The College View Issue 2

Wednesday October 11th 2017

www.thecollegeview.com

. Est. 1999 .

15,000 march Government announces against loans Budget plans for education scheme

Shauna Bowers spoke to the major political parties about what they hope to achieve in this year’s budget in relation to third-level institutes. Now that the budget has been released here are their hopes so we can see what was achieved:

Kyle Ewald & Fionnuala Walsh News Editors @kyle_ewald & @fionnuala_walsh

FIANNA Fáil wants to restore the postgraduate grants and allocate extra funding towards Higher-Education institutes in this year’s budget, according to Fianna Fáil spokesperson for Education Thomas Byrne.

He believes that a budget of €350m allows for a huge sum of money that can be allocated to universities in order to provide for and better the conditions of our higher education institutes.

“There is extra money in the budget and that just quite simply needs to go towards third-level institutions.

“Third-level colleges need more money, they need a lot more money,” he said.

Byrne said that in order to do that they could use money from the National Exchequer Fund and the National Training Fund. This would require an increase of 0.1 per cent in employers’ PRSI which is believed would bring in approximately 1.5 million euro.

On the topic of funding third-level education, Byrne said that Fianna Fáil do not support the income-contingent loan scheme that has been proposed because they have not been convinced that it would work.

LABOUR wants to reduce student contribution by €1,000 from next September and invest a further €21 million to increase college staffing, according to their pre-budget submission.

Reducing the student contribution from September is just the first step to achieving their goal of abolishing student fees by 2020.

They would be asking companies to pay 0.1 percent more in the National Training Fund levy to support the funding of higher-education institutes and help the progress of abolishing student fees.

“For too long, the growing cost of funding third-level has been borne by students and their families. As well as asking companies to pay a little more towards these costs, we think it is time for the state to bear a greater share of the costs,” their proposals said.

Labour acknowledges that the Cassell’s report on third-level education says we either need to increase fees and set up a student-loan scheme or abolish them completely, and they said they are completely against the idea of a loan scheme.

FINE Gael would like to introduce a new higher education funding model, as outlined in their Action Plan for Education 2017.

They would like to implement a multi-annual funding model that would involve increased Exchequer and employers’ PRSI contribution.

A spokesperson for Minister for Education Richard Bruton said higher education is a ‘central part’ to the Government’s plans to creating a strong economy.

On the topic of the Cassel’s report, the spokesperson said that they couldn’t ignore the realities that it presented.

“Examining the proposals in this report is key to putting in place a sustainable system of funding that can deliver a world-class third-level system for the medium and long term.

“This is an area where broad political consensus is needed on the future direction and Minister Bruton will be working to build that consensus,” she said to the Irish Times.

SINN Féin would like to reduce the Student Contribution Charge by €500 and to increase the core funding to Higher Education establishments, according to their spokesperson for education, Kathleen Funchion.

Despite the fact that reducing the Student Contribution Charge would cost €7.07 million in 2018, Funchion says that the money is actually there and so this is actually achievable.

“The money is there but just currently the Government has no political will to help what you would call the ordinary person. It’s not a case of where would you get the money, when you see the figures you can see that they actually can make changes and they can make things a little bit better.

“Obviously they can’t make education better overnight but they could definitely do a lot more than they’re currently doing but they just don’t prioritise it,” she said.

Sinn Fein believe that Higher Education is causing unnecessary stress on families and that the government should allocate money to enable more people to enter third-level.

Protestors at the Education is in the Red march against student fees. Credit: Aaron Harper

Features

Living on the bus Page 13

Sports

Opinion

First touch nerves cost Saints in home opener

Should the UCD SU President be impeached?

Page 9

Page 20

“A student loan scheme will mean that the student contribution fee will increase to a minimum of five thousand euro a year,” warned USI President Michael Kerrigan when addressing the crowd of protesters in Dublin.

An estimated 15,000 students from all across Ireland attended the USI’s Education is in the Red: March for Education last Wednesday in Dublin to lobby against the implementation of a loans scheme according to Síona Cahill, USI VP for Equality and Citizenship.

Student activists marched from Custom House Quay on to Merrion Square, where speeches were delivered by an assortment of speakers including Kerrigan, NUS-USI President Olivia Potter Hughes and Impact Education Division Chairperson Gina O’Brien.

Marchers called for an immediate reduction in the student fee ahead of Budget 2018 and a commitment to invest in publicly-funded higher education.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar rejected British or US-style student loan schemes last week, but did not entirely rule out some form of students loans, saying that students “should make a contribution” to the costs of their degree.

Kerrigan said the USI was tired of hearing stories of students suffering at the hands of rising fees while trying to improve their future.

“We heard recently from a student in Cork who would wait in college until the college was closed and then sleep under a bridge for the night until the college opened the next morning,” Kerrigan said.

Continued on Page 3

News

Gaeilge

Pop Up Gaeltacht

Page 11

New development in Ballymun

Page 4

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Editorial

INSIDE The Hype

Editor-in-Chief

Music

Shauna Bowers

Foo Fighters: Concrete and Gold Review Read more on page 2

Editor’s piece

Lifestyle A/W style guide for coats Read more on page 8

Facebook: TheCollegeView Twitter: @thecollegeview Listen to The College View’s fortnightly podcast, on thecollegeview.com Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief: Shauna Bowers Deputy Editor: Kyle Ewald Production & Layout Editor: Daniel Troy Deputy Production Editor: Amanda Ward Production Assistants: Kyle Ewald, Elsa McEvoy, Fionnuala Walsh, Méabh Riordan & Sam Roberts News Editors: Kyle Ewald & Fionnuala Walsh Deputy News Editors: Elsa McEvoy, Shauna Coen & Callum Lavery Opinion Editor: Megan Conway Deputy opinions Editor: Gabija Gataveckaite

Video Editor: Leanne Hanafin Illustrations Editor: Laura Duffy Social Media Editors: Michelle Townsend & Colleen Brady Chief Sub Editor: Niall O’Donoghue Sub Editors: Leigh McGowran, Edina Zejnilovic, Emily Sheahan, John Morley, Orla Dwyer, Aoibhin Bryant, Brendan Kelly, Emily Donnelly, Róisin Cullen, Courtney Fitzmaurice, Daniel Phelan, Bridget Fitzhenry, Niamh Dunne, Colin Gannon, Katie Caden, Gabija Gataveckaite

Contacts Lifestyle Editor: Katie Gallagher Deputy Lifestyle Editors: Adam Daly & editor@thecollegeview.com Rachel Farrell news@thecollegeview.com Features Editor: Orla O”Driscoll Deputy Features Editor: Arthur Velker features@thecollegeview.com Irish Editor: Ali Spillane

opinion@thecollegeview.com

Sports Editor: Alex Dunne Deputy Sports Editors: Gavin Quinn & Christy Dunne

gaeilge@thecollegeview.com

Arts Editor: Emer Handly Deputy Arts Editors: Ian Mangan & Ally Daly Images Editor: Mark Carroll Deputy Images Editor: Daria Jonkisz Photographers: Grainne Jones & Eoin Cooke

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

The rhythmic thud of people’s feet stomping along the concrete of Dublin’s streets reverberated throughout the City Centre. The sea of colour and passion decorated the city, igniting the anger and resentment rooted deep within students’ hearts.

They marched their way through the streets with their flags and placards in hand as they shouted at the top of their lungs.

On September 30th we had the March for Choice and on October 4th we had March for Education and both of them had an influx of students present so that their voices could be heard. Student activism has skyrocketed in popularity because voicing your opinions on matters that will affect you or are important to you is vital.

DCU came out in force on both occasions. The Students’ Union urged students on their social media platforms to come out and march for the right of women to have a choice. “Thousands have been silenced and shamed by the 8th amendment, or had to leave Ireland for care. We deserve to be trusted to make our own health and family planning decisions,” they said on their facebook page.

DCU students gathered at Trinity before the march began to show just how many student voices there were to be heard on the repeal of the Eighth. This pre-march rally was packed with thousands of students and members of Students’ Unions.

“We must stop shipping our shame across the Irish Sea,” USI president Michael Kerrigan said as he addressed over a thousand students gathered at the front square of TCD to campaign to repeal the Eighth Amendment. In return, he received a thunderous roar from the students who couldn’t agree more.

Their chants were heard across the city and the impact they made reached the national press. The impact of the education march was just as effective, if not more so because that was comprised solely

of students.

The march was organised by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) because they did not want to see students saddled with debt purely because they’re attending a university, and trying to better themselves.

Michael Kerrigan exclaimed that students have been left with enough debt after the financial crash and that they ‘don’t need another f*cking one’.

The USI wants an income-contingent loan scheme to be ruled out and to reduce the student contribution fee and we want that too. That is why we need to ensure our voices are heard, we need to force those in charge to listen to the voices of the youth.

We cannot bear the brunt of a €20,000 debt on our shoulders upon our graduation, and those who wish to go to college long after we graduate cannot bear it either.

As students, we are the generation that will be affected by the decisions of those who are older than us. If we don’t agree with something then we are right to stand up for ourselves; we are obliged to stand up for what we believe in.

If we stand back and allow whatever happens to run its due course then we could be left in another financial crisis. Public demonstrations and protests are one of the most effective tools in our arsenal as a democratic society and we have a duty to embrace it.

So let’s stand up for what we believe in, let’s shout about from the top of our lungs or post about it all over social media. Let’s take a stand against those in powers who are making decisions that don’t affect them. We create our own happiness and I think it’s about time that we begin to take an active stance in that.

Stand up for yourself, because in a world like this nobody else will do it for you.

News

Carbon neutral campus a “huge stretch”

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15,000 march against loans scheme Credit: Aaron Harper

Adam Daly Deputy Lifestyle Editor @adamdaly52 DCU aims to be a carbon neutral campus by 2020

DCU’s strategic plan to become a carbon neutral campus by 2022 is a huge stretch, according to its sustainability officer.

“I would love to think we would be able to do it in five years for one of the campuses, I think that’s a huge stretch, particularly seeing as we still have resource constraints within the educational sector,” Samantha Fahy said.

The aim to become carbon neutral was announced last month as part of DCU’s sustainability strategic plan, which is one of nine plans announced, with targets set for 2022.

The carbon footprint for the Glasnevin Campus is dominated by energy consumption, making up 60 per cent and transport at 20 per cent.

These are two big areas DCU has to tackle but Fahy is positive about the progress that has been made so far.

“DCU have been signed up for energy targets for donkey’s years, we were set a target to reach a 33 per cent reduction in our energy consumption by 2020. As of this year, we are at 32 per cent,” said Fahy.

To achieve the goal of becoming carbon neutral, Fahy aims to learn from the Glasnevin campus and implement that to St. Patrick’s College and All Hallows. As part of the five-year plan, the buildings on the campuses aim to become smart buildings, by installing sensor driven LED lights for example.

While the Glasnevin campus has

Credit: DCU Rooms

been the best to date in reducing its energy consumption, Fahy thinks the focus will be on making All Hallows the exemplar carbon neutral campus.

“Its smaller, it’s more compact.

Glasnevin is getting bigger, when you build more your energy consumption goes up’’.

To become a carbon neutral campus, Fahy believes we should not be looking at carbon credits, which allows a country or organisation to produce a certain amount of carbon emissions that can be traded if the full allowance is not used.

“We shouldn’t be saying that this is a carbon neutral campus because we bought so many carbon credits to offset the carbon we’re consuming.

I don’t see that as us making the necessary behavioural change to actually make the difference.

Consuming someone else’s carbon is not the way to do it.”

DCU is one of the leading institutes in the country in energy reduction, but sustainability is not something that the university is competing on. According to Fahy, DCU does a lot of work with other institutions. A campaign is currently being worked on with other universities to target the removal of paper coffee cups.

“We are an educational institution, we must lead by example, and if we don’t who’s going to?’’ said Fahy.

364 new student bedrooms planned for Ballymun Sabrine Donoghue Contributor @thecollegeview A Lidl, four other retailers, and 364 student bedrooms will be built as a part of Ballymun’s new development project.

This comes as an effort to spur on socio-economic growth in the area after the closure of a Tesco outlet three years ago, with a Supervalu serving as Ballymun’s main shopping outlet.

