The College View - Issue 1 - Volume XVII

Vol. XVII, Issue 1

News

THE COLLEGE VIEW thecollegeview.com

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Irish Universities slip down the ranks

Features

Wednesday, 1st October 2014

Sport

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» 22

Previewing the year for DCU Sport

How the media influences our diet

Accommodation availability in Dublin at an all time low Katie O’Neill Deputy News Editor @_Katie__ONeill

THE rent-increase of on-campus accommodation coupled with the lack of properties to rent in Dublin has left many DCU students without accommodation at the beginning of the college year.

A large number of students have been unsuccessful in their search to find accommodation which has left them with no other option but to commute from home.

One student that spoke to The College View is making the journey from Monaghan to DCU on a daily basis.

The cost of DCU accommodation increased by 3% for the academic year 2014/15. The rent increase is the first since 2007. Communications student, Daniel Duffy did successfully obtain on-campus accommodation however he was unable to

INSIDE Lifestyle

» 19

The suss on this weeks fresher style, travel and beauty.

Opinion

»9

Smokers should be respected, not restricted.

Sport

» 24

DCU still Cycling For Life.

Gaeilge

» 11

Ceist an neamhspleáchais - seans caillte nó seans glactha?

take it as he considered the newly-amended cost of rent to be: “ridiculous money”.

DCU’s postgraduate accommodation, Hampstead and College Park have all seen an increase in rent prices while the fee for a student staying in Larkfield has remained the same as last year.

Duffy has been searching for alternate off-campus accommodation since the end of the last school year in May but his search has so far been unsuccessful resulting in him having to make the hour and a half commute from home daily. According to daft.ie there are now 40 per cent less properties to rent in Dublin compared to last year.

DUFFY begins his commute from Meath at six am. Between his commute and his studies, he finds: “The whole day is gone”. His relationship with his family is suffering as a result “I have three younger sisters, three, five and seven and I haven’t seen them in about two weeks.” he said.

An evident gender bias has been encountered by Duffy in his search for housing. Daniel finds being male is most definitely a disadvantage when searching for accommodation “an awful lot of places didn’t want lads” he said.

A Facebook group: DCU Accommodation, is in operation where DCU students can search for any rooms that have become available in nearby areas and where landlords can advertise any vacancies.

Already into the school year, a large amount of students are still expressing their need for accommodation in this group.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has acknowledged the affect the housing crisis is having on students in Dublin. The HEA recent-

Students at Hudson Taylor who headlined Fresher Fest last week Credit Aidan Broletti

ly shared that it is the first time it has seen students deferring their college places because they are unable to find accommodation.

DCU is not the only college that saw an increase in the price of campus accommodation, Trinity College campus accommodation saw a price increase of four per cent, Griffith College Dublin rent increased by nine per cent and UCD has seen a rent increase of 13 per cent.

Near the Belfield campus of UCD, The Montrose HoRead more on page 3

Library hours extended until 2am Sharron Lynskey News Editor @sharronlynskey

NEWLY-ELECTED president of the Students’ Union, Kenneth Browne, has already followed up on one of his major election promises this year.

Browne promised in his campaign to extend library opening hours until 1am during exam periods.

This week, it was announced that the library will in fact be open until 2am

from Monday-Thursday starting on Monday October 6th and continuing right through the academic year.

Kenneth says that these changes were mostly down to “simple communication” between the SU and the new Library management, which came into effect in March of this year. Browne says that he worked closely with Chris Pressler, Director of Library Services in order to achieve Full story on page 3

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Wednesday 1st October 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

News Editorial Michael Cogley Editor-in-Chief

The plight to parents that is video games remains, however this is certainly the lesser of the two evils as it encourages mindful stimulation.

It benefits a person’s hand-eye coordination and encourages them to believe they are the character on screen and can encapsulate their thoughts and encourage creativity and wonder, much in the way a good film can.

a maximum of 10 seconds on Snapchat. @michaelcogley While critical of the ‘selfie’ movement it has become a proven side of photography but not as it is commonly used.

AFTER what is being dubbed Instead the selfie is adding as the biggest hacking cona personal touch to scenery troversy in recent years, the and far away lands as people iCloud leak which has seen incorporate the Ancient Pyrcountless celebs’ private amids with no less than your photos made available online good friend Dave. is covering up the bigger They can be comical but picture that’s bubbling below what they have done is freshsocial media and society’s en up the desperately dull holonline use. iday photographs.

Plenty of students are Self-consciousness is no guilty of over-using social new phenomenon either, media and who can blame especially in young people them, it often holds the same and nor is sexting, however it addictive properties of a is becoming increasingly difcan of Pringles, especially ficult to monitor and prevent to younger people who will thanks to the wave of new know no different to life with media in which it can partake. social media.

In 2013 the rate of teenage While social media has pregnancies in Ireland was proven to be a huge step forat its lowest since 1963. The ward in terms of the delivery rate of teenage pregnancies of news and people’s ability now stands at 2.3%, meaning to keep up with their loved What is most concerning a mixture of people becoming ones despite how far away about the medium of social more informed and the inthey might be, it is driving media is that the deterioration creased availability of contracommunication skills into the of communication will incur a ception is helping. ground and that is something loss in leaders.

The internet is great for to be more concerned about Whether intentionally or many things, one of which is than the security on your not, Facebook has become so information. Much in the way browser’s internet history. popular by playing on peoalmost every football fan is as A study carried out by the ple’s insecurity and encourag- accomplished as Mourinho University of Virginia revealed ing them to seek the approval thanks to the banks and banks that men would rather admin- of their friends. of background information, ister electric shocks to themThe ‘selfie’ phenomenon is there is a huge portion of the selves than spend time alone a case in point. Selfies, which web dedicated to taboo-free with their thoughts. have exploded in recent times chatter about sex and sexual While it may seem humor- thanks to Snapchat, are the health. ous and anecdotal there is a epitome of self-consciousIf Jennifer Lawrence’s good deal of truth to it -- how ness. most private pictures can often are you aware of a teen, Nothing says desperation be hacked, then so too can child or young adult being like angling a shot of yourself, yours. While the leak has been free from a phone, tablet or getting the lighting right and carried out for financial gain, computer when they have ensuring that all hairs are in it has also acted as a wake-up their own free time? place for a photo that will last call to the rest of us.

Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief: Michael Cogley Deputy Editor: Finnian Curran Production & Layout Editor: Gianluca Avagnina Deputy Production & Layout Editors: Mark Hogan, Victoria Ivaylova News Editors: Finnian Curran, Sharron Lynskey Deputy News Editors: Katie O’ Neill, Elaine Carroll, Laura Colgan Opinion Editor: Christine Allen

Lifestyle Editor: Orlaith Farrell Deputy Lifestyle Editor: Emma Dungan Features Editor: Catherine Devine Deputy Features Editor: Jade O’Leary Irish Editor: Caoimhe Ní Chathail Deputy Irish Editor: Barry Scanlon Sports Editor: Ruaidhri Croke Deputy Sports Editors: Cian Roche, Kevin Taylor Flux Editor: Odrán de Bhaldraithe Deputy Flux Editor: Bryan Grogan

Images Editor: Aidan Broletti Phototographers: Anna Kazadojeva, Catherine Batstone, Colin Tonge Online Editor: David Matthews Online News Editor: Mark Hogan Sub-Editors: Nicola Ayres, Anna Kazadojeva, Conor Martin Contacts editor@thecollegeview.com news@thecollegeview.com

features@thecollegeview.com opinion@thecollegeview.com gaelige@thecollegeview.com sports@theccollegeview.com

Printed By Datascope, with the DCU Journalism Society Thanks To Sportsfile, SLC, Office of Student Life

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 1st October 2014

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News Cannabis users less likely to finish college

Continues from front page

Accommodation availability in Dublin at an all time low

Finnian Currran Deputy Editor @finnc94

STUDENTS who smoke cannabis on a regular basis are 60 per cent less likely to finish school or get a degree, compared with those who avoid the drug, a recent study has shown.

The report, conducted by medical journal, The Lancet, also states that regular users of the drug are up to eight times more likely to use more illicit drugs in later life.

The study coincides with a similar study conducted by the European Commission which found that young people in Ireland are twice as likely to smoke cannabis on a regular basis, with 56 per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds supporting the legalisation of the drug.

The news follows claims by a DCU student that he’s forced to sell up to €5,000 worth of cannabis a year in order to put himself through college, as reported by the Irish Mirror.

Welfare officer of the Union of Students in Ireland, Greg Harkin, was shocked by the claims.

“I would be worried - it’s an illegal drug. It’s bad enough smoking it let alone selling it”, he added.

Katie O’Neill Deputy News Editor

Opinions on the legalisation of the drug have been mixed with several student groups coming out in both support and against the drug.

Graham DE Barra, secretary of Students for Sensible Drugs Policy (SSDP), says that drugs and alcohol should be considered under the one label.

“We believe students should not be stigmatised for using drugs. People use

alcohol a lot more than cannabis but they’re both categorised as mind-altering drugs,” he continued.

A nationwide survey on students in each major university in ireland, conducted by campus.ie, found that nearly 30 per cent of students have tried the illicit drug.

Marc Emery, an internationally renound cannabis activist, is currently undertak-

ing a tour of Irish universities to kick-start a discussion on the legalisation of the drug.

Mr. Emery, will be joined by his wife, Liberal Party candidate Jodie Emery and will visit NUIG, Trinity College Dublin and UCC. SSDP has organised the events in Ireland with an “an aim to give a comparative analysis of policy internationally”, according to secretary de Barra.

tel has been renovated to become Ireland’s first “student hotel” in a bid to tackle the housing crisis facing students. Managed by Ziggurat Student Living, The Montrose hotel will accommodate around 160 students, most of which are attending UCD. Earlier in August a meeting took place between the President of the Union of Students Ireland (USI) Laura Harmon and several colleges in Dublin to discuss the student housing crisis. Ms Harmon has appealed to people with spare rooms to rent, to provide “digs” to students in need of accommodation.Harmon believes the Government must intervene and produce a strategy to tackle the student housing crisis specifically.

While many students from DCU were unable to obtain on-campus accommodation it has been alleged that student from St Patrick’s College Drumcondra received housing in both Larkfield and Hampstead. DCU Accommodations Office did not respond to confirm.

Continues from front page

SU President successfull in extending library hours until 2am Sharron Lynskey News Editor @sharronlynskey

the new opening hours.

“Originally what I wanted was, just for exam weeks, to extend it until 1am but the Library went above and beyond that request”, Kenneth explains. “Chris was really eager to spruce the place up and bring us up to speed because the hours were falling short of what students in DCU needed”.

“I know myself when I’m studying it’s very hard to switch off at 10pm and wrap up and go home. I myself work better at night and I know a lot of other peo-

ple do as well so 10pm really wasn’t cutting it” he admits.

A number of new facilities are also in place in the Library, including a renovated canteen in the basement and a collaborative work study space on the ground floor, where students can partake in group work and projects.

Kenneth commends the library management for the new changes put in place.

“They’re a lot more open to ideas and very progressive.

A brand new canteen has been added as well and they spruced the whole place up – they’ve done a lot with it”.

The Maths Learning Centre, which was previously situated in the Henry Grattan building, has also moved to the ground floor of the Library.

INSIDE DCU’s library Credit Aidan Broletti

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Wednesday 1st October 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

News

DCU doctor makes significant advances in bowel cancer diagnosis Laura Colgan Deputy News Editor @Laura_Colgan

TWO significant advancements in the diagnosis of bowel cancer were made by Dr Gregor Kijanka at the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute in DCU. The first development is the discovery of biological markers that are linked with a poor survival rate for bowel cancer patients with the second being the creation of a blood test to diagnose bowel cancer at the earliest stage possible.

Kijanka’s study, which used tissue samples from over 100 patients, saw that biological markers are found at higher levels in bowel cancer patients with poor survival.

The level of biological markers can be measured by a physician to predict a patient’s response to drug treatment and to tailor treatment to the needs of an individual patient.

Kijanka developed a blood test to identify the presence of bowel cancer at the earliest possible stage, stemming from his findings in the previous study. The blood

test shows the presence or absence of antibodies produced by the body to fight the cancer. This early detection will lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment for patients with bowel cancer, as well as better chances of survival.

Since May 2013, this blood test has been used to assess and screen over 200 positive Faecal Immunohistochemical tests.

A patent has been granted for this blood test and if further tests are successful, the blood test may be made available as part of BowelScreen, the current National Bowel Cancer Screening programme.

Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland, with 2,400 people diagnosed annually. Kijanka is a former research fellow with the Irish Cancer Society.

Speaking about his research Kijanka said “Typically patients who experience the symptoms of bowel cancer may visit their

doctor when they have a number of complaints.

This research is aimed at using these biomarkers identified in patients with bowel

DCU and Dublin Airport Authority team up to open new aviation institute Alison Ring News Reporter

DCU and DAA International have this week teamed up to establish the Dublin Aviation Institute which aims to provide new courses for students looking to work in the aviation sector.

The Institute will be based at Dublin Airport and DCU offering practical work experience as part of the degree programmes. Courses will be offered at both undergraduate and post graduate level.

DCU President Brian MacCraith said that he hopes the new institute will “educate the future leaders of the aviation sector”, acknowledging the key role that aviation plays in the Irish economy.

MacCraith stated that the university, which already offers a B. Sc in Aviation Man-

agement, “looks forward to engaging with all aspects of the aviation sector” and he believes the link with DAA International will be “a very successful partnership”.

The Institute will not be used for pilot training but will cater for people who want to work in the aviation industry, the DAA said in their press release last week.

DAA Chief Executive Kevin Toland added that the DAA “together with DCU … can provide the living-laboratory experience of an airport, combined with the academic excellence of a young, dynamic university.”

