The College Tribune 04_31

#UCDnews.

Politics.

Features.

Film.

Science.

Sport.

p. 04

p. 08

p.11

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p.26

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Expenses of Governing Authority Revealed

The Crisis In Catalonia

The Psychology of Trump

Independent Student Media *Since 1989

How Mental Health is Seen On Television

When Two Stars Collide

How Ireland Nullify South Africa

College Tribune.

0431

Student Newspaper of the Year 2017

UCD to Spend €340,000 to Plan the Relocation of President Deeks’ Office to Ardmore House Cian Carton | Editor

U

• • •

Plan is part of overall strategy to relocate HR to the Tierney Building Cost increased by €40k in a six-week period, money to come from University Resources UCD Administration wants Ardmore House to be ready for late 2018

CD is spending €340,000 to plan the refurbishment of Ardmore House, in order to relocate UCD President Andrew Deeks’ office into the historic building. The move is part of an overall strategy to move Human Resources out of its Roebuck Offices, and into the Tierney Building, ‘as part of plans to relocate HR activity to the heart of campus.’

While the Tierney Building is home to UCD’s administration, the vast majority of HR functions are carried out in Roebuck, with the main exception being finance. The Bursar’s Office is located on the first floor of Tierney, just beside the office of the Deputy President and Registrar, Mark Rogers.

The refurbishment of Ardmore House is being led by the Capital Developments Group (CDG), which has frequently

discussed the project over the past eighteen months. The CDG is chaired by UCD President Andrew Deeks, and also includes Mark Rogers, and the Bursar, Gerry O’Brien.

The funding for the project was approved by the Finance, Remuneration and Asset Management Committee (FRAMC).

A standing committee of the Governing Authority, FRAMC oversees UCD’s financial affairs and advises the Governing Authority on financial management issues. Chaired by Charles Coase, FRAMC members include Deeks, Rogers, and O’Brien.

FRAMC originally approved €300,000 ‘for a design team, detailed surveys and planning application for this project, with funding to come from University Resources.’ This figure came from a meeting in March 2017. Six weeks later, on the 26th of

April 2017, the cost of the project had jumped up to €340,000.

The refurbishment plans were attended for at the two meetings

by Michael Monaghan, Vice President for Campus Development, and Tadgh Corcoran, from UCD Estate Services.

It was noted the project brief ‘envisages restoring the house in two main phases, with potential for further future extension should the need arise. The first phrase to accommodate the President’s Office will involve the restoration of the upper floors of the house and replacement of low-quality rear additions with a modern circulation and toilet core. It is proposed that this phase will also include minimum intervention at garden-level, including a strip-out of laboratory and support spaces.’ Continued on page 3.

Issue 04 Volume 31

CT.

0431

Editors

Cian Carton Rachel O’Neill

Section Editors News.

Cian Carton

Politics.

Aaron Bowman Features.

James Daly Film.

Muireann O’Shea & Ciara Dillon Music.

Adam Bielenberg Fashion.

Shannon Doherty Arts.

Holly Lloyd LifeStyle.

Ciara Landy

Editorial.

Rachel O’Neill Editor

T

he last few weeks have not been easy for the College Tribune.

The impeachment of Katie Ascough marked a historic occasion for UCDSU politics as a whole but it also brought some nastiness along with it on both sides.

The Trumpian accusations of media bias and #fakenews from the No side sparked quite a lot of controversy and led to two of the sabbatical officers defending both papers in their open letters.

This marks a change of policy in the SU who normally can’t wait to see the back of the College Tribune.

That being said, it should not be down to sabbatical officers to defend student media.

What we have learned from this campaign is that in the age of social media has radically changed how people see news. One side of the campaign sees an article online that a paper writes and happily share it on their campaign page. The next article they see from the same paper is something that’s bad for their campaign and the

first thing they cry is ‘media bias’. That is not how media works. Our job is to hold our SU to account regardless of our own personal views. That is what the College Tribune did throughout the campaign and what we’ll continue to do for the rest of the year regardless of who is in charge.

The price that we have to pay for mistakes that have been made is quite costly.

The cost of running the referendum and the campaign for a new president only adds to the €7,000 already wasted from the reprint.

I fully believe in the democratic process that was enacted by students but it is a shame that it’s cost so much to get us here. You cannot reclaim the cost and you cannot reclaim the time lost either. The SU has been stagnant for close to a month now and will have a hard time of it making that up to students.

The constant controversy surrounding the sabbatical officers will have no doubt hardened them. I just hope they’ll be as effective as they promised in their campaigns all those months ago.

Cian Carton Editor

U

CD President Andrew Deeks’ Presidential Bulletin is the main way in which staff can keep up to date with the life of President. Bulletins usually consist of an account of the names and places of conferences that he is attending, with brief notes about what was discussed at them.

Bulletins 170 and 171 are of particular interest, as they both provide accounts of Deeks’ time at the 2017 Conference of the International Association of Universities (IAU) in Accra, the capital of Ghana.

The theme of the IAU’s Global Meeting of Associations and International Conference was ‘Leadership for a Changing Public-Private Higher Education Funding Landscape’. At the event, Deeks chaired a panel discussion on the ‘Impact on Governance Models of New Higher Education Funding Realities.’

Deeks’ comments on the changing perception of higher education funding is probably one of the most revealing insights into his frustration with the sector. He was previously unhappy with the level of criticism that an income

contingent loan scheme received when it was listed in the Cassells Report, ‘Investing in National Ambition: A Strategy for Funding Higher Education.’

The other options in that report were to make third level education completely free, or to increase government funding to continue to make it ‘free’ at the point of access. These two options would both require a large increase in State funding.

The loan scheme would lower the need for State funding, by shifting the cost onto students.

These observations link into Deeks’ comments from the conference. He stated there is an ‘increasing desire by politicians to hold universities ‘accountable’ for the public funds they receive, and to want to control how these are used.’

Increased government funding will naturally attract increased scrutiny.

UCD’s financial accounts to the 30th of September 2016 show that government funding dropped by 2.3%, down to €62 million. It will be interesting to see whether the numbers behind the latest accounts correspond with what is being claimed.

Science.

Orla Daly

Join the Team.

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Erin Nic An Bhaird & Lorraine Stack Business.

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Ailish Brennan Features Conor Lynott Features James Simcox Features Caoimhe McParland Music Niall O’Shaughnessy Music Fiona Keaveney Fashion George Hannaford Fashion Shane Grogan Gaeilge Donal Ó Catháin Gaeilge Lana Salmon Science

Editorial Note 0431 On This Day: The world population reaches 7 billion inhabitants according to the United Nations

31.10.2017

*Cover Continued UCDNEWS. p.05

UCD to carry out review of student support services.

Politics.

p.08

The Catalonian Crisis

Features. p.13

Students For Sensible Drug Policy: Their Aims.

Music. p.15

Film. p.16

Radiohead’s ‘In Rainbows’ - 10 Years On

How well is mental health portrayed in TV?

Fashion.

p.18

Arts. p.23

Kaia Gerber: Fashion’s New ‘It’ Girl

Forgotten places: The Eblana Theatre

House in line with good conservation principles will provide a first-class administration and visitor engagement experiences, complemented by excellent meeting and support facilities.’

The HR relocation plan was also highlighted. It was noted that the ‘initial phase transfer of selected University activities to Ardmore House will release accommodation in the Tierney Building, acting as a crucial enabler to the subsequent relocation of Human Resource activities from Roebuck.’

At a later meeting of the CDG on the 9th of November 2016, the initial plan for refurbishing Ardmore House was set out. It was ‘proposed that poorly configured and inaccessible accommodation to the rear of the house is removed, with modest new construction to enhance fire escape access and toilet facilities.’

The agreed development principles proposed; ‘preservation of as much of the configuration and features of the original estate house as possible; minimal intervention to the existing ground floor; strip basement for a Phase 2 conversion to open plan offices and meeting room, with a new feature staircase under the current staircase.’

A design team was to be appointed for December 2016. The CDG meeting on the 15th of December noted that they were expecting the Design Team Framework, which was handling the appointment of a design team, would be returning tender information ‘over the coming weeks.’

2017 Developments

LifeStyle. p.26

Events coming up across the city and here on campus.

Science. p. 26

When Two Stars Collide: An analysis of the recent disocvery in astronomy.

The first mention of Ardmore House this year comes from another CDG meeting, on the 23rd of February 2017, which noted that ‘design teams fee proposals’ were due to be returned two days previously.

It was noted the ‘phased transfer of University Management Activities to Ardmore House’ may incorporate a number of elements.

Phase 1 of the plan included the possibility of

Gaeilge.

p. 29 Lionnir - Tinder na nGael

the refurbishment of five office and spaces at the upper first floor level, the demolition of 370 square metres at the rear across garden, ground, first and mezzanine levels, the construction of new stair, lift, kitchen and toilets at the new rear, and the stripping-out and clearance of 250sq.m garden level room and construction of weathering/seal.

Phase 2 may include the ‘refurbishment and fit-out of 250sq.m garden level office and meeting spaces, including the re-instatement of the original main staircase to garden level’, alongside ‘external landscape works.’

The group noted that ‘subject to the final project brief, design, procurement, planning consents and funding approval processes it is anticipated that Ardmore House may be occupied by late 2018.’ A ‘milestone programme’ would be presented at the next CDG meeting by the chosen design team for review. The CDG proposed to ‘advance the project to the design and planning stage, to better define the costs associated with the phased project.’ Deeks was to meet the architects once ‘initial surveys and layout studies have been completed.’

On the 26th of April, the CDG reported that RKD Architects were appointed to handle the project. They met with Deeks, Monaghan, and UCD Estate Services on the 13th of April to ‘discuss initial findings with respect to conservation constraints, potential layout configurations and architectural aesthetics.’ RKD were ‘scheduled to circulate updated drawings over the coming weeks.’ The CDG further noted that FRAMC had approved funding to advance the project to the planning and design stage.

The CDG meeting on the 7th of June recorded that RKD had presented these updated drawings at another meeting on the 15th of May. Early sketches of a renovated Ardmore House by RKD were circulated at the meeting. RKD Architects have carried out a number of major projects in UCD, including

Business. p.31

The Contempt of Court Bill 2017

the design of the O’Brien Centre for Science and the Quinn School of Business.

FRAMC

Deeks, Rogers, and O’Brien were all present when the initial €300,000 funding was approved at a FRAMC meeting on the 8th of March. Conor Viscardi, then UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) President, was also there.

Only one member of FRAMC was absent when the funding was increased to €340,000 on the 26th of April.

History of Ardmore House

Built around 1800, Ardmore House is a protected structure, and was originally known as Belview. The government bought the House and 20 acres in 1948. UCD obtained it via a land swap for the old Montrose estate in 1957.

The last major works on the site were carried out around 15 years ago. A two-storey partially derelict building, which was used for storage at the rear, was demolished to make way for a new two-storey building with offices and a laboratory. Part of the render on the exterior walls started to peel off in 2013. UCD carried out minor repair works and applied a flat lime render, designed to protect the stone walls from wind and rain.

Ardmore House is now home to UCD’s Commercial, Residential and Hospitality Services, which oversees services like the Residences, CopiPrint, and UCARD. The House currently has three rooms available to rent for conferences. Two Boardrooms each have a capacity of 20 people, while the Reception Room can host 40 people. The Tribune contacted Commercial, Residential and Hospitality Services to ask whether the planned refurbishment would impact on the availability of the rooms to be rented out for events, but had not received a response at the time of going to print. UCD is yet to reply to a request for comment on the refurbishment, and its overall HR relocation strategy.

Turbine

Sport.

p.32 Satirical takes on p.33 Fitbits, Ryanair and much more.

Sports Star of the Week Seamus Lyons p.3

UCDNEWS.

President Deeks: ‘Since the Global Economic Crisis, Trust in Universities has Reduced Around the World’ Cian Carton Editor

U

CD President Andrew Deeks has told staff that ‘trust in universities has reduced around the world’, following the global economic crisis. He made the statement to staff in his latest Presidential Bulletin, while reflecting on his recent trip to Ghana.

Deeks spent a number of days in Accra, in order to attend a series of events held by the International Association of Universities (IAU), of which Deeks was elected as a Board Member last year.

Alongside the IAU’s Board Meeting, he was present for their Meeting of Associations and International Conference.

Deeks stated that, with ‘participants coming from countries around the world, the degree of consistency with respect to increased challenges to university funding, increased desire by government to provide direction to universities despite funding reductions, and a general questioning by government and society more broadly about the value of university education was very marked.’

Deeks noted a key contrast between the approach to higher education funding before and after 2008. Before the 2008 economic crash, ‘universities were generally considered by governments to be a ‘good thing’, and increasing the percentage of the

population earning degrees was a common government goal.’ The development of the global university rankings systems also caused governments to invest more in their third level sector, in order to ‘enhance the prestige of the country.’

Crucially, the ‘way this investment was to be used was generally left to the universities, with governments trusting that the university

leadership also wished to advance their university and would apply the investment effectively.’

Post 2008, ‘trust in universities has reduced around the world, perhaps as part of a general reduction of trust in institutions.’ Smaller education budgets have ‘led to reduced funding of universities and an increased need for ‘private’ contributions (generally in the form of fees paid by

the students).’

Deeks then pointed out other developing issues. The proportion of people obtaining degrees is on the rise, so ‘the questions of over qualification and relevance of qualification have been raised.’ There has also been an ‘increasing desire by politicians to hold universities ‘accountable’ for the public funds they receive, and to want to control how these are used.’

While these issues are all playing out in Ireland at present, Deeks took ‘some comfort from the discussions at the conference in knowing that we are in no way unique in the challenges we face, and indeed that as an institution are dealing with these challenges far better than many other universities.’

Expenses & Catering Costs of UCD Governing Authority Revealed

S

Rachel O’Neill Editor

ome expenses and costs of the Governing Authority of UCD for the financial year ended September 2016 have been revealed. The expenses which were released in UCD’s Financial Statement for 2016 showed that expenses for the Governing Authority amounted to €23,626. An FOI obtained by the College Tribune has also revealed that the catering costs for all Governing Authority meetings between 2016 and 2017 amounts to €5,367.07. A total of 6 Governing Authority meetings took place between September 2015 and September 2016. The catering costs cover between 11-13 meetings in total.

The Governing Authority which was set up under the 1997 University’s Act aims to ‘guide the strategic direction of the University, with particular emphasis on overseeing policy, monitor-

ing the performance of top management and working with the President to set UCD’s strategic aims.’ It has two long standing committees; the Finance, Remuneration and Asset Management Committee (FRAMC) and the Audit and Risk Management (ARMC). FRAMC advises the Governing Authority on the financial matters of UCD while ARMC advises it on audit and risk management matters.

Its current members were elected on the 1st of February 2014 and will sit until the 31st of January 2019. Current members include Registrar Prof. Mark Rogers, the President Prof.

Andrew Deeks and the elected sabbatical officers from the UCD Student’s Union. The Minister for Education must also nominate three people to sit on the board as well as six people elected by the academic staff of UCD.

Bleeper Bikes Arrive At UCD Cian Carton Editor

B

leeper Bikes, a dockless bike sharing service, has begun operations in UCD. They are currently available in several locations around UCD’s Belfield and Blackrock campuses, including near Centra, beside the Merville Residences.

Bleeper Bikes are deposited at public bike racks. To access them, a person can use the Bleeper Bikes app to find the location of a bike, then scan the QR code on the bike’s lock to release it. The Service has ‘Membership’ or ‘Pay as You Go’ rates. A three-month student membership is currently being offered to students for €20, instead of the normal €30 rate.

31.10.2017

Hugh Cooney, CEO & Founder of Bleeper Bikes, told the Tribune that there are 40 bikes in Belfield, and a further 10 at the Blackrock campus. When asked about the uptake for the service so far, he explained that ‘they have only been on campus for a couple of weeks so it’s still early days but each week there has been a big increase in the number of students using them.’

There were over 100 reported bike thefts in UCD in 2016, an increase from 70 thefts in 2015.

