October 26th 2010
| The difference is we’re independent
Vol. 24. No 4
The College Tribune Politics ››
The Siren ››
How will Mid-Term Elections affect the Presidency of Obama?
The Siren analyses Digitalism
page 8
pages 6-7
UCD Students’ Union Budget Released Where YOUR MON€Y Goes USI Affiliation Costs over €100,000 Sabbatical Officers paid €400 a week Donie O’ Sullivan The UCD Students’ Union released their operational budget for this academic year last Tuesday, at the second meeting of the SU Council. Total income, excluding UCD Ents ticket sales and different forms of sponsorship, for the Union is estimated at €760,000. A substantial amount of this figure is spent on staff payments and on membership of the national organisation representing students’ unions, the Union of Students in Ireland. The sabbatical team of Paul Lynam, Pat de Brún, Jonny Cosgrove, James Williamson and Scott Ahearn cost the Students’ Union €116,000 for their twelve month service. The annual salary of each sabbatical officer is €22,200 – or €400 a week, with projected maximum expenses of €1,000 per officer.
Paul Lynam, President of the UCD Students’ Union, said: “We project expenses of €1,000 per officer, however that is an absolute maximum expense; sabbatical officers, particularly in this administration, will not go anywhere near that.” He also pointed out that “our benefits [in] kind make us the second lowest paid sabbatical team in the country.” A further €115,000 is spent on professional staff employed by the UCDSU. “We mean business this year, we have hired staff with great experience from political and various other backgrounds,” said Lynam, promising the team will deliver “proper support that the student body of this university deserve and need.” The head office of the UCDSU is also expected to spend €16,000 on telephone and postage costs, and €10,000 on “stationery and
office supplies.” Several members of the SU Council questioned why the cost of affiliation with the Union of Students in Ireland was so high – at €108,000 it is the equivalent to €5 per fulltime student and €2.50 per part-time student in UCD. Lynam defended the cost saying that “we do need national representation” and reminded Council that the student body had voted to remain affiliated with USI in 2002.The UCDSU will spend a further €20,000 this year in the promotion and participation in the USI National March, which takes place on Wednesday, November 3rd. The class rep training weekend, totalling €10,500, cost 50% less than last year. The sabbatical team expressed their delight at Continued on page 2 »
UCD May Have to Pay Back €1.6m in Unsanctioned Payments Senior Staff in UCD paid over €1.6m in unsanctioned payments over ten years. €266,000 paid in unsanctioned performance bonuses. Amy Walsh UCD is in talks with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) concerning unsanctioned payments to senior staff amounting to €1.6m. These talks commence as a report was published by John Buckley, the Comptroller and Auditor General. The report looks at a number of issues facing
the seven Irish universities, including remuneration in the university sector. UCD paid up to €1.6 million in unauthorised allowances to staff over a ten year period, according to the report. A further €266,000 was paid in performance bonuses between 2005 and 2008, shared amongst
twelve people. In light of the findings, UCD and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) are currently in talks regarding the repayment of up to €1.6m in unauthorised allowances. Under the Universities Act 1997, universities do not have the power to remunerate staff.
Remuneration of staff is subject to approval by the Minister for Education and Skills, with the consent of the Minister for Finance. In exceptional circumstances, the universities may adopt a special framework in order to attract particularly qualified or expert staff. These provisions do not apply to senior officer posts (those above professor level). The remuneration of such posts is Continued on page 2 »
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2
|
News
No Clue About the Capital? Conor McKenna
Continued from front page Donie O’ Sullivan how well the weekend went, and dismissed the common belief among many students that the weekend is full of drinking, bad behaviour and is a waste of money. Odhran Lawlor, the General Manager of the Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa and Country Club, where classrep training was held, agreed with the sabbatical team, and went on to say that he would “like to congratulate UCD, the organising committee and the conference delegates for how they conducted themselves. Both guests and staff commented on how well
Continued from front cover » set by the review body. According to the report, UCD’s President, Hugh Brady received a remuneration package that exceeded the figures recommended by the review body, once benefit–in–kind was taken into consideration. The benefit–in–kind payments included life assurance, income protection premium and private health insurance. On–campus residency accounted for a substantial 80% of the benefit– in–kind payments for the year 2005 – 2007. “In response to my enquiries in regard to the President’s remuneration, the University stated that Revenue approved allowances had been paid to the President representing the grossed-up value of nonvouched expenses and which, according to UCD, pertained elsewhere in the public sector at the time,” noted the C&AG. The Registrar and Bursar both received remunerations packages that exceeded sanctioned rates between 2001 and 2007. In 2007, the Registrar’s remuneration package exceeded the sanctioned rate by €21,300. Furthermore the Bursar
the weekend went and how professional the students were over the weekend.” As per UCDSU constitutional obligations, the Student’s Union provides funding for both Belfield FM and The University Observer. Belfield FM receives €7,500, whilst The University Observer receives €50,000 in funding from the SU. Many members of the SU Council questioned why the Observer, who has three paid staff, received such a high amount of funding, when they also have the ability to generate income through advertising – in comparison with the Welfare Fund which is
received an excess of €47,100 when compared to sanctioned rates. In relation to the function of the Registrar and Bursar, UCD claims both have incurred additional allowances as a result of extra duties. Such payments were withdrawn in 2009. In the report UCD maintains that the details of allowances were sent to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) between 1997 and 2007, adding that no point was raised in relation to UCD’s capacity to contract with employees. The university maintained that they “could not reasonably be held to be acting ultra vires and that the arrangements entered into were contractually binding and any attempt to disturb them could be successfully challenged,” says the report. “Once it became an issue, UCD made a series of reasonable proposals to address the situation, including the undertaking, in 2007 to pay no new allowances without approval and culminating in the withdrawal of existing allowances in 2009,” says the report. Furthermore, between 2005
“
Belfield FM receives €7,500, whilst The University Observer receives €50,000 in funding from the Students’ Union.
and 2008, almost €266,000 was paid in performance bonuses to twelve senior staff at UCD. “The Accounting Officer noted that there is no provision for the payment of a performance bonus to staff in the university sector. UCD neither sought nor received sanction to apply a scheme of additional performance related payments,” stated the report. The department clarified that the Universities Act takes precedence over contracts entered into by the University, and thus any payments made were in breach of the Act. “[B] oth the initial making of the payments and their continuation
allocated €35,000. Bridget Fitzsimons, editor of The University Observer, defended the €50,000 that the paper receives from the SU, telling The College Tribune: “It is important to be absolutely unequivocal in stating that The University Observer is relentless in seeking to cover its costs through seeking as much advertising as is practicable.” Fitzsimons also pointed out that the SU budget is only a projection, adding “We do not anticipate The University Observer’s overall costs as being anywhere close to the €50,000 provided for in the budget.” €60,000 has been allocated to UCD Ents, which is augmented by ticket sales and sponsorship,
while a further €10,000 was spent developing the new Ents website. Other notable costs include €7,500 that is spent on the free exam bus service for students from the campus to the RDS, and also the contribution to the UCD Community Musical which has been halved this year to €2,500. Various elections and referendums, which the SU hold throughout the year, are expected to cost a total of €37,500. This brings total expenditure to €772,500, with a projected shortfall of €12,500. This will be covered by a contribution from the SU’s commercial activities, the SU Shops.
was contrary to the Universities Act, 1997, and as a consequence ultra vires and a breach of public sector pay procedures and norms,” says the report. “The University and the HEA are currently in discussion on the issues arising from the C&AG report,” stated a spokesperson for UCD. Universities including UCC,
NUIG and University of Limerick were also mentioned in the report. According to the report, UCC paid more than €150,000 in unsanctioned senior management allowances. NUIG paid extra allowances totalling €396,982 to its president, registrar, deputy president and the bursar, between 2000 and 2007.
Staff Costs of UCD for the Academic Year 2007/08 Category of Staff Total Academic Staff Total Other Staff Research Pay Pension Supplementation
€m 117.4 117.2 47.1 11.3
Total
293.0
Presidential Remuneration compared to Review Body Recommendations, 2004-’07 Date
Remueration Benefit-inreceived kind received
Total Review Body Percentage Remuneration Recommendation Difference
30/6/04 30/6/05 30/6/06 30/6/07
183,565 191,293 216,076 214,650
207,857 245,811 272,832 273,350
24,292 54,518 56,756 58,700
182,860 193,101 215,966 226,895
+14% +27% +26% +21%
Note: A benefit-in-kind consisted of life assurance, income protection premium, private health insurance and on-campus residence.The on-campus residence element represented 80% of the benefit-in-kind payments for the years 2005 to 2007.
The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) will hold the Discover Dublin Treasure Hunt on Friday, October 29th, with an aim to encourage students from both local and international parts, to familiarise themselves with the capital. The winning team will be awarded the Sumsare Cup, along with winning medals and half price tickets to the next ESN event in Belfast which will take place in November. The hunt will begin in the student bar at around midday before moving toward the city centre, where it will conclude at a secret location. It will involve visits to various historic sites, statues and tourist spots around Dublin. Around 200 students are expected to take part in the Treasure Hunt. Teams will consist of ten people and each team will have a fancy-dress themed team name: witches, skeletons and superheroes will be found amongst the costume-clad participants. Teams will be given to-do lists, a map of Dublin and a set of clues. Participants will be required to take part in activities such as downing a pint of Guinness, trying on an Ireland jersey and meeting a member of An Garda Síochána. Photographic evidence of such tasks will be necessary in order for teams to be in with a chance of winning the competition. Clues and markers will be placed at intervals around the city to help guide the teams. Special drinks offers are being organised at various pubs around Dublin to encourage contestants to take part despite the economic downturn. The key will be to drink the right beverage in the right bar to save precious pennies for the next pub. “It’s a matter of getting all the students together, running around Dublin like headless chickens, making tonnes of new friends and mixing the nationalities as well,” said Micheál Orlandi, an organiser with ESN.
www.thecollegetribune.net
October 26th 2010
The College Tribune
| 3
School of Economics Abandons Negative Marking in MCQ Exams Follows protest from students who describes negative marking in MCQs as “unfair”. Calls on other schools in UCD to abandon the procedure. Emma Smyth The School of Economics has expected or deserved, while decided to discontinue the use others may have worked hard, of negative marking in multiple only to achieve a mark that do choice question exams (MCQs) not reflect the effort they put as of this semester. The decision in. “Also, how is the examiner was made last April, after a to know who is guessing, and student brought the apparent who knows what they’re talking injustice of the negative marking about? There is no way.” procedure to the attention of Negative marking in MCQs is used in universities worldwide. the School. The School of Economics’ This method of examination decision comes after the awards points for the questions valiant efforts of Brian Woods, answered correctly, no points a third year mature student of for those unanswered and, most Economics and Politics. Mr importantly, points deducted for Woods first brought the issue to all wrong answers. Guessing can 09:40:10 obviously the attention of the University Halloween 259mm x 170mm Final CO.pdf 22/10/2010 be penalized or awarded, two years ago. According to Mr Woods, depending on each person’s negative marking in MCQs is decision making. On top of profoundly unfair. Some people this, qualities such as risk taking will guess and do better than vary from person to person. A
report on negative marking by Imperial College London has shown that female students are “less prone to taking assessment risks than male.” Either way, the fear of losing marks by ticking the wrong box will put students off answering some of the questions at all. Professor David Madden, Head of the School of Economics told The College Tribune that negative marking had had a negative effect within the school saying that “it made students very risk averse, so that in a situation where someone was, say 80% certain of the right answer, they might still be afraid to put down that answer for fear of being wrong and losing a portion of a mark.”
