The College View - Issue 4 - Volume XVII by The College View

www.thecollegeview.com

Vol. XVII, Issue 4

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

THE COLLEGE VIEW DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY’S ONLY INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1999

the suss

Sport

Alisa Xayalith on success, life and lettuce spinners » 13

Only way is up for DCU Boxers » 28

Students locked out of accounts while awaiting grant approval

@_Katie_ONeill

DCU students still awaiting the

approval of their SUSI grant application in November are being denied access to vital college services. The grant awarding body, SUSI, has faced much criticism since its inception in 2012 for long delays in paying grants to eligible students. This year SUSI has been hailed for their faster speed at processing payments for the academic year 2014/2015. There are however still students who are yet to have their application approved or declined and who have been shut out of their DCU accounts as a result. Second year Journalism student Jennifer Purdy was temporarily shut out of her DCU account while waiting for her grant to be renewed. She has paid her €43 student levy fee. “The block on my account two weeks ago was extremely inconvenient,” said Purdy. “I had a test on the Friday and was unable to access class materials or the library until late Thursday evening. SUSI are also very difficult to contact. I am still waiting to hear if my grant will be approved and another block will be put on my account in two weeks and I will find myself in the same position again.”

A spokesperson from the fees office opposed the claim that students are being denied access to college amenities while awaiting grant approval, saying: “No student has been blocked who has applied for a SUSI grant, provided they have paid their student levy of €43 and supplied their SUSI application number as requested during the online registration process.” The spokesperson for the fees office also commended SUSI for the quicker and more efficient pace at which it has processed applications this year in comparison to previous years. “To date we have received 2,564 SUSI application numbers from our students. We have invoiced, on SUSI’s instruction, for 2,027 of these students. At the end of October we received payment for 1,641 students, a terrific response by SUSI you would agree,” the spokesperson said. So far this year, SUSI has allocated payment to 54,000 students, an increase of 11,000 from this time last year. According to SUSI, around 75 per cent of those eligible for a grant have been awarded their first payment. Speaking to The College View, the fees office also confirmed that DCU will continue to avail of the use of debt collectors or “an Independent Collection Agency” this year to obtain outstanding academic fees from students.

Kirstin Campbell News Reporter @SoChozy

LAST Friday morning’s ceremo-

ny marked the 50,000th student graduated from DCU in its 25 years as a university. Although the university chose not to name the graduate, the Office of External and Strategic Affairs said that the student graduated with a Certificate in Innovation and Business Development. Overall 2,500 students graduated from DCU last week in seven ceremonies held between the 5th and 7th of November. 1,500 undergraduates and almost 1,000 postgraduates from the university gathered in the Helix’s Mahony Hall to be awarded their degrees. Most of this year’s graduates had taken a course in DCU’s Business School, with over 1,000 students graduating from the faculty. Almost 60 per cent of graduates were awarded with an Upper Second Class Honours degree (2.1), with 22% of students receiving a Lower Second Class Honours (2.2). DCU has been noted recently for awarding more First Class Honours degrees than most universities, and almost 16 per cent of graduates were awarded a first this year.

DCU students still awaiting the approval of their SUSI grant application in November are being denied access to vital college services Katie O’Neill Deputy News Editor

Number of DCU graduates hits 50,000

Full story on page 6

INSIDE Opinion

»9

Features

» 21

Can you be friends with the one that got away? Sinn Féin rise, Fine Gael fall

Gaelige DCU students at the sell out Halloween ball Credit DCU Paparazzi

» 19

Ár dTeanga, Ár dTodhchaí, Ár nDualgais

Wednesday 12 November 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief: Michael Cogley Deputy Editor: Finnian Curran

INSIDE Opinion

» 10

Not going the distance

The Suss

» 14

Isis and the absence of imagination

Lifestyle

» 16

The man bun

Gaeilge

» 19

Ár dTeanga, Ár dTodhchaí, Ár nDualgais

Gaeilge

» 20

Mo Thaithí den Oireachtas na Samhna

Features

» 23

Volunteering for the future

Sport

» 26

Impressive DCU brush Queen’s aside

Sport

Supports Movember

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: DCU Paparazzi Online Editor: David Matthews Online News Editor: Mark Hogan

» 22

Reality bites

Features

Production & Layout Editor: Gianluca Avagnina Deputy Production & Layout Editors: Mark Hogan, Victoria Ivaylova

» 27

DCU cruise past IT Sligo to secure quarter-final spot

Sub-Editors: Jordan Kavanagh, Megan Roantree, Nicola Ayres, Anna Kazadojeva, Giulia Luzi, Lisa O’Donnell, Kevin Kelly, Conor Jack Martin, Aoibheann Diver, Chaitanya Brady 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

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

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 12 November 2014

News

CRC to decide on SU’s water charges position DCU’S Class Rep Council are to vote on the Students’ Unions position regarding the implementation of water charges Finnian Curran Deputy Editor @finnc94

DCU’S Class Rep Council (CRC)

is to decide whether DCU Students’ Union oppose the implementation of water charges across the country. However, the motion was forwarded to the next CRC as each rep is to hold a vote in their respective classes and then vote for or against the motion at the next CRC which is to be held in the coming weeks. The motion, proposed by student activist Sean Cassidy, mandates that DCU SU is opposed to the imposition of water charges in their current format. The proposal would also mean the DCU SU Executive would arrange and organise protests against the controversial water

charges in line with anti-water charges movements which are led by civic organisations and unions. As well as this, if the motion is passed at the next CRC, the SU would also have to propose and lobby the motion at the next meeting of the USI national council. Speaking to The College View, Cassidy said that “the Students’ Union has an inherent duty to protect the interests of its members. One of those interests would be the general financial situation of its students.” “It’s a logical progression for a union to oppose the introduction of a charge that would further financially burden its members, especially in the context of the union being very proactive on the issue of the financial implications on students from the rent/accommodation crises,” he added. The contentious issue of privacy around the new Loop system for DCU students was also brought up at the CRC. In its current format, Loop al-

Credit Deirdre O’ Sullivan

lows users to view the profiles of any other Loop user along with their student card picture, email address, last and first access of Loop, currently registered modules, and full name. The proposal concedes that this information can be essential to staff members but it states that no student should

be able to see their own profile. The SU Executive must contact the college and work with them to improve Loop privacy for all users as a matter of urgency and report back to the CRC as soon as possible. Privacy improvements would include revoking the ability to

view any profile other than a user’s own, ensuring that no student is able to access module participants, email addresses, access times, full name, or pictures of any module, or Loop user.

Almost 80 DCU students register on Voter Registration Day The National Voter Registration Day took place on October 30th and aimed to register more young people to vote prior to upcoming referendums Sharron Lynskey News Editor @sharronlynskey

CLOSE to 80 DCU students reg-

istered to vote on campus during Voter Registration Day, an initiative that took place across all college campuses late last month. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) along with Spunout. ie organised the ‘National Voter Registration Day’ which took place on October 30th and kick-started three weeks of voter registration across the country. University College Cork drew in the biggest amount of sign-ups nationwide with over 1,000 students registering to vote on the day.

DCU Law student, Domhnaill Harkin, organised a stand in the Henry Grattan on behalf of Spunout.ie and was surprised by the amount of interest from students on the day. “We honestly were expecting thirty people, max. We got about eighty sign ups on the day but I thought we’d get a lot less”. “I know that’s not a lot for a college of 12,000 students”, he admits “But that’s probably because people just didn’t know about it”. Annie Hoey, Vice-President for Equality and Citizenship at USI estimates that over 5,000 students have signed up to vote since Voter Registration Day and she hopes that the number in DCU will increase before the final date of November 25th. “Voter registration is some-

thing that doesn’t come across as overly sexy and as such, it can be difficult to get students enthused”, she says “USI and DCUSU will be running another day of voter registration where we are going to build on the numbers from the first voter registration drive”. The Voter Registration Day coincided with a report in the Irish Examiner last week, which stated that only 26% of students voted in recent European Union elections. Domhnaill points out that student apathy is a problem today saying “Young people just don’t care and are so far removed from politics. A lot of students just think ‘What does my vote do?’ and we need to change that”. Annie also calls this report a “worrying statistic” and says that young people feel exclud-

ed from politics in general, but hopes that the upcoming referendums will be different. “I think the marriage equality referendum will be differentyoung people will be able to see an immediate, tangible result from that referendum. Friends, family, classmates: their lives will be different after that referendum and thus it is something young people will care about”. Voter Registration Day aimed to encourage young people to register to vote prior to the upcoming referendums next year. Referendums on the reduction of the voting age and marriage equality are both set to take place in 2015. The final date to register to vote is November 25th and you can register online at checktheregister.ie.

Credit Spunout.ie

Wednesday 12 November 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

News

Humanities students feel ‘less prepared’ for the workplace Humanities students feel much less prepared for the jobs market than their college peers, saying they have “never” explored how to apply their learning in the workplace Elaine Carroll believed college life had conDeputy News Editor tributed “very little” to pre@elainecarroll93 paring for the workplace. Science, maths and computing students 15 per cent of students responded likewise. This is HUMANITIES students feel ‘less compared to just 6 per cent of stuprepared’ for the workplace ac- dents in education and training, health and welfare, and services. cording to a new survey. Jenny McCormack, a DCU The study shows that a quarter of students in humanities Economics, Politics and Law stuand arts feel much less prepared dent in her final year, said she feels for the jobs market than their unprepared for the jobs market college peers, saying they have due to the absence of an organised “never” explored how to apply work placement in her degree. their learning in the workplace. The vast majority of third-lev“The absence of Intra in my el students find college to be degree puts extra pressure on us a valuable experience, noting to find our own work placement that it has given them “mar- while we’re studying to gain an adketable skills and knowledge”. vantage entering the jobs market.” 23 per cent of students in Saoirse FitzGerald, final humanities and arts said they year Contemporary Culture

and Society student has similar doubts about her degree. “I feel so unprepared for my future. Maybe it’s my own fault for not choosing to do science or business. I feel like I’m not sure what I will be actually qualified in. How will I explain that to an employer?” The Irish Survey of Student Engagement (studentsurvey.ie), will run annually after following a successful pilot year last year when it received almost 20,000 responses from students across 30 higher education institutions. The authors have said that the study aimed to provide data on the quality of third level teaching and learning will take several years “to show a clear picture of Irish student’ experiences.

ESoc gear up for Beg, Borrow, Steal event Thirty teams from DCU will race to Edinburgh next week in order to raise funds for the Donal Walsh Live Life Foundation Chaitanya Brady News Reporter @Chai_108 Sixty DCU students will race their way to Edinburgh next week, November 21st, for the Donal Walsh Live Life Foundation, the catch is they can’t use any of their own money. The event is called Beg, Borrow

and Steal and is run by the Enterprise Society. Chairperson Dylan Kehoe came up with the idea last year with great results. He said: “We’re giving people a platform to do something awesome, to accede their potential, something they’ll never have a chance to do. And it looks great on your CV.” There are strict rules to avoid cheating, “there will be checkpoints, so pre-arranged trav-

el is impossible, sure I don’t even know where they’ll be yet. We’ll be checking bank statements too, the only money they can bring is for emergencies.” There’s 30 teams of two that begin raising money for the foundation before they race. Last year €3,500 was raised for the Irish Cancer Society. With an aim of €8000 this year Mr Kehoe says “we’re hoping to slash that figure out of the park.” The team who raise the most are given a 15 minute head start and a ¤25 Uber Taxi voucher as an incentive. There’s also similar runner up prizes. Shane O’ Mahony, a competitor this year as well as last said: “It was probably the highlight of first year for me. The people we met along the way and the stories of how cancer affected their lives was a great motivation to keep going. We found people to be very generous when it came to giving us money for transport.” Mr O’ Mahoney’s team has raised over €100 so far and are “yet to get their fundraising into full swing”. The race is on as 20 more teams were added this year, “it’s going to be interesting to say the least”. Mr Kehoe praised DCU for: “providing the resources for something students will remember for the rest of their lives.”

“THE key aim of the 3U Partnership... is to nurture and dev

DCU has best return on investment among Irish universities study shows Aura McMenamin News Reporter @thecollegeview

DCU and Trinity College have the

best return on money invested into them than other Irish universities, according to a study on Higher Education in Ireland. The study, conducted by TCD group Tionchar, examined the impact of third level colleges on the economy. Colleges on average gave a return of €4 for every €1 invested giving a “multiplier” effect of four. DCU and TCD’s multiplier was 4.17 making it the highest for universities, while Letter-

kenny Institute of Technology was the highest for ITs at 4.25. A college’s return on invested money was measured in two ways: direct and indirect spending. Brian Lucey co-authored the study with Qiantao Zhang, and Charles Larkin. He explained how “output” is measured:”Let’s say DCU gets a €1m; it’s going to do things with that money. It’s going to house staff, it’s going to refurbish some buildings etc. So that’s direct spending. “Now let’s say they refurbish some student accommodation. The people that are hired to do that will buy sandwiches in the shop, they’ll buy a car with that money...that money will be spent in the economy. So you’ve

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 12 November 2014

News

Irish universities aim to strengthen ties with China Ireland may become a top destination for Chinese students following the introduction of two new educational initiatives Aoife Geary News Reporter @geargears

IRELAND may become a top

destination for Chinese students following the introduction of two new educational initiatives as Irish universities aim to strengthen ties with China The first of these initiatives saw Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan officially open the 3U Partnership’s China office in Beijing’s Galaxy SOHO urban complex. The 3U Partnership consists of DCU, NUI Maynooth and Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI). The new 3U office will bring together the skill sets of these institutions in promoting educational and research opportunities in Ireland to Chinese students. Director of 3U Partnership Ruth Davis said that “the key aim of the 3U Partnership... is to nurture and develop long lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships with key stakeholders and universities in China”. The programme will benefit not only those students who participate in an exchange op-

portunity but also those who remain in the Irish institutions. “Even if students do not choose to travel to China, the cultural interactions between Irish students and Chinese students that come to study in Ireland will have immensely positive benefits as they are facing an increasingly global jobs marketplace,” Davis said. The second initiative is the introduction of a new Masters in Chinese Studies and opening of the Trinity Centre for Asian Studies at Trinity College. The Trinity Centre for Asian Studies aims to promote Ireland as a leading knowledge centre for pan-Asian language studies and research. Minister O’Sullivan said these developments highlighted Trinity’s “ongoing commitment to Chinese collaborations, as well as deeper engagement with China”. The Masters programme will be a two year course in which students will gain expertise in aspects of Chinese history, governance, society and politics as well as a foundation in Mandarin. Enrolment in the course begins in September 2015 and the application closing date is April 2015.

