College Tribune: Issue 7

ucd.ie/tribune

Volume 20 / Issue 7

6th February 2007

Survey Michael 2007 McDowell Sex, Drugs & Alcohol Page 6

General Election Special Page 11

Armed Robbery ● Semi-automatic handgun used to raid ATM ● Assailants escape police but get away with nothing The ATM machine outside the restaurant was raided last week by four men armed with semi-automatic handguns.

The robbery occurred at 3.20pm on Tuesday January 30th when a security van was making a delivery to the AIB bank machine at the restaurant.

It was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Gardai that there were four culprits involved in the raid. Two of them sat on motorcycles at the steps leading into the restaurant while the other two entered the restaurant and approached the security guards. They threatened them with the pistols and demanded a container that had the cash for the ATM inside.

They took the cash-box and fled on

Colin Gleeson foot, out of the main door of the restaurant before making an escape on the back of the two motorbikes, both of which had male drivers. It has since emerged however, that the stolen container was empty.

The drivers were wearing black motorcycle jackets and black helmets. The Gardai gave chase in the direction of Roebuck Castle and located the motorcycles a short distance away between the archway into the School of Law and the wall surrounding Roebuck Castle Housing Estate.

Continued on Page 4

Just past the Quinn School!

Daylight Robbery Full Coverage - See Page 5

MOLLOY’S

MERVILLE

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NEWS

College Tribune 6th February 2007

Third level funding “insane"

February 6th

● Mary Hanafin addresses national council in UCD ● Student representatives left disappointed Editor Colin Gleeson Deputy Editor Simon Ward Design Editors Simon Ward & Tara Phelan Sports Editor Ben Blake Features Editor Matthew Parkinson Bennett Health & Fashion Editor Caitrina Cody Arts Editor Barra O Fianail Music Editor Hugh Fowler Contributors: Jane Horgan-Jones,Claire Spelman, Alexa Byrne, Susan Cahill, Eoin Murphy, Jack Horgan Jones, Pete Mahon, Killian O'Connor, Jordan Daly, Adrian Collins, Chris Whelan, Frank Clune, Amro Hussain, Steuart Alexander, John O'Flynn, James Haughey, Lorcan Archer, Ronan Dempsey, Aidan MacGuill, MAree Rigney, Joanna Cochrane, Orla Kenny, Stephen Humphries, Cian Taaffe, Hannah Kousbrouek, Jack Cane, Alan Doyle, Linda O'Halloran, Mark Canavan, Bernadette Scott, Paul Dillon, Eoin Mac Aodha, Jane Horgan-Jones, Karen O'Connell

Special Thanks To: Gary, Stephen & Billy @ Spectator Newspapers, Eilis O'Brien, Dominic Martella, A&B, God.

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Students’ Union President Dan Hayden has declared that the government’s allocation of funding for part-time students is “insane” after Minister for Education Mary Hanafin visited UCD last Saturday.

Hanafin was addressing National Council with regard to several issues facing students today, including that of third level fees. National Council is the meeting of all the executives of the Students’ Unions across the country.

The President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) Colm Hamrouge explained afterward, “The minister painted a great picture for students in Ireland today, however the reality suggests different.

“We asked the minister about the abolishment of third level fees but she replied that in the scheme ‘Towards 2016’, there are elements dealing with getting people who didn’t get the chance of third level education in, but the whole issue of part-time fees is still a no for the Fianna Fail government.

“When you speak to politicians today, they think that students are so

Colin Gleeson well off, but a lot of students are living in debt. There’s no point saying that all students are broke because they’re not, but there are an awful lot of students that actually do have serious financial difficulties, and their college education puts them under serious financial stress.

“And this leads to serious mental illness problems, and then they’re under all this pressure and that can lead to depression.”

Hayden also expressed his disappointment with regard to what the Minister for Education had to say, “The government needs to be putting it’s funding into third level grants. That’s where it will be effective and that’s the only way to combat inequality.

“Although the minister certainly talked about it a lot, she’s not showing us with her wallet. Part-time students, students who can’t afford to come back full-time for whatever reason are the people who are in trouble, and we should be targeting them as people who especially need help. They should

Insane? Hanafin addresses USI congree

especially get grants and support from the government and the department.

But instead we’re charging them fees, it’s an insane situation.”

Hamrouge continued, “What really annoys me is that when you tell them the stories of hardship, they don’t seem to understand that when they’re making the decision; it might

Wrecked ● Parked cars vandalised in Belgrove ● Gardai conducting investigation

be politics to them, but it’s us, the student representatives, who have people coming into our offices crying because they simply cannot survive.

And Hanafin is in there talking about educating not only for an economy, but also for a society. Well if she really believes that, then she needs to put money into undergraduate degrees.”

Developing a community in UCD Students' Union President Dan Hayden and Vice President for Students Martin Butler have secured a fund of 10,000 euro from UCD to put towards developing the community

Colin Gleeson Security on campus has been undermined twice in the past week, with a spate of incidences where the law has been broken.

After last Tuesday’s raid on the ATM machine outside the restaurant, the Gardai had only one night to wait for their second visit to Belfield in as many days.

The fresh doubts about the security on campus came to light after a number of cars were vandalised in the Belgrove residential parking areas. The vandals used permanent markers to destroy the paintwork on several parked cars.

One student whose car was hit, Paddy Rath (Business and Legal Studies), explained, “I got a text from one of my friends saying his car had been done, along with a few more up in Belgrove, and mine was one of them.

“Mine wasn’t too bad. Basically, there was some explicitness written across the windows, but the other guys got stuff written all over the paintwork, which I would imagine would cost a lot to remove.

“It was permanent marker so I don’t know how they’re going to get it out. There’s always damage like this happening around Belgrove and other campus’ and it seems to go pretty much unchecked because

Dan Hayden

Vandalised: Cars in Belgrove have been damaged

there’s no security. That’s the biggest problem.”

The Residential Authorities in Belgrove declared afterwards that the CCTV cameras had been checked, but that for legal reasons, they are not allowed to aim cameras directly into where students are living, and as a result had failed to identify those responsible.

Rath was unhappy with the failure of the security to act on the matter, explaining, “They just washed their hands of it which is a

bit annoying.”

The college responded to questions from the College Tribune regarding the level of security offered to students on campus, in the wake of both this incident and the raid on the ATM, declaring, “There are no plans to increase the security presence on campus following the incidences in question.

“As both events are now being investigated by the Gardai; the university is not in a position to make further comment.”

in the college.

The project is aimed at addressing the problems UCD has encountered in making the college a welcoming environment for students. It also seeks to narrow the gulf that exists between the Students' Union and the student body, as students themselves will be encouraged to apply for the fund, with ideas of their own on how to improve the concept of the community in UCD. Hayden explained, “There will be ads in the newspapers and basically, any student or group of students can apply with an idea to a committee formed of myself and Martin Butler. They basically have to show how to help the community and the plan they have and stuff. 10,000 euro is a lot of money so I'm confident a lot of good can be done with

NEWS

College Tribune 6th February 2007

Students still awaiting results There are many third year students that have yet to receive their results from last semester’s Christmas exams.

Many faculties, especially in the Arts and Humanities have not yet released results to their students because they have yet to be cleared by the Exam Board. This has left many students in their final year without any idea of how they did in Semester One, and in many cases without the knowledge of how well they are progressing in their degree.

Among the worst effected students are those in the subjects with the highest participants, namely Sociology, English and Geography, as well as many other smaller faculties, such as History of Art. A spokesperson for UCD explained, “Horizons students were due to receive their results on the 29 January. However, students who are not studying on the Horizons programme were not due to receive their results at this time. The Schools are communicating with these particular students in relation to their examination results.”

These schools have not yet released results, nor have they given any indication of what grade individuals achieved. As well as examination results, students in these faculties are still awaiting the results of essays and projects submitted in the first semester.

While many of the other large faculties; such as History, Politics and Economics have now belatedly released examination results; these are only provisional and are subject to review and possible alteration by the Exam Board.

Some non-arts third year courses, such as Business and Legal are yet to receive even these provisional results from their school, however they have been assured that they will be out by the end of this week.

This has left many third year students aggrieved as they enter into their final semester without knowing their finalised results, or even in some cases their provisional results.

Students’ Union Education Officer Brian Doyle explained, “A lot of results that will come out now are only in the form 2:1, 2:2 and not the usual percentage because they are liable to change from the exam board and the schools wouldn’t release them.”

He described the situation as, “hugely inconvenient for students. It is very hard to plan and to pace yourself because you don’t know how hard you have to work for the grade you want to achieve.”

However, according to Doyle, the late posting of results was inevitable because

Mark Canavan of the unprecedented amount of corrections at this time of year that academic staffs have been laded with, due to third year semesterisation.

The main reason for this situation, according to Doyle, was that, “They wouldn’t have been realistically able to correct all the papers, and that apparently it would be the equivalent amount of work as the summer corrections of previous years.”

However, despite the apparent inevitability of this situation occurring, students were still not informed of this until they attempted to access their results.

On behalf of the students, Doyle notes that the main grievance is the “lack of communication between schools and their students.”

Many students believed they would receive their results with the rest of the college at 5pm on January 29th. Furthermore, despite being given the date of March 9th as when they would definitely receive their provisional results, many were dissatisfied that some faculties would release the provisional results, while others refused to do so, without what is perceived to be good reason.

Some departments seem to have handled the situation particularly badly, which has further increased student agitation. In the Geography Department, for instance, one lecturer actually posted provisional results on the faculty notice board, before having to remove them, presumably due to possible legal ramifications.

Some sociology and geography students have also reported not being able to get adequate information or feedback regarding their position from lecturers and school administrators.

This year’s stage three students are currently between two systems, and this is the main reason for the late posting and provisional nature of their results. While they are not yet modularized, they are semesterised, and this means that the system is, “only half changed; while the exams are brought forward, the correcting can’t keep the pace,” according to Doyle.

As such, he concedes, if exam results were to have been released on the 29th January they would not have been fully cleared and may not have been corrected properly, “so its to do with quality and to make sure things are done right and to help with the full implementation.”

By next year, the stage three students will be fully incorporated into the new system and this will mean that first semester results should come out on time and will already have been cleared by exam board.

And they're away...

3

More results leaked The ongoing controversy regarding leaked exam results took a further twist in the past week, as a student taking the Diploma in Business Studies course in the Smurfit School accessed exam results before the official release date.

The development came to light when the student approached a lecturer in the Smurfit School in order to appeal a failed exam.

A spokesperson for UCD explained the situation, declaring, “A feature on the UCD

The Smurfit School, Blackrock connect system which allows students to access their results from previous academic sessions did prompt a student to access a webpage carrying their individual provisional exam results before the official release date.

“Using the system, when students chose previous academic sessions, they are directed to a URL with their previous results. In this instance, a slight change to the URL did bring the student to a page carrying their provisional results.

“As a personal password is required to access each students individual results, the student in question gained access to their own personal provisional results and not the provisional results of any other student. The IT system has been rectified to prevent the possibility of this reoccurring."

The college also confirmed that no disciplinary action is to be taken following the event.

Disability Awareness: Wheelchair racing on the concourse last week

“Disgraceful" exam timetable for disabled student ● Student with Serabuls Paulsey forced to sit four exams in one day The College Tribune has learned that a final year student suffering from Serabuls Paulsey was forced to sit four two-hour exams in just one day during the Christmas exams.

Students' Union President Dan Hayden has described the situation as “disgraceful", declaring, “If that happens again, I swear to God, there's going to be murder."

There had been many problems with the timetabling and the

Karen O'Connell organisational structure of the Christmas exams.

The student in question was Katriona Kenny (Third year Social Policy). Kenny was forced to sit a total of five exams in a time frame of 28 hours.

She confided, “I really feel that the College don't care about the situation at all. By the time the last

exam came around, I had no idea what I was saying. I had to go down to the office and ask for a break because I was feeling so weak. I definitely think that this has adversely affected my results."

Hayden declared, “It's disgraceful. I brought it to academic council and to the academic executive committee and they said it shouldn't have happened. No one thinks it should have happened.

“It wouldn't even enter my

thoughts to start defending a situation like that. It just shouldn't have happened. I can't understand how it happened, how somebody didn't raise flags, I don't know.

“I can guarantee you that if we'd (The Students' Union) known about that, it wouldn't have happened.

Nobody should have to come to us to say that they have three exams in one day, that's a bullshit situation; there should be an automatic red flag popping up on someone's

computer screen if that's happening.

“At academic council, we brought this up, and now there's going to be a new formal look at the exam situation in UCD. There will be a committee of academics, students and people from the registrar's office.

It will examine why exams aren't working at the moment. There will be a minimum standard of what a student can and can't do established. Because we demand better."

4 NEWS

College Tribune 6th February 2007

Armed Robbery Continued from page one A raid occurred at the ATM machine outside the restaurant last week by four men armed with semi-automatic handguns.

A witness, Ian O’Meara (Third Arts) explained, “They drove off around by the student bar and they were gone. The hat of the guy at the back who had the money fell off, so some girl went over and picked it up before giving it to the security guards.

“There was one lad dressed in kind of camouflage jeans and a greeny-grey top.

They were both wearing beanie hats so you couldn’t really make out what they looked like. The other guy was wearing jeans and a red jacket and then they were just gone. It was pretty crazy.

“They had scarves wrapped around their faces, so you could only see their eyes and the tops of their noses really.

But it was all so quick; I didn’t really get a good ID of them. The two security guards were just totally bewildered.

“One of the lads was holding a gun.

But when the second guy jumped on the bike, they kind of turned it towards us and the guy was holding something black that looked like a gun in his hand.

Brady pay rise slammed The UCD Academic Staff Association has slammed the proposal put forward by the presidents of Ireland's seven universities for a pay-rise of up to 135,000 euro.

The Association declared that whatever the merits of the case, the presidents' proposal redefines the university as a “business entity presided over by a CEO." It continues, “The submission is written in managerial jargon. The

Mike Jennings presidents are no longer academics and administrators, but rather strategic leaders who are required to assess opportunities and risks, and to take decisions with far-reaching implications."

The association ridicules this view, declaring that universities are not, and never have been, businesses. The staff association is a branch of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), whose new general secretary is Mike Jennings from SIPTU. Jennings has declared his feelings that the teacher in the university is being undervalued at a time when such should be at the cornerstone.

