College Tribune - Volume 33 - Issue 4 by College Tribune

COLLEGE TRIBUNE Independent Student Media

Issue_04.33

UCD Named UCD STUDENTS MOST Sunday Times AFFLUENT AND LEAST DISADVANTAGED University of the Year 2020 Hugh Dooley Reporter

niversity College Dublin, UCD, was announced on November 3rd as the Sunday Times University of the Year for 2020. This was the third time that the University had received this accolade since 2002, it previously won in 2006 and 2012. The silver medal of the category was given to National University of Ireland Galway, who rose to being ranked the fourth best University in Ireland.

In reaction to receiving the prestigious moniker from the Sunday Times, UCD President Andrew Deeks said, “We are very happy to be University of the Year because it comes after a period of hard work. It’s a great honour and it’s a credit to everyone at UCD.” Deeks added that, “It is a confirmation of what we’ve seen through our strategic planning process, in terms of the progress that the university has made over the last five years, and a validation of that.” Continued on page 7

ew research published by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), indicates that UCD and IADT have the highest percentage of students from affluent backgrounds. UCD, along with UCC and RCSI have the lowest proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. 34% of students in UCD come from affluent backgrounds while only 5% come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Published on October 21st, the Higher Education Spatial & Socio-Economic

“

34% of students in UCD come from affluent backgrounds while only 5% come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“

Conor Capplis Editor

Gay Byrne: An Irish Broadcasting Legend Conor Capplis Editor Irish broadcasting superstar Gabrial “Gay” Byrne died on November 4th, 2019 after a

Profile presents eye-opening data on the backgrounds of Irish students. The data was collected from all publicly funded institutions except Trinity College Dublin. The report shows a detailed makeup of the geographical and socio-economic make-up of Ireland higher education institutions. Letterkenny IT contains the highest percentage of students from a “disadvantaged” background, standing at 24%. The report suggests the socio-economic profiles of students attending the institutions “reflects the socio-economic makeup of

News

Canonisation Sparks Contention on Campus

Big Reads

Academic Spotlight:

Kieran Allen

Continued on page 4 history. Byrne presented ‘The Late Late Show’ for over 37 years. He is survived by his wife Kathleen, daughters Crona and Suzy and their families. In a statement, his family said: “It is with sadness that Kathleen, Crona and Suzy wish to announce that

long illness. “Gaybo”, who was 85, has been heralded over the years as one of the most influential Irish radio and television host in our

07.11.2019

Culture

The Sincerity of El Camino

Continued on page 4

Sport

Irish Rugby Life Post-Schmidt

Abortion Decriminalised Up North Conor Capplis Editor

ctober 22nd saw a historic change in Northern Ireland after both abortion and samesex marriage became legal. The

sudden change happened after the 3-year Stormont standstill led to some mainland UK laws coming into effect in Northern Ireland. In the absence of a functioning governmental administration in Northern Ireland,

the House of Commons voted to amend the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill to decriminalise abortion and introduce same-sex civil marriage. The new legislation for abortion services are due to be available for free by 31st March 2020.

Same-Sex marriage is due to be available by Valentines day 2020 (Feb 14th). The existing abortion laws in Northern Ireland allow for the procedure if a woman’s life Continued on page 6

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Editorial

elcome to Issue 4 of College Tribune Volume 33. Our leading stories: Gay Byrne sadly passed away this week (p4). As a titan of Irish radio and television journalism, he made a historic and influential mark on Ireland. As the pioneer of ‘The Late Late Show’ and many other widely listened radio programmes, his influence on Irish culture cannot be understated, and the appreciation of the Irish people will endure for decades to come. UCD has been named Sunday Times University of the Year 2020 (p7). Despite having an administration that prioritises a €7.5 million University President Office reconstruction over a deeply struggling mental health service, we still came out on top, congratulations UCD. The Gaeilge Section is back

The College Tribune

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.

07.11.2019

The Team after a long hiatus (p27). At the helm is Gaeilge Editor Cecily Nic Cionnaith. This week she delves into the Housing Crisis, an issue which although seems to have been pushed slightly out of the forefront of young activists’ minds, is still very much an ongoing crisis in need of urgent government attention and intervention. UCD Students’ Union held a highly successful event with ‘The Blindboy Podcast’ (p37). Luke Murphy’s article delves into the magic of Blindboy. This is an extra special Tribune, as it’s my 21st Birthday today! The Tribune is 30 years old this year, which means students were writing nonsense in UCD long before I was even around to read it.

College Tribune 04.33

EDITOR’S PICKS

Conor

Seriously, it’s quite comfy. None of us get paid to do this, donations are encouraged and welcomed (Note: proceeds may definitely be spent on pints in the Clubhouse). Apparently, the Pretty Little Protest is still being brought up at Student Union meetings, which is hilarious because it was basically years ago and the vast majority of us have moved on. Even the SU’s Environmental Campaigns Coordinator has moved on, by resigning! Scandal! Enjoy this Issue of the Tribune. A lot of talented writers have put a great deal of work in.

When Esports Turn Political

Why are members of US Congress talking about Hearthstone? By Hugh Dooley

US Election Candidates

Adam O’Sullivan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reporter Rob Ó Beacháin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Law

By Conor Paterson

www.collegetribune.ie

Dugh Hooley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turbine Aisling MacAree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Features Conor Paterson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Politics

Two Door Cinema Club Visits UCD

Gig Review:

Freddie Gibbs Live at the Button Factory

Adam Boland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Science Cecily Nic Cionnaith . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gaeilge

By Shannon Fang

Aaron Collier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Philosophy Matthew Derwin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Music Brigid Molloy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Film & TV

By Nicholas Lane

Mallika Venkatramani. . . . . . Arts & Lifestyle

Life Post-Schmidt

Matthew Dillon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sport

By Jack McSharry

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

Contributors 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 social media, telephone, email, or traditional mail.

@collegetribune

Hugh Dooley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reporter Shannon Fang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reporter

Yours, etc.

Connect With Us

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

Enjoy the read,

Editorial 2: Electric Boogaloo elcome reader! We’re back with another whopper issue of the College Tribune! I know you missed us dearly. You may be thinking: ‘Why is this Issue two days late Conor?’ Aha! Actually, all previous issues were two days early… Ahem. Issue 4 is 40 pages long instead of the usual 32, wow that’s a lot! Why would you give yourselves all that extra work? You know, inner voice, I really don’t know. Anyway, Breaking News from the Turbine this week, apparently, we’re being investigated for use of slave labour. This is undeniably false; we pay our employees by letting them sit on the Tribune Couch.

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

Patrick Doherty Business Sadhbh O’Muiri Law Andrew Beaks Nature Correspondent Eva Earner Opinion Caoilfhionn Murphy Ní Mhaolchalain Features Ahmed Jouda Politics Vanessa Gomes Science Patrick Wong Science Athaliah Fubara Science Ryan O’Rourke Music Nicholas Lane Music Niall O’Shaughnessy Music Nicolas Murphy Music & Sport Darcey Dugan Music Danielle DerGarabedian Film & TV Brendan O’Brien Film & TV Alex Mulhare Film & TV Gemma Farrell Arts & Lifestyle Luke Murphy Arts & Lifestyle Jack McSharry Sport Neil Stokes Sport

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Contents

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

CT Write for Us

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

RESEARCH: UCD Students Most 4 Opinion: Sex-Ed In Need Of Affluent and Least Disadvantaged Radical Reform By Eva Earner

By Conor Capplis

Canonisation of UCD Founder Sparks Contention on Campus

5 Academic Spotlight: Kieran Allen

By Conor Capplis

By Adam O’Sullivan

Comm Ball 2019; Sell Out?

By Alex Lohier

UCD Named Sunday Times University of the Year 2020

By Hugh Dooley

US Election Candidates By Conor Paterson

By Hugh Dooley

‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ Author Visits UCD Litsoc

Culture Sport

Big Reads

News

An Ghéarchéim Thithíochta: Na Réitigh By Cecily Nic Cionnaith

“I Forgot What I Was Saying…” The Philosophy of Memory By Aaron Collier

16 Two Door Cinema Club Visits UCD Lawsoc

39 32 Life Post-Schmidt

By Shannon Fang

Same Team, 40 New Problems

By Jack McSharry

The Long and 33 Controversial Rollout of Kanye 23 West’s Latest Album By Nicolas Murphy

Film Review: Official Secrets

By Brendan O’Brien

28 Restaurant Review The Well

By Alex Lohier

What’s Going on at Tottenham Hotspur? By Nicolas Murphy

Big Year Beckons for UCD Tennis By Neil Stokes

News Abortion & Same Sex Marriage Legalised in Northern Ireland

UCD Named Sunday Times University of the Year 2020

RESEARCH: UCD Students Most Affluent and Least Disadvantaged

‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ Author Visits UCD Litsoc University College Dublin (UCD)

University College Dublin (UCD) Continued from Cover* Student’s Union President Joanna Siewierska had a difConor Capplis ferent story to tell. In a comEditor ment with the Irish Times, their location.” The maps shown below outlines the locations of students enrolling in UCD. The report says that “UCD enrolments come from across the Country but with a concentration in south Dublin. Certain areas of north Dublin City and south west Dublin have relatively few enrolments. […] The mean distance from UCD students home addresses to the college is 77km (33km median), the mean travel time from home addresses to the college is 61 minutes.” Although the report paints a highly advantaged picture of UCD, with high levels of affluency and its location in one of the wealthiest parts of the country, UCD

Siewierska commented on the report’s findings: “Many of our students are really struggling with paying rent and buying food while in college – the two most basic necessities for students, […] even those who can afford to pay Dublin rents can find themselves struggling in today’s reality where there is not enough accommodation units for everyone.” Associate Professor Michael O’Connell of the UCD school of sociology came under fire last week from a letter of his published in the Irish Times. O’Connell disputes the findings of the report by suggesting that socio-economic background is not as large a factor as expressed: “People with high-

er cognitive ability tend to for his comments. do better in school, and are Around 15-16% of the more likely to end up in ocIrish population come from cupations with higher status affluent backgrounds, yet The they ED maps show body that fit UCD and more pay. Thus, 19% above of the student tend to live in moreenrolments affluent into this category. Coursesthe come from across backgrounds. Their children such as Medicine contain are therefore more likely but much percentages in Courses with higher proCountry withhigher a concentration to come from these backwith 36% of enrolments 5.5 portions ofMean affluent students grounds, and also south to inhercoming from “affluent” Dublin. Certain areas of stunorthwere Medicine, Business, Median 6.1 it higher cognitive ability.” dents. Only 3.5% of students Finance and Engineering, Dublin andfrom south west Dublinwhile courses with higher O’Connell has been widely City come a disadvantaged condemned by academics background. proportions from a disad-

have relatively few enrolments.

A Tribute to Irish Broadcasting Legend Gay Byrne Mean

5.5

Median 6.1

ISCED Field of Study (0220) Humanities (except languages) n.e.c. (0414) Marketing and advertising (0213) Fine arts (0110) Education n.e.c. (0713) Electricity 2014. The RSA have and said:energy ……………………………………………………………………………………… “Gay leaves a road safety legCrop and livestock production acy that(0811) will endure.” In 2011, was ap-sciences (0521)Byrne Environmental proached by Teacher Fiannatraining Fáil with subject specialization (0114) as a possible independent (0113) Teacher training without subject specialization nominee for the year’s PresInterdisciplinary idential(0888) election. Despite agri, forestry, fisheries and vet.

Score 10.0 9.7 9.6 9.3 8.3 ……………. 1.9 Comparison to Catchment Area Local Authority Scores 12.0 1.8 10.0 10.0 1.3 8.0 1.3 5.5 6.0 1.1 3.1

Éireann. The rest is now cemented firmly into Irish history books. Gaybo presented the hugely successful show, Conor Capplis ‘The Late Late Show’, from Editor its inception in 1962 until 1999. From 1973 until 1998, their beloved Gay has died Byrne presented ‘The Gay topping the polls, Byrne anpeacefully at home today, Byrne Hour’ (later ‘The Gay nounced that he would not surrounded by his family.” Enrolments based on Small Area Data: Byrne Show’). The show ran run. In 2010, the Irish Times Comparison to Catchment Area Local Authority Scores each weekday morning on Gaybo will % be missed by said that Gay Byrne was “unDisadvantaged: 5% RTÉ Radio 1. In more recent all, and as an Irish journalisquestionably12.0 the most influ10.0 years, he went on to present tic publication,% weAffluent: have and 34% ential radio10.0 and television several other shows such as enormous amount to thank man in the 8.0 history of the 5.5 ‘The Meaning of Life’ and him for. Irish State.” 6.0 ‘Who Wants to Be 3.1 a MillionBorn in 4.01934, Byrne The mean distance from UCD students aire?’ Gaybo. 1.4 Thanks Uncle had a long 2.0 and successful In 2006 he was elected career in radio and televi0.0 home addresses to the college is chairman of the Road Safesion. Starting off in 1958, he ty Authority and served for landed a spot playing jazz 77km (33km median), the mean eight years until September on Monday nights for Radio

Continued from Cover*

travel time from home addresses to

vantaged background were Agricultural, Environmental, Social Work and Child(0220) care. (0414) (0213) (0110) (0713) ………… (0811) (0521) (0114) (0113) (0888)

4.0 2.0 0.0

1.4

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

Canonisation of UCD Founder Sparks Contention on Campus Adam O’Sullivan Reporter

n the 13th of October in a ceremony in Rome attended by Prince Charles, Education Minister Joe McHugh and tens of thousands of pilgrims UCD’s founder John Henry Newman was canonised by Pope Francis. A so-called traitor to England, Newman has now been acclaimed by the heir of his country’s throne and is a respected as a beloved saint across the Catholic world. Newman is known for espousing modern English literature and promoting free consciousness above religion. Newman, who is the namesake of our Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences building, was a controversial figure in his day as he was a leading Anglican clergyman who converted, amongst dire criticism, to

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News Catholicism in 1845; a time of rife collision between the two strands of Christianity, particularly in Ireland. He founded a Catholic University in Dublin in 1854 (the antecedent of UCD) in order to improve the intelligence of lay Catholics across the English-speaking world. He championed a liberal arts education in his lectures on “The Idea of a University” and disliked the ‘business model’ that many universities both then and now adopt. The canonisation has sparked certain controversy across campus as many in UCD, from the student body to the faculty, strive for the university to hold a secular mantra. This aim for secularism became clear after the impeachment of UCDSU President Katie Ascough over abortion information in 2017, and once more last week when UCD’s faculty were reluctant to send representation to the canonisation amidst fear of backlash from many in the university. After much hesitation UCD decided to send two representatives to Rome. Dr. Daniel Deasy (Assistant Professor, UCD School of Philosophy and Director of the UCD Newman Centre for the Study of Religions) and Prof.

07.11.2019 Orla Feely (Vice President for Research, Innovation and Impact) were chosen to represent the university due to their respected positions. Across campus there was very little coverage of the event by the university. The majority of students knew nothing about the canonisation and the campus’ social media accounts provided no information on the ceremony except for a single retweet of Prof. Feely’s tweet by the official UCD twitter account. This is presumably to maintain the secular standing of the university. Elsewhere Newman’s canonisation was celebrated. A substantial congregation packed into University Church in Dublin where Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin presided over a thanksgiving ceremony for Newman. This shows that Newman remains a respected and loved man in the city where he lived and worked for so many years while his sainthood confirms that he will never be forgotten in the Catholic world.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The Newsstand Conor Capplis Bus Improvements Matthews.ie will introduce changes to their UCD – Drogheda – Dundalk route. The service will now offer more times and will travel through the Port Tunnel in the mornings. Managing Director Paddy Matthews said: “Commuters to the southside as well as UCD students will see a quicker commute as well as more choice on service times.”

Money Money Money

In case you’re curious, as of this September our University President Andrew Deeks was making a salary of €207,590, the highest of a university president in the country. Ireland’s highest paid academic is from UCD. Professor Boris Kholodenko, Deputy Director of the university’s systems biology centre, makes up to €340,000 per year.

Tribune Founder to Visit UCD This week, the Tribune’s CoFounder and Irish media titan, Vincent Brown, is to visit UCD L&H Society. The address/Q&A will happen in the UCD Fitzgerald Chamber at 6pm on November

TURN Report Announcement The Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. launched on Thursday 7th November, the Technological Universities Research Network Report. A press statement heralds this as a “significant milestone in the development and progression of technological universities in Ireland.”

News

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Comm Ball 2019; Sell Out? Alex Lohier Deputy Editor Last week, tickets went on sale for the infamous C&E Comm Ball, one of UCD’s most sought after nights out. Students lined up from 6am just to try guarantee a ticket for the black-tie event. However, with ticket spaces limited, many were disappointed and left empty handed. This, of course, is not new. Most students will know that this is the case annually. This year, however, the manner in which the tickets were sold was the cause of some controversy, particularly amongst the final year cohort. 250 tickets were reserved for final year Quinn, Sutherland and Engineering students and were on pre-sale in the Sports Centre on Tuesday, 29th Oc-

tober. A culmination of organisational errors, miscommunication and alleged ‘favouritism’ on the C&E’s behalf led to many disappointed final years. Students outside the criteria for purchase of these tickets, as well as students from DCU and Trinity, were seen purchasing passes. Witnesses also wrote to the College Tribune to complain of the lack of staff on the premises to discourage dishonest people from skipping the queue. The C&E responded to these points to the College Tribune by saying their staff could not feasibly do a background check on everyone and that there were ten permanent volunteers marshalling the queue. Much to the detriment of final years, Quinn students on internships were privileged with their own

line, thus allowing them to stroll past everyone until 9pm, safe in the knowledge that they would have a ticket. One student in attendance, who wishes to remain anonymous, labelled this as ‘favouritism’ from the C&E committee. The C&E coun-

ters this by saying these individuals would have been stuck in work on the morning of the general sale. Speaking of having other commitments that restricted students from buying tickets, Commerce, Commerce International and Business and Law final year students all had a mid-term that night until 7:30pm in Smurfit, which was the time tickets went on sale. This, according to C&E Auditor Tom Cunnane, was ‘deemed the most accommodating time’ due to the opening hours of the Sports Centre (Mon-Fri, 7am-10pm). Individual accounts, heard by the College Tribune, recall their dismay when they joined the tail end of the line, and failed to secure a place. Over one dozen final years were told that they would have to join the general queue (starting at

roughly 6am) the next morning. The C&E refused to note these students’ names to allow them priority in the general ticket sale. Another student, again wishing to remain anonymous, expressed her displeasure to the College Tribune at this lack of coordination and empathy between the C&E Society and the student body. The Comm Ball, hosted in Killashee House Hotel this year, is the C&E’s flagship event and is often spoken of fondly by those in attendance. From the numerous accounts of the sale of these tickets, many final year students won’t get the chance to attend.

