The College View - Issue 1 - XVIII

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Wednesday, 28 September, 2016

www.thecollegeview.com Vol. XVIII, Issue 1

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MacCraith: Incorporation will make an impact on Irish society DCU President Professor Brian MaCraith speaks to The College View about Ireland’s falling university rankings, the philosophy surrounding DCU’s Incorporation Programme and how the amalgamation can have a meaningful impact on a progressive Certainly it is part of our view and the government’s view to spend the latter half of this year looking forward.

“Certainly we see what we have created here as a wonderful symbol of a progressive, pluralist Ireland, DCU President Professor Brian reflecting the society out there.”

MacCraith has said the Incorpora“What we are close to achieving tion Programme, which has seen St. here - if I had suggested this 20 Patrick’s College Drumcondra, Ma- years ago, even 10 years ago - peoter Dei Institute and CICE amalgam- ple might have thought that this was ate into Dublin City University this impossible to do. We are creating year, will mark a progressive step in something which I think is a major Irish life towards reflecting a more flagship symbol for society in 2016, inclusive and diverse society. and a major advance on education The move, finalised this excellence for the coming decades.” academic year, brings together a The amalgamation of two long-awaited vision of the four denominational institutes in St. institutes and will see the college’s Patrick’s College and the Church of student base rise to 16,000 this term, Ireland College of Further Educawhile also establishing a fifth faculty tion will now see just one Bachein Ireland’s first ever Institute of lor of Education teaching course Education. established in DCU, with students Incorporation will see DCU staff of different religious backgrounds numbers rise from 1,200 to 1,600 for mixing together despite separate 2016/17. The university also now pathways for entry. possess a total of three academic A government directive set up campuses in Glasnevin, All Hallows by former Minister for Education and St Patrick’s on top of its already Ruaidhri Quinn in 2013, via a proestablished innovation campus, vision in the Employment Equality DCU Alpha, and its sports campus Act, saw 32 places reserved solely in St Clares. for students of a Protestant faith in Speaking shortly after addressCICE. ing close to 1,000 incoming first This government provision for year students at the Helix for the separate pathways, which expires fourth time in three days, Professor in 2018, carries through into DCU MacCraith reflected that a coming meaning that a student with 465 together of separate denominational CAO points and higher level Irish institutes into a secular university could fail to secure a place in the may not have been possible decades BEd programme, while another ago. student with 435 points and ordinary “I think this is a symbol of a level Irish could gain entry were progressive, modern Ireland. I think they of a Protestant background via it is very significant that this is hap- the DC004 pathway. pening in 2016,” he said.

However Mr MacCraith does “We have spent the year apnot view the issue of separate propriately looking back about the pathways as procuring isolation and messages and the history and the Full story page 3 achievements in 1916 and since.

Thousands rally to repeal the Eighth in Dublin Rebecca Lumley News Editor @RebeccaLumley1

Aaron Gallagher Editor-in-Chief @AaronGallagher8

TENS of thousands of people gathered at the Garden of Remembrance last weekend to protest for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, which criminalises abortion in Ireland.

Protestors walked from Parnell Street through Dublin’s City Centre and finished at Merrion Square, a short walk from Leinster House. It marked one of the largest pro-choice demonstrations Ireland has ever seen.

Students from around the country amalgamated at Trinity College before the protest and were addressed by Annie Hoey, President of the USI. The crowd practiced a series of chants, exclaiming “they say no choice, we say pro-choice” and “what are we feeling? repealing.”

A wide range of organisations contributed to the estimated crowd of 20,000 people, with members of political parties: People Before Profit, the Anti Austerity Alliance, Labour and the Social Democrats coming out in support.

Marina Reilly, a member of the Social Democrats said it was “abhorrent that we export our women to have a medical procedure done.”

“We’re sticking our heads in the sand about the issue but it’s happening”, she continued. “Women have to get the boat and are shipped out of the country. I just don’t think it’s acceptable.”

While the majority of the crowd was composed of young people and students, there was a relatively even gender mix, with Ms Reilly unsurprised by the male turnout.

“Men are our allies in this,” she said.

Full story page 3

Protestors came out in full force to protest for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment Rebecca Lumley

News

Sport

Gaeilge

The College View speaks to DCU’s new Student Union 4-5

No decision made on DCU GAA amalgamation 18

Stailceanna Bus - Dhá Stór leis an mBus Dhá 11

Arts

The Suss’ summer festival special 2-3

Opinion

“We face this land,” Ireland must repeal the 8th 9

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Editorial INSIDE

AARON GALLAGHER

News Larkfield is least costly for local purpose-built student accommodation Read more on page 6

Features Students and alcohol - a perfect pair or negative affair?

Read more on page 16

Lifestyle A guide on how to survive student accomodation Read more on page 7

Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief: Aaron Gallagher Deputy Editor: Aidan Geraghty Production & Layout Editor: Scout Mitchell Deputy Production & Layout Editor: Hannah Kelly Production Assistant: Stephen Keegan News Editor: Hayley Halpin & Rebecca Lumley Deputy News Editors: Paul Dwyer & Brein McGinn

Images Editor: Daragh Culhane Deputy Images Editor: Laura Horan Online News Editor: Clara Hickey Chief Sub-Editor: Brion Hoban Sub Editor: Enda Coll, Kyle Ewald Elsa McEvoy, Conor O’ Doherty, Gavin Quinn & Fionnuala Walsh Contacts

Opinion Editor: Shirley Donlon

editor@thecollegeview.com

Lifestyle Editor: Amy Lawlor Deputy Lifestyle Editor: Michelle Martin

news@thecollegeview.com

Features Editor:Shauna Bowers Deputy Features Editor:Orla O’Driscoll

opinion@thecollegeview.com

Irish Editor:Cal Ó Donnabháin Seputy Irish Editor: Aine Marie Monk

sports@thecollegeview.com

Sports Editor: Aidan Geraghty Deputy Sports Editor: Jack O’Toole & Patrick Lynch Arts Editor: Stephen Keegan Deputy Arts Editor: Emer Handly Chief Arts Contributor: Kyle Ewald

features@thecollegeview.com gaeilge@thecollegeview.com

Printed by Datascope, with the DCU Journalism Society Thanks to Sportsfile, SLC, Office of Student Life Logo design by Lauren McConway

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A

s the autumn mist descends and students sluggishly return to academic reality, Dublin City University embarks upon its long-awaited and much anticipated Incorporation Programme which will see four institutes come together under the promise of a NewDCU. Through a shared vision of innovation, educational excellence and inclusive diversity, the university lies on the horizon of a promising and ever-changing tomorrow.

It was during this same time in which DCU President Professor Brian MacCraith called upon the Government to inject a €100m emergency investment into third level education, not in order to see it grow and prosper, but rather to stabilise and normalise the sector after a month of perceived freefall.

September was a month in which all but one Irish university fell in the QS World University rankings, DCU dropping 27 places to 380th, while the month also witnessed Irish universities fail to rank in the top 200 of the Times Higher Education rankings for the first time in its history.

Former President of DCU Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski outlined that despite the flawed concept, application and interpretation of university rankings, that they still hold an incalculable importance in attracting investors and researchers, saying: “If Ireland wants to continue to build on its status as a high-value, research and development economy, these rankings really matter.”

But a lowering of status within these much-revered rankings brought home a gross reality to Ireland’s third level education, of the effects of barren years of government cutbacks, funding shortages and a steadily rising tide of rising student numbers and decreasing university staff all throughout the crippling prism of the economic recession.

Government spending on third level education fell a dramatic 40 per cent between 2008 and 2016, with the Cassells Report, published in July, outlining three measures to ensure a sense of security over the funding crisis in the years to come through either: • a largely state-funded system which abolishes the student contribution fee • a continuation of the current contribution fee combined with an increase in state-funding • an income-contingent loan scheme similar to that applied to college graduates in the United States.

Mr. MacCraith viewed an increase of state-funding of up to 80 per cent through increased taxation as unrealistic, stating that the third option of an income-contingent loan scheme as the most realistic and pragmatic approach to slowly stabilise the crisis.

“What needs to be worked out are the exact details of how that would work”, he said.

“There are a number of principles that I would absolutely adhere to that are effective in the university itself. One is equity of access, so whatever we do it still has to be that getting into a university is about your ability and not your means.

“Equity of access is a principle of DCU, whatever method comes in we have to address that. I

don’t think the government is able to, at the moment, deliver what is needed for the system by itself.

He said that spending per student had dropped 30 per cent since 2009.

“My biggest concern is that we are now presiding over a situation that is hugely challenged in terms of the quality of education we can provide for students”, said the DCU President. “One manifestation of that is the rankings slide for universities, bar one.

“Part of my responsibility is to try and ensure that students get the optimal learning experience, but it’s grossly underfunded. The best measure for me is the investment per student.

In 2008 we were below the OECD average and now since that, as a result of austerity and cutbacks, that has dropped. There is a recognition that quality, ultimately, is about investment and resources.”

The President makes constant reference to an ideal of enhancing the experience of the individual student while at university and that while lectures and academic merit are the guts of a college diploma, that the memories and experience of a student life’s matter just as much, if not more, outside the lecture hall.

With the construction of a new Student Centre looming in the backdrop of incessant building sites and orange barriers around the Glasnevin campus, one cannot escape the feeling that change is present and that progress toward that goal is underway.

Over 16,000 people will call themselves DCU students from this year forward. Clubs and societies are merging, campuses are now being shared, as well as expanding. Buildings are being re-named in memory of inspirational women in the name of equality, students of different religious backgrounds are mixing in the name of diversity, and bathrooms on campus are now gender-neutral.

While DCU, like so many Irish universities continues to pay the price of economic factors beyond its control, it continues to make constant strides in the name of innovation, social inclusion and a dedication to student life outside of the lecture hall.

Much like the merit of Incorporation between St. Patrick’s, Mater Dei, CICE and DCU, these metrics cannot be calculated by a university ranking. Professor MacCraith was correct when he said that doing what was right, through Incorporation, was more important.

But he was more correct when he said we cannot be slaves to rankings. They are worthwhile and meaningful. Conclusions can be drawn from them and areas improved upon. But they can too be biased and lean in favour of richer universities the world over.

A new strategic plan for DCU will be unveiled in quarter four of this year for the college.

Professor MacCraith says it is aimed at “enhancing the student experience.” In years gone by DCU has prided itself on the metrics of student engagement: its clubs, societies, sports teams and a constant uphill struggle of enhancing the life of its students through voluntary work.

A NewDCU looms for many, and it looms for all that stand in the cast of its ever growing shadow.

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NEWS “We cannot be slaves to rankings”

Clubs and Societies merge across all DCU campuses for first time Zainab Boladale

Aaron Gallagher Editor-in-Chief @AaronGallagher8 Continued from page 1

exclusion in this instance. Rather he sees that it is put in place in order to protect minority communities of a particular denomination while also stressing how one BEd programme promotes diversity through a coming-together of students of different religions into one course.

“For me that is just the government policy for this. It’s a pathway which in a sense ensures diversity,” he said. “I think it may have been interpreted as something which it is not. It was something that was put in place to protect minorities.”

“In the same programme there is also another pathway for Gaeltacht students (DC003) and again it is for a minority community and it is to ensure, going into the teaching profession, that there are students that are native-Irish speakers. It is a positive approach from the government to protect minority groupings.”

In a month dominated by sliding Irish university rankings, the DCU President added that the progress the college has made through Incorporation will likely reflect no positive difference to its chances of moving up tables such as the QS World University and Times Higher Education rankings.