The courses, which have not yet been finalised, will be offered from next year and hope to attract stu-

dents from both Ireland and overseas. Training programmes will also be offered and will be based on international standards covering the entire spectrum of the aviation industry.

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohue TD was present at the launch and praised the joint venture remarking that by working together they were “improving the prospects for our future economic development.”

“The Dublin Aviation Institute is an excellent example of how Irish industry can partner with third level institutions to deliver educational programmes that match the needs of both employers and students”, he said.

cancer to develop a quick, non-invasive blood test that would detect bowel cancer earlier so they are treated faster. Our other research discov-

ery will help physicians to decide on a more personalised course of medicine which will ultimately improve patient outcomes.”

Credit: BDI.ie

Students facing restrictions on college services due to SUSI delay Emma Duffy News Reporter

MANY students awaiting the SUSI grant are facing problems accessing college facilities.

Various complaints have been made to SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) that some institutions are refusing these students access to services such as library facilities.

However, a SUSI spokesperson said “there is an understanding with colleges that if a student has an application with SUSI the college will register them”.

DCU confirmed that students only had to show proof of a SUSI application to register and they could access all services once they paid €43 for a student card.

However many DCU students who are yet to receive their grant recently had problems accessing the library and Loop, the student database.

“I can confirm at pres-

ent there are no problems with grant applications being dealt with in the Registry” Phylomena McMorrow, head of DCU registry said.

“Also there is no registration or financial reason this week why students cannot access college facilities. At this stage any student who has completed the registration process should be able to access facilities, including students awaiting SUSI grants.”

Almost 100,000 people have applied for the grant with up to 250 new applicants each day. The initial cut-off date was August 1st but there have been 7,000 new applications since then, many facing problems.

“I’ve sent a form from Revenue saying I’m not on the system but SUSI are still insisting that I send on forms that I would only have access to if I was registered with Revenue” DCU student Róisín Nestor said.

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 1st October 2014

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News

DCU receives Green Flag following push for sustainability Chaitanya Brady News Reporter

DCU has received the An Taisce Green Flag last week after two years of hard work, proving the university’s dedication to a sustainable environment.

The Green Committee has grown by 100pc since they registered in 2012 and have completed a difficult seven step programme and a site visit to get the Green flag.

Manager of Sustainability in DCU, Samantha Fahy said “These are real projects that students actively engage in … the students have very little time so what I’m trying to do is embed it into the DCU programme, especial-

ly for fourth year projects”.

DCU engineering student Ms Mariane Galpo said “renewable energy is a big part of modern engineering, we focus on the cost of transporting and building alternate energy sources which is related to what the Green Committee does”.

“We want the SU to take into account sustainability issues whenever they make a financial decision’” she added.

A DCU metal water bottle will be on sale in the hub in the coming weeks and this is expected to cut down the amount of waste caused by traditional plastic bottles.

The Green Committee is not directly funded by the university which Samantha said is their biggest challenge, but the Students’ Union and the DCU Water Institute among others have contributed to the cause.

cated past the library and all students can avail of it by becoming a member and getting an access card off security.

Freshers Fortnight: a social round up DCU receives the Green Flag after two years Credit Sharron Lynskey

There are also plans to introduce re-usable coffee cups, promotion of walking and cycling and having water points around campus to refill bottles and reduce waste.

Already the Committee have improved the Campus’s sustainability in terms of waste, energy, biodiversity and transport. Segregated bins were introduced to the hub, native Irish trees were planted on campus, and they’ve also adopted the Ballymun road which they clean regularly

under a community initiative.

Due to their efforts DCU is now in the top 15pc of colleges in terms of World University sustainability rankings, UI Green Metrics.

“This is measured in energy consumption per student, how it’s embedded in courses and their amount of sustainability related research”, added Samantha.

Renovation of the DCU community garden is another achievement by the Green Committee. The garden is lo-

We are JournoSoc, DCU’s Society dedicated to helping all aspiring journalists, freelancers, and broadcasters.

With The College View, you get an incredible shot at earning some valuable expertise in the world of journalism. A student-ran, student-written, student-focused paper, chock full of stories that matter to you.

JournoSoc is here to help out any way we can, from workshops to guest speakers. The year ahead looks great, and we hope you’re with us all the way… facebook.com/journosoc twitter.com/dcujourno

Emily Hawkins News Reporter

@emilyhawkhawk

SUNDAY the 14th of September saw the dawn of not only another year in DCU but another event filled Freshers fortnight. Walking through the campus it was impossible to miss the underlying air of excitement as over a thousand fresh-faced first years piled into DCU. In the run up to Freshers the hub was already a hive of excitement with the Students’ Union working hard to create yet another fun filled week with events to suit everyone from the alcohol fiends to activity addicts. This resulted in a jam packed calendar and an unforgettable two weeks - a perfect platform for any freshers hoping to experience college life to the full.

Freshers Fortnight hosted many versatile events including Fear Factor, the Frat Party, a morning rave and the Iron stomach competition.

Wednesday night saw the first of the main events kick off in the Wright Venue with the Orientation ball. With busses running from the college and The Dead Prezidents attending the night contained an electric atmosphere in an amazing venue. For the braver students willing to fight off their hangovers there was also the promise of a morning rave the following morning.

The return of Shite night was a favourite for most, with both incoming and returning students delighted to hear the Eastenders theme tune blaring. However, for students the most popular events seemed to be Freshers Fest and of course DCU’s own Neil Delemere.

“Delamere was the perfect act to welcome freshers to DCU. Hilarious, insightful, and not afraid to make anyone in the audience his prisoner,” said journalism student Kevin Kelly.

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Wednesday 1st October 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

News

Irish universities fall again in latest international ranking Elaine Carroll Deputy News Editor

John Casey News Reporter

@elainecarroll93

IRISH universities have lost ground in the latest international university rankings despite increases in many of their overall scores.

The latest table from Quacquarelli Symonds, one of the most-cited world ranking systems, showed a decrease in DCU’s position in the rankings to 366th, a 17 point drop since last year.

Trinity’s score increased from 75.1 to 75.3, making it the highest ranking Irish university at 71st. So too did the score of University College Dublin (UCD), from 61.2 to 62.6, keeping it in 139th.

University College Cork fell from 210th to 230th, with its overall score falling from 50.6 to 49.5. NUIG however, rose four to 280th with a score of 43.6, up from 41.5 in 2013.

The QS tables are based on a number of indicators, including academic reputation, citations per faculty, employer reputation, and the ratio of students to staff.

Trinity beat other Irish universities in half of the six key categories, but UCD had the best ranking for international students (56th) and employer reputation (129th). NUI Galway’s 234th ranking in faculty-student ratios is Ire-

land’s highest, and University of Limerick is in the top 100 with Trinity for international faculty members, at 86th.

According to QS, all eight Irish institutions’ scores dropped for proportions of international academics on staff, but there were some positive indicators.

“The highest indicators across the board for Irish institutions are those of student faculty ratio and international students, indicating potential improvement in the future at the student level,” it said.

Universities excelling in technology, particularly in Asia, saw the greatest increase in the latest QS rankings.

“Tech-focused institutions are increasingly the focal point of a global race for innovation. With budgets from public sources increasingly coming under strain, institutions seem more focused than ever on potentially lucrative research in science, technology and medicine.” said QS head of research, Ben Sowter.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is ranked the top university internationally, with the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London tying for second place.

DCU researchers find new methods to tackle subtle cyberbullying

Leandro Pondoc News Reporter

A new system in blocking subtle, offensive language used in cyberbullying is being developed by researchers working with DCU’s Anti-Bullying Centre.

The project has been dubbed Uonevu after the Swahili word for bullying. It is designed to detect metaphorical use of language, often including negative stereotypes, which is much harder to detect than explicit derogatory language and offensive words.

Information collected by researchers will be used to build an anti-cyberbullying system capable of automatically recognising subtle, non-explicit forms of bullying language that is widespread online but which is typically difficult to identify.

Launched by the Center for Global Intelligent Content, the Uonevu platform uses crowd sourcing to build up a database of offensive stereotypes through a website. The data is then

USI calls for student grant to remain untouched in budget 2014

used to detect non-literal forms of online bullying through multiple languages and social media channels.

Dr. Johannes Leveling, project head at DCU, said that the project was “aiming to detect these more subtle instances of cyberbullying.”

“For example, a Facebook post that asks, ‘are you wearing your blouse today?’ does not contain anything that would traditionally be tagged as offensive. However, to a 15-year-old boy receiving the message, this post could imply that he is effeminate or gay. It is this subtle form of bullying that Centre for Global Intelligent Content researchers are aiming to detect,” he explained.

Traditionally, anti-cyberbullying measures use a ‘blacklist’ to filter and block offensive words or phrases. Often, subtler forms of harassment and use of metaphorical language are much harder to detect.

The idea for the project had emerged from the experiences of Dr Leveling’s nephew with cyberbullying. The pitch for a system detecting subtle linguistics dovetailed with his own work for CNGL. “We are trying to account for different cultural contexts,” Eduardo Shanahan, a senior engineer for CNGL, said also.

“Something that is said in Spanish isn’t the same when translated to English.”

The Uonevu system was demoed at Ireland’s first national cyberbullying conference held by DCU’s Anti-Bullying Centre and Bully4U at Dublin Castle. Dr. Leveling hope to have it rolling out to schools soon.

A recent survey conducted by the Anti-Bullying Center showed 53% of those surveyed were made upset by cyberbullying. The study was carried out on a group of 2,700 students aged between 12 and 16 late last year.

THE Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has called on the government to ensure that the current level of student financial aid is maintained in the upcoming budget.

The USI fears that both the Back to Education allowance and the student maintenance grant could face cuts. The union is concerned that there is a growing gap between the cost of third level education and the ability of families to afford it.

“Education is too expensive. Too many students and prospective students are worrying about whether they can afford to go to college,” said USI president Laura Harmon ahead of the organisation’s pre-budget submission meeting earlier this month.

Quoting a Bank of Ireland study Ms. Harmon said that the annual cost of sending a student to university is over €13,000. This is in comparison to the average student grant which stands at €3025.

“Cutting the grant or shifting the thresholds downwards would certainly price even more students out of education and that means pricing students out of a future,” she said.

Many students are worried that any cuts to student support would stretch tight budgets even further.

“It’s very hard to be able to afford to pay rent and attend college full time,” said DCU student Aoife Geary. “Cuts to the grant will mean that I will have to work more and pay less attention to my studies.”

The shortage of student housing as well as rapidly rising cost of rent is also a matter of concern to the USI. Ms. Harmon mentioned the 17.2% increase in Dublin and the 10% increase across the country as causing excessive hardship to students.

The USI plans on staging a national rally in support of its demands in Dublin on October 8th.

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 1st October 2014

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J1 students destroy rental house in San Francisco Sonja Sjogren News Reporter

IRISH J1 students have destroyed a rental house in San Francisco during their working holiday in America.

The landlady, Ritu Vohra, described the damage to be worth tens of thousands of dollars. Windows were smashed, walls were broken down, the chandeliers and toilets were broken and a large amount of rubbish was left behind.

The reports gained traction both at home and across the United States and was shown on the local CBS network news.

Vohra let her house to seven J1 students for the summer. Instead of seven tenants, it is believed up to 14 people have been identified as living in the house.

One of the students involved has apologized to Vohra and has also offered to pay for the damage caused in the house in Sunset District.

The student told Vohra that he went out to a nightclub and brought Irish people over, who invited more people to the party. According to the student the party got out of hand as people started wrecking the house.

“I don’t think they did it. I think it was someone else, the party got out of hand and someone else did it. Why would anyone do that?” a DCU student, Hannah Moran, told to the College View, “they panicked and they fled”, she added.

The young student told Vohra that they didn’t

DIT opens new campus to first 1,000 students Aoife Geary News Reporter

DUBLIN Institute of Technology opened its new campus in Grangegorman to the first 1000 students this month.

Reaction of incoming students to the new facilities at Grangegorman has been very positive, according to DIT Students’ Union officer Ciara Murnane.

“The spaces the students have come from were generally cramped so having all the new clean open space has been a great benefit to them”, she said.

Although the campus currently only serves students of art, design, photography and social sciences, it is intended to hold 10,000 students by 2017. This will effectively merge the 39 existing sites into one single area.

The Grangegorman cam-

know what to do and didn’t have the money to pay for the damage at the time so they left San Francisco.

Irish construction companies in San Francisco have offered their help to Vohra in repairing the trashed house.

The Irish community is ready to make amends and the response has been amazing in San Francisco and also amongst other J1 students.

In an interview on RTÉ Radio One,Minister for Foreign Affairs , Charlie Flanagan, stated that the groups’ behavior doesn’t reflect the behavior of young Irish students who go abroad on J1 visas yearly and has commended the reaction of the Irish community in San Francisco.

News

More students opt for UCC’s ‘sober’ accommodation Roisin Nestor News Reporter

SOME students would rather drop out than not be allowed drink in their own house, but in University College Cork, students living on-campus have been given the option of alcohol-free accommodation.

The initiative has been a success in UCC with twenty four students opting for this type of housing this year, leading to a major expansion of the college’s student wellbeing programme.

Just one third of students living in the alcohol-free apartments are Irish students, with the rest originate from France, Germany, Denmark, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Australia, Austria and Canada.

Students in UCC provided different reasons for opting to live in an alcohol-free environment, including wanting to concentrate on study. Some didn’t want to live within an environment where alcohol would be present, and some just don’t drink alcohol themselves.

When asked, a substantial amount of DCU students said that they would not choose to live in alcohol-free accommodation. Journalism student, Conor Hawkins, said “I would consider living in alcohol-free accommodation if I was doing a masters but at the moment I wouldn’t opt for it”.