Prof Madden “graciously accepted [Woods’] submission on negative marking and decided to abandon negative marking in [economics] exams,” following a staff-student meeting where the issue was raised. Mr Woods, who spent a lot of time researching the issue of negative marking, found that there was very little literature on the controversial procedure. The scarcity of information means that there is no practical evidence on trends in results. Prof Madden says “it will almost certainly lead to an improvement in results” in the School of Economics. “Hopefully we will also see improvements for those students who previously were
nervous about putting down an answer even though they were fairly confident they were correct. And if marks for these students improve, this is to be welcomed.”
Woods is now calling on other schools in UCD to abandon the negative marking process – a system which he describes as an “outright theft of marks.”
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News
Top Students Fail to Receive Places at Universities
a higher preference on their CAO. However, because the students are already six weeks into the semester, it is often better for them to defer
80 students offered a place at UCD
The University gives students the
A large number of students who sat their Leaving Certificate this summer are expected to receive new college offers this week. This has been the result of students appealing their results successfully in this year’s Leaving Cert, having missed out on their preferred choice of course, due to the fact that their exam papers were wrongly marked. State
Examination
Commission received 5,959 appeals by students after the results came out.
Certificate points may be offered
Incorrect marking in this year’s Leaving Cert Exams leads to many students denied places
Olivia Reidy
The
and receive additional Leaving
Approximately one in ten
students issued an appeal upon receiving their grades. The appeals resulted in 2,110 upgrades and only eight downgrades. These figures are similar to previous years.
the place until the following year.
The most popular exam to be
offer as soon as possible. Students
option of deferral with a guarantee
appealed by students was Higher
that receive a new offer will be
of the place in their preferred
Level English, with 1,603 appeals
faced with the decision whether
degree in the following year.”
from a total of 33,007 students that
to take it or not, as they will be
“UCD made 80 offers to students
took English at a Higher Level.
disadvantaged due to the fact that
based on the upgrading of points
This appeal process led to 201
many courses started several weeks
from
students receiving greater marks
ago. Some universities and institutes
process. About one third of these
than their previous toal. Students
of technology have decided to only
students have taken up the offer this
that appealed Higher Level Irish
offer places on a deferral basis,
year. The remainder students have
also had a relatively large positive
and they will contact the student
the option to take the offer next
outcome with 216 upgrades out of
involved directly.
year.” The students in question will
is desperately making attempts to
Dublin
927 appeals.
UCD
not have to pay the fees associated
accommodate the five additional
offers in both Dental Science and
The majority of students who
progress in dealing with the issue.
with course changes.
students into Medicine this year.
Medcicine for this year. However,
received upgrades in one or more
A UCD spokesperson told The
The outcome has severely impacted
However, it has become apparent
despite these efforts, only seven of
subjects now have higher CAO
College Tribune: “Unfortunately,
some
level
that the college cannot cater for
the nine newly eligible students can
points to receive a better college
the outcome of the Department
education institutions, such as the
the other new students, with seven
be accommodated in Pharmacy.
offer, which they should have
of
received in mid-August. Currently
is
the CAO are processing 339 new offers to students, and it is expected that they will receive their new
has
made
significant
the
other
Department’s
Irish
third
appeal
is
making
additional
Royal College of Surgeons, where
eligible in Pharmacy and six in
University College Cork has made
the
a total of eighteen students have
Physiotherapy.
the most progress, where there are
commencement of the university
become eligible for the college’s
Universities
semester.
Medicine,
and
managing the best that they can
The college
with this situation. Trinity College
Education only
appeals
completed
process
after
Consequently, students
who are successful in their appeal
Physiotherapy
Pharmacy courses.
across
Ireland
are
only three students on the deferred list to study Medicine next year.
www.thecollegetribune.net
Pat de Brún
Scott Ahearn
Paul Lynam
Jonny Cosgrove
James Williamson
Campaigns & Communications
Welfare
President
Ents
Education
E: president@ucdsu.ie P: 01 7163110
www.ucdents.com E: jonny@ucdents.com P: (01)-716 3113
E: campaigns@ucdsu.ie P: 01 7163122
E: welfare@ucdsu.ie P: 01 7163112
E: education@ucdsu.ie P: (01)-716 3111
ST
NA
P L R A O N T O I E RD T 3
NOVEMBER
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............................
“EDUCATION
NOT
EMIGRATION” JOIN STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND TAKE TO THE STREETS TO FIGHT: 1. A REG FEE OF UP TO €3,000 2....... FURTHER CUTS TO THE ......................................................... . . . . . .GRANT .................. 3. 60,000 EMIGRATING EACH YEAR
Get your protest t-shirts from Arts block and Student Centre YOUR FUTURE FUTURE IS IS IN INYOUR YOUR HANDS HANDS YOUR
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News
UK Consider Removing Cap on Tuition Fees Matthew Costello Cap on fees of £3,290 may be removed. Similarities to Irish situation with speculation that fees will increase.
New Role of Sports Officer Created
The cost of being a student in
has been endorsed by the coalition
shakeup of the student loan system.
the changes while 37% supported
Resistance, an anti-cuts protest
the UK is set to rocket as the
government.
Mr Cable, whose
Students will not be required to
it. A commonly expressed view is
group fronted by widely respected
government considers removing the
department is responsible for higher
repay their loan until they are
that with the rest of the country
former Labour Party chairman
cap on tuition fees. The business
level
the
earning over £21,000 a year, up
having to shoulder heavier financial
Tony Benn, has joined the NUS
secretary, Vince
(below),
review as containing “persuasive
from £15,000, with the debt
burdens and tough cuts – nearly
in condemning the proposals, and
announced the plans in an email to
proposals” and that his previous
being held by the Student Loans
500,000 public sector jobs are
in conjunction with the ULU
The UCD Student's Union created
Liberal Democrat party members
pledge to scrap fees altogether was
Company at 0% real interest until
expected to be cut – students should
(University
Union,
a new position of Sports Officer last
“in the current economic climate…
that threshold is reached.
not be exempt. However, critics
representing its students), staged a
week. Brendan Lacey was elected
no longer feasible”.
The review has been welcomed by
have questioned the inconsistency
protest march on October 20th.
by members of the SU Council to
of
in
Lord Browne has defended his
be the Union's first Sports Officer. Mr. Lacey will be responsible for
Cable
education,
described
Commenting on the Browne report,
many universities in the 20-strong
safeguarding
investment
of
London
Donie O’ Sullivan
Aaron Porter, President of the NUS,
Russell Group, which is comprised
primary
level
proposals by citing the number
stated: “This is a devastating blow
of the leading ranked institutions
education
simultaneously
of part-time students under the
organising and promoting sports
to higher and further education
in the UK, including Oxford and
making it harder for those students
current system – which offers no
activities on campus.
that puts the future of colleges
Cambridge. There is a widespread
to obtain degrees if they come from
support – as evidence that people
Speaking about his new position,
and universities at risk and will
belief that universities can offset
poorer backgrounds.
will “still want to get a degree”.
Mr. Lacey, the 21 year old B&L
have repercussions for the future
cuts to teaching subsidies with
“Graduates
leaving
Opponents will argue that there is
student said “it's a position I've
prospects of students and learners.
tuition fees, possibly even increasing
university with debts of up to
a marked difference between part-
always wanted to see in the Union,
£40,000 just as they are about
time degrees and full-time ones, and
I'm delighted it's finally come to fruition and humbled to be the first
This is a spending review that looks
their competitiveness with better
and
secondary
whilst
could
be
an entire generation in the eye and
funded competition (mainly in the
to enter their working life,” said
suggest that if students from poorer
says ‘you’re on your own’.”
U.S.) Wendy Piatt, director-general
a protester at the University of
backgrounds are forced into part-
ever occupant of the role.”
time education, the quality of their
He continued, “As the role is
shortly before the long anticipated
While
be
of the group, said: “Our leading
Manchester.
Browne
Higher
nominally free to set their own
institutions will not be able to
not put off students from poorer
studies will suffer.
brand new, working with the full
Education, despite the fact that the
tuition fees, the report recommends
compete with generously funded
backgrounds? The government is
Education reform was a major part
time officers and the exec, we will
majority of his party’s MPs – himself
enforcing a contribution to poorer
universities in other countries if
punishing those who are most likely
of Tony Blair’s election campaign
essentially be setting the standard
and leader Nick Clegg included –
students for those institutions that
they are not able to secure extra
to have already been hit by the
in 1997 but, after over a decade of
for the following years, I want to
economic crisis and withholding
New Labour, just 22.7% of the 2009
make it clear this position has a huge amount of potential and could
review
of
had signed the National Union of
universities
would
charge above £6,000, and that
funding.”
“How could that
Students’ (NUS) pledge to oppose
anywhere
opportunities from them.”
UK intake to Oxford University
any increase.
£7,000 per year would be heavily
chancellor,
£81bn
The fear of a ‘lost generation’ unable
was from state schools, suggesting
be a great benefit to a many more
The report by the Independent
scrutinised by the government to
worth of government cuts last
to obtain qualifications on a par
a
favour
students.”