ABORTION & SAME SEX MARRIAGE LEGALISED IN NORTHERN IRELAND Continued from Cover* Conor Capplis - Editor is at risk or if long term or permanent physical or mental damage is a threat. Reactions from politicians, public figures and activists have been polarising, with many speaking about their relief or remorse on the subject. Pro-Life campaigner and former UCD Student’s Union President Katie Ascough said online: “#DarkestDay for Northern Ireland as preborn children lose all explicit rights until they are deemed capable of being born alive. […] My heart breaks for Northern Ireland. […] Abortion is never the answer. There are other op-

tions and there are always people who will help. #bothlivesmatter” Green Party politician Claire Bailey said that women would “now have equality across these islands” as would the “LGBT community.” DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was a “shameful” day and swore that her party “will do everything in our conscience to protect the lives of the unborn.” Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland campaign manager said: “[This is] the beginning of a new era for Northern Ireland – one in which we’re free from oppressive laws that have policed our bodies and healthcare.”

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

News

Climate Change Contributing to Increasing World Hunger Hugh Dooley Reporter

limate change is causing a stagnation in current efforts to curtail world hunger according to the 14th Global Hunger Index report (GHI) which was released on Tuesday, October 15, 2019. While there has been a noted improvement in the level of world hunger since the year 2000, the number of undernourished people has increased from 785 million in 2015 to 822 million in 2018. This increase of almost 40 million has been credited to a recent surge in warfare in sub-Saharan Africa and the impacts of extreme weather events caused by changes in climatic conditions. The report claims that existing efforts to combat

Continued from Cover* Hugh Dooley Reporter UCD placed joint second overall on the Sunday Times Third Level League Table, alongside UC Cork, but still trail current leaders Trinity College Dublin by 31 points. UCD had a relatively low research score, only 69 out of a possible 100. Their nearest competitors, Trinity and Cork, scored 100 and 87 respectively. This was explained by UCD coming just fourth nationally in average researcher salary, the measure of a University’s research competitiveness. UCD’s Graduate employment rate was the second highest, at 97%, according to the table. Despite UCD’s recent efforts at improving the student experience they scored 126/250, 50.6%, in the student satisfaction rating. According to The Sunday Times University Guide, the worst scoring university was Carlow IT who got a rating of 572 of 1,000, contrasting against Trinity’s score of 762. Athlone was named Institute of Technology of the year, Waterford IT received the silver medal in the category. President of AIT, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, said “We are delighted to be named The Sunday Times

climate change are failing to address climate change and are projected to overshoot both of the Paris Agreement’s targets of 1.5°C and 2°C, possibly even reaching a warming of 3°C or 4°C by 2100. Concern Worldwide CEO Dominic MacSorley admitted that, “Progress made towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030 is now under threat or is being reversed.” The report shows that 45 countries are projected to fail to reach low levels of hunger by 2030 and that multiple countries have regressed in their efforts since 2010. These countries include, but are not limited to; Lebanon, Venezuela and the Central African Republic. The Central African Republic is now the only country categorised as ‘extremely alarming’. This change can

be explained, according to the Global Hunger Index, by the impact of climate change and ever increasing damages of regional conflict, both of which combine to widen economic and gender inequalities. Climate change, especially in this area, has had profound impacts on crop yields as the rising temperatures are causing a decline in water resources. The study is not all doom and gloom however, it also shows that many countries have seen remarkable reductions in the rate of hunger. Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and Rwanda have seen the biggest leap forward in their battle against hunger, however this growth could be put at risk as African countries are facing some of the biggest impacts of global warming. The Index suggests a number of policies which it recommends gov-

07.11.2019

ernments to undertake in order to combat the current hunger crisis, requesting that governments emphasise fair financing as well as securing water and land rights for indigenous people. It recommends that private donors should increase investment in disaster prevention resources, such as early warning systems and irrigation technology. In her forward to the report, former President Mary Robinson said “we can no longer afford to regard the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement as voluntary and a matter for each member state to decide on its own.” Robinson also said that the report showed that our current food systems were “jeopardising one of the most fundamental rights we all share as human beings – the right to adequate and sufficient food.” The report is open to the public and can be viewed online on Concern’s website.

Golden Marlenue, 27 outside her home with her young children. Her two youngest children Naomi, two and Athanase, 12 months, are both malnourished. Source: Concern Worldwide.

UCD Named Sunday Times University of the Year 2020

Institute of Technology of the Year – the second time in three years. This award marks a pivotal moment in our near 50-year history as we stand on the cusp of becoming a technological university. Our multi-award-winning institute is an educational powerhouse, one that consistently punches above its weight and defies expectations on a regional, national and global scale.” Athlone IT is scheduled to receive Technological University designation after its joint application with Limerick IT in early 2019. The award comes just days after UCD was named the top University in Ireland by US News and World Report’s Best Global University index. UCD was also ranked 227th worldwide, an improvement of seven places from 2018 and scored 102nd in Europe. UCD’s improvement can be put down to their Agricultural Science section rising to 19th best in the world, however this was undermined by UCD’s poor performance in research related fields, such as their Global Research Reputation score, coming only 331st in that category.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Campus

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ Author Visits UCD Litsoc Hugh Dooley Reporter

eather Morris, author of ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ visited Belfield campus on Friday the 25th October, in conjunction with UCD’s English and Literary Society (Litsoc), as part of her international book tour for her recently released book, ‘Cilka’s Journey’. The book, which tells the story of Cilka Klein, a Holocaust Survivor who was used as a sex slave in Auschwitz

Concentration camp, was released on October 1st 2019. Morris’ arrival at UCD came just after her 2018 book, ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’, sold its millionth copy in the United Kingdom. It has sold across 53 countries and in 47 languages. Speaking to LitSoc interviewers, Savannah Murray and Beth Hartford (pictured below), in the UCD Cinema, Morris revealed that “Hollywood has come knocking” with plans to develop a 6-part mini series to chronicle Morris’ relationship with, and the story of,

Lale Sokolov, the tattooist of Auschwitz. While Morris admitted that she is “still coming to terms with an actress representing [her]” she outlined how Sokolov himself had no issue with this, recounting a story of his efforts to find a suitably attractive and charismatic actor to “be him” on the big screen, before his death in 2006. Solokov finally settled on Ryan Gosling after seeing him in action in ‘The Notebook’. Morris also disclosed how she emphasized the role of Cilka in her first book

because she only got a ‘one book deal’ with publishing house Zaffre, following her successful kickstarter campaign to self-publish the memoir. The bestselling success of “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” aside, Morris said, “You know you’ve written a successful book when people want to know more”. She gave details of some of the moving correspondence she received as a result of her book. One letter read, “You’ve given me hope, Lale has given me hope”. Morris responded to criticism that “The Tattooist of

Auschwitz” deviated from the truth, following an article by The Guardian, Oct. 3, in which Cilka’s nephew accused the New Zealander of writing “a work of pure fiction”. Morris requested that readers “let [Lale’s] story overtake the facts when he does deviate from them,” admitting to the LitSoc audience that “You can fact check the book”. Morris went on to describe Cilka as “the bravest person... who survived two wars...She was a survivor and courageous”. Nearing the end of her visit Morris admitted to the

UCD audience, “I didn’t know how to write a book... I was just in the right place at the right time.” Asked what she would tell a young writer to do in order to reach [her] levels of success, Morris recommended writers to “Be brave and keep writing”. Contrary to common belief, she told young writers “You don’t have to write about what you know, write about what you’re passionate about.”

“Disability Laughs” Is A Clubhouse Hit Shannon Fang Reporter Laughter can be cruel, but these performers found that it can also be cathartic. In collaboration with co-MORBID Productions, UCDSU hosted a not-so-traditional comedy gig at the UCD Clubhouse Bar on Oct. 30. Aptly named “Disability Laughs,” the show’s producers and performers featured comedians with disabilities. “It’s a great way to get people to relate about disability in a fun, positive way,” disability rights coordinator Hannah Bryson said. The event’s aim is to create conversation and awareness around disabil-

ity, showing students that it is not something to be afraid of or avoid talking about. Students have recently complained about the lack of support from UCD’s Access & Lifelong Learning resource, particularly for “invisible” disabilities, such as autism and dyslexia. The MC for the gig was Ian Lynam, who helped set the tone of the night by joking that everyone’s first response to learning about his autism is “you don’t look autistic,” followed by an anecdote about their “lovely” niece who also has autism. The show included four other performers, including Saoirse Smith, Robert Forde, co-MORBID Productions, and Eléna ní Mhurchú.

Each comedian brought something different to the table, as each person had varied comedic styles and experiences of their disability. However, the popular topics honed in on misconceptions about disability, such as ridiculing the discredited anti-vaccination movement and poking fun at the stereotype that all autistic people are computer geniuses. Most notably, the ability of these comedians to turn what could be a frustrating or despairing anecdote into something the audience can all laugh with was truly impressive. “People who are disabled that come, they can see themselves in [the show],” Bryson said. “But also peo-

ple who don’t know anything about disability can come and laugh with us and learn a little bit of an insight about disability.” The night’s headliner was Therese Cahil, who writes and performs satirical songs with themes around self-love, disrespect, and other “adult” topics. She brands herself as Ireland’s first female “limp-up” comedian, as she requires a cane or wheelchair to move around and suffers from chronic pain. Decked out in Halloween make-up, ukulele in hand, her stage presence was energetic and dynamic. While most of her song’s tones were light-hearted and riddled with profanity, some

songs broached a more honest issue, such as the excuses people make for wrongly parking in a disabled parking spot. Cahil prefaced each song with its respective backstory, noting that things are often not funny at first, but they become amusing with the passage of time. Smith, who just started stand-up about a year ago, focused on comical incidences involving her spasms from cerebral palsy and the absurd “benefits” that disabled people receive. Forde followed her act, walking up to the stage with his imaginary guide dog and telling stories of unfortunate mishaps that come with being visually impaired. Co-MORBID Productions, co-found-

ed by UCD student Tadhg Ó Ciardha, performed a satirical sketch in full costume about an “autism moms” group. Ní Mhurchú provided a more relaxed piece, joking about the absurd comments and misconceptions people have told her about autism. In response to comedians who joke about disability but are not disabled themselves, Lynam humorously, but rightfully, declared that “those laughs are mine; they belong to me.”

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Campus

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Bringing the Heart of India to UCD: Diwali

nknown to many, India has a very diverse populace, with people from different states of the country having their own unique, albeit similar, cultures. But Diwali (also known as Deepavali), the festival of lights, unites the country as well as the Indian diaspora. Diwali is one of the most notable festivals celebrated by followers of Hinduism, India’s major religion. During the

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During the Diwali season, people dress in new clothes, make traditional sweets, visit one-another’s homes and burst firecrackers in festivity.

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Diwali season, people dress in new clothes, make traditional sweets, visit one-another’s homes and burst firecrackers in festivity. In fact, even those Indians belonging to other religions enjoy the festivities with great joy. But what is the story behind Diwali? We’ll have to delve into Hindu mythology. Diwali is commemo-

rated as the day Hindu God Ram returned to his kingdom of Ayodhya (in modern day Uttar Pradesh, North India) after successfully defeating the evil king Ravana of Lanka (modern day Sri Lanka) who had abducted Ram’s wife Sita. Ram is regarded as one of the greatest kings in Hindu mythology and was greatly loved by his subjects. Which is why even before he stepped foot in Ayodhya after a 14-year exile during which he was searching for Sita, his people lit up the entire city in traditional clay lamps (called ‘deep’ in Sanskrit) to welcome him home, weeping with joy at his homecoming. This was how the festival was started. The original Sanskrit name of the festival is Deepavali, which means ‘a row of lamps’, but the festival’s name has been shortened to ‘Diwali’ by popular culture and is the commonly used term by the modern people of North India, though the people of South India still prefer to call it by its original name. The festival symbolises the victory of goodness (represented by the lights) over evil. UCD’s very own Indian Society (IndSoc) has been celebrating Diwali for years. The festival is the biggest and most well-anticipated event on their calendar. On 25 October 2019, Friday, they brought the Hindu festival right to the heart of UCD, in Astra Hall, attracting a whopping 350 attendees, both Indians and non-Indians. The event started at

6.30pm with an aarti, or a religious ritual often carried out to invoke auspiciousness, and a short address by Mr Somnath Chatterjee, a Delegate from the Embassy of India, Dublin. Following this was the most colourful and well-received part of the evening – the performances. A couple of weeks prior to the event, IndSoc had invited its members to put up performances if they wished. There were dancers, singers, guitarists and even stand-up comedians who amped up the atmosphere. The audience was highly receptive, and

their cheers were resounding after each performance. No Indian festival is complete without food, and IndSoc did not disappoint at all with the sumptuous North-Indian style 3-course meal they had arranged. The queue for the food snaked all the way across Astra Hall and I was glad that I could use the extra privilege I had as a previous year’s committee member to get my food ahead of the queue (shucks, I was trying to keep that a secret). The evening ended around 9.30pm with the bursting of sparklers (thanks

Dublin skies for halting the rains just in time), a very important cultural aspect of Diwali. The sparklers symbolise repelling the evil and bringing in all things auspicious. What did the attendees have to say about it? Naz, a Stage 3 Medicine student from Malaysia, said “It was great! I was really looking forward to it because of the food and all the dance.” Vidhi Saraswat, a MSc in Digital Marketing student, who was one of the dancers said “This event made me feel at home away from home. I was away from home

for Diwali the first time and this event brought people together the same close-knit way it does back in India.” As an Indian who has been to and lived in several countries myself, it always fills me with immense pride to see my vibrant and eclectic culture celebrated with fervour in different parts of the world. It is amazing how one can always find a slice of India, whether it is a cultural festival, food or traditional art form, in any city in almost every country in the world. All this is thanks to the Indian diaspora, the world’s largest diaspora, with 15.6 million people of

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It is amazing how one can always find a slice of India, whether it is a cultural festival, food or traditional art form, in any city in almost every country in the world.

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Mallika Venkatramani Arts & Lifestyle Editor

Indian heritage living outside of India. These people have carried their roots with them wherever they have moved to, which is why the saying ‘You can take an Indian out of India, but you can never take India out of an Indian,’ could not be truer.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

Business

07.11.2019

Finance Bill 2019: SMEs Rejoice Patrick Doherty Business Writer

he recent Finance Bill, which mostly escaped media scrutiny, came as a pleasant surprise to SMEs (Small to Medium Enterprise) in the midst of uncertainty around Brexit and its implications on international tax and intra-group transactions. The Bill postponed the introduction of complicated transfer pricing rules which were due to be implemented, in compliance with OECD guidelines from 2017, which many Irish SMEs had been fearing. These complex regu-

lations have been relaxed for SMEs, in a bid by government to prudently manage the impact of Brexit on smaller businesses in Ireland. The Bill gives companies extra time to assess the future significance of Brexit on the way international tax rules are applied to companies with ties to Britain. SMEs will also welcome changes to KEEP, EIIS and the R&D Tax Credit regime which encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, by lessening the tax burden on the average business. The changes to the R&D regime will benefit companies with less than 50 employees and an annual turnover of no more than €10 million. These amendments will see

the R&D tax credit rate increase from 25% to 30% as well as increased flexibility for SMEs when calculating the level of tax credit that they can monetise. The Bill makes many desirable changes to the Employment Investment Incentive. It raises the maximum investment relief from €150,000 at present to €250,000 and €500,000 in the future, depending on the investment length. This change is indicative of the government’s astute use of tax policy to reduce risk for SMEs in periods of macroeconomic volatility. The Bill also dealt subtly with the threat of climate change and sought to promote the idea of an environmentally friendly economy.

Carbon tax was increased to €26 euro per tonne in compliance with the government’s commitment to raise the price of carbon from €20 to €80 a tonne by 2030. The Bill ensures that capital allowances on business cars as well as the tax deductions for the cost of hiring business cars will be decided by the CO2 emissions threshold. Moreover, electric cars and vans with a market value of less than €50,000 will maintain their exemption from the benefit in kind rate until at least 31st December 2022. These decisions were taken amid debate between Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and rural TDs over the impact of increases in carbon tax on rural commu-

nities with no viable alternatives to carbon. The Finance Bill hopes to stimulate entrepreneurship within Ireland, as stricter regulations on corporate taxation (which has been criticised as uncompetitive in Ireland) loom ominously on the horizon. In doing so, the government are hoping to maintain Ireland’s international status as a leader in tax.

Business Bites Alex Lohier Unemployment rate fell below 5% for the first time since the economic crash of 2008, down to 4.8%.

The AIB Group is to cut 300 jobs, as lower ECB rates mean profit margins decrease at the Irish bank.

Start-Up Spotlight: MLN

Mothercare UK are set to cease all operations, leading to a job loss of 2,800. The Irish division will remain intact for the time being.

