Issue 7 - Volume XVI by The College View

THE COLLEGE VIEW News » 4 SU won’t hold official RAG week this year.

Opinion » 9 Analysis of the controversy surrounding Eirgrid’s pylon plan.

Wednesday 19th February 2014 Volume XVI - Issue 7 www.thecollegeview.com

Gaeilge » 10 Is bliain mhór í seo dóibh siúd atá trom ar an tobac, agus don toitín leictreonach.

Flux » inside Coming back to Ireland - the comeback tour.

Features » 15

Marriage equality: More mock same sex weddings to take place this semester as DCU steps up to support LGBT community. | Credit: Ethan Browne

SU to endorse marriage equality ahead of referendum Finnian Curran Deputy News Editor DCU’S CLASS REP COUNCIL members made a strong show of support for the LGBTQ community at their meeting last Wednesday, unanimously passing motions to back the marriage equality campaign and support LGBTQ rights. Laura Harmon of Marriage Equality (and Equality Officer with the Union of Students in Ireland) addressed those gathered, echoing Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s views that this is “one of the biggest civil rights issues

of our generation”. “This is certainly a student issue, students want to see change. There’s no reason why same-sex couples shouldn’t be afforded the same rights as any other couple,” she added. The Students’ Union are to provisionally allocate €2,000 to facilitate DCU students in supporting the ‘yes’ campaign. Busses, placards and a voter registration drive are hoped to be organised in the lead-up to next year’s landmark marriage equality referendum. The Executive and sabbatical members of the SU will now endorse a pro-marriage equality

stance and represent this stance when relevant. A video representing the views of members will also be produced. According to DCU SU’s Welfare Officer Lorna Finnegan, “it is important for the Students’ Union to support Marriage Equality; Irish people believe in equal rights regardless of sexuality and that gay and lesbian people are equal citizens. “Marriage is about love, commitment and protecting your loved ones; a celebration every man or woman has the right to. “Thankfully, Class Rep Council mandated the SU to support this campaign which means stu-

dents are passionate about this issue; as the voice of the students it is our duty to represent the students of DCU as best as possible and stand for what they believe in.” There has been widespread support on campus for the solidarity and support shown to the LGBTQ community. Caoimhe Foley of DCU’s LGBTA Society said that the motion means more to LGBT students than simply supporting a campaign.

Read more on page 3

The problem with the most expensive Olympics ever.

Lifestyle » 12 How to hit the ground running.

Sport » 24 DCU crash out of Sigerson Cup

THE COLLEGE VIEW 19.02.1 4

THE COLLEGE VIEW Editorial

Will DCU learn from last year’s USI referendum circus?

ast year’s referendum to reaffiliate with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) was a complete shambles from the very beginning. The opposing campaign was badly organised and barely visible; campus was overrun with USI representatives from all around the country flogging their agenda at every student they could grab; and not to mention the SU blatantly ignored their constitutional duty to inform the students they represent of what they were voting on. To put it bluntly, a depressing amount of time and resources was wasted on an important issue that could potentially change how the student body functions. And now we’re about to repeat the whole debacle this semester. This time, lessons must be learned from last year’s mess and the democratic process must be adhered to and respected, for the sake of respect and trust in those who are in charge and the functioning of the student body. Firstly, class representatives and the SU need to have a frank discussion on how they want the campaign to be conducted. Class representatives need to consider if they want to limit the number of USI representatives allowed on campus to campaign during the referendum, taking into consideration the problems and controversy their dominance caused this time 12 months ago. Given the legal issues surrounding this during last year’s referendum, the SU should ensure they have legal

Editor-in-Chief: Aoife Mullen Production & Layout Editor: Marie Lecoq Deputy Production & Layout Editor: Rachel McLaughlin News Editors: Sarah Bermingham, Ciara Moore

Deputy News Editors: Theresa Newman, Finnian Curran Opinion Editor: Sean Cassidy Lifestyle Editor: Freya Drohan Features Editor: Paul O’Donoghue Deputy Features Editor: Aoife Bennett Irish Editor: Máire Áine Ní Shúilleabháin

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consensus between all parties involved on how the campaign should proceed before campaigning begins to avoid any issues. Those running campaigns, whether it be pro-USI or anti-USI campaigns, must ensure they are organised and prepared to inform students about their stance. While trying to dodge USI representatives on your way to class was like dodging chuggers on Henry Street, trying to find someone from the no campaign was like trying to get charity board members to fess up about their bonuses. The imbalance in the campaign broke no rules or regulations, but it was unfair to the student body who were getting one-sided arguments, taking into account the SU’s sleepy approach to the affair. It also meant those who did dedicate time to campaigning were attacked in the aftermath, putting aside the scale of their campaign, because they were the only ones with a visible presence. Finally, the success of this referendum rests solely on the SU. This time, they need to step up and fulfil their constitutional duty and run a visible and impartial information campaign for the students who elected them to do so. Students need to be aware of what they’re voting on, encouraged to use their vote and informed on what they’re voting on. There will be nowhere for the SU to run away from their failures this time around.

Deputy Irish Editor: Gráinne Ní Aodha Sports Editor: Ruaidhrí Croke Deputy Sports Editors: Eoin Sheahan, Anita McSorley Flux Editor: Claire Healy Deputy Flux Editors: Daniel McDonald, Michael Cogley

Images Editor: Annemarie Kelly Online Editor: Mary McDonnell Online News Editor: Sean Defoe Printed By Datascope, with the DCU Journalism Society Thanks To Sportsfile, SLC, Office of Student Life

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A motion passed by DCU’s Academic Council at a December meeting will see the two study weeks prior to exams being split up either side of the Christmas break. Read more online on www.thecollegeview.com

Students encouraged to open up after death of DCU student Aoife Mullen and Rachel McLaughlin DCU STUDENTS’ UNION AND the chaplains of the Interfaith Centre have stressed the importance of students opening up about their grief as DCU student Patrick Halpin was laid to rest on Sunday. First year Actuarial Maths student Patrick Halpin passed away after going missing on a trip to London with DCU Drama Society earlier this month. DCU SU President, Aaron Clogher, who attended Patrick’s funeral, said the SU was devastated by the news of Patrick’s death and found the past number of weeks very tough but are proud of how the DCU community responded. Clogher said: “Our students both in London and at home were fantastic in their assistance of the online efforts to spread

awareness about his disappearance, and indeed the reaction in the aftermath of the awful news was overwhelming, with large numbers of Patrick’s classmates and friends as well as lecturers and staff travelling to his funeral in Galway.” The SU have been offering support to those who were close to Patrick over the past number of days; “meeting, talking and just sharing time with many of Patrick’s classmates friends and fellow club and society members,” Clogher told The College View, “and I hope we have been able to provide some support and comfort to them during the most difficult of times.” The SU are encouraging any students who have been affected by recent events to get in touch with the support services available within the university or the SU. Clogher said: “Whoever a student feels most comfortable talking to is a good first step, and

then they can be introduced to any support services they require from there. “The SU have already been in touch with the societies affected, Patrick’s classmates, housemates and friends; but if there is any-

“

Our students both in London and at home were fantastic in their assistance of the online efforts to spread awareness about his disappearance.

body who we haven’t reached out to who feel they need to talk, anybody can pop into any of the Sabbats offices any time.”

Father Joe Jones and Sister Susan Jones of the Interfaith Centre echoed the SU’s message to students, saying students should be aware that “it’s ok not to be ok”. They urged students to talk about their grief and not suppress their emotions. Students dealing with bereavement are welcome to call into the Interfaith Centre. They can seek support from the chaplains, light a candle or spend some quiet time alone in the centre. The Interfaith Centre chaplains said that they are willing to accommodate students if they wish to arrange a group gathering. “We will work with whatever the students want,” said Fr. Jones. The SU are planning a remembrance service in the coming weeks, in conjunction with the Chaplaincy team, so that students, staff and the entire DCU Community can come together to pay their respects.

Referendum on USI re-affiliation announced Ciara Moore Co-News Editor A DATE OF FEBRUARY 26TH has been announced for the long-anticipated referendum on whether DCU should re-affiliate with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). Returning Officer of the Class Rep Council (CRC), Jack Butterly, has urged students to “take the few minutes that is needed to get to know both sides of the debate during campaigning and make your own informed decision as it is the best way to represent your views on the topic and make your voice heard.” Last year’s decision by then Students’ Union President Paul Doherty to nullify the ‘yes vote’ on re-affiliating with the USI was marred with controversy. He took the decision after it was decided that the executive did not run an information campaign for the referendum. Under the SU Constitution, members of the executive are responsible for the promotion and wording of an upcoming referendum. SU President Aaron Clogher

CRC Chairperson Ronan O’Dailaigh speaks at last week’s meeting. | Credit: Eimear Phelan said that the Returning Officer of the CRC “will be meeting with the SU Marketing and Communications Manager to discuss the best way for the SU to act and provide a neutral campaign to students over the coming weeks.

It will be quite a short campaign.” Chairperson of the CRC, Rónán Ó Dálaigh, formally resigned from his position at last week’s CRC meeting as he is adopting a yes stance in the upcoming referendum. This deci-

sion was taken to stay neutral to the Constitution. A CRC informative debate about the referendum will be held on Monday, February 24th.

NeWS SU to endorse marriage equality ahead of referendum >> Continued from page 1 Finnian Curran Deputy News Editor “TO ME, IT MEANS VALIDAtion that my existence matters to people outside of the LGBT community. It means that my university believes that I deserve to love and be loved, and I feel safer in my own sexuality around college.” The society’s ‘Ally Fortnight’ is currently underway and aims to raise awareness of the importance of being a good ally. The main event of this, a discussion group on homophobia featuring John Lyons TD, Senator Averil Power and DCU PhD student Steve Conlon, took place on Monday. Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) are also continuing their Winter Olympic protests and have boycotted all products of sponsor companies; Coca Cola, Proctor, and Gamble, across campus in solidarity with the Russian LGBTQ community. The boycott, expected to last for the duration of the Olympic Games, was made by TCD SU’s Council in response to Russia’s violations of Human Rights Law and persecution of members of the LGBTQ community. DCU students joined their counterparts from Trinity and other colleges in braving stormy weather on February 5th when to demonstrate outside the Russian embassy in Dublin. TCD SU President, Tom Lenihan, commented on the protests saying: “we want to send a message to Russia that continuing with this violence and intimidation is not acceptable and make our voices heard in whatever way possible.” DCU SU have said they completely support the Trinity boycott and the strong stance that university has taken.

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THE COLLEGE VIEW 19.02.1 4

A competition run by the British Council is offering the chance for science students and emerging scientists to meet and receive mentoring from a number of top industry names.

Read more online on www.thecollegeview.com

Students urged to pace drinking and remove “Neknomination” videos from their profiles Ciara Moore Co-News Editor “GET IN THE TAXI. WE NEED five more?” she cursed at her inebriated friends. Taxis are lined patiently waiting for students to leave the pre-drinking lair of their accommodation. Two girls teeter past stumbling in their heels. One whispers loudly “when we get there, we are going straight to the bar and asking for the best shot they serve.” Guys stroll past with cans stashed in the back pocket of their trousers. They break into song and some bizarre buffoonlike dance. This was a quiet night.

website for their campaign with the tag line “Don’t Lose Sleep Over Where You’ll Wake Up” last Monday. The campaign specifically focuses on the locations where students wake up after a night out and how drinking an excessive amount of alcohol contributes to this. Pearson said: “All of us have embarrassing stories about where we have woken up after a night out, we wanted to address this taboo and make students realise the consequences of excessive drinking. The reason we did this is because we felt that many campaigns preach to students using facts and figures which they will glance over. This way we identify with the young target audience.”

Drink Aware

“Neknomination”

Two DCU campaigns based on the repercussions of excessive drinking have been shortlisted to the final of the DARE2BDRINKAWARE.ie competition. DCU students Aisling Sinclair and Sam Pearson launched the

Pacing is heavily promoted by drinkaware.ie and this is something that Pearson says the campaign will re-enforce along with promoting the idea that you should never be pressured into doing something that you don’t

want. This peer-pressure was seen in recent weeks as young people across Ireland were nominated to take part in the notorious online drinking challenge called ‘Neknomination’. The result of drinking copious amounts of alcohol in one sitting was blamed for the deaths of two young men in Ireland. “As we are all beginning to realise, Neknomination is far from a game. When an individual drinks the amount of alcohol

“

Neknomination is far from a game. When an individual drinks the amount of alcohol that has been seen in these videos, the body is not able to cope.”

that has been seen in these videos, the body is not able to cope,” he added. “Our campaign will advise young people to be aware that alcohol limits vary from person to person. You’re limit is individual to you, so never assume that your tolerance is the same as anyone else.” DCU Students’ Union is fully supporting both student initiatives. Welfare Officer Lorna Finnegan wholeheartedly disagrees with the peer pressure involved in drinking games and nominating people to out-do each other by posting videos online. She has urged students to remove any videos involving Neknominations from their social media profile. “If an employer googles a student’s name for a potential job position, a Neknomination video in connection to their name would look very unprofessional.” The “Don’t Lose Sleep” campaign video will be released on March 1st.