Lidl Ireland GmbH will build on the previous site of apartment blocks close to Main Street on Balcurris Road, worth a total of €2.5 million.

“The development comes at a time when there is a significant requirement for student accommodation due to increasing student numbers at DCU and across Dublin,” said Alan Barry, Director of Property at Lidl Ireland.

The student bedrooms are set to be 35 m², similar in size to the plans for 446 student bedrooms on Dorset Street.

Hines, a private American retail investment company worth nearly €85 billion, is allegedly responsible

Ballymun will host new student accomodation

for part of the development Ballymun has suffered significant retail seepage over the last 10 years and a drop in social services, with shoppers opting for the Omnipark Shopping Centre in Santry or retail outlets in Charlestown and Finglas.

“We welcome a mixed-use investment coming in to Ballymun. It not only brings jobs but also increases turnover in the local economy,”

Credit: Mark Carroll

said Robert Murphy, owner of Supervalu Ballymun and Chairperson of Ballymun for Business.

“Ballymun has an ideal opportunity over the next five years to get itself right from an economic point of view. Otherwise other areas are going to catch up,” he said.

The additional development of 50 affordable homes in Poppintree

out of a total 2,000 units available is set to encourage Ballymun’s economic and social growth.

Bank of Ireland has run a ‘Enterprise for Town’ competition in Ballymun, in conjunction with the new development of the area.

Ballymun receives 35 per cent of its output in trade back into the local economy.

Students from all over Ireland gathered in Dublin to lobby against the implementation of a loans scheme

“We are sick of hearing these stories, we are sick of seeing students homeless and in poverty.”

DCU Students’ Union showed their support of publicly funded education by shuttling students from campus into town to attend the march. The university also asked academic staff to accommodate students who wanted to attend the event. “[A loans scheme] could very easily happen in the next budget in two weeks’ time and we are here to show that students are not going to stand idle,” said SU President Niall Behan. “We are actually going to act and we are going to let our voice be heard today to show that in no way are we going to let this happen.”

Kerrigan warned that putting a loans scheme into effect would not only have a negative effect on students, but on Ireland as a whole.

“A student loan scheme would cost this country 10 billion euro over the next 12 years to implement, it is estimated that it would take at least 17 years for it to become self-financing, and it will be at least 13 million lost every single year due to people emigrating,” said Kerrigan.

Highly educated and talented graduates emigrating and leaving behind their debt would also cause harm to Ireland’s future if a loans scheme became a reality, the USI president cautioned.

DCU second year student Bryan Mulry said he attended the march to protect the finances of future students: “I don’t want to be hit with ten grand worth of debt, I mean my own brother will be hit with twenty, my younger sister, there’s no reason to say she won’t be hit with 35, 40, or 50. I’m not here for me, I’m here for the people later on down the line.”

“To cut all government funding from us, SUSI, here, there, absolutely everything. Make college a really exclusive thing, but everybody will still need a degree?” Mulry questioned. “It’s ridiculous, they haven’t thought this one through.”

News

4 News in Brief DCU plans North Dublin cultural quarter

DCU Enactus represent Ireland at World Cup

DCU intends to make a North Dublin cultural quarter over the next few years as part of a wider plan for the university’s development.

The extensive five-year plan was launched on September 20th and will put greater emphasis on culture and creativity in DCU through collaboration with Glasnevin and Drumcon- Amy Murphy dra to “open up DCU’s spaces and Contributor cultural assets” @thecollegeview

DCUSU hold Best Possible Start Week for new students THE DCU Enactus team representBest Possible Start Week was held in DCU last and run by Welfare Officer Podge Henry.

Events were held throughout the week on both the Glasnevin and St Pats campus and were in conjunction with SS&D and Clubs and Socs.

The week was set up to promote health, physically and mentally, to give students the best start to the new semester.

ed Ireland in the semi-final of the Enactus World Cup in London last week. They placed third overall with India and Canada placing first and second respectively.

Enactus is a non-profit organisation dedicated to encouraging students to take entrepreneurial action to help improve the lives of others. There are over 1700 Enactus

teams around the world and only the National Champions get the opportunity to compete in the World Cup. Enactus DCU consists of 88 students studying a variety of courses who have invested more than 10,000 volunteer hours, this year alone.

The projects presented by DCU include their ‘Well on the Way’ project, a social enterprise which aims to fund and build wells in the Republic of Congo and the ‘HeadstARTS’ project, their longest running project which provides an outlet to people with intellectual disabilities through the arts.

Another project presented by the

team was called ‘Second Scoop’, where they worked with Ben and Jerrys and their charity partners ‘Care after Prison’. They ran soft skill workshops with ex-prisoners, who then worked with DCU Enactus at corporate events selling ice cream.

Deirbhile Ní Chathaill, a member of the DCU Enatcus team said, “My experience of the Enactus World Cup was more than I could have imagined it to be. It was inspiring to hear about the projects from around the world and to learn about difficulties and needs that aren’t met in countries that young people are helping to fight against or work towards.”

Students flock to graduate fair in the RDS Thousands of students attended the annual Gradireland Graduate Careers Fair, which took place in the RDS last Wednesday.

The annual event is an opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students to engage with different employers from a wide range of businesses and learn information about potential employment prospects upon completing their degrees or masters.

A multitude of businesses, including Intel, Aer Lingus, KPMG and Jameson, were present at the fair and offered advice and information to students throughout the course of the day.

Strong student representation at March for Repeal “We must stop shipping our shame across the Irish Sea,” USI president Michael Kerrigan exclaimed as he addressed over a thousand students gathered at the front square of TCD to campaign to repeal the Eighth Amendment.

Among the swarm of protestors were DCU students and SU representatives who attended the event to help campaign to ensure the Government commits to a referendum on the amendment that was enacted in 1983.

Minister for Health makes an appearance at Clubs and Socs Politicians inspected the future of their parties as they visited DCU’s ‘Clubs and Socs’ signups on Monday.

Among the familiar faces was Fine Gael Minister for Health Simon Harris who made his way around to greet other societies after posing in pictures with DCU’s Young Fine Gael branch. lent World: Celebrating 20 years of International Studies.

Read more on thecollegeview.com

DCU Enactus team

Credit: DCU

DCU speech to text business wins best start-up award Catherine Gallagher Contributor @thecollegeview A new tech business which aids in transcribing audio files into text was crowned with Best Start-up Opportunity award at an event in Dublin City University (DCU) Alpha on Tuesday.

Happy Scribe is a software aimed at journalists and researchers who wish to format hours of recorded interviews into text. André Bastié and Marc Assens, who both studied in DCU, established the programme earlier this year.

The award was given by UStart, an accelerator programme under the Ryan Academy of the university. The initiative supports student entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of setting up their business.

Bastié was undergoing a research project about social entrepreneurs in Ireland as part of his Masters in Electronic Commerce. He came up with the concept of Happy Scribe alongside his flatmate Assens, an Erasmus student of Computer Science.

Bastié conducted interviews as

André Bastié and Marc Assens

part of his studies, whereby one hour of an audio recording would require approximately four hours of transcribing.

“I said to Marc, surely there must be an easier way to do this?”

Both men initially developed the programme over the course of a weekend. They uploaded it to Research Gate, a social networking site for researchers.

After a month of its launch online, the product was featured on Poynter.org, the website of the renowned American-based institute.

“The article went viral, it re-

Credit: Irish Times

ceived 40,000 views in less than a fortnight. Our servers crashed, nothing worked and we didn’t know why.

The five users we might have known about suddenly increased to 80 people uploading files at the same time,” Bastié said.

The co-founder said went on to say; “The DCU Ryan Academy was really supportive since day one.

They’ve helped us a lot so far.”

Currently, the programme has had over 4,000 users from over 50 countries and transcribed over 230,000 minutes of audio since its take-off in April 2017.

DCU enrol record number of online students

DCU Connected

Credit: Wikipedia

Emily Sheahan Contributor @emilyaine_s DCU Connected has welcomed a record number of 400 students this year, meaning over 1,000 are now being educated by DCU online.

Around 280 new students attended the annual Welcome Day which provides online students with a chance to meet each other in person.

This success has not sprung out of the blue. DCU has over 30 years experience in off-campus education.

“Learning doesn’t stop at the campus gate and our DCU Connected team is committed to contributing to the University’s mission of transforming lives and societies, wherever you are,” said Director of the National Institute for Digital Learning, Dr Mark Brown.

As Ireland’s first University of Sanctuary, this year ten scholarships were offered for refugees and asylum seekers for online study.

The growing number of online students “is largely due to the flexibility that online learning offers for people to manage their busy careers, families lives, sporting commitments, and so on,” according to co-Head of the Open Education Unit, Dr James Brunton.

One DCU Connected student, Cian McManamon, has chosen to continue his postgraduate studies online in order to have the flexibility he needs for his work and sports career.

McManamon recently competed for Ireland in the World University Games in Taipei.

Brunton met with DCUSU President Niall Behan during the Welcome Day “to welcome the group and help them feel part of the DCU Community”.

DCU Connected is open to anyone and everyone and shows just how many people are pursuing further education while leading busy lives.

It has expanded the DCU student community internationally.

“DCU is proud of our long history of expanding access to higher education through new models of technology-enhanced learning and being connected in the digital-era goes beyond the walls of traditional classrooms,” said Brown.

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UCD rejects petition to impeach SU President Katie Ascough

Callum Lavery Deputy News Editor @callum_lavery A petition by the University College Dublin student body to impeach current Students’ Union President Katie Ascough has been rejected by the union.

Returning Officer Stephen Devine refused the petition on Monday October 2nd over questions of its validity as the petition did not include a section for students to write their signature.

The group of twenty students began collecting signatures for a new petition on her removal last Wednesday.

The group are calling for Ascough to be impeached after the UCD SU were forced to retract their “Winging it in UCD” handbook when information on abortion breached the Abortion Information Act of 1995.

This Act makes it illegal to publish information regarding abortion “in a book, newspaper, journal, magazine, leaflet or pamphlet, or any other document.”

The handbook contained information such as price lists for abortion clinics outside of Ireland and advice on purchasing illegal abortion pills online. The removal and reprinting

of a revised edition cost the UCD SU €8,000.

Over 1,620 students placed their name on the original petition. 835 signatures, or 3.5 per cent of the student body were required to impeach Ascough.

Ascough has been criticised before on her pro-life position on the eighth amendment, despite the college voting in November 2016 to retain the union’s pro-choice stance.

If a petition was successful and a referendum was to take place, 10 per

UCD Student Union President: Katie Ascough

Credit: University

cent of the student body must vote for the referendum to be legitimate.

UCD Welfare Officer Eoghan Mac Domhnaill issued a statement on Facebook regarding the issue: “As angry as I was, and still am, that that information was taken out I’m not going to sit idle while people circle around my friend and my president.”

“Katie, in my eyes has, bar this incident been an absolutely phenomenal president.

“I’ll not be signing any impeachment documentation and should a referendum be called I’ll be standing

by Katie all the way,” said Mac Domhnaill.

DCU SU President Niall Behan said that he “understands why students would feel disjointed at the moment.”

“No matter our personal beliefs, we are behind the mandate, the student union must hold the view of the majority, and cannot stand behind a personal stance.”

“It’s up to UCD students to decide if there is a broken mandate, we here at DCU feel that we must uphold the student body’s view and we feel we’ve done this so far this year.”

Ascough was unavailable to comment when contacted.

SPACE week is a great way to hook people of all ages into the sciences, according to DCU mathematical scientist Dr John Regan.

DCU hosted a series of age-friendly lectures on space and time in the nurse’s building to celebrate the annual World Space Week last Tuesday.

“It’s a great way to inspire people to take interest in astrophysics and the other sciences,” said Dr Regan.

“We can piggyback off the publicity of Space Week to reach out to more people we might not have been able to before.”

At the public lecture, Dr Regan educated the audience on how black holes are formed and what we know of their abilities, including time travel.

His colleague Dr Ernst de Mooij talked about the latest discoveries surrounding Exoplanets and how we could be close to finding a planet with Earth-like qualities that may be able to host life.