Towards the end of last year, a Sober Society was introduced in DCU which proved to be a big hit with students. With such a welcome response to a society which promotes “Events you can remember” it’s a good indicator that alcohol-free accommodation could be welcomed by DCU students in the future.

Mark Kelly, a second year Communications student, is one of the people who agree that alcohol-free housing would be a huge benefit to DCU Campus. “Just because some people’s lifestyle choices differ from what may be the norm in society, they shouldn’t feel uncomfortable in their own homes”.

New student ‘hotel’ opens in UCD Nicole O’Connor News Reporter

pus is located on the grounds of the old St. Brendan’s hospital and initial facilities include a gym, cafeteria, student centre and design and dance studios.

Over 90 per cent of DIT staff and students use sustainable methods of transport to and from college and the new campus intends to reflect this with just 14 parking spaces available on site.

Ms Murnane, Vice President of events for the Students Union said that in the future the campus will be completely pedestrianised and well served by public transport once the Luas line is complete.

“Students are behind the green initiative but it will take time once the students are settled in to ensure the campus is kept as green as possible,” she added.

UCD students who were unable to move into the Montrose Student Residence have been provided with alternative accomodation and €200 compensation per week by Ziggurat Student Living, At the beginning of 2014 Ziggurat Student Living confirmed it would open the Montrose Student halls, in the former Montrose Hotel opposite UCD in Dublin. Originally they said the rooms would be available in time for the start of the next academic year in September.

However this was not the case as “due to an unanticipated level of work required” on the building, the student halls did not open in time for Semester 1.

While only 58 students were directly affected, all Montrose residents were not required to pay rent for September, due to the inconvenience.

Currently all available rooms are sold out, and the top floor rooms and the two penthouse rooms will not be available until November the 3rd. Generally rooms cost between €180 and €265 a week. All prices include 24/7 security, on site laundry,

secure bicycle storage, inclusive broadband internet and free contents insurance.

Daft.ie’s quarterly report was published in recent weeks, it reported there were just under 40pc fewer properties available to rent compared to the same period last year. Dublin has also seen a price increase of 17.2% in the last year.

The new student accommodation near University College Dublin comes at a time when many students are struggling to find accommodation for the academic year.

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Wednesday 1st October 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Stuck On The Web Opinion

Christine Allen Opinions Editor

@AllenChristine2

“YOU’VE got a problem - seriously.”

It’s 7:35, minutes into an hour long episode of Eastenders and my Mother is glaring at the Smartphone in my hand.

“I’m just replying to this message.” I say distractedly, my thumb working rapidly on the phones keypad.

Facebook message sent, I ensure that the screen goes black.

When Phil Mitchell’s enraged expression gives way to the traditional dramatic drumbeat that signals the end of an episode, I break my fifty minute abstinance from social media, logging on to check my notifications.

That’s when I become aware of it - the relief.

Seeing two of the standard Facebook symbols lit in red, the irritability that has simmered within is instantly dispelled. It is this unexpected reaction that causes me to question whether I am in fact, an Internet junkie.

That evening, I find myself Googling ‘Internet Addiction.’ My first hit reveals that Internet Use Disorder (IUD) - or Internet Addiction - has been accepted as a ‘condition for further study’ by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM - V), an internationally recognised classification system of mental disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Further results lead to a website named The Addiction Counsellors of Ireland, where I learn that Internet Addiction is a behaviour,

with this particular symptom, isn’t in my view, just cause for resigning myself to the label of ‘Internet Addict.’ My reasoning behind this conclusion is that the majority of people would become irritated if, outside of work or the classroom, someone demanded that they log off.

My logic is further backed when on RTE Radio 1s Sean O’Rourke show, Fergal Rooney, a Senior Counsellor and Psychologist at St John of God Hospital, airs his view that labelling high internet usage as an addiction is ‘a bit over the top.’

While indeed describing our constant presence online as a ‘consuming’ and potentially ‘problematic’ behaviour, he counters that compulsive internet browsing falls short in its capacity to result in the ‘destructive’ consequences akin to many substance addictions.

However, just when I think I’m in the clear, he states his view that Internet usage which distracts an individual from ‘engaging’ with the people around them, ‘completing work’, or being ‘out and active’, is something to be concerned about.

His final thoughts on the matter spark memories of countless ‘conversations’ I’ve had with my Mother, in which I’ve asked her to repeat herself, too immersed in my Twitter news feed to fully absorb the meaning of her words - not to mention the many occasions I’ve been late to meet a friend, due to the distractions of social media.

Feeling a little disconcert-

That’s when I become aware of it - the relief. Seeing two of the standard Facebook symbols lit in red, the irritability that has simmered within has instantly dispelled whereby an individual desires to be ‘online most or all of the time.’ The main signs of addiction are listed as irritability and emotional distress, and such symptoms are tied to an inability to ‘access the Internet.’

Yet the identification I feel

ed as the suggestion that I am overly reliant on the internet begins to carry weight, the following day I decide to set myself a task. No internet usage from 5pm to 10pm - a total of five hours. After one hour and thirty minutes, I’m back conversing with friends

Credit: Huffpost.com

on Messenger. I can no longer deny that I’m a slave to the Net. Now, before readers of TheCollegeView suggest that I check myself into The Priory, ask yourselves this.

Could you easily stay offline for five hours in the evening?

Would you feel no urge to check your Facebook account for notifications, no desire to tweet about an amusing conversation you had just heard on the no 4 bus, zero need to check in at Nandos?

The fact of the matter is this - being online for lengthy periods of time has now been normalised.

Take commuters on public transport. No longer are passengers gazing out the window or reading a book.

Instead they switch frantically between web pages. Less than a decade after hitting the shelves, we now view these pocket sized machines as vital extensions to ourselves.

While our attachment to our mobiles internet connection may not result in financial loss or damage to vital organs, according to one study, logging on excessively can cause damage to our neural pathways. Conducted

by Chinese researchers, and published in the PLos One journal, the study in question

revealed that young people with internet addiction exhibited ‘similar difficulty with emotional management and decision making’ as those who were ‘addicted to substances like alcohol.’

More worryingly, MRI scans of the participants diagnosed with Internet Addiction Disorder revealed significant damage to their ‘white fibres’ - the nerves between the areas of the brain controlling emotional reasoning, decision - making, self - control and attention.

Studies undertaken in 2012 by Dr Beth Ebel and the Injury Prevention and Research Centre at the University of Washington, also found that individuals who used their phone when outside were four times more likely to ignore traffic and disobey lights.

While the Internet is undoubtedly an excellent tool, one that allows us to conduct business globally and to communicate with friends living abroad, when used excessively, it impacts negatively on our off - line relationships, increases our risk of injury, and draws our attention away from our studies.

With one in four people spending more time surfing the web than sleeping, Internet Addiction is also clearly

prevalent within our society.

However, given that over 1.6 million Irish people now own smartphones, and 63% of our population uses social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, how can Internet Addiction be tackled?

“Internet abstinence is not really based on any reality - Internet Use is almost like breathing now.” Dr Garret McGovern, Medical Addiction Specialist at Priority Medical Clinic in Dundrum says. “Am I going to stop using the internet? No, probably not. Cognitive Behavioural therapy can however be effective. You can also work on getting out of the house and leaving the smartphone at home.”

Taking all of the above into consideration, I’ve decided to make a concerted effort to minimise my internet usage, allocating myself a daily allowance of two hours.

I’ve also sent close friends a landline number (I know, they still exist!) on which I can be reached during those periods that im off - line, my reasoning being that if their need to communicate is so great, they will pick up the phone and call. Life is for living not browsing. In an age when being online 24/7 is the done thing, it feels empowering to power off.

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THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 1st October 2014

Smokers Should Be Respected, Not Restricted Lisa O’Donnell Contributor

FOR many students, the freedom of being able to buy a packet of cigarettes on college grounds is more often than not, taken for granted.

However at University College Dublin, the purchasing of cigarettes is now no longer an option for the university’s 30,000 students.

The sale of tobacco products and cigarettes, including e-cigarettes, is now prohibited in the university’s convenience stores and student union outlets, following a referendum held by the UCD Student Union held last Sep-

tember, which resulted in 55 per cent of students voting in favour of the ban.

This ban on cigarette sales however appears to have been part of a larger movement towards making UCD entirely smoke free, with college authorities now considering extending the ban across the entire Belfield campus - and they appear to be setting a trend.

Trinity College Dublin are also now seriously considering making their campus tobacco-free. However, their proposal has not received the same level of support from their students, with a referendum on the ban held last year resulting in 53 per cent

Opinion of students saying ‘no’.

The topic of tackling smoking in colleges has sparked a heated debate between both sides of the argument, which is understandable as it is not exactly a clean-cut issue.

With The National Tobacco Control Office stating that smoking rates are highest amongst young adults aged between 18 and 34, it is clear that the number of young people addicted in Ireland is still of great concern. With this in mind, I can see why colleges wish to ban the sale of cigarettes. After all, they don’t want to be seen promoting a habit that results in 5,200 deaths in Ireland every year.

However, in my view, banning smoking altogether on campus is simply taking things a step too far. College students who smoke are not children who need to be chastised. They are grown adults who are perfectly entitled to partake in this legal activity if they choose to.

Yes, everyone knows that smoking is bad for a person’s health. But when aware of the potential health repercussions, someone still chooses to smoke, should their free will really be intruded upon by authorities?

And will such bans truly result in young people kicking the habit?

Despite the fact that 88 deaths per month in Ireland

are directly related to alcohol, no one is speaking about banning the sale of this essentially toxic substance on campus, never mind its consumption. So why are smokers being targeted?

On a day-to-day basis, smokers do not cause any inconvenience to those who do not choose to smoke. But for smokers themselves, such a ban would force them out of their own college campus, a place that is a second home for most students. Aren’t Universities supposed to facilitate the needs of their students, not shut them out?

If a complete ban on smoking is to be introduced in UCD, with other universities following suit, it is vital that college authorities provide the proper measures

Students Seek Shelter Ciara Moran Contributors

THE annual hunt for student accommodation began in Dublin immediately after CAO offers were released in August of this year. However with 80,000 students currently in higher education in the capital, and less than 3,000 student bed spaces available, major problems have arisen for students not within commuting distance of their chosen college.

To make matters worse, there has been a 13% increase in the number of incoming students with a 40% decrease in the availability of rental accommodation in Dublin. According to The Irish Times Online, rents have also increased by 15%.

Living within commuting distance of DCU myself, I am not personally affected by the current student accommodation crisis. However it is apparent from contacts I have made with others who are currently relying on rented accommodation that there are a number of problems that require the Governments attention, with cost and availability being at the top of the list.

Scrolling through any online discussion board, you will come across students who have found it impossible to secure accommodation this academic term, leaving them with no choice but to put their third level education on hold.

For many students, the sourcing of digs has been a life saver. While suited to some however, I personally wouldn’t fancy feeling like a guest in another family’s home. What if you wanted to stay out late at the NuBar? Or at a two am study session in the DCU library? Wouldn’t you feel restricted in your movements?

In my view, students should have the choice to live independently. However, due to the inaction of our Government in relation to this issue, such an option is not there.

Despite being faced with black and white proof that this problem should not be ignored, out of the 72 pages which make up the Government Construction 2020 Strategy, published in May of this year, the word ‘student’ appears only once. This is truly outrageous.

To add insult to injury, the incoming water

to make this ban work. After all, do we really want the entrance to our university grounds, a place which we, as students, are encouraged to take pride in, swallowed up by herds of people suffocating in a cloud of smoke?

Wouldn’t such gatherings pose greater health risks to students attending? Passive smoking for one?

While small steps taken by College Authorities to discourage smoking are welcome, such measures should take into account that smoking is a personal choice, and not something that can or should be policed.

Credit: Tobaccoreviews.net

charges on October 1st, implemented by this Government, will result in further weekly rent increases, with Landlords too in need of extra income. Home owners are therefore tending to offer leases to those who can afford such increases i.e young professionals, leaving students out in the cold.

Isn’t this highly unfair? Aren’t students targeted enough by increases in the student contribution fee, without having to cope with the additional financial and logistical challenges that securing adequate student accommodation brings?

Abandoned by Government, students are however generating ideas to ensure that suitable accommodation can be secured for those in third level education.

One example is ‘Generation Accommodation’, a UCD led initiative, which ensures that students who cannot afford the cost of accommodation are placed in contact with elderly people with available space in their homes. In return, these elderly home owners receive companionship and extra income that in many instances is much needed. Such innovative measures are just what the doctor ordered, and something our Government can learn from.

With the student accomodation crisis now having reached breaking point, Government and public authorities must be more proactive in their approach to tackle this issue – for example, by examining the possibility of introducing rent controls, or regenerating ghost apartment blocks that were built in the Celtic Tiger era.

After all, in order for there to be equality of access in regards to higher education, there needs to be equality of access to student accommodation.

10

Wednesday 1st October 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Gaeilge

Gaeltachtaí in iomaíocht Caoimhe Ní Chathail Eagarthóir Gaelach @CaoimheChats

IS é lá deireanach Chraobh Shinsear Peile na hÉireann an an lá is mórthaibhseach agus an t-éacht is mó gur fédir a bhaint amach in aigne achan peileadóir sa tír. Ní haon eisceacht é sin sa Ghaeltacht.

Idir fhoireann Dhún na nGall agus foireann Chiarraí sa chluiche ceannais i mbliana, rinneadh ionadaíocht den scoth ar son foirinn agus muintir na Gaeltachta.

Tá ceantair mhóra Ghaeltachta i nDún na nGall agus i gCiarraí le timpeall 22,000 Gaeilgeoir Ghaeltachta idir an dá chondae. Leis na huimhreacha sin, ní bheadh iontas ar éinne go mbeadh ionadaíocht Ghaeltachta go daingean sa dá fhoireann.

