The College View - Issue 3 - Vol XVIII

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Wednesday, 26 October, 2016

www.thecollegeview.com Vol. XVIII, Issue 3

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. Est. 1999 .

New report heavily criticises Diageo funded campaign Hayley Halpin News Editor @HayleyHalpin1

A recently published report deter-

mined that the Diageo funded StopOut-Of-Control-Drinking campaign, meets the needs of the alcohol industry, rather than public health in Ireland.

The report was published by the Public Library of Science (PLOS ONE), an international journal that focuses on science and medicine. It was written and researched by six health academics in UCC, London and Stirling, Scotland.

President of DCU, Brian MacCraith is one of the original 17 members of the board of the campaign.

MacCraith wrote the SOOCD Action Plan, along with DCU Professor of Political Communication, Kevin Rafter. The action plan is no longer available online.

SOOCD was set up by Diageo, the multinational alcohol company, who invested €1 million into the campaign. Fergus Finlay, Chief Executive of Barnardo’s chairs the campaign. David Smith, Chief Executive of Diageo of the campaign resigned following an array of negative media coverage of the campaign. However, Diageo did not pull their funding.

A statement released by DCU said that “Professor Brian MacCraith joined the board of the Stop Out of Control Drinking Campaign, along with other respected community leaders, in a serious effort to address the very real and pervasive issue of alcohol abuse and misuse in Ireland.”

However, President MacCraith was unavailable for comment regarding the critique released this week.

The report lists the campaign’s board members, their role, backgrounds and previous connects with Diageo, along with how many interviews each have participated in relating to the campaign. Six of the original members have connections to the drinks company.

Findings of the report Throughout the detailed analysis conducted, the report found that “out of control drinking” is presented by the SOOCD as a behavioural issue among young people, particularly young women.

The report determined that “that major focus of the campaign is on the behavioural consequences of drinking, and not the health consequences.”

It found that, according to the board members, there are three main causes of excessive drinking in young people: individual attitudes and motivations; Irish culture, tradition and society; and peers and parents.

The health consequences of alcohol are almost entirely absent from discussion within the campaign. It found that most board members place the greatest emphasis on the visible behaviour, not the effects on health.

It was noted that the role of the alcohol industry in “creating and shaping that culture” is never acknowledged by most board members, while drinking culture is continuously cited as a crucial cause of “out of control drinking”.

During the examination of the emphasis on “drinking behaviour” rather than health, the report claimed that it is “very supportive of the needs of the alcohol industry, but not of public health”.

It was suggested that the alcohol industry may focus on underage drinking and antisocial behaviour, as “publicly visible antisocial behaviour poses a significant PR challenge because it affects attention in the media”.

The parallels between the campaign and the “tactics and framing” employed by the SOOCD campaign have many similarities, the report determined. SOOCD campaign was identified to have included tactics such as indirect lobbying in order to oppose public health measures; forming alliances with civil society organisations and consumers; Continued on page 3

First CRC of the year held in Glendalough Rebecca Lumley News Editor @RebeccaLumley1

THE first Class Rep Council of the

Students came out in their thousands in protest of student fees, last week. Credit: Andrew Byrne

News

Sport

Opinion

HIV Activist encourages Sexual Health Awareness 4-5

Saints clip Eagles’ wings in season opener 20

Ceolchoirmeacha sa chathair ar phragas réasúnta íseal 12

Arts

Consider consent—there’s no need for stigma 7

year took place in Glendalough last Thursday and saw the election of 11 new class rep officers and an Electoral Committee.

The meeting was held at the end of a two-day training trip for class reps, which was attended by 95 people, including the Students’ Union executive.

A limited number of reps could attend, with all present reps casting their votes for the available positions.

When asked if capping the number of students who could attend the meeting was providing equal opportunity for all reps to either run or vote in the elections, Chair of CRC, Callaghan Commons said that everyone had been given a chance.

“Realistically not all class reps were going to attend, they never do,” he said.

“We sent out an email (outlining the election schedule) . If they wanted to run they could contact us but nobody contacted us back. There was fairness around everyone, all the class reps had a chance to run.”

First to be elected was the Electoral Committee, who, amongst other things, help oversee the annual SU elections. Nine people put themselves forward for a place on the committee and eight were elected.

The Electoral Committee will be chaired by OSL officer Andy Dunne, who held the same position last year and filled in at Thursday’s meeting as returning officer.

Also elected was a first-year officer, access officer, accommodation officer, sustainability officer, equality officer, equality LGBTA officer, international officer, INTRA officer, an Irish officer, nursing officer and mature officer.

Unusually, the budget was not discussed as it typically is at the first CRC of the year. SU President, Dylan Kehoe said this was because of an issue with accounts due to the incorporation. He said the budget would be provided for class reps at the next council meeting.

Features

University mental health services in great demand

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Editorial INSIDE

Gaeilge AARON GALLAGHER

How Scream Queens allows for a true American Horror Story Read more on page 3

Lifestyle Irish people are finally opening up to the reality of the year 1916 Read more on page 10

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 Opinion Editor: Shirley Donlon Lifestyle Editor: Amy Lawlor Deputy Lifestyle Editor: Michelle Martin Features Editor:Shauna Bowers Deputy Features Editor:Orla O’Driscoll Irish Editor:Cal Ó Donnabháin Deputy Irish Editor: Aine Marie Monk Sports Editor: Aidan Geraghty Deputy Sports Editor: Jack O’Toole & Patrick Lynch Arts Editor: Stephen Keegan Deputy Arts Editor: Emer Handly Images Editor: Daragh Culhane Deputy Images Editor: Laura Horan Online News Editor: Clara Hickey Chief Sub-Editor: Brion Hoban

Sub Editors: Enda Coll, Kyle Ewald Elsa McEvoy, Conor O’ Doherty, Gavin Quinn, Fionnuala Walsh, Lauren Ennis, Lucy Mangan, Katie Gallagher, Oisin McQueirns, Liam Ashton, Diana Elena Oprea, Zainab Boladale, Sadhbh Kennedy & Aoife Marnell Contacts editor@thecollegeview.com news@thecollegeview.com features@thecollegeview.com opinion@thecollegeview.com gaeilge@thecollegeview.com sports@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

O

n Wednesday the 19th of October it emerged in Dáil Éireann that the amount of funding allocated from the health budget for 2017 towards mental health services would decrease from its proposed level of €35 million, announced during Budget Day, to €15 million.

Advocacy groups such as Mental Health Reform responded angrily, saying that the 1.8 per cent increase in spending towards mental health was minimal in comparison with the 7.4 per cent increase in the overall health budget compared with this time last year.

They added that levels for child and adolescent facilities were 48 per cent below the recommended levels and that the level of staff across the entire mental health sector was 21 per cent lower than the appropriate level.

In the Programme for Government it was written that funding towards mental health services would increase each year during the lifetime of this Coalition. It must be questioned then as to why a shocking reduction of 57 per cent on what was initially expected will take place next year.

Minister for Health Simon Harris has built a large portion of his political career so far on issues relating to mental health and special needs. He was a Convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Mental Health and sponsored the Mental Health (Anti Discrimination) Bill 2013 in June of that year.

We therefore come to question whether the reality of the mental health budget was planned all along with the Coalition purposefully aware not all of the €35 million would be spent in 2017, or whether it was intentional and malicious deception to the public when Budget 2017 announced €35 million for mental health, only to reveal it later when scrutinised.

Neither sheds the Government in a good light and accusations of a U-turn will be forthcoming, but the true effect of a €20 million reduction will be felt for so much longer in an already underfunded and under-staffed sector.

DCU itself runs a free and confidential Counselling

and Personal Development Service. It provides oneto-one counselling from specialists on a wide range of personal, academic, family, social, psychological and mental health issues which may hinder a student’s academic performance in a non-judgmental and open manner. It is available to all registered undergraduate and postgraduate DCU students.

Last week this paper spoke to Dr Claire Bohan, Director of DCU Student Support and Development, who admitted that the demand for counselling services in universities always outweigh the resources available.

Last April saw hundreds of university students, many from DCU, take to the streets outside Leinster House in protest of €12 million, ring-fenced for mental health services, which was due to be spread among other sectors.

Supported by then Minister for Health Leo Varadkar, his successor Simon Harris heroically reversed the decision having criticised it heavily in one of his first decisions as Minister. One headline from June reads “Simon Harris seeks more funds for mental health.”

This week it reads “Government accused of U-turn on mental health funding.” Another, “Irish youth may have higher rates of mental disorder than other countries” and another “Ireland has fourth highest rate of teen suicide in Europe.”

For the sake of those that suffer in silence, crippled by a culture of hush and stigma around topics such as mental health which has plagued this country in generations previous, this sickening routine of committing to funds in an attempt to give a false perception of caring, before just as quickly taking it away, cannot continue.

You can book an appointment with DCU’s Counselling and Personal Development Service by calling (01) 7005165 or by visiting dcu.ie/councelling. You can also call Niteline, which provides student support throughout term from 9pm – 2:30am, at 1800 793 793.

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NEWS Second headline for Hayley’s article goes her

Hayley Halpin News Editor @HayleyHalpin1 Continued from page 1

the promotion of non-regulatory initiatives and a focus on individual responsibility. All of which are activities deployed by the alcohol industry, according to the report.

The report recalls critics suggesting that it “aims to undermine” Ireland’s latest alcohol Bill, published on 3rd February 2015. It states that some board members support the “framework” of the bill, however, do not comment or support specific elements of said bill.

Legitimacy of the campaign The legitimacy of the SOOCD campaign was examined in the report, following the excruciating criticism it has undergone in the media, since its birth in 2015. While some members have previous or current links to Diageo, the topic of independence is evident through many of Finlay’s statements: “Funded by Diageo, nobody tells us what to think”. Following on, he states: “When a group of us came together, Diageo gave us a written memorandum that underpins our independence from them”.

The report determined that the Memorandum is a statement of the campaign aims, “and does not state how independence is to be assured.”

The report includes many quotes from various members of the board, as evidence of their findings.

MacCraith and Rafter are not quoted once.

The SOOCD was launched as a five-year plan. However, social media activity has ceased and the campaign’s website is inaccessible.

Several board members resigned since the campaign began due to the extensive criticism it received. Dr. Ciara Kelly, Psychologist Krystian Fikert, Paul Gilligan and David Smith resigned in March 2015.

DCU Clubs & Socs grant application process changes Andrew Ralph Reporter thecollegeview

THE grant application of the DCU Students’ Union subsidised budget process for DCU’s clubs and societies have changed this year.

DCU Clubs & Societies and the SU are now placing a focus on how clubs and societies are funded and how they are developed by the students who run them.

The SLC & CLC committees will now allocate clubs and societies a budget for the academic year – the budget allocation will be based on what the club and society claimed and spent during the previous year.

According to the Office of Student Life, the new budgetary process will encourage committee members of the various clubs and societies to think about their event plans for the year ahead and request a budget on the basis of what they intend to do.

The Office of Student Life added that when clubs and societies finalise their full cost plans for the year ahead – they will then submit them to the SLC & CLC committees for approval.

“In previous years, the CLC and the SLC spent a lot of their meeting time deciding on how many guest speakers should they allocate, should the society travel to Cork or Bel-

fast etc. This process puts it back to the Club or Society to decide” said Siobhán Dunne, Finance & Development Office at the Office of Student Life.

Dunne went on to say “having met with a large number of Clubs & Societies, the general feedback was quite positive” and that “the experience gained this year, for all involved, can only make the

budgetary process more simplistic going forward”.

When asked what was being done for clubs and societies that didn’t spend much last year – Dunne said: “I met with these Clubs & Socs, explained the reasons behind their budget, reviewed their proposed plans and re-assured them with a revised budget”.

Math abilities due to a ‘growth mindset’

dcu.ie

Lucy Mangan Sub Editor @thecollegeview

A certain ‘mindset’ in people may be the reason they achieve in particular areas, especially mathematics, says the director of the Maths Learning Centre in DCU, Eabhnat Ni Fhloinn.