He explained, “IFUT stands not only for the principle of academic freedom, but also for academic diversity.

These are important characteristics of universities which we as a society cannot afford to lose."

It was just so quick that nobody knew what was going on at all.

“They completely ignored us other than that. I don’t know if they were threatening the security guards inside.

But the next thing you know, the two security guards were on the radio to their mates, and the alarm went off all of a sudden. Only myself and a couple of others actually knew what was going on. Everyone else in the restaurant building was oblivious to it.

“The bike was parked on the steps outside the restaurant. They drove tenfifteen meters to the left, stopped, spun around and looked at us. Then they went right and headed down past the student bar. The bike was pretty impressive looking, I’d say it cost a lot of cash.”

In response to the incident and fresh doubts around the college’s level of security, a spokesperson for UCD declared, “There are no plans to increase the security presence on campus following the incident in question. The Gardai are now investigating the event; the university is not in a position to make further comment.”

Aftermath: Gardai patrols the scene of the crime

Ogra Sinn Fein hail historic day ● Ogra Sinn Fein support party decision on policing ● Party leader says last obstacle from DUP overcome The UCD branch of Ogra Sinn Fein have hailed the decision of the senior party to pass the Ard Comhairle motion, that will see Sinn Fein co-operate with the police service in Northern Ireland (PSNI) and pave the way for power sharing with the DUP. The backing from UCD’s branch of the party’s youth wing comes in spite of a decision taken by the overall body of Ogra Sinn Fein in this country.

The body had already decided to vote against the motion, which makes the party’s support for the PSNI and involvement on policing boards conditional on the DUP forming a devolved government with Sinn Fein, or in the event of no power sharing, acceptable joint partnership proposals from London and Dublin for Northern Ireland.

The leader of UCD’s Ogra Sinn Fein, Sinead Ni Chaolain, explained, “In the run up to Sunday (January 28th), every cumann in the country held discussions. There were many that occurred in Dublin, and we had one here in UCD. And when it came to the vote, we agreed in favour of the Ard Comhairle

Colin Gleeson motion.

“That was in spite of Ogra’s policy on it. They brought out their own paper on it, but we didn’t feel it was comprehensive enough; we felt that the Ard Comhairle motion was progressive. It’s a step forward and a means to an end.

“There was very little ill feeling about it. There was a real atmosphere about Sunday.

Everyone got to say his or her piece, it was very open, and it was very honest. Obviously there are a lot of people hurting over the decision taken and what it’s going to mean in the future.

“But it was heart-warming in the sense that in spite of the hurt, they’re going to stay in the party, because you can’t Smiley Happy People: Mary Lou MacDonald and Gerry achieve anything from the out- Adams celebrate at the Ard Fheis side, on your own. It really was move any further without mak- Ian Paisley Jnr. who declared ing some sort of regression. after the motion was passed, a heart-warming day.

“It was the last obstacle that Sinn Fein had now given “We all had our issues with the motion on a certain level; that the opposition and the up all hope of a united Ireland.

“It’s the opposite really. It’s we all had our gripes with it. DUP in particular have thrown There were a lot of people who at us. They’ll do their best to a means to an end. We’ve acsaid they didn’t agree with eve- continue obviously and are do- cepted to join the policing in Northern Ireland because you ry tenet of the motion but sup- ing so.”

Ni Chaolain was also quick can only elect change as a ported it anyway because they saw that we couldn’t possibly to dismiss the comments of member of it. There’s so much

wrong with the form of policing. It’s the police force rather than the police service.

“All the reports on collusion and everything that’s been known for years is now being backed by solid evidence coming out. But it is that ideal (A united Ireland) that has urged us to join; it’s not that it has been abandoned at all.”

The Ogra Sinn Fein leader was also dismissive of the DUP’s general reaction to the party’s decision to pass the motion, declaring, “All we were met with from the DUP was the same old rhetoric. They wanted to see it in action rather than in words.

“Obviously, everything that has happened over the past year or two years hasn’t been enough. I mean the armed struggle in general and disarmament and everything else.

They’ve conceded to every demand so far because basically a lot of us feel that the goal is sort of within reach and we’re getting closer.

“In the past couple of years, there has been more progression than in the past God knows how many years. And the DUP will constantly just keep putting up this barrier.”

NEWS

College Tribune 6th February 2007

5

Daylight Robbery ● UCD staff denied pay-rise ● Picketing at Minister for Education's clinic UCD staff staged a picket of Minister for Education Mary Hanafin’s constituency clinic last Monday over her department’s decision not to grant a three percent pay rise to University staff.

The SIPTU protestors outlined their grievances in a letter delivered to the Minster after a demonstration outside her Dun Laoghaire clinic.

The dispute concerns the decision of a departmental committee to rescind the pay increase that was due on December 1st under the auspice of ‘Towards 2016’.

The Education Performance Verification Group (ESPVG) recommended that the increase not be paid to the University staff causing a degree of frustration that was palpable at the demonstration last Monday.

The anger of the protestors was directed at the decision of the ESPVG and on the implication to staff in an economy with an inflation rate of nearly five percent.

The Minister’s clinic was underway within the building as the protestors congregated outside. Dr. Kieran Allen, President of the UCD SIPTU Section Committee, addressed the crowd and highlighted the confusion of staff at the decision to rescind the pay increase. Allen then delivered the letter to the Minister.

“We have no idea why they’ve decided to recall the pay rise,” Allen told The College Tribune, “All we’ve been given is some sort of vague note that says they want more outcome that can be measured and exemplified.”

The ESPVG reported to Bridget McManus, the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science,

Eoin Delap who in turn recommended that the pay increase be revoked.

The letter delivered by Allen questioned the transparency of the process; “Many of us (SIPTU members of staff) were unaware of the existence of this committee but the more we look at its procedures the more disturbed we have become.”

Demonstrator Gerry Hughes (Engineering) had similar concerns about the decision to withhold the pay increase; “A body we don’t know about and have no representation on, is making the decision not to pay us,” he explained.

The rejection by the ESPVG coincides with UCD President Dr. Hugh Brady’s aspirations for a 55pc pay increase. Hughes declared, “In relation to what the President is looking for, its fine if he gets it, but we deserve our share as well. The restructuring here was dictatorial.”

Hughes also highlighted Brady’s role, declaring, “The President should be roaring from the roof about what we did. We deserve this pay increase.”

The letter delivered to the Minster identified three aspects of the process that SIPTU members are disappointed with; that no University staff representative sits on the ESPVG, that the committee is not in contact with staff and despite this situation is capable of withholding the pay increase.

It goes on to ask that the Minister “examine the operation of the ESPVG and ensure that the staff get their rightful pay award.”

Allen was at pains to stress the pressure that this rejection puts on SIPTU

members; “We’re living in a very expensive country; inflation has risen by 5pc.

We just find it baffling that we’re not been given a pay rise.”

The rejection of the pay increase followed the processing of an Action Plan that was presented to the ESPVG by the UCD Partnership Committee.

News of this development emerged in January. Allen reacted to this at Monday’s demonstration by stating, “We find that very disturbing and people should realise this type of process is not what we voted for.”

While an avenue is available for the Partnership Committee to review the Action Plan and present it once more to the ESPVG, it’s clear that those present last Monday are perplexed by its rejection.

The letter presented to Minister Hanafin states, “We shall, for the moment, assume that this is not an attempt to impose new forms of management by stress.”

Negotiation will begin formerly in June for the next instalment of ‘Towards 2016’.

A spokesperson for UCD declared, “The University’s Partnership Committee is actively engaged in the re-drafting of its Action Plan, required by the terms of ‘Towards 2016’, and expects that this will be submitted to the ESPVG shortly.

“UCD is at the forefront of the necessary reform measures which are occurring within the university sector and the University believes that staff at UCD have supported the process of ongoing change within the university in a positive manner.

“The re-structuring of academic units, the introduction of modularisation and

Taking a stand: UCD SIPTU President Kieran Allen rallies the troops

the creation of graduate schools, together with the ongoing development of research capability within the context of fourth level education in Ireland are all examples of the types of ongoing change which are envisaged within ‘Towards 2016’.

“UCD is of the view that staff have played a crucial role in these developments and that this level of engagement

fully complies with the requirements of ‘Towards 2016’.

“Every effort is being made to ensure that the level of co-operation with the change and modernisation programme, which has been evident in UCD, is fully reflected in the Action Plan required under the terms of ‘Towards 2016’ to qualify for the payment of the award which UCD believes is fully justified.”

Following in their footsteps

UCD's Forensic Laboratory has recently taken part in a new initiative, which is set to aid the Gardai's fight against crime.

The Laboratory at UCD was one of six labs selected worldwide to assess an innovative project called STAMP - Shoeprint Tyreprint Acquisition and Matching Program.

STAMP.com explains that STAMP “is a unique pattern matching application that uses advanced pattern matching techniques to classify a shoe or tyre print. It enables the user to

Bernadette Scott acquire a shoeprint and search a database of shoeprint patterns to gain information about a shoe type in seconds."

At the end of 2006, research to extract shoeprints from crime scenes was successfully completed. Scientists are confident that the program will play a vital role in attempts to link suspects to crime scenes.

The Gardai have previously encountered high

levels of achievement when using this process of “image processing and pattern recognition" to analyse footwear impressions.

In 1998, Gardai were able to link a suspect of the murder of a farmer from Clare directly to the crime following examination of the floorboards of the victims' home.

The system, developed in 2003, was sent to UCD's Forensic Science Laboratory as part of a BETA trial. The trial, which was aimed at compiling a report “on the functionality and usability

of the system," has proved to be a success.

Professor Richard Reilly of the School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering has informed the College Tribune that Enterprise Ireland have funded the program and “are currently seeking companies to license the technology."

The research has been conducted at Garda headquarters in the Phoenix Park. Liam Fleury, Head of the laboratory's chemistry section, has stated, “Initial results from the project are encouraging."

College Tribune 6th February 2007

College Tribune Survey 2007

7

YOU'RE UP TO Grave concerns over sexual behaviour Worrying statistics regarding the sexlives of students in UCD proclaim that 39% of students have had unprotected sex, while an astonishing 85% have never been tested for a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

38% percent of students have had just the one sexual partner, while 34% have had two to three, 13% have had three to five and 9% have had five to ten partners.

54% of these lost their virginity between the ages of sixteen and eighteen while 31% were aged between nineteen and twentyone.

The survey also revealed that 65% of students in UCD have lost their virginity, while 35% have never had sex.

Students’ Union Welfare Officer Barry Colfer highlighted the difficulties surrounding STI screening for UCD students as the main reason for what he described as “truly shocking figures”.

A specialist in the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dr. Mary Cronin, stated, “Many STIs have no signs or symptoms.

For example, more than seven out of ten women infected with Chlamydia have no symptoms and may not realise they are

infected.

“STIs can have devastating consequences for people’s health and fertility if undiagnosed and untreated. I would urge those who are sexually active to practice safe sex.

But those who feel they are at risk should get checked by their General Practitioner or clinic. Early diagnosis is essential.”

The survey also revealed that 24% of sexually active females have taken the morning after pill.

39%

of students have had unprotected sex

35%

of students have never had sex

15%

Impracticalities of education Despite being engrossed in third level education, 52% of students in UCD are not capable of changing a tyre, while a further 41% cannot change a plug.

It also emerged that over one in ten students are incapable of boiling an egg or indeed cooking for themselves.

17% of students cannot use a washing machine, while 15% are not sufficiently expert to change a light bulb.

Students' Union President Dan Hayden declared, “It's atrocious. Perhaps there should be an elective in tyre changing. It's amazing that they're able to get dressed and shower in the morning."

of students cannot change a lightbulb

41% of students cannot change a plug

Students likely to vote Fianna Fail

Majority want coalition out of Iraq

Fianna Fail topped the poll with regard to which party students are most likely to vote for in the next General Election with 35%.

The party's support among UCD students has dropped since last year however, when 39% of students pledged allegiance.

The Progressive Democrats' garden isn't as rosy however with 6% declaring they will vote for the PDs this summer.

41% said they were not happy with the performance of the current government but just 23% feel that there is viable opposition.

21% of students are voting for Fine Gael, 16% for Labour, 7% for an independent candidate, while only 5% have pledged allegiance to the Green Party.

The recent decision by Sinn Fein to pass the Ard Comhairle motion and co-operate with the police service in Northern Ireland seems to have paid dividends among the electorate, as nearly 10% of students declared they will vote Sinn Fein in the next election, as opposed to just 3% who said they would during last year's survey.

A majority of 57% of students believe that the US-led coalition in Iraq should withdraw. 80% of students fundamentally opposed the war in Iraq, while 64% believed that US military's use of Shannon could not be justified.

47% of students believe that the war cannot be justified as opposed to a third of students who believe that it in fact can be.

These figures have jumped since last year's survey carried out by this newspaper, when it was revealed that only 68% of students were opposed to the war in Iraq.

80% of students are opposed to the Irag War

Hostile atmosphere around campus bars

35%

of students likely to vote Fianna Fail

of students likely to vote Fine Gael

16%

21% of students likely to vote Labour

The survey revealed that 41% of students believe that the staff and security of the bars on campus have no respect for students. 16% of students have been mistreated by a member of staff or security in the bars, while a further 16% have felt intimidated by staff or security.

It also notes that 57% of students feel they are better treated in their local bars than in the campus bars.

Students’ Union President Dan Hayden was dismissive of the figures, declaring, “I’d like every student on campus to feel comfortable in the bars but I think the staff and security have a difficult job to do.

“I’d say if you surveyed the staff, 80% of them would say students have mistreated

41%

believe bar personnel have no respect for students them. I’m happy with the staff there. The student bar is not an easy bar to work in and they work hard, they’re very experienced.

“If people have a problem with staff, they should register their complaints with the bar manager. And I don’t think those figures are particularly high.”

6 z

College Tribune Survey 2007

College Tribune 6th February 2007

WE KNOW WHAT

The College Tribune last week surveyed 300 students to ascertain their views on a range of topics. The anonymous survey included every undergraduate faculty in UCD and students were chosen at random in proportion to the amount of UCD students in each faculty. The full results can be viewed in the College Tribune office.