Ní féidir rath agus cáil Chlub Ghaoth Dobhair i dTír

Chonaill a sheachaint, ní amháin i nDún na nGall ach in Éirinn. Tá ceithre Chraobh Sinsir an Chontae bainte acu óna mbunú sa bhliain 1931.

Ní haon iontas mór é mar sin, go mbeadh imreoirí an chlub le feiceáil idir fhoireann sinsear Jim McGuinness agus mionúr Declan Bonner an chontae.

Cúis ollmhór bhróid don chlub a bhí ann, ar Dhomhnach an haonú lá is fiche de mhí Meán Fómhair agus naoíniúr imreoir ó Ghaoth Dobhair a fheiceáil idir an dá fhoirinn Chonallach.

Le himreoirí mionúr Ciaran Gillespie, Cian Mulligan, Michael Carroll, Niall Friel, Gavin McBride agus Gary McFadden ag teacht ó Ghaoth Dobhair ba léir dea-chuma an dochúlacht go mbeidh ionadaíocht Ghaoth Dobhair sábháilte ar feadh tamall ar fhoirinn Dhún na nGall cibé.

B’ainmneacha cáiliúla faoin am seo iad na deartháireacha Éamonn McGee agus

Bronnadh Corn Mhic Uidhir Ar Chiarraí Credit joe.ie

Neil McGee agus ag imirt go háitiúil do Ghaoth Dobhair, is cuid de na himreoirí is rathúla ón cheantar iad.

Bliain den scoth a bhí ann i mbliana fosta do himreoir óg Ghaoth Dobhair, Odhrán Mac Niallais, a d’éirigh leis áit tosaithe a dhaingniú ar fhoireann Dhún na nGall. Is deacair creidbheáil an fhorbairt ann do, ó bheith mar bhall den lucht tacaíochta i gCnoc 16 sa bhliain 2012 go ceann de na himreoirí is mó féideartha ar fhoireann Mc Guinness i mbliana.

Ní amháin Gaoth Dobhair atá tar éis dul go mór i bhfeidhm ar fhoirinn Thír Chonaill ach lena leithéid de Ryan McHugh ó Cill Charthaigh agus Leo McLoone ó na Gleanntaí, is iomaí imreoir Ghaeltachta ar fhoireann an chontae.

Bhí an scéal céanna le feiceáil ar fhoireann Chiarraí an Domhnach grianmhar sin agus na foirinn ag líneáil amach i bPáirc an Chrócaigh. Ó clubanna ‘An Ghaeltacht’ (ainm fíor intuigthe) agus ‘An Daingean’ is mó a sholáthar imreoirí Gaeltachta do fhoirinn Éamonn Fitzmaurice agus Jack O’Connor.

2003 an uair dheireanach gur bhain ‘An Ghaeltacht’ Craobh Sinsir an Chontae ach tá ionádaíocht mhaith acu ar dá fhoireann an chontae. Lena leithéid de Bhrian Ó Beaglaoich agus Tomás Ó Sé ag

imirt don fhoireann mionúr agus Marc Ó Sé ag imirt don fhoireann sinsear, tá éacht ollmhór bainte amach ag an chlub agus iad ag spreagadh talúin na fir óga seo.

Comhartha mór de spreagadh Daingin é fosta go bhfuil seisear acu a gcaitheann léinte Ciarraí go rialta idir an dá fhoireann leis an imreoir deireanach Gaeltachta, Brian Rayel, ag teacht ón chlub Lios Póil.

Bhí láithreacht mhórthaibhseach Ghaeltachta i gCraobh Shinsear Peile na hÉire-

ann i mbliana gan dabht. Ní amháin go raibh dá chondae in iomaíocht, ach dá Ghaeltacht, dá chanúint Ghaeilge go hiomlán difriúil óna chéile, ‘na fadudas’ in éadan ‘na n’fheadars’ mar a dúirt fear amháin agus sin a chuir go mór le haoibh an lae.

Ní fhios cá huair a mbeidh an dá fhoireann in iomaíocht arís ach cinnte go mbeidh Gaeltacht Dhún na nGall ag iarraidh an lámh an fháil in uachtar an chéad uair eile in éadán condae agus Gaeltacht chumhachtach Chiarraí.

Gaeilgeoir Thír Chonaill Neil McGee Credit gaa.ie

Caoimhe Ní Chathail Irish Editor @CaoimheChats

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THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 1st October 2014

Gaeilge

Ceist an neamhspleáchais - seans caillte nó seans glactha?

Barra Ó Scannláin Leas-Eagarthóir Gaelach @BarryScanlon

LÁ mór corraitheach a bhí san 18 Meán Fómhair. Lá na cinniúna, lá air a dhéanfaí ceann de na breithiúnais ba thábhachtaí i stair na hAlban, breithiúnas a thiocfadh leis tús a chur le sraith ghníomhartha duibheagánacha ar fud na Breataine Mhóir, agus na hÉireann fiú. Mar sin féin, lá doiligh cruaidh a cuireadh romham agus mé ag crochadh na ndallóg ar an 19 lá.

B’éigean dom léamh fríd tréan tvuíteanna roimh theacht ar an scéal. Tuigeadh domh ón tús gur droch-scéala a bhí ann. Dá ba dea-scéala a bhí i gceist, bheadh sé ar bharr an news-feed gan dabht ar bith.

Bhí mé croí-bhriste, agus mé i m’Éireannach. Samhlaigh an crá a bheadh ar Albanaigh náisiúnacha.

Ní bheidh mórán plé á dhéanamh agam ar chúrsaí polaitíochta san alt seo, siocair go bhfuil barraíocht le clúdach, barraíocht le tuigbheáil, agus barraíocht prácáis i gceist. Seo alt a bhaineas le cúrsaí daonna, cúrsaí pearsanta, agus cúrsaí féiniúlachta.

Mar is eol do gach mac is a mháthair, tá gaol láidir idir Albain agus an chuid thuaisceartach den oileán ‘s againne. Téann sé siar go

Ceist An Neamhspleáchais-Seans Caillte Nó Seans Glactha Credit Murdo Macleod

dtí aimsir an Ghorta Mhóir agus i bhfad roimhe, nuair a ba ghnás leis na stócaigh dul anonn go hAlbain ar son oibre. Anuas air sin, in áiteanna áirithe ó cheann go ceann Uladh tá blas láidir Albanach le brath, de bharr an réimse éagsúil dreamanna Albanacha, cuir i gcás inimircigh, Ulster Scots, muintir na Gaeltachta Thír Chonaill, srl.

Mar chúlra beag ar an reifreann suntasach seo, is é Alex Salmond, ceannaire an Scottish Nationalist Party,

a spreag agus a chuir an roth ag dul mar a deirfeá.

Dhá ainm iomráite i gcúrsaí polaitíochta na hAlban is iad Alex Salmond agus an SNP. Is duine é Salmond a chaith a shaol ag cruthú easaontais thart air - ó toghadh é mar cheannaire ar an SNP, nó nuair a bhain sé post an Phríomh-Aire amach. Bhí sé i gcónaí mar sprioc aige neamhspleáchas a bhaint amach dá thír dhúchais féin, ach cad chuige?

Ar dtús, caithfear amharc

ar na tuigheanna praiticiúla atá taobh thiar de seo. Dar le Salmond bheadh Albain abálta £30 billiún a thuilleadh thar aon ghlúin amháin, dá mbeadh fáil acu ar a chuid foinsí óla féin. Tuairiscítear go bhfuil cuid mhillteanach mhór de fhoinsí óla na Breataine lonnaithe gar do chósta na hAlban. Rud eile a tharlódh de bharr neamhspleáchais ná go dtabharfaí cumhacht iomlán d’Albain ar a cúrsaí féin. Bheadh muintir na tíre údaí céad faoin gcéad i

gceannas ar a rialtas féin, seachas an dóigh a bhfuil sé faoi láthair - orduithe ag teacht ó Westminster.

Ach nach bhfuil níos mó i gceist ná sin? Nach bhfuil féiniúlacht, tírghrá, féinmheas agus crógacht i gceist?

Nach mór an rud é sa lá atá inniu ann, go dtig saoirse agus neamhspleáchas a bhaint amach gan fhuil a dhoirteadh.

Bheadh sin mar bhrionglóid sheafóideach ag ár sinsear.

Seans caillte mar sin, dar liom féin.

fheidhmchlár féin.

Is iad samplaí de na miondhíoltóirí atá páirteach in Style-Eyes ná Topshop, River Island, Warehouse agus Miss Selfridge.

Tá blag ag Style-Eyes frei-

sin. Cuirtear ailt suas gach lá ar an suíomh gréasáin www. style-eyes.eu. Áine Marie, Alana Lavender, Amy Mulvaney, Belle Jolie, Faking Couture, GSUS agus Vintage Venom na h-ainmneacha atá ar na scríbhneoirí dó.

Scríobhann siad ailt faoi chúrsaí faisin, smideadh agus lascainí ar tháirgí, go háirithe ar líne. Bíonn comórtais ar siúl acu ó am go ham agus is féidir duaiseanna éagsúla a bhaint.

Go dtí seo, buaitear cíos gúna ó Cari’s Closet, dearbhán de luach £100 do Phase Eight agus dearbhán de luach £50 do UGG. Is féidir coimeád suas le stíl an tséasúir ar shuíomh Facebook Style-Eyes, agus trí chuntas Style-Eyes ar Twitter nó Instagram a leanadh.

(Feictear comórtais orthu go minic!)

Áine Marie Ní Mhainicháin Rannpháirtí @thecollegeview

IS feidhmchlár faisin é StyleEyes. Is aip Éireannach í, ach baintear úsáid as sna Ríocht Aontaithe freisin.

Bunaíodh an chomhlacht in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath. Bhun taighdeoirí Dr. Mark Hughes agus Bobby Pringle ó Clarity Centre for Sensor Web Technologies Research é.

Is féidir é a íoslódáil saor in aisce don Android ó Google Play Store agus don iPhone ón iPhone App Store.

An úsáid atá leis ná chun stíl daoine cáiliúla a athchruthú ar bhuiséid (is mac léinn muid!). Is féidir Snap Her Style a dhéanamh leis ar do fhón póca.

Is feidhmchlár deá-shimplí é Style-Eyes, cé nach bhfuil ort ach grianghraif a thógáil leis.

Ansin, faigheann an sistéim an táirge is cosúil leis.

Tá éadaí ó bheagnach 400 siopaí (ar líne nó as an bpríomhshráid) ar fáil fríd an fheidhmchlár agus go minic

Credit: beckboop.com

Radharc ar fhaisean le Style-Eyes

bíonn lascainí orthu. Gach lá, bíonn lascainí difriúla le feiceáil agus le húsáid air.

Ní gá duit dul chuig an t-ionad siopadóireachta, is féidir na h-éadaí a cheannach díreach ó na siopaí tríd an

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Wednesday 1st October 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Features

Online Privacy: It’s Up to You Kevin Kelly Contributor

@AlsoKevinKelly

THE Cloud. A term beloved in this technological age in which we live. But how many of us actually know what it is and how it works? It’s simple, your personal data and information on someone else’s computer. Nothing to be worried about at all. *cough* The past few months have seen a litany of data and information leaks of all kinds, from credit card numbers to private photos. It is scary, our own personal information in the hands of hacking ne’er-dowells. The thrill of seeing promiscuous things can be motivating enough to make one do something highly illegal and immoral.

People are now too willing to place their full trust in the internet. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, the benefits greatly outweigh the damage it can cause most of the time.

Imagine the world today without email, social networking and cat videos. That’s not a world for me.

Yet, you, yes you the person reading this feature, must take the utmost responsibility and vigilance when it comes to your information in the cloud. In all honesty, the smartphone in your hand isn’t entirely in your control.

We witnessed that when Apple decided to forcefully gift everyone a copy of U2’s

Credit: Staticworld.net

(rather good) new album.

People suddenly found Songs of Innocence on their iPhones and had no idea where it came from.

This move wasn’t only eventually terrible marketing, it was an invasion of privacy.

Something you didn’t want was on a device you didn’t want it to be on. The ultimate control of these devices lies with Apple, Google, Microsoft, whoever makes your phone.

You own the hardware, but they can still do what they like with that device. I sound

threatening here, but you can trust these big names.

Last month, the sensible world was revolted by the release of “leaked” photos of female celebrities that were taken in private circumstances. These weren’t leaked, they were stolen, but the method they were stolen doesn’t appear to be as sophisticated as you might imagine. No vast screens of code and complex programs, just a few attempts at guessing a password. Surprisingly simple.

Your password should be

It was a great summer for Donegal, full of hope, nerves, anticipation and pride. With each match, the excitement grew and we all wondered: can they do it again?

Even back in May, the Aoibheann Diver nerves were present in Celtic Contributor Park when a goal from Mc@aoibheanndiva Loone saved our backsides and won the game for us. It was clear then that the hunger we were lacking in 2013 had HOW do you make a Kerryreturned. man laugh on Monday mornIt’s tough being an avid ing? Tell him a joke on Friday GAA supporter. Between the evening. array of emotions during The alternative punch line each game and the expense of could easily be: Show him a tickets, travel and sometimes Donegal shirt. accommodation, it’s so much After humming ‘Jimmy’s more than a hobby.

Winning Matches’ all sumPlus, there are only so mer, the poor Donegal lads many ham sandwiches, Prinand lassies have finally been gles and juice cartons you can silenced. For those that went have in one summer. to every game, the disappointWe Donegal fans have ment was immense. been through a lot this year;

determination to beat our neighbours in Derry, elation as we creamed Antrim, revenge-seeking as we triumphed over Monaghan. And that was before we even got to Croke Park…

I genuinely think that watching the match against Armagh was more painful than getting a root canal. For days after, all we heard was talk about “that dirty Ulster football”.

