2002 Trinity News 04

Features

Arts

Sport

Quakers - corporate conscience.

Cinema - Interview with John RhysDavies from Lord of the Rings

Kings of the Ring - Boxing intervarsity success

Pg. 8

Pg. 13

Pg.20

www.trinitynews.com trinity.news@tcd.ie 30th January 2002 Vol 54: No. 4

COLLEGE NEWS Postgraduate fees increase.............. .Pg.2 Botany applications plummet...............Pg.3

Trinity News

CAMPUS EDITION

Zhao Ming to be set free Chinese authorities declare Ming to be sufficiently ‘re-educated’

STUDENT NEWS Jean O’Mahony USI slams Education minister...............Pg.6

INTERVIEW Gerhard Markson, NSO Conductor..........Pg.8

FORUM Do we live in a claim culture...............Pg.10 Prisoners of War or prejudice...........Pg.11

AN TAOBH THAIR Gafa i gCuinne.....Pg.12

SPORT Hockey hangover.....................Pg.19 Trinity Sports awards...............Pg.20

trinitynewsarts

music Beta Band...........Pg.14

theatre Michael Cavan..................Pg.15

exhibitions Richard Billingham...........Pg.16

cinema Monsters Inc........Pg.17

books John Boyne..........Pg.17

Don’t miss Trinity News CITY Edition - FREE in shops NOW.

Trinity postgraduate student Zhao Ming, a member of the proscribed Falun Gong spiritual movement, is to be released from a Chinese labour camp where he has been incarcerated for almost two years. Mr Tang Jiaxuan, Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered the news of Zhao Ming’s imminent release to Minister Brian Cowen in Beijing on January 23rd.

The computer science student had returned to China at the end of Michelmas term 1999, where he was arrested in Beijing in for protesting against the suppression of Falun Gong. His passport was confiscated, preventing him returning to Dublin to resume his studies.

Escaping the house arrest imposed on him since January 2000, Zhao was arrested again in May 2000, and was not heard of for several months. His family eventually discovered that he was being held in the Tuan He Farm Labour Camp in the Daxin County because of his membership of Falun Gong.

Irish students and politicians alike have been agitating for the Trinity student’s release for the past eighteen months.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and President MacAleese raised the issue with the Chinese premier, Mr Zhu Rongji, upon his state visit to Ireland. Mr Zhu Rongji’s visit was also marked by USI and TCDSU, who participated in a protest outside Dublin Castle against Zhao Ming’s detention.

The Irish branch of Amnesty International and the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, have also expressed their concern about the incarceration of Zhao Ming without a trial. Consequently, the Premier stated that he would investigate the case of Zhao Ming upon his return to China.

In an interview with Irish Times journalist Miriam Donohoe in Beijing, Minister Cowen stated that, according to Mr Tang, Zhao Ming, having been sufficiently "re-educated", would be released on March 12th. Minister Cowen also stated that he had been assured not only that Zhao Ming would be allowed to resume his postgraduate studies in Trinity College, but also that "there was no physical ill-treatment of him during his detention and that he has had medical checks". Falun Gong members allege that Zhao Ming has been systematically abused while detained in the government labour camp.

Photo:Rachel Ingersoll

Mikhail Gorbachev receives honorary degree from TCD. Pg.2 Such torture is said to include sleep deprivation, extremely severe beating with wooden and electrical batons, and attempts to force Zhao Ming to denounce Falun Gong.

Lord Moyne, who has been campaigning on behalf of Zhao Ming, stated in a speech to the House of Lords, "It is believed that he will serve at least two years in the camp, where he has been subjected to vicious torture in order to force him to denounce Falun Gong. He was forced to sit in a washing basin, head between the knees, and then pushed under a bed. When the bed was nudged upwards by his body, the torturers would sit on the bed. He was beaten by more than ten people, who used wooden batons to strike his ankles and knees, used their knees to knock his body, and hit his ears.

Following one such torture, Ming was unable to sit on a toilet for five days and unable to walk normally for two weeks".

TCD Graduate Students Union have launched a letter writing campaign aimed at forcing the Chinese government to publicly mark the date of Zhao Ming’s release.

SU streamlined Kate Devlin The Students’ Union has claimed that students will not be adversely affected by the loss of two staff members from its main office, and the cessation of all typing and photocopying services.

A forecasted deficit in the Union's finances, which some claim could exceed £60,000, was the main reason behind the decision to cut staff numbers.

However, with redundancy packages totalling over £55,000, SU Deputy President, Tony O’Donnell admitted that the staff cuts were, "not an immediate solution, more of an investment in future stability".

The redundancies have heightened tensions between the full-time administrative staff of the Union and the elected Sabbatical Officers.

O’Donnell admitted that the Union has held regular meetings between the officers and other staff of the Union in recent weeks in an attempt to "clear the

air".

This is the second attempt by the Union this year to cut its wages bill.

In October, full-time staff balloted to take industrial action after the Union suspended pay increments and PPF (Partnership for Prosperity and Fairness) wage increases.

After agreeing to pay the increments, the decision was made to offer voluntary redundancy to a number of staff. Four members of staff were approached, with two willing to consider the proposal.

The two members of staff, Rita Kelly, information officer, and Mary O’Neill, typist, have been in negotiation with the Union since midNovember, with agreement on redundancy packages reached just before Christmas.

However, the final packages were decided without the full consent of the Students’ Union Executive. The Executive had authorised a combined offer of between £50,000 and £55,000 at its last meeting before the end of

term. Four days later members of the sabbatical team, including the President Averil Power, held a meeting with the Kelly and O’Neill. At this meeting the redundancy offer was increased to £55,500.

"It would have been impossible to call the Executive outside of term time, and so the decision was made as £500 would have been spent anyway in extra wages had negotiations been extended. We also felt that a speedy resolution of the situation would benefit all those involved" said O’Donnell.

"The relevant bodies have been informed and all agreed with the reasoning behind the decision" he added.

The reduction in staff has also seen the removal of some services from the Union office. The typing service has been discontinued, and students are being advised to contact a commercial typing firm.

The Union is planning to set up a subsidy system for Trinity Access Program students and those who

receive social welfare payments, in conjunction with the Senior Tutors office, to contribute towards larger typing bills. All photocopying services will also be stopped. Union officials claimed that, while that service was necessary when introduced ten years ago, it was no longer possible to compete commercially and provide a high quality of service. Students are being advised that they will receive a refund on photocopying cards.

A new direct line telephone service has also been introduced to cut the number of queries to administrative staff.

A student has been employed for three hours a day to cover lunch breaks for the two remaining office staff. A Union official confirmed that as a part time staff member they would be on a considerably lower rate of pay than experienced full-time staff. Student’s Union staff are paid from the SU budget which is financed from the annual student registration fee.

The number of full-time

staff employed by the Union now stands at thirteen. However, only two of these work directly in the Union office and concern has been expressed that students will lose immediate points of contact with the Union.

Trinity News

Rooms allocation under the spotlight Orla Keane reports.

See Pg

Half price pizza & pasta 4pm - 6.30pm 7 days a week Full lunch & dinner menus available D’Olier Chambers, 16a D’Olier St D2 Tel: 6770499 www.monalisabistro.com

4

Trinity News 30th January 2002

2

college news SU launch new Grants campaign Ruth Beattie Responding to the glaring under-representation of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds in terms of participation in third level education, Class reps and the SU Sabbatical Officers collectively passed a motion proposed by Averil Power, SU president at SU Council last term. The motion’s numerous objectives called for doubling of the maintenance grant to ensure study is as well rewarded as unemployment, a substantial increase in topup grants to benefit those in greatest need, and the introduction of free fees for part-time students earning less than £200 per week.

SU Council, reflecting plans made at USI Council, resolved that the best strategies to

adopt in the run-up to the General Election would be the co-ordination of a voter registration and educational programme and also the targeting of marginal constituencies where the student vote might have a strong influence on the election outcome.

Involving the network of faculty and class reps in the promotion of awareness, the "Pat the Politician" Grants campaign has been functioning since the start of Hilary term. Students are being asked to sign a voter pledge that will be forwarded to all candidates in their local constituency, emphasising students’ intention to vote in the election, with their selection of a favoured candidate being based largely upon educational issues and in accordance with educational policy. As a result

of stressing to students the potential effectiveness of their votes, Nic an Bhaird feels "we will force politicians to address the issues they have been ignoring for so long…they will stand to lose or gain a substantial number of votes by virtue of their reactions to and promises of meaningful action". Though currently described as "in its infancy", the momentum of the campaign is set to increase, as more traditional forms of campaign publicity are deployed with posters, class addresses and press releases planned for week four of Hilary term and up until election day.

Any changes to the current grant structure achieved through the campaign would be expected to be implemented by the new Government elect. Both

Provost’s Teaching Awards Three awards presented

Memery and Nic an Bhaird decisively reiterate the SU’s long-term commitment to the campaign. Memery states: "we [the SU] will push extremely hard to ensure that any election promises in terms of grants are fulfilled after the election." Whilst predominantly highlighting the student grants issue, Nic an Bhaird feels that the campaign will also serve

to encourage political candidates to actively work on the significant problem of "ridiculously inadequate levels of student accommodation in Ireland".

Interestingly a similar "Grants not Fees" campaign is currently being co-ordinated by the UK’s National Union of Students. Claiming that "students and their parents are now contribut-

ing a staggering £1.6 billion sterling more per year" than the previous generation of students, it is hoped that grants will be re-introduced and the mandatory upfront payment of tuition fees abolished”. NUS’s campaign strategy involves a national petition of one million signatures and regional, large-scale rallies.

Gorbachev visits TCD G r e e n l i g h t f o r b a l l Carl Whyte The former President of the USSR and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was awarded an honorary degree by College at a ceremony held in the Examination Hall on Tuesday 8th of January. Mr. Gorbachev was greeted with applause from students who waited patiently in the rain as he arrived from Dublin airport. At a ceremony attended by many well known faces, including former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald, Mr. Gorbachev thanked this "ancient college" for the degree.

Speaking through his interpreter he spoke of the transition from Communism to a Market economy that his country was experiencing. He compared Russia’s experience to that of the European Union, "Why", he asked, "did Europe expect Russia to advance so quickly to Western standards when it took the countries of Europe hundreds of years to

resolve their differences and reach their current prosperity?" He said that he was followed by those "who wanted a quick fix" which included "giving shock therapy to the economy". In what was seen as veiled criticism of Boris Yeltsin and praise of his successor Vladimir Putin Mr.Gorbachev said that "the victim (Russia) is being treated now, the country is on its feet and moving forward". He also added that as an honorary graduate he would have to "return to speak at this college, my college" at some stage in the future.

The College’s public Orator, J.V Luce, who spoke in Latin, praised Mr Gorbachev as an "honourable patriot and citizen of the world". He also commended the former Premier for his knowledge of many subjects including Latin. Mr. Gorbachev later pointed out that he in fact only spoke one sentence of Latin and had spent a few semesters trying to learn it with little success.

In attendance were many college academics includ-

ing the Provost John Hegarty and ProChancellor Peter Froggat.

Only selected students were invited to the conferral, they included student members of the College Board, final year Russian students and Junior Sophisters who obtained a first grade in their ‘Russian Politics’ paper.

None of the latter took up the opportunity to meet the former President. Mr. Gorbachev did take time to speak to students after the ceremony despite the best efforts of some official looking types from College administration.

Mr. Gorbachev’s entourage were courteous at all times.

In a separate move, Trinity Chancellor Mary Robinson condemned Trinity for lack of gender balance in the awarding of honorary degrees. This is the second time that the former President has voiced her concern at the lack of female recipients – she had also raised the matter with former College Provost, Tom Mitchell.

Europes largest private party gets the go-ahead after money questions Pippa Woolnough It has been announced that the annual Trinity Ball, the event which some describe as ‘the event of the year’ and the reason people come to this college, is on. Despite suggestions to the contrary and rumours of financial difficulties, Ents officer Siobhan O’Dowd has confirmed the date of the 2002 Trinity Ball as Friday, 10th of May and naturally, it will be the "best ever".

As always, the dress code will be strictly black-tie, and the 7000 tickets available should be on sale from early April. The price of a ticket will be 57 euro, and at just under £45 this confirms O'Dowd's earlier assurances that there would be no price hike this year. Since its re-launch in 1995 the "Largest private party in Europe", has always been a sell-out. It is seen as an integral part of Trinity life, remaining exclusive to students of this college (and those few lucky enough to be offered

a guest ticket). Despite much coaxing by this resolute reporter, the Ball line-up will remain classified information until the official launch, which should take place in early April. Looking back on past acts, such as David Gray, the Super Furry Animals, and the Prodigy, it seems the Ball committee has a tough job on its hands. O’Dowd, however, is confidant that this year the college will host one of the "strongest line-ups yet", and the decided glint in her eye confirms her determination not to be proved wrong. Following 'unforeseen' costs from last year’s ball, which resulted in a well publicised £11,000 (nearly 14,000 euro) deficit, O’Dowd is keen to re-focus attention on the event itself, stating that "the Trinity Ball is not about making a profit, it’s about giving the students a great time". 2001 was the first year since its relaunch that the Ball has not made a profit, but O’Dowd does not want this

or the controversy surrounding it to overshadow the event this year. "The line-up is looking strong and after investigating what went wrong in 2001 I am confidant that we will break even and perhaps even make slight profit this year."

In fact, the fame and success of the Trinity Ball has spread so wide that the alumni of Trinity College Dublin in both London and New York have set up their own reciprocal parties. In London the event is usually held on the day after the college Ball, whilst the Trinity Ball in New York takes place either the weekend before or following the event in Dublin. Therefore it would be quite possible (and there is evidence that it has indeed been achieved!) to organise a week of frenzied "Trinity Ball-ing", taking in all three events. Now there’s a challenge to test the hedonistic (not to mention wallet) capacity of any self-respecting Trinity student!

Réiteach Achrann na Leabharlainne Tomi O’Chonghile Faoi dheireadh thiar thall tá an chonspóid fhada a bhí ag dul ar aghaidh idir bainistíocht agus foireann na leabharlainne thart.

Le sé bhliain anuas, bhí an argóint seo ag cur isteach go mór ar reáchtáil na leabharlainne agus ba mhinic nach raibh leabhair ar fáil do lucht an choláiste.

I mí na Samhna seo caite, sháraigh ar Údárais an Choláiste agus ar an cheardchumann SIPTU teacht chun réitigh maidir le tuarastal na foirne agus bhí an chuma ar an scéal go leanfadh na deachrachtaí seo ar aghaidh ar feadh i bhfad eile.

Ansin, ag tús na míosa seo, chuir an leabharlann téar-

maí nua chuig an cheardchumann agus ar an 17ú lá den mhí, fuair Bill Simpson, príomhleabharlannaí an Choláiste, fuair sé cinntiú scríofa ó SIPTU go raibh siad ag glacadh leis na coinníollacha.

Mar gheall ar an aontú seo, is féidir le gach aon duine a n-aird a dhíriú ar an leabharlann úr Ussher agus na háiseanna uilig a ghabhann léi.

Faoi láthair, tá insealbhú na ríomhairí chóir a bheith i gcríoch ag Údárais an Choláiste agus cinntíonn an tUasal Simpson go bhfuil na conspóidí uilig críochnaithe agus go mbeidh an leabharlann oscailte do mhic léinn i gceann cúpla seachtain.

Dar le Dave Memery, an tOifigeach Oideachais,

beidh an Ussher ag obair ar an chóras céanna leis an Lecky agus Berkley, ó thaobh na n-uaireannta de, ach toisc go bhfuil stádas cóipcheirt ag an Choláiste (faigheann an Coláiste cóip de ghach aon leabhar a fhoilsítear sa tír) agus go bhfuair siad síntúis ón Rialtas, is dócha go bhfuil Údárais an Choláiste faoi bhrú na huaireanta a mhéadú i rith an tsamhraidh sa dóigh is go mbeidh an leabharlann níos so-aimsithe d’iarchéimithe.

Chomh maith leis seo, beidh ‘spás staidéair’ speisialta ann, seomra a osclaíonn 24 uair, i rith an lae agus i rith na hoíche ar fad. Beidh 30 deasc san áit seo agus beidh ar chách a gcártaí aitheantais a úsáid

le fáil isteach ann, cosúil leis na seomraí ríomhaire ar Sráid an Phiarsaigh. Ar an drochuair áfach, ní bheidh scoláirí in ann leabhair a fháil amach mall san oíche mar ní bheidh foireann na leabharlainne nó lucht na slándála ag obair ag an am sin. Sa leabharlann í féin, beidh ríomhaire ag 50% de na deascanna ag tús na bliana seo chugainn le go leor spáis le haghaidh leabhar.

Mar chuid den chóras nua, athchóireofar an Berkley go iomlán chomh maith agus corpróidh sé ionad eolais ar an chéad urlár, áis riachtanach i gcóras nua na labharlainne.

not present. Ms. Averil Power, Students Union President had given notice that she could not attend. She was told however that she could not send anyone as a representative. Roger Stalley, College registrar, informed her that, as no one else can send a representative she could not do so. She is the only student representative on the committee. "The same problem exists at many levels within college.

During summer months

many decisions are made on departmental committees despite the fact that students cannot attend", the President commented, "The problem could be avoided if Sabbatical officers were permitted to attend these meetings but College regulations do not permit it".

A decision regarding undergraduate fees has not yet been taken and is expected soon.

Prof.

Stalley told Trinity News that he had mentioned the idea of nominee of Ms.

Niteline Service celebrates birthday Niteline celebrated it’s sixth birthday on Wednesday 23rd January. Niteline, a Students Union supported service, is a "confidential, anonymous and non-judgemental" listening service run by students from Trinity, UCD and Royal College of Surgeons.

Over the last six years it has provided a valuable service specifically for students. All volunteers attend the colleges, putting them in a unique position to understand problems facing their peers.

Niteline’s phone line volunteers go through a rigorous selection and training process, run with the help of counsellors from the three colleges. They are on hand listen confidentially and also provide reams of information on any problem that might be facing their callers. The service takes calls every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, between 9pm and 2am, during term.

To recognise the unique place that Niteline has in all three universities, as a respected, trusted and valuable part on student life, a ‘Blue Ribbon Day’ is being organised to mark the landmark achieved.

This will take place on Wednesday 6th February.

Research funding College gets 58.7m grant The Provost of Trinity, Dr. John Hegarty, has announced that Trinity is to receive 58.7 million euros under the HEA's Programme for Research in Third-level Institutions. The money will be used to promote research and development throughout Trinity, and will enable the college to meet a national need through the concentration of expertise.

The Dean of Research Prof. Mike Gibney, has also welcomed the HEA's decision to support the establishment of a centre for Transportation Research and Innovation for people, recognising that it is an 'area of New and Emerging Potential'.

A centre for Bio-engineering and a research programme is to be formed, in conjunction with the National Centre for Bio-medical Engineering in NUIG. Both these centres will pave the way in the search for Bio-engineering solutions to skeletal diseases.

The HEA's funding will finally enable the college to develop research in Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies, and will allow for the introduction of a new research programme in Irish Scottish Studies.

Question and Answers success

Leabhlarlann nua.

Powers possible attendnace but most were against the idea. The matter of the fee increase was later raised at board.

Grace Dempsey told David Memery that the objections had been raised at the Finance committee even though no objections appeared on the minutes.

Trinity News, in an email sent to Ms. Dempsey, asked her why she maintained that the objection had been raised when it was not in the minutes.

She refused to reply as did

There were three recipients of the Provost’s ‘Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning’. This new scheme will select up to three Teaching Professionals across campus annually and reward each to the value of over 5,000 euros.

"These awards demonstrate that the winners' passion, commitment and dedication to teaching and learning excellence has been confirmed, respected and appreciated by both students and colleagues. It is indeed a great accomplishment and I warmly congratulate them", said Dr. John Hegarty, Provost, at the presentation.

Mr Alan Mullally, of the Computer Science Department, was recognised for his personal and professional commitment to lifelong learning, through the provision of self-financing degree programmes, and continuous professional development in the field of Information Technology.

Award recipient, Dr Martin Fellenz of the Business Studies Department, was praised for his dedication to the ethos of student centred learning.

"His approach facilitates students to develop independent and critical thinking", the Provost commented, "it encourages them to reflect on their own assumptions about, and approaches to, learning".

Professor John Scott of the Biochemistry Department was highly commended for being "a true academic scholar, dedicated to teaching and excellence [and for] his enormous personal contribution to Department teaching quality".

Trinity News

Graingraf: John Fitzgerald

Fees raised at Finance commitee meeting with no student representation Postgraduate fees and non-EU degree fees are to increase next year by 8%.

The move was decided by the Finance Committee following a recommendation by Majella Matthews, Financial Accounting Manager made in consultation with the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Director of International Affairs.

The committee agreed with the recommendation despite the fact that the only student representative on the committee was

in brief

the Office of the College Secretary. Roger Stalley also added that there would have been more than just student opposition to such raises.

Meanwhile in a separate development, the prospectus for students starting Academic year 2002/2003 stated that students will still be liable for the Sports Levy of Eur 63.

This is despite the fact that students voted in a referendum five years ago to pay a levy for five years.

If the fee was payable next

year it would be the sixth year that students were required to pay the levy.

Ian Matthews of the Treasurer’s Office confirmed to Trinity News that students will not in fact have to pay the fee and that the Admissions office based the figures on last years amounts. This means that the prices which appear in the prospectus are already out of date. Incoming students are not made aware of this apart from the date ofthe fees which appears.

Trinity News held its fourth Questions and Answers session on Tuesday 15th January in the GMB. In attendance were Sen. Shane Ross, Alban Magenniss, MLA, and Junior Dean Brendan Tangney. A lively and interesting debate, which incorporated a wide range of current affairs issues, was puntuated by spirited interjections from the floor.

Varied questions posed at the panel included their opinion on the handling of Prince (Pothead) Harry’s experimentation with drugs and alcohol. All present agreed that the media circus surrounding the incident was uncalled for; the Junior Dean commented that, in his view, marijuana smoking was a fairly innocent offence.

TN’s next Q&A will take place on February 5th.

Former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Seamus Mallon will be on the panel.

college news round up compiled by: Olivia McWilliams Ciara Meskell

3

Trinity News 30th January 2002

college news Hamiltons head on at the Hist

Botany Crisis

John Kenny In something of a departure from their normal fare of ridiculing the Phil, on the 9th of January the Hist hosted an evening with Neil and Christine Hamilton, with journalist Sam Smyth in the chair.

For those of us who were unfamiliar with the depth of their notoriety, Smyth opened with a look at the litany of misdemeanors which now attend them.

Sleaze, libel, allegations of sexual misconduct (subsequently rubbished) and cash-for –questions set the scene for the appearance of the infamous couple.