Dublin’s buskers face new regulation laws

velop long lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships with key stakeholders and universities in China” Credit DCU.ie

got an indirect effect as well.” According to Lucey, colleges that have a wider breadth of subjects, are successful in attracting non-government funding. “They have a more diversified income stream, and DCU is good in terms of that.” However, an urban location does not necessarily mean that a college’s output will be higher than those in rural areas. Letterkenny Institute of Technology had the largest multiplier at 4.25 for an IT, compared to 3.62 for IADT. “Because there’s nothing else there, it creates employment in Letterkenny. The study shows that a diversified (urban and rural) set of institutions are good.” The study is “purely economical” and found that with an annual investment of €2.6bn, the output for all colleges was €10.5bn, making them a viable sector in the economy. The study considered budget constraints, which have left university funding at a “growing crisis”, according to last month’s Irish Universities Association (IUA) conference. Despite this, the data is close to output from UK and US schools.

Cancer Soc to hold Movember campaign Aidan Delaney News Reporter

DCU Cancer Society is running a

Movember campaign throughout the month of November to help raise awareness for testicular cancer. The campaign is called “Moustache You a Question” and involves 15 men who have signed up to the campaign where they will not shave for the whole month in an effort to raise funds. The lads’ progress will be followed during the month on the societies Facebook page. The society says that they have a range of events planned for the month including a scavenger hunt with DCU Rag society and a moustache party at the end of the month with the winner of the “Best Moustache” being announced. The campaign follows a num-

ber of successful campaigns run by the society in helping to raise awareness and funds for various cancer charities. Last month, DCU Cancer Soc ran a Breast Cancer awareness campaign which involved the Bros Of Tralee competition which went on to make €600 for their chosen charity. They also turned the DCU sign pink which got them major exposure as they were featured on the Irish Cancer Society’s Website. The society was set up last May following the success of the Relay for Life event which has helped to raise funds for research into eliminating cancer in Ireland. Speaking to the College View, the society’s chairperson, Stephanie Byrne, explained that since May, the society has “gone from strength to strength” thanks to these campaigns. She spoke of how people have opened up to her about their experiences which has given the society the “extra motivation to be as good as they can possibly be”. She also encourages people to check themselves regularly. “If our campaigns encourage even one person in DCU to go get themselves checked then it’s a huge success for us.”

Chaitanya Brady News Reporter

BUSKING in Dublin will be reg-

ulated for the first time, according to draft bylaws made by Dublin City Council last week. DCU student and street musician Kevin Taylor said: ‘For the government, or anyone, to tell me where and for how long I can play my banjo seems extremely Draconian. I’m not begging, surely there can be no laws against it, it’s bordering on fascist.’ A proposed ban on busking in Temple Bar, instigated by residents’ complaints, caused uproar among musicians and all types of street performers, as well as some councillors. The potential byelaw was hastily deleted. Paul Gay who’s been busking for three years said, “I believe the situation has been allowed to develop, I find it disingenuous when they say there’s a problem. “I’m not a problem, if you don’t want me to sing then ask me to move I’m a musician not a drunk, there’s sufficient laws on the books to deal with any troubles that may arise.” A protest against the ban in Temple bar was held on Mon-

day the 3rd. Among the organisers was Luke Clerkin, who works with a group of musicians called the Never Alone Collective, they raise money for Teenline Ireland (who’ve had their funding cut by the government) by busking in Temple Bar. The current draft says buskers’ will need to buy a €30 annual licence fee, which rises to €60 if amplification is used. In response busker Cezar Habeann said: “It’s a bit discriminative to make people who use amps pay more, the noise level on the street is over 80db, you need to be amplified or no one will hear you, but of course, it needs to be at a reasonable level”. Street musicians will only be able to operate from 9am to 11pm, apart from Saturdays and Sundays on Grafton Street, where they can play until 1am. “It means suffocating Grafton Street we’re already waiting up to five hours for a spot, night time buskers in temple bar will become day time buskers.” Another bylaw stated buskers could only play in one place for two hours then they’d have to move 250 metres. Performers could face fines up €1,500 if these laws are broken.

Wednesday 12 November 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

News

Number of DCU graduates hits 50,000 Overall 2,500 students graduated from DCU last week in seven ceremonies held between the 5th and 7th of November Kirstin Campbell News Reporter @SoChozy

LAST Friday morning’s ceremo-

cently for awarding more First Class Honours degrees than most universities, and almost 16 per cent of graduates were awarded a first this year. Science and health students received the most First Class Honours’, with an average of over 21 per cent achieving the highest quality of degree. Aisling McKenna, of the Office of External and Strategic Affairs, believes that this is because these subjects are “quantitative-based,” as in the answers to exams in these kinds of subjects are typically unambiguous. At the afternoon graduation ceremony on Thursday 6th, Ronan Ó Dáiligh was awarded with the Chancellor’s Medal for excellence and involvement in both academic and extra-curricular life in DCU. DEPUTY President Jim Dowling said in his speech to graduates that “95 per cent of last year’s graduates are now in employment or further study.” 4 in 10 students who took part in the INTRA programme were also offered full-time positions following their placement last year.

LONG gowns and hats were the dress code at DCU’s Graduation ceremonies last week, with 2,5

¤17m pension fund deficits at All-Ireland Dance TCD and UCD footed by public Experiment hits Nicole O’Connor News Reporter @nicoleoconnor18

TAXPAYERS payed €17m defi-

cit in the pension funds of UCD and Trinity College last year and a further €15m has been set aside for discrepancies in the pension funds of other universities. Tánaiste Joan Burton, agrees that what the Taoiseach has done in regards to pension deficits in Irish universities was the right thing to do, but she has urged TD’s to question how this point was reached. “Who was asleep on the job such that pension liabilities were allowed to become so under-funded? It is absolutely stunning.” The Tánaiste said. In 2009, after they transferred funds worth €1.367bn from their closed schemes to the National Pension Reserve Fund, the government at the time allowed the State to take responsibility for any shortfalls in pension schemes for the universities involved.

the Helix

The funding ranged from ¤58.5m in NUI Maynooth to just over ¤500m from the UCD fund. At the time Brian Lenihan described the decision to take over the assets and liabilities as necessary in order to comply with a European directive. The legislation on this matter was rushed through the Oireachtas in 2009. It was introduced in the Dáil on June 23 and the Seanad passed it by June 25. Many ministers at the time were very critical of the pension plan, which was written into a bill relating to a number of other financial issues. Since the passing of the act in 2009, all pension payments and retirement funds continue to be paid from the colleges running the pension account. However last year seen the first call on the government to honour the guarantee to meet any shortfalls, when it paid just under ¤17.3m to UCD and TCD. The money was used from savings of around €67m on teacher pensions according to the department’s 2013 accounts.

Alison Ring News Reporter @alisonringrang

DCU’S Dance Society will host

the annual All-Ireland Dance Experiment featuring several other universities as well as three outside performers, in the Helix next week, November 18th at 8pm. The event is in its fifth year of running and is expected to sell out with audiences from DCU, Trinity College Dublin, NUI Maynooth and University College Cork expected to attend to support their respective universities. “The Dance Experiment is a showcase for all the universities to show off their talents and experiment with new styles of dance in a friendlier environment, away from competition,” says Dance Events Officer Laura Ramsbottom. This year’ s theme is ‘Fearless’ and all nine troops from DCU will be performing on the

night and will include style such as jazz, hip-hop, Irish dancing, contemporary and ballet. The mixed piece will also return, following DCU’s fifth straight win in this section at inter-varsities this year. The mixed piece is a combination of hip-hop, ballet, contemporary and Irish dancing, all performed as one. Tickets to the event will cost €10 concession and €6 for students and are available from The Helix and in the Hub next week, with all proceeds going to DCU’s Cancer Society. “I’m so excited for the Dance Experiment and it’s going to be bigger than ever this year. There are colleges from all over Ireland travelling to take part in it and we are expecting it to be a sell-out event,” said Cancer Soc chairperson and Dance committee member Stephanie Byrne. Presenter auditions were held last week, with DCU and Voice of Ireland’s David Atkinson being selected to host the showcase. DCU Dance was named Best Society at the DCU Society awards last year and is looking forward to another successful year with events such as Strictly Come DCU and DCU’s Best Dance Crew planned for the coming months.

Students urged to be vaccinated against mumps Laura Colgan Deputy News Editor @Laura_Colgan

AT least six outbreaks of mumps

in university students have occurred this year according to a report released by the HSE. The report states 400 diagnosed cases of mumps were reported to date this year, in comparison to 184 cases in the same time period last year. In an interview with the Irish Independent, a spokesperson from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre said that 31 per cent of cases are in people aged 15-19 years old, 19 per cent are in those aged 20-24 and 15 per cent are in people aged 25-34. Less cases are presenting in people of other age groups. Mumps is an infectious and

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 12 November 2014

News

Leinster College shuts down John Casey News Reporter @thecollegeview

THE English language school

500 students graduating in a total of seven ceremonies Credit DeirdreOSullivan

contagious disease caused by a virus. It is spread the same way as a cold, through infected droplets of saliva that are inhaled or picked up through close contact. The disease causes fever and swollen glands. It can also lead to meningitis, deafness and inflammation of the pancreas or testicles. The rise of mumps is linked to a lack of immunity against it. In Ireland, most people are given two doses of the MMR vaccine by age 5, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Both doses of the vaccination are needed for immunity. Students, in particular, are being urged to be vaccinated against mumps, as it is the only way to be protected against the viral disease. The HSE put a vaccination catch-up programme in place in 2009.

Credit ics.ie

Students are being urged to be vaccinated against mumps, as at least six outbreaks of the disease among students have occurred this year

Leinster College ceased trading with immediate effect last week. The college had informed students and staff the week before that it would be closing on a temporary basis. Staff and students were informed of this via a note posted on the door of the school premises. It was later confirmed that the language school would not be reopening. This message was relayed to students and staff via a note on the college website which said: “Due to change in trading conditions Leinster College has ceased to trade with immediate effect. We apologise for inconvenience caused to all our clients and staff members.” At the time of closure there was close to 200 students registered at the school. It employed 20 teaching staff as well as seven administration staff. Leinster College had been collecting fees and charges from students up to the Friday evening before Monday’s closure announcement. It is currently unclear whether these students will be able to recover any fees that have been paid in advance. A recent clampdown on abuses of the student visa system is seen as a major reason for the closure. Many students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) were arriving on student visas with the aim of getting work rather than studying. In addition to that, all language schools will have to receive accreditation from the Accredita-

Credit Ib-Static.com

tion and Co-Ordination of English Language Services (ACELS) from January 1st in order to continue operating. Language schools will face more stringent regulations with fewer being able to accept immigrant students. This is expected to have contributed to the shutdown of the college also.

These restrictions will severely limit the types of courses that non EEA citizens can enrol in. Students on study visas will also be limited in the amount of hours that they can legally work in order to curb abuses of the system.

Employers value experience over a degree, poll suggests The study by the Irish Independent says that grade inflation is one of the main factors behind these results Scout Mitchell News Reporter @scout_mitchell

EMPLOYERS value work experi-

ence more than the completion of a university degree according to a recent poll published by the Irish Independent last week. The poll suggests that due to their conventionality and the controversy surrounding grade inflation, a third level education is no longer seen as an obvious advantage to employers, with hands on and practical experience being the most sought after assets. The poll surveyed 75 Irish firms and was issued by UK finance group Close Brothers. According to the results, a third of bosses in Ireland said they do not consider a degree to be import-

ant when it comes to hiring staff. Such assertions are concerning for students across Ireland who plan on entering the workforce immediately upon completing their degrees. DCU’s INTRA programme accommodates to students’ needs in work experience and is a huge advantage to overtly practical fields of learning. “Over 65 per cent of INTRA students are offered a job or are actively encouraged to apply for a graduate training programme with their INTRA employer,” stated Head of INTRA and coordinator Maeve Long. This high percentage of students appears to support the surveyed employers’ prerequisite of experience. However, contrary to employers’ opinions, Long still commends the value of a university education, stating: “I imagine that a degree is viewed as a very

valuable asset and is not less valuable than work experience”. Although Long advocates the worth of a university degree, she also believes that a degree alone is not sufficient and that “work experience gives students the opportunity to develop and enhance their DCU Graduate Attributes and thereby their employability”. Programmes like INTRA give students the opportunity to balance academics and practical work experience as to better prepare themselves for their chosen career pathway and it is for these reasons that DCU’s graduates have a plethora of employable qualities.

Wednesday 12 November 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

News

UCC SU criticised for passing “wipe the slate” motion Laura Colgan Deputy News Editor @Laura_Colgan

STUDENT groups at University

College Cork criticised their Students’ Union for passing a motion that abolishes all policy decisions and mandates passed in the last five years at a recent council meeting. The “wipe the slate” motion was proposed and passed after union officers said that the drafting of a new policy document for UCCSU was prevented by substandard records of previous council meetings. The motion passed by a majority of 65 to 23. UCC Labour and UCC LGBT criticised the passing of the motion. UCC LGBT claimed that the students’ union officers can access past mandates in a shared folder on Google Drive. Education Officer Joe Kennedy

said that there was access to a folder on Google Drive, but there were minutes for 11 meetings out of 30, some of which are incomplete. UCC LGBT said “the ardent work of reps over the last five years has been abolished in one swift brush,” in a statement. UCC Labour agreed that the motion “throws away five years of progressive lobbying and campaigning,” in a statement. The society also said that the students’ union “neglected to reimplement core motions and policies that make up the day-to-day running of the Students’ Union”. This includes the abolition of mandates for working groups of the union, such as the Equality Working Groups. The society criticised the students’ union’s lack of publicity on the motion and possible results before the council meeting took place as well. UCC LGBT has called for the reversal of this motion, expressing concern for student politics.

UCC Students’ Union has been criticised for passing a “wipe the slate” motion Credit UCCExpress.ie

ment of education said: “Dr Ormonde feels that he has brought the project as far as he can and believes that the time is now

thority, Michael Kelly, to oversee and lead a process of consultation between governing bodies, staff and students of both universities to “reinvigorate” the project. Last month, WIT informed IT Carlow, via e-mail, about their decision to cease talks on the long established plans. The universities executive board said the merger would lead to a larger institution but its performance would be “less than the current performance of WIT alone”. President of IT Carlow Patricia Mulcahy commented the unexpected email: “Their decision to suspend the negotiations has surprised us and really disappointed us”. Minister O’Sullivan has told WIT that a standalone bid for University status would not be acCredit Munster-Express.ie cepted and to successfully apply for the designation a merger must right for a new face to progress be carried out. In addition, variit to a successful conclusion”. ous performance-related criteria O’Sullivan appointed former must be achieved. chair of the higher education au-

and independent country?” The motion failed to achieve electoral consensus with a margin of 51% against the proposal to 49% in favour of it. Over 2,500 students in Queens’ also voted in favour of their SU adopting a policy of “political neutrality in regard to the constitutional position of Northern Ireland” in a counter-referendum held on the same day. The referendum on the University removing itself politically from the constitutional debate was opposed by 409 students.

A clear majority of students expressed a desire for the SU to remain independent and non-affiliated in the contentious issue of Northern Ireland’s constitutional future – whether remaining a constituent country of the United Kingdom or reuniting with the Republic. Sinn Fein where unavailable for comment but when asked his views on the result the Chair of the DUP association at Queen’s University Jack Patterson said “Today represents a victory for the vast majority of students at Queen’s.