Students lead initiative to create Cultural Officer role STUDENT-LED DISCUSSIONS are underway to have the fulltime position of Cultural Officer created within the university. The brief would include special emphasis on promotion of the Irish language. Chair of Class Rep Council, Rónán Ó’Dálaigh, who has stood aside for the duration of the USI referendum, is in talks with the university about the potential to create a role that would help all cultures be celebrated on DCU’s diverse campus. Ó’Dálaigh feels creating the role would be benefit both the university and its students. “It would give us perspective, make us resilient and more tolerant and open-minded about diverse cultures”, he said. Should a role be created, it’s likely the person hired would be responsible for creating awareness campaigns and hosting

▣ Credit: Caoimhe Ni Chathail

Sarah Bermingham Co-News Editor

events, such as cultural fairs. They would also emphasise the significance of Ireland’s national language on campus. Funding may be available from the Higher Education Authority for such activities, strengthening the likelihood of this initiative being realised. A motion passed at last week’s Class Rep Council meeting will

see the DCU SU Executive write letters to government cabinet TDs highlighting their support for the country’s native tongue. Students present at CRC also showed their support by endorsing a DCU presence at last Saturday’s ‘Lá Mór na Gaeilge’, a gathering of Irish language enthusiasts and activists held

in the Garden of Remembrance, Dublin. Motions on this and regarding the creation of a Cultural Officer role were brought to Council by students Barra Ó’Scanláin and Caoimhe Ní Chathail. According to Ó’Scanláin, the promotion and visibility of the Irish language in our society “is a civil rights issue, it’s not just for people to show that they’ve an interest”. Their passion for the language was supported by DCU SU President Aaron Clogher, who told The College View “it’s important we take a strong stance on this as we have a strong Irish language community on campus, with Fiontar being a part of the academic work of the university”. Returning Officer Jack Butterly also commented that he felt someone in this position could help bridge the gap for international students coming to study at DCU and settling into life at the university.

SU won’t hold official RAG Week this year Janine Kavanagh News Reporter NO OFFICIAL RAG WEEK will be held this year, due to the stigma associated with such weeks on campus, Welfare Officer Lorna Finnegan confirmed. Finnegan said the controversial week wouldn’t be held during an interview with The College View on how much of their €10,000 target was raised last semester for their chosen charities. She told The College View the week was “so associated with drinking that we kind of want to steer away from that”. Instead, plans for raising money this semester include a mock wedding, scheduled for March 5th. Finnegan hopes to get students involved and said there would be events in the run-up, making it an unofficial RAG week. Tea and coffee mornings and small-scale events such as outdoor cinema screenings will also be held throughout semester. To date, €5,000 has been raised through a number of events and initiatives run last semester, including ‘Father Ted week’, the 24 hour sleep-out and Halloween trick-or-treating. Over €1,000 worth of funds raised came from the sale of student discount cards in Freshers’ Week, which were a shared effort between DCU and St. Patrick’s College students’ unions. Both contacted local businesses, including IMC Cinemas and Wagamama, and arranged for students to receive discounts once they presented the card, which sold for €2 each. All funds raised by the SU this year will go to their three designated charities for 2014: Smiles for Shauna, HeadstARTS and the CARI Foundation.

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The issue of Climate Change took centre stage during DCU’s latest Green Day last week. The next Green Day will take place March 25th and the theme will be water sustainability.

Read more online on www.thecollegeview.com

Universities want higher fees if there is no more funding Sarah Bermingham Co-News Editor IRELAND’S UNIVERSITIES have launched a campaign calling on Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to raise student fees if he will not allocate further exchequer funding to the cash-strapped third-level sector. Union of Students in Ireland President Joe O’Connor has termed the situation currently facing Minister Quinn as “the biggest third-level policy decision since Niamh Breathnach introduced the ‘free fees’ scheme back in 1999”. Public funding for third-level has been reduced in consecutive budgetary cutbacks, despite an overall rise in the numbers of students attending. Addressing students gathered at a Class Representative Coun-

cil meeting last November, DCU President Briain MacCraith revealed that the university was “struggling in every possible way… to ensure we preserve some quality”. Eager to establish how much additional funding universities require, the Higher Education Authority has instructed universities to provide them with a breakdown of institute spending and budgets. Students’ Union President Aaron Clogher doesn’t believe, however, that there will be any immediate changes made. Calls for a possible fees hike come in a year which has seen a steep rise in the number of students seeking financial assistance from their universities to help them complete their studies. The student registration fee, for those not in receipt of a grant, is already set to rise by €250 to €3,000 in September 2015.

If full fees were introduced in 2016, students and families could be burdened with at least an additional €3,000 - €4,000 a year, depending on the course studied. A survey conducted by the Irish League of Credit Unions in August 2013 identified the total monthly cost of going to college, for those who live away from home, as €950. Unable at present to cover costs which include rent, utility bills and food, several students have turned to the Student Assistance Funds (SAF) in their third-level institutes for help. The Government allocate this funding from the European Social Fund to Irish universities. As of late October 2013, some 700 students had applied for DCU’s SAF, a 40 per cent rise on figures for the same period last year. Trinity College Dublin’s SAF and Student Hardship Fund for this academic year were both

depleted by last October, while Dublin Institute of Technology are currently fundraising for students experiencing hardship as their SAF ran dry in November. Making matters more complicated for some, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) last month sought to recover grants awarded in error to dozens of postgraduate students for the 2012 / 2013 academic year. As of December 28th 2013, DCU was owed €460,000 by students who were unable to graduate due to outstanding fees. The university encourages all students experiencing hardship to engage with the support services available to them. Failure to do so can result in the student being blocked from graduating, but a spokesperson said the numbers this applies to “would be very low single figures and is a last resort”.

Youth groups call for sacking of JobBridge scheme

Youth advocacy groups oppose JobBridge. | Credit: USI Kirstin Campbell News Reporter THE UNION OF STUDENTS IN Ireland (USI) and a number of youth organisations have called for the government’s internship programme, JobBridge, to be phased out. Many youth advocacy groups voiced their opposition to the scheme in a joint press conference held on January 29th. The youth groups expressed their concerns that the internship programme is damaging job creation and promoting the ex-

ploitation of the trainee workers involved in the scheme. The press conference was held by the youth committees of the Communications Workers’ Union and Mandate Trade Union, along with the USI, ScamBridge, and the ‘We’re Not Leaving’ youth group. Laura Harmon, the Vice-President for Welfare of USI, believes that the government scheme is no longer effective. “We believe that JobBridge has lost all credibility, and we would ask for it to be phased out over time.” Harmon said that one of the reasons for the failure of the

scheme is that it has gone largely unregulated. “More than 3 per cent of employers have admitted that they’ve used it to misplace existing employment, so we have to ask the question: why are we allowing it to replace existing work?” The national internship scheme was set up by the government in 2011, with the aim to match employers with trainees who cannot find work. The work experience placements last from between six to nine months, with the interns receiving €50 a week in addition to their social welfare payment.

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has defended the programme, stating that more than 25,200 people have taken up the scheme since it began, with 6,300 currently in internships. MEP Paul Murphy, the founder of campaigning website ScamBridge.ie, has called for the JobBridge internship programme to be replaced with a RealJobs scheme. He said at the press conference that this would result in education investment and more effective training and employment for people struggling to find work.

NeWS Masters student breaks leg in comical botched robbery Theresa Newman Deputy News Editor

DUBLIN CRIMINAL COURT has heard how a DCU Masters student broke his leg while trying to steal Apple computers from campus to design a computer game to rival Angry Birds. Upon being discovered by security in December 2012 during the escapade, 25-year-old Femi Adekele jumped out the window of the computer room. His accomplice managed to get away, leaving Adekele in a bush for twelve hours. The pair had brought bolt cutters and a large knife to sever the cables of the expensive Mac computers. They filled two large shopping bags with computers and keyboards before security found them in the computer lab. The Court heard how his accomplice returned to the bush with a wheelbarrow the next day to take Adekele away. When security guards spotted Adekele in the wheelbarrow and approached him, the friend abandoned the rescue operation. Adekele wanted to design a computer game called “angry pigs” to rival the popular Angry Birds game and believed he would make his fortune from the game, the defence counsel told Judge Martin Nolan. Adekele had not worn any disguise and had documents with his name on them in his bag when he was arrested. He was studying for a Masters qualification in engineering at DCU when he committed the crime. He has not completed the course. Calling the botched rescue a “comical situation”, Judge Nolan noted Adekele’s good employment record and the fact he had no prior convictions. He imposed a suspended sentence of two years upon him.

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THE COLLEGE VIEW 19.02.1 4

DCU’s Campus Residences received two awards for excellence at the annual ceremony of the Irish Accommodation Services Institute.

Read more online on www.thecollegeview.com

President wants more Northern students at DCU I Niamh Doherty News Reporter

DCU PRESIDENT PROF BRIAN MacCraith wishes to significantly increase the number of students from Northern Ireland on the university campus. The university plans to announce a special entry route for Northern Irish students shortly, which will address difficulties inherent with the CAO application process for students from Northern Ireland who have not

sat the Leaving Certificate. According to Gráinne Mooney of DCU’s Marketing and Communications Department, this new entry system is “likely to be accompanied by a number of scholarships”. MacCraith recently raised the issue of the current CAO points allocation for A-levels, which is inhibiting the number of Northern Ireland students coming to study in the Republic. As a result, the Irish Universities Association (IUA) Task Group on Reform of University

Selection and Entry will address this issue further. Anita McSorley, a final-year Journalism student from County Tyrone, says that much more needs to be done to teach students from the North about how to gain entry to universities in the Republic of Ireland. Speaking to The College View, she explained it was very difficult to apply to study at DCU. “I had no idea if I had enough points up until I was accepted into the course. I didn’t understand how to convert my three

A-Level grades to CAO points.” The current system that compares A-level results with Leaving Certificate results has seen many popular courses in Republic of Ireland universities become inaccessible to students from the North. As it stands, an A-level student getting top grades can only achieve 450 points, as students take three subjects with a maximum of 150 points offered for each. Despite this, the entry requirements for many courses in the

Republic of Ireland are above 500 points, as students generally take six subjects with a maximum of 100 points awarded for each. “I didn’t know how to work the CAO application system. It was so different to UCAS, which I was using to apply to colleges in the North,” said McSorley. Trinity College is also said to be rethinking its admissions policy for Northern Irish students in order to develop a special entry mechanism and increase its intake of students from the North.