Alex Lohier Deputy Editor This week on Start-up Spotlight I interviewed Ellen Le Bas, co-founder of MLN (pronounced ‘melon’), a real-time commuting solution for enterprises in the form of carpooling. MLN is run by Ellen, a recent UCD graduate with a Masters in Computer Engineering, and her co-founder Manal, a final year Business and Law student. Still in its development stages, the duo

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MLN [is] a real-time commuting solution for enterprises in the form of carpooling.

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are currently focusing on building a user-friendly app and sourcing their first customers. Their short journey has been nothing less than promising thus far; let’s take a look at it. Ellen and Manal bonded over their mutual frustration over the lack of car parking spaces in UCD, a problem which is commonplace within the wider Dublin region. Supporting this was the motivation to reduce traffic congestion and harmful emissions within

urban areas. But, most interestingly, a large determinant of founding MLN was the urge to reduce employee stress arising from commuting, and in turn improve concentration and productivity levels. Employees will be able

to sign up to the service, as drivers or passengers (or both!), for free, with employers paying the fees for them. This will save employees €1,100 annually, claims Ellen, whilst employers will benefit from increased productivity and staff morale.

MLN will overcome stiff ‘hackney’ regulations in Ireland by ensuring no transfer of money to drivers, instead opting for a redeemable ‘pip’, which can be converted to money at a later stage. So how exactly did Ellen and Manal, as young

20-something year olds, start a tech company during their free time? MLN won UCDNova’s Start-up Stars this summer, which propelled them into a DogPatch Labs accelerator programme. This affirmed that the idea had merit, and from therein

the duo have been working on it whenever they have a chance. Currently, the duo are working towards raising a seed round of funding in 2020 to enable them to scale to the grand levels they envisage. Not bad for a pair of university students eh?

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Law

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Rampant Misuse of Corporate ‘Gagging’

n the wake of the #MeToo movement, after the accusation of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein by over 70 women, the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) has been a growing concern in public discourse and government. An NDA is an agreement which contains confidentiality clauses, often used in settlement agreements to prevent the signatory from releasing certain information into the public domain. Zelda Perkins, a victim of Weinstein, signed an NDA which prevented her from disclosing allegations of sexual assault even to medical professionals, unless they too entered a confidentiality agreement with Miramax. Perkins was not given a copy of the agreement and after receiving legal advice from a junior lawyer, she was mistakenly led to believe that she could not speak of the allegations to anyone without Weinstein’s approval. Last year, the UK saw many of the 130 agency-hired hostesses “groped” and harassed at the President’s Club Charity Dinner,

a male-only black-tie event in aid of children’s charities. Before the event, the agency company Arista gave the hostesses contracts to sign which transpired to be NDAs. The women were not given time to properly read the document nor were given a copy of it. Such usage of confidentiality clauses is both immoral and unlawful. Section 23 of the Protected Disclosure

mons Women and Equalities Select Committee have stated significant ‘insufficient oversight and regulation’ in the use of NDAs, dissuading victims from disclosing information as which reporting to law enforcement is not directly protected under either English or Irish law. A justice system which systematically perpetuates the silencing of victims in the work place is undoubtably severely flawed. Although it is the duty of the Oireachtas to properly regulate the misuse of NDAs, a worker’s knowledge of their rights may mitigate a potentially illegal agreement with their employer. A signatory should never feel coerced into signing an NDA through intimidation and evidence supporting such coercion on a party to the contract should render the agreement void. Furthermore, NDAs should never dissuade a worker to make disclosures to legal authorities so long as the disclosure is qualified as ‘protected’ under the 2014 Act. It is strongly recommended that an individual seeks independent legal advice before signing an NDA so as they don’t feel restrained from talking a medical professional, a family member or a close friend.

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Zelda Perkins, a victim of Weinstein, signed an NDA which prevented her from disclosing allegations of sexual assault, even to medical professionals...

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Rob Ó Beacháin Law Editor

Act 2014 ensures that any agreement which precludes an individual from making a protected disclosure shall be void. The signatory is often unaware of such legislative protection and are coerced to signing the agreement without independent legal advice. The House of Com-

Sex Work Laws in Europe: More Liberal Than You’d Think. Sadhbh O’Muiri Law Writer

he debate concerning the legitimacy of sex work is often shrouded in controversy, yet this has not stopped the introduction of legislation to address the matter, particularly where victims of trafficking are concerned. The 2018 report ‘Disrupt Demand’ by the Immigration Council of Ireland provides a detailed analysis of the relevant law, and this piece will briefly outline some of the approaches taken by various European states, as outlined in the report. For the most part, the purchase of sex from trafficked persons is regarded as unacceptable, even in those countries with the most liberal of sex work laws, such as the Netherlands and Germany. This is the position taken by Directive 2011/36 of the EU and the Convention of the European Council, and followed

by the likes of Cyprus, Lithuania and Finland, where the buyer must be aware that the person being bought is a proven victim of trafficking. Other countries have extended the regulation of prostitution beyond the scope of just trafficked persons. Sweden, for example, was the first country to introduce a law prohibiting the purchase of sexual services in 1999, which includes purchases by third parties. In terms of curbing demand, the introduction of this law is regarded as a success, with the number of women engaged in prostitution in Sweden remaining low when compared to other European countries. In France, the purchase of sex is regarded as a ‘simple misdemeanour’, punishable by fine. More severe penalties exist for the organisation of prostitution, and the law also provides for exit routes and welfare supports, such as the provision of temporary residence permits to victims of trafficking who wish to exit prostitution.

Ireland followed the ‘criminalisation of demand’ approach adopted by Sweden with the introduction of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. Part 4 of the Act criminalises anyone who ‘purchases or attempts to purchase sexual activity from another person’. The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 remains in place and buying sex from a trafficked person is considered ‘a more serious offence than the buying of sex from any other person under Irish law’. While this is far from a comprehensive overview of the law in this area, it does demonstrate a variation in the approaches to regulating sex work in Europe. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for sex work in terms of legislative reform, particularly in the context of human trafficking, mass migration and the current feminist discourse about whether prostitution should ever be considered a legitimate form of work.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Turbine

The College Tribune

THE TURBINE “Cheeky, Fun and Contemporary”

BREAKING: College Tribune Investigated for Use of Slave Labour Dugh Hooley

ews rocked UCD as An Garda Síochána announced in a recent press conference that there is an ongoing investigation into the student newspaper for allegedly using slave labour. The Turbine spoke to one of the alleged slave labourers upon their liberation from the confines of the ‘Not The Ucard’ office: “[The Editor] is a tyrant” cried Jacob, a member of the Tribune’s ‘reporting’ division, “he lured me in with promises of exposure and opportunity.” Little was Ja-

cob to know of the pressure of working in a locked room with inescapable deadlines. A source close to the story has revealed to the Turbine that Twitter will be creating a ‘#standwiththeTurbine’ hashtag for users in a move heralded by the UN as “remarkable.’’ Speaking to the Turbine, Conor Capplis, the College Tribune’s Editor, claimed that the paper wasn’t using slaves but instead students, “I understand that there can be some confusion between the two,” he admitted. Capplis went on to explain that both student and slave labour share some similarities; “students and slaves

are both easily exploitable labour sources which don’t require much, or any, payment!” Rumours circulate across UCD that finance irregularities caused by

nspired by a recent study which has revealed that a recent trend being called “breathing” may be leading to increased carbon emissions, a 400-strong group of students and activists marched on Leinster House demanding the government ban the popular trend. Protesters across Europe

chanted at their respective houses of parliament, attempting to draw attention to the fact that humans across the world are ‘breathing out’ around 2500 million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide each year. This amounts to about 7 per cent of the annual CO2 tonnage of the fossil fuel industry. Some of the Extinction Rebellion protestors were even seen ‘breathing’ during the protest, giving support

to concerns that users may be developing a dependence on the substance. International concerns prompted the U.S. Department of Health to conduct research into a substance called ‘oxygen’ which is thought to be the cause of the addiction. The Turbine spoke to one user of ‘oxygen’ who claimed he “couldn’t live without it”. Religious groups are calling on the government to fund “oxygen addiction” centres across Ireland in order to reduce the number of morose addicts stumbling across Dublin constantly gasping for air. The new fad involves sucking this gas into your mouth and down into your

Facebook User Awarded Nobel Prize for Applying Frame to Profile Picture Dugh Hooley

CD student Molly Casey joined an esteemed group of human rights campaigners and politicians on Thursday after being awarded the Nobel peace prize. The 22 year old received the award for the courageous way she put an ‘I stand with Palestine’ frame on her Face-

It’s satire, please don’t sue us.

Capplis’ spending the entire production budget on “working lunches” and “SU shop sandwiches” may have led to the desperation of the Editor. Capplis, however, has denied these accusations claiming that this is clear evidence of a smear campaign by the Student Union. This revelation comes just after the shocking admissions of University Observer Editor Gavin Tracey who recently admitted to living underneath the stairs of UCD President Andrew Deeks’ house and being forced to rely upon the scraps of Deeks’ barbeques for nutrition. An Garda Síochána have announced that they will be following up additional reports of similar unpaid student labour across the college campus in what seems to be a widespread conspiracy.

Extinction Rebellion Protest New CarbonEmitting Trend Called “Breathing” Dugh Hooley

07.11.2019

book profile picture. The English Literature student was labelled innovative and original at the award ceremony. The UCD student has been nominated for a second prize after she inspired a peace treaty between Ukraine and Russia after tweeting “that war in Ukraine is like… really bad. #peace?” A representative of the

Israeli Government described how he felt the moment he saw the Facebook frame; “Something in me… it changed the moment I saw this girl’s courageous act,” he managed to squeeze out between the tears, “it took me a few minutes to come to terms with her willingness to self sacrifice. Next thing I knew I was on the phone to the Palestinian authorities and brokering a deal.”

lungs. Despite rumours that the trend may have been started by a hacker named ‘4chan’, the Turbine can now confirm that the trend was started by students who were desperately trying to find a way to stay awake before midterm exams. Oxygen can be VERY addictive, if you, or one of your loved ones comes into contact with the substance, do not “just try it once” you may become reliant on the substance.

Political analysts have come to agreement on the issue, “This was her profile picture with less than 100 likes since 2015! In the face of that, the Gaza strip conflict… no, squabble, just can’t compare” Casey’s contribution was honoured in a packed Sydney Opera House where attendants paid up to $2,000 to see her join the likes of Barack Obama, Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa in receiving the award.

Big Reads Opinion: Sex-Ed In Need Of Radical Reform

Academic Spotlight: Kieran Allen

An Ghéarchéim Thithíochta: Na Réitigh

Opinion: UCD Has A Problem With Apathy

Conor Capplis - Editor

CD has a problem with student apathy. Moreover, this highly pervasive problem is affecting some of the core and essential pillars to university life: societies, UCDSU, academia, socialising etc. etc. The biggest threat to the student’s experience of university today, seems evident to me, not to be a profit-driven administration, an under-funded mental health service or threats to student finances. Although these are all very pressing issues, I think the grand villain behind it all is student apathy. If you’ve ever been involved with a student society, especially a small society, you probably know the pain of hosting events with only a handful of students turning up. Even larger societies such as the Literary and Historical (L&H) society are struggling to fill rooms for there events. So why is it that societies are struggling to galvanise regular members? Why do committees have hard times convincing their peers into running for positions. Shouldn’t there be a healthy competition between students eager to get involved? All the UCD promotional material certainly points towards a vibrant social sphere with over 80 student societies. There are certainly many societies thriving this year such as Lawsoc, Foodsoc and Dramsoc to name but a few. However, society life in UCD isn’t a thriving collective of societies vying for dominance, but something less than. I’m not suggesting any definitive answers to the question of apathy on campus but posing the questions I think is enough to get people talking about why society life in UCD is struggling. It’s difficult to quantify if it’s always been like this in UCD, as students’ institutional memory lasts no more than 4 or so years in most faculties. Furthermore, I don’t want to paint a picture that ‘the good old days were sunshine and rainbows where students were highly engaged with campus life,’ but I think there’s an argument to be made that there was a time in which overall engagement levels were better. The Student’s Union is also subject to struggling engagement. If I have to sit through another UCDSU election hustings with candidates talking about how they’re going to improve student engagement levels, I swear I’m gonna start throwing punches. Seriously though, it’s been a campaign promise of nearly every candidate in recent years, and I’m yet to see any monumental change. The introduction of the ‘Campaigns and Engagement

Officer’ to the SU sabbatical team is certainly a step in the right direction, and I commend the Union for this decision. UCDSU’s recent hosting of ‘The Blindboy Podcast’ saw hundreds turn up to a crowded Astra Hall. I think this is great to see, but unfortunately this event is an exception to the trend. Earlier this semester UCDSU held an event called “An Cuas is gone; now what?” Remember it? Probably not. The event tailed on the shock removal of Newman’s communal space ‘An Cuas’ during the summer. The Facebook event says 20 people went, 144 people interested, and was shared 5 times. This is fairly good for a Union event! Would it surprise you to say that the photograph below was taken from that event? Do the online numbers reflect the actual turnout? In the initial Class Rep elections this year, 79 positions were filled, while 87 returned uncontested. I don’t think the Union is necessarily to blame for these engagement levels, it seems that something widespread is going on amongst the youth of today. I think it’s time to talk about everybody’s go-to scapegoat for the alleged disengagement of us young’uns: Social Media. Boomers love to hate on our generation for our usage of various social platforms. I don’t think it’s overtly misplaced to blame our online usage for our nonvirtual engagement levels. Would we be going to a society

event if we weren’t watching Netflix? Would we be out in the pub if we weren’t sitting at home texting a dozen friends unceremoniously throughout the evening? Would we be out on the streets protesting about climate change if we weren’t sharing content online occasionally? There is plenty of reputable social science journals publishing evidence to prove that social media usage can be damaging to the overall traction of a social movement. I frequently find myself looking at old photos in the Tribune office and see hundreds of students gathered for various events on campus in the past, something that seems alien to UCD in 2019. I think there is an evident epidemic of apathy sweeping across our generation, something that doesn’t seem to be hastening. Take my opinion or leave it, it’s up to you. Perhaps you’ll find merit in my words or perhaps you won’t. One thing that seems inarguable though, is the diagnosis that engagement levels are scarily low in UCD, and something needs to be done about it.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

Not Satire

07.11.2019

Dublin Seagulls Voted Europe’s Friendliest* *Definitely NOT Satire

Andrew Beaks Nature Correspondent

his week, the International Board of Feathered and Winged Egg-Laying Vertebrate Mammals (widely known as FWELVM) published the results of their much anticipated study on the world’s friendliest birds. The prestigious study is conducted annually by a combination of Harvard, Yale and IT Letterkenny scientists, with the team travelling extensively to observe numerous species of birds globally. This year, much in the same manner as previous years, Ireland ranked quite highly amidst the tough competition from abroad. Most notable is that Ireland’s seagulls have been voted FWELVM’s friendliest in Europe. This will come as no surprise to our readers, especially the few Dublin locals which read this paper. Many are the times that Irish seagulls have politely declined offers of food from people enjoying their lunches. The scientists conducting the study remarked upon this in awe, whilst also noting their unintrusive, almost nonchalant attitude towards people opening chicken fillet rolls near them. Bags of chips were recorded as their least favourite food to snack on, with more affordable meals such as Freshly Chopped salads and L’écrivain leftovers being found to be their go-to meals. Further along the renowned list lie Irish crows, who were ranked 3rd best in Western Europe, whilst our robins finished

Pictured Below: Mr.Beaks 12th globally. Regrettably, Ireland’s geese had a rather poor year, sliding down the rankings by 257 points. This is following reported attacks against dogs, children and cyclists. Closer to home, UCD’s infamous family of swans climbed in ranking, rising to the admirable 27th position. This puts UCD as Ireland’s leading university in the FWELVM list. This places the swans, known colloquially to UCD residents as ‘those feckers’, ahead of the hoard of Trinity pigeons that reside peacefully and cleanly under the Pearse Street DART bridge, and the DCU falcons. Yes, it has certainly been a fruitful year for Irish birds. This comes on the back of much needed revised governmental strategy for the sector. The Government’s purposeful underexpenditure of €11 million on forestry has meant more birds are flocking to urban areas, a development which is welcome by many city dwellers. This, coupled with the state’s €19 million Friendly Birds Programme, spurred the high rankings we received. This agenda has been one of the success stories of our current government, alongside similar triumphs in global climate policies and tax reform. The future looks bright for Ireland’s bird population; hopefully it flies to even greater heights next year.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Opinion

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Opinion: Sex-Ed In Need Of Radical Reform Eva Earner Opinion Writer

. ith the stage adaptation of Louise O’Neill’s sensational novel “Asking For It” (2016) currently being staged in the Gaiety Theatre, let’s address the relationship existing between sex and the psyche, particularly when it comes to young Irish students. “Asking For It” documents the fall out and impact of rape, after the fact; how one brutal crime continues to follow its victim, but disgracefully, not its perpetrator. Also emphasised, is the social response of one small town in Cork to said crime. “Asking For It” documents an Ireland which at first appears cold and unsympathetic, but is ultimately ill-informed. Considering that this dramatic enactment is based on our own society, each of us should ask ourselves; What is my relationship with my sex life and my body? Are my sexual behaviours healthy for myself and others? What is influencing me to adopt these behaviours? Do I need to re-evaluate how I see sex? It is no great revelation that historically Ireland has not had a positive relationship with sex and sex education. The SPHE curriculum in place in schools has remained unchanged since its introduction in 1999, and furthermore, religious schools maintain the right to alter said curriculum according to their ethos. As a result, many incoming 3rd level students in Ireland have received little education on the positive aspects of sex, and LGBTQ+ identity. The curriculum is focused almost exclusively on heterosexual relationships and predominantly preaches the risks and dangers associated with sexual intercourse, such as the transmission of STIs and pregnancy. The range of contraceptive devices presented to students is limited, and abstinence is upheld as the primary way to avoid these aforementioned risks. Is it right for sex to be made out to young people as something to fear? And how does the second-

“54% of First Year female students reported at least one form of sexual hostility, rising to 64% in Year 2, and 70% among female students in later years.” level perspective of sexual health impact young sexually active people, particularly in third-level education? According to SMART consent report, 63% of male and 71% of female survey participants reported being dissatisfied with the sex education that they received at school, and a vast majority of participants, both male and female, said that they wished they were better informed on sexuality and sexual health. Needless to say, young people entering college and university directly from secondary school are woefully misinformed about sex, placing them in potentially dangerous situations.