In his lecture, de Mooij voiced his hopes for Ireland to invest in an Extremely Large Telescope to allow the country to join the world in discovering what lies beyond Earth.

These telescopes are usually 100 metres across and have a mirror with a diameter of 30 metres. It is believed that these telescopes would be able to detect oxygen on planets

Space week looks to get people of all ages into science

light years away.

With these recent discoveries, scientists hope to find what is necessary on planets in order to achieve life.

Professor Abraham Harte went on to discuss the breakthroughs in gravitational waves detection.

This discovery, led by three physicists Rainer Weiss, Kip Thorne and Barry Barish, was recently awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Gravitational waves, which were predicted by Einstein’s theory of relativity, are invisible ripples in the space time continuum that generate

Irish student applications to UK drop

Oxford

Credit: TheTelegraph

Roise McGagh Contributor @thecollegeview

THERE has been an 18 per cent drop in Irish student applications to UK universities this year, according to reports by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

There is “[a] real concern that Brexit will lead to a decrease in student flows between Ireland and the various parts of the UK” said the Irish Universities Association.

Students are beginning to see the possible effects of Brexit in relation studying in the UK, including a dramatic increase in fees and new documentation.

Potential applicants may eventually have to obtain a student visa or pay international fees between €18,000 and €23,000 or more for a clinical degree.

“When I paid fees, sterling was as weak as it had been in a long time … it’s going to be at least three or four years until anything happens with regards to fees” said Niall McManus, a first year in Queen’s University Belfast. “Basically, I’m in a lucky position.”

There is no guarantee that fees and financial aid for EU students will remain the same from next year onward.

For most Irish universities, the consequences of Brexit could mean a higher amount of applications from Irish and international students.

Ireland is one of the few native English-speaking countries in Europe, which could be a huge attraction after the UK leave the EU. The increase in non-EU students was reported at 26 per cent in UCD and 40 per cent in UCC and EU student applications to the CAO has increased to 17 per cent.

This may have consequences for Irish students attending their own national universities. The rise in student applications will mean higher points for university courses and a larger weight on the Leaving Credit: GettyImages Certificate as an exam.

Irish universities would need outwards from large accelerating obmore funding in order to cope with jects. Scientists were able to discover the demand but would benefit from these waves after a collision of two the revenue per year brought by black holes millions of years ago. international students, estimated at “For the first time in history, we have a whole new way to learn about over €1 billion by Enterprise Ireland. the universe,” said Harte in relation to these recent breakthroughs.

DCU celebrate Space Week 2017 with public lecture Aoibhín Bryant Contributor @thecollegeview

News

News

DCU age-friendly university initiative spreads to Trinity

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DCU offers Lego workshops for variety of ages Ciara O’Loughlin Contributor @thecollegeview

Trinity College now age friendly

Ellen Fitzpatrick Contributor @thecollegeview THE Age-Friendly University initiative has started up in Trinity College Dublin, introducing the 10 principles founded originally at Dublin City University.

The initiative, which was established in DCU in 2012, gives students aged 65 and over the opportunity to attend different educational courses and access to online resources they may not have.

The programme is in place in four continents, with Trinity College becoming the 15th institution to have the Age-Friendly University initiative in place.

“TCD are the latest member and they were generous in their praise for DCU inaugurating this process at their event to launch the Age Friendly and their becoming the 15th member of the global network”said DCU’s Vice President of External and Strategic Affairs Trevor Holmes when discussing this expansion.

Any higher education institutions who are prepared to commit to the 10 principles that were set out by DCU are eligible to join the network.

In order for them to join the network, the application they submit must be sanctioned by a senior officer of their university.

At the moment, progress is increasing for the initiative as the Association of Gerontologists in Higher Education in North America have

Credit:Trinity

become a member and are working to encourage other institutions across the US to get involved.

The Royal College of Physicians have also become recent members of this initiative, allowing membership to be broadened further over the four continents.

“Progress has been good, with another four-to-five universities working through their applications”, Holmes said.

DCU are set to host the second global conference of the Age Friendly University next year on March 12th in Croke Park, where existing and potential members of the network will meet with NGOs, practitioners and representative bodies.

DUBLIN City University are now offering Lego workshops for all ages in their newly built Lego Innovation studio situated on St. Patricks Campus, Drumcondra.

The ‘Learnit’ Academy will use this interactive learning hub to carry out workshops for children, teenagers, families, children with special needs and for over 55’s. The studio was designed to be a fun, flexible and interactive learning environment that all ages can enjoy.

These workshops are designed to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills.

They aim to help people in a future where innovation, originality and the ability to work with others is vital.

DCU’s head of digital learning programs, Professor Deirdre Butler, said she believes the workshops have “the potentials to transform how we, children and adults alike, learn and engage with the science and technol-

ogy that surrounds us every day.”

The Studio aims to provide a new generation of teachers and learners who are curious and confident to engage with different types of technologies which surround us every day.

The program also promotes STEM subjects in schools and makes them more practical and easier for students to understand.

Since beginning, just under 70,000 children have attended workshops run by the ‘Learnit’ Academy with over 500,000 LEGO bricks being used every summer.

Ross Maguire, the founder of the ‘Learnit’ Academy and a partner of DCU’s Institute of Education said “the importance of STEM Education cannot be underestimated”. He said that the hands-on workshops will help participants develop problem solving, design, collaboration, coding skills and much more.

The ‘Learnit’ Academy are the only official partner of Lego Education in Ireland. Learnit runs after school classes throughout the country as well as holding workshops in the DCU studio.

Adults can play with Lego

Credit:The Next Web

Predicted increase in clubs and socs signups

Aine Conaty Contributor @aineconaty THIS year’s clubs and societies signups are expected to rise above last year’s combined number of 17,500 students, a senior DCU clubs and societies figure stated.

The final registration of all members for clubs and societies is next week so no definitive number can be released at this time, but so far there are 5500 members for societies and over 2000 members for clubs.

“That’s going to jump big time by next week,” Finance Officer of Clubs and Societies Siobhan Byrne said about the figures.

“The Saint Patrick.s Campus this year was mental, but it was a good mental,” Byrne also said. Many new societies have been announced such as Food and Fitness, Vegain, HerCampus and a few others. The clubs and societies fair is a brilliant way for these new, establishing societies and clubs to gain new members and attraction.

HerCampus society, a start-up society gained roughly 60 members from this event alone. “As a new society we were really happy with our first ever clubs and societies fair. We gained a lot of new members from the event,” Chair Rachael Martin stated.

Clubs&Socs Fair

Similarly, the Vegain society, which is another new society, received about 30 new sign-ups. “The fair is a great way to meet people and is always fun,” Chair and founder Kate Sutherland said.

Food and Fitness society signed up 130 members during the fair. “As a relatively new society we were delighted with the number of signups

we got. We’re very excited for our upcoming events and setting a high standard for the year,” Secretary Carmel Kenny said.

Well-established societies also gain many new members each year through the fair. This year, the Multimedia Production Society signed up 500 members. “It’s just through word of mouth, by keeping up FM

standards, by trying to consistently keep the name out there like with all the attention from the broadcast,” Chair Billy Keenan advised.

Accounting and Finance received “a record new number of members this year,” signing up roughly 2000 students, welfare officer Dillon Ward said.

“A massive boost to our numbers

Credit: DCUClubsAndSocieties

was our mystery tour at the start of the year. No other clubs and society event happened before that. We were the first to do that” said Ward.

Next year’s clubs and societies fair will be during week two, in the Glasnevin Campus on Monday and Tuesday and in Sain Patrick’s Campus on Wednesday, according to Byrne.

8

News

Taoiseach dismisses UK and US style loan scheme Cáit Caden Contributor @AreYou_Caden_Me LEO Varadkar’s unclear plans for the proposed ‘Student Loan Scheme’ outraged the Union of Students in Ireland, who led the march for publicly funded education in Dublin on October 3rd.

The Taoiseach ruled out the introduction of a British or American style loan scheme system which would leave students “saddled with enormous debts”. He is yet to outline the scheme he wants for the students of Ireland or state how it might affect those benefiting from DARE, HEAR and SUSI. Thousands of students have taken to the streets to make it clear, a week before the budget, “that we’re not going to stand over a situation of loan schemes” said Síona Cahill, USI’s VP for Equality and Citizenship.

Varadkar believes third level students “should make a contribution” to the cost of education although the USI argues that education is not a privilege but a right and the onus should not be put on students to fund it.

Confusion still surrounds what effect a loan scheme would have on Irish students. The scheme emerged from the Cassells Report by Peter Cassells, chair of the government higher

Taoiseach: Leo Varadkar

Credit: PaulWalsh

education working group. Cassells declared the “current situation is unsustainable” and that the “status quo was not an option”.

The Cassells report did offer two other options for fixing the problem in third level

Irish education funding. One of which was to publicly fund it which the USI determine to be the only fair solution.

The consensus from DCU students at the march was that if this scheme comes to frui-

tion, students depending on DARE, HEAR and SUSI programmes will be seriously affected.

“I’m here because I need my grants. It would be very worrying if I didn’t have them. I don’t know if I’d even gone to college without them” said José Boyd, Applied Languages and Translation student at DCU. With the lack of a definitive plan for the looming loan scheme, many political parties have made their positions unclear as to whether they favour it or not. Mary Mitchell-O’Connor, Minister of state for Higher Education, said the government are still considering all outcomes of the Cassells report but have made no official decision to implement any of them yet.

Fianna Fáil have said they are not completely opposed to a loan scheme unlike Sinn Féin and the Green Party who officially oppose it.

Labour Party Senator, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin added that he believes that “college fees should go, not rise”.

“It’s not about what they say, it’s about what they don’t say. What he hasn’t said is he hasn’t ruled out a clear loan scheme being put in place that would ensure that students would be paying back thousands and thousands after college” said DCU Students’ Union president Niall Behan about Varadkar’s loan scheme comments.

Will plain packaging deter student smokers? Boots emergency contraception cost cut

Deterring smokers

Credit: TheJournal

A French Engineering student on Erasmus in DCU, Quentin Lemerle said that he thinks it won’t have an effect on smokers who are already dependent and that price is more of a deterrent for these people.

“For people that are thinking of taking up smoking I do think the packaging has a part to play,” he said. “I think that people are less likely to start smoking with this kind of plain packaging.”

“I don’t think the packaging makes any difElsa McEvoy ference,” said Marie Murphy, global business Deputy News Editor student in DCU. “I think that the price of them @thecollegeview is far better at deterring smokers, especially students who are less likely to be able to afford DCU students don’t believe the change to ciga- them anyway, regardless of packaging.” rette packaging will make much of a difference The more long-term effects of this law are to Irish smoking habits. starting to be seen in Australia who introduced Ireland isn’t the first country to implement unbranded cigarettes back in 2011. Since then, unbranded cigarette packaging in order to deter the percentage of daily smokers has decreased people from smoking, following Australia, from 16 per cent to 14 per cent in 2014. HowFrance and more recently the UK’s lead. ever, they have the most expensive cigarettes However, the law that came into effect in in the world there at 35 AUS (€23) a pack, a France in January of this year has actually seen potential contributing factor. a spike in the sales of cigarettes in comparison The law to have plain cigarette packaging to last year. means that all packets will now be the same In March alone the French bought over colour with a larger health warning on the four million packets of cigarettes, which is up front. The names of the brands will be all be in four per cent in the same month of last year the same font in white on the front and on the when branded cigarettes were still allowed bottom . This law came into effect on Septemaccording to the country’s customs office. ber 30th.

Katie Gallagher Lifestyle Editor @katiemariegal DCU students slam the suggestion that a cheaper morning after pill would lead to the misuse or overuse of the emergency contraception.

Following an onslaught of backlash back in July when the company refused to lower the cost of the Emergency Hormonal Contraception, Boots announced last month that they were dropping the price of the EHC pill by €11 in Ireland from September 18th.

“I think it should be even cheaper than €24 and that the idea that it would encourage more women to use it is ridiculous. It’s an emergency

Boots

contraceptive,” said Shauna, a third year student.

Another student said “the price generally makes no difference to me because when I need it I’m in panic mode and just want to take it”.