Support for nurses’ protests against low graduate pay rates Emily Bodkin News Reporter A MOTION WAS PASSED AT last Wednesday’s Class Rep Council meeting to support student nurses in their protests against cuts to graduate wages. A campaign against salary reductions for graduate nurses in training programmes was launched last week at Leinster House by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). Newly-graduated nurses undertaking training programmes will be paid €2 less than the minimum wage, totalling €22,000 a year. The €6.40 per-hour wage will be set for the first three months of training, rising to just over €10 for the final 12 weeks of the programme. The USI has spoken out about the decrease and is calling for the government to increase nurses’ salaries. Speaking about the protest, USI President Joe O’Connor explained that the drop in wages is forcing nurses to emigrate. “Our hospitals need nurses to stay in Ireland to work. The message to Minister [for Health James] Reilly is loud and clear; change the starting salary level back to €26,000 for newly graduated nurses.” DCU Childrens’ and General Nursing student Shauna Kilbride was at the CRC meeting and told The College View that she was appalled by the government’s

treatment of young nurses. “It’s bad enough we’ve worked almost 15 months for them for free which includes long shifts, staying on late and not taking breaks because the hospitals are so busy caring for our patients. Now the government want to pay us €6.49 an hour for our internship, where we are legally and morally responsible and accountable for our patients’ care with no extra money for nights or weekends. I know girls who are working as care assistants instead of nurses because they earn more and this is after four years of paying college fees and working for free. Apprentices such as carpenters, electricians and plumbers get paid to work and go to their FÁS training course; why can’t we be treated the same?” Third-year General Nursing student in Trinity College, Adam Miller, says the current situation is disheartening for all graduates but more so for those with children. “It’s the new grads with a family to support that I feel sorry for. I have the option to up and leave; they don’t because it will be extremely difficult for them if they do so. [The government are] expecting them, many of them single parents, to support a family on €22,000 with a mortgage to pay. I’m sorry, but they’d be better off on the dole.” Larger demonstrations by the USI will be taking place in Dublin city centre in the coming weeks.

handful of students and it brings target. cerned even if it only works for a keen to work towards the €50,000 tal ill health. “As far as I’m con- vember 15th, with Fr Jones still to help people at a time of men- will be held in the Helix on Noabout the labyrinth’s potential A special fundraiser concert Fr Jones is also passionate every Tuesday afternoon. process.” profound happens to us in the is placed in the InterFaith Centre and they realise something quite walk a mobile labyrinth which All students are invited to explained. “People walk the path relaxation and calm”, Fr Jones ing money.” a person “into a space of quiet, it’s a load of crap, if we’re wastblood pressure. The walk brings plained. “Then they can tell me if levels of anxiety, insomnia and know what it’s about”, he exwalking meditations can reduce versation with people when they Harvard research has found “I’m prepared to have that conweeks to complete. which is expected to take just six criticise plans. ready been assigned the project, labyrinth walk before rushing to horticultural architecture has al- urge students to experience a viting. A builder specialising in ated with this project, he would help the campus appear more in- a substantial price-tag associas entrance and exit and will While he recognises there is ralling paths with a single path used by all traditions.” brary. The design consists of spi- long to any one tradition and it’s woman’s partner forced the was to an early end. “It future. third garden was approaching li-brought ject. “The labyrinth does not be-forward to working with in events granite unfold, stone it appeared the onappointment that the campaign look structure the Catholic priest leading proAlthoughThe difficult to see View, Farrell expressed his dis-thisare labyrinth will the be a large meeting with this week and couple cost theytoknew distress. point. Speaking The College thinks it to unfortunate that he is a about in €50,000. with Domino’s Pizza, who they lix when they spotted youngthe ers, to the create a talking against Catholic Church and next year woulda bring totalin order highly value their relationship mittee in the vicinity sion of the video up to the viewtribution may have been voting including this of in the the Hework early three members of thesurround, MPS com-however society was to leave the against conclu- the conMPS also stated that they ple who voted an attractive under 90 seconds long, showed The original intention feels of thethat any self. Fr Jones is also keen to have The chaplain peo-further confusion.” The of video, which was just take. constructing the labyrinth it- instigated referendum in 2012. Facebook page so as not to cause MPS fortoa date, number of years. Deputy Editor the News angle they intended to which will cover thenever cost video be removed from their tion following a DCU Sinn the FéinDomino’sOver Pizza€33,000 have sponsored behaviour and stated that it was Finnian Curran has been raised upon an agreed €10,000 leading and we requested that Relations Jack Power. distanced themselves from suchcontribuing Officer, the project. Union back Atkinson; and MPS women.”Students’ The society has rowed also Production Society was misCentre, Fr JoeCommercial Jones, who is leadHe is still saddened thethis prank from the Media Deputying Head DCUtv, David or showcase violence towards thatcept to of Head of the InterFaith MPS Chairperson, NiallofFarrell; not theirpenny. intention “to promote violence in any instance. We ac” March or April 2014, accorda marketing campaign that it’s it was calm, then worth every labyrinth will featuring be installedstatement by andstating ciation version with Domino’s part of campus MPS them have to since a “Domino’s does not endorse find released quiet, contentment of the as planned Domino’s Pizza Group said: The video was madeSCALED-DOWN in asso- leted from the into sociala media A SLIGHTLY them space site. that enables Halloween Ball. The video has since been deA spokesperson from the ety after DCU Students’ Union’s gardaí regarding the incident. es far longer than three days”. media by members of the soci- they had given statements to the such a sizable initiative stretcheo which was posted to social video to Facebook, claiming Domino’s to remove a hoax vidThe group then uploaded the its mere infancy as the length of the campaign was stopped in Society (MPS) were asked by could reach them. DCU’S MEDIA PRODUCTION into the boot of a car before they is unfortunate, however, that

installed next April remove video Labyrinth to beover content

Domino’s asks MPS to

USI Everyone Loves Nurses protest. | Credit: Conor MacCabe Photography

SU secures discount on healthy food and student gym membership Aisling Kett News Reporter THE HEALTHY EATING INItiative launched by DCU Students’ Union has introduced student veg boxes and a lower gym membership fee for semester two. At a Class Rep Council meeting before the Christmas break a motion was passed for Welfare Officer Lorna Finnegan to seek a reduction of the student gym fee to €100 for semester two but no agreement was made. “Basically we’ve gotten a reduction to €160, which isn’t great and we were quite annoyed by it but people have started using it.”

Instead the sports centre has agreed to re-evaluate their prices for students next year. When asked why the gym was reluctant to reduce it by more Finnegan said they had already advertised the €160 offer. In other universities, such as UCD, the gym price is included as part of student levy so membership is ‘free’. Finnegan said this is something the SU would like to introduce as it would mean the gym would be open to all students. However, they are unsure if students would welcome the idea as some might not make use of it. Student fruit and veg boxes were also launched last week as part of the initiative. Flynn’s fruit and veg online shop now

offer a deal for DCU students to get a discount with a special code. A student box will contain peppers, carrots, onions, mushrooms, baby spinach, chilli, garlic, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, 500g pasta, six large eggs, and 12 pieces of fruit (bananas, apples, oranges, pears) for about €16. Students place their order online Sunday night, the boxes are put together Monday morning and can be collected from the SU that evening. There are plans to include recipe cards in the boxes. There will also be a cooking demonstration from student cook Avril Clarke on February 24th to encourage students to cook meals from scratch rather than rely on takeaways.

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NEWS@THECOLLEGEVIEW.COM

NeWS ITs to merge and receive university status DCU has been named one of the top 50 universities in the world under 50 years old by QS University Rankings.

Read more online on www.thecollegeview.com

▣ Ruairí Quinn | Credit: The Labour Party

Emily Hawkins News Reporter

installed next April remove video Labyrinth to beover content

Domino’s asks MPS to

NEW LEGISLATION ALLOWing proposals for the amalgamation of institutes of technology will enable institutes to apply for university status, according to Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn. This is the first time since 1989, when both UL and DCU obtained university status, that there is a real prospect of new universities appearing in Ireland.

Institute of Technology, Sligo IT, and Letterkenny IT have also indicated a strong desire to strengthen their alliance in the North-West and hopefully merge in the long term. According to the proposal, the universities will be new higher education institutions, with an aim to provide a top-quality enterprise focused on education and research. The minister said that he hopes the creation of the universities would “achieve the critical mass to allow them to reach the scale and level of performance

“This is an exciting time for our higher education institutes,” stated Minister Quinn when interviewed after the meeting. So far Dublin Institute of Technology, the Institute of Technology, Tallaght and the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown have expressed interest in joining together in the Dublin area. Other institutes which have expressed interest in merging to achieve university status are CIT, who wish to merge with IT Tralee, and Waterford IT with Carlow IT. As well as this, Galway-Mayo

required to compete on the world stage with other similar institutions.” Glenn Fitzpatrick, President of DIT Students’ Union stated that the development will give students the opportunity to experience world class universities and still keep the ethos of the Institutes of Technology. “We look forward to engaging intensively with Government and the Institutes themselves to ensure that the new universities are of the highest possible quality,” he said during an interview following the announcement.

Archdiocese offers DIT UCD hosts funding to have ‘Catholic inaugural Student Legal place of worship’ Convention Conor Martin News Reporter

▣ DIT entrance | Credit: Flickr via Creative Commons

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THE COLLEGE VIEW 19.02.1 4

Elaine Carroll News Reporter THE DUBLIN ARCHDIOCESE has offered DIT €500,000 to ensure a ‘place of Catholic worship’ will be put into place on the new Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) Grangegorman site. This development was one of a number of controversial motions to arise at a recent heated meeting of DIT’s Student Council. DIT SU President Glenn Fitzpatrick pointed out the possible conflict a ‘place of Catho-

lic worship’ would bring to DIT when DIT SU openly supports equal marriage. Upon rejecting the offer, Fitzpatrick noted “there are already plenty of places to go to mass in Dublin.” It is expected that all of the DIT campuses will eventually merge and create a new university, based in Grangegorman. Should these plans come to fruition, it is expected that DIT will see a 24 per cent increase in student numbers over the next fifteen years. Another motion brought for-

ward at the meeting last week was the role of a Students’ Union Events Officer at onsite DIT events. Having reviewed the Events Officer’s position, Fitzpatrick said there has been less negative publicity about DIT since DIT SU took over events management. The council also discussed plans to open a new SU shop in DIT. Fitzpatrick is taking the lead in this to ensure these shops are not designed to commercially exploit DIT students.

GOVERNMENT MINISTERS, a Supreme Court Judge and the Data Protection Commissioner were amongst those to address the inaugural Student Legal Convention, held in UCD on Thursday last. Convention organiser Daniel Griffin, who is Chairperson of the university’s Student Legal Service, said the event was a “resounding success”. Held in the UCD Student Centre and Sutherland School of Law, the Convention attracted a “well-attended audience, including students from NUI Maynooth, TCD, QUB,

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We are seeing a great deal of change within law with many reforms being implemented and discussed.” Daniel Griffin

DCU and other institutions,” Griffin said. Sponsored by A&L Goodbody, it was opened with an address from Lord Mayor of Dublin, Oisín Quinn. In his address, senior High Court judge Mr Justice Brian McGovern informed those gathered of a “worrying trend” where people are trying to avert the execution of court orders by arriving to court in mobs. The legal service decided to organise the event as the university already hosts studentled events in other academic areas. “At the moment, we are seeing a great deal of change within law with many reforms being implemented and discussed. Our aim is to discuss these proposed reforms and topical issues with the country’s leaders and thereby have an influence on the legal system we will inherit,” Griffin said. It is now hoped to make the convention a recurring event and to expand for a more national focus. The UCD Student Legal Service is a student-run society that provides legal information to UCD students and additional training to their members at their twice weekly clinics.

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THE COLLEGE VIEW 19.02.1 4

If we want to build a society in which our language is realising its potential then we need to accept that we’re the ones who will create that society.” Rónán Ó Dálaigh

Rónán Ó Dálaigh is a Gnó agus Gaeilge student in DCU and is a student activist.

FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN’T know, and who cares, the Irish Language Commissioner announced his resignation in December. The Commissioner’s job is to monitor the implementation of Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003, the Official Languages Act. The act places a requirement on public bodies to provide certain services ‘as Gaeilge’ (in Irish). For example, if a public body gets an email or letter in Irish they have to reply to it in Irish. The Commissioner resigned because he believes the Government are failing in their duty to adhere to the act. He said that the Government have repeatedly

failed to implement measures to protect language rights. As a reaction to this resignation Conradh na Gaeilge and other groups organised a rally demanding that the Government do more. So here we go again, another debate about the future of the Irish language, another splurge of emotional energy, another outpouring of criticism toward the Government, another blow to the positive side of Irish, another confusion of what we should actually be focusing on. According to opinion polls most of you reading this have a positive attitude towards the Irish language. As do most people generally. We all know the mantra; language is good for culture, Irish is an opportunity to strengthen our identity, yada, yada. And we all know the solution; education needs to change, Peig Sayers, bla, bla, bla. We’ve been having this conversation for decades. And here we are again, in the

▣ An Dail | Credit: Flickr via creative commons

An bhfuil cead agam mo theanga a labhairt?

exact same place. The Government hasn’t done enough to protect the language and those who care enough are mobilised to do something. The bigger picture problems can be seen here. Firstly, a collective belief that the ‘Government’ is the biggest player in promoting Irish and secondly, the reliance on negativity to move forward. Of course the Government must act responsibly but we have to realise that the future of Irish, our future, is ours. At the moment our structure of Government isn’t good enough to realise our potential as a country. But even if it were doing a half-decent job with Irish, the real power to ef-

fect change is in our hands. Our language and its future belong to us. If we want to build a society in which our language is realising its potential then we need to accept that we’re the ones who will create that society. I won’t be forgiving the Government until they get their act together. It is essential that everyone who speaks the language is not only facilitated but supported, especially in the Gaeltachtaí. However, that shouldn’t be the focus of our energy. Going forward we need to be pro-active, not reactive. We need to spend our energy on realising our cultural potential once and for all; on building an inclusive,

cultural movement that is open to anyone who can be convinced of the value of Irish, not just people who already have the language; on realising a vision to achieve positive cultural and social results; on establishing practical initiatives that give people the opportunity to experience and learn the language; on celebrating culture, history and the benefits of multilingualism; and on the myriad of other rich, cultural activities in Ireland. The Irish language represents one the best opportunities to build a more inclusive, positive, confident and culturally rich society. But the onus is on us, civic society, to realise that potential.