“Completing Incorporation in the middle of (cutbacks) is ambitious.

But in fact it is quite likely that what we are doing will not help our rankings. The metrics associated with what we have created will not, in the short-term, improve our rankings, and may dilute them. But doing the right thing is more important here.

“I think we have to be realistic about them and take note of some of the messages that come from them.

But we cannot be slaves to rankings.” dcu.ie

Hayley Halpin News Editor @HayleyHalpin1

CLUBS and societies from DCU’s

Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s campus have merged together for the first academic year, as the long-awaited Incorporation Programme commences.

Cumann Gaelach, LGBTA, Drama and St. Vincent De Paul were amongst societies that were registered on both the Glasnevin campus and the St. Patrick’s campus prior to this year’s incorporation.

The amalgamation of the clubs and societies began last May as each came together and ran an Extraordinary General Meeting, to elect a committee for the academic year of 2016/17.

“The work has been done, I’ve been in contact with all of them.

They’re getting on well and they’re incorporating each other’s events that they would have had in previous years,” Luke O’Riordan, DCU Soci-

eties Officer said.

“We have merged the social media accounts of both societies to ensure that our content reaches all students interested in drama. Essentially instead of it being DCU Drama incorporating St. Pat’s Drama, we have made a brand new society across all campuses,” Niamh Whelan, DCU Drama chairperson said.

There were over 60 clubs between DCU Glasnevin campus and St. Patrick’s College before the incorporation occurred, however that has been reduced down to 44 clubs

this year, as some merged.

DCU GAA now operates as DCU Dócháis Eireann, with various clubs within that entity.

“There’ll be the GAA Handball, the ladies, the mens footballs, the hurling and the camogie. There are different plans for this year,” Sadhbh Candon, DCU Clubs Officer said.

There are both DCU Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s campus teams to facilitate students predominantly based on either campus, while all part of the one club, Candon explained.

With two teams of the same

sport under the one DCU club, The College View asked Candon how this issue will be tackled entering leagues. However, she was unable to clarify at that time.

“The main thing will be making sure there are trainings on both campuses for clubs, so no matter where people are, if they have an interest in something that they can definitely get involved”, Candon said.

All clubs and societies committees must provide Campus Liaisons Officer, or a similar role, to encourage multi-campus representation.

Students march for choice fare and Equality, who represented DCU’s Students Union at the march.

“I wasn’t surprised by the number of men to be honest. This isn’t just a women’s rights issue,” he said.

“It physically affects the woman, correct. However, this is a shared issue.”

“I have a sister whom I care about deeply and if I knew that she became pregnant, only later to discover something like a fatal foetal Rebecca Lumley abnormality, that she should be given News Editor the option to spare both herself and @RebeccaLumley1 said ‘child’ from any further distress.

The same goes for my younger cousins,” he said.

Continued from page 1 “They are women that experience emotional difficulty which, at least in my family, is a shared “Men have watched their partemotional difficulty. I think that this ners, their sisters, their mothers, their resonates with men of all ages and wives go through these things. I’m that’s why there are more and more not surprised but it’s nice to see.” men backing this.”

Echoing similar sentiments was The Students Union has mainCody Byrne, Vice President for Wel- tained a pro-choice stance since

last year, when 71 per cent of DCU students voted in favour of this in a preferendum.

In order to facilitate student participation despite the Dublin Bus strike, Byrne organised a shuttle bus from all DCU campuses.

“I think it is so important for the student body to actively voice their opinion in societal matters,” he said.

“From my own perspective, abortion is not a ‘sexy’ topic. It’s certainly nothing as happy-go-lucky as the Marriage Equality Referendum that Eve Kerton had two years ago.

“I think it is controversial for a Students’ Union to take such a definitive stance but, at the same time, it is so important that this act is amended. The students are passionate towards this so I felt the need to provide the opportunity to do so.”

Marching alongside students were dozens of members from Irish social activism group, ROSA (for Reproductive Rights against Oppres-

sion, Sexism and Austerity), who have advocated repealing the Eighth for the past number of years.

“We’re basically campaigning for a referendum straight away and saying that a citizens assembly is just a talking shop. We need to have a referendum and then legislate for the right to choose straight away,” said Diane O’Dwyer, a ROSA member.

When asked whether she thought it would be legislated by the current Government, O’Dwyer was hopeful.

Shee said: “They (the Government) are so conservative, they’re going to have to be pushed into it but I think if there’s enough movement out there in society then yes.

“Public opinion is really strongly in favour of having a referendum and it’s really only the politicians who are holding it back at this stage.”

Meanwhile, a small group of pro-life campaigners gathered on Grafton Street in opposition to the pro-choice march.

NEWS DCU Sabbaticals Student Union Sabatical4 Laura Horan

SU President: Dylan Kehoe on freshers week success reconstruction was well underway and The Venue has now been replaced with DCU’s Spar.

A new venue was needed to accommodate the upcoming events and with no other option Mr. Kehoe STUDENT Union President of had a large outdoor Marquee, now DCU, Dylan Kehoe, appears to be called the SU Arena, erected on the settling into his new role with the college green. The SU Arena will college quite comfortably saying now be available for societies to that the new energy surrounding hold their events. the campus has made the transition Kehoe also described how the much easier for him. amalgamation was initially a worry He said that the first week had but that it has gone better than could been incredibly busy with numerhave been hoped for. ous events being held throughout “The incorporation is going the college as well as trying to deal really well with vibrant atmospheres with his normal everyday workload. being seen on all campuses and “Obviously our schedules are students floating from campus to quite hectic with a lot of events campus,” said Kehoe. on top of our normal workday but The next item on his manifesto feeding off the energy of students is to introduce J1 workshops that makes it much easier,” said Kehoe. will involve upskilling students with He then described how the Stu- training in barista, cocktail and pizdent’s Union are trying to make the za making, with classes to be held new student’s first week in DCU as in the SU arena. pleasant and enjoyable as possible, Kehoe said that, “I’ve set up a as it is a very sensitive time for first partnership with Jobbio which gives year students who are about to bestudents access to hundreds of jobs both part-time and graduate. My J1 gin this new chapter in their lives.

Workshops are nearly ready to roll He said, “it’s no doubt a out with a host of different skills delicate period so we’re doing all available.” we can to make it as smooth as Kehoe also said that he is possible”. optimistic for what the upcoming However, Kehoe also faced a number of problems before the in- academic year.

“The year is gonna fly by so I’m coming first years arrived. The first gonna try take it all in as much as main obstacle that had to be dealt possible.” with this week was that the hub’s Paul Dwyer Deputy News Editor @PaulWicklo

“

It’s no doubt a delicate period so we’re doing all we can to make it as smooth as possible Dylan Kehoe, DCUSU President

Welfare Officer: Cody Byrne on Equality Working Group and goals for the coming year Week which will be all about equality, in week 10 of semester one.”

Kicking off the academic year, Byrne and his Welfare team released a video called ‘Advice For My First BYRNE has started his tenure in Year Self’ for Freshers’ Week to help the role, which was formally known the integration process for incoming solely as VP for Welfare, by creating students.

DCU’s first ever ‘Equality Working Plans already in place in conjuncGroup’. This includes nine people tion with the Union of Students in representing the female population, Ireland include the launching of a the male population and minorities card on campus which contains five across all campuses. hotlines that people can call for 24 Describing his initial goals for hours as part of Suicide Prevention the group, Byrne said “For InternaDay, the Repeal the 8th Nursing Protional Women’s Day we are going to test next week, a potential protest for walk from Glasnevin Campus to St. teachers and the student loan protest Patrick’s Campus and we are going in October. to do a piece on ‘It doesn’t matter Despite a bright start to his new what I am wearing, it doesn’t mean job, Byrne expressed the difficulties you can have sex with me’ which is that come with being VP for Welfare about victim-blaming.” and Equality, none harder than the “I also want to bring in a few fake accommodation page scamming disability days, as well as a Diversity of international students in Dublin

Brein McGinn Deputy News Editor @thecollegeview

over the summer.

“The toughest part of the job for me is the international students getting screwed over,” said Byrne.

“There’s no support available for them as far as I’m concerned and I’m a qualified psychology student with no legal experience.”

Byrne said the job he envisaged was easier than reality, but feels if he improves on relieving his own stress that comes with being VP for Welfare and Equality, the job can become much more manageable.

He said: “Eve Kerton who was Welfare Officer a few years ago told me that I wouldn’t know what I was doing until December time but I feel like I already know what I am doing.”

“It is definitely a manageable job although it is also really difficult balancing work with other things.”

Laura Horan

NEWS Officers: A look to their year ahead Laura Horan

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Academic Affairs Officer: James Donoghue on re-entering office Hayley Halpin News Editor @HayleyHalpin1

AS we enter a new academic year

and a fresh Students’ Union team enters office, one familiar face remains, SU Academic Affairs Officer James Donoghue.

With a year of experience already under his belt, Donoghue wants to branch into working on student feedback from last year with staff, as he has a bigger understanding of how to go about things on a committee level.

“We will have worked a good bit on getting student feedback last year and it’s a really good opportunity for me this year to use that at committee level, university wide to ensure that students are getting the experience they want,” Donoghue said.

“I actually have to take that

information, bring it to the university and say yeah, you’ve done very well in this aspect but maybe student feedback on assignments isn’t where it should be.”

“I would still bring the same aspects to the role that I would have brought last year that the students come first ,” Donoghue told The College View.

Amidst the incorporation of the Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s College and All Hallows’ campuses, Donoghue noted that he had to become more “on the ball” as a results of two different structures coming together to deliver exam results.

“There was certain aspects of exam results that hadn’t been there before and I kind of had to make sure I was double checking everything and not just going on what I learned last year,” he said.

The new multi-campus DCU will not be an issue for the Academics Affairs Officer, according to

Donoghue.

While “some of the other roles will be about your presence on other campuses”, he told The College View that his “is about representation and support”.

“In terms of representation, any work I’m doing to get students opinions will be across every campus and I’ll bring that to the body that is correct,” he said.

DCUSU has five full time Sabbatical roles, as opposed to three in previous years.

Donoghue noted that there’s more communication needed but the dynamics of that are not bad.

“It’s nice being that experienced staff member but there’s four new sabbatical officers but we also have three or four new full time staff up here.”

“It’s been refreshing, it’s been nice and I think in terms of SU you do need energy, it’s the one thing you absolutely need,” he said.

Engagement and Development VP Education and Officer Eimear Maguire: A new Placement: Manus role and fresh plans for the year Mc Loughlin on embracing the role Laura Horan

Rebecca Lumley News Editor @RebeccaLumley1

EIMEAR Maguire is not only the sole female on the Students Union sabbatical team of 2016, but the first ever VP for Engagement and Development.

Filling one of two new roles, Maguire will focus on the promotion of student volunteering, engagement and leadership, while also overseeing the work of the Class Rep Council.

While Maguire hopes to provide more extensive training for class reps, she is also working on a system of recognition and reward for their efforts. This will be provided by an “open badge system”, an idea introduced by former SU President Kim Sweeney last year.

Maguire will finish where Sweeney began and hopes the badges, which will provide a formal recommendation from the University and appear on students’ LinkedIn profiles, will be operational by Christmas. Other projects on Maguire’s agenda include development and growth of clubs and societies and an inter-campus bike scheme.