November is the month in which bikes are most likely to be stolen. There were 26 thefts in November 2016, which averaged just under one per day. p.4

UCDNEWS.

UCD to Carry Out First Major Review of Student Support Services in 12 Years

Cian Carton Editor

U

CD is set to carry out its first major review of how it provides administrative and professional support to students in 12 years. The new survey will be the first one since the introduction of modularisation and semesterisation several years ago. UCD President Andrew Deeks announced to staff that the review would begin shortly in a recent Presidential Bulletin.

Deeks said it would cover ‘how we provide administrative and professional support to students and faculty, focusing on the front-line services that support our academic programmes.’ The review will allow UCD to ‘ensure that we deliver excellent programme supports to students, faculty and staff, that we do this with the best use of our resources and experience to enable

sustainable growth.’

UCD’s overall position in the area is set out in the UCD Strategy 2015-2020 - Student and Academic Services. The university aims to ‘deliver excellent programme supports to students, faculty and staff, harnessing the best of our resources and expertise. In support of this goal, UCD will embark upon a phased programme of review of some of our key support activities and how they are delivered.’ The Student and Academic Services Review Steering Group was established under the University Management Team for this specific purpose.

The Steering Group will carry out the review. Chaired

by Professor Mark Rogers, UCD Deputy President and Registrar, it contains eleven members in total, but can

co-opt others if needed. Other leading members include Associate Professor Barbara Dooley, Deputy Registrar and Dean of Graduate Studies, and Professor Sarah Prescott, College Principal of the College of Arts of Humanities.

UCD currently has four levels from which administrative support is provided; at the College level, between the College level and the

Schools, between central supports (mainly Registry) and Colleges and Schools, and directly by central supports to students and faculty.

The Group will review and make recommendations on ‘local’ supports in the Colleges (or a School where programme is located in a School) for ‘streamlining the structure and functions of the College, Programme and Graduate School Offices to

Image Above Prof. Mark Rogers.

best deliver these supports.’

It will also review ‘central’ supports and their relationship to ‘local’ support, and recommend ‘how to maximise the value of ‘central’ supports and structure their integration with ‘local’ supports in delivering the overall student and academic supports.’

The overall review will be based on the experiences of smaller reviews carried out in UCD HR and the School of Medicine in 2015. UCD will also hire external consultants, to be appointed during this semester, to help the Group.

Deeks confirmed the Steering Group would present its report to the UMT in March 2018.

The recommendations from the report are to be put in place for the 2018/2019 academic year. Changes can either be implemented on a phased or university-wide basis. It is an ‘absolute requirement’ that any changes do not increase the ‘total cost of delivery of support.’ While the review is university-wide, the recommendations of the Group should especially ‘provide effective and efficient support’ to the changing structures of the Colleges of Arts and Humanities, and Social Sciences and Law, for September 2018.

Deeks Goes on Alumni Tours to Australia and China Cian Carton Editor

U

CD President Andrew Deeks returned to his childhood country of Australia as part of a UCD Alumni Tour this October. Deeks kicked off the tour in his hometown of Perth, with the opening speech at an event in the University Club of Western Australia, on the 23rd of October.

He attended an event at University House, at the University of Melbourne, on the 25th of October. Fergal Coleman, who mentors students in Faculty of Business and Economics, at University of Melbourne, was present. Coleman is better known for his career in the League of Ireland. He was top scorer in the First Division with 13 goals for Galway United in the 1997/98 season.

Deeks then travelled to Sydney for an event at Four Seasons Hotel, on the 26th of October. Professor Rónán McDonald, who completed his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in UCD, also spoke at the event. McDonald is the Director of the Global Irish Studies Centre, at

31.10.2017

the University of New South Wales in Sydney. He is also the President of the Irish Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand.

The next alumni tour will begin in China at the start of November, with Deeks set to attend. It starts with an event at Tsinghua University, in Beijing, on the 4th of November. Professor David Fitzpatrick, Principal of UCD College of Engineering and Architecture, will be giving a talk on the impact that UCD alumni have made on the Chinese economy, alongside Paul Costigan and Kevin Trappe. Costigan is the CEO of Senseg Oy, a Finnish technology company, while Trappe is the founder and MD of Axiom, a headhunting firm in Hong Kong. Fitzpatrick became the first Provost of the Beijing-Dublin International College (BDIC), a partnership between UCD and Beijing University of Technology, which opened in 2012.

Deeks will then head on to Fudan University, in Shanghai, for another reception on the 7th of November. The

event will centre around a panel discussion on the One Belt One Road project.

Chinese President Xi Jinping wants to build a road that will link China to Europe, based on the historical Silk Road route. UCD have noted this project will ‘bring together the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road through a vast network of railways, roads, pipelines, ports, and telecommunicattions infrastructure.’

The most recent developments in the plan centre on its engineering challenges. FitzPatrick will be taking part in the event with Gareth McAlister, Lina Xu and Rita Boyle. McAlister is President of the Asia-Pacific region of LORD Corporation, which produces vibration and motion control technologies, sensing systems, adhesives and coatings. Xu is a lecturer and assistant professor in the School of Computer Science in UCD. She also teaches in BDIC. Boyle, a UCD graduate and Chartered Accountant, is head of SBA Stone Forest’s eDiscovery Division in Shanghai. p.5

UCDNEWS.

UCD to Host Major International Academic Conference Cian Carton Editor

U

CD has been chosen to host the next General Conference of the International Association of Universities (IAU) in 2020. The news was revealed

by UCD President Andrew Deeks, who travelled to Ghana this month to attend the annual IAU Conference and present UCD’s bid to host the event.

Founded in 1950, the IAU has members in over 120 countries, and works to promote collaboration and action between its members around higher education issues. UCD is one of 616 fulltime members of the organisation. Other Irish members include NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, and the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT). Based on the criteria for membership, UCD pays an annual €2,850 member-

ship fee to the organisation.

Deeks broke the news in his Presidential Bulletin to staff, sent just after UCD’s bid was successful in Ghana. He wrote that ‘the board meeting has just concluded, and I am pleased to say that we have been successful in our bid to host the next General Conference of the IAU at UCD in 2020. The 2020 General Conference will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the IAU, and so will be a very special event.’

Deeks further stated that the ‘current institutional membership is approximately 650, so hosting the General Conference will be a significant boost to our profile, and to our ambition to be recognised around the world as Ireland’s Global University. Thanks to everyone who assisted in putting

the bid together.’

The IAU’s annual conference for 2017 was held in Accra, Ghana, where the theme was ‘Leadership for a Changing Public-Private Funding Higher Education Landscape.’ Deeks attended the three-day event, having been elected to the Board of the IAU last year. He chaired and moderated a discussion on the ‘Impact on Governance Models of New Higher Education Funding Realities.’

Leading participants in the discussion were Anthony Kahindi Mutune, the Secretary of Strathmore University, Kenya, Pornchai Mongkhonvanit, the Presi-

dent of Siam University, Thailand, and IAU Vice-president, and Godehard Ruppert, the President of the University of Bamberg, Germany, and also an IAU Board member. Other panel discussions included ‘Roles and Expectations for and of Higher Education Leaders Today’, ‘Tensions between Academic, Economic and Social Missions of Higher Education’, and ‘Academic Integrity in a Competitive Higher Education Landscape.’

The IAU is governed by a President, who chairs its Administrative Board. It contains twenty elected and two ex officio members. Pam Fredman, Vice-Chancellor of

Göteborg University, Sweden, is the current IAU President.

Deeks was elected to serve on the Board of the 2016-2020 administration. He is one of the six members elected in the European category. The other European representatives are from universities in Portugal, Romania, Spain, Germany, and Lithuania.

Remus Pricopie, the Rector of the National University of Political and Administrative Studies, Romania, is one of several IAU Vice-Presidents.

In total, ten people ran for the six European spots last year.

The General Conference is the most important meeting of the IAU. Held once every four years, all IAU members come together to elect a new President and Administrative Board Members. The last General Conference was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in November 2016. The 17th Annual IAU General Conference will see hundreds of university leaders travel to UCD for the event. The next step for UCD will be to arrange a Conference Programme Committee to begin planning the logistics.

No date for the conference has yet been confirmed, but it is expected to be held around November 2020.

O’Reilly Hall Extension Refused Fire Safety Certificate Cian Carton Editor

T

he construction of a Private Club onto O’Reilly Hall is facing a delay after Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council rejected the application for its Revised Fire Safety Certificate. The extension is believed to be UCD President Andrew Deeks’ ‘number one priority’ for on-campus developments.

Deeks wants the Private Club and Restaurant built to serve as a place to bring visiting dignitaries. The bar would be open for staff, alumni, and visitors, to the exclusion of students.

A Fire Safety Certificate is required for the construction or major renovation the majority of buildings, with domestic homes being a 31.10.2017

general exception. UCD was granted planning permission in April for a two-storey extension to O’Reilly Hall, which was designed to include ‘social and dining facilities, meeting rooms and support spaces.’

UCD applied on the 29th of June for the Revised Fire Safety Certificate. Issue three of the College Tribune noted that it was still awaiting the result of the application.

While the process normally takes just a few weeks, the Council granted a time extension in September.

Now, it has rejected the application as ‘the documentation submitted fails to provide adequate information to enable the authority to assess the proposal.’

Given the high frequency

with which UCD applies for these Certificates, it remains unclear how this application has failed for not providing adequate information.

The rejection looks set to put back construction by another few months, at the very least. As per the grant of planning permission back in April, UCD is subject to a number of other conditions to be complied with before work can begin on the site.

The next step for UCD is to make another application.

A Fire Safety Certificate has an application cost of €2.90 per square metre of floor, with a minimum cost of €125. UCD’s proposed extension is 1832.45 square metres, which would equal an application cost of €5,315.70 just to apply for the Certificate. p.6

UCDNEWS.

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Politics.

The Crisis in Catalonia Aaron Bowman Politics Editor days leading up to the vote, the Central Government sent in the Guardia Civil, or the Civil Guard, the federal police force. They began the process of confiscating ballot boxes and papers from the regional government in an effort to undermine the ability of the people to vote.

Furthermore, the Civil Guard’s action on the day of the vote itself drew massive international condemnation, as heavy-handed tactics resulted in injuries and damage to the properties holding the votes. As images of black clad police in riot gear attacking what was a generally peaceful civilian populace were broadcast around the world, it became clear that this crisis would only escalate.

The fact that this vote was already declared illegal simply means that the actions of the Civil Guard led to nothing but a PR coup for the prosecession movement. In the immediate aftermath of the vote, the leader of the Catalonian government, Carles Puigdemont (pictured below), declared that the regional government had secured a mandate for independence from the vote. With only a 43% turnout, of which 90% were in favour of this move, it meant that the mandate was not recognised internationally by any European countries.

Contested Vote

The exact statement issued by the Catalonian Government on the 10th of October led to some confusion about whether or not the region had actually formally declared independence. The EU and Catalonian government called on both sides to come to talks as resolve the situation diplomatically. A

This current crisis had been brewing for a while, but it exploded in the international media on October 1st, after Catalonia held a vote that was deemed illegal by the Spanish Supreme Court on whether or not to declare independence.

This situation was made worse by the fact that in the 31.10.2017

Call to Talks

deadline was set by Prime Minister Rajoy for Catalonian to clarify its position or direct rule would be impose. The Spanish Socialists Party, the main opposition party, agreed to support Prime Minister Rajoy in imposing direct rule upon Catalonia, via the use of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution.

On October 27th, while still under the threat of direct rule being imposed, the Catalonian Parliament voted for independence from the Spanish state. Less than an hour later, the Spanish Senate voted to impose direct rule upon the region. No European government has thus far supported the move, and the

various EU institutions have in fact condemned the move.

European Dilemma The European Union is stuck between two competing ideals. First is its support for the right to self-determination, as rectognised in international law and the UN Charter of Human Rights.

This especially states that all people will have the right to freely determine their political status and pursue their own economic and cultural development. This has been successfully used as the justification for various regions calling legitimate independence votes. The EU has previously supported these regions

(particularly in the Balkans), and therefore should logically be seen to support the movement when it is within its own borders.

The conflict emerges when the EU realises that it needs to support the territorial integrity and rule of law within one of its largest member states. Irrespective of whether one believes the vote is the right course of action or not, it cannot be argued that it is in fact illegal. The SpanThe conflict emerges ish Constitution states ‘the when the EU realises Constitution is based on the unity of the Spanthat it needs to support indissoluble ish Nation’, meaning that it is the territorial integrity impossible for any region to and rule of law within declare independence from the state, irrespective of how one of its largest the vote is conducted. member states.

A further political dimension emerges when one thinks back to the large number of European Union Members States that have their own secession movements.

Anything that could remotely fan the flames of those movements will be rejected out of hand by their respective governments. Until this issue is resolved, the EU will appear to be incompetent in dealing with the next big issue facing Europe.

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n Friday the 27th of October, as the Spanish Central government under Prime Minster Mariano Rajoy moved to implement direct rule on the autonomous region of Catalonia, the Catalonian parliament voted to declare independence from Spain. This represents the latest twists in the ongoing saga of Catalonian independence. This is a movement that has been gaining traction for years but has finally pushed this situation to the edge in the last few weeks, with a vote for independence being held on October 1st.

This crisis has placed particular strain on the EU and its various Member States, who have ended up in bind over whether or not to support the democratic rights of Catalonians, or to protect the rule of law and territorial integrity of a fellow Member State. Worse yet, is that fact that many EU countries have their own regions with budding or active secessions movements, such as Bavaria in Germany, the Basque region in France and Veneto and Lombardy in Italy which on October 23rd both voted for more autonomy. These countries under no circumstances want to fan the flames of their own secession movements, but also want to be seen to support democratic votes. It is not an easy line to tread.

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Politics.

The 8th Amendment Committee: Where Are We So Far? Aaron Bowman Politics Editor

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ver the last few weeks the Oirechtas committee on the 8th amendment has been in sessions receiving expert testimony as they consider the what changes to Ireland’s abortion regime they should recommend to the Dáil. IN this time the committee of (how many men and women) has read the Citizen’s Assembly recommendations and heard arguments from both sides. Here is what they’ve done so far:

The Speakers

A point of contention between the pro-choice and pro-life sides on the committee has been the speakers being brought before the committee. Each member of the committee was given the chance to offer up potential speakers, provide justification for why they should address the committee and then explain any costs that may be associated with bringing them before the committee. The final decision make in this process would be the committee chairperson (check her name).

This all appeared to be a reasonable approach until October 12th when Senator Ronan Mullens and Mattie McGrath TD called the entire committee a ‘farce’ for calling what were in their opinion a majority of witness that are

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pro-choice. This has been a serious source of contention for the committee as Mullens and McGrath are claiming that expert legal and medical witness are in fact pushing a pro-choice agenda.

This was quite concerning for all members of the committee as these witnesses were meant to be presenting expert opinion in their respective fields to guide the committee in their deliberations as they prepare recommendations for the Dáil to consider. If they are in fact seen as bias, then the work of the entire committee could be seen as bias and therefore be undermined.

The Outside View

This accusation of bias has given the pro-life campaign groups a strong narrative to latch onto in an effort to discredit the committee.

They have recognised that even as they prepare to fight the actual Referendum on the 8th, delaying the committee or making it so that people believe that it is only arriving at a pre-determinate conclusion is beneficial. The Dáil is typically viewed as more conservative than the populace and many in the Dáil are concerned about taking a firm position in regard to the 8th. For those on the fence, seeing the committee as bias given them a way to continue avoid the issue.

For the pro-choice

campaigns they simply see further. This would in turn this committee as an unac- cause great political damage ceptable delay. It is their to Government who will be belief that the Referendum seen has trying to avoid the should’ve been called long issue again. ago, and that Fianna Fáil and Decisions So Far Fine Gael are simply kicking the can down the road. Thus far the committee has They further see the actions held one vote of what will of Mullen’s and McGrath as no doubt be a series as it goes distractions to delay the refer- to recommend to the Dáil endum and derail the entire how it is to proceed with a process.