The price drop means a generic version of the morning after pill can now be bought in Boots stores for €24. However, this is ‘insignificant’ according to DCU students who could already purchase it for the same price in the pharmacy on Glasnevin Campus.

Speaking to a pharmacist there, he said that the price is merely matching everywhere else as Boots had always been more expensive.

He referred to Boot’s controversial suggestion that reducing the price could cause an overuse of the EHC, saying he could see their call for concern.

“It’s there for a reason, it’s called emergency contraception for a reason,” he said before highlighting a drop in price of oral contraceptives this year. He said he would be more inclined to recommend oral contraceptives as a form of regular contraception.

A Spokesman for Boots has since apologised for their ‘poor choice of words’ which were accused of ‘infantilising women’ by a Labour MP in the UK.

Credit: Boots

9

Opinion

Should the UCD SU President be impeached?

The President of UCD’s Students’ Union Katie Ascough is facing possible impeachment after she removed abortion literature from a fresher’s magazine. Colin Gannon and Amy Rohu give argue whether or not she should be impeached.

Yes

Colin Gannon Contributor @thecollegeview

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he Katie Ascough controversy has become entrapped in pro-life and pro-choice rhetoric and moral absolutes but many are choosing to ignore the salient facts which are making this a pointed manifestation of the abortion debate. Tribalistic tendencies often show their face during debates over societal issues but like all elected officers, she must be held to account for her actions by her electorate and a referendum to decide whether she should be impeached is deserved.

UCD’s University Observer first reported on September 19th that the UCD SU reprinted the freshers’ handbook Winging it in UCD due to the illegality of certain abortion content, despite such information being distributed to UCD students since the 1990s. The page which was redacted was to contain information about how to obtain an abortion safely, a price list for various clinics outside Ireland and details about purchasing abortion pills online. As reported by the University Observer, providing this information is in breach of the Abortion Information Act of 1995.

Ascough admitted to making an executive decision to redact the page in question and her four fellow sabbatical officers criticised this decision. She often repeated during her election campaign that she would “delegate” on matters concerning the campaign to Repeal the 8th Amendment. This was due to her being a known pro-life activist whose father, Tom Ascough, sits on the board of the socially conservative Catholic lobby group, the Iona Institute. A petition calling for impeachment reportedly reached their required physical signature count of around 1,000 in one day, meaning a referendum is forthcoming and for her to be impeached, at least 10% of union must vote and a majority must be clear.

In having the magazine reprinted, Ascough

cost the student body €8,000 - the maximum fine for publishing such information is €4,000.

Barry Murphy, UCD SU’s Campaigns and Communications Officer, alleged how difficult the Repeal campaign had been to run with Ascough as President and told the University Observer of disagreements with her over the repeal budget and class reps and “showed discomfort” with the placement of UCD for Choice in the freshers’ tent.

She misrepresented her student body and its chosen pro-choice stance - calls for her impeachment are heralded as anti-free speech and liberal bias despite the evidence pointing towards a somewhat dictatorial abuse of power and political imprudence. She reneged on campaign promises and overtly opposes the mandated pro-choice stance - these are sufficient grounds for impeachment as written in UCD SU’s constitution. Without support from any of her fellow sabbatical officers, she misspent student funding in purposefully omitting information which she is mandated to represent, regardless of her own personal views. Ascough had previously pledged to delegate such responsibilities to her SU counterparts but failed in doing so and allowed her personal bias to affect how she acted in elected office. She has lost the confidence of much of her union and seemingly most of her sabbatical staff.

The way in which she has been treated by some students is akin to a witch-hunt and this further perpetuates the idea of echo chambers - college campuses are well known for being inherently liberal media bubbles - and how they can be destructive and dangerous to democratic values. However, the facts remain that if UCD’s students decide her actions warrant impeachment and that she is not fit to carry out her responsibilities impartially, then she must go.

UCD SU President, Katie Ascough, is facing possible impeachment following the removal of abortion literature from a college magazine.

Amy Rohu Contributor @thecollegeview

S

o let’s get straight to it, should she be impeached? Absolutely not - the hate campaign and petition aimed at this girl is quite frankly, shameful.

Ascough was elected President of the Students’ Union for a reason, it was believed she would do her job in representing the students of UCD to the best of her ability, be their voice and protect them. By removing the information regarding abortion pills in particular, Ascough was keeping vulnerable girls safe from making dangerous choices. Pills bought online are not legal in Ireland and can be dangerous. There have been reports of everything from rat poison to bleach found in such pills, and these could end up doing more harm than good.

Ascough ultimately made her decision after she consulted with UCD lawyers who informed her that providing this information was, in fact, a breach of the 1995 Abortion Information Act and thus, against the law. It is not against the law to provide certain information on abortion to women in Ireland, but it is under strict guidelines as to what is acceptable.

The campaign against Ascough has featured pictures of her with Ash Wednesday ashes on her forehead and it’s blasted everywhere that she is ‘pro-life’ and that these personal choices in some way make her unfit to be the SU president, which is entirely not true. Her personal

“

No choices and beliefs shouldn’t be used against her when she was simply following the law.

Ascough’s religious beliefs or personal opinion on abortion have literally nothing to do with the legal system in Ireland and have nothing to do with whether or not she is fit to represent students.

There was an article circulating online about how Ascough wasn’t attending the recent ‘March for Choice’ protest held in the city centre and this somehow made the news. This is basically saying that if you don’t share a certain popular belief then you’re automatically in the wrong? Of course she wasn’t going to be attending, but what does this matter? We are all entitled to our own opinion and her opinions shouldn’t be used to slander her in the news.

This type of propaganda is doing nothing but stirring up unnecessary trouble on both sides of the debate and as already previously mentioned, Ascough was doing what she was legally advised to do, not what she wanted to do personally.

It is perhaps coincidental that Ascough is pro-life and had to make this decision to remove abortion advice from the UCD magazine.

However, in doing so she could save someone from taking dangerous medication and she was also simply following the law. Is that not all you want in an SU President?

In having the magazine reprinted, Ascough cost the student body €8,000 - the maximum fine for publishing such information is €4,000

Credit: University Observer

10

Should Hugh Hefner really be idolised?

Opinion

Following the recent death of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, Gabija Gataveckaite examines the harsh reality of the exploitation that took place.

Gabija Gataveckaite Deputy Opinions Editor @thecollegeview

W

hen news first broke that Hugh Hefner had passed away last week, for a brief shining moment the world was awash with awe and praise. People took to Twitter to recollect some of his finer moments; the success, the startlingly beautiful women, the silk pyjamas. It wasn’t long before the harsh reality of Playboy was unveiled: the awful treatment of Hefner’s many girlfriends coupled with the ridiculous rules of the Playmates that lived in the Playboy Mansion. Hefner’s success was vast, but his exploitation of women is no secret. Which begs the question: should we admire men who use thousands of women to pave a path to success?

In today’s society, I believe this sort of admiration has no place. It can be argued that all incredibly successful people, both men and women, use and exploit all resources possible, sometimes even other individuals, to climb to the top. Hefner didn’t stop there. He built a magazine on a very clear basis that women are sexual objects, with large breasts and mile-long legs, corseted at the waist and hair bleached blonde.

He had hundreds of girlfriends; Playmates, who lived in the Playboy Mansion, as well as Bunnies, who served as waitresses at the many Playboy clubs worldwide. In 1963, journalist Gloria Steinem went undercover as a Bunny and wrote of long hours spent on very high heels and very low wages. Similarly, the Playmates, the girls who lived in the Playboy Mansion as Hefner’s personal girlfriends, were expected to engage in ‘sexual favours’, follow a curfew and never have male visitors.

The Playboy magazine wasn’t just a ‘dirty mag’, it evolved way past that. Clubs opened globally, the Mansion was built and Playboy became a household name in the 50s. Playboy was the brand that jump-started the sexual revolution. Although this movement has its benefits, it was based on degrading women and seeing them as sex goddesses.

Those who brand Hefner as a ‘legend’ or ‘icon’ may say that he deserves our admiration because of his campaigns for contraception, abortion and the sexual revolution. Purely based on those facts, I agree, as those are all

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner passed away in late September

necessary elements of a contemporary world.

It shouldn’t be forgotten that Hefner was a hedonist - he believed in dominating life in pleasures. Abortion and contraception are the mere ingredients that helped him live this hedonistic life as care-free as possible.

I believe in giving credit where credit is due: Hefner was a gifted businessman.

However, I don’t believe in idolising men who took advantage and exploited many others particularly vulnerable, young women - for his own gain. Without his millions and mansions,

Credit:AMP

Hefner would just be any other 92-year-old, lusting after young beautiful women - how creepy is that?

When a celebrity dies, it’s important to remember their true legacy. Yes, Hefner was an employer as well as a businessman. He launched the careers of many and brought on the badlyneeded sexual revolution across the globe.

However, he built his empire on the notion of a woman’s sole purpose being to satisfy men and to look beautiful; the idea that to exploit women for sexual purposes was the right thing to do.

Is free education our only hope?

After students called on the government to introduce publicly funded education, Megan Conway looks at whether free education is our only choice.

“

Megan Conway Opinions Editor @thecollegeview

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ith the cost of third level education on the rise and students all over the country, along with the Union of Students in Ireland, taking to the streets and pleading with the government to introduce publicly funded education, it really doesn’t give me a lot of hope for the future of the country.

Third level education in Ireland is heading in a downward spiral. Third level fees in Ireland are currently the second highest in Europe and yet figures show that Irish workers are the most overqualified in Europe with one in every three one educational level above what their job is. How does this add up? If we are paying extortionate costs to attend third level institutes, then surely we should have jobs and wages that

We need to look at countries like Germany and Sweden who offer free third level education which mean equal opportunity for all citizens

are fair reflection of the degrees we obtain.

The USI are calling on the government to introduce publicly funded education as recommended by the Cassell’s Report and I believe that this is the only thing that will save the third level system. If we want to continue to produce qualified graduates in a range of fields, then we need to consider how accessible the education system is. Financial and social status shouldn’t act as a barrier to third level education. Why should we deny successful and lucrative futures to people who simply can’t afford to pay the high price for fees and accommodation, yet don’t qualify for any grants?

There’s also whispers of a loan system coming into place, where students will avoid paying fees throughout their four years of college but will face having to repay the money when they graduate. Where is the

Students attended the USI march from all around the country

logic on handing newly qualified graduate’s bills for €20,000 plus when they are fresh on the workforce starting off on low wages, paying for rent and travel costs? The government are ignoring the current problem in Ireland and they will promote a loan system so students think it’s the best option when really, they will be fooled into spending more money.

We need to look at countries like Germany and Sweden who offer free third level education, meaning equal opportunity for all citizens. The graduates who benefit from the free education system differ from Ireland’s because they leave third level education in a comfortable and safe financial position and can therefore contribute to the growing economy from a much earlier age. The graduates who benefit from the free education system differ from Ireland’s graduates because they leave

Credit: Aaron Harper

third level education in a comfortable and safe financial position and can therefore contribute to the growing economy from a much earlier age. Not only are the students benefiting, but the rest of the country see the benefits as there is a larger, more educated workforce who can bring business and innovation into the country.

With example of successful free education systems in Europe, how can the government continue to ignore the USI’s call for publicly funded education?

As a student coming to the end of their third level education I can only stress with you to support the USI and ensure the government sort this situation before it’s too late. Help the government ensure both our country’s future and our own. Publicly funded education is Ireland’s only choice.

Gaeilge

11

Ag filleadh ar ais ar an nGaeilge agus mé sna fichidí Insíonn Corey a scéal féin faoin gcinneadh a rinne é filleadh ar ais ar an nGaeilge

Corey Rigley Scríobhneoir @thecollegeview

A

nseo atáim arís. Tuirseach, tinn, agus ag deánamh tada le mo lá. Neart dabhtanna, ach sin é an cás go rialta. An iomarca piontaí – mar is gnáth. Beidh fios ag beaganch gach dalta riamh faoi “The Fear”.