WIT President resigns over south-east IT merger Jordan Kavanagh and Rebecca Lumley News Reporters

THE chair of Waterford Institute

of Technology has resigned following the proposed merger of Institutes of Technology in the south east. Dr. Donnie Ormonde stepped down as President of WIT following a meeting with Minister for Education, Jan O Sullivan, over the university’s decision to pull out of a merger with Institute of Technology Carlow last month. O’Sullivan had to intervene after WIT unexpectedly pulled

out of talks with IT Carlow to join the two universities as one in the south east. “I fully acknowledge the work that the leadership of both universities have committed to the project but it is also true to say that momentum has slipped in recent weeks,” she said. Difficulties arose when Carlow IT released a statement about the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, against the wishes of WIT. An executive board paper was then published in late October that stated the merger was “incapable of designation as a University within the medium to long term, if ever”. It also said the performance capacity of the University would be “less than the current performance of WIT alone”. A statement from the depart-

Sinn Fein Irish unity motion fails in Queen’s University Andrew Ralph News Reporter

SINN Fein suffered two major

electoral losses in Queen’s University, Belfast following recent referenda held by the Students’ Union last week.

The party was unsuccessful in its motion on the issue of Irish reunification and sovereignty by just over twenty votes. The motion was defeated 1,285 votes to 1,264 votes in an extremely close SU referendum. Students voted on Sinn Fein’s proposed question of “Should Ireland be a united

The DUP at Queen’s supported the boycott of the united Ireland referendum because we believe that whilst individuals can all have personal political opinions, places of education should not adopt positions on divisive issues like the constitutional question.” The results of these respective referenda represent a defeat for Sinn Fein who had hoped the SU would be persuaded by plebiscite and popular vote to take a supportive stance on the question of Irish Unity.

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 12 November 2014

Opinion

Case of the Ex - can you be friends with the one that got away? Catherine Devine Features Editor @Catherinedevin1

I have a broken heart. It feels as

though a swarm of tiny hands are squeezing and banging it against my ribcage. My stomach joins in by not wanting to eat and my mind relives hundreds of memories, transforming my whole body into a chaotic state. Can you be friends with the person who caused this? The boy I spent a year and a half with, turned to me and said that he didn’t want to be with me anymore. I looked back at him with my puppy dog eyes and laughed ‘good joke lol’ which was followed by a ‘no, seriously’ – ouch. However during our break up, an offer of friendship was extended, and two months later, I found myself still struggling with the concept of being friends

with my ex. Initially I thought of course we couldn’t be. He hurt me and I wanted to hate him - but I couldn’t. So I decided to give the friendship a go. Having him as my best friend was better than having nothing at all, right? So we became friends. We talked most days about how we were feeling. At this point, I thought ‘yeah we can be friends, I just need time to adjust to our new relationship.’ But with the help of social media, my opinion changed. Snapchats of him out with other girls, Facebook photos of him drinking, WhatsApp informing me that he had stayed out until 5am (with God knows who doing God knows what) drove me crazy. It only served to break my heart all over again and caused my anger to resurface. In my view, being friends while still caring so immensely about an ex doesn’t work - unless you’re ok with dying inside

Uninvited

PUBLIC harassment can be deZainab Boladale Contributor

fined as ‘the intimidation of an individual in a public space.’ Also known as street harassment, public harassment has been highlighted in the media of late. Last month YouTuber Sam Pepper was accused of Public and Sexual Harassment. This month a video, documenting a woman walking through NYC for ten hours went viral. The footage was harrowing to watch and depicted the female in question being subjected to many forms of public harassment. Meanwhile, in a survey conducted at UCD by the Dublin branch of Hollaback, an organisation which aims to end street harassment, sixty four per cent of females and 10 per cent of males were found to have been street harassed.

I think that public harassment happens to women in particular due to the gender discrimination and sexism that is still present in today’s society. This objectification of women from puberty to adulthood rears it head every time a man tries to force a woman into giving him attention through words, sounds or gestures. When people make statements like ‘sure it’s a compliment’, I’m tempted to give up on this society forever. Lewd gestures and comments are not compliments - if anything they show that the woman being targeted, yes targeted, is not respected. In the last three months alone I’ve been stopped and intimidated by five men who felt it was appropriate to make unwanted advances towards me - despite the fact that I was clearly uncomfortable. This included a traumatic experience on the juice aisle of Tesco, in which a man in what I took to be his fifties approached me. He informed me that he had dated ‘black Nigerian wom-

every single time he appears on your news feed. When you do talk to them of course they’re going to tell you that they’re doing fantastic, while you recall how you spend your nights sobbing into the teddy they got you for Valentine’s day, and drinking to excess in order to enjoy yourself. Worst yet is when you meet up with them for the first time post break - up. I mean, why wouldn’t you want to see them if you’re still friends? Despite such innocent reasoning, your head tells you it’s a bad idea, but your heart? Well that’s another matter. “Is that new?” he asks, pointing to the outfit I spent ages in Forever 21 searching for. “Nah, have it a while,” I shrug, even though I know he has made an effort too. And there you are sitting on his bed, just like old times, but you’re friends. Yet all you can think of is that this is so unnat-

ural, that you hate him, that you still love him, that those arms should be cuddling you and how you think he’d react if you tried to kiss him, or if he kissed you. Even after being apart for 6 weeks, I still felt like home when I was in his arms. However, then came the bursts of hurt and rage we both felt when we confessed to each other that we had both been with other people. I’ll never forget how hurt I felt when I heard that he had been with other girls. Or the way he dropped his head into his knees in hurt and despair when he heard that I had seen other boys. That was the moment that I knew we couldn’t be friends. I cried harder the day after that meeting than when we had initially broken up. After a day of misery, we contacted each other again and talked things through. We spoke about how hurt we both were and the topic of getting back together soon

arose. But we both agreed that although we still cared for one other, perhaps too much, we just couldn’t make it work. Most people will advise you to cut ties from an ex when your relationship ends. That whatever you had is over and you should move on or risk putting yourself in a position where you will be hurt on repeat. I personally think the best thing to do after a break up is in fact to spend some time apart. Months apart. If your relationship is meant to be it will be, and if with time you’re okay with just being friends then so be it. However I firmly believe that you can’t be friends with your ex initially. It hurts far too much. When both people accept that it’s over, and you can resist your urge to kiss, then maybe a friendship with your ex can work.

en’ in the past and suggested that he was rolling in cash. Clearly this man thought that because I had a friendly and open face, he had the right to intimidate me with his inappropriate comments. In other words, he took advantage. Another statement that really makes my blood boil is ‘it’s not harassment if you weren’t physically harmed.’ LIES! Victims of public harassment may not be physically injured, but they are still undoubtedly affected emotionally. Public harassment can also often escalate into sexual harassment, which is what makes it so dangerous. Case in point, I was walking to the shops one mid-afternoon in October, when I heard a man wolf-whistling behind me. I ignored it like any sensible person would. He then suddenly ran past, slipped his hand down my back and hovered it over my bum, before giving me a cheeky wink and making a fast getaway. What was most disturbing about this incident was that he thought his actions were humorous. If anything they angered, embarrassed and scared me. His behaviour

was invasive and insulting. As far as I’m concerned, incidents of street harassment will continue to grow if we don’t draw people’s attention to such unwanted and intimidating behaviour. The streets belong to us all and each one of us should feel safe when walking them. With this in mind, I am

pleased to hear that DCU Welfare Officer Eve Kerton has promised a series of workshops on Street Harassment in the near future. In these I urge you to take part. After all, if we are to speak up about inappropriate behaviours, we need not only to be empowered, but informed.

Credit: Irishmirror.ie

Wednesday 12 November 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Opinion

Not Going The Distance Christine Allen Opinions Editor

HER message read - ‘Newry

actually. Its a little over an hours drive away.’ And so it began, my brief encounter with long distance courting.Having established a great connection on a well known dating site,myself and my online romantic interest decided to approach longdistance dating with an open mind, determined not to allow such anunsexy impediment as geography dampen our hopes. After all, a vast stretch of the M1 was all that separated Newry from Dublin, and vice versa. How hard could it be? Truth be told, I don’t know. I bailed before things got too serious. Why? Well, as my feelings began to develop, I could no longer ignore my gut which was telling me that a relationship with this girl could never work. That being a student with little income, the cost of week in week out travel expenses, not to mention hotel accommodation for overnight stays (we both lived with the parents), would leave me tight for cash. That meeting once every two to three weeks was not enough to

Credit: Biblesociety.org

make a relationship work. That life would get in the way. However, the catalyst for my decision to bow out was not related to finance or accommodation, but the uncertainty

Credit EoghanO’Connor

involved in dating someone whose social life was completely separate to my own. Needless to say, trust became

wondering whether she had in fact met someone the night before. Perhaps someone much more local?

While long distance relationships may work for some, it is my view that even with the best will in the world, and all the finances

Having established a great connection on a well - known dating site, myself and my online romantic interest decided to approach long distance dating an issue - for me at least. While anyone can of course ‘cheat’, whether there partner be one hundred kilometres or one mile away, the likelihood in my view of one or both partners being unfaithful increases when they are hundreds of miles apart. After all, can someone’s virtual presence in the form of a Messenger chat head really compete with an attractive stranger in a bar? The girl I was dating was also the type of person who went hard or went home on a night out, and would often be too hungover to contact me for a day or two after such an excursion. During those hours of radio silence, I found myself

Needless to say, these worries raised a red flag – if after a handful of dates I was feeling this insecure, how would I deal with the distance between us if I actually fell for her? When I put our courtship to a halt, some friends accused me ofnot wanting to be happy. Of being scared of a relationship. Of being guilty of paranoia. Others agreed that putting a stop to our romance before things got too serious was for the best. That such relationships require the undertaking of too many sacrifices (missing social activities with friends for example, in order to have the money to travel), not to mention their tendency to fuel insecurities.

under the sun, they should only serve as a short - term ‘solution’. That is, until one party can move closer to the other. However, if you are the type of person to get jealous easily (Hi) and have limited funds like many a student, I think you should forget altogether about entering into a long distance relationship. As for my Newry lass, sure it was a shame that our romance had to end - however when it comes to long distance relationships, I firmly believe that despite what the 1980s band Roxette may advocate, it should be a case of listen to your head, not your heart.

the susss 12 November 2014

Black is the new black: A look at Alexander Wang X H&M

Interview The Naked and Famous have begun work on their third album

Inside The Man Bun ?

arts

Picture Credit: Anthony Powell; blogspot.com; surfgirlmag.com; themarooncafe.com; entertainmentmonthly.com; movieplot.com; bet.com; Eoin Luc O’Ceallaigh; indiespot.es; whatshedoesnow.com; biography.com; nugget.ca; pintrest.com; food-bloggingtips.com; timessquarenyc.org; whalespout.com

ALL ABOUT THAT POSITIVE BODY IMAGE Take a look at the Irish singles chart at the minute. Right below Ed Sheeran, doing his usual wailingover-acoustic-guitar shtick, there’s a certain song which was previously at number one before being overtaken by Sheeran. The song is in its thirteenth week on the chart and contains the lyric “I’m bringing booty back, go ‘head tell them skinny bitches that.” This song is, of course, Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” and it is disappointing in so many ways. First off, the idea of booty needing to be brought back is ridiculous given that Beyoncé, the women who sang “Bootylicious”, is pretty much the undisputed queen of the world at this point. Things like this happen in pop. Justin Timberlake thought sexy had disappeared at one point in his career so he went and brought it back, but it’s the message in the song that is the ultimate disappointment. Straight after telling the “skinny bitches” that she is bringing booty back, she attempts to recover by saying “No, I’m just playing, I know you think you’re fat, but I’m here to tell you, every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top”, but the damage is already done. You can’t refer to a section of people as skinny bitches and then preach solidarity. Solidarity prefaced by an insult is very hollow solidarity indeed. It’s unfortunate that Trainor feels like she has to put people down before preaching what is ultimately a positive message: to be comfortable in your own body. I won’t pretend that I, as a man, will ever truly understand the immense pressure on women to conform to whatever is deemed to be beautiful in our male-dominated culture. I’d rather see a song tackle these societal pressures which women, at the top of our charts, find themselves under. Skinny shaming is as real as fat shaming, slut shaming and all the other kinds of shaming that our patriarchal society has imposed on women; a crude reminder that it is men who run the world and it is men who dictate what is and is not acceptable in terms of behaviour, appearance and everything in between. Contrast “All About That Bass” to Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful”, which has become something of an anthem for the LGBTQIA community. This song’s message communicates positive body image and inner beauty, but Aguilera didn’t find it necessary to preface her message with an insult toward a particular group of people. That’s what’s so disappointing about Trainor’s hit: it aims to promote a positive body image, but, in the process, insults people who may be perfectly happy with their bodies.

12 November 2014 | the suss

sharp darts

Credit:Dawgz.fr

Kodaline, Le Galaxie, Rubywork Sessions and more will appear at a newly announced New Year’s festival which will take place over three days in Dublin. The Festival, or NYF, will run from 30th December until 1st January. Michael Fassbender is reportedly in talks to take over the role of Steve Jobs in Aaron Sorkin’s forthcoming biopic of the Apple co-founder. Christian Bale and Leonardo Di Caprio have already dropped out of filming after deciding that the role was not suitable. AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd was arrested on suspicion of hiring a hitman to murder two people. The charges have since been dropped but charges for drugs and threatening to kill remain. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is to be adapted into a Netflix series,

following the failed attempt to 21st. launch a franchise in 2004. Rapper Freddie Gibbs was reportedly the target of a shooting that took place following his concert in New York City.

“

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is to be adapted into a Netflix series

Canadian duo Death From Above 1979 have announced dates in the Academy on the 20th of February and the Limelight in Belfast on the

lyrics. Caribou at Vicar Street: The word Sun has lost all meaning. Sun? Sun? Sun? Dominic West to portray Ernest Hemingway in Genius: Dare I say “genius” casting?

Until society wises up, bad songs over outdated doo-wop backing tracks will continue to force that very idea.

Arts Editor: Odrán de Bhaldraithe Deputy Arts Editor: Bryan Grogan

Lifestyle Editor: Orlaith Farrell Deputy Lifestyle Editor: Emma Dungan

Toy Story 4 announcement: I’m saving all my tears for 2017.

The Suss team give their succint thoughts on recent happenings in the art world and attempt, at times, to be funny

Anyone on Facebook has probably seen at least one “only a dog wants a bone” picture and frankly it disgusts me. These pictures push an idea that a skinny girl is undeserving of love simply for being skinny.

Credit:Guim.co.uk

Bryan Grogan, Ryan Foynes, Stephen Keengan and Odrán de Bhaldraithe

my soul.

One Line

Damien Rice’s My Favourite Faded Fantasy: Rice sounds like a Blue-era Joni Mitchell as he spins beautiful songs with astute and observant

The title of of the newest Star Wars film has been announced. Stars Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens will be released in 2015.

