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UCDSU Switches Tactics On Residences Masterplan Cian Carton | Editor
• • •
U
UCDSU have being voicing concerns with UCD management. Council ‘broadly’ approves of overall plan. An Bord Pleanalá to make decision by January 2018.
CD Students’ Union (UCDSU) has altered its approach towards UCD’s attempt to build additional on-campus accommodation. The university is pushing ahead with its plan to build over 3,000 rooms as part of its Residences Masterplan. UCD recently paid the maximum €80,000 application fee to bring the Strategic Housing Development application to An Bord Pleanála, which is a new method designed to fast-track planning applications for large scale residential and student accommodation projects. Planning applications have an observation period during which interested parties can make submissions to the Planning Authority. UCDSU made submissions earlier this year when
UCD applied for permission to build extensions to O’Reilly Hall and the Quinn School of Business. Barry Murphy, UCDSU Acting President, told the Tribune they did not make any submission to the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council this time ‘as the previous observation was not entertained’ and ‘our concerns are being listened to now by talking to UCD management directly’ and also with EY, the financial overseers of the plan. Murphy stated there was ‘a lot of reservations over the initial observation by [former UCDSU President] Conor Viscardi.’ When asked if the change in approach was due to Viscardi’s advice, Murphy said that Viscardi carried out the Presidential handover with Katie Ascough, and so he was unaware what advice he gave her about the issue.
Murphy explained that one of their main concerns was that ‘students should be given the opportunity to get a cheaper room. When the rooms are being built, they shouldn’t all be ensuite, they shouldn’t all be double beds or large rooms. They should be smaller rooms available for students sharing a bathroom with two or three others, like there is in Belgrove and Merville.’ UCD is seeking a 10-year permission grant for the project. The plan entails the creation of 3,006 residential bed spaces, including apartments, studios, and residence halls, accompanied by a retail service space. The area reserved for development is 98,275 square metres, over a partial basement of 21,437sqm. UCD wants to demolish 5,291sqm of buildings near Roebuck Castle, a protected structure, to make way for the project. Continued on page 3.
Issue 05 Volume 31
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0531
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Cian Carton Rachel O’Neill
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Politics. Aaron Bowman Features. Rachel O’Neill Film. Muireann O’Shea & Ciara Dillon Music. Adam Bielenberg Fashion. Shannon Doherty Arts. Holly Lloyd LifeStyle. Ciara Landy
Editorial. Rachel O’Neill Editor
S
ince our last issue and at the time of writing, Barry Murphy and Rebecca Hart have declared themselves as candidates in the Presidential By Election. As well as that we have FOCC UCDSU petitioning to make membership of the SU optional. Firstly, there’s no getting away from the fact that the SU has suffered horrific reputational damage this year between the impeachment of Katie Ascough, the reprint and everything in between. Students are sick to death of being asked to vote on things, particularly when they’ll have to go to the polls in March again to vote in a new SU. Perhaps a one horse race for the election mightn’t have been a bad idea. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in the democratic process but I also believe that students if not apathetic about our SU already are about to become more apathetic. Secondly, the petition to make SU membership optional at the time of writing has yet to be handed it. FOCC’s goal of having the
referendum on the same day as the Presidential By Election has not come to pass meaning the argument about wasting more SU money can most certainly be made. What isn’t being made clear in my view is that you can already disaffiliate from the SU by writing a letter to the President. Disaffiliation means you can still access SU services but you’re still going to have to pay the fee. The SU isn’t bulk funded by that charge on your fees. In fact, all of that money goes to a committee who decides how much each society gets as well as the SU. Finally, when asked when the petition was going to be handed in FOCC replied ‘Members of the campaign - once they have recovered from the shock of the announcement two days ago - will convene and discuss if indeed our work here is done. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Mr Murphy will become the greatest friend of the FOCC UCD SU Campaign.’ This is going to be a long, long campaign.
Cian Carton Editor
T
he lead piece in this issue of the Tribune covers the latest developments in UCD’s attempt to build more on-campus accommodation for students. While it is long-term issue, is has been has been subject to continual twists and turns over the past few months. The application is somewhat of a test case for a new development in planning law. Given the lack of accommodation countrywide, the new law is aimed at speeding up the planning process. Its operation has come in for criticism, some of which may be justified. Normally, a planning application is made to the local Planning Authority. In UCD’s case, it is the Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council who makes the decision. If an application is rejected, an applicant can make another one, or bring an appeal to An Bord Pleanála within four weeks of the decision. An appeal before it is normally the final stage in an application. There is the ability to go to the High Court to bring a judicial review action, but that discussion is for another day. The Planning and Develop-
ment (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 created a special route, now in force by a Ministerial Commencement Order, for applicants to bypass their local council and go straight to An Bord Pleanála when they want to build over 100 homes or 200 student spaces. Once the Bord, developer and Council have a pre-application consultation, and the application is made, there is a fourmonth period for it to make a decision. In planning terms, this is a very quick process. UCD’s application is one of its biggest ever building projects. Given the scope of the application, it could easily be rejected under the normal process. Based on the Council’s pre-application report, it seemed likely the two sides would clash on the size of some of the buildings, and the always controversial issue of parking. UCD’s final application includes information designed to address some of these concerns, but it remains to be seen whether it is enough to convince the decision makers. Whatever the outcome in January 2018, there will be plenty more twists and turns to come.
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Medicinal Cannabis; a History.
The Layout & Plan
I
n contrast to the spread of Residences around campus, the plan sets out seven blocks, centred around a Fulcrum Building. Block A will be between 5 to 7 storeys, with 75 apartments consisting of 478 beds, and 2 shops. Block B will be between 5 to 7 storeys, with 67 apartments consisting of 390 beds. Block C will be between 5 to 7 storeys, with 57 apartments consisting of 386 beds. Block D will be between 6 to 7 storeys, with 49 apartments and 12 residence halls consisting of 452 beds. Block E will be between 5 to 7 storeys, with 67 apartments consisting of 412 beds. Block F will be arranged as 3 distinct buildings, comprising of 6 to 8 storeys, with 111 apartments, 12 residence halls and a studio apartment consisting of 828 beds, with a shop on the ground floor. All of the Blocks will contain lounge areas, study rooms, and laundry facilities. The Fulcrum Building will range in height from 2 to 7 storeys, with 60 studio apartments, consisting of 60 beds. The Building will also have a range of facilities designed to make it a hub on campus. There is a planned Auditorium with 290 seats, and a Dining Hall with 144 seats. The Building will have room for 4 small shops, a larger convenience store, a fitness suite, a Student Health and Well-Being Centre, a UCD Residents' Contact Centre, and further ancillary facilities. UCD is also seeking to build just under 1,000 extra car parking spaces. 637 car spaces are to be located at basement level of the Blocks, with 32 at surface level. It wants to extend the car park beside Belgrove with another 225 spots to the south-west of the Residence, while adding another 100 spaces adjacent to the Sutherland School of Law. Bicycle parking spaces are estimated at 510 spaces at basement level, with 1,594 at surface level, totalling 2,104 spaces. UCD wants to carry out the project over three phases, beginning with the construction of the Fulcrum Building, and Blocks D and E. Blocks A, B, and C will be built for Phase 2. The biggest challenge is the construction of Block F for Phase 3, which requires demolition work on a number of buildings to clear the way. Buildings selected for demolition are the Roebuck Offices (a former Residence Building), the modern extension to Roebuck Castle, the Southern Courtyard Range, the former Chapel, outbuildings and the UCD Confucius Institute building. The new Confucius Institute is currently being constructed near the lake in UCD. No further works are proposed to Roebuck Castle, Crannog Lodge, or Glebe Lodge, which is also a protected structure. UCD President Andrew Deeks used his Presidential Bulletin on the 26th of September to hit back at initial reports of UCD’s plan. Deeks revealed that Simon Coveney, then Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, had ‘strongly encouraged us to
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follow this particular planning path.’ He stated that UCD had carried out significant consultations with the Council and nearby residents to ‘mitigate any concerns they may have.’ He also added that ‘contrary to some of the reporting, we will not be demolishing any protected structures, and have applied for a modest increase in parking spaces on the campus as part of the Master Plan.’
The Council’s Report
The Council produced its own report based on UCD’s application. The Council’s report was signed off by Gormla O’Corrain, Executive Planner, and Shane Sheehy, Senior Executive Planner. Paragraph 2.2.4 of the report states there are ‘no objections to the principle of providing a significant quantum of additional student accommodation’ in UCD. The proposed tall buildings are ‘acceptable and desirable according to the Council’s policy framework.’ The proposed layout and architectural designs are ‘considered broadly acceptable.’ The Council noted that 1 car space per 20 student beds is applicable, so a maximum of 150 spaces are ‘specifically justified’ for the purpose of student housing. The number of additional spaces sought could undermine UCD’s own Travel Plan 2016-2026. It suggested that UCD should consider omitting the application for 225 spaces at Little Sisters, and 100 at the Law School. Justification is needed for the proposed location and reasoning behind the need for an additional 200 spaces during the construction phase. Block F was singled out for a number of reasons. The Council approved of planned demolitions to the extensions on Roebuck Castle as it presents a chance to ‘enhance the setting, amenity and presence’ of the structure. However, the 3 buildings of Block F fail to integrate with Roebuck. Blocks F1 and F2 are ‘considered contextually misplaced’ and have an ‘overpowering, overbearing impact
Gaeilge.
p.29 Brasaíleach ag foghlaim na Gaeilge?
on the setting, amenity and appreciation’ of Roebuck Castle. It recommended a reduced height and increased distance between them and the protected structures.
The Law New planning laws, which came into effect this July, allows developers with projects consisting of over 100 residential units, or 200 plus student bed spaces, to apply directly to An Bord Pleanála for permission. The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 created the ability for such actions. Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, signed the Commencement Order and Ministerial Regulations to bring it into effect. The Regulations, which are designed to help speed up the planning process, set out a twostage process. First, An Bord Pleanála carries out pre-application consultations with the developer and local planning authority. Once an application is made, the Bord has 16 weeks to make a decision. The new Regulations are in force until December 2019, but can be extended until December 2021. The regulations are a benefit to UCD, and others who want to develop student accommodation around the country. The cost of on-campus accommodation has always been a controversial issue. The Tribune reported in Issue 1 that rent hikes had no impact on the demand for them. Looking towards the future, Barry Murphy concluded that while ‘purpose-built student accommodation is the way forward’, ‘it’s not fair to take advantage of the other way by charging extortionate prices for rooms. I think UCD’s approach is to house less students charging them more than more students charging them less, and it works in their favour because it’s less insurance, less staff needed.’ All sides are currently waiting on An Bord Pleanála to make a decision on the application, which is due by the 19th of January 2018.
Turbine
p.32 World leaders hold charity car wash for Magalauf trip.
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UCD Sports Clubs RoundUp.
UCDNEWS.
Barry Murphy: ‘I Can’t See How They’re Planning to Enforce the Smoking Ban.’ Cian Carton Editor
B
arry Murphy, UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) Acting President, has expressed doubt over the feasibility of UCD’s SmokeFree Campus Policy. Murphy explained that ‘our view on it is that students should be allowed to smoke wherever they want to, as long as it’s away from certain entrances, [I] honestly don’t think the whole smoke-free campus thing is going to work, unless they’re going to be escorting students off of campus, and I don’t think they’re really going to do that. I can’t see it being enforced.’ The Policy states that ‘defined areas of its campuses are smoke-free and that smoking and vaping/e-smoking in all forms is prohibited in these areas.’ Phase One was implemented in September 2015. Smoke-free zones within 10 metres of all building
entrances and in prescribed areas, which included the UCD James Joyce Library colonnades, the front of the O’Brien Centre for Science, the front of Newman building, the front of UCD Sutherland School for Law, and the front of UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business. Smoke-free zones were then extended to the ‘core built-up areas’ of Belfield and Blackrock in September 2016, as part of Phase Two. Based on the map UCD drew up for this phase, smoking is banned around virtually every building on campus. Phase Three, introduced this September, extended the ban to include ‘the campus commuting hubs, carparks and pedestrian routes to and from commuting facilities.’ The Policy calls for community enforcement. Murphy said that ‘we don’t really understand what they mean
by community enforcement. There has been no sign of Campus Services getting involved, and no sign of anyone like security getting involved.’ When the Tribune mentioned the voice recorder outside Newman that used to play a ‘no smoking’ message, Murphy replied, ‘I don’t know whether that’s gone by choice or just running out of battery.’ UCDSU is in ‘regular contact’ with Brian Mullins and Healthy UCD, who are championing the project. He explained how UCDSU are working with Healthy UCD on a number of issues, and noted that ‘our Welfare
Officer Eoghan has lots of students coming into him. Some of those student cases would involve students who are trying their best to give up smoking.’ Murphy spoke about encouraging a ‘happy medium’ of promoting a healthy lifestyle, while also helping students to have fun. From the staff perspective, UCD has been promoting six-week smoking cessation courses nearby in St. Vincent’s Hospital. One ran from the middle of September to the end of October. Another course began on the 6th of November. Ailsa from the Smoking Service at the
Hospital told the Tribune that ‘we have certainly been receiving a lot of enquiries and sign-ups from UCD over the last few courses so it seems to be quite popular, I can’t for certain say if this has increased as it’s not information that we routinely record.’ Staff were also informed that the Procare Pharmacy in the Student Centre was offering a 30% discount on their nicotine replacement range until the 1st of December 2017. The staff Ezine stated the discount ‘covers Nicorette Patches, Gum and Quickmist as well as Niquitin Lozenges.’ Enda Phelan, a pharmacist at Procare Pharmacy in UCD, confirmed they were offering a ‘30% discount across our NRT range’ as part of their support for UCD’s SmokeFree Campus policy. Phelan told the Tribune that while he had not ‘looked at the recent sales figures yet’, he noted that ‘when we offered this discount last semester we saw a 67% increase in demand for NRT products, so hopefully it is helping students and staff in their efforts to quit smoking.’ When the Tribune mentioned this to Murphy, he said he was unaware of the Pharmacy’s offer, but would pass on the message to students.
Planning Permission Granted for NovaUCD Expansion Cian Carton Editor
T
he Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has granted planning permission for the proposed expansion of NovaUCD. The home of UCD’s startups, located in the historical Merville House, is near full capacity and in need of extra space. UCD is going to demolish the south wing of Merville House and replace it with a new two-storey structure, while carrying out renovation work in the other three wings. The expansion will add another 1,066 square metres of floor space to the building, just over 100 sqm smaller than the original proposal. Planning permission has been granted, subject to 20 conditions. Parking is at the forefront of the conditions. Before work begins, the Council wants an unauthorised car parking area near the site discontinued, and wants to see www.collegetribune.ie
‘revised drawings and details’ for the ‘written agreement of the Planning Authority showing the proposed and existing development served by a maximum of fifty-five car parking spaces.’ Since the building is a protected structure, compliance conditions designed to protect its historical and architectural heritage are included. UCD needs to photograph the roof before altering the slates, while the re-slating process is to be carried out using the roof’s own salvaged slates. Issue 2 of the Tribune covered UCD’s second application to expand the site. The original application was rejected for straying too close to land reserved for the Dublin Eastern Bypass Corridor project. Before work begins, UCD must contact the Council to ‘set out and agree the line’ of the Dublin Eastern Bypass Road Reservation Corridor. On the financial side, UCD must lodge
a €50,000 Tree and Hedgerow Bond with the Council. UCD must pay the Council €2,169.76 for expenditure incurred for the provision of Surface Water Public Infrastructure and Facilities. It must also pay € 49,734.08 to the Council as a contribution towards expenditure that was or is proposed to be incurred by the Planning Authority in respect of the ‘provision of the Roads Public Infrastructure and Facilities benefiting development in the area of the Authority.’ A further €32,273.76 is for the Planning Authority as a contribution towards expenditure that was or is proposed to be incurred by the Planning Authority in respect of the ‘provision of the Community & Parks Public Infrastructure, Facilities and Amenities benefiting development in the area of the Authority.’ There must also be an agreement between the sides, in writing, over UCD’s payment of development contributions. 0531
UCDNEWS.