The mindsets come in the form of either a ‘fixed’ mindset or a ‘growth’ mindset and are both in relation to how people view their own ability in a certain subject. “Those with a growth mindset believe that their intelligence can be developed, while a fixed mindset reflects the belief that intelligence is unchanging.”

Taking from the work of Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, who published a book on the subject of mindsets, Ni Fhloinn is now challenging the belief that mathematical ability is a ‘gift’ that you either have or you don’t.

This belief has been inherent in popular culture for years, with many people giving into the idea that they are simply ‘no good’ at maths and becoming reluctant to even participate in maths related

problems.

Ni Fhloinn also talks about another book relating to the subject, written by the Professor of Mathematics Education at Stanford, Dr Jo Boaler, called Mathematical Mindsets, which focuses solely on how to encourage a growth mindset in a child towards maths.

Ni Fhloinn puts a lot of emphasis on the work of Dweck and Boaler with “both advocating praising the

process rather than either the child or the outcome of their work.” Ni Fhloinn also believes that another way we can encourage a growth mindset in relation to maths is by “in terms of our reaction to mistakes – instead of these being seen as a sign of failure, they should be valued as a way of learning.”

Students studying courses such as Actuarial Maths in DCU also agree with Ni Fhloinn, saying maths

needs to be thought in relation to these mindsets, “I think some people are born more mathematically inclined than others but I also think schools need to play a bigger part in encouraging young students to engage with maths. People get discouraged too easily from trying maths when they don’t pick it up straight away. Schools need to be modernised for everybody and not just the fastest learners.”

NEWS

DCUSU Marquee cost over €20,000 to rent Hayley Halpin News Editor @HayleyHalpin1

THE DCU Students’ Union mar-

quee, situated in the mall on the Glasnevin campus, cost approximately €25,000 to rent for the four week period it was in place, according to DCUSU President Dylan Kehoe.

As the reconstruction on the Hub has commenced, DCUSU rented the marquee from David’s Marquee Hire to facilitate clubs and society events during the first four weeks of semester one.

The DCUSU budget has not been announced yet and therefore an exact figure is yet to be confirmed.

Kehoe told The College View, however, that “it was just under €20,000 to rent and then €1,500 per week. That figure hasn’t been finalised because we’re still negoti-

ating on that. So you’re looking at approximately €25,000”.

The marquee was due to be removed at the end of Week 4, with use of the marquee ceasing on that Friday.

While the marquee set the SU back multiple thousands, Kehoe claimed that they did not make a loss. He stated that the SU “makes a massive loss on the venue”.

“To run a ball in the venue, it costs an extremely large amount of money, the haemorrhage is unbelievable,” he said.

“Obviously it costs a lot, but in the grand scheme of things and by next May, it will actually fit in per- ture” to a “permanent structure”. fectly”.

“That’s when we have to get into the legalities of how much of a fire Legal Issues hazard it will be, which is the difThe marquee was erected only ference between a temporary and a for the first month of semester one permanent structure,” Kehoe said. as if the SU had rented it for a furDCUSU Oktoberfest took place ther period of time it would have in NuBar and the marquee from Occhanged from a “temporary struc- tober 10th to 12th. While Oktober-

New INIS registration causes problems for students

Laura Horan

fest is an event centred around beer, the marquee did not have a licence for alcohol.

Kehoe noted that he was aware that this issue would be tough. “I worried it would hamper the event but I still wanted to get use out of the marquee,” he said.

DCUSU supplied security and

1030 people applied for financial

aid from the Student Assistance Fund in DCU this semester, according to Student Support and Development (SDD).

1409 applicants last year

THE recently established online im-

migration registration site is causing international students distress when applying to register for their immigration certificates.

The new system allows visa applicants to book an hour time slot up to 6 weeks in advance, diminishing the queues outside the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) office and processing applications more efficiently.

This includes a service for international students who require an immigration certificate of registration to study in Ireland for a year.

However, the site has not been without its flaws as it was taken of-

fline multiple times in its first week in operation in early September for essential maintenance.

International third level students are disheartened by the new system and are fearful that without an appointment they will not be allowed back into the country when they return home for Christmas.

Australian chemistry student Georgina Ross talks about her experience of the online system.

“My 90 day stay expires in early December but at the moment there are only appointments available for mid to late December which means I can’t leave the country in this period,” Ross said.

“I think that not having to queue for hours is great but I did want to explore more of Europe during my time here which would have been ideal in

December when we get Christmas holidays but now I won’t get the opportunity.”

Ross continues to explain how the whole system could be seen as discouraging for students who want to study for a semester or year abroad.

“It costs me €300 to register which is a lot of money. If I had known about this before I came I would’ve studied in the UK for a year where I know I wouldn’t have to pay anything for up to 6 months of studying there.”

She also highlights how difficult it can be to get in touch with the INIS if she has a problem or wants to cancel or reschedule her appointment.

“If I have a problem I know it’s best to go straight to the office on Burgh Quay to sort it out,” she said.

Zainab Boladale

insurance coverage for all events in the marquee.

The College View asked Kehoe if the SU would consider bringing the marquee back to campus. However, he stated that he had not. He stated that while it was good while it was there, he does not think it will return.

1030 DCU students apply for Student Assistance Fund this year Hannah Kelly Deputy Production Editor @thecollegeview

Elsa McEvoy sub Editor @thecollegeview

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This number is expected to increase when applications reopen in second semester. Last year the fund received 1409 applications.

60 per cent of those applicants received funding, 23 per cent were declined with the remaining applications cancelled due to lack of supporting documents.

Online application

An online application system was put into place last year which made receipting all applications redundant.

“The reason for the presentation of receipts was for audit purposes from the EU and HEA,” Deirdre Moloney, Senior Student Support Officer for DCU SSD said, “in recent years the HEI’s questioned this request due to the huge administrative burden and the fact that receipts had to be filed for 13 years in case of an EU audit”.

Ensuring transparency

However, last year around 10

per cent of applicants were asked to provide receipts. Moloney explained this process will be continued to ensure transparency in the fund.

The online system allows students to fully complete their form online by attaching required documents to their digital application.

Efficient system

Moloney believes this system is not only more efficient for administrative staff, but also benefits the applicants as it allows them to receive funding faster.

“The online system is much better because we are now dealing with students from St. Pats, Mater Dei and CICE and also across three campuses,” Moloney said, “in 2008 we had approx 200 applications and in 2016 we have 1,000+ so we have to adapt to the increase in numbers.”

In past years the average amount successful applicants receive from the fund is a once off payment of €500 for students who are living away from home, and €300 for those at home.

Expected increase in figures

“We expect these figures to increase slightly this year as numbers applying have remained steady and there has been a slight increase in funding,” Moloney said.

NEWS DCU offers classes on safe intervention of sexual assault

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DCUSU offers helping hand for mental health

Zainab Boladale

This year there will be an emphasis placed on how neglecting your overall health can link with a decline in a student’s mental health.

DCU Students’ Union Mental Health Byrne plans to have days throughWeek, promoted as ‘Helping Hands out the year dedicated to ensuring Week’, is taking place across the students are aware that they need to DCU campuses this week. take care of themselves consistently Organised by DCUSU Welfare and that it is not just associated with Officer Cody Byrne, he said that depression and anxiety alone. “this is the week students drop out “Mental health is just simply the most. We want them to stop health. That’s like saying physical dropping out because they’re lone- health is always obesity or diabely”. tes,” said Byrne.

The week, which runs from He plans to run workshops October 24th to 28th, will focus on and days similar to the Union Of mental health but the main aim is to Students in Ireland (USI) #chattackle student isolation by prompt- forchange campaign which encouring students to engage with their aged students to relax and talk with peers. each other. With the recent budget Students will be given wrist- announcements, the USI criticised bands to show they are open to the government for a lack of clarifitalk and a year long initiative cation on whether they’ll be providcalled ‘Mind Your Mates’ is be- ing €37.5 million for mental health ing launched to try and encourage care.Information about the support a sense of the DCU community. A services available on campus will be sexologist will also be brought in to promoted and more details about the talk about the benefits of masturba- week’s events can be found on the tion and the Gym will be free for all DCUSU’s Facebook page. students.

Zainab Boladale Sub Editor @thecollegeview

Stephen Keegan Arts Editor @MacAodhagainS

A total of 45 students have enrolled in an 8 week Bystander Intervention program that Welfare Officer Cody Byrne says will teach participants how to safely intervene in situations which may escalate into sexual assault.

The program will be delivered by Dr. Mel Duffy, co-founder of DCU’s MA in Sexuality Studies, Doctorate in Sexuality Studies scholar Caroline Ryan and MA in Sexuality Studies student André Venchard.

Intervention Initiative

The program is based on the Intervention Initiative which was devised by the University of West England, Bristol.

“Not only does it teach about consent, but it changes the social norms surrounding rape culture it really emphasises that gender is a social construct… and this construct then facilitates in the rape, sexual and domestic assault against men and women,” Byrne said.

Equal capability

Byrne commended how the program highlights how both males and females are equally capable of engaging in sexual violence.

“It doesn’t depict men as evil beings that think with their penis first, which was important to me,” he said.

Trinity researchers trial ketamine as a possible treatment for depression Rachel Farrell

Open dialogue

Ryan hopes that participants will feel empowered to create the open dialogue she feels is necessary for society to begin the healing process around sexual assault.

“I feel here in Ireland we are sorely in need of spaces that provide an opportunity to discuss difficult topics such as sexual assault, consent, and societal attitudes to victims and perpetrators,” she said.

Class Rep council

Last year the Class Rep Council mandated for the introduction of consent classes on campus. This initiative will act as a pilot program, with a view of presenting the findings to the Academic Council before introducing the program as a module that all students can attend.

Participants were asked to contribute a fee of €10 to cover the cost of the course, and those that attend all 8 classes will receive a diploma.

Laura Horan Deputy Images Editor @thecollegeview

RESEARCHERS at Trinity College Dublin have have begun trials to test the effectiveness of ketamine when treating recurrent depression.

The research team are currently trialing up to 65 people using ketamine on patients who have had electroconvulsive therapy and who have been admitted to hospital with relapsing episodes of depression.

According to Prof. Declan McLoughlin, a member of the research team, the drug has proved successful in many applicants so far, citing

studies where approximately 70 per cent of people who have the treatment receive a “robust anti-depressant effect”.

He said, “There’s pretty good evidence now that shows ketamine in a low sum of antistatic doses has a very rapid response.”

McLoughlin warned that the drug was not for regular use, but is given to patients trialing the drug once a week for four weeks.

During the procedure “you would have a needle inserted into a

vein in your arm and attached to a bag with about 50 millilitres of saline or salt water and you would add the ketamine to that,” he said.

The trial aims to prevent relapsing episodes of depression by giving the treatment to recovering patients to change how the brain deals with depression.

The research team is considering carrying out the study on a larger scale.

Street Use Though proving successful in

this field, ketamine is often associated as an illegal street drug, and is also an anaesthetic routinely used in hospitals.

McLoughlin says, “there are no good reasons, that I can think of, why anyone would take ketamine for pleasure or as a street drug as it’s quite a dangerous thing to take”.

McLoughlin warns the street variety of ketamine can leave you with serious side effects as extra chemicals are often added and the doses taken are a lot higher then the amount given in Trinity’s trial.

NEWS

Young people at increased suicide risk Amy Rohu

Brein McGinn Deputy News Editor @BMCGINN123

YOUNG people between the ages of 15-24 have an increased risk of suicide behaviour according to a report published by the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) earlier this month.

There were 11,189 presentations of self-harm to hospital in 2015 involving 8,791 individuals according to the NOSP’s annual report, a number which is up almost 10 per cent

since before the recession.