Regally bedecked in the pearls so beloved of Hilary Clinton and other Presidential women, Christine immediately struck one as the powerhouse of the Hamilton bandwagon. She dominated her rather dapper husband whose eccentric appearance was reinforced by his voluminous dickeybow. The tone for this engaging but slightly farcical evening, was set by Neil’s reminisces on his 1984 libel action victory over the BBC (whose Panorama team had implied that he harbored Nazi sympathies). Success there had thus "broken the habit of a lifetime", such witty rejoinders quickly becoming the staple of this quietly spoken man's involvement. Not so his wife, whose magnetic personality and booming voice soon monopolized the houses attention. In her opening comments she merrily declared that she "did not fancy Louis(Theroux)" and that Martin Bell (who had

Only 1 student in JS Botany - numbers may double next year Gary Finnegan

Neil shows his appreciation at the College Historical Society

defeated her husband in the 1997 by-election as an anti-sleaze candidate) was "a sanctimonious little prig".

However amusing such mud slinging was to the packed crowd of students, Smyth maintained a somewhat serious note by recalling the audience to remember the couple's stay in the Ritz at Mohammed Al Fayed’s expense. Given that Hamilton was at the time a junior minister, Smyth questioned how the couple could ever comprehend accepting such patronage. The plaintive response was "What was one supposed to do?" thus banishing any thoughts of an incisive political debate.

For instance, when questioned over his support for both nuclear power and tobacco interests, Hamilton justified the former because it employed many people in his constituency

while his attitude to the latter indulgence seemed cavalier "every adult should go to hell in their own way". Eschewing any substantive defense of their dubious past, the Hamiltons' adopted a conspirational tone and proceeded to deluge the attendance with salacious titbits. Fayed was called the "Egyptian grocer", Louis Theroux the "guy with the gangly bits" and their financial trustee a "frustrated little man", while Max Clifford was described as "sinister and evil".

Christine, in her own inimitable fashion, then launched into a bizarre half hour treatise on all things Hamilton. With little or no prompting from Smyth she dwelt briefly on their naked photo shoot for GQ Magazine (to raise money for charity), how much she respects her mother, how she first met

Photo: John Fitzgerald

Neill, her apartment and to round things off a few tips on how to make the perfect Bloody Mary. Although constantly losing her train of thought, ("Why did I start all this?") it was none the less peppered with amusing asides such as "Nobody speaks more kindly of Edwina Currie than me….. and I think she is a ghastly old bag". Indeed with almost juvenile enthusiasm she recounted their escapades on various television programmes while recalling with glee their own abortive "Poshnosh with the Hamilton’s" which would have involved them visiting dysfunctional families by Bentley and preparing a meal (Channel 5 take a bow). As proceedings came to a close one began to see the truth in Neill’s own assessment that they were "ordinary people to whom extraordinary things happened".

The couple was not defensive, in fact they conducted themselves with laudable good humor throughout.

Indeed when one student referred to them as "Celebrity freaks and media whores" the couple remained imperturbable and wittily replied that they were merely "objects of professional curiosity".

For her part Christine declared that she detested the word "celebrity" as it seemed so "vacuous" yet it is she who has at every turn cultivated such a status. The Hamiltons came across as engaging, even attractive human beings who, however, remain burdened not only by their chequered past, but also a rather obvious inability to substantively engage on any topic beyond the mundane, "I hate confrontation, I’d rather wink".

The current crisis at Trinity College’s Botany Department is showing few signs of resolution according to a Trinity News survey of 2nd year science students. The survey highlights the continuing difficulty in persuading students to pursue a Botany degree. Although this makes grim reading for the Botany Department, they can only improve on last year’s miserable showing when they took just 1 student into their 3rd year course. Only 2 of the students surveyed said they will take Botany next year. The department hopes that a series of long-term initiatives might change the stigma attached to their subject.

In the short-term however, time is ticking on.

February begins the annual race between Science Departments to attract their share of prospective 3rd year students. Each department bids to convince students that theirs is the one offering the most exciting courses, the most innovative research and the best career prospects. Like the general election that will run parallel to this popularity contest, many minds are already made up before they have heard what is really on offer.

Students may be influenced by the glamour that seems to be presented by fields such as genetics, astrophysics and other

such cutting-edge sciences. Respondents to the TN survey used a plethora of adjectives in describing their perception of Botany – "glamorous" was not amongst them.

The Botany department in Trinity has a long and rich history, including the botanical garden established over 300 years ago.

Now they must look to the future to address misconceptions of their image.

Head of Department, Professor David Jeffery, told Trinity News that he was "greatly concerned" about the dramatic decline in the numbers applying to take a Botany degree. The initiatives taken to raise the profile of Botany include greater involvement with the Trinity Access Program, a revision of the courses studied by 1st and 2nd year Science students, and seminars on plant biology given by Professor Jeffery to primary school teachers. Each of these measures is aimed at impacting the primary exposure of young people to Botany.

Professor Jeffery points out that Botany graduates are fundamental to many of Ireland’s major commerical sectors, such as the agriculture, food and pharmaceutical industries. Botany does much of its research abroad. Indeed, 20 undergraduates enjoyed a fieldtrip to the Guyana rainforest for 2 weeks last summer. None of this seems to be filtering down

to those about to choose their major subject.

Trinity news canvassed 70 of the 2nd year science students eligible to opt for Botany as a moderatorship subject. The survey shows that just 2 of the 70 students surveyed would cite Botany as their 1st preference, while 14% said they would consider placing the subject in their top 3. A little more encouraging was the 59% of respondents who acknowledged that they would take it if they were to receive no other offer.

This year will see an increase in the numbers sitting 2nd year science examinations. As a result, some students will not be allocated their first preference.

The Botany department may have to rely on this surplus to fill their quota.

Many within the various college Science departments have remarked that the challenge ahead for the Botany Department is to change old stereotypes and attract students who want to be the next generation of botanists. The Department seem equipped to offer competitive career prospects and travel opportunities, they have until May to engage their audience.

Competition between the various Science departments is becoming more and more of a problem as courses like Genetics become the favourite choice of many students.

Trinity News 30th January 2002

4

focus College rooms:the chosen few ?

Applying for rooms this year? Orla Keane reveals the procedure for Room allocation One of the biggest challenges facing students in Dublin at the moment is the issue of where to live while attending college. Finding suitable accommodation that is within the average student's budget has become an arduous task that is all too familiar to so many. With rents in Dublin city centre and the surrounding suburbs at an all-time high, and showing no sign of decreasing in the near future, accommodation is a major cause of concern for many students.

September flat-hunting is undertaken with a sense dread every year, as students trawl through the classified ads only to view a motley selection of houses, apartments and rooms that landlords would probably prefer to let to 'professionals'. It is the lucky student then, that finds him-or herself living in the city centre, only a stone's throw away from all the nightlife that he/she can handle, without any traveling costs and conveniently located right in the heart of college. Campus accommodation would seem the answer to every student's prayers.

However, less than 5% of Trinity College students live on campus in any given year, begging the question: who are these chosen few?

Entrance Exhibitioners The highest number of pre-allocated campus places (240) are reserved for Entrance Exhibitioners.

Students who achieve more than 545 points in the Leaving Certificate, or similar high grades in other international public examinations, are awarded entrance exhibitions. These students receive book prizes worth Euro 253.95 and are given priority when applying for rooms, usually in their second year in college. The original rationale behind this decision appears to be that these high achieving students should be given rooms on campus in second year to enable them to study for the Schol exams, something which a very small proportion of these students actually do. The number of Entrance Exhibitioners has rocketed in recent years due to the steady increase in the number of points required to study in Trinity. In the last couple of years, the number of Entrance Exhibitioners has been in excess of 400, approximately half of whom apply for rooms in second year.

This puts a significant constraint on the allocation of campus places, as such a high number must be reserved for Entrance Exhibitioners, relative to the total number of rooms available. There are also concerns that Entrance Exhibitioners are clustered in a very small number of courses, which doesn't fit in with the stated College objective of reflecting 'the heterogeneity in the broader College community.' Plans are apparently on foot to get rid of

the provision for Entrance Exhibitioners, but the earliest that these changes will not come into being until 2003 at the earliest.

Scholars Scholars are allocated approximate-

Scholars ly 160 rooms every year.

Scholarships are awarded to students who obtain an overall first in exams taken at the end of Hilary Term of their second year.

Scholarships are disproportionaltely allocted across courses and years.

Theoretical Physics students nearly all become Scholars whereas scholarships in the Arts and B.E.S.S. faculties are ever more difficult to obtain. Scholars receive free rooms, fees and Commons for five years and are paid an annualt stipend.

Scholars are full-time students of the College and are not permitted to engage in full time employment.

Trinity News has learned that many scholars do in fact engage in full time employment, and usually with the knowledge of their supervisors.

How does Trinity compare?

So how does Trinity's allocation of 709 campus places for almost 15,000 registered students compare to other colleges? UCD currently has over 18,000 students with on campus accommodation at Belfield for over 1,300 students. 30% of these places are specially reserved for first year students and special consideration is also given to international students. DCU provides 526 campus places for its student body of over 9000. 30% of these places are allocated to new undergraduate students, 30% are reserved for final year undergraduate students, 15% are for international undergraduate students and the remaining 25% are for other undergraduate students.

University of London To make a comparison to another urban college location where availability of accommodation is at a premium, we can look to a British example. The University of London is comprised of 17 colleges and 5 institutes and offers in excess of 16, 000 campus accommodation places to its students at various sites throughout London.

The University of London guarantees all first years accommodation in a city much larger and with much higher rents than Dublin. Trinity however, with vast income from tourism is still not in a position to offer such provisions to non-EU students. Funding arrangements to U.K universities are different and the introduction of direct government funding for the provsion of student accommodation Trinity News spoke to Brendan

Trinity’s Junior Dean Tangney, Junior Dean and Registrar of Chambers, about the current system of room allocation in Trinity College. Allocation of rooms is at the sole discretion of the Provost, who delegates this responsibility to the Registrar of Chambers. We put it to Mr. Tangney that there is currently a perception among many Trinity students that room allocation is based on connections within the College community and that those who don't have these connections are disadvantaged in the allocation process. Tangney began by asserting that the basic criteria for room allocation are 'building a vibrant college community' and taking into account the 'contribution to college life' that a prospective resident might make.

With respect to allocating rooms, the College is constrained by the current system, whereby the vast majority of rooms available for students are pre-allocated. The majority of the pre-allocated rooms go to Entrance Exhibitioners, Scholars and international students. The remainder of these pre-allocated rooms are reserved for

Pre-allocated rooms Entrance Exhibtioners 240 Scholars 160 International Studnet 100 Other Scholars 20 SU and GSU 6 Decoration Programme 6 Clubs 6 Total Pre-allocated 559 Remaining

150

Student Union and Graduate Student Union officers and members of Trinity's Hockey, Rugby and Boat clubs. In addition to this, a small number of rooms are left vacant to facilitate any disruption that might occur as a result of the College's ten year rolling plan for the upgrade and refurbishment of existing accommodation. There are currently no official room allocations for members of College societies, but Mr. Tangney said that efforts are made to accommodate key members of the College community such as those co-ordinating the Voluntary Tuition Programme, SVdP and this publication.

We asked Mr. Tangney if having a relative who works in the College increases a student's chance of getting a room on Campus. He stated that the only instance in which this might happen is in the case of the child of Fellow. A Fellow of Trinity College is usually

a lecturer of sufficient merit to be awarded a Fellowship by a commitee headed by the Provost. Fellows are entitled to campus accommodation and they do not take up this entitlement while they are employed, a child of the fellow can avail of rooms for one year of theircollege education.

There is a perception though, that relatives or influential members of the community might be able to 'put in a good word' for a prospective resident.

Mr. Tangney rejects the accusation that this is how the procedure

‘People don’t know why other people have rooms’ works, asserting that the system has run 'very well' so far. "People don't know why other people have rooms on campus', Mr. Tangney claims. He points out that a variety of different considerations are taken into account when an applicant is being considered for rooms.

These might include family situations or may take account of students with special needs, for which circumstances cannot be disclosed for obvious reasons. He admits that he does receive representations from various people every year (including a significant number of TD’s) on behalf of applicants for rooms, but is adamant that 'canvassing by relatives, by politicians, is most unhelpful', adding, 'I don't appreciate lobbying from politicians. I would be quite keen that the whole process is as transparent as possible'.

In response to the question of whether or not nepotism plays a part in the application process, he states that 'there is actually very little nepotism that goes on', but stops short of asserting that nepotism is completely absent from the process.

Trinity Hall Trinity Hall is located in Rathmines, 2.5 miles from the city centre. Accommodation in Trinity Hall is predominantly for incoming first year students. There are currently places for only 70 students, as well as a small number of flats for married students and staff. However, plans are presently underway at the site to expand the capacity of Trinity Hall. The target date for getting this expansion on stream is October 2003, by which time it is hoped that an extra 1000 places will be created.

It is not difficult to see that campus accommodation in Trinity is totally inadequate for the needs of the student body at present. The total number of rooms available to students is pitifully small and the

Trinity News takes a look at some examples of the system of room allocation in College Scholars working hard

Junior Dean Brendan Tangney

pre-allocation of so many places means that the average student has little or no chance of securing a campus room. The justification for so many Entrance Exhibitioners having automatic places in order to aid their study is not well founded, given that so few actually sit the Schol examinations. There is also the danger of creating an homogenous college community because of the concentration of Entrance Exhibitioners in such a small number of courses, and the pending abolition of this tradition is welcomed. It seems that final year students would have much stronger reasons to be allocated these rooms, as the workload in final year is significant for most. Pity also that many fourth years are denied places in rooms while many Scholars engage in full-time employment. It is against College rules for Scholars to work full-time but many post-graduate scholars are working full time with the full knowledge of their Study supervisor. Other Irish colleges as well as every U.K college provide accommodation for first years. While Trinity denies that first years are given rooms on campus, many foreign ( non-EU) first year students are in fact given accommodation on campus. They are not given places in the already cramped Trinity Hall and the lack of common room facilities mean that they are left feeling lonely and isolated. Also, unfair allocation of Trinity Hall places means that often Exhibitioners get rooms in Trinity Hall. While some students never get College accomodation it seems that others get it two years in a row with little or no requirement to ‘being part of college community’ While acknowledging that the College is severely constrained by issues of space and financial considerations, there nevertheless must be a review of the current system to ensure an equitable distribution of the places that are available. Attempts to pay lip service to the ‘Trinity College community’ are laughable as long as the existence of an ‘elite’ is perceived. The new Provost and new Junior Dean should work hard to tackle this perception.

Trinity News has learned that many post-graduate scholars are in fact employed in full time jobs and live in Trinity rent free. M.Litt students for example can take up to three years to finish their studies and Trinity News is aware of at least one scholar working full time as a researcher. This is against the rules of Scholarship but Superviors are usually aware of such practice but remain silent.

Friends in high places Calls from politicians, are ‘unhelpful’ says the Junior Dean. We can reveal at least two students who obtained rooms through diplomatic connections. One lived in prime College accommodation for two years, despite tha fact that only Scholars have rooms more than once. Donations to college from parents as well as connections in diplomatic circles go a lot futher than the Junior Dean might like to admit.

and the rest..............

Shortage means that many deserving cases don’t get rooms and have no idea why. International fourth years find it hard to see students from Dublin living in rooms while they go through the annual flat hunt and the difficulties many Dublin landlords have with ‘foreign types’.

From Seville to Sandymount - the workings of the Accommoation Office seem a mystery to all

Trinity News 30th January 2002

5

6

Trinity News 30th January 2002

student news USI slams Minister in equality of access delay Carmel O’Sullivan The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) have strongly criticised the Minister for Education and Science, Dr. Michael Woods, for his failure to establish a National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education.

Last May, a special report on access to third level education in Ireland, recommended to the Minister that a single coordinating body be set up to establish a national access framework. That report proposed "a national office, with a dedicated staff be established within the HEA, to draw up policy proposals and to oversee the implementation of the national programme in close liaison with the Department of

Education and Science".

The report also urged that this co-ordinating body be set up within three months.

However, the proposed National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education has yet to come into being adding further to USI’s frustration with the present government.

USI have long called for measures to be taken to improve access to higher education for disadvantaged students. Students from poorer backgrounds are grossly under-represented in Irish universities and the Union wants to see the student grant brought in line with current social welfare payments. USI are also calling for an end to discrimination against lone-parent students and want to

reduce the age to eighteen, for an independent assessment for entitlement to a medical card. If these measures were taken, and indeed many more, the union claims it would be a step towards improving access to third level education for all sectors within our society. It was hoped that a National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education would facilitate this. However, the establishment of a national office never came to pass, enraging USI. Dr. Woods has also been condemned by USI for what they regard as his failure to meet a commitment he made last year, when he promised to carry out " a comprehensive review of every aspect of maintenance

grants and other supports for students and to ensure their relevance to the needs of third level students".

The financial situation of students has received much attention recently, thanks in part to USI’s campaigning and protesting. Only 39% of the student population are in receipt of a grant and its value is constantly being eroded due to inflation.

Many students are forced to leave college due to financial troubles. Not only is this a problem for those currently studying, but USI also regard it as a disincentive for second level students hoping to enter university. It was thought that the campaigning and lobbying had finally achieved something, when the

Minister, acknowledging the inadequacy of the current student support system, agreed to review it.

However, to date Minster Woods has dome nothing, and USI’s president, Richard Hammond, regards this as just the latest in a litany of broken promises.

USI’s latest campaign is focused on encouraging students to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming general election. USI’s voter registration campaign has been hugely successful in registering first time voters and the Union hopes to dispel the notion that the student population is apathetic. USI hope that this will put student issues on the agenda and encourage politicians to listen to student concerns

USI protesting on O’Connell St

Student sues exam board Athr ú ur d’ollscolaiocht Sarah O’Hanlon An 18-year-old student is suing the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) after being wrongly told that she had failed an exam. According to the girl’s lawyers, Claire Bowen from Dalkeith in Midlothian is the first pupil to take legal action against the SQA since the appalling exams fiasco of 2000, and is claiming that she was denied a university career as a result of the Authority's negligence.

Bowen, a pupil at St David's High School in Dalkeith, was told she had failed her Higher Level

Music exam, which she sat in 2000. It wasn’t until May 2001 that the SQA informed her that they been mistaken and she had in fact passed the exam.

A spokesman for the Authority said her case was unfortunate but declined to comment further. However, in a letter to Miss Bowen's father, the Authority's former chief executive acknowledged: "This must be the worst case we have had to deal with in light of the management problems of last year."

Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, Bowen’s

lawyer, Cameron Fyfe, pointed out that there were two aspects to her claim for compensation.

One would be for the distress and anxiety she endured because of the exam body's mistake. The second, he said, was over the damage to her academic career and the chance Ms Bowen may miss out on a university place. Mr Fyfe explained: "Claire was told she had failed her music Higher, she lodged an appeal and was told that was unsuccessful."

"So she decided to resit it and spent most of her sixth year restudying the subject. She feels that she has

unnecessarily spent a whole year studying a subject for a second time."

Bowen is certainly not the only student to have suffered from the errors of the SQA. About 17,000 pupils across Scotland received either inaccurate or missing results in the autumn of 2000. Although the then Scottish Education Minister Jack McConnell unveiled proposals to reform the SQA in September 2001, a further 10,000 pupils received mistaken results in October 2001. Some of these are expected to follow the example set by Ms. Bowen.

Patrick Walsh Le fada an lá anois, bhí ollscoileanna na tíre seo ag déanamh a ngnó ar a naonar ach tá rudaí ar tí athrú.

Foilseoidh Údáras Oideachas Ardleibhéil tuairisc nua a iarrfaidh ar na hollscoileanna nascanna níos fearr a chothú eatarthu féin agus le gnólachtaí taobh amuigh den chóras oideachais chomh maith.

Cé go bhfuil clú an-mhaith ar ollscoileanna Éireanacha, níl siad ar an leibheál céanna le hollscoileanna eile, maidir leis an bhéim a chuireann siad ar ghnó. I dtíortha

eile, cuireann ollscoileanna a gcúrsaí in oiriúint don saol gnó, ach anseo in Éirinn, níl an ceangal sin acu.

Níl amhras ar bith áfach go bhfuil neart buntáistí ag baint leis an chineál seo naisc.

Baineann na hollscoileanna tairbhe as, ó thaobh na eacnamaíochta de agus bíonn na comhlachtaí in ann coinneáil suas leis na forbairtí nua sa saol acadúil.

Scríobh an tOllamh Malcom Skilbeck an tuairisc agus dar leis, ba chóir d’ollscoileanna scéimeanna oibre a bheith acu mar chuid dá gcúrsaí céime, rud a tharlaíonn cheana féin i gcúpla ollscoil sa tír, DCU ach go háirithe.

Mar sin féin, caithfear a admháil nach mbeidh taithí oibre fóirsteanach do roinnt cúrsaí, ar nós stair nó fealsúnacht.

I dteannta sin, deir Skilbeck gur chóir do na hollscoileanna níos mó scolairí a ghlacadh ó thíortha eile. Sa lá atá inniu ann, meastar go dtiocfaidh laghdú mór ar mhéid na scolairí atá ag freastal ar ollscoil. Titfidh an líon (an mhéid ag teacht isteach sa chéad bhliain) go 47,000 duine (36%) faoi 2010 agus mar gheall air seo, is cinnte go mbeidh ar na hollscoileanna níos mó scolairí aosta a ghlacadh chomh maith.

Ba é gné eile den tuairisc ná cóiriú a dhéanamh ar

an chóras iontrála sa dóigh is go bhfuil an seans céanna ag gach aon duine, idir óg agus aosta, fáil isteach san ollscoil. Is í seo áit eile nach bhfuil ollscoileanna na tíre seo chomh maith le hollscoileanna eachtrannacha.

Ar an iomlán, díríonn an tuairisc ar ról na nollscoileanna sa saol tráchtala seo. Thiocfadh leat a rá nach áit chiúin í an ollscoil anois ach is gnólacht mór í a bhfuil inféistíocht suntasach de dhíth uirthi.

Níl an dara rogha ag ollscoileanna ach dul isteach sa mhargadh idirnáisiúnta, mar cheannaí agus mar dhíoltóir chomh maith.

Part I

Part II

Waltzing in the dining hall to a live orchestra

Afters in a secret city centre venue

February 5, 2002

7

Trinity News 30th January 2002

student news Elitism still strong in U.K. Ceyda Pekenc The proportion of young people from poorer homes obtaining places in university in Britain has not increased over the past decade according to the National Audit Office’s (NAO) report on ‘Widening Participation in Higher Education,’ published last week.

Students from poorer homes are a third less likely to be accepted at some universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, than those from higher social classes, and are also more likely to drop out.

The poorest quarter of Britain still only provides 12% of total university

undergraduates, despite the huge expansion in higher education in recent years.

Is this an indication that government policies to broaden university access are failing? The report claims instead that the main reason that working-class children are not getting into university is because they do not achieve the necessary qualifications, and because there is also little incentive for them to go.