Referendum and legislation This places the committees regarding the 8th Amendchair Catherine Noone in a ment. This vote which was difficult position. If she can’t instigated by Fianna Fáil balance the demands of both and Sinn Fein said that the groups on the committee, it committee would not recomis possible the entire process mend retaining Article 40.3.3 could collapse. If this were (the 8th Amendment) in full. to happen the Dáil would This represents only the first need to find another way to step in the assessment of the consider the Citizen’s Assem- Citizen’s Assembly, but even bly recommendations setting so this vote was opposed by 3 this entire process back even of the committee members,

Senator Mullens, Mattie McGrath TD and Peter Fitzpatrick a Fine Gael TD. Towards the end of November, the committee aims to conduct a set of votes with a view to establishing whether or not they will recommend to fully repeal the 8th and what form of legislation should replace the 2013 Act that current governs Ireland’s abortion regime. Then the committee’s recommendations will be considered by the Dáil and from there we will have a referendum sometime next year.

Referndum Concerns There are significant concerns about both the wording and the time of the upcoming Referendum. If the referendum does not outright repeal the 8th amendment but instead amends it, it is possible that pro-choice groups will reject it. If the vote is held at a time that doesn’t suit students who will have to travel home, then the pro-choice lobby will reject it.

This represents a significant difficulty for the Dáil to overcome in considering how this all needs to be addressed. p.9

Opinion.

Opinion: UCD Students Face Bigger Problems Than Katie Ascough Rachel O’Neill Editor

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www.collegetribune.ie

“

If we can mobilise ourselves to impeach our own SU president for the first time ever, why can’t we mobilise ourselves to fight fee increases?

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he dust has now settled on Katie Ascough’s impeachment. It was a historic campaign for a number of reasons. It was the first time a UCDSU sabbatical officer has been impeached from office. A total of 6,572 votes were cast which makes it the biggest turnout in recent UCDSU history and the result itself was pretty substantial; 69% of students wanted Ms Ascough gone. As Ms Ascough said herself before polls closed on Thursday ‘it’s good to see so many students voting’.

In her concession speech Ms Ascough said ‘This is a sad day for me, but it is also a sad day for our university. Universities should be a place of freedom of speech, freedom of thought and freedom of association’. This line in particular has stayed with me since Thursday night. UCD students used a democratic process to remove a democratically elected leader which entails the use of freedom of speech, thought and of association. You cannot make the argument that UCD is undemocratic because it simply isn’t.

However, Ms Ascough wasn’t entirely incorrect because Thursday was a sad day in a way. Over 6,000 students mobilised themselves to remove Katie Ascough from office. Yet, only approximately 30 students showed up the March for Education to protest fee increases and the possibility of income contingent loans. I am not for one second suggesting that the impeachment referendum wasn’t important or shouldn’t have gone ahead. However, it does make me question why UCD as a student body doesn’t mobilise more because as the impeachment showed us, when we mobile, we can effect some real change.

Student apathy caused Katie Ascough to be elected last March. She received a total of 1,244 first preference votes out of a total of 3,237, half of total votes cast in the impeachment referendum. Why are only 10% of the student body choosing our SU? Why are students so disillusioned with our SU and college in general? It’s not as if the SU isn’t working for us.

Barry Murphy our current C+C Officer managed to get government funding for his accommodation

campaign for the first time ever. Rob Sweeney our current Education Officer has managed to convene a committee to discuss resit and repeat fees. These issues, (particularly resit fees) which students have been calling for someone to deal with years are now being addressed but yet students seem disinterested.

330 students turned up to the March for Choice which is a massive achievement for our SU given the national referendum on abortion that is set to take place next year. However, UCD students have always been good at protesting social issues like abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights. It is on issues of education, fees and UCD’s projects that we always fall down on.

Fine Gael failed on their promise to put more funding into higher education with just €36 million of the €100 million promised invested. We need to be holding our government to account for this failure because it is us and our children that will suffer from inaction.

Last year it was revealed by the Tribune that UCD had to pay €3 million to China to avoid a diplomatic incident over the controversial Confucius Centre.

That €3 million could have been used in so many different ways and yet where was the outrage? UCD have already spent €340,000 on consulting fees and design plans to relocate President Deeks office into Ardmore House. Deeks also plans to build a private

club that students can’t even access. UCD is turning more and more into a private business, made for profit and not students and yet we just don’t seem to care.

What this impeachment campaign has shown is that when students want their voices to be heard, they vote. 6,600 students voting in total is a massive achievement for both sides of the campaign. It’s just a pity that we can’t seem to mobilise the same numbers to fight against fee increases, introduction of income contingent loans or rising accommodation costs. UCD students must now take a long hard look at themselves and ask why? If we can mobilise ourselves to impeach our own SU president for the first time ever, why can’t we mobilise ourselves to fight fee increases? In 20-30 years time, it’ll be us having to pay these massive fees for our own kids.

Surely it is in our best interest to start fighting now?

This is my 5th year in UCD and what happened on Thursday was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. If students care enough, we can actually change things.

The more bodies we have, the more voices we have, the louder we become and the harder we are to ignore.

We already showed once that we will not put up with censorship and lying in our own SU. It’s time that we held both the UCD President and our own government to the same standards.

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Features.

The Psychology of Trump James Simcox

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ne may wonder why Donald Trump is so concerned with NFL players protesting peacefully during the national anthem, when there are many more critical issues he could and perhaps should be turning his attention to. Examples include the recent wildfires in California, and the current humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico. Furthermore, why does the president’s controversial stance on this issue garner so much support domestically?

From a psychological pointof-view, one explanation comes in the form of Terror Management Theory (TMT). This theory asserts that when we are

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faced with reminders of death, we protect ourselves against this rather uncomfortable experience by investing in security-providing defence mechanisms. For example, by investing ourselves in things like our culture, country, or religion, it can help us deal with the unpleasantness brought about by the contemplation of death and mortality. Similarly, one may try to avoid this ‘existential dread’, or ‘angst’, by distracting themselves with an abundance of consumer goods.

So then, why does Trump seem so intent on urging NFL owners to fire any ‘son of a bitch’ who kneels during the Star-Spangled Banner? It may have something to do with the fact that there have now been over 200 mass shootings in the US this year, most

recently the mass shooting in Las Vegas that saw 58 people dead and 546 injured. By condemning NFL players for kneeling during the anthem, Trump and others are reinforcing their own sense of patriotism and national pride – powerful buffers between you and death anxiety.

Rewind to 15 years prior to September 11. Millions of Americans reacted to this reminder of their own mortality by exhibiting a wave of patriotic consumerism in the form of the mass purchase of American flags. In fact, that year Americans bought homes and cars in record quantities, perhaps in no small part due to the then president George Bush urging the country to respond to the terror threat by shopping.

Back to today and perhaps the

‘By condemning NFL players for kneeling during the anthem, Trump and others are reinforcing their own sense of patriotism and national pride’

recent release of the new iPhone X has been a shrewd piece of marketing by Apple. It now seems like quite a long time ago we were watching Trump on TV reciting his inane catchphrase – ‘Make America great again’. However, with over 300 mass shootings last year in the US, from the perspective of TMT, one can understand why it would have particular resonance with voters. The tragic abundance in mass shootings may also help explain why almost half of Americans now support military action against North Korea.

Similarly, following the aftermath of 9/11, there was an immediate increase in the support for the war in Iraq. If Trump does eventually decide to ‘totally destroy’ North Korea with ‘fire and fury’, he will not be short of the funds to give it a good go. The Senate recently passed a bill that would allegedly increase military spending to a meagre 700 billion dollars – a new record. The bill was passed with an overwhelming majority with only 8 senators voting against it. Given the amount of money being allocated to building weapons and bombs and other killing machines, one might also assume a rather generous sum might also be allocated to something like healthcare or indeed on humanitarian aid to Puerto Rico.

Well, one would assume wrong. When Bernie Sanders announced his healthcare plan last month, it fell under scrutiny given its potential cost, even though it would reportedly cost $6 trillion less than the current healthcare system in place, bringing it to $1.38 trillion per year. However, it would be unfair to acknowledge Trump’s resolve in helping American citizens in Puerto Rico. In a touching display, the Commander in Chief dedicated the Presidents Cup golf trophy to the island at the beginning of the month. Responding to criticism about his lack of empathy to the American territory, Trump took to Twitter to declare that ‘nobody could have done what I’ve done’ for Puerto Rico ‘with so little appreciation.’

Given the prevalence of terror attacks, mass shootings, and ever-present tension with North Korea, it would seem that Americans are constantly experiencing reminders of death and their own mortality. So, when Colin Kaepernick decides to kneel for the national anthem, Trump and many others are primed to react with hostility, combating any perceived threat to their national identity, their patriotism, their culture no matter how small. In doing so, they are reinforcing these psychological buffers in an effort to ward off the existential dread brought about by constant intrusive reminders of death and mortality. p.11

Features.

Erasmus Part One: Preparing for London Sports Editor Conor Lynott is currently on Erasmus in London. In the first of a two part series, he outlines how he ended up there and how setting up a new life is only half the battle.

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y name is Conor Lynott, a Wexford man studying a history Erasmus course in University College London (UCL) as part of my History and Philosophy BA degree in UCD. If truth be told, my decision to compete for one of the three UCL Erasmus places on offer in UCD History was an impulsive one, one that was made twelve months ago.

The reason it was impulsive was because I didn’t rate my chances of meeting the demands of academic qualification for London, never mind the funding that would come my way if I managed to meet these academic requirements. Unlike in a foreign language, it’s not a foregone conclusion that you’re going to a

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foreign country in UCD history, it’s a bonus. So, in a sense, the act of me signing up for Erasmus was a dare to myself – if I wasn’t successful, then I knew where I stood in terms of academic ability. If I was, then the possibilities could be endless. Evidently, I was successful, but the point is, if you get the opportunity to compete for a place – just go for it. You’ve got nothing to lose, all that’s going to happen is that graduation is going to come a bit quicker and you’re out quicker than you expected.

Preparing for Erasmus is not easy. Even after I’d successfully applied to the UCD School of History, there was still the small matter of setting up a new life in London. With this in mind, I went to London for three days in March to check out accessible accommodation options that

would not present punctuality issues. I was to figure out the procedure for securing an NHS GP by asking question after question about the paperwork and rules contained in the English health system. The final action during that three-day trip was a conversation with the UCL Erasmus Co-ordinator about module choices.

For those of you who are under any illusions, an Erasmus trip to London isn’t cheap, especially if, like me, you have a disability. That was offset, however, by generous grants from the HEA, the EU and UCD themselves that covered specific costs relating to my disability. Without these grants, such a trip wouldn’t be possible. I also worked for the EPA over the summer because the cost of living in London left me with little choice if I wanted

to have any wiggle room financially.

I left for London the week ending the 17th August. There was a long trip over the Welsh border into central London. Such is the congestion in the city centre that parking is forbidden unless prior permission is granted. On first impression, you start to notice little things right away. In Ireland, all the double road lines near the kerb are yellow.

In London, they’re nearly always red. The ‘roads’ look more like mazes due to the sheer number of concrete islands and pedestrian crossings. The foot pavements can vary from the simple and modern to the old and cobbled.

Setting up a bank account in London was as interesting as it was awkward. I mean, sure, bringing the account into existence was the easy bit. The hard bit was making the account more user friendly, as it were. The Natwest bankers have this weird rule that university students are not allowed a ‘contactless’ card. I was speechless when I heard this for two reasons: First, there’s an assumption in the rule that all students are not to be trusted with the contactless feature. This didn’t make sense to me because most college students are over 18 anyway and I already used one for my Irish account to make transactions easier to handle physically. I put my case to them and thankfully, they relented.

As far as accommodation is concerned, the best way to get UCL student accommodation is to work for University of London , who provide the student halls or to prove that you have a disability. Otherwise, it’s a lottery, regardless of whether or not you can claim to possess the necessary funds.

Picking modules in advance was fun, I must admit.

Just seeing the range of time periods and topics available made my head spin. What is more, the UCL teaching staff are relatively well known, so I was able to read about the credentials of the people involved.

To finish off, there was a lot of work involved in getting here, but, and no cliché intended here, it was worth it. Stay tuned for Part 2 where I talk about experiences settling into and living in London.

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Features.

Changing Our Attitude to Drugs Students for Sensible Drug Policy member Ailish Brennan outlines the groups plans for UCD and why a shift in attitude is so badly needed.

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Policy is about a number of things. It is about removing the stigma surrounding certain drug users and empowering them to more capably battle the addiction they may currently be struggling to overcome. It is about respecting people’s abilities to make their own decisions around taking drugs such as cannabis and ecstasy, and allowing them to do so in the safest way possible. Most of all it is about preventing more lives being ruined as a direct result of the failed war on drugs through saving lives by giving realistic, practical advice on how to prevent drug deaths and by preventing needless incarceration of young people for possession of small amounts of a substance for personal use.

Within UCD, we are hoping to propose a mandate for the SU to support us as a group in a similar way to the UCD for Choice group among others at the moment. If and when this mandate passes in November we would hope to immediately set to work both pushing to achieve the overall goal of the SSDP movement to end the war on drugs, and to engage students of UCD by interacting with other societies and running events during which we could distribute harm reduction advice. Because SSDP is such a massive global organisation and movement there are no shortage of opportunities to invite guest speakers

in and engage and interact with other chapters across the globe creating a global network of exciting young people trying to incite change.

The mandate, should it be passed, will be a continuation of some of the good work that has been done in UCD, and in Ireland as a whole in recent years. If you were at ‘The Ball’ in Dun Laoghaire you may have noticed some posters up in the toilets giving relevant and practical harm reduction advice to allow people who had already chosen to take drugs to take them safely. We would hope to continue work like this and help to further the causes in Dublin, and Ireland as a whole, at a time

when supervised-injection centres are being planned, and the medical cannabis and decriminalization debates are more topical than ever before.

With the work we would hope to do on campus we’re looking not necessarily to change the world overnight or have an immediate, profound effect on the students of UCD. All I could hope for on campus would be to make small progress to remove the stigma around drug users and provide the education people need to stay safe. Working with the likes of Sesh Safe and Help Not Harm, who were present in the medical tent at Electric Picnic giving out harm reduction advice

“ All I could hope for on campus would be to make small progress to remove the stigma around drug users and provide the education people need to stay safe

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f you scratch below the surface of Irish society you can be sure that you will find drug use not too far below. Whether it’s a group of 16-year-olds having their first joint in the park, a college student taking MDMA in a nightclub, or a heroin user injecting behind a bin, people from all walks of life are using drugs in Ireland today.

Irrespective of people’s different political views this is something that is widely agreed upon. How to best handle this drug use, however, is something that is not always agreed upon Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an International, grassroots, student led organisation that’s main goal is to end the War on Drugs.

We neither condone nor condemn drug use, however, we are aware that drug use happens in modern society and we attempt to protect the rights and give drug users the respect they deserve as human beings. SSDP have chapters across the globe from Washington to Nigeria, including chapters in DCU and UCC, among others in Ireland.

As a global movement, we are looking for a researchbased approach to drug legislation to prevent more needless deaths and incarcerations the likes of which we are seeing at the moment, and have seen for decades thanks to the current, failing, prohibitive approach. For me, Students for Sensible Drug

this year, we could hope to enable people to not only keep themselves safe when partying, but also give them the information they need to be able to help should someone they know come into trouble in a party environment.

The attitude towards drug users and particularly heroin users can be unacceptable at times and through discussion we would hope to stop the dehumanization of this section of society which in many ways is one of the few prejudices that is still acceptable in modern Ireland. If we do not tackle the problem of pushing people with a serious health issue to the outskirts of society we cannot expect them to be able to seek the help they need and the problem will never get better.

Over the last number of years studies have pointed to drug use being on a steady increase with no real sign of stopping. The prohibition era of the war on drugs has failed and it is time we look to a research-based approach to drug use as we begin to increasingly see that criminalizing drug use is only serving to create more problems than it solves. p.13

Music.