On a somewhat positive note, the number of confirmed suicides within Ireland in 2013 was lower than 500 for the second time in the previous six years, with the country ranking relatively low in comparison with its European neighbours.

There were 487 suicides in 2013 in the findings showing some stabilisation in the overall suicide rate since a startling spike from 458 to 506 in 2007 and 2008 respectively and a peak of 554 in 2011.

80.3 per cent of the 487 suicides in 2013 were committed by males and a three per cent rise in the female self-harm rate from 2014 to 2015 shows issues in mental health with both genders.

Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Helen McEntee TD, who lost her father by suicide in December 2012, said she has developed a ‘taskforce’ to deal with the high levels of suicide and self-harm in young people.

McEntee said: “I would like to highlight the work of the new Task-

6

force on Youth Mental Health in helping to ensure long-term, quality and accessible youth supports around the country.”

Sinn Fein Deputy Mary Lou McDonald expressed her concern of the data released yesterday saying they are for “grim and stark reading”.

“What is required is the provision of 24/7 crisis intervention services when people most need help and which would offer adequate care saving people’s lives,” said McDonald.

Speaking on Morning Ireland, Director of the NOSP Gerry Raleigh welcomed the publication of the statistics but feels there is much room for improvement.

“I think our services can never be good enough and I think we have to endeavour to improve them. I acknowledged problems with access to service at times, they’ve been well discussed. I’m aware of issues with staffing in some of our special services,” he said.

Universities Incremental credits Irish pay out €3.3 milup to €1500 to be lion in legal fees restored to nurses rollingnews.ie

Kyle Ewald Deputy News Editor @thecollegeview

Áine Campion News Reporter @thecollegeview

UP to €1,500 will be reinstated to Irish nurses following a protest outside Leinster House last month.

The Irish Government has decided to give back credits to nurses that graduated from 2011-2015 for their 36-week student placement. It is said that 7,500 nurses and midwives will see renewals in their account from 1 January 2017.

This news was received by the

Irish Nurses and Midwives Association (INMO) General Secretary Liam Doran who said: “The INMO welcomes this restoration as it moves some way to correct a serious wrong done to young nurses and midwives in 2011/12.”

Mr. Doran said the announcement “represents an important first step, which must now be followed by further initiatives, to address the deepening crisis concerning nurse/ midwife staffing levels and this country’s inability to retain these professionals in our public health

service.”

The decision did not come easily, as the push for equal pay for equal work was shown in a protest lobbying for the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform to reconsider only awarding incremental credit to graduates from 2016.

Approximately 300 people demonstrated their views on the 27th of September and it is estimated that 4,000 nurses who graduated between 2011 and 2015 will be eligible for this pay restoration.

Ireland’s Universities paid out more than €3.3 million in legal fees involving staff members between 2010 and 2015, according to records released under the Freedom of Information Act. In a five-year span, legal fees have tripled from what they were in 2010. The cases being dealt with involve allegations by staff of harassment, bullying and discrimination, often on gender grounds.

According to a survey of more than 1,100 lecturers conducted by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland—a union representing lecturers at institutes of technology—concluded that 30 per cent of respondents said they are always, often or sometimes bullied at work, while 69 per cent said there is always, often or sometimes friction between associates at work.

Joan Donegan, the Deputy General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers said the organisation deals with new allegations every month.

Donegan told the Irish Times she believes in-house training for Human Resources workers and support

staff is crucial as well as cost-effective, as colleges often hire external investigators to deal with discrimination and bullying complaints.

“Investment in a qualified external mediator, although expensive, is worthwhile if staff are not trained,” said Donegan, “Spending money on consultants to conduct investigations is very expensive. The outcome from such processes is rarely helpful in healing the hurt between the parties.”

Aidan Kenny of the TUI believes a uniform standard across all colleges to address these issues would help mediation, noting the fact that in some cases outside mediators determine the scope of investigations and can keep them going for years without resolution.

Complaint patterns over the past five years differ dramatically from university to university.

The University of Limerick was at the top with 11 complaints over the past five years, nine being bullying complaints, one of sexual harassment and one of racial and religious discrimination.

NUI Galway has pledged to introduce gender quotas after the successful case of former lecturer Micheline Sheehy- Skeffington over allegations that she was unfairly passed over for promotion due to her gender. The university is still engaged in another legal battle with five female lecturers who say they were unfairly passed over for promotion.

University College Cork has recorded four complaints since 2011, but has paid out €1.5 million, by far the most in comparison to others.

TCD has recorded complaints from 10 staff members, Maynooth University has recorded five and UCD nine.

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8

UL appoint UCD No fee increase for academic as new Irish students applying president to UK universities

Darragh Culhane Images Editor @DarraghCulhane

THE University of Limerick have

announced that Professor Desmond Fitzgerald is to be appointed the next President of the University of Limerick.

Chancellor of the University of Limerick, Mr. Justice John Murray announced the news on October 6 after a specially convened meeting to decide upon the new President.

Murray spoke of the appointment in a statement released on the university website, “I am delighted to welcome Professor Fitzgerald as the next President of UL. He is a widely-respected scholar and leader in the academic world, with an enviable international research reputation and unrivalled experience gained at strategic levels in a number of highly-ranked universities.”

The newly appointed President was recommended by the Presidential Selection Board for the position and currently serves as a Vice President for Health Affairs of University College Dublin.

“I am delighted. The University of Limerick has had remarkable success in its short history due to its staff, its students and the support it has from the community and the Foundation. I am honoured to lead UL during the next phase,” said Fitzgerald about his new role.

Fitzgerald’s appointment indicates that the University are looking to improve in their research performance given the experience of their new President in the field.

Serving as Vice President Research at UCD from 2004 to 2014, Fitzgerald played a pivotal role in the restructuring and transformation of the univeristies performance in research performance according to the Univeristy of Limerick.

Professor Fitzgerald is a highly acclaimed academic as he also served as Chief Academic Officer within the Ireland East Hospital Group as well as having previously held leadership roles in the Royal College of Surgeons.

Fitzgerald will succeed current President of the University of Limerick Professor Don Barry on May 1, 2017 with Barry’s term coming to an end in April that year.

Darragh Culhane

Paul Dwyer Deputy News Editor @PaulWicklo

IRISH students applying for colleges in England and Wales next year will not face a rise in registration fees.

There have been concerns for the 10,000 students already studying in the UK, that Brexit could lead to Irish and EU students having to pay much higher international student fees from next year.

However, UK authorities have confirmed that EU students applying for entrance into an English higher education institute for the 2017-2018 academic year will pay the same tuition fees as UK students.

Responding to the news, Universities UK President Dame Julia Credit: Andrew Byrne

Goodfellow said, “Students from other EU countries can now apply for places in undergraduate courses starting in autumn 2017 with the certainty that they will not have to pay up-front tuition fees and now have a guarantee that they will receive government-backed loans to cover their tuition fee for the duration of their courses”.

According to recent figures released by TopUniversities.com the average cost per year to study in the UK at undergraduate level as an EU citizen is £9,000.

EU students will also be able to access the same funding they are entitled to now. This means they will continue to be eligible for student loans and grants during their degree course.

Officials have said the agreement will still be valid even if the United Kingdom this leave the EU during the course period.

The Welsh government has also confirmed EU students applying for entry at Welsh universities in 20172018 will be eligible for current levels of loans and grants.

Rolf Tarrach, president of the European University Association, said that it was reassuring news for both students and universities “The announcement gives the higher education sector much-needed clarity and has shown that the government acknowledges the value of EU students,” he said.

The European University Association has called on Scotland and Northern Ireland to issue similar reassurances.

It also wants a commitment to ensure students, from Europe and beyond are able to continue to study in the United Kingdom without unnecessary bureaucracy once the UK formally leaves the EU.

DCU Enactus society represents Ireland at World Cup in Toronto Andrew Byrne News Reporter @thecollegeview DCU Enactus Society competed in the 2016 Enactus World Cup in Toronto, Canada, last month representing team Ireland.

While there were just five members of the society giving their 17 minute presentation, 53 members from different branches of the society traveled to Toronto as part of team Ireland.

The five members of Enactus DCU who spoke at the World Cup are current chairperson Jack Kane, Matthew Hewston and Hannah Dobson along with outgoing chair and vice-chair Roisin Nestor and Alison Ring.

Sinead McCool was also a vital member of the presenting team, running the digital presentation.

Although team Ireland did not make it through the first round in Canada, Jack Kane explained that, due to Enactus being relatively new here, it was hard to compete with other countries with projects running for longer than Enactus Ireland itself.

“The next stage really for Ireland is to be able to put projects in place that can run over 5-6 years and through multiple teams so that

when they get to World Cup they can make a bit more of an impact with the big hitters,” he said.

Enactus is a charitable organisation which allows third level students to create entrepreneurial projects which positively impacts both local and global communities. Enactus DCU have created multiple social projects over their four year existence here in the University. However, there were just two chosen to be showcased in Toronto, HeadstARTS and Prison Break, which are both based on campus.

HeadstARTS is an interactive class for people with intellectual disabilities who participate in a range of activities including dance classes, drama classes and art. This project, powered by volunteers, was founded in 2012 and has been such a success that Enactus NUIG have started running HeadstARTS classes from their campus with the permission of Enactus DCU. Prison Break was created last year to help Kieron, an ex prisoner, reintegrate back into society. Kieron was enabled by Enactus to begin running fitness classes with students on campus and said, “it meant that I was able to have an extra few quid for bus fares to go and see my kids which was great.”

“I’ve never felt judged at DCU college and that’s a big hurdle to get over and it gives you a lot of confidence then… you can be your natural self,” he added.

9

OPINION

Has traditional teaching passed its sell-by date?

With almost 10,000 Leaving Certificate exam appeals this year, Opinion Editor Shirley Donlon looks into the difference between leaving certificate education and university education, and argues that perhaps a change is necessary

SHIRLEY DONLON OPINION EDITOR

T

his year almost 10,000 exam papers were appealed to the State Examinations Commission by Leaving Certificate students after receiving their initial grade.

A fee of €40 is required to get an exam paper re-checked. This initial fee is refunded if a higher grade is awarded following the appeal.

However, with only 1,698 upgrades given out of almost 10,000 exam paper appeals, perhaps education method for the Leaving Certificate needs to be changed.

Over the past few years we’ve seen a change in the way that the Junior Certificate is taught and graded. The traditional Junior Certificate has been replaced with a new concept called the Junior Cycle Student Award (JCSA) which began in 2014.

The JCSA aims to focus on new subjects and short courses with a strong focus on literacy, numeracy and key skills for students.

In April 2015, former Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan described the five abiding principles in the new JCSA system.

She pinpointed five main ideas which included the need to focus on a wide range of learning and to put less emphasis on one terminal exam. She also mentioned an assessment of student’s knowledge and the need to stress the importance of classroom-based assessment.

The idea behind this new system of teaching and grading in the JCSA is to offer well-rounded education in different subjects while acknowledging the fact that there is more than just one way of learning. The focus will no longer solely be striving towards a high grade in one overall end exam. Instead it will aim towards having a good understanding of different topics through different methods of teaching and learning.

New short courses will be available to students in the JCSA. Students must complete one hundred hours of learning for two short courses to match the level of one single subject.

The aim of short courses is not to distract from traditional school subjects but to provide a wider range of options for students in the junior cycle.

The new implementation of the JCSA reflects the structure of learning at third level in some ways. The strong focus on diverse ways of learning and approaching different topics is also used in colleges and universities worldwide.

DCU prides itself on its identity as a young, dynamic and ambitious university with an aim to transform lives and societies through education, research and innovation. The combination of technology, group-work, self-dependent work and integrated training (INTRA) at DCU ensures that students learn subjects in many ways, not just through a textbook.

The student’s response to this method of learning is evident through the high number of graduates who have progressed into careers after completing their degree here. DCU alone has over 55,000 graduates worldwide who have benefited from a diverse method of learning at third level education.