Review
of
ensure open access to less
week, public opinion is divided as
with their predecessors for financial
of students from more affluent
Mr.Lacey
Funding
and
fortunate students.
to the merits of the proposals. A
reasons, rather than academic ones,
backgrounds. Opponents to Lord
interfere with the work that UCD
recommends a removal of the
Other attempts to prevent limiting
YouGov poll conducted after the
has led to widespread opposition
Browne’s review fear the proposals
Sport already do but hoped to help
current cap of £3,290 (roughly
higher education to those who are
release of the Browne report found
from bodies not normally affiliated
could lead to that gap widening
them anyway he can. “I do have a
with students. The Coalition for
even further.
lot of plans which I'm really excited
Higher
Education
Student
Finance
€3,700) per year, a proposal which
charging
more
than
able to afford the increased cost is a
With
George
Osborne,
announcing
the
that 45% of those surveyed opposed
heavy
imbalance
in
said
he
would
not
about and think could get a lot more people in boots and runners. I
Weed Shown to be the Drug of Choice for Irish Students
would like to work closely with the
Rachael Walsh
their colleges, but also, I want to do and often lobby the government
encouraged a certain way of life
UCD
for students, according to a recent
in UCD about the UCC survey,
about legalising the use of cannabis
that didn’t help or encourage
organisations who deal with drug
survey undertaken in University
the responses seemed to prove
in Ireland, especially for medicinal
schoolwork.
abuse. Scott Ahern, UCD Students’
College Cork, after a study of 181
that there is a similar situation in
purposes.
Long term use can contribute to
Union Welfare Officer, told The
students found that over a quarter
this university, with one student
However
have
depression and reduce motivation.
College Tribune that UCD is
had used cannabis in the past
claiming he smoked cannabis at
warned of the dangers of smoking
It is also believed that smoking
currently trying to implement a
twelve months.
least once a week and deemed it as
cannabis, especially in adolescents,
cannabis can compromise your
drugs and alcohol policy, which will
about organizing it or even don't
Cocaine was the second most
having ‘safer effects than alcohol.’
as it affects the part of the brain
immune system, leaving you more
deal with the educational aspects of
know how many other people in
commonly used drug at 6.9% of the
Another claimed that cannabis was
where memories are formed, and
susceptible to disease, and can also
alcohol and drug consumption by
UCD share their interest.
student body, followed by ecstasy,
not an addictive substance and could
can
difficulties
have an effect on natural hormones.
students. The policy is currently
The newly appointed officer went
which 4% of students admitted to
be used recreationally with friends
in
learning,
Research has suggested that there is
being discussed by the UCD’s
on to mention that he wished
using in the past year. This survey
without having consequential effects.
remembering and problem-solving,
a clear link between early cannabis
Academic Council Committee for
to serve the needs of those who
is consistent with the College
The proposition was also put
with the effects lasting for several
use and later mental health problems
Campus Life and, if approved, will
Lifestyle and Attitudinal National
forward by these students that
weeks after. This causes particular
in those with a genetic vulnerability,
then be brought to the academic
Third Level Report, which found
cannabis should be legalised in
problems for students.
However,
and that this is a particular issue
council for implementation within
that over one third of students had
Ireland. They believed it would
a study in New Zealand which
with adolescents who use cannabis.
the
used cannabis in the past twelve
boost the economy, as drug dealers
followed 1265 children for 25
There is growing evidence that
have been introduced in other
months, while one in five had used
would not be reaping the profits
years found that cannabis use in
regular use of the drug is likely to
universities around Ireland, such
weekends. As sports officer, I intend
the substance in the past thirty days.
but the government would see a
adolescence was linked to poor
double your risk of developing
as NUI Galway. If this policy is
to get out there, create brand new
The study also found that 98% of
huge scale increase in tax revenue
school performance, but that there
long-term schizophrenia or having
accepted, it may see effective steps
opportunities, bring brand new
students surveyed had consumed
from the sale of cannabis. These
was no direct connection between
a psychotic episode. Adolescents
taken towards improving students’
ideas to the table and give whatever
alcohol in the past year, with 44% of
views reiterate the views of Legalise
the use of cannabis and the ability
who use cannabis daily are also
knowledge about the dangers of
help I can to bring sport in UCD
them binge drinking on a
Cannabis Ireland, who held the first
to learn. It was thought that it
five times more likely to develop
drug , particularly in relation to
forward at any level I can.”
weekly basis.
ever anti-prohibition march in 2007
was simply because cannabis use
depression and anxiety in later life.
their education.
therefore
cause
concentrating,
university.
Such
with
as much as possible for the casual
On interviewing several students
officials
work
to get more sports events between
Cannabis is the drug of choice
health
currently
programme officers and class reps
policies
sports people. I think there is room to have more facilities for people who aren't heavily involved in the clubs, but still fancy a kick-about or a game, but maybe don't know how to go
stayed on campus regularly at the weekend.
“Not to mention
creating more to do for the people who stay on Res throughout the week and in particular the ghost town that is residences over the
www.thecollegetribune.net
October 26th 2010
The College Tribune
Sugar Sweet Arrangement With a Bitter Aftertaste As the notion of ‘sugar babies’ is widely reported, what is the source of this trend, and are more and more educated young women becoming embroiled in the sex industry? Timothy Potenz
It has been a familiar stereotype since university life first began, that of the penniless student. Although it can be a struggle to etch out a subsistence with meagre resources, most people manage by borrowing money from financial institutions or family members, surviving on maintenance grants, or just being savvy in their spending habits. The introduction of the discount supermarket has been a boon, while retail businesses recognise the value of the college market and student discount is available for many customers with valid ID. But in the face of public cutbacks and the most severe economic depression in a generation, what if all this is not enough? Where does the financially-challenged student turn to then? Recent media reports have introduced the figure of the ‘sugar baby’, a young adult female – often a student – who is struggling financially, and offers ‘companionship’ online. Typing “tuition help” into Google tells its own story – amidst search results citing grants or financial loans is a website offering “SugarDaddy Scholarships.” “Let Ridiculously Rich Sugar Daddies Pay Your Tuition Fees,” the site’s authors proclaim. Its main creator, Brandon Wade, a graduate of MIT, launched SeekingArrangement.com in 2006, enabling young women and their ‘sugar daddies’ to create profiles, match those of others, and enable real-life meetings. The ‘sugar daddy’ is typically expected to spend copious amounts of money on his ‘sugar baby’. She in turn is
expected to become what the site suggests as a “personal secretary, secret lover, extra-marital fling”, or whatever else is asked of her. Currently it is estimated that 1100 ‘sugar babies’ listed on the site are based in Ireland, primarily “us[ing] sugar daddies to fund their studies”, according to Wade. Yet the ‘sugar baby’ phenomenon, if it can be called as such, is still quite low profile, with few acknowledging prior knowledge of it. Gerardine Rowley of Ruhama, an Irish organisation that provides support to sex workers, described the notion as “news to [her]”, yet strongly condemned Wade’s claim that sugar arrangements are not, in effect, prostitution, reiterating: “If someone is selling sexual services for money than that is prostitution.” Wade’s contention, however, is that “two people negotiate terms of agreement – some about sex, some about money and some about any number of issues. There’s much more than sex to a sugar daddy and baby relationship.” Perhaps these arrangements are more complex than the traditional assignations of prostitution, but that does not paint over the fact that sex is the primary motivation for the willingness of ‘sugar daddies’ to spend with such largesse. An Irish student known as Lisa, who has signed up to Wade’s site, estimates that sex is involved in sugar encounters about “99 per cent of the time”. She estimates that a meeting with her “sugar daddy” lands her €1,000, and admits to “severe money problems” leading to the decision to create her online
‘sugar baby’ profile. “In a normal relationship, sex is expected anyway, so it’s not a huge issue for me,” she explains, adding: “I would usually have met the sugar daddy quite a few times before an arrangement is reached so I probably wait longer for sex than I would in a normal relationship.” Some acts, she admits, would make her feel “uncomfortable,” but these prior meetings are generally established “to ensure compatibility.” In short, despite Lisa’s disclaimers, the ‘sugar baby’ experience sounds very reminiscent of that of the ‘high class’ call girl, negotiating the boundaries to the client in advance. The popular internet blog of Dr. Brooke Magnanti, alias Belle de Jour, detailed her experiences as a London call girl. The blog later developed into a best-selling book series, and now features as an ITV2 mini-series starring Billie Piper. Magnanti, who revealed her identity to the media last year before an exboyfriend sold his story, is a research scientist, who made contact with an escort agency after funding ran out before the completion of her PhD. Also uncannily like the ‘sugar baby’ arrangement, which Wade insists is nothing like prostitution, Magnanti recently claimed on RTE’s The Panel that most of her clients sought the “girlfriend experience” – sex as encountered in the “normal relationships” Lisa talks of. Certainly issues of class and education are at hand here. While young female students may enter the sex industry to repay increasing debts – whether as ‘sugar babies’, table dancers, or escorts – they
Model poses Outside the Library Late One Evening PHOTO by Danny Lambert
often do not see danger or risk involved. When asked about their thoughts on ‘sugar baby’ arrangements, several UCD students seemed reluctant to give a decided opinion. Niamh Byrne sees “a lot of levels” to the sex industry. “There’s escorting, pornography, prostitution, and others. I wouldn’t consider it dangerous on the lower levels.” Second year student Jackie Hennessey, meanwhile, “wouldn’t outwardly criticise” a friend who decided to take up a ‘sugar baby’ arrangement, but “wouldn’t be a number one fan of what they did. You don’t want to preach to them.” The recent hysteria over Wayne Rooney’s extra-marital affairs with ‘high class’ escort girls has focused strongly on his marriage and his status as a role model, but a certain sector of the media chose to look at the backgrounds of the young women involved instead. The Daily Mail, in particular, has trailed the privately educated Jennifer Thompson since the story broke, snapping photographs of her as she spends her “ill-gotten gains”, and carrying articles with headlines such as “How did the oldest profession become a career choice for middle-class girls?” There is a tacit acceptance of prostitution involved here, as “the oldest profession” in the world, but the condemnation here is aimed at Thompson’s class status. She, like Magnanti, is from a middle-class, educated background, and should “afford” the morality which less privileged women of “the oldest profession” are denied. The fame of Belle de Jour saw readers exclaiming over
Magnanti’s well-written prose, questioning the veracity of her tale, and hypothesising that she was, in reality, a well-known male author, writing a fiction disguised as fact. The common attitude appears to be that working class women who enter the industry out of financial need are to be pitied, but those with an education are to be derided, or simply denied existence. Of course, female students and women with a college education encounter economic problems just as those who do not. Mayo-born Mary took a job in a lap dancing club in the UK town where she attends university, desperate to hide her £1,500 debt from her parents. On paper, it didn’t look too bad, as she earned about £200 sterling a night, yet as the nights wore on, the truth emerged as something very different. Mary had to hand over £70 per night as ‘commission’ to the club proprietors, and the idea of club dancers being literally untouchable was nothing more than an illusion. “There were plenty of times when I was told I could earn so much if I had sex with [a punter] for an hour – I was offered £1,000… and I thought about it. But the idea made me sick.” What was more, Mary found that her coping strategies were costing her financially, as she was “spending more than I was earning some nights because I was drinking so much in the club…I hated myself and was terrified people would find out”. She quit the job after five months. Mary’s experience mirrors those of many women in the UK,
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documented by Kat Banyard in her recent book The Equality Illusion. British journalist Natasha Walter, meanwhile, released a book entitled Living Dolls in February, outlining the culture where women are encouraged to pose for lads’ magazines as an empowering action, and frequently as a way out of poverty. Yet when Walter interviewed the former editor of Nuts, he was curiously reluctant to endorse such a lifestyle for his own young daughter, only offering the insight that he hoped she would have more choices available to her. This is a strange contradiction given that the sex industry has more or less appropriated the feminist notion of ‘choice’, frequently scorning its critics as seeking to restrict freedom and impinge on what the public wants. Startlingly, what a lads’ mag editor wants on behalf of his readers, and what he wants for his daughter, appear to be wildly different. The sex industry, after all – whether the actions involved are initiated by a woman on her own behalf, by an agency or an Internet site, in a club, a restaurant, or a hotel room – primarily focuses on transforming women into ‘dolls’, to be looked at, ogled, and consumed, to be appropriated as a fantasy. Women with an education, a brain, break this illusion. So when Belle de Jour writes of an encounter with a client where she references the writer Martin Amis, she is declaimed as a fake. Jennifer Thompson’s parents are shamed into making a public apology for the actions of their adult daughter, assuring the media that they were completely unaware of her profession. And young women such as ‘sugar baby’ Lisa are keen to promote themselves as something more than a quick lay, declaring interests on her online profile as “good wine, good food and nights at the theatre and opera”. Part of this has to be due to knowledge of the disapproval from some, and a personal attempt to reclaim their own image for themselves, resisting the traditional stereotype of a ‘whore’. But it also appears to convey a message to potential ‘sugar daddies’, or clients, that they are also human beings with intellects and interests of their own. Is this then an attempt at selfprotection, despite the declarations of so many girls that they do not see themselves at risk? Gerardine Rowley worries about the perception “that young girls think they can enter into a business-like agreement of selling sex for money and come out unscathed. After working with women involved in the sex trade for many years, I don’t think there’s anyone who comes out without some form of psychological or physical damage.” Whether or not young women sign up as ‘sugar babies’ see themselves as participating in the sex industry is up for debate, but one thing is certain: there are a hell of a lot of similarities involved to those that are.