A sex education system glorifying abstinence competing alongside alternative self-educations (primarily those gathered from pornography and experimentation), is clearly a recipe for disaster. The holes in the nets of sex education in Ireland allow young people to fall through. Not only is sex education failing Irish students, but it is directly risking their health and wellbeing. Pornography, in particular, misrepresents sexual relationships, and in turn ill-equips some to navigate said relationships. The SMART report found that “54% of First Year female students reported at least one form of sexual hostility, rising to 64% in Year 2, and 70% among female students in later years.” Sexual hostility in this instance included being exposed to sexually crude jokes which they found offensive, experiencing unwelcome sexual discussions, or otherwise being commented on or alluded to in a sexually inappropriate fashion. Clearly, young people do not wish to see sex as something emotionless, or something to be feared, and yet, according to sexualwellbeing.ie, ‘Only half of 18-25s who had received sex education reported that they had been given information on sexual feelings, relationships and emotions.’, despite a majority wishing to learn more about ‘moral, social, and emotional issues around sex’. Of course, responsibility to educate the younger generation regarding sex does not fall exclusively on the shoulders of the school system. Considering how little time sexual education is allocated among a busy schedule, and how that slot is shrunk down even further in the senior cycle, ideally it would be parents delivering the majority of a young person’s sexual education. However, the simple fact of the matter is that the majority of parents and adolescents feel great discomfort when attempting to discuss sex. Communication that lacks openness and clarity may be harmful also. A young person’s understanding of sex will also hinge on their comfort and understanding with themselves. A healthy sense of self is mandatory for a healthy sex life. Looking at peer influence particularly, young people lacking the self-esteem and self-assurance to behave in a manner non-according to their friends’ behaviour. With many young men basing their self-worth on how masculine or ‘macho’ they seem to those around them, seeking help, advice, or reassurance is even more difficult. Girls and women, alternatively, must walk the tight line between appearing as a ‘prude’, or alternatively as a ‘slut’. For both men and women, reputation and social pressure may often inhibit them making better decisions regarding their sexuality. Our understanding of sex is ultimately our own responsibility. To ensure that we’re engaging in sex that is safe not only physically, but emotionally and mentally, we must take on the responsibility to inform ourselves. GPs, student unions, and great youth organisations such as Spun Out and BeLonG To offer various opportunities for young people to build on the foundation that sexual education offered. Everyone is having sex, everyone is affected by sexual culture, and so it is

Volume 33 - Issue 04 Caoilfhionn Murphy Ní Mhaolchalain Features Writer

few years ago, I went to see a production of Martin McDonagh’s play The Pillowman in the Gaiety theatre. At that point in time, my experience of theatre was limited, and I can’t say for certain I even knew who McDonagh was. For anyone familiar with the content of the play, I’m sure you can understand how taken aback I was when exposed to the gory violence, dark prose and swearing. I adored it! During the interval, a disturbed and flustered man anxiously pushed past us in our row of seats, declaring that he couldn’t handle the second act because the violence was too disturbing. I was deeply intrigued by how profound an impact this performance had, and so naturally, when I heard a production of The Pillowman was going to be put on in Dramsoc, I was determined to get a role. That being said, as I was flicking through the audition pieces, something immediately stood out to me; all of the main roles were male. Determined still to act in what I would now regard as my favourite play, I decided to take a leap of faith and audition for a male role regardless. Thankfully, I was given the part, but the

The College Tribune

Features

Sexism In Drama On Women’s Representation in Theatre Today

experience of having to audition ‘as male’ or ‘in place of a man’ made me consider the limitations women have in the world of theatre, not just in terms of acting, but also in terms of production and writing. A recent study published in The New York Times stated that although over 60% of theatre audience members are female, only a shocking 20% of produced plays are written by women. It comes as no surprise that women struggle to find leading roles in plays when their representation is still largely determined by men. This, however, is a multi-faceted issue. Aside from the limitations of female roles, women in theatre are faced with issues such as misrepresentation, sexist architypes and ageism on stage. Consider, for example, how female roles have been represented historically. Many of Shakespeare’s famous plays set out with the intention of ‘taming’ their female characters, as women who speak their mind or step out outside of gender norms are depicted as insane or brutish. In the case of Hamlet, many peo-

ple would be familiar with the famous line ‘Get thee to a nunnery’ which proceeds the heartbreak and downfall of the main female role, Ophelia. Shakespeare’s comedy The Taming of the Shrew is another famous example of the subordination of women on stage, as it makes light of domestic abuse and torture, with an incredibly dissatisfying conclusion. The female lead, Katherine,

goes through stages of ‘taming’ instigated by her suitor Petrucio, who starves her and denies her of sleep. He manipulates her into saying that the sun is the moon, disorienting her sense of reality and ‘taming’ her character to the point where she is remodelled into the ideal subservient woman. It is difficult to imagine how an audience is expected to find this process funny and di-

Pictured Above: Caoilfhionn performing in the Dramsoc production of Martin McDonagh’s play ‘The Pillowman’ alongside co-star Daniel Culleton.

rects our attention to a more complex issue with female representation in theatre; even when female bodies are presented on stage, they are frequently coloured and tainted to suit patriarchal ideals. One may argue that we have long since moved away from Shakespearean representations of female leads, and this is true, to an extent. Even in the casting of modern renditions of Shakespearean works, gender bending roles and alterations to the script are not uncommon. But is the process of slotting women into typically male roles such as Hamlet or Macbeth effective in combatting the issues? Ultimately women are merely enacting maleness rather than expressing a version of femininity that isn’t fragile. The increase demand for female representation on stage and insight into the female experience is ever growing in the world of theatre. When I visited the fringe festival in Edinburgh last year, I was amazed by the range of performances addressing issues such as sexual assault, abortion

07.11.2019 rights, female body image, and toxic relationships. Plays such as Awakening and Even Hotter addressed female issues such as slut shaming, the impact of societal expectations on female body image, and the erasure of female sexuality. Particularly while watching Even Hotter, I was in awe of the bravery demonstrated on stage by the two female actors, who at one stage during their performance, enacted a physical movement piece depicting masturbation. Although these performances were deeply profound unveilings of femininity and womanhood, it still made me question women’s place in theatre, even today, and whether it is somewhat pigeon-holed. What theatre and performance art needs are the space for woman to perform, engage, write and direct for and in roles of all genres and subject matters. We need to move away from the idea that woman only serve a purpose in theatre to retell a distinctly female experience, or to serve as a love interest for male narratives. Where are the female detectives in theatre? The female war heroes? The female spies or the female astronauts? We have been limited by male driven narratives long enough, and it is time to rewrite our place on stage as we want it to be.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Features

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

When Esports Turn Political Why are members of US Congress talking about Hearthstone?

n the 18th of October, five members of the US Congress people penned a letter to Activision-Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick denouncing Blizzard’s suspension of Hearthstone professional Ng “Blitzchung” Wai Chung. The letter was co-signed by both Republican and Democrat Congress People, including 2016 Republican Presidential candidate Marco Rubio and author of the Green New Deal Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Hearthstone is an online collectible card game, similar to Yu-Gi-Oh, that was created by Blizzard. The game, which was released in 2014, features a $4 million prize pool for the 2019 season of their professional circuit. The issue began on the 6th of October when Blitzchung used his postgame interview following an official Hearthstone match

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US Congress people penned a letter to Activision-Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick denouncing Blizzard’s suspension of Hearthstone professional Ng “Blitzchung” Wai Chung.

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to support the protesters in his home city of Hong Kong who have been protesting an amendment to extradition law which could see Hong Kong citizens being sent to face trial in China. During the interview Blitzchung wore a ski-mask and a bandana over his face, mirroring that worn by the protesters, and after the first question from the interviewers he echoed the chants of “Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our time!” which have

become so famous in recent months. The interviewers could be seen ducking down behind their desk in order to distance themselves from the incident. Speaking to Inven Global after his post-game interview, Blitzchung admitted that “I know what my action on stream means. It could cause me a lot of trouble, even my personal safety in real life. But I think it’s my duty to say something about the issue.” Despite receiving support for his actions across the esports world, Ng found himself banned from all Hearthstone competitions for a year and stripped of his prize winnings from Season 2 of the Hearthstone Grandmasters Circuit, after being found guilty of breaching “Section 6.1 (o)” of the tournaments rules which prohibits engaging in any act which is found, “at Blizzard’s sole discretion” to have “offend[ed] a portion or group of the public, or damages Blizzard’s image”. The interviewers were also fired from their positions for their alleged role in the protest. The incident, and Blizzard’s response received international backlash as many speculated that the response may have been influenced by the American company’s financial ties with Tencent, a Chinese technology and gaming firm who own 4.9% stake in Activision Blizzard, worth $2.5 Billion. This accusation is not without precedent either as Tencent, who also own the screening rights to the NBA in China, “temporarily suspended” its NBA preseason broadcast following Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeting out in support of the Hong Kong protests, “Fight for Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong.” before quickly deleting the tweet. NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that “Chinese interests” requested that the NBA fire Morey for his tweet but the commissioner said “there’s no chance we will even discipline him” at the Time 100 Health Summit.

As a result of this backlash, Blizzard halved Blitzchung’s suspension and reimbursed him the winnings that they had previously confiscated. The interviewers have had their punishment reduced to a six month suspension. In the company’s 12 of October press release, President of Blizzard Entertainment J. Allen Brack promised that “Moving forward, we will continue to apply tournament rules to ensure our

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The incident, and Blizzard’s response received international backlash as many speculated that the response may have been influenced by the American company’s financial ties with Tencent

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Hugh Dooley Features Writer

official broadcasts remain focused on the game and are not a platform for divisive social or political views.” citing their wish for every player “feels safe and welcome” while playing Blizzard’s games. Standing in solidari-

ty with Blizchung, American University (AU) students held a sign saying “Free Hong Kong, Boycott Blizz[ard]” in front of their camera following a Collegiate Hearthstone Championship match on October 8th. One week later the team received a 6 month ban from all Hearthstone competitions due to their violation of the Collegiate ruleset. Two days after the American University team receiving their ban, five members of congress sent an open letter to Activision Blizzard

expressing their “deep concern” about the decision penalise Wai Chung for supporting “pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong”. The letter claimed that the decision was particularly disturbing given the “Chinese government’s growing appetite for pressuring American businesses to help stifle free speech.” The letter urged Activision Blizzard to “look beyond the bottom line and promote American values like freedom of speech and thought” instead of giving

in “to Beijing’s demands in order to preserve market access.” The letter claims that “Last week alone, the Chinese government targeted Apple for hosting an app to help peaceful demonstrators evade repression.” referring to Apple being pressured to remove an app which tracked Hong Kong police with crowdsourced data named “HKmap.Live”.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

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07.11.2019

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Volume 33 - Issue 04

Features

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Academic Spotlight: Kieran Allen Conor Capplis Editor

ieran Allen is a Senior Lecturer of Sociology in UCD. He’s been in UCD since 1996, spent time as the Head of the School of Sociology, has had a long and active political career as a Marxist, being instrumental to the formation and rise of political party People Before Profit; has extreme respect for evidence based research, prefers to study the powerful rather than the marginalised, and has a very salient diagnoses of the current economic system in it’s capability to address climate change. Welcome to Academic Spotlight! This new segment takes a look at the people behind the research and lectures in UCD. Have you ever wondered what your lecturer does when they’re not spouting academic jargon in front of a half empty lecture hall? This segment aims to look at the people behind that front and delve into what makes them tick. Kieran Allen is a widely outspoken UCD Professor. I sat down with him and talked about everything from UCD’s changes over the years, to tackling climate change through alternatives to capitalism. Let’s dive in!

Lecturing

Lecturing in UCD seems fairly daunting, spending several hours each day in front of hundreds of students, speaking from almost an hour. But what’s it really like? “It’s not as hard as working in a gold mine,” says Allen. “I also used to be a primary school teacher for many years, so it’s not as hard as [that]. Lecturing is enjoyable in a sense that you’re engaging with ideas. What I find most rewarding is hearing opinions, and also seeing how students use arguments that I generate, which they may criticise, and I sometimes come back on.”

Current Research

Allen’s current subject of research fits into his mantra

of studying the powerful: “At present I am doing research on Tax Haven Ireland, which is looking at how this country has become a respectable tax haven for big business. I think people will be most familiar on the Apple case, where Apple were paying less than 1% of its profits on tax. But it goes much deeper.” As an academic researcher, Allen sees research as a fluid and continual process: “You can’t put a timeframe on research. The type of research I’m doing, I can work away on a Sunday evening, reading very boring tax studies. Is that work or is it not work? Or do I have a sadistic pleasure in reading it, it’s very hard to quantify.”

Changes to Administration

Professor Allen talks about how UCD has changed over the years, with recent years pointing towards “a distinct shift towards neoliberalism,” something Allen doesn’t favour at all. “There is a general tradition in academia, that academics would have a greater say in the running of their workplace. The change over the last 20 years has been greater managerial control. Whether that operates distinctly at a school level or not, is a matter for debate.” “Prior to 1996, my impression was that UCD was a fairly conservative University that would have had the traditional academic to student relationship. It wasn’t so concerned about money. It was a relatively privileged institution. […] In the 90’s/early 2000’s there was a distinct shift towards a more neoliberal university. Neoliberalism as a distinct outlook, doesn’t emphasise public service. [It] emphasises the need for more private funding, sees the institution like the university composed of various units that are in competition with each other. The atmosphere tries to make a public institution act like a private corporation. I would say neoliberalism has had a big impact upon UCD.”

“At the moment we live in a deeply unequal society. […] I think it’s important to study the powerful. [...] I try to put myself at the service of people who are trying to change this society. For me, the most practical way of doing that is through being part of social movements.” Student Advice

I asked Allen if there was one piece of advice, he could give to a UCD student, on anything at all in which he thought was beneficial. He replied: “Relax. As best you can, relax and enjoy education while you can.”

Political Activity

Allen’s political career has spurred his interest in academics since the beginning. His PhD was based on Fianna Fáil’s dominance in Irish politics at the time. “I do not go along with the notion that academics are neutral and above politics. I don’t think that’s true; I do think many academics think they are neutral and above politics. All of us have a certain view about how society is organised, should be organised, the relationship of human beings to the natural world. We all have these implicit views. Politics is simply about how power is exercised in society and how it should be exercised. “I’m a left-wing activist, I’m a Marxist and active in People Before Profit. I don’t think that makes me a less objective researcher. I remain deeply faithful to the evidence. I think it’s possible to be both objective and to be engaged.”

“At the moment we live in a deeply unequal society. […] I think it’s important to study the powerful, and to reveal how their privileges. As so far as my academic skills go, I try to put myself at the service of people who are trying to change this society. For me, the most practical way of doing that is through being part of social movements.” “You also need to supplement social movements with organising with a political party, which is what I try to do with People Before Profit.”

Climate Change

We also spoke about climate change and the youth of today beginning to galvanise behind social movements to tackle this issue. “I think young people in particular recognise that climate change is a real threat to them. The predictions for 2050 for global warming are pretty dire. […] The underlying dynamic of the movement is quite left wing. If you live in a society that has to expand at a rate of 3% a year, and the resources are not unlimited, then obviously at some point that economy is going to have problems.” “I think we’re in a transition phase, and up to now the main culture of neoliber-

alism is to blame individuals,” Allen goes on to suggest how the emerging social movements of today gear their blame towards big corporations and system-wide criticisms. Recent climate strikes have heard chants such as “System Change, Not Climate Change”, pointing towards an anger at the current economic system and its ability to tackle climate change.” Finally, I asked Allen about UCD’s attitude towards knowledge and how that’s changed over the years. He responded: “Of course [UCD] has lost the goal of pursuit of knowledge! It’s rather taken a sidetrack towards knowledge that can be commercialised or turned into a pseudo commodity. […] It’s taking a slightly more narrow view of what knowledge is.”

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

Features

07.11.2019

Conor Paterson Fianna Fáil TD’s Removed from Front Bench: Party leader Micheál Martin made the decision after Niall Collins voted on behalf of Timmy Dooley while the deputy was absent from the chamber, He has not yet removed Lisa Chambers who failed to correct the record after mistakenly voting twice.

Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party Wins Canada Elections: Justin Trudeau will serve a second term as prime minister after his party emerged with the most seats despite failing to win a majority. The liberal party will require the help of smaller parties to support its minority government.ruled out.’

Varadkar Talks of Future United Ireland: On the radio station, Today FM, the Taoiseach said he would like to see a united Ireland in his lifetime. However, he stressed that it must be ‘in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement.’

Commons Speaker John Bercow Steps Down: He made the announcement in September, after nearly 10 years in the role. A controversial yet popular figure, his replacement will be decided by eliminatory votes in the Commons.