Universities prepare young people for life in the workplace, where in general it’s necessary to be consistently delivering your best. There is rarely room for error. So, surely it would make sense to adapt a similar method of teaching and learning in the earlier stage of education.

Continuous assessment is a prime example of grading a student’s contribution and work in a way that is realistic to everyday working life.

The traditional methods of ‘learning’ through textbooks, writing essays and completing annual exams are not always going to be enough.

Especially with new developments and major advances in technology in recent years. Great advances in secondary school education could happen if the attitude of students keeping up with

their teachers changed. Instead the education system should adapt to the young generations preferred and most beneficial way of learning.

Every year thousands of secondary school students sit the leaving cert exams in hope of being offered a place in a university or college.

Preparation for these highly anticipated and dreaded exams begins in 5th year and, if the end goal is a selection of high grades, the process involves a consistent bulk of memorising facts and figures right up until the minute you sit down in the large, echoing hall and the examiner says “go”.

The pressure and anticipation of these terminal exams often proves too much for students, resulting in panic attacks, high levels of stress and anxiety. Is there a need for this structure in second level education? Surely not.

The Leaving Certificate, from many different angles, proves itself to be nothing short of a memory test. Is it fair to test a student’s knowledge of a certain topic by judging who can memorise the most and then pack it into an A4 booklet in 90 minutes?

Assuredly a student’s individual participation, work ethic and dedication throughout the entire academic year in varied subjects proves more than what is written on a few sheets of paper.

Is it fair to apply such pressure and importance upon one exam, one day or one hour?

In order to introduce a permanent, sustainable and engaging education system, the different ways that different individual learn must be noted. Not every single student will adapt to the traditional methods of learning that are still in place for the Leaving Certificate. As Albert Einstein once said, “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

keywordsuggestions.com

“ The

Leaving Certificate, from many different angles, proves itself to be nothing short of a memory test

10

OPINION

Budget 2017 neglects mental health

Laura Duffy

BRION HOBAN CHIEF SUB EDITOR

T

he announcement of Budget 2017 saw speech after speech given about each little increase in spending and decrease in taxation.

Mental health reform was not the subject of a single speech.

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe announced an increase of €497 million to the health budget. This brings the total departmental budget to €14.6 billion.

The Union of Students in Ireland and Mental Health Reform made a joint plea to the Government before the budget was announced to set aside €37.5 million for mental health services.

This is the figure needed to implement

reforms outlined in A Vision for Change, a report detailing a new model for mental health services in Ireland.

Surely €37.5 million should not be hard to come by when the department’s budget has been increased by €497 million. Yet no mention of mental health funding was made.

The only conclusion to draw is that mental health remains a low priority for this Government, if it is even considered a priority at all.

This attitude is mildly baffling. Leaving aside the obvious moral reasons, a refusal to adequately support mental health services in this country is bad politics.

Has the Government forgotten the protests outside Leinster House last spring? Is it in unaware of the need to win young voters if it is to survive the next election?

Perhaps the only reason promises for an increase in mental health funding were made in the past was because Leo Varadker was Minister for Health. With Fine Gael’s heir apparent now hidden safely away in Social Protection, any desire to look like they are improving has fled.

After all, a 30 year old is now in charge of the Department of Health. However intelligent or capable Minister Simon Harris may prove to be, putting someone so inexperienced in charge hardly makes it seem as though health reform is a priority.

Harris did reverse the decision that caused the student protests in the first place. Before his intervention, €12 million of the €35 million mental health budget was to be diverted into other areas.

Yet even the full €35 million leaves gaps in services. A 48 per cent shortage in child

and adolescent mental health service staff is not faintly acceptable.

The rate of suicides in this country is higher than the rate of road deaths. According to the Central Statistics Office there were 451 reported suicides in 2015.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for men aged between fifteen and thirty four. Surely this problem is serious enough to be worth allocating 7.5 per cent of the budget increase provided by

Budget 2017.

The Republic may not be fiscally strong yet, but the worst days of recession are long behind us. The election too is in the past, meaning there is no strong political reason to avoid rocking the boat.

The time for action must be now. The longer the Government refuses to commit to mental health reform, the more lives we are in danger of losing.

Cigarette deterrent going up in smoke An increase in the price of cigarettes will not be enough to stop students smoking, writes Emily Crowley

R

ihanna, Kristen Stewart, Zayn Malik and Matt Damon are just a few of the world’s most famous celebrities regularly spotted in the media with a cigarette between their lips.

Obviously everyone is entitled to choose whether or not to smoke themselves, but is the Irish Government’s decision to raise the price of tobacco products enough to deter young people from making that choice?

Michael Noonan announced many changes to our economic concerns in the budget on October 11th. While many are concerned about the USC rate being reduced by 0.5%, an extra €5 being added to the pension and other social welfare and the minimum wage being raised by 10 cents, less concern has been expressed about the 50 cent increase to the price of cigarettes and tobacco.

From my experience of working in a shop with a tobacco licence, I have seen the average price of a 20-pack of cigarettes go from €9.10 to €11.30 in the past few years. Yet i have never seen a major decrease in sales.

Smokers crave nicotine, just like any other addictive substance. And when it comes down to it, the price doesn’t seem to bother them.

What’s even more concerning is the number of young people smoking. Especially now, with the social welfare being increased, individuals signing on or drawing the dole will source out the extra €6.30 purely because their bodies crave nicotine.

I’m not here to tell anyone that they should or should not smoke, and will not judge anyone for choosing to do so. I do, how-

Laura Horan

“

Smokers crave nicotine, just like any other addictive substance, and when it comes down to it, the price won’t bother them ever, feel that we need to get the serious point across of the many serious health implications smoking can cause.

The ‘QUIT’ advertisements don’t lie when they say that ‘One in two smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease’.

Gerry Collins didn’t give up his remaining time working with the campaign for it to be ignored by future generations.

I have seen, first hand, how lung cancer resulting from excessive smoking has emotionally strained a family. It starts with

surgery to remove the tumour from the lung.

Hospital visits to assess the surgery wound.

Medication check-ups. Cancer screening.

Cancer screening again. And again. Until you think everything is fine. Only for cancer cells show up again in the results.

After this the only other choice is radiography. A 182kilometre round-trip, every day for 30 days in a row. Vomiting. Chest pain. Tiredness. Then you’re told it’s okay, that you can go home and live your life as normal. Another cancer screen comes along.

Then another. And hey-presto, you’re back to square one.

But by now, the body is too old, too exhausted from treatment, and the only course of action is to let it take over. Take over the lungs. The body. Your time, your family. Your life.

So, even though the government has imposed an extra 50 cents on the price of your packet of cigarettes, and you can afford it. I urge you, to please, just think twice.

11

GAEILGE

Trump Fós ar an bPáipéar Ballóide Braithníonn Ali Spillane ar fheachtas Trump agus conas atá sé fós sa chomórtas i measc conspóide

Donald Trump i mbun oráide Credit: Greg Richter

Ali Spillane Scríbhneoir @thecollegeview

Tá sé díreach fógartha ag an bhfear gnó Peter Thiel go bhfuil sé ag tabhairt $1.25 milliún d’fheachtas uachtaránachta Trump agus ní hé an t-aon tacadóir amháin atá fós taobh thiar den fhear gnó. Is cinnte go bhfuil Trump fós san iomaíocht don Oifig Uachtaránachta. B’fhéidir go bhfuil a céile comhraic, Hillary Clinton, den tuairim nach bhfuil an taithí ná an meon ag Trump le bheith ina Uachtarán. Ach is léir nach bhfuil gach duine ar aon intinn léi. Tá an comhaireamh síos don 8ú Samhain faoi lán seoil agus an domhain uilig ag coimeád súil ghéar ar an méid atá ag tarlú ann.

Tá an feachtas uachtaránachta seo difriúil ó aon fheachtas roimhe i go leor bealaí. Tóg an tseachtain atá díreach imithe uainn mar shampla den chineál ócáide neamhghnách atá bainteach lena iarrachtaí suíochán an uachtaráin a aimsiú.

Ag tús na seachtaine tháinig físeán amach de Trump i 2005 agus eisean ag caint i leith crúbáile a dhéanamh ar mhná áirithe, rud a chur déistin ar neart daoine. Ceaptar go mbeadh físeán den chineál sin in ann droch-chlú a tharraingt ar aon duine agus a feachtas a dhíothú. Ach ní i gcás Trump. Ba chuma leis cad a bhí á rá aige san físeán gnéasaíoch seo.

B’fhéidir go raibh Céad-Bhean na Stáit Aontaithe trína chéile faoi ach chas Trump an scéal bunoscionn ag rá go raibh sé ina íospartach. Dar leis tá feachtas polaitiúil bunaithe chun é a scriosadh. Anois is eisean atá ag ceistiú Clinton, ag moladh tástáil drugaí roimh an chéad díospóireacht eile.

Rud eile atá éagsúil go leor faoin bhfeachtas toghchánaíochta seo ná an stór focal ionsaithe a bhíonn le cloisteáil sna díospóireachtaí idir an beirt iarrthóirí. Ní minic a chloistear focail ar nós ‘Biogóid’ nó ‘Claonta” sa chás sin. Is cosúil go bhfuil an-bhéim curtha ar thréithe pearsanta agus saol príobháideach an iarrthóra seachas a cuid polasaithe. Níl mórán ó thaobh eitic ghairmiúil le feiceáil ann.

Cé go bhfuil an-suim múscailte i measc muintir an domhain sa toghchán seo, níl tuiscint ag an gcuid is mó de ghnáthdhaoine eachtrannach ar chóras pholaitiúil casta na Stáit Aontaithe.

Tá beirt iarrthóir san iomaíocht don Uachtarán, ceann amháin ón Pháirtí Poblachtánach, sin é Trump, agus ceann eile ón Pháirtí Daonlathach, is í Hillary Clinton.

Gach ceithre bliana bíonn feachtas uachtaránachta ann. Ó 1950 bhí seacht dtréimhse le duine de na Daonlathaigh i gceannas agus naoi

“

Creideann méid mór duine, laistiar den bhréag a bhíonn á insint aige agus na ráitis neamhbhalbha, go bhfuil Uachtarán iontach i Trump

dtréimhse le poblachtach san oifig.

Roghnaítear an t-Uachtarán agus Leas-Uachtarán nua le córas darb ainm ‘Electoral College’. Tá méid áirithe ‘toghthóirí’ ag gach stáit ag brath ar an daonra. Mar shampla tá 39milliún duine i California, mar sin tá 55 toghthóir ar fáil ann. I gcomparáid, níl ach 10% den daonra sin i Connecticut le 7 dtoghthóir acu. Is é an chéad duine a fhaigheann 270 vóta a bhfuil tofa ina Uachtarán.

Tá cúpla stát idir eatarthu. Níl siad tógtha le taobh amháin thar an taobh eile. Mar sin díríonn na hiarrthóirí a gcuid feachtas ar na stáit sin mar de ghnáth braitheann toradh an toghcháin ar vótaí na stáit seo. Ó 1964 is é an duine a bhuaigh Ohio an duine a bhí tofa.

Faoi láthair taispeánann na pobalbhreitheanna is déanaí nach bh-

fuil mórán idir an dá. Tá cúpla phointe sa bhreis ag Clinton. Ach le 3 seachtain fágtha, ní féidir le haon duine bheith cinnte cad a tharlóidh.

Feictear arís agus arís eile gur cainteoir neamhbhalbh ar neart gné den tsochaí atá i Trump. Is iomaí dream de mhuintir na tíre atá gortaithe de bharr a chuid tuairimí gránna, idir Moslamaigh agus mná.

Is leor cuardach Google ar a ainm a dhéanamh chun blas den droch-phoblaíocht atá déanta air a fheiceáil.