Albums In Review: Niall O’Shaughnessy

Always Foreign

New Energy

The World is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die

Four Tet

CT Rating 7/10

CT Rating 8/10

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lways Foreign marks a thematic departure for Connecticut collective hereon in referred to as TWIABP. Previous-full lengths like Harmlessness touched a lot on perseverance and encouraged self-care.

The uplifting sentiment conjured by a band with a name like theirs continues at the start of Always Foreign, with vocalist David Bello promising to ‘make everything/ A story of love’. In the context of the rest of the record, however, this lyric takes on a bitter form, becoming an observation on the futility of tracing out the silver lining when the news is effectively a soap opera about the White House.

The second single ‘Marine Tigers’ shares its name with the title of a memoir written by Bello’s father, an account of the racism and solitude he was faced with in 1940’s New York.

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Those feelings of isolation, of trying to come to terms with an environment that’s specifically engineered to exclude people like you, is captured succinctly ‘We’re here/ I told you so/ Like oil in an ocean’.

As the illusion of the American dream has betrayed generations of immigrants and people of colour, the same can be said of big pharma. The opioid crisis is soundtracked on ‘Gram’. Behind lyrics such as ‘You had to work four jobs and used two phones/ But the drug store still ends up with all our money’, a tribal drum beat plays alongside long, lingering keys, evoking the desperation that comes with being trapped in cycles of depression or anxiety.

Always Foreign is by far the band’s most coherent artistic statement thus far. Although in thinking things through so meticulously, this LP doesn’t generate the same heights as Harmlessness does.

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ew Energy is an album of contrasts. Four Tet, real name Kieran Hebden, is also an artist of contrasts; he can really bring emotion to the dancefloor.

Where producers of a similar vein mostly attempt to evoke euphoria, Four Tet has you revisiting childhood memories during your two-step.

Hebden sets out his intentions early on the track ‘Two Thousand and Seventeen’, creating anticipation using a sparse, uncomplicated 4/4 rhythm and standing it up against a melody that almost becomes frantic at times. He then flips this juxtaposition on the following song, ‘LA Trance’, bringing in a slightly misshapen kick drum to realign the listener’s attention.

This path becomes familiar on this LP; the focus shifting and meandering in a pattern identifiable by each song length. Look down the tracklist on New Energy, the push-pull seen throughout this record is again evident in an interrupted batch of 1-2 minute and 5-7

minute songs. Perhaps this record’s greatest achievement is that not one of the long form tracks misses its mark.

Which begs the question about the necessity of the interludes, are they more than a mere stop-gap before the album’s next great moment? If viewed as reference points, these shorter bursts allow Hebden to navigate without having to expand on every idea. Take the swirling synths and string arpeggios on ‘Falls 2’, the space in between here allows for the arrival of a basic drum pattern on ‘You Are Loved’.

The closer, ‘Planet’, cements New Energy as one of the year’s most rewarding listens. In the context of a record with so many distinct peaks and troughs, where frequently the simple and sublime cast light on another, ‘Planet’ is the culmination of all that. The beat is accentuated with a hammering vocal sample, more wild strings trade swipes with a synthesised wind instrument. Altogether, this could be the perfect bookend.

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In Rainbows, 10 Years On Music Editor Adam Bielenberg looks back at the influence Radiohead’s ‘In Rainbows’ had on the music industry.

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hile critics will rightly fixate on the significance of not letting the marketing strategy of In Rainbows overshadow the quality of the album, the most important aspect of its legacy is its influence on the music industry.

The band had already pushed and redefined boundaries of indie music with overwhelming sonic experimentalism, and In Rainbows was their mid-career apogee that fused multiple features from their timeless discography.

And on this occasion, they saw it fit to play their hand at reimagining the music industry itself. After 2003’s Hail to the Thief, Radiohead’s recording contract with EMI was terminated. Suddenly, they were out in the open with unbridled creative and professional freedom. After sluggish recording sessions and a creative impasse, their efforts finally gathered steam as late as October 2006. But they turned down multi-million record deals in favour of remaining independent. On October 10th 2007, In Rainbows was unveiled to the public as a pay-what-you-want download on their website. It was packaged as a ZIP file containing the album’s ten tracks encoded in

160 kbit/s MP3 format. By the end of 2007, the album was given a physical release on XL Recordings.

This approach was predicated on the idea of testing whether the availability of cheap or free music online would reduce the bands future sales. Several of Radiohead’s confrères animadverted the scheme. Kiss frontman Gene Simmons said ‘that’s not a business model that works.’ Manic Street Preacher’s guitarist even went as far as saying that it ‘demeans music.’

The great irony of Radiohead’s ‘giveaway’ release strategy was its commercial success.

Music published Warner Chappell confirmed that ‘Radiohead made more money before In Rainbows was physically released than they made on the previous album.’ The actual percentage of people who paid for the album is spurious but in 2009, Wired reported that Radiohead had garnered £3 million from the album and it topped the UK charts when physically released.But critics argued at the time that due to Radiohead’s loyal fanbase, they could afford to pull off such a feat while bands in their infancy would fall victim to these giveaway tactics that Radiohead could go and inspire. With the advent of broadband

in 2004, you could hardly have predicted the wild inundation of content facilitated by bidirectional digital media today, but at least by 2007, music piracy was already rife with people making use of Limewire and the Pirate Bay. In Rainbows was torrented more times than it was downloaded free and legally. Illegal downloading was always going to be akin to an invasive species for the music moguls.

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herefore, Radiohead were merely soothsayers of the digital era where the value of music would be lessened rather than slayers of the value of music themselves. Vast providers of free music/streaming – namely YouTube and Spotify – may have rendered it difficult for up-and-coming bands to accumulate income. But at the same time, it does make it easier for them to ‘get themselves heard’.

Bands can essentially cut out the middle man; avoid having their music filtered through corporate channels as much. Their YouTube views/Spotify plays can be a determinant of worthiness for a record deal rather than the bare opinion of the label.

There are two other ways in which the

Unusual Facts About Halloween Songs Thriller:

This iconic song, synonymous with Halloween, nearly had a very different title. Before the title ‘Thriller’ came to Michael Jackson on a whim the song was originally called ‘Starlight Sun’. Somewhere in a parallel universe this song exists with the hook ‘Give me some starlight! Starlight sun.’

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Monster Mash:

Written as a Halloween mix of two famous dances at the time, the mashed potato and the twist, was initially banned in the UK for being ‘too morbid’. Hard to believe a song with the lyrics ‘now everything’s cool, Drac’s a part of the band/And my monster mash is the hit of the land’ could ever be considered too morbid.

Time Warp: The most famous song to come from the cult classic ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’, was originally written to fill time as the original production was only 40 minutes long. 42 years on the movie is still in theatres today.

It has become a wildly popular ritual all over the world to watch the movie and act along with it using props and costumes. The pinnacle of these showings is everyone filling the stage to dance to the ‘Time Warp.’

Zombie:

release of In Rainbows was influential. The gap between albums for Radiohead was unprecedented – 4 years. This could have been a ‘hiatus’ then but a decade on, the average the length of time between albums for popular indie bands is 3-4 years – a negative development where musicians in their peak aren’t producing enough output due to a lack of pressure from recording contracts.

Secondly, In Rainbows was announced only 10 days before its release date. Given the unnecessity of promotion for big acts, album releases are increasingly unorthodox. Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. was unveiled only a week before its release and Beyoncé gave no notice at all before unleashing her two most recent phenomenal albums with visual albums to accompany them.

The shock value of the release stregy of In Rainbows was as shocking as their departure from guitar rock to electronica on Kid A. It was the ‘watercooler moment’ in the shift from physical to digital music consumption, and the creative freedom that the ensuing developments afforded musicians gave Radiohead the status of visionaries, not solely in the field of music-making, but also in its commercial role.

Caoimhe McParland Music Writer

This song from The Cranberries second album was a departure for them into grunge pop, but what you may not know is that the song was written as a protest, in memory of two boys who were killed in an IRA bombing earlier in the year. The video for the song features British soldiers on patrol in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

Ghostbusters:

This song was written to accompany the 1984 movie, and is now a classic alone. What you may not know about it Is that it was written at 4.30 AM when after almost 2 days of trying to create a song, Ray Parker Jr saw a commercial for a drain company that helped him coin the line ‘Who you gonna call?’

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Film.

Mental Illness & TV: How Is It Represented?

Muireann O’Shea Film Editor

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Kilgrave. Her stress manifests itself in her self-deprecating humour, alcohol dependence.

The audience is placed almost entirely in Jessica’s mind, allowing to anyone to understand the difficulties mental illness can present.

Please Like Me is an Australian show that follows Josh as he stumbles through the pitfalls of modern life.

In the wake of his mother Rose’s suicide attempt and bipolar diagnosis, he meets a host of other characters that are suffering from mental health issues. Arnold, who has an anxiety disorder, has a stand out moment when he explains some irrational things that he does because of his anxiety, like visiting places early to make sure he knows where the exits are or hiding in bathrooms on nights out. His confessions are met with support, not ridicule. Hannah, who suffers from depression and self-harm, is confronted with a common catch-22 of taking psychiatric medication; cope with the disorder without medication or take the pills and cope with the symptoms of taking them. The show goes to great lengths to portray the feelings of complete uselessness that the family and friends of people with mental health difficulties can feel.

While also emphasising the mundanity of it all; mental illness is a fact of everyday life.

Bipolar Disorder is commonly used for ‘dramatic’ storylines on television.

Recent depictions have been met with varying degrees of praise; from the imperfect attempts by Homeland and Empire, to the more enlightened efforts of Shameless and norwegian show Skam.

Shameless, despite it’s often nonsensical storylines, has devoted a substantial amount of time to it’s bipolar characters Monica and her son Ian, as well as it’s agora-

phobic character Sheila. A stand-out scene is the speech that Ian makes when he is told that his bipolar diagnosis prevents him from working as an EMT. He sheds some light on the topic of discrimination against mentally ill people in the workplace, and concludes with the important reminder that people with mental illnesses are not to blame for their hardship.

Mr. Robot is important because the story manages to remain within the thriller genre without making Elliot the villain or the victim. It’s made clear that Elliot has depression and social anxiety, but also suffers from delusions and morphine addiction. Elliot is an unreliable narrator, we never know his official diagnoses, what seems like schizophrenia, is later revealed to be Dissociative Identity Disorder (previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder).

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et, the most telling sign of Mr. Robot’s importance in terms of pop culture’s conception of mental illnesses was that much of the media assumed that Elliot’s disorder was exaggerated or fictional. An open letter went viral, in

which an anonymous DID sufferer criticized the media’s assumptions and misunderstandings about the disorder.

The stigma surrounding DID is so strong that patients are actively discouraged from speaking publicly about their illness. Subsequently, it’s rarely discussed in pop culture. It’s the reason why the film Split was considered harmful, because it further blurred the lines between fiction and the real illness that affects more than 70 million people worldwide.

Similarly, schizophrenia rarely appears outside the horror genre. Orange Is the New Black broke this cycle with their character Lolly.

Her delusions about government conspiracies were a form of comic relief and people often took advantage of her mental state. Even though her story was given such little time, her backstory accurately portrays how easily someone can become homeless and incarcerated, simply because their mental illness is not compatible with current society.

An estimated 6% of the American population have a severe mental illness, but within the homeless population, it’s 25%. Furthermore, 73% of women in US prisons

“ It’s the reason why the film Split was considered harmful, because it further blurred the lines between fiction and the real illness that affects more than 70 million people worldwide.

“

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elevision producers don’t want to commit to characters with mental health disorders. It’s understandable. It’s difficult to structure a story around characters that may not react ‘normally’ to life. How do you write a tv show about someone who doesn’t leave the house? Or someone who no longer enjoys life? Obviously, no singular person’s experience with mental illness is the same, but there are people living their lives in situations like these and they deserve to be represented on screen.

You’re the Worst is a comedy about a group of hilariously narcissistic LA-dweller where two of the four main characters have diagnosed mental illnesses.

Gretchen, a cynical daydrinker and a mouthy PR agent, suffers from clinical depression, and Edgar is a war veteran with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In an episode named Twenty-two (in reference to the disputed statistic that twenty-two American veterans die by suicide every day), the show broke away from its usual tone to spend an entire episode on Edgar. We experience the world through his eyes; he sees snipers on the roadside. His brain is telling him that he’s still living in a war zone. He takes eleven medications, that he calls ‘a one size fits all cocktail of shut-up pills’. In a standout moment, a counsellor commends Edgar on having the courage to seek help, and his response is to ask if it should take courage to get the help you deserve. They answer is no, but that’s rarely the reality.

PTSD is also tackled in Jessica Jones. Jessica has two traumas affecting her; surviving the car accident that killed her family, then later in life, an abusive relationship with the show’s antagonist

have mental health issues.

Considering how staggering that rate is, why haven’t we seen more characters with mental health issues represented on this show?

OCD is largely misunderstood, though Glee and Girls made attempts at accurate depictions. It’s trivialised by modern day slang, it’s a word now used to refer to organisational habits, when the real and often debilitating disorder involves so much more than that. (If you would never cough and apologise for being ‘so Cystic Fibrosis’, then why would you ever say ‘I’m so OCD’.) Similarly, eating disorders have a habit of appearing on television as undeveloped and temporary predicaments for slim, popular girls with parental issues (Hanna in Pretty Little Liars, or Blair in Gossip Girl). My Mad Fat Diary was a wonderful and criminally underappreciated exception. The likelihood of a character with a personality disorder appearing on television as anything other than a serial killer is incredibly slim.

For every socially withdrawn TV character used as the punchline to a joke, , there are a multitude of real people living with mental health difficulties. Be aware and be kind. p.16

Film In Review:

Bladerunner 2049 Film Editor Ciara Dillon reviews the remake of Ridley Scott’s 1992 classic.

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idley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi thriller Blade Runner redefined its genre, and Denis Villeneuve took on a hefty challenge in attempting to create the perfect follow up to such an influential classic. (Disclaimer: I have not seen the original film, so this review is coming from unbiased eyes, for lack of a better term). Villeneuve is behind recent cinema successes Arrival (2016) and Sicario (2015), both of which excellently exhibit his talent for creating worlds that just ooze style. This modern adaptation follows Officer K (Ryan Gosling), a young Blade Runner who discovers a long-buried secret that would have a huge impact on his world. His investigations lead him to former Blade Runner, Officer Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who has been missing for the past thirty years.

Blade Runner 2049’s lengthy runtime may unnerve some viewers, but the film is a true spectacle of an eerily vast future.

The combination of a constantly dark and miserable Los Angeles of 2049 with the obnoxiously bright and multi-coloured neon signs and skyscrapers make every scene incredibly dynamic. The harsh orange hue of the surrounding lands makes for an almost shocking contrast to this overbuilt world. These shots create a satirical glance into how the biggest cities could look – total darkness bar the striking neon of commercialism, as if only branding lights up the world. Every scene is beautifully and cleverly crafted in this manner. The cinematography is intriguing and even the darkest parts of the film are beautiful to watch. Villeneuve teams this visual experience with the always incredible talent of Hans Zimmer, who’s futuristic, booming and often unnerving score make the entire movie a sensual feast.

It’s fair to say that visuals are not enough to justify a film that runs close to three hours in length. There are quite a few arguably unnecessary lingers, either on certain characters’ faces, or on throwbacks to the original. These are the only parts of the film that feel somewhat forced, and they feel out of place in an otherwise stylish movie. For me, a film over two hours needs to have good reason to be, and Blade Runner 2049 not only satisfied that, but left me wanting more. Given the nature of the film, it could have developed into ‘best bits’ with an abundance

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of cheesy references that weaken any credibility it had (admittedly there was probably a few I missed ). For me, it managed to remain very sophisticated as a standalone film. The plot felt concise and grounded despite the overthe-top sci-fi universe and it was all made real enough to not be sucked in by the extravagant future created. The film moved slowly but built suspense at a steady rate, making sure that even though it ran quite long, it still ended before you expected it to.

Ryan Gosling was an interesting choice for the lead role. Looking at Harrison Ford in his day the link seems reasonable –both ‘heartthrobs’ at a high point in their career. Officer K seems similar to Gosling’s role in Drive – straight-faced and, to an extent, gloomy.