UCD’s Australian Alumni Network Increased Ten-Fold Over the Past Year Cian Carton Editor
U
CD President Andrew Deeks has revealed there has been a ten-fold increase in the number of registered UCD alumni with Australian addresses on UCD’s alumni database. The news broke as Deeks returned to UCD from his childhood country, following UCD’s first ever alumni events in Australia. Last year, there were 200 registered UCD alumni living in Australia. Deeks said that due to the ‘hard work by Nicole Black and her team in the Alumni Development Office and LinkedIn, that number has now expanded to approximately 2,500. From the conversations we have had while in Australia, that
number is probably only the tip of the iceberg.’ Black explained to the Tribune how the work was carried out. They ran a social media campaign ‘in-house which focused on connecting with our alumni through Facebook and LinkedIn primarily.’ This was complemented with a ‘where are you now’ e-mails and also a direct mail campaign. The Foundation contacted ‘all the Irish-Australian networks in Australia (this included the Irish Embassy) and asked them to reach out to their members on our behalf to see if any were UCD alumni – and asked them to update their details with us if they were. Finally we asked any of our on the ground
alumni that we knew were in Australia to reach out to any of the contacts that they knew and asked them to update their details with us.’ Deeks’ trip to Australia saw him visit Perth and Melbourne, before ending in Sydney at the end of October. He attended events at the University of Western Australia, the University of Melbourne, Deakin University, the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, and the Australian National University. The main events in the tour
were the reception evenings, with one held in each city. An estimated 300 alumni attended the three receptions. Deeks described them as ‘the most successful we have held outside of Ireland, excepting the US and the UK’, and claimed there was a ‘great interest amongst the participants in helping to grow the UCD network in Australia.’ Attendees at the events ‘ranged from graduates of 60 years standing to students currently enrolled with UCD but spending a semester with one of our Australian part-
ner institutions.’ They got to watch the UCD highlights video for 2016/2017. Deeks told staff that ‘attendees commented positively on the combination of the social, academic and update dimensions of the events.’ Black said the event ‘provided a very important opportunity for alumni to meet and mingle with other members of their exclusive alumni network.’ Deeks recalled that he gave an address in Perth on ‘Current Challenges and Opportunities for Irish Higher Education and for UCD’, and took part in panel discussions on ‘The View from Australia on Brexit’ in Melbourne, and ‘Challenges in Diversity’ in Sydney. tDeeks was accompanied on the tour by a number of academics and administrators, including Colin Scott, Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Professor David Fitzpatrick, Principal of UCD College of Engineering and Architecture, and Provost of the Beijing-Dublin International College (BDIC). UCD Alumni was represented by Black, and Sinead Dolan, the Associate Director of Alumni Relations.
UCDSU Launches Environmental Survey Audrey Cooney News Writer
U
CD Students’ Union (UCDSU) has unveiled an online survey to assess the environmental habits of students, teachers, and on-campus businesses. The survey asks students for their opinion on a number of environmental issues, such as how well they believe UCD is managing its environmental impact and which environmental issues, like recycling and excessive paper usage, the university should do more to address. Questions also involve students’ own efforts to lessen their own carbon footprint by doing things like riding a bike to campus, or using reusable mugs. Additionally, it asks students to evaluate how well they believe on-campus eateries are alleviating their impact on the environment. ‘We hear something or other almost every week about global warming and the likes, and obviously it is a huge issue facing our generation,’ Shane Grogan, then the UCDSU Environmental Coordinator, told the Tribune this past February. ‘Ensuring the safety of our environment and the students to come is something we care deeply about.’ The survey is a follow-up to one in March, in which 89
15.11.2017
percent of student respondents said the university was not doing enough to protect the environment. With this new survey, UCDSU is attempting to gain a clearer understanding of what the biggest environmental problems on campus are, and what changes students believe should be made. Students who participate in the survey will be entered automatically into a raffle to win a bicycle from the Belfield Bike Shop. In the past, UCDSU has had other initiatives to lessen the university’s environmental impact, including encouraging students to carpool when they go home on the weekends and creating ‘Bike Day’ to promote cycling and bicycle safety. They have also attempted to install recycling bins around campus. Grogan previously explained to the Tribune that UCDSU had encountered difficulties in getting the wider student body involved in their efforts. He noted it was it was hard to promote green initiatives like recycling, without using excess paper, which would have been incongruous with their p.32 efforts. p.30 Students were also reluctant to engage with UCDSU campaigns promoted over social media. ‘We hope that will change in the near future but for now we are just working away behind the scenes,’ he concluded.
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UCDNEWS.
UCD and China: Visits and Events Roundup for 2017 Cian Carton Editor
T
he College Tribune has been recently reporting on UCD President Andrew Deeks’ alumni tours to Australia and China. While UCD’s links with China have grown over the past number of years, Deeks has been accelerating these developments. Information about his visits, or his itinerary in general, can be hard to find, especially for students. Fortunately, Deeks normally informs staff of his trips in his Presidential Bulletins. Since this is the last issue of 2017, here is a brief account of UCD’s Chinese dealings and visits over the earlier part of the year.
End of 2016
Correspondence between Deeks and Richard Bruton, Minister for Education and Skills, in September 2016, over the Minister’s Education Trade Mission to China, revealed there were 686 Chinese students studying in UCD and 1,015 Chinese students studying at BDIC. There were a further 81 Chinese exchange students in UCD, with 25 UCD students on exchange in China. UCD signed an agreement in October with the Beijing University of Technology for the next phase of the Beijing Dublin International College (BDIC) project. Deeks then headed to BDIC for a conference, where he noted that ‘innovation and entrepreneurship are currently high on China’s political agenda, and we are well placed to take advantage of this.’
January
Deeks attended an Asia Matters lunchtime event, which featured a presentation from UCD alumnus, and current Irish Ambassador to China, H.E. Paul Kavanagh, on the ‘opportunities for Ireland in Asia generated by Brexit.’ Deeks noted that the ‘changing world political environment will only strengthen our position and present us with new opportunities.’
February Dolores O’Riordan, Vice-President for Global Engagement, was off to the Chinese Spring Festival Gala at the Convention Centre for Chinese New Year. Performers included the Irish/Chinese Youth Concert Organisation, UCD Confucius Institute, Jiani Chinese Zither Studio of Irish Chinese Arts Centre, and the China Ethnic Song and Dance Ensemble. Deeks noted that Professor Liming Wang and the team at the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland organised the event.
April Dr Xiaoyong Yue, the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, visited UCD to give a talk to staff and students on the development and transformation of China since 1978. The event was hosted by the UCD School of Politics and International Relations, the School of Economics, and the UCD Confucius Institute in Ireland, alongside student societies, including the UCD Chinese Students and Scholars Association, the UCD Economics Society, and the UCD Politics and International Relations Society.
May
Deeks was back in China as part of the Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council delegation to the 2017 www.collegetribune.ie
Image Above President Deeks with the Chinese Ambassador in September 2016 at the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the Confuscius Institute in UCD.
Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair. He gave a presentation to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit of Elite Universities, in which he covered the ‘innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem’ in UCD. In a reflective tone, Deeks stated, ‘I think the combination we have of Nova UCD, Nexus UCD, the UCD Innovation Academy and the UCD Cantillon Research Centre for Entrepreneurship, Design and Innovation, coupled with our €60 million University Bridge Fund, gives us a unique innovation environment spanning education, research and commercialisation activities.’ His most revealing observation was the sentence, ‘I saw nothing presented by other ‘elite’ universities to match the comprehensive environment we have here at UCD.’ Cormac Devlin, Cathaoirleach of the Council, signed an agreement with the Mayor of Chengdu for ‘Establishing Friendly Cooperative Relations’, which Deeks noted was ‘the first step to sister city status.’ Deeks went on to a colloquium on Citations, Impact and Rankings organised by the University of Hong Kong. He gave a keynote presentation on ‘Challenges for Ranking Metrics’ and took part in a panel discussion. Deeks commented that he ‘made the point that ranking metrics must be relevant, robust and consistent, and then showed that the metrics currently used in the popular university rankings fail on at least one of these criteria. In particular I showed there was very little correlation between the two measures used by the Times Higher Education to measure research, and that the most consistent measure used in the QS ranking is actually the reputation survey, rather than the formal metrics.’ Deeks was asked at the discussion about the extent to which rankings should be allowed to shape university strategy. His reply; ‘a university should set its strategy in terms of the objectives it considers to be important, and to use its own KPIs and management information to measure progress towards these objectives. If the rankings are valid, then they will
reflect the advance of the university. Of course, if there are minor tweaks that can be done to optimise ranking performance, then these should be done, but the overall direction of the university should not be dictated by rankings. This is exactly the approach we are taking at UCD.’
June Deeks met His Excellency Mr Hu Chunhua, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Secretary (equivalent to Governor) of the Guangdong Province, who visited UCD as part of a four day visit to Ireland. Deeks said he was told ‘this was the largest official delegation received by Ireland from China, which is an indication of Mr Hu’s status.’ The Secretary, alongside Richard Bruton, watched him sign a Letter of Intent with the President of South China Agricultural University, to further explore strategic relationships between the two universities.’ Deeks noted it will involve talks about ‘the future development of joint UCD-SCAU academic programmes in areas such as agri-food science, plant biology, life science, horticulture and agricultural economics.’
July Deeks headed for Chongqing University, where he signed an agreement for a joint Masters programme with UCD’s School of Business. He discussed their applications to the SFI-NSFC (National Science Foundation China) partnership programme. He attended the conferring ceremony at BDIC, then hosted a reception for incoming Chinese students, and also visited the Yen Ching Academy at Peking University. Also on the agenda was a meeting with the Deputy Secretary General of the China Education Association for International Exchanges (CEAIE), to discuss ‘changes in Chinese policies for cross-border education, review and quality assurance for jointprogrammes/joint-colleges.’ 0531
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Politics.
Why #MeToo Matters Lorna Staines
www.collegetribune.ie
how he knew we wanted him. I remembered the times in clubs where all I could feel were people grabbing me and when I got upset was told ‘that’s part of clubbing’. I remembered the countless times I’d been yelled at, assessed and told to smile more by strangers as I walked by. These were all so part of my routine though, so to see people use these experiences for #metoo felt wrong. It felt like calling it sexual harassment in some way devalued what I saw as real victims. This was then mirrored to me by a friend talking about her own sexual assault and if it related to #metoo. For her she felt she couldn’t say it was as he hadn’t done the ‘physical part’ only the emotional meaning he had repeatedly pressured her and ignored her saying no, but he hadn’t raped her. As a
result my friend also devalued her experiences as not really what #metoo was about. Our society has a very specific concept of what a rape is and what victims of rape are; it is a sober woman alone in her home at night, attacked by a man who broke in. The more you vary from that e.g. You being drunk, or it being your boyfriend or it being a man who is attacked- the less people agree on the term of rape. This singular image is what we accept as bad. All variables of that are less widely believed in a public sphere, so by extent seen as less legitimate. This primary harm of a singular legitimate attacker and that other victims are less believable, is a far reaching and damaging harm in itself, but it has a second harm. When we have one idea of what a real
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It is not just a campaign highlighting prevalence, it is a campaign that stresses that any form of sexual harassment is harmful and wrong.
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he #metoo campaign was a campaign that happened in the wake of the Weinstein allegations about his decades of harassment and assault of women In Hollywood. It was a campaign to show the prevalence of such harassment, but in the end it I believe achieved much more. When it began it was a campaign that I respected people for sharing about their experiences with sexual harassment. However, I didn’t feel I could relate to it. For me I felt like I was one of the fortunate ones who had avoided these forms of sexual assault and harassment. Then I remembered that a week before a man had followed myself and a friend down the street yelling at us to talk to him and saying
rape is and devalue anything that differs, we also devalue other forms of assault and harassment. Because the ultimate bad hasn’t happened, people who experience sexual assault and harassment view their experiences as invalid. It’s how my friend could believe her assault wasn’t really an assault and I could view my harassment as normal. The end of both those thoughts are ‘.. because I wasn’t raped’. Because the accepted image of harm hasn’t happened, we mitigate and reject the harms that occur from these forms of sexual harassment and assault. That is why the #metoo is such an important campaign, it is not just a campaign highlighting prevalence, it is a campaign that stresses that any form of sexual harassment is harmful and wrong. The Weinstein allegations and stories around others in Hollywood are not broadly stories of that singular image of rape. They are stories that show how systemic acceptance of sexual harassment and assault led to many people being harmed and permanently scarred. The victims who came forward about these assaults were often long out of the time when they are able to press charges, and many had gone onto long successful careers after the incidents, their lives hadn’t stopped after this event. But they came forward because these events had caused meaningful harm to them that they were still dealing with, they couldn’t get legal justice but still wanted a form of social justice for events that had harmed and impacted them. The #metoo campaign takes that introspection that Hollywood is having to face and places it in our daily lives. For those who share, they deserve nothing but respect, but what about those of us who don’t ? I would say we are who benefits more, for every brave person who posts they are breaking down that singular image, they are affording all of us a chance to see our own experiences mirrored and accepted for what they are - sexual violence. It comes in verbal, emotional and physical form, and it is not any more okay just because they stopped short of rape. In order to address a culture of victim blaming and passive acceptance, we need to start redefining our assumptions, because it ultimately only helps the perpetrators. It is something I still struggle to accept as being wrong and even as I write I think of all the women and men who I know have experienced worse things than I have, but that doesn’t mean what happens to me is okay. So for now #metoo. 0531
Politics.
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Features.
The SAVI Report: A Student Issue
Impact
That however, was 15 years ago when we knew less about sexual violence, domestic violence and how many people it really affects across the country. 15
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years on and with the data now obsolete the Irish government is refusing to invest the €1 million required to carry out a second SAVI report. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he would rather invest in frontline services than research.To me that is putting the cart before the horse. How can you adequately fund services if you don’t know which services people need? The government wouldn’t use 15 year old housing data to design their new housing policy so why do the same for these services? As Mary-Lou McDonald of Sinn Féin pointed out, if our Taoiseach was willing to put €5 million into his Strategic Communications Unit, he should be willing to put 20%of that into a second SAVI report. Knowledge as they say is power and knowledge and understanding is what the first SAVI report provided. The first SAVI report in 2002 showed that 1 in 5 women experienced contact sexual
abuse in childhood while 1 in 6 men experienced the same. It also showed that 1 in 5 women experienced contact sexual assault in adulthood with 1 in 10 men experiencing the same. Approximately a third of all men and women will experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. These were damning statistics in 2002 and they’re still damning today. Before the SAVI report, any data on sexual violence was gathered by the number of victims who reported to the Gardaí. As we known even today, those numbers are low with just 1 in 10 victims reporting to the Gardaí. The prosecution rate of these reported sexual assaults is incredibly low with just 1% of reported assaults ending in conviction. Even if convicted many sentences are lenient as Tom Humphries recent concurrent sentences of 2 and a half years for defilement of a child and four counts of inviting a child to participate in a sexually explicit, obscene or indecent act show. These statistics from the SAVI report allowed services like the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and the HSE to adjust their services to better serve the needs of victims. It allowed them to focus their efforts and money on programmes that helped more victims. It was a way to fight back against sexual abuse and violence which for so long had remained a taboo topic in Ireland. As Roseanna Shanahan of Consent at UCD said ‘To not fund this report shows that the government is simply ignoring this issue and are burying their heads in the sand in a way that is completely disrespectful to anyone who has experienced assault or rape. It’s time for Ireland to own up to its rape culture. In order for Ireland to overcome this issue in the future, we
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Ireland has a horrendous rape culture and the incidences of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape are alarming.
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n 2002, a report was published in Ireland called Sexual Abuse and Violence (SAVI). It was a groundbreaking report funded by Atlantic Philanthropies which documented the vast scale of sexual violence experienced by over 3,000 adults in relation to age and gender in Ireland. It was the first report of its kind and was commissioned by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and was described as ‘groundbreaking’ at the time. It was particularly important as it focused both on the responses of those abused, but also on the attitudes and perceptions of the general public to sexual violence, something which has been rarely documented before.
Rachel O’Neill Editor
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1%
The amount of reported sexual assaults that end in conviction.
and rape are alarming. But without proper up to date statistics how can we possibly realize the severity of this issue or address it?’ People have been calling for a second SAVI report for a number of years now. In 2009 Sinn Féin’s then Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called on the Government to undertake to complete a new SAVI report. In 2014, former Chief Executive of the DRCC Ellen O’Malley Dunlop called for a second SAVI on the back of their report which showed their helpline had fielded the highest number of calls since 2009. That report also highlighted the increased use of social media in abuse which of course the first SAVI report would not have covered. Increased use of social media particularly for children and teenagers has led to an increased vulnerability for abuse such as revenge porn or images and videos of assaults being shared around via social media. A second SAVI report would aid the understanding of how social media is being weaponised by abusers and how many victims are being affected by it as a second form of abuse.
Student Campaign
need to realize how bad it is in the first place, meaning we need definite up to date statistics.’