Ach tá gach seans go mbeidh sé tofa ar deireadh agus é a bheith mar Uachtarán ar cheann de na tíortha is cumhachta ar domhain. Dar le Mary Lou Quinlan in alt a scríobh sí don Irish Times, Is í Clinton an duine is cáilithe don phost riamh. Mar sin, is é an cheist ar bharr teanga na n-eachtrannach ná cén fáth Trump?

Tá neart Meiriceánaigh den tuairim go bhfuil a tír ina phraiseach, go bhfuil athrú mór agus atógáil uathu agus gurb é Trump an t-iarrthóir is fearr chun an athchóiriú sin a thabhairt dóibh.

Is cuma lena chuid tacadóirí go bhfuil an Pápa den tuairim nach duine Críostaí é. Is iomaí duine atá meallta ag a chuid tuairimí faoin inimirce agus slándáil náisiúnta.

Creideann méid mór duine, laistiar den bhréag a bhíonn á insint aige agus na ráitis neamhbhalbha, go bhfuil Uachtarán iontach i Trump.

‘Make America Great Again’, sin atá geallta ag Trump. An bhfuil sé ag insint na fíreanna nó an bréag eile sa liosta fada bréag é? Má tá sé tofa mar Uachtarán na Stáit Aontaithe an mhí seo chugainn beidh seans againn an freagra a fháil.

Focail na seachtaine Gealra - Glitter Páipéar ballóide - Ballot Paper Ómós - Homage Laoch - Hero Oidhreacht - Legacy

12

GAEILGE

Laoch ar an bPáirc, Laoch ar an tSráid Léiríonn an scríbhneoir ómós do laoch rugbaí Anthony Foley caillte againn

“ Cal Ó Donnabháin Eagarthóir Gaeilge @thecollegeview

AN Corn Heineken ardaithe go

bródúil san aer aige, bhí Anthony Foley, nó Axel mar a tugadh air, agus 50,000 duine de dhílseacht Mumhan eacstaiseach ar an lá eisceachtúil i stair rugbaí na hÉireann i 2006. Díreach deich mbliana chun tosaigh agus tá muintir rugbaí an domhain ag fágáil slán le hiar-chaptaen a chúige agus bainisteoir na foirne sular cuireadh ar shlí na fírinne é agus fós ina óige ag 42 bliain d’aois. Chorpraigh Foley féinsmacht sa rugbaí, gan ach cárta buí amháin faighte aige ina ghairmréin fada agus bhí an-tionchar aige ar an nglúin is déanaí d’imreoirí, le CJ

Bhí pearsantacht mhaighnéadach aige agus brú a phaisean agus a ghrá don spórt iadsan mórthimpeall air go mbeidís ábalta a spriocanna a bhaint amach chomh maith Stander, uimhir a hocht do Mhumhain faoi láthair, ag léiriú ómóis dó le stádas Facebook ag rá “Axel..I’ve got you to thank for the rugby player I am and aim to be”.

“Cad as a dtagann meas na mílte ar Foley?”, a cheisteodh duine. Bhí pearsantacht mhaighnéadach aige agus bhrú a phaisean agus a ghrá don

Foley, ar chlé, lena chomhleacaithe Credit: St Munchin’s College

spórt iadsan mórthimpeall air chun go mbeidís abálta a spriocanna a bhaint amach chomh maith. D’éirigh leis foireann Mumhan a stiúradh chun an choirn Heineken den chéad uair ina stair in 2006, bhí sé mar bhall d’fhoireann mionúr an Chláir san iománaíocht agus bhí ina fhear clainne. Ghathaigh an fathach fuineamh dhearfach agus

bhí seo le feiceáil lena oireas spóirt.

Rugadh ar an 30ú lá de mhí Dheireadh Fómhair 1973 Anthony Foley do Brendan agus Rosie, iarimreoirí rugbaí d’Éireann chomh maith leis, i gcontae Luimnigh. Cé go raibh sé ina Luimníoch, thosaigh sé ag imirt peile Ghaelach agus iománaíocht don chlub Smith O’Briens i gCill Dalua,

Contae an Chláir. Cosúil le réimse leathan d’imreoirí rugbaí Éireannach, Shane Horgan agus Mick Galwey ina measc, chabhraigh an pheil leis a scileanna a fhorbairt agus a thuiscint ar spás a fheabhsú, D’fhreastail sé ar an gColáiste Naomh Munchin agus d’imir sé ar phainéal an Choirn Shóisearaigh agus Shinsearaigh rugbaí ar a son. Bhí fuil dhearg Mumhan ag sreabhadh trína chorp go huile agus go hiomlán agus tagann an tseanráiteas sin chun aigne – “Irish by birth. Munster by the grace of God”.

Tagann bás an fhir óig go hanabaí agus baineadh geit mhór as an domhan rugbaí lena imeacht, gan srian leis an méid measa léirithe dó. Cuireadh ar ceall an cluiche an lá dár gcionn idir Mumhain agus Racing Metro 92 sa Fhrainc agus bhí tréimhsí ciúnais ann trasna na hEorpa roimh chluichí an deireadh seachtaine, idir an rugbaí agus Cluichí an Chumainn Lúthchleas Gael.

Fágann Foley a bhean, Olive, agus a bheirt mhac lena oidhreacht a iompar agus is mór an tasc sin toisc stádas an fhir, ach guím gach rath ar an gclann agus cuimhním orthu le linn an tréimhse dúshlánach seo.

Picnic Leictreonach: Athbhreithniú Athbhreithníonn Gráinne Sharkey ar an deireadh seachtaine caite aici ag Electric Picnic i mbliana

Grainne Sharkey Scríbhneoir @thecollegeview

DEIREADH seachtaine na bliana a bhí againn ag tús mhí Mheáin Fómhair ar an tSráidbhaile i gContae Laoise. Ón dara lá go dtí’n ceathrú lá bhí taispeántais cheoil, ealaíona, agus damhsa le feiceáil sa cheantar iargúlta. Thosaigh gach lá mar an gcéanna, fós ar meisce ón oíche roimhe, le cloigeann pianmhar agus gealra ar fud do chorp. Chaithfí an lá ag baint taitnimh as na háiseanna a bhí ar fáil, agus na seastáin bia a bhí scaipthe timpeall na féile, le canna beorach sa lámh agat i gcónaí. Dá mbeadh an t-ádh ort agus an fuinneamh agat, leanadh an cóisir ar aghaidh ar feadh na hoíche, agus bhuailfí le daoine nua éagsúla, ag damhsa gan stad. Bhí thart ar 60,000 daoine ann ag iarraidh a gcuid bannaí nó amhránaí a fheiceáil agus chun taitneamh a bhaint as an gceol, i measc na ndéantús ealaíona a bhí á taispeáint timpeall na féile ar fad.

Do mo rud é go raibh tú ann nó nach raibh, ní féidir éalú ó aimsir na hÉireann agus an t-intuarthacht a thagann leis. Má bhí an t-ádh agat, ní raibh d’ionad campála go hiomlán scriosta le cainéil uisce reatha ag dul tríd, ach mar chuid de thaithí”Electric Picnic” a bhí sé. B’fhiú an dhá chéad euro a chaitheamh ar thicéid chun blas a fháil den atmaisféar agus na ceoltóirí is fearr leat a fhe-

iceáil sa chraiceann amuigh faoin aer.

Bheifeá ábalta the 1975, New Order, Noel Gallagher, Wolf Alice, Lana Del Ray a fheiceáil i measc cláir na ceolchoirme agus grúpa dár dtír féin leo; Walking on Cars. Bhí an fhéile féin go hálainn, deartha le healaín agus codanna iomlána difriúla, cosúil leis an roinn Body & Soul, “The Electric Arena agus Trenchtown”. B’áit í ‘Body and Soul’ a bhí tú in ann bannaí níos anaithnide a lorg inti, agus áit a raibh timpeallacht ailtéarnach ar fáil. Bhí stáitsí ann, crainn beannaithe , agus tobáin cuilithe. Istigh in “Trenchtown”, bhí téama an reigé ar fáil. Bhí ceachtanna drumaí eitneach le déanamh, agus, arís, ceol beo le feiceáil. Chomh maith leo, bhí carnabhal i lár na féile le cluichí sorcais, roth Ferris agus carranna tuairteora ann.

An ghné is suimiúla den ócáid, domsa, ná stíleanna gléastachta na ndaoine a bhí ann agus iad ag cur a bpearsantachtaí i leith trína n-éadaí.

Bhí gach duine gléasta le faisean na féile, le gealra ar fud a gcorp, éadaí le patrúin neamh-ghnátha, smideadh agus péint ar a n-aghaidh. Bhí sluaite daoine aisteacha agus indibhidiúla, a bhí sásta a bheith i lár atmaisféir ghrámhair na háite – tréimhse a bhfanadh ina gcuimhneacháin go deo.

Nuair a d’éirigh sé níos dorcha, thosaíodh slua mór ag siúl i dtreo na coille le haghaidh Rave in the Woods.

Ceol teicneó a bhíodh á seinm acu, ceol a raibh tú in ann é a chloisteáil timpeall an ionaid campála i rith na

Credit: Entertainment.ie

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Bhí gach duine gléasta le faisean na féile, le gealra ar fud a gcorp, éadaí le patrúin neamhghnátha, smideadh agus péint ar a n-aghaidh hoíche. Mura raibh sé sin mealltach duit, áfach, bhí tú in ann dul go leor an fhéile agus do scíth a ligean in áit níos suaimhní cosúil le roinn “Body and Soul” nó i do phobal féin. Pé rud a rinne tú, níl leithscéal agat a rá nár bhaint tú an-sult as do dheireadh seachtaine ag tús na míosa, é caite

agat le cairde, ag ól agus ag cruthú cuimhneachán a bheidh agat go deo.

Tar éis bliana amháin á chaitheamh ann, is féidir liom a rá go raibh am den scoth agam agus táim cinnte go bhfeicfidh tú m’aghaidh clúdaithe le gealra agus mise ag rince ar an tSráidbhaile sna blianta atá le teacht.

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FEATURES

From medicine to journalism, Sheri Fink has done it all

N

ew York Times investigative reporter Dr. Sheri Fink graduated from Stanford University 26 years ago with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology.

The module descriptor for the course reads: excellent training in how to understand human behavior using scientifically rigorous methods.

Fast forward through two decades and she finds herself in Sierra Leone, two years ago, in the midst of the West African Ebola crisis, the

AARON GALLAGHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF most widespread outbreak of the EVD virus in recorded history.

For her work for the Times covering the outbreak, alongside Pam Belluck, Helene Cooper, Adam Nossiter, Norimitsu Onishi, Kevin Sack and Ben C. Solomon, she won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting - their work praised and recognised for “engaging the public with the scope and the details of the outbreak while holding authorities accountable.”

This was Dr. Fink’s second

Pulitzer Prize. Her first was in 2010 for Investigative Reporting for her book Five Days at Memorial which details the haunting decisions made at Memorial Medical Centre following Hurricane Katrina, which saw rumours spread after the disaster as to possible euthanising of patients who were trapped without power, adequate medical resources and even clean running water, which takes her on a riveting search for the truth and, from the offset, a search for justice.

Laura Horan

“This was one of America’s most beloved cities” Fink says. She was in DCU to deliver the keynote lecture on the COST Action Disaster Bioethics Conference which looks at how countries react and allocate resources during disasters.

“The levees around (New Orleans) failed after Hurricane Katrina.

The city filled with water and all of the hospitals, including the one I wrote about, were suddenly surrounded and they lost power.

“The situation became very, very desperate and in this particular hospital there was a rumour after the storm that patients’ lives had been ended by doctors and nurses in this terrible situation where they were waiting days for rescue.

“No running water, no air conditioning and it was very very hot.

So I set out to find out did this really happen. It sounded so extreme and I had never heard anything like it in the disasters where I had worked.”

What drew her towards media is intriguing. She qualified as a medical doctor in 1998 after receiving her PHD in Neuroscience, but admits the appeal of journalism.

The craft of breaking down complex medical theories and their real-world applications to those outside the field that come with it, is demanding and riveting in equal measure.

