http://acollegemiscellany.com/PDF07/2006-07_Trinity-News_04-07

Rugby firsts in win over Bective p20

Somalia in crisis p9

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007

www.trinitynews.ie

Hamilton toilets revealed as one of Dublin’s top “cruising” locations

News Student death highlights safety issues around Trinity Hall p2

Gearóid O’ Rourke

News Ex-student convicted of stalking fellow classmate p4

Opinion Kevin Lynch on reefer madness p9

Features Jean Acheson’s second life p12 A cubicle in the Hamilton Building frequented by ‘cruisers’. Note the ‘glory holes’ in both side partitions, one blocked with tissue. Photo: Martin McKenna

Science Trinity researchers mapping the aural world p13

Sport Rosettes for tetrathlon win p18

Sport Rugby thirds beat UCD 93-0 p19 TrinityNewsTwo sandwiches according to

Richard Armstrong, Food

This is London calling Joey Facer talks to former BBC foreign correspondent David McNeil p10

Trinity’s radio sensation

?

Jonathan Drennan talks to College’s newest celebrity p3

The top 10 sexiest society

TRINITYNEWSTWO 4

Inside: Why real men buy

and Drink, p16

ISSUE

heads revealed, p18

• David McNeil • Sexiest society heads

Trinity News has learned that the toilets of the Hamilton Building are one of Dublin’s prime “cruising” locations.

Cruising, a practice where two men meet anonymously in restrooms or other public places to engage in sexually explicit acts, is rife throughout the campus according to the site squirt.org.

The site, which claims to be “your neighbourhood cruising guide”, lists three locations on campus which are regularly used for cruising as well as a park adjacent to Trinity Hall.

Each location has a detailed description on the site including information on bus routes, security levels and the regular activities undertaken by “cruisers”. There is also a dedicated comment wall for each location The comment wall for the Hamilton Building contains as many as one hundred comments.

At time of going to print comments from persons purporting to frequent the Hamilton Building toilets, Arts Block toilets, Library toilets and Palmerston Park have been posted as recently as the 19th of January this year. Most of the comments explicitly solicit different forms of sexual activity including oral sex, anal sex

and the use of ‘glory holes’. The latter have been found in the Hamilton Building toilets.

Trinity News spoke to one registered member of the site who has “cruised” in Trinity. He agreed to answer some brief questions on the record under the assumed name of John. We asked him if had he cruised in the Hamilton. He replied “yes, sometimes” and said that “it is used often by others”. When asked if he thought it was right to use a public toilet for sexually explicit acts he replied hesitantly “no…not really” “John” however believed that cruising did not pose a risk to students despite the fact that a large portion of those who comment on squirt.org were not students themselves. Furthermore, when asked whether it should be allowed to continue by the College authorities he replied that “yes it should. It’s safe in College” The comments left on squirt.org show a clear divide between student users and users who are in their 40’s and older. This has raised serious concerns for student safety when using the toilets in College.

Trinity News informed the College of the website, its purpose and of the comments left on it and asked for an official • Continued p4

Renowned Acting Provost demands as much Studies course axed as €684,680 in earnings due to lack of funds Anna Stein

Joey Facer

The demise of Trinity College’s renowned three-year Acting Studies undergraduate degree course was announced last week.

College had previously justified this decision by claiming that the course was not financially viable.

Students were informed on the 15th of January that there would be no new intake in September, as the decision has been made not to continue the course, which has been running since 1995.

Current students, alumni and those associated with drama in Ireland, have greeted this news with outrage. The director of the Abbey Theatre, Fiach Mac Conghail, speaking in The Irish Times said that he was “dismayed by the news that the School of Drama at Trinity is to end its actor training undergraduate degree programme.” He also added “Trinity College should be able to sustain such a professional acting course. There is cause for worry if this ceases to be the case.”

Students on the course vowed to fight the decision, which they see as a huge blow to the advancement of acting in Ireland. They claim that the decision to scrap the only practise-based acting course in Ireland receiving government funding will force aspiring Irish actors into English acting schools.

The course has a strong reputation, both in Ireland and abroad, and boasts distinguished alumni such as Ruth Negga, chosen as the Irish shooting star for the Berlin Film Festival, and Padraic Delaney who recently starred in The Wind That Shakes The Barley.

In the opinion of Christiane O’Mahony, SF Acting Studies, this decision “is not just about the acting course being cut out of Trinity. It reflects how the government

The heads of Ireland’s seven universities, who together make up the Irish Universities’ Association (IUA), have submitted an application for a pay rise of 55% to the Review Body of Higher Remuneration in the Public Service.

Currently these heads are paid between €186,000 and €205,000 per annum.

Acceptance of the request would result in a minimum pay of around €288,300.

Trinity’s own Provost Dr John Hegarty would receive significantly more. It has even been suggested that the requested pay increase could be as much as 72%.

The document submitted has also called for remunerations committees to be set up by individual governing bodies. They would decide on regular bonuses or rewards for University Presidents, who are currently contracted for a ten year office.

Many reasons were given for the request. University budgets have doubled in the past few years, and with them it is claimed the responsibilities of university heads. Although 80% of the funding still comes from the state, in order to compete on a global scale with colleges like Harvard or Oxford, Irish universities are increasingly turning to other sources for funding. Such a move undoubtedly alters the position of Provost, but it is debated whether this shift from chief educator to business manager is desirable. Dr Sean Barrett, senior lecturer in the Department of Economics told Trinity News that “those who are no longer educators should leave their universities.” This is a change that has already occurred in many top private schools, with the Principles spending less time focused on pupils and more seeking funding through business-

Jennifer Murray of the acting studies course. views Arts education. There is money in this country, it just isn’t being invested.”

College has described the course of action as a “strategic decision”, and insists that the School is changing its practise-based training from a full time undergraduate course to “combination of • Continued p4

No. 1 Grafton Street: estimated rental value €30,000 style deals.

In addition, the overall budget for all of the seven universities has increased in total from €600m in 1998 to a staggering €1.4 billion in 2004, and university enrolment is up by 25%. The greater numbers of students, coupled with the need to improve the universities in time with those across the world can be argued to render the role of the Provost more complex, and may require highly advanced problem-solving skills and an increase in responsibility, as well as a greater financial awareness.

Colm Hamrogue, President of the USI, also conceded that it was necessary to “keep the best people in the jobs” at this crucial time. Furthermore, it has been argued that the government relies on the university Presidents in many ways to drive

their “reform agenda”, and to create a probusiness model of Ireland’s institutions of higher learning.

Ireland’s universities currently receive state funding from the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions and grants from Science Foundation Ireland.

More are planned for the coming years from the National Development Plan and a new Government strategy for science.

Currently Trinity’s annual state grant is €126.7m, with UCC receiving €121.558m and DCU a comparatively paltry €51.6m. Provost Hegarty receives €205,000 per annum, the same amount as UCC President Prof. Gerry Wrixon. It is surprising to discover that the Provost of Trinity College Dublin and the Presidents

Vote for the Trinity News Power List on www.trinitynews.ie

• Continued p2

2 NEWS

Security guard assaulted in Halls A Trinity Hall security guard, Logan Woods, faced a nerve-wracking and potentially life threatening situation. He was harrassed and threatened by a group consisting of six males and four females. Woods described the night of the incident as nothing out of the ordinary.

There were various house parties on campus and students were filtering in and out of the gates without being checked for room keys.

At 4.30am several students were woken by excessive noise coming from the front court. Assistant warden Dylan Lehrk was notified and sent Woods to the area to investigate. The group, who were attempting to break into various houses by trying all the doors, were not residents of Trinity Hall. Upon approaching them to ask them to leave campus grounds, he was encircled by the group who began to abuse him both physically and verbally.

The assault took place in an area of campus which is poorly lit and Mr. Woods felt the need for Gardaí assistance. When he placed a call for back-up with the Gardaí the assailants ran off in different directions. As they escaped one of the intruders threw a large rock at Mr Woods that only narrowly missed his head. Mr Woods later told Trinity News that the event had been extremely stressful and had had the potential to escalate.

The police arrived at the scene more than half hour after Woods’ call was placed. Woods stated that he was quite disappointed at how lighthearatedly the police handled his call, as his life, as well as the lives of the students, could have been in serious jeopardy. The intruders also managed to vandalise and break the front gate, and escape completely in the half hour that it took the police to arrive. Woods stated that since the attack he has been more aware of the safety of the students in Hall, especially in the dimly lit areas at night. He expressed concerns that they could easily find themselves in a similar situation if security measures at night are not more strictly enforced.

(Maggie O’Donoghue)

Good Employment Prospects for Graduates The possibilities for graduate employment were published recently in the annual Higher Education Authority report “What Graduates Do”. The document relates to graduates nine months after leaving third level education, in April 2006.

The overall picture remains healthy, with only 2% seeking employment at the time of the survey. Over 60% of those surveyed holding degrees or diplomas were pursing further study. This is up from 51% in 1994. Following on from this, 90% of PhD holders are in employment, a four percent rise on the 2004 figures, and 77% of Research Masters graduates are in jobs compared to 72% in 2004.

The percentage of recipients of Primary Degrees shows a 2% improvement from 54% to 56%, and the total number of all award recipients in employment went up from 1% to 57%. All in all, a total of 16,155 awards were made in 2005.

As to the location of the graduates, Dublin is the top region of employment followed by the SouthWest. Dublin in fact employs 90% more graduates than it produces from its own colleges, as well as numerically producing the most graduates. 77% of Dublin graduates found employment in Dublin, as compared to 57% for Cork, 52% for Galway and 41% for Limerick.

The main employer of four out of six levels of graduates is the nonmarket services sector, and the third-level education sector is the largest employer of primary and higher degree graduates from overseas.

In addition, starting salaries are up by 14%. There is an average of €4,000 pay gap between male and female graduates, possibly due to men entering higher-paid professions than women.

(Theresa Ryan & Joey Facer)

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANIUARY 23, 2007

Candidates announce intentions for forthcoming Students’ Union elections Caoimhe Hanley With nominations for the Students’ Union Sabbatical Elections opening on Monday 29th January, the rumour-mill in college is in overdrive, with much supposition and conjecture around campus as to who will be running, and for which of the five positions. Campaigning is not allowed before the 19th of Febuary, so some potential candidates are keeping their cards close to their chests. However, many are prepared to confirm their candidacy.

As always, it is the competition for SU presidency that is attracting the most heated debate, and so to preserve the element of surprise, many of the potential candi-

dates will remain silent as long as possible. As such, Denise Keogh, current SU welfare officer, Graham O’Muineagh, former national chair of Labour youth, and Andrew Byrne, former chair of Trinity Greens, all of whom are obvious potential candidates, remain “undecided” or unavailable for comment. Rob Kearns, current SU Education officer, is also a rumoured candidate, although he denies that he has any intention of running for the presidency. In fact, so far John Tracey, a failed candidate in 2006, is the only presidential candidate to confirm his intention to run, and, as current chair of the SU council, is in a better position then he was last year.

The race for the position of Deputy

President is looking competitive, with three confirmed candidates, and one more almost definite. Indeed, things could get very tense at The Record, with three of its sub-editors- Neasa Mc Garrigle, Conal Cambell and Claire Tighe all confirmed to be running for this position. Incidentally, should any of these three get elected, the Record shall be facing some substantial changes to its structure. Jason Robinson, a Senior Freshman class representative, has yet to make a final decision, but believes it is more than likely that he will run.

There is also a possibility that Jonathon Drennan, ex-Trinity News Deputy Editor may run, resulting in a take over of the Record. Mark Hughes, Trinity FM station manager, although supposed to be run-

ning for this position, is now more inclined towards Ents, though at present he is unsure whether he will have time to run for either. Sean Conway, another rumoured candidate, was uncontactable at time of going to press.

The position of Ents officer is a popular one, with at least three experienced candidates confirmed to be running. Barry Keane, Steward for the Phil and confirmed candidate for this position, feels that there will be “a quality Ents officer, no matter who gets in.” With Ed O’Riordan, Halls JCR Ents officer, and David Byrne, part of the Ents crew for the past two years, also running, he looks to be right. The less experienced duo of John Michell and Stephen Rock are also

rumoured candidates, although neither was available for comment.

The competition for the positions of Education and Welfare are also well contested, with the politically experienced Una Faulkner rumoured to be considering running for one of the two. Other candidates rumoured to be running for Education are Neil Mc Gough, Bartley Rock and Ross Wynne; and for Welfare, Ray Healy, Dee Mc Clean and Karen Lawlar.

With the competition for the elections looking this hot before nominations even open, the last word belongs to Deputy Presidential candidate Neasa Mc Garrigle- “Watch this space.”

Student death highlights road danger David Molloy The site of a Trinity student’s fatal road accident has been a known problem area for traffic accidents for years.

The Rathgar area, in which Trinity Halls is located, was identified by Dublin City Council as having severe traffic problems over two years ago. A report compiled by an independent authority, published in November 2005, showed Rathgar and several surrounding areas to have poor quality traffic management which reduced traffic flow. Resident’s groups however were more concerned with road safety, with over 170 reported traffic accidents in the area over the five-year study period.

The report listed traffic problems and accidents over a five-year period, and issued recommendations to help traffic flow. During the public consultation process, safety was the key concern among many groups, with the report mentioning that “pedestrian facilities are poor with [public] comments highlighting narrow footways and dangerous pedestrian crossing points.” The safety of children attending local schools was also raised by parents and local groups.

The renewal of interest in this problem follows the death of first year student Lily Hastings-Bass late last year. The 20-year

old was struck by a driver in a hit-and-run incident on the Rathgar Road on the 26th November. She died on the 7th December in hospital, when her family made the decision to discontinue life support.

Video surveillance footage recorded a man leaving a local pub and entering his car. The speed limit on the Rathgar Road is 50km/h, but Gardaí believe the vehicle may have been travelling at up to 80km/h.

A man in his forties was arrested in the weeks following Lily’s death, but subsequently released without charge.

However, the Gardaí are preparing a file for the Director for Public Prosecutions, which may take up to another month to complete.

A list compiled by The Sunday Independent revealed the total deaths as a result of traffic accidents in 2006 to be over 300. Of these, approximately one third were in 18-25 age group. These figures, together with the large volume of students in the Rathgar area highlights concerns over the safety requirements.

The College communications office has confirmed that “since 2003, the accommodation management at Trinity Hall have had a number of communications with the traffic department in Dublin City Council and have made various requests in relation to improving road safety on Dartry Road.”

A DublinCity Council map illustrating traffic accidents in the Rathgar area However, there has been minimal action to increase safety in the area. A number of pedestrian crossings have been planned, and in some cases installed, in the area, but it has been decided that speed ramps

are not suitable. The Dartry Road, on which Trinity Hall is located, was declared by engineers to be a ‘strategic route’ into the city, and was therefore deemed unsuitable for traffic calming. A

similar decision was made regarding the Rathgar Road. College authorities insist that their attempts to increase safety have been considered and “a dialogue has been maintained.”

Christmas coal for “naughty” TDs Deirdre Roberts

USI President Colm Hanrouge presents Enda Kenny TD with a lump of coal outside the Dáil in the days leading up to Christams. Photo USI

They had better watch out because Santa came to town four days early last year to present ‘naughty’ TDs with lumps of coal.

On 21st December, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) organised a Christmasthemed demonstration outside the Dail, protesting against the underfunding of third level education in Ireland.

USI have continually campaigned on student issues such as a reassessment of the €800 registration fee, a more efficient grant system and better facilities in many universities. According to the USI education officer, Bernadette Farrell, current student grants have left some students “pauperised” and the Union is calling for a new cost of living report to highlight the inadequacies. They wish to ensure a fairer system of assessment for the grants and to “name and shame” the local county councils that don’t pay up within a reasonable time. Further concerns of USI include deficient student accommodation and the lack of childcare facilities in every college.

Santa Claus, a.k.a Colm Hamrogue,

president of USI, handed out the lumps of coal to every passing TD including Fine Gael’s Enda Kenny in order to publicise their concerns. As a second part of the Christmas protest, every TD will receive twelve letters that outline twelve problems and suggest a solution to each.

According to Colm Hamrogue, the protest is already starting to take effect with politicians replying positively to the twelve day campaign. He says that “many politicians aren’t aware of student issues but now there is no excuse” and USI will continue to hammer the idea home.

Students, however, aren’t the only group protesting. The Presidents of the Irish universities are asking for salary increases.

The seven Presidents are seeking a 55% raise because they say the job has changed dramatically over the past decade. When asked for his opinion on this parallel campaign, Mr Hamrogue said that the presidents were “hard working guys” but added that the paramount issue for USI is to secure student funding and as education is underfunded across Ireland, this should be the top issue. USI intend to continue the campaign.

Irish university heads demand major wage increases • Comtinued from page 1 of University College Dublin and University College Cork earn more than government ministers, who earn €199,000 per annum. Wage rates for top executives continue to rise at around 10% per annum; however the request from the university heads far exceeds this.

The world rankings of universities show an economic link between investment in tertiary education and the overall economic growth of a country. Countries with a greater investment in higher educa-

tion reap the rewards, with far greater export earnings potential. The effect of this is that the top performing countries in these academic tables continue to invest more in the education system, thus sustaining their performance both in the university rankings and in terms of worldwide economic prosperity.

Colm Hamrogue points out that the wage increase of university heads should not necessarily be the first thing on the agenda: “if there is extra money, the USI want to see it being put directly into facilities”. Under this umbrella, Hamrogue

includes student grants, adding of the Presidents: “these people aren’t on the breadline”.

The question of Dr. Hegarty’s pay increase is complicated by accommodation arrangements. The Provost lives in No 1 Grafton Street, a luxurious residence boasting of a wine cellar and a collection of Jack B. Yeats paintings on loan from the National Gallery of Ireland. The Trinity statutes state that the Provost is to live in this residence free of rent. Whilst the College insists this is accounted for in tax terms as benefit in kind, it could also

be seen as a “perk”. One of the directors of Daft.ie, Eamonn Fallon, estimates that on its location alone the property would rent at “€25,000-€30,000 a month”. In addition, the Provost receives Commons daily, brought to his residence by a hired butler, a meal which for the student costs €18, and is without a butler. Taking into account the Provost’s salary and these benefits his earnings are estimated to be as much as €684,680 per annum.

Dr. Barrett has made his views regarding the request for a pay increase clear. He told Trinity News: “The heads contribute

nothing to the academic success of Irish universities and their students … It is an appalling period in Irish universities.

Those responsible are the heads. Their pay rise should be refused.” IUA remains unforthcoming for further comment, only expressing annoyance at the release of this document which “was supposed to be confidential.” It is interesting that there is such secrecy around the salaries of the university heads, who are paid by the state, and therefore by the taxpayer.

NEWS 3

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

Student view: Do you think the Provost deserves the pay rise he’s asked for?

“I don’t. I don’t know what he does but it is an awful lot of money. Put the money into education. A rise of 55% is outrageous. I’m sure he does good work though.”

Emily Kerr JF Natural Sciences

Complaints lodged over price of Goldsmith rooms versus the GMB Eimear Crowe Complaints have been lodged with both the Accommodation Office and the Students’ Union (SU) Welfare Officer regarding rent inequalities and “discrimination” against students resident in Goldsmith Hall.

Goldsmith Hall, along with on-campus accommodation such as the GMB, is in one of the highest rent brackets for student residences, costing approximately €4,300 for the academic year. However, there are a number of discrepancies in the standards of accommodation between Goldsmith Hall and the other accommodation in this rent bracket. For example, in the GMB kitchens are equipped with microwaves and rooms are all en-suite and include a sofa-bed; while in Goldsmith Hall rooms contain only one bed, not all rooms are en-suite and kitchens are not equipped with microwaves. Additionally, other similarly

priced student residences are situated considerably closer than Goldsmith Hall to facilities such as the college launderette.

Addressing these issues, Accommodation Officer Anthony Dempsey highlighted that while there are obvious differences in “the layout, style and utilisation of space” of different student residences as a result of the differences between renovated older buildings and the purpose-built Goldsmith Hall, “the view is that there is a reasonably similar level of residential amenity and largely similar operating costs” for both modern and renovated accommodation.

Responding to complaints concerning the differences between Goldsmith Hall and the GMB in particular, Dempsey argued that “it is necessary to consider that the GMB has shared communal kitchens while in Goldsmith Hall there are kitchens and common rooms internal to each apartment”. Referring to the additional bed in GMB rooms, Dempsey con-

tended that this is because these rooms are let as twin bedded rooms during the summer months “to maximise commercial return” and that the bed is adapted as a settee during the academic year and not intended to be used as a second bed. He added that access to campus for Goldsmith residents will be facilitated after the completion of the new Sports Hall when the bridge connecting Goldsmith Hall and College will be brought back into service.

Dempsey told Trinity News that it was a very small minority of residents who had complained about these issues and that “generally, residents in Goldsmith Hall are very satisfied with the standard and value of the accommodation”.

In an interview with Trinity News, Students’ Union Welfare Officer Denise Keogh agreed that there are many differences between Goldsmith Hall and other residences, but added that whether these differences are viewed positively or nega-

SIROCO BESIDE THE CENTRAL BANK ON DAME STREET

tively is a “subjective matter”. She admitted that the fact that not all Goldsmith Hall rooms were equipped with en-suite facilities was “an issue”, but that the changing of residential charges to reflect these differences across rooms in Goldsmith Hall would be difficult to implement.

Keogh said that the complaints had been raised at the last meeting of the Residents’ Management Committee and are issues that are “being looked at”. However, since there has been “no significant changes in relevant factors” since the last review of residential charges in 2001, it is unlikely that the rates will be reviewed in the foreseeable future. A working group was been established last month to review the current situation regarding on-campus accommodation, but will instead focus on the changed needs of the current student population and, in particular, the needs of the increased number of international students attending Trinity.

Trinity’s self-help guru

“I’ve never seen him I don’t know what he does. If you never see a person and you don’t know what he does you can’t justify the rise. It would be more worth putting it into the College itself.”

Laura Kearns JF Natural Sciences

“With all of the cutbacks it seems slightly hypocritical. It is difficult to see what he does. I’m sure he does a good job, it’s a good College, perhaps a moderate increase would be acceptable, but this seems out of line with other pay increases.”

Conor Kelly SS Computer Science

“There are lots of things that need to be done for the students, they have to come first. Some students have to spend a lot on fees and food and other things like that. It would be better to put money into that.”

Chris Fay Facilities attendant

Caoimhe Hanley

KEBAB SPECIAL OFFER CHICKEN LAMB OR MIXED KEBAB ONLY €3.99 BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Styled by some as Trinity’s very own self -help guru, Professor Ian Robertson, a lecturer in the psychology department, is due to give a workshop on how to “Manage Your Mind” on Wednesday 24th January in the Stillorgan Park Hotel.

Given his rising profile following a guest slot on RTE’s The Panel the cost of tickets is a mind-bending €45 per person.

The premise for the workshop and Robertson’s accompaning book is his neuroscientific research which shows that the brain requires exercise and care, just as the body does. This “brain-exercise” is determined by a number of key factors, including learning new skills for example a new language, mental stimulation and mental strategies, diet, aerobic exercise, reduced stress and mental attitude. In his workshop, Prof. Robertson will review the scientific evidence evaluating these “brain-exercises” and will offer advice on lifestyle changes that will benefit the brain.

When asked why he had gotten involved in the self help market, Professor Robertson said “I am a scientist who happens to have things to say that are scientifically based and which ordinary people find very helpful.” However, Prof.

Robertson objects to the use of the term “guru” to describe himself, emphatically stating that his work is based solely in science, despite its similarities to that of many self-proclaimed self help gurus.

And indeed, Robertson does not seem to have expanded much on the standard formula used by these gurus, emphasising, albeit in a scientific light, the importance of regular exercise, healthy eating and good quality sleep interspersed with reducing stress levels – not exactly a ground-breaking line of thought when you consider the Romans first came up with the concept: “mens sana in corpore sano”.

“I wouldn’t agree with it. I think he does his job fine, but I don’t know enough about him to give an opinion. I know his name, I think… something Hegarty, right?”

David Larkin JF Natural Sciences

“There are better uses for the money than a pay rise.

In the library a book in high demand takes weeks to get.

The huge shortage of important books is irritating. I’m not aware of anything that he does. I’ve never seen the man, never mind what he does.”

Helena Devenney JF Pharmacy

4NEWS

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 ,

2 0 07

Calls for major reforms as electoral office official retires Aaron Mulvihill A fo rmer administrator in the Alumni/Proctors' and Seanad Electoral Office, Jean O ' Hara, was in December conferred with a degree jure officii from the University to coincide with her retirement. One of three recipients of degrees, along with the director Neil Jordan and Uganda n Aids researche r Peter Mugyenyi, Mrs O' Hara was honoured in her presentation speech as "one of o ur own" and a "guardian of our memory".