www.thecollegetribune.net
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Features
‘Hope’s’ Biggest Challenge Yet A week ahead of the midterm elections, Chris Bond assesses what impact the result will have on the presidency of Barack Obama and the struggle for power between Democrats & Republicans Just short of two years ago, Barack
Led by a charismatic figure of
‘’War on Terror’’ was in full swing.
Usain Obama was elected President
humble origins, John Boenher
According to the New York Times-
of the United States in a landslide
(bottom right), the Republicans
owned polling site Fivethirtyeight.
victory over Republican opponent
are claiming that the stimulus has
com, the Democrats are poised to
John McCain.
Obama became
gone too far and that it is adding to
lose seven seats in the Senate and
somewhat of a cult hero, with
the US national debt. In contrast
48 seats in the House. Should this
much hysteria surrounding his
to the Democrats’ policy, the
occur, the result would leave the
nomination and his eventual victory.
Republicans prefer a strategy of
Republicans being the leading party
He managed to redefine not only
tax and spending cuts. The most
in the House, with the Democrats
elections, but the way in which
high profile anti-Obama group is
maintaining the majority, although
people relate to American politics.
the Tea Party movement, consisting
reduced, in the Senate.
It was therefore no surprise that
predominately of radically right
Despite their slim chance of taking
major things were expected from
wing Republicans.
both chambers of the Congress,
President Obama.
If recent opinion polls are to go
the
Obama became the first Democratic
by, the Democrats are poised to
two Senate seats that they regard
presidential candidate to secure
suffer big losses in the Senate
as being of symbolic importance.
the majority of the vote for his
and in particular, the House of
The first is Senate Democrat leader
inaugural term since Jimmy Carter
Representatives.
(pictured below) Harry Reid’s seat
in 1976. However, given Carter’s
that the wheels have finally fallen
electoral record after 1976, this
off the Obama wagon and that he is
might not be regarded as a good
now destined to become a
omen.
one term President?
Upon taking up office,
Obama tried to give the impression
History
that he had stuck to the main theme
midterms often bring out more
of his campaign – change.
anti-incumbent
In the middle of one of the
presidential ones.
biggest recessions in US history,
permitting,
Obama set about bringing hope
be the first President to suffer
to Americans.
shown
that
sentiment
are
targeting
the than
Poll accuracy
Obama
will
not
losses half way through his first
in Nevada, contested by Tea Party-
day in the Oval Office, he signed
term.
endorsed Sharon Angle, with the
an executive order putting an
Republican
end to torture in Guantanamo
Reagan’s first term, the Republican
Senate seat in Illinois, currently held
Bay and other detention facilities
Party lost 27 seats in the House
by outgoing Senator Roland Burris.
run by the U.S. military. It was
of
elections.
President Obama has upped the ante
followed the next month by the
However, crucially, that did not
in recent weeks in order to limit
$787 billion American Recovery
prevent Reagan from winning 49
as much damage as possible. He
and Reinvestment Act, commonly
out of 50 states in the subsequent
has redeployed political strategists
known as the Stimulus Programme,
presidential elections.
An even
David Axelrod and David Plouffe
the largest single investment in job
greater and spectacular example,
who served him so well during the
creation, welfare and public services
though, is the midterm elections of
2008 Presidential Campaign. Over
in the western world.
1994. The Democrats, under Bill
the last few weeks, he has visited
In the summer of 2009 he started
Clinton, lost control of not only
several key battleground locations
to take on what has been the holy
the Senate, but also the House of
such as California, Nevada and
grail of the Democratic party
Representatives, for the first time
Washington State. He is making an
grassroots,
in 40 years.
Clinton, however,
argument that his policies are in fact
Against a background of bitter
managed a landslide victory over
working and is seeking a mandate
opposition from the American right
Republican opponent Bob Dole
to stay on course. Obama is also
wing, Obama and the Democrats
just two years later.
warning voters of the dangers of
succeeded in passing the healthcare
When looking back on the history
returning to the ‘failed’ Republican
reform bill (albeit watered down),
of previous elections, it is very
policies of two years ago.
the
the
uncommon for the President’s party
Even if John Boehner and his
healthcare system since Medicare
to make electoral gains during the
colleagues cruise to victory in the
was enacted under Lyndon Johnson.
midterm elections. Only twice in
House, holding the Senate will be
In recent months however, there
the past 100 years has the party of
interpreted as a good result for the
has been a backlash against Obama
the incumbent president made gains
Democrats, something that the last
from both the left and the right.
in the midterms, and one can argue
Democratic President Bill Clinton
Many progressives who flocked
that both occasions were influenced
failed to do. Obama himself will
to Obama in 2008 criticise the
by exceptional circumstances.
not be up for election for another
stimulus bill and the healthcare act
The first example was during the
two years, when the political and
for not going far enough.
Paul
spell of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
economic landscape could well have
Krugman, the Nobel Prize winning
All the way back in 1933, the
changed drastically.
economist, has claimed that the
Democrats made gains in the
One thing does seem certain, no
stimulus is not leading to more jobs
midterm elections in the midst of
matter what the result of next
and quicker recovery because it is
the Great Depresssion. The other
week’s elections are. The jury is still
too small to make an impact. The
example was the Republicans and
out on whether Obama will win a
right, on the other hand, consider
their ability to maintain control
second term by a landslide similar to
Obama’s domestic reforms to be too
of both the House and the Senate
that of Bill Clinton, or become the
liberal, some even characterising it
halfway through the first term of
first one term Democratic president
as ‘socialist’.
George W.Bush in 2002, as the
since Jimmy Carter.
biggest
On his very first
has
Does this mean
Republicans
healthcare
overhaul
reform.
of
In 1982, halfway through President
Representatives’
Ronald
second
being
Obama’s
former
www.thecollegetribune.net
October 26th 2010
The College Tribune
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From behind a veil of ignorance Roma repatriation, the restriction of religious regalia, and racism in France are examined by Conor McKenna. The landmark decision in France to
freely within the territory of the
ban the burqa has recently cleared
Member States. By arguing that this
its last hurdle and will be made into
restriction is for public health, the
law. The ban imposes €150 fines on
French government has avoided
women wearing a face-covering
sanctions, but has nevertheless been
veil and €15,000 on someone who
criticised for their actions by EU
forces a woman to wear one.
officials.
The ban comes following the 2004
Controversially,
decision to ban headscarves of all
Commissioner
varieties in French public schools.
likened the repatriations to the
The divide between secular and
mass deportations of Jews and other
church matters has been intrinsic
“undesirables” under
in French society since the 18th
regime. President Sarkozy called
century. Jewellery and clothing that
these remarks “disgusting”.
depicts religion is strictly prohibited
On 15th October, France agreed
in French public schools. Many
to change the laws regarding
Irish people, who don’t give a
Roma repatriation after pressure
second thought to wearing crosses
from the European Commission,
on necklaces, would be reminded
doubtless hoping to avoid an
that such iconography isn’t tolerated
international scandal if the matter
in the school system. In the United
is recommended to the European
Kingdom, support for a burqa ban is
Court of Justice.The French Foreign
at 67%, according to a YouGov survey.
Ministry has not commented on
Yet it is not merely the veils that are
what the changes to the law will be.
being removed from French society:
Laws are being drafted which
the French government recently
repatriate first generation French
made headlines as it repatriated
citizens for committing certain
to implement such policies seems
nationality
are merely sent to prison.
The Celtic Tiger brought wealth
Roma
crimes.
colonial
nothing short of a disgrace. The
and one must be able to show
However there have been no cries
but it also brought diversity in the
immigrants were removed from
past, it seems that France, rather
revolutionaries must be turning in
themselves
bears
of racism; no one is willing to take
form of workers from across the
illegal camps in 2009.
than cherishing its increasingly
their graves.
disturbing similarity to the claims
a strong stance against what the
world. And yet how many of us
French law states that immigrants
diverse and multicultural society, is
Support for such moves has been
of many right-wing groups that
French government are doing there.
heard complaints about our EU
must prove that they will not be a
more concerned with the removal
echoed across Europe however,
are popping up across Europe.