The cost of university is a clear deterrent: the average figures from 19881999 found that the average cost of attending university for three years was around £16, 300, but the maximum loan and grant,

before its abolition, was only around £10, 800.

Thus, for those who cannot rely on parental funding and extra loans, going to university is simply not feasible.

The report highlights the problem of aspiration: youngsters from working class backgrounds are unlikely even to aim for a university degree, many ruling it out even before the age of 16 on the grounds of academic achievement alone.

Unrealistic expectations of university and fears of not fitting in socially, particularly in the case of Oxbridge, are also to blame.

Hence, the key purpose of the Labour government’s

new initiatives are not only to provide extra funding for widening university participation, but also to provide more links between universities and disadvantaged students.

The idea is to engage them and to increase mutual understanding through the establishment of numerous summer schools, offering the chance for school children from poorer areas to participate in university activities whilst living on campus, and through more open days for pupils in inner city schools.

Another solution is to start young. That is why universities such as Nottingham Trent are starting to work with

school children while they are still at primary school, with the aim of raising their ambition, helping them to achieve the qualifications they need, and ensuring they get the right advice over course choices and universities.

In Ireland, Trinity’s Access Programme and the student-led Voluntary Tuition programme go some way in helping break university elitism.

The Trinity Access Programmes (TAPs) for secondary schools include a summer schools for 50 students, open days, academic workshops to help students improve their results in the Leaving Certificate, and even parents’ evenings. Other TAP

programmes offer pre-university foundation courses for young adults and mature students, and a system of 70 ‘reserved places.’ The student-run voluntary tuition programme, serving 320 local school children in the Pearse St. area, is another way of working with children while they are still young, promoting the idea that education can be fun.

Amy Iggulden, who runs the tuition programme this year, says that it can help older students achieve the results they need by ‘giving them an atmosphere of concentration, and space to work, something that many of the children simply don’t have.’

Harry Pothead gets stoned Catherine McCabe Once again the British Royal Family are the focus of all interest. However, it is now Prince Harry’s turn to be the centre of both media and police attention after confessing to his father, Prince Charles, that he drank alcohol and smoked marijuana last summer, at the age of sixteen.

Prince Charles’ reaction to this situation was to send his son to Featherstone Lodge, a south London rehabilitation clinic, for a day.

Buckingham Palace were keen to stress, however, that Prince Harry did not go there to receive treatment but rather to talk to patients about the illaffects and potential consequences of his recent conduct.

In an official statement

the Queen said that she "shares the Prince of Wales’ views on the seriousness of Prince Harry’s behaviour and supports the action which has been taken". Furthermore, she hoped "the matter can now be considered as closed".

But unfortunately for the Royal Family, this is unlikely to be end of the matter. The fact remains that Prince Harry drank and was served alcohol at a pub near his father’s Highgrove residence in Gloucestershire, and that he smoked marijuana at private parties with his friends.

Because both of these actions are illegal in the United Kingdom, the Wiltshire police, who are dealing with the case, have not yet ruled out legal action.

Superintendent Mandy Evely said that Harry

would be treated "exactly the same way" as any other teen, although this is an assurance that has been met with public scepticism. It seems unlikely that Prince Harry will be dealt with severely by the law.

As regards to his education, it would appear that he has already got off lightly. John Lewis, headmaster at Eton, says that the matter has already been resolved and that Harry has returned to his prestigious school. Mr. Lewis also stressed that the issue does not concern them because disciplinary action will only be taken if a pupil is caught in possession of, using or selling drugs on campus.

However, all this recent commotion has triggered off a major public discussion on what type of person Prince Harry has become, how he has coped

since the death of his mother, the late Princess Diana, when he was just twelve years old in 1997, and how he is dealing with his difficult position in the monarchy. His ‘spare but not the heir’ position means that Harry will be forced to spend most of his life waiting patiently in his brother’s shadow.

Until recently, it was generally perceived to be the case that he was maturing into a fun-loving, sporty, intelligent, sensible young gentleman. This latest episode, however, has been interpreted by some quarters as a sign that Harry is not content. It may be the case that the young prince is feeling the strain of being part of a royal family, but it might be more likely that Harry is just like other teenagers and wants to experiment and experience all that life has to offer.

Violence at Holy Cross school spread to other schools in the vicinity after North Belfast experienced some of the worst sectarian violence in the last thirty years.

Teachers’ cars and other property came under attack as loyalists mobs entered the school

grounds and smashed cars with baseball bats.

Staff and students looked on in horror as the attack continued unabated.

PSNI officers arrived quickly on the scene and arrests were made. In another move, the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) ordered the disbandment of the Red Hand Defenders (RHD)

after they issued a statment saying that all those employed in Catholic schools in North Belfast were now considered ‘legitimate targets’.

There are many Catholic schools in North Belfast and the threat was issued against all staff working at the schools, regardless of religion.

Loyalist sources said that the stat-

ment came from ‘crazy elements’ and should be disregarded. After this threat, and the killing of Daniel McColgan, Trade Unions lead a massive protest at the City Hall Belfast against sectarianism.The City Hall demonstration and strike by postal workers sent a strong message to loyalist paramilitaries.

The

Crosscampus The Martin Ryan institute, based at the university, is set to lead a campaign in the coastal areas of Africa, aimed at maximising the exploitation of an abundant resource: seaweed. The team, which contains representatives from several European nations, will focus on assisting the Africans in such areas as resource distribution, current resource yields, ecology, aquaculture, and harvesting. In a press statement the university calls on other nations to also maximise this resource, one that they see as having been seriously neglected in the past.

Under its ‘National Development Plan,’ the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has awarded 36 million Euro to NUI Galway, which will be used to fund "key research and development projects," especially in the area of marine research, with the President of the university stating that it would "allow the university to become a major international centre for marine research," as well as securing its place as Ireland’s leader in this field.

This is the week to be in UCC, because this week is Rag Week. The days are jam-packed with exciting events, while the nights are filled with sordid goingson.Music takes a leading role, encompassing all tastes and persuasions. From Irish Trad. Sessions to Jazz Gigs, and from 60s 70s and 80s discos to live bands, there is something to please everyone.

Of particular interest to many there will be a pizza eating competition followed by naked foam wrestling.

Later will come mud wrestling and a hen and stag night, both promising to be great events. There are boat races and raft races, all followed by drink receptions. Another food-related event comes under the unambiguous title of Frozen Chicken Bowling.Promising to draw a crowd is absailing off the science building, followed by a FIFA World Soccer Playstation competition.

Prince Harry - not stoned

protest attracted over 30,000 people and Trade Union representative from all over the U.K. and Ireland spoke at the event. Speaking at the Trinity News Questions and Answers, North Belfast MLA Alban Magennis condemed the murder of the young postman. ‘More than antinationalist, these loyal-

ists hate everything Catholic’. Mr. Magennis was speaking at the event, held ltwo weeks ago, which was chaired by TV3 presenter David McWilliams. Also in attendance were Independent Trinity Senator Shane Ross and College Junior Dean Brendan Tangney.

compiled by Gerrard Cowan and Grace Ni Eidirsceoil

UCD A team of UCD researchers, with Dr Kay Ohlendieck at the helm, has "discovered a cellular defect in muscular dystrophy," the male-specific inherited disease which affects one in every 3,000 Irish men. The team has found that "the cycling and buffering" of calcium ions" are one of the main factors in the disorder, a Twenty years after introducing a biotechnology profinding that is described in a UCD press release as gramme to DCU, The Department of Science and Education has awarded the college 34.3 million, as part "crucial." The research continues, with efforts under way to establish why the cells initially break down. of its Programme for Research in Third-level Institutions. The money is to be used to fund the develop- Meanwhile, the HEA, in conjunction with UCD, launched "Needs Analysis 2000: A Study of Second ment of a National Institute for Cellular Biology, based in DCU and supported by researchers in Maynooth and Level Students in University College Dublin." The report is intended to investigate the academic, social, Tallaght IT. The research will be done in collaboration and psychological needs of students, as well as with a number of Dublin hospitals. assessing the support services on offer to them.

DCU

A dentist in Cody, Wyoming is leading a statewide campaign to ban soft drink machines from public schools. Jim Landers, president of the Wyoming Dental Association, is preparing for fierce opposition from the fizzy drinks industry, and alleges that schools that make financial deals with such companies are "selling out the present and future health of our children" – in short they are committing "child prostitution". Landers, already supported in his crusade by at least ten concerned organisations, has in his 24 years of dental practice in the district observed a worrying increase in so-called ‘Mountain Dew mouth’ – dentists’ nickname for young teeth already riddled with decay – a condition largely caused by immoderate consumption of high-sugar drinks. In California fizzy drinks are already outlawed in elementary and middle schools, but Landers would extend the ban to high schools.

New York, US. Body piercing problems

Drugs talk: surprise demo

The vice-chancellor, Sir George Bain, has recently announced that a poll by ‘The Guardian’ newspaper places Queen’s in the top twenty of UK universities, with regards to the fields of research and development.

The poll, which contained more than 170 institutions, also found that out of the top fifteen college choices for Northern Irish students, Queen’s ranked third in academic achievement, with over 70% of subjects achieving a rating of "excellent."

Meanwhile, the vice-chancellor has arranged for the establishment of a £100,000 fund, under his name, to fund staff and students experimenting with "innovative and imaginative ideas." The fund is expected to be fully established in the next academic year, and will certainly add further to Queen’s increasing reputation as a centre of dynamic research facilities.

UCC

War on fizzy drinks

Devon, England

QUB

NUI Galway

Wyoming, US.

Almost a fifth of students who had undergone a body piercing experienced subsequent medical complications, in a survey of undergraduates at a New York university. Just over half of those questioned had some form of piercing, and 17% of these had experienced a particular ailment as a result, most commonly a bacterial infection. Bleeding and injury or tearing around the affected area was also common.

Additionally, just under a quarter of students had tattoos but none had suffered complications from these. The researchers warned, however, that in both cases it might be too early to detect life-threatening infections such as hepatitis B or C, or HIV, a risk posed by non-sterile equipment. In female students, the most popular place for piercing leaving aside the ear lobes was the navel (29%), followed by other parts of the ears (27%). In males, the ear was the most popular site, with 31% having a piercing in that part of their body

North Belfast schools come under attack amid sectarian anarchy Cearbhall de Faoite

in brief

A police sniffer dog caught four pupils red-handed on a visit to a north Devon school - as part of a talk about drugs. As students were filing out of the talk at Ilfracombe Community College, the two-year-old German pointer called Bonnie became excited. This prompted a search of lockers and an amount of cannabis was discovered, which led to four male pupils being arrested. Three of the boys, all aged either 15 or 16, were let off with reprimands but one was prosecuted and later received a conditional discharge. "It's one assembly that no one will ever forget," said Alan Mobbs of the Devon and Cornwall Police. Principal David Humphries denied his school had a major drugs problem

Colorado, US. Teacher feels bomb damage Police in Kiowa, Colorado last month confiscated an inert bomb that had been entered as a project in a high school science fair. Made from fertiliser and diesel in a test tube, the device was intended to demonstrate how heat is involved in transferring energy and was displayed at the exhibition alongside more traditional experiments. An anonymous caller alerted police to the school. District Attorney James J. Peters revealed that the device was not functional at the time but that "necessary ingredients and instructions to make it so were present."

The student involved, who has not been named, will not be disciplined, as it appears his teacher not only approved but actually assigned him the project.

Kiowa High School Chemistry teacher Randy Wilson, 44, has been placed on paid suspension pending an investigation into the incident.

Yale University, US. Police test quality of ‘gear’ New Haven police recently arrested a student for allegedly asking them to test if a white substance he had bought was heroin. Officers claim the 22year-old male handed over a small bag of ‘drugs’ he had just bought on a nearby street corner.

Following his arrest for possession of illegal substances, the student’s lawyer has argued that his client merely wanted to help police fight crime by trying to catch drug dealers in action. Says William F Dow III: "Sometimes people who are inexperienced and want to help out law enforcement don't really understand how things work.

The last place in the world that a person who intended to illegally possess drugs would go is to the police and ask them to test that substance."

Police refused to comment but they are not likely to press charges as the youth seemed a little ‘dazed’ at the time. The youth was a law student and considered unlikely to be a heroin addict.

student news round up compiled by: Martin McAlinden

Trinity News 30th January 2002

8

interview Twenty minutes with the maestro Gerhard Markson, the Principal Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland 2001/2, spoke from the Bavarian State Opera House, exclusively to Johnny Phelan

Poetry in motion: Gerhard Marksson, Principal Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. leads the charge during a recent performance

Gerhard Markson is not your average conductor.

If such a thing exists, it is often caricatured as the eccentric, stern and pompous artiste with hair that was in fashion when Beethoven 9 was the newest release. With all the stereotypical images of what every conductor should be floating through my head, I'm surprised to find Markson relaxed, enthusiastic and garrulous when it comes to the subject of musical life in Ireland.

As the postlude to World War II found most German families stripped of their possessions, the Markson family was lucky to preserve one of the few pianos left in the small southern town of Bensheim. The young Gerhard was inspired and encouraged to practise by his mother, herself an amateur musician, and he soon revealed his precocious nature in music.

Not many people are ever told by their teacher that at 14 that they cannot be taught any more, but this being the case he was enrolled in the Frankfurt Academy so that his prodigious talents could be nurtured further.

While Markson says that there was no singular incident, nor flash of light which told him his destiny lay in conducting, he says that he "melted into the desire to conduct" while surrounded by the virtuosos of Frankfurt. At home he was "not brought up with music all around," and so the busy and reputable Academy incubated his interest. It was here where Markson met his musical father, Igor Markevitch, "who was one of the greatest influences in my life."

Surrounded by elaborate operatic and symphonic productions by major artists, the soloist life of a pianist seemed lonely and "the sound was not enough for me." With

the comfort of hindsight he tells us that while he wanted to conduct "I never wanted to become a music teacher and my parents told me to start doing something serious."

Nonetheless what was an interest evolved into a passion and vocation.

Through rigorous tuition with Markevitch, and later in Rome with Franco Ferrara, he learned to be the musical ringmaster of an orchestra.

"Modern orchestras are now full of highly trained professionals, you must respect them and work for them."

Most musicians trust their director to be assured of the music almost to the point of infallibility, but when I mention that even Georg Solti confessed to "making millions of mistakes in all my early performances," the man at the end of the line laughs heartily and admits to the same early 'learning cliff.'

Despite this, "I was trusted to conduct my first symphony in Augsburg, 1977 and it was Tchaikovsky 1." This is an example of how, to this day he displays an impressive memory: throughout the conversation he reiterates not just concerts but dates places, performers, programmes and prima donnas.

When he reveals that seeing Von Karajan perform in Lucerne "left a great impression" or that meeting Leonard Bernstein in 1973 with the

Rome Radio Symphony Orchestra, you get the impression he is not name dropping, but using these anecdotes to enthuse. He is sincere in his urge to offer an outsider a glimpse into the glamour.

As the plaudits began to accumulate and as his international repute snowballed, he began to live the jetset life of the accomplished conductor-holding positions in Monte Carlo, Hanover, Santa Cecilia and Scandinavia. He became Music Director of many continental opera houses, but languor never set in and his ambition was voracious. His recording career began to bloom and he worked with some of the world’s most acclaimed musicians (his version of the Schnittke cello concerto with Maria Kliegel is recognised as among the best available).

His first foray into the Irish music scene was with Opera Ireland and even the piranha-like critics acknowledged that Markson had "great individuality." Despite the popular conception, the man himself refutes the myth that conducting is all about charisma, a natural gift and something which cannot be endowed. "Conducting is not a mysterious talent, there is a clear language to be learned and you can definitely teach how to rehearse." It seems strange to hear a man of a profession which is considered so esoteric, to be earnestly advocating any aspirations to conduct.

Gerhard Markson was introduced to the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland in 1993 and their good rapport was self-evident and immediate. The measure of success in his field is whether you get asked back and this he was.

Considering that Bernstein encouraged the New York Philharmonic

musicians to call him "Lennie," while Toscanni thought of himself as the superior "captain of the ship," should the tradition of distance between the ensemble and its conductor be preserved? "In the past it was okay, but now it is simply not true and there is no point in coming in and saying 'I'm something special.'" When he observed Bernstein's rehearsals, he admired that "in spite, or because, of the fact that he was relaxed, he had utmost respect from the players. He had immense authority."

This same mutual respect is evident in his present post in Ireland, the consequence being a revival in the standard of the orchestra. "Modern orchestras are now full of highly trained professionals, you must respect them and work for them."

When asked how he would actually rate our national orchestra in the

"Conducting is not a mysterious talent, there is a clear language to be learned.”

light of his experience, I am convinced when he says "People are harsh on them and I genuinely believe that sometimes they don’t realise how good they are. They are very good even on European

standards." This does not come across as sycophantics or hollow words, each statement is made earnest.

Having succeeded the much lauded Alexander Annissimov, I enquire what personal stamp does he want to put on the orchestra now that he is Principal? The response is vague, but fundamental in that he "would like people to hear the music and understand that we have a sound of our own, that of the NSO and Markson." Surely the German school of thought is incongruous with that of the Russian, making any style change difficult? He concedes the point and says that the challenge will help the orchestra to develop and become more responsive. "As in all art, you must always get better and better and better."

Now as the Principal of the NSOI, he has conducted over 950 operas and innumerable symphonies, and says he has continued to "learn by doing." Markson strongly believes that empirical talent is better than indoctrinated ability, so what advice would he give to young conductors as the key to success?

"Modesty. Modesty. Conductors must think ‘modesty,’ not ‘maestro.’"

It is not just his professional instinct that appears insatiable. He has been steadfast in his intention to bring the NSO to a wider audience. He has related to the public, taken the orchestra out of the closet and brought it beyond its residence at the NCH in Dublin.

The recent tour to provincial towns and cities all over Ireland was the first in its history and he has been proactive in its youth education programme.

Contemporary music is having life breathed into it, in no small part to his intention to "represent the

entire spectrum of music. We must present new music, I want to discover new Irish composers." In balance with this the management’s mission statement for the current season is to "explore the great central European canon" and the man who climbs the podium for

What personal stamp does he want to put on the orchestra now that he is Principal? "I would like people to hear the music and understand that we have a sound of our own, that of the NSO and Markson."

these concerts speaks about this idea as if doing so for the first time.

It seems, even after 53 years, that music for him is like a new toy, he celebrates each opportunity to make the music of Strauss, Debussy, Beethoven et al and his passion has not been dulled by age.

After all, "music is our mother’s milk."

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

www.nch.ie wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

9

Trinity News 30th January 2002

focus Food for thought - ethical industrialists

Some of the most recognisable corporate names today can trace their roots to the modest plans of nineteenth century Quaker merchants, noted for their prudence and philanthropy.

John Fitzgerald investigates the rise and decline of the ‘ethical industrialists’.

B

ewleys, Jacobs, Goodbodys, Fruitfield Jams, Barclays and Lloyds banks are all giants on the corporate world today, but they also share a common origin. They were all founded by Quakers, although the founding families no longer own them. Quakers, more properly known as Friends (i.e. members of the Religious Society of Friends) had a significant role in the Industrial Revolution. What drove a meek and ‘plain’ religious minority (with only 1500 members today in Ireland) to such achievement during the 18th and 19th centuries?

Other well-known companies in England- Cadburys, Rowntrees, Fry’s, Carr’s and peek Freans can also trace their roots to commercially minded Friends. The story of Friends in industry and business is about the influence of a deeply-held value system, which often complemented good business practice, but sometimes contradicted it. As

Friends became successful in the commercial world, they sometimes found themselves at odds with their religious beliefs.

In the 18th century, the typical Friend might have been a farmer, or tradesman, although there were some more important businessmen.

The development of Quaker involvement in commerce, from its lowscale, rural origins, to the financial might of Barclays and Lloyds follows the progress of the Industrial revolution. Friends seemed to naturally posses the value system which was to prove successful in a rapidlychanging world. It was, however, less a case of being rewarded for being philanthropic, than a happy coincidence of values and circumstances.

Quaker merchants seemed to thrive on the basis of their ‘plain’ values.

By selling useful, rather than luxury goods, they were able to develop a steady business. Their preoccupation with integrity, in the long run, made

them popular with customers and that, in catering "You haven’t as other traders alike. Also, the values much time to have all the meetings of frugality and prudence, very with staff a common ownership dominant amongst Friends, gave company requires. In the chemical them a commercial edge. Finally, the industry, for example, you can leave intimate yet far-reaching network everything bubbling away while you that was the Religious Society of make your decisions".

Therefore, Friends provided many opportuni- at the height of the Industrial ties for partnerships or loans.

Revolution, Quaker manufacturers, One of the more distinctive in implementing what seemed like aspects of Quaker businessmen unprofitable practices, were preduring the 19th century, especially empting the growing concern for the the manufacturers, was their philan- welfare of the workers. In other thropy. Cadburys and Rowntrees in spheres, Friends were taking an particular, went to great lengths to innovative approach. provide welfare for their employees, One of the earliest railways, from with company doctors, and courses Stockton to Darlington, was opened for their employees. The village of in 1818, backed by Friends. The S.S. Bournville in Yorkshire was original- Sirius, the first steam ship to cross ly constructed for the employees of the Atlantic, was owned by JR Pim, Rowntrees. a Cork Friend, and captained by This stemmed from the principle of Capt. Richard Roberts RN, also a equality which is at the core of Friend. Where did this ability to link Quakerism. The hierarchy of other together behind groundbreaking and churches is replaced with a system successful projects come from? whereby the ministry of a poorly educated manual worker could carry the same weight as the words of a m i l l - o w n e r.

Indeed, there are many incidences of Quaker employees travelling with their employers to Quaker Meetings, which no doubt served to exchange experiences from both ends of the new capitalist system.

Whilst perhaps influenced by Quaker morals, The Quaker-built ‘Model Village’ at Bournville these practices also made sound commercial sense- It was perhaps because of the closea contented workforce was an knit structure of the Religious efficient one. In Ireland, the Society of Friends. At regular Richardson family created a ‘model meetings for Quaker business, village’ at Bessbrook, to accommodate the mill workers. This village was to have no pubs, no prostitution, no pawn shops, and no police. Here it can be seen how philanthropy can perhaps be perceived as paternalism.

T h i s tendency to conduct business and manage workers on a personal level served Quaker industrialists very well to begin with. However, as numbers expanded, this became infeasible. The highly successful Rowntrees found themselves in the peculiar position of opposing the establishment of unions, as this went against their belief that the workers should be able to represent themselves directly, without a cumbersome hierarchy.

Gradually, the intervening layers of management negated the ‘family merchants were able to exchange atmosphere’ which had been so ideas. Further, their common faith important. An attempt to turn gave them an innate trust in each Bewley’s into a common ownership other, allowing them to confidently company towards the end of the forge links where other merchants 20th century was unsuccessful, might hesitate. largely due to the nature of the The fact that another businessman business. A Bewley family member, was also a Friend would have meant involved in this process, explained much to a 18th or 19th century

The highly successful Rowntrees found themselves in the peculiar position of opposing the establishment of unions, as this went against their belief that the workers should be able to represent themselves directly...

investor. Quaker meetings had no qualms about holding their members to account. In a case of insolvency, Friends would be eager to inquire whether the unfortunate Friend concerned had been prudent enough, or simply a victim of circumstances.