Government Resistance So why are the government refusing to fund a second SAVI report? Well simply put, they don’t believe we need one. Simon Coveney when asked why money wasn’t set aside in this year’s budget for a second SAVI report said ‘The issue is whether or not we should now prioritise spend on further research to build on that which is already there but outdated. I will take my advice from the experts in this area through the Department. If trying to find €1 million for this research is the right thing to do, the government will do it’. The government has also stated that a European study on domestic violence carried out in 2014 gave the government enough statistics for them to work with. This report found that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence 15.11.2017
and yet funding for services like the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has still yet to increase to pre recession levels. In fact between 2007 and 2014 it was cut by 34% which suggests that the ‘balance’ the Department of Justice wants to strike between research and funding front like services is not being struck at all. That being said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has asked ministers if Irish statistics on sexual violence are adequate or if new research needs to be carried out. Given it would cost €250,000 from each of the Departments of Justice, Health, Education and Children and Youth Affairs to carry out a new SAVI report, the government should make good on that promise if they are in any way decent or caring. As Roseanna explains ‘For the government to turn around and not fund the DRCC to carry out another SAVI report is a massive slap in the face to the Irish people. Ireland has a horrendous rape culture and the incidences of sexual harassment, sexual assault
So why is a second SAVI report a student issue? Well according to a report in 2013 from the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, 26% of perpetrators of sexual assault were aged 20-26 with 21% aged under 20. 26% of survivors were aged between 20-29 with 12% aged under 20. Sexual assault, sexual violence and domestic abuse are not just a student issue, they’re a national issue so it is only right that students should be campaigning for a second SAVI report as much as anybody else. According to our current Campaigns &Communications Officer/Acting President Barry Murphy, UCDSU are planning to set the pace for UCD students by putting forward a motion during their next council meeting on November 13th to campaign for a second SAVI report. Speaking to the Tribune he said ‘We feel like it is of huge importance to Irish society that this [second report] is released.’ When asked why he explained ‘We feel like a 2nd SAVI report is vital to understanding the changes in Irish culture regarding sexual violence over the last few years. While we hope the findings of a 2nd report will be an improvement on those of the first, we feel like it will better emphasise the increased funding needed to help support the victims of sexual violence. The increased funding will also help to prevent anything like this happening to Irish citizens in future.’ It’s both reassuring and strange when your SU is more forward thinking than your actual government isn’t it? As well as that UCDSU will be supporting Consent at UCD’s campaign ‘16 Days of Activism’. The campaign which will take place from November 25th to December 10th will focus on sexual coercion. ‘This year we are going with
the theme of sexual coercion. To do this we have created posters that challenge what Irish students would consider being normal, posters that reflect on what we have heard being used in our time in UCD, for example, people passing remarks like ‘I didn’t know you were such a prude’ or ‘You came back to mine after a night out, what did you expect was going to happen?’ explains Roseanna. ‘Rape culture has become so entrenched in Irish society that we have come to normalize how we speak about sexual coercion, however, sexual coercion is, in fact, sexual harassment which can lead to people feeling pressured into having sex due to manipulation. A yes to sex isn’t a yes if you have to coerce and manipulate someone to change their no into a yes!’ As for the second SAVI report, Murphy is eager for students to get involved in campaigning. ‘UCDSU can lobby politicians to ask them to seek funding to allow the second SAVI report. Similarly to our Housing Campaign this will extend from the norm of sending letters and contacting politicians directly. We will aim towards getting students to contact their own TDs, getting them in engaged in our efforts. UCD students can be part of this. They can volunteer with SU or with Consent at UCD’. Whether or not you believe there is a strong rape culture in Ireland, it’s hard to argue that a second SAVI report isn’t needed. Investing in frontline services based off 15 year old data is both foolish and unnecessary. €1 million is a small price to pay for better statistics leading to better prospects and services for some of the most vulnerable in society. That being said when the Taoiseach’s answer to a question about sexual harassment in the Dáil is a pop at Sinn Féin, I don’t hold out much hope. p.11
Features.
Erasmus? Go, Go Groningen! Senan Tuohy-Hamill Features Writer
www.collegetribune.ie
Erasmus isn’t academia even though it can be surprisingly rewarding. People go on Erasmus to meet an array of people from a myriad of cultures, to live somewhere unique, where customs are ‘unusual’ and where the beer is cheap, because, let’s face it, alcohol is cheaper almost anywhere in the world than in Ireland. Socialising is great craic since you get to meet people from all over the world, people you might never have met otherwise. An added benefit is that everyone loves Irish people, no matter what country they’re from! But don’t worry, you won’t be the only Irish person in Groningen, there’s usually a good contingent of us over there, just in case you’re missing the Irish accent. Erasmus is all about trying new things and Groningen is perfect for this. Every other night there was something different on, be it a table quiz, free concert, funfair or music festival. Within my first two weeks there, I had already explored an island off the coast called Schiermonikoog and not long after I went to a techno festival called Nazomeran. These are things I wouldn’t have normally done, but because
you’re in a new country, with new friends, all you want to do is try novel and unique experiences, which Groningen and the Netherlands has plenty of. But let’s not forget one of the best things about living there… your bicycle! It is your mode of transport, your best friend, your ‘taxi’ home after a night out, your faithful companion that will get you from A to B no matter what the conditions. Groningen is famous for its bicycles, with an average of 1.4 bicycles per person (not that anyone is carrying around parts of a bike), and with a city centre built for cyclists and pedestrians. If you’re a fan of the environment and clean air,
what better way to contribute than by riding a bicycle everywhere for a year? We all hate spending money on taxis, but it’s a necessity in Dublin on nights out. In Groningen, taxis are almost non-existent, and I’d swear to the fact that you cycle better when you’re drunk, and you save money. Groningen allows you the benefits of eco-friendliness as well as the freedom of transport whenever and to wherever you want, provided you’re not feeling too lazy. But be warned, it’s inevitable to have your bicycle stolen at some point, as happened to me within a few months. It’s heart-breaking when it happens, but eventually you’ll
“ Every other night there was something different on, be it a table quiz, free concert, funfair or music festival.
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oing on exchange to another country is an opportunity not to be missed. Even though going away to Asia or Australia may be your dream exchange spot, it isn’t always financially feasible. That’s where the Erasmus program comes in. With Ryanair having flash sales every second week, and the free travel granted with an EU passport, moving to another European country for a year can be even cheaper than living in Dublin. While there are many options to choose from, there are only a few English-speaking ones, Groningen being one of them. Groningen is a relatively small city of around 200,000 people located in the north of the Netherlands. It is a city predominantly made up of students, with over 50,000 attending either the University of Groningen or Hanze University. I attended the former, and I was glad to be able to experience a university that is ranked 100th in the world. I study psychology and the modules over there were engaging and fascinating and in one of them I got to see a real human brain! However, the focus of
move on and be able to transfer your love to a new bicycle. My only tip to you: buy a good lock! If you’re into sports, then Groningen is the place for you. I’ve never been a sporty person but I decided to join the kickboxing club and that was one of the best aspects of my Erasmus experience. The University of Groningen and Hanze University have an amazing sports facility called the ACLO, which has a huge variety of sports for all tastes, as well as various fitness classes and a state of the art gym. Joining a club allows you to meet Dutch students and see what it’s like to be a native student as opposed to an exchange student. I made some fantastic friends in the kickboxing club who brought me to their favourite bars and taught me a bunch of Dutch swear words which I’ll let you find out for yourself. Just get involved in university life and partake of everything on offer, you will not regret it. Erasmus is a chance for you to explore things outside of your studies, so take the opportunity and go to Groningen where you’ll have some of the best months of your life. 0531
Erasmus Part 2: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Conor Lynott Sports Editor
The Good
In a city that accommodates a population that is twice the size of Ireland, everything a student or tourist could want is available. To put it into perspective, the social facilitates in my home town of Wexford includes, groceries, a couple of shops, a barbers, church and a couple of restaurants. And not to forget to mention a few pubs to drown your sorrows in. In London, all these facilities are
contained on one street, never mind a suburb. London is quite famous for its sense of humour. This is very much epitomised by the singing lift (pictured below) that I encountered in the Royal Festival Hall. When I walked into the lift, I spent ten to fifteen minutes going to every floor for one very simple reason: for every floor, there was a scaled note sung by a pre-recorded choir. The higher the lift went, the higher the octave sang, ‘Level One’. London has been designed down to such a fine detail that it finds the way to make the most mundane activity entertaining. London is the only city in the world that boasts several free museums. To be honest, I am not one for appreciating the aesthetics but at least going to the museum allowed
me to make fun of some of the statues. For example, when I looked at the pharaoh statue in the British museum, I could not help but the notice that the Nemes Headdress of the Pharaoh made him look like he had a pair of springer spaniel ears! The highlight of the day at the museum was the fact that I was able to skip queues by the virtue of having a wheelchair. Honestly, it makes you feel like royalty.
The Bad However enchanting London can be, it hasn’t always been plain sailing since I’ve arrived. For example, if a restaurant is too small and cannot accommodate a wheelchair, you can’t just skip the queue there! One night, I tried to get in an Italian restaurant by the name of Spaghetti House. Judging from the naked eye and my experience driving a wheelchair, my instincts 15.11.2017
told me the wheelchair would fit within the restaurant. However, as I entered the premises, the wheelchair moved to my blindside out of vision and the manager, instead of moving to address me, spoke to my personal assistant. Constituently, I was told via my personal assistant that I was not welcome in the restaurant and the only way for me to eat there was to sit out in the cold and eat there. Naturally, I waxs upset and frozen on the spot, I agreed and left the restaurant. I had been especially angered that the manager had addressed my personal assistant rather than me directly. If there is one thing that I have learnt from this experience: whatever standard of manners that you have been accustomed to, do not expect or assume that people hold the same standards abroad in all cases. Also, finding your way
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If there is one thing that I have learnt from this experience: whatever standard of manners that you have been accustomed to, do not expect or assume that people hold the same standards abroad in all cases.
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friend of mine once told me about this fact about London; ‘if you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life’. From my experience of London so far, this is proven to be very much the case. London mirrors life in the sense that you must take the good, bad and the ugly, just as in life in general.
around London can be daunting at times. Even with Google Maps, it can take a few walks around a particular area before you find a shop, a pub or a nightclub that you are looking for. In the beginning at least, when moving to a new city, the best thing to do avoid ad hoc decisions. As cliché as it might seem, planning in a big city is pivotal. Unlike Dublin, or Wexford, or wherever you come from, I can guarantee that deciding to go places on the spot will land you in trouble in any major city. To finish off, life in London has been a riveting experience for life training. The lack of familiar friends to fall back on forces you to learn survival skills that may have been less developed without this opportunity. As I said in my previous piece, if you get this opportunity as well, grab it with both hands. p.13
Music.
Album In Review: Younger Now Miley Cyrus Caoimhe McParland Music Writer
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ny 90s baby knows the name Miley Cyrus and in recent years an eye roll has accompanied the mere mention of her name. Her ‘angry artist lashes out at her former Disney image’ act will go down in history as one of the most iconic ever. However, in the last year or so a new Miley has begun to emerge. This is the mellow ‘happy hippie’ Miley, and
the release of her new album Younger Now reflects this change. The title track feels like Miley’s offering of an explanation as to what happened to her, and assures us that she’s different now. The lyrics speak for themselves when she says, “No one stays the same/Change is a thing you can count on.” With the happy-pop tone set in this single the rest of the album
sounds like a dreamy country-rock mixture, and there are some great tracks in it. Several themes are prominent throughout, and Cyrus’ honest style of writing leaves no room for doubting her message. There’s a call for unity in tracks like ‘Rainbowland’ and ‘Inspired’ that was stimulated by Cyrus’ dismay at the presidential election. Cyrus was very vocal in her support for Hilary Clinton
and is said to have toned down her image in the aftermath of Clinton’s loss, to appeal to more conservatives. The second theme is much more personal and several tracks are about Cyrus’ relationships. These tracks add the rock element to the album and you don’t need to look much further past the gossip columns to guess who they’re about. This badass, take charge side of Cyrus is my
CT Rating 7/10
favourite and is why I think she is capable of redemption. She’s at her best when she’s standing up for herself in tracks like ‘Thinkin’,’ ‘Bad Mood,’ and ‘Love Someone.’ The act of reinvention is nothing new in the world of music. You only have to look at the likes of Madonna, or more recently Rihanna to see that artists change their image with almost every album. Yet there’s something that feels permanent about the change we see with Cyrus. This album shows her taking ownership of her past mistakes and then moving on to explore new types of music that a lot more of us could get on board with. Her strengths lie in her oldrock, Janis Joplin-esque tracks but she shows versatility with her mixture of rock, pop and country. This album serves as a jumping off point and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her developing this sound in the future.
The Rise of SoundClound Rappers Adam Bielenberg Music Editor
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colossal stream of rappers have been hitting the big time in recent years, coming at us left right and centre with contemporary and innovative music; so much so that other genres such as rock have a hard time keeping up. One thing that some of these rappers have in common is that they emerged from the online streaming service SoundCloud. Specific web platforms have helped spread specific genres over the years. The now dormant MySpace was particularly instrumental in propelling the success of emo acts such as Panic at the Disco and Bring Me the Horizon as well us UK indie artists like Lily Allen and the Arctic www.collegetribune.ie
Monkeys. It could be argued that the growing success of the SoundCloud rappers has kept SoundCloud intact. The site has been experiencing difficulties this year, having laid off 173 staff this year. There were even rumours that SoundCloud was struggling to survive until the end of the year although some reports have suggested otherwise. Regardless of its future, the website is guaranteed a legacy for being a launching pad. So what sets apart SoundCloud rappers from their counterparts, stylistically speaking? The style of rap is distinct and often characterised by lo-fi, production, electronica, mumbled vocals and distorted bass. It has its roots from Atlanta trap music
and cloud rap. The rappers often have ‘lil’ in their name, don coloured dreadlocks and are covered in tattoos. Their lyrics are laced with aggression and rodomontade. The most prestigious SoundCloud rapper has been Lil Uzi Vert (pictured right). He released a prequel EP Luv Is Rage 1.5 exclusively on SoundCloud which garnered milliWWons of plays. Six months later, his debut album Luv Is Rage 2 went straight to number one in the US Billboard 200 chart. Funnily enough, in the same week, XXXTentacion charted at #2 with his debut LP 17. The controversial rapper is considered a cynosure of SoundCloud rap. He hails from South Florida where the microgenre is most
prevalent. XXXTentacion’s song ‘Look at Me’ premiered on SoundCloud in December 2015. It currently has over 80 million plays on the site and the song went platinum this August with over 1 million sales. There’s also Lil Peep whose idiosyncratic style has led him to be dubbed as the ‘Kurt Cobain of modern rap’ with the mix of trap and emo. He’s not to be confused with the pink-dreaded Lil Pump whose music is haunting and intriguing in equal measure. SoundCloud rap is a polarising genre. While many will inevitably cast if off as obnoxious, it’s hard to deny that this is one of the most avant-garde and cutting-edge underground music scenes to spring up in recent times. 0531
In Review:
2017’s Best Albums Winter is upon us and the end of 2017 is nigh and so Adam Bielenberg & Niall O’Shaughnessy are here to round up the year’s finest music releases. Unlike its predecessor, 2017 didn’t have purple patches where a superabundance of great albums would drop suddenly. However, the calendar was dotted with a few excellent ones. Give these records a spin to help you forget about all those impending assignments. Rocket - (Sandy) Alex G This is less of an album, more a delirious scrapbook of musical ideas. The willingness to experiment Alex G showed in previous outings, as well as on Frank Ocean’s Endless/Blonde, is given room to germinate on Rocket. Altered vocal pitches and unconventional modes allow the tracks to move seamlessly within the genre confines of folk, power pop, hard-core, R&B. Which isn’t to say there’s no finished product, ‘Bobby’, ‘Sportstar’ and ‘Proud’ are song-of-the-year contenders. NOS
Kelly Lee Owens- Kelly Lee Owens I’ve no idea what any of these songs are about, and that’s no discredit KLO’s writing style. It’s just every attempt to dissect the lyrics is intercepted by hypnotic layers of pulsating kickdrums, delicate strings, and ethereal, shadowed vocals. The production is startlingly precise for a debut album; no beat, loop or sample is superfluous. This is also a deceptive listen, the music shifts so gradually and incrementally at times that the compulsion to dance doesn’t register until it’s too late and you’re on your feet in front of everyone on the bus. NOS
DAMN - Kendrick Lamar Atop of the dizzying heights of stardom, it was a bold move for Kendrick to abandon the formula that helped him catapult to the top of the rap game. On DAMN, he deviates from the filmic ‘concept album’ approach that enriched his previous two albums. DAMN. may be less focussed but that doesn’t matter. More contemporary production and less complex themes make DAMN. more accessible to casual music listeners. It has acerbic, hard-hitters like ‘DNA’ and wistful numbers like ‘FEEL’ and ‘FEAR’ where Kendrick projects a downtrodden persona, wondering where his fame will lead him to. AB
Melodrama - Lorde It’s hard to think of any other great album that has such obvious, prominent imperfections, e.g. the slightly off-putting spoken interpretation of a bomb exploding on ‘Homemade Dynamite’, the cheap, rubbery acoustic guitar tone on ‘The Louvre’ and even the sequencing with the brilliant ‘Green Light’ being too imposing to open the album. It’s not so much that there is such a volume of wonderful elements to counteract the negatives. Melodrama is to be appreciated as a whole because it is such a brave and honest piece of work. It would lose that overwhelming sense of authenticity if it was the polished, formulaic product on a shelf that Lorde must have felt some pressure to make. NOS
Hey Mr Ferryman - Mark Eitzel The former American Music Club frontman Mark Eitzel teamed up with Suede guitarist Bernard Butler to craft an outstanding collection of songs which firmly showcase his songwriting skills. From a gambling addicted widow to a conservative man at a Thanksgiving dinner, Eitzel populates Hey Mr Ferryman with memorable characters, pleading with themselves for ways out of their despair. He also gives startling accounts of one-sided relationships like on the mythical ‘La Llorona’ and ‘Nothing and Everything’. Butler’s imprint makes this Eitzel’s heaviest solo record yet with masterful guitarwork AB
The Yunahon Mixtape - Oso Oso Despite surfacing at the start of 2017, this album didn’t connect until summer and it’s been an intense relationship since. Revisiting the Yunahon Mixtape on an almost daily basis since hasn’t consistently revealed new depths of meaning as is the common trajectory, each listen just concentrates and enhances the complexity of emotions covered. The album tracks the course of a relationship, from the all-encompassing initial excitement to the petrifying realisation that it was always a futile pursuit. This record has great hooks and enough instrumental dexterity to melt even the iciest of pop-punk sceptics. NOS
No Shape - Perfume Genius There has never been a record this powerful about homosexuality. Across 13 coruscating alt-pop tracks, Mike Hadreas introspects about being gay in today’s society. The overall sentiment is confident; he’s determined to overcome the forbidding obstacles that still exist. It’s a spiritual journey for Hadreas whose complex relationship with God is described here. His voice glides over lush instrumentation. No Shape could be 2017’s most eclectic release; integrating a wide salmagundi of styles. ‘Slip Away’ and ‘Braid’ are among the highlights. AB
Out In The Storm - Waxhatchee Katie Crutchfield makes her finest statement yet on her fourth LP. On this occasion the Alabama songstress writes relatively straightforward rock/indie-folk songs about a relationship gone askew but the results are never bland. Out in the Storm feels instantly timeless and a little catchy. The fist-pumper ‘Silver’ is a contender for track of the year with its momentous guitars over which Crutchfield cries ‘the kiss on my lips starts to feel unfamiliar’. AB 15.11.2017
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Film.