Drugs play a part in lives of majority It has emerged that 59% of students have tried cannabis, which, interestingly, is the very same amount of students who admitted to sampling the drug during last year’s College Tribune Annual Survey.

Also, 10% have taken cocaine and ecstasy while a disturbing 3% admitted to having experimented with the class A drug heroin.

The figures were compounded by the fact that 77% know somebody who has taken cannabis, while 66% know somebody who has tried cocaine, 45% know somebody who has dabbled with ecstasy and a staggering 19% of students know somebody who has been on heroin.

45% of students also declared that they believe there to be a cocaine problem among their age group in this country.

As far as the debate to legalise cannabis goes, 41% are in favour of it, while a worrying four percent also believe heroin should be legalised.

On hearing the results, Students’ Union Welfare Officer Barry Colfer declared, “I’m surprised by some of those figures, especially the class A drugs like heroin.

“I think the figures regarding the amount of people who know somebody on the particular drugs are interesting because they expose the fact that drugs play a major part

in the lives of students, and that’s something that needs to be addressed.

“I’m not blown away by the fact that 45% think there’s a cocaine problem or that 41% think cannabis should be legalised, that just goes to

show the environment in which student life is taking place now.”

Meanwhile, the number of students taking cocaine has dropped to 10% this year, in comparison with 14% who admitted to taking the drug during last year’s survey.

59%

of students have tried cannibis

45% believe there is a cocaine problem

41% think cannibis

should be made legal

Vast majority find parking hell A staggering 81% of students believe that UCD has a parking problem, while Students' Union Welfare Officer Barry Colfer, who has campaigned on the issue this year, declared his surprise that the figure was not higher.

Car-pooling has been promoted as a means to tackle the issue on campus, and 15%

of people are opting for this alternative.

Colfer explained, “Anyone who drives to college, or anyone who knows anyone who drives to college, knows that there is a serious problem with parking in this university. It is encouraging though that 15% of people car-pool, I wouldn't have thought it that high."

More than half of students suffer blackouts

Food on campus offers no value for money There is much agitation among students with regard to the value for money on offer when it comes to food and drink.

74% of students do not believe that UCD offers value for money when it comes to the food and beverage outlets that are dotted around the campus.

Students' Union Welfare Officer Barry Colfer agreed with the sentiment of the majority, “It's so difficult for students to eat healthily at a reasonable price in UCD. “Students can bring packed lunches, but at the end of the day, a lot of people are here for maybe twelve hours a day, and a hot meal is

74% do not believe UCD outlets offer value for money

necessary over that period. Especially around exam time, you need brain food and the price of food is scandalous.

“You have the ‘Student Specials', but they're generally like salt and water."

The survey revealed that 51% of students have had a blackout as a result of alcohol or drugs. The figure has risen 5% since last year’s College Tribune survey and Students’ Union Welfare Officer Barry Colfer has expressed grave concerns about this statistic in particular.

“The average student is drinking above the recommended amount of alcohol per week and this is something that is very worrying. For more than half of students to have blacked out is shocking really. This has to be about education, people don’t realise the amount of damage they’re doing to their bodies when they consume that much alcohol.”

32% of students confessed to drinking two nights a week, while 26% drink three nights a week and 12% consume alcohol four nights out of seven.

Also, a third of students declared that they felt alcohol or drugs were necessary in order to have a good time. This is a huge leap from the 19% who identified alcohol and drugs as necessary components for a good time, during last year’s survey.

It also emerged that a quarter of students who have had unprotected sex, did so as a result of alcohol or drugs.

13% of students consume be-

tween nine and eleven drinks per night, while a further eight percent go through twelve to fifteen drinks.

This is classified as binge drinking, and Colfer believes that the figures are “really alarming.”

32% 26% 12% drink twice a week

drink three times a week

drink four times a week

OPINION Those days are gone folks Paul Dillon visits the RDS for Sinn Fein’s special Ard Fheis on policing and offers analysis There are two small protests outside Sinn Fein’s special Ard Fheis. One is made up of a small number of men who hold up poster saying ‘No Terrorists in government’. The other is made up of Republican Sinn Fein members (mainly young men). They distribute leaflets with the message ‘True Republicans say: No British police, no British laws, no British courts’ and reiterate their call for Eire Nua and a full British withdrawal from Ireland.

The Ard Fheis has its eyes on the bigger picture. In Gerry Adams’ opening address, he tells delegates “This is bigger than Sinn Fein, bigger than Gerry Adams”. It is a theme returned to by Gerry Kelly, Martin McGuiness and Mary Lou MacDonald in their opening addresses.

Only McGuinness is willing to get gritty. He has harsh words for The Irish Government, the British Government, and the RUC. The SDLP comes in for stiff criticism and criticism for the SDLP is to become another reoccurring theme of the Ard Fheis.

With the pan-nationalist font in tatters, McGuiness goes for the jugular and hits out at the Republicans that greeted him with abuse at the gate.

“I come from a tradition - the IRA tradition - that fought the RUC and the British to a standstill. Others didn’t fight them to a start,” he tells the delegates to huge applause.

As the debate gets into full swing, a very visible pattern quickly emerges. The delegates speaking in favour far outweigh the delegates speaking against. Speakers from Dublin like Daithi Doolin and Brendan Fearon put the decision to be taken in the context of Sinn Fein’s overall political strategy.

Alluding to the previous policy, Fearon tells the delegates “Those days are gone folks”. Speakers argue that the change of policy on policing at the juncture will bring a united Ireland closer.

The dissenting voices proceed carefully. Every ‘no’ speaker either starts or finishes with a firm reminder to the delegates that they are against the policing policy change, not the approach of the leadership or the general direction of Sinn Fein.

With an eye on the history books, a speaker from Cork tells the delegates that the practice of accepting state structures as a strategy has a tendency to become something more permanent.

Perhaps the best-received speaker on the ‘no’ side of the debate was a delegate from Galway West. He concentrated mainly on poling problems in the South of Ireland and discrimination he has witnessed in the recruitment into the Guards of applicants who are Republican or Working class.

It went down like on a house on fire. His contribution was the closest to a challenge to the leadership from the floor that was witnessed. He wonders why Bertie Ahern and Mark Durkan were more prominent in their reaction to the O’loan report in the days after its release than members of the Sinn Fein leadership and wonders whether or not this has anything to do with the change of policy on policing.

A speaker from Ogra Sinn Fein asks delegates to look towards Ogra’s document on an alternative strategy for policing and argues that a yes vote will strengthen “Britain’s Imperialist hold on the North East and re-enforce the capitalist system”. Similar arguments are made in the material being distributed by the Socialist Workers Party outside the event.

Some of the speakers made similar arguments but on different sides of the debate. Some argued for a ‘yes’ vote because a ‘yes’ vote will seriously wind up and undermine Unionism. Other delegates suggest a no vote will seriously wind up and undermine unionism. Things being the way they are in the DUP, who is to say but that both arguments are correct?

Gerry Adams was visible at all times on the two big screens from his spot just behind the speaker’s rostrum. Speaker after speaker - on both sides of the debate - are congratulatory towards the leadership for boosting Sinn Fein’s political strength.

You have to go outside the front gate of the RDS to find any substantive criticism of the Sinn Fein leadership. A small group of former Sinn Fein members hold a banner urging delegates to “Vote no to Collusion”.

Ger, a former SF member from Inchicore, says that he has never seen so many Sinn Fein members admire a footbath and contends that his former comrades steer clear from the protestors at the gate for fear of reprisal from the party leadership.

He argues that the leadership has the debate all sown up and that those who mount a serious challenge to the SF leadership on the policy of policing or anything else will either be formally expelled or informally excluded from any real influence within the organisation.

When a vote is called, the delegates return a Yes vote of about 9-1. The policing ball, for now at least, is firmly out of the Sinn Fein court.

Paul Dillon is a former president of the Student's Union

Why nuclear is not an option Eoin Mac Aodha explores the options available for this country with regard to the seemingly inevitable energy crisis The argument put forward by major business interests in Ireland is that we need to engage in a debate on nuclear power.

The argument proffered is that in order to maintain our economic competitiveness we need a secure and vast energy supply.

At the moment we lag behind our economic competitors in the key components used to measure energy namely; security of supply, competition in the market, price and renewable’s, It doesn’t take a nuclear scientist to realise that our reliance on the importation of energy leaves us lagging in the first department.

Recent decisions to open up the market to competition and release ESB’s stranglehold has been praised by international commentators, however the State support for the ESB is still seen to be onerous by firms entering the market.

Again, in terms of price, we’re like Fianna Fail: a lot done more to do.

Finally and perhaps most importantly lies the area of renewable’s. Obviously being an island state we enjoy obvious advantages, in particular the utilisation of wind farms.

Once more, it doesn’t take a nuclear scientist to figure out that there’s a lot of wind by the sea and that wind propels windmills, which can in turn provide energy.

Last week in this newspaper, the leader of the Green Party, Trevor Sargent, advocated such a stance stating that if we utilised a fraction of our ocean territory we’d be able to export energy.

In fairness, experts could challenge Sargent’s assertions and this writer does not claim to be an expert on energy.

However, the fact remains that those who argue in favour of nuclear energy couch the debate in a contrived and manipulated manner. They argue that nuclear power is our only real option and that we at least owe it to ourselves to have a debate on the matter.

This issue of having a debate is an attempt to morally legitimise something that

That is a repugnant legacy to leave. Not content with raising carbon emissions to equally repugnant levels and irreparably damaging the earth’s atmosphere and its surface, we now want to sodomise its core as well.

The issue, like so many others, boils down to economics and the belief that nuclear is the last resort for business.

In a world driven by rampant consumerism, our energy needs are in"The real falling point satiable. Indeed, it would be naïve is the absolute moral to think that the world will suddenly responsible and see the erillegitimacy of burying become ror of his ways, repent and use energy nuclear waste in the responsibly. there must be a concerted earth. This waste will driveHowever, for clean renewable energy that take up to 20,000 doesn’t leave a stain on the earth.

The real debate is not how we can years to become safe. rationalise using nuclear power, but That is a repugnant how we can make a concerted drive for renewable energy. legacy to leave" There is an onus on all political parties, not just the Green Party, to engage in this matter and to make hard really should not be legitimised.

The pro-nuclear lobby argument is that decisions devoid of vested interests.

It may be difficult for Fianna Fail to exnuclear power is safe and that it will allow Ireland to maintain economic competive- plain to their friends in their tent at the ness when fossil fuels run out. By doing so Galway races why they’re pursuing a responsible energy policy that may impact on we will avoid a return to the dark ages.

To an extent, nuclear power has become business in the short term, but will leave safer and incidents like Chernobyl have a lasting and far reaching impact that will become less likely to recur. Another objec- have ridiculously positive implications.

Occasions when political parties pursue tion, that terrorists could exploit a reactor and cause major fall out could be circum- policies that have purely long-term benefits vented by internationally accepted security are few but it would be perhaps the greatest legacy any government could leave. standards.

The real falling point is the absolute moral illegitimacy of burying nuclear waste Eoin Mac Aodha holds an MA in Inrelations and is a former in the earth. This waste will take up to ternational editor of the College Tribune 20,000 years to become safe.

COMMENT

College Tribune 6th February 2007

9

LETTERS Box 74, Student Centre & LG 18, Newman Building, Dublin 4 Telephone: 01 - 7168501 E-mail: tribune@campus.ie The College Tribune reserves the right to edit all letters. The views expressed on this page are the views of the letter writers and do not reflect the views of the College Tribune.

Editorial

Keffiyehs Dear Sir, I have noticed with increasing regularity the amount of students wearing the traditional Palestinian headscarf or keffiyeh as a scarf.

The keffiyeh is worn by the rural Palestinian peasant and has in recent times been seen as symbol of Palestinian resistance, in particular due to the late Yasser Arafat's patronage.

I wonder whether any of UCD's clotheshorses know they are supporting such a noble cause or whether they just like the black and white squares?

Is mise le meas, Eoin Mac Aodha

Exams

I

t has emerged in recent weeks that there were more than just a few teething problems with the new format of exams in this college.

The modularisation and semesterisation that encompassed last semester’s Christmas exams threw up several problems for students and academics alike.

The most shocking occurrence was that one student suffering from Serabols Paulsey was forced to sit through eight hours of exams in one day. This sort of oversight from the college is simply not acceptable. It is just the latest example of a lack of consideration for students who are carrying a disability, a problem that has been well documented in this newspaper over the past months.

It is unclear whether the college is in a position to compensate the student in question, but it is undoubtedly necessary for UCD to carefully examine what has happened here, and ensure that nothing of the sort reoccurs in the future.

The exam results situation is another area where there have been problems. Between delays and leaked results, UCD have failed to maintain a degree of professionalism in this regard.

Admittedly, it must be remembered that this college is undergoing drastic changes in the way it conducts not just the exams but it’s entire teaching structure, and during change of this sort in any organisation, disruption is inevitable. It is important though that this disruption is kept to a minimum and that the college authorities carefully examine what went wrong at Christmas and ensure that such does not reoccur this Summer.

The reaction of the Students’ Union to these issues has been particularly encouraging. President Dan Hayden has declared that there is to be a committee in place to review the exam situation, whereby basic minimum requirements for students and in effect what is fair to expect of students, will be established.

Survey Results T

he results of the survey conducted by this newspaper over the past fortnight threw up some interesting results about students and the society we live in.

Perhaps the most scandalous of these was that nearly forty percent of students have had unprotected sex, while only 15% of sexually active students have ever had an STI screening. This, more than most of the figures produced, makes for fairly grim reading.

It highlights the need for an STI Screening Clinic on campus. Students’ Union Welfare Officer Barry Colfer has been making efforts this year to address the situation, and it is hoped that a clinic will be accommodated within the new Students’ Centre, whenever it is that that comes into fruition.

Another worrying fact is that over sixteen percent of students have been mistreated by a member of staff or security in the campus bars. And that forty one percent feel the staff and security have no respect for students.

This is unacceptable. The student bar belongs to the students of UCD. College life and the various plights of young people in general are difficult enough without feeling hassled or intimidated when deciding to go for a pint on the way home.

It must be appreciated that the bar staff and security have a thankless job to do, but it must also be ensured that they are held to account for their actions. Because as it stands, those who are guilty answer to nobody.