Sticking it up to the student electorate on abortion Sean Cassidy is the outgoing Opinions Editor of The College View and is an activist within the DCU Students’ Union and DCU Societies.

FOLLOWING ON FROM THE national discourse that occurred before, during and after the passage of the ‘Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act (now Bill) 2013’, the issue of reproductive rights was debated on many college campuses across the country. Indeed our own students’ union, DCU SU helped lead the charge in holding a general student vote for the union to take a

position on the issue. Under provisions within the SU Constitution the vote was a multi-option ballot held under PRSTV. This gave scope for people to vote for positions such as a pro-life stance or pro-choice stance or pro x-case or anti x-case and a final option to take no stance. In the end the students of DCU SU adopted a fully pro-choice stance. It is an absolute right of a union and it should be seen as duty for a students’ union to take a stance on an issue that interests and or effects their members. However in a number of other unions who held ballots on the issue this right is being undermined. There has been a view forming from a number of pro-life voices that if their union takes a pro-choice position that they can no longer conscientiously continue as members and therefore would resign their membership of

the union. This is dangerous for a number of reasons. If students, before going into a ballot, argue that they will leave the union if the position they want is not adopted then it is an inherent threat to the electorates’ right to take a position on such issues. It is surprising that fate dcompli attitude has only arisen in recent years. Students’ Unions in Ireland have been active on the issue of abortion and reproductive rights since the introduction of the Eight Amendment to the Irish Constitution in 1983. I was told once by pro-choice advocate TD Clare Daly who is a former SU President of DCU that meetings could see upwards of a thousand students turn out to discuss and debate the issue. The only tangible difference that has occurred in recent years on the abortion issue is that national opinion has shifted from

one that is pro-life or moderate pro-life to one that is pro-choice or moderate pro-choice. Recently in UCD SU this issue was potentially on the birch of reaching the High Court when their Executive initially denied a student, Samuel O’ Connor, his constitutional right to disaffiliate from the union following UCD SU’s adoption of a ‘pro-choice’ position. Thankfully the UCD SU Executive saw sense and avoided a costly and pointless legal battle and allowed O’Connor and other fellow pro-life students to disaffiliate. However such an attitude to the democratic process has a debilitating effect. In any given vote whether it be a referendum or a simple vote at a meeting there is a principle of trust involved that the outcome of the vote will be respected by all parties involved. It’s an inherent principle that the judgement

of the electorate will be respected. The judgement of the electorate can be disagreed with but their authority to make that decision shouldn’t be. Those who take such a ‘scorched earth’ attitude towards student democracy should not be heeded. It is understandable that those within the pro-life movement would feel uneasy about the union adopting a position that they would have a conscientious exception towards. However, in a democratic structure if your stance on an issue is not adopted by the electorate then the onus is on you to spend time trying to convince the electorate otherwise and then test the issue at the ballot. One should not turn ones back on the electorate and give the effective ‘two fingers’ to them. It is unbecoming not only to the electorate but to civilised debate and the democratic spirit itself.

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THE COLLEGE VIEW 19.02.1 4

If Ireland seeks to reach its renewable energy targets then grid improvements are very important in ensuring reliable energy well into the future.

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OPINIONS@THECOLLEGEVIEW.COM

3.5 billion has been set aside for the Grid25 project.

Pylons: A rational reflection on EirGrid’s expansion Ian Moran is an International Business and Chinese student at DCU.

THE DEBATE CONCERNING the construction of the new EirGrid pylons seems to be leading nowhere and it is quickly becoming apparent that both sides are unable to reach some sort of compromise. The problem centres on the new extensions to the national grid which are needed primarily for our development of renewable wind energy. To better understand its utmost necessity we should look to the present situation in Germany. The Germans have highly developed wind power but the problem comes when integrating this with traditional energy sources as it’s harder to predict the levels of electricity you will generate at any particular time. It is equally difficult to manage the output from traditional power stations as with these you know how much electricity you’ll get but you can’t just shut them down instantly. If wind is particularly strong for an hour or two at any given time then the net result is an awful lot more electricity during this time, often too much electricity. Germany’s grid has therefore faced the prospects of overload and blackouts. If Ireland seeks to reach its renewable energy targets then grid improvements are very important in ensuring reliable energy well into the future. These extensions will also help in the

eventual export of energy to the UK, which again would help Ireland to manage its grid and electricity supply more effectively. The opposition has arisen around the proposed routes for national grid extensions as local residents in the affected areas have numerous complaints, mostly about suspected health risks; devaluating property prices; taking up space on farmable land; and how they could be detrimental to the scenic landscapes of the regions in question. Immediately this debate is one of the rights of the individual versus the right of the collective. Those in opposition use the slogan ‘bury the cable, not the people’ yet they ignore the fact that putting this line underground would result in a final expense multiples of the costs of the overhead cables. Therefore this would drastically push the total amount needed above the €3.5 billion already set aside for the Grid25 project which is to service the nation as a whole. What they are proposing is that the entire population should take on the burden of an enormous, unnecessary expense so that each one of them specifically will not have to live close to an overhead line. This is utterly ridiculous when one remembers that currently Ireland cannot even afford to put proper flood defences in place, not to mention our deteriorating health services, roads, and mass unemployment that all need urgent investment to remedy. The health risks associated with building these pylons are their most legitimate concerns, property devaluation being an-

other important issue, however the health of our nation’s citizens takes priority. At the time of writing, the European Commission has stated that they cannot find any directly related risks from exposure to high voltage overhead cables. They make it clear in their report, which is a collection of many other scientific writings, their references numbering several hundred. Putting all of this underground should be ruled out, it would be far too expensive and those in opposition to the grid expansion need to realise this. However

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Had basic communications been carried out by Eirgrid then much discontent could have been avoided.

EirGrid has also failed to respect the worries that people harbour, which their own reports into the proposed routes currently allude to. These reports seem very reasonable as first glance, it explains why we need this new link and goes into great detail showing us how they took urban areas into consideration, how they avoided national parks and areas of historical and cultural significance; all excellent stuff to hear. Two major questions remains unanswered though; in what way were the local people informed and involved in the planning process? The people were al-

OPiNiON

▣ Pylons | Credit: J-C-M via sxc.hu

lowed to voice their opinion in public meetings but this seems more like an afterthought to cover themselves rather than real engagement. Secondly, how far from peoples’ homes will these pylons be built? If I were living in the vicinity of these pylons then naturally I would like to know the answers to these questions. I could not find these answers easily but from a documented questions and answers session for a proposed route through Cavan, EirGrid quotes building restrictions saying that if one were to build a house within 25 meters of a pylon then they must be consulted when applying for planning permission. Does this mean that theoretically there is no minimum distance? Could those at EirGrid build a pylon right beside your house if they wanted to and if they were granted planning permission? It certainly seems that this is the case from the material that EirGrid have made available. EirGrid goes on to give the general public an assurance that they will aim for a distance of 50 meters but what does this assurance actually mean? Is it a binding assurance or just a mere guideline that can be ignored where convenient? At present it seems like the latter is more likely and they are just picking a vaguely acceptable distance at random to satisfy demands and at this stage it does little to defuse the tension involved. Both sides on this issue have flaws in their arguments but I believe that EirGrid could have avoided this. Instead of doing all this planning from an office with minimal public involvement

there should have been onsite consultation long before this debate erupted. They also should have set the minimum distances the pylons in question are to be built from peoples’ homes on their website at the time of announcement. What we have seen are not concrete answers, merely aiming to keep them 50 meters away does nothing to help reassure the people living along the proposed route. EirGrid should have also set fixed rates of compensation and made them visible along with these other assurances on their website. Had these basic communications been carried out then much of this discontent could have been avoided. However those opposing the EirGrid plan seem misguided due to the lack of any effective leadership or direction. They are ill-informed on matters of health risks and are potentially easy prey for a populist politician to stand in and play the role of their knight in shining armour. Their idea to have these cables fully undergrounded will almost certainly not become a reality and perhaps this allows us to put all of this debate into a finer perspective. Should we not be more concerned about EirGrid’s engagement with the people instead? There will always be people opposed to plans like this, and I am sure that objections would be voiced towards these plans no matter how well EirGrid managed it, but as time moves on it seems a lot of this furore could have been avoided if the company had spoken with the people and made information clear and accessible before all of this exploded like it has.

Gaeilge

THE COLLEGE VIEW 19.02.1 4

Is bliain mhór í seo dóibh siúd atá trom ar an tobac, agus don toitín leictreonach, nó an “toitín-L”.

“Toitíní-L” agus ag

B R

Caitheamh an Tobac Uait

L o s a b f m a É n g a n f a a g s a

Gráinne Ní Aodha Leas-eagarthóir Gaelach

C n a a c a i

M E

dtosaíonn daoine ag caitheamh, go gcruthaíonn sé nasc le daoine eile é, nó gur thosaíadar mar gheall gur thosaigh a chailín nó a buachaill é. Tá sé seo fíreannach ach go háirithe le déagóirí. Ar chóir toitíní leictreonacha a chuir ar fáil do dhéagóirí? Chun laghdú a dhéanamh ar líon na ndaoine óga atá gafa le toitíní tobac agus chun deis a thabhairt leo a saolré a leathnú? Nó an spreagfadh díolachán na dtoitíní leictreonacha seo glúin nua de chaiteoirí leictreonacha? Deacair le creidiúint go dtosódh duine ar bith ag caitheamh toitín leictreonach gan ceann tobac a chaitheamh ariamh, ach níl mórán faoin domhan seo de thoitíní is deatach atá rí-shoiléir dúinn.

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Is éard atá i gceist le toitíní leictreonach, i dtús báire, ná toitíní plaisteacha le nicitín iontu, agus é tuaslagtha in uisce in ionad tarra agus déocsaíd charbóin.

▣ Credit: Annemarie Kelly

TÁIMID FAOI LÁNSEOIL SAN athbhliain seo, agus go dtí seo tá stoirmeacha, trialacha agus Cluichí Oilimpeacha an Gheimhridh feicthe againn. Le gach bliain úir tagann athruithe agus iontaisí, mar sin, cad atá i ndán dúinn i 2014? Díolachán toitíní ag meath. Ní cleas ná scéal grinn í seo – is bliain mhór í seo dóibh siúd atá trom ar an tobac, agus don toitín leictreonach, nó an “toitín-L” (seo m’aistriúchán féin, nach soiléir an rud é). Is é seo an bhliain a mbeas na cinntí móra déanta; an mbeidh na toitíní seo ar fáil do dhéagóirí, an mbeidh cead ag daoine iad a chaitheamh taobh istigh d’fhoirgnimh phoiblí, agus an bhfuil aon dáinséirí sláinte ag baint leis na toitíní-L seo, agus an féidir na comhlachtaí thobac a thrust má deirtear linn nach bhfuil? Is í seo an búirt is mó ag rialtais is tamhltóirí araon, mar níl na freagraí ag aon duine – an bhfuil an t-eolas faoina toitíní leictreonacha seo chomh teoranta sin, nach bhfuil na galair agus tinneas ar eolas againn go fóil? Nó an é go bhfuil dáinséirí a bhaineann leis na toitíní leictreonacha ar eolas acu cheana, agus nach roinnfidh siad an teolas sin leis an phobal? Is éard atá i gceist le toitíní leictreonach, i dtús báire, ná toitíní plaisteacha le nicitín iontu, agus é tuaslagtha in uisce in ionad tarra agus dé-ocsaíd charbóin. Tá téitheoir lonnaithe laistigh den toitín, agus téann sé an t-uisce go dtí go mbíonn sé ina ghal, agus súann an caiteoir tobac an ghal isteach. Is ar an tslí seo go bhfaigheann an caiteoir tobac an nicitín gan na nithe dochrach a iontógáil. Is mór an méid daoine atá gafa leis na toitíní agus is ard líon na ndaoine atá ag iarraidh éirí astu. Nach dochreidte é líon na ndaoine óga atá ag caitheamh tobac agus iad eolach ar na ndáinséirí agus na gcostais a mbaineann leo. Trí dhaoine óga a cheistiú arís is arís, tá an tuairim scroichte agam gur buntáiste shóisialta é an t-aon fháth go

Mar shampla, ar chóir ligeant do chaiteoir leictreonach, bheith ag caitheamh taobh isitgh? Sa phictiúrlann mar shampla? Nó i dtithe tárbhairne? Nó i hallaí choláiste? Tá DIT tar éis chosc a chuir ar dhaltaí toitíní leictreonacha a chaitheamh ar champas mar go gcuireann sé mearbhuel ar na húdaráis agus iad ag iarraidh cosc a chuir le caitheamh tobac. Deir daoine eile má ceadaíodh caitheamh leictreonach sa phictiúrlann go millfeadh sé sin an radharc don chuid eile de lucht féachanna na hamharclanna leis an deatach a n-ardódh ó bhéal an caiteoir. Mise, is dóigh liom gur chóir tacú le daoine a ndéanann iarracht ar bith éirí as na dtoitíní.