This scrutiny of Friends’ lifestyles continues today, perhaps in a less direct manner. One example is through Advices and Queries for Serious Consideration, a series of questions for Friends to consider. The 5th query, from the 1981 revision of Christian Experience, reads: “Are you honest in your daily work and in all your personal relationships? Do you maintain integrity in your dealings with government authorities and other outward concerns? Do you guard against covetousness, remembering that the quality of life does not depend on the abundance of possessions? Do you seek to discern how much of your time, talents and resources you should devote to the service of others?”

The fact that this is a question rather then a c o m m a n d shows how Friends are supposed to aspire to it- it is a reminder, rather than a declaration of virtue.

‘Queries’, and other influences, had some effect on how Friends conducted business. However, the scrutiny of Meetings sometimes led wealthy Friends to move away from Quakerism. The ‘third generation phenomenon’, where the children of successful Quaker businessmen left their Quaker roots behind in their progression to wealthy lifestyles, is evident in a number of cases.

Although it did not always happen (many Quaker businesses stayed within the family for centuries) it is true that few Friends today remain in big business.

They are more likely to be involved in social work, medicine, or lobbying for political change. A legacy of the Rowntree family is the Joseph Rowntree Political Reform Trust, which supports political change.

However, it is clear that Friends can sometimes bear a more powerful witness to their beliefs by practising ‘ordinary’ business in line with them. The dilemma for Quakers, to be ‘in the world, but not of the world’, is still as pertinent today as it ever was. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

www.quaker.org wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Trinity News 30th January 2002

10

forum College Capers

Camp X-Rated for non POWs ?

CSC The CSC’s key change has shown once again that that organisation is unrivalled in terms of communication skills.. The keys, of a very expensive nature, and impossible to copy in Dublin, are replaced for ‘security’ reasons. Various societies weren’t told about the change and some found their new keys’ had, in fact, been thrown out by House 6 cleaners. CSC hacks were fuming at the mishap and swiftly dispatched the cleaners down to the bins to look for their keys. Alas, no news as to how the search concluded but rest assured fellow students that the CSC will waste no time replacing the keys. And at whose expense? Step forward ‘Seosamh MacTrionoide’ who annually pays the highest student registration fee in Ireland.

Comment Brian Dooley

It’s the secrecy that’s most alarming about the prisoners in Guantanamo.

The Red Cross delegation currently at Guantanamo is bound by confidentiality not to disclose to the public what they see and a recent British delegation to the base cannot be regarded as impartial – even the composition of the delegation is, at least at the moment, a secret. There are grounds for serious concern at the way in which prisoners are being treated.

So far a relatively small number of prisoners have been transferred to Guantanamo. About 160 prisoners are currently held there with hundreds more expected. We don’t know Bookshop trip if the prisoners were told where they were being taken or told about Reading maps is no longer a require- the length of the flight or ment to work at the SU it seems. Not any other information about their known for its strength in accounting fate. We don’t know the conditions procedure either, the SU chose to dis- inside the plane. Photos published patch its Bookshop to staff to London at the weekend taken sometime to purchase books ‘which are much after their exit from the plane shows cheaper.’ London bookshops must the prisoners goggled, and fitted indeed offer rich pickings, especially considering the weak exchange rate against sterling. Granted the bookshop is profitable but the SU could do with saving pennies, and jetting off to London to buy books hardly seems in the spirit of thriftiness.

Worse still, our faithful friends in London managed to get the train to the wrong airport on their return Comment trip and missed their flight. Worry not friends, the SU offers full supProf. William Binchy port for its directionally-challenged staff, generously sorting out their litWe often read complaints from some tle ‘misreading’ and provided them quarters about the "claims culture". with new tickets home. RESULT: We are presented with scary picHeathrow Express 1, Trinity stutures of an army of fraudulent plaindents’ pockets - nil. tiffs, backed by unethical lawyers, fooling the courts and walking away Piranha! with armfuls of money abstracted from unfortunate defendants. The The pretender to College Capers’ truth is very different. throne as the View from the To be awarded compensation for Campanile, Piranha! has recently been more worthy of receiving satiri- your injuries, you have to prove to the satisfaction of a judge that the cal treatment itself than dishing it defendant has been guilty of wrongout. As it turns out, its editors (a ful conduct which caused those Theoretical Physics student and a injuries. If you can't prove your case, B.E.$$ student/Southsider Players you get nothing. Judges are not hack), had spent the term causing naive: they themselves were practismischief themselves, only to appear the week before the issue was due to ing lawyers before their appointbegin, working with all the eagerness ment and they know the facts of life.

There are three main areas where of a junkie hunting up methadone accidents finish up in court. In all of dealers. The actual issue itself turned out to be filled with dull D.U. them, it is obvious that the defenPublications (what’s that?) jokes and dants, as a group, far from being innocent victims of a cynical combitchy comments about a Trinity pensation system, have indeed News theatre review. Evidently the behaved carelessly, sometimes hard men of Piranha! are avid readshamefully so. The first area is road ers of the Trinity News theatre secaccidents. We all know that serious tion, a section few Trinity News accidents are caused mainly by danhacks read themselves gerous driving, speeding and drink.

The second area is accidents in the Dublin Experience workplace. Again, The position does not reflect well on the defendants.

Tourists wanting to visit Trinity’s Irish safety standards in places of award-winning residence at employment are poor, as the annual Goldsmith Hall will have an opportunity to savour the true "Dublin experi- statistics of injuries and deaths in employment bleakly reveal.

The ence" of street crime Not, as you last area concerns accidents on might expect, the infamous Pearse someone else's property, as where Street, but instead our lovely you fall in a supermarket on a broNortheast corner. The journey from the Arches to Goldsmith Hall has been ken yoghurt package that was left praised as an accurate reflection of the on the floor for twenty minutes or "modern Dublin and Trinity" in which you trip on a crack in a pavement.

The Irish courts set a high, but not all citizens run the gauntlet of urban impossible, standard of care for crime. Fortunately, College plans to property owners, including the State preserve this unique atmosphere by bestowing new lights only in the front and local authorities. Anyone who of college, are assured in the residents’ has walked down the streets of New York or Paris will have noticed that report. a somewhat lower standard prevails

with ear muffs, face masks and gloves, kneeling on the ground. They wore loose-fitting jumpsuits. This would severely reduce the prisoners’ awareness of the outside world.

Security might be given as a reason for this treatment but wounded prisoners taken to Guantanamo on stretchers yesterday were reported to have been subjected to similar restrictive measures, as well as having arms strapped to their sides according to one press report, in a context where the security risk would appear to be significantly lower. Prisoners had their hair and beards shaved off –one of the techniques used in prisons in numerous countries to strip away the dignity of prisoners whether held in connection with criminal or political activities. In a significant departure from international standards, prisoners are being kept in cages open to the elements. This would not be the form of accommodation normally applying in a US jurisdiction and it is hard to see a justification for this other than one representing an attack on digniy. The reduction of prisoners’ awareness of the environment and the shaving of heads are common

techniques used to disorient detainees and soften them up for interrogation. In the past, uncharged detainees have been kept hooded and forced to wear loose-fitting clothing in order to increase their sense of isolation. In many countries blind-folding is used to disorient prisoners and to underline their vulnerability. Even a short period of this treatment can have a long-lasting impact and its necessity on security grounds has to be questioned.

While the presence of the Red Cross at the base is to be welcomed, there is a need for the US authorities to more adequately account publicly for current conditions and practice at Guantanamo as well as to bring treatment of the prisoners into line with international standards.

The security needs, which are presumably the basis for the current pattern of treatment, can be met in ways which meet inte rnational human rights standards.

Practices such as hair and beard cutting, and ear cuffing and blindfolding appear excessive to security requirements while at the same time conforming to tradition-

‘Unlawful combatants’ or POW’s ?

al measures to dehumanise prisoners prior to interrogation.

Shackling prisoners in the exercise yard – using chains in contravention of Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners – likewise appears excessive in the light of the highly defended nature of the base.

Amnesty is urging that prisoners be accorded the same rights as

are due to other prisoners–even dangerous prisoners. The US authorities have a chance to underline the rule of international law and to uphold international standards.

It is an important opportunity.

Brian Dooley is Head of Communications for Amnesty International Dublin.

Money for nothing? Northern Blues t

h e r e .

When it comes to the amount of compensation that is awarded for personal injury, the figures can look high until you examine them a bit more closely. The money is awarded

amount for these devastating injuries. That amount has crept up to £250,000 (about 320,000 Euro) in today's values. Who would feel that it represents undue compensation?

Let us not live in a Pollyanna world.

Claim culture - does it exist?

by the judge. Juries, who might have been thought to be too generous, were abolished in this kind of litigation fourteen years ago. The injured person will get compensated for the loss of income which he or she has suffered as a result of the accident.

So, if a 40-year -old employee receives serious injuries which make her unable to work again, the compensation will include the lost income for the next twenty-five years. Compensation is also given for the injuries themselves. The amount is not huge. In 1984, in a case where a young man was severely injured in a traffic accident, resulting in a condition of paraplegia, the Supreme Court held that £150,000 was the appropriate

There are some rogues who try to take advantage of lax management and rip off employers and public authorities with fraudulent claims.

But the large majority of claims before the courts are made by honest people who have had the misfortune to be injured as a result of the carelessness of another.

The true lesson to be learned from these claims is not to silence them but rather to make greater efforts to reduce the accidents on the roads, in factories and in public places.

William Binchy is Regius Professor of Law at TCD and a former member of the Law Reform Commission

Comment Alban Magenniss, MLA It’s been a difficult and depressing year for the people of North Belfast.

As someone who was born and bred there the scenes I witnessed in 2001 broke my heart. To see a community so torn apart was a new low for the North of the city and of the island.

A new year is upon us now, but will the next 12 months be any different?

Hopefully, the initiative undertaken by the SDLP leader and Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan, together with the First Minister, David Trimble, has made a difference. The quiet and unobtrusive negotiations carried out so diligently by Mark and Mr Trimble ended the Holy Cross dispute, and have led to the setting up of the North Belfast Community project.

It aims to put in place a plan of short, medium and long term actions to address social and community issues in North Belfast. It will focus in particular on building community capacity where it is weak and maintaining it where this is working well.

I am sure that this initiative will have an impact in addressing social and community issues in North Belfast, but it will take action on the part of the people to really change things in the troubled area. We must examine why people hate each other to such a degree that pipe bombings, nightly rioting and the dreadful Holy Cross protest became the order of the day. We must work from ground level to achieve balance and goodwill between both communities.

The prposals which have been broadly accepted must be seen to be effectively put in place, bring tangible chnage for the better to the people of Belfast. Through dedicated work and accommodation, this would not be impossible There is no doubt that the difficulties and divisions in North Belfast are complex and run very deep, but

the deprivation and poverty in many parts of the area also fuels much of the anger which exists. People who were happy with their lives would not be directing such hate and venom towards a group of young schoolgirls, or rioting on a nightly basis.

The scenes of violence and rioting that we have witnessed throughout the last year were scenes we all hoped we had left behind for good.

No-one thought that the Good Friday Agreement would provide a

Alban Magenniss, MLA

miracle cure to the divisions which have existed here for so long. Yet the plan put together by David Trimble and Mark Durkan shows that the theory behind the Agreement; that we are stronger when we work together, that politics can work and that violence only negates progress, has proved to be correct and valid.

The negotiation and workings of the Agreement did prove that through dialogue, debate and negotiation, some form of consensus could be reached.

The Good Friday Agreement provided hope. We must not lose that hope.

Albam Magenniss is the SDLP Assembly member for North Belfast

voluntary tuition. students of students tell us all.

Philip Murphy, Aged 18 There is a great and long standing tradition that exists in the historic region of Ringsend. The tradition of rowing skiffs on and round the river Liffey has been in some way a part of nearly every person dwelling in Ringsend. Rowing in this area has been developed from when rowing was used to put pilots on board foreign boats entering the port and to secure Dockers jobs, into a sport in which competitions are formed right up along the east coast in places like Wicklow, Arklow, Dublin and Greystones to name but a few. The skiffs are made of silver spruce wood and are manned by five people in all; one person coxwaining the boat and

four people rowing moulded wooden oars of 15ft long each. I first got involved in the sport when I was very young. My family has a huge history in the rowing club and so I naturally adopted the sport. I have won many titles in my short rowing career such as under14, 15,16 and 18 Championship shields won. I have recently participated in a twenty-tw! o mile row along the river Thames in London. In this race I was honoured to have been given the chance to row with my father, a highly skilled rower with huge enthusiasm. There were two hundred and fifty participants in the race and we placed ninth in a time of two hours and twenty-minutes, a really good result considering the crew was formed two months before the race."

Jessica Savage Whyte, Aged 8 My name is Jessica Savage Whyte.

I am eight years. I am in T4 at an Irish school. It is called Bunscoil Bealfheirste. I have three sisters and two brothers. My sisters are called Lara who is eighteen, Elsa who is one, and Ita who is five (she is also known as Ita Rua because she has a big head of red hair). I have two brothers. My eldest brother is called Cearbhall. He is very smart he is living in Dublin at a big university. My other brother is called Digby which is a nickname his real name is Jude Savage Whyte but everybody just calls him Digby. Over Christmas we were all together and we had a

very happy day on Christmas Eve Santa was very good to me this year he brought me a good bicycle as well as lots of lovely presents.

My small sisters also got lovely presents from Santa and my big brother and sister got some money because they are too big for bicycles. Last summer mummy and daddy took us to Kerry for our holidays a place called Dingle near the Blasket Islands. Cearbhall came down for a day and then had to return to Dublin and daddy saved my cousin, Cameron from drowning at Slea Head. An American saved my daddy who got into trouble we were all crying and afraid. It was very scary and I hope it never happens again whenever we go on holidays

Amy Iggulden, Volunteer It sounded like a good idea when I read the Freshers' Letter - one hour, once a week, a new friend, and a bit of 'education as fun'. No problem - I didn't get a pupil in the first round of match-ups, nobody wanted French and Drama tuition, but by week three of term I was matched up and ready to go. And for all the 'will I be able to do it', giving tuition to a primary school pupil is not in the least bit hard, and rewarding in the most uncomplicated way. Apart from the day we tried to do long multiplication (I had been avoiding the Maths book). As my pupil whisked through the 'carry one, hold one over, add it up, put a

nought' formula that you learn with such efficiency in Primary school, I was desperately adding, times-ing and subtracting so that when he looked up at me to check the sum was right, I could nod or shake with some authority. So I re-learned my times - tables as me and my pupil chanted our way through the 4s, 5s, 6s and all the rest, and we read a lot together. We concentrated on getting homework done, and doing extra work on areas that needed it writing short but (very creative) stories, and sometimes working on crossword puzzles. After a minisword fight and a shared bag of sweets at the end-of-year party in St. Andrews', mine and my pupil's work for the year was over.

11

Trinity News 30th January 2002

forum Trinity News tel: +353 1 608 2335 fax: +353 1 608 2656 email: trinity.news@tcd.ie www.trinitynews.com

house six front square trinity college dublin 2 ireland

Student Newspaper of the Year An independent voice since 1953

Guantanamo Bay It is a source of great concern that recent photos of muffled, blindfolded and manacled prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay were officially sanctioned and released by the US government. Crude doublespeak has been employed to extricate America from the necessity of dealing with the al-Qaeda terrorists in accordance with the Geneva Convention of 1949. US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld’s comment that the treatment of the prisoners is "humane and appropriate and consistent with the Geneva Convention for the most part" is astonishing in its chauvinistic confidence that the most powerful nation in the world will not be significantly challenged on this issue. It is unsurprising that the skewed legitimacy of ‘Operation Infinite Justice’ has engendered an equally ambiguous policy for dealing with the al-Qaeda members. America’s self-proclaimed ‘War against terrorism’ has yielded "unlawful combatants", rather than prisoners of war, thus casting prisoners in Camp X-ray into diplomatic limbo. If America seems intent on arbitrarily rewriting the rules of international warfare, it would appear that other governments are prepared to acquiesce. Is there any hope for a just outcome of the events of September 11th and its aftermath, if international diplomatic players lack the political will to challenge the challenger?

Trinity News Editorial Staff

After the traditional division of the campus accommodation pie amongst those destined by virtue of academic performance, political acumen, hefty international fees, and/or a high-ranking connection to live within these hallowed walls, a mere 150 rooms are made available to foster a fertile ‘collegiate atmosphere’. It is fortunate, therefore, that Trinity’s societies are among the most generously funded in the State. However it begs the question why, despite ample student money allocated to our esteemed capitated bodies, do societies consistently fail to attract any significant number of First Years in any given year? To those who are eager to display endless Freshman signatures, pledging undying devotion and £2 to the societal cause, after the massacre of Freshers’ Week, would you be so precipitate as to account for the actual involvement of First Years during the year? The failure of the majority of clubs and societies to make a follow-up contact with new students to Trinity fosters an unappealing clique mentality that is self-engendering. Thus, if a successful bid for a campus room depends on a CV glowing with the lucky individual’s contribution to college life, surely the already narrow window of opportunity is rendered almost non-existent for those who feel alienated from such ‘college life’ from the beginning.

Furthermore, in an age of spiralling rent and a shrinking market, students who have to work up to thirty hours a week to fund their ‘free’ education simply do not have the time to participate fully in sports and societies. Unfortunately their CV is not one that would be deemed to add to a ‘collegiate atmosphere’.

editorial staff

forum sport picture editor an taobh thair music exhibitions cinema theatre books

Zhao Ming release

carl whyte jean o’mahony ian boyle john fitzgerald olivia mcwilliams gerrard cowan martin mcalinden johnny phelan susan thompson rachael ingersoll tommy connolly tim walker ian boyle catherine phillips jennifer powell owen f. lipsett

writers and photographers kate mckenna, sarah mcbrien, philip king, dave comerford, larry ryan, carl cullinane, paula wright, polly march, carmel o’sullivan, sarah o’hanlon, patrick walsh, ceyda pekenc, catherine mccabe, grace ni eidirscoil, conchuir o’gealbhain, phobe ling, tomy smeeth, barry murnane, barry o’halloran, cormac staunton, hester chillingworth, aubrey storey, pippa woolnough, ruth beattie, john kenny, gary finnegan, paul derham, judith fleeton, aibhe o’reilly, orla keane, alban magennis, william binchy, brian dooly, jessica savage whyte, philip murphy,

Common room?

Dearchadh eile

A Chara,

Dear Sir,

A dhaoine uaisle,

I would like to add my voice to that of the TCDGSU by calling for the honouring of Zhao Ming’s release by the Chinese government. I had found the blatant breach of Zhao Ming’s human rights (that of freedom of movement, that of freedom from torture, that of any trial, let alone a fair one) as perpetrated by China mind boggling up to last week. However the images released by the US government of their ‘humane’ treatment of ‘unlawful combatants’ who have not yet been prosecuted, and which involves such humane practices as sensory deprivation and sedation, have enlightened me. Nuclear Superpowers evidently enjoy some kind of immunity from such mundane irritants as the Geneva Convention.

I am writing this letter, not as a militant activist with a focused ideal, but merely to propose a topic for thought.

Having now entered my second term in this renowned Dublin College, I have been struck by the apparent lack of ‘common room’ facilities available to students. For those seeking to pass the time in those bitty, hours between lectures, options for a quiet, comfortable break are limited. Where can one go to enjoy a peaceful mug of coffee (or tea, if so desired) with a quiet chat or a good read?

The Buttery, whilst attracting most, is hardly an ideal location for such activities. The murky bar area, with its wonderfully cosy wooden chairs and cubicles would be great for a chat if you could see the person with whom you are conversing. However, for those with a hang-up for smoke inhalation this tends to be a restricted zone. If you are lucky enough to secure a place in the ‘caves’ of the canteen area, comfort and an airy atmosphere are to be enjoyed. This is a rarity indeed, especially during the lunch period and even when successfully secured, a Styrofoam cup of coffee just doesn’t compare to a good mug!

Other venues intended for relaxation include the Pav, the Arts Block ‘blocks’, benches scattered around campus and even the Chaplaincy.

Despite the obvious appeal of all these locations, I for one would love to see an area set up here in Trinity where one could really relax.

Comfortable couches, easy-going music, real mugs of hot drinks with an airy atmosphere would do it for me.

Certainly the setting up of such a place would be a costly venture, but the obvious benefit of pleasure for students, along with an alternative remedy for stress management would, in my opinion, make such a venture worth while.

I sign off in hope for further discussion on this matter,

Ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl daoibh gur mhaith an ceacht a d’fhoghlaimeoimis óna himeachtaí a tharla ar an lá dorcha sin ar a dtugtar "Domhnach na Fola". Dóibh siúd atá beagán ainbhfiosach ar a dtarla ar an lá sin, lá é nuair a cuireadh trí dhuine dhéag chun báis gan choir gan cháin. Mharaigh Arm na Breataine na daoine seo nuair a bhí mórshiúl ar son cearta sibhialta mhuintir chaitliceach an stáit tuaisceartaigh ar siúl ar an 31 Eanáir 1972 i nDoire Cholm Cille. Má’s rud é go bhfaca duine agaibh an scannán a bhí ar an teilifís, tá samhail mhaith feicthe agat ar Dhomhnach na Fola.

Feictear domh go dtuigeann an chuid is mó díobhse, saoránaigh an tsaorstáit, imeachtaí an lae sin mar chuaigh amach na mílte díobh a shiúl sráideanna Bhaile Átha Cliath, a chur in iúl don domhan an déistin a bhí oraibh roimh imeachtaí an lae. Maith sibh a rinne sin, ach cad chuige ar stop sibh? An bhfuil a fhios agaibh go bhfuil na daoine a fuair bás fós ciontach de réir Rialtas na Breataine. Chan fhuil athrú ar bith tagtha ar an Tuaisceart. Chan ceart nó cóir daoibh an Tuaisceart a chur ar an mhéar fhada. Fágaim agaibh rud a dúirt Pádraig Mac Piarais, rud a achoimríonn mo chuid tuairimí pearsanta féin ar a bhfuil le déanamh ar son na córa agus na síochána in Éirinn : " Fad a’s a bhéas na h-uaigheannai seo i nÉirinn, ní bheidh suaimhneas innti gan saoirse."