The Dublin game was arguably the best day of my life. No need to elaborate.

So we reached the All-Ireland Final again – which we had never lost before – with hope in our hearts and yellow and green face paint on our cheeks. Unfortunately, the cards were not in our favour.

When Paul Geaney sank the ball into the Donegal net within the first minute, it was

Jimmy Met His Match

sacrosanct to you today. It is your guardian, keeper of all you hold dear in the digital world. A few tips to maintain good security online are: • Use a long password, with a mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.

• Stay away from proper English words, use random nonsensical lists of characters.

• Have a different password for every account you have online, or at least every

major ones you use, i.e. email, Facebook, Twitter.

• Look into using password management programs like LastPass or 1Password that will generate random passwords for you on every site.

Privacy is very temperamental online today. If you don’t take care of it or be foolish with it, it could break at any moment. Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do about the unwanted Bono on your iPod.

Credit: Thescore.ie

a smack on the face that made us realise that this wasn’t going to go our way.

The sting of that smack never really left our faces throughout the match either.

There were tears and consolation handshakes as we left Croker. People from Kerry are annoyingly gracious.

Maybe Sam will come home next year. Up Donegal.

13

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 1st October 2014

Features

The Fight For Equality Catherine Devine Features Editor @CatherineDevin1

WHEN Emma Watson stepped on stage last week in front of the UN delegates and delivered a mesmerising speech filled with both eloquence and nerves, it was impossible to imagine that she would receive any backlash.

Dressed in a formal, grey suit Watson launched the UN’s HeForShe campaign, asking men to unite with women in the fight for gender equality. She stated that both men and women need to be “advocates for change”.

Watson, who is the UN Goodwill Ambassador, delivered a powerful speech condemning the harm of gender inequality. She recalled how at age eight she was called ‘bossy’ for wanting to direct a school play and how at 15 her friends dropped out of school sports for fear of being ‘muscly’.

Watson also made the point that feminism does not mean ‘man hating’. It doesn’t mean that we as women stand together and try to take over the world from men by diminishing them. Watson also focused on male equality when she spoke about their

fear of expressing emotions when they become teenagers.

The HeForShe campaign aims to wipe these gender stereotypes in the hope of achieving equality for all.

Men across the world are willing to support and relate to this new campaign as they are fathers, brothers, sons and husbands. The campaign has also received much support from a wide range of celebrities from Harry Styles to Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It’s good to see feminism being treated seriously at an international level.

However Watson’s speech struck a nerve on the topic of male equality. While the lads were busy creating the Yorkie bar it seems that women have come to the fore in gender equality. Although the struggle for women’s equality is still a real struggle it would appear that male equality still has some work to do. Recently a picture of 15-year-old Beckham Cruz modelling a pair of underwear went viral. On twitter older women seemed to rejoice at the picture sexualising young Beckham. Comments such as “I can’t wait for him to be 18” and “he makes me want to be a cougar” filled Twitter.

Emma Watson preparing to make her speech to the UN last week Credit: CCTVpics.com

It makes you think that if this was a group of older men taking about a 15-year-old girl, things would be treated very differently. Quite frankly there would be public uproar.

It’s clear that men still have to fight for equality too.

That’s what I love most about the HeForShe campaign. While it is a campaign for women’s rights and its aim is to receive men’s support on

the issueit is also about male equality. It’s not about feminism in the sense of giving women an upper hand. It’s about working towards gender equality for both men and women and working together to achieve it.

But there are always those who hate ‘feminists’ and internet hackers threatened to release nude pictures of Watson. While many of us doubt-

ed that Watson actually has nudes, after the recent iCloud hacking, we had reason to be fearful. The hackers, known as Rantic Marketing, turned out to be a hoax (shock horror), but it’s distressing how people in our society use sexuality as a punishment for being a successful woman. If one thing is certain, it’s that this hoax proved the need for a campaign such as HeForShe.

I was living the Eat McDonald’s, Sleep, Rave, Repeat lifestyle and loving every minute of it

unreal.

I’ve been clean over two months now. I developed a rehabilitation system for myself.

I started by watching every documentary and TV show about McDonald’s and fast food. These shows are horrifying and by the third one I was nauseous and teary eyed. I read articles that revealed the food contains everything from silicone used for contact lenses, to anti-depressants. It’s no wonder one feels so elated after a juicy BigMac.

Confessions of a McDonald’s Addict Alana Laverty Contributor

within walking distance.

I remember needing a @AlanaLav McDonald’s so badly after last year’s 24 Hour Broadcast that blood stopped flowing to my fingers. We legged it to Omni I come from a healthy backonly to discover it was closed, ground, as in no dairy, no which left us with no option wheat, no processed foods other than to walk through the and no ‘sat fats’. Fast food was drive through. We sat on the considered worse than crack benches outside in the middle cocaine in my house so when of the night, in the freezing cold, all for that beautiful exI moved to Dublin, all hell tra saver meal and McFlurry. broke loose. It started off as I was living the Eat Mcgetting a cheeky five euro student meal on O’Connell Street Donald’s, Sleep, Rave, Repeat lifestyle and loving every on the journey from Galway to Dublin. It then escalated to minute of it. frequent trips to any McDonMy obsession got to the ald’s within a 10 mile radius. stage where it was interfering My roommate and I got the bus to Phibsborough multiple with my relationships. One times just for a McDonald’s so day Andy wrote to me on Tinder ‘’If you were a Mcyou can imagine what hapDonalds burger you would pened when I discovered the branch at Omni, which was be a McGorgeous’’ to which

I replied ‘’No. I would be a BigMac’’. Needless to say we unmatched.

I think the turning point for me was when I cried outside a closed McDonald’s at the start of summer. It hit me: things had gone too far, but not past the point of no return. I made small changes.

Instead of my usual fattening BigMac, I would go in and order a wrap thinking this was the ‘healthy option’. And sure, why not get the fries and large Coke for an extra euro or two?

What harm? What is a salty Maccy D’s meal without the refreshing watered down fizzy drink? We’ve all heard the McDonald’s nightmare stories but no one ever really listens.

People listen to their taste buds and McDonald’s tastes

For me, I don’t see myself going back to my addict ways.

I can now sit with friends while they enjoy McDonald’s without feeling the need to get three BigMacs. I can walk past a McDonald’s with a grumbling stomach, hold my headhigh, inhale and exhale.

14

Wednesday 1st October 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Features

First Year’s Survival Guide heard at meetings. Cheesy as it is, little old you can make a difference. As Barrack Obama once said, “Is feidir linn.”

(Yes, we can.)

Stay safe.

If you choose to live your college years in a promiscuous manner, please be sensible about it. You have been learning about sexual health since you were twelve, you really should have it imprinted on your mind by now that contraception is ALWAYS a very good idea. Being too scarlet to buy condoms is no longer a valid reason, as you can just pop up to the SU and grab a handful for free. Unplanned pregnancies and STIs are minus craic.

We wish you the best of luck with surviving the jungle that is third level education.

Jade O’Leary Deputy Editor @jadeodette_

WE were all young and innocent Freshers once, and let’s face it - it is a pretty terrifying thing. Coming from secondary school into a third level institution is overwhelming. Your sixth year clique is split up and for the first time you are truly on your own. Sussing out the college campus, getting to grips with lectures and trying to make new friends is no easy feat, and there will probably be a few times you cry on the phone to your mum about how you “like, don’t ACTUALLY want to be a grown up anymore?”

You are not alone when it comes to surviving college Credit: Soldiersystems.net

Going to lectures is a lot less daunting if you have somebody to sit next to/quietly freak out with about how you have absolutely no idea what is going on.

Beware of ‘first day’ friends.

Obviously making friends is important, but don’t latch on to the first person that throws an introduction your way.

BE WARY. They might seem super friendly at first, but you don’t want to be associated with a completely psychopathic/irritating/depressing twat for the rest of your college days. Keep your options open and your guard up, kid.

embrace it. Budgeting your money is important when you’re out on your own. Make sure to put aside money for rent, bills, food and bus fare and then spend the rest on whatever the hell you like.

Blowing your grant money on Boohoo.com from time to time won’t be frowned upon, but don’t make it a habit…

Put yourself out there and make the first move.

Everybody is as terrified as you are

Going out.

Ahhh, yes, the fact that getting el locko during the week (and But starting college is also also occasionally during the the beginning of a new jourday) is absolutely acceptable ney, it’s exciting and you’ll is possibly one of the best get the hang of it very quickly. things about college life. But And because we’re sound, The don’t overdo it. You don’t College View has put together want to miss an obscene some guidelines for those of amount of lectures because you who have just started first you’re constantly ‘under year. the weather’ from the night before. Your bank account, Don’t be afraid to talk to health and grades will all sufpeople. fer as a result.

Put yourself out there and make the first move. EveryBudgeting. body is as terrified as you are, Aldi will most definitely be and they will more than likely your mate, and noodles will Join clubs and societies. be relieved that somebody most definitely be a staple Get as involved with as many actually wants to talk them. food. Don’t try to fight it as you can. They are a fan-

tastic resource for meeting people, learning new skills and appreciating new things.

Whether you’re an amateur photographer or a hard-core tea enthusiast, there will definitely be something there for you. Plus, the two for one Captain America offer you get with the membership cards is too good to refuse.

Learn to reference.

Seriously, learn how to reference your essays properly from the beginning. If you come across any seminars that’ll learn ya real good, GO TO THEM. You will not regret it. Don’t get into your final year still wondering what the Harvard referencing system is. It is not worth the unnecessary stress. On a side note, AVOID PLAGIARISM LIKE A LEPER WITH BAD BREATH. The ole’ ‘copy and paste’ job does not work in university. I know breakups are difficult, but you need to end that unhealthy relationship you have with Wikipedia…

Run for class rep.

What’s the worst that could happen? Putting yourself forward for class rep will get your name out there among your classmates, and if you are elected then you have the opportunity to have your voice and your class’ ideas

Glen Murphy looks back at being a Fresher College life is one that takes time to adapt to but much like the process of natural selection you must evolve to prosper and survive.

These evolutionary first few weeks will be a confusing time. Whether it’s the strange building numbers (I had a lecture in a room called XG19 the other day and I still don’t what that building was called) or just how to go about the proper etiquette for queuing in the campus Spar. I took a seat in the Helix and a thought occurred to me; “God, I’m actually a college student.

What was that exam thingy I did in June again?” I realised I was now totally separate from everything I’d known. At first that overwhelmed me but then I came to think of it as a wonderful opportunity. It’s an opportunity to write new life stories in an incredibly exciting environment.

Glen Murphy

15

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 1st October 2014

Features

The whole package: is the media’s obsession with weight affecting our health?

Fionnuala Jones Contributor @thecollegeview

THE Met Gala on May 5 brought the stars out in force.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual fundraiser fashion’s biggest night out - was attended by the likes of the Beckhams, Sarah Jessica Parker and Beyoncé.

Commentators fawned over the dresses and the style.

However, the focus soon shifted to what people really want to read about - their waistlines.

Google ‘The Met Gala weight’ and articles on Kim Kardashian’s post-baby bod, Emma Stone “bearing her midriff” and Bradley Cooper’s alleged 40 pound weight gain are thrown up.

Loss, gain, and all things weight-related have become a major talking point in the media today. However, does this constant discussion of body image make it harder for people to feel content with themselves?

On one side, newspapers report on how the perfect body can only be achieved through weight loss. In the week beginning May 6, The Irish Independent published three stories relating to weight loss and dieting.

One story covered Irish celebrity Twink, who lost four stone after seeing an old picture of herself. Another featured a woman who lost 170 pounds and was refused a Shape magazine cover due to her excess skin.

A month earlier, The Journal reported that eating disorders among men in Ireland rose by 67 per cent in the last five years.

Lingerie brand La Perla recently had to pull mannequins that featured protruding ribs after outrage from the public. The Independent UK asked - “if beauty comes in all sizes, why does fashion force feed us skinny?”

Is this news for news sake, or does the media have ulterior motives when it comes to covering weight loss and slimming?

“Weight loss is only discussed in the press to sell things,” Ellen Baumann, an 18 year old eating disorder

sufferer said. “There is no way they do it out of the goodness of their heart, or for the sake of people’s health.”

“The media are a huge cause of eating disorders,” she continued, “but it doesn’t matter as long as copies are flying off the shelves. People want to read about weight loss because they’ve been deceived into thinking that weight is associated with happiness.”

ing a period of admission by set to top the obesity tables in providing mulch-disciplinary Europe by 2030, is there truth care with dietetic input.”

Lois Bridges adopts a gentler approach, focusing on body image and mindfulness.

On body image, however, the media can’t seem to give the public a straight answer.

Online newspaper giant The Huffington Post regularly features articles on plus size models.

Most recently, the site promoted a music video by Despite the level of covthree plus size models, Gabi erage on eating disorders Fresh, Tess Munster and Nagrowing, the lack of treatment dia Aboulhosn, titled ‘#everyfacilities in Ireland remains a BODYisflawless’ problem. Ellen attended the “The video opens with inLois Bridges’ Clinic for the terviews of the three women Treatment of Eating Disorders discussing body image and in Sutton, Co. Dublin, the only their struggle to make society clinic of its kind in Ireland accept them as beautiful,” outside of psychiatric admisNina Bahadur writes for The sion.

Huffington Post.