Gluaiseanna

toitín leictreonach= electronic cigarette dé-ocsaíd charbóin= carbon dioxide gafa leis na toitíní= addicted to cigarettes

A t l C c s i i c a o c n b r

a a p ó s b B m g g

▣ Credit: Annemarie Kelly

Bhris foireann sealaíochta na mbuachaillí de chuid Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath an churiarracht sa rás sealaíochta 4x200m.

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THE COLLEGE VIEW 19.02.1 4 GAELIGE@THECOLLEGEVIEW.COM

Tá méadú ag teacht ar an méid daoine a bhfuil an cinneadh déanta cheana acu leanúint ar aghaidh chun máistereacht a dhéanamh.

Gaeilge

Cad atá i ndán dúinn tar éis saol na hollscoile? Bláithín Ní Nuadháin Rannpháirtí LE DEIREADH NA BLIANA ollscoile ag druidim linn, is é seo an cheist is tábhachtaí atá ar intinn na mílte mac léinn sa bhliain dheireanach anois. Dom féin, is é seo an cheist is deacra mar gheall nach bhfuil mé in ann freagair cinnte a chur leis. É sin ráite, níl mé i m’aonar leis na deacrachtaí seo. Is minic go gcloisim mo chairde san ollscoil ag labhairt faoin ábhar seo,uair nó dhó sa tseachtain fiú. Ach faoi láthair, tá na mílte fós dírthe ar an méid oibre a bheidh le déanamh acu sula n-éiríonn leo a gcéim a bhaint amach agus níl siad ag iarraidh smaoineamh ar an ábhar seo fós. Cén rogha a phiocfaidh siad? Chun leanúint ar aghaidh lena n-oideachas agus iarchéim a dhéanamh? Bliain a thógáil amach ón ollscoil? Nó a dhícheall a dhéanamh dul amach agus post a fháil san earnáil ina bhfuil a gcuid cáilíochtaí

bainte amach acu? Leis an gcúlú eacnamaíochta fós orainn, an rogha is easca dúinn le déanamh ná bliain a thógáil amach, sos a thógáil agus airgead a thuilleamh. Ach do ghrúpa beag, tá sé i bhfad níos fearr dóibh leanúint ar aghaidh lena gcuid oideachais. Thaistil mé go hOllscoil na hÉ-

ireann Maigh Nuad chun breis eolais agus tuilleadh taighde a dhéanamh ar an ábhar seo. Bhuail mé le hIan Mac Gabhann, Uachtarán Cullacht na Gaeilge Maigh Nuad, mac léinn sa chúrsa Ghaeilge agus na Meáin Chumarsáide, atá sa bhliain dheireanach anois. Chuir mé ceist air

▣ College graduate students | Credit: Wikimedia Commons

céard a bheidh i ndán don chéad bhliain eile agus céard a phiocfaidh sé do féin? Iarchéim, bliain a thógáil amach nó post a fháil? “Ceapaim go mbraitheann sé ar an duine. Ach domsa ar aon nós, beidh sé a fhad níos fearr leanúint ar aghaidh le mo chuid oideachasis, agus máistreacht a

dhéanamh sa chumarsáid thíos san Acadamh, páirt den Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh. Tá faitíos orm go n-éirínn ró-leisciúil agus ní bheidh mé ag iarraidh tuilleadh staidéar a dhéanamh”. Ansin, labhair mé le Megan Ní Dhonnchú, mac léinn sa chúrsa Nua Ghaeilge agus Tíreolaíochta, agus tá sise istigh ina bliain dheireanach chomh maith. “Is doigh liom go mbraitheann sé ar cén sórt duine thú, ach dom féin, níl a fhios agam céard a bheidh mé ag déanamh fós. Is dócha go mbeidh mé ag dul ar aghaidh agus ag déanamh iarchéim, in ionad bliain a thógáil amach”. Is léir go bhfuil méadú ag teacht ar an méid a bhfuil an cinneadh déanta cheana acu leanúint ar aghaidh chun máistereacht nó a leithéid a dhéanamh, ach tá mic léinn i ngach cúinne den tír fós ann nach bhfuil clú acu cad a bheidh ar siúl acu i gceann sé mhí. Mar sin, an chéad uair eile a chuirfidh duine an cheist seo ort, céard a bheidh mar freagair agat dóibh?

An bua ag DCU Dragons sa lúthchleasaíocht faoi dhíon Máire Áine Ní Shúilleabháin Eagarthóir Gaelach AR AOINE AN 7Ú FEABHRA, thaisteal foireann lúthchleasaíochta de chuid Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath chuig an A.I.T, agus iad ag dul san iomaíocht sa chomórtas idir-choláistí de chuid na hÉireann faoi dhíon. Is ceann de chomórtais móra na bliana é ar an bhféilire lúthchleasaíochta ollscoile. Tá raon faoi dhíon don chéad scoth in Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Baile Átha Luain, a bhí oscailte don chéad uair anuraidh. Bhí go leor rásaí corraitheach ar an lá, le go leor lúthchleasaithe ag briseadh a sár iarrachtaí pearsanta féin, agus ag bua bonn óir, airgid agus cré-umha ar son an choláiste. Ar an iomlán, bhí an bua ag Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath ar thaobh na mbuachaillí agus ar thaobh na gcailíní araon. I gcomórtas na gcailíní, bhí Coláiste Ollscoile

Corcaigh san dara háit, agus bhí an dara háit ag an gColáiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath, ar thaobh na mbuachaillí. Ar an lá, idir na choláistí uile, briseadh dhá churiarracht choláiste dhéag, le lúthchleasaithe de chuid Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath ag fáil méid suntasach dóibh. Bhí an bua ag foireann sealaíochta na gcailíní san 4x200m, le Catherine Mc Manus, Sarah Murray, Katie Brennan agus Sarah Mc Carthy. Bhris foireann sealaíochta na mbuachaillí de chuid Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath an churiarracht sa rás sealaíochta 4x200m. Ba é Mark Kavanagh, Timmy Crowe, Dara Kervick agus Eoin Mulhall an ceathrar a bhris an churiarracht de 90 soicind, nuair a fuaireadar am de 88.2 soicind eatarthu. Rás thar a bheith corraitheach a bhí ann, agus d’oibrigh an ceathrar go hiontach lena chéile. Deir ball den fhoireann sin, Timmy Crowe, go ndearna siad plé ar an mbealach ina raibh siad chun an bata a aistriú ó dhuine go duine, agus bheartaigh siad ‘meascáin de

theicnic a úsáid, le malgamúchán de theicnic aistriúcháin ó rás 4x100m agus 4x400m.’ Ina rás féin 400m, a bhí mar ‘rás an lá’, d’éirigh le Crowe sáriarrachat phearsanta de leath

▣ Timmy Crowe | Credit: Laoise Moggan

shoicind a fháil, ag rith 47.57 soicind, chun an bonn airgid a bhuacaint. Fuair Thomas Barr ó Ollscoil Luimnigh an bua, ag rith 46.97 soicind, am a bhfuil an-

Céard a bheidh i ndán dúinn tar éis saol na hollscoile?

Gluaiseanna

iarchéim=post-graduate degree earnáil=sector cúlú eacnamaíochta= recession

ghar don chaighdeán domhanda faoi dhíon (46.8). Tá Crowe anois dírithe ar an gcaighdeán a fháil don chraobh dhomhanda faoi dhíon a bheidh ar siúl sa Pholainn i mí Mhárta. Mac léinn eile de chuid Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath a mbeidh san iomaíocht sa Pholainn ná David McCarthy. Tá an caighdeán bainte amach aige don rás 1500m agus don rás 3000m. Ar an Aoine i mBaile Átha Luain, d’éirigh leis an tríú háit a bhaint amach i rás 800m a raibh thar a bheith oirbheartaíoch. Bhuaigh an rás seo rás meánachair an lá. Bhí an bua ag Niall Tuohy ó Luimneach an rás ó Karl Griffin de chuid UCD. San deacatlan bhí áiteanna aon, dó agus trí ag Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, le Kourosh Foroughi, Michael Bowler agus Shane Aston. Bhris Foroughi an curiarracht idircholáistí sa chomórtas seo, le scór deireanach de 3,691 pointí. Bhí na háiteanna a haon agus dó ag Foroughi agus Bowler sa léim ard freisin. Bhí dhá churiarrachtaí idircholáistí le haghaidh Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath ar

thaobh na gcailíní. San léim ard, fuair Caitríona Farrell an bua le léim de 1.81 méadar, agus an dara háit ag Emily Rodgers de chuid Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath freisin. Sa léim fada, bhí curiarracht ag Sarah Mc Carthy, le léim de 5.83 méadar. Bhí an dara háit ag Lorraine O’Shea sa comórtas céanna. Bhí an bonn óir agus airgid ag Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath sa 400m le Shauna Cannon agus Gráinne Moynihan agus sa 800m, le Mary Ann O’Sullivan agus Bróna Furlong. Bhí an bua ag Sarah Buggy sa preab, coiscéim agus léim, agus bhí an bua ag Steven Colvert sa 60m, agus sár iarracht phearsanta á fáil aige sa phróiseas. Ar an iomlán, lá thar a bheith rathúil a bhí ann le haghaidh Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath agus iad ag teacht abhaile le bua ar thaobh na buachaillí agus na gcailíní. Tá sé spreagúil freisin go d’éirigh thar cinn leis na lúthchleasaithe sa chéad bhliain, is comhartha maith é don choláiste do na comórtais sna blianta atá amach romhainn.

An bua ag DCU Dragons sa lúthchleasaíocht faoi dhíon lúthchleasaíocht faoi dhíon= indoor athletics foireann sealaíochta = relay squad comórtas idir-choláistí= inter-varsity competition

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THE COLLEGE VIEW 19.02.1 4

Broccoli is jampacked with vitamin K which promotes cognitive function.

James Creagh Contributor

THE TRUE BEAUTY OF RUNning is that unlike costly gym subscriptions and pay as you go fitness classes, it is essentially free exercise. As long as you are prepared to brave the atrocious Irish weather, you can go for a run whenever you wish. Best of all, no matter what your current level of fitness is, you can start straight away (though if you suffer from any medical condition, it is best to visit your GP before starting a new training plan). The running programme that gets the most positive reviews is the ‘Couch to 5k’. This programme aims to have complete beginners running 5km routes within nine weeks. Users start off with a mixture of walking and jogging to ease into things, which is important as when a lot of people start to exercise they tend to overdo it which leads to injury. The plan progresses steadily and by week nine, a 5km becomes a doddle. For further information and podcast downloads see the NHS official webpage for Couch to 5k. For those who wish to receive podcasts in different languages check out C25k.com. To keep things interesting while you’re out running, there is an abundance of amusing smartphone applications available. If getting chased by the undead floats your boat, the ‘Zombies, Run!’ app is for you. More information at zombiesrungame.com. Perhaps the best known running app, MapMyRun allows the GPS of your mobile to track your runs, workouts, distances

covered and the routes you take. You can also store all your fitness data so you can check on how much progress you are making. More information at mapmyrun. com. If you are going to start running, make sure you have a comfortable pair of runners. I know that may sound very basic, but you would be surprised at the amount of people who suffer from ailments ranging from blisters and ingrown toenails to ligament damage all as a result of illfitting footwear. After splashing out on decent runners you might as well go full belt and get proper tops, socks and shorts to go with it. If possible try to use technical fabric as it is good for facilitating moisture to rise and evaporate. Last but not least, try getting your friends in on it as well. That way you will have people to run with. If all else fails, when you have mastered the Couch to 5K, consider joining a local running club if you wish to step things up a gear or two. If you’ve found your running rhythm and want to try something more challenging, here’s a list of runs taking place in Dublin in the coming weeks. • Skerries Charity Run Club 5k 2014: Takes place on 22/02/2014 and starts at 10:00. • BHAA/Dublin Airport 5 Mile XC: Takes place on 01/02/2014 and starts at 12:00. • Balbriggan Cancer Support Group ½ Marathon / 10K Run/ Walk: Takes place on 17/03/2014 and starts at 09:00. For further information on these and other marathons taking place around the country, check out runireland.com.

TURNiNG OVeR a NeW leaF

▣ Credit: johnnyberg via sxc.hu

On your marks, get set... run!

If you are going to start running, make sure you have a comfortable pair of runners to avoid blisters, ingrown toenails or ligament damage.