Ar a laghad, tháinig mé go dtí an leabharlann in DCU inniu. Déanfaidh mé iarracht obair a dhéanamh ainneoin an tuirse atá orm. Tá go leor le déanamh don mháistreacht atá idir lámha agam. Cuirim an cheist síoraí orm: Cén fáth a ólann tú? Sigh. Ach bhí rud éigin beagáinín difriúl ar siúl aréir. D’fhreastal mé ar mo chéad Pop Up Gaeltacht. Gach duine – ag labhairt as Gaeilge sa teach tabhairne Bernard Shaw. Ag labhairt ár dteanga. Aisteach ach álainn. Mise – bhí mé ag labhairt as Gaeilge freisin. An raibh sé sin mise? Bhí céad daoine ann, nó dhá chéad daoine. B’fhéidir níos mó. Ach conas ar tharla sé go raibh mé i láthair ann?

Bhí uair nuair a cheap mé go raibh mé críocnaithe leis an Ghaeilge.

Faoi dheireadh, bhí Gaeilge déanta and imithe. Bhí an pian mór i mo

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thóin imithe as mo shaol go deo. ‘Ní labhróidh tú an teanga riamh arís, buíochas le Dia’- a dúirt mé liom féin. Chríochnaigh mé ar scoil agus an ardteist déanta agam. Chuaigh mé ar ollscoil, rinne mé staidéar ar an eolaíocht ríomhaire, bhain mé mo chéim amach, and thosaigh mé ag obair. Bhí mé i gcónaí gnóthach.

I mo chéad phost, d’oibrigh mé dhá uair déag gach lá. Bhog mé go Baile Átha Cliath ach ní raibh aon am agam riamh. Tar éis bliain, thóg mé post eile. Agus ansin, don chéad uair le fada, ní raibh mé gnóthach níos mó. Le am saor, thosaigh mé ag smaoineamh.

I 2008, bhí mé sé bliana déag d’aois.

Thosaigh mé post páirt-aimseartha in SuperValu. Rinne mé m’ardteist in 2010. Bhí mé ag déanamh staidéar in WIT ón 2010 go 2014, i gcónaí ag obair in SuperValu freisin. Agus tú i do dhalta, síleann tú faoi do chéim a bhaint amach. Is é do chuspóir é.

Ceapann tú faoi rudaí freisin – cailíní (nó buachaillí), ag ól, ceol, laethanta saoire, an domhan, fealsúnacht, etc.

Ní chríochnaíonn an liosta. I ndiaidh sin is é do ghairm bheatha a bhíonn tú ag díriú air. Tú ag siúl go bhfaighidh tú post maith.

I 2015, bhí gach rud agam. Bhí post maith agam. Bhí airgead go

Musculokeletal injury: Assesment, Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation Musculokeletal Psin (Neck Pain, Back Pain): Rehabilitation Referral for hospital investigations (incl MRI) and specialist opinion Sports Biomechanical Assesment Orthotics Strapping and Taping Dexa Scanning Performance Psychology Clynical Psychology Healthy Nutrition Sports Nutrition Clinical Exercise Perscription

leor agam. Bhí cailín deas agam.

Chonaic mé mo chairde (ní raibh sé go leor riamh áfach). Ach bhí rud éigin mícheart. Ní raibh áthas orm.

Níor mhothaigh mé comh paiseanta faoi mo ghairm níos mó. Se, bhí céim agam. Sea, fuair tú an post maith a bhí ar intinn agam. Freisin, bhí mé i mo chónaí sa phríomhchathair i m’arásán féin. Ach ní raibh sé go leor. Uaireanta faigheann tú gach rud a raibh tú ag obair i dtreo, ach fós tugann tú faoi deara nach bhfuil tú sásta go fóill. Tuigeann tú nach raibh tú ag smaoineamh faoi na rudaí ba cheart a bheith ag smaoineamh faoi.

Bhí mé trí bliana is fiche d’aois, agus thosaigh mé ag smoineamh faoi na rudaí tábhachtach i mo shaol. Cad atá tábhachtach dom féin. Ní raibh gairmeacha nó airgead tábhachtach dom níos mó. Bhí mo shonas pearsanta níos tábhachtaí. Bhí mo suimeanna tábhachtach. Bhí mo chairde agus mo chlann tábhachtach.

Bhí daoine bocht tábhachtach. Ní raibh mo phost ró-thábhachtach – is fíor gur mhaith liom eolaíocht ríomhaireachta ach ní raibh mé ag cabhrú daoine i mo phost – bhí mé ag cabhrú comhlacht saibhir bheith níos saibhre. Thosaigh mé ag smaoineamh faoin tír níos mó – faoi daoine eile. Ní raibh sé éasca agus thóg sé míonna,

Ag buaileadh le cairde trí Ghaeilge ag Pop-Ghaeltacht na míosa

ach ar deireadh thuig mé mé féin i bhfad níos fearr ná riamh. Bhí spriocanna nua agam. Ba é ceann de na spriocanna sin ná chun teanga nua a fhoghlaim. Ar dtús, cheap mé faoi teanga Icelandic a fhoghlaim, mar tá nasc agam leis an tír. Ach ansin, chuimhnigh mé. Is as Éire mé.

Is breá liom mo thír. Is breá liom na daoine Éireannacha. Cad a tharla?

Chuimhnigh mé ár dteanga álainn.

An teanga a chaill muid beagnach. An teanga atá fós beo againn. Agus anseo atáim. Ag foghlaim ár dteanga. Ag foghlaim Gaeilge arís i mo fhichidí.

Credit: Corey Rigley

Bainim úsáid as Duolingo. Freastlaím ar ranganna. Anois táim ag glacadh páirt sna Pop Up Gaeltacht. Is ball den Cumann Gaelach in DCU mé.

Táim ag bualadh leis na daoine is deise agus ag tógáil páirt sa phobal Gaelach. Níl sé ach sprioc amháin ach is sprioc iontach é. Agus anseo atáim arís – tinn agus tuirsearch tar éis bheith ag ól. Ach bhí rud éigin difriúl aréir. Rud atáim níos bródúla as.

Practitioners Dr Noel McCaffrey Miriam Downey ARTC MISCP Colm Coughlin ARTC MISCP

Where are we?

Declan Monaghan ARTC MISCP

Ground Floor, Healthy Living Centre,

Aoife Burke ARTC

School of Nursing and Human Sciences,

Dr Siobhain McArdle Psychologist

Collins Avenue entrance

Dr Sharon Madigan Nutritionist

Price Schedule

Further Information

01-7006070 Private, staff & student rates offered Email@exwellmedical.ie

12

Gaeilge

An t-Athrú Tiomána san Araib Shádach: Céard go díreach atá i gceist

Mhínigh Hannah na hathruithe atá ag teacht ar chearta mná san Araib Shádach faoi

Hannah Ní Shuilleabháin Scríobhneoir @thecollegeview

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e blianta beaga anuas anois, feictear gníomhaire Sádacha ag cuireadh a mbeatha i mbaol agus iad ag seasamh an fhóid i gcoinne an t-aon tír a bhfuil cosc ar mná tiomáint. Feictear éagóracha uafásacha ar na meán sóisialta mar shampla nuair a cimíodh Manal Al-Shariff, gníomhaire a chuir físeán di ar YouTube ag tiomáint sa bhliain 2011.

Ar an 26ú lá, d’éisigh Mohammed Bin Salman, Rí an Araib Shádach an foraithin a ligeann mná tiomáint. As seo amach, ní chaithfear mná cead a fháil chun a gceadúnas tiomána a fháil agus ní chaithfear caomhnóir a bheith in éineacht leo.

Fad is atá mná ag teacht i dtír ar an saoirse úire seo, níl an cinneadh seo chomh soineanta seo, tá mná fós mar saoránaithe den dara grád.

Fós, tá an Araib Shádach faoin gcóras ‘coimirce’ atá i bhfeidhm ann. Ní féidir le mná a bhfear chéile féin a

Tá cearta mná ag feabhsú sa tír

roghnú, cuntas banc a oscailt, taistil, taca míochaine, post nó colscaradh a fháil gan cead a fháil ón bhfear dá theaglach. I gcóras dlí Araib Shádach, is beag is fiú an fianaise chúirte ag mná i gcomparáid le fir. Fiú, ní féidir le mná a bpas a choinneáil, i gcónaí bíonn sé i seilbh an fir.

Is iomaí feabhas a bhfuil le teacht agus is dócha gur machnamh é seo ar an suíomh eacnamaíochta an Araib Shádach faoi láthair. Mar thoradh ar borradh gáis scealla sna Stáit Aontaithe agus an laghdú ar

amhola ina raibh an Araib Shádach an príomh-táirgeoir. Brúitear ceannairí tionscadal eacnamaíochta nua a bhunú, chun bogadh ón ngeilleagar olabhunacha go geilleagar nuaaimseartha. Tá rannpháirtíocht na mná mar ghalar leighis dóibh.

Tá an Araib Shádach báite i bhfiacha na céadta milliúin dollair. Dúirt Momhammed Aljadaan ina dhiaidh an cinneadh seo go mbeidh Salman ag maolú na déine, ag gearradh siar ar fhóirdheontais agus ag cuireadh srian

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Is iomaí feabhas a bhfuil le teacht agus is dócha gur machnamh é seo ar an suíomh eacnamaíochta an Araib Shádach faoi láthair.

Credit: Reuters

teann ar chaiteachas ar thionscadail le teacht.

Más é an mian atá ag Salman chun claochlú ar shaol na mban san Araib Shádach, ní amháin chun ceadúnas tiomána a thabhairt dóibh ach ceadúnas le bheith i gceannas ar a saolta féin. Iarrtar ar Rialtais an Arab Shádach fáil réidh le córas coimirce na fir.

Faoi dheireadh, is féidir le mná a bheith taobh thiar den roth stiúrtha ach faraor, is le fir an Araib Shádach an roth sin.

Géarchéim i RyanAir

Leargas Méabh ar chruachás Ryanair le déanaí Méabh Riordan Scríobhneoir @thecollegeview

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yanair – an aerlíne le heitilí saora, anois i mbéal an phobail ach i drochchúis an uair seo. Le coicís anuas, beagnach gach uile lá cloisimid faoin gcealú leanúnach ag eitiltí Ryanair agus dar lena gcuid paisinéirí níl a lán eolas ar fáil faoina gcealaithe.

San alt seo beidh mé ag plé agus ag míniú céard atá ag tarlú leis an aerlíne cáiliúil Ryanair agus cad ba chúis leis.

Go bunúsach, dealraíonn sé nach bhfuil dóthain píolótaí incheaptha dá bpost de bharr saoire bhliantúil agus FTLs (Flight Time Limitations) a rialaíonn le CAR nó trí Ghaeilge: an Coimisiún um Rialáil Eitlíochta.

Insíodh Ryanair gur athraigh siad a gcuid féilire maidir le saoire bhliantúil, chun glacadh le rialacha na hEorpa. Mar sin de, ba cheart do na píolótaí a gcuid saoire a thógáil go luath agus mar thoradh tá easpa foinre oibre ag an comhlacht. Ina theannta sin tá sé ina ráfla nach bhfuil gaolta maith idir bainistíochta agus na

Is ar drochcúis atá Ryanair sna meáin anois

píolótaí, géaraithe le ráiteas Michael O’Leary ag rá cé chomh éasca is atá obair píolóta. Ar an iomlán – mar a dúirt John Muilligan san Irish Independent , is ‘pantomime’ é an ghéarchéim agus an cheist atá againne ná cathain a stopfaidh sé?

Le linn na coicíse cailleadh €2.2 billiún i luach cion agus níl na scairshealbhóirí amháin buartha!