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Deal of the Century

“Peace to Prosperity” Summit Suggests Cautious Progress on the Horizon Ahmed Jouda Politics Writer

ver the last 12 months, the term “The deal of the Century” has been coined on all forms of media. It refers to Donald Trump’s peace plan for the Middle East, specifically revolving around the Palestine-Israel conflict. This came with the expectation that the U.S. administration would be trusted to deliver a just economic and political solution which was a tough sell considering the overwhelming support this government provided the Israeli agenda and its disregard to the Palestinians. So what is the Deal of the Century? Since Donald Trump took over the White House in 2016, his senior advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner has been frequenting the leaders of the Middle East. Kushner was becoming the Godfather of this deal. On the 25-26/June/2019 Bahrain hosted the so-called “Peace to Prosperity” workshop to discuss what the United States has described as the economic part of “The deal of the century”. This was unexpected, as for any region to have any form of economic prosperity you need to

have a political agreement first, which was no way near happening. This was highlighted by the Guardian’s Middle East correspondent, Martin Chulov when he said that the deal was “widely viewed as redundant in the glaring absence of a political dimension that could turn such pledges into realities.” Attending this summit became a huge dilemma for many Arab countries, the Palestinians abstained from attending as they believed, according to their president Mahmoud Abbas, that it is a “big lie” and an attempt to buy Palestinian land, and that a political solution must come before anything else. However, most of the leading Arab countries did attend such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco despite demonstrations in some of these countries against attending as it is viewed as a sign of normalization of Israel and its occupation of Palestinian land. In addition to this, a few European allies of the U.S. attended while many more stayed away from Bahrain as they worried about the United States’ instincts. So, what was actually proposed in Bahrain? Kushner revealed a 10-year plan to create a million new jobs, slashing unemployment

from 30% to 10% and improving living standards in the West Bank and Gaza. The plan is to invest $50 billion, half of them into the Palestinian territories and the other half in the surrounding countries including Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan where many Palestinian refugees reside. Even though

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Kushner revealed a 10-year plan to create a million new jobs, slashing unemployment from 30% to 10% and improving living standards in the West Bank and Gaza.

Israel, which would have to sign off on many of the proposal’s projects, didn’t send any government officials, Kushner insisted that “After extensive review, people were very positive about it and considered it achievable.” A key role of this summit was to get the Gulf nations on board so that they fund the project. When asked about the

political solution, Kushner replied that it would likely fall somewhere between the Arab Peace Initiative and the “Israeli position.” The Arab Peace Initiative was set out in 2002 by Saudi Arabia calling upon the normalization with Israel across the Arab World in exchange for a fully sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He didn’t elaborate on what the “Israeli position” is exactly. However, if we look at Trump’s foreign policy with regards to Israel-Palestine, we see that he started working on the political side of this deal way before its existence was announced. The first radical action that Trump took was moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. The Palestinians have boycotted the US administration since Trump broke decades of consensus and recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017. In 1947, the UN partitioned Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, with the city of Jerusalem as a separate entity to be governed by a special international regime due to the city’s important status, containing holy sites for Muslims, Christians and Jews. Later on, in 1967 Israel took over West Jerusalem while East Jerusalem

was named the capital of a future Palestinian state. Nowadays Israel occupies East Jerusalem and denies the right to citizenship for the Palestinians living there. This occupation is labelled illegal by the international community, yet Trump’s U.S. approved this act. Soon after in August 2018, the U.S. government confirmed the end of its funding to the U.N. Palestinian refugee’s organisation, the UNRWA, which has over 5 million registered Palestinians. This was taken as a sign from the U.S. government that they believe those people are no longer refu-

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Many believe [...] that the summit in Bahrain was just to test the waters in the international community and more importantly how the Arab states react to the idea of normalization with Israel...

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Poli-Ticker

Politics

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Volume 33 - Issue 04

gees and have lost the right to return to their homelands in historical Palestine. Clearly, the political side of this deal is a lot more critical than the economic one which was revealed. Therefore, many believe, including the Palestinian political analyst Adli Sadeq, that the summit in Bahrain was just to test the waters in the international community and more importantly how the Arab states react to the idea of normalization with Israel and the one-and-a-half state solution with Palestinians never gaining full sovereignty. It’s a check to see if the Arabs still have the Palestinian cause as their number one priority. This could mean that the political part of the “Deal of the Century” may be revealed in the upcoming weeks.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

Politics

07.11.2019

US Election Candidates Democratic Party 2020: Who Will Take on Trump’s Re-election Machine? Conor Paterson Politics Editor

he Democratic presidential primary debate that took place on the 15th of October broke the record for the most presidential candidates to take part in such a debate. A total of 12 took to the stage in Otterbein University in Ohio all vying to be the candidate to take on Donald Trump in 2020. The staggering number of candidates still in the race reflects how optimistic they are of defeating the incumbent president. As with all primary races, there are poll toppers, unexpectedly strong candidates and those struggling to stay in the race. Former Vice-president Joe Biden is one such poll topper. The 76-year-old has been widely tipped to win the race but has seen other, more progressive candidates gaining and even surpassing his lead in some polls of late. Biden’s strong support is based on the fact he was a popular Vice-president and worked well with former President Barack Obama. He is also considered a more centrist candidate who can

perform better with moderates and independents than Trump. Another front runner is 2016 candidate Bernie Sanders. Popular with progressive members in the party Sanders narrowly lost the 2016 nomination to Hillary Clinton. Sanders can certainly energise the left and youth of the democratic party whilst also sharing some policy concerns with Donald Trump such as oppos-

ing free-trade agreements like the Transpacific trade partnership. Opponents of Sanders say his platform is too radical for the generally conservative political arena that is American politics. Elizabeth Warren is also a strong performing progressive who has seen a huge surge in popularity recently. Some polls put the Massachusetts senator in the lead which made her a target in the recent debate. In such a

crowded field many of the smaller candidates have been desperate to stand up and separate themselves from the rest of the chasing pack. The charismatic former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke was propelled into national attention in his hard-fought senate race with Ted Cruz. O’Rourke has proposed compulsory buybacks of assault weapons, which is a controversial topic in US

politics. O’Rourke dropped out of the race on November 1st. The mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg has made a radical proposal to abolish the electoral college system which is used to elect the presidents in the US, while California senator Kamala Harris has made criminal justice reform a centrepiece of her campaign. With many other candidates standing the democratic party has a huge

decision in the upcoming primary. Should it nominate a moderate to win over independent voters or should it choose a more radical, progressive candidate to energise the base and tackle important issues like inequality and climate change?

Republican Party 2020: Impeachment Proceedings Threaten Second Trump Term

f the impeachment inquiry launched by democrats in the house of representatives fails to remove the President, the candidate facing the nominated democrat will be Donald Trump. After winning a bruising Republican primary in 2016 Trump does not have to once again face a serious threat to his nomination. Donald Trump has huge support among Republican voters including a large and energised base. A poll among people who identify as Republicans taken in early October gave the president an 87% approval rating, Clearly, this is a huge positive and Trump can rely on support from traditionally conservative states in 2020. Also, this poll indicates an energised base. This is very

important for Trump’s get out and vote effort on the 3rd of November next year. However, is this enough to ensure re-election? Trump can’t win on Republican support alone. To win another four years in the White House he will also need to win over moderate voters. While Donald Trump lost the popular vote in 2016, he had a clear victory in the electoral college by winning a number of key swing states. In total, the President flipped six swing states that Barack Obama won in his 2012 re-election. They were Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. If Trump manages to hold on to all these swing states, he is almost certain to be re-elected. What will give his campaign a boost is his relatively high approv-

al ratings in these swing states. Take Florida where is approval is 48% and where two republican candidates won state-wide elections in the 2018 mid-term elections. Any democratic candidate would find it very difficult to turn the state blue again. Also, in Ohio and Pennsylvania where his approval stands around 46% and 45% respectively. The figures usually point to re-election, however, that does depend on who his opponent is. If current democratic favourite Joe Biden was to secure the democratic nomination, Trump could struggle to hold these states. Biden is popular in such rust-belt states and the President might find himself looking to pick up votes elsewhere. It is very likely that Trump will be on the ticket

for re-election in 2020. Despite facing low national approval ratings and an opposition party determined to remove him from office, the president can certainly win another four years. In 2016, he was the underdog and was written off by many. This time around he is in a stronger position. With seemingly unshakable Republican support and a strong electoral position behind him, Democrats have a huge task on their hands to beat Donald Trump.

Science

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Analysis of ancient teeth has revealed that many extinct crocodile species primarily ate plants. The research suggested that planteating crocs evolved between 3 and 6 times during the Mesozoic era.

A surprising study has found that bad moods are contagious among ravens. The birds, which are very socially intelligent, were found to share negative emotions, but not positive ones.

A study has found that dog ownership can reduce mortality from all causes by 24%. Heart attack survivors with dogs were found to have a 33% lower risk of early death.

A 3D printer has been developed with the capacity to print an object the size of an adult human in just 2 hours. The printer will be available commercially in the next 18 months.

Aye-ayes have been found to have a hidden sixth digit. The lemur’s tiny ‘pseudothumb’ may help aye-ayes to grip branches and is the first ‘accessory digit’ ever found in a primate.

How to Revive a Mammoth, and Other Dead Creatures Vanessa Gomes Science Writer

imply put, de-extinction is the growing field of biology that aims to bring animals back from extinction. Genetics, molecular biology, palaeontology, and evolutionary biology intersect here to bring to life what was once considered to be a fantasy. Animals like the dodo bird, the passenger pigeon, and the woolly mammoth have all been considered as contenders for revival. Success stories, however, are harder to come by. At a presentation given at UCD last month, UC Santa Cruz researcher, Dr. Beth Shapiro posed the question “how do we bring a mammoth back to life?”, which she succinctly answered with “well, we can’t”. Not yet anyways. Bringing the woolly mammoth back to life would involve using the established mammalian cloning protocol. Mammalian cloning, also called somatic cell nuclear transfer, involves three rganisms. You start with DNA from the animal you want to clone; an extinct woolly mammoth in this case. Then you take an embryo from a second animal. In this case it would probably be an Asian elephant embryo. You remove the genetic material from that elephant embryo and insert the DNA from the woolly mammoth into the now empty embryo. Finally, the elephant-mammoth hybrid embryo would be inserted into the womb of a surrogate elephant who would theoretically carry this mammoth embryo to term. The problems with this idea begin at the first step. Suitable woolly mammoth DNA needs to be taken from a living woolly mammoth cell. Despite numerous expeditions, and a close call in Siberia, no such cells have been found. The same issue is raised for most extinct animals, barring the ones that have been preserved intentionally. An example of this

latter kind is the white rhino. While a few of members of the species are still alive, they are ‘functionally extinct’ because there is no viable breeding pair. What this means is that we have plenty of DNA and knowledge of the white rhino’s behaviour that we can use when de-extinction becomes a practical option. There is a theoretical solution to this problem. A scientist could take the closest living species to the extinct one – an Asian elephant in the example of the woolly mammoth - and edit it to a point that it looks like, acts like, and is genetically identical to the extinct species. This, however, presents a host of new roadblocks. Primarily, it assumes a flawless understanding of the genes in both the extinct and non-extinct relatives. We are not there yet, and an attempt to make elephants ‘woolly’, could result in any number of mishaps. Additionally, this would not technically be de-extinction; we would be creating mammoth-elephant hybrids. What if we could solve these problems though? What if we could perfectly recreate the woolly mammoth, or the dodo bird, or the passenger pigeon? Does

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We are not there yet, and an attempt to make elephants ‘woolly’, could result in any number of mishaps. Additionally, this would not technically be de-extinction; we would be creating mammoth-elephant hybrids.

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Astronomers have made the earliest and most complete observation to date of a star being shredded and swallowed by a black hole. Such events happen about once in every 100,000 years per galaxy.

07.11.2019

De-Extinction Rebellion

it follow that we should? While allowances might be made for the dodo or the passenger pigeon, are there ethically sound rea-

sons for bringing back the woolly mammoth? To start, they are, well, mammoth in size. Their re-introduction to Earth would serve to be a massive disruption in an already tumultuous ecosystem. Their native terrain, and predators have all dramatically changed since the beginning of the ice age that contributed to their extinction. What’s more, elephant families would need to act as more than gestational surrogates. They would need

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While there may be an ethical obligation to avoid the revival of woolly mammoths, there is a converse ethical obligation to restore the animals whose extinction we are responsible for.

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Adam Boland

to provide continuous social support to the de-extinct mammoths. The idea of de-extinction is a fascinating one. Its novelty ignited a multi-billion-dollar film franchise. The sad fact is that its importance is growing. The strategies that are being directed at bringing back ancient animals that went extinct due to natural planetary cycles should instead be directed at the animals that we are pushing towards extinction. While there may be an ethical obligation to avoid the revival of woolly mammoths, there is a converse ethical obligation to restore the animals whose extinction we are responsible for. And for those animals whose numbers are now dwindling because of our degradation of the planet, we have a responsibility to use these molecular biology protocols to maintain endangered populations. Of course, that is in tandem

with changing behaviours that drove them to endangerment and extinction in the first place. Finally, it is important to note that the fears that have been associated with de-extinction because of the Jurassic Park series are

Jurassic period went extinct about 65 million years ago. There is, without hyperbole, no way that DNA from any of the film’s dinosaurs could be preserved well enough to isolate, much less clone or edit. While it may sound like scary sci-fi, de-extinc-

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The dinosaurs of the Jurassic period went extinct about 65 million years ago. There is, without hyperbole, no way that DNA from any [...] dinosaurs could be preserved well enough to isolate, much less clone or edit.

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The Lab Report

The College Tribune

simply not well-founded. The only chance that scientists have at bringing back extinct animals depends on genetic material that has been preserved for a maximum of about a million years. The dinosaurs of the

tion may prove to be an important tool for halting or even reversing the massive biodiversity loss that we are currently causing.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

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Volume 33 - Issue 04

Science

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Nobel Prize in Physics The First Exoplanet and a Pioneer of Theoretical Cosmology

n October 8, the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded jointly to James Peebles, Michel Mayor, and Didier Queloz “for contributions to our understanding of the evolution of the universe and Earth’s place in the cosmos”. James Peebles of Princeton University received half the prize, which was given to him “for theoretical discoveries in physical cosmology”. As one of the founders of physical cosmology as a research field, it is quite appropriate that he receive the award for his contributions to the subject. In the early 1960s, Peebles was among the first physicists to make precise calculations describing cosmological observations. One of his early achieve-

ments was calculating the temperature of the cosmic microwave background, the ambient radiation in the cosmos left over from the

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The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded jointly to James Peebles, Michel Mayor, and Didier Queloz “for contributions to our understanding of the evolution of the universe and Earth’s place in the cosmos”.

laucoma is a progressive disease that deteriorates the optic nerve by causing a loss of retinal ganglion cells. It affects 60 million people worldwide

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Curcumin, which is the active ingredient in turmeric, has been shown to protect and stimulate the growth of ganglion cells.

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and is the leading cause of blindness globally. Curcumin, which is the active ingredient in turmeric, has been shown to protect and stimulate the growth of ganglion

discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star”. In 1995, the pair observed a planet orbiting the star 51 Pegasi, a star similar to Earth’s own sun 50 lightyears away. This was the first observation of a planet orbiting a star outside of the solar system. The planet, called 51 Pe-

gasi b, was a gas giant similar in characteristics to Jupiter, and was found by measuring the altered motion of the star as the planet’s gravity pulled it around. To date, 4,122 exoplanets have been discovered. While awarded for two developments which are not directly related, this year’s Nobel Prize in Phys-

ics showcased impressive contributions to both theoretical and observational astrophysics and cosmology which gave us a greater understanding of our universe and our place within it.

big bang. Another significant contribution by Peebles was his calculation of the quantity of light elements like helium produced in the early stages of the universe; a process known as big

Bullseye! Athaliah Fubara Science Writer

bang nucleosynthesis. This work has profound implications for how the universe evolved, and how planets like Earth came to be. In contrast to the largescale cosmological work of Peebles, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz of the University of Geneva received their share of the prize “for the

“

Patrick Wong Science Writer

How Turmeric Nanoparticles Can Treat Glaucoma

cells. The compound can be administered orally, but unfortunately it has a low solubility in the bloodstream. In 2018, Professor Francesca Cordeiro and her team at UCL’s Institute of Ophthalmology discovered a more efficient method to

deliver curcumin - nanoparticles. By encapsulating curcumin in nanoparticles, the team were able to specifically target the eye instead of other parts of the body. What’s more, the curcumin-encapsulating nanoparticles have a solubility 400,000

times greater than curcumin which is administered orally. Initially, Cordeiro and her team applied the eyedrops to model glaucoma cells before trying it on rats with glaucoma. After just two days of applying the eyedrops, the loss of retinal

ganglion cells reduced significantly and there were no indicators of inflammation and irritation in the rats’ eyes. The nanoparticles used were all less than 20 nanometers across; that’s about the thickness of 8 strands of human DNA.

According to professor Cordeiro, “Curcumin is an exciting compound that has shown promise at detecting and treating the neurodegeneration implicated in numerous eye and brain conditions from glaucoma to Alzheimer’s disease”. These eyedrops with nanoparticles could revolutionise the future of nanomedicine and improve the lives of those with glaucoma and a variety of other degenerative diseases. This is a breakthrough that will surely help millions of people across the globe.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Gaeilge

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

An Ghéarchéim Thithíochta: Na Réitigh

á ceart ag duine tithíocht shlán,ar phraghas réasúnta do chaighdeán maith a bheith acu, rud nach bhfuil fíor in Éirinn faoi láthair agus tá práinn ag baint le hathruithe chun feabhais. Tá scéalta an uafáis cloiste againn ar fad, faoi líon na ndaoine gan dídeán, faoi mhic léinn nach féidir leo lóistín do chaighdeán ar bith a fháil gan an t-uafás airgid a íoc agus clainne óga nach mbíonn an dara suí sa bhuaile acu ach teach nó arasán a thógáil ar cíos ar feadh na mblianta. Is cinnte mar sin go ndíríonn na meáin ar scála na géarchéime ach ba mhaith liom súil a chaitheamh ar na réitigh. Is rud nadúrtha é géarchéim thithíochta ach ní gnách dóibh maireachtáil chomh fada seo, gan feabhas suantasach le feiceáil. Pléifidh mé na réitigh a mholaim, a thagraíonn do bhunphrionsabal na

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I dtús báire, ó thaobh an tsoláthair de, tá gá le tithíocht phoiblí ar scála mór.