2017 in Review Film Editors Muireann O’Shea & Ciara Dillon cast their eyes over the best films of 2017 and pick their favourites so you don’t have to. Muireann O’Shea Film Editor
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his has been a year of triumphs for African American actors and LGBT+ Cinema, of questionable remakes and of controversies from Affleck to Weinstein to Spacey, but from the remnants of 2017, a few special films have soared above the rest.
Call Me By Your Name
(Dir: Luca Guadagnino)
Like Moonlight and Carol, LGBT+ films of this decade have uniquely captured the essence of a particular place and time. Call Me By Your Name is a sepia polaroid of a 1980s Italian summer romance. It follows Elio, the son of a professor, and Oliver, the PhD student staying with Elio’s family for six weeks. The build up to their romance is achingly slow, like service in a Roman cafe. It’s a love story for the intellectuals: Elio transcribes Bach for the guitar and his parents read him 18th century German fairy tales. As the end of the summer looms forebodingly, you will weep for all the romances that were victims of their time and place. The acting is stellar, the Sufjan Stevens soundtrack is mesmerising, the cinematography of sun draped Lombardy is stunning: all the cinematic stars have aligned to create a masterpiece.
Handsome Devil (Director: John Butler) Handsome Devil is inherently timeless; it could be set in 1987 or 2017. It’s not a story of homophobia past, rather it portrays prejudiced that are still alive and kicking in Irish society today. Self-proclaimed outsider Ned is traipsing through life in his rugby obsessed secondary school, keeping his head down, until he gets stuck with new kid Conor as a roommate. The two boys strike up a friendship with English teacher Mr. Sherry: a trio of outsiders. At the height of the film, Conor calls Mr. Sherry out on his hypocrisy: he preaches individuality to his students while adhering the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ atmosphere of the school. He repeats, in earnest, that things do get better, but his repetition heartbreakingly blurs the line between trying to convince Conor or himself. Much like Sing Street, the films message to do away with homogony is nothing new, but its importance in the Irish context cannot be overstated.
Get Out (Director: Jordan Peele)
Get out is a horror film for the Trump era. Chris, an African American man, is going to meet his white girlfriend’s parents for the first time. Chris is understandably nervous, but with every person Chris encounters - the cop who pulls them over, the black neighbour who doesn’t know how to fistbump - he falls further into a state of fear. Writer-Director Jordan Peele offers up a sublimely horrifying meditation on race in America. www.collegetribune.ie
This is a masterclass in cinematic metaphors, from Missy hypnotising people with her silver spoon to Chris blocking his ears with bits of cotton. Get Out is a delicately layered and endlessly provocative film, that leaves the audience with one main message: racism does not always wear a white hood and brandish a torch, sometimes it looks just like you and me. And sometimes it wants to look exactly like Chris.
The Big Sick
(Director :Michael Showalter) This autobiographical film was a sleeper hit. Even upon viewing, it’s sneaky. It waits until you’re a third of the way through before it fakes a yawn and slips it’s arm around your shoulder; without realising, what you thought was a simple romcom has sauntered its way into your heart. The plot seems simple: Kumail meets Emily. Kumail likes Emily. Kumail fights with Emily because his parents don’t approve of his relationship with a white girl. Usual romcom plotlines. Then, Emily gets sick. Suddenly, the film is not about the couple, but about Kumail’s relationship with Emily’s parents. It’s about the fervent efforts we
make to bridge the generational gaps between ourselves and our parents. It’s hilarious social commentary on the lives of American immigrants. It’s a hot water bottle for the heart.
The Florida Project (Director: Sean Baker)
This film is a Floridian summer through the eyes of Moonee, a young girl living in a motel with her mother Halley. Moonee lives in blissful ignorance, unconcerned about the consequences of her actions and unaware of the ways in which her mother scrapes together their rent money. This film is equal parts joyous and devastating: a sobering depiction of American inequality. Their impoverished life is juxtapositioned with the manufactured glee of Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park that employees most of the area. Halley and Moonee’s relationship is one of unconditional love, but to the objective eye, Halley is not providing enough for her daughter. William Dafoe is particularly superb as Bobby the motel manager. His character acts as a surrogate for the audience; staggeringly aware of the entrenched poverty that his guests live in, but also helpless to change the system they’re stuck in. 0531
Baby Driver (Director: Edgar Wright)
Beauty & The Beast (Director: Bill Condon) I will admit that this is somewhat of a sell-out selection but the Disney lover in me could not resist. The live action remake of the 1991 classic was charming, flamboyant and very well put together. Director Bill Condon’s use of stunning CGI visuals gave the film the appropriate dreamlike feel, making sure the live action version feel like just as much of a fairy tale as the original. Emma Watson was an excellent choice for bringing bookworm Belle to life and the adapted original score was a joy. An admittedly cheesy selection but the child in me was not disappointed in this remake.
Moonlight (Director: Barry Jenkins) A simple yet powerful film with a message that will live forever. Moonlight did what Brokeback Mountain did upon its release – thrashed the stereotypical gay movie character, sending a very real message that the typecast applied to people are often not accurate. The film did not try to shock us or teach us a lesson, so much as it tried to solidify the idea that sometimes people’s lives follow a path that many would not consider for them, or even them for themselves. The cast of Moonlight were passionate and believable in delivering exactly what this film needed. A well-deserved Oscar win for a truly beautiful film. 15.11.2017
“ I was already a fan of Damien Chazelle after Whiplash in 2014 and La La Land illustrates his inventive filming style excellently.
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Ciara Dillon Film Editor
Baby Driver almost slipped under the radar for me. A film I had heard quite little about other than word of mouth ended up being one of the most enjoyable films I saw this year. An excellent example of the power of a good soundtrack. Many scenes in Baby Driver are choreographed to the beat of whatever song the leading man happens to be listening to, making for an incredibly satisfying watch. Like all Edgar Wright movies, it falls perfectly between comedy and action, teaming wacky characters and pop-fuelled fight scenes with an action-packed storyline, resulting in pure entertainment.
Dunkirk (Director: Christopher Nolan)
Dunkirk is immersive, powerful and full of suspense. Nolan excellently portrays this wartime disaster using time to narrate the story. The powerful collaboration of Nolan and Hans Zimmer makes for a soundtrack that, teamed with extra sharp sound-editing, created a heavy tension that never lets up. Dunkirk is striking in its take on war, opting for suspense and desperation over blood and gore, and creates a film that places you right in the middle of the event that almost cost the Allies the war.
La La Land (Director: Damien Chazelle)
Another arguably cheesy selection but I cannot deny the warm feeling this film gave me. I was already a fan of Damien Chazelle after Whiplash in 2014 and La La Land illustrates his inventive filming style excellently. The combination of stylised backdrops and camera sequences give the illusion of a stage show, while the snappy edits and sweeping shots are in time with the beautiful jazz score. Justin Horowitz provides a stunning original soundtrack to a retro, funny, charming and heartfelt story of a seemingly conventional whirlwind romance. Though I agree with the choice of Moonlight as best picture, I can’t deny that La La Land stole the show for me. p.17
‘Fat Chance in An Unequal Society’ The Correlation Between Inequality & Obesity Nadine Byrne Mcneela Teigan Lawlor Gannon Mairead Sweetnam Niamh Doyle Alana Coyle
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he relationship between inequality and health is often discussed in a negative light in any given society. This assignment will provide evidence on how the choice of food and nutrition are both major social determinants of individual’s health, beginning at birth, where our diet is chosen by our parents all the way up until adulthood where our own consideration comes into play. This assignment will also discuss obesity in terms of its effects and solutions. Obesity is often caused by our lifestyle choices, eating habits, and levels of activity. There is a clear correlation between the rich and poor when it comes to obesity. Both child and adult obesity will be investigated through statistics over recent years, it will provide an insight into the growing epidemic that is obesity. Food and nutrition is something which we make decisions on each day. As infants, the nutritional intake is taken care of by a parent or guardian but then as we grow up and turn into adults we then determine our own nutritional intake. Good health is no longer viewed as a prerequisite but rather a state of wellbeing which must be maintained. Nutrition or lack thereof is one of the primary causes of common diseases and consequently disability and dying prematurely. Policy makers are acutely aware that their decisions regarding food and nutritional policy can greatly enhance a populations health and even in socioeconomically challenged countries simple improvements in food production and availability can make a significant difference in the overall health of the nation. In 2006 Marmot and Wilkinson stated many diseases in the population are caused by poor nutrition and this has been verified by copious amounts of research. The World Health Organisation in 2007, found that out of seven major risk factors associated with premature death, six of these are directly linked with Diet and physical activities. We can see below in that the frequency of eating fruit and vegetables in Ireland is poor. Fruit and vegetables are one of the main sources of nutrition in any balanced diet and as we know poor nutrition directly affects poor health. Obesity in Ireland is becoming increasingly common and with obesity comes a lot of health issues that make everyday life increasingly difficult. Wilkinson and Pickett argued in their 2009 book www.collegetribune.ie
The spirit level that this epidemic is not caused by the makeup of our genes but in fact by the way which people live and the way people wish to raise their children. There is a strong correlation between income inequalities and rates of obesity. The more stable a family is with their income the less likely their kids will become obese. Obese people are more likely to suffer from heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure which all have potential to lessen their lifespan and reduce their mobility. From recent studies completed by Renew Bariatrics in 2017, we can see that one in six children are obese and one in two adults are now obese in Ireland. If kids were provided with healthier food and an exercise routine from a young age this could massively prevent any life effecting illness occurring when they are older and could reduce the obesity rate. The 2009 OECD report on obesity claims that breastfeeding as a child has been proven to reduce the likelihood of obesity in kids. Children who are obese may feel isolated from doing things with kids their age as they can’t go out and play with their friends and self-esteem issues are not uncommon in many obesity cases. The graph below shows that in Ireland in 2015, 37% had a normal weight, 37% were overweight and a further 23% were obese. It is clear that obesity has become a growing problem not only in Ireland but around the world. Obesity brings with it many health issues, negative effects in quality of life and concerns for healthcare expenditure in Ireland. Obesity among adults and children has become a health crisis in many countries across the globe. In 2016 Cullen explained how studies have shown that Irish men have the highest BMI in Europe. When looking at statistics for both the world and specifically Ireland regarding body mass index, there has been overall a huge rise in BMI rates since the 1970s until present and these numbers do not seem to be peaking anytime soon. Along with high adult obesity rates, Ireland’s child obesity rate has
also been up to six percent of children being obese in Ireland and a high percentage being overweight. From the Growing Up in Ireland Survey which set out to ask questions about child and parent’s health and BMI from a sample of the population, we can see that adult and child obesity are clearly linked. Walsh & Cullinan explained in 2014 how the role of education is of great importance in regards to the obesity crisis. The more educated the parent, the lower the percentage of obese and overweight children in that category. Also, mother and father’s BMI affected the outcome of their children’s BMI. The higher the BMI of either parent, the higher the rate of obesity and overweight children. Judging from these studies, parents’ occupation, level of education and whether they are overweight or obese all affect the weight of their children. There have been some attempts at solving this growing concern for Ireland in relation to food, like introducing sugar taxation and higher taxation on unhealthy food and drinks but no such effort has been made with encouraging exercise. We can see below how physical activity is significantly less common with obese individuals. We believe it’s evident that severe action must be taken in order to combat the issue of the obesity epidemic. We can see that Ireland’s obesity rate stands at 25.6%, which is currently on the increase, Irish men have been calculated to have the highest BMI figures in the EU, and health problems related to obesity such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are all becoming more consistent issues. Society is left vulnerable to numerous negative health impacts due to obesity and the correlation between economic inequality and obesity is massively apparent. Various policies have been introduced in an attempt to reduce levels, such as sugar taxation but there is further progress to be made and the nation must be educated accurately on this rising epidemic in order for change to occur. 0531
Obesity In Ireland: A Problem or Not? Kimberley Hogan Ume-Farwah Zahidi Mark Guilfoyle Sarah O’Loughlin Anna Jibukhaia
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besity in Ireland is a major problem. One that is not just linked to genetic disorders or bad diets, but is a direct result of inequalities within different socio-economic groups and an indirect result of the socialisation of different lifestyles. The World Health Organisation defines overweight and obesity as ‘abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health that is measured by a person’s body mass index (BMI)’. BMI is a simple index which compares height with weight to identify overweight and obesity in adults. Obesity and overweight issues can cause problems throughout the life cycle and cause other major health issues. Although many efforts have been made to tackle the issue such as state regulations and awareness campaigns, it still remains a dominant issue in Ireland. Simon Harris states that obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges facing Ireland today, stating that within the last two decades the levels of overweight and obesity have doubled, meaning only 40% of the population are within a healthy weight. The Department of Health found that obesity in men has risen from 8% in 1990 to 26% in 2011 and in women from 13% to 21%. Those who fall into the overweight category are also at risk of developing many other conditions, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This can become detrimental for children. The HSE found, in 2015, that 1 in 5 children were overweight or obese. This exposes the children to a variety of health problems that are likely to persist throughout their lives thus lowering their quality of life. Obesity levels also tend to be higher in people of lower socioeconomic backgrounds. A study conducted by the HSE shows that children who attend DEIS schools tend to have a higher rate of obesity with one finding that 21.7% of children in first class in DEIS school are overweight compared to 16.5% in other schools. This creates the common question of indirect and direct causes that many sociological researchers ask when looking at complex social issues such as obesity. They look at what these causes are, and the social factors that may be related to them. Many find that there are many social indirect and direct links especially regarding obesity although some links are easily explained, some have been further studied. The more direct links tend to be easier to explain such as gender. Male and female bodies distribute fat differently thus directly linking obesity and gender. Doctor Cecilia Lindgren explains that women tend to be slightly more obese than men due to female body fat patterning. They tend to aggregate more fat around the stomach area which is an area focused on when measuring BMI. Other important social factors that sociologist consider, include a person’s level of income and/or education. Income and education play a very important role in relation to an individual’s diet. Studies have shown that more educated individuals tend to live a healthier lifestyle compared to those who are less education. This is because they tend to be more aware of the consequences a bad diet and an unhealthy lifestyle can have on their health. Therefore, education is a key social factor of obesity as it gives an individual the information needed to make changes in their lives 15.11.2017
to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Similar to education, income also has a direct influence on diet in regard to what an individual can afford. A study told in the Irish Independent by Caroline Crawford portrayed that children growing up in low-income have double the chance of becoming obese. Therefore, depending an individual’s income it can dictate what a person may feel is an appropriate amount to spend on food in relation to what they earn. In many of these cases, healthier options tend to be more expensive and for some a luxurious option. Therefore, the socio-economic group an individual may be apart can directly affect their diet and obesity levels also. But is obesity just a health issue or have great social issues attached? It is proven that obesity can seriously damage the way people socialize, especially children. In 2008 the “Centres for Disease and Prevention” stated that almost 20 percent of adolescents younger than 19 were considered obese and facing emotional social side effects. Obesity therefore evidently leads to poor social skills, with children commonly being targets of bullying and falling victim to depression and anxiety. A study was published in the “Paediatrics” journal in 2010 focusing on the trends of childhood obesity and bullying. The study showed that obesity increases the chances of bullying by up to 63%. Bullying can have serious effects on a child’s mental state, resulting to social withdrawal meaning a decrease in performance in both social interactions, classroom participation, and school attendance levels. Thus, affecting your overall self-esteem and day to day life, ultimately leading to a poor development of social skills, in comparison to their peers. As a result of, children suffering from obesity also tend to suffer from low self-esteem and confidence, creating a feeling of isolation and social stigma induced by bullying. Each of these issues damaging mentally, making it hard to cope in a social context creating a cycle of even more weight gain. Although most studies on these issues have focused on children it is also prevalent in adults and a major indirect linkage with
obesity in all genders and age groups But if obesity in Ireland is such a problem then what has the Irish Government done to tackle it? In 2016 the minister for health Simon Harris launched “A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025”. This plan outlines key actions to be taken out over the course of these years to tackle obesity. These steps include a calorie posting legislation, the introduction of a sugar tax levy (which will come into place in 2018) and the development of a nutrition policy. According to a study conducted by Bryan Bollinger, Phillip Leslie, Alan Sorensen, calorie posting may have an effect on consumption but none on revenue. The research was conducted using data from Starbucks before and after the legislation came in. Overall the study found that the average calories decreased by 6% per transaction. This research bodes well for the Government as it shows that they may be able to tackle obesity without influencing the economy. However, the same cannot be said for the introduction of sugar tax. Canadean have found that in France for example the introduction of sugar tax has had little effect on obesity levels. They found that in 2015 soft-drink consumption was 4.2% higher than it was in 2011, the year before the tax was introduced. This is an issue that will need to be monitored throughout the introduction of sugar tax in Ireland. Although the Government has shown its intentions to tackle obesity head on, it has also shown that some of the actions it intends to introduce may not actually be viable options for reducing obesity. Therefore, they must take notes of the failures and achievements of this ongoing plan and use the results to keep striving to fight obesity. Obesity is a problem: one that has come about through inequalities such as education and income. It not only poses health problems, but can also lead to bullying and alienation. However, while there does exist a clear issue of obesity, the Government and TD Simon Harris are putting in place measures to resolve it. p.19
Fashion.