Tá thart 400,000 réamháirithintí curtha i bhfeidhm agus ag iarriadh freagraí. Go dtí seo, dúirt Ryanair ba cheart do chustaiméirí freastail ar eitilt éigin eile, le aerlíne éigin eile, más rud é nach féidir le Ryanair réiteach oiriúnach a chur

os a gcomhair. Beidh na heitiltí luaite thuas ar siúl ar an lá gceanna nó an lá ina dhiaidh. Rinneadh an socrú idir Ryanair agus na haerlínte luaite ina dhiaidh: EasyJet, City Jet, Aer Lingus, Norwegian, Jet 2, Vueling agus Eurowings. Ina theannta sin tá costais ‘out-of-pocket’ á thairiscint más gá duit foirm EU261, tógfar ceithre/sé seachtainí a phróiseas, agus fáltais a chur isteach le chéile. An t-aon rud ina bhfuil daoine sasta leis faoin mbotún mór ná gur admhaigh an chomhlacht go raibh siad mícheart agus go mbeadh réiteach ag teacht. Fiú rinne an Taoiseach trácht ar an gconspóid ag cuireadh

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Insíodh Ryanair gur athraigh siad a gcuid féilire maidir le saoire bhliantúil, chun glacadh le rialacha na hEorpa. hOllainnis

Credit: Aoibhin Bryant

béime ar chearta paisinéara agus chun iad a chothú ag rá: ‘People’s and passenger’s rights need to be protected, so if anyone has had a flight cancelled, any airline, in this case Ryanair, needs to provide them with an alternative way of getting to where they need to go ot refunding them in full.’

Mar focal scoir, mar tá sé ar intinn agat dul thar lear do mhargadh Nollag bí cúramach ag ceannach eitilí RyanAir , nó téigh le Aer Lingus!

Living the bus life FEATURES

13

Commuter living and the impact on college’s social aspects

When talking about college memories it’s rare that a person talks about the lectures they attended, but rather the clubs and societies’ events and trips instead. Being a commuter puts a strain on the ability to attend these events, and a recent DCU graduate, Andrew Canavan, who had to do a 110km round trip each day to get to and from college makes a point of this.

“Having to commute didn’t make Grainne Jones socialising in college impossible but Deputy Podcast Editor it certainly was a challenge. The long @grainnejones_ commutes in and out, and being late so often meant I physically couldn’t ollege life is like no othattend many of the events or plans er - gone are the days [that] I made with friends. Because I of being told what to do lived so far away it meant that often by parents and teachers, I couldn’t stay out past 11 at night you now have control to because I’d have to go and catch the do what you want, when you want. last bus home,” he said.

But what happens when that isn’t the Not only is a student’s social life case? affected by commuting, but so too is The population of a university their education. On the worst days can be broken into two separate and Canavan would spend up to five very distinct groups; commuters and hours travelling and he said that those who live on or near campus. long distance commutes “didn’t help One half misses a lot of the most impressions with my lecturers or memorable aspects of college life, classmates [because] I would often while the others are able to immerse be ridiculously late or even absent themselves into the complete college from my lectures completely despite experience. leaving his house at around 6am each

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morning”.

Canavan said that he wanted to live near university, but the price of

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Not only is a student’s social life affected by commuting, but so too is their education

renting was just too high even with the money provided by his SUSI grant. He noted that if he didn’t have to commute his actual time spent in college might have been: “A completely different college experience.

Being closer to college would [have meant that] I’d have more time not only to study but [I’d] actually be available to spend time with friends.

It would have made everything easier.”

Living on the bus

Students definitely benefit from living close to their university, both for their mental and physical well-being. A final year student, Áine Conaty, moved into campus accommodation this year and says that only three weeks into the semester the difference between now and previous years is apparent.

Credit: Eoin Cooke

She says that living on campus is: “Helping me to save money because I’m now able to cook at home.

Before I didn’t have time to make food. I’m now finding it easier to get college work done – I feel like I’ve a better head-space because I’m not running everywhere to get things done.”

Back to the future-ish

Are space travel vouchers and hoverboards the new gadget of tomorrow?

Orla O’Driscoll Features Editor @DublinCalled

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nce upon a time, those of us over the age of 27 years, imagined that by now, we would glide into the shopping centres and malls of the world hovering on our transport pod, wearing a suit of crystal LED’s, while tapping JK4319 (our holographic attendant) to ensure said attendant was feeding the children their daily all-encompassing food capsule.

Well that day didn’t come, and it really doesn’t seem likely that anytime soon the road will be crossable

because all the motorized vehicular transport are hovering soundlessly and emission free above our heads.

The Michael J Fox, back to the future which seemed only around the corner, seems destined now to be as far off as another galaxy.

But GoFly, an American technology company, in conjunction with Boeing, yes, the company of the Aeroplane fame, believe now is the time to get our feet off the ground, and they are prepared to put their money where their ‘digitised verbal communications ports’ are, so to speak.

They have launched a worldwide competition, which invites, implores, and encourages engineers, tinkerers, enthusiasts, children, adults and groups to get involved in creating the world’s first personal flying device.

While the prize tag of $2 million looks to be a nice incentive, Go Fly, the company behind the competition, believe the fame is worth far more.

“Thanks to recent advances in materials, propulsion and autonomy, we believe the world is ready to make the next leap in flight innova-

tion,” Greg Hyslop, Boeing’s chief technology officer, said in a video statement. “Will it be a jetpack, a personal drone, even a motorcycle in the sky?”

Who knows, but with only 175 days left to enter, right now might be the right time to see if your granny’s roller skates from 1959 and your great uncle’s deep sea diving suit are still in the garage.

“Our goal is to not only build this revolutionary technology but to also help the teams build revolutionary new companies,” said Gwen Lighter, CEO of the GoFly Prize. “We’re at the brink of a legitimate shift in the way we travel from one place to another.”

There are no set rules to what the device has to look like, it just has to do the task its created for, so even a trip to the local scrap yard might prove fruitful.

‘GoFly’ say they are: “Calling on all inventors and doers to make human flight a reality by building the world’s first personal flying device for anyone, anywhere.”

For those of us who thought this

Jet travel

would be a given by now, we have a clear image of how this should look, but if it means no car tax and getting to glide around in crystal LED suits, we are happy to offer a little free will on the design.

Credit: Dezeen.com

If Elon Musk, wants to create life on Mars, and Richard Branson wants to back space travel, who are we to not want to avoid the M50 on a blustery June afternoon?

FEATURES

13

What I learned by changing course Changing course can be the best plan

course might offer, and focused on coursework with mechanical obsession. I cried every evening, I was restless between classes, and on the weekends I was a zombie trying here is no way to prepare to find balance between keeping my someone for university - family happy that I was doing the unless, like me, you take course, while trying to let them know a very expensive trial I was falling apart by continuing. run. Most students are Towards the end of the first semester, very young (84 per cent of LeavI started to research other undering Certificate students applied for graduate courses, other options for college places through the CAO in transfers.

2016), and understandably inexpeBy Monday of the last week of rienced. that semester, I knew that I wanted Having been persuaded by family to leave. I started packing my bags, to apply for a course I had never con- made arrangements to meet with sidered because I had no interest in it anyone that could help me withdraw, (a degree which shall remain nameand I have never looked back. less), I accepted the offer through the Deciding what to do next was the CAO and off I went, un-enthusiasproblem. I had to get a job to cover tically that first September. Within the fees SUSI wouldn’t pay for me the first month, people had already the next time around. I knew I wantstarted dropping from the course. ed to go back to study, and through I gave all my classes a proper go months of research between working and did quite well in most of them; full time in a greasy restaurant, I in reality I was suffering though. found what I now consider to be my I tried to distract myself from the calling - journalism. knowledge a future based on this So what did I learn?

Beibhinn Thorsch Contributor @thecollegeview

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Credit: Ben Toal

Changing minds

First off, how to live with myself while becoming the family disappointment. That’s easier said than done. I had to learn to trust myself a little more. I learned that my own beliefs mattered most because I was the one that was going to be putting in the work, no matter what happened.

One of the best ways to get through arguments is to be calm, open, and maybe keep a smile on

your face - it makes things a bit less scary. Some arguments never end, and making any decision on your own comes with a price.

If I was to offer any advice to someone changing course or thinking about changing course, it would be to research everything first. Know it inside out - what it qualifies you for, how it is assessed, how big the classes are, and what you can do to

advance your chosen career once you are post-grad.

When you’re struggling with coursework, look at the meaning behind what you’re doing and if you don’t get some sense of relief, maybe reconsider.

Hard work should make you proud at the end.

Most importantly, always push yourself from the beginning to prove yourself in the end.

How taxing is an internship?

How to get the most from an internship

fellow interns, I gradually completed these returns. Putting theory into practice brings out a sense of accomplishment, and that ‘hands-on’ learning proves invaluable to future hile most of my employers. I was also delighted to peers were out at develop my computer skills using the festivals, working standard Microsoft Excel and experiin summer ence unfamiliar software, Taxpro. camps abroad, or Though previous returns were travelling around Europe, I spent my sometimes completed by other summer working in an accountancy, interns, it was certainly a researchaudit and tax firm, and I loved it. ing role finding client information.

Though I was often met with faces Communicating with co-workers, of perplexity and curiosity as to why questioning how they did things, I would do a ‘nine-to-five job’ for the co-operating with them and initiating summer, the internship is one of my your own work, undoubtedly had a best assets moving forward this year. positive impact on me.

Previously, I only knew the basics Compared to learning in college, of tax, such as PAYE, PRSI and this internship launched several USC. Taking a deeper look into these rewarding skills I look forward to and other taxes made me realise how developing. diverse this sector is. I was given Students cannot expect to walk varying cases of income tax for cliinto a job and get the same tasks as a ents and was tasked with completing full-time employee. You’re unqualitheir returns. fied and new, so the bottom is where Contrary to some belief that inwe all start. ternships take advantage of students The longer I worked, the more by making them do menial tasks, I responsibility I got. Filing and scancould not disagree more. ning were the least of my worries No two cases were the same, and once I saw there was progress in the differing characteristics of each my role. Once you show enthusiengaged me. With the guidance the asm, even in routine tasks, you will department managers and the help of be acknowledged and given more

Áine Campion Contributor @thecollegeview

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opportunities.

With that, it was slightly daunting entering a new professional environment. Being surrounded by successful qualified people did startle me, but I was fortunate to be placed in a friendly workplace. Getting a job in my chosen sector early in my degree played a significant part in my choices for future placements and career plans.

For anyone considering an internship next summer, or an INTRA placement in tax, I would recommend availing of the careers service here in DCU. I have them to thank for bringing this placement to my attention.

Additionally, you’re surrounded by numerous companies in Dublin, so do your research into finding a great place to work. A medium sized firm was fitting for my first internship.

Upgrade your CV by excelling in the skills you already have. Start prepping your language, writing, sports or creative aptitudes to become specialised, as it is much easier than starting a completely new skill.

Right now is always the best time to start.

Internships are valuable

Credit: USTax help

FEATURES

The requiem of life vs celebrity

15

The world obsession of the celebrity life.

Faces of the world

“The drive for ratings has produced many troubling practices, from the furious pace of modern news to a tendency for journalists to scramble like politicians onto the bandwagon hile scrolling of the latest wave of popular sentithrough your social ment” said Daniel Hallin, a professor media feed this of communication at the University week what did of California. This may explain the you see? Were you push in media towards entertainment greeted with the rumours that Kylie stories.

Jenner is pregnant or were you However, everybody’s guilty of greeted with the most recent news this craving for entertainment news; coming from Puerto Rico? Which me, you, even the president of the one did you care about more?

United States. We’ve all heard of the Why is it that we seem to care ‘Take A Knee’ protest that’s dominatmore about menial things celebrities ing the American Football scene and do and every aspect of their lives rightly so, their message stands for more than we do about important one of positive and overdue social events that are changing everything change. Yet Trump seems to be more we know? Here we are living in a obsessed with which footballers melting pot of a world with events should and shouldn’t be fired while ranging from global warming to American citizens face disaster in social change, yet we seem to be Puerto Rico, a fact the good people more concerned about the news of Twitter are pointing out. that somebody may or may not be What can we attribute this obsespregnant. sion to? Hallin believes that since It may seem that I’m singling “the regulatory pressure is gone out Kylie Jenner in this article and now” from networks, softer news is that’s not my intention, there are beginning to take prominence and plenty examples of how we live for with social media becoming so actiny details of celebrity’s lives and cessible and invasive there really are how we ignore real issues because no boundaries anymore. We want to of it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not know what’s happening in the lives always a bad thing, sometimes you of the 1 per cent, do they breathe just want to consume light material like we do? Eat like we do? Have to escape from the world, but this sex like we do? Who doesn’t want to ‘light’ material slowly is becomsee exotic places and lavish things ing the world, a world we’re all fill your feed. If anything it might obsessed with.

