Every election candidate interviewed
TRINITY NEWS ELECTION SPECIAL
www.trinitynews.ie
Hilary term, Week 6
Staff member advertises office for sex
Issue 8, Volume 54
Leading lights: Science Gallery fashion show impresses
Buffoonery lands Scholars in hot water and extra latin classes DIEGO CORTEZ
Staff member places internet ad inviting people to have sex and drugs with him in his College office KASIA MYCHAJLOWYCZ INTERNATIONAL NEWS EDITOR Trinity News has learned that a member of College staff has been offering. on an website. to let members of the public have sex with him in his Trinity office. Last Thursday, an advertisement was placed on Gumtree.ie, an Irish listings website, by an anonymous poster. The poster offered to perform several lewd acts if contacted by text and offered their Trinity office as the location. He stated that he had “a private office and will be here until 11pm”. He posted their phone number to be contacted on and urged that somebody should get in touch that night as he had “a private office and will be here until 11pm”. The individual also encouraged those willing to take up on his offer to bring drugs with them if they had them. He stated “anyone with a bit of hash is especially welcome”. Trinity News was made aware of
the advertisement by a Trinity student who stumbled across it. The student was searching for Trinity related listings when she came across the ad. “I thought it was funny at first, but then when I realised that the person was a staff member with their own office, I was shocked” the student stated. Previous ads from the same individual were also found on the site offering to perform lude acts in his office. Trinity News was made aware of the ad last Friday morning and immediately contacted the College to ask what the College policy is on such behaviour. College Communications Officer Caoimhe NíLochlainn responded that “the reference to "location in Trinity" as posted on this website, does not necessarily confirm that this does in fact relate to a TCD member of staff or student.”
STAFF WRITER
A screenshot (above) of the ad placed on Gumtree.ie last Thursday However despite this she went on to say that the matter “has been referred to the Gardaí.” as of Monday morning. The individual in question refused to answer phonecalls or texts from Trinity News. Gumtree.ie could not be contacted at time of going to print, however this ad does not seem to be an anomaly on their site. • Continued page 2
“Lightware” on display at the Lightwave fashion show in the newly open Science Gallery. The gallery has seenlarge crowds turning up daily. Photo: Martin McKenna
RTÉ comedy star invades Hist debate Damien Clarke, of “I Dare Ya!” interrupts Hist debate in attempt to abduct Auditor and fulfil dare DEIRDRE ROBERTSON STAFF WRITER I Dare Ya! comedians Andrew Stanley and Damien Clarke seemed to reveal an inter-society feud during their gig in Trinity on Wednesday 30 January when they took on a dare to invade the GMB and interrupt a Hist debate. I Dare Ya! is a new RTÉ programme that sees the comics act as puppets to the Irish public by accepting any dare that does not break the law or involve gross bodily harm. Dublin
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University Comedy Society invited them to perform in the Ed Burke Theatre on 30 January. Part of the Trinity act involved Mr. Stanley and Mr. Clarke performing dares they had not yet shown on RTÉ. During the gig, they displayed an email from one Tim Smyth challenging them not to come to Trinity. Mr. Tim Smyth, Auditor of the College Historical Society states “The I Dare Ya! comics received no email from me ‘daring’ them not to turn up to the Comedy Society gig. I have no idea where that rumour originated.” Eoin Ó’Braoin,
Head of ComedySoc, likewise asserts, “The dare did not come from Tim.” In response to the email, however, one spectator dared Damien Clarke to fetch Mr. Smyth from the GMB, where he was involved in a debate on Russia chaired by former Taoiseach, Garrett Fitzgerald. Mr. Clarke headed to the GMB and interruped the denate but was unable to lure Mr. Smyth away, despite even sitting down beside him at one point. He returned to the Burke alone and incorporated the story into his stand-up act. When asked for his
Scholars under fire for poor Graces
version of events, Mr. Smyth concurs “A man from the ComedySoc did indeed show during the debate”, but declares he “left promptly when he saw the former Taoiseach chairing the debate.” One source claimed Mr. Smyth would lodge a complaint to the Central Societies Committee citing security issues, as there were high profile guests present at the debate. Mr. Smyth disputes this replying, “no complaint was lodged against my friend on CSC, Eoin Ó’Braoin”. Mr O’Braoin also contests the allegation, saying “Comedy
Soc and the Hist enjoy good relations and fully support each others’ efforts in their very different fields of interest. Tim and I are both members of the CSC Executive Committee and…had there been an issue or problem, it would have been aired. Neither Tim nor myself are known for biting our tongues.” Members of the audience maintain that the email displayed on a large screen was from Tim Smyth, but Mr. Smyth releases himself from all association with the occurrence, saying “The Hist does not interfere with events organised by other societies.”
Trinity’s Scholars have a reputation as a diligent and conscientious bunch, more concerned with academic endeavours than rowdy horseplay. But that reputation now lies in shreds after the Scholars invoked the chagrin of Fellows and were threatened with punishment by the Junior Dean for their loutish capers during Grace at evening Commons. One of Trinity’s most enduring traditions, the Latin Grace is said before and after Commons, the traditional evening meal for Fellows and Scholars. Scholars take turns in reciting the ancient rite – which pays homage to Queen Elizabeth I, King James and King Charles – from the Dining Hall pulpit wearing traditional academic dress. The buffoonery began during Grace before meals one evening last term, when some Scholars began making noise, attempting to distract the Scholar saying Grace, laughing and audibly discussing how long it takes to say Grace. One of the Fellows – Trinity’s elite academics – took such umbrage to the antics that they brought the matter to the attention of the Junior Dean, Emma Stokes. “The behaviour succeeded in unsettling the Waiter [Scholar assigned to say Grace], who was otherwise completely competent”, the complainant noted. The Junior Dean summoned the Scholar Secretary, David Hughes, to a meeting and warned him that “any repeat of inappropriate behaviour during Grace – or indeed any time during Commons – will be met with disciplinary proceedings.” Earlier in the year, some Fellows had complained about the apparently deteriorating quality of the Grace, accusing the Waiters of rushing through the prayer and not enunciating each syllable clearly enough. A series of lessons in Latin elocution was arranged for the ten Waiters. The Fellows were impressed with the results and passed comment on the “dramatic improvement” in the standard of oratory. In recent weeks, some Waiters have raised their grandiloquence to a new level by delivering the Latin prayer in an Italian accent.
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Fancy fo
The pick otwork: of th shoes fo e best r Spring
Fancy footwork, more shoes than you can shake a stick at • Eating cheaply but romantically on Valentines • Nigella Lawson’s latest book • Brendan Kennelly
FASHION P10
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POETRY
Trinity poetMY ARSE! and legen Brendan d Kennelly interview ed
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VALENTINE
Avoid bank S, CHEAPLY romantic rupcy but still do dinner for two