A former St Pats student, Maguire’s office is based on the Drumcondra campus, though the Engagement and Development officer finds herself travelling between there and Glasnevin most days, a challenge the

from all Sabbatical officers on the SU. As well as practical advice, McLoughlin expressed a desire to improve the mental health support services available to students on THOUGH the past few months placement in his pre-election manhave forced a “steep learning curve” ifesto. for Manus McLoughlin, VP for Also mentioned in the run up Education and Placement on the to the election was the possible Students Union, he is “embracing introduction of pre-Christmas exams, the challenge.” though Manus is unsure whether The role is one of two educastudents would back the change. tion-related positions on this “During the campaign I year’s SU, an expansion realised that not all students from the single Education were of the same opinion about Officer role of years gone pre-Christmas exams,” he said. by.

“I plan to release a survey McLoughlin will to find out the exact data on focus on supporting whether or not this is something students doing placement that most students want.” and plans to release a The role of EngageDCU SU Teachment and Development ing and Nursing Officer is not Manus’ Pack, a project first experience in poliwhich will be tics, having previously piloted during held the positions of the second Entertainments Officer semester. and Day Time AcThe pack tivities Officer at St. will aim to Patricks College. give advice He continues to and guidance spend much of his for student time on the St Pats nurses and campus but will swap teachers on with another sabbatical placement and team member once a will feature week to occupy an combined office in the Glasnevin input campus SU. Rebecca Lumley News Editor @RebeccaLumley1

SU is facing for the first time.

“It’s difficult for us to stretch ourselves but it’s easy to represent people. We hear things on the ground because we’re out and about so much,” she said.

“Because I’m in charge of class reps I suppose it’s probably a bit easier for me, because class reps will come to me straight away in comparison with the four other guys.”

While Maguire is rising to the challenge of representing a greater student body, time is the greatest challenge she will face this year.

“There’s a lot you want to get done and a lot you actually physically can’t,” she said.

“You’ve promised people so much, and on a day to day basis it’s very hard to get around to doing those things.”

NEWS

6 Building work on the Hub reconstruction commences Hayley Halpin News Editor @Hayleyhalpin1

Dublin Bus drivers picket outside Clontarf garage with union, SIPTU Credit: Darragh Culhane

Dublin Bus strikes threaten to disrupt students commuting to college Shirley Donlon Opinions Editor @ShirleyDonlon

DUBLIN Bus drivers will strike

for an additional 11 days in October following an eight-day strike in September.

Thirteen new dates during which Dublin Bus drivers will strike were announced last week, two of which were cancelled following talks on Monday on September 27th and 28th.

The 11-day strike during October will take place on Saturday 1st, Wednesday 5th, Friday 7th, Monday 10th, Wednesday 12th, Friday 14th, Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th, Monday 24th, Wednesday 26th and Saturday 29th.

So far, the strike has cost Dublin Bus roughly €4 million and will continue to effect the financial stability of the company in the coming weeks.

Dublin Bus is seeking a 15% flat pay increase as well as a rise of 6% which they say was due in 2009 but was deferred.

Students who usually commute to and from Dublin colleges will be forced to arrange other means of travel during the upcoming strike days.

DCU Welfare officer, Cody Byrne, has arranged services to facilitate students during the strike.

“I’m all in favour of people fighting for what’s right.” said Byrne.

“Now, of course this comes at an inconvenience to the rest of us with regards to getting around, but

I always feel it’s important to stand your ground for what is right.”

DCU Student’s Union have teamed up with CitySwifter who will provide bus services to and from Dublin City Centre.

“Initially, this is just for getting to and from town. If CitySwifter see the demand, then more routes will begin to open.” he said.

DCU SU have also set up a ‘Hitch a Lift in DCU’ Facebook page through which students can arrange to carpool.

Understanding of the daily struggle for students at this time Byrne feels that the “more pervasive, social message is important too.”

“It’s annoying that we’re on the brunt of it but it’s a pleasure to see in today’s world.” He said.

THE estimated €14 development plans on the DCU Student Centre, The Hub, has commenced and are due to be completed for Semester 2 of the academic year 2017-18.

The construction work began in late June, as undergraduate students finishing up their academic year.

A new 4 storey space in the centre of the Glasnevin campus is to replace what was once Spar, DCUfm, and Old Bar. The new purpose-built space is due to facilitate students’ social, cultural, global engagement and entrepreneurial activities.

Some offices and services have been relocated within the Hub. DCUfm has moved to the Students’ Union meeting room 3. The hairdressers has moved from upstairs to downstairs, adjacent to the book shop.

One of the major changes that is evident as a result of the reconstruction, is the relocation of Spar. The

Venue, that was once home to major DCU clubs and societies events, has been renovated to facilitate the store.

DCU clubs and societies days on the Glasnevin campus have traditionally been held in The Venue every year. A marquee, the DCUSU Arena, has been erected outside the Hub to facilitate Freshers’ Week and Clubs & Socs events over the coming weeks.

“The SU initially approached the University to see if this was a possibility and all University staff have been supportive and helped with any necessary regulatory procedures,” Una Redmond, Officer of Student Life Manager.

Clubs & Societies will need to look for alternative venues, both on and off campus, due to the inaccessibility of The Venue. Other options students may look to this year include St. Patrick’s College campus, All Hallows campus, classrooms, The Mezz, NuBar, and The Helix.

“Clubs and Socs in DCU are strong and vibrant enough to not allow this impact on them negatively. It will be a little challenging but students have a wonderful ability,” Redmond said.

Larkfield is least costly for local purpose-built student accommodation Brien McGinn Deputy News Editor @BMCGINN123

ON campus accommodation comes out on top once again as the cheapest option when comparing purpose-built student accommodation that serve students of DCU without including deposits.

First year-only Larkfield Apartments on the Glasnevin campus and St Patrick’s College Campus tie for the least costly choice for incoming students at €4,572.

Hampstead Apartments on the Glasnevin campus comes in as the cheapest place to live for the academic year for all other undergraduate students, with a single room and double room totaling at €4,860 and €4,932 respectively.

Next-in-line is College Park Apartments which is adjacent to Hampstead, with a single room costing €5,148, a double room tallying up to €5,328 and superior accommodation priced at €5,461.

Single and double rooms at All Hallows campus mirror the prices of Hampstead and College Park, although €4,860 and €4,932 will not include an en suite to students living on the

Drumcondra site, whereas €5,328 and €5,461 do.

The new Broadstone Student Village in Phibsborough is the most expensive of all major purpose-built, DCU serving student accommodation, with prices ranging from €7,200 for one spot in a twin bedroom to €10,000 for a ‘Premium Plus Room’.

A twin-room in Gateway Student Village is the cheapest purpose-built alternative to on-campus accommodation, totting up to €5,580 with or without an en suite.

Gateway also provides a single bed room without an en suite at €6,580 and a single bed with an en suite for €6,980.

Dublin City University accomidation Credit: Darragh Culhane

Shanowen Square and Shanowen Hall are the closest privately-owned student apartments to the Glasnevin campus and a room would put a student back €6,165 or €6,300 respectively.

Hazlewood in Northwood, Santry is managed by two seperate parties, Academy Walk Property Management Maintenance & Letting’s Ltd and Harrington Property Management, with

the former’s cost is €6,500 for one full payment or 6,800 when paying in two instalments for the academic year and the latter amounting to just €6,300 for the same timeframe.

School House Court near Omni Park Shopping Centre in Santry could put a student back €7,000 euro depending on how many months a student intends on staying.

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NEWS

8

Irish Universities fail to make cut for top 200 global ranking Ian Brennan

News Reporter

@thecollegeview

NO Irish University has made the

Times Higher Education top 200 colleges in the world for the first time since the rankings began.

An error with the data Trinity College Dublin provided see the university temporarily removed whilst a review of its information is performed. The college is expected to be reintroduced in a revised ranking table later this year.

These results reflect the QS World University rankings, in which all but one Irish university, NUI Galway, fell in rankings. This has led to Fianna Fáil claiming that the fall in rankings is due to the lack of funding given to Irish Universities in the last five years.

University College Dublin also suffered a major setback as it fell out of the top 200 as well, resting in the 201-250 bracket and confirming

the fears of many before the rankings were published that this could be a bad year for Irish universities.

Dublin City University maintained its place in the 401-500 bracket, with University College Cork and NUI Maynooth also retaining their places in the 301-400 bracket as well as University Limerick and Dublin Institute of Technology staying in the 501-600 and 701-800 brackets respectively.

There are, however, some positives to be taken from the recently published rankings. Both NUI Galway and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland rose from the 251-300 bracket to join UCD in the 201-250 bracket, improvements that are to be recognised.

At the top of the rankings there was only one change within the top five Universities but it resulted in California Institute of Technology being replaced in the top spot by University of Oxford. Stanford University holds onto third place while in fourth, University of Cambridge finish just ahead of Massachusetts Institute of Technology in fifth.

Irish nurses and midwives set to strike over incremental credit reforms Conor O’Doherty Reporter @thecollegeview

THE Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) will stage a protest outside Leinster House on September 27th against the decision by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to deny incremental credits to nursing and midwifery students who completed their internships from 2011-2015.

An agreement signed between INMO, Siptu, the HSE, The Department of Health and the Psychiatric Nurses Association in December 2015 guaranteed nursing internships from 2011-2015 would be recognised when placing newly graduated nurses on a pay scale.

In February 2016 the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform withdrew this part of the agreement, which would have incremental credit awarded to around 3,000 nursing students who graduated between 2011-2015, which now only applies this to graduates from 2016 onward. This decision will be reviewed

Sparks fly at DCU debate between American Democrat and Republican

DCU students grilled US Democrat and Republican representatives in Q&A last Thursday Credit: Darragh Culhane

Paul Dwyer Deputy News Editor @PaulWicklo

A debate was held in the Henry Grattan building last Thursday between an American democrat and a republican on the upcoming US election involving Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton.

Republican, Nickoli Ambrose and Democrat, Maclean Zilber were due to appear on Newstalk with George Hook later that day to discuss the US presidential election but first they came to DCU to hold a short debate and take questions from Journalism and International Relations students on the matter.

Both Ambrose and Zilber opened with a short background of how they became involved in politics and how they are now both heavily involved

with the campaigns of both Trump and Clinton.

Zilber described how campaigning has changed since the last presidential election with both sides opting to speak directly to the people through the use of talk shows and social media instead of using conventional methods, such as press conferences.

“The extent that the candidates have tried to talk directly to the people without mediators is huge.

Hillary hasn’t held one press conference the entire campaign,” Zilber said.

After this Ambrose said that she thinks Donald Trump will become the next US president because he is a “branding machine” and that Clinton has “little credibility”.

“Everyone knows she has a huge credibility problem and that’s where the buck stops,” Ambrose said.

One of the questions asked by a student was how a woman involved

in 2017, however INMO are protesting to call open the beds,” said Flanagan. for faster action.

Flanagan also stated the Department of Stephen Edge, a third year Nursing student Public Expenditure and Reform “have refused in DCU, will be attending the protest in soli- to meet the INMO or any of the organisations darity with nurses who will not receive incremental credit.

“This protest involves all nursing disciplines, this dispute has hit so many hard working nurses and left them completely disillusioned with their profession,” Edge said.

Student and New Graduate Officer of INMO Dean Flanagan said he hoped every college would send a delegation of around 10 students to stand in solidarity at the protest, as he believes the situation “is going to leave already squeezed nurses and midwives even more vulnerable”.

“We’re hoping at least every college will be able to send a delegation of 10 to 15 students,” said Flanagan and continued to say that on the day they were expecting between 250-300 students.