Future’s Monster: The second half of “Throw Away” pretty much destroyed

#RejectedStarWarsTitles: 100% Less Lucas, Awaken for What and The Forced Disney Sequel would have all been better than The Force Awakens. Remembering that they’re making another Star Wars trilogy: How do you kill what’s already been ravaged? The first Star Wars trilogy: Up there with the Mighty Ducks, Lord of the Rings and Toy Story trilogies. The second Star Wars trilogy: Hayden Christensen is a really bad actor. BBC’s Drive re-score: The next 1975 album will be really good and I forgot how great that motel room scene is. Bryan Grogan, Stephen Keegan and Odrán de Bhaldraithe

arts

the suss | 12 November 2014

Alisa Xayalith on success, life and lettuce spinners “

It sounds like an easy life, but it takes hard work and discipline,” she adds warningly. Travelling the world is often seen as the reward for that hard work and all those months tucked away in a stuffy recording studio and TNAF have performed onstage across Canada, Europe and Australia. But after

Clarissa Waldron chats to The Naked and Famous frontwoman Alisa Xayalith about a third album, L.A. and the world at large

The Naked and Famous were born in 2006 when vocalist Alisa Xayalith met fellow college dropout Thom Powers (vocals). Over time they recruited Aaron Short (keyboard), David Beadle (bass) and Jesse Wood (drums) and in 2010 they released Passive Me, Aggressive You, which was followed three years later by In Rolling Waves. Currently New Zealand’s biggest musical export, the band

Credit:journal.com

has played across the world at every globally renowned festival, including Coachella, SXSW and Glastonbury. Their success - including a number one debut album - has seen their singles featured on Grey’s Anatomy, True Blood and Gossip Girl, while “Punching in a Dream” is the theme tune for Made in Chelsea. Now, their second world tour has recently concluded in California, and we caught up with vocalist, Xayalith, to hear all about the inner workings of her band, her life and her mind. As a quintet, the group relocated from New Zealand to Los Angeles in 2012. Having held each other’s hands throughout their first eight years together, Xayalith tells me that they now live separately. ”I’m experiencing what it feels like to truly be alone with one-self. I’m learning to do normal things like how to use a lettuce spinner in the kitchen. I’m discovering more parts of LA and making new friends.” Downtime like this for

an artist can only be the catalyst for one thing: creativity. Certainly album number three is already a hot topic in their camp with brainstorming afoot. “Thom and I have begun working on new songs. We want to make an ambitious TNAF pop record. I know that sounds very abstract but I’m very excited about it.” So how else will it differ to its predecessors? “We spent a year making In Rolling Waves and a year touring it, we’re ambitious about writing this third LP but writing music takes as long as it takes…. so we’ll take our time, but not too much time I hope!” A new pop direction would certainly be unexpected as TNAF have always desired to be labelled as an ‘alternative rock band’. Is this change in direction a signal of growth and development for the band as artists or more about commerciality? “I hope to always learn and grow. Today, I feel capable but there’s still so much I want to do; one day I want to write a song as classic as “Stand by Me”. No matter what you do in life, I think people should always be learning and growing and figuring things out.” Enthusiasm aside, Xayalith says it’s often difficult working alongside four other passionate musicians - who are also guys - and relations do get fraught. “There are five people in this group who care about what kind of music they want to play. We’re usually all on the same page at the end of the day, after having it out with one another! I remember reading about the kinds of arguments that would happen in the studio between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. But when it’s great, we feel untouchable.” Despite living the American Dream, Xayalith is still adjusting to TNAF’s recent success and describes herself as very lucky and proud. “I wake up every day thinking to myself ‘This is my life now, I live in LA and music is my currency. The sole reason I am even in this country is because of music.’

One day I want to write a song as classic as ‘Stand By Me’

playing Fuji Rocks in 2011, Japan is the place Xayalith yearns to return to. “It’s the most foreign place we’ve ever been. We all agree that it’d be so fun for us to head back, but next time play a show in Osaka.” Recounting touring across the world, Xayalith reveals herself to be a culture vulture. Shunning the tour norms of drinking all day and sleeping all night, she prefers to walk and explore each city she encounters describing it as “exciting”. Contrary to this is the physical toll travelling takes on her and she also describes questionable areas TNAF have performed, “Sometimes you can’t go outside because it may not be a very safe area.” Alluding to their name, The Naked and Famous - an ambivalent title harking to celebrity culture, I can’t help but ask Xayalith her thoughts, as the only lady surrounded by males in a male dominated industry, on the recent iCloud hacking scandal that targeted a wide proportion of female Hollywood. “I think it’s really awful. It’s a huge violation of one’s privacy and that sort of predatory behaviour is mortifying.” As a compassionate and gentle front-woman, with a passion for culture, the world, life and others, we stray to serious topics. New Zealand has recently committed itself to the international fight against ISIS and Xayalith is truly forlorn as she describes her thoughts. “Politics, it’s a world I’m not oblivious to. I’ve read some devastating articles about ISIS and it makes me feel helpless and angry that such a group exists. I think that using the good in the world to fight evil comes from a place of love and compassion for the human race. I’d like to be on that team.”

Clarissa Waldron

arts

12 November 2014 | the suss

BBC’s Drive re-score: The standard or the deluxe version? On Thursday, the 30th of October a new version of Drive was aired on BBC Three featuring a re-scored soundtrack, curated by Zane Lowe. The new score featured artists such as Bastille, The 1975, Foals and Chvrches. Although these names are well known and highly liked, the announcement of the re-score was met with mixed reviews. Drive was released in 2011 and the original score by Cliff Martinez was deemed a highlight of the film, reaching as high as number four in the US Independent Album charts. It therefore came as a surprise to people when it was announced on October 20th, that BBC Radio One’s Zane Lowe would re-score the movie. There was a lot of responses from fanatics of the film who believed “if it ain’t

broke don’t fix it”. However, there was excitement for the new project; it was another excuse to watch a brilliant movie while discovering new music. Lowe managed to get a mix of well-known artists to participate in his ambitious project, which took 18 months in total to complete. The re-scored movie was aired at 10 P.M. on the 30th of October and just like reactions to the news of the project, feelings towards the re-scored Drive were mixed. One thing was clear though, people either loved it or hated it, there was no indifference. “The scariest thing you’ll see this Halloween” was one of my favourite negative responses to the project, of which there were many. While it’s understandable that some people felt like the

“

While it’s understandable that some people felt like the original score did not need to be changed as it fit the movie perfectly, BBC’s new score gives viewers a chance to experience the movie in a different way

original score did not need to be changed as it fit the movie perfectly, BBC’s new score gives viewers a chance to experience the movie in a different way, should they wish. It’s a win-win situation really. The new score featured many great new songs such a “Mellow Man” by Laura Mvula and “The Driver” by Bastille.

The song which appeared to be the favourite however, was “Medicine” by The 1975 which replaced “A Real Hero” by College & Electric Youth. “Medicine” is very mellow and has a nostalgic feel to it which fits in perfectly with the chosen scene. Unfortunately if you missed the showing of the re-scored version of Drive it’s not so easy to find and watch. The new version of the movie is only available on the BBC website which does not allow viewing from outside the UK. It has not been confirmed yet whether the re-score tracks will be released as an album but for now both “Medicine” and “The Driver” have been made available to download on iTunes.. Michelle Bourke Credit: FocalMatter.com

Isis and the absence of imagination If you mention Isis to someone these days the first thought that comes to mind are the Islamist militants in the Middle East who are currently dominating the news, along with Ebola and water charges. It’s slightly less likely that you will think of another Isis, the Labrador retriever from Downton Abbey. Isis, Downtown Abbey’s dog, has been diagnosed with cancerCredit: Blogspot.com

After Isis, the dog in Downton Abbey, was diagnosed with cancer, Bryan Grogan takes a look at the media and its attempts at social commentary, or lack thereof

Ironic as it may be for a historical drama to get caught up in current events, it could have provided the creators with a real platform to weigh in on one of the most highly discussed events of the past few years. The show didn’t mean to attract the kind of notoriety that goes with being associated with a fundamentalist, anti-western organisation but alas, they did. Instead they seemed to have bottled it. In the latest episode of the show it was revealed that Isis has cancer and will most likely die before the season ends. Actor Hugh Bonneville, who plays the Earl of Grantham, recently released a statement to the effect

that the choice of name was happenstance as they were following an Egyptian theme. Whether this is the case or not seems to be beside the point, surely there has to be scope to alter plans and plots, especially with such an opportunity as this. Apart from establishing an interactive atmosphere with fans, a move that defies a temporal logic in favour of relevance is not a heavily trodden path. With fantasy and historical dramas becoming more and more prevalent, is it possible that there will be a necessity to look outwards rather than into the past? It is undoubtable that Downton Abbey has tackled some big issues already, though only retrospectively and with the whole picture at hand, rather than in process. It seems that the number of topical shows over the past decade or so has decreased as reality TV was brought into vogue. With the exception of HBO’s output, South Park and a few comedy-panel shows, there doesn’t seem to be much coverage of the modern trends that effect viewers.

There is the feeling that only certain shows can talk about current events, with the funny, explicit cartoon or the in-depth, analytical drama leading the way in providing pastiches of modern life. House of Cards’ political intrigue hits home, but with what frame of reference are we supposed to view some of the occurrences in Game of Thrones? TV creates trends these days, rather than providing commentary. With all this in mind and as we see Hitch and Marley & Me remade as TV shows or news becoming a very strict John Stewart type of comedy it might be the right time to question whether media priorities are bringing us in the right direction. Bryan Grogan

arts

the suss | 12 November 2014

Review: Damien Rice - My Favourite Faded Fantasy Daniel O’Connor reviews the triumphant return of Ireland’s premiere singersongwriter, Damien Rice. After his somewhat disappointing sophomore album, 9, and an eight year hiatus from music, it was no stretch to wonder whether Damien Rice would return to music at all.

tionships and heartbreak being the focus of a large portion of his work. This trend continues on My Favourite Faded Fantasy with deeply personal and introspective singles “I Don’t Want to Change You” and “The Greatest Bastard” My Favourite Faded Fantasy, serving as direct addresses to Rice’s third album, is most no- Hannigan. tably his first record without his vocal foil Lisa Hannigan. Musically, the album provides While her presence is defiplenty to make it the most nitely missed, she remains a dynamic, multi-layered recentral figure as the majority cord Rice has produced while of these eight songs directly still containing elements of concern her and their relahis typical style. Delicate tionship. acoustic guitar, swelling string arrangements and climatic As seen in O and 9, Rice has endings are all featured once never been afraid to wear his more to great effect. heart on his sleeve with rela-

Damien Rice has ended up with an eight-year hiatus to return with his third album, My Favourite Faded Fantasy Credit: Conseuqencesofsound. com

However, it is the things that feel new and fresh that argue the case for My Favourite Faded Fantasy being Rice’s best work to date. Produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, this collection of eight songs is definitely not lacking in ambition, with only one track failing to break the five minute barrier. The choral ending on “Trusty and True”, the ambient album closer “Long Way Down” and the nine minute long “It Takes a Lot to Know a Man” are all perfect examples of how Rice has expanded his musical scope to create a more cere-

bral, polished album while songs such as “Colour Me In” and “The Box” stay loyal to Rice’s folk roots. There is no single that may be as radio friendly or catchy as the likes of “Cannonball” or “9 Crimes”, but every song is packed with weight and significance. Filled with regret and melancholy, the album can be a haunting experience at times but for every moment of longing and grief, there is a moment of beauty to counteract it.

a long time to wait for an album, My Favourite Faded Fantasy proves that it was time well spent. The music landscape has changed dramatically in the time between Rice’s departure and triumphant return, with many new singer-songwriters emerging with acclaim. Despite this, Rice has ensured that he still stands among the best of them as My Favourite Faded Fantasy stands as his most accomplished record to date.

While eight years may be

Live review: Future Islands at Vicar Street It’s a chilly November evening, the first real cold of a mild year, but you wouldn’t have known it at 9:35 in Vicar Street on Monday night, with the sell-out crowd’s anticipation creating an atmosphere crackling with electric warmth as they awaited the arrival onstage of Future Islands. The power of Sam T. Herring is apparent before he’s even set foot on stage, a cult of personality already constructed in people’s minds following that magical Letterman appearance that made him an overnight internet sensation. The crowd are baying with warm adoration as the band emerge and Herring greets us with a grin and his Carolina drawl; “How y’all doing tonight? We had so much fun last night and now we get to do it all

over again!” What followed was something special. Bassist William Cashion and keyboardist Gerrit Welmers form, alongside touring drummer Mike Lowry, an excellent live band, both anchoring and propelling the show – Welmers’ Peter Hook bass lines are a delight. It is they that allow Herring to shine. Herring is a ferocious bundle of barely controlled energy on stage, his movements channelling the feeling and spirit of the songs and laying them naked and raw for the audience to connect with, and connect they did. From the first pounding chest-thumps during opener “Give Us the Wind”, to the savage, guttural howls of encore highlight

“

Herring is a ferocious bundle of barely controlled energy on stage

“Fall from Grace”, from the high kicks during “Sun in the Morning” to the snake hips during “Doves,” Sam T. Her-

ring, with his movements and his voice, holds the audience rapt and malleable in the palm of his hand It’s the perceived sincerity of his actions that sets him apart though – no matter how outlandish he gets, no matter if he’s lunging at the monitors like a crazed predator, gazing into the rafters and reaching out for who he’s lost or miming the act of ripping his own beating heart out, it never sets him apart from the ordinary audience member - who in the intimate surrounds of Vicar Street can all see in his eyes the emotion that fuels the antics. It’s safe to say that every member of the 1500 capacity venue over their two-night

stint left feeling like they’d established a personal connection with Sam T. Herring at one moment or another. Mine came during Light House, a song “about what a friend said to me when I was going through some dark times,” Herring explained. He crouched at the front of the stage and looked people deep in the eyes while imparting his friend’s message: “you know, what you know is better, is brighter.” I left Vicar St. that night believing exactly that. Stephen Keegan

lifestyle arts

12 November 2014| the suss

the man bun While men’s facial hair has dominated the style ranks for as long as we can remember, it now must step aside as a new phenomenon has taken over. Enter the man bun. When Conor McGregor first stepped out sporting his ginger locks in a bun at the top of his head, no one would have ever imagined this to be the biggest hair trend since David Beckham bleached his hair. The dishevelled, messy look has taken over men’s pop culture and we must admit we don’t mind at all. With celebrities such as Leonardo

DiCaprio, Jared Leto and our beloved Oliver Proudlock rocking the hairstyle as of late, it’s no wonder that it’s one of the most in-demand hairstyles in the nation. The effortless look requires a quick trip to the barbers and is easily achieved by shaving both sides of the hair and keeping extra length on top. Although it was initially associated with the hipster movement of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, ever since our crown jewel of Ireland, Mr

McGregor, rocked the ‘mun’ as it is known, the men of Ireland began growing out their tresses instantly. McGregor has added popularity and masculinity to the style, and it has become a widespread trend with all ages. While we must admit, we weren’t sold on the look at first; it has definitely grown on us. However there are inclinations that the trend is going a little too far. Harry Styles recently shared a snap on his Instagram account, with braids running through his hair along with the ‘mun’, we feel Harry maybe trying a little too hard to impress our Conor. But we feel the trend is here to stay for quite a while or until McGregor sports a new style. Right now, it’s practically as common as pumpkin spice lattes in county Dublin.