HOW TO
TACKLE TRENDS ON A STUDENT BUDGET WELL-KNOWN FASHION DESIGNERS CARLY CUSHNIE AND MICHELLE OCHS ONCE SAID THAT ‘LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WEAR BORING CLOTHES’, I CAN’T ARGUE WITH THIS STATEMENT. HOWEVER, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR LOVE OF FASHION, LOOKING GOOD AND BEING CREATIVE IS MET WITH A STUDENT BUDGET? Adaptation. Sure, we can all drool over the extravagant jewel-encrusted Gucci sandals in Brown Thomas’s window but in reality, that exquisite pair of shoes is just a tad unattainable. When I say tad, I mean it is never going to happen. Luckily nowadays high street brands are quick to adapt to trends and catwalk designs. We can create the look we love while still being able to pay for our student rambler ticket. Evidence of this is all around you, I believe some of the best dressed guys and gals around can be found on your college campus. The best part is many of them are doing this all on a budget. Before even searching for key fashion dupes from the catwalk, us students have a few ample tools at our disposal. First one being, the glorious student discount. This little beauty is a gift from the gods and I barely buy anything nowadays without first asking ‘do you have student discount?’ Yes, I am sure every retailer hates me, but hey you gotta do what you gotta do. Websites such as Unidays and Student Beans offer online discounts and you should definitely never be paying full price for retailers such as Missguided and Boohoo. These websites constantly have student deals and discounts. Along with discounts, you can become your own kind of entrepreneur. One possibility is joining sustainable
fashion sites such as The Nu Wardrobe where you can easily borrow pieces from people in your area at a low cost. Another possibility is to get yourself on trading websites like depop where you can buy and sell clothing and accessories at budget-friendly prices. All sales on depop are carried out through PayPal so theres no need to fret about any dodgy transactions. This is a good way to make some extra cash from clothes in your wardrobe that you never wear. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, right? My biggest tip for nailing your seasonal wardrobe on a budget though has to be research. Find out what the key pieces for a season are, the ones that suit your style and character. In this way you are being selective and remaining within a budget. Make a list of anything that catches your eye. After this you can scan all your budget friendly retailers to see what they have to offer. Don’t purchase until you have surveyed all options. We all hate the feeling of spending €70 on a new suede jacket only to discover an exact replica for €40 three days later. That really can sting. Heres a selection of pieces that are trending right now and how you can achieve the same style without breaking the bank.
E M B E L L I S H E D OVER-THE-KNEE- CHUNKY CABLE LADY IN RED BOOTS KNITS FLAP-BAGS This is one of my favourite ways to make any outfit feel special. During the day or for going out at night, this piece can take a plain simple outfit and make it eye-catching. These bags are everywhere in various different colours and embellishments so you can be sure to find something to suit your own look. Major fashion houses like Givenchy, Valentino and Dior have their own take on this piece and their prices can reach into the thousands. This Gucci number costs around about €2,000. For the majority of us, this is a dream or a wish that our heart makes so heres a much more purse friendly option from Zara costing €29.95.
Without a doubt, you have spotted these all over both the catwalk and the highstreet. They are the trend that won’t go away, over-the-knee boots were absolutely massive last year and for good reason. A pair of heeled black over the knee boots can elongate your legs making you feel like you are a contender for the next Victoria’s Secret runway show. They are also a great option for when you want to dress up for your night out but aren’t quite feeling high heels, as well as this they keep you a whole lot warmer now that the temperature has dropped. The most iconic over-theknee boots come from Stuart Weitzman and will set you back a cool €840. I did my own digging however and found a great alternative from the online retailer Public Desire. Public Desire’s pair costs €45.30 and with that student discount they can be yours for just under €41. Thats the same look with a saving of €800, which is definitely a studentfriendly price adjustment.
Knits for winter time are nothing new but this year they certainly came back with a bang. Over-sized chunky knits were featured on the runways of Lanvin and Milly. For students a good chunky cable-knit can allow you to be both stylish and warm as you undertake those latenight library study sessions. Who said fashion wasn’t practical? They are an easy piece to throw on with some jeans and boots for lectures or a day out in town. Many of the high-end knit pieces are often made from 100% cashmere which drives their price point sky-high. And although these knits are beautifully soft they are also painfully expensive. This piece from British luxury knitwear brand N.peal comes in at €522 while this very similar design from Mango will cost you €39.
Red is probably the most flexible trend that you can incorporate into your wardrobe. Rather than being about a particular piece per say, it is about the colour and the statement it makes. I believe this trend makes the biggest impact as a stand-out accessory and my favourite to date has to be the red sock boot. Sock boots, like the over-the-knee boots, are the it-footwear of the moment. They are emerging in various styles from sleek black leather to plush blue velvet. With red boots, you are combining these two trends in one. Now this is certainly not for the faint hearted as this is a trend for someone who wants to command the room. You could wear them with a simple all black outfit and let the footwear do the talking, alternatively you could throw caution to the wind and mix in other patterns and colours. This is definitely a love/hate trend and if the boots are a little too much you can still channel the trend in coats, jumpers or other footwear. The original red Balenciaga sock boots cost €795 while these dupes from the ever-reliable Public Desire cost only €45. Add in your student discount and you will spend a mere €40.77.
CHECK The check print was another big trend this season and made it’s debut on Calvin Klein’s runway in the form of masculine grey-checkered suit style jackets. This trend has been very popular with bloggers and street-stylers and you have probably seen it throughout your Instagram feed. If you aren’t comfortable wearing this grey prince of Wales style print as a blazer, the print is also everywhere on coats, scarfs, mini skirts and cigarette pants. In this way you can achieve the look without fully committing to the bold printed suit. This is definitely a preppier look but could be dressed down with some chunky boots or more casual t-shirts or jeans. This Alexander Wang blazer retails for €1,560 on net-a-porter while this Stradivarius dupe costs you only €29.95. You are achieving the same look but saving over €1,500.
Arts.
What’s On In Dublin This Month? Arts & Events Editor Holly Lloyd previews this month’s must-see events.
JoAnn Falletta & The RTÉ Concert Orchestra On Saturday 25th November, The National Concert Hall will become the musical playground of JoAnn Falletta and the RTE Concert Orchestra, who in 2015 were voted world’s favourite conductor and world’s favourite orchestra in the www.bachtrack.com music poll. The RTE Concert Orchestra beat distinguished competition such as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra, due to their connection with the audience and warmth onstage.JoAnn Falletta is an example of a woman with extraordinary talent and breaking the gender norm of male conductors, by becoming the first female conductor to lead an established American Orchestra..w Joining them is Craig Ogden, an Australian guitarist who will perform as soloist for the renowned Rodrigo guitar concerto.Ogden is extremely successful with five no.1 albums in the UK Classic chart. Together these superb artists will perform ‘Viva Espana’, with a bill of feisty, passionate latin classics including the ‘Concerto de Aranjuez’ and the ‘Three cornered hat suite No.2 ’. Tickets €15-€45.
Met Opera The Lighthouse Cinema will be playing a live stream of the Met Opera’s performance of ‘The Exterminating Angel’ in New York. This tale, adapted from the film of the same name focuses on the bourgeoisie lifestyle, and a dinner party from which nobody can escape. Conducted by Thomas Ades who composed the Mets ‘The Tempest’, this is sure to be a world class debut . The exterminating angel will be shown on Saturday the 18th of November. Tickets €12-€24.
George Orwell: 1984
Run in The Dark
Mark Sweetnam, Assistant Professor of English at Trinity College will discuss George Orwell’s hugely successful dystopian novel, ‘1984’.Sweetnam will give an introduction to the author’s work, suitable for those who have no background in English or indeed those who have a good background and interest in the subject. This discussion will take place in the Edmund Burke Theatre in Trinity College on Tuesday 21st November. Tickets €7.
Run in The Dark is returning to Dublin on Tuesday November 14th. Run in the Dark is always a hugely popular annual event in aid of paralysis research. Described as a ‘living light show’, this is a great opportunity to gather your friends and flashing armbands in aid of a great cause. Choose between 5k or 10k starting from the Custom House Quay at 8pm, where you can take it at your own pace. Tickets €30.
www.collegetribune.ie
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Art In Mind Scientist and artist Niamh Shaw will host an evening of discussion , explaining the relationship between science and art , the impact art has on us and what makes us love specific types of art. The wonderful panel for the evening includes Daniel Glaser, the director of the Science Gallery in London and Gillian Murphy,an applied psychology lecturer.The talk will take place on Friday November 17th in the National Gallery of Ireland. Entry is free.
Women In Art
O National Campaign for the Arts The National campaign for the arts was established in 2009 in order to have a body representative of the arts in Ireland to ensure the arts remain viewed as an integral part of contemporary Ireland. The NCFA has expressed deep disappointment in the allocation of funding to the arts for the upcoming year, despite rhetoric from the government. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had pledged to double investment in the arts sector, despite this there have been very disappointing figures from the Budget 2018. The arts council budget moved up just 5% compared to an increase in 8% last year. In contrast to this ,the Prime Minister of Canada promised to double the arts budget, a promise on which he delivered through the application of a year increase plan. Jo Mangan , chair of the National Campaign for the Arts stated ‘ Today’s announcements have proved underwhelming for our beleaguered sector where even the announcement of an increase in the minimum wage will have no impact as the majority of those working in the arts earn less than €10,000 per annum. We are a long way from restoring the €30 million stripped from the Arts Council funding since 2008. As we continue to sit at the bottom of the EU league for investment in the arts, the NCFA calls on the Government to apply their own strategy to double arts funding to the EU average as a matter of urgency.”.The NCFA has an aim to work with the government in establishing the importance of arts and culture in Ireland, and despite talk, a functional level of investment is not being reached for the year 2018. 15.11.2017
Holly Lloyd Arts & Events Editor
ver the past few weeks there has been no shortage of news regarding the treatment of women in the arts. The outburst of claims and reports of abuse by several high profile artists has been received with shock and disgust and a public response of perplexity at how such a high volume of abuse is coming out now. Women have wrongly often taken a less than equal stance in the art world throughout history,despite talents and strong voices. With the current focus on the manipulative power some men feel they are entitled to in their roles, I feel it is an opportunistic time to exam the roles of women in art and how they have been represented. Throughout the ages it is is apparent that circumstances play a significant role in the making of art. The circumstances of women is no exception. Art is generally shaped by culture , and culture through the ages consistently proving women were second class citizens. From antiquity onwards, a woman such as Elizabeth Butler Thompson (pictured above) were not applauded for her talents but instead thought to be ‘unusually talented’ .Gender was a problem in the world of fine art which included such the likes of textiles, sculpture and printmaking , which unfortunately were seen as crafts and therefore not suitable for women. Women were excluded from the art history records, isolated from any acknowledgement or success owed to them.Painting for women was seen to be a pastime, and not something to excel in in terms of a master craft, and women were not even allowed to take part in life drawing classes in the Royal Academy in London until 1893.
What is shown here is restriction upon restriction placed on women. Men were entitled to the glory of of the world viewing their talent, while women were curtailed, no room for developing their craft and certainly no allowance for professionalism. It is rare to find female equivalents to Picasso and Cezanne, because they as white middle class men did not face the restrictions a white middle class female had to adhere to. Women represented in works did not fair much better. Why are women always viewed as an extreme? A goddess or a witch? Powerful or powerless? A Saint or a sinner? This idealistic portrayal of women also dominated the art world , ‘perfect’ female nudes painted by men who continued this almost mythical view of a woman. Thankfully the 20th century began to bring release from these common portrayals and introduced realism to the world. Women are now strong voices in art. A problem we face in bringing totally equality into the art world is that with female artists we often look for a level of feminism of femininity in their works. This is still automatically changing our views of the pieces. We must reevaluate what art is. So how do we bring all art forms back to neutral in terms of gender? Even in dance where the amount of female dancers is far higher in proportion to men we hear the same claims. Yes, art is shaped by culture,but in 2017 women are at the forefront of culture and ideas. Perhaps it takes an effort from everyone to engage in the culture of today and realise the role women play in the world of the arts. Women do not need manipulation to excel, and the days of an erotic, mythological representation of women are well and truly over. p.23
LifeStyle.
Relaxing Getaways on a Student Budget Mary Sheehan LifeStyle Writer Now that exam and essay-writing season are approaching us, we all could use a bit of a mental health break and change of scenery. Here are five relaxing destinations for students when they need a change of pace.
Galway
Bray
Take the GoBus, train, or BusEireann and head to charming Galway for a relaxing day by the bay. Galway has lots of student friendly restaurants, cafes, and a pretty walk along the Salthill promenade. Galway is ideal for Christmas shopping as well, as the incomparable Christmas market runs from November-December.
Just a dart ride away, visit Bray in County Wicklow and get transported to a cute coastal village alongside beautiful blue ocean. Aside from nice restaurants and pubs along the water, the walk up to Bray Head is a great way to de-stress and enjoy a pleasant view.