Flanagan said he believed it would affect the HSE’s Winter Initiative, as nurses would go abroad to find work and the HSE will have insufficient staff.

“They’re not going to have the staff there to

in politics, like Ambrose, could vote for a man like Trump who is openly misogynistic?

“I don’t know what to say I think he’s very genuine and caring and is incredibly good at image,” Ambrose said.

When Ambrose was asked about Donald Trump’s stance on dealing with Islamic state she said she’d hope that he’d attack any country who was terrorising their country.

She said, “Ronald Regan whacked Libya and we didn’t hear a peep out of them for 25 years so sometimes that works very well”.

While Zilber disagreed with many of Ambrose’s points he did agreed that Trump was very charismatic and concluded the debate saying how it frightened him that there are so many people willing to vote for him.

“Trump is a charismatic machine and there is a fear that because of this he may pass the bar but I hope

involved”.

INMO is meeting with TDs and senators from 10:30am-11:30am, and protesting outside Leinster House from 11:30am-12:30pm.

Flikrvia Creative Commons

9

OPINION

Ireland needs to wake up to injustice —it’s time to repeal Following the release of the ‘We Face This Land’ video and this weekend’s March for Choice, Andrew Ralph weights into the abortion debates

I

n the coming weeks, a hundred random citizens will receive a letter in the post, blazoned by the golden harp of the State and requesting their membership of a “Citizen’s Assembly”, to meet on October 15th for the first time to engage and shape a report that will be put before the Oireachtas, facing up to one of the thorniest issues in Irish society: should the 8th amendment be retained, reformed or repealed?

I believe it should be repealed and I took part in the annual March for Choice on September 24th in Dublin.

The Assembly is a cop out. Our politicians should not hide or avoid debating, tackling or addressing the issues we face in the democratically elected Parliament that we already have, especially an issue such as this that affects half the population on the basis of their gender alone.

I want to deconstruct this issue, an issue that is not as black and white as the single sentence in our constitution that attempts to deal with it is.

Whatever change is recommended, unless a full repeal is achieved, Ireland will continue to simply export this “problem” to the clinics of London and Amsterdam.

According to Amnesty International, vocal supporters of repeal and creators of the #repealthe8th campaign, 10 women make the journey every day. 4,000 from the Republic and 1,000 from Northern Ireland make the journey every year.

The Repeal Project recently released a very powerful video entitled ‘We Face This Land’. Its message highlighted the point that abortion is accessible to Irish women, but only when they are forced to travel to foreign lands (albeit, not every woman can afford the luxury of foreign travel).

The women in the video remark “a body is a body – not a house, not a vessel, not a city and not a country” and that “the laws of the Church have no place on your flesh”.

I am glad the project drew attention to the origins of the 8th amendment, a regressive time when all laws in Ireland were the product of a fundamental lack of church and state separation.

If we actually looked at the issue of abortion through the prism of fact, not through the dogmatic teachings of organised religious entities, we get a better understanding of how the current system in Ireland is problematic, unjust and discriminatory towards women.

The Pro-Life Amendment Campaign (PLAC) was only established in 1981, to prevent an Irish equivalent of Roe v Wade appearing in our courts.

This Catholic conservative fear of Irish women using the courts as a means to repeal the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861, is why a movement was spearheaded to deliver a full constitutional ban on abortion.

evoke.ie

The referendum on the 8th amendment itself in 1983, in which the Taoiseach of the day voted against, was passed by 66.9 per cent of the electorate with a weak turnout of 53.6 per cent.

Roe v Wade is precisely why I am pro-choice and it forms the basis of my view that the 8th amendment should be repealed and that abortion should be allowed within the parameters of the law. It was a landmark U.S Supreme Court ruling in 1973, that legalised abortion in the United States.

The Supreme Court found that a foetus cannot viably survive outside the womb during the first 23 to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Therefore, the foetus is not equal to human life at this point of the pregnancy.

“ It is inaccurate to call abortion in that time period as “an act of murder”.

A procedure to prevent a pregnancy reaching full term, when a foetus cannot survive outside of a womb, is simply not compatible to ramming a human being to death in a car at 120 km/h.

Imagine being told that these are the clothes you have to wear, that this is the religion that you to have to worship, that this is

10 women make the journey every day. 4,000 from the Republic and 1,000 from Northern Ireland make the journey every year the car you have to buy, that this the food you have to eat and that this is the house you have to live in. To have the law force a particular and subjective morality on you, against your free will, is exactly what the 8th amendment currently does to women and this totalitarianism is dangerous, wrong and obscene.

Women should be permitted to exercise their natural right to choose whether or not they want to continue a pregnancy to full term and bring potential life into the world.

Not the state, not the church and not anybody else in society.

10

OPINION

Does DCU deserve more credit than it’s given?

Despite the drop in world university rankings, DCU still ranks high in many ways, writes Brion Hoban

D

ublin City University fell twenty-seven places in the QS World University Rankings published this month, dropping from 353rd to 380th.

DCU is one of seven Irish third-level institutions that now place lower in the rankings. The only Irish university to move up was NUI Galway, which broke into the top 250.

In the wake of the rankings release, DCU President Brian MacCraith echoed calls made by the presidents of Trinity College and UCD regarding the Government’s need to invest emergency funding into third level education.

However, in the same speech, MacCraith talked about the upcoming redevelopment of the university’s four campuses. This redevelopment will cost €230 million.

It seems at least one plan to improve the university is underway and funding appears to be no obstacle. Is the lack of Government investment really the cause of the falling standing of Irish universities?

DCU is a better university today than it was two years ago. The full completion of the Incorporation has led to a massive increase in students, staff and facilities.

The larger community of students has already been responsible for successes. The societies continue to win awards. The sports teams continue to win trophies.

There is an argument that this drop has very little to do with DCU. Rather than a decline in standards, the fall is more likely due to the strives forward made by other

universities.

Belarus State University and the University of the Philippines now rank higher than DCU. It feels churlish to focus on this university’s supposed decline rather than celebrating the success of universities in poorer countries.

No longer being the undisputed best is a price first world countries must be prepared to pay. As the developing world continues to improve, the institutions of the richest countries will face tougher competition.

It is also an important and often forgotten point that Ireland is a small country that consistently punches above its weight. Ireland has eight entries in the QS Rankings, five of which sit inside the top 500.

Belarus has almost twice the population of Ireland. The Philippines’ population is in the ballpark of 100 million people. Neither of those countries have a second entry in the top 500.

In fact, Ireland has a smaller population than any other country with a university ranked among the top 100 in the world.

These rankings provide us with much opportunity for national pride.

DCU is a very young university, only taking in its first students in 1980, only granted university status in 1989. It still holds a proud place in the rankings for the top 50 young universities.

The university is improving with every passing year. This is made evident by the experience of attending DCU, not by the college climbing up a ranking system.

Darragh Culhane

Dublin Bus strike leaves students stranded The bus strikes have been nothing short of a disaster, writes Aoife Marnell

A

s someone who commutes regularly in and out of town for work using the Dublin Bus Services, I cannot exactly say the bus strikes have done me any favours.

If anything, they have caused nothing but extra charges, long-winded routes and a couple of sprints as I have desperately tried to make it to work on time. I think, however, it is fair to say that the bus drivers have the right to campaign, but they are going about it completely the wrong way.

If the bus drivers stop working, why should not everyone else? In our country, of all places, there are plenty of people working in vital roles who are still underpaid like bus drivers, so why should these workers such as teachers, nurses etc. not follow suit?

With the number of strikes increasing daily, we are currently looking at an avalanche of the government paid working sector if other underpaid workers feel in anyway as strongly as Dublin Bus drivers, as I am sure they do.

Dublin Bus Service are well aware of the large numbers of commuters and, in particular, students who rely on their services every day.

It seems strange to me how they think they should be paid more when through this method of petition all they are doing is letting their customers down.

There are many ways drivers could be campaigning for more money without causing such hassle and difficulty for their customers, which I feel is having a negative effect on bus

broadsheet.ie

users support of a rise in pay for drivers.

I am not saying that these hardworking men and women do not deserve more pay, but rather, there are methods of campaign available which would not cause as high a level of hindrance and delay as these strikes have caused.

If the bus drivers want our support and respect, they should be treating us in the same manner they believe they deserve to be treated.

I am not oblivious to the fact that the idea behind the strikes is to show just how much

Dublin and the rest of the country depends on their services and therefore should be paid more money, but this method has caused much more hassle than it is worth.

I for one, have had to cancel three working days so far, as I had no other way of making it into town. I simply cannot afford a taxi or an hour and a half walk.

As a student, those three days of work really would have made a difference to my standard of living this week. Therefore, in my opinion, the bus strikes have been nothing short of a disaster.

“ If the bus

drivers stop working why shouldn’t everyone else?

11

GAEILGE

Stailceanna Bus - Dhá Stór leis an mBus Dhá

Cuireann Méabh Riordan tuairim an dá thaobh ar fáil dúinn i leith stailceanna Bhus Átha Cliath lena hairteagal

Ag labhairt le tiománaí Bhus Átha Cliath, nochtadh tuairim an taoibh Méabh Riordan eile den agóid, tuairim an sceilpín Scríbhneoir gabhair. Deir sé nach as an ngnáth @thecollegeview gur tháinig an stailc seo: “The strike hasn’t been a long time coming, realistically we (na tiománaithe) only LE costas ceithre mhilliún Euro ar Bhus Átha Cliath ó thaobh stailcean- voted for strike action in August so they’ve known about it for a month. na na dtiománaithe de agus iad ag However, 8 years ago the drivers cur as d’imeachtaí laethúla muintir were promised a 6% pay rise, but na cathrach, bheadh sé deacair don when recession hit we voted to put té nach de thaobh na dtiománaithe the raise on hold until the company dóibh comhbhrón a mhothú i leith were back in profit in order to save fostaithe an chomhlachta. Le 13 300 jobs of the newest employees.” lá eile de ghníomhú thionsclaíoch Cé gur léirigh na tiománaithe agus laethanta sa bhreis le teacht mura féidir teacht ar réiteach, fanann go raibh siad neamhleithleach, ag déanamh iarrachta poist na daonra Bhaile Átha Cliath agus an cheantair go himníoch ar aon nuacht dtiománaithe nua a shábháil agus chuaigh a bhfostóirí i dtír orthu. dhearfach, an comhlacht d’fhoTharla an méid seo go rúnda i ngan chuideachta “Córais Iompair Éireann” dóibh ag glacadh leathanaigh as fhios don phobal agus is de bharr na rúndachta seo a chaill siad a leabhar luchta LUAS. Tháinig deireadh le hagóid LUAS n-inchreidteacht. Tá na tiománaithe ar thóir an airgid sa bhreis a bhí i mí Mheithimh na bliana seo le geallta dóibh 8 mbliain ó shin, agus hardú pá dos na tiománaithe- ag fás is eolas é seo nach bhfuil le feiceáil 18.3% thar ceithre bliana. Cuireadh tús leis an stailc go moch maidin Dé ag an bpobal, ach rud a athródh an seasamh poiblí go mór.

Déardaoin, an 8ú lá de mhí Mheáin Tá siad ag tuilleamh brabúis le Fómhair agus níl deireadh le feiceáil dhá bhliain anuas, áfach, gar le €23 amach anseo leis an díospóireacht milliún ag teacht isteach sa chomchomh garbh agus mar a bhí ó thús hlacht agus gan an t-ardú pá geallta na míosa seo caite. tagtha go fóill chucu.