Mrs O ' Hara's award comes at a time when calls for reform of the Dublin University constituency Seanad office are at their loudest. Seanad-hopeful Sean O'Connor is campaigning on a reform platform and highlights in partic ul ar the recent disenfranchising of over 700 graduates resulti ng fro m a misplaced box of registratio n forms. T he office is "understaffed and under-resourced" he said. He suggested that the Government should provide funding towards the maintenance of the electoral roll, as the responsibility currently rests solely with the University.

Eff01ts by Senators David Norris and

Shane Ross to grant votes to the victims of the erro r, which occurred during O' Hara's tenure, have been refused by the Government. Though a statutory instrument exists to deal with such an eventuality, the Department for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has chosen not to invoke it, with the result that if a Seanad election is called before June 1st the affected graduates will not have a vote. Sitting Senators and candidates in the next election have called for radical changes to the way the electoral register is maintained, suggesting that it was an accident waiting to happen.

Senator Norris remarked that, "perhaps the fu llest possible explanation has not been given". Speculating on the cause of the mix-up, he said that the "cramped office" was " under- resourced" and that administering the electoral roll is a haphazard endeavour, adding, "Among other things, the staff have to trawl through the obituary notices in the papers every morning to see who has died and must he crossed off the register". For the most part, the administrators m ust rely on family members to inform them of the death of a graduate. This was a view shared by

Seanad candidate Ivana Bacik, who will be ru nning for the thi rd t.ime as an independent candidate in the next election.

Bacik congratul ated Jean O 'Hara on her degree, and when asked to comment on the worki ngs of the Seanad Electoral Office, said that "a reform of the procedures is necessary". S he is "disappointed that the Minster didn't act" to prevent graduates being disenfranchised.

Jean O ' Hara had been the office's main representative for some time, and has given official testimony to the 2003 subcommittee on Seanad reform. The subcommittee prepared reports recommending electronic voting, o r even text or Internet voting. It would replace reg istered post, which poses serious prohlems in apartment blocks and complexes where access is restricted. The committee also heard recommendations to double the size of the Seanad by ad mitting representati ves of all thi rd level institutions, rather than the c urrent three from each of DU and NUT, a suggestion hacked hy the Provost. Sean O'Connor claims it is one of twelve reports on Seanad reform drawn up over a period of 70 years which are gathering dust on the Oireachtas shelves.

A student of Trinity's renowned Acting Studies course excel at the annual Arezzo Festival in Tuscany, Italy.

• Continued from p l an expanded BA in Drama and Theatre Studies and the development of a new M Phil one-year course in acting."

Howeve r the College has not made avai lable details of this new course, such as when it will be introduced . The Department of Drama declined to comment, directing all enquiries to the College Communications Office.

O'Mahony says that by introducing the M Phi l course in the place of Acting Studies the Coll ege is not replacing like with like. She claims, " any professional working in acting traini ng will tell you that traditio nal actor training takes three years , and needs three years. It is clear therefore that the M Phil course cannot be a replacement." Ai ne Ni Laoghaire , also SF Acting Studies pointed out that the "BA in Drama and Theatre Studies relics on points entry, and not audition.

Jt is a n academic course, and so doesn' t allow for the same

mix of students as Acting Studies."

The Acting Studies students have been told that the fund ing for rest of their cou rse will not be restri cted, however they have told Tri nity News that they intend to fight the decision that they see as "a dicta!."

Some see the discontinuation of the Acting Studi es course as an inevitable product of ARAM, the new College f unding system, which reallocates resources depending on academic performance and research work, rather than vocational training.

Students of the Acting Studies course see the decision to cut their course as a threat both to Ireland's cultural heritage, and also to its world standing. In the words of one "a coun try isn't remembered for its accountants, it's remembered for its attists."

"Any guys 18-25 want to meet for some fun?"

• Continued from pl

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Thinking of coming here for the first time tomorrow afier college. Will it be worth my w hile? comments from Brad star 181

1/1012007 7:00:27 PM

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w as there today. this place is gone down hill fast. uglies frequent was one relatlvely hot newcom er today- tall skin type. pity he was wasting his time on a potbellied !Jinoe. He lied before he realised there w as much better meat on offer.

commen1s from henryzoomzoom

1/1012007 10:50:11 AM

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I'm a first lime cruiser - really rurious!Would you recommend the Hamilton building? Have any of you m et anyone good there recently? Whats the best time to go?!! comments from Brad star 181

1nt2007 12:16:45 PM

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Was there friday afierwork at 6ish. Old dude with wooly hat was hogging one of the cubicles. Pity because very very good looking guy had been waiting but len clearty otu of boredom. Doni ofien s ee good looking guys in here s o I was surprised and dis appointed. He w as wearing navy s lacks and black s hoes and must have been coming from work, tall dark hair and fit with sm all back pack or soemthing. I'm similar so get in touch if its you. comments from adam<lllon20

1/412007 10:59:16 AM

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hey bacmac you need a card sometimes but usually if the dooris locked you can hang around for s omeone comin out the toilets are on the ground ft oor. walk in th e door of the hamilton building, down the ramp and th ey are on your immediate right! wicked place. am headin there now.

Report to a moderator commen1s from bacmac 1/212007 9:59:06 AM Can anyone tell me if you need a card to access these toilets So you go up th e stairs at the front of the building or are they on the ground noor. Thanks comments from Camydee4

121712006 10:34.28 AM

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Any guys 18-25 want to meet up for some cock fun afier six o'clock? where in the building is th e toil ets?

response. We were informed that as far as College was concerned " no reports have been received of any susp icious activity of this nature and there is absolutely no evidence of such activity occurring anywhere on campus."

However, a close examination of the a rchives of squirt.org has turned up repeated complaints from regular users about their activities being interrupted by College security services . Several comments from different dates and referring to different incidents described College security removing both students and other persons from the Hamilton Building toilets after being discovered engaging in sexually explicit acts. T here is even reference to College securi ty unde1taking regular patrols of the toilets.

One such comment by "tintin 1"stated that " my mate was here today and after com plaints from two students about indecent activity - guys making very obvio us noises and slurpings - two security g uys came into the jacks. T he toilet was opened up and the two guys were taken out and held outside. While this took place they searched the disabled toilet and found two

more guys - non-students I believe - and they were also removed to the cop shop."

There is also discussion on the site of a systemati c change in location for the cruisers from the Hamilton to the Library to ilets for a period last year. This according to "hungshowerboy," was apparently as a result of "people who obviously don't look like students visiti ng the Hamilton toilets too often, and College security now make regular visits to these toilets (about once an hour). It is a dan gerous place at the moment to cruise. The cruising in the Hamilto n toilets should keep a low profile for a few months unti l College security think the toilets are no longer a cruising ground. For the time being the BLU Library toilets will be the College c ruising ground. Spread the crui sing around so no one place looks obvious."

The College told Trinity News that it '' has a security policy which aims to protect the human and physical assets of the Coll ege. T his policy incorporates the monitoring of buildings and persons on campus using both CCTV and the physical presence of security officers and attendants." Despite these claims it is apparent that either College is compl etely unaware of cruising taki ng place or simply refuses

to acknowledge it's presence.

Trinity College is not the onl y College location for th is cruising, it seems with multi ple locations in UCD, DCU, DIT and DBS listed as well as colleges around the country in Cork, Belfast and Galway. "John" informed us that he uses various other colleges in Dublin for cruising as well as Trinity.

It is debated whether cruising is a legitimate outlet for the gay communi ty.

Members of T rinity's LGBT society told Trini ty News that "some people might do it because of the fear of coming out, they probably do n't want to be seen to be frequenti ng gay venues. They don't want to be outed" and that "certai n people might feel they have no choice."

There seems to be some di vision between the "cruisers" on squ irt.org about this issue too . One thread on the Hamilton Building comment wall traces an argument between two members with one using the n.i ckname "hungshowerboy": stating that " My friend two weeks ago was taking a dump in the toilet cubical with the glory hole. The guy next to him pus hed the tissue paper fi lling the glory hole out. My friend initially thought that the guy next to hi m accidentall y hit

the tissue paper and it all fell out, but as he looked he saw a guy looking th rough the glory hole with a big smile on his face.

My friend finished his business, and reported the incident to the security guard on the first tloor of the building. Two security guards were sent to the toilets.

Cruising in the Ham ilton toilets is alienating the other male students from using those toilets and that is not very fair."

However this was quickly followed by a response by "B rad_star" who believed that squ irt.org "is not a site fo r postings on morality and what is decent and whether or not we should let the straight f**king students feel comfortable or not while they take a dump. This is a site fo r highly sexualised guys who like casual /anonymous sex and are looking for where to go. Risk is all part of it. No one cares about you and your straight friends and whether it is fair or not to them."

• See the next Trinity News for a detailed investigation into cruising in Trinity College and around the country.

• If you like to comment on this article please go to www.trinitynews.ie

NEWS 5

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

High-flying Trinity graduate commits armed robbery Deirdre Lennon The preliminary trial of a Trinity graduate took place at the beginning of the month in Bangor, Maine, USA. Niall Clarke, 26, pleaded guilty to charges of armed robbery, brandishing a firearm and lying on application to obtain the gun. It is said that he is to remain in Bangor for the time being, although there is hope that he may be extradited back to Ireland to receive the support of his family and the community of his hometown, Kilrush, Co.Clare.

His close relatives are concerned for his wellbeing, as he was diagnosed with mental health problems soon after he left College.

Clarke’s parents visited their son last weekend after a long estrangement, and stated that it was a completely uncharacteristic action. He had spent some time in the U. S. prior to his arrest, and had lost contact with his family since the end of 2005. They heard about these events as the result of an investigation by Clarke’s older sister, who visited him in November, shortly after his arrest. The family are presently trying to ensure that their son receives the lightest sentence possible and are receiving the support of the community of Kilrush. The parents issued an apology to the people who have been affected in Bangor.

The Court was informed that Clarke was in possession of a .38 calibre handgun and a box of ammunition. He managed to escape with $11,000 from the branch of the Bank of America situated close to the Bangor Mall. He was arrested shortly after the raid on southbound Interstate 95 close to the location of the theft. He had planned no means of escape, merely the car he had driven to the bank, a Chevy Lumina. Clarke’s solicitor Eugene O’ Kelly, has stated that it was by no means a professional operation, which highlights the fact that Clarke was in distress at the time.

Niall Clarke received a first class degree in Computer Science from Trinity in 2002, and was awarded an Enterprise Ireland Student Award in 2002 as well as a second National Prize and availed of two internships in the U. S, in 1999 and 2002. He also assisted in the setting up of a software company in his final year in College and worked with the firm LeCayla Technologies after his time in Trinity. Clarke excelled at both Maths and Science from an early age. He began trav-

Trinity graduate Niall Clarke recieving the Enterprise Ireland Student Award 2002 eling to South America and moved north, attempting to discover a place where he could settle. He had been living in Portland at the time of the robbery, and is presently being held in Cumberland County Jail, Maine.

Clarke could be facing up to 25 years for the robbery alone and an additional sentence for the other charges facing him.

However, it is more likely that without a criminal record this may be reduced by half. It is not known if Clarke will serve his sentence in Maine or in Ireland. The trial is delayed as various records con-

cerning Clarke’s right of domicile in the United States, criminal records and the gun licensing documents must be examined. Maine is one of the easiest states to acquire a gun and a customer can simply walk in and request a firearm for any number of reasons. Clarke has admitted to buying the firearm in Maine Military Supply Inc. No date has yet been set for the impending trial and the family request that the public show compassion and understanding at this time, particularly those who know Niall and know the Clarkes.

USI vows to fight samesex marriage ruling Karen Langley In the wake of the High Court’s recent rejection of an attempt by two women to have their Canadian marriage recognized under Irish law, student groups have expressed disappointment at the judgment and called for further consideration of the issue.

Representing the Union of Students in Ireland, Steven Conlon, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender [LGBT] Rights Officer, said the group was “extremely disappointed” by the outcome of the case.

“These are two Irish citizens who were effectively forced to leave their country to get married lawfully in another state,” he said. “It is incredible that in the 21st century prejudice and segregation still exist at such a fundamental level in Irish society.” Conlon added that the ruling could go so far as to “create a second class of Irish citizens” based upon sexual orientation.

Dr. Katherine Zappone and Dr. Ann Louise Gilligan, a couple for 25 years, married in British Columbia in 2003.

They argued that the refusal of Irish authorities to recognize their marriage violated their rights under the Irish Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Charter of Fundamental Freedoms.

Justice Elizabeth Dunne stated in her 14th December ruling that under the 1937

Constitution, marriage is confined to the union of a man and a woman.

Conlon expressed the USI’s belief that upon the case’s appeal to the Supreme Court, it will be the Court’s obligation “not only to interpret the Irish Constitution as a living document, but to affirm the rights of all citizens of this country” with regards to constitutional protections. He also stressed the difference between civil marriage, the subject of the case, and religious marriage.

According to Trinity Students’ Union LGBT Rights Officer Ronan Hodson, the Student Union was unsurprised by the judgment, given the nation’s current political climate. “LGBT students are accustomed to such inequalities and understand that the state holds them in lower esteem than it does other citizens,” he said. “But now that an important apparatus of the state has been given the opportunity to redress this discrimination, and failed, that inequality stands out all the more painfully.”

Hodson emphasized the importance of public opinion in future legal reform.

“That is what will ultimately bring about equality if the courts prove unable,” he said. “With various forms of same-sex unions being introduced in an increasing number of countries around the world, I don't think anyone seriously believes that Ireland will be very far behind.”

Homosexuality was decriminalized in

Ireland in 1993. The Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform, founded in the 1970s, was led by David Norris, former Trinity lecturer and current Seanad Éireann member for Trinity. The group’s first and second legal advisors were President Mary McAleese and former president Mary Robinson, each of whom have previously held the position of Reid Professor of Law at Trinity.

Although the Trinity LGBT Society is “extremely disappointed” at the outcome of the case, the ruling may have the positive effect of promoting discussion, Society public relations officer Shane Murphy said.

“I think it brings the question into the public space,” he said. “It’s something everyone who supports gay marriage can get behind.” While issues of taxation have been important in same-sex marriage cases, Murphy said the real issue at stake is the right to have equality in every aspect of civil marriage, including the right of visitation to a sick or dying partner.“Marriage is about saying I love this person more than anyone in the world,” he said. “Why can’t I say that just because he’s a man?”

During the Trinity Rainbow Week scheduled for 5th-9th February, the SU will provide opportunities for students to support the campaign for same-sex unions. A petition for will be available in the Arts Building throughout the week.

Coke referendum to be held again David Molloy At last week’s Students’ Union council, the decision was made to re-open the debate on the Students’ Union ban on Coca-Cola/Nestlé products.

The decision followed President David Quinn’s “Ethical and Fair Trade Report”, the focus of which was on the ban. Other students present, most notably Graham O’Maonaigh, disagreed with Quinn over the validity of the facts presented. It also

emerged that Quinn had failed to consult the Ethical and Fair Trade committee as required.

This resulted in heated discussion, following which Deputy President Simon Hall brought an emergency motion to council concerning the ban. The motion regarded holding another referendum on the issue of the sale of Coca-Cola/Nestlé products in Students’ Union shops.

Since then, accusations have emerged that the “emergency motion” was pre-

planned, as it had been typed up rather than simply put on the overhead projector, and because it occurred following Quinn’s report.

The ban was introduced as a response to an ethical issue, over the alleged execution of union workers in a bottling plant in Colombia which Coca-Cola does business with. The referendum has been reaffirmed a number of times and is scheduled to take place at the same time as the elections for sabbatical officers.

6 SOCIETIES

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

DU Radio Society

Not playlisted, not contrived, and presented by real students Brendan McGuirk Like no other radio station you’ve ever heard, Trinity FM provides the Trinity student body and an odd few lucky taxi drivers with a staple diet of reputable music delicately blended with the sweetest student voices. There are no advertisement breaks or silly traffic updates, just an enjoyable and well mixed programme.

In our daily schedule, we endeavour to provide a variety of interest shows such as a film show, the Irish hour, a daily current affairs show, a sports show and we even had a gardening show once. In our last broadcast week we launched a brand spanking new music show called “Reverb” presented by two of TFM’s finest DJs, Ailbhe and Adam. Reverb is an exciting mix of reviews, new music and live in-studio performances all to the backdrop of quirky commentary from our very own DJ duo.

That’s what student radio is all about, without the constraints of commercial radio we are free to do what we want in the way that we want to. Members of TFM apply to have a show and they pretty much just come in, play their favourite music and chat to their friends. That is what is unique about Trinity FM: it is not play listed, it is not contrived and it is presented by real students. TFM gives the chance to people like you and me to have a go at being the next Rick O’Shea, Tom Dunne or Zane Lowe. From a listener’s point of view it’s different and quite an

enjoyable experience. I remember listening one morning as I walked to a lecture.

Hearing the Smiths, I was delighted and thought of how that’s what makes it special – it’s one student picking music that more than likely another student will like.

In other activities, the first of the Trinity FM sessions was put on the 29th of November downstairs in the Bleu Note on Capel Street. The TFM sessions were set up as a platform for new music within Dublin, focusing particularly on studentbased musicians and targeting a student audience. It was a very successful event, seeing four brilliant live acts perform to an audience in an intimate setting. The line-up of 112 Mountain Rescue, Dara and Bairbre Munnis, Kuta and the Truro Syndicate was well received and the whole gig was a really an enjoyable experience. The second Trinity FM session will be held on the 24th of January in the Bleu Note once again, acts to be confirmed. With drink promos and good music, it’s a night not to be missed by any music connoisseur.

Trinity FM will be back on air in 2007 for another year of unbeatable and dynamic programming. Trinity FM had a busy 2006, with three successful broadcast weeks under its belt during Michaelmas term and another three still to come in 2007. On the wireless Trinity FM broadcasts on 97.3 FM and it also streams online from trinityfm.com, so there’s no excuse not to tune in.

TCD Afro-Caribbean Society

Members from Africa, the Caribbean, Ballybunion and the Balkans Conor McQuillan

Members of TVOF with the Provost and Mary Davis, Chairperson of Active Citizenship Ireland, at the TVOF launch last term.

New volunteers’ group taking off Simon Masterson Last term, the Trinity Volunteers’ Opportunities Forum was successfully launched in a very well attended lunchtime ceremony. The guest speakers were the Provost Dr John Hegarty and Mary Davis (Chair of the Taoiseach’s Task Force on Active Citizenship and organiser of the Special Olympics in Ireland 2003).

This umbrella body encompasses all the student volunteer groups on campus, often neglected on the periphery of student life. The Peer Support Network, SUAS, St Vincent de Paul and the Voluntary Tuition Programme came together to synergise volunteerism in Trinity. To prevent competition amongst equally worthy causes this group aims to amalgamate resources, holding a very successful club night last term to raise funding to be distributed amongst all member groups of this forum.

The money raised from Rag Week this year will be presented to TVOF. With such a vested interest in the success of the week, they are taking a lead role in the run-up to the events, meeting weekly with Students’ Union Entertainments Officer Barry Murphy. Previous Rag Weeks in Trinity have not lived up to expectations as others around the country are seen to do. The emphasis has often waned on the need to highlight the raison d’etre of this national student fund-raising campaign. It is hoped that this year, with so many student volunteers encouraging their peers to be generous in their

support for TVOF groups, it will be an unmitigated triumph. Along with the traditional bucket collecting and famously lauded slave auction where nudity is a must, the TVOF crew is claiming Tuesday the 27th for their events when they will be testing the pride of infamously divided groups about campus culminating in a tug-of-war between students from the Arts and Hamilton buildings.

Treasure hunts and sports competitions, most notably between the rugby players and the GAA clubs, will be going on throughout the day and the donations will be collected in the Buttery where the fund-o-meter will be regularly updated, hoping to surpass the €10,000 goal. The slave auction will be held on the eve of the Students’ Union elections for the sabbatical officers of the following academic year so what better way to get to know the candidates intimately than through generous donations for TVOF? With a view to the long-term sustainability of TVOF, the volunteers have set up a review group, chaired by Dean of Students Bruce Misstear, ably assisted by Ciarán Brady, who will act as the Community Liason Officer and a committee comprised of Sean Gannon, Director of the Careers Advisory Service, Eileen Punch, Development Officer of the Trinity Foundation, Chuck Rashleigh, Counsellor for Student Counselling Services, Cliona Hannon, Access Officer of TAP, and Katherine Meyer, Presbyterian and Methodist Chaplain.

Their aim is to promote volunteerism and ensure the continuation of TVOF for many years to come.

Last night, 22nd of January, the Muslim Students’ Association, along with the College Chaplaincy, the College Theological Society and the Jewish Society, held an informal discussion between three Trinity students, each representing a different faith: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

They talked about what they understand their faith to be and how they live it, especially in the university surroundings. The Jewish Society has been extremely active of late with Shabbas held on Friday 19th in the Chaplaincy and in the coming week, on Thursday 25th, a post-Channukah party. For the festival celebrating oil traditional latkes and mulled wine will be served to fortify everyone before the massive monster Dreidel-Off. Joshua Edelman is also beginning to teach Hebrew and is contactable at dublin.events@ gmail.com. TCD JSoc is also hosting the eleventh annual Euro-Jews conference, a panEuropean network of young, progressive Jews, who will be here for Purim (9-12 March). To find out more about this event go to www.eurojews.org.

Astronomers addressed by Cambridge professor Trinity FM’s Mark Hughes at the Radio Society’s studio in House 6

Trinity Volunteers’ Opportunities Forum

Christians, Jews and Muslims in inter-faith discussion

Since its inception in 2004 TCD AfroCaribbean Society has sought to bring together Trinity students from Africa and the Caribbean to celebrate and share their vibrant cultures in as many ways as possible with as many students as possible.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given our friendly, inclusive nature, we have attracted a large number of visiting students, as well as a healthy proportion of Irish students with a taste for something a little more tropical. Our catchment area not only stretches from Ballybunion to the Balkans, but also crosses four continents (and no, Antarctica isn’t one of them – no more Cool Runnings jokes).

Last year, we ran drumming classes every Friday at 6 in the Eliz Room (just like this year) and the practice of a tightknit bunch of regulars paid off with enthusiastically-received performances at our own African Night, a wonderful fundraiser in the Dining Hall for medical charity RJW (organized in conjunction with the College’s Anatomy Department) and a special performance for Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon Ó Cuiv TD, at the launch of the Nigerian Association of Ireland This year, hip-hop dance classes have been added to our weekly repertoire and have proved equally popular, with about 50 regular attendees now helping to swathe Front Arch in wave after wave of beats and banging on Friday evenings.

There are two exceptions, however – one young man falls asleep at the back of the hip-hop class every week, waiting for his sister to finish her workout and routines, and Matt the Jap has resisted all attempts to engage him in drumming. He is always very grateful for the orange juice, though.

But even these two men are relaxed and destressed after a week of lectures, assignments and hoarding the newspapers from the GMB – which is the whole point.

And what of this year? Well, our Michaelmas term party “Afro-Carib Flava” was an unqualified success, which bodes well for our next event – African Night – which will be held on February 6th in the Atrium. Following a similar format to last year, there will be a wide selection of freshly cooked Afro-Caribbean dishes to feast on, before we launch the first TCD Afro-Caribbean Society Journal. The Journal aims to represent our society’s diversity of members and activities, and will allow members to portray the Africa they know and love in a more

Trinity Astronomy and Space Society held its first talk of 2007 on 17th January in the Schroedinger Theatre.

The Society was addressed by Cambridge University's Professor of Astronomy, Donald Lynden-Bell, who discussed jets and how they occur near quasars, forming stars and nebulae. He then went on to talk about the behaviour of magnetic fields in Accretion Disks. The Society has been very active this year after resurrecting itself from almost certain derecognition and it is a tribute to the perseverance of the committee that it maintains the momentum with which it started the academic year.

How to prevent three buses arriving at once On Wednesday the 17th of January the DU Mathematical Society hosted Paschalis Karagorgis in the McNeill Theatre in the Hamilton. He presented a paper titled “Basic Ideas on NonLinear Partial Differentiated Equations (PDEs)”. PDEs are often used in everyday life to calculate compound interest or to figure out the transport equation, such as how to prevent three buses arriving at once. If only Martin Cullen had been in the audience! In recent weeks the Society has also invited Tristan McLoughlin, a graduate of this university in theoretical physics with plenty of real world experience. He was there for an informal discussion on employment, academia and America. In the coming weeks many more mathemagicians will be gracing the Society with their presence so keep an eye on the noticeboards for more information.