However, Officer K exhibits emotions that his replicant-type are not expected to, and Gosling delivers this imbalance well. In what seems to be a growing trend in Harrison Ford’s filmography recently, he reprises his famous role as Officer Deckard, as done in both Indiana

Director: Denis Villeneuve Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana De Armas, Jared Leto, Robin Wright, Sylvia Hoeks, & Dave Bautista Runtime: 164 min Rating: 4/5

Jones and Star Wars in recent years. His performance is enjoyable, but bless the man is getting old and these action-thriller roles do an awful lot to highlight that. His appearance in the movie is pivotal – in that he plays a key role to the plot rather than just a nostalgic throwback, and he did well with what he could, without stealing the limelight away from the leading man this time around.

As a newbie to the Blade Runner universe, I was thoroughly impressed with Villeneuve’s attempt to follow up the classic. His films have a fine balance between minimalism and extravagance, if that is even possible. The plot remained grounded despite the obvious risks of rebooting an 80s classic, and both in terms of visuals and audio, it was an incredible experience. Whether it is, or it is not the film fans wanted, Villeneuve certainly took advantage of a very intricate story and made it into something that could stand alone among today’s most impressive blockbusters. That is not an achievement which should be overlooked. p.17

Fashion.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK KAIA GERBER

THE MODELLING WORLD’S NEW ‘IT’ GIRL It is all but to be expected that Kaia Gerber is taking the modelling world by storm with two former models as parents, and one of those being Cindy Crawford… who was without a doubt one of the most popular models of the 80s/90s (in case you didn’t already know that).

Kaia has made her runway debut in Raf Simons’ Spring/Summer 2018 Calvin Klein show this autumn after just having turned sixteen in September.

She has featured on the catwalks of Versace, Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs, Prada, and Chanel (just to name a few). But this most definitely isn’t her first encounter with the fashion world, having starred in a Versace campaign at the age of ten years old and been on the cover of Vogue Paris alongside her mother at fifteen. Many people criticise Ctrawford for letting her children enter the world of modelling at such a young age, but like she said: Who better to guide them than her?

Kaia’s first time opening a show was for Alexander Wang at New York Fashion Week, and exactly one week later she made her London Fashion Week debut at Burberry’s show. Following that she walked for Fendi, Prada, Moschino and Versace at Milan Fashion Week. The Versace Spring/Summer 2018 show was a special runway event where Donatella Versace paid tribute to her late brother Gianni Versace by including a special supermodel segment at the end of the show bringing back five supermodel icons: Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Carla Bruni, Helena Christensen and Cindy Crawford. In Paris she walked for Saint Laurent, Chloe, Isabel Marant, and ended it on a high by opening for the one and only Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel.

Although her modelling career has flourished in the space of a single fashion month, Kaia, with her 2.2 million followers on Instagram is one of the many social media ‘it’ girls of our generation. And in order to be one of these, your street style needs to be at it’s A game. And Kaia’s street style is one that makes us love and envy her even more.

Shannon Doherty Fashion Editor

Kaia wearing a Valentino long-sleeved black dress with embellished court shoes.

Kaia sporting knee high socks and a classy trench with rolled up sleeves at Prada.

In her very first runway look at Calvin Klein she wears a turquoise blue turtle neck under a black and white western silk shirt, with silk yellow trousers.

Kaia walking in Anthony Vaccarello’s Saint Laurent show in her PFW debut.

Kaia wearing a literal bouquet at Moschino.

Kaia rocking tartan and chunky knits at Burberry, making her LFW debut

GLOSSIER...

SO WHATS ALL THE FUSS ABOUT? GLOSSIER... ITS THE NAME ON EVERY BEAUTY AND FASHION BLOGGERS LIPS AND RIGHT NOW THE AMERICAN- BASED CULT BEAUTY BRAND HAS JUST LAUNCHED ITS PRODUCTS ON THE U.K MARKET. I was dying to get my hands on some of these extremely aesthetically pleasing products, so much so that I placed an order with DPD Parcel Wizard. Three days later, my parcel arrived at my United Kingdom forwarding address. So, is it worth all the spectacle? Or is it all just totally over- hyped?

I have to admit, the story behind the brand and how it came into existence stands out to me. The CEO, Emily Weiss started her beauty blog Into the Gloss in 2010 and her website quickly accumulated a large readership. From there, Weiss decided she wanted to create a beauty brand that celebrates and highlights the natural beauty of each and every woman. Four years later, Glossier was born.

Weiss has been careful in her approach to marketing and production and has created a distinct unified look for her brand - think lots of dewy complexions and cheeky, playful imagery. Glossier has also successfully garnered a strong social media presence with the help of a popular Instagram page and numerous youtube sponsorships.

First on my list of items to try was their Milky Jelly Cleanser. I would categorise my skin as pretty even-keeled the majority of the time but every now and then I definitely fall victim to one or two major skin melt-downs. The Milky Jelly Cleanser is a very simple, non-irritating face wash with a beautiful subtle rose smell that doesn’t leave your skin feeling over- stripped and dry. I wouldn’t recommend it for removing your make-up as I think its a bit too gentle for this purpose. The cleanser is priced at £15 so it falls somewhere between department store and high-street skincare brands like Boots and Garnier. This gets the seal of approval from me. Another skincare item I was curious about was their Priming Moisturiser, unfortunately I was disappointed by this. The idea behind this moisturiser is that it will act as a flawless base for any make-up you will later apply on top. I can get dry patches on my skin and this simply didn’t offer enough hydration for me. I also think there are cheaper alternatives already available on the market from your local chemist. Perhaps if you were more on the oily side this would suit you a little bit better?

The retail price is £18.

One of Glossier’s most-loved products is Boy Brow, which promises to give you fluffier and more natural looking brows. This was another of the stand-out products for me, I picked up mine in the shade brown and my brows certainly

did look naturally thicker, darker and more stream-lined - think Gigi Hadid or Cindy Crawford. I can’t help but think of Benefit’s Gimme Brow as a product that achieves a very similar look. Glossier Boy Brow will set you back £14, versus Benefit’s similar product that costs £20. Not bad, Glossier!

Natural radiance seems to be Glossier’s calling-card so I was dying to dabble in some of the brand’s tools for creating a glowing complexion. The Perfecting Skin Tint retails for £20 and promises to even out discolouration and leave your face looking toned, smooth and dewy. The Skin Tint is said to fall somewhere between the land of bare skin and full-on make-up however for me this was a little too close to bare skin. The product was a tiny bit too light coverage for me and felt that I needed to apply lots of concealer over top to camouflage imperfections. This might be the right product for you if you hate the feeling of heavy foundation on your skin or if you have been lucky enough to have been blessed by the skin gods.

Haloscope and Cloud Paint are the brand’s liquid highlight and blush items. I picked up the Haloscope highlighter in Quartz, I rub a little bit over the tops of my cheekbones to give a natural-looking glow. I picked up my Cloud Paint in dusk which I also apply with my fingers to give a subtle lift to my cheeks. I definitely loved the feeling of these products on my skin, in particular during the day time when you don’t want to look like you are masquerading as a disco ball. The products perk up your face but you still look like yourself.

So what is my overall verdict on Glossier? I believe the brand is undoubtedly aimed for a particular market, if you like minimal, natural and glowy make-up this just might be the beauty brand for you! Prefer getting all dolled up the nines, then maybe give this one a miss. My favourite products are most definitely the Milky Jelly face cleanser, Boy Brow and the Haloscope highlighter. I think I’m going to start using these on a daily basis but maybe try something else for my special nights out. Other products in the range include a Moisturising Moon Mask that promises to increase skins hydration along with a Wowder powder that promises to leave just the right amount of dewiness on your skin. The temptation is palpable, oh well I guess there goes my next pay cheque...

Fiona Keavany Fashion Writer

“ IF YOU LIKE MINIMAL, NATURAL AND GLOWY MAKE-UP THIS JUST MIGHT BE THE BEAUTY BRAND FOR YOU! “

Arts.

What’s On In Dublin This Month?

Arts & Events Editor Holly Lloyd previews this month’s must-see events.

In Life’s Pocket Dublin Artist Miriam McConnon’s new work focuses on domestic objects. Her works have been created to link people to the domesticities in their lives, and to make people reevaluate the meaning these items have to an individual. Her aim is to bring back memories and create nostalgia, so that each visitor to the exhibition leaves with an old association back in their lives. McConnon has made these objects large in scale to intensify the significance they may have in people’s lives. Objects such as suits, stilettos, and dolls will feature. The exhibition runs until the 5th of November at the Olivier Cornet Gallery.

Tribes Nina Raine’s ‘Tribes’ comes to Dublin as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival. The play, which made its debut in 2010, originated from Nina’s experience of watching a documentary about a deaf couple expecting a baby, who were hoping that their baby would be deaf. This lead Raine to ask the question, ‘are families programmed to be the same, and live in the same environments much like a tribe?’ Are we all destined to adopt the same way of living as our parents?

And is there a lack of understanding if someone is an outsider? The play focuses on a Jewish, British Family with three children, one of whom is deaf (Billy). He can lip read but has no sign language. When he encounters a girl who is slowly going deaf and has sign language, it raises many questions about the idea of rituals and outsiders.

Triology

Vertigo: Live With An Orchestra

The Smock Alley Theatre will present a series of one man shows by some of the greatest literary minds of the 20th century. Peter Duffy will perform each piece. The first is an adaption of The Great Hunger by Patrick Kavanagh, the second, The Grand Inquisitor by Dostoyevsky, and the third, Wildgoose Lodge inspired by William Carleton. The show will run each night from 13th-23rd of November. Tickets €14-€44.

Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller Vertigo is coming to the National Concert Hall just in time for Halloween on the 31st if October. The classic film will have music played by the RTE Concert Orchestra, and will be conducted by Anthony Gabriele. Hitchcock is best known for his psychological thrillers, and is a must watch at this time of year. The iconic film will be even more chilling when accompanied by a live orchestra. Tickets €22-€40.

www.collegetribune.ie

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DX2 Double Duets Firkin Crane, the home of dance in Cork, brings two productions to the Project Arts Centre in a double bill. Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre will perform TOST. Enniskillen based dancer Dylan Quinn will work with German dancer Jenny Ecke, musician Andy Garbi, and artist Paddy McCann, to explore the idea of purgatory, or entrapment. It explores it on different levels and perspectives, physically and mentally. The second performance is a duet which examines the value of persistence. Laura Murphy and Rob Heaslip play a couple who go on a series of adventures, and come back to good fortune from persistence. The double bill will be in the Project Arts Centre from 9th-11th November. Tickets €14-€16

Forgotten Places:

The Eblana Theatre

T Francisco Goya: Prints Francesco Goya was a highly influential artist, inspiring the likes of Dali and Picasso. Known as the first true modern artist, his paintings expressed real emotion and imagination. Goya was born in 1746, lived at a time of true turbulence in Europe, and is noted for his observations of these events in his artworks. The likes of the Napoleonic Wars, the liberation of the Enlightenment, and the general horrors of day to day life are evident in his work. These raw scenes had a huge impact on surrealist painters in the 20th century and their dark, visceral artworks.

Goya is most noted for his paintings of the Spanish court, which often held underlying criticisms of their rule and politics within them. His images of the Majas, strong female characters are threatening, almost supernatural, one of which was the first non-religious full nude of a female in Western art, ‘La Maja Desnuda’.

Goya is noted to be one of the finest printmakers ever. His prints range from humorous to grotesque, and mostly feature images of war. ‘The Disasters of War’, collection based on the Napoleonic invasion of Spain in 1808, are available to view in the Chester Beatty Library until January. Admission is free.

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Holly Lloyd Arts & Events Editor

he general student population will have never heard of the Eblana Theatre, most likely due to its closure in 1995. Yet, it is a theatre which has been subtly present in Dublin life, and in many commuters’ lives ever since then. Located in the basement of Busáras, unused and derelict for over 20 years, the Eblana Theatre is set to return to life with Gavin Murphy’s ‘Double Movement’. Murphy’s exhibition will investigate and celebrate a theatre with a rich history, one that had a prominent role in the world of theatre in the 20th century.

The Eblana Theatre opened on the 17th of September 1959 for the very first Dublin

Theatre Festival. The theatre was included in the Busáras building due to the original idea that it would be a multipurpose building. In fact, the theatre is small, with no wings, as it was intentionally built to be a cinema, but ended up as left luggage facility.

The person most credited with the success of this theatre is Phyllis Ryan. Phyllis, born in 1920, joined the Abbey Theatre Company at 14 years of age. After a successful career with the company, Phyllis decided to run an independent company.

Along with Norman Rodway, they established the Gemini Productions. The Eblana Theatre became Gemini Production’s main house, and perhaps only for them, the Eblana Theatre became a well-known, respected theatre. Gemini productions

worked with established playwrights, and debuted plays such as John B. Keane’s ‘Big Maggie’ and ‘The Field’, Eugene McCabe’s ‘King of the Castle’, and Mairead Ni Ghrada’s ‘An Trial’.

Dublin based artist and curator Gavin Murphy has researched the Eblana Theatre, and his exhibition has been created to reflect on theatre and the architectural histories in Ireland. Murphy combines his interests of assembling images, texts, and unique elements into sculptures with his interest in history and culture. His use of the theatre itself is bringing the Eblana into the present, as he puts into practice the energy of the space. This project is an exciting and immersive way to venture into the history of the theatre. Admission is free. Open until the 18th November. p.23

LifeStyle.

Minding Your Mind

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s we head into the dark winter months and a stressful exam season, it is especially important to look after your mental health.

Luckily, there are a number of supports available to UCD students that are completely free and confidential - if you find yourself struggling personally do not hesitate to get in contact. Remember: there are people who will listen to you, whatever the problem.

UCD Counselling Service provides counselling sessions and support from professionally qualified psychologists and counsellors. Their offices are located on the first floor of the old student centre and appointments can be made at reception or by calling (01) 716 3133. Referrals to this service can also be made through your Student Advisor or through the SU Welfare Officer, Eoghan MacDomhnail. Eoghan is always available for a chat with any student, and he can be contacted directly at (01) 716 3112, via email at welfare@ucdsu.ie, or simply pop into his office in the student centre.

Cocktails in The Capital Ciara Landy Food & Lifestyle Editor

Calling all cocktail lovers!

Treat your good self to a well-deserved, midsemester cocktail at one of these Dublin hotspots!

Peruke and Periwig €€ Step back in time at Peruke & Periwig, a retro Dublin spot with an innovative, quirky cocktail menu. This Dawson St. bar is the definition of ‘notions’ and pricey to boot, but oh so worth it! Why not try their (literally) fiery “Thriller” cocktail, pictured below, well worth the €13 to add a bit of wow factor to a special occasion drinks.

Candelight Bar €€€ Located above Siam Thai in Dundrum Town Centre, this decadent, speakeasy-style bar will transport you directly to 1920s NYC. Candlelight is home to expert mixologist Darren, who will be more than happy to whip you up your cocktail of choice. The city centre is easily accessible from the Windy Arbour LUAS, should you decide to continue you night! Drinks here are pricier than average, but we highly recommend Candlelight’s ‘bathtub’ G&T (pictured below), €21 and serves three

Capitol € Most discerning Dublin drinkers will be well aware of this Aungier St haunt, but Capitol’s value for money cocktail menu always warrants a mention! Between 5-8 Thursdays and Fridays all cocktails are 2 for €7 (the after work special) and selected cocktails are 2 for €7 on Tuesday nights ‘til late.

Harry’s On The Green € This city centre bar offers 2-for-1 cocktails from 5-7pm Thursdays and Fridays. The extensive cocktail menu offered is ideal for pre or post dinner drinks.

If you are in need of urgent help or are suicidal freecall Samaritans on 116 123 or Pieta House 1800 247 247, alternatively text HELP to 51444. If you are living on campus get in contact with UCD Estate Services at 01 716 7999.