“Where the individual’s “For me, this video is to psychiatric or medical needs show all of my followers that are more acute, in-patient you define your definition admission is offered within of beauty,” Aboulhosn said the local psychiatric services regarding the video. or acute medical care where However, criticism for the necessary,” the HSE said. video has come just as quickly “Child and Adolescent as praise. Commentators have Acute Inpatient units provide said that the women are poor evidence-based treatment to role models for health - Munthose young people requirster is a size 22. With Ireland

Despite the level of coverage on eating disorders growing, the lack of treatment facilities in Ireland remains a problem.

in their words?

“I’m asked often, ‘since you are a role model, why not promote healthy living?’

Health has zero to do with your weight,” Munster wrote on her blog.

“We are constantly told that the true key to happiness is limited to the size you wear.

Frankly, that’s the real problem here.”

Where does that leave the public? With up to 80,000 people now classified as obese, as well as the number of eating disorder sufferers rising, it is clear that the pressure is making it impossible for people to find a balance.

From childhood onwards, children are taught by society that looks matter. However, mattering to the point of obsessive behaviour has led to unhealthy lifestyles, both fat and thin.

However, with no end in sight for the roll out of celebrity frock-fests - no doubt the word ‘weight’ will arise in articles more than ‘award’.

Catwalk models reflect the “perfect body” often quoted in the media Credit: iet-blog.com

HELLO HELLO AGAIN AGAIN FLUX FLUX PALS...

PALS...

On the 8th of September, Ray Rice’s contract with the Baltimore Ravens was terminated and he was suspended indefinitely from American football’s National Football League.

His crime was simple: he had knocked his thenfiancée, now wife, Janay Palmer unconscious with a punch in an Atlantic City hotel on the 15th of February. Rice was initially banned for an underwhelming two games. It took the leak of security footage of Rice’s attack on Palmer by TMZ, for the NFL to come to the right decision: Ray Rice should not be allowed to play in the NFL.

Picture Credit: amamusicagency.ie; flickr; ULximg; Nutimes; Wikimedia; Bestfan; Pitchfork.com; Breakingtunes.com; Rocksucker.co.uk; Fanpop.com

Ray Rice currently sits unemployed, unable to earn a living with his sporting skills.

Anyone familiar with the NFL will know that being behind it in terms of social policy is embarrassing, and yet the entertainment industry has shown itself to be unconcerned if the people supplying the entertainment are convicted or accused domestic abusers.

One recent example springs to mind, of course: the story of Chris Brown’s assault on Rihanna need not be told again, but the public’s reaction in the ensuing years has told more about the public’s attitude to these issues than Brown’s offences. Brown’s most recent album, X, was released on the 12th of September and debuted at number five on the Irish album charts. Major female artists Ariana Grande and Jhené Aiko appear on the album as well as A-list stars such as Lil Wayne and Rick Ross. His sales and collaborations are not indicative of a public and industry that have taken issue with a convicted but under punished domestic abuser.

One could argue for his reintegration had he been contrite following the Rihanna attack and repaired his image, but instead, his image has actually been dealt further damage. The fallout from his spat with Frank Ocean, in which he was accused of homophobia, remaining seated while Ocean received a standing ovation at last year’s Grammys did not point toward a grown man who had rehabilitated himself.

The success of Brown’s music says one thing: the public does not seriously care about the welfare of women enough to disregard the gutter-level entertainment that he offers. There can be an argument made for the separation of art and artist, but this cannot be done responsibly when art is such a personal thing.

Brown often sings of his plans with women, we’ve seen what he does with women.

Buying a Chris Brown song, album or ticket is financially supporting him and thus condoning his actions by proxy. If you don’t want to be seen to do so for him or other artists of his ilk, I’d suggest you keep your money to yourself.

Odrán de Bhaldraithe Read more of this online at thecollegeview. com

flux flux

01 October 2014 01 October 2014

One Line A lot has happened in the world of art in the time between the last issue of Flux. Naturally, we can’t cover it all, but we’ve definitely attempted to do so as succinctly as possible so we don’t waste

your valuable time.

Sons of Anarchy season seven: Kurt Sutter hates everything and everyone dies.

Robin Williams: A tragic loss of a man whose delicate moments were just as vital as his comedic ones.

2014 in music so far: A little underwhelming.

2014 in film so far: “A little underwhelming” would be an understatement.

Joyce Manor’s Never Hungover Again: The second best album to be associated with the punk scene this year.

Lil B the Based God’s Basedmoji app: Thank you Based God. Orchid Tapes: The best record label of 2014.

What If: You don’t spend the film thinking about how Daniel Radcliffe is Harry Potter.

The return of Jamie T: Outstanding and oh so necessary. iLoveMakonnen: Drake has signed his successor, his assist made the “Tuesday” remix the most important song of the summer.

The FappenActor Robin ing: People just Williams; (above) Arctic make it harder Monkeys in Dublin and harder for women to feel safe.

Arctic Monkeys at Marlay Park: My friends told me that it was really fun.

Odrán de Bhaldraithe

flux: your Autumn playlist The summer is well and truly over, there’s no denying it. The sun might still be in the sky, but the leaves are falling and dying and the sugary power chords and soaring choruses of summer are dying with them. Just because the leaves and your excitement at being away from home are meeting their slow demise, that doesn’t mean your tastes need to meet the same fate. Keep your listening habits up to scratch with Flux’s Autumn playlist:

1. Wolfman Feat. Peter Doherty – “For Lovers” 2. The White Stripes – “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told)” 3. Belle and Sebastian – “The Stars of Track and Field” 4. Dads – “Shit Twins” 5. DJ Shadow – “Redeemed” 6. arrange – “Caves” 7. Passion Pit – “Sleepyhead” 8. Drake – “Connect” 9. Waka Flocka Flame – “Bill Russell (Ryan Hemsworth’s VIRTUAL Mix)” 10. The Tallest Man on Earth – “There’s No Leaving Now” 11. Deerhunter – “He Would Have Laughed” 12. The Shins – “Fall of ‘82” 13. John Butler Trio – “Ocean” 14. Tony Lucca – “Devil Town”

Pictures (top down): singer Drake; a scene from HBO’s Friday Night Lights, where Devil Town played; John Butler Trio

01 October 2014 01 October 2014

flux earworms:

flux flux

17 17

album review tive being to “re-boot Britpop in America” these influences aren’t Looking like a cross just restricted to the between Michael Bublé album’s artwork colour and David Bowie, Gescheme, and Way glides rard Way appears highly effortlessly into this new strung on the cover of his foothold, his signature debut solo album. Furhacking vocals still inthermore, with his ever tact. Hints of Blur come present androgynous abound in tracks like guise, Hesitant Alien is “Drugstore Perfume”, an apt name if based on and Oasis in the sleazy first physical impres“Millions”. sions.

Largely staying withElements of pent-up in the realms he knows, aggression and moments Way gives us alternative of self-doubt, that are rock with bluesy underjust way by nature - no tones and vocals tinged matter how long sober with rawness. Gone are or happily married - do the high-school hierarmake themselves known: chy material, incompre- “Do you miss me?/Cause hensible background I miss you”. However, vocals and furious guitar now, they seem more riffs. justifiable; Way’s emo“Juarez” is a clear tional capacity in reality, standout, with all the rather than anything urgency and fervour one fuelled by the need to be might expect from Way, relevant and accepted by while “How It’s Going to 15-year olds (to which he Be” shows a lamenting has previously alluded). side not dissimilar to My Undoubtedly Way’s Chemical Romance con- reincarnation is not temporaries AFI. just a feeble attempt to With his main objecself-satisfy or relive the Gerard Way Hesitant Alien

and features Hildebrand’s all-encapsulating whispered vocals more promiWarren Hildebrand doesn’t nently. need this. Had Foxes in Fiction remained dormant Although it may not for 2014, the year would sound like it for most of still have been one to rethe album, being Warren member for Hildebrand by Hildebrand does have its virtue of the sheer quality perks, one of which is being of output from his record able to call on baroque pop label, Orchid Tapes. royalty like Owen Pallett to Hildebrand has overaugment the woozy instruseen (and in some cases mentation, mostly done by mastered) releases from Hildebrand. luminaries Ricky Eat Acid Pallett, formerly known and arrange among others. as Final Fantasy, ironiIn short: Foxes in Fiction cally stands out most on doesn’t need to exist for the album’s title track, his Warren Hildebrand to be violin adding to the hope one of the most relevant in Hildebrand’s lyrics over people in the world of a decidedly Final Fantasy “bedroom pop” today.

VII-esque synth. “We’ll Yet, exist it does and rightfully so, because Foxes in Fiction is where it all started for Orchid Tapes and it is also where they crown a triumphant 2014. “Reinvent the past” Hildebrand sings through his ever-hushed voice on album opener “March 2011”, and to an extent that is what he’s doing here; Ontario Gothic functions as a spiritual successor to the last proper Foxes in Fiction change where we live in release, 2011’s Alberto. the fall/Soon it will feel Make no mistake: this like nothing is wrong”, album is far and away bet- Hildebrand sings on “Onter than Alberto. Ontario tario Gothic”, sounding as Gothic improves on every hopeful as he can, though element that made its pre- he later closes the song decessor a good album and crushingly, admitting turns it into a great album, “these parking lots bless us one that is more assured with peace/your light has Foxes in Fiction Ontario Gothic

9.2/10

“

Ontario Gothic is an exercise in dealing with loss and grief.

8.5/10

strayed there’s no release”.

Ontario Gothic is an exercise in dealing with loss and grief. Hildebrand’s brother died six years ago, and the album is dedicated to the memory of family friend Caitlin Amanda Morris, who died in 2010.

On album closer “Altars” sings “in dreams he’s still here” hauntingly. Assisted

by Julia Brown vocalists Sam Ray (a.k.a Ricky Eat Acid) and Caroline White, singer Rachel Levy (a.k.a R.L. Kelly) the song closes out what is an emotionally raw 32 minutes.

For an album so wrought with feeling, it’s no surprise Hildebrand could only produce seven songs in the three years it took to record.

Guitars drone and synths flow all over the album to create a dreamy yet cathartic landscape. From the Wonder Bear-sampling “Glow (v079)” to the reminiscing of “Into the Fields”, you’re unlikely to hear an album more devastating, but beautiful this year.

Odrán de Bhaldraithe

adoration and utopia that he was previously accustomed to. An observational assessment of development sees a presence and style reminiscent of Tom Waits and Lou Reed, demonstrating that this is the start of a truly new and exciting path for Way. In its absence of contributing anything new to the alternative echelons of music, and where previous front-men who have assumed similar group success have often failed in their attempts to go solo (Brandon Flowers, Pete Doherty), Way’s conversion must be applauded. Coming from a man on the verge of 40, it is relatable, catchy and a welcome effort from Way to fans, who like him, have also grown up.

With this offering, Way hasn’t been hesitant in his march away from all that was MCR, and he won’t be alienated for it.

Clarissa Waldron

18

flux

Despite only forming in 2012, Dublin’s Otherkin

01 October 2014

Masters, degrees and guitars

have already established a distinctive tone that is both stormy and dynamic.

Bryan Grogan

learns more ahead of their slot on Raglans’ upcoming tour of Ireland in November.

Otherkin’s polished Grunge sound does not sound the stuff of students who formed just over two years ago and have had to juggle their burgeoning music career with exams and assignments.

“We’re going on tour with Raglans in November and it’s every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday so I’m kind of looking at my load for the masters thinking, ‘How the fuck am I gonna do this?’” says guitarist Conor Wynne, who has just started a post-graduate degree in digital marketing in DCU. As well as making some pretty good impressions in the Irish music scene over the past few years, lead singer Luke Reilly and bassist David Anthony both study medicine in the Royal College of Surgeons, while Drummer Rob Summons is doing design in DIT. The band are relatively new, having formed just over two years ago, but are already earning high praise for their heady guitar-laden music, which bears similarities to the infectious sound of Interpol or The Strokes. There are other moments, like on “’89” and “Anotherkin”, when comparisons could be made to

The Libertines or early Arctic Monkeys.

Otherkin’s sound is a mixture of tastes, with each member offering something different to the finished item.

Indie, rap, hip-hop, punk and grunge are just some of the ingredients that go into influencing the band’s style.

In terms of the band’s lyrics songwriter Luke Reilly has a tendency towards attacking the topic’s he sings about, using plenty of metaphorical description to get his emotions across.

“Our singer is our lyricist and his themes are all attacking something. Our single that we’re going to be putting

“

It was absolutely insane. People were getting left behind and for two of the gigs we had to source beds off people in the crowd

out in January is actually just about having a problem with the modern state of radio.”

This single is yet to be named, though the band have been playing it for audiences as well as asking for some title suggestions from their fans.

Otherkin seem to be on the edge of attaining a wider audience. They had a successful summer, headlining their first National tour alongside fellow Irish band Colour//Sound, which took in gigs in Cork, Bray, Galway, Tipperary and Dublin.

“The tour was mayhem, it was absolutely insane. People were getting left behind and for two of the gigs we had to source beds off people in the crowd because we hadn’t organised anything ourselves.”

“It was a brand new experience, very different to how I imagined it. It was good to get out to other areas of Ireland.

All the gigs were pretty full as well which was really surprising. It’s good to see local music is doing well.”

They appeared at plenty of festivals around the country, including Longitude and Electric Picnic which Wynne named as his personal highlights of the summer.

The band were shaped mostly by chance as Luke, David and Conor met in the summer of 2009 while in Toronto. “We were just jamming out on the porch for the whole summer, talking muck about how we’d start a band together.”

They hit it off instantly but only really got together in 2012 when the trio decided

to form a band while drunk.

They found drummer Rob Summons online and started writing songs not long afterwards.

With a shared appreciation of bands like The Strokes, Blur, Nirvana and Queens of the Stone Age, Otherkin gelled together with ease, hurdling the difficulty of securing a first gig after just a few months together.