By standing to the side and refusing
neighbours working three jobs
burden on the state for stays longer
of what it deems to be a social
with growing support for national
Worthiness is purely subjective and
to comment, are we giving the go
while Irish people struggled to
than three months. However, in
problem. This move appears to be
parties, such as the People’s Party in
a French government that seems
ahead for these shameful displays to
hold down one? We’re hardly above
sending the Roma home, France
an indirect attack on first generation
Denmark and the recently elected
intent on restricting diversity will
continue? Perhaps we are.
reproach in that aspect. A taxi drove
is in direct violation of European
citizens; many of whom have not
Swedish Democrats. Scandinavia
be the final arbiter of who is worthy.
Why do we say nothing? ‘Céad
past the university earlier with an
Parliament and Council Directive
abused the system, but are proud of
no longer retains its egalitarian
It seems incredible to believe that
Míle Fáilte’ is a phrase thrown
“Irish Taxi Driver” bumper sticker;
2004/38/EC of 29 April 2004,
their French citizenship.
reputation, as these parties gain
a first-generation French citizen
about a lot. Have we stopped to
let’s hope our diversity drives us
which declares the right of citizens
For France, one of the world’s first
significant support in the political
could be sent ‘home’ on the basis of
consider its meaning? Despite our
in the right direction rather than
of the Union and their family
liberal democracies and a country
sphere.
committing petty crime, while some
welcoming nature, perhaps Ireland
down the right-wing.
members to move and reside
built on acceptance and equality,
According to Sarkozy: “French
French citizens commit murder and
too has become a little xenophobic.
people.
Some
10,000
EU
Justice
Viviane
Despite
their
Reding
the
Nazi
must
be
merited,
worthy.” This
Top Right: Roma protest against repatriation. Left: President Nicolas Sarkozy defiant on matters of French citizenship. Above: Is the ban a veil for something more serious? www.thecollegetribune.net
10
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Features
Gaeilge Ábhar Dochtúra: Conspóid Ospidéal Úr na nGasúr Eoghan Ó Murchadha
is €100 milliun le bailiú ó fhoinsí
tar éis a rá go sabhálfaidh seo thart
ann ó thaobh lonnú an ospidéil, agus
don phobal na fáthanna atá leis seo.
ann fós nár freagraíodh. Caithfear
carthanachta agus daonchairdiúla)
faoi €25 milliún in aghaidh na bliana
ní cheansófar an fhabhb seo nó an
Ní shásóidh freagraí folmha nó
éisteacht leo ar mhaithe leis an
Le deireanas, tá tar éis bheith ina raic
an easpa nó míshoiléire pleanála ó
ar an trí otharlann a thiocfaidh le
slua atá ag stocaireacht go mbógfáí
béal ban an aire a deir go bhfuil
daonlathas. Seans maith go deirfear
maidir le suíomh an ospidéil úir do
thaobh stiúradh an ospidéil anuas
chéile ann ar deireadh; Ospidéal
é ag dul ar aghaidh dall an rialtais.
an cinneadh glactha. Tá amhras
go bhfuil an otharlann de dhíth
leanaí, ospidéal a chosnóidh €650
ar fhadbanna ó thaobh deartha
Shráid Temple, Ospidéal Mhuire
Más rud é go bhfuil sé ródhéanach
mór léirithe ag grúpaí éagsúla,
láithreach bonn baill agus nach
milliun agus a bhfuil súil ag an rialtas
do shuíomh ospidéal an Mhater,
i
dul siar ar roghnú an tsuímh nó
tuistí pháistí atá tinn, dochtúirí
féidir dul siar ar chinneadh an
é a chomhlonnú ar shuíomh ospidéal
fáil ar an otharlann in amanna
Náisiúnta na Leanaí i dTamhlacht.
bhfuil an cinneadh glactha is réitithe
péidiatraiceacha is ollúna chomh
tascfhórsa.
an Mhater aineoin an chlampair
barrthráchta, is
faoi
Aontaíonn Comhaontas d’Ospidéal
ar bonn feidhmiúcháin caithfear a
maith
Pé scéal é, caithfear éisteacht.
atá tógtha ag dreamanna éagsúla
pháirceáil ar an suíomh. Cé gur
Nua na Leanaí le gach rud atá ráite
mhíniú go follasach is go hintuigthe
cheapann go bhfuil buncheisteanna
faoi. Tá an t-Uasal Philip Lynch i
éirigh Lynch as tá súil an t-ospidéal
ag Lynch. Tá de ghearán acu chomh
ndiaidh éirí as an gceannaireacht
a bheith ar oscailt roimh dheireadh
maith nár iarradh ar phaistí sular
ar Bhord Forbartha an Ospidéil
na bliana 2015.
roghnaíodh suíomh. Is ait liom seo.
Phéidiatraicigh Náisiúnta (BFOPN)
An fáth ba mhó gur beartaíodh
Tuigimse go bhfuil gá le próiseas
de bharr go raibh bundeacrachtaí
an suíomh seo a roghnú ná toisc
eolais agus dul i gcomhairle ach
ann an post a bhí faoina chúram
gur anseo is luaithe gur féidir
ní dóigh liom gur féidir a rá go
aige a chur i gcrích, dar leis.
otharlann a thogáil ann. Ba ar
mbeadh tuairimí na bpáistí ina
Deir an t-Aire Sláinte Mary Harney,
mholtaí an chomhlachta McKinsey
chabhair mhór ag an dream atá ag
áfach, gur iarr sí air éirí as mar nach
& Company (sainchomhairleoirí
réiteach pleananna don otharlann.
raibh suíomh an ospidéil i dtéarmaí
bainistíochta) a bhunaigh tascfhórsa
Tá an Comhaontas ag tabhairt le
tagartha an bhoird agus dá bharr seo
de
na
fios go bhféadfadh gach éinne a
nach raibh sé in ann an ról a chur
Seirbhíse Sláinte an rogha. Luadh
bheith ina shaineolaí ar cheist seo
i gcrích mar ba cheart. Is liosta
an luas lena bhféadfaí an otharlann
na hotharlainne ach ar ndóigh
mór fada gearán atá aige, áfach, agus
a chur ar fáil sa suíomh seo mar an
ní fíor sin. Is beag duine dáirire a
luann sé cuid mhaith fadhbanna
príomhfáth idirdhealaitheach gur
thuigeann i gceart mar a roghnaíodh
eile leis an togra taobh amuigh de
roghnaíodh an Mater i leaba na
an suíomh.
cheist an tsuímh; an bhearna mhór
n-ospidéal eile. Tá an t-Aire Harney
Is cosúil go bhfuil fadhb bhunúsach
chuid
ceisteanna
Feidhmeannacht
gCromghlinn
agus
Ospidéal
le
gnáthshaoránaigh
a
atá ann ó thaobh maoinithe (tá breis
Satan's lair in UCD? A clearing in the trees near the Science Block generated much interest last week. Our photograph shows various symbols hanging from trees.The symbols are accompanied by a book entitled "Finding Sky" which was placed on a chair in the middle of the clearing, some pages were torn out of the book and names including Cormac and James were written on them. Is it Satan's lair or is it the location UCD's biggest Halloween Party? Let us know what you think, news.collegetribune@gmail.com.
www.thecollegetribune.net
October 26th 2010
The College Tribune
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Motor News in Brief Jeremy O’Hanlon
Paris Motor Show From Paris with love, I mean cars. The Paris motor show has come and gone and there has already been a lot of excitement about what’s new on the scene not only caused by new innovative concept cars such as the gas turbine powered electric Jaguar C-X75, but also production cars hitting the roads soon like the all-new Audi A7. Here’s a quick round up of some of the best products the show had to offer.
Road Test: The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Jeremy O’Hanlon I’ve always had a thing for Alfa’s, possibly due to that ever so subtle hint of a Ferrari or the fact that Alfa’s seem to value style and beauty above
Jaguar C-X75
practicality. Either way, my recent test drives of two different versions of the Giulietta, the 120Bhp 1.4l turbo petrol model and the 105Bhp 1.6 diesel,
This new Jag is capable of reaching 205mph, can do 0-62mph in just 3.4
may well be the nearest I ever get to driving a Ferrari.
seconds and thanks to massive torque of 1180lb/ft blistering acceleration
When stepping into the test car, due to the courtesy of South Dublin Fiat
from 50-90mph is possible in just 2.3 seconds. The four-wheel drive
Alfa Romeo, I immediately noticed was how nice it was behind the wheel.
supercar is powered by four 195bhp motors (one for each wheel), adding
range to a remarkable 560 miles and produce just 28 grams of CO2 per
The instrument cluster is top notch and the speedometer and rev-counter needles spin forward and back when you turn the key – a very classy feature also used by Audi.
kilometer from the car’s plug-in charge capability.
While the 1.6 diesel version may be a bit short on power, it has plenty
up to a total 780bhp. The car has a zero tailpipe emissions range of 68 miles while running solely on battery power but thanks to two micro gas-turbines, spinning at 80,000 rpm, enough electricity can be generated to extend the
of low-end torque (320nm); vital in the overall drivability of the car and
Audi A7
providing good in gear acceleration. The 120bhp turbo petrol unit had plenty of power for a hatchback and was nicely free revving. The gearstick also has a nice clean short throw. The highlight of the Giulietta is Alfas new DNA system. First introduced as an option on the Mito, the DNA system comes as standard on all Giuliettas. This allows you to select three different driving settings Dynamic, Normal or All-weather. I quite enjoyed driving in Dynamic mode as this tightens up the steering, throttle response and overall dynamics of the car providing a more powerful feel and sportier driving experience. A turbo pressure gauge also appears on the digital instrument display and as gimmicky as it may have been, I quite liked it.
between 204bhp and 300bhp. An innovative WIFI system is available with
If I owned this car, I’d see myself leaving it in Dynamic mode almost all of the time as it brings out the best in the car.
the car, which allows users to set up a network with their mobile devices.
It wouldn’t be advisable to leave it on for low speed driving though; a tap
Audi’s brand new 5-door coupe - the A7 Sportback was on show in Paris. The new car fits, as you might guess, between the A6 and A8 in the range and is offered with a choice of petrol or diesel V6 engines. They produce
of the accelerator could see you trading paintwork with the unlucky person
Mercedes CLS Rivaling the new Audi A7 is Mercedes latest incarnation of their CLS 4 door coupe. Bolder and more muscular in stance than the previous model, the new CLS features an SLS inspired front grille. Initially there will be a choice of two V6 engines, a 261bhp diesel and 302bhp petrol variant. These engines will later be joined by an efficient 250CDI diesel engine offering 201bhp and claimed consumption of 5.1l/100km.
next to you.
The interior materials are of great quality and there’s a nice metal finish look
Both models I drove were the mid-range Lusso spec, which starts at
gear stick, although it would have been much nicer if they used real metal.