Dingle
Howth
All the way on the west coast of Ireland, a trip to Dingle will put your worries at ease. Take a ferry out to see the local celebrity, Fungie the dolphin, and be transported into a charming world. Dingle is also home to fresh fish and chip shops, homemade ice cream, and lovely harbour views.
Another Dart ride away, Howth is a quiet coastal town complete with a cliff walk and lighthouse. The cliff walk showcases Howth Head and provides a relaxing environment to collect thoughts and enjoy the scenery.
When It’s Time to Take a Social Media Detox Mary Sheehan LifeStyle Writer
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he world of social media can be all too addictive. Whether it’s checking the amount of likes on your last Instagram post, messaging friends on Whatsapp, or checking in with various social media platforms, it can certainly be time consuming. When does it become so draining that it is time to take a break? Social media usage can become draining when it takes time away from a productive action or activity. For example, if you are scrolling through your Twitter timeline instead of finishing www.collegetribune.ie
a book for tomorrow’s lecture, you may find yourself feeling anxious and on-edge. Social media usage can also strain interpersonal relationships and real-life communication. No one enjoys spending time with a friend who constantly sits on their phone and it can lead to the other person feeling ignored and neglected. When a phone or social media app takes the place of a personal interaction, it’s time to take a detox from your social media networks. Most importantly, if you find yourself seeking validation and self-worth from something as trivial as the amount of likes on a selfie,
it’s time to take a social media break. Sometimes, a social media cleanse only needs to be a few hours. Other times, a good week or two without checking Snapchat will do a world of good. Taking care of yourself should come before Twitter clout and Instagram fame. If you find yourself too addicted to social media, there are other forces that can assist. Downloading apps such as ‘Cold Turkey’ will block certain apps and websites for a set amount of time in order for you to disconnect. Enjoy some fresh air, time with friends, or a good book. There is more to life than what is behind a screen. 0531
Going Solo: 7 Best Tips for Travelling Alone Mallika Venkatramani Food & Lifestyle Writer Whether you are an introvert who revels in the comfort of being alone or simply want a peaceful break from your hectic routine, travelling solo is a great idea. You may be wondering why anyone would choose to travel by themselves, when you can so easily go on a short trip to the hinterlands with friends? The truth is travelling alone is an incredibly fulfilling experience, one that teaches you so many things - from being selfreliant to embracing your personal space. Here are some important tips you should take note of before travelling anywhere by yourself.
Stick to your trusty old boots or closed-toe shoes when you travel alone
Snacks & Water
While it may be relatively easy to find a café or bistro where you can get food, you never know when you might need something to munch on. This is especially true for those anyone with issues with hypoglycaemia; you may find that you suddenly become light-headed after walking for a while. Always bring some food items and a water bottle (or two). That being said, packing light is also important so don’t overdo it!
Get a Map
Plan Your Routes
While exploring the destination is important, it is equally important that you know exactly how 15.11.2017
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It is completely natural to lose your way, but stay calm and figure out where exactly you are on the map and slowly make your way around.
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Whether you are visiting a quaint seaport or trekking up a hill, a traveller’s best friend is a map of their place of intended travel. Not Google Maps; mind you, as a solo traveller you should never be reliant on Google Maps, which should be reserved only for emergency. You shouldn’t rely on Google Maps because firstly, your phone might run out of battery when you need it, and secondly, it will not improve your sense of direction. It is indeed a highly convenient device with even a pointer that tracks your location and guides you to the exact point you want to get to, but using that will not help you build your navigation skills that are extremely handy when you are visiting a new place. What you need is a good old physical map – you could print it off the Internet or get one from a visitor centre at the destination site itself. Consulting a map while moving about will enhance your awareness of the new location tremendously. It is completely natural to lose your way, but stay calm and figure out where exactly you are on the map and slowly make your way around.
to get there. If you are taking a bus, you should know the exact route number of the bus and the stop number where you are boarding beforehand. If you are taking the train, ensure you know the exact time of departure from the station well in advance. You should try to never be in a situation whereby you have to find out these finer details on the day of your travel. Also, make sure you check when the last train or bus are leaving – you do not want to be left stranded!
Portable Chargers
You should bring along your phone when you travel for a few reasons: you will take photographs and videos, you might want to Google up the important sites to visit (it is advisable you make a list of this before you travel to save time), you might need to contact someone during an emergency and you might need to use Google maps as a last resort. For these reasons, your phone’s battery cannot die.
Charge your portable charger in advance and bring it with you, along with the correct connecting wires. It would be very infuriating to realise that you had brought the wrong wire but have a fully-charged (and unusable!) charger, when your battery is down to 3.
Suitable Clothing
This is a bit of an obvious one, but it is also very sensible advice. Do not wear your best cream satin blouse when you go on a hike, even if it is supposedly a relatively easy one, because you never know when things might get rainy and mucky. I would advise comfortable, cotton clothing for all kinds of trips. Ladies, as far as shoes are concerned, avoid wearing heels. You can reserve them for formal events and date nights. Even if you aren’t trekking, simply walking unexpected distances in new places in heels will make your feet ache to the point where you genuinely consider walking barefoot.
You might have made an exciting itinerary to explore a certain town or national park, but what good is that in the (likely!) event of a downpour? Always check the weather forecast before you select your day of travel. Also, do not forget to check the time of sunset for the day you are travelling – you wouldn’t want to be stuck halfway up a mountain when it’s 5.18 p.m. and pitch dark.
Document!
It need not be like an article you would write for a Lonely Planet magazine, but it is a great idea to write about your travel in detail once you’re back home and your trip is still fresh in your memory. You could maintain a diary or blog about it. You may decide to visit this place again, alone or with others, after months or even years. Without a record of your travel you might not remember all the interesting locations and street names that you explored. As such, re-visiting your diary entry or blog post will help you recollect the various things you did and will act as a guide if you visit the place again. p.25
Science.
A History of Medicinal Cannabis
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of Professor of Medical Jurisprudence in the University of London, he joined the East India Trading Company and moved to Calcutta. While there, he discovered folk use of cannabis and validated some of the treatments. He gained a reputation by discovering new applications of cannabis use including treat infants suffering from convulsions and pain pain relief from rheumatism. Thanks to O’Shaughnessy, cannabis became a very popular treatment in Victorian Britain for various ailments. O’Shaughnessy’s research note that cannabis (or hemp) appeared to have many applications: ‘Hemp possesses, in small doses, an extraordinary power of stimulating the digestive organs, exciting the cerebral system, of acting also on the generative apparatus. ‘Larger doses, again, were shown by the historical statements to induce insensibility or to act as a powerful sedative. The influence of the drug in allay-
ing pain was equally manifest in all the memoirs referred to.’ He also wrote that, in his opinion, the side effects of cannabis as noted by other researchers at the time, were exaggerated. “[The side effects] did not appear to me so numerous, so immediate, or so formidable, as many which may be clearly traced to over-indulgence in other powerful stimulants or narcotics – viz, alcohol, opium, or tobacco.’
Medical Treatment
Back then, little was known about this plant and its various chemical properties. Now we know that cannabis is made up of a number of cannabinoids, a specific family of chemical compounds, which include cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as well as other compounds known as terpenes and alkaloids. This is a lot of ingredients and they all have various different effects. THC is the psychotropic constituent in cannabis that gets you high while CBD is thought to have potential therapeutic effects. In fact, cannabis was used in Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient system of medicine based in India. It wasn’t used on its own as those who practiced believed that it altered the balance between mind and body. It was used in conjunction with other treatments for ailments ranging from diarrhoea to sexual dysfunction. Cannabis wasn’t made illegal in the UK until 1928 when it was added to the Dangerous Drug Act. However, doctors could still use it for medical purposes up until 1971. This sparks an interesting line of thought. Cannabis was until recently, consistently described as the ‘gateway drug’ which would lead to more dangerous drug use. If Nixon and his war on drugs hadn’t been so set against cannabis, medical advancements with it could have come a lot sooner.
“ Our current methods for treating pain involve prescribing opioids like morphine or Vicodin. These are highly addictive and have a dropout rate of a approximately 33%
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edicinal cannabis seems like one of the health topics du jour but it has a long history grounded in medical research. In 1841, an Irishman named William Brooke O’Shaughnessy noticed folk use of cannabis as a medical treatment in Calcutta. O’Shaughnessy was so fascinated by this that he studied its use and effects. He was the first person to officially introduce cannabis into Western medicine via a scientific paper: in 1843, his paper titled ‘On the preparations of the indian hemp, or gunjah’ was published in The British Medical Journal (then known as The Provincial Medical Journal and Retrospect of the Medical Sciences). O’Shaughnessy was born in Limerick in 1809 and studied in Trinity College Dublin before moving to Scotland and studying forensic toxicology and chemistry. After failing to obtain a position
Editor Rachel O’Neill
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of opioids and often a major reason for people to stop taking them. Withdrawal symptoms from opioids are notoriously horrific. Increased use is also common as we build up tolerance to opioids which results in us needing higher doses of the treatment to work and can result in overdose. Both of these situations are exemplified perfectly in the drama series House where Hugh Laurie takes larger and larger doses of Vicodin throughout the series. The increased use causes problems with House’s kidneys but his withdrawal symptoms often result in horrible hallucinations as well as depression and insomnia. Cannabis on the other hand has a dependency rate of 9% and less associated side effects. This makes it an attractive treatment but there are some caveats to that. There is a documented link between cannabis use and the development of psychosis as shown by McGuire and colleagues in 1995. Their report found that people with a first degree relative (parent, sibling) suffering from schizophrenia are 10 times (7%) more likely to induce schizophrenia by smoking cannabis compared to people who don’t (0.7%). These figures are low but should not be ignored. Cannabis has also been documented to affect brain development in young people so this also must be taken into account when it comes to treating children with severe forms of epilepsy like Dravet Syndrome.
Cancer
Legal Situation
Recently a bill proposed by Gino Kelly TD of People Before Profit which aimed to legalise the use of cannabis for certain medical conditions was rejected by the Oireachtas Health Committee. This rejection marked another twist in the journey of medicinal cannabis. The Health Committee feared that the bill put forward would legalise cannabis for recreational use rather than be used just for medical purposes. As it stands, the general consensus is that medicinal cannabis can aid in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and for the treatment of nausea induced from chemotherapy. In both of these cases, the treatment is a last resort when no other recognised treatment appears to be helping. However, in November of this year the Irish government said they would not oppose the bill meaning it can proceed to the next legislative state. In 2016 the Barnes Report was commissioned by the UK government in order to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of cannabis. The report concluded that there is good evidence that medicinal cannabis is of therapeutic benefit for the treatment of chronic pain, chemotherapyinduced nausea and anxiety management. It also found moderate evidence for the treatment of sleep disorders and some symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, but no convincing evidence of the effects of cannabis on tumour growth in cancer or depression. The implications of this report are interesting. Firstly, cannabis use for management of pain is a very attractive feature. Our current methods for treating pain involve prescribing opioids like morphine or Vicodin. These are highly addictive and have a dropout rate of a approximately 33%. One of the most common side effects is constipation which get worse with increased use 15.11.2017
The second interesting point to be taken away from the report is the lack of evidence for medicinal cannabis in treating cancer. This point is hard to gauge as long term studies of cannabis are hard to do since the standardisation of the treatment is difficult. Essentially much of the research done in the 1980’s weren’t using the same strain of cannabis so we cannot be sure of results, hence the need for retesting and examination of evidence. Theoretically, cannabis might be able to control cancer cell growth or it could kill cancer cells in a lab but that doesn’t mean it can do it in the body. Cancer is an umbrella term that means “uncontrolled cell growth”. Breast cancer is different to pancreatic cancer or mouth cancer as the tumour is there but it can be caused by different things. We must therefore be careful about saying “cannabis helps cancer”. It might do, but the scientific evidence isn’t there to back that up yet and more work needs to be done in that area. The problem now is that if you google “can cannabis cure cancer” you will inevita-
Opioids are highly addictive and have a dependency rate of around 32%
bly come up with scores of websites offering false hope. These types of websites tell people that big pharma companies such as Pfizer are covering up the potential curative effects of cannabis. They prey on desperate people who fear chemotherapy and are looking for any sort of alternative treatment. As mentioned above, cannabis contains a number of ingredients and the interactions between these ingredients can be different depending on the condition being treated and the ratio of the ingredients to each other. My own mother suffers from cancer and while she believes in chemotherapy, she has heard stories of other people who are flying to Germany to get their bloods changed at a cost of €15,000 and insist that cannabis oil is the cure. These people are being misled by others who either don’t understand the evidence such as the Barnes report or don’t want to. The whole point is there isn’t enough evidence to suggest that cannabis actually prevents tumour growth. Cancer is a terrible enough condition without people trying to make money off of it. It seems that both William Brooke O’Shaughnessy and Victorian Britain were ahead of their time. They realised the potential benefits of cannabis but also validated their observations. If we are truly serious about using cannabis as a treatment for conditions such as MS or anxiety, then it needs to be tested strenuously like every other medical treatment. That being said, if Ayurvedic medicine was using cannabis to treat sexual dysfunction, the US army should consider this for their medical budget. It’s cheaper than Viagra, and a lot more fun too. This article originally appeared on headstuff.org p.27
New York Times
Science.
bus lanes, cycle lanes and park and ride facilities. These investments are to be given priority over investment in infrastructure for private car use. This recommendation is especially interesting as the CSO has reported than most of car journeys are for trips under 2km, so this transition could be cost effective for most people. They further said that spending on public transport should be prioritised ahead of new roads at a ratio of 2-1 to encourage uptake in public transport usage with particular care being given to rural areas to ensure the highest possible uptake. Alongside this was the recommendation that the state should increase the national network of electric charging points to encourage a transition towards electric vehicles This would done alongside incentives to encourage consumers to purchase electrical vehicles such as reduced tolls and tax breaks. Additionally, they recommended a year on year increase in the tax on petrol and diesel to disincentives the purchase of what were called ‘carbon intensive vehicles’.
Where Ireland Stands
The Citizen’s Assembly on Climate Change Aaron Bowman
Agriculture The big policy suggestions were focused around some of the more sensitive rural industries such
as peat production and agriculture. Both have seen declining profit margins in recent years and tough markets, but are also two of the bigger contributors to climate change in Ireland that have regularly escaped scrutiny. As a result, the suggestion that all peat subsides to be ended in the next 5 years is a sharp course change for the industry and will no doubt elicit a sharp rebuttal. Additionally, the call for a tax on the greenhouse gasses produced by the agricultural sector is a wakeup call for the Irish Farmers Association. They have long opposed any such tax on the basis that it is impractical and would undermine the viability of many farms across the state. However, the agricultural industry has been the biggest producer of greenhouse gasses
for decades according to the EPA, and has thus far escaped the sanctions that other industries have endured. If this policy begins to gain traction the IFA could be set for a major legislative battle. The assembly also recommended that farmers should be rewarded for land measures that reduces carbon such has planting of trees or other carbon sinks, though this is unlikely to be of much comfort to farmers.
Transport Transport has long been the 2nd largest contributor to greenhouse gases in Ireland (alongside energy production), and also largely seen as an area that significant change could be achieved really quickly. Among the suggestions was to increase the funding to transport infrastructure such as
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In fact, since a sudden drop off in greenhouse gas emissions from 2008-2011 as a result of the onset of the recession, emissions have increased year and year since 2011
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n November 6th the Citizens Assembly held a series of votes under the topic of ‘How the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change’. This is the 3rd of 5 questions that the Citizens Assembly has been mandated to consider in the course of its existence. Over the course of 2 weekend the Assembly heard from 20 different experts on climate change and climate policy and have now issued a series of recommendations to the government to bring Irish climate policy up to the standard of our EU partners.
Currently Ireland is on course to miss its 2020 EU mandated emission reductions by a significant margin. As opposed to reducing our emissions by 20% as required we will only be reducing them by approximately 4-6%. In fact, since a sudden drop off in greenhouse gas emissions from 2008-2011 as a result of the onset of the recession, emissions have increased year and year since 2011. The only reason that they are below the 2008 levels is that the shock of the economic downturn was so great that it led to a sharp drop off in the first years. Worse yet is the fact that as a result of missing these emissions targets by the margin we have, we as a nation may be subject to fines of up to €600 million per annum by the EU Commission. For comparison that is the same amount the government increased spending by in the October budget and twice the money it spent on tax cuts. When first questioned about this fact Minister for the Environment Denis Naughten contented that the targets first set by the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition were unrealistic in the first place drawing much criticism.