Recipe:

Three Ingredient Gluten Free Pancakes The following recipe is cheap, easy, and will boost brain functioning for the upcoming busy semester: Sharon McGowan Contributor IT MIGHT ONLY BE THE start of the semester but it is never too early to start fresh and make changes for the better. Weeks of study and exams can be mentally exhausting, so here are a few simple additions to your diet to get your head fighting fit again. Oily ﬁsh: Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are great natural sources of omega 3 fats or essential fatty acids. These fats are key in maintaining both a healthy body and mind and in aiding healthy brain function. It also helps to decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. As fresh fish can sometimes be expensive, the tinned versions are cheap and equally nutritious. Fruit and veg: It might seem like an obvi-

ous suggestion to make, but certain types are particularly good for your brain’s health. For example, broccoli is jampacked with vitamin K which promotes cognitive function and research has suggested that blueberries can improve short term memory loss. Whole grains: Like any other part of the body, your brain needs energy to function. Wholegrain foods provide the body with slow release energy meaning the body has a steady supply throughout the day, key to helping maintain concentration. Try swapping your usual white bread and pasta for the healthier brown versions to make a small but significant change to your diet. Water: How do you expect to think straight if you are dehydrated? Try to drink at least 2 litres a day for general well being as well as for healthy brain function.

Ingredients (serves 1): 1,5 large ripe to overripe bananas (don’t use too much banana or the pancake won’t hold) 2 eggs 1/8 teaspoon baking powder Maple syrup, butter, blueberries, to serve (optional) Method: 1. Whisk the eggs in a bowl. 2. Mash the bananas in a separate bowl with a fork. Make sure not to mash them too much or they won’t be light and fluffy when cooked. 3. Stir in the eggs and baking powder and mix well. 4. Cook on a pan on a medium to low heat for a couple of minutes, flip when the baking powder kicks in and the pancakes start to rise. 5. Serve and enjoy!

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“While the media’s reaction to such a spectacular form of alcohol abuse is to be expected, it in many ways ignores the extent and seriousness of alcohol abuse in general in our society.” Dr. Michael J Loftus

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Neknominations: THE COLLEGE VIEW

One too many? Suzanne Cooper Contributor

YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD OF the latest craze sweeping the internet. Neknominations received so much media coverage over the past few weeks it has been hard to miss them. But how are the media covering it, and are they informed enough to report on it accurately? Our country doesn’t have a good reputation of being cluedin when it comes to modern technology and social media. In the past, politicians such as Fidelma Healy Eames have shown a complete lack of understanding of social media, by stating: “Take for example the form of fraping – where you’re raped in Facebook, where a youngster has their status open and another person puts a message on there as if they wrote it.” This statement went viral online, not only for the odd description of fraping, but also for the incorrect use of the word status instead of profile. Is the media reaction to neknominations as outdated as this Facebook reaction? On a recent Prime Time programme, Miriam O’Callaghan hosted a debate on the trend of neknominations. During the debate Minister of State at the De-

partment of the Environment, Jan O’Sullivan urged Facebook “to take the page down”. When O’Callaghan responded with “the problem with something like this, with neknominations on Facebook, is it’s everywhere. So how do Facebook take it down in a sense because you’ve got to take down so many conversations?”, the Minister’s unrealistic response was a display of lack of understanding of social media by the government. She responded: “They are the technically able people, they are the people ultimately responsible for Facebook….so I don’t see why it can’t be done.” Comments made by Mr Justice Paul Carney last week also gained significant media coverage. The High Court judge stated if drinking games such as neknominations continued, there would be a “tsunami” of rape and murder trials. He made this statement following the sentencing of a man who raped an acquaintance after consuming six or seven pints under normal circumstances. A worrying comment due to the fact that some officials seems to be linking these crimes to drinking games. Media reaction in general has been negative towards neknominations. The reaction on social media to some of the neknomination antics went as far

as threats. Rachel Carey from Newry, dropped a goldfish into her pint and necked it. When the video was uploaded to Facebook the backlash was intense, with Carey being sent abusive messages and rumoured death threats from animal lovers and people outraged by what she’d

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If neknominations are removed from Facebook, they will continue to thrive on other social media sites.

done. Following the abuse, Carey posted a number of statuses apologising for her actions, ending with: “It was stupid I get it but all those who (are) bullying, sending death threats and everything else, I get it. Feeling depressed.” She then removed the video and changed the name of her Facebook page. When the first reported deaths relating to neknominations surfaced, the media was appalled. A 22-year-old DJ was found in

Dublin, his death believed to be related to drinking games, while a 19-year-old Carlow man drowned after jumping into a river following a neknomination. An emotional message by the Carlow man’s brother was reported by many media sources, no doubt to try and make all young people aware of the dangerous nature of neknominations. “This neck nomination [thing] has to stop right now. My young 19-year-old brother died tonight in the middle of his nomination. He thought he had to try and beat the competition and after he downed his pint he jumped into the river. If people have any decency and respect they will refrain from any of this stupid neck nomination [thing].” There has been a huge back lash to Facebook’s decision not to intervene with the neknominations. According to them, neknominations don’t violate any of the sites rules. This has led to Facebook receiving a lot of negative media coverage, with the media pressuring them to control this new craze. Yet going back to the Prime Time debate, it was concluded that Facebook is not the problem. If neknominations are removed from Facebook, they will continue to thrive on other social media sites. Prime Time concluded what needs to change is the nation’s attitude to

▣ Credit: Annemarie Kelly

alcohol. It was a letter by DR Michael J Loftus published in the Irish Times that really brought the Neknomination coverage to the forefront. The media reaction to neknominations, in his opinion, focuses on the wrong thing. “While the media’s reaction to such a spectacular form of alcohol abuse is to be expected, it in many ways ignores the extent and seriousness of alcohol abuse in general in our society. The current ‘shock-horror’ response to the neknomination is a distraction from the widespread alcohol abuse that lies at the root of so much domestic and street violence, road accidents, sexual aggression towards young women, family breakdown and physical and mental illness.” All of this negative media reaction has led to proposed new legislation to tackle cheap alcohol sales. The proposals have been made by Junior Health Minister Alex White, who hopes the new laws will be in place later this year. He said: “We are forging ahead with the Public Health Alcohol Bill. Probably the single most important aspect of it is the minimum pricing. It would be relevant for recent issues and recent events because people can buy alcohol very cheaply.”

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THE COLLEGE VIEW 19.02.1 4

Digital forensics experts have discovered Snapchat photos hidden in invisible formats within phones. The extraction can take up to six hours.

FYI: Snapchat Janine Kavanagh Contributor THEY’VE CHANGED THEIR name, flipped off Facebook, and gathered a heap of funding, but can the creators of Snapchat fend off the accusations and rumours that their app works as it’s supposed to? Here are a few things you should know. Snapchat, formerly known as Picaboo, is yet another photo sharing application, which would make it sufficiently boring and only moderately popular if not for an ingenious twist. The pictures you share with your friends are deleted after a maximum of ten seconds. Or are they? Digital forensics examiner Richard Hickman and his team at

Decipher Forensics investigated the claim and discovered a way to extract the ‘deleted’ pictures. Apparently, the application does not get rid of the photographs but merely hides them from the phone by saving it with the file extension NOMEDIA. This makes it invisible to most people, but all the forensic experts have to do is take the photos out of the phone and change the extension so they can be seen again. It does take up to six hours, but if you think about whether there’s a huge difference between gone forever and seen again in a few hours, Snapchat have over-exaggerated their unique twist. iPhone owners need not worry yet though, apparently Hickman and his team only discovered how to uncover photos on the

Android app so Apple users are okay for now. Of course that only concerns

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January’s hacking scandal leaked 4.6 million Snapchat user’s information online.

your photos being leaked. When it comes to your iPhone being overloaded with snaps from hackers and subsequently crashing, you are equally susceptible. According to cyber-security con-

How does the popular photo sharing app really work?

sultant, Jaime Sanchez, there is a security flaw in smartphones and iPhones that allows hackers to rapidly send thousands of snaps to phones and crash them. Sanchez proved this theory and made viral news after showing a Los Angeles Times reporter what happens when this hack occurs. It’s also worth mentioning the hacking scandal from January that leaked 4.6 million Snapchat user’s information on the Internet. ( If you want to check if your information was leaked, you can go online and enter your username at lookup.gibsonsec.org.) Similarly, there is now an app

you can download that allows you to save snapchats. SnapHack, which is available to buy on app stores, allows you to sign in and open snaps from your snapchat account on their interface, which automatically saves them. This app is not officially associated with Snapchat. With all of these scandals, it’s obvious that Snapchat isn’t as secure as it claims to be and if you look at the responses they’ve had to the issues they’re facing, it seems they thoroughly believe the cliché that ignorance is bliss: “We believe we have addressed the issue as early as Friday, and we continue to make significant progress in our efforts to secure Snapchat,” a Snapchat Representative said last week. Sure you have, SnapChat, sure you have.

Vitali Klitschko: Ukraine’s new President? A CHAMPION IN ANY PARticular field of sport must master many components. Adaptation is one of the essentials and Vitali Klitschko has certainly proven that he can adapt in the boxing ring. The Ukrainian world champion boasts an impressive record of 45 wins out of 47 professional fights, with 41 of these being knockouts. Klitschko’s more recent endeavours may be the true test of his adaptation, as he runs for President in Ukraine. The former heavyweight boxer, and leader of the Ukranian Democratic Alliance for Reform opposition party, has become the de-facto leader of the people during the recent period of instability in Ukraine. Street protests have become the norm over the last couple of months, with Ukrainian President Yanukovych facing uproar after deciding against closer ties with the European Union. The state of anarchy has had drastic consequences, such as the recent deaths of five protestors in Kiev. In his campaign for the presidency, Klitschko’s main tactic has been to issue demands from the government while also ensuring minimum mayhem from demonstrators. He has warned his supporters of the possibility

of a violent crackdown in the event of such mayhem, but has also taken a tough line with the government. Calls for Yanukovych to resign, demands for the release of political prisoners, as well as the prosecution of government forces who use violence against peaceful demonstrators are evidence of the strong political stance which Kilitschko is willing to take in the fight for democracy in Ukraine. Understanding Klitschko’s roots may paint a clearer picture

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▣ Vitali Klitschko | Credit: Vuxicon Media Emp via Flikr creative commons

Brian Cunningham Contributor

On the one hand, he has supported the demonstrations demanding that President Yankuovych step down, and on the other he has consistently insisted that there is nothing more important than establishing the rule of law in Ukraine.

of his ideology. Aged 42, Klitschko is old enough to remember the dying days of the Soviet Union, while also still young enough to pamper the potential freedoms

and excesses of the west, making him a representative of a specific generation of Ukrainians. The popularity which he has attracted in his homeland is evident statis-

tically as he is head to head with Yanukovych in the polls. Furthermore, Klitschko’s 2004 victory over Danny Williams in the ring was broadcast by video in Independence Square, Kiev during the Orange Revolution, another time of political turmoil in Ukraine. Klitschko’s popularity in his homeland cannot be doubted, and may help him in his aim to restore the Ukranian nation and move closer to the EU. Question marks remain though. The potential that he may share a stage with hard core Ukrainian nationalistic and anti-semitic figures is something which has drawn attention. Furthermore, there has been some level of confusion regarding Klitschko’s exact aims. As The Executive vice president of the Atlantic council Damon Wilson states: “On the one hand, he has supported the demonstrations demanding that President Yankuovych step down, and on the other he has consistently insisted that there is nothing more important than establishing the rule of law in Ukraine.” The ambiguous nature of Klitschko’s approach could eventually be his downfall. Just as Klitschko had to work out his strategy for success in his boxing career, he may need to re-assess his strategy for his biggest political fight yet.

