Irish Student Newspaper of the Year 2009
AHERN INTERVIEW IEW W JAMES JEAN
ART FEATURES TN2, P14
ALEX HAMILTON SITS TS DOWN WITH BERTIEE BUSINESS, P10
COURAGE OR CRUELTY? TRAVEL, P21
Wednesday April 7 2010
www.trinitynews.ie w.trinitynews.iie
Xmas exams on agenda
Issue 12, Volume 56
HEALTH AND SPORTS WEEK GETS TRINITY MOVING: PAGE 3
» 90% of students overworked, says survey » Referendum planned on Christmas exams » External review of semesterisation to occur Claire Acton Staff Reporter THE ONGOING discussion of the effectiveness of semesterisation in College has led the Students’ Union to call for a referendum on the issue. The call for a referendum comes after a series of events beginning in December 2009. It began with a rise in discontent from students regarding the structure of semesterisation and the influence of the new structure on the revised Foundation Scholarship examinations. According to Education Officer Ashley Cooke, however, attendance of the Scholarship exams was considerably greater than other years. Education Officer Ashley Cooke comments “opinion has changed” from the intial response among students to semesterisation Complaints from the student body regarding semesterisation centred upon the increase and imbalance of workload, and the decision not to hold Christmas exams. The survey put to students by the Union was aimed at gaining a College-wide response to these issues. It was found 90% of students felt that their workload increased as a result of semesterisation. Furthermore, there were strong feelings regarding Christmas exams with students wishing to see their introduction. Additionally, the majority of students were clear in their preference for the former structure of three terms. Cooke says the Union were careful to bear in mind the silent majority
when taking the results on board. However the survey spurred himself and the Education Officerelect, Jennifer Fox, to propose and pass a motion at Student Council to hold a referendum to the entire student body in order to hear the feelings of all parts of College. The referendum will ask, "Do you support the Students' Union to campaign on the 'Semesterised Examinations Policy'?" The policy, if implemented, would see workloads evenly distributed between the two terms and Christmas exams taking place to aid in the attempt to reduce pressure at the end of the College year. However, even if the projected referendum is passed, the decision of the College year structure lies with the College Authorities – the referendum will mandate the Union to campaign for change only. The animosity towards semesterisation has not been solely directed towards the Students’ Union. College lecturers have also been approached by students regarding the issue seeking to do something to revert to the former year structure. Cooke says the previous consultation between the administration, academic staff and Students’ Union was prosemesterisation; however “student opinion has since changed”. If passed, the referendum will give the Students’ Union policy backing for further consultation with a clear view of what the student body wants. Moreover, an external review on the outcome of semesterisation in Trinity College is taking place the same week of the referendum. The referendum will be held 7th and 8th April in the Hamilton and Arts Buildings. Failed experiment: Editorial, P11
Residents billed for exam period again Shane Lynn Staff Reporter RESIDENTS IN College accommodation on campus and in Cunningham House will have to vacate their rooms in the middle of the exam period unless they pay extra in daily extension charges. In an e-mail circulated on 19 March, the Accommodation Office reminded students living in rooms that their term of residency ends on 8 May 2010. Students who wish to remain in rooms until they finish their exams must submit an Extension of Tenancy application form by Tuesday 6 April stating by how many days they need to extend their tenancy. Payment in advance will be required from them once their application is accepted. Those students who wish to retain their place in rooms must also pay a higher price per day. Not including utilities, rates for a standard single bedroom in the Rubrics in each of
the three rent periods between 23 September 2009 and 8 May 2010 remained below €17 per day. After 8 May the same room will cost approximately €19 per day; a 13% increase, bringing the cost of basic rooms up to that of modern accommodation in Trinity Hall. However, students staying in modern rooms in Trinity Hall are not required to undergo the same process. Their term of residence extends to 22 May, by which time most students will have completed their exams. A spokeswoman for the Accommodation Office refused to comment on why this was the case. For students in courses where exams finish late, these circumstances could pose a considerable financial burden. Medicine students living in rooms could be faced with rent bills of almost €800 each, since some do not sit their last exams until 17 June.
Ó Broin and Redmond take USI officer elections by storm » Trinity Students’ Union President elected to position of Deputy President of the Union of Students in Ireland at annual meeting on campaign based around major reform » UCD Students’ Union President Gary Redmond elected as next year’s USI President, defeating current Equality Officer Linda Kelly Claire Acton Staff Reporter STUDENTS’ UNION President Cónán Ó Broin has succeeded in his bid for the position of Deputy President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). Ó Broin defeated Jono Clifford, current USI Southern Area Officer, for the title. He will take up office on 1 July of this year just as his term as Trinity Students’ Union President comes to a close. Ó Broin was elected at the USI Annual Congress which took place in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway over four days last week. USI is the national representative body for all third- and fourth-level students. Attending the Congress were 230 delegates: representatives of Student Unions from colleges and universities across Ireland including three institutions from Northern Ireland. The delegates gathered for four days, providing a forum for discussions on the pressing issues facing the higher education system. For Ó Broin, the ultimate role of Deputy President is the chief campaigns officer. As such, Ó Broin plans to focus on three main national campaigns. Firstly, the reform in the grants system which is being brought before the Oireachtas, in order to aid students
from disadvantaged backgrounds to continue to third-level education. Secondly, the registration fee campaign, which Ó Broin has worked on intensely over the previous few years. He plans to Ó Broin plans to continue to campaign against fees, an increased student charge, and help students from disadvantaged backgrounds maintain the pressure on TDs from all parties and sustain the success of last year, including the prevention of the rise of the registration fee to €2,500 as was planned for in the 2010 Government Budget. However Ó Broin is acutely aware of the economic environment in which he will be campaigning and lobbying. He recognised it as an “uphill battle” to prevent an increase in the registration fee in 2011’s Budget. Finally, he acknowledges the instability in the current government, foreseeing an inevitable general election in the next year to eighteen months. Ó Broin plans to ensure that whatever government does emerge is committed to free
education for third-level students. Throughout the year, Ó Broin will be working closely with the President of USI, who was also elected at the Congress on an unofficial joint ticket with the Trinity Students’ Union President. The coveted position went to UCD Students’ Union President, Gary Redmond, who won by a majority vote of the student delegates present at the Congress by only a few votes. Redmond secured the position over one other applicant, Linda Kelly, current USI Equality Officer. Ó Broin spoke of his “delight” at Redmond’s appointment and how he looks forward to working with him to get students interested at a national level. When speaking of his win Redmond highlighted his happiness over the support he has received all over the country, commenting that he feels “a momentum building around issues like the maintenance grant, the registration fee and higher education funding”. Redmond’s aim is to push “student agenda to the forefront of the country’s affairs”. He called for investment in education as vital for meeting targets under the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education. Redmond’s post requires him to lead the USI in lobbying the new Minister for Education, Mary
Coughlan, which will also be central to Ó Broin’s role. The incumbent President, Peter Mannion, gave a positive response to Redmond’s appointment stating that he has the “necessary skills to lead a powerful student movement”. Both Redmond and Ó Broin will be taking up their positions in the 50th year of the organisation, which represents over 250,000 students from institutions throughout Ireland. The USI Congress was not the only student election forum taking place Incoming USI President Redmond feels “a momentum building around issues like the maintenance grant, the registration fee and higher education funding” recently. Trinity’s Students’ Union Council saw 15 new elects fill the positions of Part Time and General Executive Officers, which included current Welfare Officer Cormac Cashman obtaining the LGBT office. The positions of Electoral and Oversight Commissions were also filled by 7 new members.