Poker players removed from their room in the Atrium

At the weekly session. Photo: Conor McQuillan representative way than Western and Irish media tends to. And after that, drumming and dancing will doubtless ensue.

We are also currently organizing events with Green Week and SUAS Diversity Week. We will be hosting a drumming workshop as part of Trinity Arts Festival following on from the success of last year’s workshop and you just might hear us on Trinity FM as part of Rag Week. The Society has been invited to take part in Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day

Parade. The craic, as they say, will be mighty.

For those of you who may not know it, TCD Afro-Caribbean Society is currently the Society of the Year – which isn’t bad going, considering it is still only two and a half years’ old. The credit for this, of course, goes to last year’s committee, and all the society officers who voted for Afro-Carib. We’ve had a lot to live up to this year, and I hope we justify the title by continuing the good work.

With the resignation last term of Kevin Dockerell from DU Card And Bridge Society, the world of poker on campus was thrown through a loop as the temporary auditor appointed to fill the newly vacated position was in fact not a student on-books and therefore could not be recognised as an auditor by the Central Societies Committee.

The Society had already run into repeated trouble within the CSC for failure to maintain their shared committee room to an acceptable standard. Many complaints were lodged by the DU Metaphysical Society in protest at the debris left by the Card Society's committee after poker matches and lunch time meetings.

They were reprimanded and awarded the privilege of only storing their cards and chips in the room. Further infractions led to them being removed from their room in the Atrium at the end of last term.

SOCIETIES 7

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

DU Business and Economics Society

Voluntary Tuition Programme

Hobbs calls property Volunteer tutors now supplements “Irish in broom cupboard pornography” Elizabeth O’Brien

Robbie Woods Eddie Hobbs: presenter, financial adviser, celebrity. Brought by DU Business and Economics Society to the Ed Burke theatre, the instantly recognisable 44-yearold presenter of shows such as Show Me the Money and Rip-off Republic enlightened the audience on topics ranging from the Groceries Order and the public sector to climate change and the future for Ireland and the Irish economy. Hobbs showed the audience why he has been so successful in his lobbying with his passionate defence of the Irish consumer in today’s economy.

Hobbs began his talk discussing the controversy surrounding the Groceries Order. He talked about some of the influence that wholesalers, such as Musgrave’s, have had on the Groceries Order through their funding of the Retail, Grocery, Dairy and Allied Trades’ Association (RGDATA) and through Paul Coghlan, a senator nominated by RGDATA, who advised that “where an existing retailer already has a presence in a town, then there should be an inhibition on a new store being opened or acquired in that town, unless it can be shown that local competition will not suffer” with the result that the consumers at the bottom end of the income scale are indirectly lacking access to a supermarket in their vicinity. Hobbs went on to describe the

Hobbs spoke to DUBES in the Ed Burke Theatre public sector as a “medieval economy” which can “achieve mediocrity at best” due to the benchmarking of pay that is set in place.

A move to a discussion on more worldwide financial problems followed, with a mention of the increasing burden of pensions on the “graying” populations

of Europe. The audience was also advised that now is the time to invest in gold if one is going to invest in anything.

Hobbs then gave a rather innovative summary of the Stern report, simply stating that “we’re shagged”. He informed us that there was only an estimated 1.2 trillion barrels of available oil left and that with “Chindia” (China and India) growing at such an awesome rate, the demand for energy is going to bring us into a postoil age. He talked depressingly of economic collapse when the price of oil reaches $200 a barrel, but gave the advice that fortunes will be made in the conversion from oil to renewable energy, saying that the person who finds the way to convert coal to fuel without the release of all the carbon dioxide will dwarf Microsoft in income.

On the subject of Ireland and energy supplies, he lamented the banning of nuclear power and said that we are going to face huge electricity price rises, while stating that already the average pay at the “highly inefficient” ESB stands at an astounding €80,000 a year. He also said that we require 75% of our oil for transport and that we “can’t drive around with a windmill on the back of our car” when oil supplies run out.

Finally, Hobbs took questions from the audience and described property as an addiction here in Ireland and the newspaper property supplements as “Irish pornography”.

The Voluntary Tuition Programme has, after many years of waiting, finally got an office on campus. The space allows them to store their records and have an administrative centre from where they can efficiently run the programme to the greater benefit of local school children. The programme, in its 21st year, assists over four hundred pupils a year from 5 years of age to 18. Former chairman, Peter Harper, said, “the office is fantastic, we can finally stop running the programme from a suitcase and our own homes”. After petitioning college for innumerable years they were granted this fine space on campus, a former utility closet in Goldsmith Hall, which College has generously converted into a usable room, and last year the Buildings Office charitably allowed IS Services to put in a phone line and internet connection so the programme could run its database from its office, which is the lynch pin in operating the programme so successfully. This was all done for a token cost to the programme of €5000, which the committee were luckily able to raise by soliciting support from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the Dublin City Council’s RAPID programme. Both organisations exist for the express pupose of reversing the legacy of recession and unemployment in the most disadvantaged areas in this country. They aim to regenerate underprivileged aspects of our society and therefore identified a need to support the VTP, by paying Trinity €5000 for an office for one of the TVOF bodies associated with the College and based on campus.

Simon Masterson, Aisling Fox, Elizabeth O’Brien and Erin Paquette squeeze into the VTP Society’s new room in Goldsmith. Photo: Someone The committee is currently planning an official opening ceremony with representatives of the generous donor organisation and members of the Trinity College community who have unstintingly endevoured to ease the intergration of VTP into college life and acknowledge the apprecia-

tion felt by all those involved in the programme for generously granting this new office for such a minimal cost. It is hoped the Provost will agree to be the guest of honour. Current Chairman Simon Masterson said “The generosity of College is much appreciated”.

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8 WORLD REVIEW

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

Goodbye to Kofi as the gentle Ghanian bows out Jean Acheson How did the world’s foremost civil servant gain the reputation of a gentleman politician? Civil servants are supposed to be faceless and charmless. Kofi Annan, who has just stepped down as Secretary General of the United Nations, is neither. The plaudits heaped on him last month have all had one thing in common – they all extol his unmistakable decency and gentle, courteous manner.

Annan became Secretary General of the UN in January 1997. The organisation was in serious financial trouble and the memories of Rwanda and Srebrenica, where UN peacekeepers failed to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, were still painfully fresh. As the first Secretary General to have risen up

through the UN itself, his first job was with the World Health Organisation in 1962, Annan had a lot of valuable experience with the institution already.

Nevertheless, his two terms in office were marked by a degree of independent-minded action not expected in a career diplomat.

Like his predecessor, the rather less diplomatic Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt, Annan pushed for more reform of the institution. He succeeded in cutting 1,000 of the 6,000 posts in the New York headquarters and is credited with bringing more women into high-ranking positions. In terms of reforming UN ideals, he introduced the “responsibility to protect” in September 2005. This principle does more than any other before it in ensuring the security of the world’s citizens from genocide and other human rights violations, although it remains to

be seen how effectively the most powerful members of the UN will implement it. His drive to reform the Security Council, where the real power of the UN lies, came to nothing, however.

The high point of his career as Secretary General undoubtedly came in 2001 when he received, jointly with the UN itself, the Nobel Peace Prize. The prize-giving committee described him as “bringing new life to the organization”.

However, the reputation of both was severely tarnished during his second term of office in the face of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the breaking of the $64 billion oil-for-food scandal in 2005. The first highlighted the UN’s impotence and the second its mismanagement; both damaged its credibility and moral authority. As the man at the helm of the organisation, Annan would reasonably have been expected to show

stronger leadership.

Annan himself views the Millennium Development Goals, which aim to combat extreme poverty by 2015, as his most important achievement.

Perhaps a more substantial success during his watch has been the increase and improvement in UN peacekeeping, now involving almost 100,000 men and women in 18 operations worldwide.

The post of Secretary General is difficult at the best of times; the position has limited power, yet blamed for any failures which inevitably accrue to it.

Kofi Annan was not a perfect Secretary General. In an organisation serving 192 countries but dominated by the interests of only a handful, this may be impossibility anyway – but his efforts to protect and champion the individual human life and broker solutions between divided nations are still laudable.

The gentle Ghanian bows out.

War is bringing Somalia to the brink Rob Quinn Ask your average twentysomething if they have heard of Somalia, and their reaction should be easy to predict. Most girls’ eyes will glaze at images of Josh Hartnett battling through bullet-scarred streets in Black Hawk Down. Guys should shake their heads in bemusement at just how many people he clumsily shoots in the process. But apart from Josh’s valiant efforts and perhaps some hazy childhood memories of news bulletins before bedtime, little is known of this impoverished, violent country located along Africa’s eastern coast. Since the famines of the early 90s, it rarely appears in our news and is considered a basket case by even the most optimistic experts.

To top it all, last December Somalia fell victim to a bloody war that risks echoing, in both time and space through an already volatile region.

After two weeks of fighting, the internationally recognised Transitional Federal Government, with Ethiopian backing, assumed nationwide control on 29th December. Previously a coalition of Islamist leaders and elders known as the Union of Islamic Courts had ruled most of Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu. The reversal was a product of Ethiopian involvement. Fearing the threat an Islamic state on its doorstep might pose, secular Ethiopia threw its lot

in with the TFG lending its considerable military might to the cause of regaining Somalia. Early this month, the US bombed Somalia’s south with the aim of killing a number of known Al Qaida operatives thought to be under the Islamists’ protection.

A dusty landscape inhabited by numerous weapon-ridden clans, Somalia has been without a functioning government since the deposition of its long time dictator Said Barre in 1991. Following a number of disastrous foreign interventions, the country sank into a kind of apathetic anarchy, shamefully ignored by the international community. Warlords carved out their own fiefdoms as the population struggled to survive amidst sporadic feuds, with little rule of law and no basic services. Though these warlords eventually agreed to form the TFG in 2004, its impact on the culture of impunity that hampers Somalis’ daily lives so much was minimal.

Discontent gradually spread and an opposition came forth in the form of Islamic Courts charged with the restoration of Shari’a law and some sense of order. The Union of Islamic Courts that emerged took control of Mogadishu in June, and its influence spread through southern Somalia. The TFG was soon trapped in Baidoa in the west, close to the Ethiopian border.

Though oppressive, the Courts improved security, education and health

services for ordinary Somalis. But their spreading influence was met with alarm from many, including regional neighbours and world superpowers. In spite of a moderate core lead by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the Courts possess jihadist elements such as the armed Shebaab militia and have been accused of sheltering terrorists. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a Court’s leader is himself on the CIA’s watch list.

Consequently, the international response to Somalia has been unilateral and skewed in support of the TFG. The US bombardments of early January involved razing vast swathes of land, killing innocent people as well as Islamist fighters.

With the Courts conquered, it might seem reasonable to assume that the correct approach was taken and the spread of radical Islam has been avoided. Such an assumption would be misguided. In Somalia, as is so often tragically the case with African conflicts, each side seems to win battles without anyone actually winning the war. Violence continues in the streets of Mogadishu as anonymous gunmen target Ethiopian personnel whilst those clans briefly united under the Islamists’ rule refracture and provoke further bloodshed.

Real resolution of divisions is essential if Somalia is to emerge with a chance. Any lasting agreement would need to be inclusive of all sides: the

Islamists flee the fighting. major clans, regional neighbours and the Islamists. War opens possibilities just as it closes others. In this case the most extreme Islamists have been removed and international pressure is forcing the

TFG to at least look as if it is making an effort. But neither a hostile occupying force nor US bombardments will encourage Somalis to give a role to the international community in brokering a solu-

tion. Such a role is crucial. All sides must to be made to understand that only a unity government with the objective of ruling Somalia, not raping it, will bring about lasting peace.

Prison, or death sentence?

EU enlargement stimulates debate over Comission reform Sinead O’Carroll

Linda Barry Romania and Bulgaria rang in more than a new year at midnight on 1 January 2007 – they welcomed the beginning of a new era as part of the European Union.

The accession of these two former Soviet Union client states brings to twenty seven the number of member states of the European Union. It adds 30 million to the population of the community, which is now almost 490 million.

This latest enlargement has prompted the return of a number of contested issues to the fore of the Europe debate. Focus has tended to be on national issues – immigration, employment and the national economy. However, the accession of Bulgaria and Romania also has profound supranational consequences. One is the capacity of the current institutional structure, especially that of the European Commission, to accommodate the enlarging Union.

Currently the European Commission (one of the four main branches of the European Union) is made up of one representative from each member state. Each commissioner deals with a particular portfolio. Charlie McCreevy, the Irish commissioner, is charged with the Internal Market and Services brief.

With twenty-seven members the Commission is seen by some as becoming unwieldy and inefficient. The division of the Commission’s workload into an increasing number of portfolios has given rise to some being almost devoid of powers. One post thus criticised is the new Bulgarian appointee’s role as commissioner for multilingualism.

European Commission Vice President, the German Günter Verheugen, recently suggested that the Commission be split into senior and junior members.

This categorisation of member states into two categories is a controversial move.

Whereas the European Parliament distributes seats among member states in proportion to population, the Commission is seen as safeguarding the role of smaller states in EU policymaking. Verheugen’s suggested changes would most likely see Ireland exchange its commissioner post for a deputy commissionership under the authority of one of the larger states.

The Treaty of Nice stipulates that the structure of the Commission be renegotiated when the Union reaches twentyseven states. It has now hit that threshold.

The next Commission is due to take up its duties in November 2009. The provisions for its composition will have to be discussed with that deadline in mind.

The proposed EU Constitution pro-

vides for commissioners from two thirds of all member states on the basis of equal rotation. The resuscitation of the constitution is set to be one of Germany’s top priorities during its six-month EU presidency, which began on 1 January. France, having already rejected the Constitution in a referendum, has specifically objected to the proposed system of rotating commissioners.

EU accession negotiations have already begun with Turkey and Croatia.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has been granted candidate country status. Four other Balkan states are recognised as potential candidate countries.

The 2009 target makes the issue of institutional reform an urgent one. The return of the proposed constitution to the European agenda presents one possible forum for agreement. The success of the Constitution is far from guaranteed, however, and the reform of the Commission is something that cannot afford to be lost in the quagmire of the constitution debate.

Not only must a solution be found as to the composition of the Commission in the current twenty-seven member Union.

Provisions must be made now for the smooth adaptation of the Commission’s composition in the case of future enlargements.

2007 has started as the old year ended in the prisons of Central America with major riots resulting in numerous deaths across the continent’s jails. Already the death count for 2007 in eastern Venezuela’s Uribana Prison stands at 22 inmates. Similarly in El Salvador’s Apanteos jail, San Salvador, another 21 people were killed during a violent gang battle on the 7th of January this year.

Examining the figures from 2006, these are not isolated or atypical incidents. In Venezuela, the reported number of inmates killed during riots last year was almost 400 with another 800 injured.

Research by the Venezuelan Prisons Observatory group also shows the 2005 death count to have reached 411.

Fresh outbursts in the Uribana facility of Venezuela occurred on Tuesday 2nd January and Wednesday the 3rd January.

Reports from authorities claim rival factions commenced fighting for control of two cell blocks. Violence ensued until National Guard troops restored order.

Authorities did not confirm how the inmates died or what weapons were used.

Reports claim that some weapons were makeshift but that guns and knives had been obtained by some prisoners by bribing guards.

Just two days later in El Salvador a riot paralleling the events in eastern Venezuela occurred in the Apanteos facility. The violent event which started before dawn involved members of the infamous Mara18 gang who seized a guard and refused to enter their cell blocks. Deputy police director Jose Tobar told El Diario de Hoy newspaper that the gang members appeared to have planned to target certain prisoners in the carnage.

Family members protest in Venezuela.

Inmates used makeshift weapons including shovels and stone from the damaged cell walls to injure and kill. Human rights prosecutor Beatrice Alamanni told news sources that the scene was “horrible, a massacre”.

Fighting and mass riots are common in the penitentiaries of both Venezuela and El Salvador. However these are not the only countries in need of a reformed prison system. Overcrowding, understaffing, the presence of rival gangs and the detention of unsentenced prisoners in the facilities of Central America have all contributed to the ongoing bursts of violence.

There are 30 institutions in Venezuela built to hold 15,000 prisoners.

However over 20,000 people are presently detained in them. According to statistics compiled by Ilanud, the Latin American Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Delinquency,

some 59% of the country’s prisoners are still awaiting sentencing. Likewise, in El Salvador the jail occupancy level is 167% resulting in prison’s being grossly overcrowded with 50% of the inmates still being uncertain of when they will be sentenced.

These problems are not new ones and human rights groups have urged governments to implement plans for the amelioration of the prison systems of Central and South America. In 1997, Human Rights Watch published its paper “Prison Conditions in Venezuela” with its recommendations for change in these pressing matters of dangerous levels of overcrowding and the detention of unsentenced prisoners.

It is only when these reforms are vigorously implemented that a convicted man in El Salvador or Venezuela can be confident that a prison sentence will not convert itself to a death sentence.

OPINION 9

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

Britney’s exposure has made me more interested in female sensibility Kerrie Forde Seeing Britney’s crotch made me more interested in the concept of female sensibility. Wildly tempted to expand on 18th Century Concept, I stop myself because what I’m really interested in is where that term has gone today and why I find it so difficult to place it accurately in the context of 2007. Fashion perhaps visualises most clearly the complexities that time and society has induced upon this term.

Britney Spear’s recent conduct has included stepping out in public without any underwear and getting out of cars, dare I say, legs akimbo. Whether or not she is attempting to start a trend, she is our young and female star who is most predominately cast in the spotlight; searched for more than any other female on the internet in 2006.

I find her extremely interesting in relation to female sensibility because what the term ultimately addresses is female conduct. The word sensibility implies the ability to feel, which over history has been systematically related to women. Verbally the term actually hasn’t carried, yet the concept must still exist because it is used in reference to human nature. The death of this term is directly related to changing patterns of communication. Women are now more liberated then they have ever been. In the 18th Century and even up until sixty years ago female sensibility, female sexuality, might have been expressed through a more restricted or delicate mode of communication, through blushing or even fainting. Changes in female conduct can be explored intriguingly through fashion,

for fashion is encoded.

If you want to win, go back to the basics. So when thinking about whether the concept still exists I looked at the fact that we are living in a world governed by Capitalism and indeed the term today has a commercial value of its own. Honk Kong is capitalising on this in terms of its newest fashion accessory for 2007. The word on the street is that soon there will be a phone which includes a built in breathalyser. The phone monitors your alcohol intake and when you surpass a certain limit it will lock the phone so that you cannot send drunken messages unleashing the way you feel. Perhaps it’s not fair or political correct to imply that females are more susceptible to this, but if I was part of the marketing force behind this product, I know what my target audience would be-and I am thinking I’d like mine in pink, please.

Nowadays women play with clothes like they play with men. It’s inter-related.

A fashionista might take a vintage corset and team it with something street and modern, the whole idea is that it is a subversion of past ideology addressing the way we were meant to behave and feel. It has been well documented that history has taught the female to deny their own sexuality, that’s why female sensibility was considered at once virtuous and dangerous. I am not suggesting that the way women dress today, generally more provocative and daring, is a wholly positive thing. I personally never really decided whether I was really a feminist, in fact, I think my irresolution is indicative of a society which is generally ridiculed with gender confusion. However, I certainly do not agree with what Britney has done to

Kerrie Forde finds it so difficult to place the term “sensibility” accurately in the context of 2007. herself. Every woman will know that one of the worst feelings you can experience is the ‘male gaze’ looking at you as a sexual object. This can be gratifying if you actually like the male, but if you don’t welcome it it is one of the most potentially damaging occurences. She has effectively allowed the world to subject her to that. The general public might object to her actions most ardently in the light of her being a mother of two, yet I believe that her status as a mother might indirectly help her own experience of the ‘male gaze’, because at least, it will be less

intense, more judgemental but less intent.

By writing about Britney I feel as if I haven’t addressed the Romantic notions implicit in the term ‘female sensibility’. It has a resonance with love and addresses the nature of the poet or the writer. The way some people will look at a field and to them it is just a field but to others it is Elysium. In terms of clothing we might cast our memory back to Hollywood stars of an older generation, such as Grace Kelly, who dressed demurely so that today Mothers would say “less is more”.

When we look back at how glamorous

they looked, why then are females today so intent on teasing out this image of femininity?

If we consider the fact that females define themselves by looking at the male, the other, perhaps this will help. Today we have a society whereby some men have outgrown patriarchal ideals of manhood and embrace sensibility so that they are more rounded individuals, of course we must always allow for extremes. Yet still the Alpha Male type very much exists and persists, despite the fact such a role hasn’t paralleled the growth and change which

has transformed the role of the female.

Therefore there is no new role, no clear role for this type of male to fill, which leads to gender confusion. It also leads to a lack of identity and sense of purpose. If we look at males so that we might define ourselves today, it appears to be a scary and uncertain prospect. Perhaps that will explain the experimentation which is taking place in the way we communicate ourselves through clothing and why we are faced with such unprecedented extremes, such as Britney and her crotch.

Politicians should do what they PDs have no do best and tax marijuana interest in tackling real problems Kevin Lynch

It has become something of a fashion lately to blame ‘middle class drug users’ for the recent spate of murders believed to be connected to the drug industry.

When you buy drugs, the logic goes, you are subsidising gangsters’ guns.

Presumably one does this because they actually dislike taking drugs and want the already insecure, impure supplies of their favourite intoxicant to be further disrupted. I think not. Drugs are supplied by gangsters because they are illegal. Rather than moralising to users legislators should examine the underlying nature of the market for drugs.

People buy drugs, and run the risk of being caught, because they like taking them. As for everything else, there is a market for drugs. The violence is a byproduct of prohibition. By banning drugs the state is choosing organised crime as the means of distribution. Since the courts cannot enforce contracts the threat of violence does. Ironically, stricter regulation drives up prices; increasing dealers’ potential gains from violence. Recent Gárdai investigations have discovered exporters adding weapons into drug shipments as a sweetener. “...the role of government is to protect the drug cartel” argues Milton Friedman. In order to smuggle drugs a large sophisticated operation involving planes, boats, surveillance and weapons is required, building large criminal organisations.

Despite the inherent deficiencies of prohibition are there not other reasons to ban drugs?

The main argument put forward by prohibitionists is that drugs cause major health problems. Legalisation, therefore, is a public endorsement of drugs.

Scientific evidence does not support this claim. According to The Lancet, the UK’s leading independent medical journal, “It would be reasonable to judge cannabis less of a threat than alcohol or tobacco...On the medical evidence available, moderate indulgence in cannabis has little ill-effect on health.”

“Acute deaths related solely to cocaine, amphetamines or ecstasy are unusual,” says the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

Contrary to the popular impression no illicit drug is instantly addictive. Most drug users are recreational users who choose where and when to consume them. Furthermore society has rejected the argument that addictive substances should be illegal in the case of alcohol

and tobacco.

The health affects of drugs are a lot more mixed than government advertising usually portrays.

Furthermore, the fact that an activity, substance or lifestyle is potentially harmful is not an argument to ban it completely. It is, however, a motivation is curtail the riskiest parts of that activity. More people die on the roads in Ireland every year than from all drugs combined. We don’t ban cars but wear seatbelts, prosecute drunk drivers, enforce speed limits. Similarly rugby and boxing are contact sports. We don’t ban them (and create underground ‘fight clubs’) but we have rules, make sure all participants are fit and healthy and conducted under professional supervision.

Similarly proper regulation would ameliorate the worst effects of drugs. Many of these, such as cutting and contamination are directly attributable to their legal status.

Western society has attempted to strike a balance between an absence of law, which yields chaos, and an excess of law, which yields tyranny. “Over himself, over his mind and body, the individual is sovereign”, John S. Mill’s principle is one that modern democratic states are built on. People should be free to do what they want, so long as their actions do not hurt others. For the government to make a moral judgement that compels citizens to live a certain way is illiberal. This may sound highfalutin, but deciding what other people can and can’t do, even when it may harm them, is wrong. Imagine a society where everyone was forced to take drink fish oil because it was good for you, or a drug that curtailed negative emotions. Would this be right?

Once one’s actions do no harm to others, it is indefensible to try to control them. Ireland has recently realised this in areas like homosexuality, divorce and James Joyce.

The financial costs of prohibition are huge. The costs of enforcement, lost tax revenue, and the costs associated with the crime that prohibition brings far outweigh any perceived health expenditures.

In any case drug consumption would not rise significantly following legalisation given the ease at which illegal drugs are available at the moment. In 2005 500 economists, including three Nobel Laureates, signed an open letter to the US President, Congress and State legislatures to consider legalising marijuana on these grounds (prohibitioncosts.org).