“In some ways I found (journalism) more challenging than even medicine. That process in which journalism combines investigating - in some ways very similar to research in medicine - then there’s the whole writing and communicating part of it and distilling all of this information into a form that people will want to consume, or read or watch, and making it interesting.

“I found that really challenging and I discovered that there isn’t one cause or or one great job in the world but there is something that everyone is passionate about or something that really makes you uncomfortable about the world, or that you wish you could change, and that was the case for me.

“During the wars in the Balkans that were going on when I was a stu-

dent in the 1990s, it was something that I wanted to know more and more about. I saw just how much of an impact journalists were making.

They were exposing the truth of what was happening and they were even spurring our governments into action on ending that war and ending human right’s violations and war crimes and genocide.”

Her grounding in psychology as an undergraduate proved vital later in her career. While Stanford’s psychology courses says it prepares its students for the fields of law, business education, medicine and counselling, it fails to mention media or journalism.

In this, Dr. Fink has come faceto-face with the torturous decision-making of which person will receive medical attention and who will be left outside the medical tent, who will live to fight another day in the hells of West Africa during the Ebola crisis or the Yugoslav wars of the 1990, and who will die.

“It’s interesting when you look back. I’ve had sort of an obsession with this idea of triage”, she says referring to the concept of how medical resources are allocated when a disaster strikes.

“I guess it did start when I was on that Kosovo border and they put me in a medical tent and there was were all of these people coming for help and you decide who gets care and who gets turned away.

“When we think about journalism ethics there is this idea that we don’t get involved in the story. That we cover it compassionately but dispassionately and that we don’t intervene and don’t change the facts, observe them and write about them.

“There is though a moment, whether you’re a doctor by training, where if you are in a situation of extreme suffering that more and more we are seeing that it is okay to be a human being.”

This was Episode One of The College View’s new podcast series DCU Meets. Listen to the full interview with Dr. Fink by visiting thecollegeview.com/podcasts or subscribe via the iTunes store by searching ‘The College View’.

FEATURES

14

Girls have yet to get to grips with apprenticeships

University has always been viewed as the main way to further your education and launch a career, but apprenticeships are another way to do this

SHAUNA BOWERS FEATURES EDITOR

T

he sky was normally dark, when Amy entered Peter Marks hairdressers at 8:30am. She already had her makeup done but her hair had to be pristine so she did that in the salon before she began work at 9am. She started her apprenticeship at the age of eighteen, because she wanted a job and had no idea what career she wanted to go into. She started doing the basics: washing hair, cleaning the equipment, drying hair and getting coffees. It all seems tedious but she gradually worked her way up to attending courses and learning how to colour and highlight hair.

The days were long, especially Thursdays when she worked from 9

“

Her experience as an apprentice has become an invaluable necessity in life to 9. It is like working and being in college at the same time so learning was optimised but so was exhaustion. She had to organise people to come into the hairdressers so she could practice on them while qualified hairdressers supervised her.

She handed in her notice in April, a year before completing her apprenticeship because she realised it was not the avenue she wished

to go down. Even though she has decided not to pursue a career in hairdressing, her experience as an apprentice has become an invaluable necessity in life. Her confidence soared and her communicative skills have become second to none.

Apprenticeships are obviously another laudable option to learn and immerse yourself in an area that may interest you but here in Ireland, in 2016, less than 1 percent of the state’s apprenticeships are taken by women.

Exactly 52 out of 9,587 apprenticeships active in Ireland this year are occupied by women. But what is the reason behind such an enormous gender imbalance when apprenticeships are known to be an effective way of educating yourself and gaining employment?

A lot of women, and perhaps people in general, have a certain mind-set that apprenticeships are only for professions which are male dominated. This is not the case whatsoever. There are now apprenticeships in cooking, accounting, software development and even hairdressing and different variations are proposed every year.

In 2014, 25 new apprenticeships were proposed on top of the 23 already existing apprenticeships in Ireland. This expanded the opportunities and fields that apprentices could choose to go into. There are now 29 active state-sponsored apprenticeships in Ireland this year.

Even though some professions were traditionally dominated by men doesn’t mean they have to remain so, SOLAS said. Electrical was the second most popular form of apprenticeship that women opted to undertake this year. Electricians were traditionally always viewed as men but times are changing and job aspirations are too.

In Amy’s hairdresser, they are taking on their first male apprentice this year while a hairdresser nearby called Style Club has already taken on three or four. The gender roles are not confined to what used to be deemed socially acceptable, and that is something that is applicable to both men and women.

Men and women can work together effectively but this is not the case in most apprenticeships Credit:Laura Horan

Both the OECD and the European Commission are placing increasing emphasis on the advantages of apprenticeship training.

They believe that they are incredibly useful in helping people move from the traditional form of schooling to the work force. Apprenticeships allow for a medium between the two, which makes the transfer easier to cope with.

It is proven that learning is maximised when you are forced to do the job rather than solely learning it theoretically. A minimum of 50 percent of an apprenticeship is devoted to practical work or on-the-job training so you get a hands-on experience.

SOLAS, who are in charge of the apprenticeship council in Ireland,

have said that this gender imbalance is something that they are looking to rectify in the very near future. They are looking to work with women’s council in the coming months in order to lessen the gap between men and women in apprenticeship roles.

They said that they already offer a bursary to employers who hire female apprenticeships but this is not working effectively. It is more so a bonus rather than an incentive at the current time and this is something they wish to change.

The Director of Communications and Secretariat of SOLAS, Nikki Gallagher, spoke to The College View about the gender imbalance in apprenticeship roles. “Female apprentices are really super. We ha-

ven’t heard anybody regret hiring a female so if a woman can do the job really well then what’s the barrier, what’s the issue?”

“Many people say that there aren’t a lot of women on building sites but there actually are. There are architects, electricians and roles to organise the construction so why didn’t these women take apprenticeship roles?” she said.

Amy was shocked that more women do not undertake apprenticeships because she truly believes that it has shaped her into the person she is today. “I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t have my current job and I wouldn’t have the friends I made throughout my time there.”

FEATURES

Over 100 days later, but what does Brexit mean for us?

Ailbhe Daly Contributor @TheDalyAlly

T

he impact of a country like the United Kingdom exiting the European Union is something that will be felt throughout the entire world. While the sterling continues to sharply decrease in value, we here in Ireland are left wondering about what exactly is going to happen when our closest neighbours leave the EU. A survey by the Institute of World Economics in July that surveyed 762 experts showed that Ireland would be placed into the ‘strong negative impact’ category for both short term and long term effects due to the UK exiting the EU. IBEC Chief, Danny McCoy said that “our unique economic concerns need to be heard and fully understood, and our interests fully safeguarded in any final agreement. It is important that acrimony quickly gives way to pragmatism and that a speedy, mutually beneficial arrangement between the EU and UK is reached.”

The Good Friday Agreement was signed to put rest to 30 years of conflict between Unionists and Republicans in Northern Ireland. It was agreed that a minority of Northern Ireland wished to be part of Ireland and the majority wanted to be with the UK. The view across the border in Ireland was the opposite and it was agreed that until a majority from both sides wanted Northern and the Republic of Ireland to be united, they would remain separate.

Numerous political institutions

were instated in order to deal with cross-border relations, but if a hard border is put in place this will become difficult to do. One of the main reasons that The Good Friday Agreement was agreed to by Unionists in Northern Ireland was due to sharing a border with another EU country. When that disappears, the fear is that old feuds could be sparked once again.

All Irish ports and airports will have to be monitored far more carefully when the UK officially leaves, and customs procedures will have to be reintroduced to assure that nothing is amiss. MPs have expressed concerns over Ireland being used as a ‘backdoor’ for entry into the UK, something which will have to be monitored carefully. This of course,will make travelling more difficult for us, adding to the pile of issues that we already will experience in the wake of Brexit.

Our tourism industry benefits massively from travellers from the UK, and it has been steadily rising over the past few years. With the devaluation of the sterling, visiting Ireland is now more expensive for our neighbours, which will bring about repercussions further down the line.

The Irish Hotel Association has expressed concerns over this, especially concerning off-peak periods of the year when small businesses may very well struggle to make ends meet as a result. It was not so long ago that we were all counting our pennies in the midst of the recession and the fallout from Brexit will be an unpredictable rollercoaster that we are all just going to have to wait out.

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The fallout from Brexit will be an unpredictable rollercoaster that we are all just going to have to wait out Zoe Ryan

The inspiration behind DCU’s Irish Heart Society The newly established DCU society wants to shed light on the severity of heart disease

Robert Mallin Contributor @thecollegeview

O

ver five thousand people in Ireland die each year from heart attack, and another two thousand die from stroke. Now, in an effort to promote healthy living and encourage young people to look after their cardiac health, a team of DCU students have established the first college society in Ireland to be officially partnered with the Irish Heart Foundation, titled the DCU Irish Heart Society.

Chairperson, and founder, of the society, Nichelle Gabie, was inspired to create the society as she believes it is very easy to pick up unhealthy lifestyle habits while in college, with various food and alcohol promotions designed to entice students, and extortionate gym prices not feasible with a student’s budget, making it harder for students to join gyms and

concentrate on cardio exercises.

Gabie says college students “genuinely do want to take care of themselves, and their hearts, but it’s difficult,” adding that the ultimate goal of the society is to “promote a healthy lifestyle and show young people that heart disease, blood disorders, and strokes can be reduced.”

The society will hold events throughout the year, with the aim of raising both money and awareness.

The money that will be raised is much needed, as the Irish Heart Foundation is 92 percent funded by public donations. The fundraising events are intended to be as enjoyable as possible, as Gabie points out “everybody sees charity as something serious, I want people to do something about their heart health, but in a fun way. At the same time we’re also raising money for charity.”

Planned events include a fastpaced, cross campus treasure hunt, a group hike that will be sure to get hearts pumping, and a proposed comedy night in semester two with an appearance from internet sensation

“

Laura Horan

Over five thousand people die from heart attacks every year MC Fabu D, for some well earned comedic relief. The society also plans to collaborate with other healthy living focused societies, and has already been sponsored by two restaurants in Dublin 2 whose ethos is rooted in healthy eating, in an effort to provide exclusive benefits for their members.

The team also plans to tackle something that is of increasing importance for DCU societies since the DCU Incorporation in 2014; involving the other campuses. They will attempt this by “allocating a position on the committee for a representative from St Patrick’s campus,” event

manager for this new society, Larry Ghenta, explains. They also aspire to integrate these campuses in various ways, such as hosting parts of the aforementioned treasure hunt on the picturesque All Hallows campus.

The Irish Heart Foundation’s achievements include being instrumental in the introduction of the smoking ban in 2004, and being advocates of the Face, Arms, Speech, Time (FAST) stroke awareness cam-

paign, among many others. Their long term goals include reducing the increasing levels of obesity in the Irish population, and to lessen the coronary heart disease mortality rate by 1 percent per 100,000 people in Ireland each year.

The DCU Irish Heart Society aims to assist with these objectives throughout the coming year, by both raising money, and spreading awareness among students.

FEATURES

16

We do not cry because we knew them Grief can affect us even if we do not have a close relationship with the person who has passed away

Zainab Boladale

ORLA O DRISCOLL

D

DEPUTY FEATURES EDITOR eath visits us all eventually, the game however, is to thwart its arrival for as long as possible. Ultimately though, it will arrive to embrace us and for those we leave in our wake, the unwanted visitor, grief, will obligingly arrive.

With the grim determination of the unwanted guest, under shadows spanning unending hours, grief becomes a norm of sorts so that we process what can no longer be.

There is a general expectation that this mourning and grief will transpire after the death of someone we have shared elements of life with. However, when we are left bereft, confused and saddened, due to the death of someone we have never

met, this can evoke questions difficult to resolve.