The rest of the statistics regarding drugs and alcohol were largely unremarkable, given the current climate of society and the culture in which young people today are living. In fact, some of what was established may encourage those who hold the stereotypical view of young people to change their outlook, and give students today that little bit more credit.

10 FEATURES

College Tribune 6th February 2007

Breaching the great firewall of China Censorship of the media in China is just another example of corruption within the Chinese government, writes Karen O’Connell “The Internet heralded unfettered ac- saging services, chartrooms and text cess to information in a borderless messages.

Political censorship is built into all world,” declares Secretary General for Amnesty International Irene Khan, layers of China’s Internet infrastruc“Instead, companies are helping gov- ture. Known widely in the media as the ernments build borders to prevent “Great Firewall of China,” this aspect of their citizens from accessing infor- Chinese official censorship primarily targets the movement of information mation.”

Ancient China was one of the earli- between the global Internet and the est centre’s of civilisation, this country Chinese Internet.

The Ministry of Information Industry now holds one of the largest growing oversees Internet censorship in the economies in the world.

The Internet arrived in China in 1996 People’s Republic of China. The State on a rather small scale but has grown Council Information Office and the Chiexponentially ever since and continues nese Communist Party’s Propaganda to do so. The government has been Department largely direct policy about walking an uncertain path between what substantive content is to be cenpromotion and restriction, between in- sored, with input from other governvestment and clampdown and between ment and public security organs.

Internet routers, devices that deliver encouragement and deterrence.

For the past Fifty years, China has and direct packets of data back and been criticised by the international forth between networks, are an essencommunity, and Human Rights Or- tial part of Internet networks.

Most of today’s routers also allow ganisations for massive Human Rights network administrators to censor or abuses.

The Chinese government in its block—or, as the industry calls it, “filpresent form has absolute control over ter”—the data going through them, prostate politics, and it continually seeks gramming the router to block certain to eradicate threats to the stability of kinds of data from passing in or out of a network. the country.

Pioneer: Wikipedia's founder The same technology, however, can Jimmy Wales Examples include the jailing and disappearance of political opponents and also be easily employed to block politijournalists, custody regulation of the cal, religious, or any other category of assessing the public mood, the Internet press, regulation of religions and sup- content that the person programming is indeed a barometer, even though surveys suggest that users are hardly reppression of independence or secession- the router seeks to block.

In the middle of the huge open-plan resentative of the general population, ist movements.

In 1989, The Student Protests at newsroom of Sina Corporation in north- being mainly young, better educated Tiananmen Square were violently put western Beijing, a score of censors sit and male, not to mention the fact that to an end by the Chinese military af- in front of their screens. They are young it is highly monitored and censored.

China’s booming economy is now ter fifteen days of martial law. Human employees whose job is to examine Rights organisations estimated that up thousands of blogs and comments experiencing unprecedented levels of growth at seven and eight percentage to 2000 people were brutally murdered posted by internet-users.

Censorship is an around-the-clock per year. This growth has facilitated during this time. However, the Chinese Government released a death toll of task, designed to find anything that much foreign direct investment to the could have got through the filters and country in the form of Multinational oronly 150 people. ganisations.

Peaceful movements such as the Fa- might still offend the authorities.

China, a comunist state, is welcomDirect attacks on the party, its leadlun Gong have been outlawed in China and denied the right to exist. This is ers or on the political system rarely get ing these companies as it is facilitating this massive growth and booming directly in breach of the International through (or at least, not for long).

Even the Comunist Party itself pays economy.

Convention on Human Rights. The right But the cost that the people of China to practice a religion or way of life is attention to the deluge of public compay is much higher than any amount fundamental to these rights and is being suppressed by the government. "I don't agree with what of FDI. The downside to this growth In more recent years, the censor- Google have done. They is the price that the people of China pay for the so-called benefits of westship of information on the Internet is just another item to add to this long have been under a lot of ern economies.

The arrival of ‘Corporate America’ list of injustices. international pressure, Article nineteen of the Universal but I think that shows how has brought with it a multiplicity of willing to cater to and adDeclaration of Human Rights states; much people respected companies here to the regulations set out by the “Everyone has the right to freedom them. We thought Chinese Government regarding this of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions Google would have higher censorship. This mass breach of fundamental rights has been facilitated without interference and to seek, standards than this" and compounded by the presence of receive and impart information and these companies. ideas through any media and regardA large player in this international ment. Eager to acquire some legitimaless of frontiers.”

The escalation of the government’s cy, but anxious to avoid democracy, it is debate has been Google. The world’s largest search engine has entered the effort to neutralise critical opinion trying its hand at populism.

The Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, said Chinese market and agreed to these came after a series of large anti-Japanese, anti-pollution and anti-corruption recently that the government should lis- censorship laws. The search engine protests, many of which were organ- ten “extensively” to views expressed on will not access pages containing words ised or publicised using instant mes- the internet. With few other ways of like “freedom”, “Falun Gong” or “Marx-

ism”. It has agreed to be censored as per the Chinese Governments regulations.

Jimmy Wales is one of the founding fathers of Internet giant Wikipedia.

The not-for-profit organisation found the Chinese restrictions deplorable and would not agree to the censorships laws.

As a result of this Wikipedia has been closed off from the Chinese Market. “We will only agree to service china if there is unconditional access to information made,” Wales told the College Tribune.

Wales has been highly critical of Google’s compromised position in China. “I don’t agree with what Google have done. They have been under a lot of international pressure, but I think that shows how much people respected them. We thought Google would have higher standards than this.”

Amnesty International’s Secretary General Irene Khan continued to express her grave concerns regarding the issue.

“Whether succumbing to demands from Chinese officials or anticipating government concerns, companies that impose restrictions that infringe on human rights are being extremely shortsighted. The agreements the industry enters into with the Chinese government, whether tacit or written, go against

the IT industry’s claim that it promotes the right to freedom of information of all people, at all times, everywhere.”

Last year, Microsoft launched a portal in China that blocks use of words such as ‘freedom’ in blog text. The company recently closed down the blog of Zhao Jing, who used the blog name Michael An Ti, after he supported a strike against the politically motivated sacking of an editor at the Beijing News.

Yahoo has admitted revealing email account details of the journalist Shi Tao to the Chinese authorities, who was peacefully exercising his right to impart information, a move that contributed to his prosecution and sentencing to ten years in prison.

“Agreements between global corporations and the Chinese authorities has entrenched Internet censorship as the norm in China,” said Khan. “Internet companies justify their actions on the basis of Chinese regulations. In fact, such agreements and the resulting self-censorship, violate both international standards and China’s own constitution, which protects freedom of expression.”

Mr. Liu Zhengrong, Deputy Chief of the Internet Affairs Bureau of the State Council Information Office argued that only a “very few” foreign websites were blocked, and that was mostly because they contained pornography or terrorist information.

The BBC News website continues to be blocked in China, as do sites with any references to contested issues in China, such as Tibet, Taiwan, The Dali Lama. When words such as ‘Democracy’ and ‘Freedom’ are entered into a search engine, they result in a “page that cannot be displayed” screen.

Mr. Liu insisted that, “No one in China has been arrested simply because he or she said something on the Internet.”

Another well-known case that appeared to contradict his statement involves Li Zhi, who was sentenced to eight years in jail in 2003 for “subversion”. Human rights groups said Mr Li and four others jailed in 2003 were posting opinions on the Internet and calling for political change.

International law guarantees the right to freedom of information and the free flow of ideas across borders. The manner, in which IT companies are freely submitting to opaque Chinese policies, is clearly breaching these laws.

The future for Chinas’ economy is bright. Continued and consistent levels of growth and investment will bring forth China as the new global superpower in the world. However, it seems clear that as long as unethical Multinational Organisations continue to bow to the stern hand of China’s oppressive hand and censored regime, the people of China will pay the price for this economic success with their freedom.

Elections '07

Gunning for another five years In the second installment of a series of interviews with the major party leaders in the run-up to this summer’s General Election, Barra O Fianail meets Tainiste Michael McDowell and discusses the Progressive Democrats and what they have to offer How did you get involved in politics?

I went to UCD at the age of eighteen and joined Young Fine Gael and became their chairman after nine months. I then became involved in Dublin South East Fine Gael politics and chairman of the constituency, and director of elections and I held those offices on a rotating basis until 1983.

I had always been interested in politics, having studied it in UCD. Each of the other small parties have a very particular niche, what do the Progressive Democrats have to offer?

The PDs are a liberal republican party.

Liberalism means we’re liberal in economics and social policy. Republicanism means we believe in the values of a republic, that the state is the servant of all and the master of none.

We have a coherent philosophy which is set out in our party’s constitution and that is what we try to implement by way of policy.

What do the PDs offer that other parties don't?

We’re not a party of the left in that we don’t believe in socialism or state domination of society. However, we’re not the party of the conservative right either, we do believe in change. We believe in Justice. We believe in radical action to obtain economic performance.

When I was in UCD, the state in Ireland managed to run four banks, two shipping lines, all energy production including gas electricity, turf and oil refineries, sugar companies, vegetable processors, insurance companies, all communications and broadcasting. This was the dominance of the state in 1970’s and 1980’s Ireland.

What role do you want the PDs to play in the next Dail?

Well I want to do what’s been done for the last ten years. To get enough seats in the Dail to be a partner in a coalition government which would advance Ireland’s interests along the lines that have been successful so far.

I want in particular to keep going with liberal economics, to keep Ireland competitive internationally, to attract foreign direct investment, reward work and enterprise. I want to ensure that there is competition, oppose state monopoly, and oppose state domination. That’s the kind of things that I want to happen.

And is that in particular with Fianna Fail?

Well, I’m not married intellectually to Fianna Fail; if Fine Gael had the seats to go into government with the Progressive Democrats, I’d have no problem with that.

I have nothing against Fine Gael as a party. They decided to handcuff themselves to Labour and more recently the Greens in preference to the PDs. That’s their decision; it’s a disastrous political choice that will marginalise them. I believe they have nothing to offer in that combination to the Irish people because it’s a slump coalition. And I believe that they will be decisively rejected at the poles.

How do you feel about speculation that you might be the only person to hold a seat for your party in the next elections?

I hear all this pessimistic analysis, usually by left wing commentators, about the PDs but I remind you that this time five years ago, Mary Harney was faced with a situation where she had four TDs in the Dail, two of whom were proposing to retire and then came back after that election with eight seats. This time five years ago people were writing articles saying the PDs were going to be wiped out, and they weren’t, and there’s a very simple reason they weren’t.

THIS WEEK:

MICHAEL MCDOWELL

A slump coalition is anathema to the Irish people. They’re not going to vote for it. Enda Kenny, Pat Rabitte and Trevor Seargent are not going to get a majority of seats. No matter what way they push or shove between now and the election.

They offer a return to the politics of failure.

When that message is clearly understood and when the choices are clearly understood, I believe that it will come down to whether Fianna Fail are in a position to form a government with the PDs which they want to do as their first preference, or whether they are forced to go in with labour which they don’t want to do but are willing to do.

That is the real choice that is coming up in Irish politics.

You always been a very strong critic of Sinn Fein, but can an armed struggle ever be justified?

I think what Sinn Fein or the Provos’ did for a quarter of a century was completely destructive of the republican cause in Ireland, and what they’ve managed to do is to polarise Northern politics.

They themselves have been the beneficiaries in terms of increased support among the Catholic communities; they’ve come up in the stakes. But the price of that is that the DUP has become the dominant force in Northern politics, and that Northern politics is as polarised as ever and this is 30 years after Suningdale.

That’s an extraordinary situation to be in and I believe that bombing people, killing people and all the criminality that they engaged in has set back the cause of Irish unity by decades.

They have come on from that?

Well, the Provo has given up violence, and that’s a good thing, but they still remain what they were, which is a Marxist party.

All you have to do is read An Poblacht each week, which I do. I read recently that Ireland should learn from the Cuban revolution. I mean, that’s nonsense.

You have to look at which party they are aligned with in the European Parliament, parties of the Marxist left, communist parties and the like. They are living in a Marxist time warp and they have very little to offer Ireland.

The economic policies they have published are, in my view, stone aged in terms of what we need now. They’re talking about raising corporation tax. In a country that is doing very well out of the international financial sector, they’re talking about introducing a financial services tax.

Put it this way, they are living in the kind of time warp that the Marxist students of UCD had when I was there 30 or 40 years ago.

Do you think there will be power sharing in the North this year?

Yes I do.

Can you see a united Ireland?

I believe strongly in Irish unity, the one thing that anybody who is a genuine Irish republican should be concentrating their mind on is reconciling orange and green, it must be by persuasion, it must be by winning over hearts and minds. The very economic success of the south has been in my view the greatest persuader and the greatest changer of attitudes in Northern Ireland.

Do you believe Irish citizens are more entitled to a decent standard of living than non-Irish citizens?

I don’t take that view at all, if we allowed somebody to come and work in our economy whether they are coming with a view to becoming an Irish citizen or exercising their right under EU law to come and work here, they are as entitled to participate in our economy as Irish

60SECONDS Favourite Hobby?

Walking Favourite food?

Pasta Favourite Colour? Blue What music do you listen to? 60s people are in Britain, France or Germany.

So I don’t think there is a two-tier entitlement to participate in our economy or do well in Ireland.

Having said that, the purpose of immigration law is to enable Ireland as a sovereign independent state to regulate entry and exit from Ireland subject to European law, and therefore we do have the

"Kenny, Rabitte and Seargent are not going to get a majority.

They offer a return to the politics of failure" right to decide in broad policy terms how many people we want to come here and what kind of people we want to come.

We don’t owe the world a living; we have the right to regulate in accordance with our own national interest.

Do we have a responsibility to people in this world with unacceptable standards of living?

All humanity has a common sense of responsibility and a common sense of solidarity. That doesn’t mean that all the world is entitled to go anywhere in the world, we don’t live in that world and there would be international chaos if we said that because the developed nations owe the underdeveloped nations a duty of solidarity that this means anybody in an underdeveloped nation can go and live in a developed nation.

Because that wouldn't work, but certain things would?

sire among Irish people that American planes don't land in Shannon?

What car do you drive?

Second-hand Mercedes (Ten years old) Britney or Christina?