D’fhreagair na tiománaithe tacsaí Teastaíonn cúig déag faoin gcéad HAILO an t-éíleamh, comaitéirí ardú pá thar trí bliana uathu agus tréigthe i mbruachbhailte Bhaile dealraíonn sé gur ghealladh méadú Átha Cliath slánaithe acu, ach ní pá sé faoin gcéad dóibh, íocaíocht fiú é mar mhodh chun d’airgead a iarchurtha ab ea nach bhfuair siad de shábháil toisc go bhfuil costas ar a thoradh na géarchéime airgeadais. laghad €3.60 sula gcuirtear cos le Ag cur críoch lena ráiteas, deir an troitheán. tiománaí “The workers don’t feel Cad a cheaptar faoi sin? Bhuel that 6% is enough after 8 years and aontaíonn ionadaí an cheardchuare pushing for more which is fair mainn Bhus agus Iarnróid, Dermot O’Leary, go hiomlán leis an gcinne- enough especially with the cost of living increasing so since their pay adh, ach is cosúil nach dteastaíonn freeze”. sé ó lucht taistil an bhus go mbeadh Scaoil bord bainistíochta Bhus cnuasach de tháillí tacsaí íoctha acu Átha Cliath ráiteas ag cur le fios ag deireadh na míosa. go ndéanfaidís a ndícheall gan cur Deirtear go bhfuil tionchar ag na isteach ar an bpobal agus an tseirstailceanna ar gar le 400,000 duine bhís, ach is gá dóibh más mian leo achan lae, ó thaobh tráchta de agus a bpointe a bhrú ar an gcomhlacht. de bharr easpa busanna. In ainÁfach, leagadh plean amach de mhí neoin an jab déanta ag na hoibrithe, stailceanna i Mí Dheireadh Fómhair. rinneadh ‘TheJournal.ie’ suirbhé i De réir an sceidil luaite, ní bheidh rith na seachtaine seo caite (12-18ú busanna ar fáil ón gcéad lá de mhí Meán Fhómhair) ar thuairimí an Dheireadh Fómhair agus dhá lá déag phobail i dtaca leis na stailceanna á leanúint roimh dheireadh na míosa. agus na tiománaithe agus léirítear Ar an taobh is fearr do mhic léinn nach n-aontaíonn ach 34% den slua a thóg an suirbhé leis an gcinneadh, go DCU, chuaigh aontas na mac léinn i dteannta le ‘City Swift’ chun go rachaidís ar stailc. Leis an tromlach mbeadh modh iompair ar fáil dóibh ina gcoinne, 66% le bheith cinnte, campas an choláiste a shroicheadh ní bheadh sé deacair tuiscint nach gan stró ná impleacht na stailceanbhfuil mórán duine sásta leo.

Stailceanna Bhus Átha Cliath - Des Ó Murchú

“

Ag labhairt le tiománaí Bhus Átha Cliath, nochtaíodh tuairim an taoibh eile den agóid, tuairim an sceilpín gabhair

na. Beidh na busanna ag fágáil ó: Sráid Dhásain, Sráid an Phiarsaigh, Stáisiún Uí Chonghaile agus Stáisiún Droim Chonrach i lár na cathrach.

Baileoidh na busanna seo mic léinn ag 8:45 agus 9:45 ar maidin na stailceanna agus fágfaidh siad DCU ón 4:05 agus 5:05 san iarnóin. Tá costas breá saor ar an tseirbhís freisin le turas singil ar €3 agus ticéad fillte ar €5.70. Le sin, tá breis eolais le fáil ar shuíomh DCU nó CitySwift i leith na seirbhíse seo.Chonaic muintir an oileáin ar fad go bhfuil paisean, fuinneamh agus neart ag baint leis an Ghaeilge.Is léiriú infheicthe é Rith 2016 don tír. Léiriú go bhfuil beocht,

fuinneamh agus tábhacht ag baint le pobal na Gaeilge agus an teanga féin go fóill. Léiriú go bhfuil glúin eile leis an Ghaeilge ag teacht inár ndiaidh agus go mbeidh muid ag rith go deo ar son na Gaeilge.

Chonaic muintir an oileáin ar fad go bhfuil paisean, fuinneamh agus neart ag baint leis an Ghaeilge.Is léiriú infheicthe é Rith 2016 don tír.

Léiriú go bhfuil beocht, fuinneamh agus tábhacht ag baint le pobal na Gaeilge agus an teanga féin go fóill.

Léiriú go bhfuil glúin eile leis an Ghaeilge ag teacht inár ndiaidh agus go mbeidh muid ag rith go deo ar son na Gaeilge.

Focail na seachtaine agóid: protest

ráta pá : pay rate

reifreann: referendum

stailc: strike

pá íseal : low pay

bustiománaí: bus driver

íoc sochair: pay out benefits

12

GAEILGE

Boladh na Bliana Nua Úr San Aer

Léiríonn Cormac Sheehy na deacrachtaí agus cruatan tús na bliana nua, chomh maith leis an dtrasdul campas do lucht na Gaeilge in DCU go All Hallows lemerg,com

Ali Spillane Scríbhneoir @thecollegeview

“TÚS maith leath na hoibre”. Táim

cinnte go mbeidh mé ag athrá an tseanfhocail sin arís ‘s arís ó sheachtain go seachtain agus mise ag déanamh iarrachta mo chorpán a tharraingt ón leaba do léacht ag a naoi a chlog, an Jaeger-buama amháin sin sa bhreis ag brú i dtreo urláir an leithris mé. Cinnte go mbeidh sprioc na ‘seachtaine ór’ i bhfad níos faide uaim i gceann míosa nuair a théann oíche Chéadaoin in Dicey’s i bhfeidhm orm.

Tá an coláiste agus gach rud a thagann leis fillte. Tá atmaisféar so-aitheanta Mheáin Fhómhair le braith san aer. Teas an tSamhraidh fós le mothú, ach gaoth an Gheimhridh ag síobadh isteach cosúil leis an taoide íseal ag dreapadh ar an trá chiúin. Tús nua é do gach duine sa choláiste, do lucht an chéad bhliain dar ndóigh agus dóibh siúd ag filleadh óna dtréimhse ar Erasmus agus a leithéid. Táim féin ag cur tús leis an dara bhliain ach mothaím go bhfuilim ag tosú arís toisc mo chúrsa ag bogadh campais i mbliana. Beidh an Roinn Ghaeilge

suite ar champas All Hallows, agus beidh ár léachtaí idir an coláiste sin agus Coláiste Naomh Pádraig atá suite timpeall trí chéad méadar uaidh.

Bhí díomá an domhain orm nuair a chuala mé an nuacht seo ag deireadh na bliana seo caite toisc gur thaitin campas Ghlas Naíon go mór liom. Táim cinnte go mbeidh mé ar ais ar an gcampas i rith na bliana chun na háiseanna a úsáid, an t-ionad spóirt a thóir aclaíochta agus an leabharlann chun cur le m’intleacht, ach cuireann sé seo deacrachtaí chun tosaigh ó thaobh taistil de do dhaltaí agus léachtoirí a theastaíonn uathu gluaiseacht ó champas go campas in am do léachtaí.

Deirtear gur cheannaigh DCU an campas i nDroim Conrach chun breis lóistín a chur ar fáil do dhaltaí, ach cé go gcloisimid faoin ngéarchéim loistíne ag tús achan bhliain acadúil, beartaíodh muintir na Gaeilge an choláiste a sheoladh amach ansin.

Ní fheicim an buntáiste de dhaltaí a chur ag bogadh ó champas a bhfuil aithne acu air, a bhfuil siad sásta leis agus a bhfuil níos faide ón lóistín a bhfuil acu cheana féin, áfach.

Cuireann an cinneadh seo leis an éadóchas atá cheana féin bainteach le maidin an Luain, ag cur 20

“

...agus mise ag déanamh iarrachta mo chorpán a tharraingt ón leaba do léacht ag a naoi a chlog, an Jaeger-buama amháin sin sa bhreis ag brú i dtreo urláir an leithris mé

nóiméad sa bhreis leis an turas.

Táim féin ag fanacht in Gateway Student Village a bhfuil suite i mBaile Munna. Táim chun rothar a thabhairt suas liom as Port Laoise agus beidh sé mar mo chéad taithí de rothaíocht sa chathair. Táim níos buartha faoi sin ná aon rud bainteach le mo chúrsa ag an bpointe seo, gan taithí agam ar bhóithre móra garbha Bhaile Átha Cliath ar dhiallait go dtí seo.

Tá éad orm ar gach duine in Shanowen agus ar an gcampas a bhfuil ábalta titim amach as an leaba agus siúl isteach chuig léacht. Níl a fhios agam conas atá daoine ábalta taisteal gach lá, ach tá blas faighte agam ar shaol an chomaitéara. Níl sé idéalach dúinn ach an oiread, táillí á n-íoc againn agus airgead a gcaitheamh ar an gcíos dár n-árasáin agus an dualgas sa bhreis íoc as an mbus, cé go raibh bus geallta dúinn mar chuid den chomhaontú.

An bogadh ar leataobh, táim ar bís a bheith ar ais don bhliain. Táim ag tnúth go mór bualadh le mo chairde go léir arís, cuid acu nach bhfaca mé ó mhí an Mheithimh seo chaite. Beidh sé deas cúpla oíche amuigh sa chathair a bheith againn, go háirithe i ndiaidh an tsamhraidh a chaitheamh i gcontae Laoise, áit

dheas nach dtarlaíonn tada. Beidh sé suimiúil le feiceáil cé go díreach a bhfuil fágtha sa cúrsa mar go bhfuil roinnt daoine tar éis titim amach den chúrsa nó gan ráth a bheith orthusna scrúdaithe samhraidh. Dos na scrúdaithe atá le teacht déanfaidh mé m’iarracht is fearr méid mór cainte a dhéanamh agus uaireanta bíonn an chaint is fearr ar na hóicheanta amach nó i dtithí tábhairne éagsúla leis na meisceoirí.

Ní bheidh sé fada anois go bhfuil na foirne go léir ar ais ag traenáil agus beidh sé suimiúil le feiceáil cé atá réidh sraith cluichí nua a chaitheamh i ndúghorm. Chomh maith leis an spórt, táim cinnte go mbeidh mé ag déanamh roinnt gníomhaíochtaí nach bhfuil ar m’intinn faoi láthair. Is ait an ní é dom a bheith ag scríobh ar son nuachtáin (b’fhéidir go bhfuil sé sin soiléir). Déanaim staidéar ar an nGaeilge agus an gnó, ach bheartaigh mé triail a bhaint as nuair a chuir mo chara Cal ceist orm alt a scríobh. Sin í áilleacht an choláiste, tá deiseanna timpeall gach cúinne, agus molaim do gach duine triail a bhaint as rud amháin nua ar a laghad i rith na bliana.

Cá bhfios? B’fhéidir go dtiocfaidh tú ar phaisean nua.

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FEATURES

Cost of campus accommodation hits the roof

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tudents lining the pathways, queues for the delicatessen in Spar and the endless cups of caffeine. The smell of new books, the vibrancy of new stationary, the heavy backpacks slumped on the shoulders of hungover students and the excitement of residing in a new place away from the prying eyes of parents.

There’s an omnipresent excitement and buzz enveloping the campus of DCU. All of the students are vowing to study more and drink less, or to get their assignments done well before the midnight before the due date. Don’t forget about all of the lively events lined up during freshers’ week to welcome the new first years to university life.