€21,995 (excluding works and delivery) for both the petrol and diesel. This
The cluster of switches below the radio are a nice touch and are reminiscent
specification provides a bunch of kit including alloy wheels, automatic dual-
of what you would have in a sports car. The dash is solid and the steering
zone climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity and
wheel is great. The climate and radio controls are clearly laid out and the
steering wheel mounted controls, something that I find very handy. At this
speaker system is more than adequate to pump out tunes to a deafening level
price and specification, the Alfa nicely undercuts competitors and acts as a
while keeping good quality sound outside. Daytime running LED lights
nice bumper to usual Alfa Romeo depreciation.
(DLRs) come as standard and add to the cars exclusive look.
In fact, you can take away a brand new Giulietta with either of the engines
Overall the new Alfa is a nice change from the usual suspects such as the
I tested at Turismo spec for €20,000 but I certainly think its worth the extra
Focus, Astra and Golf and a great addition to Alfa’s current lineup. I can only
money to go to Lusso spec. Topping the line is the Veloce spec which adds
hope this new offering from the Italians is a taster of what’s coming with the
more goodies such as half leather interior, sports suspension and 17” alloys.
166 and 159 replacements due out in the next few years.
A Sat Nav pop up screen is also an option. A Start & Stop system comes
South Dublin Fiat Alfa Romeo are now taking orders for the Alfa Romeo
standard on all models.
Giulietta. See www.sdfa.ie for more!
www.thecollegetribune.net
12
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Features
www.thecollegetribune.net
The College Tribune
October 26th 2010
| 13
www.thecollegetribune.net
Scoil an Léinn Cheiltigh
School of celtic StudieS BiBliography MaNuScript StudieS periodicalS aNd collectaNea celtic graMMar iriSh laNguage
oN-liNe puBlicatioNS catalogue books.dias.ie iriSh literature WelSh iriSh hiStory aNd geNealogy BretoN hiBerNo –latiN School of Celtic Studies, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 10 Burlington Road, Dublin 4 Ireland. Tel: 00-353-1-6140113 Fax: 00353-1-6680561. Email: book-orders@admin.dias.ie. Web: http://www.celt.dias.ie
Editorial
Exorbitant Outlay Should be Used Elsewhere
A UCD spokesperson has said that the University and the HEA are currently in discussions about the G&AG report. In this same document, the amount of €293 million for UCD staff costs in the academic year of 2007/2008 was published. It once more highlighted the huge outlay that is made to the 2,500 approximate staff of the university. Some people have the fortune to earn greater amounts of money than others in all different sectors in life, but the €293 million is surely enough for the UCD staff to ‘just about get by,’ and leave some amount to spare for re-investment elsewhere. According to an article by Seán Flynn in The Irish Times on April 21st 2010, the University was already over €12 million in debt. After viewing the figures revealed last week, one would worry that this level of debt will rise and punish the already suffering student population. The economic climate, as we sickeningly hear everyday, has changed since 2007/2008. With severe cuts on the horizon in the upcoming Government budget, the huge cost of staff costs is a strain on what is already a university in debt already. With less funding likely to be received also, it creates an obvious cause for concern. Somewhere in the outlay of €293 million, there must Editor: Colman Hanley collegetribune@gmail.com
Designer: Emmet Farrell emmet.tribune@gmail.com
Turbine Editor: Ryan Cullen Eagarthóir Gaeilge: Eoin Ó Murchú Copy Editor: Niamh Hanley
News Editor: Donie O'Sullivan
Sports Editor: Mark Hobbs
tribune.health.fashion@gmail.com
Photography Editor: Dáire Brennan
Photo of the Week
sport.collegetribune@gmail.com
Two students enjoy playing football in the late evening thanks to the light of an October sunset. PHOTO: DÁIRE BRENNAN
Deputy News Editor: Amy Walsh
Fashion Editor: Aoifa Smyth
SU’s Best Budget?
performing. However whether the cost of €400 is a worthy and just investment, can only be determined at the end of their year. We wait with abated breath to see if this is the case. The balance of the budget appears to be off in certain parts, with the allocation of €50,000 for the University Observer exceeding the €35,000 for the Welfare Fund. The budget was no doubt reviewed and examined by the SU’s experienced staff from political and other backgrounds with a fine toothcomb, but it still manages to perplex some of us. The way in which some funds are used must be examined, for example the €7,500 that Belfield FM receives is a paltry sum in terms of the €760,000 estimated expenditure. Yet why is it that we never hear the Union’s radio station in SU shops across campus? Surely the Union ought to support its own investment by promoting it in simple ways and means such as this.
The UCD Students’ Union published their operational budget for the coming year and, as with any budget, it raised a few eyebrows. The first point of interest in every SU budget arises with the pay of its Sabbatical officers. €400 pay per week and the cost of certain expenses are given to the fantastic five. Like every group of sabbatical officers in UCDSU, there is little doubt that they believe in the work that they are
Correction
Contributors List:
Míle Buíochas:
Olivia Reidy, Matthew Costello, Rachel Walash, Chris Bond, Greg Acton, Jeremy O’Hanlon, Ciarán Leinster, Timothy Potenz, Emma Smyth, Liam Lacey, Patrick Fleming, Conall Devlin, Graham Luby, Conor McKenna, Róisín Sweeney, Laura McNally, Timothy Potenz, Kellie Nwaokorie, Kate Brady, Margeurite Murphy, Dan Nolan, David Murphy, Jonathon Barry, Simon Mulcahy, Tracey O’Connor, Ashling O’Loughlin, Niya Morrisey, Lee Maguire.
news.collegetribune@gmail.com
Music Editor: David Tracey tribmusic@gmail.com Deputy Music Editor: Conor McKenna
be room for manoeuvre to use the funds for different projects that demand a greater need for investment. For a low percentage of this amount, those under pressure in this busy November and December period could have extended library hours extended at the weekend for the whole year and not just in the few weeks before exams in semester one and two. The yearly mantra of fighting for library hours to be extended is assumedly similar to listening to a broken record for some college officials, but for students, it is a vital service that cannot be underestimated. Rather than providing a €293 million wage for UCD staff, re-investment in the students of this University, the group that are more likely to drag this country out of the mire than the politicians of this country perhaps, would be of greater benefit for everyone.
In issue two of The College Tribune on September 28th 2010, a figure of €150,000 was described as being “overpaid” to UCD President, Mr. Hugh Brady. This figure was incorrectly described, and was a benefit-inkind payment.
Datascope Printing (Kevin Mitchell, David Walsh,Trina Kirwan and everyone else), Emmet Farrell (and his many housemates!), Niamh Hanley (Mo Laoch), Donie O’Sullivan, Amy Walsh, Philip Connolly, James Grannell, Jim Scully, Lorraine Foy, Dáire Brennan, Danny Lambert, David Tracey, Aoifa Smith, Mark Hobbs, Ryan Cullen, Ciara Murphy, Gary Fox, Conor McKenna, Ryan Cullen, Eoin Ó Murchú, Dáire Brennan, David Tracey, MCD (Rory Murphy & Colm Hanley),
Inside
It’s Satire Stupid!
1 out of every 7 dwarves is happy. “Prince Harry’s going on a little car trip” states the Queen. Descartes “off his fucking tits” claims new study. Antiques Roadshow omnibus set to threaten the lives of countless citizens. Spain tows The Isle of Man off to secret location off Africa. Man City offer Rooney 400 grans a week. Iranian weather shi’ite.
Rescued after an uncomfortable 69 Chile’s president has said his country will never be the same again after the extraordinary rescue of the 33 miners trapped deep underground for 69 days. The miners were left with only 48 hours’ worth of rations in the form of viscounts and Fig rolls when part of the San Jose copper and gold mine in Chile’s Atacama Desert collapsed on August 5th. The masses of people were in jubilation as the survivors were lifted from the mine with many in the crowd dressed as ‘Planet of the Apes’ characters as a practical joke to lift spirits. They received a mixed reception in the form of tarring and feathering. However President Pinera claimed that there won’t be
any conjugal visits at Camp Esperanza as Chilean law forbids having sex with a minor. Tears flooded from the eyes of the first survivor to emerge, he told us of his upset as he forgot to clock in, losing out on approx 1656 hours of payment. Wives who thought that their husbands would never return were in distress as their loved ones finally emerged, to their unbelievable disgust. Captain Scarlet who was in charge of the team of miners told of their struggle for food, health and sexual frustration. They dedicated their story to the late Roberto Panini, who they had to eat on the second day of entrapment. Then out of the dust
came the youngest victim, only 18 years old, who appeared to be walking in a John Wayne-esque strut, when reporters caught up to him, the captain was overheard whispering into his ear, “Whatever happened in the shaft, stays in the shaft”. When the final survivors were taken to hospital, President Pinera stated to the masses “I would like to thank everyone who has wished us well in our attempts and I would like to thank countries overseas who issued their aid and help, apart from America, who like in the case of Linda Nosgrove, thought that a rescue attempt should involve grenades.”
A Love Poem from the Diary of Anne Frank The following poem/song was discovered between the wooden floorboards where Anne Frank was in hiding. It is dated only three days before her capture. Nobody knows who it was written too, possibly a childhood sweetheart, an imaginary lover, possibly anyone who were to ever find it. I hope to hold your hand in mine, dear
We live in a crazy world, dear.
From my window I can only imagine it.
I wish I weren’t part of it.
Say you love me, here and now
For now when I go to the toilet,
Although I can’t fathom it.
I just can’t go ahead and flush it.
I hope to get out of here soon, dear.
I’m sorry that Hitler came to power, dear
I’m really getting sick of it.
His regime seemed so proud and fine.
My Inability to eat Rice Crispies,
But until they come and get me
Or practise on my new Drum kit.
I hope to hold your hand in mine.
October 26th 2010
The College Tribune
| 17
Sport uperleague
College Tribune
The College Tribune October 26th 2010 www.thecollegetribune.net
Aussies to Rule for Much Longer? With the sport having sparked much debate over the last decade, Liam Lacey reflects on the first game of the 2010 International Rules Series. Saturday night saw the return to our shores of the
periods of silence as the match ambled towards the
International Rules Series after a break of four years,
climax which saw Australia emerge triumphant with
Greg Acton reports on another bone crunching week of UCD’s own primadona filled football league.
with much focus on whether the much maligned series,
a 47-40 win in one of the lowest scoring tests in the
viewed as controversial by many, should be sustained or
game’s storied history. The Irish team, without stars
shown the door. After last Saturday’s performance by
such as Paul Galvin and Colm Cooper, who would at
Well it’s been another eventful few
both sides, the latter seems the most likely course
least excite fans in a game of this nature, seemed to have
weeks in the world of Superleague;
of action.
a lot of trouble playing coherently and an apparent lack
containing a good mix of broken
The push by both the GAA and AFL to cut out any
of interest was evident.
bones, cheeky chips and vuvuzelas!
sort of physicality in the compromised game has
Irish coach Anthony Tohill picked a team that was
That’s
right,
vuvuzelas.