Ken Auchincloss of Newsweek, calls this “Event Grief,” saying: “Emotion is the glue that fastens people to an event played out in the papers or on television. Emotions of this sort hardly count as feelings at all; they’re a form of participation.

They’re like screams at a pop concert, which don’t signify love or even admiration but just exuberance at being part of the show.”

This past week saw the sudden death of Anthony (Axel) Foley, former rugby player and Munster head coach. A man, who, according to social media epitaphs, was a ‘hero’, a ‘true gent’, and a ‘legend’, in equal measure.

The canteen line at DCU would argue Auchincloss point, with a strongly displayed belief that this is sadness, and for a university with a great love for rugby, it’s hardly surprising.

Sean McCauley noted: “I wouldn’t be the type to get caught up with grieving a public figure, but this is different, it’s a tragedy and it really has touched me on a personal level. It is so sad, such a loss.”

Another female student said: “I didn’t know him, but it’s really sad, and It kind of makes you realize that it (death) can happen even when you are looking after yourself.”

Phil Gormley, a grief therapist ex-

plains: “We do feel this imposition of sadness when someone not an immediate part of our life dies. The thing is to recognize this sadness or grief and to acknowledge it as being real. We should not be embarrassed for feeling a real emotion, but part of the reason we grieve for a public figure can be down to the fact that it is thrust at

us from the media is such an overwhelming fashion.”

A random grab of Twitter and Facebook posts, supports this theory, showing people who are feeling emotionally wrought about the death of someone they never knew.

Gormley notes: “The media will be awash with stories when a public

figure dies, but other people died last week perhaps equally tragically, but we don’t have the spectacle of this sadness laid out for us, so it doesn’t impact in the same way.”

Empathy for another’s pain, is perhaps a definition for this feeling.

Death visits us all, but discussing it still feels like asking for trouble.

How volunteering can benefit you

We often look at how volunteering makes you more employable, but it also gives you a sense of purpose Zainab Boladale reports.

Zainab Boladale Contributor @thecollegeview

V

olunteering has always been a fun and productive way for people to give back.

Whether you have volunteered with an organisation or a charity the very basis of volunteering means to give your time to help. It gives you a sense of achievement and you are able to enrich the lives of people in your local community.

The volunteer work I have

personally done in recent years have always been linked to my communicative and organisational skills.

This ranges from facilitating tuition lessons at my local after-school centre to the organisation of events for students. I’ve never viewed it as volunteer work but as something to keep my mind active when I’m not busy. While I may not be changing the lives of young kids in a major way, I know I am passing on the knowledge I was given, which in turn makes me happy.

Something not often mentioned is that it is ok to think of voluntary work as a way to improve yourself.

Very often people have a perception

that those who volunteer have to do it for selfless reasons. The reality is if you do have a reason, it may just motivate you more. In many cases, people find themselves working with organisation that aid a social issue close their hearts. It could be because they know someone who it affects or it has affected them personally.

The main reasons I found myself volunteering with various youth programmes is because I strongly believe in an education system that does not leave any child behind.

Growing up, I had great difficulties with the memorised learning often prescribed in schools. If I did not fully understand a topic then it would

not stick with me. In the same way, many students have different methods of learning and I found myself in a position to assist them in finding suited study methods. If I could have availed of a free after school service like that, it would have helped.

While volunteering I had to organise a career fair for the local youth group. I was put in a position where I had to talk to like-minded people who I may not have gotten to meet otherwise. I got the opportunity to talk on radio about the event which was something I valued greatly.

A commissioned national survey carried out by the United Health Group found that out of 3,351 adults,

78 percent of them said that volunteering lowered their stress levels, 96 percent said that volunteering enriched their sense of purpose in life and overall people agreed that it also improved their mood and self-esteem. There is undoubtedly a sense of calmness that comes with being focused on a task you believe in.

There is a lot of empathy that comes with being a regular volunteer. Sometimes it can put you in vulnerable situations and as the person designated with a task, you have to be positive about the work you’re doing at all times. Remember, you’re making someone’s life a little bit happier.

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SPORT

Pat’s fail to match DCU’S six goals in Drumcondra DCU rectified their early struggles under the high ball in their win over St Pat’s Credit: Darragh Culhane

Liam Ashton Sub Editor @CVSport

C

aptain Siobhán Woods scored a hattrick in Dublin City Unversity’s win over its nearest neighbours St Patrick’s College in their O’Rourke Cup match on Wednesday, October 19th.

A strong second half performance from the DCU ladies’ team saw them build on their two-point lead at half time to take a comprehensive win over the home side. Siobhán Woods and substitute Margaret Mohan contributed to score five of the team’s six goals.

St Patrick’s College kept DCU under pressure during the first half with captain Muireann Ní Scanaill scoring the team’s opening three points. After her first free kick dropped short into the keeper’s hands, Ní Scanaill went on to score her next five frees consecutively.

The DCU defence were quick to put in tackles and get in front of their markers when Pat’s were on the break, making it difficult for them to carry or pass the ball with ease. Pat’s had to resort to playing in the high ball which worked in favour of the home team who were creating chances off the break.

DCU showed composure to score their only goal of the first half after finding it difficult to create space due to Pat’s dropping a player in the backs operating as a sweeper.

After stopping a Pat’s attack, centre back Leah Caffrey carried the ball forward on the counter in to the half forward where Muireann Atkinson laid it off for Eva Woods to find the net.

Caffrey, who was recently nominated for her first TG4 All-Star award for her role in Dublin’s All-Ireland runners-up campaign, proved her class tidying up loose balls at the back and moving the ball forward efficiently.

St. Pat’s responded positively to conceding a goal through Sarah Shannon who scored a well-placed goal.

The high ball proved troubling for the visitors once again as Pat’s half-forward Laura Griffin had an opportunity to put the Drumcondra side ahead only to pass it off when in space in front of goal.

DCU once again broke up the attack and countered. The ball was played forward to Éabha Rutledge who plucked the ball from the air and scored with her right foot from just inside the 15 meter line to put DCU two points ahead at half time, 1-06 to 1-04.

DCU stepped up a gear in the second half bringing on fresher Margaret Mohan and Mayo senior player Sarah Rowe, adding pace to the full forward line.

Rowe made her presence known immediately notching the first score of the second half.

The Mayo star assisted two of the team’s goals while being involved in most of the team’s attacks throughout the second half.

DCU proved too strong as the dominance of the forwards continued, with Siobhán

Image caption for All Star story Credit: Laura Horan

Woods running riot to score an unanswered 2-1 and Rowe scoring a further two points.

Woods went on to score her third, completing a hat-trick and finishing the match with 3-2.

The DCU attack didn’t let up in the closing stages of the match as Margaret Mohan scored two goals and Sarah Rowe nearly netted a goal herself, hitting the cross bar from a long-range effort just before the final whistle.

Despite the wide margin of victory, Woods spoke after the match about the attitude change at half time and where they went wrong in the first half.

“We were very poor in the first half in

terms of our first touch. It was probably just nerves in that half so we settled down, made the simple ball and took our scores.”

She also commented on how their rivals put it up to them, only for her team to raise their game and close out the second half in style.

“They asked questions of us in the first half but we definitely stepped it up in the second.”

With the game slipping away from Pat’s, they still kept up the pressure and intensity throwing bodies over the ball blocking two consecutive shots. They were rewarded for

their perseverance with another free from Ní Scanaill.

Student manager Richie O’Sullivan gave credit to his team for their effort throughout the match noting one or two players for their exceptional performances.

“Ellen O’Brien and Muireann Ní Scanaill had a great game but you can’t really pick out one player. They all had great games.”

He also noted the areas he will look to improve going forward.

“We’re going to go back to the training ground and work on fitness. We weren’t ourselves today.”

18

SPORT

Pat’s flummoxed

by DCU blitz PATRICK LYNCH

A

DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR

dazzling display from DCU on Wednesday night, October 19th under the lights of St. Clare’s saw them power past the challenge of St. Patrick’s College and exact revenge for last year’s league defeat.

In last year’s encounter, DCU were outthought and outfought by St. Pat’s in an eight-point defeat, but there was to be no repeat in the local derby this time around.

The opening exchanges were tight and keenly contested, however an extremely soft goal finished to the net by Eoghan Conroy saw DCU build up an early lead.

St. Pat’s goalkeeper Paul Simms misguided a short puck-out straight into the hand of the grateful full forward who evaded his marker Conor Shaw and skidded the ball low past Simms’ right-hand side and into the corner of the net.

St. Pat’s were clearly determined to atone for the completely uncharacteristic mistake of the normally reliable Simms, and scored the next two points through midfielders Paddy Spellacy and Jake Firman to leave the score 1-3 to 0-4 after 15 minutes.

The platform for DCU’s victory was built on the strength of their half-back line who were utterly dominant throughout. Wexford’s Paudie Foley was particularly out-

standing both in his aerial prowess and his distribution of the ball.

This combined with the Trojan work rate of midfield pairing Liam Fahey and Joe O’Connor laid the foundations for the surprisingly routine victory. In A.J. Murphy and Jason Byrne DCU possess dead-eyed forwards, with the latter extremely reliable from placed balls.

The 15 minutes before half-time went a long way to deciding the outcome, with DCU outscoring their rivals by nine points to three.

When Paul Kelly fired over the bar from 45 yards on the stroke of the short whistle, St. Pat’s trailed by 1-12 to 0-7.

Steadfast defending from Jamie de Barún and Westmeath’s Shaw, who will represent Ireland’s U-21 Hurling/Shinty squad this Saturday, kept St. Pat’s in the match. Billy Walsh proved to be their main scoring threat up front.

The game was effectively ended as a contest in the 38th minute when the powerful O’Connor managed to evade the challenge of his marker before soloing along the end line and dispatching his shot into the bottom right-hand corner to leave the score 2-16 to 0-8.

St. Pat’s GAA officer Tom Fitzpatrick was surprised by the manner of the defeat, especially given they had earned a brilliant draw against powerhouse UCD in the previous round, scoring four goals in the process.

“We were totally fired up the last day against UCD, getting stuck

Nick Weir’s side excelled under the lights in St Clare’s Credit: Andrew Byrne

into them. We just didn’t seem to get going at all tonight. DCU always seemed to have way too much time on the ball.

“We still have a few lads to come back from teaching practice, so that will be a boost.”

The amalgamation of the two colleges has represented a period of uncertainty for the St. Pat’s hurlers, with the Drumcondra men keen to hold onto their status as an independent team, as opposed to joining ranks with their neighbours.

They have lost an astonishing number of key players from last year, including Eoin Price and Eoin McIntyre, and will have to build a largely new team.

The absence of their star player Patrick Curran will have done little to ease their fears, with the Waterford man eligible to play for either college. They face an anxious wait on his final decision.

DCU rounded off their comprehensive victory with two goals in

the final five minutes. Jason Byrne dispatched a wicked shot from all of 25 yards, while Conroy pounced on hesitancy in the opposition full-back line to bat home from close range.

DCU’s link play was slick at times, however manager Nick Weir will be aware that they could have been more clinical. In total they hit 12 wides, while four shots dropped short into Simms’ grasp.

Having beaten the University of Ulster, Jordanstown in the opening round they now set their sights on a meeting with UCD as they go in search of a third consecutive victory. For St. Pat’s, they must regroup and prepare for their clash with UUJ as they seek their first win of the year.

DCU: R. Gillen; P. O’Dea, E. O’Donnell, A. Murphy; A. Maddock, P. Foley (0-1f), C. Delaney (0-1); L. Fahey, J. O’Connor (1-2); E. McHugh (0-1), P. Kelly (0-2), J. Byrne (1-7, 5f); A.J. Murphy (0-2), E. Conroy (2-1), M. Daly

Subs: L. Richardson (0-2) for Daly (HT) N. McIntyre for Kelly (47 mins) St. Patrick’s College: P. Simms; J. de Barún, C. Shaw, A. Cox; D. O’Shea, B. McDowell, R. Fitzpatrick; P. Spellacy, J. Firman; N. Mullins, S. Morrissey, D. Lyons; B. Ryan, C. Breathnach, O. Storey Subs: G. Malone for Cox,A. Butler for Lyons, B. J. Byrne for Storey, C. K. Treacy for O’Shea, D. P. Mulern for de Barún

Record breaker: Ireland’s Greta Streimikyte be the country where I was born. That’s who I am and I will always remember that, but now my home is Ireland.”