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heacnamaíochta,soláthar agus éileamh agus tagróidh mé do thíortha eile nach mbíonn géarchéimeanna tithíochta chomh fada seo acu. I dtús báire, ó thaobh an tsoláthair de, tá gá le tithíocht phoiblí ar scála mór. Faoi láthair, is ionann tithíocht phoiblí agus 10% de thithíocht na hÉireann. Is coincheap é tithíocht phoiblí seo nach bhfuil againn in Éirinn go fíorleathan agus ní hé an chéad smaoineamh a bhíonn ag daoine mar réiteach ar an ngéarchéim. É sin ráite, moltar go mbeadh timpeall 30% de thithíocht tíre

altas cheana fein ó ‘rainy day fund’ do 500 mhilliún agus muna ndéantar laghduithe cánach, beidh breis is billiún euro Níl an dara rogha ann ach níos mó infheistíochta a dhéanamh i dtithíocht phoiblí mar muna ndéantar, ní thiocfaidh feabhas suntasach ar an ngéarchéim. Chomh maith leis sin, tá 185,000 tithe folamha sa tír mar sin is gá iad a athchóiriú agus ba chóir go mbeadh seo mar thosaíocht ag na húdaráis aitiúla chun an soláthar a mhéadú. Tá sé róshimplí a rá nach bhfuil go leor tithe ann ach is cinnte nach bhfuil go leor tithe ar phraghas réasúnta do chaighdean maith ann. Ó thaobh an éilimh de, is gá an t-éileamh a aistriú ó Bhaile Átha Cliath go háiteanna eile sa tír. Tá gá le hinfreastruchtúr a fhorbairt sa tir ar fad ar nós traenacha, bóithre agus iompar poiblí ionas go mbeidh ceantair mhealltacha ann

lasmuigh de chathracha. Caithfear iad a phleanáil agus a thógáil i gceart le seirbhisí cearta ann. Ba chóir go mbeadh traenacha ag freastail ar gach contae agus córas maith busanna agus iompar sna cathracha las-

agus scéimeanna a bhunú chun cabhrú leo. Laghdódh seo an brú ar chathracha na tire agus bheadh fonn ar dhaoine cónaí sna háiteanna a bhfuil tithe folamha anois agus áiteanna le spás.

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Tá gá le hinfreastruchtúr a fhorbairt sa tir ar fad ar nós traenacha, bóithre agus iompar poiblí ionas go mbeidh ceantair mhealltacha ann lasmuigh de chathracha.

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Cecily Nic Cionnaith Gaeilge Editor

mar thithíocht phoiblí agus feictear an 30% seo i dtíortha ar nós an Ostair agus an tSualainn. Cabhraíonn sé go mór leo bac a chur le géarchéim thithíochta agus ní mhaireann easpa tithíochta an fad céanna le hÉirinn. Caithfimid iarracht a dhéanamh a sampla a leanúint. Ciallaíonn ár nganntanas de thithíocht phoiblí brú sa bhreis ar thithíocht phríobháideach a chúisíonn costas ard ar thithíocht in Éirinn, go háirithe sna cathracha. Cén mhaitheas a bheadh le tithíocht phoiblí sa bhreis? Bheadh tithíocht ar fáil do dhaoine agus clainne ar ioncam íseal, ag streachailt le bochtanas nó gan dideán nach bhfuil an cheart do thithíocht acu faoi láthair. Chuirfeadh seo mór le hionchuimsiú sóisialta ar an iomlán agus is dea-éifeacht é seo atá níos mó na díreach go bhfuil níos mó tithíochta ar fáil. Tá n t-airgead ag an ri-

muigh de Bhaile Átha Cliath ar nós Gaillimh,Corcaigh, Luimneach agus Port Láirge ach go háirithe. Ghlacfadh sé am agus airgead cinnte, ach ní féidir é a chur siar de shíor. Meallfadh infreastrúchtúr ceart gnónna nua freisin agus is cóir deontais

Ní mór go fadtéarmach, forbairt lasmuigh de Bhaile Átha Cliath leis na ranna rialtais a dhílarnu agus oideachas triú leibheal a chur chun cinn lasmuigh den ardchathair mar. Faoi lathair ta leath d’ollscoileanna na tire i mBAC agus tá bearna ollmhór ann go háirithe

san iarthuaisceart d’Ollscoil agus cuireann é seo leis an mbrú i mBaile Átha Cliath. Tá foirgnimh nios airde riachtanach i mBaile Atha Cliath ach go háirithe agus ní mór don rialtas an srianadh ar airde a mhéadú chun an brú millteannach ar Bhaile Átha Cliath a laghdú. Is gá an cead pleanála a athrú chun é seo a bheith ceadaithe, cosúil le cathracha eile an domhain. Go achomair,is gá an soláthar tithíochta a mhéadú le hinfheistiú i dtithíocht phoiblí agus athchóiriú ar thithe folamha. Ó thaobh an éilimh, is gá brú na gcathracha a laghdú agus ceantair eile a fhorbairt le hinfreastruchtúir, seirbhísí agus postanna. Le pleanáil cheart is féidir an ghéarchéim a réiteach, agus sochaí níos coithroime a bheith againn in Éirinn.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Philosophy

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

“I Forgot What I Was Saying…” The Philosophy of Memory Aaron Collier Philosophy Columnist

.e all forget things on a daily basis. From our keys in the morning, our lunch in the fridge, the answers for a test or a relative’s birthday. Forgetfulness is just an unfortunate fact of being human. Our brains are highly advanced encyclopaedias that remember huge and expansive types of information about ourselves, the world around us and those seemingly useless facts or song lyrics that stick to our brains like glue. We obviously can’t remember or store every bit of information, we’re not like some sort of “Limitless” Bradley Cooper. We often forget that memory is incredibly important to how we experience and perceive our lives, every moment with our friends, new pet, nasty illness, argument, poor driving lesson and line of poetry is laid out before us in our brain for us to sort through, while some slip away (messy nights out maybe?) never to be seen again. People try all sorts of methods and tricks to force our minds to remember more and more but how do we actually describe the way memories come to us? Is our mind like a dusty archive of information, with lots of hidden nooks? How does the present become the past? In today’s world, should we cut ourselves some slack when

we forget things every minute? The 20th century philosopher Edmund Husserl attempted to describe how the passage of time and memory need to be analysed in one structured system. For Husserl, we fundamentally experience time as a sort of flow or movement. In an attempt to characterise and categorise time, we use words such as succession, duration, and divide our days by the rotations of the clock. In a way we try to objectify the passage of time, pluck moments out, hold on to them and plan into the future. For Husserl, the past, present and future is integrally held together by experience, and is experienced as imminent and constantly flowing. Like the string that holds a bracelet together, experience allows for our sense of duration and succession. In order to experience the world around us, objects and other people we must have the ability to experience within this structure of time. We don’t see time like an old film reel of individual shots, that jump and stutter into our minds, but we experience time as a fluid process that shifts the present into the past and our intentions into the future without needing for us to be completely aware of it. This fluidity is completely subjective, exclusively experienced by you, but at the same time this “Stream of Temporal Awareness” as Husserl puts it is an essential feature of all common experience. This topic dives into the field

of phenomenology, a long winded word to describe subjective accounts of experience/ consciousness and its common elements held by all of us. Essentially the study of how your lived experience compares and contrasts to mine. Husserl calls the way we hold onto moments that recently came to pass as “retention.” Our minds pluck out this moment in time and designates or modifies it as something that’s just passed. This experience of the present lapsing into the past is often very vivid when its immediately held in our minds. For example, the ability to know that you’ve read the previous lines of this article is called retention. These immediate objects held in consciousness, are structured and stretch into the past, they become hazy and obscure. Like a comet’s tail, these moments are vivid at the source but become less and less bright the further you go out. For Husserl, these more obscure memories are brought back to us by recollection and are altered and coloured by imagination. When you mistake the colour of a house you remember as a child, this is just an accident of recollection an annoying feature of our memory. On the other hand, we all have loose and in-depth plans for the future. We have hopes and expectations of how reality will be in the immediate and far future. Husserl calls this process of anticipation; “protention,” whereby we

expect outcomes to happen with an amount of certainty. If I drop this pen, we’re all sure that it will fall to the ground. This process however is often socio-culturally coloured, how we see the wider world of tomorrow or the further future can be determined by those around us. That leaves us with what we describe as the present, which for Husserl is nothing without retention or protention. The present is always changing into the past, and when we take a moment out of this constant flow and label it as the present, it has already become the past. Yet, the point at which something like an action or a loud noise for example becomes the past, is what Husserl would call the space of “primal impressions.” Ultimately, all of these processes can become frustrated, we forget things, remember things incorrectly and things don’t often turn out how we planned. So in all honesty, we should cut ourselves more slack when it comes to memory. We all forget things by our very nature, and the flow of time is a lot for our minds to deal with so try to remember to look after that little super-computer inside that skull of yours.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

Part of a UCD Student Society? Contact us and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll send a reporter to your high profile events! Go to www.collegetribune.ie or email editor@collegetribune.ie

07.11.2019

Culture Two Door Cinema Club Visits UCD Lawsoc

The Long and Controversial Rollout of Kanye West’s Latest Album

The Power of a Name – EPIC’s Historic New Exhibition

Sound Waves

No Home Record Kim Gordon

★★★★★

There Existed an Addiction to Blood clipping.

★★★★

Ryan O’Rourke - Music Writer

Matthew Derwin - Music Editor

In 38 years of making music, Kim Gordon has never remained predictable or easy. With her solo debut, No Home Record remains true to that unpredictability. This record sees Gordon at her most accessible since her post Sonic Youth no wave jam band Body/Head. The album features an infusion of, and near conflict, of different genres and styles. This “conflict” facilitates the album’s overarching sense of ambiguity and danger in contemporary society.

Daveed Diggs’ deadpan, swift delivery melds with excellent production to form an intriguing, often disturbing soundscape on clipping.’s There Existed an Addiction to Blood. Following on from 2018’s Face, their latest effort doubles down on their signature darkness. Wide influences ranging from power electronics to old horror soundtracks contribute to the album’s deliciously grim atmosphere.

The album opens with a melancholic string arrangement on ‘Sketch Artist’, as if signalling Gordon’s death, only to declare her rebirth as the song’s techno infused soundscape takes hold. Gordon has stated the influence of The Stooges when she wrote this album. Nowhere is that clearer than on perhaps the finest rock song of the past year, ‘Air BnB’. This track finds the album at its atonal finest, oozing with power from its instrumentation to its lyrics. The album only grows in musical complexity with ‘Paprika Pony’, a track that’s hypnotic in its trip-hop grooves. No Home Record is one of those rare, near-perfect, albums. Gordon pushes herself in her experimentation and writing. This album signals a powerful reinvention for a musician who has nothing to prove.

‘He Dead’ is backed by a haunting, slowly crescendoing synth as Diggs relates a B-movie-esque chase that takes a sudden dark turn when the villains are revealed as the police – “They like they meat fresh, so just stay alive, young man”. On ‘La Mala Ordina’, Diggs hyper-violent lyricism is buffered by more traditional trap bars from contributors. ‘Attunement’ opens with 30 ear-splitting seconds of harsh noise, unfolding into a beat reminiscent of an alarm going off as Diggs raps in what sounds like the auditory equivalent of a thousand-yard stare. While the album’s interludes are an attempt to form a cohesive story, they don’t particularly succeed at this and feel slightly forced. ‘Club Down’ sticks out as a low point of the album with its cheesy choruses, but it’s one of only a few missteps across the hour and eight-minute runtime.

Pang

Caroline Polachek

★★★★

Niall O’Shaughnessy - Former Music Editor It’s safe to assume many people will come to Pang having been fans of Chairlift, Polachek’s former band that dominated the peak blog-era years. Chairlift’s superpower was melody - they wrote huge choruses, but they knew how to contextualise them. They were masters at a ‘tension and release’ approach that added another addictive layer to their melodies. Thankfully, this ability is on full display on Pang. ‘Door’ is practically virtuosic, with the pre-chorus featuring a vocal line that repeats both lyrically and melodically, before giving way to lush, swelling synths and a homely cadence. Pang is Polachek in full control of her narrative, a blessing/curse that comes with releasing music under her own name. The common thread running throughout is that of confession. ‘Look at Me Now’ sees Polachek at the end of a relationship, struggling to find resilience when she feels like her partner just sees her as “a hand grenade to throw away”. Polachek begs her partner to face her - she’s given up on selfcontrol, but vocally, she’s able to launch from the bottom of her range to the top in an instant and creates a blinding contrast between content and delivery. Polachek carves out hooks and delivers them in a way that no one else could.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Music

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Two Door Cinema Club Visits UCD Lawsoc

Are we ready? (Wreck) The indie rock band’s three members—Alex Trimble, Sam Halliday, and Kevin Baird— grew up in Northern Ireland and have been playing music together since they were 15 years old. However, the path to get where they are now has not been smooth sailing. “A band’s trajectory is so predictable,” Trimble said. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, every band goes through the same thing. You hear the stories, and you think you’re never going to end up there.” Two Door Cinema Club was no different. Much of the Q&A revolved around themes of conflict and compromise, allowing the band to showcase both their vulnerable and humorous side. Trimble explained that their work became their identity, and it was allconsuming in an unhealthy way. Spending 24/7 touring together only strained their

Photo Credit: UCD Lawsoc

relationship more. The band members were open about the struggles they have faced, admitting having been essentially broken up for six months after releasing their second album. Baird recounted the moment he felt the band was done, describing the bleakness of performing at The O2 in London, with each member arriving and leaving in their separate cars. No one wanted to be there, Trimble said, and after the performance, they didn’t speak to each other for a year. “We got fed up, and it was said—maybe in not so many words—that we just did not want to see each other again,” Trimble said. “It did take a while. It could’ve been over.” However, after a break from one another, they felt the good parts were too good to lose. Trimble sent an email to the group saying he would be in town, asking if they wanted to meet up. “It started just over a pint, and a few more pints, and we just got talking again,” Trimble said. “Then, we had to get through all the sh*t, which involved a lot of screaming at each other, and then

up.” “I think we are better at [working things out] than we have been in the past,” Baird added jokingly. Something Good Can Work The members of Two Door Cinema Club did not attend college, deciding to focus on music after school and forming their band at 17 years old. They sold the idea to their parents as them taking a “gap year,” which is now still ongoing. Trimble said he had ongoing conversations with his parents about attending university, especially since they were both educators. It was not until he

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The members of Two Door Cinema Club did not attend college, deciding to focus on music after school and forming their band at 17 years old. They sold the idea to their parents as them taking a “gap year,” which is now still ongoing.

“

s the three band members take their seats and joke with the audience, you would have never guessed that just a few years back, the band was on the brink of collapse. Two Door Cinema Club addressed the UCD Law Society on Tuesday Oct. 15 to receive Honorary Life Membership to the society, where they discussed the band’s evolution throughout the years, what they’ve learned, and what is on the horizon. Formed in 2007, Two Door Cinema Club and have had three top-selling albums, performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and are a staple of music festivals across the globe. After a three-year hiatus, they released their newest album, False Alarm, in June. The band recently performed two nights at Olympia Theater in Dublin. They now near the end of their tour, which they described has been “rough, but fun.” Two Door Cinema Club announced that their fifth album is ready to go. In response to whether or not the band’s music will branch out and do something a bit “out there,” Trimble gave a vague, foreshadowing response, saying they’ve been trying some different things. “It’s coming,” Trimble said.

we made a record.” At their roots, they still cared for each other, so many of the wounds were healed by working together again. Their arduous journey as a band taught them the importance of leading a life outside of their music and staying grounded. The band still has their disagreements, but they have been trying to work out their kinks without “blowing everything

brought his parents to a show, giving them free drinks afterwards, that they realized they were the real deal. Trimble joked to “stay in school” because only pursuing music leaves you with a very limited skill set. He described coming home from tour not knowing how to cook or do laundry because he didn’t do these things on the road. A record company in France gave the band around €30,000 to create their first record, including renting a studio, getting a producer, and affording to live, Baird said. At the time, they were basically living in total squalor. “There were three of us and one other guy sharing a two-bed flat in one of the worst parts of East London, infested with cockroaches, living on tortilla chips, travelling two hours each way to get to the studio in West London,” Trimble described. The band didn’t make much money for years, and when they started to feel like the money was coming in, they had to spend it on paying for more crew. For a while, Trimble said the people working for them were making more money than the band. It wasn’t until the end of their second album tour that they felt like they were making a living.

Shannon Fang Reporter

Photo Credit: UCD Lawsoc Trimble said that by no means did any of them feel like they ‘made it.’ With the amount of music out there, the band feels lucky and appreciative to have gotten so far. They deserve their success given their hard work, but they never take anything for granted, Trimble explained. “We’re trying to stop ourselves from continually thinking ‘once this happens, we’ll be grand’ because that can be quite dangerous,” Baird said. “You’re constantly chasing some mythical thing in the future, and you lose that part of enjoying being in the present.” Come Back Home The band’s roots in Northern Ireland also have influenced their music and struggles. The loss of the band’s drummer early on catalyzed their initial interest in indie and electronic sounds. They described their initial sound as a bit “wanky” and selfindulgent. “I think growing up in Northern Ireland, you think dance music is just terrible. Dance music was not a thing when we were kids,” Baird said. It was not until hitting a few dance clubs in other parts of Europe when they realized they wanted to make music that people could dance to and have a good time—and to get girls to come to shows, Baird joked. The stereotypically closed nature of the Northern Irish also had a role in their band’s rocky path. “Northern Ireland felt it had been quite behind the times, in terms of social progression,” Trimble said. “Emotion from a man was just not accepted or allowed—it was like if you’re showing emotion, you’re showing weakness. Our environment growing up had a big part to play where we found ourselves many years later.” The band said that their most recent album feels like their first proper album. Tourist History was just an initial collection of songs, while Beacon felt a bit rushed. Gameshow was a healing album for the band, and soon after, the songs for False Alarm started to materialize in 2016. Three years later, Two Door Cinema Club is touring their fourth album, with their fifth album in queue. Trimble said that it has been a long road to where the band is now. Though they had a long period of time when they did not enjoy each other, making music, or playing shows—they enjoy it now. “Everything we learned in the last 10 years, we learned the hard way,” Trimble said.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

Music

The Long and Controversial Rollout of Kanye West’s Latest Album

started. The following month, West visited the White House, and photos of the rapper embracing Donald Trump became the subject of ridicule online, sparking memes, but also immense outrage from the hip-hop community. However, in late October, West claimed he was distancing himself from politics, claiming that he had been ‘used’ by politicians. From then on, Kanye remained virtually silent, although he did appear on XXXTentacion’s posthumous release, ‘Skins’. Since his online hiatus, Kanye has been touring his ‘Sunday Services’, a weekly concert that involves gospel reworks of some of his biggest hits, along with previously unheard music. Sunday Service has proven to be a phenomenal success, and subsequently, Kanye has scrapped Yandhi and announced a new album, titled Jesus is King, with an accompanying IMAX movie. The album and film were released on October 25th worldwide. This late decision begs the question: why the change of heart? Is Kanye trying to wipe the slate clean and encourage people to forget the mess that was late 2018? Is he trying to capitalise on the success of Sunday Service? Or has he simply made a creative and personal choice in which he truly believes? Again, like anything Kanye does, there may be more than meets the eye.