The
unfortunately led to paying supporters witnessing a
supposedly quick and full of skilful players that lit up
timid, non-contact game where passion is certainly not
this year’s championship. But last Saturday night, they
the order of the day, as opposed to the fair but exciting
looked tired for much of the match. Thankfully a late
bit of a carnival atmosphere for their
physical battles that both sets of players produced in
flurry of points, the catalyst of which was a goal by
top of the table clash with Bean
previous revivals (forgetting, of course, the 2006 and
Footballer of the Year, Bernard Brogan, made the final
FC by breaking out the intensely
2008 series).
score look respectable from an Irish perspective.
annoying horns. You’ve got to give
The players that took to the field in the Gaelic Grounds
Next weekend sees the second test played at Croke
on Saturday looked uncomfortable during the 72
Park, but it’s doubtful, after the uninspiring first game,
them credit for their commitment.
minutes of play. They struggled to come to terms with
that 80,000 people are going to feel the need to watch
the new rules, which seem to prohibit players from
two teams engage in more of the same. A big game
displaying precisely what made the series so exciting to
is needed to excite whatever kind of crowd shows up,
though now that the Saucepans’
fans in years gone by. Gone was the hard tackling and
but also to try and save a series that looks to be on its
impressive run of wins is over. Bean
raw physicality that would at least prove to spectators that
last legs.
scored two good goals from corners
winning the Cormac McAnallen trophy means something.
Maybe the question the GAA and the AFL need to look
and despite a well-executed lob by
The lack of excitement in Saturday’s game led to long
at is: is it really worth saving? Perhaps not.
Eoghan Carney, they saw out
Saucepan Celtic faithful created a
We’ll find out shortly if these ‘fans’ are just fair weather supporters
the victory. Elsewhere, the infamous Back Door Bouncers, who hold the unofficial but proud title of ‘campest team in
UCD’, lost their star striker to a
not add anything to the league.
nasty injury during their game with
My experience so far is that the
Exither Quickly. In the 64th minute,
Division 1 Saturday league is in no
Evan Clabby was one on one with
way of a worse standard. They’re
the Exither ‘keeper who came out
both equally bad, so let’s put that
to collect the ball. The two players
whole debate to bed once and for
collided causing the striker to break
all. If you don’t feel like getting up
his leg in two places. The game was
early on a Saturday, you sign up
stopped for nearly half an hour
for Division 1. There is the only
whilst the player was helped by an
difference!
ambulance crew and then brought
Speaking of Divison 1 Saturday,
to hospital.This league ain’t so super
on the day the last issue of the
for some.
College Tribune went to print,
In case anyone cares, Exither
P.inV. Eindhoven beat Toke City
Quickly won the game 4-1. In
15-2! Just thought that deserved a
truth the game was over after the
mention…
first half an hour, in which Exither
I suppose Premier Sunday best get
scored three times. Luke Nolan
a mention then as well, it’s only fair.
gave the Bouncers some hope with
My sources tell me that Vets FC and
his second half goal, but the game
the excellently named Deportivo
was killed off fifteen minutes from
Lacka Talent look strongest in that
time when Exither scored their
league. There’s been three weeks of
fourth. It’s a first win for the Exither
glorious Superleague action now, so
Quickly lads then, but another
why does the Sunday league table
miserable loss for the Bouncers.
tell me that the worryingly titled
Substandard
6-5
We Like Young Boys have played
in an absolute cracker to LM
Liege
lost
zero games… answers on a postcard
Mountaineers last week in the
please.
Premier Saturday league. By the way, the
word ‘Premier’ does
Clubhouse Club, Sligo. The UCD team, trailing by six strokes
Mark Hobbs
UCD Meet Surgeons in Collingwood Cup
heading into the final round, managed to turn things around due to John Greene, Jamie Rothwell, Stephen
The draw for the 2010/11 Collingwood Cup has been
Walsh and Colum Kenny totalling a combined five
made, with the games set to take place in Trinity’s College
under to beat NUI Maynooth by three shots. After
Park in Santry for the first time since 1992.
In that
winning the South of Ireland Championship and
year, UCD managed to beat the University of Ulster in
the Waterford Scratch Cup earlier in the year, John
Jordanstown (UUJ) 5-4 in a memorable final. The Students
Greene was able to win the Roger Greene Cup for
also managed to win the competition 1-0, two years ago, so
individual play by beating NUI Maynooth’s Irish
they will be looking to build on this year’s achievement of
international, Kelan MacDonagh.
reaching the quarter-finals. UCD kick off their Collingwood campaign on the 21st of
Fencing Team Can’t be Foiled
February against the Royal College of Surgeons. Should
The UCD Fencing team also had considerable
they win, they will meet the winner of the Ulster clash
success in the West of Ireland Open at NUI Galway’s
between UUJ and Magee. The freshman team will be
Kingfisher Sports Club. The Students won medals
competing in the Harding Cup in Maynooth during the
in every competition, starting with Captain John
10th to the 13th of February. The second team will also be
Wyatt’s silver in the men’s foil and Shona Carey’s
competing in the Crowley Cup during the 25th-27th of
bronze in the women’s sabre on Saturday. They
March in NUI Galway.
capped off the weekend with Modern Pentathlon
Intervarsity Success for Golfers in Sligo
Scholar Arthur Lanigan-O’Keefe’s victory in the men’s epee, as well as Joana Ramalho’s silver in
The UCD golf team enjoyed a spectacular win at the ICGA
the women’s foil. Further success came from UCD
Intervarsity Stroke Team Play event at Enniscrone Golf
alumnus Stephen Concannon, who won gold in the men’s sabre.
www.thecollegetribune.net
18
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Sport
Women’s Hockey Look to Continue Good Form With the Ladies Hockey Club competing in the inter-varsities over the weekend, Captain Megan Tennant Humphreys took time out to discuss the team’s progress with Mark Hobbs. In sport it is often said that winning
and coach that have had little time
league, and Tennant-Humphreys
becomes a habit. In UCD, it seems
together to gel.
Coach Johnny
is looking for a similar result this
to becoming second nature to the
Harte deserves credit for integrating
term: “Our aim is to finish in the
ladies hockey team.
his new charges successfully.
top three or four. Even though
Last Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over
“We are starting from scratch. We
we are a new team we have to try
Old Alexandra saw UCD draw
have a new coach too so everything
and better ourselves.” Certainly
level at the top of the Leinster
is quite new so we’re trying to
their perfect start to the season is
Hockey league alongside Hermes
rebuild from the start,” said Tennant
instilling a belief in the players, and
and Loreto, with the three teams
- Humphreys.
Fortunately, some
is helping to counteract their lack
each emerging with maximum
of the newest players are of the
of experience in some quarters.
points from their opening three
highest calibre. These include three
“Before we started everyone was
games. The victory was completed
freshmen that have been inducted
kind of nervous about how we get
without their international players,
into the elite athlete programme
on but after winning a few games
Humphreys and vice captain and
and the side coped admirably in
at the university; Chloe Watkins,
you get confidence. We just need
academy player Laura Wilson, is
their absence with Laura Wilson
Brenda
Niamh
match practise. The more we play
currently working a treat.
netting the winner. This, coupled
Atcheler. The three athletes are part
together the better we’re going to get.”
Upcoming games against Pembroke
with the teams’ victory in their
of the National set up, and have been
If they are to improve further
Wanderers in the Leinster league and
sole Irish Hockey League game to
quick to distinguish themselves at
then their competition must take
Railway Union in the Irish Hockey
date, means the side have started the
the club. Watkins in particular has
notice, the suggestion that they are
League will prove very important
season with a bang, maintaining a
hit the headlines, scoring five goals
churning out victories while not at
in shaping the team’s ambitions and
one hundred percent record. What
in a single match early in the season.
the top of their game bodes well for
pretensions to silverware for the
makes this run of form even more
Last year the team established
their season. Their current blend of
season. The UCD Ladies Hockey
impressive is that UCD have done
themselves as top level performers
new talent and more experienced
team will hopefully find that some
so with a more or less new team
when finishing fourth in the
older heads, such as Tennant-
habits are very difficult to quit.
Flannery
and
Leinster Division 1 (Women)
P
W D L
Pts
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
3 3 2 4 3 3 2 3 3 4
3 3 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 0
9 9 6 6 6 6 3 0 0 0
University College Dublin Hermes Loreto Old Alexandra Pembroke Wanderers Bray Railway Union Trinity College Corinthian Glenanne
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 2 1 1 1 2 1 2
Peace at Old Trafford? After a week at Old Trafford when football was of secondary interest, Mark Hobbs looks at the implications of the Wayne Rooney saga. A hectic week for Manchester
emerged from this week’s events;
mature as a footballer, and the
the conclusion and have spoke
United may have ended positively
Wayne Rooney.
veteran Scot excels in sheltering
about continuing the successful
with a win inspired by Mexican
While the timeline of events
his charges. He has helped Rooney
partnership, it will be fascinating to
summer signing Javier Chicharito
this week is so complicated and
deal with various scandals; affairs
see if the relationship between the
Hernandez, but it can be assured
confusing that it is not too far
and poor behaviour, and has been
socialist styled Scotsman and the
that the front man will receive little
fetched
various
understanding of the perils of
player that has gone against years
focus in the column inches given
conspiracy theories, if the truth we
youth and fame. Despite ample
of Manchester United culture will
the tumultuous time one of his
have been presented with is correct
opportunity to do so, Ferguson
hold up.
team mates has endured in recent
then Rooney has a lot to answer
never criticised him publicly and
Rooney is a wonderful player, and
weeks.
for. In a normal job to publicly
maintained a level of trust and
on his day he is a talent that can
and
contradict your superior is career
forgiveness. And Rooney thanked
produce moments of magic and
uncertainty came to a head last
suicide. For Rooney to come out
him for this by telling the world he
inspiration. But he has let himself
Tuesday
down in behaving in the manner
Weeks
of
speculation
before
United’s
to
construct
third
on television and tell the world
was essentially a liar.