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The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. Olympic Charter

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The state of play in Sochi Rachel McLaughlin Contributor

THREE DAYS BEFORE THE opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympic games, journalists arrived to the last-minute preparatory scrambles of an unfinished city. Russian president Vladimir Putin fought tooth and nail to secure the honour of hosting the Winter Olympics in the seaside city of Sochi. This was Russia’s chance to be showcased in a positive light, and to promote their hosting capabilities ahead of the 2018 football World Cup. Sochi had seven years notice and ended up investing $51bn (€37bn) in the games. Yet there are there so many errors that the city was globally ridiculed within hours of its first visitors arriving. The @SochiProblems Twitter account and accompanying hashtags amused outsiders with embarrassing revelations. Neon-yellow tap water in one journalist’s hotel came with a safety warning that it “contains something very dangerous” and should not be used on the face. Another photo from the Olympic village showed a haphazardly-placed lone palm tree. Such images raised awareness of Sochi’s climate, where snow is not always in abundance. Fake snow had to be produced for the games, draining water supplies from nearby villages. As the games got underway, US athlete Johnny Quinn even had to break his way through a faulty hotel bathroom door. Despite these cracks, the barriers of Russia’s gay rights laws are still holding strong. Though Twitpics showed men spray painting Sochi’s grass green just days before the opening Olympic ceremony, games organisers couldn’t mask Russia’s human rights issues. No amount of condemnation could change the law that Putin signed in last June, banning the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” (namely LGBT) to minors, in effect banning gay pride rallies. Putin had also warned visitors that they would not be arrested if they “leave children in peace”, or else fines could be imposed. In response to the law, clothing company American Apparel

launched the defiant P6 clothing line. This cited the sixth principle of the Olympic charter: “Sport does not discriminate on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise”. Meanwhile, a Google doodle on the first day of the games addressed the gay rights law with a rainbow-coloured graphic and an accompanying quote from the Olympic Charter. Gay athletes had worried about how they would be treated during their stay in Sochi; a town in which the mayor claims are no homosexuals. An underground scene of gay bars uncovered by journalists undermines this statement. Controversy also surrounds the distribution of building contract tenders for Sochi. Putin’s former judo buddy received contracts worth around 10 per cent of Sochi’s investment pool. Many athletes have posed for a number of phot o s w i t h various unintentionally entertaining Olympic structures, like Norwegian Speedskater Håvard Bøkko and the Olympic torch. However, the Fisht stadium in the background was no laughing matter four months ago, as controversy surrounded the delayed construction. The construction sector at ground level has received sharp criticism over their labour practices. A Human Rights Watch report showed that 16,000 migrant workers were drafted in to provide cheap labour. Some of them said that they lived in overcrowded accommodation and received inadequate meals. Complaints

were met with deportation, and no pay at all. These are the most expensive Olympic games ever. (Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Games preparation budget was estimated at $7-9bn.) So it’s hard to see where Sochi’s money went when there are pictures of wooden planks resting precariously across open manholes in the street. Credit rating agency Moody’s say that Russia are not likely to get any macroeconomic boost from the Olympics. Despite significant investment, the upkeep of Sochi’s large-scale facilities will weigh upon resources. The fifth Olympic ring may have been too afraid to come out at the opening ceremony, but Russia’s issues are becoming visible through the cracks.

▣ Credit: Johnny Quinn

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We believe it is an inherent human right for people who are in love to have the legality of true marriage.” Declan Faulkner, DCU LGBTA society

Pantigate and same sex marriage Sarah McCormack Contributor

TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has called for a calm and compassionate debate regarding the gay marriage referendum. The Taoiseach has also shown strong support for the cabinet decision on the referendum. Discussion of the referendum has re-opened as a result of drag queen Rory O’Neill’s (also known as Panti Bliss) appearance on The Saturday Night Show on January 11th. While be-

The proposed referendum will allow same-sex couples the right to full marriage as opposed to current civil partnership.

ing interviewed by host Brendan O’Connor, O’Neill alleged that some involved in Irish journalism and media where homophobic. RTÉ was threatened with legal action by those mentioned and the clip was removed from the video on the RTÉ Player.

Two weeks later O’Connor apologised to those O’Neill mentioned on the show on behalf of RTÉ. It then emerged RTÉ paid out €40,000 to journalist John Waters and €45,000 to members of the Iona Institute. O’Neill is now seeking an apology from RTÉ for the statement O’Connor read out on The Saturday Night Show. The night of the on-air apology, O’Neill took to the stage and made a rousing speech at the Abbey Theatre about his feelings of oppression and to recount his feelings of the incident. The video, which you can see here, has over half a million views on YouTube and quickly spread after it was shared on Twitter by celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Graham Norton. Even Madonna sent a supportive email to O’Neill after hearing it. Declan Faulkner, Chairperson of DCU LGBTA society said it was a vital event “for shedding light on the hatred still widely perpetrated by people within Ireland. Despite legal leaps being made in terms of civil partnership and soon marriage equality there exists a backwards stubborn sentiment to Irish society that is homophobic.” The referendum on gay marriage is expected to be held by the summer of 2015 and will include other possible constitutional changes, such as the reduction of the voting age to 16. The proposed referendum will allow same-sex couples the right

There are 145 clinical trials in spinal cord injury. Wings for Life hopes to raise big proceeds to fund the scientific research.

The race to cure spinal damage ▣ DCU LGBTA | Credit: Ethan Browne

to full marriage as opposed to current civil partnership. It will also recognise same-sex marriages which occurred outside the country before its introduction, such as those held in the UK. Sean Rooney, Secretary of DCU Labour said his party have been speaking with Tanáiste Eamon Gilmore throughout the office of the current government “to ensure that marriage equality is achieved in the lifetime of the government”. Gilmore said it would be important to make sure the referendum passed, with preparation beforehand necessary. Rooney said he personally felt that the Pantigate scandal has been “a distraction from the real debate, which needs to be about full rights for same-sex couples”. Faulkner explained how the LGBTA society is highly supportive of this upcoming referendum as “we believe it is an inherent human right for people who are in love to have the legality of true marriage.” Dr Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop of Dublin, added his voice to the debate recently saying some in the Catholic Church may be homophobic but the church must be careful not to use its teaching in this way in the upcoming debates. He said people must be able to freely express their views on issues like this while remaining respectful to avoid offence and added how it is up to the person offended to define what offence is.

Aura McMenamin Contributor

FOR MANY PEOPLE, BEING blind and paralysed is not the definition of an athlete. “From the moment I hit the ground I joined what is a global community of people who don’t have any hope of recovery.” Becoming fully blind at 22 did not stop Mark Pollock from breaking world records. In 2009, Mark became the first blind man to reach the South Pole. He has always been involved with sports, including rowing in 2002 Commonwealth games and running six marathon in a week across the Gobi Desert. However in 2010, the Co. Down native suffered another blow when a fall from a second story window left him paraplegic. Pollock now serves as an ambassador for Wings for Life, a Redbull-sponsored marathon which aims to donate 100 per cent of its proceeds to spinal cord injury research. But this isn’t your run-of-themill marathon. Wings for Life will span 35 countries across six continents and the Ring of Kerry has been chosen as a location. Every single race will begin at 10:00 GMT, meaning that every race will be equally paced. There is also no finish line. “For us it’s a little more quirkier. We have a start but we also have this catcher car which starts 30 minutes after the runners do,” International Director Colin Jackson said, speaking alongside Pollock at the Google Hangout session to promote the race. “Once the car catches you, the race is over. Ultimately, you decide your finish line.” Wings for Life was created by Redbull founder Dietrich Mateschitz and motocross champion Hans Kinigadner after Kinigadner’s son was left tetraplegic (paralysed from the neck down) following a racing accident. They both realised how underfunded spinal cord injury research is. Cambridge researcher Dr. Jessica Kwok explained that spinal cord injury is like a bomb dropped on a ‘wellpaved road’. According to Dr.

Kwok, the answer is found in our own bodies. Myelin, a fat-like substance protecting our nerves, produces a protein called NogoA which stops nerve growth. Our body also produces carbohydrates, chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs), after the injury. “What I’m trying to do is a stop these proteins so that the cars in the highway can go through the areas.” Scientists have found an enzyme, chondroitin ABC, in bacteria which can stop the growth of Nogo-A and and CSPGs temporarily. “It’s not sustainable enough so we’re trying to find a replace which is more sus-

“From the moment I hit the ground I joined what is a global community of people who don’t have any hope of recovery.” tainable, more durable, and less invasive.” There are 145 clinical trials in spinal cord injury. Wings for Life hopes to raise big proceeds to fund the scientific research that Dr. Kwok is a part of. So why Kerry? As Richard Donovan explained at the Hangout session, it was the ‘brutal terrain and spectacular scenery’. The race will start in Killarney and stretches along the flat N70 until it reaches Killorglin which is mountainous and rugged. “I think it’s part of the Irish psyche to enjoy hurting themselves.” Jackson made it clear that the marathon is not just for professionals: “The key thing is that this is a fun run! You can come up with your own challenges.” He stressed that personal goal, realistic goals are what’s important and added: “There will be people that will brag that the car caught them first!”

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The snowstorm came just as we had the wind at our back and just as we were on the attack at the start of the second half. The weather can’t be blamed. It was the same for us and for DIT.” Paul O’Brien

SPORT Classy Athlone side cruise to win over DCU Bryan Grogan Sports Reporter DCU’S SENIOR RUGBY TEAM lost out to Athlone Institute of Technology in the fourth round of league matches in St Clare’s last Wednesday. The game was played in turbulent weather with much of the action disrupted by high winds. DCU were on the back foot from the start as they faced into the wind in the first half. It didn’t take long for Athlone to capitalise on this advantage as they went over for a try with only five minutes gone. Much of the early stages were played out in the scrum as penalties were rife in the bad condi-

tions. The ball was in the DCU half for much of the first half with Athlone pressurising the DCU defence for lengthy periods. Athlone kicked well and, using the wind to their advantage, aimed for the corner when opportunities arose. DCU maintained a solid defence as they were battered by both the opposition and the wind. Athlone remained patient, however, and were able to go over for five more tries going into the break with a lead of 38 points. DCU went into the second half with the wind on their side, but failed to convert this to their advantage. There were periods of sustained pressure near Athlone’s end zone, but DCU were held up by a tenacious defence in

which they could find no gaps to exploit. There were plenty of turnovers in the opening stages of the second half. Athlone found it hard to get out of the danger zone as the wind hindered the ball’s movement in the air. Athlone got their first try after the break when scrum-half Mark Dolan received the ball after good build-up on the wing and, spotting a gap, ran through into space to touch down. As the game wore on DCU seemed to tire, their tackles becoming less efficient. They were closest to scoring after making headway with a rolling maul but the attack ended when the ball was knocked forward. Weather deteriorated further near the end of the game, though

the adverse conditions didn’t seem to put Athlone off as they scored three more tries before the final whistle. The loss keeps DCU second from bottom in Division One, on four points, while Athlone remain in first place, on 19 points. DCU face Waterford Institute of Technology next, and coach Phil de Barra is hopeful his team can come away with a win: “There’ll be more time to prepare for the next game and we’ll hope to have our strongest fifteen back and get a result.” DCU: 1. Jerry Orianwa (capt.) 2. Cian Walsh 3. Andrew Keating 4. Adam Page 5. Owen Waldron 6. Tim Cronin 7. Brian Nolan 8. Dave Feenan 9. Alex Gibney 10. Rickie Keme 11. Jacob O’ Keefe 12.

Sean O’ Connor 13. Paul Charousset 14. Roddy O’ Donnell 15. Colm O’ Reilly Subs: 16. Ben Mortimer 17. Shane Nagg 18. Blygh McCormack 19. Jeff Hardy 20. Ollie Hamilton 21. Jack Healy 22. Adam McInrie Athlone IT: 1. Greg Hansbury 2. Brian McGovern 3. Aodhan Glynn 4. Colm Gorry 5. Josh O’Rourke 6. Brendan Fagan 7. Sam McCormack 8. Martin Staunton 9. Mark Dolan 10. Domhnall Corbett 11. Colm O’ Reilly 12. Bryan Dixon 13. Sean Dempsey 14. Cathal Evans 15. Callum Boland Subs: 16. Harry Lester 17. Brian Tape 18. Mark Kennedy 19. Darragh Maher 20. Richy Dixon 21. Peter O’ Neill 22. Ben Porter 23. Kevin Gavin

O’Brien reflects on Fitzgibbon Cup group stage exit Kevin Taylor Sports Reporter DCU SENIOR HURLING MANager Paul O’Brien has praised his players after they put in an improved performance against Dublin Institute of Technology in St Clare’s in their final group game of this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup. A defeat sent DCU out of the competition last Tuesday, but despite the result, O’Brien noticed a better team effort compared to the away loss against NUI Galway last week. DCU competed for 60 minutes and limited DIT to 11 points. O’Brien saluted his team’s hardworking performance in tough weather conditions. “Tuesday’s performance was good enough, I suppose. A few things we weren’t good on last week against NUIG, that we asked the team to improve on, we were good on this week.”