Neither. They weren't even born in the 60s.

Diana Ross.

Well, the right to come to Ireland except for EU citizens is not a right in a legal sense, or even a moral sense. If we owe solidarity to people in Africa, it is perhaps to help them in Africa, not to say everybody comes to Ireland because their economies out there are malfunctioning.

The 2004 referendum was to a large degree your referendum, I know the people voted on it because they had this choice, but it was you who gave them that choice?

Well, it was an 80-20 decision by the Irish people in which they decisively said that Irish laws in relation to nationality be the same as nearly every other state in the EU, and that is that you couldn’t come to Ireland and have a child here and then say you wanted to stay here for that reason.

Where do you stand on the war in Iraq?

I stand with the government; we were against the commencement of that war. We stood by the UN process and backed the secretary general when he looked for more time for the weapons inspectors to do their jobs. The US and UK along with other states intervened on the basis of the existence of a threat of weapons of mass destruction and it turned out that they were imaginary, they didn’t exist.

There was no UN mandate for a regime change in Iraq and a highly complex situation has arisen now which will be very difficult, for the countries who have armed forces there, to end. To not understand that the Arab-Israeli issue is part of the relationship between the west and the Islamic world is a big mistake.

There would seem be a general de-

No, I don’t think that’s the case. First of all, there is now a mandate for their presence going backwards and forwards to Iraq, unanimously adopted by the security council of the UN, and Ireland as a member state of the UN has a duty to support the mandate.

It would be very strange indeed if having allowed American troops to use Shannon during Kosovo and during Vietnam, that at this stage we said in relation to a mandated presence that they couldn’t.

What was your view on Saddam's execution?

Well I’m against the death penalty. I was one of the people who most strongly campaigned for the abolition of the death penalty and the removal of all reference to it in the Irish constitution.

Abortion is also an issue you'll face as party leader?

Yes, well I personally am against abortion. I don’t believe that it is desirable and I think that the Irish people have set out in the constitution what they see the right to life in Ireland as being, and that it is only in the case of a risk to the life of the woman where there is a justifiable basis for abortion.

In relation to the Students' Union mandate that exists against your presence in UCD, can you take any of this criticism as constructive?

No, I think its rubbish. It’s about as realistic as the student branch of the Progressive Democrats announcing that they have a ban against Gerry Adams. It’s nonsense. A Students’ Union just can’t do that.

It's more of an ideological thing; can you see any issue there?

No I don’t because I saw all the same people thirty years ago when I was in college, with all the same kind of ideas.

Its always been the case that a small group of hard left students dominated the Students’ Union, with a few exceptions.

If I found that the Young Progressive Democrats had mandated the exclusion of Gerry Adams from college, I’d laugh because it’s not a liberal thing to do, and it’s not a republican thing to do.

12 FEATURES

College Tribune 6th February 2007

Time to give Philip Connolly explores the repercussions of Sinn Fein’s decision to pass the Ard Comhairle Motion to co-operate with the Police Service in Northern Ireland, something that was a groundbreaking development in Northern Irish politics “I can’t say where we’ll be on the 26th of March because it depends on what happens during the election campaign. Hopefully people don’t become polarised,” remarks Jeffrey Donaldson MP (of the Democratic Unionist Party, and elected member of the Northern Ireland Assembly).

Donaldson’s positive and hopeful attitude was tempered by caution and allusions to the uncertainty that remains in regard to the March powersharing deadline.

He continues, “I think what we need to do now is translate the words of the motion into the actions on the ground regarding cooperation with the police, and remove the conditionality of the motion as well, to ensure that it is implemented in full and Sinn Fein don’t hold back, and I think there are encouraging signs of progress.”

Donaldson is referring to the decision from Sinn Fein to pass the Ard Comhaairle Motion to co-operate with the Police Service in Northern Ireland (PSNI).

In contrast, after talks lasting around fifteen minutes, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern emerged from No. 10 with beaming smiles and a blinding confidence that suggested that nothing was wrong.

The British Prime Minister joined the Taoiseach in telling the northern parties, “There is no reason for any further delay.” Blair continued to state that the decisions regarding power sharing were, “The most serious in Northern Ireland in decades.

“There is a tremendous yearning for this whole process to reach a conclusion”. Yet restoring devolution is not going to be nearly as simple as they would have us believe. If nothing is agreed within nineteen days of the Assembly elections on March 7th, the entire process collapses and returns to square one.

The St. Andrews agreement provided for an Assembly if two conditions could be met. The first was that Sinn Fein accept policing, the rule of law and the justice system. The second involved agreement by the Unionist parties to share power in new institutions.

At its recent party conference in Dublin, 90% of Sinn Fein’s members voted to give the party’s ruling executive the authority to declare its support for the PSNI and the criminal justice system, when devolution is restored and policing and justice powers are transferred to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Gerry Adams gushed, “Today you have created the potential to change the political landscape on this island forever. You have created the opportunity to significantly advance our struggle and you have seized the opportunity to further our primary objective of united Ireland through the building of greater political strength.”

A spokesman for Tony Blair said the Prime

Minister welcomed the “historic decision and recognised the leadership it has taken to get to this point”. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the ballot was a “landmark decision” which paved the way for North-

"Today you have created the potential to change the political landscape on this island forever" Gerry Adams

ern Ireland power sharing. He said, “It is vital that we continue to maintain the momentum from the St Andrews agreement and the timetable set out in that agreement.”

Later, Adams went as far as encouraging young republicans to join the PSNI. “If young republicans, or indeed any age of republicans, want to join it, that’s their right and we would support them doing that,” he said. “There’s no point us calling upon people to work with the police if we are not also prepared to support those who want to join, but I think there’s a big onus on the PSNI to win that sort of confidence.”

Adams differentiated between civic policing and the ongoing problems over “political policing”, and

Major Players: DUP leader Ian Paisley and PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde

said there were Republican concerns about collusion. He said “abusers” within the ranks of the PSNI needed to be “weeded out”.

Yet the principle problem still remains: Trust.

Enter Dr. Paisley. “What about McCartney” was his principle response. The probe into the murder of Robert McCartney would seem to be the true acid test of Sinn Fein’s new support for policing in northern Ireland.

A father of two small children, McCartney was a Catholic native to the predominantly Catholic Short Strand area of Belfast, and allegedly was a supporter of Sinn Fein.

On January 30th 2005, he was enjoying a drink in Magennis Bar in Belfast with a friend, Brendan

FEATURES 13

College Tribune 6th February 2007

e up the gun Devine. The two became involved in a brawl, which led to McCartney being dragged into the street, beaten and stabbed.

What made the murder so remarkable were the 72 witnesses present. It is claimed that McCartney’s killers issued a threat to all involved, and promptly removed any evidence from the scene. No ambulance was called.

As the PSNI launched their investigation they were met with a “wall of silence”, with none of the estimated 72 witnesses to the altercation coming forward with information. In conversations with family members, many potential witnesses claimed to have been in the pub’s toilets at the time of the attacks; this led to the toilets being dubbed the Tardis, after the time machine in Dr. Who, which is much bigger on the inside than on the outside.

Police carrying out search operations in Catholic areas of Belfast in connection with the investigation were attacked with stones and missiles. Sinn Féin claimed that the investigation was being used as an excuse to disrupt the community and accused the PSNI of heavyhandedness.

Over a thousand people attended a vigil in memory of McCartney five days after his murder.

A similar nu m b e r at t e n d e d his funeral.

Although one man was charged with his murder, the McCartney family believes a dozen people were involved.

The Real IRA were recently responsible for a firebomb campaign against six DIY stores in Newry and a mortar attack on Craigaon police station,

that their will be no problem in pulling the plug on the entire operation. In such an event, an ominously named Plan B will come into effect where power is shared in a joint partnership between Dublin and London, something neither party would be satisfied with.

And so we look to the future, and the Ministers and Prime Minsters: Betie assurances seem to be Ahern, Tony Blair and NI Secretary definitely maybe. While of State Peter Hain Adams seems to be cooperating, there is no telling deal breakers, and if one of the parhow the support of the PSNI ties’ manifestos isn’t up to Blair and will turn out given the continuing Ahern’s standards, the election can presence of issues such as the McCa- easily be halted, an issue nominally rtney case and recently alleged collu- up to voters. sion between Northern Ireland police So are any steps forward really beand loyalist killers. The threat of Plan ing made? The ambiguity of the DUP B seems squarely aimed at Paisley belies the progress Sinn Fein has unand his ambiguous statements. And doubtedly made, yet one could hardly so it seems uncertainty is yet again blame them for being sceptical given the order of the day. the lessons of history. When comproBut at least hope seems, for once, mises are the order of the day, polito be warranted. Plans to set up a special committee of the Irish Parliament that would deal with Northern Ireland affairs have been confirmed by the Irish government.

It is believed Northern Ireland MPs would have the right to speak to meetings of the proposed committee. Full details have not been announced but Tanaiste Michael McDowell said the Irish government are moving ahead with the proposal.

While the plan has been welcomed by the SDLP as a positive step forward, Sinn Fein has noted that it falls short of a previous agreement to have Northern local representatives in the Dail.

Unsurprisingly, some loyalist parties did not welcome the proposal.

Ian Paisley Junior called it a “fantasy committee” for Nationalists. Ulster Unionist Party leader, Sir Reg. Empey dismissed it as an unwelcome and unwarranted interference.

The election itself raises certain problems. The DUP and Sinn Fein are the obvious potential

"I think what we need to do now is translate the words of the motion into the actions on the ground regarding cooperation with the police" Jeffrey Donaldson, MP as dissident republicans refuse to fade into the background. Somehow there’s a long way to go yet.

Nobody, it seems, can get their hands on a solid warranty for power sharing in the North. Blair and Ahern have sent a clear message to the DUP

cies become a great deal more complicated, neither side wanting to show their hand or lose ground.

Perhaps the people of Northern Ireland will finally see a successful power sharing government, and Sinn Fein and the DUP will finally agree on something. Uncertainty still lurks underneath the smiles of Ahern and Blair; maybe soon they could be genuine.

14 FEATURES

College Tribune 6th February 2007

Not burning bras but building bridges

Claire Spelman explores attitudes to feminism and wonders has it still got a place in society

“I support womens’ rights but I don’t time. Feminism is an umbrella term, believe in feminism as such”, says a spectrum. The goals that unify eveJenny Higgins, second year History of rything on that spectrum are justice, Art and Philosophy student in UCD. equality, and freedom for all women.

“By and large, the idea is that a so“Feminism in my head is associated with extreme feminists and while I ciety which respects men and women support women’s rights and female alike is a much more humane, fulfilling empowerment and equality, I don’t place for everybody, men and women believe in really strong feminism be- alike, to live. As Betty Frieden, author cause I think it’s just another way of of ‘The Female Mystique’ (1963) put it, ‘men are not the enemy here, they are being sexist, but towards men.”

This student’s position is a very com- fellow victims’.”

It’s easy to understand why people mon one. She supports ideas not only common but essential to all branches would now like to enjoy the general of feminism. However, feminism is a assumption that men and women are negative thing for her because she does equal and leave ‘feminism’ and female not want to associate herself with one rights campaigning in the past as minor element of extremist feminism just an ugly memory of harder times. that brands men as the enemy. But this As Siobhan Killen, second year English is an image of feminism that has been major BA says; “The youth of today popularised by tend to take the media. things for grantAriel Levy "It doesn't matter if ed and harking who is contrib- somebody calls herself back to stereuting editor at tend to a feminist. People otypes New York magassociate cerazine and au- don't call themselves tain words (i.e. thor of ‘Female feminism) with Black Panthers Chauvinist certain things”.

Pigs’ explained “Our parents’ anymore. It's more to the College generation got important what you the end of the Tribune that it is the work, stand for and how women’s movenot the word, when it you act than what ment, that counts. was all very “I think that new, women you call yourself" feminism’s weren’t allowed just a word to wear trouand that we shouldn’t get caught up in sers to college and all the rest whereas that. Recently I was talking to (Ameri- we’ve come up in a world where we can can feminist icon) Gloria Steinem. She take it for granted. Women can pretty was saying she had done a speech and much do what ever they want: they someone had said to her, ‘my daughter can go to college, they can vote, they hasn’t even heard of you, it’s so terri- can join the army; they can wear what ble’. Gloria’s response was, ‘It doesn’t ever the hell they want. So we don’t matter if she knows who I am, what know any different as a generation.” matters is that she knows who she is.’ But McAuliffe reminds us that even in “It doesn’t matter if somebody calls contemporary Ireland there are ineherself a feminist if she is one. People qualities that need people to challenge don’t call themselves Black Panthers an- them if they are to be to be changed, ymore. It’s a term from a time. It’s more “While some laws have been changed, important what you stand for and how there are still huge problems around you act than what you call yourself.” childcare for example. Women still only Dr. Mary McAuliffe (Professor of Medi- earn about 80% of what men do for eval History and Women’s Studies at the same jobs in this country, because UCD) explains, “To say you’re a feminist, with childcare, men are more likely to is like saying you’re religious. It means do overtime.

Women are still at the lower levels of something and nothing at the same

Feminist Author: Ariel Levy

industry and education. You have a majority of women starting at BA degrees in college but then as you get to staff you have more women on the lower grades and men on the upper grades.

“And it’s the same in most industries, so while women are in the workforce, they’re not reaching the top positions in vast numbers. The glass ceiling is going but it’s not gone yet. Why aren’t women getting out there and agitating more? Why can’t Ireland be more like Finland and provide adequate childcare facilities for all of its working population?”

But she is hopeful for the future in Ireland: “For a while there, in the last decade, I thought maybe feminism was going to die because young women seemed so anti-feminist, but actually in the last couple of years there seems to have been a revival of interest. Not among everyone, but among enough

women that they can continue on the fight, and perhaps take up their own fight, around the whole issue of reproductive rights.

“Now eco-feminism is something that’s becoming much more interesting and much more challenging for young women. I’ve noticed now how in the last couple of years there are more and more young delegates like students not just academics who are coming and giving papers.”

For a country where homosexuality was still illegal in 1992 and until the late 1970s, a female teacher had no choice but to quit her job when she had her first child, progress in the last thirty years for equal rights has been fantastic. Today, considerably more women than men are becoming solicitors and barristers every year in this coun-

try. But on a global scale, feminists still have a lot to fight for.