Credit: Blogspot.com

Orlaith Farrell

all about the juice Over the past year a new health craze has taken off and consumed the lives of those who swear by it - move over paleo and gluten free, the juice diet has arrived. But why has juicing become so popular? It appears that in a world full of people who are trying to promote a healthy lifestyle based on a combination of clean eating and exercising, juicing encompasses the first and promotes the second. Juicing our fruit and vegetables separates the fibre and nutrients from the ‘pulp’, allowing us to digest enzymes, probiotics and vitamins almost instantly, getting the most out of our foods and giving us more energy to exercise. Simple.

Beetroot, spinach, kale and celery are consistently named as the top juice ingredients with fruits like kiwis, apples and limes, supplementing these nicely and adding flavour. Don’t be fooled, while juice and smoothies look just as appetising as each other, the higher vegetable content and lower sugar content makes juice infinitely better for you, and a little bit harder to drink. So you’re equipped with the basic juicing knowledge, but which juicer is best for you? Juicers in Ireland range from ¤40 - ¤240 and will vary in motor size and actual capacity for juice. I would recommend the Salter Whole Fruit Juicer (¤75) or the Phil-

ips Whole Fruit Juicer (¤105) – but remember to juice vegetables too! The ‘NutriBullet’ juicer has blown-up state side, claiming to break down all foods into their most nutritious and absorptive forms and costs a cool ¤90 (excluding postage), which is a very reasonably-priced machine, but maybe for a more advanced user. They say knowledge is power. You have the knowledge, you have the power – go, juice wisely

Alison Ring

cookie-in-a-mug It’s a cold November night and the winds are howling viciously around your shoebox of a bedroom. You’re missing home and you’d kill for some of Domino’s scrumptiously delicious warm cookies. But what’s that you cry? I’m a student, you say? It’s become your war cry whenever it’s suggested you spend anything over a fiver on a decent meal. What if I were to tell you that you could recreate that steamy chocolate dessert at home for what works out to be a fraction of the price? Here it comes, the solution to most of life’s problems; the Cookie-In-A-Mug. For this you’re going to want to get yourself: a tablespoon of margarine (not butter – trust me on this), two tablespoons of granulated sugar, three drops of vanilla es-

sence (only got vanilla extract? Be grand sure.), an egg, four tablespoons of flour, some chocolate chips (or just cut up a chocolate bar. Smarties or M&Ms have been known to work well too, as have bits of Mars bars. Go wild, lads.) Now, first things first – you’re going to want to stick that margarine in a mug and microwave it for about 30 seconds, until melted. Then add your sugar, vanilla, and egg yolk. Get rid of the rest of the egg; you don’t need it. Now whisk it all together until it’s a decent mixture. Then you need to add your flour and use some elbow grease to whisk it together again. Finally, add your filling of choice – chocolate chips, M&Ms, whatever – and microwave for 40-60 seconds. And then, go to heaven as you take your first bite!

Holly Brown

lifestyle

the suss | 12 November 2014

The perks of going out:

The perks of staying in:

going out versus staying in New friends. That friendly girl in the bathroom or that sound group of lads in the smoking area are all potential new buddies. Keep an open mind and you never know who you might meet. Future boyfriends or best friends, who knows?

Aoife Marnell

. . .

Letting your hair down and just having fun are the key elements of a good night out. Forget about all those assignments and just enjoy yourself, even if it is only for one night. Appreciate it.

Saving money. Before you even realise it with taxis, drink and club entry fees, a night out on the town really does add up. However, by staying in, the most you’re spending is the odd tenner on some grub which you will actually appreciate. Better choice.

. . . .

The predrinks. Many have said that predrinks may actually be the better part of a night out and I have to say, they just might be right. Drinking games, the chats, blaring some tunes in the comfort of someone’s home, it’s all part of the essential build-up to an amazing night out. Looking for a college love? Well, you’re not going to find it at home in bed, that’s for sure. Creeping about the dance floor with a few single mates is always an enjoyable adventure and you never know what might happen. Dressing up. Who doesn’t love getting all dolled up and just making yourself feel fabulous? (Well trying to.) Fake eyelashes, tan, hair curlers, it’s all part of the fun. Enjoy it. A bit of a rave on the dance floor sure never hurt anyone and is guaranteed to put smile on your face. Sing your heart out and dance till the lights come on. You’re only young once.

Being all snuggled up in a cosy onesie, fluffy socks and a mountain of big blankets will make for the most comfortable night-in of all time. No makeup or making an effort is another big plus. Need I say more? Lack of drama. Everybody knows the kind of drama a night out on the town entails, and by staying in the most drama you’re likely to encounter is finding out who really killed who in Love/Hate. Lovely. Takeaways. Nothing says a night-in like one large pizza and a portion of wedges. Feel free to eat until you burst with no one around to witness your monstrous ways. Tuck in. Sleep. For once in your college life, a proper sleep might actually be on the cards and it’s only then will you realise the true value of its magic.Feeling fresh the next day. Lecture at nine? Bring it on! Those bags under your eyes have finally disappeared and with all this new-found energy, you are ready to take on anything the college world can throw at you.

An insider’s guide to Boston Nestled in the New England region of the U.S, 215 miles north of the Big Apple and just south of the Canadian border, lies Boston Massachusetts. One of the country’s oldest cities and the stage for some of the key moments in American

history, Boston reveals a modern metropolitan sheen under its bricks and brownstone. After a summer spent there on a J1, I realised there is no other city where you can happen upon America’s oldest state house, hidden between towering skyscrap-

Credit: Katie Shaughnessy

ers. Despite its historical prowess, Boston is a young, vibrant city. Home to some of America’s most prestigious universities including Harvard, Boston College and MIT, it’s impossible to avoid the college culture. Harvard hoodies, frat parties and general student revelry abound, no matter what time of the year it is. The city is so small; you could walk from the east to the west in an afternoon with little difficulty. But remember, the roads were built before cars so there is no grid system, the only way to learn the ins and outs of its winding streets is to get lost and find your way without any plan or map. The Freedom Trail, a well-worn pedestrian path, winds throughout the city, taking you to all the historical sites pivotal to the American Revolution. Even if history isn’t your thing, it’s hard not

to get sucked into the patriotism of the place, and when in Boston...do as the Bostonians do. If you’re a self-proclaimed ‘foodie’, the city offers a plethora of culinary experiences. Little Italy in the North End claims to have pizza to rival New York’s (gasp) and then of course there is the world famous Mike’s Pastry, where you can expect to queue for up to an hour for a creamy cannoli. A Starbucks lover? Not in Boston. Dunkin’ Donuts hails supreme. The Union Oyster House is America’s oldest restaurant and a visit wouldn’t be complete without trying the ‘seafood chowdah’. That’s another thing; be prepared for the accent, it’s without logic. Bostonians tend to pronounce their ‘o’ like ‘au’ and the letter ‘r’ is non-existent. (Think Ben Affleck in Goodwill Hunting). Try this, “Pahk the cah in the Hahvahd yahd”.To hear the

accent in its natural habitat, hit Fenway Park. Boston has a love affair with sports that is unseen anywhere else in the U.S. The Boston Red Sox is one of the most legendary baseball teams in Major League Baseball history and Fenway Park, its home playing field, is the oldest in the nation. If you want a city that is unique to anywhere else in the world, Boston is it. It’s the polar opposite to the bigger U.S cities; the skyline is small, there are wide open spaces and the air is fresh. Most unique of all, while you’re enjoying the bars, restaurants and shops of the new, metropolitan Boston, the old Boston from 1630 is never too far from sight.

Katie Shaughnessy

lifestyle arts

12 November 2014| the suss

Alexander Wang X H&M: A Review For their 10th year anniversary of designer collaborations H&M have teamed up with the NewYork based fashion designer Alexander Wang, once again bringing designer clothes to the high street at affordable prices. The collection was launched in H&M’s South King Street store in Dublin on November 6th. Alexander Wang is famous for his sporty urban designs and this collection with H&M is loyal to his signature style. Expect a lot of crop tops, leggings, Wang branding and shoes which resemble scuba diving footwear. While the collection may not be to everyone’s liking it is exactly what you would expect of Alexander Wang. There is a strong black, white and grey theme throughout and the clothes are not traditionally feminine. The collection has been highly anticipated since its announcement at Coachella this year. People (me included) have been dying to get a peek at the collection and finally it has been released. I quickly began browsing to see what pieces I’d pick up when I got in store and I was happy to see how affordable the clothes are (even for college students). Here are my top 5 picks from the collection, because unfortunately I won’t be able to buy the lot:

p o r C . 1

The ultimate beauty gadget guide We’ve now entered the Christmas period (and we couldn’t be more excited) so it’s time to stock up on our wintertime go-to products. Be it rich hand-creams, hair treatments or skin masks, we are over-laden with hundreds of beauty products to choose from. But let’s step aside from the battle of choosing the perfect hair serum or nail cream, and look at some of the season’s best beauty gadgets.

Tops

2. Dress

Emjoi MICRO Nail Electric Nail Polisher:

3. Hat 4.

ing

3. Top

This product will revolutionise how you clean your makeup brushes. If you’re anything like me, a bit of shampoo and baby oil on the back of the hand is usually how we go about the cleaning process, but we’re left with that tough residue that never surfaces from the foundation brush. This glove not only makes it easier and cleaner but it takes a whole lot of time out of the tedious task as well as giving the brush a deep clean. It has a variety of different textures suitable for all your different brushes. At ¤33.95 it doesn’t come cheap, but we definitely think this could be worth the money.

Orlaith Farrell

Emjoi MICRO pedi Sticking with another Emjoi product, the Micro-Pedi may not be the most glamorous product, but it’s going to be your saviour this Christmas. The MicroPedi gently buffs away rough and dry skin, leaving your heels in the perfect condition to crack those Christmas party shoes out. Check out www.micropedi.ie for the full range.

Michelle Bourke

charity auction 2014 Ladies: Do you lie in bed at night, cold and lonely, praying that someday, just someday, you will find that special someone? Someone who you will stay up having deep meaningful conversations with throughout a stormy night? Someone you can trust, someone you can rely on? Someone who displays interest, kindness and

This little gem has exploded onto the beauty scene, with a number of fashion gurus and bloggers swearing by it. It’s time to ditch our regular, old buffers and try this gadget out. It buffs and shines nails in a matter of seconds, allowing polish to glide easily on. With a finish that lasts up to two weeks, we know what we’ll be asking for this Christmas. Available at Boots for ¤49.99.

Sigma Beauty Spa Brush Cleaning Glove

willyness? Oops, I meant willingness. Someone who isn’t afraid to be sensitive and vulnerable? A soul mate, if you will. Many believe there is no such person out there in the universe. Many believe movies like “The Notebook” or “Love Actually” create unrealistically high standards and the perfect relationship is simply impossible.

Guys: Are you tired of looking at that half empty tissue box beside your bed every night before you sleep, even though you still know it’s the only comfort you have in life? Are you looking for someone beautiful who will cater to your every need? Someone who will cook something just as beautiful as they are? A slave if you will. Well ladies and gentlemen, you might just want to stick November 25th down in your

diaries as there is a Charity Auction taking place in the Mercantile on Dame street. Here, a group of beautiful bachelors and bachelorettes hailing from Trinity, DCU, DIT and UCD, will each be auctioned off to the highest bidder all in the name of two charities; Pieta House and Our Lady’s Children Hospital, Crumlin. Both organisations have done amazing work in the past and the organisers, a group of young students from UCD, TCD and DIT, feel that the money raised from

this event will go a long way and provide a lot of care for people who need it. I believe it was Tesco who once said: every little helps! Tickets are ¤5 on the door and doors open at 9pm.

For more information, search for “Charity Auction 2014” on Facebook, or visit Haroldscrosscrew. wordpress.com.

Andrew Byrne

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 12 November 2014

Gaeilge

Ár dTeanga, Ár dTodhchaí, Ár nDualgais Caoimhe Ní Chathail Eagarthoir Gaeilge @CaoimheChats

Is iomaí tréith a bhaineann leis an Ghaeilge. Is iomaí focal a bhaineann léi; ‘bród’, ‘grá’, ‘freagracht’ – d’fhéadfainn a bheith anseo á scríobh síos ar feadh an lae. ‘Ár dTeanga, Ár dTodhchaí, Ár nDualgais’ a bhí mar theideal ar sheimineár de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge ag Oireachtas na Samhna i mbliana, áit a bpléitear cuid de na tréithe seo. Bhí ceathrar aoi le bheith i láthair ar an mhaidin Satharn sin in Ostán an Gleneagle; Laura Harmon, Ciarán Ó Feinneadha, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin agus Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh. Ar an drochuair, ní raibh Laura Harmon, Uachtarán Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn in ann freastal ar deireadh ach tháinig Leas Uachtarán Gaeilge, Feidhlim Seoighe ina háit. Labhair Feidhlim ar dtús, ag plé cumhacht na mac léinn in Éirinn i dtaobh na Gaeilge. Rinne sé cur síos ar na hiarrachtaí móra a rinneadh le cúpla mí anuas chun fearg pobal na Gaeilge a léiriú. Dar leis, réabhlóid atá ar siúl, curtha in iúl go soiléir ag a leithéid de Lá Mór na Gaeilge. Labhair sé fosta maidir leis an easpa sástachta amuigh ansin leis an chóras oideachais agus an bhagairt don Ghaeilge éigeandála. Is cinnte gur fiú a thuairim go mór, gur chóir múineadh beo a bheith ann i dtaobh na Gaeilge, ag múineadh mar theanga sóisialta í. Coinneoidh an beocht seo slán na Gaeilge. Ciarán Ó Feinneadha, Gníomhaí Teanga a labhair ansin agus bhunaigh sé a thaispeántas ar 40 bealaí gur féidir an Ghaeilge a úsáid, chuile lá dár saol. Chuir sé comhairle mhaith ar an slua, ag impí orthu úsáid na Gaeilge a bheith mar chroílár dá mbeatha. D’fhéadfadh achan mhac máthar éisteacht le Raidió na Gaeltachta agus Raidió na Life agus a bheith ag féachaint ar TG4. Ar ndóigh, is bealaí intuigthe iad seo ligint don Ghaeilge dul i bhfeidhm inár saol. Comhairle eile ná a leithéid de Facebook, Google agus Microsoft a úsáid trí mheán na

Gaeilge. Ní chreidfeá an oiread focal a mbeidh ar eolas agat tar éis duit uair nó dhó a chaitheamh ag ‘logáil isteach’ ar Facebook i nGaeilge. Chuir Ciarán síos ar thodhchaí na Gaeilge mar chath agus chuir an fhreagracht ar phobal na Gaeilge é a choinneáil beo. Titeann cuid mhór den fhreagracht sin ar theaghlaigh agus iad ag

heáil ceist na Gaeilge. Tá mórán oibre de dhith chun a caomhnú a cinntiú ach cinnte gur ar an bhealach ceart atá pobal Gaeilge na cathrach. Bheadh aithne mhaith ag cuid mhór daoine ar Bhláthnaid Ní Chofaigh mar Láithreoir Teilifíse agus mar Phearsa Phoiblí. Tógadh í le Gaeilge i Ráth Cairn agus bhí sé i gcónaí mar aidhm aici a clann