Is mise le meas, Sinéad ní Mhathúna

USIT purchase Dear Sir,

Trinity’s ‘College atmosphere’

editor deputy editor arts editor features college news student news

letters to the editor

I, and I am sure hundreds of financially worn former J1-ers like me, welcome the purchase of USE-U (sorry, USIT) by STA, as reported by the Irish Times last week. Last year my sojourn to San Francisco cost approximately £1000, including extortionate flights, insurance and my visa. A further $800 is required in one’s bank account when travelling to the States on a J1 visa without a pre-arranged job. Friends who decided later to come to the sunny climes of California, and who booked with an infinitely more flexible rival organisation, managed to pay less and have a choice of more departure dates. Furthermore, USIT and Bank of Ireland advertise together in luring students to take out a loan for a J1 summer. What they do not advertise is that Bank of Ireland operates on a policy of offering a maximum loan of £800 to students travelling to the West Coast. The extra £600-£800 needed to plan a J1 is up to full-time undergraduates to organise. It can only be hoped that STA will make a J1 summer more viable for cashstrapped students.

Sincerely, Triona Farren

Is mise le meas, Gaelán Ó Comáin

SU Elections Dear Sir, Trinity students should think very carefully about sabbatical officers running for another sabbatical position during their terms. In the first place, they were elected on the assumption that they would serve their terms, not take a required 2-week holiday to seek

another position. While the SU has rightly forbidden all SU Executive Members from having access to SU offices during the campaigning season, Sabbatical Officers (even while on holiday) continue to have the advantages afforded by their student levy subsidised campus rooms and (unless they have used up their vacation pay) their similarly funded pay-packets. Naturally, it is their right to do so, but it is also this newspaper’s responsibility to bring these considerations to the attention of students, which it so miserably failed to do last year.

Owen F. Lipsett TSM Convenor

Student fodder Dear Sir, Trinty’s Junior Dean, Brendan Tangney made the resigned admission at the Trinity News Q&A, that the university system is churning out students, with little more than a title to their name and a good memory. When asked by David McWilliams (from TV3’s ‘agenda’ current affairs programme) to expand on his views, Mr.Tangney effusively coined the much used maxim that "education is our greatest asset" as a response. And what did he say then? That by wrote learning should be avoided? That word for word, verbatim type leaning is an inane style of learning?

Copy, copy, copy. He would not go into the issue. Mr.Tangney quirked his head, with a wry smile and passed the buck. I think we could call that an implicit admission. All the students in the room stared back. Next question please. A hugely important issue passed off at precisely the right time.

I would hope that Mr. Tangney, in his general meetings with the board is more explicit with his comments. If he is not, then a man who used to lecture in education is failing himself. He is in precisely the position on Trinity’s board to debate the issue.

Sean O Baoill

Yours etc.

Aoife Blacknell

Guantanamo Bay Dear Sir, Is the incarceration of Afghan prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, rather than mainland America a subtle ploy by the American government to take out two troublesome birds (Islamic fundamentalism and Communism) with one possible retaliatory al-Qaeda stone?

With the allegiance of almost the entire International Community behind them, surely the Bush administration should find a more suitable and less controversial jurisdiction in which to cage the the men who are, in all but legal status, prisoners of war? The juxtaposition of two peoples who are anathema to Uncle Sam’s ‘golbal civilisation’ (Communists and Islamic fundamentalits ) project is intentioanl to try and convince the world of the guilt and need to prosecute the displaced Afghan soldiers.

Yours etc.

Michael Sexton

letters to editor - trinity news house six - trinity college or editor@trinitynews.com

sincere thanks to gareth makim, dave bailey, eoghan williams, du publications committee, junior dean, alban magennis, david mcwilliams, shane ross

thanks to college security, the mail office, switchboard staff, the cleaning staff

all letters are encouraged include contact details letters do not express the views of this newspaper or its staff Trinity News bids farewell to its Books editor and longtime contributor Owen.F Lipsett.

Thanks for the tireless work and effort for this and all other TCD Publications Adh Mhor Eoghan O’Fionn!

Camp counselors Russia - are you aged 18 + with a desire to learn Russian? Spend 4 or 8 weeks at a Russian summer camp. Flights, insurance, orientations, visa, travel to camp, room plus board all included

12

Trinity News 30u Eanair 2002

an taobh thiar

Gafa i gCúinne

T é a n n Tomaí Ó Conghaile taobh thiar den cheist is achrannaí i gCorn na Breatainne - ceist na teanga

I

s dóiche gur ‘pasties’ agus na foghlaithe mara Penzance an dá rud is mó a shamhlaíonn daoine le Corn na Breatainne ach, taobh thiar de na híomhánna seo, tá gné níos búnasaí i bhfollach: cultúr ar leith agus teanga Cheilteach atá ar cheann de na teangacha dúchasacha is sine sna hOileáin Bhriotanacha.

Sular tháinig na Rómhánaigh chun na Breatainne, bhí na Ceiltigh i réim ar fud Sasana, lena dteanga agus lena gcultúr féin. Le teacht na nAnglaSasanach sa 6ú céad, thosaigh saol na gCeilteach dul i laghad go gasta mar a bhrúigh na hionróirí go himill an oileáin iad.

Is minic a bhí na pobail seo scoite amach ón chuid eile den oileán agus mhair tionchar na gCeilteach go láidir sna forimill seo dá bharr, Corn na Breatainne san áireamh.

Chothaigh an iargúltacht seo cultúr glinn agus oidhreacht shaibhir atá le feiceáil go soiléir go fóill.

Maidir le Corn na Breatainne, cé nach tír ar leith é (ó thaobh na polaitíochta nó na geografaíochta de) ba cheantar sainiúil i gcónaí é i gcomparáid leis an chuid eile de Shasana.

Chomh maith lena dtraidisiúin Cheiltigh, tá a dteanga, Cornais (Kernewek), iontach cosúil le Breatnais agus Briotánais agus bhí á labhairt ag an chuid is mó de mhuintir an Choirn sna meanaoiseanna.

Tá scéal amháin ann faoi scaifte ón cheantar ar a mbealach go Londain, sa 16ú céad, le gearán a dhéanamh faoi cháin nua.

Mar ní raibh ach Cornais acu, shíl na Sasanaigh ar chas siad orthu ar an bhóthar gurbh arm eachtrannach a bhí iontu ag déanamh ionsaithe ar an tír!

Le himeacht aimsire áfach, fuair an Béarla an lámh in uachtar ar an Chornais mar teanga tráchtála agus ag deireadh an 18ú aoise, bhí an teanga chóir a bheith marbh. Ó shin, d’athbheoigh an teanga i rith an 20ú céad le neart leabhar foilisithe inti. Sa lá atá inniu ann, tá gréasán láidir sa cheantar a oibríonn go dícheallach le suim a chothú i gCornais agus meastar anois go bhfuil an teanga (ar chaighdeán éigin) ag thart faoi 100,000 duine.

Is dóiche go bhfuil níos mó eolais ag Rialtas agus ag pobal na Breatainne ar an Chornais anois ná mar a bhí acu cúpla céad roimhe ach d’anneoinn tábhacht na teanga, ó thaobh oidhreachta agus cultúir de, is léir nach bhfuil cothrom na Féinne tugtha di go fóill.

Is rud suntasach é gurb í an Chornais an t-aon

teanga Cheilteach amháin nach bhfaigheann tacaíocht suntasach ó rialtas.

Anseo in Éirinn, is í an

Is rud suntasach é gurb í an Chornais an t-aon teanga Cheilteach amháin nach bhfaigheann tacaíocht suntasach ó rialtas.

Ghaeilge ár dteanga oifigiúil (bhuel, tá sí in ainm is a bheith ar a laghad). Sna Sé Chontae, tá aitheantas oifigiúil tugadh di ag an Tionól agus tá sé mar an gcéanna maidir le Gaeilge na hAlban agus leis an Bhreatnais. Ar Oileán Mhanann, tugann an Tinvaal, rialtas áitiúil an oileáin, aitheantas speisialta don Ghaelg ansin agus fiú amháin san Fhrainc, aithnítear an

Bhriotánais mar teanga ar leith.

Cé nach bhfuil na haitheantais seo go hiomlán sásúil, tá cás na dteangacha seo i bhfad in Éirinn níos fearr ná cás na Cornaise, atá gan stádas dlíthiúil nó polasaí oifigiúil ar bith.

De réir na Cairte Eorpaí um mionteangacha, tá dualgas ar Rialtas na Breatainne aitheantas a thabhairt don Chornais, ach i gcónaí cuirtear moill ar chomhlíonadh an pholasaí riachtanaigh seo.

Diúltaíonn an rialtas oideachas frí mheán na Cornaise a chur ar fáil do pháistí a bhfuil an teanga ó dhúchas acu agus ar na mallaibh, chuir siad GCSE na Cornaise ar ceal.

Chomh maith leis sin, mar chuid d’athbeochan na teanga, tógadh comharthaí boithre Chornaise timpeall na contae ach bhain an chomhairle síos arís iad.

Sna treoirlíntí do fhorbairt chultúrtha Chorn na Breatainne, baineadh na tagairtí uilig don Chornais amach as na cáipéisí agus má tá logainmeacha ar bith fágtha i gCornais go fóill, aithrítear go Béarla iad, ainmneacha gan mórán bainte acu lena háiteanna.

Tá na héagóracha seo ag cur isteach go mór ar phobal na Cornaise agus ar dhaoine níos faide i gcéin chomh maith.

I rith na mblianta, rinne cainteoirí agus pobal na Cornaise a seacht ndíchill chun stádas ceart a fhail ar a dteanga ach ní mór an dul chun cinn atá déanta acu go fóill. Tá feachtais ar bun ag eagraíochtaí ar nós, Agan Tavas (Ár dTeanga) le fada an lá anois ach tá Rialtas na Breatainne de shíor ag diúltú a n-iarratas.

Sa saol nua-aimseartha seo, glactar go forleathan

go bhfuil an ceart ag achan duine cothrom na Féinne a fháil ach, sa chúinne seo de na hOileáin Bhriotanacha, dhealródh an scéal go mbíonn pobal áirithe eisceachtúil ón riail sin go fóill. Tá muintir na tíre seo breá cleachtaithe le hidirdhealú dar ndóigh, ach mar is léir dúinn, níl muid inár n-aonar.

Thiocfadh leat a rá nach ceist í seo a bhaineann le teanga nó cultúr amháin ach le cearta daonna chomh maith. Tá páirtithe cosúil le Mebyon Kernow ag cur béime ar an taobh seo den cheist agus tá rún á tarraingt anuas san Eoraip.

Cibé rud a tharlaíonn, is dóiche go bhfuil cath fada dian le troid go fóill ag lucht na Cornaise leis na húdaráis le haitheantas agus tacaíocht a fháil dá dteanga. Go n-éirí go geal leo.

Fadhbanna Airgeadais an ‘euro’ Tugann Tomaí Ó Conghaile léargas dúinn ar ghné eile den euro

T

á ár n-airgeadra nua anseo faoi dheireadh. Ar fud na hEorpa tá an euro ag glacadh go reidh lena háit nua i saol na mór-roinne agus anseo in Éirinn, dealraíonn sé go bhfuil muintir na tíre uilig breá sásta leis an athrú úr seo.

Nó an bhfuil? Ó theacht an airgeadra nua, tá díospóireacht ag dul ar aghaidh i saol na Gaeilge. Ní bhaineann sé seo leis an airgead é féin áfach, nó le coincheap na heuro mar airgeadra na tíre, ach lena hainm.

Eoraip Dúirt an Chomhairle Eorpach go gcaithfidh ainmneacha an airgeadra (euro agus cent) a bheith

mar an gcéanna i ngach aon teanga san Aontas Eorpach. Ní réitíonn an litriú seo le neart teangacha san Aontas, an Ghaeilge ach go háirithe.

Tá siad ann a deir gur chóir ‘eoró’ nó ‘eora’ a scríobh ó thaobh na Gaeilge de ach níl a dhath ar bith mar sin ceadaithe go hoifigiúil.

De ghnáth nuair a thugtar focal nua isteach i dteanga ó theanga eile, athraítear é de réir fhuamhnithe agus litrithe, ach níl sé sin ag tarlú sa chás seo.

Ar bharr na bun-fhaidhbe seo, mhaígh Rialtas na hÉireann, san Acht um Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta, gurb ‘é an euro airgeadra an Stáit’. Is léir ón ráiteas

seo go bhfuil an mearbhall céanna ar an rialtas ná mar atá ar ghach duine eile. Dar leo, is focal baininscneach agus firinscneach é euro ag an am céanna ach, más focal Gaeilge atá i gceist, caithfear idirdhealú a dhéanamh ar ‘an euro’ (gin. na heuro) agus ‘an teuro’ (gin. an euro).

Ní leor focal neodrach bheith againn mar is dócha go gcruthódh sé deachtrachtaí sa todhchaí agus léiríonn sé gur focal iasachta é ainm airgeadra na tíre seo.

Mínádúrtha Fiú amháin i mBéarla bíonn deachtrachtaí ag daoine an ‘s’ a fhágail amach ag deireadh an fhocail agus iad ag déanamh tagairte don uimhir iolra. Tá na húdaráis ag déanamh a ndíchill na foirmeacha ‘cearta’ a úsáid ach, i ndáirire, níl siad ag dul i bhfeidhm go mór ar an chuid is mó de na gnáthdhaoine.

Sa Ghaeilge, tá muid in ainm ‘euro’ agus ‘cent’ a rá chomh maith san uimhir iolra cé go bhfuil sé i gcontrárhacht le gramadach na teanga agus go bhfuil sé mínádúrtha don chainteoir.

Coinníollacha Ní mór an t-ionadh mar sin go bhfuil a lán daoine míshásta leis na horduithe seo uilig agus creideann siad nár cheart don Chomhairle Eorpach coinníollacha ar bith a chur ar teanga ar bith.

Mar sin féin, níor chóir dúinn dearmad a dhéanamh go mbíonn fadhbanna ag athruithe úra i gcónaí agus níl dabht go rachaidh an chonspóid seo ar aghaidh ar feadh tamaill eile. Ag an am céanna, is cinnte nach gcuirfidh sé faitíos ar duine ar bith againn an euro/an t-euro a shaothrú nó a chaitheamh. I ndeireadh na dála, má tá sé sa phóca agat, is airgead é, cibé inscne nó litriú.

Dátheangachas Abú!!

Ta scribhneoiri nua de dhith ar Trinity News. Ma ba mhaith leat scriobh don leathanach seo no do nuacht, cuir roimhphoist chuig editor@trinitynews.com

Trinity News - nil taithi de dhith

13

Trinity News Arts 30th January 2002

trinitynews

arts

“It’s going to be bigger than Star Wars” J

Source: Lord of the Rings: The photo guide

John Rhys Davies

During his trip to Dublin for the Irish premiere of Lord of the Rings Catherine Phillips caught up with John Rhys Davies over breakfast to discuss dwarves boats and origami watching him just handle his crew and handle his camera and direct his actors and I realised that this guy has actually got everything you need to be a great director."

Gimli, son of Gloin, is a dwarf of middle earth. He joins the Fellowship of the Ring at Rivendell, home of the elves in a bid to guide the One Ring to its destruction in Mount Doom. When studying the characters in pre production, the actors decided to give them nationalities. Rhys-Davies decided on Scottish for Gimli. "I decided that geographically I would have to make Gimli either Irish or Scottish. I figured in the end that since he is a somewhat aggressive little character that a bit of that rather aggressive Scottish should come into his voice as well." His character, although in many ways peripheral, plays an important part in establishing the spirit of the fellowship in the opening episode of the trilogy. A member of a proud but dying race, Gimli provides tension in his relationship with Legolas, the elf, the elves traditionally being the bitter enemies of the dwarves. He also acts to diffuse tension among the group with his cynical humour and comical ferocity. Rhys-Davies clearly has a lot of affection for his character, something that must have made the

burdens of filming easier to bear.

Filmed in a wide variety of scenery and weather conditions , shooting LOTR must have seemed tortuous at times. "My enduring image is sit-

up; another two guys with a hamper between them carrying the armour up and a lady carrying my helmet up and another one carrying the boots up. They put it all on me and

“

the film indus try is full of people “who aren’t even lit erate They only got through col lege because they did origa mi or some thing for a degree”

“

ohn Rhys-Davies is a very tired man. Having flown in from LA the night before, his booming Welsh laugh is a little less booming than usual and, noticing the meagre supply of fruit juice at breakfast, he seems a little, well, tetchy. All of this comes with the territory for someone who has been thrown into the media madness of promoting the most expensive independent film ever made. Not immediately recognisable in real life due to a seven-hour make-up call, Rhys-Davies is putting his sanity on the line for a little dwarf named Gimli, probably the feistiest member of a formidable fellowship from the blockbuster Lord of the Rings. Previously known to the film-going public for his role in the Indiana Jones films, RhysDavies also found fame as part of the long running sci-fi series, Sliders. Following his excellent performance and the enormous box office success of LOTR it is likely that we shall be seeing a lot more of this man on the big screen.

Following a breakfast that wasn’t the desired "heart attack on a plate" and a brief discussion on the "Godless" place that is Trinity, RhysDavies settled down to regale the readers of Trinity News with some of the details of his time spent filming the blockbuster.

With the first part of the trilogy having been declared a resounding success it is easy to underestimate the gamble that the actors took in committing themselves to the project. In pledging fifteen months of their lives to working with a little known director on a risky film that was quite likely to bomb spectacularly if it had not been undertaken with the vision and creativity that was necessary for its success, they were putting their careers on the line. John Rhys-Davies’ initial reaction was to refuse Peter Jackson’s offer. Heavenly Creatures, Jackson’s previous feature, had been released to great critical acclaim but it showed little of the brilliance that would be needed to bring the notoriously complex novel to the screen.

Rhys-Davies and his co-actors were also well aware that if the first part of the trilogy failed, they would be stuck with two straight-to-video sequels and a big gap in their resumes. Eventually, persuaded by his son, this great figure of a Welshman paid a trip to the set in New Zealand to have a look at what kind of a set he might be working on and was pleasantly surprised. "With all due respect to New Zealand, it’s not a place you would think of as one of the great filmmaking countries of the world. But I went there, and I checked out all the back stage stuff.

I was amazed by the standards there. It was as good as anything I’d ever seen in LA, London or Rome, but even so, that doesn’t mean to say that the guy can pull it off! But I was

ting half way up a mountain and watching two guys with a hamper between them carrying the costume

Peter Jackson said "Now John, I want you to RUN up the mountain!

Can you run a bit faster? Try and

keep up with Legolas!"" It was the make-up, however that most of the cast seemed to find most trying during filming. While the hobbits initially stole the limelight with their rants about their prosthetic feet, Gimli must surely steal the show with his daily ordeals with armour and skin-destroying make-up. This experience clearly tainted the whole filmmaking experience for RhysDavies. A lot has been made of the strong bonds of friendship that were formed among the fellowship, to the extent that they all got tattoos in memory of their group after the end of filming. However, due to his lengthy sessions in the make-up studio, and the encumbrance of his armour, it seems that Rhys-Davies missed out on a lot of the camaraderie that makes shooting a film the most fun, something that he clearly regrets and found quite depressing at times. "Every time you do a shot, the make-up people , just prior to the camera rolling, just pop in and sort of mop you down.

Normally, this takes anywhere between ten seconds and a minute.

With me it took around twenty-five minutes. The fun bit of being on a set is being with your fellow actors and telling outrageous stories about other actors and making those bonds of comradeship that make the

business of being an actor such a rewarding thing. But I missed out on that because I was constantly in make-up." Where people have remarked on the real-life friendship of the actors playing Frodo and Sam shining through to their on-screen relationship, the same could be said of the position of Gimli in the fellowship. Something of a loner, he forms no tight friendship with any of the group. It is also significant that Rhys-Davies was the only actor among them deemed to be excusable from the promotional responsibilities in New Zealand where the rest of the fellowship was at the time of the Irish premiere.

Despite any difficulties he might have experienced during his time in New Zealand, John Rhys-Davies is immensely proud of what he and the rest of the team have achieved in the trilogy. He has nothing but praise for the studio, and compares the foundation of a tailor made New Zealand film industry by Peter Jackson to George Lucas’ exodus from Hollywood. Lord of the Rings could not have been made in Hollywood.

No producer or studio would have put up so much money for a project with so few guarantees in the form of big name actors or a well-established director. The cutting edge technology was also unavailable at the time and could only have been developed to such an extent away from financial pressures.

Considering that the Indiana Jones series effectively launched his career, Rhys-Davies has little time or respect for Hollywood. The film industry is full of people "who aren’t even literate. They only got through college because they did origami or something for a degree". The experience of making Lord of the Rings was clearly a refreshing one for a man who finds that " Hollywood is not a place to make films, it’s a place to make deals" and who is resigned to the fact that "filmmaking is not about producing entertainment, it’s about making money". That may be so, but the money seems to be an ample comfort for the actor who brought five boats (why buy one, when you can buy five?) back to his Isle of Man home, so taken was he with sailing in New Zealand.

As the interview draws to a close, his great rumbling voice is growing tired but he approaches the burden of heavy promotion with great optimism. Not daunted by the prospect of having to face further gruelling interview circuits with the release of the two remaining parts of the trilogy, he professes that promoting only becomes tiresome when you have little admiration for the product you are selling. As a man who is enraptured by the result of his work, Rhys-Davies finds no problem at all in waxing lyrical about what will, he believes, be one of the great classics of our time.

Bow down before your Noble king C

omedy has variously been described as the work of the devil and the work of Jim Davidson, but there is also a good and funny side to it. I went in search of it knowing only that comedy is “the new rock and roll” and “the new black”. Since “the new Jimi Hendrix” wasn’t forthcoming, I interviewed Mark Noble, who I guess is kind of like the “new Mark Bolan”.

As with so many comedians of his generation, Ross dreamt of being a human cannonball. When his boyhood ambitions were derided by his manager as a logistical nightmare, a fifteen year old Ross Noble took refuge in the growing footloose industry of the era, stand-up comedy.

In the early eighties in Newcastle it was a choice between going down ‘pits or performing in front of large audiences.“Byker Grove” was the region’s biggest employer, and everyone in his class worked on the series except for a feminist, an aerobics instructor and Ross.

Noble’s first incarnation was as a prop comic in a comedy club in Newcastle. Due to the infamously prohibitive child labour policies of the Thatcher era, he was made to wait for his set in the kitchen of the club. It was to be this very kitchen that would inspire the spontaneous mayhem that is Noble’s trademark to this very day. In a series of hilarious kitchen based mix-ups Ross’ props suitcase was filled with chilli con carne. As if that were not

enough, destiny had a joker up its sleeve. When some cheese landed on his shoe from a passing baked potato, Ross saw his chance and broke the mould of traditional comedy by performing observational comedy based on observations he was actually having while on stage… a set about the adhesive qualities of cheese.

Since then, he’s achieved great things… Great, great things.

This “improvised” comedy, as the comedic “nouvelle vague” call it, involves much spontaneous audience interaction. When asked to describe his own brand of comedy, he declined by saying that he can’t and “that’s why I’m not a journalist”. At this point in the interview, I levelled with him and told him that not only am I not a journalist but I have never seen him perform. It was therefore unlikely that anyone else would sum up his style, and so he relented: “I take stuff and kind of liquidise it together and then spurt it out”.