Even though the first few weeks are full of adventure and new experiences, for some families it can be the beginning of severe financial strain.

It was revealed last month that, according to a survey from the Irish League of Credit Unions, 60 percent of parents will go into debt to cover the cost of their child’s third-level education.

We are all aware of college tuition fees which now amounts to roughly €3,000 a year with a student levy on top of that. However, the cost

SHAUNA BOWERS FEATURES EDITOR

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of campus accommotion prices too. dation in DCU only Therefore, stuexacerbates the financial burden on famdents living away from home are ilies after this year’s spending twice as increase in costs. much as those who A standard room still live at home, in Larkfield costs Students especially once €4572 for the year you factor in food, compared to €4172 in 2015. Hampstead living away from social events and travel expenses. prices have also inBut what does all creased.

A single room home spend of this mean for the students and parents costs €4860 comwho have to shoulpared to €4420 in 2015 and a double twice as much as der this financial room in Hampstead burden? now costs €4932 for In the same those who still survey conducted the year.

On top of these by the Irish League prices, you must also Credit Unions, live at home ofit was pay a €300 damage also shown deposit and €450 for that 23 percent of utilities. The prices students don’t atof accommodation on tend some lectures St. Patrick’s Campus in order to attain has also had an augextra hours in work to supplement their mentation. It is €4572 income. This will for a single room this have an adverse year whereas it was €3,300 last year and a €400 damag- effect on their education and exam es deposit. This is an increase of 38 results.

Aoife Laste, a second year busipercentage points. All Hallows also saw an increase in their accommoda- ness and French student, said that the

cost of accommodation makes her wish commuting was a feasibility during the college term. Although she doesn’t pay the fees herself, her parents definitely feel the financial strife of paying for both tuition fees and accommodation fees every year.

She does admit that living on campus this year has worked out cheaper than last year when she lived in Shanowen.

DCU’s Vice President for Welfare and Equality, Cody Byrne, spoke to The College View about the surge in accommodation costs.

He wants DCU to ‘lead the way in the economic climate’ by slowing down this trend of ‘corporate greed’ and lowering the costs of on-campus accommodation.

While acknowledging that he can’t justify the increase of 9.6 percent in Larkfield prices, he does admit that campus residences is under new management and that the new Zainab Boladale

managem e n t walked into the job after the new prices had already been implemented. Byrne said that the management have expressed their interest a n d willingness t o co-operate with the new VP for Welfare and Equality in order to aid students in finding affordable and suitable accommodation.

The increase in costs was not for little or no reason. According to John Caffrey, the campus residences manager: “The board took this decision in order to help fund University plans to allow for a much needed increase in the quantity of student accommodation.”

Despite the increase in prices this year, DCU campus residences provide the most affordable campus accommodation in the Dublin area, according to the Independent.ie. In a survey conducted by the Independent, it was illustrated that campus accommodation has increased across all of the major universities in Ireland.

UCD charges the most for campus accommodation, with prices ranging from €5,896 to €10,480.

While NUI Maynooth’s prices increased by the highest amount of money.

A room for the year was increased by €760 for the 2016/2017 academic year.

So while accommodation in DCU has definitely hit an all-time high and it has put extra financial pressure on students’ families, it still remains one of the most affordable student accommodation complexes around town.

FEATURES

14

DCU creates more fuss around the bus Stephen McCabe investigates into the rift that has developed on campus because of the bus strikes Stephen McCabe Contributor @thecollegeview

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tranded students, missed lectures and having to endure plenty of cycling and walking. This is the reality many students face because of the bus strikes. DCU has tried to help the students in their commute to college by promoting a transport app called CitySwifter but all is not plain sailing.

As a result of DCU encouraging students to avail of CitySwifter, a row broke out across the campus involving DCU, staff and SIPTU. SIPTU fears the service may jeapordise the effectiveness of the industrial action taking place at Dublin Bus. The trade union wrote to the university to express their members’ “utter dismay at the insensitive approach taken by the university” in

promoting a company whose marketing strategy they say “is clearly undermining the effectiveness of a lawful trade union dispute” CitySwifter.com, which is the brainchild of DCU graduates, has been heavily promoted throughout DCU as an alternative option to get to college on the days of the strike.

SIPTU says it has no problem with staff using the app but they feel it is inappropriate for a publicly-funded institution to promote it.

In its online marketing campaigns, CitySwifter makes repeated references to the strike, uses the hash tag #KeepDublinMoving and has shared, via twitter, footage from the 1979 bus strike showing the army attempting to weaken the impact of the strike.

This is not the first time the company has caused controversy. During the Luas strike, it promoted itself with hashtags such as #WhoNeedsTheLuas, and #LuasStrikeSaver while giving out free ice cream to patrons using services that ran along

Luas routes.

AAA T.D Paul Murphy said, “It is very unfortunate that CitySwifter has effectively chosen to market itself as a strike-breaking operation”. He accused the company of “trying to undermine the strike” and he encouraged people “not to use their service on strike days and to support the Dublin Bus workers.”

DCU’s Student Union also encouraged students to avail of the service which was frowned upon by the trade union. Comparisons were made to student unions of other universities such as UCD, whose members expressed their solidarity with the bus drivers.

CitySwifter said that they never wanted “to replace Dublin Bus” and expressed regret that some people may “misunderstand” the service which “was available prior to industrial action and will be available long after”.

In an email to its members following their complaint to DCU, SIPTU said: “Whether or not the intent was to act as strike breaker, it is quite dubious for a university to promote a private

company seeking commercial gain out of an industrial dispute.”

It says it has no wish to “impose our views on anybody, but simply want to make a basic point of trade

union principle that DCU is a place of learning and it should not take sides in industrial disputes.” DCU did not return calls to comment on the content of this article.

Further strikes are planned throughout October Rredit: Laura Horan

The pros and cons of commuting to college We give you a first hand account into the good and bad sides of commuting to college

Scout Mitchell Production Editor @scout_mitchell

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oming up to the start of college, everyone will tell you to enjoy yourself. It’s the time of your life, the place where you’ll meet your future bridesmaids and create award winning hangover cures. Your college years are a time to discover yourself, get stuck into society life, make friends with similar interests and perfect that winning work/play combination. But what if all of your fun activities are overshadowed by the time of the last bus home? Speaking from experience, commuting 50 minutes to college each way, I can attest that commuting means you won’t have the same experiences as those who live on campus.

First of all, there are no spontaneous evening excursions. Nights out need to be planned out days, if not weeks, in advance. You need a place to crash, a bathroom to get ready in, several changes of clothes and bags to lug around. The effort that goes into the planning is some-

times so exhausting that you begin to question whether it’s worth it at all, but the FOMO always wins out.

Society life is lumped into the same situation.

You can’t truly immerse yourself, as many society events take place in the evening and you would only be able to attend moments before having to leg it to the bus stop.

Final year Irish and Media student, Lara McGrath has commuted to college for the past two years and knows the struggle better than anyone. “It makes social life difficult because you have to organise everything around travel. I think if I didn’t commute I would probably take part in societies more,” she stated.

Thus far, commuting has been

painted in a very negative light. Believe it or not, there are some positives to travelling.

Most obvious is the money you save.

It’s true that bus and train fares are pricey, but the accommodation crisis in Dublin has meant that several students are forced to pay ridiculous rents in order to secure a dwelling near campus.

You will never go hungry either with the comforting thought that mammy’s dinner is waiting for you at home (microwave heated maybe, but still good nonetheless).

There’s nothing better than having the support circle of your family and local amenities when you’re cramming for exams. Distractions and nights out

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commuting means you won’t have the same experiences as those who live on campus

are kept at bay, therefore aiding you in your studies.

There are both positives and negatives to the commuter lifestyle. Yes, living at home during college has its drawbacks but the sooner you accept the social hardships, the sooner you will learn there are cheats and shortcuts to everything.

Make friends who live on campus, pack your lunches, don’t succumb to the overpriced unhealthy food and make an organised schedule that balances your studies and hobbies.

Embrace your commute because after all, it might be the only break you get from the hectic student lifestyle.

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FEATURES

15

How to make the most out of university Starting college is no easy feat, so here are some tips to make the most out of it

Hannah Kelly Deputy Production Editor @hanlouwho_

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rriving onto campus for your first year at DCU, you might feel nervous, excited and unsure of what to expect. With so many opportunities at your fingertips, it can be overwhelming figuring out how to make the most of your three or four years here. Throwing yourself into college life means getting involved in all areas of the college experience, if you do this you’ll be sure to make amazing memories and great friends you’ll have for life.

“Get involved with clubs and societies” is something you’ll hear a lot over the first few weeks, don’t let this fall on deaf ears. Chairperson of MPS (Media Production Society),

Sarah Mc Laughlin explained how society life is one of the highlights of her time in DCU. “I, without a doubt, can say that being part of a society is the best thing that has happened to me in DCU”, she said, “the friends I have met, the good we have done for others and the opportunities I have been granted with are more that I could ever wish. It can be intimidating at first to put yourself out there and join a society but it will be the best decision you will ever make, I promise you that.”

Hopefully you attended Clubs and Socs day and a few societies have caught your eye. If not though, don’t worry, you can sign up to any club or society throughout the year in the Students’ Union for €4.

Volunteering is another way to really get involved with college life.

It will help you meet more people, improve your CV and possibly even secure future employment. Jamie Farrell is a final year law student and is the coordinator of volunteers for

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Throwing yourself into college life means getting involved in all areas of the college experience

the Access Service. He believes the experience of volunteering in college is a unique one and one all students should experience. “The opportunities I got from volunteering are not only some of the most fun experiences I’ve had, but also the most rewarding too,” he explained.

There are many ways to get involved with volunteering. If you want to get involved there are many societies which can help you or the Volunteer Fair in DCU which takes place during first semester every year.

It is important to note, although getting involved in the social side of college is important and a huge part of the experience, it is important to remember your academics. Although missing a lecture or two won’t hurt, regularly skipping lectures is something you will quickly regret when exam and assignment season comes round. So be social, meet new people, experience all there is to offer and learn a whole lot along the way.

The public’s cry to repeal the eighth Bronwyn O Neill Contributor @thecollegeview

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e are not witches but if the church and state insist, then let us be the descendants of all the witches they could not drown.” This is a line from a poem recited by prominent Irish women in a new short film to repeal the Eight Amendment.

In 2016, Ireland and Malta are the only countries in Europe where abortion is illegal. Although there has been uproar in recent years, especially since the death of Savita Halappanavar in 2012, the constitution has not been altered.

In February of this year, The College View reported that 88 percent of young voters were in favour of legalising abortion. This raises the question of why has nothing happened, especially when abortion and the Eighth Amendment have come to the forefront of Irish politics in recent years.

The Catholic Church still have a certain amount of control over the country, where women’s bodies are seen as homes for the

foetus they carry. It was not long ago that women were “cleansed” before returning to church after giving birth.

We may pat ourselves on the back for being the first country to legalise gay marriage by public vote, but we must also look at the forgotten women who travelled abroad, alone and scared, to have a medical procedure that is not available in our own country.

B e t w e e n January 1980 and December 2015, at least 166,951 women and girls travelled from the Republic of Ireland to access abortion services in another country, according to statistics provided by the

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IFPA. In 2015, 3,451 women and girls in Ireland, or just over nine a day, travelled to the UK to access abortion services.

At least nine women every day go to the UK to get an abortion.

Just last month, a Twitter account was set up by two Irish women to chronicle their abortion experience. @TwoWomenTravel soon began to trend in Ireland and caused national debate.