Nicolas Murphy Music Writer

nitially titled Yandhi, Kanye’s latest album was set to release in September 2018, with a posthumous contribution from the late XXXTentacion, and a verse from hip-hop’s very own cartoon villain: Tekashi 6ix9ine. However, since September 2018, Kanye has seemingly scrapped the entire project in favour of another project, titled Jesus Is King. This news was followed by a claim by Kanye that he has no intention of ever creating secular music again, and the Chicago native professed that he was fully committed to creating Gospel music inspired by Jesus. However, like anything Kanye has ever done, there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. Between announcing Yandhi and proclaiming his refreshed appreciation for Jesus, Kanye has been involved in numerous controversies. On the day Yandhi was meant to release, Kanye made an appearance on SNL, which ended with a pro-Trump rant. Cast members and the general public alike were stumped, as it seemed that Kanye was actively trying to turn even his strongest fans against him. However, Kanye was just getting

Gig Review: Freddie Gibbs Live at the Button Factory Nicholas Lane - Music Writer

n Sunday the 5th of November, gangsta-rap demigod Freddie Gibbs blessed Dublin rap fans with an emphatic hour-long performance in the sold-out Button Factory. It was turning 9:30 as I shouldered my way through the sweaty throngs of excited Gibbs groupies to find a good spot to watch the show. The supporting acts had just finished up, so while DJ Ralph prepared for the set, fans streamed to the bar for a lastminute drink. As Matthew and I searched for a space, I looked up to the balcony which was overflowing with rabid Freddie devotees. Relieved we were not the only rap-nerds in attendance, proudly sporting our Gibbs album-cover tees, we found a spot on the left-hand of the stage just as all the lights in the venue went out.

As the crowd cheered, DJ Ralph began hyping us up, inciting us to illuminate the stage with our phone torches in anticipation. We heard the guitar solo and twinkling piano intro of ‘Crime Pays’ begin as the Indiana rapper burst on to the stage to thunderous praise, lit up by hundreds of phone lights. With no more fanfare, Gibbs launched hungrily into his performance. I felt myself swept along by the swarm of deliriously happy Gibbs fans as he performed banger after banger from his extensive discography. As one sweating, heaving entity we sang along to hits like ‘Thuggin’, ‘Deeper’, and ‘Harold’s’, while animated visuals of Hollywood in flames were projected onto the on-stage screen. As the night went on, I couldn’t help thinking of the event as a rap concert meets slam poetry gig. Gibbs breathlessly performed numerous deep cuts acapella, highlighting

that Bandana isn’t just excellent because of veteran producer Madlib. The crowd watched in awe as Gibbs was one moment a vision of cool, controlled composure and the next spewing an energetic barrage of couplets and rhymes. In one surreal moment, the audience provided a backing track, chanting “ay! ay! ay-ay-ay!”, while the hardened rapper spat rhymes over it. Late in the show the main lights dipped again, red strobe lights streamed from the stage and a bone-shaking bassline burst from the speakers. The crowd rallied their energy once more as Gibbs performed ‘Automatic’, ‘Death Row’, and ‘Triple Threat’, while moshpits erupted in the crowd before him. Gibbs ended the night where he began, with a vigorous rendition of ‘Crime Pays’, before leaving us to stumble into the cold Sunday night sweaty, exhausted, and elated.

07.11.2019

Upcoming Gigs Darcey Dugan - Music Writer

AURORA

November 6 @ 7pm Olympia Theatre The ethereal AURORA is coming to play at the Olympia Theatre on November 6th. Her unusual and intriguing personality and music makes the perfect mix for a live show not to be missed. It is fascinating to watch her live as she gets lost in the music causing the crowd to do so too. AURORA is fascinated with people and nature, with her lyrics seen on signs and banners at climate change protests around the world. Tickets are around €30 and doors open at 7pm.

Palace November 6th @ 7:30pm Button Factory Palace are a three-piece band of guys who grew up together; they have a very specific sound running through their music and always sound polished and beautiful. Some of their songs are so powerful, with authentic and passionate vocals and lyrics. They don’t disappoint live and interact with the crowd well; their dreamy sound fills the room, and their guitar solos allow for a good dance. They’ll be playing at the Button Factory at 7:30pm with tickets priced at €17.50.

Snarky Puppy

November 12th @ 8pm Olympia Theatre Snarky Puppy (pictured above) are a collection of talented musicians who mix jazz with multiple genres. Their band is loose and will likely have a lot of people and instruments on the stage- it’s like being a part of a big collective jam session. Snarky Puppy have been known to experiment in their live performances and how they present them, so it will be interesting to see what they do this time. They’ll be playing the Olympia Theatre at 8pm, tickets cost €43.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Film & TV

Film & TV News

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Film Review: Official Secrets

Danielle DerGarabedian Film & TV Writer Disney’s Latest Chapter in Expanding on Diversity:

Everything You Need to Know About the Newest Online Streaming Service: Apple TV Plus The rise of online streaming has introduced various platforms and the most recent being from the technological giant itself, Apple. Apple Plus TV will launch on November 1, 2019 for €4.99 a month in Irelandmaking it a much cheaper option to possibly its most notable competitor, Netflix. Similar to Netflix, it will feature ad-free viewing, the ability to download programs but also, the ability to stream shows on 6 different devices at once. Apple TV Plus has shelled out large sums of money to gather Hollywood’s most coveted stars and creators to develop new shows and films. Some notable contributors are Aaron Paul, M. Night Shyamalan and even Oprah and Prince Harry himself are receiving their own joint featurette on the new streaming service. Whether Apple will be able to deliver on their promise of original content with their streaming platform is left up to speculation until November 1st.

★★★

Brendan O’Brien - Film Writer

n a time where belief in political authority is dwindling, Official Secrets reasserts the reasons why the figureheads of great nations cannot be trusted. The film is based upon the true story of whistle-blower Katherine Gun, played by Keira Knightley, who leaked documents accusing the UK and US governments of illegal activity in the lead up to the war on Iraq. In a film filled with political intrigue, it draws the mind to the recent withdrawal of American troops from Syria; fixating on the effects war has on participating nations. The film uses many authentic newsreel snippets, encapsulating the audience in the era what it is trying to convey. This style of docudrama is an engrossing evolution of the genre. Similar methods were used in the creation of Quentin Tarantino’s recent motion picture Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in order to bring an air of authenticity to the work. The videos of Blair and Bush hark back to a time where the threat of terrorism had cracked open the political landscape. The film preys on its audiences’ sensibility by revealing the impact of terrorism on a state. Keira Knightley’s performance is filled with emotional collapse and recovery, masterfully enacted by the veteran actress. However, Knightley’s relationship with her husband, played by Adam Bakri feels extremely lacklustre. Their marital

relationship is shoehorned into the plot, as it weakly attempts to provide an underlying narrative discussion on the deportation of immigrants. This causes the film to slightly lose its focus in some regards, but overall it manages to maintain a tightly knit narrative. The lack of chemistry between Knightley and Bakri is obvious, only serving to drag the viewer out of a film that tries it’s hardest to immerse its audience in the

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In a film filled with political intrigue, it draws the mind to the recent withdrawal of American troops from Syria; fixating on the effects war has on participating nations.

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In Disney’s newest modernization of their classic princess genre, Emmywinning actor Billy Porter is set to play the Fairy Godmother in the liveaction adaptation of Cinderella. It is apparent that the latest installments of Disney films, simply consisting of them taking their old source material and developing them as live action films, are at the core, not original. These adaptations allow a new era of classic Disney to be ushered in with multifaceted representation. Whether this be in the form of fans seeing the first LGBTQ Disney character, LeFou, in 2017 Beauty and the Beast (2017) or African-American actress Halle Bailey being cast as Ariel for the future liveaction The Little Mermaid, Disney’s controversial princess genre is being redeemed by taking a seemingly progressive step toward the 21st century in terms of who they cast and how characters are portrayed. Porter offers exceptional singing bravado as a Broadway veteran and certified award worthy performances. Porter, as a gay African-American male, offers a nuanced portrayal with great significance and exposure to children of non-heteronormative ideals and a larger scope of inclusivity.

2004 political climate. The cast itself is filled with recognisable names, with none of them failing to perform. The acting within the film, apart from that of Adam Bakri, is excellent. Without the cast performing as well as they do, Official Secrets could have easily been damned to a below average rating, left stewing in a pot of forgotten flops. In regards to performances, audience favourite and former sci-fi star Matt Smith provides the viewers with an extremely likeable and realistic journalist. He is always looking for a front page seller, but unlike most fictional

journalists, he has a set of moral principles. Smith’s usual quirky demeanour and awkward charm is a pleasant sight in any film, and is a warm buffer to the harsh tone of Official Secrets. The brilliant Ralph Fiennes also makes a stellar appearance, taking up the role of a human rights barrister. Fiennes trades in his usual villainous menace, as seen in Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges and in the Harry Potter franchise, for a firm yet golden hearted persona, willing to do the right thing at all costs. Similarly to Knightley’s and Smith’s characters, Fiennes represents virtue in a film soaked in impropriety. Official Secrets explores the reality of an immoral world, where governments fail to hold themselves to the standards of their people. Whilst the film constantly reinforces this idea, the characters of the film continually battle against it, attempting to provide the audience with a sense of moral justice. The adaptation of Katherine Gun’s true story about her fight against a belligerent government is executed very well. The film fits into a niche genre and raises the bar for future docudramas. However, the film is not an instant recommendation for all, as it does lean heavily on an interest in the 2004 Iraq war. Although, without any prior knowledge, the film can most certainly be enjoyed as an intriguing story of the brave and admirable Katherine Gun, whose moral judgement brought attention to the horrid lies a government will tell in order to protect their own self-interest.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Film & TV

The College Tribune

Netflix Recommendations In Bruges Film

★★★★

Martin McDonagh’s first breakthrough into the world of the feature film is a terrific story about the lives of two hitmen laying low in Bruges after a hit gone wrong. The audience is treated to the stellar duo of Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell during their comedic exploration of the Belgian town. Colin Farrell’s performance as Ray, a hitman tormented by guilt, is phenomenally powerful. The film is a true example of how characters, through excellent dialogue and acting can shift the importance away from the plot. In Bruges offers a unique film, as if stage and screen fused to form an incredible crime drama. The film is a staple of Irish filmography, with stunning shots, remarkable acting, and a brilliant cast culminating to create a must-see film. Even though In Bruges was released in 2008, its presence on Netflix is a wonderful treat for those who have not yet had the chance to experience it.

John Wick 2

Criminal UK

★★★★

In Seven Psychopaths, we see Martin McDonagh create an excellent critique on the traditional Hollywood action movie. Seven Psychopaths, released in 2012, illustrates McDonagh’s ascension to a magnificent director, as well as writer. The darkly comedic piece brings together an absolutely incredible cast, including the likes of Christopher Walken, Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell to form a brilliant and intricate story. The basis of the movie forms around the character of Marty who attempts to put together a screenplay in order to reignite his writing career. With the help of a friend, Billy Bickle, and his dog kidnapping business, Marty might just be able to pull it off. The film suffers from inconsistent pacing which has become a point of contention for many reviewers as the film almost comes to a halt in the second act. However, the sheer scope of McDonagh’s ambition makes this stumble easily forgivable and makes Seven Psychopaths an easy recommendation for those interested in seeing a fantastic, dark comedy.

The John Wick trilogy is as entertaining as it gets for an action flick. Keanu Reeves stars as the model hitman, feared so much by the criminal underworld that he earns the title of ‘The Boogeyman’. John Wick 2 sees Reeves continue his killing spree in

Film

what can only be described as a ‘ballet of violence’. The film strives and succeeds to create the most action-packed fight scenes in cinema. What sets John Wick 2 apart from the other films within its genre is its propensity for innovation, creating some of the most entertaining action scenes since Reeves’ magnum opus The Matrix. Of course, focusing so heavily on making such iconic brawls means that other parts of the film suffer, such as the plot. However, this is not the backbone of John Wick 2. The film is meant to be enjoyed, not scrutinised over. Its main function is to entertain its audience and it constantly over-delivers on that front.

Why Hollywood at Large Should Take a Leaf out of Vince Gilligan’s Book

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Even with the passage of time, Breaking Bad remains a pinnacle of the Golden Age of Television, and not once has it betrayed the loyalty and fervour of the fans who ensured that it attained such a dominant position within popular culture.

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t its best, El Camino is a love letter to the loyal fans that Breaking Bad left behind, and in this vein, it provides the once-beloved deuteragonist, Jesse Pinkman, with his much yearned for redemption. Suffice it to say that the original series concluded ambiguously, and left space only for optimists to speculate on Pinkman’s ultimate fate. With his return to the most irrefutably influential television series of the past decade. However, Vince Gilligan (creator, writer, and director) has once again elected to set his sights on the Albuquerque desert; this time, with the aftermath of his previous endeavours in mind. Although it had been advertised as a standalone film, El Camino effectively acts an epilogue for Breaking Bad. An aggressive knee jerk reaction has developed towards the announcement of prequels and sequels in recent years (and rightly so, our cinematic realm is oversaturated with this particular brand of cash grab). This same sentiment followed El Camino until its release on October 11.

Brendan O’Brien Film & TV Writer

Seven Psychopaths

The Sincerity of El Camino Alex Mulhare - Film & TV Writer

07.11.2019

Series

When discussing Netflix crime dramas, Criminal UK is a diamond in the rough. Totalling only three episodes in length, this bite sized series is perfect for that evening in with a cup of tea, as long as you’re prepared for a fervent contest of wits. The show focuses on the intense battle that takes place in the interrogation room between criminal and detective. Criminal UK redefines the crime genre; granting the audience insight into a world previously only teased within the genre. Starring the likes of David Tennant and Hayley Atwell, the show presents brilliant character studies, emphasising an importance on flawless acting rather than big budget postproduction work. Criminal UK is an easy recommendation as it rarely puts a foot wrong. The only detracting feature is the final episode, which feels like a lacklustre capstone to an otherwise flawless series.

The film was received with widespread positivity, and was praised for its development of the established narrative, rather than a reliance upon it. El Camino made the daring decision to provide a finite conclusion to the original series, and it orchestrated this through a careful return to Jesse Pinkman’s psyche. I use the word ‘careful’ because Gilligan appears to be aware of the sentimental value that Pinkman possesses; he is handled delicately throughout the film’s runtime, and not a single aspect of his journey is included for shock value (a narrative tool which has also, unfortunately, been subjected to an overuse in recent years). Despite the fact that Breaking Bad aired its final episode just over six years ago, Gilligan remains faithful to the material that he established a decade prior to El Camino. His final depiction of this world and its characters contains a degree of sincerity that has become increasingly sparse in mainstream cinematic pursuits. Even with the passage of time, Breaking Bad remains a pinnacle of the Golden Age of Television, and not once has it betrayed the loyalty and fervour of the fans who ensured that it attained such a dominant position within popular culture. El Camino, while technically a spin-off, works most effectively when it is considered to be an epilogue, or a further, equally heartfelt conclusion to the main series.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Arts & Lifestyle

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

The Power of a Name – EPIC’s Historic New Exhibition

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EPIC is known for its high-tech interactive, touchscreen-driven exhibitions that make them accessible and engaging to all.

spread all over the world. Participation in the exhibition is very user-friendly - those of Irish ancestry can submit their family names and stories through EPIC’s website simply by filling up an online form. The exhibition also gives such individuals a chance to connect with others with a shared heritage. Today, the Irish diaspora spans over 3 continents, with significant populations residing in the USA and Canada, in Britain, and in Australia and New Zealand. In fact, EPIC also has Genealogists who can help you

The Rise of Aisling Bea Gemma Farrell Arts & Lifestyle Writer

hen we think of the plethora of successful Irish comedians, several names come to mind: Dara O’Briain, Ed Byrne, Tommy Tiernan... In fact, when you search ‘Irish Comedi-ans’ on Google, they are the first ones that pop up. However, one who has soared up the rankings in recent years is Kildare-native Aisling O’Sullivan - better known by her stage name, Aisling Bea. Her twitter bio reads “Actor. Stand-up. Writer. People have woken up to worse.” Bea’s honest comedic style aside, everyone does need to wake up to this rising star. Following stints in Trinity College Dublin and LAMDA, Bea was nominated for ‘Best New-comer’ at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2013 for her show C’est La Bea. The following year, she won ‘Best Female TV Comic’ at the British Comedy Awards. In the last five years, Bea has become arguably one of the most successful female comedians to come from Irish soil. In an era

to uncover their Irish ancestry. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is open 10am-5pm every day and tickets can be pur-chased online or in person. In my humble writer’s opinion, I am immensely awed at the purpose of EPIC and its exhi-bition. There are very few countries

in the world that celebrate their emigrants’ journey, and Ireland has established itself as a cut above the rest by doing so.

of growing female representation in comedy, Bea has been a trailblaz-er. Following several appearances on shows such as QI, Taskmaster, The Last Leg and A League of their Own, she became the first ever female team captain on Channel 4’s Eight out of Ten Cats in 2016. This year, her sitcom This Way Up

established, unrealistic expectations set for women on many TV shows in the past. In This Way Up, Bea reminds us that not every journey in life is easy and that sometimes the smallest things, like simply making it through the day, can be the most important. There is a certain strength and defiance in the raw vulnerability presented by Bea in the show, which is something that television’s generic portrayals of women in television have lacked. With its perfect mix of raw emotion, touching moments and a hilariously awful rendition of The Cranberries’ Zombie, This Way Up captures the zeitgeist of this inspiring yet tumultuous time in women’s history. In recent weeks, Bea’s career took another leap forward with the release of her new Netflix series Living with Yourself, in which she stars alongside the legendary Paul Rudd. Bea attended its premiere in Hollywood Hills in a shamrock green suit, made by upcoming sustainable clothing designer Georgia Hardinge, something which Bea has been a long-term advocate for. From honest female representation to sustainable fashion, all done with a wry smile and endearing amusement – Aisling Bea has become the ultimate ‘woman of today’ and someone we all should strive to be a little bit more like.