Which is, I suppose, a universalising description that makes the human condition that bit easier to swallow, and in turn, liquidise and spurt out.

Noble's set has improved no end since the food related meriment of the eighties. His spontaneity is suffused with enough energy to overcome any accusations of indulgence.

On stage, this man comes across as uniquely entertaining individual, not because he is a brilliant comedian, which he is, but his skewed world-

Dave Comerford talks to Perrier nominated comedian Ross Noble to find out what he has in his pockets

Ross Noble

So what’s in your toy chest Ross?

Knitted doll of Desmond Tutu: “`look at this you take off the skull cap and he’s got a knitted bald patch”

Mork and Mindy memorabilia: “I’ve got two Mork and Mindy games three complete collections of the bubble gum cards they did and a Robin Williams Mork that talks if you pull a string”

Die cast model of the car from the Dukes of Hazard: “and it’s not just any General Lee this one is signed by Cooter!”

view suggests a sincerity to his observations. Here is a man who, when faced with a potentially fatal car accident, readied himself for a moment of clarity and self-revelation. The due moment came and Ross Noble's final thought was of Dick Van Dyke. Not even the cheeky chimney sweep of Mary Poppins lore, but the mustachioed crime buster of "Diagnosis Murder". Noble told us this with the perplexed glee of a man who seemed legitiamtely concerned that this is where his priorities lay. He then spent half an hour deriving possible ramifications of turning up at the gates of heaven and whispering "Dick Van Dyke " to P! eter with a knowing wink. For one thing, he pointed out, the cherubs would have a field day with the rookies faux-pas.

At time of going to press, Ross has a CD called the “official bootlegs”, a second one coming out soon, a gig in the Laughter lounge on Wednesday January 23rd, a comical passport photograph (which is quite recent because he filled his last passport up with stamps from various places where he has performed and others where he hasn’t), luggage tags and a Parisien hotel room key in his pockets. He carries these things around with him! What a life! What a joker! wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

www.rossnoble.co.uk Source: Guardian

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

14

Trinity News Arts 30th January 2002

music Beta round the bush Larry Ryan talks to notoriously monosyllabic interviewee Steve Mason of the Beta Band

Rain’ in an ad campaign but the band turned them down. It is an album Beta Band singer Steve Mason is still very proud of and considers to be the best they have done,

“

“

Steve on John Cusack: ‘A plank.’

although their far-reaching influence wasn’t something he had hoped or planned for, nor were the celebrity fans or adoring critics, which neither he nor the rest of the band are interested by at all. The ‘Three EPs’ itself is an extravagant melange of styles; it immediately evokes the countryside and pastoral folk and all things hippie. However this is filtered through with acid-house, Primal Scream’s ‘Screamadelica’ (The horns ‘Dry the Rain’ are very much indebted to ‘Loaded’ from that

album) and hip-hop. Their closest contemporary is Beck, though without the ironic raised eye-brows and quotation marks. It is almost the perfect Beta band album, though according to Mason; "I don’t think we’ll ever make the perfect Beta Band album." Most people will recognise the band’s music from the John Cusack film ‘High Fidelity’ where a scene pretty much revolves around him plugging the band. This was a strange experience for the band. Though Mason claims; "We didn’t really like the film at all."

Also they weren’t expecting such exposure; "We knew they were using our music in the film but we didn’t know he would say our name and then get our name wrong." Ah yes, the great Beeta/Bayta debate.

Mason is firmly of the persuasion that the e should be pronounced strongly. Is this mispronunciation something that occurs regularly?

"No, it doesn’t really happen except for that guy – the plank." You have been warned. Following the success of ‘The Three EPs’ came the controversial and much hyped, eponymously titled official debut album.

It was a disaster for all concerned.

The band hated the album and caused a furore in the media by per-

sonally rubbishing it in promotional interviews. The critics were a little kinder but still it was generally disappointing for all concerned. When questioned now Mason’s attitude to it still hasn’t lightened. "Yeah we hate it. It just wasn’t a very focused record. It’s too meandering. It has a few good tracks but generally we want to forget about it, because it makes us feel bad." This is backed by their reluctance to play any tunes from the album live. The problem with it is its meandering – showing its hippie leanings a little too blatantly, too stoned perhaps. The fallout from the album led to the band nearly splitting; "Yes we nearly split up, sort of." Mason says "We just weren’t getting on. I don’t really like our drummer. We considered giving up." After the debacle of that album, there were charges of the band being wilfully obscure and difficult, something which Mason refutes; "We hate being labelled. We just want to make music, keep trying. We’re serious about what we do…We definitely want to reach a bigger audience."

Which leads nicely to 2001’s ‘Hot Shots II’ an altogether more focused affair. For this outing the employed producer C-Swing who previously was best known for his work with

long forgotten R’n’B popster Jamelia. Was this a deliberate ploy to be more accessible? "It wasn’t a deliberate effort. We just trusted him to do a good job." There is certainly a greater sheen to the album, but

“

Steve on Radiohead: ‘Very seri ous Lots of crying ’

“

E

verything you ever wanted to know about the Beta Band, but were afraid to ask (in case some guy in a grotty record store made fun of you).

The Beta Band are enigmatic and paradoxical. Their music is a cosmic mish-mash of virtually every style and soundscape. It is at once all things modern and then suddenly very old and rustic. They seem extremely laid back and very much locked in a stone grove man! Yet the band take themselves very seriously indeed and only one of them claims to smoke and even then, not during recording. They consider themselves (in many ways justifiably) pretty much ahead of the pack in the British music scene, however they are known to rubbish their own work. The lyrics are whimsical yet angry, their music switches from joyous to depressed in a breakbeat. All in all they are a proposition wholly more appetizing than most bands in the much-maligned British indie scene. Even this, being lumped into the indie ghetto, would be something they find upsetting – preferring to be a little more uncategorizable. Three parts Scottish and one part English, the Beta Band have been around since the late-nineties. Their name derives from their school streaming system; they were in the second string classes – ‘the Beta Band’ as opposed to the higher students – ‘the Alpha Band.’ Coming in the wake of Britpop, the collation of their early EPs; ‘The Three EPs’ album was like a bullet in the head of lumpen British guitar music. It caused a sensation when released, with critics salivating, declaring them the future of music. While the celebrities and fellow musicians queued up to get in on the act aswell. The Chemical Brothers’ Tom Rowlands championed their first EP, while bands such as Oasis and Embrace rushed to catch up – brazenly wearing their influence in recent recordings, though generally getting it wrong.

Even Radiohead claimed to have gone through a ‘Beta Band stage’ while recording Kid A. Budweiser wanted to use opening track ‘Dry the

they still manage to throw several disparate elements into the melting pot; one song starting off in an R’n’B vein with a touch of prog on the side and the suddenly mutating into a full on psychedelic rock out. After the turmoil of the previous album the band seemed to be happier this time: "We’re pleased with the record. I Just wish more people had bought it. Its more accessible." The standout track is the opening song and final single ‘Squares.’ The chorus features a sample from a sixties

song ‘Daydream’ though this led to more problems. They had originally planned to release the song as the first single several months ago, however it transpired that dance group I Monster were releasing a cover of the same song they had sampled, in the same week. Though Mason claims their version is "miles better," the band pulled their version and here we are some months later, the final chapter of ‘Hot Shots II.’ After some more touring the band plan to take a break in May. Is Mason involved any other projects outside the band? "I fix cars, believe it or not. I’m a trained mechanic." The band got a further opportunity to widen their scope last summer when they supported Radiohead on their US tour. Mason says; "It was a really good experience. The reaction from audiences was very good." Just as the general reaction from fans and critics alike in America has been very positive. So how did they get on with Radiohead? "I didn’t really get on with their drummer. There was some animosity. We got on okay with the others." It seems Mason just doesn’t like drummers. Did their sense of humour match that of Radiohead? "They don’t really have a sense of humour. They’re very serious – lots of crying." With all the talk of influence and bands following their lead the Beta Band don’t really seem to be like many other bands.

They like to seem themselves as a bands’ band rather than merely a critics’ band.

However Mason claims, "we don’t try to think about our music in connection with others." What other music interests them? "The Clash. We’re very keen on Joe Strummer." Are the Beta Bund punky? "Yes kind of – not musically but attitude wise." That probably sums them up well. They have the anger and non conformity of punk married with laid back experimentation of hippies, acidhouse and hip-hop. So that’s all you need to know – just be careful of your pronunciation. And perhaps drummers should steer clear.

‘Squares’ is out February 4th.

Beautiful Brains album reviews Carl Cullinane meets The Jimmy Cake to discuss football and world domination

could ever have conceived it before we actually made it." As for influences, Dip affirms "I doubt there is one band that all nine members are into." But by the sound of it, ‘Godspeed You Black Emperor!’ feature prominently. As for the gig tonight, it is excellent as always. It

“

We’re going to do an Irish world cup song. The plan is to do a tour of Japan during the tournament, to entertain the troops

“

T

he Jimmy Cake, a Dublin based nine-piece, by all accounts had a great 2001.

Their debut, ‘Brains’, was released in July to critical acclaim (earning second place on the Event Guide’s album of the year list). They have received much support from the media, and played a series of successful gigs, culminating in a phenomenal night in the Temple Bar Music Centre in December. Formed in July 2000 from the remains of ‘Das Madman’, whose first ever gig was a Trinity Battle of the Bands, the Cake admit they were "notoriously lazy" and all attempts at recording ended in chaos. After a brief hiatus, a name change and the addition of three new members, the fresh start seemed to give them impetus; "We did more in the first four months of the Jimmy Cake than we did in almost three years in Das Madman." says bassist Dip. ‘Brains’ was actually written and rehearsed in three days in guitarist Simon’s bedroom. After a six-month gap between recording and its release, the band were satisfied with the results; "We were all really delighted with how it turned out" reflects Vincent Dermody. Their music is a somewhat indefinable mix of jazz, post-rock and traditional Irish music. The band themselves interestingly posit ‘avant-soundtrack’ as the best description. "The music we’re making, none of us

doesn’t quite hit the heights of the TBMC gig, possibly due to the talkative patrons of Whelans but also due to the supporting role they are playing tonight (Zu and Guapo are headlining). However, the new songs sound great and the closer, ‘Opposite of Addiction’ is spectacular. They can raise quite a squall in full flow and the combination of sax, trum-

Ali B Fabric Live .02 Polly March

pet, guitars, bass, clarinet and drums makes for a dense and warm sound. Their live gigs are quite different to the album; "Yeah, there’s been quite a step up since recording the album. In terms of confidence and interaction between the members, we’re ten times the band we were 12 months ago." declares Vincent. Sounds promising for the next album then, which "should be out by early summer at the latest."

As for 2002, "We’d like to quit our poxy day jobs for a start. But I think Dublin is healthier than it’s ever been. We’re playing music at a very good time." Simon adds: "Apart from the new album, we also want to do a reprint of Brains and promote that a bit more. We also want to be a bit less Dublin-centric." "We’re doing an Irish World Cup song" says Vincent enthusiastically; "The plan is to do a tour of Japan during the tournament, entertain the troops." Hilarity ensues. With a new focus, experience and the impetus of a critically acclaimed album behind them, 2002 should be a great year for The Cake.

But what level of success do they aspire to? "We want to be as big as we possibly can be. If that means selling hundreds or millions so be it."

The Jimmy Cake are playiong the Project on February 25th.

‘Brains’ is out now.

Haven Between the Senses (Radiate) Carl Cullinane

Radiate obviously aren’t a major corporate record label. Only an independent would see a gap in the market for another all-male “sensitive” indie band from the north of England. Leaving all prejudices aside, and the fact that Haven wear their influences on their sleeves (the usual Buckley/Radiohead/Travis suspects), this isn’t a half bad record. Produced by legend Johnny Marr, some songs sound almost laughably like Pablo Honey-era Radiohead, but after a few listens, start to grow a charm all of their own. Originality may not be their strong point, but nevertheless, tracks like the yearning Out of Reach and Til The End, push all the right anthemic buttons as familiar themes of love and loss are revisited.

Gary Briggs fulfils the emotional falsetto role well enough, but his voice lacks any real depth. It’s a solid and pleasant album, with no shortage of melodies, but just lacks something to send it over the top.

Tears in X-Ray Eyes Half-Life (Test Tube) Paula Wright

Taking a slice of Radiohead, a helping of Morrisey and a pinch of Belle & Sebastian, Tears in X-ray Eyes have allowed these ingredients to simmer gently in the mind of Tim Closs. This is not to imply they should be condemned as plagarists or even mocked for adhering to the masses. A secret and genius ingredient was added to this wonderful broth creating an album to get truly excited about. Introduced to Closs’ tantalising vocals, the album undertakes a meandering journey through sound. Dreamy strummings and sweet sentimentality within the chords of “Stained Glass” and “Wish the World Away” lull and seduce the ear, whilst we are disturbed and disconcerted by the clashing rhythms of “Half-life” and haunting melodies of “Keep us Together”. A dominant acoustic timbre teamed with Closs’ deeply soulful voice result in a resonant sound that is distinctly the band’s own. Closs pleads, “Give me the real thing” and it seems he certainly has.

If you’ve ever convened at Fabric in London’s Farringdon, you will be wise to the thrall of the Uber-Club, a vast complex of rooms and dance floors, varying in their intensity and allure. Weekly resident and veteran of Breakbeat, Ali B, a mainstay of Fabric since the embryonic phase, succeeds in aptly capturing the quintessential Fabric flavour on disk, adhering to a fundamentally ‘funk-driven’ trajectory, embracing variants such as Rare Groove, Funk, Hip-Hop and Soul. His principal aim was to drive his set ‘a little harder, a little deeper and mellow out at the end’ and it certainly achieves this, setting in nicely with the smooth DJ Love’s ‘Underground Funk’. The mix initially proffers a plethora of Ali B’s talents; some electro infusions and skilful scratching but all too often his dubious interjections of songs such as Shakedown’s ‘Get Down’, allow a potentially tub thumbing funk beat to be eclipsed by warbling nasal randoms. The compilation tails off from 6 until 9, becoming a merge of samey sounds, suspended at a level only to be described as skin-deep but is ultimately redeemed with DJ Spice’s ‘Groove Operator’, a smooth, crisp climax with a tantalising mantra for even the most sluggish of pelvises. Ali B is a genius at deconstructing beats and then layering his sound so that the more mundane, repetitive blurbs in this compilation are ideal for the average gurning clubber yet more intolerable for the soberer ear. He chooses to go out with a bang, Mr Scruff ’s ‘Night Time’ resounding positively into the ear.

W A X south william street every t u e s d a y 11pm - 3am admission: a fiver Anthony Mooney & Pat Mac Mellow Vodka & Cranberry £2

15

Trinity News Arts 30th January 2002

theatre The shape of things to come Michael Caven director of The Shape of Things talks to Jennifer Powell about Neil LaBute the importance of being ordinary cynicism the meaning of Art and the overlap between American Psycho and Shakespeare

M

ichael Caven’s directorial work in Dublin have most recently included the acclaimed Theatre Festival "Richard III" (for which he has been nominated as Best Director in the Irish Theatre Awards) and Therese Raquin, for The Gate. Now, Caven is departing from his usual repertoire of classical theatre for something more daring and potentially controversial.

He talks happily about his reputation, and why he has, for the meantime at least, departed from that route: "`People joke, "go see a Michael Caven production, it will be a huge story, and a great old epic". I had done a lot of that recently and I really wanted to have that fresh challenge of doing something very contemporary and smaller scale, with four actors - four young actors - to challenge myself as much as anything else. I was also hugely attracted just by the play. Although it is incredibly contemporary in its style, and its characters are all very young, they are now in their early 20’s in 2002: they speak the MTV speak, and they all watch the Simpsons, they come from that whole kind of T.V. culture.

The issues that Neil’s playing with through them are age old. Like any good play, it is both very now, and very future, and very past, all at the same time. The whole struggle inside the play about what art is about, what it is for, why we have it, and what it serves for us as human beings. It’s an age old issue about why are we here and what is our heart about, what is our spirit about? Is it just about the shape and the surface of things? Or can it still be about the beating, the pulse of that inner spirit? I think The Shape of Things is trying to find a way of addressing that through very modern speak. It’s not just four slick kids being cruel to each other, there’s a much bigger story going on in it. That’s what attracted me to it: to find a way of letting the now happen, and really make it bigger than the now… if that makes any sense."

Caven is eager to point out that cruelty is not the only, or even the most important aspect of The Shape of Things. LaBute, playwright of the show, has constantly been accused of misogyny, racism, and a plethora of other uncomfortable –isms: Caven argues for LaBute: "Neil (LaBute) is not scared of trying to delve right to the edge of what ordinary people do in their lives. He gets accused of being misogynist, because he writes about the fact that there are misogynist men in the world. It doesn’t make Neil (LaBute) a misogynist because he puts these people on stage or on

screen. I think Neil’s heart and his ambition, as a writer, is very much to challenge the status quo of what we think about ourselves. He cares a great deal about the human condition, and where we’re going. He wants to ask big questions and that is always uncomfortable. He has this way of asking them through little people, rather than in Shakespeare we have a king and a

“

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the world. This is what we are doing.

What do you think about it?

”

queen, he takes ordinary young Americans. That’s important: they are just ordinary people. And yet like all ordinary people they act in

Flora Montgomery, Cillian Murphy, Elisabeth Dermot Walsh, and Vincent Walsh as Evelyn, Adam, Jenny, Philip in The Shape of Things extraordinary ways, because everyone is unique, and everyone does it their unique way."

The status quo and the characters perception of reality, experience, and truth seem to be important factors of this play, and ones which Caven believes will spark interest among young people in Dublin: "In the play, there is a struggle between total freedom and some kind of control. I think that’s a great debate for now, because we have a culture that says anything goes, and everything goes: ‘just because I want to do it, I should be allowed to do it. Just because I feel it I should be allowed to express it. Don’t you be telling me what’s right and wrong.’ That’s great, but what Neil rightly says is there are consequences to that, which is that people start hurting each other, they start failing to make proper contact, they start being very me-me-me, and the usus-us gets lost. He’s not saying go back, he’s just saying "ladies and gentlemen, this is the world. This is what we are doing. What do you think about it?"

"Cynical" was a word that popped to mind while watching LaBute’s films In The Company of Men and Your Friends and Relatives. Caven has strong, reasoned feelings about cynicism: "I’m not attracted to cynicism. It’s something I hate, violently.

To me it’s one of the most dangerous human blights: cynicism. Things happen when people get cynical: they change the world for the worse.

I don’t mind anger, and I don’t mind

pain, there’s something very real

“

if you don’t know where the line is you are two minutes away from turning babies into lampshades,and calling it art...

”

about them, and always has been.

When a culture gets so scared of itself that it won’t look at what is

Stage and Screen: Neil La Bute a profile Neil LaBute is probably more famous as a film rather theatre writer. His more acclaimed work include "In the Company of Men" and "Your Friends and Neighbours".

Both have attracted wild reviews: some praising, some damning. "In the Company of Men" centres on two embittered men who decide to wreak their vengeance on women by wine-ing and dine-ing a beautiful, but potentially vulnerable blind woman, whose heart they plan to break. The film presents strong and memorable albeit disturbing scenes.

"Your Friends and Relatives" is another somewhat macarbre piece.

Two young professional couples relationships’ become tangled and confused, illustrating distrust and lack of loyalty. Michael Caven had this to say about Neil LaBute as both a film and theatre writer: "Neil is one the very fascinating people who moves between the two worlds of theatre and film. I believe he knows how to write a play, and how to write a filmscript, and he knows how different they are. Obviously the one informs the other, and this play has a certain film quality to it

in terms of just the way the scenes come, certain quality of a journey through time and space, and the proximity, the closeness he gives us to these characters. We can see their breath almost, it’s very close-up.

Very close to the bone, and very close to the flesh. It’s not 19characters and lots of big sets, its four young people and how their relationships together work. There’s a lot of closeness and emotion in the story and yet I’ve got to find a way of keeping it big enough to fill a theatre."

going on, then it’s in trouble.

Makers of films like American Psycho shows us, as Shakespeare said, a mirror as to nature. They say have a look at yourself, and that look is often very uncomfortable, but we need to do it. If we don’t we, just become monkeys at a computer waiting for the axe to fall on us. This is something that, I think, informs Neil at a certain level, he’s obviously very touched and very deeply disturbed by the whole experience of cruelty. One of the characters in this play is talking about Art, he says, "if you don’t know where the line is you are two minutes away from turning babies into lampshades, and calling it art". That’s the heartbeat inside his (LaBute’s) work."

Truth and experience are other "age old" issues raised by the production. "The great thing about this play is that it never preaches, there are two points of view that are debated in the end. One is about subjectivity, and objectivity, one is that it is important to be absolute about things. The word truth is constantly used through out the play, and the central character called Evelyn, she’s absolutely convinced, I’m not going to say too much, that what she’s doing is right. She has that incredible fervent, passion of young people who have yet to have what she calls experience. She is going to change the world and she is going to make her statement, and she is going to be utterly true to herself as an artist. Everyone else is just a hypocrite, just hmming and hawing. She believes that art is an absolute force, and must be allowed to be released in whatever way even if it makes us uncomfortable."

Theatre is "an exciting, demanding, rewarding, and challenging" medium to Caven, and he argues that The Shape of Things will be all of the above: "Take the walk from Front Arch", he says, "this is worth seeing."

New On the Scene The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute opens in The Gate on February 5th. The show promises to be thought provoking and intense.

Low price previews will run from January 31st. Ring 01-8744368.

The association of Professional Dancers in Ireland, are offering When once is not enough/The Rite of Spring in the Project theatre. It has been running since January 24th and will run until February 2nd. It is based on Igor Stravinsky’s original ballet "Le Sacre du Printemps". For booking call 1850 260027.

In the Tallaght Civic Theatre, a new play by Deirdre Kinahan, Knocknashee came to the stage on January 24th, and will run until February 9th. It tells the tale of Patrick Annan, a physically disabled artist, Brigid Carey, a recovering drug addict and Hughie Dolan, a lonely rural misfit. This unlikely threesome is drawn together seeking love, friendship and solace, but instead their environment "threatens to disgorge a terrible secret". Following that, Denis and Rose, by Gerry Stembridge, based on a short story

by Maeve Binchy runs till March 9th. Denis and Rose are a married couple: "Rose is a queen of the southside brunch circuit, and her mother is getting up her nose.

Denis is hoping his boss will offer him a brand new office with en suite bathroom; Denis and Rose occupy the same space but somehow they never connect. Denis and Rose are in trouble". To book tickets for either Knocknashee or Denis and Rose call 01-4627477. Tickets cost 15.50, or 12.50 with student ID

The Shape of Things opens February 5th, with previews from January 31st. For Bookings call: 01 8744368.

Diversions, Pavilion Theatre.