Many celebrities, including James Cordon, showed their support for these two Irish women. Most of the tweets from @TwoWomenTravel were directed at the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. However he did not reply to any of the tweets.

The tweets and images resonated throughout the country, as they highlighted the all too harsh reality that faces so many women throughout Ireland.

They highlight something that

may even be viewed as a luxury for some women, who cannot afford to travel abroad for a medical procedure.

In 2016, there is no reason why abortion should not be legalised in Ireland and why women shouldn’t have the rights to their own bodies.

The Repeal movement is causing waves throughout Ireland, so perhaps this will lead to a referendum and an end to the Eighth Amendment.

In 2016, Ireland and Malta are

the only countries in Europe where

abortion is illegal

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FEATURES

16

Students and alcohol - a perfect pair or negative affair?

Binge-drinking is the reality of student nights out but it doesn’t always have a pretty ending ing how they got there. The culture of drinking until you’re drunk is a

Rudi Kinsella Contributor @thecollegeview

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rish people have always had a bad reputation when it comes to drinking. We are often portrayed as a nation that does nothing more than drink heavily. This of course is untrue. We have produced excellent minds such as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and W.B Yeats. We are a nation rich in culture with some of the most talented and educated young people in the world, but if you take a walk down Harcourt St. on a Monday night, you may think otherwise.

Students in this country, for the most part, have worked very hard to reach the position they are in. This hard work is continuous and it can be very stressful. From the obvious difficulties of keeping your grades up, to the issues of self-esteem and confidence, students do not have it easy.

This could be a reason that so many see binge-drinking at least once a week as a suitable solution.

Students in this country drink to get drunk. Night outs in Dublin are rarely quiet evenings and even people who plan on going out for a “drink or two” tend to find themselves in Coppers at 3 a.m wonder-

conversation you hear on a night out is “Man I’m hammered; I had 6 cans

is somehow regarded as an achievement among students.

club where you fear they might rip you off, but pre-drinking before going to a house party is one of the most illogical ideas around.

We drink stupid amounts of alcohol in a house, in preparation for drinking stupid amounts of alcohol in a house. Pre-drinks as a concept is flawed and it is part of the reason why drinking is such a problem in this country.

All of this binge-drinking is not without consequences. According to the Health Research Board, in 2013 there was 3 alcohol related deaths a day in Ireland.

That is 21 a week. Some 900 people in Ireland are diagnosed with alcohol related cancers every year, and 500 people a year die from them.

Drink driving is responsible for two out of every five road deaths in Ireland.

The attitude towards drinking needs to change in this country, and it needs to start with young people. If we as a generation can manage to learn how to enjoy ourselves more responsibly, maybe we 83pc of Irish adolscences have drank alcohol, sometimes starting as young as 13 years old Credit: Laura Horan can find the perfect balance between having a drink to something that we are strangely for pre-drinks and have had 10 jager It makes a certain sense to drink help enjoy ourselves, and

proud of in this country. A common bombs since we’ve got here.” This cheap alcohol before going into a drinking to get hammered.

Living with Borderline Personality Disorder A first-hand insight into the reality of Borderline Personality Disorder

Grainne Jones Contributor @thecollegeview

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am in complete control. I do well in my area of work. I am productive, charming, a go-getter. I have no control.

I am failing in my tasks. I do nothing, snap at people, have no motivation.

I do not eat. I eat everything. I cry and scream, smile and laugh. I hate you but I love you. Leave me alone but please never go.

One or two people in every hundred experience life like me, invisible in plain sight. Yet this disorder is rarely talked about because it is not one of the big three; depression, anxiety or an eating disorder.

My illness is non-existent to everyone outside the bubble of psychiatry.

I have Borderline Personality There’s no emotional regulaDisorder. All or nothing. Black or tion, things keep building, building, white. Good or bad.

That is the world I live in. Middle ground is an alien concept that I just do not understand.

People with Borderline Personality Disorder feel everything in extremes. You smiled at me? Oh my goodness, we’re best friends.

Forget to text me back?

You must hate me, I’m so unloved. There is a background paranoia, inescapable ideas that make so much sense, but make no sense whatsoever.

Dissociative episodes when things get too bad, our brain simply shutting off until we are no longer part of building until something snaps. ourselves.

Self-harm, starving or binging,

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compulsive shopping, irresponsible sex, misuse of alcohol and drugs – they are all used to bring down the intensity of the emotion.

Extremely self-destructive, but because it is the only way that we have learned to cope, we do it anyway.

I did not eat for 16 days. I binged, binged, and binged some more. I isolated myself

Middle ground is an alien concept that I just don’t understand

from everybody. I spent every day out with friends. I scratched, cut, and poisoned my body. I danced, laughed, and cried happy tears. I was unbalanced. I cycled through the motions of the disorder. I let it ruin my relationships, and I let it ruin myself.

I am finally in the correct treatment programme, made specifically for Borderline Personality Disorder.

I am becoming balanced, slowly but surely. I still cycle, but not to the extreme highs and lows that I used to experience.

I am eating three meals a day, finally nourishing my body after all its abuse. I take time to myself when needed, but make an effort to see others as well.

I do not punish myself for not living up to the perfect standards that I have set. Most importantly, I am healing.

Yes, I have Borderline Personality Disorder, but I am not my disorder, and my disorder is not me.

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SPORT

Smith focusing on European Championship after Olympic heartbreak As Flyweight Céire Smith gears up to represent DCU at the World University Championships, she chats to Deputy Sports Editor Patrick Lynch on the challenge of combining sport and study

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ost college students struggle with early mornings.

For some, 9am lectures are just too much. Attendance at these squeamishly early lectures is a bonus rather than a necessity.

Céire Smith, however, is no typical college student.

Smith, a student of Sport Science, is preparing to represent DCU at the World University Boxing Championships this October.

She said, “It’s tough going, all right trying to combine boxing and college. I’m in the gym at six every morning, I get in for lectures at nine and then have to study, as well as doing another evening training session. I deferred college last year to focus on boxing, but I’ll give 100 per cent dedication to my studies as well as sport this year.”

The Cavan flyweight’s busy daily life was mirrored by a hectic summer.

Smith said, “It was a long summer of boxing. There were the Olympic qualifiers in Kazakhstan and Turkey which I prepared for with a training camp in England.

I was also invited to Canada to spar with Mandy Bujold for three weeks, in preparation for the qualifiers, which was a great experience.”

To round off the summer, Smith scooped gold at the Ringside tournament in Kansas City, MO in early August.

Her disappointment at failing to qualify for the Rio De Janeiro Olympics is evident.

She was agonisingly beaten by Ukraine’s Tetyana Kob on a split decision in Samsun, Turkey.

Smith’s chance of Olympic redemption was brought to an end by Ingrit Valencia of Colombia, despite having won the first round of the fight on the cards of all three judges. The fact that Valencia went on to win bronze highlights just how close Smith is to the top of the female flyweight division.

Smith, drafted in as a late replacement for Michaela Walsh, rued the lack of notice prior to her fight with Kob. Having already defeated Kob during her career, her frustration at the lack of preparation is clear.

She explained, “I was only given two days’ notice before the fight, so it was impossible to prepare properly.

“There were a number of factors be-

hind the scenes that hindered my chances, which was really disappointing.”

Not one to dwell on the past, she is already looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead as she is proud to be representing DCU at the upcoming World University Boxing Championships.

“Like any other competition, the aim has to be to win gold,” she said, “Thailand is well established as a boxing nation, so there’ll be a lot of good fighters there. You have to take these competitions one round at a time, though.”

To go with her supreme talent, Smith is exceptionally level-headed and refuses to get drawn in to talk about qualifying for the next Olympics in Tokyo.

Smith said, “That’s a long way away.

My current aim is to win the European Championship. I’ll review everything at Christmas and then decide what’s the best way to proceed.”

The Cavan girl speaks about her early sporting self in unflattering terms.

“Making the weight is always tough. If you’re 0.01KG over the mark you can’t compete” She said: “My sister Marianne was the sporty one in the family, whereas I had two left feet. We were both extremely competitive.”

In fact, the pair used to face off on the camogie pitch – Céire lined out for Redhills while Marianne wore the maroon and gold of Castletara.

“When I took up boxing I had no major expectations. I would either fall flat on my face or enjoy it.” The southpaw fighter clearly landed on her feet, rather than her

face.

Accompanying Céire to the World Boxing University Championships in Chaing Mai, Thailand as part of the Irish team will be Gary McKenna, Conor Wallace, Kenneth Okungbowa and fellow female fighter, Christine Desmond. Her opening bout takes place on the 3rd of October.

“We’ll arrive on the 1st, and the weighins are on the 2nd,” Smith said, “Making weight is always tough. If you’re 0.01 KG over the mark you can’t compete. I have it under control, it’s just something that needs to be watched every day.”

The timing of the competition is ideal, acting as preparation for the European Championships and Smith is leaving no stone unturned in her attempts to annex gold at both. “The boys are on a break at a moment but I’m currently working on strength and conditioning with the coaches at the High Performance Unit.”

Win or lose, you can be absolutely certain that this determined Ulster woman will

Céire Smith (left) in action in Baku last year credit: sportsfile

SPORT

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The future of St. Pat’s hurling: “We don’t want a unified DCU team” St. Pat’s hurling may not have the resources of their bigger rivals, but as DCU found out last year, they’re more than capable of taking a scalp, Drew Brennan tells Deputy Sports Editor Patrick Lynch.

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he life of a Wicklow under-21 hurler is not an altogether glamorous one. For the rare glamour game that comes his way, he must content himself with playing matches in front of a few dozen loyal supporters. Predominantly known as a footballing county, hurling is seen as somewhat of the weaker relation. As such, the tag of the underdog was one that did not faze Drew Brennan.

With approximately 3,000 students in St. Patrick’s College, they have a tiny pick of hurlers compared to local rivals DCU with 12,000 and University College Dublin with a whopping 32,000. The fact that the profession of primary teaching is dominated by women reduces further the amount of male hurlers attending the college.

Rather than use this as an excuse, the hurlers of St. Pat’s are always intensely motivated by the prospect of beating these colleges more recognised in public perception.

“I suppose the thing about our team is that we’re renowned for having such great spirit,” remarked Brennan, a fourth year Bachelor of Education student. “Given that we’re such a small college, you spend all day with the same lads, we go on nights out together and we hurl together.

“For example, in my first year here with the freshers hurling team, we were basically all living in the same house on campus. Even now, a lot of the lads living together are hurling together, so I suppose that’s why we’re such a tightly knit group.”

One need only set foot inside the Java café to experience the family like atmosphere that exists in the college. This bond is fostered by GAA Officer Tom Fitzpatrick, a man that many view as the father of all things Gaelic Games in St. Pat’s.

As of last April, St. Pat’s and DCU have officially merged while Mater Dei Institute draw against the same opposition in the of Education and the Church of Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup. Brennan said: “I think those kind of reCollege of Education were also included sults opened a lot of people’s eyes to the in this incorporation programme. There high level of hurling that we have has been much speculation as to “It in St. Pat’s.” whether the colleges would As a teacher training colmerge to form a single hurlcould be our lege, there is an ethos of ing team. giving responsibility to “It’s still a little bit up last year as an in- their own students. The in the air at the moment,” said Brennan, “Although dependent Pat’s hurl- management of sports teams within the college (the players) are all fairly ing team - we want is no different. adamant that we all want While household to have our own team to give it a good names like Davy Fitzgeragain this year, it could ald, Brian Lohan and Nicky well be our last year as an rattle” English manage Limerick Inindependent Pat’s hurling team stitute of Technology, the Universo we want to give it a good rattle.”