Only beginning racing after arriving in Ireland as a teenager under the advice of her PE teacher in school, she says that sport had n Thursday, September 8th Greta always played an important role in her family Streimikyte sent shockwaves home growing up. throughout Ireland when she set Born prematurely, her impairment, known a new personal best and national as retinopathy, means she cannot see out of her record for the 1,500m long-distance sprint at right eye due to damage caused to the retina the semi-final stage at the Paralympic Games after being kept in an incubator. She conveys in Rio. that she had no awareness of her impairment She would go on to finish fourth in the growing up as a child. event finals in Brazil, shaving four more sec“I was really lucky because I was born into onds off her personal best to return to Ireland a family where I could do anything that I wanta national heroine. Born in Lithuania, the ed to do. With my brother and my sister, I am 21-year-old International Relations student in DCU moved to Ireland six years ago and admits a triplet so I did everything that they did. I was she is now immensely proud to call it her home. never limited as a child and I was really lucky because of that. When you are a child you don’t “I love Ireland,” she says. “I was so happy think about these things.” and am so happy to represent Ireland. I am Making her first appearance for the Irish grateful to Ireland for accepting me. It’s an Para-Athletes team in June of this year, she won amazing country. I love university here, I love bronze at the 2016 Para-Athletics Europethe people, I love the culture. an Championships in Grosseto, Italy for the “That’s why I find it so important to repre1,500m at a time of 4:50.58. sent Ireland, it was so important for me to get Rio saw her finish at 4:45.06. She concedes that citizenship. I love Lithuania, it will always that in the rush of adrenaline following the race, Aaron Gallagher Editor-In-Chief @AaronGallagher8

O

Streimikyte’s Paralympic performance made her a hero Credit: Clara Hickey

she did not realise the heights of her historic accomplishments.

“Honestly, I didn’t realise it was a record until looking at the media. I switched my phone off for four days... because at that time it was all about the race and I didn’t really care about anything else. But even afterwards, when I finished my race, you are in shock.”

She and her coach Eimear O’Brien cemented a goal four years ago to reach the games in Rio, despite not being in possession of an Irish passport at the time.

“Getting the passport was a really big deal for me because it meant that if I was taking the Irish citizenship that I was losing my Lithuanian one.

“It was a big decision to make and that’s why it was a bigger deal for me to go to the Paralympic Games representing Ireland as an Irish citizen.”

She now returns to college, studying International Relations, always planning the next success in athletics, with Tokyo in 2020 an ever-present thought.

“For me, I am saying to myself, if I did this then I can do more. With sports, it never ends: you always want to do more and more and more. There are no limits.”

19

SPORT

DCU senior football team starts season with 2-1 win in Dundalk

Home advantage at Oriel Park was not enough for DKIT as DCU took all three points Credit: Dundalk FC

DCU’s senior football team started their season with a 2-1 away to DKIT at Oriel Park. Enda Coll reports for The College View.

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dominant second half display from Dublin City University earned a win over Dundalk Institute of Technology at Oriel Park on Wednesday, October 12th.

An Alan O’Sullivan goal in each half was enough to get DCU over the line in a tough away game to kick start the new season.

DCU took the lead 18 minutes into the first half, but confusion among the defence allowed Dundalk back into the game from a corner. Luckily, O’Sullivan was at hand to provide the winner in the second half and earn all three points.

Each side enjoyed bits and pieces of possession but it was DCU that looked more comfortable and threatening in the opening 15 minutes.

The first chance fell to DCU in the very early stages of the first half when Jamie Lennon and Jack O’Connor linked up down the left side, O’Connor played a good ball into the box which fell to the feet of Rory Feely but he fluffed his shot over the bar.

O’Connor was unlucky not to have a goal of his own ten minutes later after a good ball through by Alan O’Sullivan, he wrong-footed the Dundalk defender but his near-post effort was saved by the feet of the keeper.

They were rewarded for this pressure when an Alan O’Sullivan shot beat a blindsided keeper to put the away side one up.

The ball landed at the feet of O’Sullivan after Dundalk failed to deal with a corner, he shot through six defenders to beat Dylan Sweeney in goal.

For the minutes that followed it looked as though DCU were going to double their lead shortly after, but the home side held out well.

Dundalk then began to get a foothold in the game, enjoying a nice period of possession and pushing the Dublin defence back.

With 15 minutes remaining in the opening half, they found themselves level from a corner.

Roy Kierans played the ball in and after some miscommunication in the box, the ball was stumbled in by Ciarán Cluskey-Kelly.

From here it was the Louth side that looked the more threatening going forward – but it was DCU that came closest to taking the lead.

The break at halftime seemed to settle the away side that started the second 45 on

the offensive. They then took a deserved lead 10 minutes in, with O’Sullivan netting his second of the game.

After a series of dangerous attacks, Rory Feely found space inside the DKIT box and floated a lovely ball onto the head of O’Sullivan, who guided his header into the far corner.

DCU did not rest on their laurels from here, but instead went in search of a third goal to kill off the game. This was almost provided with 10 minutes to go, but Sweeney pulled off another goal stopping save.

From the counter attack DKIT almost found an equaliser when substitute Izy Chiemka played Roy Kierans through but was fouled in the process. Controversially, the referee did not let the play go on, instead calling it back for a free kick; a decision not appreciated by the home dugout.

DCU continued to dominate for the remaining 10 minutes of the game, and manager Declan Roche was impressed by his side’s work rate.

“I thought it was an outstanding performance and everyone worked their socks off

“

We’re a big strong team and I don’t expect to be conceding many goals ”

so I was delighted with that,” Roche told The College View after the game.

“In the second half I felt we dominated, we were outstanding at some points, got a lovely second goal and could have another.”

Despite his team conceding a goal from a set piece, Roche was also pleased with side’s overall defensive performance.

“On the goal itself, we’re a big strong team and I don’t expect to be conceding many goals, especially from set pieces but we had a missed header. I was happy with the way we responded.

“We defended well and managed the game well in the end. I’m very happy to start with a win.”

Colleges and Universities Football League Premier Division Dundalk IT 1 Dublin City University 2 DKIT: Dylan Sweeney; Craig Pentony, Ciarán O’Connor, Ciarán Cluskey-Kelly, Emmet Hughes; Keith Dalton, Dean Watters, Anto Reilly, George Poynton (c), Roy Kierans; Seán O’Connor.

Subs: David Kirk, Dom Mahon, Izy Chiemka, Gavin Smith, Sam Reilly.

DCU: Patrick Dunican; Kevin Molloy, Jack Blake, Gavan Kearney, Eric Whelan; Jack Watson (c), Jamie Lennon, Luke Keely, Jack O’Connor; Alan O’Sullivan, Rory Feely.

Subs: Karl Morgan, Craig Dowling.

SPORT

INSIDE Ladies Gaelic football team coasts to victory v St. Pat’s

Cregg highlights set piece woes in DCU’s 6-3 defeat to Maynooth Darragh Gannon’s free kick leaves Patrick Dunican stranded Credit: Darragh Culhane

William Dunne Sports Reporter @CVSport

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t. Patrick’s Athletic’s Jack Bayly’s first half brace played a pivotal role for Maynooth University as DCU were handed their first defeat of the season in a 6-3 goal-fest at DCU’s sportsgrounds on Wednesday, October 19th.

Maynooth started the game wind-assisted and were on the front foot from the start with the pace of wingers Dylan Kavanagh and Jason Grouse immediately troubling the DCU defence.

Doubles from Bayly and centre-half Darragh Gannon had the contest well and truly over at half-time with Maynooth leading 5-1.

After the defeat DCU coach Patrick Cregg felt that over the course of the game, Maynooth were deserved winners but refused to say they’re unbeatable and thought that the game might have ended differently if it weren’t for DCU’s inadequate defending of set-pieces.

“The game was over at half-time. We said to the lads the game was gone and (told them to) win the second half, which they did.

“Maynooth scored four from set pieces, so that is something as a group we must work on. If you take those four goals away, we didn’t actually play too badly considering we were missing three lads that started last

week,” he said.

Maynooth were far more composed in the opening few minutes and after just five minutes, 1u-year-old Jay Grouse was breaking into the box putting pressure on Patrick Dunican’s goal.

Maynooth full-back and captain Jake Corrigan was constantly trying to start attacks from the left side of the field and linked up excellently with Kavanagh throughout the game.

In fact, it was a move initiated by Corrigan that ended up with the ball being whipped in by Kavanagh that resulted in a corner that produced the opening goal of the game.

Kavanagh, who plays his club football for Shelbourne, duly took the corner kick that found Darragh Gannon un-marked in the middle of the box and headed Maynooth into the lead after 15 minutes.

Just three minutes later Kavanagh was on hand to provide the second goal after crossing the ball into Bayly who took a touch in the box before composing himself to increase the visitors’ advantage.

Maynooth continued to pounce on the uneasy DCU defence and moments after the second, Corrigan and Kavanagh linked up once more on the left before delivering the ball to Bayly at the back post.

Bayly’s first attempt was blocked on the line before his second effort was saved by Dunican however, he made no mistake with his third shot that put Maynooth 3-0 up after just 21 minutes.

Home skipper Jack Watson then drove up the pitch and neatly finished to bring DCU back into the game following a delightful through ball by Craig Dowling.

The game died down around the 30-minute mark but when Jack Bayly picked up the ball once more and headed towards goal, DCU striker Alan O’Sullivan chased back and lazily tripped Bayly which resulted in a free from 25 yards that was superbly converted by Kavanagh.

Maynooth’s holding midfielder Fuad Sule, who marshalled the centre of the park very well for his side, won a free kick on 41 minutes that set up Gannon’s second goal of the afternoon and his side’s fifth, that put the game out of reach going into half-time.

The Glasnevin side started the second period with a goal through Jack Blake following a set-piece delivered by Watson.

Watson was one of few DCU players trying to create chances in his more advanced second half role. He first had a free saved by goalkeeper Michael Kelly and started several attacks however, none of them materialised.

DCU’s patience began to run out as Maynooth began to string passes together with Sule at the fulcrum of their plays on the sunny afternoon in Glasnevin.

In the 71st minute substitute Conor Dunne made it six for Maynooth following a fabulous team goal that started at right back before being crossed in from the left wing.

The remainder of the game gave both teams the chance to empty the bench and

while Maynooth who used all five subs, it was two DCU subs that combined to get the ninth and final goal of the match.

Gabriel Aghinita set off down the wing in the 81st minute before pulling back to Iarlaith O’Connor who shot at Kelly only for it to be fumbled into the back of the net.

Referee Martin Browne blew the final whistle with the scoreline of 6-3 in favour of Maynooth who will undoubtedly trouble any team in the division.

Colleges and Universities Football League Premier Division Dublin City University 3 Maynooth University 6 DCU: Patrick Dunican; Craig Dowling, Kevin Molloy, Eric Whelan, Jack Blake; Jack Watson (c), Gavin Kearney, Jamie Lennon, Carl Melling; Alan O’Sullivan, Jack O’Connor.

Subs: Connor Sutton, Patrick Woulf, Gabriel Aghinita, Iarlaith O’Connor.

Maynooth: Michael Kelly; Mark Slater, Keith Beirne, Darragh Gannon, Jake Corrigan (c); Jason Grouse, Fuad Sule, Jack Bayly, Dylan Kavanagh; David Doyle, Darragh Markey.

Subs: Cillian Duffy, Conor Dunne, Sean Noble, John McKeown, Jackson Ryan.