediate or obvious success, the fruits of the squad building done during the six nations should become more apparent.

CJ Stander. Something that Joe Schmidt did not manage to solve; and something which it may have been beyond any coach to solve is the issue at 10. It is undeniable that Ireland are not the same without Johnathan Sexton at outside-half. His only viable replacement; should he fall foul of an injury is Joey Carbery. Carbery is set to return to play within the coming week – but his recent injury profile is not exactly reassuring. Schmidt’s strength and conditioning team will be monitoring the fitness of Sexton and Carbery meticulously; the cabinet is looking rather bare behind them.

In reality if Ireland do well in this World Cup, Joe Schmidt is a national hero. Conversely if Ireland do not progress past the quarter final stages he is most certainly a villain.

calculated desire to win. Devin Toner doesn’t offer us the best option available over the course of the world cup – in truth he is a player that suits only one style of play. While he is one of the best players in the world to implement this style of play the World Cup challenges a squad to adapt. If anything, we need more of this ruthlessness from Joe Schmidt. Peter O’Mahony’s place may be at risk from Tadgh Beirne; or of course

And so, for the first time ever Ireland go to the Rugby World Cup ranked at the best team in World Rugby. I don’t believe anybody is in doubt that the world ranking system doesn’t tell the whole story. In reality if Ireland do well in this World Cup (keeping in mind that we have never made it past the quarter final stages); Joe Schmidt is a national hero. Conversely if Ireland do not progress past the quarter final stages he is most certainly a villain. Schmidt was always facing an uphill; almost unwinnable battle in preparing Ireland to go to the World Cup. It is only a fool who would dare to claim that Joe Schmidt has not done everything within his power to prepare this team; and then some. What befalls this team is in the lap of the rugby gods now.