O’Brien acknowledged snow and strong winds made it difficult to hurl in the second half, but the DCU coach refused to blame the defeat on the second half snowstorm. “People have been talking about the fact that there was a snowstorm during the game on Tuesday. It came just as we had the wind at our back and just as we were on the attack at the start of the second half. In fairness the weather can’t be blamed. It was the same for us and for DIT.” Stars like Richie Hogan and Mark Aylward played key roles in the DCU team as expected, but reflecting on the year as a whole, O’Brien paid tribute to the depth of the DCU panel. He pointed to the efforts of some of the dark horses and unsung heroes of the squad. “I don’t want to go too much into specific names and start singling people out, but there are at least two or three lads there and I wouldn’t have thought they’d

DCU’s Padraig Bolger in action during last week’s group match. | Credit: Emma Duffy have made the impact that they have. They’ve stepped up this year.” DCU came up against strong NUIG and DIT outfits in the first phase of this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup, challenges that proved too much to handle. Despite the strides being made by the likes of DIT, O’Brien foresees the trophy making a return to Cork again this year.

“In terms of Fitzgibbon winners it’s hard to look past the likes of UL and UCC. UL have big stars like Podge Collins and Colin Ryan, but UCC are a really well balanced and rounded team. They might not have as many stars, although they do have Conor Lehane.” Personally I think UCC will win it. They’ve done it the last two years in a row and there’s a

serious team ethos down there. I think they have what it takes to do it again.” While DCU must now look to next year, DIT and UCD fly the flag for Dublin colleges in this year’s competition. UCD face O’Brien’s favourites UCC in the quarter-finals. UL will have their work cut out for them as they face neighbours LIT in search of a semi-final berth.

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1 DCU 0 MARY I

DCU dominate at indoor championships Anita McSorley Deputy Sports Editor IT HAS BEEN A BUSY AND REwarding few weeks for the DCU Athletics Academy squad, with important wins in both the IUAA and AAI Junior and U23 Indoor Championships. At the IUAA Indoor Championships in Athlone on February 7th, DCU athletes broke 13 club records and retained both the Ladies and Men’s titles for the seventh successive year. It was the women who were the big winners on the day, cleaning up with a total of 20 medals (six gold, eight silver and six bronze). Sarah McCarthy (5.83m in the Long Jump) and Cathriona Farrell (1.81m in the high jump) set new IUAA records, while Saragh Buggy won the triple jump with 11.82m. Catherine McManus set two personal bests in the 60m (7.50 and a new DCU club record) and

60m hurdles (8.58), while Louise Kiernan (24.73 in the 200m), Emma Daly (7.63m in the 8Kg weight) and Sophie Parkinson Brown (12.19 in the shot put) also set new DCU records. The women recorded four first and second finishes with Shauna Cannon (55.75) and Grainne Moynihan (56.77) in the 400m, Mary Anne O’Sullivan (2.17.66) and Brona Furlong (2.17.80) in the 800m, Farrell (1.81m) and Emily Rogers (1.67m) in the high jump and McCarthy (5.83m) and Lorraine O’Shea (5.38m) in the long jump. The 4 x 200m relay team of McManus, McCarthy, Sarah Murray and Katie Brennan were also convincing winners in their category. The men also impressed, winning 15 medals in total (four gold, seven silver and four bronze). New IUAA records were set by Kourosh Foroughi in the combined events (3691 points) and by the 4 x 200m relay team of Mark

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DCU’s David McCarthy leads the 1500m in Athlone. | Credit: Laoise Moggan Kavanagh, Dara Kervick, Timmy Crowe and Eoin Mulhall. New DCU records were set by Steven Colvert (6.87 in the 60m), Kavanagh (21.99 in the 200m), Crowe (47.57 in the 400m), David McCarthy (3.46.37 in the 1500m) and James Treanor (7.56.93 in the 2000m walk).

The men recorded two first and second victories with Foroughi (2.05m and 3691 points) and Michael Bowler (2.00m and 3680 points) in the high jump and combined events. DCU also recorded the only first, second and third of the championships, with Shane Aston placing third

in the combined events with 3316 points. McCarthy starred with a new indoor 1500m personal best (3.39.14) and qualified for the World Indoors in March. In the same race, John Coghlan (3.43.31) and Joe Warne (3.43.62) also set new personal bests.

Harding Plate glory for fresher soccer team

▣ Credit: Fran Butler

Ruaidhrí Croke Sports Editor

DCU’S FRESHER SOCCER team, led by Soccer Development Officer Fran Butler, defeated Mary Immaculate College 1-0 with an injury time winner in the Harding Plate final in the University of Limerick recently to win their second consecutive plate. A last-gasp winner from Jordan Noonan was enough to secure the university’s fourth plate after a hard-fought final with Mary I, who were competing in their first Harding competition. In a game that was hampered by the tough weather conditions, neither team could force a breakthrough until Noonan stepped up to the plate in the dying minutes. The weekend hadn’t got off to the perfect start for the Glasnevin university, as they were defeated 3-0 by an impressive NUI Maynooth in the quarter-final of the Harding Cup competition on

the opening day. The Maynooth side looked strong from the opening minutes and a brace from Cillian Gallagher, supplemented by a long-range Mark Brennan effort, was enough to see them into the semi-finals, meaning DCU would advance to the plate competition. The semi-final of the plate competition would take place

on the Saturday afternoon, with DCU coming up against University College Cork, who had been despatched 3-0 by NUI Galway in their cup quarter-final. A tight game was once again dominated by the weather conditions, most prominently the wind, which made it difficult for both teams. A drilled free-kick from John Reed opened the scoring for DCU early on in the game.

However, the lead wasn’t to last long as Sean Feeney pulled UCC level just minutes later. The game was moving at a fast pace and it didn’t take long for DCU to regain the lead – one they would not relinquish again – when Colm Callinan struck to put the Dublin side 2-1 ahead. A stellar defensive display for the remainder of the game was

enough to ensure DCU booked their place in Sunday’s final. Sunday dawned and it was an early start for DCU and Harding debutants Mary I as they took to the pitch at 10.30am to contest the plate final. Mary I had fought back from an opening day 7-1 humiliation at the hands of UCD to ensure they could go away from the tournament with their heads held high. A narrow 2-1 victory over Trinity College on Saturday saw them through to the plate final to face DCU. The final was one of narrow margins with both teams contesting every ball wholeheartedly. With it looking as though extra-time may be on the cards, DCU’s Noonan popped up to send the silverware back up the M7 to the capital. With the Collingwood Cup looming at the end of the month for some of the fresher squad, Harding glory will provide a lot of confidence in the camp as they look to continue their success in Belfield.

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To get caught so early with two goals was a sucker punch. But the lads showed great resilience, they fought back and fought back. But it wasn’t enough in the end.” Michael Kennedy

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Kennedy praises resilience despite loss Eoin Sheahan Deputy Sports Editor AS THE SUN SET OVER A windswept Belfield last Thursday evening, it also descended upon DCU’s Sigerson Cup hopes for another year. Not seeing the reward for clawing back a seemingly insurmountable 11 point deficit will linger in the players’ minds for all the wrong reasons. That being said, Niall Moyna’s side were written off by several punters at the start of this academic year. Michael Murphy, Paul Flynn and Johnny Cooper had departed from a squad that bowed out during last year’s Sigerson Cup semi-finals, with no marquee names to fill the gaps. While heads may still be held high, and rightly so, a victory last week would have been a phenomenal reflection on the university’s ability to bring youthful quality through from Fresher level. “You ask anybody here today to name our team or even pick out an individual from that team. There are very few people who know who they even are,” Michael Kennedy, Director of DCU’s GAA Academy, said at full-time last Thursday. They may have been somewhat anonymous, but the Glasnevin outfit certainly weren’t fragile considering the comeback of Leviathan proportions in the second half; something which Kennedy echoes: “To get caught so early with two goals was a sucker punch. It’s very hard to come back from that but the lads showed great resilience, they fought back and fought back and I’d suppose at half time we always knew there was enough in the tank to give it that lash in the second half but it just wasn’t enough in the end and that’s football. You can’t do anything about it and in the second half, UCD just came out on top. “We knew all along that if we got this far (in the Sigerson Cup), these guys were going to put up a great great fight and we knew we were coming into the lion’s den here today.” The result was a mark of vengeance for the Belfield side after DCU came out on top comprehensively last year. Paul Mannion was one of the players not involved on that occasion but his sense of delight was nonetheless evident in the wake

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We knew all along that if we got this far (in the Sigerson Cup), these guys were going to put up a great great fight and we knew we were coming into the lion’s den here today.” Michael Kennedy

of his side’s triumph: “Absolutely delighted to win. It’s obviously my first time playing Sigerson and it’s been a while I think since UCD have got to a (Sigerson) weekend and got a Sigerson itself. “We’re very happy and looking forward to it (Sigerson Cup weekend) now. We want to get rested and get a good week’s training under our belts and just

▣ Credit: Sportsfile

get ready for the weekend.” With a vigorous wind contributing to UCD’s hefty half-time tally, Mannion explained the arduous task that his side faced after the break when pitted against nature: “It was very difficult. We knew that DCU were going to come out of the blocks after half time and with the wind the way it was, it was difficult. It was really the lads who came in off the bench who really drove us on and give us that little edge we needed to push us over the line and thankfully it was a point victory which is all we needed in the end.” UCD face a star-studded University of Ulster Jordanstown in the Sigerson Cup semi-final on Friday but Mannion and his teammates now have boundless confidence after last Thursday’s classic: “There are a lot of big names in there (UUJ), a lot of star players obviously but we’ll be confident going into it ourselves, we’ve got good form now recently so we’re going to go in and give it our best shot.”

Sigerson Cup dream over for DCU after thrilling Belfield battle >> Continued from page 20 Eoin Sheahan Deputy Sports Editor The goal chances continued to flow though, and the best one of the afternoon came with five minutes to play when Davy Byrne found himself in space but an extraordinary save from Keogh between UCD’s sticks prevented another twist in an already manic match. DCU managed another point before Conor McGraynor found himself standing over a free in the last seconds of the match, two points down. The wall of UCD players on the goal line

could not be breached and the ball was palmed harmlessly over the bar to send UCD through to the semi-finals of the Sigerson Cup where they will face UUJ on Friday week. UCD: E Keogh, R Wylie, D Byrne, R Tierney, C Lenehan, P O’Harnan, J McCaffrey, C Sheridan, J Maloney, B Fenton, M O’Hanlon, R McDaid, R Basquel, M Hughes, P Mannion. DCU: J Farrelly, E Murray, D Wrynn, C Cafferky, P Dooney, G Sweeney, F Kelly, E O’Connor, T Flynn, M Quinn, C Dunleavy, D Byrne, C McHugh, C McGraynor, G Kelly

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The College View

Fresher soccer team retain Harding Cup.

GAA UCD triumph in repeat of last year’s quarter-final. WITH ONLY A HANDFUL OF players in UCD’s senior footballing ranks remaining from last season’s demolition at the hands of DCU in the quarter-finals of the Sigerson Cup, it was hard to predict how significant a motivating factor revenge would prove to be in this afternoon’s clash in the same round at Belfield. That being said, motivating factors were never called into question as UCD were a goal to the good before the crowd even had time to notice the two changes to UCD’s starting team today. The match was just 20 seconds old when John Maloney

(one of the changes) had set up Ryan Basquel (the other change) to drive the ball beyond James Farrelly in the DCU goal. Mark Hughes made that a four-point start for UCD within a minute before the power behind a Farrelly kick-out was severely depleted by the wind and the ball fell into the arms of Ciaran Lenehan. The Meath man fed a running Jack McCaffrey who couldn’t be prevented from speeding into a dangerous position and firing a sublime strike into DCU’s net. The Glasnevin side were seven points down and the game wasn’t even two minutes old. DCU’s Tom Flynn should have scored a goal to kick-start the Northsiders’ afternoon, missing the target by an inch with a

daisy-cutter, but Craig Dunleavy collected a Conor McGraynor ball a matter of minutes later and raised the third green flag of the first seven minutes. However, the goal provided false optimism for DCU as their city rivals unleashed a display of point-scoring that could only be applauded, with Paul Mannion’s 11th and 26th minute points being the pick of a bunch that sent DCU into the dressing room at half-time 11 points down. By the fifth minute of the second half, DCU had yet to score a point from play but added their second goal of the afternoon when Conor McGraynor’s sliding finish sent the ball past Eoghan Keogh. McGraynor followed that up with a converted free before DCU’s first point of

the game from play finally came as Colm Begley’s long ball into the full-forward line evaded everyone and bounced over UCD’s bar. Davy Byrne notched a pair of points before Paul Mannion and Gary Sweeney exchanged scores. Still four points behind but with 14 minutes to play, DCU didn’t panic and the magnificent Conor McHugh trotted past several UCD backs and was fouled more than once in the opposition’s square. The whistle wasn’t blown as the referee held strong, as did McHugh’s legs and, staying on his feet, UCD’s net was rattled triumphantly. A minute later, the boot of Fintan Kelly struck DCU level. The game had been resuscitated, Lazarus had been emulated.

▣ Credit: Sportsfile