Ár dTeanga, Ár dTochaí, Ár nDualgais’ a bhí mar theideal ar sheimineár de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge ag Oireachtas na Samhna i mbliana tógail clainne. B’fhéidir gur an rud is antoiscí dúinn mar mhic léinn a bheith ag smaoineamh ar chlann a bheith againn ach is fíor an rud é gur chóir machnamh a dhéanamh ar an chinneadh ár bpáistí agus fiú ár bpeataí a thógáil le Gaeilge amach anseo! Is ó Bhéal Feirste do Chiarán Mac Giolla Bhéin agus an-taithí aige mar Bhainisteoir Cosaint Teanga agus Ionadaíochta ó Thuaidh le Conradh na Gaeilge. Chuir sé síos ar an tionchar ollmhór a bhí ag Oireachtas na Samhna air ina óige. Do leaid óg ó Bhéal Feirste, thuigfeá gur seo an chéad deis taithí a fháil ar an Ghaeilge lasmuigh den scoil do. D’fhreastal sé féin ar Choláiste Feirste, atá go fóill mar an t-aon mheánscoil Ghaeilge sa Tuaisceart. Rinne sé cur síos iontach suimiúl ar na híobairtí a rinneadh sna laethannta sin ar son na Gaeilge agus ar son na scoile. Gan aon chuidiú nó aon mhaoiniú, bhí muintir Bhéil Feirste an-ghníomhach sa phobal. ‘Ná habair é, déan é’ a bhí mar mhana acu agus iad ag cinntiú stádas cumhachtach na Gaeilge sa chathair. Leis na blianta atá imithe thart agus síniú a leithéid de Aontú Aoine an Chéasta, thosaigh tuilleadh daoine ag tuigb-

féin a thógáil le Gaeilge. Is iomaí constaice a tháinig aniar aduaidh

ar an aidhm seo. Labhair Bláthnaid go mór maidir leis an ríthábhacht cur le saibhreas agus samhlaíocht múineadh na Gaeilge ar an scoil chun cinntiú go mbeidh páistí mór léi agus sásta í a labhairt taobh amuigh den chóras oideachais. Cheistigh sí siceolaíocht na Gaeilge fosta agus ár ndúil í a labhairt agus í a fheiceáil mar ‘Ár dTeanga, Ár dTodhchaí, Ár nDualgais’. Cinnte go ndearna na cainteoirí ar fad an-iarracht an Ghaeilge a chur in iúl mar theanga s’againne. ‘Ár dTeanga’ is í go cinnte ach caithfidh muid seilbh a choinneáil uirthi. Trína húsáid chuile lá, í a dhaingniú mar thréith dár saol laethúil, cinnteoidh muid an stádas sin. Ní bheidh aon todhchaí ann di mura dhéanann muid an cinneadh seasamh léi agus í a chaomhnú. Tá ‘Ár dTodhchaí’ ag brath go hiomlán ar an oiread troide a dhéanann muid di. Cuirtear bród s’againn di in iúl le léiriú ár bhfearg lena droch-sheasamh

agus ár n-impí ar an rialtas meas a thabhairt di. ‘Ár nDualgais’ atá ann an cath seo a throid agus teanga dúchais na tíre seo a shábháil. Má éisteann muid agus má leanann muid dea-shamplaí ar nós an ceathrar aoi a d’fhreastal ar sheimineár Chonradh na Gaeilge, beidh sí againn ar feadh na blianta fada romhainn!

FOCLÓIR Foclóir : todhchaí = future bagairt = threat freagracht = responsibility

Labhair ceathrar aoi ag seimineár de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge ag Oireachtas na Samhna i mbliana.Credit: CaoimheNiChathail

Wednesday 12 November 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Gaeilge

Mo Thaithí den Oireachtas na Samhna Aoife Marnell Ranníocóir @aoife_m13

IS é an tOireachtas an ócáid is

mó dár dteanga dúchais i rith na bliana. Léiríonn sé don domhain ar fad go bhfuil an Ghaeilge fós beo agus ag fós ag fás timpeall

Is é an tOireachtas an eachtra is mó dár dteanga dúchais i rith na bliana na tíre. Chuaigh mé go dtí an tOireachtas leis an gCumann Gaelach ó Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath agus ón chéad noiméad gur shuí mé ar an mbus bhí sé soiléir dom gur chinneadh maith a bhí ann. Bhí gach duine lán le fuin-

nimh don chéad oíche agus fuaireamar gléasta suas mar threibheanna Ceilteacha, smaoineamh thar barr. Measaim gur tháispeán sé an chraic agus an spraoi atá ag baint leis an Ghaeilge do dhaoine óga timpeall na tíre. Bhí an oíche is fearr le cúpla seachtain anuas agam ag céiliúradh mo thír agus mo theanga féin. Chaitheamar an oíche ar fád ag damhsa agus ag canadh agus, ar ndóigh, ag labhairt ár dteanga féin. Bhí sé go hiontach, teacht le chéile leis na mic léinn eile ó ollscoileanna timpeall na tíre agus an Ghaeilge a chéiliúradh le chéile. Bhí ceol iontach ann, leis an ghrúpa ceoil cáiliúil, Seo Linn ag seinnt. Chuir sé gliondar chroí orm an líon daoine a bhí ann chun an Ghaeilge a spreagadh a fheiceáil. An lá dár gcionn d’éirigh muid go luath chun seimineár agus comórtais a fheiceáil. Bhí Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh páirteach i seimineár den scoth agus ansin chaith mé an lá ag féachaint ar na hiomaitheoirí iontacha a bhí ag damhsa ar stáitse. Bhain mé an-taitneamh as an lá ar fad a bhí lán cúltúir agus craic. An oíche sin, chuamar amach arís, an grá don Ghaeilge le fe-

iceáil agus le brath gach áit. Níor chreid mé an oiread daoine a chuir an iarracht isteach taisteal go Ciarraí chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt agus a cheiliúradh. Bhí grúpa mór millteanach ann a bhí bródúil as an nGaeilge agus ócaid speisialta agus draíochtach a bhí ann. Ní fhaca mé rud ar bith cosúil leis riamh roimhe agus táim cinnte go bhfanfaidh sé liom go deo na ndeor. Is í mo thuairim ná go bheireann an Ghaeilge muidne, daoine óga na tíre, go léir le chéile agus is í an Ghaeilge an nasc idir muidne agus na daoine Éireannacha a chuaigh romhainn. Is í an t-aon rud atá againn nach bhfuil ag aon duine eile i dtíortha eile agus tá sé de dhualgas orainn an Ghaeilge a labhairt agus a bheith bródúil as. Is muidne todhchaí na tíre agus tá an fhreagracht orainn cinneadh a dhéanamh an mbeidh an Ghaeilge fós ann sna blianta atá romhainn. Tugann ócáidí cosúil leis an Oireachtas an seans seo dúinn agus táim go hiomlán sásta gur ghlac mé an deis agus go ndeachaigh mé ann. Deireadh seachtaine den scoth a bhí agam agus ghlac mé an deis a bheith i mo ghníomhaire teanga. Gaeilge abú!

D’fhreastail Cumann Gaelach Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath ar Oireachtas na Samhna le déanaí.Credit: Irishgrammar.ie

FOCLÓIR treibheanna Ceilteacha = Celtic tribes ceiliúradh = celebrate spreagadh = motivation

Léirmheas: Hozier le Hozier Kerri Nic an tSaoir Ranníocóir @kerrwithan_i

FOCLÓIR radharcanna = visions malairt = alternative ceolmhar = musical

IS as Bré, Contae Chill Mhantáin

é Hozier, a bhain clú agus cáil amach don chéad uair thart ar bhliain ó shin lena chéad EP ‘Take Me To Church’ agus an físéan ceoil a tháinig amach in éineacht leis. Lán beochta agus mothúcháin, insítear óna ghlór paiseanta faoi na deachrachtaí a bhaineann leis an ghrá. Tá nasc mór idir cuid de na radharcanna san fhísean agus an fadhb atá ag titim amach sa Rúis maidir le heaspa cearta aeracha, áit gur coir é a bheith homaighnéasach. Bhain an físeán cáil laithreach nuair a scaoileadh é agus tá sé feicthe níos mó na 200 milliún uair anois, le neart cáil fós air inniu. Tá aithne againn uilig ar Hozier, nó Andrew Hozier-Byrne i ndiaidh ‘Take Me To Church’ agus a dara EP darb ainm ‘From Eden’, singil a bhain an dara áit sna cairteanna amach. Ba mhó an oiread ráchairte ar a chéad albam ‘Hozier’ sular scaoileadh é ar an 19 Meán Fómhair in Éirinn, agus i nDeireadh Fómhair sna Ríocht Aontaithe agus i Meiriceá. Cinnte nach raibh díoma ar

a lucht leanúna nuair a chualathas faoi dheireadh é. Cnuasach de 13 amhrán atá ann agus chum sé uilig é féin iad, seachas rian 4 ‘Someone New’. Is cinnte go bhfuil cáilíocht éagsúil ag baint leis an amhrán sin. Coimeádann sé an tarraingteacht chéanna ach tá sé mar mhalairt ar an ton dorcha atá sna hámhráin eile. Tá sé éagsúil mar gheall ar an bhuaille corraitheach ann agus cloistear gnéithe den phopcheol ann chomh maith. Is cosúil go ndéarna sé seo d’aon ghnó mar cloíann an stíl sin leis an ghnáthcheol a ghlacann tús áite sna cairteanna don chuid is mó. An mhéid sin ráite, cé go bhfuil rithim difrúil ag ‘Someone New’, ní feidir an tallann ar leith atá ag Hozier a sheachaint agus is amhrán dochreidte é fós. Dísréad giotiár is é rian 7 ‘In A Week’ le hamhránaí Éireannach darb ainm Karen Crowley. Cruthaíonn siad ceol aoibhinn le chéile agus mealltar an éisteoir go mór chuige. Amhrán grá atá ann le ceol agus canadh binn, ach ní gá ach scracfhéachaint a

chaitheamh ar na lirící sula tugamid faoi deara an dorchadas a luíonn taobh thiar de. Baineann siad úsáid as a nguthanna draoíchtúla chun scéal faoi choirp lanúin atá marbh i bpáirc ar feadh seachtaine, a insint dúinn go ceolmhar agus go rómansúil. Le linn a óige, b’inspioráid é Jackie Wilson do Hozier, an ceoltóir Meirceánach Rithim agus Gormacha, a bhásaigh 6 bhliain sular rugadh é. Is feidir gnéithe

den stíl ceoil seo a chloisteáil go ríshoiléir tríd an albam seo, mar shampla sna hamhráin ‘To Be Alone’, ‘It Will Come Back’ agus dar ndóigh ‘Jackie and Wilson’, a chum sé in ómós don amhránaí. Is cinnte an rud é gur albam den chéad scoth é seo ina léiríonn Hozier a ghlór galánta, réimse gléasanna agus a chumas mar amhránaí go ginearálta, rud atá spéisiúl agus annamh sa lá atá inniu ann.

D’eisigh Hozier a chéad albam anseo i Meán Fómhair. Credit: Nialler9. com

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 12 November 2014

Features

Sinn Féin rise, Fine Gael fall Eoin Lúc Ó’Ceallaigh Contributor

Eoin Lúc Ó’Ceallaigh looks at the future of Sinn Fein as they are on the verge of power

GERRY Adams is a man that’s

very high over the last few years and it’s easy to see why public opinion of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour has fallen. It’s clear to see that the train of thought is that Sinn Féin haven’t caused a recession or imposed water charges, so they must be the best option. After the merciless destruction of the Celtic Tiger, which happened under the Fianna Fáil government, getting the country back on track was never going to be an easy job, and some might say that the coalition had no hope of doing so without stepping on a few toes. However, following tax hikes in pretty much every area of Irish life, the way in which the introduction of water charges was handled seems to have been the end of the line for Enda Kenny and his government. In a poll of 991 people, 40 per cent reckoned that handling the economy well was the most important thing for a government, whereas 15 per cent put ethical behaviour to the forefront. Thirty five per cent of people reckon both are equally important while nine per cent answered that neither were important or that they didn’t know. As a politician, Gerry Adams has been a thorn in the side of the government for years. He has often stood up for the rights of the average Irish citizen, as have the Sinn Féin party.

constantly in the news. As the leader of a political party, that’s to be expected. Not many leaders, however, are often in the news over links to murder and rape cases. In just over a year, Adams has been arrested in connection with the murder of Jean McConville, his brother was jailed for child abuse, and more recently, he has been at the centre of rape allegations being made by Maíria Cahill. No charges have ever been brought against Adams, but you would imagine even having links to these crimes would put any politician out of a job. In fact, precisely the opposite is happening. The latest opinion polls, conducted by Millward Brown for The Sunday Independent, show that, for the first time ever, Sinn Féin are the most popular party in the country. Prior to the poll’s release, even Sinn Féin themselves had dismissed it, expecting the latest allegations made by Maíria Cahill to have had an effect on their standings. Granted, Adams isn’t the most popular leader in the country, coming in behind Mícheal Martin and Joan Burton, but he is leader of the most popular party nonetheless. Should Sinn Féin win the upcoming election then Gerry Adams would be Taoiseach. It’s fair to say that Irish politicians haven’t set the bar

Although, his life before politics has often come into question. Throughout the years, he has been adamant that he was never a member of the IRA, despite numerous allegations from former members that he was part of the hierarchy during the Troubles. In a TV3 documentary last year entitled “Sinn Féin: Who Are They?”, Adams maintained his stance on his membership saying: “I’m very, very clear about my denial of IRA membership but I don’t disassociate myself from the IRA”. Despite never being charged in connection with any crimes to do with the IRA, the amount of allegations that have come forward over the years are enough to put a question mark over some of the politician’s past. The recent claims by Maíria Cahill that Adams knew about the rape and subsequent IRA investigation are just the latest in a long list of accusations over the years. The Irish government has let its people down over the last number of years and it’s gotten to a stage where, according to the poll, people are beginning to lose value in the ethical behaviour of politicians in favour of getting the country out of debt. Given the controversies that have plagued Gerry Adams during his political life, it’s hard to imagine him as a viable leader for the country. During the Trou-

“

I’m very, very clear about my denial of IRA membership but I don’t disassociate myself from the IRA

bles, the IRA turned into one of the most ferocious terrorist organisations that the world has ever seen. Even though he adamantly denies his membership, a lot of former IRA members claim to have received orders from him to carry out terrorist activities. Is he really the man that should be the face of Ireland?