Legalisation does not mean chaos. If drugs were legalised much of the hams that are attributed to them could be min-

Andrew Payne

imised through regulation. Quality standards would erase impurities and pollutants that are added by dealers while licensed premises can deny children access, which is far more reliable than hoping criminals don’t. Responsible distribution and production methods would mitigate other indirect effects. For instance, the burden of prohibition falls disproportionately on the poor. In the developing world crime and corruption associated with the drug trade prevent effective governance and state-building. In the west, the poor are over represented in prison because the risky drug trade is more attractive to them.

It is immoral to put Gardaí in harm’s way by forcing them to intervene in a matter of personal choice, which was, rather arbitrarily, declared illegitimate in the past. Moral dictates have always proved to be a poor basis for policy.

A poster from a 1930s US government film which warned of the alleged dangers of drug use People often sneer at the suggestion of the legalisation of drugs, through either disbelief or disgust. This is often merely due to the fact that they are illegal. This legally positivist approach is inhibiting and ultimately circular and it constrains us to the past. It’s important to respect the law as it stands, but the law only carries weight because of the ethics that justify it. So when politicians rail against drug users as the ‘unholy enemy’ of society we need to consider if they are not the oppressed rather than the enemy.

Hopefully politicians will sit down together one day and decide that they should stick to what they are best at; and tax marijuana.

The recent rows over whether Labour would be prepared to enter government with Fianna Fáil, should their favoured coalition with Fine Gael fail to materialise, have signalled a much larger shift in opinion. After a hugely influential decade in power, the Progressive Democrats now face a massive challenge if they are to retain their place in government. The public, it would seem, no longer believe them.

Since 1997 the PDs have enjoyed an agenda-setting position normally unheard of for a party of its size. Despite polling just 4% in the last two general elections, their success in pushing a neo-liberal, free-market economics ideology has led to a large shift towards the privatisation of many public services, notably the healthcare system. Their influence has been such that many commentators now seem to take it for granted that state ownership is bad and that all the loopholes which have helped attract multi-national corporations are sacred cows which can never be questioned.

Since returning to the Dáil in 2002, the now Tánaiste and party leader Michael McDowell has been one of the most prominent politicians in the country.

While he ultimately failed in his admirable bid to introduce café bars, he has successfully managed to implement many of the other ideas which he has put forward. Following a referendum, babies born on the island of Ireland are no longer automatically entitled citizenship – introducing a potentially racist element to definitions of Irishness, drinks promotions in pubs are now illegal and perhaps most troublingly, following the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act of 2005, all telephone, SMS, and internet records of all customers must be kept by service providers for three years and handed over to Gardaí upon request.

The prospect of the PDs failing to return to government is not one that too many tears should be wept over. While the party attempted to present itself as a guardian against the excesses of singleparty Fianna Fáil rule last time out in

2002, it has become increasingly clear to the electorate over the course of the government’s second term that it is in fact the PDs who have been the architects of many of the country’s most regressive moves.

While the government has spent the best part of a decade bragging over Ireland’s economic success, the truth is that many social problems have got worse. While the country’s millionaires and billionaires have enjoyed unprecedented success and engaged in vulgar excess, little has been done for the most disadvantaged in our society. Levels of child poverty and educational disadvantage are appalling, the Travelling community have still not seen promises made to them over a decade ago fulfilled, and a recent European report showed that than 19% of Irish households are living on a household income of €9,680 per year or less.

Meanwhile a recent RTE programme gave us an insight into the lives of Ireland’s 30 richest people. In order to gain a place on this roll call you need to be worth at least €343million. Top of the list was Hillary Weston (owner of Brown Thomas amongst other ventures, now living in Canada), whose value came in at €6.9billion, or almost 7,000,000,000 euro if you want to put it like that. While this list was humorously run through, not a single mention was made of the fact that so many of the population struggle to make ends meet. These figures, of excess and risk of poverty, should be an equal embarrassment as the one exposes the other.

The PDs would appear to have no interest in tackling these real problems.

Certainly they have done little to help in the past 10 years. Happy in the knowledge that their key demographic in terms of voters are rolling in cash and delighted to listen to calls for law and order, those who have missed out and are suffering from real violence and social problems receive little or nothing. It is surely not too much a stretch to believe that recent escalations in trouble in some of Ireland’s worse off areas is connected to the way these communities have been excluded from Ireland’s so often lauded “success story”.

10 OPINION

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

Saddam’s execution was a moral failure and a failure for the Iraqi goverment Edward Gaffney It may sound flippant, but the execution of Saddam Hussein was a public-relations disaster for the new Iraqi government.

The leaking of an unauthorised video of his death, and its rapid distribution through the mobile phones of young Iraqis, is a symbol of the democratising effects of modern technology – and how easily these technologies can cause harm.

There is a broader argument, though, that even if the execution had gone well, it still would have been wrong. It is a question which policymakers have asked since the deaths of Nazi war criminals after the Nuremberg trials – should those who commit crimes against humanity be executed? The answer isn’t simple, but in this piece, I intend to outline the pro-death penalty arguments, and defeat them on moral and practical grounds.

Although some democracies, like the USA and Japan, retain the death penalty for serious crimes, arguments in favour of this punishment for war criminals and others have to take Western norms into account – and the norm is that states don’t kill their own citizens. In this case, the arguments in favour hinge on the extremity of the crime and the benefits for the oppressed. Some say that the evil of those who create violence like that of Saddam’s rule, or of the ethnic-based civil war in places like Rwanda, justifies capital punishment. The leader of a country, or of a division of an army, has a special responsibility to protect the lives of others.

Therefore, when they contravene that duty by causing deaths which offend against human decency, we hold them especially responsible. There could also be practical benefits for those who have suffered. Killing former leaders can signal the end of one era in a country’s history, and the start of another, allowing a painful period of history to be concluded.

A leader may be a talismanic figure for his former supporters, providing support for an insurgent movement. Finally, the prospect of death deters other evil leaders from engaging in murderous, even genocidal, policies. In the face of these apparent advantages, moral objections seem

Arguments in favour of the death penalty for war criminals and others have to take Western norms into account – and the norm is that states don’t kill their own citizens. weak. But the answer doesn’t rest with this side of the debate.

The moral answer may depend on where the convicted war criminal was tried. In most Western countries, capital punishment has been abolished, in legislation or in practice. The abolition of capital punishment came about due to changing political perceptions of the individual in society – citizenship of a modern liberal democracy implies certain inviolable rights, with the right to life (and with it, the ability to enjoy all one’s other rights) foremost. The European Union defines its

Labour sleepwalking to power John McGuirk At this stage, there is only one thing that anybody can really say for certain about the formation of the next Government, and that is that it will have Pat Rabbitte as Tánaiste and Minister for something relatively important. That this is the case is a perfect illustration of the terrible shape of Irish party politics, but more on that later.

The emerging picture of the next government is: Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democracts will lose enough seats to ensure that they alone will be unable to reform the current Government.

Fine Gael will gain 15–20 seats and reemerge as the serious alternative to FF in the long term. The Greens and Sinn Fein will gain significantly between them, but both parties constitute real last resorts for the big three in terms of forming a government.

This leaves the Labour Party, who will probably return to the next Dáil with a similar number of seats to what they currently have, maybe plus or minus two.

This is the death knell for Fine Gael, who cannot make it into government without Labour, but know that in order for them to do so; they must bear the task of gaining nearly all the 30-plus seats themselves.

So, should Enda Kenny fail in this task, as is all but certain, the only viable option for government is a coalition of Fianna Fáil and Labour, a possibility which Pat Rabbitte has very carefully left open over the past number of weeks. In doing so, he has undermined Enda Kenny, and strengthened Bertie Ahern’s hand, while still hypocritically maintaining a desire to see Mr Ahern out of office.

From a Fianna Fáil perspective, this is a dream come true. Labour voters, always more predisposed to transferring to FF than to FG at the best of times, now see the possibility of a deal where there was none, and will abandon FG in constituencies where the alternative most need a strong transfer pact, like Dublin West or Dublin South.

That the Labour Party – who according to the polls have singularly failed to

capture the public imagination after ten years in opposition – are in this position, is a travesty. For ten years Labour have tied themselves to a centrist brand of politics indistinguishable in practically every way fro the two big parties, and have allowed their left flank to be occupied by Sinn Fein and the Green party.

Those voters who are left-leaning, liberal, and loath Fianna Fail have been given no alternative government to vote for – a failure that is entirely Labour’s, given that polls show that Enda Kenny has done his job to some extent in gaining support for the alternative on the right side of the centre.

A recent internal poll I saw showed that when asked which party cares most about “ordinary Irish people like you”, the Labour Party placed second bottom of the pile, save only the PDs, their supposed arch enemy. This is devastating for a Party who, by their very definition, are supposed to be about promoting the rights of Irish people. Instead, Labour has positioned itself as the Party of the liberal middle class voter who hates Fianna Fáil and can’t bring himself to vote for Enda Kenny because he’s from Mayo. And even these voters, - in rich supply across parts of Dublin – are choosing the Greens ahead of Rabbitte. Until Labour return to their roots, and actually start advocating a progressive agenda on taxes, law and order and social issues, the party will remain in the doldrums.

Then again, for all their failings, we’re about to sleepwalk with them into Government buildings. But when we do, what will be the result? The short answer is that nobody has the faintest idea. The Labour Party have not been able to articulate an agenda in opposition, - so expecting them to do so in Government is a little naïve to say the least. The Labour Party in Ireland has a lot of potential to deliver on a progressive agenda, but it has instead devoted itself to being the Party of patronising sarcasm for ten years.

Rewarding them for that, as the polls say we’re about to do, would be a travesty.

• John McGuirk is Eastern Area Officer of the Union of Students in Ireland

opposition to the death penalty as based on “the inviolability of the human person, regardless of the crime committed”. We can assume that by this logic, even mass murder on a Saddam scale would not justify execution. However, most crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other large-scale killings don’t happen in Western liberal democracies. In the most recent example, Saddam was tried in an Iraqi court under Iraqi law, not in The Hague at the International Criminal Court, so capital punishment should be seen in the Middle Eastern context. When

Arabic countries allow the death penalty for “crimes” like adultery and conversion to Christianity, we are clearly dealing with legal systems which place a lower value on the life of the convict. Anything less than execution in this case would have been more than inconsistent, it would have devalued the gravity of Saddam’s crimes. This doesn’t mean we have to find the death penalty acceptable in any of these cases, but it does explain the internal logic in that cultural context.

It’s on the practicalities of executing the criminal that the case for capital pun-

A College Sketch by Teresa Ryan

ishment collapses. Even if all these proexecution arguments held up – even if it discouraged mass murder, and even if it were morally justified in its cultural context – the policy implications of killing Saddam, or any comparable criminal, are massively negative. Firstly, the act itself won’t be subject to the same kind of safeguards that exist in the United States, because the state apparatus of war-torn countries tends to be weak and run by partisans, who will glory in the death of an enemy. It’s likely that the staff at the execution of Saddam were part of the new

Shi’a ruling class. Why shouldn’t they seek to publicise the ultimate act of victory against their Sunni nemesis? This feeds into the second problem, strongest in societies with bitterly-divided social groups, which are likely to be a common location of crimes against humanity.

Since execution for these crimes is essentially reserved for the highest officials in a former regime, it will be seen as the highest possible form of “victor’s justice” – a definitive symbol that the new state desires not a social transition, but a revolution. The message is: we cannot live with our former oppressors, so we must kill them. This will lead to alienation of groups who need to be kept onside for national unity. One pro-death penalty argument, that killing a former dictator would be a “defining moment”, a “break with the past” or a “new start” for a country like Iraq, is actually an argument for such a revolution and against gradual social change. Also, an execution can act as a rallying-point for opponents of a new regime to intensify anti-government action, portraying the punishment as a perversion of justice – and an opportunity for pro-government forces to gather, too.

All these factors combined in Iraq to create the perfect storm: three weeks of inter-communal violence, more intense than even the violence seen in recent months.

The execution of Saddam Hussein was obviously a failure of the Iraqi government, and the circumstances were condemned afterwards by governments across the international community, with no exceptions. However, this one failure is only a symptom of the broader problems of capital punishment for crimes against humanity. Morally, it ought to be unacceptable to kill criminals, and hopefully some day even the Middle East will recognise this. Practically, an execution creates violent situations in countries which have already suffered a lot.

Regardless of the cultural differences in Iraq, and despite his record of genocide equalling the greatest dictators in history, Saddam should not have been hung.

• Edward Gaffney is Honorary Secretary of the University Philosophical Society

EDITORIAL AND COMMENT 11

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2007

To the Editor 6 Trinity College, Dublin 2 Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Provost is defined by his value to the students, not his salary The celebrity CEO is a phenomenon very much of our time. The Ferdinand Peichs (revolutionary former head of Volkswagon) of this world are appointed to revolutionise organisations, reform their structures, and streamline their processes. All this is in return for sky-high wages and bonuses that have seen the business world divided between the haves and the have yachts.

Celebrity CEOs are appointed both for their proven skills and also in a large part for their reputation for success. A formidable reputation for “changing things up” (an appropriately Americanised phrase as we are talking about the managerialism) can be the winning of half the battle.

Our own Dr John Hegarty seems to aspire to the role of celebrity CEO. He has positioned himself as the whirlwind of change to bring this College into “the future”. He has attempted to reform the structures and streamline the processes that shape College. It thus stands to his reasoning that he would request a sky-high remuneration.

However, the true celebrity CEO is driven by the bottom line: achieving the best return for the shareholders. When this return is produced, the wage demands seem worthwhile. Suppose that the students are Trinity’s shareholders. Have we received the kind of return that would justify Dr Hegarty’s wage demands?

This is a question for every student to decide upon and either answer proposes interesting quandaries. If “yes”, do we continue with the corporatist approach to “Trinity Ltd” with bonus revisions on a quarterly basis?

If “no” then what is Trinity to do? The logical solution to the negative answer, one which seems preferable, is a figurehead provost flanked by a powerful but professional business manager or team. However, for this to work the College would have to first learn from its previous mistakes and actively listen to such professionals.

Trinity must decide its own course but in either case it would be of benefit to Dr Hegarty to remember that his true worth as Provost is not defined by a Government-sanctioned wage grab, but rather by his value to you, the shareholders in his position.

Do not allow College to be treated as a public thoroughfare Go to the gates of Christ Church College in Oxford and note the sign that reads “Students only please: visitors report to the security desk”. In Trinity today we seem to have lost this sense of the closed educational community which is retained in many of the colleges of the other ancient universities.

Our college is far from being a tranquil centre for student endeavours, a place where one can be assured safety from the dangers of a modern city.

Trinity has become the thoroughfare that Dublin’s city planners century after century have neglected to provide the city with. Given its location, the argument for convenient passage for the public from the Grafton Street commercial district to the transport node of Pearse Street Dart station has long held sway. However, now that we see this favour granted by the College to the general public eroding the essence of what a campus should be, is it not time to rethink the situation?

Every night security patrols the campus for the safety of the students. In years gone by this would have been a patrol that protected students from the high-jinks of their peers. It would have served as a break on the high-spirited antics of a small portion of the campus community.

Nowadays it is quite clear that this patrol, as well as the swipe-card access on all residential buildings and the CCTV cameras at strategic points, endeavours to protect the campus community not from itself but rather from the threats posed from the general public – threats that have increased as the campus has become ever more accessible to non-students.

As seen on the front page of this oracle, outsiders are already using this freedom of access to prey on students and to fulfil their own deviancies at students’ expense. It is only a matter of time before a more socially heinous offence is committed and a general outcry is heard. In the meantime let us turn our thoughts to what our scholarly community is worth to us. Is it more or less valuable than an extra five minutes’ walk for the general public?

Editorial staff Editor: Peter Henry editor@trinitynews.ie TNT: Gearóid O’Rourke tnt@trinitynews.ie Copy editing: Joey Facer, Nick Beard copy@trinitynews.ie News: Anna Stein, David Molloy, Niall Hughes news@trinitynews.ie Societies: Elizabeth O’Brien societies@trinitynews.ie Opinion: Kevin Lynch opinion@trinitynews.ie Features: Chloe Sanderson features@trinitynews.ie World Review: Robbie Semple, Robert Quinn world@trinitynews.ie Science and Technology: Niall Cullinane science@trinitynews.ie Business and Careers: Ann Stillman careers@trinitynews.ie

sport@trinitynews.ie Music: Steve Clarke, Will Daunt music@trinitynews.ie Theatre: David Lydon theatre@trinitynews.ie Film: Jason Robinson film@trinitynews.ie Fashion: Kerrie Forde fashion@trinitynews.ie Food and Drink: Beth Armstrong, Emma Timmons foodanddrink@trinitynews.ie Relationships and Sex: Sarah Moriarty sex@trinitynews.ie Television: Darren Kennedy television@trinitynews.ie Endnotes: Joey Facer endnotes@trinitynews.ie Irish: Fiona Hedderman, Diarmuid Hanafy gaeilge@trinitynews.ie Web site: Brian Henry webeditor@trinitynews.ie With thanks to: Mail Office staff, Security staff, John Lavelle, Jonathan Drennan.

Books: Jago Tennant books@trinitynews.ie

This publication is funded by a grant from Trinity Publications.

Travel: Mark Thompson travel@trinitynews.ie Sport Features: Connel McKenna sportfeatures@trinitynews.ie

Serious complaints about the content of this publication should be addressed to The Editor, 6 Trinity College, Dublin 2.

Sport: David Cummins, Kirstin Smith

This publication claims no special rights or privileges.

Niall Hughes has turned his back on Trinity’s students Sir, – Niall Hughes has really turned his back on Trinity students with his front page article regarding the fate of the Buttery (28 November). He reports that students “ransacked” the Buttery at the St Vincent de Paul “Children of the 90s” table quiz. He criticises the MC that night for encouraging participants to “get as drunk as possible”. He writes that Suas “disobeyed” the rules “clearly” laid down by the College.

The anti-student bias in this article is evident. None of these incidents are as clear cut as portrayed in the Trinity News.

The main problems seem to originate in a lack of communication between the Facilities Officer, College Catering and the students (individuals or student societies). It is this that appeared to lead to the overcrowding of the Buttery and the losses made by College Catering’s temporary bar on SVP day – participants brought their own alcohol not knowing there would be a bar open on the night.

Events like the recent SVP and Suas nights are an integral part of student activity. Moreover, the popularity of these events, especially of the SVP quiz, demonstrates the importance of the Buttery as a student venue. Alcohol is cer-

tainly an element of these student nights (anyone remember the “Hughes for Booze” campaign?), but this is also the case elsewhere on campus (the Pav) and in Trinty student nights off-campus. It is not the core problem and should not be used as an excuse to further restrict student usage of the Buttery.

The Buttery is of great importance to student life as a venue for quizzes, gigs and other events. Trinity News is subtitled “Dublin University’s Student Newspaper”. In this capacity it has the responsibility to publicise issues of interest to students and to do so in a studentcentred manner. The news article does state that “Since the Buttery bar closed at the end of last year it has become increasingly difficult for Ents, societies and clubs to put events in the Buttery cafeteria”. It would be great to see Trinity News elaborating on this in terms of implications for campus life, voicing reactions on its opinion page and generating some debate on alternative solutions to the current problems and how the student-body can promote these.

Yours etc, – Linda Barry SS History and Political Science

Students’ Union upset and disappointed by the Agent again Sir, – With reference to “the Agent” article in the latest issue of Trinity News printed just before Christmas, we are upset and frankly disappointed by the attack launched against a member of our Executive, Wayne Tobin.

As if the comments made about our Officer weren’t bad enough, maintaining that the Sabbatical Officers and the Executive supported such views is extremely innaccurate and totally without substantiation.

Any officer working voluntarily on behalf of the students of this College

should be whole-heartedly supported, by those working closest with said Officer and by those who he’s charged with representing.

We would demand no less than a full, unreserved apology for the harm caused by these sideline comments and assurances that nothing like this sort of personal attack will be repeated in the future.

Yours etc, – Simon Hall Deputy President, TCD Students’ Union (on behalf of the Students’ Union Executive)

Gaffney inaccurate on dominance of conservative values in the US Sir, – I found Edward Gaffney’s assertion in the November 28th issue that conservative values still dominate American politics even in the face of November’s elections to be somewhat inaccurate. Said Gaffney: “This election was not a landslide by any measure.” On the measure of sheer numbers, however, the midterms were a complete rout. Democrats now control 33 more seats than Republicans in the House and, counting two independents who caucus with them, just enough to claim the majority in the Senate.

Senate Democrats captured 53 percent of the total votes, House Democrats nearly 60 percent. Even President Bush called that a “thrashing”. Bush’s look of utter

shock in a press conference shortly after the elections only confirms how removed his party’s ideology is from the mainstream.

The Democrats won simply because they seized upon the dissatisfaction of what many call the “radical centre”. This is best displayed in the candidates themselves. It is true that many of the winning Democrats are conservative-leaning; this makes them, however, a group aligned with the centre, not the right. They carry none of the ideological baggage that has dominated American political discourse for the past six years. Instead these new members are pragmatists, and more importantly, they need not cow to

The Agent Hello wasters.

It being January, every single hack in College has made the same new year’s resolution – either to be included on Trinity News’s power list this term, or to win an election so they can make the 2008 edition. The power list will be out in the next edition of your favourite newspaper, so for now the clowns will have to do with the ever increasing honour of a mention in the Agent’s column.

The Agent’s first accolade of the New Year goes to Viscount Browne of Fine Gael, who, before Christmas, was subject to what could only be described as an uprising of the general Young Fine Gael peasantry against his divine right to rule.

It appears that several members of his own committee, and indeed, people in Fine Gael headquarters, were disturbed to find that Trevor was the subject of a possible investigation by the Standards in Public Office commission – for mysteriously failing to report to them the state of his unit’s finances, as required by law.

This, and other general gimpery, led to a showdown meeting with senior members of his committee, who urged him to resign or be forced out. But to the surprise of one and all, and in the true spirit of his noble and distinguished heritage, the Viscount crushed the uprising under foot, and now looks to be secure in his role. At

least until such time as party headquarters decides to remove him.

Readers will recall that another hack facing a rebellion was the long suffering James O’Brien. The Agent predicted a series of resignations before Christmas, and he was of course right. “Jamesy” has now had what is indisputably the worst year for a Hist Auditor in decades.

O’Brien survived the coup, but at the price of having to recall Claire “Granny” Waters, girlfriend of his predecessor and Hist elder Cathal McCann, to the committee in a last vain attempt to steady the ship. Things have gotten so bad there that The Agent understands that Tim “Zero to Hero” Smyth is considering giving the election to succeed O’Brien a pass, as he feels it will take years to repair the damage done by O’Brien’s abject mismanagement. Instead, the heir to O’Brien will be Darren Mooney, a thought that has most seasoned observers unable to get off the floor with laughter.

Over in the Students’ Union, it’s well and truly campaign season, with candidates stacking up left right and centre. For President, the Agent has long predicted a run by John Tracey, and it seems that a lot of class reps are beginning to agree that he’s an absolutely spliffing candidate. He will be the frontrunner for as long as Denise Keogh doesn’t enter the race as a

Some advice for the Junior Freshman “…I intend to allow you while at Trinity two hundred and fifty pounds a year.

Besides, I’ll pay your fees, but you must pay your own fines. In my time, it was possible to live very comfortably on that allowance unless you were very extravagant.”

“Thanks uncle. I shall be able to do very well on that,” I murmured.

“I don’t think you’ll find many students in Trinity with a more liberal allowance,” my uncle remarked dryly. “I am told that since the Land League days one half of them lives by grinding the other half. Now, will you promise to remember a few words of advice from one who has had the experience which yet lies before you?”

“Yes, indeed, I will,” I answered fervently.

“Don’t drink too much,” my uncle said, filling his glass and pushing the wine towards me. “Many a damned young ass thinks it a fine and heroic thing to get drink, but it isn’t. At the best it leads to a headache in the morning, and at the worst – well, at the worst it leads to something very much worse. If you do get drunk, go to bed as quietly as you can. Most of the Irish chaps in my regiment when they came back to barracks

drunk generally got cells for wanting to fight the sentry; the English and the Scotch, no matter how drunk they were, managed to get to their bunks quietly and without notice.”

I assured my uncle that on the first premonitory symptom of intoxication I would instantly make for my bed.

“Don’t acquire the habit of swearing or of using profane language. It’s devilish hard to get rid of once you do acquire it.

Of course, some expletives are not as offensive as others, and have, as it were, been sanctioned by usage. For instance, damn is a word used in the very best society, and I have frequently heard it in the Kildare Street Club, as well as at the ‘University’. In fact, I believe I have occasionally used it myself.”