Trinity News

Questions and Answers Wed 13th March, 7.45pm Regent House Drinks afterwards no experience necessary

Player’s Plot

12 Angry Men Andrews Lane Theatre Until February 2nd Verity Smith Bookings 01 6795720

AGM

ISDA

The Annual General Meeting takes place on Friday March 1st (Week 8) at 3pm. At the AGM there is a review of the year in Players, the committee explain what they've tried and achieved, awards are given for best poster and the new committee is elected. If you are thinking of running for committee, just be a member of Players and get someone to nominate you, and someone else to second you…

The Irish Student Drama Awards are hosted in a different city each year. Last year's festival in Cork was cancelled because of the Foot and Mouth crisis. Undeterred, several Dublin drama societies including Players teamed up to host the Dublin-Student-Foot-and-MouthDrama-Awards. Players normally sends three or four shows to compete at ISDA - this year in Limerick will hopefully be our best ever!!!

This small theatre provided the perfect venue for this intimate and atmospheric play. The story line constitutes twelve angry men, jurors to a homicide case in which a seventeen year old boy has been accused of murdering his father. The jury's decision means life or death for the boy, who at the beginning of the play looks set to face the electric chair, as eleven of the twelve jurors immediately vote him guilty.

However one juror, played with skill and precision by actor Peter Vollebregt, feels that the boy did not receive a fair trial.

This one juror endeavours to engage the other jurors in a revaluation of the evidence they were presented with in the courtroom. The jurors represent an imaginative cross section of 1960's American society. A stiff stockbroker, a European emigrant and a self assured wheeler-dealer, provide just some of the ideas that add to the enlightened analysis of the evidence. As the plot thickens, the atmosphere becomes increasingly

New Writers' Festival The New Writers Festival happens at the end of Hilary Term. New student-written pieces are performed during the lunchtime slot. If you'd like to have a play performed, but you've never had you writings staged before, this is the perfect platform for you to cut your teeth!

To write for theatre email powellj@tcd.ie

stifled and intense.

The cross section that the jurors provide was, in my view, the key to the insight that allowed this twohour play to accelerate to its emotionally charged final verdict.

Racism, class-ism and pure dogmatism were among the characteristics exemplified, as these men juggled with the fate of one boy’s life.

Sound effects were delivered with admirable timing while the use of space in this intimate theatre complimented the effect. The small stage added to our sense of the stuffy room and clever use of a screen allowed us to see the occasional private discussions the bathroom.

However, the positioning of the jury table meant that for the vast majority of the performance the audience could not see the facial expressions and body language of four of the jurors. As this visual element added so much to an understanding of the six characters we could see, this emission left me feeling that I may have missed things, though this may indeed have been the intended effect.

A fascinating play that not only makes one question the death sentence and Democratic Court System, but also society itself.

The Pavilion Theatre is offering a selection of short running shows over the next month: Island focuses on the last moments of a woman’s life: "In February 2000 the two month old remains of an old lady were found on a traffic island in the west midlands. Who was she? Why had nobody reported her missing?"

From February 13th –16th The Dance Company of Wales will present Triple Bill in the Pavilion: "if you love entertaining, accessible and theatrical dance, you will love this". For booking both Island and Triple Bill call 01-2312929.

The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute opens in The Gate on February 5th. The show promises to be thought provoking and intense.

Low price previews will run from January 31st. Ring 01-8744368.

Stones in His Pockets comes to the Gaiety on the 7th of February for a limited run. Winner of both the "Best Play Irish Times/ESB Award" and the "Best Comedy Laurence Olivier Award", and starring award winning actors, Stones in His Pockets is certainly one to see. For tickets phone 01-6771717 Jennifer Powell.

16

Trinity News Arts 30th January 2002

exhibitions Through the eye of the beholder "I don’t think anybody takes photographs that are just purely about beauty It’s always about the subject you know " Philip King interviews Turner prize nominated photographer Richard Billingham about how to look at his photography actually are. Of course, I frequently find myself slipping into "social realist" mode as he shows me prints of the photographs he is hoping to compile in a new book: commenting, as if inextricably drawn to it, on the remote control for the digital (which he hasn’t even noticed - "That just happened to be there," he says); or on the image of Arnold Schwarzenegger which is visible on a TV screen; and thinking about his family. Not exactly, but intuitively grasping the meaning of my own question, I ask him, "Do you mind if I look at them as family photos?", to which he replies, rather bemusedly, "I’d hope that you’re looking at them as pictures."

Perhaps that is one reason why he is keen to concentrate on the formal qualities of his work. Finding straightforward visual symbols or allusions, a natural part of looking at art, is fine with him, of course, and he displays an educated eye. He’ll point out a similarity in a pose to Christ on the cross, and suggest a picture of his brother looking into the kitchen "makes him look like he’s thinking about things from the outside." He confidently references Turner and Vermeer, and is knowledgeable on the subject of Renaissance art.

His travel photographs - the British Isles, Pakistan - stand out as being quite different from his other

“

Do you mind if I look at them as family photos?, to which he replies, rather bemusedly, ‘I’d hope that you’re looking at them as pictures’

“

"

A lot of people looked at the subject matter, and didn’t really look at what was underneath," says Richard Billingham, the English photographer who was recently a Turner Prize nominee, and is now in residence until February at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. He is talking about the reaction to his famous and internationally praised work in Ray’s A Laugh, a book produced five years ago, yet which, in many people’s eyes, entirely sums up his work. In it, he documented his family’s home life, in their flat in Birmingham; focusing on his unemployed, alcoholic father Ray, his mother Liz and his "unruly" brother Jason.

What is immediately noticeable upon examining the majority of the critical material produced on Billingham’s photography, is that instead of talking about the visually stimulating and exciting qualities inherent in his pictures - in the patterning of his mother’s dress, or the expression on his brother’s face writers have tended more towards a socially conscious interpretation of his work. The actual subject-matter of those photographs, Billingham claims, "was secondary to why I took them." He talks enthusiastically about the "hyper-reality", the enhanced visual sense, created by the medium-format camera’s ability to capture the smallest details: "It makes you look at it more, makes the picture more interesting."

Mistakenly, his is turned into a Dickensian realist project, or a stateof-the-nation project, prompting Julie Burchill, in a teary-eyed, elegiac review, to wax-lyrical on the merits of the pie-and-eels working class, as diametrically opposed to the upper class, or that force of even greater evil, the middle class. In interpretations such as these, ideas or meanings are constructed around Billingham’s photographs, and what they supposedly imply becomes more important than what they

Photo: Johhnie Shand Kydd It must be difficult sometimes, to be aware that he has displayed the realties of his background with an unprecedented level of intimacy, and that he has shown his loved-ones in such a raw, uncompromising light.

work. He maintains, however, that he is photographing the same kind of thing as in his earlier pictures of empty suburban spaces in his home town. This is difficult to appreciate, when we are reared on a mystical

‘Sunflowers’ courtesy of the Albert Reynolds Gallery fascination with the East in comparison with our own dreary surroundings. Pointing to a Birmingham picture, he says, "It’s not a photograph of anything, it’s just a space. It’s really hard to take a photograph without a particular focal point. It’s not a photograph of the houses, it’s not a photograph of the flowers, it’s a photograph of space and time, of the spaces inbetween." He’s not looking at the local people in Pakistan: "If they’re there, it’s not a picture of them. You can’t see their character like in my other photographs."

Another print "would be a great picture if that car wasn’t there"; it’s a beaten-up old banger, and would ironically provide a wealth of inter-

More visual poetry please Irish Art Now: From the poetic to the political IMMA Until March 7th Kate McKenna

Modern Nature No

Fionnuala Ni Chiosain

Imma present to you 44 works from 13 leading contemporary Irish Artists, including Dorothy Cross, Willie Doherty, Kathy Prendergast and Alice Maher. Drawing on the metamorphosis of Irish Culture, both at home and abroad over the last few decades, resulting from the social, economic and political changes that have taken place, the work of these sophisticated art practitioners clearly show a visionary awareness of our ever evolving culture and heritage.

Through their innovative use of a myriad of mixed media which include painting, photography, sculpture and video installation, the 13 artists unite together in deconstructing the archetypal image of Ireland which has been engrained on the canvases by

older more conservative Irish artists capturing the typical boggy landscape with stone walls and misty skylines.

Instead Willie Doherty’s cibachrome photographs of burnt out cars entitled “Border Incident” convey the strong political connotations of this image and the strength of the preconcieved image we have of the word “border” in Ireland, regardless of our really knowing the actual location of the car or the reason for it’s now obsolete state.

Similarly Caroline Mc Carthy’s video piece “Greetings” humourously questions artists attatchment to the boggy Irish landscape using a video still of this typical image, a head occasionally pops up emphasising the incongruity of these two images which is quite funny.

Irish Art Now boasts the fruit of the Museums ever growing collection since its’ foundation in 1991.

Therefore the celebration of their 10th anniversary also celebrates the rich and promising state of affairs in Irelands infamous artistic culture for the 21st century.

pretation to some critics, if given half a chance. He just doesn’t see the same things as me: I notice the tall, straight trunks of the trees by the side of a path; he notices the leaves at the top. I say I like the texture of a path, and he replies with, "I’m careful not to put too many paths in things, because it can be corny. If there’s a path, it’s just to lead your eye." Are not paths a commonly used motif in travel photography, for obvious reasons? "I don’t want them to look like travel photos," he says. I’m not entirely sure what he means by this, but I think he is implying that his photographs of Pakistan are not in the Henri Cartier-Bresson-mould (a photographer he says he admires).

Richard Billingham Again, the "travel photo" may offer dangerously literary interpretations, (as in the notion of trying to capture the essence of the land), rather than purely visual responses. When I comment on the unusual sight his picture of a plant would present in a gallery, he says, "I don’t think anybody takes photographs that are just purely about beauty. It’s always about the subject, you know." And not many people in today’s art world value a bush as a subject. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

‘Ray’s a Laugh’ is published by Scalo £19.95: ISBN 3908247373 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Shooting photos

Lee Miller

The spaces between us Toba Kheedoori Drawings RHA Gallery Until th February Sarah McBrien

Untitled (‘Windows’)

Toba Kheedori

The series of basic and almost schematic works, produced by Toba Khedoori and representing life size yet simultaneously detached and distant representations of the most everyday of all objects - a door, a window, a walled space… - at first glance appears to be nothing out of the ordinary. The pieced-together canvasses, which are up to 7 meters long and a good 2 meters deep, remain for the most part blank, though not untouched as they are coated with a thin layer of wax which absorbs any of their potentially blinding harshness and creates a suitably enveloping backdrop. We are then drawn into this mysterious space to directly focus on the few isolated and elevated representations of the chosen objects which hover in the softened

spaces created.

All of this creates an all pervasive calm and airiness (in part caused by their setting in the bright upper rooms of the RHA gallery but also due to the almost laid-back and unimposing nature of the works). As the critic Hans Rudolf Reust puts it, Khedoori's works "move reticently at the threshold to meaning. They [intentionally] create a minimal event". Other than mildly slowing down that dissertation-induced headswim their impact is next to negligible yet this is precisely what generates the charm of the exhibit.

There is no overhanging intellectual challenge to your senses or any cryptic underlying statement - the sole reason behind the presence of such simple objects appears to be for them to be seen and experienced in themselves, as the simple yet oddly singled out objects that they are. The result of this is that you are drawn into the deep and elevated spaces which they represent, experiencing their enveloping emptiness and being lulled into their unruffled atmosphere.

Lee Miller Gallery of Photography Until st January Renata McDonnell Lee Miller (1907-77) was an American woman almost before her time. Her current exhibition at the Gallery of Photography in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar is a fascinating collection focussing on the artists and soldiers that formed the era surrounding WW2. Discovered in 1927, initially she was a model in New York before learning the craft from her photographers, eager to trade shooting rather than being shot. Ambition primarily propelled her all the way to Europe to join the surrealist artist and photographer Man Ray and eventually to photojournalist status as US Forces War Correspondent from the 1940s.

Her determination constantly brought her into the line of fire, for instance, recording the first use of napalm. The impressive compilation “Grim Glory: Pictures of Britain under fire”(1941) captures

the dark humorous angle Miller used. A photo of a bombed piano is entitled, “Piano by Broadwood: tonight’ performance is postponed for the duration”. Her immense courage allowed her to stomach recording the liberation of Dachau concentration camp and images of dismembered corpses when the army doctor could not.

From France to Egypt to Britain to Germany she captured the essence of the age. In Egypt she studied chemistry and Arabic whilst shooting the desert; in France, artists such as Henry Moore, Picasso, Man Ray and Max Ernst before and after the war; and soldiers, nurses and doctors from all sides of the battle. Her pictures embody a timeless quality and perhaps a warning to this century’s public what war is really all about.

to write for exhibi tions email boyleit@tcd ie

17

Trinity News Arts 30th January 2002

cinema & books Monsters Inc. Directed by Pete Docter Releaed: February 8 Paul Derham

A

t the end of March this year the most over important, and hyped-up event of the Hollywood calendar will take place.

That event is the Oscars and it will bring to a close 2002’s backslapping, self-congratulatory, and three month long awards season (for the movies of 2001). This year, however, there will be a slight difference. No, Martin Scorsese will not receive a back dated Oscar for Goodfellas, nor will the Academy apologise for giving the 1998 Best Film and Best Director awards to Titanic over L.A. Confidential. This year the difference will be a new category in the nominations, that of Best Animated Film.

Some say this is a category that enables the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to ignore ‘cartoons’ as films worthy of recognition in the ‘real film’ categories, something it came in for critcism over when Toy Story 2 was ignored last year, despite having earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedy or Musical Film. Others see it as a good thing that allows films with vastly different production techniques, and far longer development times to be judged on their own merits. Others see it as a way for Disney

Iris Directed by: Richard Eyre Released: February 1 Katy Cherry

A touching and accurate portrait of the disintegration of a talented mind to Alzheimer’s disease, Iris manages to deal with this difficult subject without patronising or being overly sentimental. Lost in

to be given an Oscar every year, now that real films have started having far better music than theirs. I find myself on the fence with my natural cynicism towards the Oscars being balanced out by my joy at one of the most innovative and enjoyable genres of film finally getting some official recognition; and my naive hope that the extra money the Oscar hype will earn these productions will result in more and better animated movies being produced. What I know for certain is that Pixar’s Monsters

Inc. is in with a damn fine chance of winning that award, because it is simply a great film.

The plot is extremely simple so I won’t explain it, but in a nutshell the central conceit is this. Monsters are real. They do come out of the closet to scare kids at night, but it’s nothing personal, it’s just their job. The screams the kids generate actually serve as the source of power for the world of Monstropolis. I won’t say any more because I really want people to go and see this film for all

confusion and searching for words, Judi Dench captures the madness, frustration and final peace of this merciless illness. In truth the film didn’t have to be about one of the greatest female writers of the twentieth century, but it adds poignancy and depth to what otherwise would have been a standard get-your-hankies-ready-weepy. Fiction often seems more real than reality itself, and Iris, based on her husband John Bayley’s memoirs, seems at times too perfect a fiction to be real. Jim Broadbent’s performance as her bumbling husband is won-

these reasons. The animation is jaw dropping both in terms of technical achievement by Docter and his animators, and cinematic prowess; from the individual hairs on Sulley’s (Goodman) huge form, to the stylised realism of Boo’s movements and expressions, or the awesome, and I mean awesome, vistas and movements of the final reel. The opening titles alone are worthy of Fantasia for inventive syncing of images to music. The voice acting is terrific.

Never once did I get a feeling of hearing the actors’ personas (a particularly difficult feat with voices as well known as Crystal and Goodman) rather than the characters’, which is something Pixar have always avoided better than the main Disney studios. As a kids’ film it soars above the standard fare in terms of emotional sophistication, and story telling ability, and that’s where the talent of these animators as filmmakers shines through. Never once do they loose sight of the fact that this is a film for kids, while also never allowing adults to become alienated or bored with a fantastic mix of slapstick and verbal humour. Perhaps it would be unfair to judge this kind of film alongside live-action because this kind of film is simply unachievable, and unthinkable in any other medium. The short animation that precedes it ‘For the Birds’ is also a funny throwback to the days of Road Runner. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll cheer. Hang up your cynical maturity and go be entertained. derful. He cares for her with patience and devotion, watching helplessly as his world falls apart and the woman he can’t live without slips further into darkness. The young Iris played by Kate Winslet is beautiful, bisexual and sharp as a whip. Seeing her brilliance only emphasises the sadness of her later decline. Iris is a story of an odd couple bound together by a deep and lasting love, surviving even Alzheimer’s.

Monsoon Wedding Directed by Mira Nair Released: January 18 Aibhe O’Reilly Monsoon Wedding follows the story of two young Asians as they prepare to marry in a match arranged by their families. The story also incorporates several interlinking sub-plots that add to the movement of the film, culminating in a bril-

Vanilla Sky Directed by: Cameron Crowe Released: January 25 Judith Fleeton Reuniting with Jerry Maguire director Crowe, Cruise takes centre stage as David, a rich playboy who snowboards his way through life, trampling over friends and lovers in the process. Upon meeting artist

Once upon a time in the west Ian Boyle spoke to per haps Ireland’s most ambitious writer of his torical form John Boyne on why he had to turn to the wild west to comment on our relationship with family bloodlines of the Cody family over three generations. Boyne builds up the connections between the generations of the Cody family as the narrative splits between the different locations and periods, but ties to theme of ancestry appreciatively as similar choices and events occur to both William and Buffalo Bill.

Boyne shifts the narrative, like cinema cuts, to compare and elide the gaps between William and Buffalo Bill as their lives progress and develop. The

upon the family heirloom, Buffalo Bill’s gun, as it hangs on the turgid walls of their South London home.

This is an example how Boyne skillyfully revolves around centuries of family ancestry. This expansive theme and the narrative ambition marks the novel. Boyne invokes the pride in the family name to its slander; to how the family name and wealth rises and falls; to how we can discriminantly suffer from family expectations to loss.

“ novel often recurs around these linking actions or images as a link to bring the two worlds together. There is a wonderful passage where the young Buffalo Bill is taken on to join a buffalo trail. The young upstart is punched on the ear as a mark of endearment by the head of the trail, Simpson. Soon after, the narrative skips to William’s class talking about their grandparents.

William, with cautious pride, tells the legend but is mocked and jeered. His teacher accuses the eight-year-old boy of lying. A furore. A flaming hand strikes his face. William lies abused on the floor in shock clutching his ear.

When he arrives home, he then gazes

When I’ve done a lot more books, I can think, ‘I’m glad I got a Western in there’, because I think it’s a lot of fun

“

A

nd what does your Daddy do?

Oh, I’m sorry to hear he’s a waster. But you say your grandfather, no your great grandfather, was Buffalo Bill? Now that is a story that should be told. John Boyne’s second novel ‘The Congress of Rough Riders’ takes this story by the reins as it straddles centuries and continents, moving between recreating the myth of Buffalo Bill Cody to the city life of his great grandson William, who must learn to deal with his ancestry. Boyne’s entertaining novel gathers you in its historical scope, you get off your saddle in the American Wild West to be transported by plane to London via Japan, all in an instant of fine story telling. Trinity News spoke to perhaps Ireland’s most ambitious writer of historical form on why he had to turn to a western to comment on our relationship with family bloodlines.

‘The Congress of Rough Riders’ fictionalises the biography of Buffalo Bill Cody but fictionalises the legend. The young whipper snapper who shot an Indian in his teens became the symbol of American Wild West as politicians, journalists and dime novelists reinvented the myth for their own uses.

Buffalo Bill cashed in on the myth and set up his own popular entertainment road shows, something that William’s father tries to recreate in the novel.

"Once I read this I thought nobody knows this. Then I found he had written an autobiography. I tracked it down, read it. It was kind of intriguing because he came across as the most annoying human being. Everything that happens he inspires. Incredibly arrogant, but incredibly real as well. I could just envision it. Nobody writes about this stuff." The ingeneity of the novel is that Boyne tells his own story

The novel does on occasions hit these high emotional notes and we live vicariously with William as he struggles with the burdens of living up to the legend and the oral stories passed down, generation to generation. The notions of how our past affects the present, what characteristics are passed along in the blood, is present in the novel in a unique way since it fleshes out a story that spans three generations.

The Dubliner’s demeanour closes in a moment of piquancy on this dominating narrative technique. "Even though the landscapes are different, the upbringing is different. The emotions and experiences that people have are

quite similar, they just take place in different areas". John Boyne’s face at this point in the conversation turns and catches the glint of the sun through the lens of his glasses on a moment of clarity, a self-justification of the novel’s instruction. "Throughout a lot of the novel, William is saying, these are the stories I didn’t want to know, I didn’t want to hear about, that messed up the relationship with my father. By the end of it, he’s come to terms with these stories and sees them as much more of his own life and history."

The success of the novel depends on how John Boyne manages to thatch the sprawling Wild West story and William’s introspective attempts to embrace or distance himself from the ancestry. To keep the pace and the flexibility of the form, it forsakes consciousness and detail for the unravelling of events. Boyne concentrates on dialogue. "I try to keep it pacy. You want to come keep reading to find out what happens next. I’m trying to make the reader want to come back."

‘The Congress of Rough Riders’ certainly justifies John Boyne as a fine storyteller and a master plotter.

Importantly, John Boyne has ambition and scope, which he tells me many Irish writers don’t have. "A lot of books seem to be vying against each other to see who has the worst story to tel. I don’t feel obliged to write about Irish subject matters, and I haven’t". This entertaining novel will build up the plaudits and success he achieved for his first novel, ‘The Thief of Time’, which hung on best seller lists for months.

"I’m glad I done a Western, just because it’s a lot of fun". You will have fun reading it.

Blackbird Jennifer Lauck Little Brown £9.99 (sterling) Alan Hickey

The memoir of a girl from a middleclass American suburban background should not make for extraordinary reading. Jennifer Lauck’s book, however, is one of the most breathtaking accounts of childhood published in the post-Angela’s Ashes world of memoirs.

At the heart of this unstable childhood lies the one figure that carried Lauck through the trials she faced - her mother. She is the one fixed image that the young girl can call up to ward off the nightmares and fears which constantly plagued her.

They Came Like Swallows William Maxwell Harvill £6.99 (sterling) Owen F. Lipsett While best known to many as the editor who developed authors such as John Cheever and John Updike, Maxwell, who died in 2000, was an exceptional writer in his own right as this recently rereleased novel amply demonstrates. They Came Like Swallows is a series of exquisite miniatures rather that together form an epic of sorts. Maxwell composes the narrative around the perspectives of three men, the sons and husband of downstate Illinois housewife Elizabeth

liantly shoot rainsoaked wedding.

The actors, especially Vijay Raaz, who plays P.K. Dubey, the wedding planner, show their immense range, as Monsoon Wedding is at once a drama, love story and a comedy.

The acting of Naseeruddin Shaud, the bride`s loving, troubled father, is one of the best things about the film. His touching, heartfelt performance seals the high standard the film has obtained.