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Aisling Bea has become the ultimate ‘woman of today’ and someone we all should strive to be a little bit more like.

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very time 17th March rolls around, the entire world celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. The fa-mous slogan “Everyone’s Irish on Paddy’s Day” rings through the masses on distant shores. However, what made St. Patrick’s Day a global phenomenon? The worldwide fame of the Irish holiday is largely attributed to the Irish diaspora, descendants of Irish immigrants who had settled in far-away lands generations ago. They proudly brought their heritage, culture, and most importantly, their name with them wherever they went. In the heart of Dublin, by the historic Dublin Docklands which was the startpoint from which many Irish people began their emigration journeys, EPIC The Irish Emigration Mu-seum serves to celebrate these emigrants. It honours every individual who left Irish shores to embark on a new chapter of his or her life in a foreign land, their journey, their story and the legacy they carried forward to their children. EPIC was founded in May 2016 and has been voted as Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2019. In just a little over three years, EPIC has brought in thousands of visitors and has clinched a spot in the top 5 attractions in Dublin on TripAdvisor. Irish Diaspora media name it “one of Ireland’s Na-tional Treasures” due to its profoundly meaningful purpose. EPIC is known for its high-tech interactive, touchscreen-driven exhibitions that make them accessible and engaging to all. Their latest exhibition, opened on October 1st in EP-IC’s Connection Gallery this year, is called “The Power of a Name”

and has a dynamic vi-sion. This exhibition commemorates that which is the crux of an individual’s identity and heritage – the name. This exhibition invites people of Irish descent all over the world to submit their family names and the stories of their forefathers (including the county they were originally from, the year they left Ireland and the countries they went on to live in), which will be dis-played in an interactive screen. This will allow us to visualise the impact of the Irish and the legacy that they

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Mallika Venkatramani Arts & Lifestyle Editor

premiered on Channel 4. Written by and starring Bea, alongside fellow Irish comedian Sharon Horgan, her debut could hardly have been better, receiving a 91% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and fivestar ratings across the board. The show, described as “a perfect tonic for our times” by The Guardian, has earned Bea her status alongside esteemed female writers such as Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Bea plays the role of Áine in the show, an English teacher who is recovering from a “tee-ny” nervous breakdown. Her creation fights the

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Arts & Lifestyle

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

IWC Launches Environmental Publication Mallika Venkatramani Arts & Lifestyle Editor

alling all environment and writing enthusiasts! The Irish Writers Centre has launched a brand-new magazine called Channel which will be dedicated to pieces of work related to nature and the environment. A formal event was hosted on 22 October 2019, the day of the magazine’s launch, at the Irish Writers

Centre and featured readings from some of its first issue’s contributors. Following the footsteps of the US-based Orion and UK-based Elementum, Channel is a platform for both established and emerging writers and poets to amplify their voices and

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Channel is a platform for both established and emerging writers and poets to amplify their voices and opinions on important matters pertaining to the environment.

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opinions on important matters pertaining to the environment. Particularly, it publishes submissions that celebrate the intricate fabric that connects nature and humanity.

Given the current global climate situation, the magazine is a highly relevant initiative and is yet another avenue of activism and advocacy. The magazine was founded by writer Cassia Gaden Gilmartin and poet Elizabeth Mur-tough and is the only operating Irish journal based on this theme. Its first issue has al-ready been well-received, with pieces from established writers based in Ireland and abroad like David Butler and Jan Carson. Rachel Doolin, a Cork-based artist, whose instal-lation forms the cover page of Issue 1, states that ‘Channel is a beautiful and thought provoking project that brings together a community of inspirational artists, writers and thinkers at a time when it is ever more important to communicate reverence for our nat-ural world.’ Channel has already received over 500 submissions for Issue 1. If you are keen on writing for this impactful publication – submissions for Issue 2 opened on November 1st.

The Well ★★★★★

St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin

€€€ Alex Lohier - Deputy Editor The Well is more than a well-situated watering hole; hidden inside is one of Dublin’s best pizzas. Given its location just off Grafton Street and facing Stephen’s Green, you may be forgiven if you thought it was a tourist trap. This, however, is far from the truth. The Well is a laid-back, open floor bar and restaurant serving Dublin Pizza Company (DPC), uh, pizzas. It is reminiscent of European foodmarkets, with shared tables and a loud, bustling atmosphere. The

Blindboy Brings Laughter, Tears, and Brilliance to UCD with ‘The Blindboy Podcast’

lindboy Boatclub, one half of the iconic Rubberbandits, started his podcast in 2017. Since then, the Limerick-native has garnered an almost cult-like following. He’s amongst the most listened podcasters in the world, and his views on politics, culture, music, and life are massively respected. Blindboy took his live podcast tour to the Astra hall in UCD, courtesy of UCD Students’ Union, bringing along the two moderators of Facebook meme page ‘Irish Simpsons Fans’ to speak about the logistics of running a meme pagew, politics, and the frightening reality of working in big tech. Blindboy began in typical style, strutting out with a can of Heineken light in one hand, claiming he had to switch to the light beer in

Photo Credit: UCD Students’ Union

order to stop going on drunken rants during the podcast, and a vape in the other hand. After a warm welcome, Blindboy began by reading us a story from his new book that will be hitting shelves very soon. The story was a mix of comedy and poignancy. I don’t want to give too much away, but he spoke of how there is a generation of men now in their 50’s, who were hit by the recession 10 years ago, who suffer massively with depression due to a lack of purpose in life. He spoke of how they channelled their suffering into craft beers and cheeses. The concept is hilarious, but the reality was damning. That’s what you get when you listen to Blindboy – you can be falling around laughing and wiping away tears upon hearing the same sentence. Blindboy then brought out the two moderators for the ‘Irish Simpsons Fans’ meme Facebook page, Jack Leahy and Sarah Gilleece. They began by speaking about the

logistics of working a meme page. They told us of the rules of posting within the group, what kind of posts would get you banned, and how they veto every post that comes through. One topic they touched on was the concept of ‘Southern privilege’ within meme posts. Blindboy had a lot to say on this,

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That’s what you get when you listen to Blindboy – you can be falling around laughing and wiping away tears upon hearing the same sentence.

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Luke Murphy Arts & Lifestyle Writer

explaining how making fun of ‘The RA’ in the Republic of Ireland is impossible to do from a Northern Irish or British perspective. The pair then went on to speak about the political party formed by the meme page. They told us they were always being told to make use of the platform with over 100,000 members. Jack went on to explain how the ISF political party is most definitely real, but it is going to take time to fully get up and running. After the interval, Blindboy then went on to talk of the frightening reality of being a content moderator for Facebook. He told the audience of the high rates of suicide, mental illness, and drug abuse within the company. Throughout the podcast, Blindboy shone a harsh light on mental illness in different social groups in Ireland. He was able to put across a show that was both hilarious, but a

waiters are all very friendly and laid back, but still rapid. The selection of beers and cocktails is excellent, albeit expensive, but what can you expect given its location. The star of the show, naturally, is the pizza. I got the ‘Bianca’ (€14.50), which has mushrooms and a white base instead of the ‘traditional’ tomato one. My friend got the ‘Lucifero’(€16.00), a spicy choice with nduja and blue cheese. Mine was great, with the dough being excellent and the mushrooms flavourful. My friend wolfed his down, so I assume it, too, was a good choice. To address the elephant in the room, no, it’s not quite as good as Pi Pizzas, at least not from my experience. The pizzas are slightly more soggy than in Pi, and they are less generous with the toppings. That said, I still rate The Well / DPC as the second best pizza in Dublin, which is no small feat. Perhaps if I visited at a quieter period (it was a full house on a Saturday when I went) the quality would match Pi. I guess going back for another taste is the only way to find out, which I’m not overly upset about.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

The College Tribune

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07.11.2019

Sport Life Post-Schmidt

fter Ireland’s extremely disappointing defeat at the hands of the All Blacks, it is now time to move on and look forward to a new era of Irish rugby. The manner of Schmidt’s departure was saddening and not the fairy-tale ending many had dreamt of, however that’s the nature of sport. It’s now Andy Farrell’s time to take up his first head coach role, with Ireland’s opening game of the Six Nations against Scotland in less than fourteen weeks from now. Farrell doesn’t have an easy task ahead of him, in what will be somewhat unfamiliar grounds. His coaching CV is quite impressive, having worked alongside not only Joe Schmidt, but also the likes of Warren Gat-

land, Stuart Lancaster and even Eddie Jones at Saracens. However, his lack of experience in a head coach role will undoubtedly bring both excitement and difficulties for the Englishman. The first item on his agenda will likely be who he’ll choose to captain the side. Current vice-captains Johnny Sexton and Peter O’Mahony are likely candidates, however there is no doubt James Ryan is in with a shout. Although just twenty-three years old, the Leinster lock has plenty of experience in leadership roles, having captained in school rugby and having led the Irish U20 team to a runners up medal in the Junior World Cup in 2016 and a famous victory against New Zealand during the pool stage. It is unlikely that Sexton will feature in the 2023 World Cup and O’Mahony isn’t a definite either given he will be

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The manner of Schmidt’s departure was saddening and not the fairytale ending many had dreamt of, however that’s the nature of sport. It’s now Andy Farrell’s time to take up his first head coach role...

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Jack McSharry Sport Writer

thirty-four by the time the competition comes around. Ryan was arguably Ireland’s best performer in what has been a difficult year, and it wouldn’t be ridiculous for Farrell to throw him into the deep end immediately. One must recall Brian O’Driscoll was just twenty-four when he took over the captaincy from Keith Wood, and he proved to be one of Ireland’s most

successful captains. Many would argue that it wouldn’t be correct protocol to place such a burden on Ryan at such a young age, however we must remember that this man made his international debut before he even made his Leinster senior debut; he can handle the pressure. Farrell may take the conservative route in his decision however, maybe giving one

of Sexton or O’Mahony the captaincy for the beginning of this world cup cycle, with the intention of eventually letting Ryan take over. Maybe Ryan could get some experience captaining Leinster first, before he takes reign at Ireland. Farrell must also look at what Ireland need to change for the 2020 tournament. One criticism of Joe Schmidt’s game-plan was its eventual predictability. Farrell will of course be focussing on Ireland’s defence, with former England international, Mike Catt, joining his backroom team to focus on Ireland’s attack. Schmidt was renowned for developing Ireland’s attack to a whole new level with his major attention to detail, but unfortunately for his last year in charge, heavy line speed from opposing teams diminished the threat. All coaches have the

next world cup on the back of their minds, and this will no doubt be the case for the Irish coaching staff. I would expect the likes of Jordan Larmour and Andrew Conway to break their way into the starting 15 over the next few years and unfortunately Keith Earls and Rob Kearney might have to make way. It is likely that Farrell will approach his first Six Nations solely with the intention to be crowned champions. Four years is a long time and so there will be a chance in the future to develop his squad for the next world cup. If Ireland carry on performing like they did during 2019, the pressure will of course come piling on Farrell. Ireland have the ability to be the best team in the world on their day, but the great teams have something they unfortunately have failed to show too often; consistency.

Volume 33 - Issue 04

Sport

The College Tribune

07.11.2019

Same Team, New Problems What’s Going on at Tottenham Hotspur?

The Run Down Matthew Dillon UCD AFC under 15’s defeated Wexford FC on their way to claiming the under 15s shield on Saturday. UCD AFC senior side finished off their Airtricity premier division campaign with a 4-2 win over Waterford on October 25th. Despite finishing the season on such a high UCD still finished in last place in the premier division; with new talent emerging they will have their eyes firmly set on being promoted back to Ireland’s premier division at the beginning of next season. In rugby news UCD First XV finished level with Young Munster at the Bowl in AIL Division 1A. This leaves “collidge” sitting in 4th place with their season only in its infantile stages. In Under 20s rugby the bank holiday weekend brought Conroy Cup victory for UCD. Exciting times lie ahead. Is there anything sports news we missed on campus? Let us know! E-mail: sport@ collegetribune.ie

ham’s own Eric Dier? One major factor that seems to be contributing to this is burnout and an unwillingness to refresh the squad. The likes of Danny Rose, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Hugo Lloris are all in their 30s, and have been playing for Pochettino’s side for at least 4 years at the time of writing. Furthermore, the likes of Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen have been at the club since before Pochettino, having signed after Gareth Bale’s record-breaking move to Real Madrid in the

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The squad has become increasingly stale, and the need for an exodus has become more apparent than ever.

summer of 2013. Reports suggest that the more senior members of Pochettino’s side believe they have nothing left to offer the manager, or the club for that matter. This does in fact make sense, as Mauricio Pochettino’s philosophy has been widely regarded for its emphasis on a player’s ability to keep an incredibly high tempo for a full 90 minutes, a task that the likes of Rose, Vertonghen and Alderweireld are becoming increasingly less capable of carrying out. Despite signing four players over the summer,

Big Year Beckons for UCD Tennis Neil Stokes Sport Writer

oming off the back of such a successful year, expectations are high for UCD tennis this year. Last time out, the club achieved intervarsity glory for the ladies’ team, who, along with the men’s seconds, were also successful in their quest for victory in the Dublin Winter League. The early signs for this year are good, with a strong new membership contingent on board and some promising results to boot. There is also a strong international flavour to the membership this year, with countries as far flung as Canada, India and China being represented on what are surely the finest courts in South Dublin. At the forefront of minds this autumn is the Dublin Floodlight League in which a lady’s and three men’s teams are competing. Winning starts for three of those teams augurs well for the season ahead which is packed full of activity. Before the conclusion of the Floodlight League around Halloween, the team will travel to Belfast to face off against Queen’s University. Next up is the annual autumnal tussle with old rivals Trinity College – something

UCD will be highly motivated to win having narrowly lost last year’s joust. Buoyed by the addition of new coach Ciarán Fitzgerald, who plied his trade with University of San Diego, attention will then turn to the intervarsity’s in Cork after Christmas where some of the finest young tennis talent in Ireland will be on display. Chief among them will be UCD’s premier addition this year, Jacob Nicolussi. The Italian has previously competed on

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The early signs for this year are good, with a strong new membership contingent on board and some promising results to boot.

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ince the start of the new Premier League campaign, one team has appeared to be struggling significantly more than its counterparts; Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs entered the new season coming off a Champions League final, and a summer transfer window that saw them spend for the first time after a 2-window drought, breaking their transfer re-

cord twice in the process. With the signings of younger prospects Ryan Sessegnon and Jack Clarke, coupled with the addition of more established players in Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso, all eyes were on Spurs to break away from the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, and cement themselves as a member of what was expected to become a new Top 3. So why, after 8 match-weeks, do we find Spurs in 9th place, already 13 points off the top of the table, and in a supposed ‘crisis’ as dubbed by Totten-

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Nicolas Murphy Sport Writer

the ITF Tour and was recently the recipient of a hardearned UCD sports scholarship. In addition to its regular coaching on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the club hopes to build on its social tennis initiative of last year which allowed beginners to learn a new sport whilst having fun in the process. Men’s Captain Eoin Donohoe is one of many who

Spurs remain largely the same team they were in 2016, having neglected the need to sell. Thus, the squad has become increasingly stale, and the need for an exodus has become more apparent than ever. Sources close to the club report that Pochettino and Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy have begun exploring the possibility of massively refreshing the squad in the January transfer window, breathing new life into transfer rumours concerning Nice’s Youcef Atal and Juventus’ Paulo Dybala.

have high hopes for the year ahead. “We want to continue on from last year’s success. With a men’s and women’s Winter League win and the women taking home their fourth varsities in a row, we want to emulate this and push on from there. We have a lot of great prospects with a trip to Queen’s coming up soon and National College Championships at the end of the month. We would like to say a big thank you to captains Sam Totterdell and Aoife Tonna-Barthet for their hard work last year. We’ve had a very positive start to the year with our biggest intake of members, ranging from complete beginners to top-level tennis players.” Having made huge progress, and achieved so much, under last year’s coach Fionn Donnelly, Donohoe hopes the new man in charge can build on his predecessor’s winning formula: “Trainings have been competitive and enjoyable with our new coach Ciaran Fitzgerald. He has really taken to the job well and is looking forward to working closely with all our members in UCD this year.” In a bold- and maybe somewhat ambitious statement- Donohoe also affirms his main goal for the year which is to “do the triple: men’s and women’s cups and the men’s bowl.” And with a bit of luck and a kind draw, anything is possible for this current crop of talented players. A big year beckons. It should be ace!