Whatever about ‘feminism’, it is not yet time to forget about human rights, and under the heading of human rights, it is not yet time for us to forget about women’s rights.

When asked what the issues for contemporary feminists are, both McAuliffe and Levy said the main causes for concern were women’s rights abuses abroad, and also the environment. “Idea’s of feminism and human rights are no use if the whole planet’s underwater” Levy asserts.

We might think of ourselves as ‘postfeminist’ here in Ireland, there is a danger that this mentality might make us complacent and passive. If we feel that we are in the lucky position where it’s not necessary for a woman fight for her rights here, shouldn’t we look outward?

Shouldn’t we find out what we can do to help and support other women to fight for their rights?

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College Tribune 6th February 2007

Traversing the roof tops John O’Flynn speaks to traceur Kevin Rice as he explores what the extreme sport “Parkour is the efficient movement constantly adapt to his environment. utilised by an individual to overcome They feel they become more aware of various types of terrain with the their environment at all times, as well intent of finding a spiritual truth,” as gaining a different perspective on explains Kevin Rice, aka ‘Insidious’, their home towns by practicing Park“We choose to move in such a way our in local areas. as nature intended, viewing archiDerived from techniques pioneered tecture as our environment and tra- by French soldiers to increase their versing it as such. Humans accept agility and ability to move across terwalking as the only normal form of rain, traceurs have developed a philomoving around, yet we continuously sophical attitude to what they see as admire the wonder of nature.” their art. Free running, a similar pracIreland-based Rice has been train- tice closely associated with Parkour, ing at Parkour since August 2004. also borders closely on dance as it Despite once being a rollerblader, he emphasises the aesthetic element of is now firmly converted to this French the human body in motion. discipline, which he practices daily.

Rice is both philosophical and pracParkour is viewed by its practition- tical in his attitude to Parkour. “Some ers as both an extreme sport and practice for fun, some train to reach something like a martial art. However, a little enlightenment, some train to there is no physical combative ele- stay fit. I train for all three. Parkment in the practice, which involves our has affected how I view moving through an environment – usu- the world around me and has ally urban – making use of obstacles helped me to evade wouldsuch as bins, lampposts, railings and be muggers from time to even buildings to jump over, hang off, time. The art of escape at and generally treat in a similar way to it’s most useful. the objects used “Aesthetic by a gymnast. The "Our love of the spectacle and “traceur” (practiimpractical movetioner of Parkour) discipline gave us ments are not thus turns what are a lot, so we wanted Parkour, so they do intended as merely not enter my trainpractical objects to give something ing in any way. I into tools for the back which took the will usually drill completion of the techniques form of providing most non-competitive on various tersport. the community rains, varying wall Although built surfaces, with memorable heights, around a core of new materials etc. specific movejams to attend" When I am conments and techtent in an area, I niques, the varying nature of obsta- am able to switch my brain off and my cles encountered forces the traceur to body will react naturally to my terrain.

The feeling of freedom encapsulated in that moment is something I crave. I only wish it lasted.”

“It has also given me an inner tranquility and an increased ability to focus. It has made me more aware of those around me and furthered my self-confidence. Even so, it’s much easier to try and vault over a 15 foot drop than to ask out a nice girl.”

Rice’s dreams of spreading the influence of Parkour around Ireland led him to organise ‘Show The Flow’, a large Parkour meeting which occurs every three months in various locations around Ireland. The next one will take place on March 25th around Dublin’s city centre.

“Our love of the discipline gave us a lot, so we wanted to give something back which took the form of providing the community with memorable jams to attend.

“The scene in Ireland is gradually increasing, with Dublin and Belfast being the centre-points of recruits.

Despite a few negatives on the ground such as arrogance or competitiveness in a few areas, the overwhelming majority of traceurs care about nothing but enjoying themselves and helping others to progress.

“Those who aren’t of this nature won’t be practicing for much longer, as they’re in it for the wrong reasons.

Parkour isn’t for everybody, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it. 99

percent of traceurs are super-friendly and eager to help you out.”

When asked about advice for beginners, Kevin cautions eager new traceurs, “Take your time. Try to find an experienced local who will set you right. If not, just take everything in small steps.

“When you start out, you’ll want to hurl yourself at everything, but why be a blazing fire that burns out quickly due to injury, when you could become a powerful and enduring flame through controlled growth? Play safe and respect pedestrians at all costs.”

For more information about Parkour consult: www.pkire.com or www.parkour.net

16 FEATURES

College Tribune 6th February 2007

Reeling back the years

Matthew Parkinson-Bennett speaks to former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald about the environment, the economy and society

“When a government comes into power, and there’s economic growth, it’s not caused by that government, it was caused a long time before. The Celtic Tiger was the result of 50 years of good decisions taken by different governments, which were sustained by the following governments.

It takes a long time for policies to take effect. The Celtic Tiger was happening anyway.”

Dr. Garret Fitzgerald, former Taoiseach for Fine Gael and one-time Economics lecturer in UCD, is 81 years of age this week. That his is a far seeing, long-term vision was evident when he talked to the College Tribune. As well as economic, this also influences his present concern for matters of the environment. He insists that Irish political leaders must learn to prioritise the environmental over the economic.

“There’s not much point going for economic growth if at the end of it all you have is a

world which people can’t live in, the failures of these policies.” for God’s sake. We have to take It seems that there are two whatever environmental action sides to Fitzgerald, which are is needed to preserve the globe encapsulated in this statement: in which we’re all stuck togeth- his vision is to the future, and er,” Fitzgerald continued. it is concerned with the poli“We’re getting into trouble all tics of the present; he is locally the time with the EU because concerned, and he embraces a we don’t carry through the en- global consciousness. He is the vironmental academic who o b l i g a t i o n s "McDowell has succeeded in we’ve taken servsaid that he's politics, on.

That’s ing as Taoia real probseach over in favour of two terms lem. I would hope that the inequality, and from 1981-87, gove rn m e n t I think I know including an eighteenchanges, that abthere’s an- what he meant, month other govern- but it wasn't a sence from ment, espevery sensible power.

Fitzgercially with the ald wears a Greens supthing to say" badge symporting it or part of it, who would be much bolising the five continents as more positive on this issue. Our he speaks. Horizontal lines, unirecord is extraordinarily bad. Not fied by one single vertical line: many countries have so many symbolising one world, and one enforcement procedures against humanity, represent them. He them from the EU because of himself has had to learn the art

CulturalDiversity inUCD

Schedule of Events Monday 12th February 2007 8.00 pm

Language Exchange Forum Bar, Student Centre

Tuesday 13th February 2007 10.00 am – 4.00 pm

Exhibition of International Stands

12.30 pm – 1.30 pm

Mike Nielsen/Tommy Halferty (Guitar Duo)

11.00 pm – 12.00 pm

Henna Handpainting

1.00 pm – 1.30 pm

Malaysian Students – Malay Dance

1.30 pm – 2.00 pm

Traditional Irish Musicians

6.00 pm

Film: Joyeux Noel Theatre M,

Arts Concourse Student Centre Arts Concourse Arts Concourse Arts Concourse Arts

6.00 pm

Smile in One Eye - Growing Up in Lebanon

9.00 pm

Erasmus Network 20th Birthday Party

A reading by Sami Moukaddem (hosted by ELS)

J109 Arts

Off Campus - TBC

Wednesday 14th February 2007 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm

Yurodny Septet (Balkan/Klezmer Music)

12.00 noon - 4.00 pm

International Indoor Soccer Blitz

6.00 pm

Film: In America

Student Centre Sports Centre Theatre M Arts

Thursday 15th February 2007 12.00 noon – 2.00 pm

Indian Signature Dish (Punjab Balti Restaurant)

12.30 pm – 1.00 pm

Traditional Irish Musicians

1.00 pm – 2.00 pm

Hernandez and Dunne (Argentinian Folk Duo)

6.00 pm

Film: Hotel Rwanda

6.30 pm – 8.30 pm

Table Quiz

8.00 pm

Karoke The Wicked Wolf, Blackrock

Main Restaurant Student Centre Quinn School Theatre M, Arts Blue Room, Student Centre

Friday 16th February 2007 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm

Chinese New Year Event Quinn School

UCD International Office

UCD Student’s Union

UCD Jazz Soc

of marrying differences, presiding over a joint Fine Gael-Labour government. He feels that another coalition government would face few difficulties in cooperating. He rather hopes they are given the chance to address the economic unity of the people of Ireland.

“The key economic policies, we’re all agreed on. It isn’t an issue. The issue is to what extent do we deal with redistribution, and tackle the problems of poverty and underpriviledge that exist. What resources do we put in, how do we plan that. And we haven’t been great about that so The current Fine Gael party, far. Given the extra resources, economics, that which has it’s extraordinary we’ve become gripped his attention for dec- however, is somewhat changed ades, his speech is fast, phrases from that which he led. Quesmore unequal.”

Fitzgerald, though an expert dropping from his mouth as if tioned as to whether the party economist, doesn’t subscribe to pre-rehearsed, such is the time has drifted to the political right, the common view that redistri- he has dedicated to such mat- having been moved somewhat bution of wealth is a necessarily ters. But when he is questioned to the left by him, his answer, flawed concept; his humanitar- about environmental issues, if evasive, is impressive for its ian beliefs are too strong to ad- there is a change. For the first scope, and it’s embracing of a mit of this. Rather, he criticises time, he interjects during a larger picture. He betrays his inthe current government for question, “Oh, there’s huge prob- ner academic: “Well, it may have moved lems”. He looks his interviewer holding this view.

“McDowell has said that he’s in the eye and there is an ex- back to the centre, not to the in favour of inequality, and I pression of seriousness on his right particularly. We’re not an ideological people, rethink I know what he meant, ally. There are a limited but it wasn’t a very sensible thing to say. But the the- "The Irish were never number of ideological issues. But we now have a sis of the ‘Right’ is always, very ideological, new situation – the PDs ‘Oh, we mustn’t distribute anyway. We're a are a right-wing party. wealth, because it’s very Which is unusual, we important not to discourage pragmatic people. never had ideology here people from being enterprising.’ And that’s all very So all this right and before, really. The other parties are not ideologiwell, you don’t want to have left talk doesn't The Irish were never policies that will reduce the mean very much" cal. very ideological, anyway. amount of enterprise, but We’re a pragmatic people. that doesn’t mean that you So all this right and left can’t, as you become more talk doesn’t mean very much. prosperous, share some of that face; his words are clear.

“But there is a hugely imporIt is a testament to his mind prosperity. And they don’t seem to accept that, they’re always ar- that, at such an age, he retains tant problem of dealing with guing against it, and I find that the open-mindedness and imag- poverty in our country, and ination to come to a new issue trying to solve the problems hard to take.”

The theme suggested by – for so discussion of the glo- of people living in areas where his badge, his emphasis on the bal environment is – and accept there’s crime and drugs, who plight of the underprivileged, that new thinking is required to don’t have the benefit of living and on the need for a global deal with it. He is adamant that where the rest of us live, and I effort to tackle environmental a change of government will be don’t call it ideology. But some issues, is that of unity of differ- required if this problem is to be people don’t want to tackle it, faced and tackled in because they’ve got their lot ent peoples. It is also relevant this country; and and they don’t want to share. Is to his history as leader of Fine he assures that that ideology? I don’t know.

Gael. His liberal views forced This is typical of Fitzgerald’s the proposed him to maintain unity with coalition govern- thinking. Awareness of the subthose senior party memment can suc- tleties and complexities of politbers who held contrasting, ical matters, and compassionate ceed. conservative opinions. He was belief in the need to help the responsible, as Minister for Forunderprivileged, seem someeign Affairs, for dealing with how interrelated in his characthe EEC (now the Euroter. And as offensive to him as pean Union), which may the PD’s right-wing views are also have lent to his emFianna Fail’s opportunism and phasis on the unifying their populist approach. effect of common goals “The PDs want to open up the and difficulties. bus companies to competition, When discussing to privatise them, but Fianna Fail are afraid they might lose support of the unions. But it’s not ideological so much. The PDs, whom I disagree with fundamentally for their right-wing policies, are perfectly right, that we would be better with competition in the buses, and the Fianna Fail objection isn’t ideological, it’s about getting votes.”

TURBINE URBINE THE

VOLUME XX ISSUE VII

IT’S SATIRE, STUPID!

INSIDE BIG BIRD TO BE PUT DOWN FOLLOWING FLU EPIDEMIC ON SESAME STREET SNOW PATROL WORRIED AMID REPORTS OF ‘A WARM SUMMER’

RIVERDANCE BLAMED FOR MULTIPLE DROWNINGS IN THE MIDLANDS CONFUSION AROUND CLAIMS THAT O’CONNELL STREET SPIKE IS “POINTLESS” CRAZED PARISIANS WHO JUMPED INTO RIVER JUDGED “IN SEINE” NON-PROPHET ATHEIST ORGANISATION SET-UP

STILL ONLY

31P

IRA CEASEFIRE UNDERMINED AS YOUNG PROVOS EMERGE FULL STORY - PAGE 11

DANGER MOUSE TO BE DEPLOYED IN IRAQ

United States President George W. Bush has declared that he is to send Danger Mouse into Iraq in order to combat increased resistance from insurgents, and minimise bloodshed in the troubled middle-eastern country.

Bush has declared that the United States, in addition to the human casualties suffered in the war, has also lost a large portion of military equipment. Recently, the Army has said that the cost of replacing its depleted equipment has tripled from that of 2005.

As of December 2006, according to government data reported by the Washington Post, the military stated that nearly 40% of the army’s total equipment has been lost in Iraq, with an estimated yearly replacement cost of $US 17 billion.

The unprecedented move to involve Danger Mouse is aimed at reducing costs in the region and has shocked the international community. Bush maintains however, “He’s one of the best secret agents in the world, and we know he can do a job for us over there.”

When asked about his constant

struggle against the powers of evil and never-ending quests to save the world, the ever-humble white British mouse declared to the waiting media that, “It’s just a job really.”

Danger Mouse is set to be joined in Iraq by his trusty bumbling sidekick hamster assistant - Penfold.