Reading of others’ experience with mental health issues can be constructive and comforting. ‘alustforlife.com’ is the online portal of the Irish wellbeing movement ‘A Lust for Life’, co-founded

by Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin. The website has numerous blogs on a range of issues, from personal stories to informative posts on how to incorporate exercise into your recovery programme. Clinical psychologist Dr. Malie Coyne has developed an online course for coping with exam stress for the website, essential reading for any student who experiences exam-related anxiety. www.collegetribune.ie

Bow Lane Social €€ Bow Lane Social prides itself as being the purveyor of the ‘best craftmade cocktails in Dublin’, and rightly so!

This late-night cocktail bar’s (located on Aungier St) combination of sumptuous interiors, excellent service and quality drinks makes it one of the top drinking destinations in the city. If traditional cocktails are not your thing, why not try one of their ‘winter warmers’ (all €9) perfect for a wintery Irish evening!

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Going Up Boojum.

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Chelsea Drugstore €€ Named after the London landmark building, the Chelsea Drugstore is one of the most stylish bars in Dublin, a mix of stripped back interiors (think exposed brick and piping) and high-end furnishings. Chelsea Drug Store’s South Great George’s location makes it an ideal meeting spot, perfect if you’re planning on heading out after drinks. Cocktails range from €11.50-13 a pop.

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Boojum made a spicy entrance onto the UCD food scene in more ways than one (#Boojum4Pres). Given the overwhelmingly positive student response, we hope the Boojmobile is here to stay!

Look Beyond Exhibit ‘Look Beyond – a Photovoice Research Exhibition’ was launched by See Change (an alliance of Irish organisations working together to change public attitudes to mental health issues) on October 25th in the Smock Alley theatre. The exhibit is the culmination of a UCDMaynooth research project led by Dr. Maria Quinlan and Dr. Etain Quigle which features the photography of 16 participants, suffering from mental health issues and expressing their voices and personal stories of recovery through the medium of photography.

SuperValu Food Academy

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Ireland’s leading supermarket retailer’s ‘Food Academy’ initiative fosters small artisan food brands and offers them a space on the national market – a laudable project at a time when chain restaurants and multinational food companies are stamping out small business.

Going Down

Peak Protein

Sophie’s €€

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Fruit Juice

This rooftop bar is situated in the Dean Hotel Harcourt St. and offers 360 degree views of the Dublin skyline, with a delicious selection of cocktails to enjoy. From 11pm Thursday to Saturday Sophie’s plays host to various DJs as part of HIGHLINE, its NYC inspired late night drinks session.

Cocktails start at €11 (we recommend the Cuban Espresso!).

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Protein has replaced ‘lowfat’ as the new buzzword on the food marketing scene - you cannot scroll through Instagram without seeing an (often subtle!) ad for brands such as MyProtein, Women’s Best and Optimum Nutrition.

We have officially reached peak protein – you can even purchase protein water in many Irish supermarkets!!

According to Prof Donal O’Shea, Clinical Lead for Obesity at the HSE, all liquid calories are bad news. He stated: ‘A liquid calorie has no satiety effect and it causes a rapid rise of sugar and then insulin in the blood. Insulin is a hunger hormone, so it can feed into the cycle of making you feel more hungry… and insulin is a hormone that encourages weight gain.’ p.25

Science.

When Two Stars Collide Lana Salmon Science Writer UCD PhD student Lana Salmon explains how the latest dection of gravitational waves could beckon a new era for astronomy.

www.collegetribune.ie

August 17th, this finally happened and UCD astronomers were on hand to glimpse this collision using telescopes on the ground and satellites like NASA’s Fermi telescope and ESA’s INTEGRAL satellite, which both glimpsed a gamma-ray burst 1.7 seconds after the gravitational waves were detected.

Astronomers in the UCD Space Science Group in the UCD School of Physics, where I am a first year PhD student, had a part to play in these discoveries. UCD Professor Lorraine Hanlon and Dr Antonio Martin-Carrillo are members of the INTEGRAL team and Dr Sheila McBreen is a member of the Fermi team. The observations of a gamma-ray burst soon after the gravitational waves by these satellites proves that short gamma ray bursts, which are bursts of energetic gamma-rays lasting less than 2 seconds, can be created by collisions of neutron stars.

As well as detecting these signals in space, UCD astronomers used telescopes on the ground to observe this event at optical wavelengths. Dr Morgan Fraser is a Royal Society-Science Foundation Ireland University research fellow who analysed the first data from the source obtained from the European Southern Observatories ‘New Technology Telescope’ in Chile. This data is obtained as part of the ePESSTO collaboration, where scientists all over Europe conduct research on astrophysical transients.

UCD’s Watcher robotic telescope in South Africa was undergoing maintenance when this event occurred, however a telescope nearby in Boyden Observatory was used by the UCD Space Science group to obtain data from this event. Combining this data with that obtained by the ePESSTO collaboration resulted in a comprehensive analysis of the event, with staggering results. The data was found to match theoretical models of a kilonova – this occurs when the neutron

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As well as detecting these signals in space, UCD astronomers used telescopes on the ground to observe this event at optical wavelengths.

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ver 130 million years ago, two neutron stars collided in a galaxy called NGC4993. This collision created gravitational waves which travelled through the Universe and reached earth, where they were detected on August 17th 2017 by the LIGO/ Virgo interferometers. Although there have been 4 detections of gravitational waves before, this detection was different as it is the first time astronomers caught a glimpse of light, or electromagnetic radiation, from this collision in their telescopes. A new era of astronomy is born – Gravitational wave astronomy, and UCD astronomers had a part to play in this historic discovery.

Gravitational waves were first dWetected in 2015. Einstein predicted as part of his general theory of relativity that when heavy bodies such as black holes or neutron stars accelerate, they create a disturbance which stretches space and time and travels at the speed of light. These waves only move space a tiny fraction – a ruler 13km long would only be distorted by the width of an atom. Therefore the most sensitive detectors ever built are used to detect these waves.

These are the LIGO-Virgo interferometers – a team of 3 detectors containing long arms along which a laser is reflected off mirrors.

The gravitational waves affect the length of the arms, therefore distorting the laser signals. Any outside movement, even a car passing by, must be taken into account.

We cannot see collisions of black holes as there is no matter to emit light, however it is thought that the collision of neutron stars could be detected by telescopes here on Earth.

The world has waited for LIGO-Virgo to detect colliding neutron stars so we can begin the search for the light from these collisions. On

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Stormy Weather Ahead

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Orla Daly Science Editor

n the wake of Ophelia and Brian, there are another 15 storms set to hit land in Ireland this autumn. Caroline, Dylan, Eleanor, Fionn, Georgina, Hector, Iona, James, Karen, Larry and Maeve are all expected to arrive on our shores in the coming months. This is twice as many as last year.

Hurricane Ophelia brought tropical heat from the Azores and this residual heat combines with polar air and 170mph jet stream winds over the Atlantic Ocean to create enough turbulence for ocean storms to push their way onto land. Atlantic storms are created by the difference in air temperature and during autumn the cold polar air and warm tropical air have the greatest difference meaning stronger storms.

Atlantic storms usually move westward toward the Caribbean Islands or the United States. They eventually lose most of their energy and either make landfall or regress back out onto sea as minor storms. Hurricane Ophelia was unusual as it went eastward toward the Azores and track up toward Ireland and Great Britain. Since records began in 1851, there have only been 15 hurricanes that have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Azores. So why has this occurred and should we be worried?

A study published in 2013, provided evidence that global warming is making the area in which a tropical storm can develop much larger, and particularly more eastward, which is not the usual direction. Combined with recorded higher sea surface temperatures, this means that tropical storms are much more likely to arrive at regions of the tropics, i.e. the Azores, adding fuel to the fire. The tropics lie in a midlatitude baroclinic region, for those

rich material that is blown out of a neutron star merger comes together to create unstable atoms, which then radioactively decay, emitting a large amount of energy. Analysis of the spectra of the event reveals that some of the heaviest elements like Cesium and Tellurium can be created in these mergers. This discovery helps us to understand the origin of the heaviest elements in the Universe.

With the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics being awarded to Kip Thorne, Barry Barish and Rainer Weiss for their work with the LIGO interferometers, gravitational wave physics is an exciting and upcoming field to be working in. One year ago myself and my supervisors Prof. Lorraine Hanlon and Dr Antonio Martin-Carrillo proposed my PhD project – to search for optical counterparts to gravitational wave sources.

We knew we were taking a risk, and we certainly didn’t expect that in the first week of my PhD that this event would occur. It is an incredibly exciting time to be beginning research in this field.

Now that we have detected electromagnetic radiation from a gravitational wave event, what next? When LIGO/Virgo detect gravitational waves, it is hard to pinpoint where in the sky they came from. LIGO/Virgo send out a sky map containing an ‘error box’, giving the probability that the source is within this box. The error box is quite large and optical telescopes like UCD’s Watcher telescope have small fields of view, 31.10.2017

non-meteorologists out there this is a region where the difference in air temperature and air pressure can yield enough density to basically give an Atlantic storm a second wind.

Like giving a student in JJ two shots of espresso at 9pm, the storm will reintensify potentially with enough force to make it reach Western Europe. This is common of hurricanes that hit many of the Caribbean Islands and North America. The fact that this is happening now and the reasons that it happening, global warming and rising sea temperatures, means that it will more than likely continue to happen. Western Europe will be hit with many more tropical storms and there is a chance they will only continue to intensify and grow into hurricanes.

Climate is the average weather of a region measured over 30 years. These predictions have been based of data that has been collected on two samples of 30 years. Ireland currently has a mild, moist, temperate climate. We do not have any extreme weather conditions and do not usually have to worry about the loss of life from the weather. Although we are in the Northern Atlantic, our winters remain relatively mild as we get a stream of warm water starting in the Gulf of Mexico, called the Gulf Stream. Global warming will bring about melting of the polar ice caps. This will in turn release large volumes of cold Arctic water that will push the Gulf Stream to a lower latitude, meaning that we will presumably be set for extremely cold winters with much of our west coast being frozen through out the winter, how very Jake Gyllenhaal in The Day After Tomorrow. Climate change is happening, Ireland’s weather will become more tempestuous, and the best we can do is prepare ourselves for it.

meaning it takes a long time to image the whole error box. Therefore these telescopes need a good strategy to find the optical event as quickly as possible. I am very lucky to be an Irish Research Council funded PhD student and my project is to develop a strategy to detect these events in the future using the Watcher telescope. It is a tough task with many complications, but the motivation is clear – to understand more about some of the most energetic processes in our Universe.

Over 3500 scientists on six continents worked together on this discovery. If anything, this discovery showcases that Ireland can compete on an international scale as a country of world-class research.

With Ireland joining the European Southern Observatory and Irish scientists involved in collaborations like ePESSTO, Fermi and INTEGRAL, this discovery highlights the benefits of Ireland being involved in international organisations in order to perform cutting edge research. Discoveries like these only come about due to investment in Irish and international research and the motivation to push the limits and look for answers to the most compelling questions. LIGO is now offline to conduct maintenance, however I know that astrophysicists like myself all over the world are getting ready for another one of these events when it comes back online.

I can’t wait to see what is discovered next! p.27

Science.

The Environmental Challenges Facing Ireland Sean Macken Science Writer In December 2015 a key United Nations climate change conference was held in Paris. A determined group of Irish environment activists set out overland to participate, overcame considerable travelling difficulties due to industrial action at the French border, and returned to make a triumphant presentation on the new global agreement at Trinity College Dublin a few days later.

The Paris Accords resolved to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. It also aimed to increase capacity to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and to make finance available so as to help the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Paris was the latest in a series of such international conferences. Earlier landmark international conventions were the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol which extended this in December 1997 and the Doha Amendment in 2012.

Ireland is now subject to binding targets on climate change, with penalties for noncompliance. Ireland is also subject to numerous and detailed EU Environmental regulations and targets with respect to air quality, water quality, preservation of biodiversity, land use and soil functions and waste disposal. All of these things are essential for our health and wellbeing and enable sustainable economic activity.

These obligations imply profound change over the next decades that will affect every aspect of economic life in Ireland. Ireland was one of the most resource inefficient countries in the EU at the time of the economic collapse in 2008, with use of material resources, and production of waste, growing faster than population growth. That situation was reversed due to the reduction in personal consumption and collapse of the building industry caused by the recession. The revival of economic growth promises to turn the clock back. The challenge now is to have economic growth without environmental damage.

A 2016 environmental review by the Environment Protection Agency concluded that in the matter of Protecting, Conserving and Enhancing Natural Capital, only in the area of Water Quality and Air Pollution and their ecosystem impacts will improving trends continue to dominate in the next ten years. In the matter of Terrestrial and Fresh31.10.2017

water Biodiversity, Land use and Soil functions, and Climate Change impacts on Ecosystems during the next twenty years deteriorating trends are considered likely to be dominate. Marine and Coastal Biodiversity is seen as subject to deteriorating trends for the next five to ten years.

With regard to Resource Efficiency, improving trends are seen as dominating in the next five to ten years in the matter of Water Management, Greenhouse Gas emissions, Energy Consumption and Fossil Fuel use, Transport Demand and related impacts and industrial pollution to air, soil and water. Thereafter the outlook for greenhouse gas emissions and climate change mitigation, energy consumption and fossil fuel use, transport demand and related environment impacts is seen as dominated by deteriorating trends.

With regard to safeguarding from environmental risks to health, in the next five years improving trends are seen as dominating in the area of water quality with a mixed picture thereafter. With regard to safeguarding against climate change and the risks to health it will cause, deteriorating trends only are foreseeable for the next twenty years and beyond.

Other risks to health are seen from air pollution, noise pollution in cities, health damage from urban systems and health damage from chemicals. Therefore, the challenge for everyone will be to reverse these deteriorating trends.

Ireland’s GHG emissions peaked in 2001 at 71,394 kt CO2 equivalent. In 2014, total emissions of GHGs amounted to 58,254 kt CO2 equivalent, which is 18% lower than the peak value but still higher than 1990 emissions, a base year.

In Ireland the Agriculture sector was directly responsible for 32.2% of national GHG emissions

in 2014, mainly methane from livestock, and nitrous oxide due to the use of nitrogen fertilizer and manure management (EPA, 2016a). For the period 20142020, agriculture emissions are projected to increase by 6–7%, and transport emissions by 10-16%. Total GHG emissions are projected to be 6-11% below 2005 levels in 2020. The target is a 20% reduction.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Ireland is not on track for meeting its aim to achieve a least 80% reductions in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 relative to 1990 levels by transport, electricity generation and the built environment and to approach carbon neutrality in agriculture and land use.

The lifting of EU milk quotas has prompted the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine to set a target to increase by 65% the value of farm gate output by 2025, publishing also the actions that they say will enable this expansion to be carbon neutral. However, the Environment Protection Agency 2016 review suggests that a lot of evidence will need to be brought forward to demonstrate they will work. In the absence of carbon neutrality, the taxpayer may have to pay for failure. Not only that, the prevention of flooding in river basins makes it inescapable that large tracts of land will need to be set aside from normal farming and be allowed to flood and so retain rainwater for gradual dispersal into rivers. To this may be added the necessary reduction of intensive farming that is called for in order to preserve biodiversity. The Common Agricultural Policy has so far provided excessive incentives to farmers to bring into intensive agricultural production land that is more suitable for low intensity farming for high nature value. p.28

Gaeilge.

Chuala Tú Faoi ‘Elf On A Shelf Anois Faigh Réidh le haghaidh UCD ag an Oireachtas Shane Grogan Schríbhneoir Gaeilge

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osúil le an-chuid scéalta, tosaíonn an scéal seo l’alcól. Trathnóna Satharn a bhí ann i mí na Samhna 2016. Bhí grúpa mic léinn ó UCD ag ól síos i gCill Áirne. Bhí lá crua acu, bhí siad ag ligint a scíthe le cúpla canna. Bhíodar ag argóint faoin fhocal Gaeilge ar ‘predrinks’. Réamhól nó ullmhól?

Sin í an cheist mhór…

GO TOBANN… Tháinig duine isteach sa seomra agus é caochta ar meisce. Bhí an buachall bocht tar éis a bheith ag ól don lá ar fad, ólta ón am a dhúisigh sé.