“I suppose from the get go it’s difficult for anybody to get gigs, but we just abused and heckled people into letting us play.”

“Lockjaw”, their first single, was released in March 2013, with EPs Broken English and II released by the end of the year. Their most recent EP, As a High, was released in March of this year.

They have no plans for a debut album as of yet but are focusing their efforts on the next few months, with a group of songs written and planned for release after the New Year.

“We won’t be releasing a new album until it’s right.

We want to make a statement with it.”

“We’ve always had pretty big aspirations in terms of what we want to do. We’re not even happy with how it is at the minute. We have our

six-month plan and we’re sticking closely to it.”

They continue to sound more assured with each release, overlaying tones of noise rock with a funky, high-pitched rhythm guitar to create catchy, reverberating rock music. With such aspirations, in conjunction with their talent, Otherkin look set to stand out in 2015.

(Left) Otherkin in action

Otherkin’s tour in support of Raglans starts Friday November 14th in PJ’s, Portlaoise.

19

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 1st October 2014

Lifestyle

Fresher Fashion Staples Orlaith Farrell Lifestyle editor @Orlaith_Farrell

The Leather Jacket

THIS isn’t necessarily a ‘college’ wardrobe staple; it’s a AFTER five or six long years life wardrobe staple. Leather in Secondary school, trudgjackets are one of the most ing around gloomy halls in a versatile aspects of clothing drab uniform complete with world. Whether you’re throwmatching shoes and socks, the ing it over skinny jeans and thought of creating an outfit Conat 8am on Monday morning verse never crossed your mind. on your Now that you’re entering the way to unknown territory of college, class, or for the first time you’re going rocking to have to get a little creative it with with your ensembles. But fear your not this is the time to play LBD, around with fashion and kick you can the uniform to the side. nevCollege is an expensive er go time, as many of us know a wrong little too well. So the prospect with of buying new outfits on a this little gem. weekly basis is simply not an The Black Boot option. Now is the time to invest in a number of staple SPENDING money on shoes, pieces, to keep you looking heels in particular, is like secstylish and keeping the money ond nature to me. Unfortuin the bank account for this nately when I’m in a rush for semester. a 10am lecture, my stunningly and painfully tall stilettos are completely useless to me. Investing in a good pair of black boots will be your saviour this semester. Heeled or flat, you can trust me that you will never regret this purchase.

Most leather boots can be expensive, especially if you’re shopping on the high street, so shop around and look out for the best price. Try Forever 21 or wait for the Topshop or Zara sale. It will be key element to any look.

The Little Black Dress

FOLLOWING on from the previous section, I couldn’t but include the LBD in this list.

A black dress is quintessentially one of the key articles of clothing every girl should have hanging in her wardrobe. From day-time, to night-time, to back to day-time, a LBD will see you through just about any occasion. As a wise man once said, “One is never over-dressed or under-dressed with a Little Black Dress.” Shout out to K-Lagerfield.

The White Shirt

The Bag

ULTIMATELY, you can never go too wrong with a basic white shirt. Sure, it’s not going to be one of the most exciting elements of your wardrobe, but this one is all about the practicality.

Combine with denim jeans and a pair of cute loafers, this look screams sophistication at minimal effort. Looking to kick this look up a notch?

Throw on a faux fur gilet for extra credit.

A woman can never have enough handbags; however it is important to have one staple bag. The one that we depend on entirely, because we know it’s equipped for every possible situation. I can’t stress enough the importance of a reliable and stylish shoulder bag. I suggest when you’re shopping, look for neutral colours; tans, nudes and blacks.

Look for a bag that’s a decent size but not too over-bearing on your shoulder. Tie a print scarf around the handle for added taste.

Remember, the high street is your friend. You don’t need to spend a fortune to look chic.

The Skinny Jean NOTHING looks and feels better than the perfect pair of skinny jeans. Although, it can be a nuisance to try and find the right pair for you.

I would definitely suggest a darker wash, as it’s more practical and more slimming than lighter washes. Distressed jeans are my go-to, must haves. This simple pair from River Island, clocks in at €50. Not outrageously expensive for great quality jeans.

Face masks to refresh Fresher faces

Emma Dungan Deputy Lifestyle Editor @EmmaDungan

I know that for me anyway, after a few nights out on the vino and after a couple of weeks wearing heavy make-up, I somehow start to revert to my fourteen year old self; all of a sudden it’s spot city. So what do you do? It’s the start of a new academic year and everyone has enough to be worrying about, your skin shouldn’t be one of them. So here are three tried and tested facemasks that you should be able to whip together from whatever is at home.

1) The banana mask: for oily, acne prone skin.

This one I swear by, it leaves your skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom after just a couple of uses and it’s oh so simple.

1 very ripe, almost fit for the bin banana 2 teaspoons of good quality honey A few drops of lemon

Mix all this in a bowl (I do not recommend tasting it), and apply it to your face. It will tickle for the first minute or so until it dries. After fifteen minutes, wash it off with warm water. Then splash your face with cold water to close your pores and voila. You’re gorge.

And, because this mask is all natural, you can whack whatever’s left in the bowl into the fridge and use it as many days in a row as you like.

2) The oatmeal mask: for all skin types.

This one is so relaxing it’s perfect for before bed on a lazy night in.

120 mls of hot (not boiling) water 75 grams of oatmeal 2 tablespoons of plain yoghurt 2 teaspoons of good quality honey 1 egg white First, mix the oatmeal and water together and leave it to settle for two

minutes. Then, add in the yoghurt, honey and egg white. Apply a thin layer on your face, and leave it for fifteen minutes. Finish it just like the banana mask; rinse with warm water and then a splash of cold. You’re glowing and fabulous “honey”.

3) The papaya mask: for blackheads, blemishes and to tighten pores Okay, so I am aware that most people do not just have papayas floating around their kitchen, but trust me this one is worth a trip to Tesco’s.

1 ripe papaya ¼ tablespoon of brown flour This one’s lovely and quick. Simply mash the ripened papaya and add the little bit of flour. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it for fifteen minutes. This time, rinse it off with cold water. Hey presto, your skin is dirt and grime free, with visibly smaller pores.

20

Wednesday 1st October 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Lifestyle

The Italian Job Alison Ring Contributor

ONE of the worst things about being a DCU student is probably the length of our summer holidays. As one of the unlucky souls who didn’t manage to escape on a J1 this summer, by mid-July the novelty of being home had truly worn of , but I still had two months to wait. So what better way to deal with this summer time sadness than to book a cultural excursion to bell’Italia?

Day one: A 4.30AM alarm is probably the worst start to any holiday, but these things must be endured to ensure seats on the cheapest flights.

A few hours later, our plane hit the ground at Rome’s Ciampino airport and I stepped off into intense, sweaty heat.

Straight away, the frenetic energy in the historic city was palpable. We’ve all heard the stereotype of Italian drivers; well it’s 100% accurate.

Flying down main streets, turning into back alleys, driving through pedestrianized zones, we even heard a

“Mamma Mia.” After a local lunch, we set off for one of the world’s most famous fountains, Fontana di Trevi.

If I could use two words to describe this 86ft high, 161ft wide Baroque masterpiece - under construction. The mass of scaffolding and absence of water left us incredibly disappointed. Lesson learned, do your research.

We then walked through the city to the impressive Spanish Steps where we saw our first functioning fountain, Fontana della Barcaccia. Thousands of tourists descend on this landmark every day and we even spotted two brides having their wedding photos taken. We returned to the city centre for dinner by the Pantheon. Carbonara, gnocchi with pesto, followed by tiramisu and a walk to Piazza Navona, our first day and night was straight out of the Lizzie McGuire movie.

Day two: We had decided that the Vatican was a must do so we got up early and

took a bus to the other side of the city to explore our religious sides. St. Peter’s square is an impressive sight, however the queues to get in were so uninviting that we forked out €46 each to skip the queues and be led on a four-hour trip around the museums, the Sistine Chapel and the rest of the Vatican; a costly but worthwhile decision. We heard anecdotes about Michelangelo, jokes about Raphael, and were able to understand the spectacle that is the roof of the Sistine Chapel. We then headed home to sleep off the heat exhaustion and sore legs before heading back into the Trastevere region for dinner.

The Trastevere area is also renowned for its cocktails, and a €20 for a litre of a cocktail of your choice, I would recommend Rome on those drinks alone.

Day three: We arose early to catch a morning train to Florence. As soon as we arrived, the difference between

Credit: Alison Ring

the two cities was strikingly obvious. Calm and relaxed, Florence is one of the most laid back places I’ve ever been. We were a short walk from the centre of Florence and on our first day we visited the Santa Maria Cattedrale, the ‘Duomo’; the massive free standing Dome, Piazza della Signoria, the leather markets, the Florence food market and, of course, the Statue of David. The city was very easy to navigate around and everything seemed so close together, it was a massive change to Rome, but the quality of food and wine at dinner that night was no different.

Day four: It was still dark when we left the B&B but the sky was brightening as we walked. We crossed one of many impressively constructed Florentine bridges, and walked up to Piazzale Michelangelo, a famous viewpoint with a statue of the man himself. At 7am we watched the sun rise over the mountains and country side, it was an incredible sign and also great for my Instagram.

We then walked to Chiesa di San Miniato, and along the river to Ponte Vecchio – the famous bridge which has shops hanging off it. By this time it was 8 o’clock we were a short walk from the Uffizi Gallery, so we went straight there to avoid the queues.

If you have an appreciation for art and history you could

Credit: Alison Ring

spend hours there. Our final night in Florence ended with a shopping trip to the local leather shops and markets, followed by another night of unbelievable food, wine and ice cream.

Day five: Our final day was a bit of a rush. Italian buses seem to come and go as they please so we struggled to make our train back to Rome.

We made our way to our final hotel, which was right beside the Colosseum. The view was equally impressive inside and outside of this historic landmark and the history is as interesting as history gets.

The tour included a guide to bring us to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill as well and lasted 3 hours in total. These three landmarks are riddled with character and history, a permanent fixture on the to-do list in Rome. We were staying so close the Colosseum and it was very convenient, but the area wasn’t as nice as where we first stayed, just outside the city. The atmosphere was different, not as friendly, and it wasn’t as well kept. But once again, the restaurants lived up to the rest and our last meal was just as enjoyable as our first, the ideal end to the ideal trip.

My bank account balance says I’m poor, but I’m feeling culturally enriched. Italy, I will be back.

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THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 1st October 2014

Sport still New talent signals strong DCU Cycling year ahead for soccer team For Life Eoin Sheahan Sports Reporter @EoinSheahan

Continues from page 24

Credit: Goal.com

Ruaidhrí Croke Sport Editor

@Ruaidhri_Croke

DCU’S senior soccer team look to be the strongest they have ever been going into the new season thanks to a number of new players, including some youth internationals, coming into the squad.

The removal of the rule preventing teams from using Airtricity League players in the Collingwood Cup has been

a huge boost for the Glasnevin university, something that was evident at last year’s competition when a narrow loss to NUI Galway saw DCU exit at the semi-final stage.

Shelbourne’s Robbie Gaul will remain a key player in the centre of defence this season and the team will be boosted by the return of his brother, David, who missed all of last year’s campaign due to injury.

Gaul will be joined by fellow Shelbourne teammate Alan O’Sullivan, who has just come into the university. O’Sullivan will be a major asset for Declan

Roche’s side after recently returning from a two year stint with Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League. O’Sullivan has been capped a number of times at under-19 level for Ireland. The 19-year-old has made six league appearances for Shels this season, bagging one goal, as well as scoring against St Pat’s in the recent FAI Cup last 16 clash.

Two more League of Ireland players will also be included in Declan Roche’s side this season with Shamrock Rovers’ Jack Watson and Waterford United’s Mark

Walsh coming into the squad.

Walsh has come through the under-19 ranks at Waterford and is now a first team regular while Watson has regularly featured for Shamrock Rovers ‘B’ in this season’s Airtricity League First Division campaign.

Roche’s aim is to get over the line and win some silverware in this, his third year in charge of the team, and with the players he now has at his disposal DCU will certainly pose a big threat in both the league and the Collingwood Cup.

the martyr, you have to be the brave soldier to keep going when he’s not okay and, as you said, it’s a dangerous thing because I’ve seen it with other boys too. There’s one or two lads in my club who have small heart defects and they’ve been told about them and, even though they say it’s not something to be worried about, I’ve seen them at winter training and they’re pushing themselves and clearly in distress at times like.”

Due to the recovery time needed on both a physical and mental level, Cormac deferred his second year of college in DCU but, in his newfound free time, set up the Cycle for Life initiative in order to raise funds for and, perhaps more importantly, raise awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS).

Cycle for Life was launched in 2013 with Cormac and four others completing a 1,100km cycle around the coastline of Ireland in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation, Cardiac Risk in the Young and the Cormac Trust. The event was a resounding success with €35,000 raised for the charities and a huge increase in awareness of the dangers posed by undetected heart conditions.

Next year, the Cycle for Life initiative will return and will be open for anyone to take part in. Over the course of 10 days, starting on the July 31st 2015, the cyclists will pass through all 32 counties in the country, covering approximately 150km each day.

Fittingly, the first stop on the route will be in Eglish, County Tyrone; the hometown of the late Cormac McAnallen. While the cycle is 10 months away, people are already beginning to sign up to the challenge with half of those registered already being DCU students.

For more information on the cycle, you can email cycleforlife2015@gmail.com or visit the Cycle for Life Facebook and Twitter pages. As a designated DCU SU charity this year, information is also available in the Students’ Union offices.

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Wednesday 1st October 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Sport

The College View’s sports editorial team takes a look at what’s in store for DCU’s clubs over the coming year.