Going Forward
The Government has failed to take serious action on climate change up until this point. The Fine GaelLabour Government assumed that the drop off in emissions as a result of the recession was sufficient to keep Ireland on track for the 2020 targets and did not anticipate the strong recovery. This along with the fact that successive Irish Government has consistently failed to tackle the agricultural sector whom as the largest producers of greenhouse gasses in the state. This failure is about to cost us all. The Citizen’s Assembly recommendations are ambitious but also necessary. The issue has been ignored too long and as such there is not time to ease the Irish economy into a transition to a green economy. We’ve already missed our 2020 targets and are on course to be subject to annual fines, but if we adopt the Assembly recommendations and begin to invest seriously in renewables and low carbon transport we can at least mitigate the damage, if not to the environment then to our pockets. 0531
Gaeilge.
Brasaíleach ag foghlaim na Gaeilge? Lorraine Ní Stac & Marcelo Dos Santos
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á daoine ann a deir gur teanga marbh í an Ghaeilge, agus nach fiú í a fhoghlaim de bharr go bhfuil Béarla ag daonra na hÉireann ar aon nós. D’fhreastal mé ar óráid le déanaí ina rinneadh díriú isteach ar an meon sin
agus a bhréagnaigh é le roinnt pointí éagsúla. Níor bhuail mé le haon duine amháin riamh, áfach, a rinne níos mó bhréagnú ar an tuairim sin ná Brasaíleach gur bhuail mé leis cúpla bhliain ó shin, darb ainm Marcelo Dos Santos. Nuair a bhuail mé le Marcelo, bhí sé tar éis teacht go hÉirinn ar thóir oibre agus chun Béarla a fhoghlaim. Tar éis dó cúpla bhliain a chaitheamh anseo, thánaig an méid sin feab-
has ar a chuid Béarla, gur bheartaigh tabhairt faoi foghlaim na Ghaeilge! Chuir sé spéis ollmhór inár dteanga, agus bhí sé meáite ar í a fhoghlaim, i mbealach nach bhfaca mé mórán Éireannach fiú i mo shaol. I dtosach báire, bhí ionadh orm nuair a chuala mé go raibh sé ag foghlaim na Gaeilge ach rud a chur níos mó ionadh fós orm ná go raibh sé á múineadh dó féin í. Tar éis dó bliain a chaitheamh ag staidéir le Duolingo agus leabhar gramadaí, ní raibh mé ag súil leis an gcaighdeán gur chuala mé uaidh an chéad uair gur labhraíomar le chéile, bhí sé do-chreidte! Má tá aon fhianaise amuigh ansin gto bhfuil an Ghaeilge spéisiúil, fiúntach agus thar aon rud eile, beo, is é an fhianaise sin é an fear seo. Tá an t-alt thíos scríobha go hiomlán aige féin agus tá súil agam go gcruthaíonn sé spreagadh i bhfoghlaimeoirí na Gaeilge agus go léíríonn sé nach bhfuil sé riamh ró-dhéanach chun dul i mbun foghlama ar an nGaeilge.
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ia daoibh, Marcelo is ainm dom agus is as Bhreasail mé. Bhog mé go Bhaile Átha cliath ceithre bliana ó shin, tháinig mé chun Béarla a fhoghlaim, agus d’fhreastal mé ar chúrsa Béarla ar feadh sé míosa. Ceapaim gur chabhraigh sé sin liom, ach caithfidh mé a rá go raibh sé an-deacair ar fad daoine na hÉireann a thuiscint ag an dtús, tá a gcanúint an-difriúil. Tar éis cúpla mí anseo, chuaigh mé i dtaithí leis
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an gcanúint Éireannach. Fuair mé mo chéad post agus bhí an deis agam chun Béarla a chleachtadh gach lá. Fuair mé buachaill as Eireann chomh maith, mar sin ceapaim gur d’fhoghlaim mé Béarla uaidh go tapa go leor. I ndiaidh gur thug mé faoi ndeara go raibh Béarla agam cheanna féin, bhí mé ag airraidh teanga eile a fhoghlaim, agus cheap mé gur smaoinamh an-mhaith é an teanga náisiúnta a fhoghlaim. Thosaigh mé ag déanamh stáidear ar an Ghaeilge faoi cheann bliain ó shin, bhain mé triail as an app Duolingo, is cuimhin liom go raibh mé ag ceapadh gur teanga an-deacair í, agus an- difriúil, ach níor thug mé suas toisc gur thit mé i ngrá leis an teanga seo. Is breá liom na canúintí atá ann, is aoibhinn liom an litriú agus an fhuaim air freisin. Is teanga láidir agus go hálainn í gan dabht. Bainim taitneamh as na cláracha atá ar TG4 agus as Radió na Gaeltachta. Anois go bhfuil mé críochnaithe le Duolingo, bíonn mé ag léamh cúpla leabhair pháistí agus leabhair an gramadach agus de réir a chéile gheobhaidh mé níos fearr, tá súil agam. Cuireann sé isteach orm nuar a chloisim roinnt daoine na hÉireann ag rá go bhfuil sí marbh, go bhfuil an rialtas ag cur amú airgid ag caitheamh leis an dteanga. Níl aon eolas acu ar an ábhar seo, tá an tír seo lán le daoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu agus tá súil agam go Mbeidh mé in ann a rá go bhfuil sí agam chomh maith go luath. Tá meas agus suim mór agam sa Ghaeilge. Táim den tuairim gur chóir do gach duine tacíocht a thabhairt don teanga, fiú mura bhfuil sí acu mar is í an teanga náisiúnta í agus tá stair saibhir ag baint léi. Creidim go bhfuil sé indéanta í a choinneáil beo, gan dearmad a dhéanamh ar an Béarla.
Business & Law.
Stand and Deliver: The Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011 Legal Editor Daniel Forde looks at a homeowner’s protection from prosecution for using force against a trespasser.
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The 2011 Act clarifies the Irish legal position on the castle doctrine. It provides that the Act may only apply within someone’s home (specifically ‘dwelling’ or ‘curtilage’). The Act also provides that you may use force against any intruder in the following circumstances: you believe someone is entering your property to commit a crime, or you have to defend yourself or another person from injury or death. The Act has some subjective components contained within, in order to discern whether the force used was reasonable. Section 2(4) provides that the court must look at whether the owner of the property honestly believed they were in danger. Section 2(5) emphasises that an owner has no duty to retreat. Interestingly, this applies even if they are presented with an opportunity to safely retreat. However, the most www.collegetribune.ie
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Another criticism of the statue is that it does not act as a sufficient enough deterrent upon criminals intruding onto properties
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he castle doctrine is an idea within law that every person has a right to defend their home from any sort of attack, without fear of any legal intrusion. This idea finds its fullest expression in the ‘stand your ground’ laws found in the US. A controversial example of this is the Justifiable Use of Force Statute (Ch. 776). In Ireland, this subject received little amount of consideration until the cases of DPP v Barnes and DPP v Nally. Both of these cases, decided months apart, involved violent force being used on trespassers. DPP v Nally had actually resulted in fatality. Hardiman J, in the judgment of DPP v Barnes, noted that at that time no statute existed which dealt with a problem that had plagued courts ‘since time immemorial’. Later in the judgment he further stated that ‘a person can never be in a worse position in law because he has decided to stand his ground’. This judgment would form the bedrock of the statute that outlines the Irish position on the castle doctrine. This statue was the Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011.
notable section is section 2(7) which explicitly says that the 2011 Act shall apply in cases even where the owner of a property kills an intruder. Thus, if you kill someone in your own home, no homicide law need be applied. All the courts have to do is assess whether you honestly believed you were in danger.
Issues With the Act
Ever since its inception, this legislation has inspired much debate. A notable example of this statue being controversially applied was after the death of 21 year old, Kieran Monahan, in Kilkenny. Monahan was stabbed at a party on Valentine’s Day in 2012. The incident was never prosecuted as a man originally arrested at the crime scene asserted that he was defending his home. Another criticism of the statue is that it does not act as a sufficient enough deterrent upon criminals intruding onto properties. Last year at Independent Talks at the National Ploughing Championships, Karen Walsh, a solicitor from Cork, criticised the Act for placing too much of the burden on the property owners. Farmers would have to show that the trespasser was a trespasser, they were in a reasonable state of mind and then that they honestly believed they were in danger. She stated that the law ‘ultimately put the farmers before the judge and the jury’. In short,
the 2011 Act would be difficult to execute due to its high standard of proof. One final complaint that could be levied against the 2011 Act is that it’s unconstitutional. If read in a certain light the Act appears to endorse the murder of intruders. This contradicts Articles 40.3 (1) and (2), which provide that the State will protect and vindicate the personal rights and life of each citizen. Intruders are still citizens of this nation and while they may deserve punishment that does not mean they should be shot on sight, nor should this duty be placed in the hands of every property owner. As few cases have come under this Act, little attention has been paid to its potential problems. However if it gains wider prominence that may change.
Conclusion Holmes J famously said ‘detached reflection cannot be demanded in the presence of an upturned knife’. It is incredibly difficult to set boundaries over how much force is and is not permissible. Property owners should be allowed to defend their homes, but should they be allowed to murder? This is a question that has plagued legal systems for centuries. We are unlikely to find an answer anytime soon. But the law’s purpose is to answer difficult questions, and here we must stand our ground. 0531
The Contempt of Court Bill 2017: Part Two Cian Carton Editor
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he last issue of the College Tribune looked at some of the basic elements of the Contempt of Court Bill 2017, including its origins, the statutory definitions of criminal and civil contempt, and the penalties involved. Now, part two is here to note how the Bill seeks to update the law on court reporting in the digital age.
Court Reporting The ability for the public to attend ongoing proceedings is a key part of the modern legal system. Issues arise in respect of some elements of court reporting, usually in criminal cases. Section 4(1) of the Bill makes it contempt of court to record proceedings without permission, or use recordings of proceedings in certain ways. Judicial approval is granted by discretion, and can be subject to whatever conditions the court believes to be necessary.
nalist can protect their sources on the witness stand. Disclosure can be ordered in in the interests of justice, national security, or for the prevention of crime, as decided by the judge.
Publications
Online Publications
Section 1 defines ‘publication’ as including ‘any speech, writing, broadcast, online publication or other communication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations, or otherwise) which is addressed to the public at large, any section of the public or to court.’ This is an extremely broad definition, which is key when reading the rest of the Bill. Traditional notions of publications being newspapers is shifting towards a broader idea of speech. This links in with section 5, and the test as to how a publication can be in contempt. It is sufficient if it ‘creates a substantial risk, according to the circumstances at the time of publication, that— (a) members, or potential members, of a jury or a witness or witnesses, or potential witness or witnesses, in legal proceedings could: (i) encounter the publication; and (ii) recall the contents of the publication at the material time; and (b) by virtue of those facts, the fairness of the proceedings would be prejudiced.’ Firstly, there must be a ‘substantial’ risk, judged on the facts at the time of publication. The fear is that potential jurors or witnesses could read the material, which would alter their perception, thereby breaching the elementary requirements of fair proceedings, which is a cornerstone of the judicial system. In order to protect proceedings, a judge can ‘direct the restriction on publication removal or restriction of any publication for such period as the court thinks necessary for that purpose.’ Section 5 (2) reflects the issues in the Keena case, and whether or not a jour-
Online publications, covered under Section 6, have been one of the most talked about aspects of the Bill. The Bill gives the judiciary the power to order that ‘any material related to the proceedings, or any part of the proceedings, may direct the removal of such material from websites and or the disabling of public access to that material for such period as the court thinks necessary for that purpose.’ The test requires it appearing to be necessary to avoid a ‘substantial risk of prejudice to the administration of justice’ in certain proceedings. The use of ‘appears’ suggests an objective standard. Per section 6 (2), it can ‘order that any material related to the proceedings … may make such order directing websites to take such steps as the court sees as being reasonably necessary to prevent the publication of such material for such period as the court thinks necessary for that purpose.’ They key is section 6 (5), which states that ‘failure to comply with a court order made under subsections (1) and (2) will be a contempt of court on the part of the website, notwithstanding the fact it was not responsible for the publication of the material.’ Section 6 (6) goes further; ‘in the event of a failure to comply with an order made under subsections (1) and (2) the courts may order online hosts or internet providers to disable public access to specified sections of websites for such period as the court thinks necessary for that purpose. Failure to comply with this order will be a contempt on the part of internet providers.’ A defence to 6 (3) is offered in subsection 7; steps
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taken to prevent publication went beyond what was ‘reasonably necessary’, or the online host/distributor, having taken all reasonable care, were unaware and had no reason to be aware it contained prejudicial information. It is also a defence that ‘websites or hosts had no knowledge that the publication contained the offending material and they had taken reasonable care.’ However, the burden of proof to subsections 5 and 6 is on the defence. Section 7 sets out the defence of innocent publication, while section 8 covers the discussion of public affairs. Per section 9, it is permissible to produce fair and accurate reports of ‘legal proceedings held in public, published contemporaneously and in good faith.’ The court can order the report to be postponed, though.
Juror Contempt The reliability of juries has always been a controversial issue. When hearing a case, they are only supposed to listen and weigh-up the evidence presented during the trial. Evidence correctly admitted before the court is compliant with all evidential requirements, so both sides will be aware of what is being presented. Advances in technology have added another layer of problems to ensuring the jury does their job. Section 11 of the Bill makes it a contempt of court offence for a jury member to ‘intentionally to investigate or research information when they know or ought reasonably to know that it is or may be information relevant to the case.’ A simple mistake like this can easily collapse a trial. Jurors must also tell the court of any potential conflicts of interest they may have, while there is a general prohibition, subject to relevant exceptions, on revealing details of a jury’s deliberations. p.31
Turbine.
The Turbine A lway s S ati r ical - O c cas ional l y H u mou rous
3 Subtle References In The Shawshank Redemption You’ll Only Understand If You’re Me Seán Farbuckt Turbine Writer
1. When Andy befriends Red, showing how friendship can endure terrible situations and exceeds all boundaries people are faced with, it is also a metaphor for the time I spilled a full plate of lasagna onto the roof of my neighbour’s Fiat Punto. Although the bond of two condemned men living under a ruthless prison system and a piping hot plate of Italian cuisine covering an old man’s car may not seem the same initially, if your name is Seán Farbuckt, you’ll understand. 2. The scene where Brooks is freed after spending most of his life in Shawshank, is essentially the movie version of when I accidentally poured a whole bottle of sweet chilli sauce on top of my neighbour’s car. This metaphor was very subtle, but if you look closely into his eyes as he walks through town all confused, it’s almost the same look my neighbour had when I tried to clean up the sticky mess with his ‘Welcome’ door mat. Don’t worry if you don’t get it. I’m the only one who gets it. 3. Finally, the memorable cinematic moment when Andy Dufresne escapes by climbing through miles of disgusting sewage reminds me of the time I dropped several enormous wedding cakes onto the roof of my next-door neighbour’s car. The tension, the passion and the smell were pretty much the same. My neighbour also cried watching them both happening. Sadly, only I can recognise these comparisons.
Varadkar, Trudeau and Macron Host Charity Car Wash For Magaluf Trip Philip Mignon Turbine Writer Yesterday, Leo Varadkar announced his plan to take part in a charity car wash this Wednesday alongside French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron and the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The aim of the car wash is raise funds for the three young leaders to go on the World Leader’s Society’s freshers trip to Magaluf. ‘We were generating ideas on how to raise money in our group chat this week’, Varadkar told the Turbine in a rare interview. “Emmanuel wanted to host an Iron Stomach [competition], I felt that bag packing was the way to go, but then Justin suggested the car wash. Clearly the best choice. We need to raise about €3,000 to cover the cost of flights, hostel accommodation and jägerbombs, and we all eventually agreed that the only way we could realistically do that would be by washing cars. We just really want to go on this trip’. The three leaders will be washing cars in their respective capitals over the coming weeks. On Wednesday they will be outside Leinster House, the following week they will be under the Eiffel Tower, and the week after that they will be outside the Canadian Houses of Parliament. Each wash will be priced at €15, and photos with the budding young bureaucrats will be an extra €10. Goodluck to them.