Cathal McCahey Contributor @thecollegeview

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Credit: Megan Hannan

“Slowly but surely we are beginning to ignore genuine occurrences

even inspire you to try work towards being one of those very people.

This however, is a problem.

Slowly but surely we are beginning to ignore genuine occurrences.

What if I told you that within the last few weeks over half a million people fled their homes from what’s being described as ‘ethnic cleansing and genocide’. Would you believe me? Or would you perhaps think I’m getting confused with refugees we saw in the past? This is not the case, these people I’m talking about are the Rohingya people and until recently I didn’t know they existed, yet these people are enduring horrific events. Rape, mass murder, the burning down of villages, infanticide, yet we all know Taylor Swift’s new song

because she has this ‘bad girl’ vibe.

Not for one second am I trying to belittle the achievements of those in the public eye or pretend that I listen to nothing but hard news. The real problem isn’t only the lack of balance in the media but also the lack of want from us as consumers to face the music and take a hard look at ourselves. Why should we admit the world we live in is extremely flawed when we can all paint a pretty prefect picture of our lives and admire this same work done by others?

Why should we all strive to oust the wrong in this world when we can instead concentrate on formulating our own 15 seconds of fame?

But the real question is what can we do to change this? Do we all

collectively sign up to a reputable news publications newsletter and discuss current affairs among ourselves while lobbying for a positive change in this world with our local councillors? Realistically nobody is going to do that, in this busy world we barely have time to do anything. However, there is one thing we can do: we can become more aware, we can look critically at what we consume and then maybe over time we might get bored of the menial things celebrities have to offer us and start to concentrate on the change we can offer each other. While Hallin believes serious TV journalism will live on, he fears that “it could well be reduced to serving a specialised audience”.

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FEATURES

When it’s life’s blood Why platelets are more important than blood.

“I was quite nervous; I’d never really gotten many blood tests or injections.” says Pádraig.

On that day he registered for a lood donors are needed donor card and one year later, of his own volition, attended the travelling each week in Ireland, clinic at Bundoran and made dona3,000 of them, action number two. cording to Irish Blood Red blood cells are collected from Transfusion Services; and blood never goes out of fashion. eligible donors and used during Only three per cent of the eligible surgery in certain treatments due to the body no longer having the Irish population give blood, accordcapacity to make enough red cells ing to the Irish Blood Transfusion alone, during chemotherapy, or due Service. These donations are expected to provide for a population of to a flaw in genetics meaning the over four million and according to a body cannot fully form red cells. Red NewsTalk article in August 2016, do- blood cells carry oxygen to all parts nations were then down 21 per cent. of the body.

Following Pádraig’s third visit to Pádraig Malaniff counts himself donate blood he noticed an inforin that three per cent donor category, mation stand about platelets and having been a donor since 2014. donation. Platelets are the smallest “I decided to become a blood docells of blood components and assist nor through a political organisation in college; I was part of Ógra Fianna blood in properly clotting. Platelets are required in the treatment of Fáil,” he laughs. cancer and leukemic patients, bone He was a committee member marrow transplant, new born babies and the group wanted to counteract and burn victims. the widespread, social media craze More cases of cancer are being di“neck a pint” with a campaign that agnosed and treated, and platelets are would positively impact a widespread community. The UCD society a big help, but there are only 2,400 decided to bring to life the campaign platelet donors in Ireland according “Donate a Pint”. UCD’s campus was to the Irish Cancer Society.

The ultimate influence for Pádraig already accustomed to visits from the Irish Blood Transfusion Services to look at platelet donation came from discussion after his grandfather so when the society got in touch for passed away from cancer. He disthe campaign they arrived in their covered that platelet donation could travelling clinic.

Méabh Riordan Contributor @thecollegeview

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Platelets

impact in treating cancer patients, and thought; “Maybe this is better than donating blood?”

We talk about the process of blood donation but with a cheeky grin he tells me: “platelet donations are much worse.”

As a donor can only donate blood or platelets, Pádraig had to undergo a test available in only two Irish test centres, the NBC Dublin Platelet Clinic, or Cork Centre Platelet Clinic, something he feels impacts the testing for a larger number of people.

Once the appointment was made, he felt that having got that far, he “was under an onus to do it.”

Prior to donation, a series of examinations are carried out measuring height and weight, testing the strength of veins and if they can withstand the pressure of the donation process. Blood is extracted and drawn through a needle; it then enters an “apheresis” machine which

spins the blood at a very high speed to separate the components.

The platelets are filtered into collection bags and the rest of the blood is returned to the body. The whole process is time consuming, the actual donation takes about an hour.

Pádraig describes the room as ‘like a nice hospital ward’, arranged with six-to-eight beds, each accompanied with their own machine.

Unfortunately, Pádraig’s veins were deemed unsuitable and would not withstand the pressure to be a platelet donor, and so he was moved back to the blood donor list. Pádraig became aware of platelet donation, and with only two clinics providing for the entire country a lack of access may be the issue.

When asked why he donates blood, Pádraig looks stumped.

His accuracy in answering all other questions surprised me, but now his inadvertent willingness is causing me to ask myself why don’t I do it?

His response this time is more disjointed than others; almost as if he hopes to find a definite answer in rambling. “I do have friends who are anaemic and one who needs regular blood transfusions I suppose…”

In my attempt to prompt an answer I start to fill in sentences asking, “So she needs regular fresh blood?” It seems his quick responses haven’t quite come to a halt - “she is a vampire yes,” he tells me with a laugh in his voice.

The reality is, at the end of the day there’s no emotional sob story as to why the 23 year old continues to actively donate. It’s as simple as “why not help someone who needs help if it’s within my ability to do so?”

The Irish blood transfusion board would love to hear from you.

“I ask him why he donates blood and Pádraig looks stumped.

Credit: Livestrong.com

SPORT

17

Eoin Roche hoping to replicate Freshers’ success with DCU Seniors Roche is keen to build on last year’s historic Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final

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The DCU manager is excited for the challenge of trying to integrate the Freshers stars into a senior side that is already full of senior inter-county talent

Gavin Quinn Deputy Sports Editor @gavinquinn97

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s we approach the beginning of the new season, DCU hurling looks to continue the progress made after an exceptional 2016/17 season that saw the Freshers claim All Ireland glory while the seniors will look to better reaching their first ever Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter Final.

The triumphant Freshers manager, Eoin Roche, will now look to replicate his success managing the freshers as he takes charge of the senior team in what looks to be exciting times for DCU hurling.

Roche is keen to build on the progress already made.

“They made progress, I think it was the first time they made the quarter final in I think the first time in maybe 20 years,” he said.

“They had a successful league campaign as well. They drew with UCD, were unlucky to lose to IT Carlow who won three in a row in the league quarter final.”

DCU opened their campaign with an impressive four point victory over Waterford Institute of Technology

(WIT) before two second half goals saw DCU fall to Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT). A final group game saw DCU qualify for their first Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter Final in their history with a 0-19 to 1-14 victory over Trinity College.

A trip to Cork lay ahead for the side as UCC awaited in a Quarter Final that was very much there for the taking. A 1-18 to 0-16 loss marked the end of DCU’s run in the competition.

“Things went against them on the way down in the Mardyke. UCC were one of the strongest teams in the competition, with the history they have, trying to beat them at home was going to be very difficult,” Roche said.

Roche himself led the Freshers side to All Ireland glory in the John Corcoran Cup that featured great wins over NUI Galway (NUIG) and LIT on the way to an extra time 1-15 to 1-13 victory over University of Limerick (UL) to cap off an excellent season for the Glasnevin University.

“It was a good enough year for them (the freshers team). We did lose to UCC in the league down there by two points in the league semi final,” Roche said.

Credit: Eoin Noonan/Sportsfile

Alan Cadogan of University College Cork in action against Eoghan O’ Donnell of DCU in last year’s Fitzgibbon Cup

“We had a very good win against NUIG in Galway down in Dangan, very strong NUIG team managed by Geoff Lynskey, who managed the Galway minors this year who won the All Ireland.”

Roche also added that the freshers team was stacked with inter county stars. Donal Burke and Fergal Whitely are just two of eight players involved with the Freshers last season, several of which also featured for the Dublin Senior Hurling Team in 2017.

“There’s Darren Mullen there as

well who was impressive with the (Kilkenny) Under 21’s and was very impressive with Ballyhale Shamrocks over the weekend too.

“There’s Daire Gray, who was on the Dublin team as was Ciaran Dowling and Conor Burke.”

The DCU manager is excited for the challenge of trying to integrate the Freshers stars into a senior side that is already full of senior inter-county talent.

Waterford’s Patrick Curran and Wexford’s Paudie Foley and a Dublin contingent of Eoghan O’Donnell,

Eoghan Conroy and Rian McBride among the stars, but his expectations for the year are simple.

“It’s the same as trying to blend an Under 21 team in with a senior team, it’s the same problem as that and it has a different level of competition as well and I’m sure the boys understand that and they’ll rise to that,” he said.

“We’re hoping to have a very strong league and go at the championship very hard.”

An exciting time for DCU Hurling.

DCU boxers stun national teams to win two Celtic Cup gold medals John Marshall and Faolan Rahill saw off national teams and the Irish defence forces to win gold John Morley Contributor @thecollegeview

D

CU boxers John Marshall and Faolan Rahill won gold medals in the Celtic Cup competition in Dungarven last

weekend.

Marshall and Rahill won gold in the multinational competition which had national squads and the Irish Defence Force among the clubs represented.

“It’s one of the biggest multinational competitions and we were the only college club represented in it” said John Marshall.

They achieved a 50 per cent gold record for DCU boxing in the competition, with Shane Carter narrowly

losing out in the quarter finals and Solomon Simon losing in the semi finals. When asked where the win ranked in his career, Marshall said it was his biggest for certain.

“Most college clubs stick to the inter-varsity circuit, but we’re competing and winning multinational tournaments” said Marshall.

The competition took place at the beginning of the academic year and Marshall spoke of the satisfaction of the win after training all summer.

The DCU boxer and vice chairperson of DCU’s boxing society also paid homage to his coaches Terry Keegan and Derek Ahern.

“There’s no better feeling than when you put in the work and reap the rewards,” said Marshall.

“They put in serious work with us all over summer training three to four times a week.”

Marshall also pointed to the effort made during fight week as Keegan and Ahern took time off work to make sure the boxing team made weight and recovered well.

“They brought us for sparring in the lead up and we’re so grateful for all the work they put in,” he said.

Marshall is studying primary teaching in St Patrick’s College and stressed that study came before boxing.

“My education comes first, if I’m stressed with assignments I always put them first,” he noted.

Marshall concluded with his excitement for the year ahead and referenced senior clubs looking to spar the DCU boxers as a sign of the energy and atmosphere in the club.

John Marshall and Faolan Rahill, who won their finals at the Celtic Cup

Credit: DCU Atlethics Club

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Ladies game still has “a fair bit to go” before sporting equality, say All-Ireland winners DCU’s Fiona Hudson and Aisling Moloney were both successful in Croke Park, but agree more needs to be done to create “equal opportunity” Micheál Ó Scannáil Contributor @thecollegeview

G

ender equality has not yet been reached in Gaelic football but winning an All-Ireland has vindicated the huge commitment of inter-county football for DCU’s Fiona Hudson and Aisling Moloney.

This year saw the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) All Ireland final smash the attendance records of the past and become, by some 11,000 spectators, the highest attended ladies’ final of 2017 across all sports.

The pinnacle event of the sport was held in Croke Park and saw Dublin and Mayo battle it out in the senior decider after Derry and Fermanagh and Tipperary and Tyrone contested the Junior and Intermediate titles respectively.

Some 46,286 fans attended this year’s final, a huge leap from the then record attendance of 34,445 set last September.

Although attendance at LGFA matches and general support for the sport are on an upward curve there is still a large gulf between it and men’s GAA, whose figures are contrastingly falling.

To put it into perspective, you would have to go back to 1947 when the All-Ireland final was played in New York for a men’s final to have a smaller attendance than this year’s record breaking ladies’ final attendance.