Thosaigh sé ag lorg aftersesh, in ainneoin gur timpeall 6pm a bhí ann.

Rinne na mic léinn iarracht cabhrú leis agus iarracht a insint dó gur 6 a’chloig a bhí ann.

Cheap sé gur deireadh oíche dé Satharn a bhí ann agus go

raibh an t-Oireachtas beagnach críochnaithe, mar gheall go raibh sé dorcha taobh amuigh.

Tar éis 10 nóiméad, thug sé faoi deara nach oíche Satharn a bhí ann ar chorr ar bith.

Léim sé le háthas, bhí sé chomh sásta le mac léinn ag ól cannaí le linn Ophelia, ‘Tá oíche eile agam an Oireachtas!’.

A chairde, seo hé an meon ar chóir a bheith ag gach duine. Is í Cill Áirne an áit is áille ar domhan, is í an Ghaeilge an teanga is áille ar domhan agus is é Éamonn Gallagher an buachaill is áille ar domhan… Agus beidh siad go léir i láthair ar an deireadh seachtaine céanna!

Ar phraghas sár-íseal de €60, tabharfar bus, lóistín 2 oíche agus ticéad don fhéile duit.

Freisin ar phraghas sár-íseal

de €25.92 is féidir 12 canna de Tesco lager agus 2 bhuidéal d’fhíon ó Centra a cheannach.

A chairde ghaeil ní thuigim cén fáth nach bhfuil gach éinne ó UCD ag freastal. Is iad na dátaí ná an 3ú-5ú de mhí na Samhna. Seol teachtaireacht chuig ‘Cumann Gaelach UCD’ ar Facebook agus b’fhéidir go mbeidh spás fós ann duit!

‘Déanann an tOireach-

tas ceiliúradh ar scoth na n-ealaíon traidisiúnta, ina measc, damhsa ar an sean-nós, amhránaíocht, scéalaíocht agus go leor eile. Bhí breis agus 130 imeacht mar chuid den fhéile, ina measc ceardlanna, drámaí agus comórtais Scrabble fiú!’

Sin é an cur síos atá ar an Oireachtas ar an suíomh idirlíne.

Ar an turas leis an gCumann Gaelach bíonn an-chuid béime leagtha ar na cóisir atá ann istoíche.

Oíche dé hAoine bíonn oíche bréigéide – sin é go ngléasaimid inár gculaith Oíche Samhna Oíche dé Satharn bíonn Club na Féile, áit a mbíonn an céilí/rave is gaelaí agus is craiceáilte riamh.

Freastlaíonn timpeall ar 500-600 mac léinn ar an imeacht ó ghach cúinne den tír, agus bíonn bannaí ar nós Seo Linn agus The Bonny Men ag seinnt an.

Muna bhfuilim tar éis bhur n-intinn a dhéanamh suas go fóill daoibh, níl a fhios agam cad eile le rá.

Tá súil agam go bhfeicfidh mé ansin sibh

fadh duit na Gaeil atá i do cheantar agus ar fud an domhain. Ansin go mbeifeá in ann comhráite a thosú leo, iarradh ar imeachtaí a eagrú, do chuid Gaeilge a fheabhsú, nó cibé rud ar mhaith leat a dhéanamh i ndáiríre.

D’éirigh linn an Hackathon a bhuachan ar an lá ar an deauair. Agus bhí mé féin agus Edmond i dteagmháil ó shin,

agus lean sé air ag forbairt na haipe, níl scileanna códúcháin agam faraor. Ach tugaim ‘tacaíocht chruthaitheach agus mhórálta’ dó an chaoi is fearr le cur síos a dhéanamh air b’fhéidir. Tharla gur fhás an méid úsáideoirí atá ar an aip go mór le seachtain nó dhó anuas toisc gur chuir Tuairisc.ie Ed faoi agallamh agus d’eisigh alt faoi. Anois tá

breis is 300 ar an aip agus an méid sin ag fás gach lá!

Níl sé ach ar fáil ar an Play Store do Android go fóill ach tá pleananna é a thabhairt trasna go iOS go fóill, is díreach go bhfuil sé deacair an t-am a fháil chun í a fhorbairt toisc nach aon chabhair mé maidir leis an ríomheolaíocht agus go bhfuil poist lánaimseartha againn.

Loinnir - Tinder na nGael Dónal Ó Catháin Schríbhneoir Gaeilge

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n mbaineann tú úsáid as aipeanna a dhéanann iarracht tú a mheaitseáil le duine ar mhaith leat siúl amach leo?

An mbíonn díomá ort i gcónaí nuair nach mbíonn Gaeilge ag an bhfear nó ag an mbean a dhéantar a phéireáil leat? Tá réiteach na faidhbe tagtha, a chairde - Loinnir. Gréasán sóisialta a ligeann duit caidreamh a chruthú le daoine nua, agus é go hiomlán trí mheán na Gaeilge.

Ní hí príomhsprioc na haipe caidrimh rómánsúla a bhunú áfach. D’fhorbair an smaoineamh as Hackathon na Gaeilge a reáchtáil Tomás Mac Pilib agus Cumann Gaelach Choláiste na hOllscoile Bhaile Átha Cliath thiar i mí Aibreáin na bliana seo.

Tharla trí sheans amach is

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amach go raibh mé féin ag obair le hEdmond Ó Floinn, mac léinn ríomheolaíochta ó Choláiste na Tríonóide a bhí ar an Scéim Chónaithe ansin, agus Noah Ó Donaile ó Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath. An dúshlán a bhí ós ár gcomhair don lá ná coincheap a fhorbairt a chuirfeadh an Ghaeilge chun cinn ar an Ollscoil agus níos faide i gcéin. Is ansin ar thángamar ar an smaoineamh ar an gcéad dul síos.

Bainim féin úsáid rialta as aipeanna a bhaineann an méid is mó as na cumais atá ag fóin chliste sa lá atá inniu ann chun an t-eispéaras is idirghníomhaí agus is fearr a thabhairt don úsáideoir. Thuig mé ó leithéidí an Pop-Up Gaeltacht, a eagraíonn Peadar Ó Caomhánaigh agus Osgur Ó

Ciardha, agus tograí Gaelacha eile, go bhfuil pobal gníomhach Gaelach ann, ní hamháin san Ardchathair ach ar fud an domhain. Léiríodh an méid seo ag an méid mór daoine atá tar éis freastal ar na cinn i mBaile Átha Cliath, agus ar eagrú Pop-Up Gaeltachtaí neamhoifigiúla eile i Dubai, Nua Eabhrac, Perth agus eile.

An rud is mó a thaitníonn liom faoin bPop Up, seachas an cúpla scúpls, ná go bhfuil an Ghaeilge, agus na daoine a labhraíonn í, feiceálach dá chéile, agus os comhair an phobail. Chun go mbeadh aip in ann an aidhm seo a chomhlíonadh, theastaigh uaim Tinder agus Hailo/MyTaxi a nascadh le chéile. Is é sin go mbeadh léarscáil ann ag croílár na haipe, a thaispeán-

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Business & Law.

UK Government Spent £370,000 on Two Air Pollution Cases Cian Carton Business & Law Editor

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he UK Government racked up legal bills of £370,000 defending two challenges to the country’s national air quality plans for nitrogen dioxide. The Guardian revealed the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), had incurred the expenditure over the past two years, following cases brought over the Air Pollution Action Plan 2015.

ClientEarth, a non-profit environmental law organisation, took two main cases against DEFRA over the UK’s plans to cut down on nitrogen dioxide pollution. The legal bills came from DEFRA’s two unsuccessful defences in the cases.

DEFRA paid out

£42,459.20 in costs to ClientEarth after losing the first case in 2015. There was an additional payment to ClientEarth, under an agreed Protective Costs Order (PCO) for £40,000, while the costs of clarifying the terms of the Supreme Court’s PCO was £192.

The cost of defending the second case was £236,016.30.

DEFRA also paid sums of £35,000 and £11,000 to cover Client Earth’s costs. The court also ordered ClientEarth to pay Defra £5,000 for specific costs.

ClientEarth argued in the cases that the government could not cut nitrogen dioxide pollution as required under EU law. The court told the government to improve

its proposals to tackle pollution in 2016.

In July of this year the government published a new plan to deal with the problem. The highlight was to ban petrol and diesel cars from cities in 2040.

However, it received widespread criticism for failing to offer more immediate solutions. James Thornton, chief executive of ClientEarth, said at the time it was ‘little more

than a shabby rewrite of the previous draft plans and is underwhelming and lacking in urgency.’

This month, ClientEarth sent another legal letter to Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, calling for him to introduce new measures to tackle air pollution. If he does not, then ClientEarth are set to bring another case against the government.

Business & Law: News Roundup Cian Carton Business & Law Editor

Cian Carton Business & Law Editor

Matheson to Host Ireland’s First Law-Based Hackathon

UCD Smurfit School’s MBA Rises in Rankings

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atheson law firm is set to host Ireland’s first ever legal hackathon next month. Organised in partnership with Deloitte, IBM, and the Ryan Academy in Dublin City University (DCU), the event will take place on the 3rd and 4th of November.

The hackathon is being organised as part of Matheson’s Smart programme, which is ‘designed to inspire innovative thinking and the creation of new efficiencies incorporating the latest innovation themes such as Fintech, AI and Blockchain.’ The first day is called ‘Learn It, Pitch It’, and covers an introduction to Blockchain Technology, while the second day of ‘Create It, Win It’, will let teams try to use it to benefit businesses.

Rebecca Ryan, partner at Matheson, said the event ‘is all about bringing together, appreciating and rewarding new ideas. Blockchain is a completely new way of working and a technology where the rules have yet to be set.’ They are hoping to ‘uncover some really great and inspirational ideas for the future development

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of the financial services sector.’

The latest technological advances in FinTech are yet to have a major impact on the legal sector, but there is a general consensus they could alter the nature of the whole legal industry. David Lawson, Director of IT at Matheson, told Silicon Republic back in July that the firm was assessing how developments in technology and blockchain could change the way in which lawyers create and draft documents.

Anne-Marie Bohan, a Partner in the Asset Management and Investment Funds and FinTech Group, published a piece on FinTech in Finance Dublin’s Investment Funds 2017 Report, back in October 2016. She wrote that while FinTech is not new per se in Asset Management, newer developments could affect the underlying market infrastructures.

Bohan suggested that ‘significant regulatory developments and market participant collaborations are likely to be needed before distributed ledger technology (DLT) can live up to this full potential.’

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he UCD Smurfit School has again received a boost in a set of global university rankings. This time, its Executive MBA programme is up 15 places to 74th in the world, and 35th in Europe, in the Financial Times Top 100 Global Executive MBA for 2017.

Professor Anthony Brabazon, Interim Dean of the College of Business, stated that the latest news is a ‘result of a relentless focus on continual improvement and investment in our faculty and facilities to ensure optimum outcomes for our students and graduates who continue to be in high demand both here in Ireland and internationally.’ Brabazon claimed that ‘rankings such as the Financial Times matter as they are truly independent and internationally respected classifications.’

The School markets itself as being the only Irish institution which holds a triple accreditation from the three major business ranking bodies (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS). Last

month, the UK’s Association of MBAs, reaffirmed the AMBA accreditation for the MBA programme at Smurfit. As reported in Issue 2 of the College Tribune, the full-time MSc in International Management was ranked 15th globally by the Financial Times.

Last year, the UCD Smurfit School announced its intention to become a top 50 Global School by 2020. Three of its courses have now achieved top 50 status. Brabazon became the new Interim Dean of the overall College of Business following the announcement that the previous Dean, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, is set to become the President of NUI Galway in January 2018.

Like his predecessor, Brabazon specialised in accounting.

Image Above James Thorton of ClientEarth.

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The Contempt of Court Bill 2017: Part One Cian Carton Editor

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f you have been reading the papers, either in print or online, over the past few days, you may have come across articles about a Social Media Bill going before the Dáil. Why is there such a big focus on something which is still far away from becoming law? The Tribune is on hand to explain the basics behind it in a two-part series.

Contempt of Court Bill 2017

The Bill at the heart of the matter is the Contempt of Court Bill 2017 (number 117 of 2017). It is a Private Members Bill from Josepha Madigan, a Fine Gael TD for the Dublin Rathdown constituency. Private Members Bill are often introduced much attention in the Oireachtas. Without government support, they are unlikely to ever become law.

This Bill is unusual for a number of reasons.

Madigan practised as a solicitor before her career in politics, and wrote a book on Alternative Dispute Resolution. A quick look through it will tell you it appears to be well drafted. Madigan began to draft the Bill in question over the summer. She spoke to the Irish Independent at the time about death threats her husband and children had received on social media, alongside the level of abuse a politician is subjected to online.

The Bill is notable for proving a legislative definition for the civil and criminal offences of contempt of court. Civil and criminal contempt have been subject to much commentary. In Keegan v de Barra, the court distinguished between the pair. Criminal contempt was to punish an offender, whereas civil contempt was to force compliance with a court order.

In DPP v Walsh, Chief Justice O’Higgins said that the purpose of criminal contempt was to discourage and prevent the repetition of conduct which, if became habitual, would be destructive of all justice.

The action itself was upheld by the European Court of Human Rights in Sunday Times v UK. Criminal contempt is rather rare. Students are responsible for one of the most recognisable criminal contempt cases in the twentieth century. In Morris v The Crown Court (1970), around twenty students involved in a protest in support of the Welsh language entered a London court, while a case was being heard. They handed out leaflets, sang songs, and started chants.

A judge imposed £50 fines on those who apologised, while the rest got three months in jail. The Court of Appeal held that the sentences were not excessive. The appeal was heard after their first week in prison. The judge agreed to let them out on the basis they remained on good behaviour in the 31.10.2017

following months. One of the judges in that case was the iconic Lord Denning. Known for his dissents, he reportedly had a lucky escape that same year, after a woman allegedly threw two books at him because of a verdict. He declined to hold her in contempt.

The Bill - Civil Contempt

Section 3(1) states that ‘civil contempt arises where there is a disobedience to an order of the court by a party to the proceedings, whether by actions or failures to act.’ Per section 3(2), ‘a person who has obtained an applicable court order may apply to the court for an order that the other party has failed to comply with the order.’

Section 3 (3) states that ‘a court must be satisfied in this application: (a) that the court order has been made in clear and unambiguous terms and is binding on the contemnor; (b) the contemnor has knowledge or proper notice of the terms of the court order being enforced; and (c) the contemnor has without reasonable excuse, intentionally failed to comply with the applicable court order.’

This means the court order must be both clear and unambiguous, and binding. The burden of proof is on the applicant, with the standard being beyond a reasonable doubt. This imposes the criminal standard of proof. A person having a ‘reasonable excuse’ for non-compliance is included as a defence.

Criminal Contempt

Section 2(1) gives a wide definition of criminal contempt. It ‘consists in behaviour calculated to prejudice the due course of justice. This shall include, but is not limited to; contempt in the face of the court, scandalising the court, words written or spoken or acts calculated to prejudice the due course of justice,

disruptive behaviour in court, disobedience to a Writ of habeas corpus by the person to whom it is directed, or failure to answer a subpoena.’

It includes the various categories of criminal contempt that have developed over time. A judge can deal with it summarily before the court, ‘where the conduct has occurred in the presence of the judge; and the judge considers that the conduct presents an immediate threat to the authority of the court or the integrity of the proceedings then in progress unless dealt with in a summary manner.’

A judge is immune from giving evidence in a contempt case where it is not dealt with summarily, but the court transcript, witness testimony, and other evidence is admissible. Other witnesses can be compelled to appear. Section 2(7) deals with the summary procedure, and follows basic fair procedures.

Penalties Section 12(1) notes that the ‘maximum sentence for contempt is life imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.’ Plenty of offences carry this penalty, as a way to give a judge discretion as to the punishment imposed. A conviction from a District Court hearing has maximum penalties of ‘imprisonment for one year and/or a class A fine’, which follows the normal maximum punishments available to the court at that level. A costs order can be imposed on a person for the proceedings they disrupted. In reality, this would likely run to a far higher sum than a court imposed fine.