I could have reassured my uncle on this point, but I contented myself with promising to confine myself to a limited use of the word, and to abstain as far as possible from indulging in unrecognised forms of speech. My uncles yawned. I saw that he was almost exhausted by the unwonted role of mentor.

“One thing more, Hubert,” he continued, throwing the end of his cigar away: “always keep your temper. If anyone insults you –” “What shall I do?” I asked.

“What shall you do! Why, damn it, man, knock him down,” my mentor exclaimed warmly, starting from his chair and glaring at me, “hit the beggar before he can apologise. Apologies are always more satisfactory after punishment.”

“Yes uncle,” I answered meekly.

From HA Hinkson, O’Grady of Trinity: A Story of Irish University Life (1896)

Student welfare more important than complaining about the Agent Sir, – Comments by “the Agent” in the last edition were funny and enjoyable!

People need to stop taking things personally. I received countless calls, emails and texts from certain individuals stating how sorry they were for what the Agent said about me. I wouldn't mind if they had the same level of enthusiasm in supporting my pro-active solutions to other issues.

I laughed at the Agent. Those who give out about his humour are probably

the same nitwits who post untrue comments on message boards – a practice which is truly vindictive and damaging to vital student welfare.

On a factual note to the Agent, I will not be in the presidential race but if I wanted to be president, I could be – and first time round at that!

Yours etc, – Wayne Tobin SF Sociology and Geography TSM Convenor, Students’ Union Executive

Republican Party leadership. Further, Democrats are now free to choose committee chairpersons, a powerful tool in bringing about new legislation. Issues such as environmental action, immigration reform, and approaching the Iraq War realistically are now accessible, and the new Congress waits eagerly to address them, at the behest of the vast majority of Americans. It was clear that a conservative ideology was unable and unwilling to manage these issues. That is what is at the heart of this election, not a slap on the hands of the Republicans, with an added wink to try again two years later.

What does the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld prove, if anything, besides the rejection of neoconservative ideology, the only ideology the Republicans can provide? What does the failure of President Bush’s plan to privatise Social Security show besides popular ambivalence

towards the vision the Republicans paint?

What does the lacklustre response to the conservative bogeyman of gay marriage, an issue that rallied voters so strongly just two years ago, evince besides a shift away from the right?

American voters have called upon the Democrats not to spurn their lover but to effect a new approach. Considering the margin of the Democrats’ victory, it proves that something beyond an effective political machine is needed to keep power. Before dismissing the Democrats before they are even sworn in, one should recognise the importance of the American voter that is on neither the extreme left nor right, and that the new members of Congress represent this majority.

Yours etc, – Miles Link New York University One Year Student (English Literature)

“booby” candidate – a move which would really annoy resident lefty no-hoper Graham O’Maonaigh, who still harbours delusions that Bess girls will actually vote for somebody who, ohmigod, loike, looks soooo like he hasn’t washed in a month. Maybe Dave Quinn can teach him how to be a snappy dresser – like they do on “queer eye for the straight guy”. The Agent loves that show.

It looks like the long-suffering readers of the University Retard have little to look forward to next year. The likely candidates for Deputy President read like a comprehensive list of Retard hacks: news editor Claire Tighe, arts editor Neasa McGarrigle and deputy editor Conal “privatise everything” Campbell. If readers don’t want more of the same dull content and poor layout, they had better pray to their patron saints that ex-Trinity News deputy editor, Jonathan “ach aye” Drennan, decides to throw his hat into the ring.

Meanwhile, the race for Ents Officer looks set to be an all Bess affair (if some uncouth Hamilton-ender decides to run, they’ll probably lose badly as usual).

Clongowes’ finest, Steve “the jock” Rock, and St Vincent de Paul’s Dave “the rave” Byrne look like outside bets. The Agent predicts the real competition will be between Piranha’s Barry Keane and second year Ed O’Riordan. At this early stage, young O’Riordan seems to have gained the edge with a foolproof votewinning tactic: letting everybody he knows to see into Twisted Tuesdays in Citibar for free.

In Education, it’ll be a blowout, with Bartley Rock being annihilated by one Neil McGough – nobody beats a nerd in an Education election – even a wannabe nerd.

And what, you might ask, of the current lot? You plebs elected them last year, so, before you elect a new lot, what is the centrepiece of this crowd’s term in office? Well, it’s Coke. “Dave” is going to devote the campaign season this year to lifting a ban on Coca-Cola products which has been ratified twice by you lot.

This will be his legacy – “Dave Quinn, he gave us back Coca-Cola”. Or not, if you vote against it. Crucially, the Agent thinks this might well be a devious plot by Union hacks to keep Graham O’Maonaigh and the other lefties’ eyes off the presidential race, knowing full well that the word “Coke” is like a red flag to the dirties, and that they’ll spend all their time on that and leave poor Graham to build the socialist alternative by himself. If there is a referendum, The Agent predicts that Ents Officer Barry Murphy will be firmly in the “Yes to Coke” camp.

Dave Quinn’s other big achievement thus far this term has been getting caught with his pants down in Front Square by security after a drunken night out.

Presidential!

Allegedly enjoying something of a renaissance this year is the most “secret” of Trinity’s underground societies, the Society of Saint Michael. This drinking club for so-called “influential Catholics” has been more or less dormant for the last decade. But the Agent hears that several high-profile Trinity hacks have recently joined its ranks. Rumour has it that the Society will be initiating new members in the next few weeks. If you’re male, Irish and Catholic don’t be surprised to hear that late-night knock at the door.

Till next time.

• theagent@trinitynews.ie

12 FEATURES

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

See you in the Second Life Jean Acheson

These women probably aren’t quite as attractive in their first life.

For those not already in the know, Second Life (SL) is a new online world.

And when I say "world" I mean that quite literally - its creators refer to it as a metaverse (metaphysical universe) and it currently has a population of over two and a half million, steadily rising by approximately 150,000 new users a week, of whom 10-20,000 are online at any given time.

So what's it all about? How does it work? Well, put simply all you need is a decent broadband connection and a bit of time. Having downloaded the SL program onto your computer you are then free to venture into this new world and create your own persona - or "avatar" as they're known. This avatar can then be changed at will at any time you please from the colour of your hair, to your sex, to adding a pair of wings to your back, or simply just becoming an animal or "furry"! Once happy with your look you're then free to roam around, talk to other users, buy new clothes or accessories, visit cafes and casinos, frequent strip bars and nudist colonies or buy a bit of land and develop it - either into a nice castle to live in or alternatively into a

shop where you can sell online products.

Of course if you want to buy or sell things you need money - the online currency being Linden Dollars, 250 of which are equivalent to 1 US dollar - yes, real money! Those with the know-how and a good idea thus have the ability to set up businesses online and start watching the profit role in. A lady in America became its first millionaire at the end of 2006, that's a million US dollars made from selling a bunch of virtual items!

So why all the fuss? Why are people getting so over excited about it and why am I writing about it here and now? With online crazes such as Facebook, Bebo, Myspace all taking up more and more time in people's lives - especially amongst the "youth" population - SL seems the next natural progression. As well as meeting up with friends to chat online in a position where you can "see" and make gestures towards them - rather than the presumably soon to be numbered days of instant messaging - there are now educational bodies and real life companies entering this online world.

Lectures are being given in specially built classrooms and universities; debates are being had in cafes - religion, politics, sexuality and scientific progression make up a large numbers of discussion groups.

Real life celebrities are promoting various causes in online talks, with Mia Farrow found in SL to talk about the Darfur crisis last week. Bars and clubs are putting on live gigs and DJ slots where you can go and listen and dance along. Artists, sculptors and film makers are being rewarded with the possibilities made newly available to them in this different medium - some of which they are then transferring back into the real world.

Large corporations too, such as Vodafone, Channel 4 radio and Philips, are setting up their own SL shops and promotion areas. Some people are even starting up new relationships - in a recent Agony Aunt letter to SL's paper (the AvaStar - yes, a virtual reality newspaper about the goings-on in a virtual reality world!) a man queried whether it would be considered to be cheating on his real life wife if he got married to a woman in SL - though of course he didn't think to ask: how do I even know it's a woman at the other end?

SL's programmers (Linden Lab) see it as a place of mutual benefit to all, where all can give and take from it as they please, and all can profit from it in one way or another. Perhaps most importantly it is aiming to promote a community of equality; somewhere minority

groups do not have to fear discrimination for their actions or beliefs.

Then of course there are the "transhumanists". This bunch of loons are eagerly anticipating the day that we can all download our minds onto the internet, living an effectively immortal life in hyperspace. SL therefore provides a very real picture of these dreams. A world where you can teleport or fly (common modes of transport in SL) to wherever you please; create a body to appear in that represents how you feel and that can be changed from day to day; set up a profit turning business or gain employment in somebody else's; and of course interact with a vast number of people from all over the planet at the click of a button.

So is this just a flash in the pan? A place for computer geeks or the socially dysfunctional? It would at present seem not, with many arguing for the enormous benefits to be gained in education, economy and an international community promoting equality and mutual understanding. Of course only time will tell - but don't be fooled, SL is on the rise and with all the opportunities it makes available is likely to be around for a long time yet and only increase in its popularity and influence.

The Cuban experience Mike Davies Cuba--land of salsa and sunsets, cigars, strawberry Daiquiris and sex. This highly educated and egalitarian utopia where everyone is happy under the palm trees, untouched by the evils of globalisation and advertising hoardings. Classic cars such as Oldsmobile Delux '88s trundling past the crumbling façades of Havana's Old Town.

These are the tourist board stereotypes of Cuba that continually appear in the press. Whatever is uncovered when democracy is finally secured - Cuba will without doubt always be more Buena Vista Social Club than Solzhenitsyn.

However, while spending over two months travelling round the island in the last few years I have had some insights into Cuba's darker side.

The romantic image of Cuba goes hand in hand with that of its charismatic 80 year old dictator, Fidel “El Comandante” Castro. Fidel, baseball enthusiast and onetime Law student, was only 32 years old when he overthrew the corrupt Batista regime in 1959 with a small troupe of rebels. Since which time he has managed his image very carefully, using the media and “official” photographers such as Raúl Corrales and Alberto Korda to create a cult of personality of which even Stalin would have been proud.

In spite of all the exuberantly imaginative assassination plots hatched by the CIA – deadly cigars and explosive shellfish – Castro has outlasted nine North American Presidents. Cubans will tell you he has survived 638 attempts on his life (exactly). Part of Cuba's attraction has been its position as the underdog, tirelessly punching above its weight only 90 miles south of Key West. But what is in store for the island now that it is in the hands of Fidel’s younger brother Raúl?

Rumour has it that Castro may die any day now.

Raúl Castro has been the country's acting president since Fidel underwent gastro-intestinal surgery in the summer.

Many say Raúl has always been the practical genius behind the regime, but the Cubans are worried he may implement draconian measures to prove to the outside world that Castroism can survive Castro.

It has been speculated that 70% of Cubans have known no other leader.

Some might say Castro’s “social dictatorship” is preferable to the US-supported dictatorships in Nicaragua, Chile, Argentina and El Salvador during the 1980s – which murdered thousands upon thousands of their citizens. This is undoubtedly so, but it must be remembered that today Cuba is the only dictatorship left in Latin America. The country is a living relic of 20th-century history. If Raúl is not preparing a slow transition to democracy, as some suggest he is, it is hard to imagine Castroism surviving him.

Although he is the “younger” brother he is 75 years old.

La Revolución has undoubtedly benefited Cuba in certain ways. There are lower infant mortality rates than in the US

and higher immunisation rates. Literacy is phenomenally high. UNESCO’s Global Monitoring Report from 2005 rated Cuba's education system among the best in the world along with Canada, Finland and Korea.

The health service is fantastic in theory, but the lack of supplies (partly due to the US embargo it must be said) means that necessary medication can often only be obtained on the black market. The doctors and surgeons are very highly trained, but it's of no use if they don’t have enough supplies to practise. State rations do not suffice to feed a family; milk, coffee and beef are the utmost of luxuries.

The island was once one of the world's largest producers of sugar but now resorts to importing from Belarus.

Cuba now depends upon tourism and the largesse of China and the Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. Roughly $2.6 billion were made through tourism last year alone. Although it has subsequently been withdrawn from circulation again, in 1993 Castro had to legalize the dollar and allow foreign investment in the wake of the Soviet Union’s disintegration and withdrawal of aid. The early nineties were the Revolution’s “dark years”. Food was so scarce that dogs, cats and rodents were “disappearing” from the streets.

Prostitution and hustling became the way of life – something that is only getting worse.

The education is excellent, but blinkered in all respects to the outside world.

Because they are not permitted to travel abroad (except in special cases) Cubans know next to nothing about the outside-the unknown region that they refer to as allí (“over there”). The three state-run newspapers, Granma, Juventud Rebelde and Trabajadores are full of tawdry Party propaganda pieces. Art that does not follow the Party line is suppressed and freedom of speech is non-existent. Anyone who questions Castro’s policies is immediately deemed an “enemy of the revolution” and an agent of imperialism. For Castro the idea of free elections, a multiparty state, (genuinely) open tribunals and freedom of movement for his people would turn the country into some “pseudo-liberal neo-colonial” democracy.

Racism was officially “outlawed” with the revolution, but the black and mulatto majority actually remain the poorest in the country. And there are very few blacks within the coterie of Castro’s inner circle of yes men. Whereas it is true that Cuba is a relatively safe country, this seems merely as a result of the fear that the vast network of secret police and informers inspire.

Cubans live in fear of the brigadas de respuesta rápida (“rapid response brigades”) who often use violence to break up possible demonstrations. I once saw a man beaten outside Havana's Hotel Inglaterra, seemingly just for trying to hustle a tourist. Before he was forcibly restrained and gagged he shouted for us tourists to witness the violence used by the Cuban police. One man informed me secretly how he knew for a fact that Castro has spread poisonous gas through the ventilation system of Havana’s largest

Che Guevara: “Hatred is an element of struggle; relentless hatred of the enemy that impels us over and beyond the natural limitations of man and transforms us into effective, violent, selective, and cold killing machines.” old people’s home because the state couldn't afford the benefit. They were all killed. I also met someone in the town of Manzanillo who had been kept in a cage for four days for selling a Cuban military uniform to some Italian friends of his.

Cases like these are rife. Reporters Sans Frontières’ 2006 Press Freedom Index rates Cuba the 165th worst out of 168 candidates from across the globe. It is the world's second biggest prison for journalists after China.

There are many grey areas in the Cuban constitution and Penal Code that help legitimise the repression of dissent.

Possible offences against “state security” include: propaganda enemiga (“enemy propaganda”); desacato (“disrespect”) against authority, and the simple crime of peligrosidad (“dangerousness”). In October 1999, under Article 203 of the Cuban Penal Code, Oscar Elías Biscet was sentenced to three years imprisonment for an 'insult to the symbols of the homeland'. He had accidentally hung the Cuban flag upside down from his balcony during a press conference at his home.

Amnesty International claim there are currently 72 prisoners of conscience (“detained for peaceful exercise of the freedom of expression, association or assembly”) on the island, whereas Human Rights Watch puts that number at nearer to 300. Most of these were arrested in the infamous 2003 crackdown on intellectuals and dissidents. There has been much attention drawn to exiled writers such as the poets Heberto Padilla and (more recently) Raúl Rivero, but there are also many intellectuals and writers in Cuba who refuse to leave or be threatened.

They are forced to live an “internal exile” in which they are marginalised and ignored; often unable to publish their work.

In Cuban classes children are taught to chant slogans such as “Seremos como el Che” (“We will grow up to be like Che”).

But next time you see Alberto Korda’s iconic image of Che (defiantly looking into the middle distance) staring from a Tshirt or a poster on a student bedsit wall, remember these words of his: “Hatred is an element of struggle; relentless hatred

of the enemy that impels us over and beyond the natural limitations of man and transforms us into effective, violent, selective, and cold killing machines. Our soldiers must be thus”. This is the icon who claimed judicial evidence to be “an unnecessary bourgeois detail” and was to essentially become Castro’s executioner.

He personally signed over 600 execution warrants in the early months of the revolution, almost all without trial. You can now visit the Che Museum in what was once his office inside Havana’s La Cabana fortress. He had insisted it look out onto the execution square so he could watch the firing squads while he worked.

Something perhaps more disturbing than anything perpetrated by the Cuban State is the US prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, in the east of the island.

The States continue to flout their own Constitution and international law behind its high razor wire fences. Sleep deprivation is used to facilitate interrogation, as are stress positions, isolation, hooding, sensory deprivation and the threat of dogs to induce fear.

America’s stubborn foreign policy against Cuba has seemed outdated for a long time now. It has encouraged totalitarianism; we know how Castro thrives on conflict. The David and Goliath standoff between the States and Cuba has allowed him to cultivate a fierce nationalism among his people. Late in 2004 Bush administered new legislation meaning Cuban-Americans and exiles can now only visit their families in Cuba for two weeks every three years. He has also limited the amount of dollars they can take over with them. These sanctions will not bring an end to Castroism, but will merely cause more antagonism.

The interesting thing will be to watch what happens next. Cubans are certainly too dissatisfied to put up with much more “communism”, but it will take time for the legacy of over 45 years of fear to dissipate. In a move that has angered the Cuban-Americans in Miami, the US has claimed it will not intervene-leaving Cuba’s fate to its own people. Whether this will truly be the case remains to be seen.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 13

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

Trinity researchers are mapping how the world sounds Shane Colwell Increasingly, urban planners are using sophisticated visual and acoustical representations of the real world in order to communicate their ideas to the clients and the general public. This will hopefully take us away from the dark days of 70’s Irish planning when massive urban projects were finalised over a pint and a brown envelope. In urban and landscape planning, it is extremely advantageous to understand how an area is going to appear after a specific development in order to pre-empt the visual and environmental impact caused by the altering of the surroundings. Secondary effects such as altered noise attenuation and pollution dispersion in the altered area may cause harmful effects to the social fabric of the area.

Pioneering work by PhD researcher Francesco Pilla in the TCD mechanical engineering department aims to make it possible for developers to easily construct sophisticated 3D models incorporating both visual and sound impacts for proposed developments. A noise map is a map that shows where concentrations of noise will be if the project is implemented.

In real terms, this means the additional noise pollution from cars, construction and people.

It is a very important issue to make politicians and us common folk aware of the changes planned for an area which may impart an undesirable effect our surroundings. The noise map below shows the influence of a sound barrier beside a busy road. One can clearly see how the noise is blocked from entering the residential dwellings. To acquire a 3D model of the area of interest, one can obtain the necessary data thanks to the recent development of remote sensing technologies and through the improvement of the capabilities of satellites such as Quick Bird and Ikonos. In that way is possible to get high resolution orthophotos from airborne laser scanning mapping systems integrated with GPS (LiDAR) or pair of stereo images.

LIDAR is one of the most important recent innovations in landscape detection and terrain modeling because its data are

Planners will be able to see and hear how a proposed building will effect its surrounding environment Image: Francesco Pilla/Department of Mechanical Engineering extremely accurate, both in height and range measurements, and also because it allows one to quickly obtain information of the surface resources and environment.

The laser may be mounted on light airplanes or helicopters and can provide sample terrain using overlapping several hundred meter wide swaths measuring elevation every 1-3 meters with reported vertical accuracy to within 15 cm in bare areas.

The LIDAR process of acquirement out-

Fusion lab may hold key to future of energy David Long An agreement signed in November will see the south of France play host to an experimental nuclear fusion reactor.

ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) will cost the EU, the US, China, Russia, India, Japan and South Korea many billions of euro, and will aim to produce energy through nuclear fusion - a clean, almost limitless source of energy.

Nuclear Fusion occurs when Deuterium and Tritium (isotopes of Hydrogen) are fused together to form heavier elements and lone neutrons. It is a reaction that can only occur when the very strong repulsive forces between the nuclei are overcome. This only happens at very high temperatures - in the region of 100 million OC. On Earth to date, this reaction has been achieved only in hydro-nuclear bombs, using 'normal' nuclear bombs as triggers. For obvious reasons, this is impractical for sustained energy production in a power plant, so ITER will use a tokomak to achieve the required temperatures.

A tokomak is a doughnut shaped reactor in which the deuterium and tritium is fed into the hollow shell, and heated to 100 million OC. A very powerful electromagnetic field is used to keep the hot plasma away from the walls of the reactor, and to compress the plasma forcing initiation of the fusion reaction. ITER

intends to achieve this in bursts of 500s, whereas a commercial reactor would need to prolong the reaction. The energetic neutrons produced are then absorbed by a surrounding water blanket, and used to produce steam to drive a turbine.

Due to the fact that the materials needed as fuels (deuterium and tritium) are readily available in water, and the earth's surface is covered by 70% water, nuclear fusion represents an almost limitless supply of energy. In fact, 1kg of fusion fuel would produce the same amount of energy as 10,000,000 kg of fossil fuels.

France was chosen as the location for the reactor after a protracted bidding war between the countries involved. When the final choice fell between Japan, and France, Japan dropped its objections in return for a larger share of the research positions. The E.U. has agreed to cover 50% of the 5 billion euro price tag. Work on the site is scheduled to begin next year, with completion of ancillary and power stations due by 2008. The reactor itself should start to take shape by 2009. It is ultimately hoped that energy from the reactor will be available on the grid in about 30 years.

Not everybody has welcomed the signing of the agreement however, with the green lobby opposing the project due to the huge costs, and unknown prospects involved. They say that the money could be better spent on other, proven, energy sources such as wind turbines, and hydroelectric stations.

puts large amounts of data that is represented as massive clouds of points that define every object or detail larger than one metre: This data is then elaborated and smoothed to obtain acceptable contours with algorithms, thus creating a 3D model of the area. After a few steps, related to cleaning the model from buildings, trees, shrubs, cars, etc., using algorithms with different tasks, a bare earth model is obtained to best represent the topography.

In order to extract the buildings footprints from LIDAR data it is possible to use a method that places side by side fused information extracted from DSM and orthophotos. This technique, based on object-oriented image segmentation, takes into account not only the spectral characteristics of a single pixel but those of the surrounding (contextual) pixels in the image segmentation phase.

Once the buildings are recognized and

separated from the ground, the two groups of different objects are imported into ArcGIS and converted to shapefiles to allow further elaborations, such as the creation of the noise maps with Predictor. As the traffic data are for the different periods of the day collected, they are imported into the software and linked to every road displayed on it.

A 3D ground model of the area can be easily imported with all ground level heights and it is possible to add all the necessary items, such as buildings and noise barriers, on top of the ground model.

Moreover noise receiver points can be automatically placed at a defined distance from buildings or other objects in the model. The result of calculations (day, evening, night and compound periods) can be displayed graphically and source, receiver and attenuation levels for each source-receiver combination can be viewed to evaluate the quality of the calculations and as a help to determine how to reduce noise levels. Google earth can easily be used to display the 3D rendered area. Noise mapping typically involves the presentation of simple acoustic parameters, possibly combined with demographic factors such as population or house prices. The task is often quite demanding, both in terms of computer capability and time. Accurate models can take several days or even weeks to calculate, so getting the input data right is important, as is the ability to speed up calculations.

The ultimate goal of the work is to create 3D, rendered maps where one can enter, walk around and get a visual and acoustic feel of the future development.

As one walks around the 3D environment with a headset on, the noises one will hear will be the real, projected noises that will ensue when the given development is realized. Thus, in complex city environments, the full effect of a development, both visually and acoustically, can be sampled, and perhaps rejected, by anyone before the project is given the green light.

It is hoped that technological breakthroughs such as these, will prevent ugly buildings that impart a plethora of negative effects on our fair city, from ever sprouting up again.

College Biochemistry in Alzheimer’s study The School of Biochemistry and Immunology have been awarded €1.2 million from the European Union Marie Curie Actions programme for a new project on the influence of mitochondria on neurons and muscular cells. The outcome of this study is hoped to provide new insights on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease often results in memory loss, confusion, motor dysfunction and reduced cognitive and communication skills. Parkinson’s is often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement (bradykinesia), and in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement (akinesia).

It is caused by the loss of cholinergic neurons (dopaminic neurons in Parkinson’s disease) in certain brain tissues and replacement of the lost neurons with scar tissue called plaque. During the denegeration of cholinergic neurons, astrocytes and microglia become overly active. These glial cells release inflammatory chemicals that enhance further degeneration of cholinergic neurons.

Currently it is being treated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, but this is only effective in the early stages of the disease.

The study is organized by Dr Gavin Davey, Trinity’s Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience and project co-coordinator. (Theresa Ryan)

Nasa scientist talked to College Physoc Dr C Alex Young, a senior scientist at Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, gave a lecture entitled “The Sun …

What is its ways?” to the DU Physical Society in College last week.