This year’s final attendance is promising for the growth of the sport but Dublin footballer and DCU access officer Fiona Hudson feels that the support needs to come not just on the final day but for every LGFA game.

“It is always great to see such a big crowd in Croke Park supporting the ladies, the support has grown over the years and I think it will continue to do so,” she said.

“There was great hype and media coverage this year for the finals but I do think this needs to be the case with all ladies’ games, not just for All Ireland Final day.” This opinion almost exactly mirrored that of Aisling Moloney, Tipperary footballer and DCU student.

“I think ladies football itself has improved and is getting more attracting,” said Moloney. “Even county players are looking at it and it is getting more widely known across Ireland.”

“In the build up to the All-Ireland final, the senior final in particular, there was so much on social media

Fiona Hudson, right, lifts the Brendan Martin Cup with Sinéad O’Mahony after Dublin’s final victory over Mayo

about it,” she added. However, she was still critical of the amount of faces she sees on game day, as opposed to online.

“People are supporting it, but they’re not actually going to the games,” she continued.

This year a “proper fan” campaign was run whereby supporters of Gaelic football were implored the follow LGFA and not just GAA. The campaign was extremely successful in giving attention to ladies Gaelic football with thousands tweeting the tag #properfan.

According to Moroney this played a “massive role” in the rising attendances at ladies gaelic football games, along with TG4 and Lidl, who both Moroney and Hudson praised for their ongoing support.

A story has emerged about the Dublin ladies football team having to raise their own funds for their team holiday and it appears that there is a lack of equality between the two genders within the sport.

“Although we’re trying for change and we have got a lot of change, WGPA have made a lot of difference

Credit:Brendan Martin/Sportsfile

“

People are supporting it, but they’re not actually going to the games to us, but obviously the men are going the have more perks than the girls,” Moloney stated.

“I know it has been the talk the last few years really between men’s and women’s but like I think us women have accepted what’s not going to change.”

“The words ‘equality’ and ‘equal opportunity’ I’ve heard mentioned in the papers this week,” Hudson added, “but I feel we still have a fair bit to go before we are there.”

The commitment shown by the women involved in the sport is no lesser than that shown by the men, this commitment is however a given

for Moloney.

“Well, we train three times a week and then what ever club you fit in in between that but I suppose I’ve grown into a GAA family where I know no difference,” she said.

“Training is like going to mass for me, you just don’t think twice about it.”

For Hudson, the ends justifies the means of this commitment and the results of her hard work sufficed as a payback.

“It is a very special time for Dublin LGFA,” she reflected.

“It is a title that we have been chasing since 2010 and after the last three

defeats we knew going out there last Sunday week that we had the hard work done and all we needed to do was play and express ourselves, the result would look after itself.”

As support for LGFA continues to improve, Hudson is confident that the gap between LGFA and GAA will be narrowed.

“The talent and skill that was showcased last week highlights the strength of ladies’ football in Ireland.”

“The calibre of players across all the finals really did match what you’d see in Croke Park the third week in September” she concluded.

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“Massive honour” to pull on Ireland jersey, says DCU’s Amber Barrett

The Peamount United star speaks to The College View about striking balances, absent referees, and dreams in green

Alex Dunne Sports Editor @alexdunnesf

F

ew people in DCU had as busy a summer as Amber Barrett.

Between a move to a new college, a senior inter-county football campaign, a WNL league title to chase, a trip to Taiwan for the World University Games as national side captain, and a senior Ireland debut, Barrett has hardly had a minute over the past couple of months, but the Donegal native has settled in well to her new surroundings.

“I think that I have been fairly well settled in since the big move to DCU”, she told The College View.

“I’ve been very busy with placement and college work so I haven’t really had a minute to think about it.

“Obviously I had a fantastic experience in Maynooth and initially wanted to stay but I’m happy now and change is not always the worst.”

Plenty of change has come Barrett’s way recently, with the Milford woman having to leave the Donegal senior ladies panel to give other passions a chance.

Barrett captains Peamount United of the Women’s National League – who are still chasing the league title late in the season, with little to split the Newcastle club and Wexford Youths with just a couple of games left.

She was selected as one of the two captains for Ireland’s soccer representatives at this year’s World University Games in Taiwan, and recently made her Ireland senior debut in a 2-0 World Cup Qualifier victory over Northern Ireland.

Things can get tough trying to balance so much, but Barrett believes she’s over the worst now.

“I gave up GAA during the summer to focus solely on the soccer”, she said.

“The World University Games were coming up so I wanted to give myself the best opportunity to do well there.

“It was obviously a decision that was difficult but I have no regrets, thankfully.

“It is difficult at times to balance football and college work, especially as I am on placement everyday so I don’t have that much time to breathe, however I manage my time well and I am able to survive the combination of the two!

“At times last year I would have been swamped with trying to play GAA soccer and study and probably didn’t look after myself properly in that regard, but it all has been good so far.

“It was a massive honour pulling on the Irish jersey for the first time, something I dreamed about for years.

“I made commitments and I have looked after myself to give myself the best opportunity and thankfully I have got a reward for that.”

The 21-year-old has been able to reap the rewards of a lengthy, at times gruelling, campaign, best exemplified by powering through to the end of the WNL Cup Final with bad cramp as her Peamount side unfortunately fell 5-4 on penalties to Shelbourne after a thoroughly thrilling 1-1 draw over 120 well-matched, entertaining minutes.

That weekend is remembered as a triumph for women’s sport in Ireland as the All-Ireland Ladies Football final set a stunning new attendance record and Dublin and Mayo more than lived up to the occasion – but just an hour down the road at Jackson Park, a farce ensued as a WNL game betwen UCD and Kilkenny United was forced into cancellation due to no match officials turning up.

It was an unfortunate coincidence for the two incidents to happen on the same day – and it led to a lot of outrage on social media – and an embarrassment for the league, which has worked hard to build a respectable reputatio since the inaugural campaign in 2011.

But it’s a situation Barrett, last season’s top scorer, is adamant won’t be repeated.

“It was a disappointing thing to happen because the WNL has improved and still is improving”, she commented.

“Without doubt the WNL is improving all the time, the standard of players is getting better each year and the average age of all the squads is as low as you would get.

“The players are more competitive which allows the league to be and there is a huge competition every year for the title.

Barrett celebrating after making her debut for the Republic of Ireland against Northern Ireland last week

“

Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

I want to be good enough and confident enough to be an integral member of the senior squad, earn many more caps and hopefully, if dreams do come true, score a few goals!

“Look, it obviously was a simple breakdown of communication somewhere down the line, and that’s life.

“Of course, a disappointing situation but I firmly believe the league won’t allow it to happen again, unfortunate that it happened on the day that there was nearly fifty thousand people in Croker for the ladies finals, but you’ll always learn from the mistakes.”

But for herself, the confident Barrett hopes to fulfil a few dreams of

her own over this coming year with the Ireland team, with Peamount, and with DCU. “We’re in an extremely good position with Peamount at the moment in the league and hoping that we can push on for the last few games and take the title”, she stated.

“It’s going to be a battle but I believe we will be ready.

“I will be hoping to push DCU to become a successful footballing team as there is huge number of quality

players now in DCU. “For me, personally, I am working to be included in the next World Cup qualifying game versuss Slovakia, which is another massive game for the team.

“I want to be good enough and confident enough to be an integral member of the senior squad, earn many more caps and hopefully, if dreams do come true, score a few goals!”

SPORT

INSIDE An interview with DCU’s Amber Barett

Excited Johnny McDonnell enjoying “something different” with DCU Soccer The 52-year-old is stepping back into the dugout in DCU after a year and a half away

last year and a half.” McDonnell said.

“I haven’t had a break since I suppose 18, I’m just back from a three week break in the Canaries, I just chilled out.

“But when Deccy [Roche] approached me over the summer to do a bit of work with them, it just gave me the guile to go again.

“I’m obviously not working at the moment with any senior teams in the League of Ireland. Deccy approached me a few weeks back, I Alex Dunne sat down with him and we had a chat Sports Editor about what he was trying to do and @alexdunnesf where he was trying to go with it.

“He asked me, with my experience, to come in, and I said ‘yeah ohnny McDonnell hadn’t had why not’. a break from football since “It gets me back into the scene and 1983. it’s something different for me.

A long career as a defend“It’s not every single day, 24 hours er, which saw him play his a day where your phone’s ringing, it trade on both sides of the border and just gets me back onto the pitch.” become a League of Ireland winner Working with younger players twice with St Patrick’s Athletic. was another big pull factor for the By the time he hung up the boots Northsider. for good after a spell at Dublin City McDonnell sees his role with the in 2002, he had already sat in the college as a developer, and he hopes dugout for the former Fingal club, as to be able to give over his experience well as at Newry Town. to improve the quality here at DCU, A four-year spell back at Inchicore and the former assistant to Brian as manager preceded spells at ShelKerr has been impressed with what bourne, Newry City, and the Faroe he’s seen so far.

Islands, but after leaving Drogheda “We’ve been three weeks back United in 2015, the national scene now, and the commitment is fantashas not heard from McDonnell since. tic.” he said.

Until now, with the 52-year-old “Facilities here are fantastic as coming in to assist Declan Roche well. this year with DCU, and Johnny “These players we have are workMac couldn’t be happier to be back ing at senior level with First Division out on the pitch. teams, Leinster Senior League teams, “I’ve had a nice break over the and League of Ireland teams, so

J

New DCU Assistant boss Johnny McDonnell during his time at Drogheda United

“

I treat it as if I’m managing a senior team in the League of Ireland

it’s good, the standard in training is good.

“They do whatever we need them to do, and I just can’t wait to get them onto the pitch, see a game and see the level we’re at.

“I’m liking working with the younger players as well. From a coach’s point of view, we educate them and bring them along, we help them here as well as giving them help with their senior teams as well.”

McDonnell he is making no bones

Credit: Paul Mohan/Sportsfile

about his commitment to the DCU cause.“I treat it as if I’m managing a senior team in the League of Ireland.

“That’s the standard I would come in with, and I’ve said that from the start with the players - come in, and just be committed for the hour and a half in the morning.

“Give it everything that you can, so that every time they leave the pitch they’re leaving with something technically, tactically, even mentally, that will make them a better player.”

New look Saints aim to make their mark despite difficult opener The youthful side hope to cause some upsets this season

Christy Dunne Deputy Sports Editor @thecollegeview

T

he DCU Saints got their season underway with the toughest of tests, playing host to league champions Templeogue.

Looking to build on last season’s 8th place finish, DCU were facing a side that were dealt just two defeats

during the entire course of last year’s league campaign.

After a blistering first quarter, the Saints and Templeogue were neck and neck, however, experience was a major factor as the away side began to establish a lead over the young DCU side after the second quarter.

Saints 19-year-old guard Tariq Guebaili believed the opener was a test of character, “First touch nerves was definitely a big thing for us,” he said.

“It was obvious we were not able to adapt to the Templeogue offence through the tough stretch in the second and third quarter.”

The highlight of the game was undoubtedly Templeogue’s Lorcan Murphy’s massive dunk which came close to breaking the backboard.

The Irish international dropped 30 points as the visitors saw off the

Saints 76-96.

The youthful college side hit the road for their first trip of the season against Galway’s Moycullen.

The aftertaste of such a difficult start to the season resulted in an inspired performance in the West. American Dee Proby led the scoring with 38 points as DCU came home to Dublin with a 78-85 win.

After questions over fatigue or experience in the latter half of the first game, Guebaili believed DCU’s reaction in Galway was down to the strong characters in the dressing room. “[This] team, [we] are all leaders and everybody took responsibility [for the Templeogue loss]”, he reflected.

There is a lot of excitement to see just how far the Saints can go this season with such a young team.

The confidence that echoes through-

DCU Saints basketball team

out the team is the cornerstone of belief that the new look Saints can go as far as they want this year.

“We feel, although we are young, we are right up there with the other great

Credit: Ciaran Dunne

teams in the league.” asserted Guebaili.

Next up for the Saints in the Superleague is a trip to Dublin side Eanna Basketball.