Indeed, the Drumcondra men got the sity of Limerick and UCD respectively, St. better of exchanges when the two sides Pat’s will be trained this year by student met last year. DCU were beaten on a score and centre back Paddy Spellacy of Whiteline of 2-22 to 1-17 in a league clash, while hall and their goalkeeper Paul Simms of it took three injury time points to earn a Laois.

Drew Brennan (left) in action for his club Carnew Emmets against Avondale Credit: Garry O’Neill

Brennan, who plays his club hurling pionship debut against Limerick in June. with Carnew Emmets, was optimistic for “The big aim for the year is of course the year ahead and reserved special praise to win a Fitzgibbon match,” said Brennan, for Patrick Curran who recently “We really should have beaten DCU won an All-Ireland u-21 medal last year, only for their couple late “In with Waterford as joint-capscores.” tain, scoring 1-9 against The previous year, St. Pat Curran Galway in the final and Pat’s came very close to scooping the man of the we’ve a savage for- toppling heavyweights match accolade.

Cork Institute of TechHe said: “In Pat ward... he’s our main nology. Inspired by wily Curran we’ve a savWexford man Peter Sutage forward. He’s our man up front really. ton, only a late surge from main man up front really.

CIT denied what would We’ve a very sol- have We’ve a very solid team been a historic victory. all round though and hard “We were four or five id team” to break down with Simms and points up against a side that feaSpellacy, as well as Ruairí Tubrid tured Aidan Walsh, Bill Cooper and and Conor Shaw.”

Mark Ellis. We just ran out of steam in the Shaw was a vital member of the West- final 10 minutes. We’re confident though meath u-21 side which shocked Kilkenny that we can get a Fitz win this year.” in the Leinster Championship this summer Regardless of the result, proud to be and then went on to make his senior cham- hurlers of St. Pat’s they shall remain.

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SPORT

FAI launches Third Level football season in Abbotstown Gavin Quinn Sub Editor @gavinquinn97

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he 2016/17 Third Level Football season was officially launched on Wednesday afternoon, September 21st at the FAI’s Abbotstown headquarters.

The conference included representatives from all 50 participating institutions in the second year the launch has been held at Abbotstown.

The FAI National Coordinator for Schools and Third Level Football, Mark Scanlon chaired the conference that also featured FAI Director of Communications Fran Gavin, College Football Association of Ireland (CFAI) chairman Pádraig Carney and the Women’s Soccer Colleges Association of Ireland (WSCAI) chairman Neil O’Donnell.

“We’re delighted to be able to have this launch in Abbotstown for the second year in a row for the men’s and women’s divisions,” Scanlon said.

108 teams will compete over the course of the season with five men’s divisions and three women’s divisions.

“We’re looking forward to another great season with the quality increasing all the time, said Scanlon, “Last year, we had registered 2811 players in Third Level Football across the various different divisions.”

He added,“It is a huge opportunity for everyone across the

universities and colleges to play football whilst also importantly offering scholarship opportunities for young footballers to get third level education,” All speakers spoke of the importance of Third Level Football and its influence on Irish football and congratulated those involved.

“A lot of organisation goes into it in order for the competitions to run smoothly,” Carney said.

There will be 17 men’s competitions and nine women’s competitions at Third Level Football in 2016/17 that will see the season run from October to February.

Carney explained, “This is the 11th season of the Combined Colleges and Universities Men’s Football League, and with 83 teams for over 1500 players, it is now one of the biggest leagues in the country.

“A lot of organisation goes into the league and we’re extremely grateful to the FAI for their administrative, financial and technical support.”

The College & Universities League (CUFL) will comprise of 83 teams in 2016/17, spread across four divisions. “One of the highlights was the media coverage of the games,” he added, crediting it to the “consistent and precise” refereeing and the quality of the players in the competitions.

Fran Gavin hailed the third level game’s influence on domestic football in Ireland as “massive”, explaining that the footprint it has on the League of Ireland is evident. The Director of Commu-

Players from Ireland’s Third Level football clubs at the launch in Abbotstown Credit: FAI

nications complimented the quality of the coaching at third level football and credited both coaches and players for playing “a big role” in domestic competitions.

“We’re encouraging more SSE Airtricity League clubs to get involved with third level,” he said.

86 players currently playing third level men’s football are involved with first teams in the domestic league with a further 36 women involved in third level football are also in first team squads in Ireland’s domestic leagues.

WSCAI chairman Neil O’Donnell said, “We have a very exciting season.

“We’ve introduced a new cup

and league competition structure as well as a more competitive environment. We’ve done this as there has been an increase in Women’s National League players which has seen the standard of the league go up so we’re looking forward to another exciting season.”

DCU men’s football manager Declan Roche represented the university on Wednesday and spoke to The College View about the launch and DCU’s prospects for 2016/17.

“It was a great turnout, I’m delighted with that,” he said, “It was all very positive.”.

DCU will compete in the Premier Division this season with universities such as Maynooth,

UCD and Trinity College all involved.

Roche added, “We’ve been in that group the last couple of years, we’re very lucky we were able to keep our premier status. We want the players playing at that level, it’s a very good standard and a lot of good teams and we’ve got good players too so we’re looking forward to it. .

“We had a number of applicants from the under 19 Airtricity League who’ve applied for scholarships, they’re actually in the university now. Nine altogether arrived yesterday so I’m really pleased with that. The Under 19 League is a very good level, I see a lot of the games and were very happy to have them in.”

Sport in brief: Moyna’s return and more Jack O’Toole Deputy Sports Editor @jackjotoole

Moyna returns DCU Gaelic football manager Niall Moyna has decided to stay on with the 2015 Sigerson Cup winners having initially decided to call it a day, just hours after their after defeat in the 2016 final. This season will be Moyna’s 15th at the helm of the college’s senior men’s Gaelic football team.

“I just thought it needs a change,” said Moyna after last year’s Sigerson Cup final loss.

“This is maybe the fifth or sixth team I’ve built. We won the Freshers League and Championship this year, so there’s a great group of players coming along. I think we have a good enough team to win next year. I can let someone else take them along.”

Moyna has since decided to

return to his role as bainisteoir where he succeeded in winning every one of DCU’s four Sigerson titles in 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2015.

Weir remains

DCU Hurling manager Nick Weir has decided to stay on for another season with the college’s senior men’s hurling team after indicating to players that he’d make his decision over the summer as to whether he would stay on or not for this season.

DCU slumped out of last season’s Fitzgibbon Cup after group stage losses to both Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and IT Carlow, as well a home draw with St. Patrick’s College, but Weir is now set to take charge for another season after last year’s winless campaign.

Weir took over at the start of the 2014 season but could not be reached for comment as he heads into his third season in Glasnevin.

DCU’s big role in LGFA All-Ireland Final DCU played a big role in last Sunday’s LGFA All-Ireland Finals in Croke Park, with participants in each of the three games; Junior, Intermediate and Senior.

In the senior decider, current DCU students Emer Ní Éafa, Siobhán Woods, Emma Colgan, Dee Murphy, Leah Caffrey, Muireaan Ní Scanaill; graduates Fiona Hudson, Niamh McEvoy (member of Dublin Senior Management team), Sinéad Finnegan, Lyndsey Davey and Ciara Ruddy as well as Jamie Costello (Dublin Senior Management team and manager of DCU/Dochas Éireann Giles Cup team) lost out to a Cork side who captured their sixth All Ireland title in a row.

In the Junior game, Journalism student and College View contributor Laura Burke helped Longford overcome Antrim by a score of 4-10 to 1-12.

Striemikyte’s Record DCU International Relations student Greta Streimikyte stormed to a national record at the 2016 Paralympics as she ran 4:45.06 in the T13 1500m final in Rio de Janeiro, placing fourth.

Streimkyte shaved four seconds off her previous personal best of 4:51.75 which she set as she qualified third in her heat.

Born in Lithuania but now a naturalised Irish citizen after living in Dublin for five years, Streimikyte won a bronze medal at the 2016 European Championships in Grosseto, Italy running a 4:54.25 to secure the third place finish.

Streimikyte said in an interview with RTÉ Sport earlier this month that it took a lot of effort and perseverance to get to the Paralympics but that she was honoured and very happy to represent a hugely successful Team Ireland at the games.

SPORT

INSIDE Moyna makes Sigerson return Read more on page 19

“Football in the university is getting stronger all the time” - Butler Aidan Geraghty Deputy Editor @Aido1895

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problem that has hindered the growth of football in Ireland since the foundation of the state is the lack of media attention and public funding it receives in comparison to Gaelic games, despite being the largest participant sport in Ireland.

DCU is no different in this regard. In 2014-15, GAA was allocated €80,340 in Club Life Committee grants, while men’s football was only allocated €25,694. However, Soccer Development Officer Fran Butler asserts he is happy that football’s influence in DCU has continued to strengthen.

“The way I look at it is, football in the university is getting stronger all the time but (the gap in coverage) is reflective of football in Ireland as a whole. There’s very little coverage given to First Division games in the Airtricity League. The Premier Division gets most of the coverage and even that pales in comparison to what the GAA gets.

“The only football team in Ireland that gets any significant attention is the national team, everyone else is playing second fiddle to the GAA and the rugby.

So if you’re going down a sliding scale, where does Third Level Football sit?

“I think that’s the reality of the way football is in this country but from our point of view we’re happy that the resources have been increased each year we’ve been here and we hope that continues.”

DCU’s senior men’s team crashed out of the Collingwood Cup at the quarter-final stage last term thanks to a concession against Trinity College in the final minute of play, despite dominating the previous 89.

In the aftermath of that defeat, Butler praised his team for once again playing attacking, attractive football but acknowledged

Butler is pleased that his resources have increased each year Credit: Laura Horan

that playing surfaces around the country in January and February “might not be conducive to the type of game we like to play.”

Butler and manager Declan Roche have recognised the need to be tighter defensively and Butler mentioned that it was a factor in how this year’s squad was put together.

“I’m glad that we have Gavan Kearney and Jack Blake who both played for the third level national team last year – they’re our centre back pairing.

“They were involved in our Collingwood campaign last year

but now they’re another year bigger and stronger so we’re hoping they can be the bedrock of our squad.”

The senior team’s defensive shortcomings will be helped by the infusion of talent from last season’s freshers team, who finished as runners-up in the Harding Cup having made it to their first ever final.

“One thing about our freshers team from last year is that they may not have played the best football but they were air-tight, really solid. That’s something all of our teams have lacked over the

last few years.

“That team had a really good back four with a goalkeeper in Ben Kelly who plays for Dundalk behind them.

“We have a couple of good central midfielders too who maybe aren’t so pleasing on the eye in terms of what they do on the ball but they’ll sit in, do their jobs and protect the back four.”

Since Declan Roche’s appointment, DCU have been known for their creative flair and prowess up front, boasting numerous League of Ireland players including Alan O’Sullivan and Luke Kelly.

“I think this year we have a lot more defensive-minded players.

In the past we had a lot of creative players and strikers doing the business but now it’s swayed.

“We’re a lot stronger defensively so we just hope we can be a lot stronger as a unit and that bit of steel can get us across the line.”

The 2016-17 Colleges and Universities Football League (CUFL) was launched in Abbotstown on Wednesday, September 22nd and Fran and his team will be hoping DCU can challenge for league and cup honours come the end of the season.