Champions League game of the
that his manager’s claims that he is
The
English
that he has. Whether fans will still
season, with manager Alex Ferguson
injured are false is obnoxious and
international has just been rewarded
hold him in his heart after essentially
issuing a statement revealing that
disrespectful when one considers
with has not been earned in the
holding their club and adored coach
Wayne Rooney did not intend to
correct manner. The magnitude of
to ransom is unclear.
sign a new contract at the club. A
it has never been witnessed at the
Whatever your opinion or politics
statement from the player himself
football club, and in many ways, it
on the biggest story of the season
confirmed this the following day.
goes against everything the club’s
so far, one thing is for sure; player
So then it has with considerable
ruler has been building for the
power
shock that on Friday the English
last two and a half decades. At
Rooney is a footballer playing at
international became the highest
contract
the
is
unyielding.
Wayne
Manchester United the honour
his worst level for some six or seven
paid player in the club’s history with
what Ferguson (above) has done
and the tradition of the club is
years, is behaving dishonourably
a new five year contract worth a
for him. The former Everton man
paramount at all times, players that
in his professional and private life
reported £160,000 a week before
came to Old Trafford as a raw talent,
have attempted to overshadow
and has just been handed his best
add ons.
and ended last season as one of the
or dishonour it have promptly
contract to date.
While on face value the saga
world’s best footballers, in no part
been shown the door. Rooney has
Sometimes, it seems, the best way
appears to have come to a positive
due to the tutelage of his manager.
apparently been rewarded. While
to win an argument is to shout the
conclusion for all concerned, the
Manchester United is one of
publicly the manager and player
loudest.
truth is that only one winner
the best places a young man can
have both expressed their joy at
www.thecollegetribune.net
October 26th 2010
The College Tribune
| 19
Students Succumb to Scarlet Fever tone for much of the game. Bad
met the back of UCD’s Kilduff,
UCD: Billy Brennan; Sean Harding, Brian Shortall, Evan
touches,
veering into his own net.
McMillan, Michael Kelly; Paul O’Conor (Chris Mulhall
frustrated shots from distance were
The goal meant a nervy finish for
67), Greg Bolger (Stephen Roche 79), Robbie Creevy,
all symptomatic of the first half. At
Sligo, but they held on to claim
Graham Rusk (Dwayne Wilson 67); David McMillan,
times the ball was in a perpetual
an uninspiring win in the Bowl,
Ciaran Kilduff.
Matthew Blinkhorn (46)
state of dispossession around the
on a night when everyone’s mind
Subs not used: Michael Leahy, Ger Barron (gk).
Romauld Boco (48)
middle third of the pitch.
seemed to be elsewhere.
UCD 1 Ciarán Kilduff (86)
Sligo Rovers
2
UCD Bowl League of Ireland Premier Division Patrick Fleming Deep within the spirit of each and every football fan is the indomitable belief that every game is going to be a classic. Unfortunately, Friday’s end of season match between UCD and Sligo Rovers at the UCD Bowl will have plunged into doubt the faith of any and all who witnessed it. Sligo had a third place position in the league and a Europa League place to preserve, but with the glamour of a cup final date with Shamrock Rovers at the shiny new Aviva Stadium to look forward to, the frigid confines of the UCD Bowl seemed to do little to inspire enthusiasm in the Connacht side. From the off, both sides struggled to control a greasy ball and the Students found it difficult to clear their line into a strong breeze. Misplaced passes in the UCD defence early gifted Sligo’s John Russell two opportunities to strike, the first flying straight at Billy Brennan in the UCD goal, and the second forcing the net minder into a nice save down to his left. This poor passage of play set the
blundered
passes
and
It was certainly a shock then, when UCD created by far the best chance of the first half on 30 minutes. Nice passing by Ciarán Kilduff (pictured right) and Robbie Creevy put Paul O’Conor in behind the Sligo defence, but his early shot was met well by Sligo keeper Ciarán Kelly, who blocked it with his chest. If the first half was sloppy, then Sligo’s start to the second was the definition of clinical.
In fact, it
took a mere twelve seconds for the ball to travel from the centre spot to the back of the UCD net. A cross from Romauld Boco on the right wing found the free head of Matthew Blinkhorn (pictured far right), who scored from six yards. The second Sligo goal, two minutes later, followed in the same vein. Cameroonian Joseph Ndo played Boco in on the right, and the Benin international calmly chipped the onrushing Brennan. With the job seemingly done, Sligo sat back and the game fell back into the excruciating pattern of the first half, with Sligo’s physicality just keeping UCD at arm’s length. When UCD did get on the score sheet late on, it was in the cheapest way possible. As Kelly in the Sligo net dawdled on a back pass, his shot
UCD Continue 100% Winning Record in AIL Continued from back page
had a try ruled out for a marginal
was a long way off target and their
Greg Acton
forward pass. This set-back didn’t
poor start to the season continues.
stop the students from continuing
College’s excellent winning streak
On 35 minutes the Donnybrook
to press though, and replacement
goes on and they’ll hope to add
club were temporarily reduced to
James Thornton scored a penalty to
to it this weekend against Belfast
fourteen men when Thomson was
cut the gap to just four points.
Harlequins in Belfield.
sin-binned for not rolling away.
UCD looked the more lively side
Earls slotted the resulting penalty
going into the last quarter and
UCD: Michael Twomey; Andy
leaving the two sides level at the
David Doyle, who must be one of
Boyle, Andy Cummiskey (capt),
break.Wesley started the second half
the most mobile front rows around,
David McSharry, Tom Fletcher;
excellently and despite missing a
scored his second try of the game,
Niall Earls, Rob Shanley; John A
penalty, got their reward with their
fifteen minutes from time. The
Lee, David Doyle, Brian Hall, Brian
second try of the game.
game was put beyond any doubt
Cawley, Mark Flanagan, Shane
Prop Tristan Goodbody managing
when Shanley crossed the line for
Grannell, Richie Bent, Kevin Croke.
to gather Ross Barbour’s kick ahead
College shortly before the final
Replacements: Kieron Moloney,
and get over in the corner, sparking
whistle.
Andy Pollard, Danny Kenny, James
a big cheer from the home fans.
Old Wesley did have a last minute
Thornton, Shane O’Meara, John
College could count themselves a
penalty, which could have rescued
Conroy, Rory Allwright.
bit unlucky when David McSharry
a losing bonus point, but Large
Keith Ward celebrates his hat-trick, PHOTO: David Maher/SPORTSFILE
www.thecollegetribune.net
Football ››
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Story on page 18
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UCD Women off to a flyer
Wayne’s World - Tribune Sport Reviews the Saga
College Tribune
The College Tribune October 26th 2010 www.thecollegetribune.net
Impressive Marian Ease Past Moycullen
Sport Youth of College Triumphs Against Old Wesley Old Wesley
17
UCD 27 Donnybrook AIL Rugby Divison 2 Greg Acton UCD made it three wins from three in the All-Ireland League with an impressive win over Old Wesley at
Above: UCD celebrate their third win of the Season. Below: Daniel James in possession for Marian. PHOTO by Dáire Brennan. throw line. Barry Glover’s low post spin moves and Neil
balanced scoring effort for the Students, while Ambler
Baynes’ athleticism helped the Students to numerous
led all scorers with a personal tally of 26.
easy points in the paint. After the game, coach Fran
UCD hope to keep up their rich vein of form when
Ryan praised what he believes is the “deepest bench” in
they make the short trip across town to DCU Saints
the league, as members of the second unit, Conor James
next week in an intense local derby which the Students
UCD Marian moved to a 3-1 record in the Men’s
and team captain Niall Meany, provided great hustle to
will surely relish.
Irish Basketball Superleague on Saturday night, with a
maintain the unassailable lead. Moycullen had a 5-0
UCD Marian: 5. Conor Meany, 6. Paddy Young ,7.
comfortable win over Moycullen at the Sports Centre.
run to close the half, but that still left the western side
Cathal Finn, 8. Niall Meany (c), 9. Daniel James, 10.
It was a game UCD never looked like losing, as they
58-35 behind.
James Crowder, 12. Barry Glover, 13. Michael Higgins,
showed greater intensity at both ends of the floor than
A much-improved defensive effort from the Tribesmen
14. Neil Baynes, 20. Conor James, 21. Matt Kelly.
their opponents, and had the more potent scorers in
helped to chip slightly away at the Marian lead in the
Barry Glover and James Crowder.
third quarter, though as Coach Ryan pointed out,
Marian coach Fran Ryan pointed to an “amazing” first
“Marian couldn’t keep up the first half intensity” for the
quarter as the foundation for the win, with the Students
duration. Moycullen’s 6’5” American, Mason Ambler,
taking a 35-18 lead which was never relinquished.
was effective on the boards at both ends of the floor
7-0 and 9-0 runs in quick succession put the Galway
and became the focal point of the offense. In addition,
men on the back foot, as UCD pummelled them into
intense half court defence aided their cause by taking
submission. Michael Higgins provided a spark off the
time out of the 24-second offensive shot clock for the
bench with three ‘3’ pointers allowing Marian breathing
Belfield men. Occasionally though, their full court press
space, while James Crowder’s combination of height
was easily broken, particularly by Barry Glover, which
and speed was a key matchup problem for Moycullen
made it nigh-on impossible to affect the scoreboard.
defensively as he went off for thirteen. However, the
Going in to the final quarter, UCD led 78-59.
textbook defence of guard Dan James on 6’4 scorer
The fourth quarter followed much the same pattern.
Cian Nihill was the key factor in slowing down the
Led once more by Ambler, Moycullen had brief periods
Galway team’s offensive rhythm, resulting in bad shot
of pressure but the closest they came was thirteen points
selection and fast break opportunities for Marian, which
off the UCD total. Niall Meany kept up the energetic
they duly executed.
performance, particularly on the offensive glass. The
A 6-0 run midway through the second quarter extended
game petered out with a score line of 95-79. Barry
Marian’s lead, as Moycullen struggled from the free
Glover and James Crowder combined for 39 points in a
UCD Marian
95
Moycullen 79 Conall Devlin
Donnybrook on Friday night. Late tries from David Doyle and Rob Shanley sealed a hard-fought victory for the students. Old Wesley started well and looked the more likely to cross the whitewash, but the UCD defence stood firm, ensuring that Wesley got little reward on the scoreboard for their early pressure. The first clear chance for points fell to Wesley’s full-back Alan Large, but he put his penalty attempt wide of the posts. It was the students that broke the deadlock when hooker David Doyle crossed the line on fifteen minutes, showing good pace after intercepting a pass near his own 22. It wasn’t long though before Old Wesley responded, and they did it with style as a brilliant move resulted in Alan Thomson scoring for the home side. Large converted and shortly after had an opportunity for three more points. This time he made no mistake with the penalty and Wesley led 10-7.
Full report page 19
UCD Try scorer Rob Shanley