The Finest Homeless in Europe Seán Farbuckt Turbine Writer Daniel O’Connell once referred to the Irish as the finest peasantry in Europe. Now our peasantry is depleted and we are left with next to nothing to be proud of. The country of proud beggars, standing in shameless servility to a foreign king is no more. We can no longer stand. Our heads are now, like Moore’s in his statue, slightly bowed in shameful wistlessness. Is it time to return to our former days of glory? Back to when the Irish serf was so revered by every nation and empire in poetry, songs and plays? But what can we do, when we have no peasants left, just an abundance of homeless people? I propose that instead of harping on about the ‘homelessness crisis’, we instead look at this as a great opportunity. An opportunity to make our homeless the finest homeless in Europe! Think of the pride this sheepish nation
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would receive from having something so great to boast about. Think of the revenue from tourists, travelling far and wide to see our greatest asset sing and dance in the streets for their entertainment (Perhaps in some sort of leprechaun outfit?). Carroll’s Irish Gifts could sell merchandise like caps, and T-shirts and jumpers and scarfs. We could then use the vast income from our new attraction, for it would cost nothing to run, to build another apartment building for Trinity students: Our second greatest asset. Think of thousands of homeless men women and children, all performing their poor hearts out for their homeland. A glorious thought indeed! Of course, we could not pay them for their work. Would they not simply waste it all on drugs? Far better for it to go to benefitting our talented students.
The future inheritors of this beautiful island. The homeless who cannot dance or sing should of course be removed from areas where tourists might see them. It would be an unrecoverable embarrassment if a tourist was to see that some of our homeless are not talented and that all they can do is sleep on the streets in damp cardboard boxes. Oh the embarrassment! Oh the Shame! This proposal is not too far off the proposal that my friends in Fianna Fáil made, which was to put air fresheners on the homeless people to hide the smell. But Fianna Fáil have never been dreamers like me. I dream of an Ireland full of talented homeless people. To think of our little country, taking its place among the nations of the earth, with something so special to offer them all, would fill my heart with pride.
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Sport.
2017 – The Year of UCD Fencing Sports Editor Chris Foley rounds up a very successful year for UCD Fencing.
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017 is a year that will go down in sporting history for a number of reasons. It is a year that has spelled the end of the careers of legends such as Usain Bolt and Andrea Pirlo, and the beginning of new ones in the form of Kylian Mbappe and Sloane Stephens. A year when the Lions battled hard in New Zealand, McIlroy faltered, and Conor McGregor’s bank balance continued to grow. But closer to home, 2017 has been a year of overwhelming success for UCD Sports Teams,
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and none less so than the Fencing Club, who have enjoyed a year which has been steeped in silverware across several different competitions The yardstick for this academic year was already set in motion last summer, in Vilnius of all places, as UCD alumni flew the flag for Ireland in the World Cup Modern Pentathlon event. Among these, current club member Sive Brassil featured, finishing a very impressive 19th place having secured her qualification place for the competition at
the last minute. Sive was not the only competitor in the women’s competition with ties to UCD, as recent graduates Kate Coleman and Olympian Natalya Coyle finished 27th and 34th respectively. The following day saw the mixed relay event, with another UCD student, Arthur Lanigan O’Keefe partnering Coyle to victory in the competition as they rose to first place following, you guessed it, the fence. A testament to the hard work done in training for the event behind the scenes. s summer ended and attention moved back to Belfield, the team barely had time to come up for air before being faced with the National Championships on September 9th. Throughout last year, UCD Fencing Club established themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the women’s epee circuit; Ad Astra scholar Alisha Mullen represented Ireland internationally while first-year Sorcha Mellon-Whelan secured the title of Student Individual Champion 2017. Mullen and Mellon-Whelan triumphed over Trinity at the Inter-varsities to become Student Team Champions alongside their teammates, Laura Donaghy and Sive Brassil. On the back of this success, the National Championships represented a chance to amass even more silverware, and UCD Fencing Club was well-represented as always. The men’s epee team of Sean Ryan, Colm Casserly and Shane Whelan finished a respectable fourth place after coming unstuck against DUFC in the semi-final, while the women’s epee team, featuring Mellon-Whelan, Jess Stallard, Kristy Rozenberga and Phoebe Ireland finished with bronze. A strong start to the academic year, but the best was yet to come.
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The Intermediate Championships, which were hosted in Belfield in October, saw UCDFC dominate a competition which attracted 200 competitors from across the country. Overall, nine fencers medalled across the six disciplines, with UCD’s medal haul three times that of the next closest competitor. The highlight of the event was undoubtedly the Women’s Sabre event, which culminated in a hotly contested final between UCD clubmates Gerda Ziemele and Alba Saiz Barriuso. Club loyalties were cast aside for this tight encounter, with Ziemela eventually winning by a single hit with the final score standing at 15-14. Medals aside, the competition was a success in terms of participation alone, with thirty athletes competing for UCDFC in total. The final competition of the year took place just two weeks ago in Cork City, as the novice fencers travelled to the Mardyke Arena for the Schull Novice Cup. Following along the same trend, the tournament proved a big success, with Phoebe Ireland medalling in both the women’s foil event and the epee alongside club mate Anne Hege. In the men’s category, Daniel Forde achieved bronze in the men’s sabre event, while Conor Duggan finished a credible second place in the foil event, no mean feat considering he just began fencing in September! All things considered, 2017 has been a huge success for UCD Fencing, and the club will be looking to continue this upward trajectory over the coming year. UCDFC caters for individuals of all levels and experience, and conducts four weekly training sessions. For more information on how to get involved with Fencing at UCD, visit the club Facebook page @ucdfencing or find them on Twitter. p.33
Sport.
Andrea Pirlo: A Midfield Master Conor Lynott Sports Editor
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face that launched a thousand memes. Was it the 2006 World Cup win, or perhaps the Panenka to deceive Joe Hart at Euro 2012? Was it the autobiography, translated to English and laced with expletives? Was it just the vineyard and the beard? What we know is that somewhere along the line he achieved that highest form of footballing recognition: the stage at which a player’s name becomes synonymous with their position. The ‘Pirlo role’ is understood worldwide as the one in which he did his best work: sitting in the pocket in front of the defence, picking out passes like an NFL quarterback. It is easy to forget that this was not always his position. Pirlo had been identified as a special talent long before he broke through into the first team at Brescia in 1994, but back then he was a No10. Only after a difficult spell at Inter did he return on loan to his first club, who by this point had Roberto Baggio on their books. The manager, Carlo Mazzone, moved Pirlo back into midfield as a means of getting both players into his starting XI. Even today, Baggio cites his favourite goal as one that he scored for Brescia against Juventus in 2001 – set up by a 35-yard Pirlo pass over the top of the defence. How many other players have Pirlo to thank for the most memorable strike of their careers? Fabio Grosso, certainly, whose extra-time winner against Germany in the semi-final of the 2006 World Cup was made possible by a scandalously cool no-look pass. That nonchalance was part of the appeal, Pirlo’s majestic technique was only enhanced
by the cool he exuded in the most high-pressure moments of his career. It was, in some degree, a façade, Pirlo acknowledging in his autobiography that he has a talent for keeping his emotions hidden. But he also admitted in the same book that he never relished running for running’s sake. ‘One part of my job I’ll never learn to love is the pre-match warm-up,’ wrote Pirlo. ‘I hate it with every fibre of my being. It actually disgusts me. It’s nothing but masturbation for conditioning coaches, their way of enjoying themselves at the players’ expense.’ That is one thing he will not
miss, and there was an admirable frankness in the manner that he pre-announced his retirement during an interview with Gazzetta, explaining that, at 38 years old, the strain of maintaining match fitness had become too much. ‘You realise your moment has come,’ he said. ‘Every day you have physical problems, you can’t train because you always have some ailment. At my age, it’s OK, to say, ‘that’s enough’.’ It is not as though he still had anything left to prove. He wept on the pitch after losing the Champions League final with Juventus in 2015, but unlike most of his teammates he had already lifted
“ Pirlo’s majestic technique was only enhanced by the cool he exuded in the most highpressure moments of his career
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ndrea Pirlo loved to pull pranks on Gennaro Gattuso. The two midfielders played together for more than a decade with Milan and Italy, winning everything from Serie A to the World Cup and Champions League. They became fast friends, but that did not stop Pirlo from stealing Gattuso’s phone one day and texting his agent, offering his sister in return for an improved contract. It was not the practical jokes, though, that tormented Gattuso the most. Harder to cope with were the existential crises provoked by training alongside such outlandish talent. As he mused on one occasion: ‘When I watch Pirlo play, and see him with the ball at his feet, I ask myself if I could even truly be considered a footballer at all.’ Pirlo himself is not a footballer any longer. He confirmed his retirement on social media after New York City FC, the club with whom he has passed the final two and a-half years of his career, were eliminated from the MLS playoffs. Six months after Francesco Totti’s curtain call, Italian football bids farewell to another of its most iconic stars. While the Roma forward was a one-club man, Pirlo was almost the opposite: that rare example of someone who swapped between great rivals without losing the affection of either. They still love him in Milan, just like they do in Turin. And just about everywhere else in the world besides. Looking back, it is hard to pinpoint precisely when Pirlo transcended from domestic darling to global brand: a
the big-eared trophy twice. With a Club World Cup and two Uefa Super Cups in his collection, Pirlo has raised just about every major trophy available to him. And yet you wonder if any of them mean more to him than the lifelong dream he fulfilled by playing at the Maracanã for Italy in the 2013 Confederations Cup. The free-kick he scored that day took a personal fantasy beyond anything that even his childhood self had dared to imagine. Pirlo is a ferocious competitor who never hides from the bitterness he felt in defeat. But he is also an athlete, and a dreamer. He was good enough to have it both ways. You can understand why it all seemed a little unreasonable to a man like Gattuso, a man who built a very fine career out of more mundane gifts. Not everyone, though, is so intimidated by brilliance. The most eloquent tribute might be the one delivered by Gigi Buffon, quite possibly the best-ever to play his own position, after Pirlo arrived at Juventus in 2011. ‘When I saw him playing,” said Buffon. ‘I thought to myself, ‘God exists’.’ 0531
Student Loan UCD Sports Club RoundUp
Borrow up to €1,000 at 1% APR*
Chris Foley Sports Editor
U
UCD Swimming
nder the guidance of Olympian Earl McCarthy, UCD Swimming Club has a proud history of success, and one which they have already started to build on this academic year. The club competed at the 2017 Leinster Winter Championships last weekend and were rewarded with an abundance of silverware. As a team, the squad won
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6 gold medals, 11 silver and 4 bronze. On an individual level, a special mention is reserved for Darragh Greene, who has been selected to represent Ireland at the European Short Course Championships in Copenhagen this December. For more information on how to get involved with Swimming at UCD, visit the club Facebook page @ucdswimpolo
UCD Volleyball
long since well-established club in UCD Sporting Circles, UCD Volleyball Club has kept a typically busy schedule thus far, as they look to build on the success of the last academic year. The men’s student team have played one round thus far in the SSI league, beating Griffith College 3:0 and losing to DCU 2:1. With two titles to defend, they will be much fancied for silverware again in the coming year. The women’s SSI are currently preparing for their first competitive game of the campaign, and have done so with a comprehensive victory in a friendly game against DCU. In the Premier ranks, the men had their first loss to last year’s champions Ballymun, going down to a 3-1 score line, but have recorded two
comfortable victories at the hands of Limerick and Aerlingus. The Women’s Premier side won their first match of the season with relative ease, defeating DVC and Naas 3-0, before narrowly losing to last year’s champions Galway 3-2. The main focus of the club’s attention at present is on the upcoming All-Ireland Varsities competition. UCD has a proud history of dominance in the competition, having been crowned champions 13 of the last 14 years before going on to compete in the English varsities. They will be looking to continue that streak this year, with the event taking place November 16th-18th. The College Tribune will be on hand to report on how the UCD representative sides fared in our next issue. For more information on UCD Volleyball, visit the Facebook page @UcdVolleyballClub.
*APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. Lending criteria and terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be over 18 years of age and hold an active third level Bank of Ireland Student Current Account.
WARNING: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit in the future. Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
UCD Polar Bears Archery Club
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well-established club in the UCD Sports scene, the Polar Bears have had a busy semester thus far, and at the time of writing are preparing for their first intervarsity competition of the year at Dundalk IT. Boasting former Irish Olympian Keith Hanlon on the coaching staff, the club runs two beginners training sessions per week along with one team session, catering for players of all levels. With a long history of success in the Irish Indoor Universities leagues, the club will be expecting a strong showing this year, with star shooters such as Victoria Irvine, winner of last year’s student nationals in Cork, and the in-form Conor Power, likely to be in the running for any silverware. Like any club, The Polar Bears rely on the production of new talent to achieve sustained success, and this year’s Novice Cup gave the club an insight into the talented new archers they have in their ranks. In the men’s compe15.11.2017
tition, the top three competitors were Linges Chandran (118 points), Giaocchino Castorio (107) and Kenneth (101) respectively, three very impressive tallies considering the level of experience of the archers in question. While in the women’s competition, Jillian Holden led the way with 97 points, followed by Neasa McCaffrey and Aisha Hendy Larmour who were level on 91. Overall, the competition was an overwhelming success, with many of the participants completing the beginner’s course that day allowing them to now shoot independently. The future certainly looks bright for UCD Archery club, and we here at The College Tribune will be sure to closely follow their progress over the coming year. Fancy yourself as a Bowman in the making? Call down to Hall A on Tuesday’s at 5pm, or Friday’s at 4pm and pit yourself against one of the best Archery clubs Ireland has to offer. For information, contact the club via Facebook @ UCDArchery. p.35
College Tribune.
Ireland in Line For Aviva Cup Final After Goalless Draw
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asy to read, difficult to beat’. The Denmark manager, Age Hareide, took no satisfaction from the fact that his pre-match assessment of this Republic of Ireland team turned out to be prophetic. Martin O’Neill, meanwhile, is happy that Ireland’s World Cup fate will be determined in Dublin, a goalless draw ensuring the suspense in this play-off will carry over into Tuesday’s second leg. O’Neill conceded, that his team will have to show more creativity to profit from their home advantage. It would have been ludicrous to claim otherwise given that here they treated the ball like almost as much of an adversary as the Danes, with both kept mostly at a distance. Each manager complained afterwards about the bumpiness of the pitch but the Danish players made it look smoother than the Irish. ‘We would obviously want to be better with the ball in Dublin,’ said O’Neill. ‘We’ll need to be, in all honesty, to score a goal. [The tie] is very evenly poised. [Hareide] said they’re capable of scoring at the Aviva and I wouldn’t doubt that. With the players they possess they’re capable of scoring a goal so we might have to score two to win the match. But we’re capable of that.’ Ireland will be at full strength on Tuesday, as none of their www.collegetribune.ie
Conor Lynott Sports Editor eight players who started this leg on a yellow card received another one. David Meyler, forced to sit this out, will return from suspension. This was a disciplined and spirited Irish performance. Yes, the highlights of the clash could be condensed into a couple of minutes but this team will enter Irish football’s history books if the eventual outcome is qualification for a first World Cup since 2002. As for those highlights, Darren Randolph will feature prominently. The goalkeeper made three fine saves here to thwart the Danes when they managed to penetrate the Irish defence. All that was missing for the visitors was a breakaway goal, which Cyrus Christie almost pinched just before half-time before being foiled by Kasper Schmeichel. Despite knowing how Ireland would play, Hareide probably did not foresee the inclusion in Ireland’s starting lineup of Callum O’Dowda (pictured above), the 22-year-old whose only previous start for his country was in the relatively sedate setting of last month’s home match against Moldova. Deploying the Bristol City winger on the right enabled O’Neill to shift Robbie Brady into the central midfield berth vacated by Meyler, thus, in theory, giving Ireland more thrust than they would have had if the more experienced Glenn Whelan had started instead. That selection raised the possibility that O’Neill had not been bluffing in the previews when declaring his intention to ‘go for it’. Wrong. He was bluffing.
After some helter-skelter early exchanges, the contest settled into the pattern that Hareide predicted, Denmark dominating and Ireland defending deeply and doggedly. The role of Daryl Murphy, alone up front for the visitors, seemed ceremonial. Although the Danes regularly fed Christian Eriksen in the hope that the Tottenham Hotspur schemer would concoct some ingenious way of unpicking a defence led by Shane Duffy, the hosts were not overly intricate and did not forsake the aerial route. That path would have led to a goal in the 10th minute if not for two saves by Randolph. The Middlesbrough goalkeeper parried a volley from the left-hand side of the box by Stryger Larsen after a long diagonal pass by Simon Kjaer and then blocked the follow-up by Andrea Cornelius. The steadfastness of Ireland’s resistance seemed to cause Denmark to lose their poise. The second half descended into a scrappy duel, suiting the visitors more than the hosts. Eager for a twist, the home crowd cheered Nicklas Bendtner’s introduction in the 73rd minute. The former Arsenal and Sunderland striker made no impact. Yussuf Poulsen, however, nearly snatched a goal in the last minute but Randolph tipped his close-range header over the bar. A 0-0 draw on the surface is a good result for Ireland but it can’t be overstated that single goal scored by the Danes on Tuesday night might be enough to end our World Cup dream for good. 0531