He described how the different layers of the sun function, and talked about solar flares and coronal mass ejections.

He also talked about some of the current missions he is involved in including the new STEREO satellites, launched to study the sun in 3D. The Trinity astrophysics group is also involved in the STEREO satellites and will do a lot of the work in analsing its data.

Sentinel plants, anthrax attacks and the art of biowar Joseph Roche “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” This was the philosophy of Chinese general and military strategist Sun Tzu during the sixth century BC. More than two and a half thousand years later, biological warfare provides one of the most effective methods of adhering to Sun Tzu’s rule. The idea of using biological agents or their by-products to cause harm to people, livestock and crops is by no means a recent one. Indeed there is evidence that early use of biological weapons stretches all the way back to the sixth century BC. It was at this time in Mesopotamia that Assyrians poisoned enemy wells with ergot, a toxin derived from mold that grows on rye. Much later, in 1346, the Tartar army catapulted disease-ridden corpses into Kaffa, a city in current day Crimea. It is thought that the resulting epidemic may have led to the “Black Death” that ravaged Europe in the fourteenth century. The bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is believed to have been spread by rat fleas and eventually ended with a deathtoll of 137 million people.

The war crimes committed by “Unit 731” in the early to mid-1900s gave the world a frightening display of the horrors of biological warfare. Unit 731 was a covert medical experiment unit of the Imperial Japanese Army, researching biological warfare through human experiments during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. Disguised as a water purification unit, scientists performed tests using the plague, cholera, smallpox, botulism and other diseases.

Although primarily focusing on the effects that biological weapons had on prisoners, the unit also tested the effectiveness of grenades and flame throwers on human subjects and committed epidemic-creating germ warfare assaults against the Chinese people. In response to suspected biological weapons development in Germany and Japan, the United

States, United Kingdom, and Canada initiated a biological warfare development program in 1941 that resulted in the weaponisation of anthrax, brucellosis, and botulism toxin. As advances in science produced more sophisticated biological weaponry, the specter of “Bio-terrorism” loomed large. This culminated in the anthrax attacks in the US during September 2001.

Codenamed “Amerithrax” by the FBI, the attacks involved letters containing anthrax bacteria being mailed to several news media offices and two U.S. Senators, killing five people and sickening seventeen others. The crimes remain unsolved.

In the fight against Bio-terrorism, one unlikely combatant emerging from scientific research is the so-called “Sentinel Plant”. Scientists are laying the groundwork for genetically engineering plants that can detect and signal the presence of many harmful chemical or biological agents. Plants respond to stimuli via cellular proteins. These proteins have a sensing domain outside the cell membrane that binds molecules in the environment. This binding sends a signal inside the cell to the response domain, which in turn stimulates the genes that trigger a response. To engineer these “Sentinel Plants”, scientists are using recombinant DNA technology to fuse the receptor of these proteins to the kinase of another protein that can induce visible responses. As a result, the researchers hope to develop plants that respond to all environmental stimuli in a predetermined and visual way.

Such sentinel plants have several possible uses. They might be able to sense and warn of the presence of chemical warfare agents or animal pathogens, such as anthrax. A similar visual response in algae could lead to satellite observations detecting subtle colour change in an algae-rich environment, such as lakes and ponds, and providing almost immediate warning of a biological attack. As research continues, it is hoped that other plants might be designed to detect and signal the presence of explosives in soil,

Genetically engineered plants may provide warning signals for a biological attack. Image: Joseph Roche which would aid in locating and removing land mines. While the effectiveness of sentinel plants in the event of a biological attack remains unproven, there is genuine hope that their presence would save lives. The thought that plants may

soon be used as our first line of defence in future conflicts serves to illustrate the all-encompassing nature of war.

As Albert Einstein once said, “So long as there are men, there will be wars”.

14 TRAVEL

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2006

The hottest, hippest and most happening destinations of 2007 Mark Thompson With Christmas over and New Year been and gone with a bang, Trinity News brings you the hottest, hippest and most happening destinations for 2007. With dozens of newly launched cheap flights, sizzling new hotels and trendy trendy nightspots, we predict for you the places to be seen in the next twelve months.

Istanbul, Turkey The capital of Turkey; the city of diversity; these crossroads between the East and West are understandably saturated in culture. Moreover, you can literally walk across the city and in fact walk from Europe into Asia. A collection of hip new hotels are springing up around the city with the attention being on the ultimate obsequiousness that any hipster could ever desire. And with your bed for the night well and truly sorted, then it is highly recommended to pay a visit to one of the many spa bathhouses doted around the city. A small warning: Four Seasons they are not; prepare your body for a rigorous beating, all in the name of stress relief, good health and positive outcomes.

Turkish food is the ultimate fusion of East and West, and inevitably offers some exciting and delicious fare, all of which requires an extremely afiyet olsun (good appetite).

With the country on the brink of joining the European Union, it is advised to visit Istanbul sooner rather than later in order to fully appreciate this city of two halves before it firmly situates itself amongst us Europeans.

Chicago, USA The third and often forgotten city of the United States promises great things in 2007. While not as chaotic as New York City, yet less chilled than San Fran, Chicago encapsulates all you can hope for in an American city.

The mayor of the city, Richard Daley, has done much to revive and develop this bustling metropolis and he is currently making a strong bid to host the 2016 Olympics. One of the most impressive policies is his determination to make and keep the city streets clean and for anyone who loathes the dirt and trash so common to NYC, Chicago makes a nice change.

Rush Street remains the epicentre of cool with a swish collection of bars, restaurants and clubs nestled beneath the towering skyscrapers. For those who fancy getting out of the city, then head to the suburb of Damen with its uber trendy boutiques and unique bars. It’s easy to waste an afternoon wandering around, people watching, window shopping and involving yourself in the Damen vibes.

With the dollar rate continuing to fall, meaning more Euros for your buck, additional direct flights out of Dublin and

Clockwise from above: Taipei’s bustling Shillin night market in all its neontastic glory; The sun sets over Istanbul; Seville, the capital of Andalusia.

some of the Cities top hoteliers offering incredible rates for a room, 2007 is definitely the year to visit Chicago.

Seville, Spain The capital of Andalusia and home of flamenco has much to offer and is a more original choice than the highly commercial and tourist invaded Barcelona.

Seville is currently making its mark as this quintessential Spanish city offers much and promises more in 2007.

This city has plenty of key tourist sights, the Alcazar Palace, The Cathedral and Giralda Tower and the Plaza de Espana to name a few. However I advise indulgence in Sevilla’s chicest and cheapest spots…

Do go into the beautiful university building El Rectorado, this old tabacco factory with its distinguished halls and fabulous fountains gives Trinity a run for it’s money. A cafe con leche in the cafeteria will set you back 80 cents and believe me you won’t be able to stomach an arts block brew again!

Do go daytime drinking in calle Triana, on the River Guadalquivir. Have a tinto de verano (a lighter version of san-

gria) or a Cruzcampo beer to fit in with the locals.

Do be prepared to eat a serious amount of tapas, Coloniales near barrio Alfalfa or Bar Eslava just next to the San Lorenzo church are both shockingly good value and delicious!

Do go midnight drinking in barrio Alfalfa, pints of Mojitio in Bar Robotica are five euro.

Do go clubbing! Spain has a fantastic clubbing reputation and Seville doesn’t disappoint! Both the stunning Antique Theatro or the cheesy Caramelo appeal to all, whilst those more daring types should jump in a taxi for a twenty minute ride to Kansas city where the lush beats of Domm Disco await you.

Additional info: All recommendations are located in the city centre unless otherwise stated. Buy a map and walk around the city the architecture is beautiful, if you are unsure taxis are in abundance and fares are reasonable. (Katie Martin) Taipei, Taiwan With the rest of the world becoming increasingly fascinated and charmed by the Asian continent, Taiwan is fast becoming a very exciting places to visit.

With a reputation as a city which likes to party, there are a score of uber hip clubs playing funky soulful beats popping up on every street. But what the cool kids of Taipei really have a penchant for is

karaoke. Some of the venues encapsulate the style and service of 5 star hotels, and one can easily rent a private room on the 15th floor complete with comfy sofas, direct dial service for food and drinks and amazing views over the city for an incredibly good price.

And yet, this city is one of contrasts as the old Taiwanese cultures, Asian traditions and beautiful temples are still reminiscent throughout Taipei. Old Asia definitely meets new Asia amongst the hustle and bustle, and it is these striking contrasts that help make Taipei a hot and hip destination for 2007.

Oman With the neighbouring state of the United

Arab Emirates making a huge impact on the global travel market mainly through the rapid expansion and development of Dubai, Oman is beginning to make its mark as a hipper alternative for those wishing to visit the Gulf.

The Sultanate of Oman has 1,700km of coast blessed with a wealth of deserts, dunes and fjords. Couple this with a daytime temperature that rarely drops below 25 degrees then Oman will happily welcome you to its warmth all year round.

With a solid foreign relation policy, Oman is undoutably one of the safest countries to visit in the region and yet remains relatively unexplored. 2007 seems like a better time than ever to book some flights and visit Oman.

Checking in and checking out Dublin’s Westin Hotel Mark Thompson With most students visited by their parents at some point during the year, one of Dublin’s finest hoteliers is likely to play host. With the market becoming increasingly competitive, and standards being raised on a yearly basis, let us help you chose who should get their booking.

As one of the newer hotels in the city, the Westin opened its doors in 2001. This luxury upscale hotel commands an impressive position just a stone’s throw from Front Gate. The location alone is hugely beneficial, and Trinity News occupied a room overlooking our fine educational establishment itself. With 163 rooms and 18 suites, this hotel still seems to encapsulate a warm homely feel, and the roaring open fires in reception make the lobby a very welcoming spot to just sit, observe and chill.

The room itself was welcomingly large and the “heavenly” bed was indeed heavenly. The Westin is so certain that you will love their beds that you can

actually buy one and they will deliver it to your door. Ok, so not to dwell too long on the bed given this article is in the context of your parents, but no complaints could be raised over what turned out to be a very comfortable sleep.

The bathroom was a bathroom - a little above standard, though very clean and lots of nice piles of pristine white towels. The bath and separate shower though deserves extra points and the white soft slippers and large selection of toiletries are sure to keep your Mum happy.

Breakfast the next morning was served in the large and sumptuous Exchange restaurant and the selection was wide and commendable. The juice was freshly squeezed, the coffee was superbly strong and the patisserie was muy muy bien! I was a little disappointed however with the hot breakfast which was a little more Buttery than bourgeois.

Given the fact that the heavenly bed was so comfortable that one almost missed the breakfast, I'm sure that when your parents arise at a more ample time the

bacon and eggs may be a little more appetising.

The piece de résistance at the Westin must surely be the uber swank Mint bar, often hailed as one of Dublin's favourite watering halls. If you can lure Daddy and his credit card towards the “Westini” cocktail menu, then undoubtedly you’re onto a winner.

All in all, Trinity News really enjoyed the stay at the Westin. The service throughout was faultless and the friendly staff played the perfect hosts throughout. It is quite clearly one of Dublin’s top hotels and with an unrivalled location close to Trinity College, we see no reason why your parents would be anything less than highly satisfied.

Essential Info: Standard Double: from €239. Pint of Guinness in the uber swank Mint Bar: €4.80. Dinner for two, three courses: from €55. A Westini cocktail: from €10.90. Special offers can be accessed at westin.com/dublin Email: reservations.dublin@westin.com Phone: 016451000

“The Westin is so certain that you will love their beds that you can actually buy one and they will deliver it to your door.”

TRAVEL 15

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

An Iberian journey from Santiago de Compostela to Porto Emily Hogan

Two weeks into the journey saw a move away from the sea and in search of answers to ecumenical matters in Santiago de Compostela. This is the final stop along the famous Camino de Santiago, the great pilgrimage across France and northern Spain which is regarded as the first example of mass tourism. The cult of Santiago has had pilgrims flocking here since the First Crusade of 1085 for social reasons, fashion, adventure, the opportunity for marriage or even crime; for others (surprisingly) it was simply a question of faith. It would appear that today more or less the same factors are still drawing in the crowds, although the genuine pilgrims can be marked out in the bars and on the streets by the staff and scallop shell combination that they clutch.

Santiago is a beautiful medieval city, built in warm granite and of very manageable size. All roads into Santiago lead to its magnificent baroque cathedral, which we admittedly did not enter, the Sicilian drawing my attention to our no-churches rule. After that, the remaining drags are teeming with seafood restaurants displaying their fare of lobsters, crabs and crayfish in huge tanks, and bars of all shapes and persuasions. The Sicilian selected Vino y Tapas as a good stop for a nibble, presumably relying upon a "it does exactly what it says on the tin" mentality. We proceeded to order liberal amounts of both the aforementioned, working on the presumption that no one was keeping count. How wrong we were. We were promptly presented with a bill which reflected the strong tourist trap element of this particular bodega. Still reeling from this sting, we incurred further cost at our first (and only) official camping site. The Sicilian began to suffer from an inferiority complex owing to the modest size of our tent and the blatant professionalism of our German neighbours. It was decided that we wouldn't return to such an establishment again. One important discovery was made however, namely that by inflating our mattress with a garage pump, a very satisfactory level of firmness was attained. Whilst transporting the then inflated mattress to the camping location was slightly cumbersome, (a very elaborate knot system securing it to the roof) it was worth it given the sound nights repose guaranteed.

We got our money's worth at the campsite by enjoying a thoroughly domesticated morning of cleaning (ourselves and our cooking paraphernalia) before moving on out to the Galician coast. This part of the country is remote, rural, battered by the Atlantic and in the case of the Costa do Morte, almost deserted. The coastline is spectacular, heavily wooded in pines and shaped by fjord like rías which shelter unspoiled old villages and bays dotted with anchored mussel rafts. The region divides in two, in the north the quieter Rías Altas where the traditional lifestyle of small scale fishing is still maintained, and in the south Rías

Baixas where the sea is slighter warmer and the resorts livelier. Our sampling of the Baixas extended to two towns. First Vilagarcia, a sprawling industrial town and the unofficial smuggling capital connected by a short bridge to the strands of golden sand on the wooded Isla de Arousa. Then onto O Grove at the northern tip of the peninsula where pine forested hillsides conceal several breath taking sandy coves, most of which remain deserted even at the height of summer.

The Sicilian was getting itchy feet and with Galicia providing breathtaking scenery but no sunshine, we decided to move on south and cross the border into Portugal. We were dismayed to find that the immediate northern region is for the most part characterless and industrial. A frenetic plunge into the guide book saw us bumping along from town to town, looking for somewhere that was going to provide quiet beaches, a fish market and those other little requisites - nice bars, bakeries for breakfast, children playing marbles in cobbled squares, old men playing chess at rickety café tables, friendly locals that gave good restaurant advice.

Just the bare necessities really. We'd hate to be demanding. First there was Braga which hails as the Portuguese Rome and is located inland so was not ticking any of our boxes. Next on to Viana do Castelo for which we had had high hopes, the guide book having promised all sorts of wonderful things; appealing historic centre, above-average restaurants and one of the best beaches in the north. It is a puzzle as to why it merited that particular entry. We moved swiftly on. Two men in a van guided us further south again to blink-and-you'll-miss it Sao Bartolomeu do Mar. At this point we had noticed that Portuguese people seemed to delight in nothing more than giving directions and drawing maps, and accordingly the Sicilian began to extract great satisfaction in trying to understand said directions and repeat them back with sweeping arm movements. His Portuguese accent was flawless. From here we followed an overly zealous couple on a motorbike across varied terrain to a beach at Ofir, ordinary access to these impressive pine packed

Above: Santiago’s baroque cathedral “which we admittedly did not enter, the Sicilian drawing my attention to our nochurches rule.”

Right: The busy port of Porto. “Porto is memorable only for its sheer grubbiness”. Photo: Leonardo Marino dunes having been suspended due to a missing bridge. Here the Sicilian had to be physically restrained from getting naked. It was his first Portuguese beach and he clearly hadn't got the naturism of Spain out of his system. Peeved by the lack of nudity and anxious about the closing hours of butchers, it wasn't long before we were off again. This time to Esposende, a slightly more promising town after such a bout of blandness, to buy generous amounts of meat which we then barbequed in the dark. Our sleep that night was fragmented, with frequent interruptions from rain storms. It transpired that our little green tent was not all that water resistant, although to its credit it wasn't written anywhere that it claimed to be.

While the Irish was accustomed to and even quite enjoyed sitting on beaches under grey dull skies, it was all proving far too distressing for the Sicilian and we finally admitted defeat. We moved to Porto, the capital of the north and Portugal's second largest city, in search of city diversions. Defined for its port wine trade but clearly unaffected by its year's tenure as European City of Culture in 2001, Porto is memorable only for its sheer grubbiness. Upon arrival we ate the greasiest meal possible (I was beginning to think the Sicilian was really quite fast food dependant) and followed this in quick succession with an encounter with Porto's dirtiest hotel proprietor brandish-

ing the longest most filthy nails, whose two star creepy establishment had been described in the guide book as "pleasant".

A quick exchange of glances confirmed a mutual unwillingness to stay and we beat a hasty retreat, promising to return after we had gone to the banco. We then spent another hour navigating our way around Porto's convoluted one-way system in search of alternative sleeping arrangements, aided by an old man who when asked, “para ir a…?”, had eagerly run off to get his car to lead us to a nearby Praça.

The next day having wandered Porto's labyrinth of streets and dark tumbling alleys we chose a restaurant located on the Cais da Ribeira, the street along the waterfront opposite the port houses lined with restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes and touts trying to sell tickets for tastings and tours in the port lodges. Why this did not set off alarm bells is still unclear. Perhaps we had become accustomed to a certain level of mediocrity. Our establishment of choice had very thoughtfully accompanied its menu with photographs for explanatory purposes (more alarm bells?)

and inside there was not a soul whilst queues seemed to be forming for other restaurants along the stretch. One way of looking at this was that we would have the chef's undivided attention. The other, perhaps more glaringly obvious logic, was that Taberna dos Bêbobos was empty for a reason. It is still a matter of heated debate as to whose idea it was to go ahead and eat there nonetheless, but probability swings towards the Sicilian who had been responsible for countless other mistaken judgment calls up until this point. We were led by the proprietor cum waiter cum chef, a man of tiny proportions with a mousey brown toupee up a flight of stairs and out of the view of the passing public. Clearly delighted if not slightly surprised by this unexpected piece of business he darted about getting things organised. He was very Basil Fawlty. A table was set and we were pushed into our seats before we had time to change our minds. We began to get the feeling that there hadn't been cause to set a table here in quite some time. He then disappeared downstairs into the kitchen. At intervals

through the bings of the microwave we could make out calls of "everything is gooood?" "you wan more wine?" and "iz nearly ready okaaay?". He served us up plates of soggy fish and boiled potatoes with a very self satisfied smile, as though he himself was a little surprised that he had pulled it all together. As we ate, he occasionally poked his little head over the banister of the stairs to catch a glimpse at us, his toupee sliding as he ducked back down like a child who has snuck out of bed and is trying to creep back unnoticed.

When the bill came we were a little under five euro short and after toying with the idea of going outside to an ATM we decided to leave what we had, the Sicilian quite boldly shaking his hand as we left.

All of this was very perplexing. Where were the kilometres of beaches, the atmospheric little towns and the fado music? So far we had had too big and too small, we got back into the SMART in search of just right…

In the next issue: The journey through Portugal continues.

Don’t cry for me, Buenos Aries: Alyson McEvoy tangoes in Argentina Alyson McEvoy Tango, '9 de Julio' the widest street in the world, Evita, La Boca football club….all traditional must see or do's when you eventually make your way to the enormous tear shaped spot of earth affectionately known (to me) as Argentina. And indeed, I did either see or do (both, in fact, in the case of tango) all of these things.

Well, I won't lie, minus the steak. Soy vegetariana. It was always considered my loss, so there was no harm done.

With regard to some I even managed to do them almost simultaneously! Every day for two weeks, I strode across the never ending lanes of 9 de Julio on the way to tango class: Magic. I used to feel like such a spectacle for the people in their cars waiting for the lights to turn green again. I made it a personal goal of mine to try to get across the whole street (which included eight lanes of traffic in

one direction and another eight in the opposite, broken every four lanes by traffic lights) without being caught at a traffic light. The rule was I couldn't run. So each day I strode across, using exceptionally wide paces, looking straight ahead and taking deep breaths. Some days I do remember forgetting to breathe though.

Do you ever find that sometimes you just can't concentrate and breathe at the same time? Some days I liked playing the crazy gringa bit.

Back to Buenos Aires. Tango abounds in all shapes and forms; Museums; dedicated music stores; tango shoe shops; clothes shops; studios; tango halls (or milongas); stages in cavernous cafes and restaurants devoted to tango performance; tango squares on the pavement where public performers display their tango sculpted physique; look-a-like tangueros offering themselves to tourists for sometimes cheesy sometimes passionate photographs; tango photographers attempting

to capture a momentary vision of the intensity and volatility of the dance…and I'm sure there's something I'm missing.

Some Portenos ( as the Buenos Aires population are known) see tango as merely a tourist attraction and are of the opinion that it no longer lives in the sense that it once did - in the heart of the people, not just danced but lived and loved by them.

They are not acquainted with some of the people I met in Buenos Aires.

Confiteria Ideal is one of the oldest tango spots in the city. Downstairs is a café/cafeteria offering neat coffees, and tasty breads and cake. Upstairs is the most elegant room I have ever seen. Old mahogany coloured chairs and tables surrounded the ample, lustrous dance floor, across which an ancient bow tied waiter conveyed small coffees and espressos to high heeled tangueras. Stately marbled pillars supported the high arched ceiling and decorative mirrors were positioned into the deep panelled walls. It was, in a

word, (well, three words) pure antiquated luxury.

Every day of the week there are tango classes and social dances at Confiteria Ideal. Every Friday that I found myself yet still in Buenos Aires (It was admittedly very hard to leave and see the rest of the country) I spent three glorious hours dancing with Portenos who lived and breathed tango. While tourists, like me, did happen to find their way there and flit in and out of the scene and across the dance floor, these people remain.

Yet there is more to Buenos Aires than tango. There is just so much in fact that any attempt to describe it or draw attention to a particular aspect of it leaves one in a state of mental dizziness (I know this as I just tried to with the tango…)

When I first arrived in Buenos Aires, I wasn't all that enamoured with it. There were the broken pavements of San Telmo (the oldest part of the city, where I stayed during my time there), the people search-

ing rubbish bins left out on the street at night, the noise, the traffic of mighty 9 de Julio and the rest of Buenos Aires' avenidas, and, most oddly, the walking billboards that rushed out onto the street every time the lights went green for pedestrians to display their signs to the captive car audiences. Yet, the city imperceptibly grew on me until I realised I wasn't just spending time there, but loving it and didn't want to leave. How can I describe it? The city is an aged, yellowing, crumbling Paris. A fascinating point of intersection - Europe meets South America. Not only do the majority of Portenos, and indeed Argentineans in general, have some European birthright, but the architecture of the city too is distinctly European in places. It visibly bears the experience of the city itself, however.

There was not the money or the enterprise to sustain the colonial glow the city must have had, and now stunning facades often conceal empty unused buildings. These

are generally offered for sale or lease and left, literally crumbling, in the meantime.

There are gaps in the Buenos Aires skyline in places where finances have been found to acquire one of these buildings.

But instead of renewal, these buildings are often demolished and, wait for it… parking lots installed to take their place.

So you can end up walking down a street, lined with high, stylized buildings and there is a sudden gap ('…paved paradise, put up a parking lot…').

The whole mescla, which is this city; the colonial glamour and refinement; the grittiness of urban life; the distinct passion and allure of the tango culture….altogether, is something that resists definition and even innocent description. I doubt if even the Portenos themselves have managed to articulate this special 'something' which is their city.

16 SPORT FEATURES

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY 23 JANUARY 2007

Rugby Union

Six Nations success a must for a great Irish team arriving at the peak of its powers Kevin Lynch assesses the validity of the current Irish side’s claim to be “the second best team in the world” and its chances of sealing a Grand Slam on St Patrick’s Day in Rome Ireland will begin the Six Nations as tournament favourites, with their best chance of winning since 1948. Their performances in the Autumn Series saw them hailed as the second best team in the world in the world – well, unless you count New Zealand’s two islands separately - and Munster and Leinster are both sure to progress, for the (record) ninth and fifth times respectively, to the knockout stages of the European Cup. As Trinity News goes to print, Munster are looking to top their pool unbeaten and Leinster secure a home quarter final against Gloucester.