The reason Monsoon Wedding works, is that this kind of picture has never been made before. It shows us something we have never seen on film before. The real essence of modern India, the struggle between tradition and culture versus the influx of American influence, is captured beautifully through song, dance, humour and emotion. Nair allows us into her home and delivers us a compassionate, touching and funny film.

Overall a real treat.

Sofia (Cruz), he experiences a revelation that love is really out there.

Life is perfect for the golden boy, until his ex, Julie (Diaz), takes obsession to a dangerous level.

Soon dreams and reality become blurred, and all is not what it seems.

Vanilla Sky is a reworking of Spanish film "Abre Los Ojos"(Open Your Eyes) from which Cruz revisits her original role. She and costar Diaz sparkle on screen, with well-built characters, but are disappointingly underused. An excellent turn from Russell as the prison psychologist is pushed to the sidelines, as the audience can’t forget for a second that this is Tom’s movie. Cruise is compelling in his own right, but seems to get fed up halfway through as the film slips into the surreal.

What starts out as a promising concept ends up in messy confusion, and an overly drawn-out end.

With an electric script Crowe works wonders in the first reels, but the

Following her mother∂s death early on in the book, Lauck’s story becomes a search for an identity, an attempt to discover who she is and who she will become without a mother to guide her.

The book’s success is the vividness of the childhood world evoked.

Everything is seen and described through the eyes of a child without the benefit of adult hindsight. The world thus becomes an extremely sensual and tactile place. The simplistic descriptions convey the reality of the experience. ‘My eyes are wet and red, gunk all over the lashes and in the corners. I clean and clean all the gunk off, but the red doesn’t go away and they itch.’

Lauck’s innocence means that certain events which are hinted at and discussed by her parents pass over her head, but their significance is plain to the adult reader. Her father’s infidelity, though obvious to the reader, remains undisclosed to his five year old daughter. Questions remain unanswered in the text, unasked even.

There are certain gaps in the narrative, important information which is deliberately withheld from Jennifer about her true origins. One cannot do enough justice to the successful world created in this book.It is a delicately written and haunting work, and ultimately inspirational.

Morrison during the influenza epidemic of the late 1910s.

The first section, in which Maxwell presents the perspective of eight-year old Bunny Morrison in language that is at once simple, vivid, and profound, introduces a rural world that while now vanished, is as descriptive as a series of retouched photographs. Bunny’s concerns are a small boy’s and the reader learns facts such as his mothers pregnancy in much the same manner he does. If the perspective of his elder brother Robert suffers, it is only by comparison, his world seems a shade or two different from that of his younger brother. Their father James, though more rational than his sons and the sort of pipe-smoking paterfamilias that seems entirely indicative of his era, is likewise profoundly attached to Elizabeth.

While Maxwell constructs these fine glasses, he does so in part to reveal their flaws. His shift to more detached narration illustrates the somewhat nebulous challenge that the influenza epidemic brings to a world that heretofore has seen visits to a provincial town as journeys into the unknown. They Came Like Swallows is a profoundly rich work and an intricate one, in which each word bears rereading for its resonance. It is a worthy diversion for anyone who enjoys reading.

Trinity News 30th January 2002

18

Goldsmith Hall, Pearse St, Dublin 2 Tel: 677 5076

19

Trinity News 28th November 2001

on the touchline

sport New Year Hockey hangover Cormac Staunton The New Year has brought ups and downs for DUHC. The 1st XI, despite an impressive performance against Aer Lingus before Christmas, has had a very difficult time of late. A game against the third place (and very physical) Corinthians on January the 5th resulted in a 4-1 defeat, despite being level 1-1 at half time. The game showed that Trinity have some very impressive talent that is beginning to merge into a very strong team. Coach Ted Felton’s New Year’s resolution is to ensure that his players become as fit as physio Hope Fisher demands of them. Having been knocked out of both the Leinster and Irish Senior Cups they can now put all their efforts into Leinster Division 1. On the 12th of January, Trinity faced Leinster Cup holders Pembroke Wanderers, who were expected to cruise through the quarterfinals, but the narrow 4-3 score line

reflects how far Trinity have come. In a dramatic second half, they pulled back from 3-0 down to 3-2 with two well-worked setpiece goals. Then in a dramatic final minute, Pembroke made it 4-2 and Gareth Hinds replied immediately for the home side after good work by Michael Harte. It was too little too late and Pembroke went on to join Glenanne, Monkstown and Three Rock Rovers in the semi-finals.

The following Saturday brought an equally daunting game away to Cork Harlequins.

Christian Judd scored a standard issue short corner for Trinity, but the mighty Munster team proved too strong and eventually won 5-1. The 2nd XI have continued their amazing run of victories and are now 12 games unbeaten, with a record 10 consecutive league victories.

Promotion looks a possibility for the first time in long memory, as Colin Peirce’s men have scored 9 goals since Christmas and have yet to concede any in

Swimming and Waterpolo Strokes getting stronger The University Swimming and Waterpolo Club has gone from strength to strength this year, enjoying increasingly higher ranking in all its various leagues.

The club performed outstandingly at the Freshers’ Intervarsities in Belfast, winning the event overall. The women’s Polo team won their tournament and the Men’s team were defeated in the final against Queens, finishing second overall. Orla Coughlan was declared ‘Player of the Match’ for the Intervarsities for her performance in Polo – an accolade to be proud of.

The club is also host to another enormously talented individual, who has recently achieved great sporting heights. Donal O’Neill set an Irish World Record for 100m Butterfly at the World Student Games in Beijing.

While such outstanding talent is apparent in the Swimming Club, the club is proud to remain a diverse mixture, catering for all standards and introducing Waterpolo to newcomers, a policy that has seen the club membership rise to its current standing of over 400.

Next up are the Senior Intervarsities meet in Limerick’s new 50m pool in February. the first major event there. This is sure to attract even more publicitfor the club.

Trinity shot at goal denied

2002. Special mention must go to Nick Wheeler who has scored 6 in the last 3 games, including a hat-trick against Three Rock Rovers. They face UCD in the next round of the Intermediate Cup, in what should prove to be a thrilling warm up for Colours. The 3rd XI are having a tougher time at the moment, lying at the

Photo: Paul Tierney

bottom of Division 8. A good run in from here should hold them in place for next year, as it would be a shame to return to Division 9 having only been promoted last season. The 4th XI had a shaky post-Christmas return to hockey, with defeats at the hands of League leaders Pembroke and UCD in the first

weekend. Present form shows, however, that they are still a force to be reckoned with in Division 10. A comprehensive 5-1 victory against YMCA was impressive, given that they had lost to them earlier in the season.

Simon English rallied his troops and Cormac Staunton showed he had an eye for goal. His goal

was joined by two each for Greg Joos and Jono Wardell. The 4ths hope to avenge their defeat by UCD at on Tuesday the 29th of January, when all Men’s and Ladies’ teams take on their respective UCD teams in the annual Colours Tournament at the National Hockey Arena, Belfield.

Pinks

Top athletes honoured Six of Trinity's athletes were awarded University Colours on the 10th January 2002. University Colours, "Pinks", were established in1927 to recognise exceptional sporting achievement and are the highest honour bestowed on athletes in Trinity. The six nominations were Donal O' Neill, for swimming, Ian Kelleher and Elspeth McParlin for Soccer, James Reilly, the captain of the Equestrian Club, Mary Beades for GAA, and all-rounder Aoife Budd. Donal O' Neill set the National Record for the 200m Butterfly, and is presently ranked 23 in the world, as well as being selected for the World University Games last August.

McPartlin and Kelleher were both rewarded for their performances with the Universities representative sides.

Aoife Budd represented the Irish Cricket side. James Reilly has represented Ireland right through to Senior level at three day eventing, including a 12th place finish at the European Championships last year. Mary Beades was honoured for her interprovincial showing for the Roscommon Minor team that won the All Ireland in 2001.

Ladies GAA

Victory against UCD Trinity Ladies recorded an historic victory against rivals UCD last week in the annual GAA Colours event, taking home the Harney Cup for the first time in eight years. The Ladies were the only team to record a victory out at Santry and it was well deserved. A superb first half performance saw the girls go in at half time 1-6 to 0-3 to the good and although UCD’s halftime talk resulted in a threatening come-back, Trinity were able to hold on and secure victory with two more points in the second half. Indeed, the final result could have been more complimentary. Mary-Jo Walls and captain Mary Beades were unlucky not to have added to Lorna Seoighe’s well-taken goal in the first half, though both players tallied points, and Catherine Kilcommins produced her best performance of the year in midfield, providing the link between the forward and back lines.

Mens GAA

TCD lose out to UCD Trinity 0-6

UCD 0-14

It was yet another Colours match resulting in yet another defeat for Trinity.

This annual event is slowly becoming a foregone conclusion for the powerhouse UCD. It is a sad reflection on Trinity that as each year passes UCD are treating this encounter with less and less respect for the quality of their opposition.

This year has only added fuel to the fire. If Trinity does not turn things around in the next few years the situation will become farcical and the annual match could arguably die out. Trinity did however go into the game with high hopes.

A six point defeat in the league prior to Christmas against UCD had given Trinity the belief that they could end their decade old bogey in the Colours Match. However by the fiftenth minute UCD led by 4 points to 1, playing against a stiff breeze. UCD's superiority was confirmed in the final thirty minutes and they finished victorious by eight clear points. With the first round of the Sigerson approaching against Maynooth, this was an untimely setback for Trinity. Their level of performance will have to improve.

Dramatically if they are to defeat the team they knocked out twelve months ago to reach the Sigerson weekend.

Only a supreme effort will see that great victory a year ago emulated.

sports news compiled by Hester Chillingworth Aubrey Storey Chearbhaill O’Mainin

Want to write for this section? email editor@trinitynews.com

Trinity News 30th January 2002

20

sport

Hockey New Year Blues Pg.19

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

College athletes honoured Pg.19

Trinity boxers ‘Kings of the Ring’ Conchuir O’Gealbhain After capturing the Irish Varsities Championship in December, a new and very different challenge loomed for the Trinity boxing Club in January.

For the first time in over fifty years they would lock horns with the old enemy, Cambridge University.

What was to follow will undoubtedly go down in the Trinity annals as the most electrifying night in the history of sports entertainment. Six hundred students packed into the exam hall, a unique backdrop with it’s giant Chandelier suspended just five feet above the ring and event promoter Conor Galvin, in true Las Vegas style, ensured that every member of the blood thirsty partisan crowd were ready to rumble before the first bell sounded. Three of Ireland’s greatest ever boxers both past and present couldn’t resist such a titanic showdown and the current European and Intercontinental champion Jimmy Rock graced the arena along with former Irish champions Mel and Joe Crystal.

The first fight featured Trinity’s captain Pat Donovan taking on Sandy Royston in a Welterweight clash.

Despite being the smaller of the two, Donovan gave an exhibition of beautifully balanced movement, throwing sharp, powerful jabs followed by crisp combinations to his opponent’s head. Despite being outclassed in every department Royston managed to stay on his feet

until the third round when the referee brought the contest to a halt and retired a bloodied and beaten Royston.

The next fight in the Light Middleweight division brought the shock of the night where Trinity’s Ritchie O’ Donnell, after a ten fight unbeaten run finally fell victim to Geoff Batty. The third contest saw a bad tempered and scrappy affair between Bernard Sellers of Trinity and Aly D’Vaz in a Middleweight contest.

D’Vaz risked disqualification by attempting to headbutt his opponent on no fewer than eight occasions and things finally boiled over when both fighters continued punching after the bell to end the second round. D’Vaz’s tactics finally paid off as he found a left hook to stop Sellers in the third round.

In the next light heavyweight encounter the tall, slick moving and rangy Kevin Moran took on the shorter, more powerful Joe Frazier. Both men took standing counts from the referee and Coke came up with one of the biggest hits of the night.

Instead of putting Moran down, it seemed to animate him and he charged at Coke with ferocious hooks and crosses to the head which rendered Coke unfit to continue.

The referee had no option but to stop the fight.

After more strong performances from Shane Magee and Colin Donnelly Trinity were staring victory in the face, needing just two points from the last four fights.

Cambridge however had

Trinity pull no punches against Cambridge in the Exam Hall

other ideas and hacked away at Trinity’s lead with a game Cillian Courtney falling victim to a faster and more experienced Ming Wonsavoj of Cambridge. Paul Elsner of Cambridge then levelled the scores against Trinity’s ‘Iron man of Russia’ Sergei Gordienok in a closely fought out bout. Wonsavoj certainly looks to have great potential for the Colours later on in the year.

With the match tied, Cathal Murray of Trinity took on Alex Dueren in the middleweight division. Murray had Dueren helplessly staggering backwards against the ropes but failed to capitalise on his advantage, and Dueren was awarded the tie on a dubious points decision.

Trinity were now behind heading into the last fight, leaving Jules Cantwell to square off

Trinity down but not out Tony Smeeth & Barry Murnane Greystones Trinity

15pts 10pts

Trinity ran into a wall of passion and aggression from the home side in a game that probably attracted the largest crowd in Ireland on Saturday in what could be a pivotal game in Division three. Trinity went into the game in first place and Greystones were second, three points behind. (four pts for a win) Greystones attacked the students line relentlessly, only well organized defence and big hits kept them out. Trinity actually scored first on a rare ‘sortie’ into the home team’s half. Full back Simon Mitchell kicked well into the wind to put Trinity ahead after only five minutes. The visitor’s defence was stretched to the limit as their line was pounded by wave after wave of Greystones attacks. Home out half Richie Murphy kicked a penalty to tie

things up after Trinity were judged to be offside.

It seemed inevitable that the home side would score and, after several missed tackles and heavy pressure on the visitor’s line the Mark Hogan crashed over midway through the first half for Greystones, rewarding his team’s dominance After the score the students came back into the game. They had to reorganize their pack losing the experienced Peter Lennon with an ankle injury, bringing on eighteen-year-old Mark Warburton who played remarkably well once he settled in. Greystones still had the upper hand but were not helped by a series of missed kicks by Murphy. Twice attacks were tackled into the corner flag by heroic tackling.

Trinity were lucky to go in trailing by only 5 points, with only full-back Simon Mitchell’s tricky runs causing Greystones any real difficulty.

Trinity did come out fighting in the second half and camped themselves in the

home team’s half.

Unfortunately the students could not finish some outstanding approach play with a try.

Inside centre John Quigley made several clean breaks but the support failed to link with him and try scoring chances went begging. The forwards, for the first time this season, struggled to get quick ball in the rucks and mauls as the home side dominated the rucks effectively.

Trinity were building slowly and looking more and more dangerous when their scrum half Colm Curneen was sin binned for not being back the required ten metres on a penalty. With fourteen men Trinity played possession rugby keeping the ball for several minutes at a time but they still could not crack the resolute home defence. When Curneen came back on to the field there was nine minutes left. Greystones then provided the killer blow when wing Gary Brennan ran elusively to score by the posts,

Murphy converted 15 –3, six minutes to go.

Trinity now attacked with everything they had and captain Donal Crotty danced over to score by the posts which Mitchell converted on the 80 minutes to gain a bonus point for losing within five points. Trinity still had two minutes remaining but could not get the necessary position to score again. The crowd erupted as the referee whistled for full time, and Greystones deservedly won on the day.

This loss has not put Trinity out of the running.

Trinity must now win the remaining five games to either win the league or gain promotion.

Team 15 Mitchell, 14 Milliken, 13 Kelly, 12 Quigley, 11 Johnston, 10 Crotty, 9 Curneen, 1 Sheehy, 2 Murphy, 3 Brophy, 4 Maher, 5 Lennon, 6 Raftery, 7 Hogan 8 Wilson.

Replacements Warburton for Lennon (after 15 minutes) St George for Wilson (70 minutes)

TCD Golf rejuvenation Barry O’Halloran & Susan Thompson The 2001/2002 season has seen a long overdue rejuvenation of Dublin University Golf Club.

Under the guidance of this years captain James Buckley, the fixture list has been extended to twenty two fixtures which includes games against prestigious clubs such as Royal County Down, Lahinch and The K Club.

This year has also seen the introduction of a

University League. At present there are six Universities participating.

To date Trinity have had mixed fortunes drawing against Queens and a narrow defeat to UCC were Kevin Nolan was beaten by a birdie on the second playoff hole. Currently Trinity are lying in second place in their group and with wins against Queens or UCC at the end of this month they should easily progress to the semifinals.

On a different note this

year has also seen the reintroduction of the Wedges Society.

The recent appointment of Sean Halford as head of the wedges, combined with the tireless work of Conor Galvin, has seen a revived interest in golf amongst the students with outings to Donabate, Malahide and Silogue Park.

The Ladies Golf Club hope to retain the Intervarsity title which they secured last year for the first time since 1989.

This season’s team remains largely unchanged; Shelia Galvin and Anna Neary are still unbeaten and in fantastic form.

The recent outing at Lahinch was a pleasure and promises to become an annual fixture against Lahinch Ladies. Also a week-end of intensive training was organised by Philippa Lynch at Mount Juliet. This was in preparation for the Intervarsity competition to be hosted

by UU at Portrush.

Photo: Phoebe Ling

against Jack Crossley in without doubt one of the most memorable light Heavyweight encounters of all time. The courageous Crossley fought on through a broken hand and dislocated shoulder but Jules, a fighter who had given so much to the sport in Trinity without recognition was not to be denied his hour of glory and fought through the pain and fatigue barrier to win on a points decision

and draw the series overall.

It has been a good few months for Trinity Boxing after a strong showing in the Intervarsities in December. Victory was all the sweeter against strong competition from Tallaght, UCD and Waterford, coming as it did at our own Luce Hall.

Success has been due, in large part, to Coach Dan Curran, an Irish international and seven time

national finalist. There were strong performances from Conor Galvin and Owen Whelan, and Julien Cantwell was unlucky to be beaten by Peter Magner from UCD, but revenge is in the offing for the forthcoming Colours match. After a series of tight encounters and a string of unlcuky losses, the mantel fell to Galvin to clinch the title. Galvin put together several vicious combinations in

the second round, to ensure that Kevin Glynn of UCD had to retire on a technical K.O. This was sweet revenge after the close defeats for Alan Lynch against his opponent from UCD. The efforts of Dan Curran, Trinity’s boxing coach cannot be underestimated, having turned TCD into a strong force in college boxing, and one of Trinity’s most successful sporting clubs.

College sport - the state of play Barry Murnane The Pavilion Bar hosted the Trinity Sports Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Thursday 7th December 2000.

Initiated with the help of G u i n n e s s , t h e Scholarships have been awarded to the Trinity’s top athletes since 1993.

This year’s scholars include Keelin Fox and Ciaran Darcy, two highly successful badminton players, at intervarsity and national level as well as five of the college’s hockey stars, including Irish internationals Michael Harte and Linda Caulfield.

Trinity’s Director of Sport Terry McAuley carried out the presentation..

The Scholarship scheme has been identified as one of the most important means to raise the profile of Trinity sports.

Although the scheme can claim some success, including the return to form of the Rugby team and the promotion of the men’s hockey team to Division One of the Leinster League, followed by a successful intervarsity campaign in recent months.

International athletes like rowers Sam Lynch and Gearoid Towe have also benefitted.

McAuley is aware of shortcomings. A major restructuring plan for sports in Trinity, including an overhaul of the existing scholarship scheme, has been on-going since 1998, including McAuley’s appointment as Director of Sport in 1999.

He is aware that all is not rosy, and of the shortcomings he has inherited from the previous sports regime, which was essentiallyrun by DUCAC on a voluntary basis. He is

however quick to defend DUCAC’s efforts, pointing out that many of the initiatives he has presided over, were instigated before his appointment.

There is however no denying the difficulties Trinity face in the field of sports as we enter a new year.

Facilities in college are disastrous. At a recent tennis match the lights failed, and when Trinity last hosted the tennis intervarsity, we were forced to base ourselves in Terenure. The facilities for squash and other hallbased sports have been hampered by the enforced redevelopment of the Luce Hall. The college soccer team has had a disastrous season so far, and despite a returnto form in recent years, being overtaken by UCD as the university rugby team wrangles.

McAuley also acknowledges problems with Santry, including the difficulty of access for regular training. There is certainly room for improvement.

McAuley isn’t new to Trinity, or to sports in the college. Having studied here from 1967-71, he was captain of the soccer and boxing clubs, he enrolled in the renowned Loughborough Physical Education course in England. From there he moved to a lectureship at Queen’s, and took a degree in Sports management, before returning to Trinity in 1981 to take over the ill-fated Luce Hall project.

He was also an instigator of a KPMG study of sport in Trinity, which was the first important strategy paper for sports in recent history.

His views on college sports are pragmatic in the face of insurmountable competition from other universities, partic-

ularly UCD. He sees Trinity as capable of competing at the highest level in only a few sports, including rugby, rowing, cricket, athletics, hockey and football.

In his restructuring of sports has secured major input of capital towards improving outdoor facilities related to these principle sports, and had earmarked water sports as being particularly in need of investment. The present redevelopment of the facilities at Islandbridge and Santry is testament to his intentions.

While he does view UCD’s successes in developing sport through scholarship schemes positively, he is not envious. "The ‘recruiting’ of sporting talent in UCD is not a path I want to go down", he says, aiming to carry on with the present policy of accepting athletes who have qualified for Trinity via the CAO system. He views those UCD athletes accepted on invented courses as not really representing the college.

The question remains whether this policy will result in continuing the ‘gallant defeat’ attitude of recent years, and whether Trinity’s lagging behind in sport will continue.

A major refocus for the scholarship scheme is planned.

This won’t include any astronomical monetary sums, as in UCD, rather will revolve around benefits in kind, many of which have been suggested by present scholars, including provision of rooms on campus, grants towards equipment, travel grants, assistance in studying, and provision of laptops.

This restructuring will be tested when the Eircom U21 Division in which the

college soccer team competes will change to summer competition. In order to ensure that enough players remain here some compensation will certainly have to be made.

Although McAuley says that this issue is still undecided, the FAI assures him that they are keen for College to continue in the league, and this could be one option in gaining support. The lack of any concrete plan is worrying though.

His concentration on several elite sports does not mean he is ignoring all the other sports, nor does he see the existence of the elite sports threatened by so many recreational sports clubs. He points out that both areas are funded independently of the other, and that the virtues of sports for all areas of college life, a fact seemingly acknowledged by the College Board with his appointment. The construction of the new sports centre will provide the College’s recreational sports clubs with sufficient facilities, but this will only be completed in 2004. Until then the current shortage of facilities will continue. McAuley is also aware that the new centre will not be a panacea for sport in college, and sees the redevelopment of the Luce Hall into a proper Fitness Centre as another crucial step towards long-term success. He is even doing his bit for improving the profile of sports and the College’s athletes by publishing a newsletter, "The Sports Campanile", once a term. It does remain to be seen how successful his strategy will be, but his enthusiasm and commitment to his job cannot be doubted.