Bush declared, “Well we couldn’t really send Danger Mouse in without Penfold. I know he’s lovingly daft and usually needs to be saved from one situation or another, but at the end of the day, he’s the greatest hamster the world has ever known.”

Colonel K., their commander/walrus, will coordinate Operation Mouse Trap, as it has become known.

While the fearless twosome will undoubtedly have their paws full with matters at hand in Iraq, their orders will also consist of doing battle to save the world from: monsters, master thieves, and crazed fiends of all types. The most prolific being their arch nemesis: a megalomaniac frog, named Baron Silas Greenback, and his henchman crow, Stiletto.

The UN are said to be condemning the decision, with recently ap-

Danger Mouse: Iraq bound pointed Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea, declaring it “a crime against humanity before he started sending mice in. Now, it’s a crime against animals everywhere as well. It’s a mouse, come on, in fairness.”

In other news, The Turbine has also learned that Bananaman was

greatly disheartened by the decision to send Danger Mouse in, declaring that if anybody could do a job out there it was he himself. The caped fruit-like superhero was, however, unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.

Riverdance blamed for multiple drownings in the midlands

COMPROMISED RULES SET TO BE REVISED The governing body of the Compromised Rules series between Ireland and Australia are set to revise the rules that are currently in place for the series, amid widespread condemnation of the violent scenes that marred last November’s games.

The committee has devised new rules that will see tackles below the neck and above the waist deemed illegal.

The new rules that are in place, according to the chair of the committee, are there “to make the games that bit more entertaining. You know yourself, people seem to be losing interest in the sport nowadays, so we thought it needed to be livened up a bit.”

It will now be mandatory for “at least one brawl” to occur with “at least five people” every ten to fifteen minutes.

The organisers declared, “It’s going to be much more interesting, and after all, this is all in the spirit of the series, it’s what the games are all about.”

Ireland manager Sean Boylan has declared himself “bloody disgusted” on hearing the new rules. But added, “It won’t be too difficult to follow them anyway, that’s for sure.”

Revision: Fair play set to be outlawed

18 WHAT’S ON

College Tribune 6th February 2007

The Secret Diary of a Tutor

Know the type In the first instalment we met some of the creatures that, as a tutor, you find in your classes. At first they all appear to be clams, afraid to even open their mouths or gaping goldfish whose lips move but nothing seems to come out.

In that first session they are unsure of their ground as they don’t know each other nor do they know what’s really expected of them. As they get more comfortable they begin to reveal their true characters. Here are a few of the more common types.

The grunt: This is the kind of student that slogs their way through university without making any impression on tutors or lecturers. It is almost impossible to remember their names as they never do or say anything memorable. They turn up about half the time and just manage to get their work up to a pass standard but never show any spark of original thought. They take extensive notes of almost everything you say and resent any attempts to force to look up from their notebooks and contribute.

The smarty-pants: This type of person is both a blessing and a curse in tutorials. They are the only person who has done the preparatory reading and grasped the concepts involved. They are more than happy to expand on their ideas at length in an excitable, spittle-spraying fashion.

With them around, there are none of those awkward moments where you offer a point for discussion and sweat it out until somebody

cracks and is forced to break the silence.

They are, however, likely to challenge you on any vaguely waffley contention that you make, where the grunts just record it in case it is the nugget that might get them through the exam. The other difficulty is that if you have any ambition of extending the discussion beyond a one-to-one chat with the smartypants, you will probably have to gag them as you struggle to get the others involved.

The business head: This is a practical creature who understands the world only in terms of cost / benefit analyses. Before they agree to expend any effort, they will require you to justify how it is going to help their final mark and further their objective of getting an apprenticeship in KPMG. The shy talker: It is not that this kind of student is shy about talking; in fact they talk a lot and may at first be taken for a smarty pants. When you listen to the content of what they say, however, you realise that they are in fact just talking shite.

It’s very difficult to point this out without getting drawn into their web of nonsense yourself.

These are the most common types found in tutorial groups. The experienced tutor gets to see many other more exotic creatures but there is not the space here to detail their forms and habits.

Next Week: Tutoring with a hangover.

T H E I N C R E D I B L E A D V E N T U R E S O F. . .

DOCTOR HUGH

WHAT’S ON 19

College Tribune 6th February 2007

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE

PUNT OF THE WEEK

TOP PUNTS

Ireland are outstanding favourites as they travel to San Marino tomorrow for a European Championship Qualifier.

Surely, nobody could foresee a home victory in the tie, but the odds from Paddy Power for a no-score draw are tempting at 16/1. After all, Jack Charlton did it in Lichtenstein all those years ago, and given our recent poor form under Steven Staunton, getting into a rut over there is not beyond the realms of possibility.

But on a brighter note, the odds from Paddy Power for the first goal scorer might be a little bit more appealing for the hardcore Irish fan. It's always a bit of a shot in the dark but can be a bit of fun when you're watching a match.

Robbie Keane is 2/1 favourite, but young prodigy Anthony Stokes seems to revel against poor opposition, as he showed during in his impressive stint on loan at Falkirk, and he might be worth a few bob at 9/4. Stephen Elliot comes in at the same odds.

If you fancy taking a bit more of a chance, Paddy Power are offering odds of 18/1 on both of San Marino's front two for the first goal scorer in the game.

Also, on the international front tomorrow, Northern Ireland take on Wales in a friendly.

Paddy Power have given both sides a 10/1 chance of winning 2-0 and 9/1 to win 2-1.

Another interesting punt is for Northern Ireland to lead at halt-time but to lose the match. Paddy Power are offering odds of 25/1 for this.

SCORELESS DRAW WITH SAN MARINO 16/1 FIRST TO SCORE ANTHONY STOKES - 9/4 NI

TO BEAT WALES

2-1

- 9/1

CONSPIRACY THEORY OF THE FORTNIGHT

ASTRONAUTS SILENCED AFTER UFO SIGHTINGS US astronauts have experienced strange things in space. Why then haven’t they talked more about these experiences?

One account of how the astronauts were muzzled came from an ex-NASA space program member, who accused his former employer of censoring transmissions from Apollo 11 and other missions by switching to radio channels unknown to the public.

He claimed that unnamed ham radio enthusiasts monitored Apollo 11 transmissions after the astronauts landed in the Sea of Tranquility and overheard one of the astronauts exclaim, “These babies are huge, sir, enormous, Oh God, you wouldn’t believe it! I’m telling you there are other spacecrafts out there; lined up on the far side of the crater edge, they’re on the moon watching us.”

Binder’s account of an unexpected welcome wagon on the Moon was dismissed out of hand by all but the most credulous UFO researchers. However,

Maurice Chatelain repeated a variation on this story in his 1978 book ‘Our Ancestors Came From Outer Space’.

Chatelain wrote, “When Apollo 11 made the first landing on the Sea of Tranquility and, only moments before Armstrong stepped down the ladder to set foot on the Moon, two UFOs hovered overhead.” He added, “The astronauts were not limited to equipment troubles.

They saw things during their missions that could not be discussed with anybody outside NASA. It is very difficult to obtain any specific information from NASA, which still exercises a very strict control over any disclosure of these events.”

It would be easy to dismiss Chatelain as quickly as Binder, except for the man’s credentials. Chatelain had every opportunity to know what he was talking about, since he was in charge of designing and building the Apollo communication and data processing system for NASA. Since coming to the United States

from French Morocco in 1955, Chatelain established a reputable career in the aerospace industry. He was in charge of engineering new radar and communications systems for Ryan Electronics in the late 1950s, receiving eleven patents including an automatic radar landing system used in the Ranger and Sur-

veyor moon flights. He began working on the Apollo project after joining North American Aviation.

In answer to the question of why NASA and the government would hide away evidence of extraterrestrial life, several researchers pointed to a NASA report done by the Brookings Institution

in 1960.

The report declared, “Anthropological files contain many examples of societies, sure of their place in the universe, which have disintegrated when they had to associate with previously unfamiliar societies espousing different ideas and different life ways; others that survived such an experience usually did so by paying the price of changes in values and attitudes and behavior.”

This caution was picked up by writers for The New York Times, which carried a headline crying, “Brookings Institution Report Says Earth’s Civilization Might Topple if Faced by a Race of Superior Beings.”

The idea seemed to be that the public should be protected from the startling news of extraterrestrial life to avoid panic and chaos. Over the years, it must have become more and more difficult for the people in power to admit that they had mounted a cover-up.

It was the old “one lie begets another” syndrome.

SPORT SUPER LEAGUE with Jack Horgan Jones Post Christmas Superleague in Belfield is not always a thing of beauty. Freezing temperatures coupled with the unique wind-tunnel dynamics of the UCD campus result in a brand of football about as predictable as the blinddeaf-mute pinball championships.

However, as always, the class of the better teams has shone through the misery of midwinter and the top teams in all four leagues remain perched imperiously at the summit of their respective tables.

The horrendous conditions have served to defeat the fallacy that poor teams are more likely to grind a result when playing in the grime and dirt, with Nobis Aston still the only team yet to register a point after their unfortunate 3-0 loss to The Vets at Old Merville last weekend.

The same pitch threw up one of the most enthralling encounters of the last round, with the tastefully named Bayern Munich Air Disaster drawing 6-6 with Saint Webonedurmas

"A four-way playoff among the winning teams to firmly establish a Superleague champion would be a great way to end the season" FC. The much-maligned Old Merville has often been the subject of attacks over its comical angle, enormous goals and propensity to attract doggers at any given time.

However, if it continues to produce matches like this, there's no reason why we shouldn't ignore the rustling from the bushes which dogs this location - pun intended.

Given the grandiose Superbowl flavour of the past weekend, one begins to wonder what an application of the American stencil would be like in Superleague.

If you ask me, a four-way play-off among the winning teams to firmly establish a Superleague champion would be a great way to end the season and to avoid the traditional trailing off of interest as we get to the business end. That's if global warming or avian flu doesn't get us first.

Honourable mention in this column to the Bare Naked Badger enthusiasts, whose fixtures have apparently been suspended until further notice for failure to pay fines.

Superleague applauds the refusal of this team to pay dubious fines which will doubtlessly be diverted from worthy causes in order to line the pockets of the elite. No longer will we tolerate our hard-earned drinking funds being crammed into Hugh Brady's brand new broadsheet-sized wallet. The time has come to call for increased transparency in the redistribution of monies collected through fines.

I suggest the money should be spent on a high-tech system of heat-sensitive cameras and a small but heavily armed private security force to tackle the dogging issue in and around Old Merville.

Final word in this edition's comment goes to the astro. It really is amazingly good in all weathers and all times of the day. The only downside is the arse-tearing substance they've put down, the only possible explanation for which being the victory of the PC and health and safety brigade in their never-ending campaign to discourage slide-tackling.

This game used to be played by men. Men with enormous razor blades and hammers attached to the toes of their boots.

DOWN THE LINE

Time to lose the inferiority complex

With the Six Nations now in full flow, Ireland should not be afraid of being branded tournament favourites, as this Irish side has what it takes to go the distance, writes Jack Horgan-Jones “Our Greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure” I first encountered this quote when I was 15.

A friend of mine had just made the Junior Cup Team, and the coaches had distributed this speech in an attempt to attack the perceived inferiority complex that had affected the team.

Since then, I have seen it quoted in an infinite number of articles, books etc, each invoking the perfect caption as its own qualification for moral authority.

Unfortunately, sources tell me we can’t even afford this quote to old Nelson Mandela. According to Wikipedia, he never said it. Despite having to fend off innumerable academic assaults, Wikipedia brays loudly, unrestrained.

It is this quote that comes to mind as we are forced to listen to the usual drivel about Ireland’s role as the underdog.

The whole premise for this is flawed: Apparently Ireland are favourites for this year’s six nations. Apparently this is not our role. Apparently, to enjoy this position, we rely upon good fortune, insofar as France and England are not at imperial soul-crushing strength. Apparently, we will blow this position; apparently it just wasn’t meant for us.

This kind of self-defeating guff is exactly what Roy Keane railed against in Saipan. Whether or not he’s a decent manager, only time will tell, but at least this Corkonian had his head screwed on to a sufficient degree to try and tackle the tragicomic foil of the Irish inferiority complex.

People seem to think that Ireland as favourites is completely unprecedented. The reason to draw this point is because 2007 is not the first year that the mantle of favourites sits on the apparently reluctant and unwilling shoulders of Ireland.

If you remember, 2005 also drew such bravado from over-eager quarters.

Ireland’s performance the last time they were favourites equates roughly with the Brazilian performance in last year’s World Cup. A core of magicians were trusted to produce championship-winning displays, and the absence of the necessary mettle to back them up - not to mention their own indifferent displays - resulted in hollow performances and results.

They were expected to produce magic that the cosmic flow had not quite aligned to provide for them. They weren’t quite arrogant, but perhaps

they believed their own hype a bit too much.

Despite a superficial ability and confidence, Ireland’s inability to travel belied a lack of mental resolve, which was compounded by a series of stuttering performances from the pack and glimpses of Ronan O’Gara at his most spindly legged.

The expectation that had been visited on the team in the pre-tournament weeks inflated the bitter pill that Ireland had to swallow in the postCardiff impotent depression.

Brian O’Driscoll claimed that the 2005 Six Nations was a once in a lifetime opportunity; in other words that the failure of the glittering backline to fire had again consigned Irish sport to the

"Clearly, popular opinion would not have you believe that 2006 would be a vintage year for Irish rugby. But a majority elected Hitler and Jade Goody's official web site has over 5,000,000 hits" realm of inescapable cyclical mediocrity.

Ireland’s resolve was deeply shaken, and they weren’t aided by a press who (for the most part) were all too willing to ally their short-term fickleness to an unreasonably farsighted view.

Columnists were burning off pages calling for Eddie O’Sullivan’s head and writing off Ireland as a stagnant rugby nation, producing no new talent and staggering inexorably towards another anticlimactic World Cup. Added to this depressing cocktail was the woeful autumn series, wherein Ireland, shorn of the two pillars of the team, folded meekly at home to Australia and New Zealand.

When all of this is considered, it becomes clear why 2005 for Irish rugby closely resembled a Diageo ad: started off well, yet the inexorable undercurrent to their actions spat them out the other side with a hangover, a black eye, and a reputation as glamorous as Pete Doherty in a bin bag.