A look forward: the sporting year in preview Ruaidhrí Croke, Kevin Taylor and Cian Roche Sports Editorial Team @CVSport

MEN’S SOCCER

Credit: Aidan Broletti

LEAGUE semi-finals and Collingwood Cup semi-finals were where the senior soccer team bowed out last year and the aim this year is winning one or both trophies. Since Declan Roche took over at the helm in 2012 the team’s fortunes have risen dramatically. This will be the former Shelbourne man’s third year in charge and he is determined that this will be the year that they take home some silverware.

“We’ve had two particularly good years and I’ve always felt that the third year would be the one where we’d get over the line and win a trophy,” says Roche.

For many college teams around the country the end of the academic year can signal huge changes in dressing room personnel as players complete their studies. This is not so much the case for DCU this year however as most of the first team squad are still in the university.

The squad will also be supplemented by a promising new group of freshers.

“Pretty much all of the

players we’ve had over the last two years are still there with the addition of some impressive freshers.

“We’ve brought them all in early, a week before the semester started, so I’m really hoping this will be a good year for us. They’re as good a group of freshers as I’ve ever seen.”

The Glasnevin side will also have three new Airtricity League players on their books this season as Shelbourne’s Alan O’Sullivan, Waterford United’s Mark Walsh and Shamrock Rovers’ Jack Walker have all taken up studies in DCU. R.C. MEN’S GAELIC FOOTBALL AFTER a disappointing season last year, the DCU Sigerson team are determined to get back to the top of college football and bring home the Sigerson Cup for the third time in six years.

Back and more motivated than ever is Wicklow native and inter-county forward Conor McGraynor. Following last season’s Sigerson Cup quarter-final disappointment in Belfield, McGraynor is keen to see his side recapture the form that saw them reach last years’ O’Byrne Cup final.

“The highlight of last year was beating the Dubs in Par-

nell Park but unfortunately we didn’t push on the way we would have liked to. Losing to UCD at a relatively early stage was disappointing. We thought we probably had the players to do a lot better than that.”

Despite the disappointment of last year, McGraynor is upbeat about the team’s chances this year.

“We have lads coming into form like Jack McCarron with Monaghan and Donie Smith with Roscommon who were playing at the top level over the summer. Last year we were unlucky with injuries and the likes of Dean Rock and James McCarthy being out. There’s no doubt that this time we have the panel to make a really good go of it.”

K.T.

“Queens have knocked us out the last two years and they’re definitely our big rivals so we’ll be out to get them this year.”

As with any University team, losing players and embedding new players will be crucial to success in the coming season. McEneaney believes her teammates have the right blend of youth and experience to bring silverware back to DCU this year.

“There are around ten of us that have been here since I started. We’ve obviously lost a few girls but we have great potential coming in this year.

We’ve an awful lot of Dublin minors and top class girls like Sarah Rowe from Mayo.

Hopefully the team gel well together. Whatever happens we’re determined to give it LADIES’ GAELIC FOOTBALL one hell of a go this year.”

THE DCU women play the first fixture of their league camTHE DCU women have their paign next month. sights set on the O’Connor K.T. Cup this year after last years’ exit at the semi-final stage.

Queen’s University proved a CAMOGIE step too far for the Glasnevin women who came up short by 12 points against the Belfast DESPITE finishing last year outfit. empty handed, DCU Camogie DCU and Monaghan club has managed to maintain defender Laura McEne- its presence in the Ashbourne aney believes her side Cup and manager Stephen Becan go two steps further han expects another good year and can avenge last year’s from his side. semi-final disappointment.

“Consolidating our Ashbourne Cup status would be the main thing. Last year was our first year up and it was great experience for the girls. Getting to the semi-final of the cup competition means that we’re guaranteed Ashbourne status.”

“We’ve some good young first years coming in, so mixing them up with the girls who are already here and have the experience, we’ll have a good squad.”

With two Purcell Cups in the past three years, Behan should and understandably does have high expectations for a side growing in confidence.

Experience is likely to be the theme of the year going forward and with established inter-county players like Mairead Power and Stacey Quirke having come through the ranks. It is likely that their experience at Inter-County level with Kilkenny will serve to be a welcome boost to the side.

AIB’s sponsorship of the side will provide the backroom staff with scholarship supports, so as to attract some of the finest young talent in the country.

C.R.

DCU HURLING

AFTER a disappointing group stage exit in last year’s Fitzgibbon Cup, DCU’s premier hurling side will be looking to ensure that this year proves to be more successful.

Former All-Star and Kilkenny inter-county star Richie Hogan will not be available this year as he is no longer in DCU. This will surely be a loss to the side but DCU GAA Director of Hurling Paul O’Brien is confident that he has some good young players coming through.

“There are probably five or six lads who are after finishing up their studies here but we’ve got a strong squad of freshers who’ve performed well over the summer with their counties so they’ll ob-

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THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 1st October 2014

Sport anticipating the coming year.

“Because we have established what we have, it means every year going forward we have between 25 or 35 quality athletes across all spectrums of events competing for DCU. “It’s trying to make do with what you have. If you lose 10 and take in 20, it’s a case of cutting the pie in such a way that you cater for everyone.”

“We’re so far past club level now and that’s really great for the profile of the university and for the athletes.”

A very strong performance at the IUAA Indoor Track and Field games in Waterford IT in April was just a small indicator of the strength in depth and quality of athletes at his disposal.

The club managed to take home 21 medals and freshers like Grainne Moynihan and Emily Rodgers put in some very impressive performances.

If the two day event is anything to go by, DCU Athletics is on course for another great year.

C.R.

RUGBY Credit: Aidan Broletti

viously be a big addition.”

O’Brien is keen to maintain the development of the club that has accelerated since he took up a directorship position last year and hopes the team can push on further in this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup. “The aims for me in my role as hurling development officer are to continue building on those developments that we’ve made in previous years.

Obviously the aim for the Fitzgibbon team is to start winning games and push on and make it to the weekend.”

we gained promotion. We’ve lost three or four players from last year but we have some really good fresh new talent coming in this year.”

Preparation for the upcoming season starts soon and this year will see the DCU team get started early in order to be ready for a higher level of competition.

“Being in the A category in the All-Ireland league means we’ve to get going early. The hard work and training usually gets underway around October and this season should be no different.”

R.C. The team will first compete in league competition before the season highlight, the InterMEN’S BASKETBALL varsity games, takes place later in the year.

K.T. DCU senior men’s basketball will embark on a campaign that sees them compete at the LADIES’ BASKETBALL highest level this year, having gained promotion in the InterFOR DCU Ladies basketball, varsity Games last season.

DCU will compete in the aim of the new season will the A categories of both the be emulating the success of All-Ireland league and the last year.

The team dominated colIntervarsity competition.

Star man Steven McGrath lege basketball last year by sees this year as an opportu- securing a double of both nity to push on following last the All-Ireland League and tournament. year’s successful campaign, Intervarsity Killester and DCU play“We were beaten in the B Intervarsity final by CIT er Amy Russell returns from but thankfully that meant injury this season and will

be striving to contribute to an already successful side.

“We were so successful last year and this year the team hasn’t lost too many players. We’ve got new players coming in from Killester and there’s a good mix with players from elite clubs like DCU Mercy as well.”

Russell is facing a battle familiar to most athletes. Returning from injury poses its challenges but the post player is confident she can contribute.

“I’m back from injury and I’m raring to go. It’s the last year for Tessa [Solan] and Lindsay [Peat] and they’ll be two big losses when they go so hopefully we do the double again for them.”

K.T. BOXING IMPROVING on a club’s most successful year ever is never an easy feat but that is exactly what DCU’s amateur boxing club will attempt to do this year.

After being crowned All-Ireland champions DCU’s boxers rounded off the year by being named as the university’s club of the year.

Another positive for the club last year was the set-

ting up of the Darren Sutherland Memorial Cup, an event that saw Olympic silver medallist John Joe Nevin take to the ring in front of a packed Venue in The Hub. “Our main aim is to maintain the standard we set last year. We innovated a lot in college boxing last year such as the setting up of the Darren Sutherland Memorial Cup with boxers like John Joe Nevin,” said the club chairman, Robert Egan.

With a strong squad still in place this year thanks to the fact that most of the best boxers are still in the university, DCU will again be looking to fight off all opposition and be crowned Ireland’s number one.

R.C. ATHLETICS AFTER some impressive results and a strong finish to the year, featuring quite a few first year athletes, DCU Athletics club looks one of the strongest in the country.

With an array of international athletes competing at the highest level and across all events, it’s no wonder Athletics Academy director Enda Fitzpatrick is eagerly

CARLOW IT showed their class last year, claiming the Division 1 title, and things look uncertain for the DCU Rugby club for the 2014/15 season. Chairman of the club, Stephen Murray, spoke to us about his aims for the new year.

“We’d love to increase participation. Usually we start really strong, but towards the end of the year the numbers begin to dwindle.

“So this year our main goal is to increase participation and awareness of the club around DCU. “We had a big outflow of players there last year, due to final years leaving and also a lot of second years are on work placement this year. Without many senior players, we’ll have to build from the bottom again.”

It seems that it’s a numbers game this year, with a lot of outgoing players leaving holes for freshers to fill.

However, with their presence in Division 1 again this season, the team will need to bridge the gap if they aren’t to become whipping boys in a strong group.

C.R.

A LOOK AHEAD Previewing the year for DCU Sport Read more on page 22

DCU still Cycling For Life Eoin Sheahan Sports Reporter @EoinSheahan

CYCLE for Life, DCU’s flagship charity for 2013, is set to make its return to Irish roads next year. The charity, which once again has the backing of the university’s Students’ Union, was founded in 2012 by DCU Athletic Therapy and Training student, Cormac Ryan.

Cormac lined out between the posts for Dublin’s minor hurlers in 2011 as they lost to Galway in an All-Ireland final. It was a defeat that was about to be slapped with a big slice of perspective, however, as the young hurler tells The College View.

“We were just back with our clubs and we had a county semi-final against St. Anne’s and, during the game, I was going down with dizzy spells, breathlessness, chest pains and it happened four or five times and I ended up having to get an ambulance to Tallaght Hospital. Now Tallaght eventually sent me home a few hours later, told me I was fine.

This sort of incident kept hap-

pening whenever I was training and playing matches.”

As an 18 year-old athlete selected amongst the best 15 hurlers in his county, it is not hard to understand why Ryan might have been slightly blasé about the warning signs that began to develop in late 2011.

“I’ve had asthma all my life. Coming into that county semi-final, I had been on a course of antibiotics all week and, in truth, I probably shouldn’t have been on the pitch anyway, so I just thought it was a mixture of the sickness and I’d suppose, my asthma acting up.

“I kept ignoring it and then, as it happened over a period of a few months, I did start to think in my own head ‘right, there’s something not right here’ and I remember saying to one of the lads that I just have this gut feeling that there was something wrong but you just put these things to the back of your head and you get on with day to day life.”

The critical intervention in Cormac Ryan’s story is that of his father, whose suspicions made this narrative one of relief and close shaves rather than an all too familiar tale of tragedy.

“Every time I’d go and they’d screen my heart the basic screening - they’d send me home and say ‘look, there’s nothing wrong with you, you’re grand, it must be in your head or whatever.’ So my dad wasn’t happy with this so he basically pushed that I get fully assessed completely.

“They were telling him ‘look there’s no point doing these (respiratory tests). It’s not his heart, his heart is fine.

Like, they actually said, ‘if it was his heart, he’d be dead by now.’ So they ran them anyway and, lo and behold, they picked up a cardiac problem.”

The tests revealed that Cormac was often going into heart block, whereby his heart would stop at regular intervals, sometimes for more than five seconds, totally unbeknownst to himself. Without his father’s fears, the student may not have lived to tell the tale.

“To put it into perspective, we got up to the coronary care unit that day in Beaumont about an hour after I got home from town and the cardiologist walked in and myself and my father were sitting on the bed and he shook my dad’s hand and said ‘you must be Cormac.’

“The staff alone were

shocked to see me walk in the door because everyone in there - it’s a specialised unit Coronary Care - there’s only 12 beds in there. The other 11 people in it were about 60 or 70, all of them, and I walked in at 18.”

While the severity of the condition and the suddenness of its revelation was undoubtedly a harrowing experience, it was what came with the news that affected Cormac most – being told that he would never play hurling again.

“I remember they told me that I had to get a pacemaker and stop playing on the same day, about two or three hours apart and you would think the pacemaker thing would be the most traumatic but I’d suppose when you come from such a high level of a sporting background, when the doctor came in and said ‘look, you’re going to have to give up contact sport,’ I was inconsolable for hours upon end like, and even days. And that was the thing that hit me hardest.”

Fortunately, the Whitehall Colmcilles man managed to get back on the pitch after over a year and was back in the Dublin underage scene once again thanks to his pacemaker being implanted behind a lay-

Credit: Cormac Ryan

Sport THE COLLEGE VIEW

er of muscle in his chest. However, the wait was long and the ratio of mental to physical distress that Cormac’s condition caused was surely staggering?

“Honestly, and it’s no exaggeration, I’d go 90:10, 90% mental, 10% physical.

“I spent 13, 14 months off the playing field, I spent six or seven months not being able to exercise whatsoever so obviously the confidence takes a big, big hit and I’d suppose I went back into the (Dublin) 21s setup in 2013 and even though I got back in and people were saying ‘you’ve done awful well to come back,’ I probably in my own head didn’t think I should have been there and I’d suppose the confidence was a big issue for a long time.”

Analysing Cormac’s condition and the fact that he continued to play despite the warning signs, it is perhaps another reflection upon Irish sport and the machoism that goes with it. Listening to your body in times of anguish is a sign of weakness, Ryan says.

“You nearly feel like you have to play, you have to be Continued on page 21