Credit: wikimedia.org, getfogarty.com, trinitynews.ie

Wednesday 12 November 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Features

Reality Bites Jade O’Leary Deputy Features Editor @ JadeOdette_

IT is hard to escape the clutches

of reality television. Whether we like to admit it or not, we all indulge in a reality show from time to time, perhaps even enjoy it. Talent shows such as the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent act as excellent family entertainment, even if the majority of viewers never tune in past the audition stages. Weight-loss shows can help motivate us to get fit or die trying (the fact that such programmes are often watched while eating an entire family-sized packet of Doritos is irrelevant). Home makeover shows can inspire us to gut our sitting room and replace it with a Japanese zen garden - in order to greater understand our ‘sense of spirituality’, obvs. But when do reality shows cease to be great? I’ll tell you when: when you realise the muppets from Geordie Shore are paid more than you probably ever will be in your lifetime. Gaz, Charlotte, Holly and the gang are literally paid hundreds of thousands of dolla to act the general maggot on air. They drive around in Porsches, live in mansions and fork out thousands for boob jobs - when their job description is basically ‘getting mortal* and shagging anything with a pulse.’ It is a sad day for humanity when the likes

Jade O’ Leary delves into the world of reality TV shows of the Geordies are paid more to get their bits out than a doctor who helps save people’s lives. Aside from the fact that these reality stars are handsomely paid for partying while the rest of us slave away from nine until five, have we ever really considered the effects that trashy shows like Geordie/Jersey Shore (and who remembers our home-grown version, Tallafornia? CRINGE) have on the younger generation? Profanity, sexually explicit behaviour, binge drinking and smoking are all normalised by such shows, and lead teens and even preteens to believe that this is acceptable behaviour. A study completed by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2006 said “while reality TV draws viewers from virtually all demographic groups, it is disproportionately popular among preteens, adolescents and young adults”. Reality shows can also leave young people with unhealthy expectations. The Kaiser Family Foundation maintains that shows of this nature “may provide inaccurate or unhealthy information to viewers (for example, showcasing multiple plastic surgeries or more rapid weight loss than most experts would recommend).” Yes, Holly Hagan, we ARE looking at you…

However, it is not just programmes like Geordie Shore that negatively influence the younger population. Extreme Makeover and America’s Next Top Model

television is contributing to eating disorders in teen girls. This is a direct result of the emphasis shows such as ANTP put on being ‘hot’ and desirable, and

“

are also culprits. According to WebMD Medical News, reality

are superficial and materialistic. This in turn, is making an entire generation superficial and materialistic. Keeping Up with the Kardashians is the perfect example of how engrossed today’s society is with the rich and famous. Would we give a toss if it was a hard-working, middle class family appearing on our television screens? Of course not. We want to know what Kim ‘startedfrom-the-bottom-then-madea-sextape-and-now-I’m-here’ Kardashian wore to the MET ball this year, or why exactly Bruce Jenner is slowly turning into a woman/ feline. The sad reality is that it is very likely that more young people know what the Kardashians or the Geordies or The Real Housewives of Orange County are up to, rather than what is going on in the world of current affairs. Alas, for the moment, it seems that reality TV is here to stay. It is part of a pop culture that is gobbled up by the masses – and they are hungry for whatever the industry throws their way. For now we are just going to have to accept that drunken idiots and over-privileged families are going to dominate our screens. It’s inevitable. Sad, but inevitable. Nonetheless, let’s leave things on a high note, with an inspiring quote from Jersey Shore star and apparent animal rights activist, Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi: “That’s why I don’t eat friggin’ lobster or anything like that. Because they’re alive when you kill it.”

while reality TV draws viewers from virtually all demographic groups, it is disproportionately popular among preteens, adolescents and young adults

essentially, perfect. Studies claim that since the boom of reality TV in the early 2000s, eating disorders among girls aged between 13 and 19 have tripled. Surely this is more than a coincidence? In addition to the physical and mental effects reality viewing can have on adolescents, many reality TV series

Credit: Mirror.com, paperscopy.com

Face palm. *For those unfamiliar with the term, mortal = getting extremely drunk.

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 12 November 2014

Features

Volunteering for the future Over 22,000 attendees from six continents descended on Ballsbridge and claimed the RDS as their own for three days to see what the plucky start- ups have to offer Credit: websummit.net

Kevin Kelly Contributor

WELL-DRESSED investors and

scruffy start-up founders. The wealthy and the entrepreneurial. The old school media moguls and the peppy young YouTubers. A small cross-section of the people you’ll find at the Web Summit. What started as the brainwave of a few guys in a house in Ranelagh has blossomed into one of the biggest technology conferences in Europe. Over 22,000 attendees from six continents descended on Ballsbridge and claimed the RDS as their own for three days to see what the plucky start-ups have to offer. Volunteering at a large-scale event like this feels like a mammoth task. I spent days showing people where to sit. Irish, American, Asian, Eastern European, they all share a common factor: the need to sit during a long presentation. There were nearly 1,500 volunteers at the Web Summit, whittled down from thousands of applicants. Volunteer Manager Ger Murphy, when I asked why there is so much interest in working voluntarily at the Web Summit, he said “working at the biggest technology conference outside the US, that’s good for a CV in itself.” That is primarily why I volunteered. This conference, that draws in attention of speakers, investors, and media outlets from around the world, now has weight. On a CV, that’s a good thing. Getting to work with interesting people is always a plus. Here,

I saw the future. It sounds as clichéd as could be, but it’s true. The ideas that these entrepreneurs and inventors have, are simple solutions to someone’s big problem. That’s how giants begin. I detest the term ‘disrupt’, which is bandied around so much by companies today that it has lost its meaning. To disrupt means to cause a disturbance. You’re mildly annoying, that’s all. Every company now wants to disrupt, to drastically alter the way we do things. You can’t blame them for trying, but good luck to you anyway. The tumultuous attitude of these start-ups is very infectious though. Spending a few days with them, I came away feeling that those silly little ideas in the back of my head, they are always plausible. The little ideas are just that, but they grow, and join the giants of the technology industry we have today. Someone reading this very feature could create the next Google. The stigma of ‘cheap labour’ still applies to volunteering. It is inherently what it is, but with some better outcomes than you might expect. It is all about experience, and if your first time volunteering is at the Web Summit like mine was, you are thrown in at the deep end. I hope you’re not claustrophobic. ‘Web Summit’ on my CV does look nice, but I got more from it than that. I got comfort in the knowledge that our little country, battered by economic woes, is still churning out people with bright futures. I got the chance for an experience that I couldn’t fork over money for. I also got the realisation that there’s a reason you should get paid for working.

A swipe for love Aoibheann Diver Contributor

“I’M beginning to think that

Tinder is a rainbow and you’re the treasure at the end”. Cheesy chat up lines. That is what makes a Tinder conversation. The cheesier the opening line, the better. The best Tinder conversations are never the ones that start off with a boring “hey”. When a person dares to be different and says something shocking, funny or just plain weird, people are more likely to keep the conversation going. I once argued with a boy on Tinder as if we were a married couple. By the end of the conversation we had agreed to get married in Las Vegas. As you do. That’s what Tinder is all about: finding someone with whom you can talk absolute nonsense. Whether you’re simply passing time on your phone or you’re actually looking to find a potential partner, Tinder can be quite entertaining. For years, online dating was something that was looked down

Aoibheann Diver looks at what makes an interesting Tinder conversation and how it has changed the world of dating upon, something that lonely people would use as a last resort to find their true love. Online dating websites such as Match. com have been around for years but they always seemed to be aimed at older people. That is what makes Tinder so different. Teenagers and young adults all over the world are using it. It now seems to be socially acceptable to have Tinder sitting comfortably between your Facebook and Twitter apps on your phone. Tinder takes a different approach to other dating websites. It’s all about first impressions. There are no questionnaires to be filled out, just a short “About You” section underneath a selection of your best selfies. It’s as simple as that. Tinder matches you up with people you have already approved of, even if that approval comes from a quick glance and a simple swipe of the finger. That rush of excitement when you get matched with someone

is a feeling like no other. Until you discover that person has no personality. Or worse still, if it’s the other person in the photo you liked. But it’s not fun being on the other side. When someone is disappointed that you’re the other girl in the photo, it sets back your confidence a little. Like all social media, Tinder has its safety issues. A young Irish journalist was recently ‘catfished’ when photos she uploaded to Facebook were used to create a fake Tinder profile. This could happen to anyone and it highlights the necessity of privacy settings online. So why do people use Tinder? Is it because they’re lonely, single and looking for “the one”? Probably not. Many Tinder addicts use it out of sheer boredom, like any other social media site. A recent study conducted by The New York Times shows that average user spends about 90 minutes per day on Tinder. That’s a lot of swiping. And it

seems women are a lot fussier when it comes to choosing a mate. According to the same study, men are three times more likely to swipe right than women. So don’t be so judgemental.

Give the lads a chance to use their cheesy chat up lines on you.

Credit: Guim.co.uks

Wednesday 12 November 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Features

The young women changing the face of the Third World Rebecca Lumley Contributor

IT has been a year of revolu-

tion for women. From Emma Watson’s eloquent UN speech discussing the importance of feminism to powerful social media campaigns like “Yes All Women”, young ladies of the world have been actively pursuing change and progression in their societies. One such girl is Malala Yousafazai, arguably one of the most famous teenagers in the world and joint winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace prize. Her remarkable story of blogging for BBC news about her life and subsequent survival of an assassination attempt by the

Taliban has ensured her rise to prominence, not only in Pakistan but all around the globe. Malala’s unwavering dedication to expressing the importance of learning opportunities for young women has seen Pakistan double its spending on education and has gifted her with the chance to speak before the most powerful people in the world at the UN. Yeonmi Park, though hailing from an entirely different culture, shares many of the traits Malala exhibits; courage, perseverance and the visceral belief that things in their home countries need to change. Park, 21, is one of the most outspoken people to have emerged from North Korea and has made it her mission to shed light on the brutal socialist regime. In a recent interview with the Irish Independent Park describes the

Credit: TheDailyBeast.com

Rebecca Lumley looks at the brave young women who have overcome incidents of rape, murder and poverty in the world’s most repressive societies and are now leading a new generation of female leaders. public executions, piles of dead bodies and pervasive fear present in North Korea. She recounts almost starving when her father was imprisoned and her mother detained for illegal trading. When asked if anyone knew the then nine year old Park and her eleven year old sister were on their own, she explains that nobody cared, everyone consumed by the fear that they would be next to die. It has been eight years since Park escaped the country, age 13, and fled to China, eventually ending up in South Korea. The young woman has experienced poverty, cruel repression, the death of her father, witnessing the rape of her mother and a life of uncertainty and fear. Today she has done interviews with various high profile publications and has spoken at the One Young World seminar in

Racism: What’s new? Giulia Luzi Contributor JtwaGL

TODAY many would agree that

racism seems to be a phenomenon that has mostly disappeared. Few people still see humanity as classified in pure races and even fewer believe in the superiority of some races over others. Why, then, do we still hear about racism and acts of discrimination in Ireland and Europe? Recently, an anti-racism rally has been organised in Waterford after 200 people gathered outside the home of a Roma family and smashed windows and broke doors, creating such an atmosphere of fear in the Roma community that some families had to be evacuated from their homes. Only a few weeks earlier, the Gardaí took a 7-year-old child from her Roma family in Tallagh, west Dublin, only because she had blonde hair and blue eyes. The girl was later returned to her Roma parents after the DNA results confirmed she really was their child.

The Roma population is not the only victim of this kind of abuse. A similar sort of discrimination is also directed at the Traveller community. The Irish Times columnist, Eamonn McCann, has defined the prejudice against Travellers as “the hate that dares to speak its name”. He compared the different weight given to the word “nigger”, which most of us would never dare to speak, and the much more frequently used term “knacker”. DCU lecturer of Intercultural Studies Veronica Crosbie explains that “the Travellers and Roma communities are stigmatised in Ireland (and also more broadly in Europe) due to the fact that they have cultural values and traditions at odds with the ‘settled’ community”. The case of Irish Travellers is even more complicated as they “are not recognised officially as a distinct ethnic group although there have been efforts to have this status recognised,” she adds. Cultural racism is often associated with xenophobia, the fear and contempt of strangers

or foreigners, which has strongly increased in the last years in connection to the economic crisis and a more significant immigration rate. According to recent CSO statistics, 12 per cent of the population in Ireland is non-Irish, most of them coming from the EU. According to Crosbie, “it is too early to

Dublin. Despite being on North Korea’s target list and having been warned that speaking out against the North Korean regime may endanger her life, she is adamant that she will be heard. “Every journey, every interview is risky,” she says.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m doing this for my people.” These emerging human rights activists are part of a generation of young women striving to change the face of society. Women’s rights is garnering more and more media attention recently and with the rise of social media there are more opportunities for young women to witness freedom and strive for a fairer society in their own countries. These women should be a stark reminder for people everywhere that while society has progressed, not all people, including women, have equality of opportunity. Park and Yousafazai have had to fight in a world that sought to repress, control and diminish them and despite adversity have succeeded and emerged as leaders of a new era.

Giulia Luzi shows how racism is still alive among the Roma families and Travellers in Ireland. tell to what extent integration is taking place in Ireland”. On a positive note, Ireland did not experience the development of a xenophobic or anti-immigration party as it was the case in many European countries – one example is Ukip in the UK. Also, the Educate Together

schools are giving a very positive example for integration in the education sector. But there is still some way to go. We should not be confused by the shift in the meaning of racism, and we should keep looking at the world around us with a critical eye.

Credit: Blogspot.com

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 12 November 2014

Sport

Semi-final awaits ladies footballers A comprehensive 13 point win for DCU sees them into the league semi-final Aaron Gallagher Sports Reporter @CVSport

DCU’S senior ladies won com-

prehensively on Wednesday night in a 5-10 to 2-06 victory over Carlow IT that sees them into the semi-finals of the league for the fourth consecutive year. The match began at St. Clare’s despite freezing conditions and was greeted with a goal less than thirty seconds from the throw in. Niamh Recard rattled the ball into the Carlow net after a lofted ball in from midfield to start her side where they left off after their 42 point hammering of Sligo IT a fortnight ago. Carlow hit back immediately with a point and a goal in quick succession, leaving the Dublin side temporarily stunned. Carlow IT followed up on this by winning and converting a penalty after a long ball delivered into the DCU box was not dealt with properly. Outstanding defensive displays from the DCU half-back line led by Sinead Green meant

that Carlow could not penetrate within scoring range of the DCU goal for long periods. Consistent wides from the DCU forward line might have been rued later on before a Laura McEneaney point from outside the 20 metre line steadied DCU nerves. This was followed up by an outstanding period of intricate hand-passing play

“”

THEY SHOWED GREAT CHARACTER AND GREAT DETERMINATION TO DRIVE ON IN THE SECOND HALF AND PULL OUT A GOOD VICTORY.

from Clodagh McManoman and Sinead Green that culminated in a Sarah Lowe goal for DCU. The first half ended in a flurry of points for both sides before another DCU goal arising from quick switches between half-back Katie Murray and Siobhan Woods ended in a Sinead Green finish. With only the late goal separating the sides at half time DCU began an onslought in the second period. Whereas the first half had been plagued by persistent fouls and over-carrying, the second was a scoring spree – for DCU anyway. Three early points from the combined efforts of Niamh Recard and Sarah Lowe saw DCU slowly begin to run away with the affair. The lead was further stretched with two thunderous goals from the DCU full-forward line of Siobhan Woods and Carol Hegarty, the lead now stood at twelve points. The half ended with Carlow registering two points in between four more from DCU. It was not only the comprehensive victory from DCU that was impressive, but the determination of the players not to allow Carlow back into the game even when the match itself was over as a contest was striking. A modest DCU manager spoke of the determination of his players. “A lot of it would be down to the players themselves, they drive it on the field, and they worked

DCU hurlers daring to dream after perfect start Kevin Taylor Deputy Sports Editor @Kev_T_

FOR DCU’s senior hurlers, the

start to the 2014/2015 season has been perfect. New manager Nick Weir has seen his side account for NUI Maynooth and Dublin rivals UCD, St.Pat’s and DIT. Maynooth, Pat’s and DIT were well beaten by Weir’s men but the win over UCD was possibly more impressive as an unexpected comeback saw them win by just a goal. The outstanding start to the season has been a pleasant surprise for the Westmeath native and former inter-county hurler who feels that the mental approach of his group of players has been a key factor.