Clearly, popular opinion would not have you believe that 2006 would be a vintage year for Irish rugby. But to put this in context, a majority elected Hitler and Jade Goody’s official web site has over 5,000,000 hits and a loyal official fan

club of around 250,000 members.

So basically, public opinion can be worth about as much as a degree in Jam-making from Carlow IT, and Irish rugby in 2006 proved as much.

The Heineken Cup, the Triple Crown, and a fruitless yet undeniably heartening summer tour that was topped by stunning November performances all put pay to the frustrations about Irelands on-field performances.

As for the myth that Irish rugby was sterile and producing no new talent, the emergence of Andrew Trimble, Luke Fitzgerald, Jamie Heaslip, Stephen Ferris, Cillian Willis, Brian Young, Robert Kearney, Isaac Boss, Barry Murphy, Kieran Lewis, Johnny Sexton and Danny Riordon has rubbished that particular claim.

Just as important has been the graduation made by players such as Paddy Wallace, Jerry Flannery, Stephen Keogh, Trevor Hogan, Simon Best, Rory Best and Neil Best from competent provincial player to international standard.

In the midst of all these lists, the new Mercedes credo comes to mind; every list has a No.1.

Only a fool could ignore Denis Leamy. 2006 was the year that saw him grow from a conundrum to the best No.8 in the world.

In the aftermath of 2006, it was unavoidable that the fair-weather fans would chime in with a chorus of optimism on the verge of the Six Nations. In 2005 a battered Irish team had the pleasure of meeting the snipers in the long grass at their most vulnerable point.

It was against this self-defeating revert-to type that the Irish team took to the pitch in Cardiff last Sunday. It certainly wasn’t a vintage performance, but when you consider that Ireland can misfire that badly and still outscore the Welsh by ten points and three tries to nil, it gives you some idea of how good this current Irish team is.

Wales look to be returning to the 2005 vintage of soft hands and a seemingly intuitive timing of the run and the pass, and Ireland were extremely fortunate not to concede a try or two.

That said, you couldn’t assess a game on what might have happened, and there were some incredible performances from the Irish.

This Ireland team has the potential to be great in it’s time, and the sooner that is realised by all quarters; the sooner we can stop considering ourselves as impudent upstarts and enjoy supporting a terrific team who are probably capable of anything.

22 SPORT

College Tribune 6th February 2007

Barefoot Babs hopes for more glory Jordan Daly previews the upcoming Fitzgibbon Cup and speaks with Tipperary legend Babs Keating, the man who is now back at the helm of the UCD hurling side “You can’t win derbies with donkeys”, were the infamous words of the then Tipperary manager. Back in 1990, such arrogance and controversy led to ultimate defeat for Keating’s lads.

Seventeen years on and a much wiser and more cautious individual will be coaching the UCD Seniors through this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup campaign.

The competition was founded ninetyfive years ago and has become the most prestigious college Hurling Championship in the country. UCD have won it just twice in the last twenty-five years, most recently in 2001. This year, they are up against the winners of the Waterford IT and Limerick IT clash; who play on the 15th of this month.

Victory over either would be no mean feat. Waterford have lifted the cup seven times in the last fourteen years, including three of the last four. Limerick on the other hand have won three times including 2003.

According to the UCD coach, his side will need to be in top form to contend with the strength of the south, “I’d say Limerick are the team to beat,” he confides.

Keating is currently managing the Tipperary Seniors but says the role he plays with UCD is only as a coach, advising players on technique and game strategy.

“I’m more of a coach than a manager for UCD, the lads are all students and organise their own training.”

The triple all-Ireland medal winner gets on well with the group and clearly enjoys the position: “I started with the lads three years ago. What makes this job difficult, isn’t the players, it’s the Dublin traffic,” he jokes.

Despite the gridlock and conflicting commitments, he makes sure to be there to advise the team in Belfield. “No matter what team you’re training, their skill level is always unique to each individual player and in a match you’ve got to match your opponent’s skill level.

That’s what I’m about every day of the week.”

“We’ve been plagued by injures recently,” he sighs, “We haven’t had a full squad yet. As regards fitness, we’ve been very unlucky. We can’t even manage to get a decent training programme Success: Babs Keating (L) and Dave Billings together.

“The most worrying aspect of these weakened and depleted side to tog out mounting, feeling in the camp is that injuries is the lack of key players avail- this year for us. An awful lot of our key progression beyond the quarterfinals able for the Fitzgibbon cup. For the last players are out.” will be seen as an achievement. Keating couple of weeks these men have been With the opening game fast ap- continues to tick off more stars on the absent from training sessions, leaving a proaching and the number of absentees injured parties’ list.

“John Cummins, who played with Kilkenny last year, was injured on a trip to New Zealand. He has missed the last five weeks of training. Paul Ormond, who could be a regular corner back for Tipperary, has been out for the last three weeks. And I could name others, O’Gorman, Fitzgerald and more.”

Keating’s match tactics on the day couldn’t be more simple, to always “go out and win”. UCD can take much inspiration from their coach’s career: Five Munster and three All-Ireland titles, one all-Star, and on top of that, the 1971 AllIreland final was rated in the top 20 GAA moments of all time, where he played in bare feet and won hurler of the year.

Evidently, he is a man who follows that same motto in all aspects of life.

UCD lock horns in the quarterfinal on Wednesday 27th February. Success will come down to their ability to recover and replenish their squad, “If we don’t get the injuries right, we can’t be a confident team. It’s very hard when you’re only working on about seventy percent fitness. Hopefully in the next two weeks we can get it right.”

Back in 1990, the donkeys were Cork.

They won that derby. In 1998, Keating referred to Laois as “sheep in a heap.” They then won the All-Ireland. Let’s hope he has something to say about UCD.

FOR PETE’S SAKE UCD Soccer Manager Pete Mahon writes exclusively for College Tribune

It's a quiet time at the moment, I've just returned from a week's holidays, which I enjoyed. But back to business last Sunday morning, we had a match in which the Under21's played the first team. Also involved were a few lads who we are looking to sign to the club. So I had a good look at them, and we'll have a further look in the coming days and weeks.

Back into pre-season three weeks now, and obviously the players are working really hard. With ten to twelve sessions under our belt now, the level of fitness even at this early stage is very encouraging to watch this morning.

As regards to what is going on elsewhere, well obviously the international team are playing San Marino on Wednesday. They have to go down as one of the poorest sides to come to Lansdowne.

Away games are always difficult, there are no easy games.

The main thing we have to avoid tomorrow is to not get sloppy and concede a goal, because I can see us putting away more than a couple if we hit them early.

I'm absolutely delighted with Stephen Staunton's decision to go for young players.

You know where I'm com-

The Crunch: John O'Shea in action for Ireland ing from in relation to blooding youngsters.

If they look to have the potential to be good enough, then give them the opportunity to progress and shine. Young Anthony Stokes has been in the headlines over the past couple of months, because he has been doing really well. Shane Long at Reading is in the same boat, as are the likes of Sheffield United's Stephen Quinn, who has seemed to make the step up successfully.

So, it's very encouraging on that front. I

just hope that we can get a good win as well as give some of the previously mentioned a chance to show their worth. If you are going to experiment with inexperienced players then this is the time, as I can not see us being beaten. I'm hoping the whole Cyprus nightmare was a watershed, as I'm confident such a fiasco will not occur again.

As I've said before, we need to start qualifying for tournaments again because it does raise the whole profile of the game

SPORT 23

College Tribune 6th February 2007

Total re-vamp for UCD soccer Under 21s: In action

Ben Blake speaks to Brendan Dillon, the Chairman of a Strategy Group set up to re-vamp soccer in UCD, about what the future holds for UCD’s eircom League status UCD Football Club have recently announced details of a strategical development plan, the main aim of which is to be recognised as the most successful university club in the world, within the next three years.

Speaking last week, Chairman of the Strategy Group Brendan Dillon outlined the proposed objectives and pinpointed several key areas that are to be focused on.

To Provide talented young players with extra coaching as well as additional tuition of an academic kind, in order to groom their future stars for all aspects of life at the university. To Go out into the surrounding residential areas to connect the club with the community, and as a result, tap into this source for both playing staff, and more importantly a solid fan-base.

Through the appointment of a number of full-time positions, it aims to ensure that the club reaches it’s full potential both on and off the field by running UCD AFC as a business.

Under construction over the past fifteen months, the highly ambitious plan was presented to the FAI along with UCD’s application into the newly re-structured league last November. And since receiving assurances of a place in this coming season’s Premier Division, the ball has been set in motion for the dream to be realised.

First and foremost, teams of dedicated professionals are in the process of being

assembled. The FAI has coordinated the appointment of a Promotions Officer to every club in the league and a number of candidates are currently under assessment.

In a move that Dillon describes as the club becoming more “executive-driven”, a General Manager’s position will soon be filled, while a Soccer Development Manager and Academy Manager have been appointed. The long-term plan also sees both first and second team managerial positions turned into full-time posts.

UCD’s emphasis put on the scholarship scheme has proved enormously successful to-date, and Dillon explains their aspirations to revolutionise the programme with the help of a regionally based scouting system: “One of the biggest problems with getting people into UCD is that you have a lot of talented players who like the idea of coming to college, but maybe don’t have the academic support. UCD’s survival in the top level of Irish football has been dependent on the successful development of the scholarship system.

“We will now aim to continue that and identify players at a younger age. From fifteen years of age onwards, we will be singling out potential prospects and, for example, aiding them with additional educational tuition that they may need to get into college. So we would not necessarily take these young lads out of their clubs, but instead give them extra coaching and

invite them down the club every now and again.”

This two-pronged approach to the development of youth, in theory, seems a win-win situation for all involved. It has been well documented that a huge proportion of boys in their mid-teens who make the switch across to the “big-time” at British clubs, return with their confidence shattered and disillusioned with the game.

With the help of this proposal, the

same lad could earn himself a degree in the field of his choice while continuing to master his trade on the football pitch and at a later stage make the move, if it suits.

The former Club Secretary outlines his ideals, “Hopefully by the time they do their Leaving Certificate, any talented young kid wondering, “Should I go to England?”, “Should I play professional football?” are possibly more geared towards the benefits of both the academic and footballing side of UCD and hopefully make it

Offer ends 28th February

their preferred choice. We are not solely producing footballers but also preparing them for the life ahead, no matter which path they end up on.”

“What the club also needs to do is to add some experience to guide the younger, potentially gifted players. We see the need for two to three full-time players who would also act as academy coaches. They would not necessarily coach the scholarship players, but would also lend a hand with the improving of players in the other UCD sides as well as local clubs and local schools surrounding the college, and affectively getting out into the community.”

A major problem of the club’s is the lack of support, lack of identity and lack of connection with those nearby. After pulling in home support of maybe fifty fans during periods last season, Dillon discusses his hopes of attracting the masses.

“The catchment area of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown is about 200,000 people and we need to start tapping into it. We have to get out there and eventually bring the locals into the club, to make them feel part of the club.

Hopefully, as a result they will have a greater connection and will then support the first team.”

The aim is to bring a degree of glamour back to Irish football and specifically to UCD. Committed supporters will always arrive, but Dillon is looking at a different market group to bring life into Belfield Park and indeed next year the Belfield Bowl.

“We want to make the event much more than purely a match, to make it a much more exciting spectacle for all.

Much more family-orientated and much more fun to attend so that they are coming for a whole night of entertainment.”

Offer ends 28th February

SPORT Volume 20 / Issue 7

6th February 2007

Fear Factor Six Nations Page 21

Glory Hunting: Babs Keating Interview - Page 22

Reunited: UCD Manager Pete Mahon and Quigley in action for UCD (below)

Quigley re-signs UCD goalkeeper Darren Quigley has turned down a number of clubs from abroad, and opted instead to sign a new contract with UCD. The Ireland Under-21 international has been the subject of mass speculation and numerous rumours of transfers away from College since midway through last season. In spite of this, fans of the Students will be ecstatic to hear that talented goaltender will be present between the posts at Belfield for the coming season, at least.

During the close season however, a number of British clubs enquired about the 20-year, which resulted in his partaking in trial periods at Premiership outfits West Ham and Fulham.

Although impressed by both clubs, he details the reasoning why they were not what he was looking for.

“While the set-ups at Fulham and West Ham are excellent, I didn’t feel it suited me to sign for

Ben Blake either as both have several experienced keepers already. What I really want is to play football, and I doubt that would have happened when there were three or four lads ahead of me.”

From there, he received a phone call to head north and take up training with Falkirk. The prospect of playing SPL football seemed attractive for Quigley. He, like the rest of the country, has seen how a hand-full of eircom League players have opted for a move to Scotland, and are making a successful transition. The deal fell through, however, he explains.

“In relation to the move to Falkirk, I was hoping maybe something could be sorted out, but the problem was that they wanted to see me in a game situation and I wouldn’t have been playing with UCD until March, so in the end the offer went elsewhere. They took Kasper Schmeichel

on loan. So, I felt UCD was the best option for me at this point and time.”

Also in the pipeline were offers to link up with former Dundalk manager Jim Gannon at Stockport County, as well as a surprising invitation from Spanish Secunda Liga side Vecindario, but neither took his fancy.

While committing himself to College, the deal is only a one year contract, in which both he and the club have come to an agreement that if an English club does come knocking with a realistic offer, the Dubliner will be released for a relatively small fee.

At this moment however, Quigley feels that he needs to remain ambitious, but at the same time be realistic and mature in making any major decisions concerning his future. For this reason, he has applied to join the fire brigade, as he attempts to pave out an alternative career path in the case that his footballing dream evades him.

“I’m still hoping to get the right move, but if it doesn’t materialise I will get on with it. My interview is this Thursday. I’m twenty now and am trying at this point to get my life sorted out, and maybe trying to accept that I may not make the move across.

“The plan is to set up my life and get myself into the fire brigade, and afterwards, if another option comes calling then I can take it into consideration. For the moment I’m just going to enjoy being at home and playing with UCD.” While by no means giving up on his aspirations to play at the highest level, Quigley is showing a considerable degree of level-headedness and a huge dose of sense by preparing for what lies ahead.

This all fares well for College as it ensures that the pair of safe hands that kept danger at bay on countless occasions last season will be on show once again come March.