Part Two, in the next edition of the Tribune, will look at the potential impact of the Bill on social media, and on the reporting of ongoing court cases by the media. p.31

Turbine.

The Turbine A lway s S ati r ical - O c cas ional l y H u mou rous

Hollywood Studio Plans to Remake Ryanair Offers Seats for 50c.

Harrison Ford Philip Mignon Turbine Writer

Philip Mignon Turbine Writer

This week, the CEO of Thirtieth Century Giraffe announced his studio’s plans to launch a remake of Harrison Ford within the next decade. ‘Remakes of classic movies have been immensely successful over the last couple of years’, Mr Brandt said at a press conference earlier this week, ‘Films such as ‘Blade Runner 2049’, which just came out recently, have been great successes at the box office.’

‘In fact, it was while we were working with Harrison Ford on this project that we realised that the potential for a remake of him was immense. Certainly, the original had a wide array of excellent attributes, but the studio felt that given today’s improvements in technology, there would be an opportunity to do things that just weren’t possible when the original was made. Plus, the original is starting to show signs of aging; he’s had several aircraft accidents in the last year, and he’s been getting injured on set which is a massive inconvenience.

We’re also really hoping we can up the sex-appeal with a newer model.’

The studio certainly couldn’t be accused of dreaming too small with their plans for the remake either. The remake is rumoured to have an 8-pack, be more durable during filming; being able to withstand heavy set pieces falling on him, and one source even suggested that his one-liner potential would be boosted a hundred-fold.

The remake of Harrison Ford is expected to cost the studio at least $500 million, but is expected to earn over $60 billion over the length of his projected 50-year film career.

In an effort to bounce back from what has been a terrible few weeks for the Irish company, Ryanair have announced that they are doing a flash sale where tickets will be available for as little as 50 cents. This flash sale follows several weeks of bad publicity for the airline, after they were forced to cancel over 2,000 flights for staff to avail of leave. This couldn’t have come at a worse time for the company, as they are in the midst of a rebranding effort, attempting to market themselves more towards business class travellers.

These tickets will be to any European destination and will be available from the beginning of October to the end of January. There will only be two tickets available per flight however, but, in what has been a surprise to many people, they will both be guaranteed window seats, affording, as their spokesman put it, “...unparalleled views during the take-off and landing”.

The fact that the seats are such a bargain price means that they will quickly be snatched up by customers eager for a deal.

The tickets will go on sale on the 1st of November 2017, and, even though there are over 5,000 tickets available, industry analysts expect that they will all be sold out in minutes.

The catch, as always, is in the terms and conditions at the bottom of the ticket. ‘’All those who purchase these tickets must have 20/20 vision, speak English well enough for a fast-paced and high-stakes work environment, and possess a Commercial Pilots Licence.’’

Scientists Find Health Benefits from Merely Wearing a Fitbit Philip Mignon Turbine Writer In a recently published paper in the American Scientific Journal, Integrum Mendacium, health expert Dr Rupert Thomson revealed the results of his long-awaited study into the effects of wearing a Fitbit wristband. The study was conducted in conjunction with leading experts from colleges across the United States. This study involved a test sample of 1,574 individuals, half of whom wore a Fitbit. The aim of the study was to deduce if there were any health benefits to be gained from using one.

The results that Dr Thomson and his colleagues found were extremely surprising. The individuals who wore

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the Fitbit all received major health benefits in comparison to those who didn’t wear the Fitbit. However, this was naturally to be expected. What was ground-breaking was the discovery that these health benefits occurred regardless as to whether the wearer actually participated in exercise or tried to eat healthy. In fact, the results indicated that by merely wearing a Fitbit, an individual could experience health benefits such as a decreased chance of suffering from diabetes, cholesterol, colds, flus and STD’s, as well as a decreased likelihood of heart attacks.

The majority of participants who wore a Fitbit also lost weight, gained

muscle, and appeared more toned by the end of the study. Furthermore, one participant’s paralysis was seemingly cured by wearing the Fitbit for just an hour!

The health benefits were most acute when the wearer of the Fitbit talked loudly about their Fitbit and insisted on showing it to everyone they came into contact with.

Dr Thomson hopes that the results of their study can help solve the problems of living in a modern sedentary society, as the current drive to encourage people to exercise is just not working. Wearing Fitbits could soon be the easier, medically-approved, alternative.

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Sport.

UCD Sports Star of the Week:

Seamus Lyons Boxing Chris Foley Sports Editor

With the recent progression of Amateur stalwarts such as Michael Conlon and Katie Taylor into the professional ranks, as well as some novice Do you have a role model in boxing? fighter named Conor McGregor, boxing is very much a sport dominating Irish media in recent times. With UCD possessing a flourishing box- I look up to many of the elite Irish boxers, but probably Michael Conlon would be the main man.. ing club in its own right, we here at The College Tribune decided it was What’s been your highlight so far? high time we focussed on giving some exposure to some of the best Boxing in the final of the Senior Men’s Intervarsity’s championships last February was a great that our club has to offer. With the Leinster Intermediates on the hori- experience.

I narrowly lost that fight having initially thought that I had won it. zon, Seamus Lyons, one of the brightest fighting talents to come out of the college in recent times took time out of his busy schedule to speak What are you plans for the future? to us about twhat it takes to compete at the intermediate levels of Irish In the immediate future, my plan is to win the Leinster Intermediates. In terms of the distant amateur boxing. future, it is to win a national intermediate title and a college title.

Is there any other talent in the UCD team that we should be I always wanted to be a boxer for as long as I can remember. I started boxing when I was 11 looking out for?

How did you get into boxing?

years-old and had my first bout when I was 12.

Dean Krutov and Sean McGuirk are both very strong and fit boxers. In terms of the novice scene Fearghan O’Mahoney is a lovely boxer with the ability to go very far in the sport.

What’s a typical week for you like?

I usually train 6 days a week, twice a day coming up to a competition with a run in the morning and a session in the club in the evening. I have been boxing out of Monkstown Boxing Club for the past two years and am currently preparing for the Leinster intermediates. To make weight for a competition it’s a lot easier if you’re eating clean. In terms of the drink, it’s a lot easier to be at your peak fitness if you stay off it, just because of recovery and the effect a hangover has on training.

Seamus is a member of UCD Boxing Club, one of the universities most successful sports clubs. For more information about the club and how to get involved, visit their Facebook page orc call into the sport’s centre on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays between 6 and 8pm.

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Sport.

How Can Ireland Nullify South Africa This November?

Conor Lynott Sports Editor

I

t is a bumper day for Irish team sports on the 11th of November. The men’s soccer team begin the final stretch for FIFA World Cup Qualification in Copenhagen against Denmark,while the Irish also open their international rugby union season against the South African Springboks.

November 11, 2017 Ireland vs South Africa, Rugby Union, Kick off 17:30 Denmark vs Republic of Ireland, Soccer, Kick off, 19:45.

This article, however, focuses on the rugby international and how Ireland can overcome a newly resurgent South African side. Based on the recently elapsed Rugby Championship, the Springboks have experienced a dramatic return to form since suffering a shock defeat to Italy in the past twelve months.

Although they were heavily beaten by New Zealand in their first test, shipping fifty plus points, they went on to push the All Blacks all the way in the rematch, in an entertaining 25-24 defeat.

From an Irish rugby perspective, this is worrying on two accounts. Firstly, Ireland are playing them in just under a fortnight’s time, just at the time when confidence is coming back to the Boks. Secondly, if we are thinking long-term, the South Africans are building nicely towards the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. Ireland have been handed a pool that they would be expected to win. If that is the case, then the desired option would be to play the Boks, rather than New Zealand, in the Quarter Final. If they keep this form up to the World Cup, however, South Africa would present an unsavoury challenge.

Back to the present, though, how can Ireland beat them next month? The South Africans have historically been, and still are, known for their bulk in both the forwards and the backrow. In Ireland’s most recent encounter with them, the Test Series in June 2016, the Men in Green simply did not have the bench, stamina, or muscle to prevent the South Africans causing havoc in the forwards unit.

In the narrow defeat to the All Blacks, both South African tries were mainly the work of the South Afri31.10.2017

can forwards. They have excellent ball retention and presentation. It’s very hard to operate the jackal to get turnover ball because the South Africans are experts at clearing bodies out of the breakdown area. When they get past the 22-metre line, they usually have a box of tricks to get over the line, whether that is through offloading skills, or decoy runners or simple, brute force.

So how do Ireland stop that?

First, Ireland will need a half back pairing that is up to the task. Fortunately, Ireland seem to have luck in that regard. Johnny Sexton steered Leinster to the recent Champions’ Cup over Glasgow Warriors with his consistently excellent array of passing and running lines. Apart from one blip, Sexton’s touchline kicking was reliable. His place kicking has been good from relatively tricky positions as well. Conor Murray, Ireland’s primary scrum half, has continued to be a leader for Munster with his box kicking and poaching ability, helping himself to a try against Racing 92. However, he did manage to get himself sin binned against Castres. If Murray can keep his discipline and form, he and Sexton will prove essential.

This is because Ireland will need to play the game in the right areas of the field, especially if they cannot boast the bench to compete with South Africa physically for 80 plus minutes. This means that Ireland will need to be sound at set piece to keep the ball in the scoring zone as much as possible. Devin Toner should provide that, along with Ian Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, and CJ Stander.

The All Blacks showed in their latest victory over the Springboks that the latter find it more than difficult to deal with a running, wide game. This is one of the effective game plans available, if Ireland can fine tune their handling skills, vary the point of the attack

by good support running, dummies, and grubber kicks. This may prove a route to victory. However, this style can prove a weakness if the team does not have a sufficient level of fitness for it, as Glasgow Warriors showed in the final minutes of their defeat to Leinster. Therefore, Ireland will need to make sure that they are well stocked, aerobically, if they want to play the game that way.

Last, but not least, Ireland will need to ensure that they are up to the task defensively. The South Africans caused panic in the All Blacks defensive line in their latest match in the Rugby Championship.

The excellent South African ball carriers force even very good teams to contract their line as they commit more to the breakdown. This is something that Ireland have struggled with in a match as recently as their defeat to Scotland. Watch the opening try of that game and you will see that a failure in commination results in a woefully unbalanced line where the Irish, already tied down at the ruck, are unable to drift across to prevent a simple walk in for the Scotsmen.

Contrast that with the opening minutes of the famous win over the All Blacks in Chicago in November 2016. Ireland commit relatively little to the breakdown. Instead, they have a defensive line that is spread out left to right, from touchline to touchline. Using this balanced defensive shape, they trust expert tacklers such as CJ Stander and Robbie Henshaw to shut down the principle ball carriers in what has become known as the blitz defence.

If Ireland can do each of these things correctly, set piece, running game, kicking and defence, then they are well on their way to nullifying the South African Springboks. Here’s hoping for a good game on November 11th.

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AIB Superleague: October Round Up Chris Foley Sports Editor

While the rest of the world focuses on trivial matters such as the Premier League or NFL, focus in Belfield rests solely on the AIB Superleague, as UCD’s most popular sporting competition got underway for another year of thrills and spills this October.

31.10.2017

F

or those unfamiliar with the concept of the Superleague, it is UCD’s internal football league, where 58 teams encompassing over 1,000 players take to the field once a week in search of eternal glory.

Superleague competitors are a special breed of athlete, what they may lack in terms of fitness, they make up for with sheer passion, and as such the games are never short of entertainment. With four rounds of fixtures already over and done with, a marker has already been laid down in each of the three divisions, albeit with a long season of football still to be played.

In the Premier Saturday league, there are a number of sides that still maintain a 100% record, with early signs suggesting that the title race could go down to the wire once again. At the time of writing*, Dynamo Duncan Ferguson FC, Tuborg Rovers, Sun Sex and Carlton Cole, McCuls FC and Fruit&Vag are the early pace setters, with McCuls’ record particularly impressive owing to their +18 goal difference.

The Premier Sunday league has begun in a tighter fashion, with just two sides, SWOXI and All Priests Over 75, still with flawless points records intact. The biggest surprise of the opening rounds of this division has been the form of league champions Futbolito.

The team, which controversially introduced

weekly training sessions last season en-route to a comfortable title win, have failed to record a victory from their first two matches.

On a brighter note for Futbolito, their Saturday side maintains a 100% record in the Saturday Division 1, along with Dellboys FC and the interestingly named Notinyermam’s Forest. Curiously, two other sides, Show me de Mane and Ruud Man Fistaboy also still hold unbeaten records, but have each played just a single game, four weeks into the season. The reason for this inactivity remains a mystery.

In other news, last year’s champions, Colonel Getafe, have a credible 7 points to their name 3 games into the season, having scored an impressive 15 goals in that period.

As many a British football pundit on television has attested to, one cannot place too much emphasis on the league table this early in the season. However, the opening weeks serve as a time for more committed sides (or at least less uncommitted) to a lay down a marker for the season, and send out a statement to the other sides that they mean business. Results aside, one thing’s for sure, The College Tribune will be keeping tabs on what is one of UCD Sport’s greatest success stories in terms of participation, and will be on hand to ensure that these athletes get the exposure that their dedication deserves.

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The College Tribune

Reporting From The East Chris Foley Sports Editor After being admitted to a year-long exchange programme at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, College Tribune Sports Editor Chris Foley saw Hong Kong’s domestic football league as the perfect opportunity to immerse himself in local life. After taking on a role as an editor at local publication offside.hk, Chris went on to cover numerous domestic, continental and international games throughout the country, enjoying some great moments along the way. Here is his reflection on what was a rollercoaster year…

It’s August 2016, and having not yet acclimatised to Hong Kong’s unforgiving summer climate, I am sweating buckets in the stand of this small, atmospheric stadium in East Asia. The passionate crowd are in full voice before kick-off, and people are drinking, singing, and chanting, all in a language which before now I had only heard in old martial arts movies. Before long the team comes out, the national anthem plays, and instead www.collegetribune.ie

of singing along, the entire crowd greets it with a chorus of boos. Yes, I had been anticipating a semblance of culture shock upon embarking on this adventure, but within minutes of my first game in Hong Kong I knew the extent to which this was a country with a sports culture like no other.

To many, my decision to immerse myself in a job covering such an unknown, internationally irrelevant league was a curious one. But perhaps it is the league’s lack of notoriety which allows it to keep its charm. Free of the excesses of multi-billion dollar sports leagues, the Hong Kong Premier League offers a match day experience featuring passionate, vociferous fans who create an atmosphere far superior to what one could experience in Old Trafford, The Emirates, or beyond On a personal level, working in sports journalism in Hong Kong afforded me some incredible opportunities that I never would have gotten back home. Some of my best memories from the year are of covering continental competitions. Asian Champions league games were watched by yours truly in plush press-areas of 40,000 seater stadiums, and followed up by utter bemusement on my part as I attempted to attain a quotes from post-match press conferences given in Cantonese.

From the point of view of a budding journalist, the highlight of my career thus far came as I got the chance to speak to a hero of mine in the form of World Cup winning Brazilian manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, who currently coaches Chinese side Guang-

zhou Evergrande. The old cliché of never meeting your heroes could not have been truer in this case, but I enjoyed pitting my wits against ‘Felipao’ in the Press-Room, as well as countless other famous figures from the footballing world.

Now back home, with the beauty of hindsight, I can’t help but think of how lucky I was to have experienced academia in such vastly different surroundings. But as is often the case with university life, it was experiences outside of the classroom that were the most formative, and in particular my time working in the pulsating world of Hong Kong journalism. It was my prior writing experience with The College Tribune that helped me to land that particular job, without which I wouldn’t have even gotten my foot in the door. All of this points to the fact that, as students in a university as vibrant and esteemed as UCD, we are spoiled for choice in terms of extra-curricular opportunities just waiting for us to sink our teeth into. So get involved, you never know where you could end up!

Here at The College Tribune, we are always looking for talented, enthusiastic sports journalists to contribute to our publications.

If think you have what it takes, please contact us at sport@ collegetribune.ie for further information on how to get involved.

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