“The attitude and commitment of the lads has been absolutely excellent. I couldn’t fault them for effort they’ve given absolutely everything. “They never know when they’re beaten and never give up. The honesty of effort that they give really is excellent.” Weir heaped praise on his team’s performance in Belfield against a strong UCD side. “The win over UCD impressed me the most so far. We came back from a long way down I think it was between six and eight points at one stage but they didn’t throw in the towel.” Given DCU’s early exit from last years Fitzgibbon Cup they’re unlikely to be considered favourites by many for Fitzgibbon glory. However, with their perfect start attitudes are changing and the traditionally strong hurling

YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT GAME BY GAME AND JUST FACE INTO EVERY OPPOSITION. WE KNEW CARLOW WOULD BE A FAR STIFFER TEST THAN ANYTHING WE’VE FACED AND IT PROVED THAT WAY, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIRST HALF THEY PUT IT UP TO US.

“”

hard particularly after a poor enough start in our book in the first twenty minutes. They showed great character and great determination to drive on in the second half and pull out a good victory.” Although numerous chances were missed in the opening 30 minutes, DCU steadied with the defensive capabilities of Clodagh McManoman and Aoife O’ Reilly in midfield throughout the second half. With this 13 point victory on top of the dismantling of Sligo IT, it’s hard to think of areas that need improving. “You have to take it game by game and just face into every opposition. We knew Carlow would be a far stiffer test than anything we’ve faced and it proved that way, particularly in the first half they put it up to us”, spoke the manager. With the bitter defeat to Queen’s University Belfast in the O’ Connor Cup final still fresh in memory, the team’s manager spoke with determined optimism of his team’s chances in the league. “If everyone buys into what we’re looking to do and into the team ethos we can go and definitely contest for a league final and hopefully that will start with next week’s semi-final.”

DCU are looking to become the first Dublin team to win the Fitzgibbon Cup since 2001 Credit Aidan Broletti

colleges will likely be wary of the Dublin side. Weir knows the task ahead is a tall one but with each win comes more confidence. “Starting off I’d have said winning the whole thing would be unrealistic. But it’s been such a great start that anything is possible.” Despite the great start and some sparkling indvidual performances Weir wants to keep

the team on their toes, especially when the Fitzgibbon Cup gets underway. The players, no matter what their reputation outside of third level hurling, are under no illusions that they must fight to keep their place in the squad. “The starting 15 for the Fitzgibbon will deviate and players will come in and out. None of them are assured of their

places in the team just yet.” DCU’s hurlers have yet to reach a Fitzgibbon Cup final and the historic competition hasn’t been won by a Dublin side since UCD defeated UCC in the 2001 final. With the way the team have gelled and performed so far this year, the players might dare to dream about unprecedented glory.

Wednesday 12 November 2014│THE COLLEGE VIEW

Sport

Impressive DCU brush Queen’s aside DCU

4-9 QUB

Garrett Lavin Sports Reporter @lavingarrett

IN what was an evenly matched

encounter at times between DCU and Queens University Belfast it was DCU’s ability to convert their chances in the opening half that proved decisive in this Division 1 league tie, eventually winning out 4-9 to 0-6. DCU conceded the opening score in the first half through some good play from the Queens half forward line but it was all DCU for the next 15 minutes. Enda Smith was the fulcrum for all of the home side’s play in this period of dominance. Smith breaking out of his own half back line set up brother Donal, only for his shot at goal to be saved. Persistence paid off however as, soon after, a goalmouth scramble after good build up play from DCU led to a goal for Enda Smith, giving DCU a two point lead early on. DCU pushed on with points from Murphy and Daly. The latter coming from particularly good link up play from the Smith brothers, a common theme in the DCU attack. After 15 minutes the brothers again combined to notch up

0-6

another score with Enda having to leave the pitch soon after due to an injury picked up from a late tackle. DCU found themselves 1-4 to 0-2 up after 15 minutes. The loss of Smith didn’t weaken the side however as his replacement, Gary Kelly, scored a fine point with his first touch from 30 metres out. DCU’s confidence was growing and

DCU Tadhg Lowe, Jack Smith, Donal Wrynn, Desmond Word, Jonathan Bealin, Colm Begley(0-1), Conor Daly(0-1), Thomas Flynn, Brian Donnelly, Enda Smith (1-0), Niall Murphy(0-1) Eoin O’ Connor, David Munnix, Conor McGraynor(2-1), Donal Smith (1-3).

Subs Brendan Flynn, Gary Kelly(0-1), Connor McNally(0-1), Rory Connor, Ciaran Ward, Fintan Kelly, Simon McCoy, Edwin Murray.

DCU will need to improve when they come up against the group’s tougher opponents Credit Gianluca Avagnina

they soon went for the jugular. In a three minute spell that would have broken the spirit of most teams DCU converted three goal chances that put an end to the game as a contest. Conor McGraynor was looking menacing at full forward and finally got his opportunity to strike; first turning his man who had been touch tight until and converting the chance with deadly accuracy. Donal Smith then added to his tal-

ly for the day as he also converted his goal chance after some good build up play further out the field. McGraynor then finished the rout with a goal similiar to his first as he turned his man and dispatched the ball into the back of the net. The game as a contest was over as Smith added a final point before the half time whistle with DCU leading 4-6 to 0-2. The second half was a dour affair with both sides hav-

ing lost interest in the tie, DCU had it wrapped up and Queens just wanted to go home. Overall it was an impressive first half from DCU where the game was killed off but the second half called for more ruthlessness that will be needed against some of the bigger opponents in the division.

Collins confident ahead of camogie campaign The St Vincent’s player is hoping DCU can improve this year

Cian Roche Deputy Sports Editor @cian_roche

PLAYING for one of the coun-

try’s most prominent GAA clubs is tough enough as it is, but DCU camogie starlet Roisin Collins is hoping to bring her club championship experience with St. Vincents into this year’s campaign. Collins, who is currently recovering from a knee in-

jury, was disappointed with her Division 2 club championship final against Erin’s Isle. “Obviously we would have liked to have won it. We put a lot of work into our campaign during the year, it was a great team effort but just on the day, we came up short in the end. “I’ve not been able to play with DCU so far this year, but I’ve managed to try and keep in the loop as much as possible.” After a fantastic campaign last time out in the Ashbourne Cup, the side are hoping to emulate their performances from last year and it seems they are going the right way about it. The standard of camogie has drastically improved in DCU in recent years, what with winning two Purcell cup trophies and being involved at the highest level in the Ashbourne Cup last year. Of course, a large number

of the panel are inter-county camogie players and Collins believes that adapting to the intensity at the highest level won’t prove too difficult.

ny and Tipperary is amazing. A lot has been made of player Everybody comes from a real- welfare, mental as well as physily strong background though. cal, and Collins was quick to com“In the university they have pliment the help made available. different gym facilities. I know be“Most importantly, we have all the support that we need. With this we can train and play at a higher level and go on to play in higher divisions as well.” As with a lot women’s sport, however, the coverage hasn’t exactly saturated the market. This trend is something that Collins, among other sports women out there can be improved. “Grassroots.ie have covered a few different things from the camogie side. It’s good to see when a lot of effort is put in to reporting what happened in the match. “For the amount of work we put in, it’s nice to see the differcause we go to college every day ent write-ups and opinions out we go to the gym in the morning. there.” There’s seems to be an excellent set up in both St Vincents and DCU.”

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MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE ALL THE SUPPORT THAT WE NEED. WITH THIS WE CAN TRAIN AND PLAY AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND GO ON TO PLAY IN HIGHER DIVISIONS AS WELL “I was watching a match last weekend and some of the talent that has come into the side, from the likes of Kilken-

THE COLLEGE VIEW│Wednesday 12 November 2014

Sport

DCU cruise past IT Sligo to secure quarter-final spot DCU’s senior soccer team booked a quarter-final spot with a 3-0 win over IT Sligo Ruaidhrí Croke Cian Roche and Kevin Taylor Sports Editorial Team @CVSport

WITH only five games to play in

the CUFL group stages before the quarter-finals it is paramount for a team to bounce back after a loss and that’s exactly what DCU did on a freezing cold night in IT Sligo last week. After losing to DIT two weeks previous the Glasnevin side came out firing on all cylinders to cruise to a 3-0 win over their western counterparts thanks to goals from Alan O’Sullivan, Mark Walsh and Seán Pender. With Sligo sitting bottom of the table after three games DCU were the favourites going into the game, standards they lived up to in the first half anyway. Having said that, an early chance for the home side could have seen the game go in a different direction but Jake Dykes’ effort flashed narrowly wide of the post. Four minutes later DCU were in the lead thanks to O’Sullivan’s third goal in four games. A neat ball down the left flank from Daniel Mahon found the centre forward’s clever run out wide. O’Sullivan cut inside, nutmegged a defender on the edge of the box and smashed home from close range to give the visitors the lead. With DCU captain Robbie Gaul absent due to graduation, Ireland underage international Luke Kelly started in the centre midfield role for the second game in a row and excelled. The Bohemian under-19 player almost opened his goal tally after 20 minutes but his effort after a half cleared cross struck the post. The chance was the first of a flurry for the visitors that should have seen them add to their advantage. Just a minute after hitting the

post Kelly had a long range effort deflected up onto the bar before Tom Lahiff’s header was met with a fantastic save from Jason Quinn. Just another minute later and DCU would hit the woodwork for the third time in five minutes when Michael Isichei’s long range shot clattered the bar. Despite continuing to dominate DCU couldn’t add to their advantage and went into the break just one goal ahead. It wouldn’t be until the 72nd minute that the visitors did make it two when Shane McCann’s burst down the left wing allowed him to cut it back to Walsh who slid in to knock it by the goalkeeper. Declan Roche introduced Pender from the bench with four minutes to go and he immediately went close with a curling effort from the left hand side of the box. As the clock ticked into injury time Pender did find the net with the help of a deflection or two, ensuring DCU’s three points and with it a quarter-final spot.

DCU will be looking for a final win to secure a top two position Credit Donegalnews.com

DCU David Flaherty, Phillip Kavanagh, Shane McCann (Conor Ralf 62’), Kevin Molloy, Robert Gaul, Luke Kelly, Darren Craven Jack Watson, Mark Walshe, Dean Gregan, Alan O’Sullivan

IT SLIGO Jason Quinn, Mark Connaughton, Ronan Sweeney, Jake Dykes, Dylan Conroy, Alessandro Perrini, Eoin Clarke, Joe Mitchell, Jack Murphy; Dylan McCabe, Paulo Carvalho

DCU delight at Leinster Intermediates Ruaidhrí Croke Sports Editor @Ruaidhri_Croke Continued from back page successes so far. Senan Kelly recently boxed for a Dublin City select team in Liverpool and has been selected again to fight against Tyrone in December. The leading light for the club however has been from

the women’s section with Clare Grace currently undergoing a two week training camp in South Korea along with Katie Taylor, Michaela Walsh and Joanne Lambe in preparation for the World Championships which begin on 16 November. Carter is in no doubt that training with such high level boxers as Kelly and Grace is a big help to everyone in the club, especially new fighters such as himself. “Their successes are huge

for the club. To see people competing at such high levels motivates everybody to work harder. I think they can inspire not only boxers in DCU but all athletes to go the extra mile. “As far as I can see the club will continue to grow in strength due to the commitment of its members and, under the guidance of our coach Derek Ahearne, the only way is up.”

CORRECTION In the last issue of The College View the name of Aishling O’Keefe, PRO of the DCU Handball Club was mispelled on a number of occasions. We would like to offer our apologies to Aishling for this.

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Wednesday, 12 November 2014

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IMPRESSIVE DCU

Easy win for senior footballers Read more on page 26

DCU delight at Leinster Intermediates

Shane Carter is awarded the victory after a very impressive fightCredit Terry Keegan

DCU Boxing Club claimed a second consecutive Leinster Intermediate title last month thanks to Shane Carter Ruaidhrí Croke Sports Editor @Ruaidhri_Croke

THE rapid progress of the DCU

Amateur Boxing Club shows no sign of letting up with the latest success coming the way of Shane Carter who took home the Leinster welterwight novice title at the end of last month in Dublin’s National Boxing Stadium. Meanwhile, Senan Kelly

boxed his way to his category final but had to pull out due to a head collision in the final clinch. Carter International Business and Chinese student, was competing in his first ever competitive bout and was hugely impressive, beating Jason Groome of Bray Boxing Club with long jabs and powerful body shots. The Wexford native only started properly boxing when he began in DCU but that didn’t show as he took home a second Leinster title in as many years for the college. With clubs from all around

the province competing the standard is very high, proving, yet again, how far DCU Boxing has come since almost going out of existence two years ago. For the second year running the Glasnevin were the only college club in the championships, something that Carter feels is an advantage and sends out a message to other colleges. “For the boxer no [it doesn’t make any difference],” he says. “It shows the standard of the club is at a very high level to be able, not only to compete, but to

win. It also puts an early stamp down for the year and shows everybody we mean business.” After impressing in training since the start of the year hopes were high for Carter but there was still a need for caution. “I was very confident in the build up to the competition buts it’s still important to get it right on the night. I was happy with the win but there’s so much room for improvement on the level of performance.” The emphasis on training is very high in any sport but in boxing it is particularly so, given the physical demands of the sport. Despite being relatively new to the sport Carter already understands this. When asked what the key factor was in his

victory his reply was immediate. “Preparation. “Training went very well which of course contributed to the confidence. Also some tough and competitive sparring sessions in the last few weeks really helped with fitness and sharpness. “I train at minimum five times a week. I think it’s important to vary the intensity and types of session too, most importantly listen to your own body and place a good emphasis on recovery.” Having won Club of the Year last year DCU Boxing are stamping a claim for the title again this year with a number of notable Continued on page 27