This is not to say it will be easy; a tough opening away encounter with Wales is followed a week later by France’s first visit to Croke Park in what will probably be an early tournament Grand Slam decider. In reality the French will be the only credible threat to Ireland’s march, but with one eye on the World Cup, the heavy toll of the arduous French Championship, and the shame of being flattened by the All Blacks in November, Ireland’s superior conditioning and experience should see them through. The new England squad under Brian Ashton remains a bit of an unknown quantity, but

its relative inexperience and abominable form of late make an upset unlikely.

Valiant as they are, Italy and Scotland could have improved by the power of four and there’d still be a few teams down in Stradbrook who’d give them a run for their money.

O’Sullivan’s position is probably the strongest since he has taken over the job.

The injury profile is strong – only Ulster rookie Stephen Ferris wasn’t considered due a hand injury- Jerry Flannery, 2006’s newcomer of the year, and Ulster’s Tommy Bowe both return.

Bernard Laporte, France’s Director of Rugby, has stated that France will play the tournament with a clear eye on the World Cup later in the year. He has announced a 40 man squad- five more than Irelandand declared a strict rotational policy ; “All will play at least one tournament match, but no-one will play all five matches”. Eddie O’Sullivan has always contended, rightly, that winning the Six Nations is an end in itself and thus will not be looked on as a development competition. He has always been conservative with his selections, replacement policy and is sometimes to slow to drop players

who are underperforming. Although even if he were so inclined it’s a bit late for experimentation, both in the World Cup cycle and his career.

His policy was initially in part encouraged by a strong first team, but with precious little else in the armoury. Ireland now has strong competition in almost every area of the squad and we should capitalise on this. This manifests itself in two main areas; squad rotation and substitutions. Recent history shows that dropping players is the best way to jolt them into improving their form. Simon Easterby impressed when Neil Best was rested in the Pacific Islands test, Malcolm O’Kelly responded well when young Donnacha O’Callaghan took his place in the second row and Girvan Dempsey has added a potent attacking threat to his consistency in defence to counteract the challenge of Georden Murphy.

Impact replacements are of increasing importance in the modern game, and a weapon that most coaches will deploy in the last quarter. The strength and dynamism of Wallace and Best would make them ideal candidates for this role, while the fresh legs of O’Kelly or

O’Callaghan or the raw aggression of Rory Best or Jerry Flannery would add extra grunt up front.

Although Ireland’s three quarter line is one of the finest in the world – Gerry Thornley would call them Galaticos – but despite the expert marshalling of RO’G it still relies on individuals breaking the gain-line. O’Gara’s super confident flat distribution has been successful but it is not a comprehensive system for breaking down sophisticated defences. By staying deeper and employing dummy runners in midfield (think the centres switching and wingers floating infield) Ireland could open enough space to unleash furies in attack.

Ireland’s position now is analogous to England’s four years ago; an experienced squad, superb conditioning, fantastic confidence and a world class outhalf. They probably peaked, performance-wise, at Six Nations time then, winning a Grand Slam let’s hope Ireland can do the same.

If Ireland set their sights on the Championship, they should have what it takes to win; then everyone will realize how stupid that Triple Crown shield actually looks.

2007 Six Nations Championship Schedule (All kick-off times are local)

The men who would be kings Scrum half: Incumbent scrumhalf Peter Stringer is being challenged by Issac Boss, whose sniping around the edges is in contrast to Stringer’s emphasis on efficient delivery to O’Gara. Wasp’s Eoin Reddan makes up the numbers.

Wing: Probably Ireland’s finest young prospect, Andrew Trimble, should this year begin the championship in possession of the number 11 shirt, having displaced fellow Ulsterman Tommy Bowe in 2006 Bowe remains part of the picture, but last year’s Twickenham hero, the indefatigable Shane Horgan will line out on the opposite flank. Geordan Murphy could also find an opportunity for himself at wing should injuries or loss of form demand a change.

Centre: Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy will continue a wonderful partnership which makes the English green with envy. O’Driscoll’s leadership has matured and his defensive work now constitutes a major part of his contribution, but not to the detriment of his now famously explosive and often game-changing flair. He’s still one of the most exciting players around; a pass to himself anyone? Despite his last stand heroics he has been outshone by his Clongownian foil and teammate D’Arcy whose Leinster performances have torn apart any opposition. The need for specialist centre replacements is negated by the versatility of Horgan and Trimble.

Fullback: Girvan Dempsey, always a defensive stalwart has added a potent attacking game that has reclaimed him the fullback position from Georden Murphy’s challenge.

The latter’s slim build, has increasingly looked an issue at the highest level.

However he remains one of Ireland’s most gifted runners, and his appreciation of attacking lines and releasing his teammates is unrivalled. His versatility also means he would be an important part of the Six Nations, and particularly World Cup squads.

Outhalf: David Humphreys’ retirement has left a massive gap, one that is not easily filled.

Ulster’s Paddy Wallace won the Man of the Match award in the Pacific Islands test, but Ronan O’Gara’s recent form shows the value of experience in the pivotal stand off position. Speculation remains rife that Humphreys, whose form for his province has been spectacular since his step-down from international rugby, will be recalled for the World Cup. However for the Six Nations and June Tests Wallace will surely deputise for O’Gara.

Week 1 Saturday 3, February Italy v France - 14:30 England v Scotland - 16:00 Sunday 4, February Wales v Ireland - 15:00

Backrow: Jamie Heaslip, Denis Leamy, Neil Best, David Wallace, Keith Gleeson and Simon Easterby, have all been named, demonstrating an embarrassment of riches.

Neil Best impressed many with his barnstorming performances in the Autumn Series; he looks to be a real sensation with that ‘‘X’ – factor’. Although Simon Easterby’s form with Llainelli - where he captained through an unbeaten pool campaign in the European cup, means that there is real competition between him and Best. Gleeson is truer openside, making tackles and linking backs and forwards, but with Jerry Flannery, D’Arcy and O’Driscoll, all of whom can defend almost as auxiliary wing forwards, in the XV, Eddie O’Sullivan may favour the greater strength and power of Wallace at number seven.

At No 8, Munster’s Leamy typifies the power, work ethic and grit that have made Munster one of the most feared packs in Europe. Leinster’s Jamie Heaslip, a former DUFC No 8, provides a dynamic alternative, demonstrating a running game with speed off the back of the scrum. The omission of Anthony Foley, Johnny O’Connor and Shane Jennings illustrates the strength of competition in this area of the team.

The squad includes six backrow players, the match day 22 will include four at the most: the hard calls have yet to be made.

Week 2 Saturday 10, February England v Italy - 13:30 Scotland v Wales - 15:30 Sunday 11, February Ireland v France - 15:00 Week 3 Saturday 24, February Scotland v Italy - 15:00 Ireland v England - 17:30 France v Wales - 21:00 Week 4 Saturday 10, March Scotland v Ireland - 13:30 Italy v Wales - 16:30 Sunday 11, March England v France - 15:00

Second Row: Mick O’Driscoll and Trevor Hogan receive the call to complement the regular trio of Paul O’Connell, Malcolm O’Kelly and Donnacha O’Callaghan. O’Connell commands a place in most World XVs, so the real question is who will partner him, with the youth of O’Callaghan likely to win the day. Hogan’s move to Leinster has given him the opportunity to find rich form – evidenced by his call-up at the expense of exiles Leo Cullen and Bob Casey and Ulster’s Matt McCollugh, all of whom have been capped several times. He remains relatively untested at this level though.

Week 5 Saturday 17, March Italy v Ireland - 14:30 France v Scotland - 16:30 Wales v England - 17:30

Prop: Simon Best and Bryan Young are below John Hayes and Marcus Horan, but the attrition rate in this crucial position and Ireland’s relative dearth of experience here prior to a World Cup means they will surely get some game time against Italy or Scotland.

Hooker: Jerry Flannery returns to join Rory Best and Frankie Sheahan. Flannery’s heroics with Ireland and Munster would surely guarantee him as the first choice selection, but for a lack of game time this season. All’s up in the air in the No 2 shirt.

Shane Horgan and Brian O’Driscoll celebrate after last year’s Triple Crown success at Twickenham.

BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2006

Zara award causes a royal stench Connel McKenna Six weeks on and it still wrankles. Given that I am blessed with a natural understanding that every once in a while the public at large can make strange collective decisions, perhaps it shouldn’t. Given that I am Irish, not British, perhaps it shouldn’t. But to Hell with logic, it does. Zara Phillips won the 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. I’m not in denial you’ll see; I can admit that it happened, it’s the accepting that it happened that I’m having greater trouble with.

I should be able to brush such a minicatastrophe off, I know. I should pay Philips’ win no further heed, having treated it initially with the mild bemusement it merits, but can’t seem to. This particular triumph you see, seems to represent that certain values are still present within the good people of Britain which I for one,

had hoped ere no longer relevant. It’s useless to shy away from the reality – Phillips won not because of her impressive achievements, but because she is a Royal.

Do note that I describe her achivements in the past year or so as impressive, for this cannot be called into question, and to do so is not the purpose of this article.

She became only the third rider in history to hold the World and European threeday eventing titles simultaneously, after her triumph at the World Equestrian Games in Germany in August, and wrote herself into the sport’s history in the process.

Her success is remarkable within its field, but that is precisely the problem.

Phillips’ particular field, equestrian, does not much penetrate a national psyche across the water which is more concerned with football, rugby and, occasionally cricket. I could roll of a rather lengthly list of sports to which the majority Britain’s

population occasionally take interest in before arriving at equestrian. It’s not as if horse racing is unpopular (for many indeed, it is an obsession), but then the last time I checked not quite so many bets were placed on Dressage and ShowJumping.

These sports are minority sports, and worse, are sports which the man on the street will often dissmiss sneeringly as the preserve of the rich and privileged. Only twice before in the competition’s history has the victor come from such a minority sport. The most recent instance came in 1984 when Torvill and Dean, figureskaters, claimed the famous little trophy. They not only achived greatness, but perfection within their field, with the now famous clean-sweep of perfect sixes.

Their’s was a deserved accolade. The other instance came in 1971. The victor?

Princess Anne, Phillips’ mother. You see what I’m getting at here.

“Ours is such a small sport,” Phillips said in the aftermath of her victory, and rather gallingly called on greater lottery funding to be ploughed into it. Granted, she only wants the best for her sport, but this is afterall someone who purchsed her own champion horse, Toytown at the age of eighteen.

So exactly how then, did Zara Phillips attract 32.5% of the public vote? That number is hugely dispropportionate to the percentage of people in the country who take even a passing interest in her sport, but not of course, to those who take an interest in her family.

Had any of Phillps’ British teammates at the games (where Britain won silver in the team event) achieved there what she did, would they have won the award? I sincerely doubt it. In fact, I flat out reject the notion. Phillips receives a naturally higher media profile because of her Royal blood, and so do her achievements.

She also gains greater affection among Middle England than her peers for this reason alone - it is difficult to envisage many members of this section of Britain’s population as having voted for Joe Calzaghe, a tough Welsh boxer who triumphed wonderfully over the previously unblemished American Jeff Lacy, and in doing so gained success at the highest echelon of a sport that is fiercely more competitve than that in which Phillips busies herself.

There is a greater issue here though than petty class war. Given this year’s reult, we should be questioning exactly what it takes to win Sports Personality of the Year. For me, there are two rather sizable criteria. ‘Personality’ should not remain in the moniker of the award if it does not bear any weight. The victor’s personality (in or out of the arena) should have shone through in his or hers year of triumph. Their achivements should also

have transcended their chosen sport to capture the imagination and attention of the nation. The list of previous winners comprises men and women who have filled at least one of these criteria in their own years of triumph: Moore ‘66, Redgrave ‘00, Holmes ‘04, Wilkinson ‘03, Botham ‘81.

It is unrealistic to expect such a sporting contribution in every year, but we did have one this year, and it was not that Zara Phillips. The courageousness of Darren Clarke shone through in a few tumultuous weeks in September. Having lost his wife Heather to cancer we saw the great human qualities Clarke possesses, before witnessing his great sporting qualitis just weeks later when he valiantly decided to compete in the Ryder Cup and won all three matches he competed in.

2006 will eventually be remembered as Darren Clarke’s year, not Zara Phillips’s.

SPORT FEATURES 17

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, 23 JANUARY 2006

Darts

Two thrilling finals, but Darts’s renegade body begins to outshoot BDO Neil Franklin

It wouldn’t be Christmas or New Year without Darts. Scratch below the surface of the stereotypical image of the game as the preserve of boozy, overweight middle aged men (anyone who’s ever seen the infamous “Not the Nine O’Clock News” sketch from the 1980s will know what I’m talking about) and there lies a game of supreme skill, players with arms like metronomes, brains like calculators and nerves of tungsten, in the words of probably sport’s most idiosyncratic commentator, Sid Waddell.

The last three weeks has seen two World Champions crowned. Last Sunday week, Martin Adams, after being 6-0 up in sets, and within a leg of victory, was amazingly pulled back to 6-6 before recovering his composure to take the final set and the BDO (British Darts Organisation) World Title in a cliff-hanger against little-known Geordie Phil Nixon.

But the rival PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) final on New Year’s Day was the game that Darts had been waiting for fourteen years for. Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld came back from 3-0 down to beat the greatest player of all time, Phil Taylor, 7-6, after a winner take all final leg in which was best viewed through the narrow spaces between fingers. To understand why the tension went beyond normal for such an occasion, you have to understand the political background of the game. This was the first time since the early 1990’s that it could be safely said that the two best players in the world had clashed in a World Championship Final.

Annual watchers will probably be confused as to why there are two World Championships. Darts is defined by an event that happened back in 1993, known simply as the “split”. The world’s top 16 players were angry at the way the game was being run, and principally with one man, Olly Croft, who founded the British Darts Organisation, the de facto world governing body, back in the late 60s. Croft was undoubtedly responsible for the growth of Darts in the 1970s and 1980s, but from having previously had several TV tournaments, the game regressed to having just the one in the early 1990s – the Lakeside (BDO) World Championship. The 1993 edition was the last time a unified World Championship was contested. An incredibly bitter split ensued after the tournament, and by the following Christmas, Phil Taylor et al had

Raymond van Barneveld, 2007 PDC World Champion, whose defection to the PDC has stripped the BDO of its best player ,and lead to a talent-drain of the organisation’s best young players in the same direction. formed their own world-governing body and were playing at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, Essex for the rival Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) version of the title.

The PDC signed a TV deal with Sky Sports. Sky brought hype, with new nicknames and walk-on tunes for players, and poached Sid Waddell, Darts’ most recognisable voice, from the BBC. Most importantly, they brought better prize money.

As the years passed more and more tournaments were televised by Sky, but most people did not receive the satellite broadcaster, so they could not see the action.

Croft and the BDO dug in, continuing on with lesser known but up and coming

players – and Bobby George. Crucially for them, the BBC retained their coverage of the event, handing it a lifeline. Purfleet got the stars, but Lakeside got the coverage, at least as far as the ordinary person was concerned. Even now, with Sky’s penetration far in advance of what it was in the early days, viewing figures for this year’s Lakeside final were on average over three times that of the PDC equivalent.

The split came just as Taylor was beginning to establish himself as an unbeatable force. Starting in 1995, he won eight consecutive PDC world titles, with three-dart averages hitherto unknown in the game. By this year he had

amassed thirteen world titles (eleven PDC and two pre-split Lakeside titles).

During the 1990s several of the original top 16 who had formed the PDC found their power waning. With no youth system in place, the governing body found itself reliant on attracting a slow but steady stream of defectors from their rivals for new talent. On the BDO side, Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld had established himself as the only serious rival to Taylor as the world’s best. With four titles, “Barney” was the only man to win the BDO championship more than once since the split. The two went head to head in 1999 in a special one-off unification match, but Taylor ran out an easy

winner. Barney realised that to call himself the world’s best, Taylor would have to be beaten. So in February last year, Barneveld hit the BDO with the body blow they had been dreading when he finally joined the PDC. Since Barney’s move, five meetings with Taylor over the course of 2006 were split evenly – two wins each and a draw (in the best of 16 leg Premier League). Purfleet was all set up to be the showdown.

But Barneveld almost came undone in the second round when Colin Lloyd went 3-0 ahead of him in sets in a best-of-seven match. Barney looked beaten, but Lloyd missed four darts to win the match and amazingly Barneveld won the next four

sets, the final one again on the winner takes all final leg, to survive. A decider between the big two was inevitable after that.

Once the final got underway, Taylor started as if he was going to do to Barneveld what he has done to pretty much everybody over the course of his career: pulverise him. “The Power” went 3-0 up inside half an hour and hadn’t lost a leg. A 170 outshot to win the fourth set saw Barneveld spark into life, and he looked the better player for the rest of the match. But there was nothing in it at the end, and a final set, and ultimately a final leg decider looked inevitable a long way from home. However, Barney’s 21 180s tells us that his victory was the right result – just.

The BDO version of the world championship subsequently took centre stage.

After the Sky-driven hype of the Circus Tavern, (Sid Waddell is not a man who talks things down), where the sight of boozed-up crowds dancing to Planet Funk’s “Chase the Sun” at the breaks provides not insignificant comic value, Lakeside seems stuck in a time warp at first. But the more traditional set-up is easy to warm to as the week goes on, and the excitement and competitiveness of the darts – it is a genuinely unpredictable championship where anyone can win negates the need for hype. Lakeside also has history behind it. For anybody who remembers the days before the split, the venue will always be the real World Championship.

Take Taylor and Barneveld out of the equation and the standard is pretty even between the two rival organisations because the BDO has a better supply of young talent. But last week the two most prominent youngsters, the 2006 Lakeside champion Jelle Klaasen, and World Masters champion Michael van Gerwen, broke ranks and defected. Mervyn King, twice Lakeside runner-up, a man once on record as saying he’d rather give up Darts than play in the PDC, is strongly rumoured to be joining them.

The BDO has survived defections before, but the PDC is winning the battle.

If the move by Barneveld and the other top players from Holland opens up the previously BDO-dominated Dutch market to the PDC, Croft’s organisation will be in serious trouble. The BDO have struck lucky again and secured BBC coverage until 2010. But if the stream of defections continue, and there is no reason to suggest they won’t, one wonders how long the BBC will continue to prop them up.

Soccer

Lamenting the lost heroes of a bygone age As celebrity culture and the trappings that come with it continue to engulf the world of football, Andrew Payne reflects on its damaging effect on the quality of the game’s leading players.

What would Stan Matthews say? A boom in the Beckham brand accompanied a slump in his success on the pitch, as “Galactico” culture failed at Real Madrid.

The David Beckham roadshow has finally hit Hollywood. While the player will not complete his lucrative move to Los Angeles until the summer, Beckham’s current manager Fabio Capello has declared that he will never again play in the white of Real Madrid. The soap opera which has been the latter part of Beckham’s career can obscure a more important issue – where have the superstars of the world game gone?

Beckham was the most hyped of the players who became known as the ‘galacticos’ at Real, the greatest example of a generation of ‘celebrity’ footballers more broadly. Hype, however, does not equal greatness. He was arguably the least talented of those Real Madrid signed, following on as he did from Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo – players who could all at their peak lay claim to being among the world’s very best. A glittering team that would sweep all aside at home and abroad - that was the plan anyway. In reality the side failed to win La Liga or the Champions’ League in Beckham’s time at the club.

Today the galactico era is over. Figo and Zidane are gone, Ronaldo would appear poised to follow Beckham out the door, and many of those less high profile stars who followed Beckham such as Michael Owen, Julio Baptista and even, to a lesser extent, Jonathan Woodgate have left the club either permanently or temporarily.

The era of the celebrity footballer may finally be subsiding as the ridiculousness of the English World Cup squad’s reputation hits home. What have we left instead? Under the fog of endless

book deals and multi-million pound transfers it became all too easy to miss the fact that there were few truly world class footballers around. The truth is that there is far less superstars in terms of talent gracing the game today than there were even a decade ago. Who is there today to compare with the likes of Schmeichel, Maldini, Baggio and Romario at their prime? Fabio Cannavaro (now coincidently of Real himself), a very talented defender no doubt, recently won the World Player of the Year award. The World Cup aside though has he really been one of the standout players of the last five years?

Even if he has been he too is approaching the tail end of his career.

Those who have truly impressed in recent times have often been those old stars of the 1990s not yet content to hang up their boots. Maldini himself has proven one of the world’s greatest defenders all the way through to his late 30s, Romario is still searching for the last few goals which will bring him to 1,000 in his career at the age of 40, while two of the undisputed stars of Manchester United’s recent resurgence have been the evergreen Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

Who will replace these men when they are gone? Barcelona’s magnificent trio of Deco, Eto’o and Ronaldinho are surely worthy of the highest praise, yet even the great Brazilian’s shine has been blemished somewhat by a poor World Cup. A natural question must be how much money and the media have contributed to this troubling situation. Roy Keane recently lamented that the first thing players do when they come to dis-

cuss a move is ask what the financial package will be, comments reminiscent of his worries over the culture gripping Old Trafford in his latter years at United.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon made similar, if misjudged, complaints about many many of his club’s squad last week. With millions rolling into players’ pockets and the media hailing them as superstars, is it any wonder that so many players become lazy and pass their prime before even reaching their late 20s?

It is not inevitable that every match will have a world class professional in it.

We should not assume there will be. The more honest truth is that the world game has increasingly become the preserve of hard working, successful, yet often sparkless players. Where are the Cruyffs, Beckenbauers and Maradonas? The English game is even largely devoid of Cantonas and Ginolas. While it is admittedly overly romantic to say so, winning is not everything. While there is much to be admired about the Chelsea team of the last few seasons, beautiful football has not been one of them. We should demand more.

Football needs its heroes, its world class players for it to truly shine. The money and celebrity that David Beckham came to represent should be viewed as a sign of what must now be avoided. Let’s leave the football to do the talking, not the reputations. The alternative could be fewer and fewer players emerging who we will remember with the affection we do the greats of the past. That would truly be football’s greatest ever loss, for what is the sport if it is not the place where we live out our dreams?

18 SPORT

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

DU Boat Club

Anticipation mounts among rowers David Cummins There is a growing sense of anticipation in DU Boat Club, one that has surfaced following months of consistent effort and preparation. Despite there being only the one race to report thus far, training continues unabated with sights firmly set on the plethora of events taking place in February and March.

Over the Christmas break, the three squads of athletes attended two separate training camps, the novices and second-

year novices travelling to Cappoquin, Co Waterford while the senior oarsmen opted for the more serene and peaceful setting of Seville, Spain.

The senior squad, comprising ten rowers and coach Mark Pattison, were based at the High Performance Training Centre on the Guadalquivir River. This stretch of water is the same used for the 2002 World Rowing Championships and is one of the calmest in Europe. The squad was blessed with perfect conditions all week and capitalised on this unique opportunity, covering approxi-

mately 200 km over the seven day period.

Temperatures averaged a pleasant 20 degrees during the day. Wind was almost nonexistent. A world apart from the reality of the treacherous weather one comes to expect from an Irish January. Furthermore, on-site accommodation and catering facilities provided for all the squad’s needs, so focus was fixed predominantly on training.

The routine was simple. On the water twice a day for the duration of the week. The water sessions encompassed

technical work in single sculls, doubles, quads and fours. Clocking up mileage.

Testing combinations. Concentrating on technique. Alongside the water work were gym sessions that gave attention to core stability and strength. Freedom and respite came only at mealtime, and with sleep.

There was the added competitive element to the training that made the days all the more interesting. Different combinations of coxless fours paced against each other time and time again, battling for every inch, punishing mis-

takes and playing mind-games to enrage the boat opposite. The Pineapple Cup, a trophy awarded to the Club’s best sculler, was won by Robert Swift in the middle of the week, following seven hours of competitive racing in single sculling boats. Robert surprised with his courageous performance, impressing upon many the reality of his extraordinary boat-moving ability while in the process reconciling his poor ergometer result from earlier in the week. Good row Swift.

Cappoquin hosted the first- and sec-

ond-year-novices for what proved an enjoyable four days. Coaches John Mohan and Ali Floyd made the most of the almost deserted River Blackwater to prepare the squad for the Head season, beginning on the River Liffey on February 3.

Mileage makes champions. An overly-used rowing saying that certainly rings true. Indeed, it is of utmost importance that DU Boat Club accumulates as much distance as possible in this coming period. By March, it would be too late.

Six weeks to Colours.

DU Harriers and Athletic Club

Christmas medals all round for DU Harriers after indoor championship Denis Tkachenko The last competition of 2006 that DU Harriers and Athletic club took part in was the IUAA Indoor Track and Field Championships held on December 2 and 3, 2006.

The team ventured out to the Nenagh Olympic Stadium, the traditional venue for this intervarsity, notorious among athletes for being colder on the inside than on the outside. This time, however, the situation was reversed with the downpour of rain and strong gales keeping everyone inside. Over the weekend Trinity athletes took part in 22 events ranging from 60m sprints to pole vault, and won medals in 8 of them, having demonstrated both individual strengths and a good team spirit.

The ladies’ team, severely depleted by colds, injuries and upcoming exams, claimed 2 medals during the competition.

First, our Cross-Country captain, Fodhla Treacy ran a cracking, but also very controlled race in the 800m final and dominated the field decisively to earn a Gold medal. She also added some more points to the team’s total by coming fifth in the long jump. The second medal came in the 4x200m relay final, where the team consisting of Claire McGlynn, Ruth Carson, Ciara McCallion, Rioghna Moggan and Jenny Holmes combined their talents to pick up the Bronze medal. Other

DU Harriers and Athletic Club’s team after competing in the IUAA indoor track and field championship in Nenagh at the start of December last. Photo: Denis Tkachenko point contributions came from Caitriona Hooper, finishing fourth in the gritty 3000m, Ciara McCallion being fifth in the 200m, and our track and field cap-

tain Claire McGlynn coming fourth in the 400m and sixth in the pole vault. Overall, the team came sixth out of 12 on points.

The men’s team, being slightly

more complete than the ladies’, produced six medals. Fintan McGee showed pure class in literally crucifying his only real challenger from DCU in the 3000m

with a few laps to go and opening up a 12-second lead, much to the delight of the Trinity crowd. A well deserved gold medal which was won in style. Simon Taggart

did a great job in his main event, the 400m, by cutting through heats and semis to land a Silver medal in the fierce final race, finishing just behind the first runner.

If this weren’t enough, he also finished fifth in the 60m final. Karl Fahy was slightly disappointed to lose the title he claimed last year, finishing second in a hotly contested 800m final, which involved a scandalous incident that left two athletes face down in the sand pit (the culprit was disqualified shortly afterwards), and allowed the leader to slip away. Denis Tkachenko claimed another Silver medal for the team in the 2000m Walk, clawing out the second position on the finishing line after a blistering sprint finish. Men’s track and field captain Stuart Greene was disappointed, coming only third in his main event, the pole vault, which still brought the team a much-needed bronze. Last but not least is Michael McCarthy, who was hardly off the track during the whole weekend, and earned a Bronze medal in the shot putt, came 5th in the weight for distance, and was also fifth in the pentathlon. The 4x200m relay team, consisting of Stuart Greene, Michael McCarthy, Neil Collins, Simon Taggart, and Brian Dennehy, achieved fourth place.

Overall, Trinity men finished in a creditable third place.

For those interested, full results are available at http://sindar.net/ iuaa/results/meet/162.

DU Equestrian Club

Trinity tetrathletes bring home a bunch of rosettes Laura Murphy On the 10th, 11th and 12th of Nov, 17 students from Trinity headed down to Waterford. The competitors were competing in Tetrathlon – four disciplines: running, shooting, riding and swimming.

The competition comprised of teams from all the other colleges in Ireland.

With 250 competitors, fierce competition was expected as everyone lined up to take part in the best fancy dress ever on the Friday night. 10 hours later (with some Trinity people only managing an hour an a half of sleep!) the running began, 1.5K for the girls and a grisly 3K for the boys. The field of choice? The Waterford sports development pitch, comprising many hills and a lot of mud.

The girls went first with many disappearing to unknown locations, but our girls struggled on and recorded impressive times. The guys were up next and by this stage the track was in an impressive state! The times were close but in the end Rory Browne won the race, just inside the optimum time with Richard Power coming a very close second.

Up next a bus straight to the WIT indoor sports centre to shoot to win. After a quick nap by the girls, the firing squad stepped up. Lisa Egan was in the zone and had a podium position in her sight.

Her aim was true and with another success behind us, we headed to the drowning arena to decide our fate!

It was a sink or swim situation with many adversaries settling for the lesser know “dead man’s float” tack. The girls

again went first with Tara Browne, Christine Furness and Emma-Jane Heneghan all swimming over 175 metres within their required three minutes. Rory Browne and Richard Power both recorded impressive lengths for the boys in their four minutes, with everyone swimming personal bests.

After working up an appetite, everyone headed back to the hotel for the ball.

A good night was had by all with some people showing different competitive skills of table dancing and sleeping in “interesting” positions/places.

Two hours’ sleep later and the riding began! It started rather bleakly for Trinity with a misunderstanding between rider and horse, directional issues and early dismounts causing trouble. Things improved though with several nearly

clear and clear rounds boosting our morale.

Finally, the show-jumping results were announced with some controversial winners being explained by the fact that the judge had been consuming straight scotch.

The individual results saw Trinity collecting a hoard of rosettes in each discipline. The tension was mounting as the team prizes were announced in reverse order. We knew it was between ourselves and UCD. Our efforts were not in vain though and due to some very consistent performances especially from Rory Browne and Richard Power taking second and third individually and Tara Browne taking fifth individually, once again after a dodgy year in UCD, the cup has come home.

The haul of rosettes after Trinity’s success at the tetrathlon competition. Photo: Marie Claire Gallagher

SPORT 19

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

DU Ladies’ Hockey Club

Trinity’s five ladies’ hockey teams in promising positions Sinead Sheerin The completion of the first half of the season leaves the five teams of the DU Ladies’ Hockey Club in promising positions. With the start of year rustiness conquered and fresher initiations up and running, the teams have settled down and are coming up with more positive results and performances. The unexpected influx of new freshers caused difficulties at the start of the year with an all-time high number of people registered for the club and only five teams to accommodate them, and has quickly forced each team to raise their standard. The ladies’ teams are placed in various positions in their respective leagues, with some comfortably sitting close to the top which bodes well for possible league promotions and the continuation of successful cup campaigns, meaning on optimistic 2007 lies ahead.

Trinity’s first XI, playing with a smaller squad this year under new coach David Bane, took part in the Intervarsity competition in Limerick earlier this season. They qualified out of their group beating Queens University 2-0, CIT 5-0, NUIG and drawing with UL. Their performance in the semi-final was thwarted

by UCC, the eventual victors, who won 10. Unluckily, frosty conditions resulted in the loss of centre-back Rebecca Coll, when she fell during the first half of the game on the icy pitch, breaking and dislocating her arm. Hopefully her return will be imminent in the New Year. However, Captain Rachel Griffith and goalkeeper Ciara Rowe were selected for the Irish Universities squad following the tournament, along with goalkeeper Emma Grey being chosen for Leinster trials.

Playing in Division One against international players has always proved difficult for university teams, with loses so far against powerhouses Hermes, Old Alex and Pembroke. Two substantial draws in league games at the beginning of the season, including a 0-0 draw to Railway, proves Trinity are able to pull impressive performances out of the bag and cause some damage. An important game against Three Rock Rovers started well with a goal from Louisa Johnston, however ended in a 3-1 defeat. The space made by the loss of Cecilia Joyce and an injured player has allowed new fresher Christine Boyle to make it onto the squad, and Claire Hearnden to be called up from the seconds. With the second half of the season swiftly approaching, they look to rely on their experience playing together to rack up some more points.

The seconds started off their season with large numbers, which once cut down by captain Dara Stanley and new coach Barry Glavey was recruited, a smaller squad was formed. Last year saw a thoroughly new team thrown together, meaning this year’s team has more experience, with only three new freshers as opposed to last years freshers making up the majority of the seconds. Early games indicated this experience has helped them perform better than last year in their new home in division five with draws against Navan and Guinness and a win against Muckross. The team are now sitting mid table and hopeful. A strong start in a game against Weston left Trinity 3-2 up with goals from Aoife Morris, Anne Cunningham and Fiodhna Burke, but were forced to accept a 3-3 draw. A notable performance in a division five/six Cup game versus UCD’s thirds, saw the team respond to being 1-0 down at half time with a 4-1 win, with 3 goals coming

Trinity’s first ladies’ team celebrating their win over Pembroke’s seconds in the Leinster Cup. DU won 9-7 after the game went to penalties. Photo: John Coll from Anne Cunningham and another from Helen Taaffe. Although the team are now out of the running for the fifth/sixth division cup to Weston, their 1-0 loss to league leaders Avoca and win against Pembroke fifths looks promising for future division five table climbing. With a significantly young team, most of the players will be staying on at least another year, which should be mean better and better results over time.

October saw the thirds face an unprecedented number of players and freshers all vying for positions, meaning an un-settled team with early losses to Pembroke and Skerries, and a draw to Our Lady’s. Things came together once the team was finalised including four new freshers, and the last six games played have resulted in five wins in league games

and one cup game victory. With captain Bernice Molony back in action after injury, the team are currently placed 3rd in division seven and are looking to reverse last years relegation and attempt to reach another cup final before the potential departure of many of the oldschool members of the team next year.

With new coach Mike Maguire being helped out by coaching veteran Peter Blakeney, and a panel of 17, the thirds sideline is consistently packed with eager players. Several double weekends saw a 1-1 draw against table-toppers Bray despite controversial reffing and a 1-0 win against heavyweights Alex, thanks to a solo run from Alvina Lim. Genesis were dominated by a 4-0 win, with goals from Fiona Nolan, Sinead Sheerin and a breakaway goal from Holly Jones. It was 1-1

against Botanic the next day, until Amy Fryday rattled the opposition and made it a 2-1 win. Another 2-0 win against Diocesan the next weekend, before the thirds first cup game against UCD fourths away. A strong performance left the score 1-0 to Trinity at half time, but an inspired reverse clip hit from Darina Errity sealed the 2-0 victory. The final game of 2006 was played on a frozen North Kildare grit pitch with an international panel of coaches with Mike, Peter and Phelie. It eventually ended 1-0 to Trinity after an intimidating hit from Laura Binions deflected off a Trinity stick and resulted in an own goal from the home team.

With their experienced defence from last year keeping a clean sheet in many of the games and players putting the ball in the back of the net and getting over last

years ‘scoring-block’, the team look set to remain a strong force in their division and conquer more pitches in the new year.

The fourths have had a tough beginning to their league campaign, as unfortunately in their first game the missing element of a goalkeeper forced an outfield player to play the unenviable position. A double weekend saw the team take on Corinthians, but the M50 was against them and held up half the team resulting in a loss. The next day a respectable score of 2-1 in a defeat against old enemies UCDD was promising and looks to be a tight game when it comes to the colours showdown. An away match against league tyrants Railway proved exciting, with quite an old-school team playing with the addition of several new freshers, but resulted in a 2-0 defeat. Muckross faced a determined 4ths and they walked away with a 0-0 draw and put some points on the table, thanks to new coach and great addition Neil and a hard fought effort.

Lately, due to a smaller squad and new players from the thirds they are playing a stronger and more cohesive game.

They were narrowly defeated in penalty flicks in their last Cup match against Pembroke and in the league they are beginning to get points on the board. After another very close match against Muckross it ended in a 2-1 defeat to the league leaders. Despite the fact they are without a team goalie, they have been doing well thanks to the other goalies in club who have been helping them out, and hope to score some more points in the second half of the season.

The fifths started off their season with an enormous number of players, but over time the numbers have dropped but has still left them with a squad of 20. Early matches saw the fifths deal with some less than adequate pitch issues, notably in a game against Newbridge. Despite the conditions the team emerged victorious with the score 3-2 with a hat-trick from Eimear Macnamara. A home game against the next day UCDD wasn’t much better as they had to play on the now infamous Santry pitch, but they achieved a 11 draw with a goal from Eimear again. A 2-1 loss to Dalkey occurred the following week due to a substantial absence of players from their large squad.

If the results from the first weekend back of 2007 are anything to go on, Trinity’s ladies’ hockey teams look to be stepping it up a notch compared to the first half of the season. Four of the five teams came away victorious over the weekend, with only the fifths suffering a loss. The first XI proudly walked off the pitch in Santry with a dramatic win against Pembroke seconds, with the game going into extra time and extra penalty flicks. The end result was 9-7 to the students after penalties, with captain Rachel Griffith scoring the winning stroke. The seconds dominated UCDD’s thirds once again, with a decisive score-line of 4-0 while the thirds beat Pembroke sixths 1-0 thanks to Holly Jones in an important league game which secures their place in the top three of their division. The fourths were also successful against UCDD’s fourths, winning 1-0 with a goal by Megan Leonard..

With Colours 2007 looming around the corner, Trinity can confidently say that they will be giving the Oiks a good run for their daddies’ money, and hopefully be able to retain the title taken last year and walk away with more memories.

DU Hockey Club

Trinity hockey old boy making his mark in the Netherlands Stephen Findlater Former Trinity Hockey club player Phelie Maguire is making his mark in the Dutch Hoofdklasse the world's premier club hockey league.

The 22-year-old was once more in the starting line-up for HGC’s 3-2 win over Oranje Zwart, their fifth victory in succession and enough to propel them into second place in the table mid-way through their season as the season entered

the winter break.

With 30 international caps gained during his time in college, the Trinity midfielder was snapped up last summer by HGC in The Hague.

Maguire got wind of the opportunity to play in Holland from Pembroke Wanderers coach Craig Fulton, who told him that the club was looking to recruit foreign players. He impressed during a trial in August and was subsequently confirmed in the 18-man squad for the current season.

Phelie’s success in Holland comes after three seasons with Trinity, where he gained a Pink and a sporting scholarship, along with two Intervarsity titles and a Leinster under-21 cup triumph.

Having finished his history degree, Phelie sought a greater hockey challenge than Ireland could provide and decided to join the growing number of Irish hockey players moving to Holland.

While other Irish players have made the move to Europe, though, Phelie is the first to play in the Dutch “Hoofdklasse”,

the world hockey’s best league. His plays in a team which includes Dutch internationals Guus Vogels and Bram Lomans, both World Cup and Olympic champions who have gained in excess of 200 caps.

400,000 viewers watched one HGC's league match against Klein Zwitserland live on television, showing the profile afforded to hockey in Holland.

Given that the Irish Senior Cup final reaches barely a quarter of that figure, Phelie’s profile, as an international hockey star, is definitely on the rise.

Phelie Maguire

Everything perfect in DU Rifle Club DU Rifle Club is celebrating a period of unparalleled success following the recently completed Michaelmas term under the guidance of Captain Iain Nash.

Membership surged to an all-time high of over 410 members. There has been unprecedented interest in shooting in the Colours and Intervarsity Matches this year with a squad of 35 students putting in tireless effort with Coach Mark Dennehy to improve their aim, breathing, position and finally their score.

DU Rifle Club is looking forward to the NTSA 10m Airgun Open, on the 28th January 2007, at UCD Rifle Club and has every intention of coming back laden with trophies. Best of luck to them!

If you are interested in taking up target shooting, come down to the oncampus Rifle Range between 6pm and 9pm Monday to Friday during term. A map to the Range is available at tcd.ie/clubs/rifle/directions.html

Pugilists in first comp of the year DU Amateur Boxing Club recently had its first competition of the year in the Irish Junior Championships, with numerous students boxing in both Maynooth and Tallaght at the end of last term. There were some very entertaining bouts, including wins for Paul Noone (63.5 kg), brothers Robert (91 kg) and Neil (81 kg) O'Boyle, Ed Montgomery (57 kg) and Lois James (60 kg). Gutsy performances from Steve Byrne (86 kg), Frankie Mohan, (67 kg), David Henry (71kg) and Oke Numa (75kg) unfortunately went the other way.

Additional bouts in Tallaght saw wins for promising rookies Sam Chappatte (81 kg) and Gilbert Lysaght (63 kg), along with further successes for Paddy McCormack (60 kg) and Neil O'Boyle (81kg). Paul Noone (63.5 kg) unfortunately lost in another close-fought final. Although results have not yet been finalised due to outstanding matches, Trinity currently lies top on points and is favourite to take home the team award.

The Club is also preparing boxers for the Irish Seniors in Cork (26th January), the infamous Colours match against UCD (8th Febuary), as well as the British and Irish Championships in Glasgow (26th Febuary), of which Trinity are the defending champions.

Third rugby team wallops UCD 93-0 In a similar vein to the Trinity first XV’s victory in the Colours match before Christmas, Trinity’s third XV racked up a colossal 93-0 victory over UCD which remains the largest ever victory by either side in a Colours match.

The action took place in Belfield with Trinity starting off against the breeze. Almost immediately, Trinity’s backs took control and the first try of the game was scored three minutes in.

Very soon after this, Trinity followed up with a second try and it became clear that the rest of the match would be an onslaught.

Though UCD tried to use the strong wind to their advantage, their kicking game was soon shut down, due in part to Trinity’s outstanding performance in the lineout; UCD failed to win the ball once throughout the game. Trinity initially capitalised on UCD’s poor lineout form knowing that every time they kicked to touch they would win back possession.

However, they soon grew tired of this, choosing to run the ball and repeatedly break the UCD line.

Try after try was accumulated without a single penalty conversion as Trinity opted to run the ball or kick to touch. By halftime, the scoreboard read 53-0 but UCD’s supporters maintained their spirit.

Only once in the match did UCD manage to come close to Trinity’s tryline. Having made a break from halfway, the UCD ball carrier was tackled only ten yards out and their forwards were quick to the mark to mount an attack. They repeatedly ran the ball straight up but the Trinity pack refused to give way.

In a fitting end for the match a similar episode in UCD’s end proved to be the final play of the day with Eugene Smith’s successful conversion being the last kick of the game.

20 SPORT

TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

DU Football Club

100-watt performance ensures Trinity victory Paddy McCullough

Dublin University 29 Bective Rangers 21 Although it may not be the biggest or the most intimidating ground on the Irish club rugby circuit, there is clearly something about playing in College Park that this Dublin University side finds appealing.

Perhaps it is simply a matter of being at home in one’s surroundings. Whatever the reason, Trinity’s impressive 29-21 victory over an experienced Bective Rangers outfit on Saturday, January 6th saw a continuation of their current vein of good form at home as well as the opening of their New Year account with an important win.

Though the crowds may have been small, the clear day and a good mix of visiting and home support alike ensured the atmosphere was at least lively if not overly boisterous and as the game kicked off, so too did the customary banter.

Trinity started brightly playing into the wind, and looked to their rolling maul and driving game to make early inroads.

After several phases of patient ball retention and some good pick and go tactics around the base, out-half Jonny Watt put the first points on the board with a sweetly struck drop goal from thirty yards out.

Bective, in contrast, focused on their kicking game to move them downfield, looking to the boot of former Leinster number ten Fergal Campion to work them into good positions. When a poor Trinity clearance failed to alleviate a sustained period of pressure near to the students’ line, Bective got their first opportunity to register points after an infringement in the ruck. Campion slotted the kick to tie the game up at three a piece.

Throughout this early period, Rangers enjoyed the lion’s share of territory and following a further two converted penalty kicks, one each, they began to dominate proceedings in the Trinity 22. After some consistent work from the forwards and good probing of the blind side, another poor clearance saw Campion kick his own drop goal from deep a la Francoise Steins.

With the game tied at 9-9, it was fast becoming a contest of kicking prowess, with both outside halves unerring so far in their efforts. Following yet another three points, this time for Trinity, the match opened up to create the first try-scoring opportunity of the day.

Taking the ball off the back of a good attacking scrum Watt’s beautifully timed pop pass to Conor Donohoe, saw the inside centre screaming through the so far impervious Bective defence, only to be held up close to the line. Some patient

Killian Stafford being tackled as Brian Hastings and Conor Donohoe provide support. Trinity’s impressive 29-21 victory over an experienced Bective Rangers outfit on Saturday, January 6th saw a continuation of their current vein of good form. Photo: Kirstin Smith work around the fringes followed, and when the ball went wide the space was there for Donohoe to juggle the ball over the line. However the celebrations were short lived when the referee called play back for a Bective scrum, Jonny Watt’s pass having been adjudged forward.

Though the try was disallowed, the intention was clear. Minutes later, when Campion’s long kick downfield rolled dead, Trinity were given another chance from the resulting scrum back in an almost identical position. This time they made sure of the execution. Off a well timed set play, fullback Keith Gillespie, running a beautifuly timed line directly through the 10 and 12 channels, crossed to score under the posts.

Shortly after, the Students showcased their penchant for counter attacking when

prop Andy Kings monstrous hit saw the ball roll loose only to be snatched up by Captain Brian Hastings who played left wing Killian Stafford free on the flank.

Taking full advantage of a miss- match that saw the opposing hooker as the only defender to beat, he sauntered in unmolested to close out the half at 21-9 in Trinity’s favour.

At the interval the home side looked to have closed the game out thanks to their clinical back-play in the final throes of the first period, but any allusions that this Bective side would pass quietly into the night were put to rest early in the second half. Following a further penalty for Watt, the visitors looked to get tight and a superbly worked rolling maul off the back of a close in lineout saw them cross for the first of two tries. Trinity responded

approximately 10 minutes later when openside Shane Young crossed the Bective line after some good build up play to cap yet another fine all round performance with a try. By now, however, Bective knew they could find joy through the pack and began to exert more and more pressure on the Trinity forwards with their maul. Credit must be paid to the Students’ defence for repelling them on several occasions but eventually their efforts were rewarded thirty minutes into the half when they breached the Trinity line for the second time. Watt’s penalty ensured there were two scores separating the teams and Trinity never realy looked like being turned over even if they could be criticised for perhaps taking their foot off the gas towards the end. Bective however, continued to probe valiantly but

their cause was greatly undermined when scrumhalf Robert Stokes was dismissed to the bin for cynically infringing on the deck inside the final ten minutes.

In the end, Trinity closed out proceedings to win by 29-21, and though they didn’t register a fourth try and therefore a bonus point, they can be happy with a solid performance which saw some moments of sublime skill out wide as well as an admirable all round work rate. It is also to their credit that they managed to stave off an impressive second half Bective resurgence without the final outcome ever looking to be in any real threat.

However their failure to seal a bonus point may yet cost them. With the win placing them fourth in the league, eight points behind Greystones, a five point haul against a Bective side struggling at

the bottom end of the table would have proved valuable as they approach the final section of their AIL season. With the top teams set to play each other in the final stages there is still much to play for and the Students will need to see their present good form continue if they are to keep their title hopes alive. With a lot done, but still more to do, the coming weeks should prove exciting times for DUFC. DU Football Club’s first XV against Bective: 15 Paul Gillespie, 14 George Byron, 13 Brian Hastings, 12 Conor Donohoe, 11 Killian Stafford, 10 Johnny Watt, 9 Eddie Hamilton (Bryan Johnston 70), 1 Graham Murphy (Tristan Goodbody 68), 2 Matt Crockett, 3 Andy King, 4 John Byrne, 5 Roger Young (Ciaran Condren 70), Ross Condren, 7 Shane Young, Peter McFeely

DU Association Football Club

DU Ladies’ Boat Club

Soccer team will play at the highest level again next year

Female rowers enjoy training at Cappoquin

Niall Walsh Following their early exit from the University’s League competition at the hands of UCD, DUAFC had playoff games against Maynooth College and DCU in the Premier Division East.

These games were of vital importance in retaining Trinity’s status for the following year’s competition. The match

against Maynooth was a game of high drama and was delicately poised at 22 going into extra-time. A superb 25yard effort in the first period from substitute Ciaran Costello, a freshman student making his first appearance for the senior side, meant the game finished 3-2 and ensured that Trinity will compete at the highest level again next year. This was followed by an emphatic, morale boosting 4-0 win against

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Dublin City University. Two goals apiece from the Trinity strikers, Vincent O’ Mahoney and the in-form Michael McCarthy, who now has five goals in his last four competitive appearances, made sure DU cruised to a comfortable victory.

Dublin University’s freshman team also went into the Christmas period on a high, comfortably beating the DCU freshman side 4-2. The senior side and

Áine Feeney

the first years are now back in training after a three week Christmas break and are looking forward to the Intervarsity tournaments in February and March and the upcoming Colours games against UCD which will take place towards the end of this month.

The senior side have won the Colours Cup for the past three years so manager Jimmy Cummiskey will be confident his side can deliver.

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DU Ladies’ Boat Club has returned from a successful winter training camp in Cappoquin, Co Waterford. A crew of intermediate and second-year-novice oarswomen spent five days at the end of the Christmas break rowing on the river Blackwater. The surprisingly calm conditions for this time of year made the river an ideal setting for tough, long-distance training sessions. This was aided by the fact that the water was almost deserted

but for some Cappoquin Rowing Club members.

Great progress was made under the direction of former DU Boat Club captain, newly installed boatman, and ladies’ coach Andrew Coleman. Morale is high among crewmembers following the grueling yet highly productive daily doublesessions. Hands were blistered and muscles ached yet all look forward to the coming season, which begins for the Ladies’ Boat Club with Dublin Head, on the River Liffey, on Saturday February 3rd.

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