Trinity News, Vol. 64 Issue 3 by Trinity News

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

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Volume 64, Issue 3

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Tn2 looks at the fall of Hollywood, the rise of independent coffee shops in Dublin and Stranger Things on our screens.

Too short, overcrowded, and the TA won’t stop talking

TRINITY NEWS TRINITY’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD / Est. 1953

Trinity students launch boycott campaign against Westland Eats caterer The boycott of Aramark relates to the company’s relationship with three direct provision centres Sarah Meehan

dehumanizing way.”

News Editor

GROUP OF T R I N I T Y S T U D E N T S ARE starting a campaign to boycott the Aramark company,which is the College-appointed food caterer for Westland Eats in the Hamilton building, due to its connection to direct provision centres.

Renovations begin on the pathway outside Front Arch

Photo Credit Joel Coussins/Trinity News

Students for Justice in Palestine launch campaign for boycott of Israel on Anti-apartheid grounds Students against Palestine have called the referendum “necessary and urgent.” Sarah Meehan News Editor

TUDENT FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE (SJP) are launching a campaign for a boycott of Israel on Anti-apartheid grounds, seeking to mandate Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) to affiliate with the global Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement and to omit Israeli goods from student union spaces. SJP also seek to mandate TCDSU to campaign for “an end to TCD’s ties to the Israeli state, its associated institutions, and any other body that profits from or helps to normalise Israeli

apartheid, occupation, and other human rights abuses.”

and to campaign to end the su ties with the israeli state.

In a press statement, the campaign organisers stated that the proposed referendum will reflect “the principles and aims of the international solidarity movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement for Boycott.”

Currently Trinity has institutional tied to security company G4s, drone manufacturer Elbit security systems, the israeli security and counterterrorism Academy. Trinity also has ties with Universities such as Ariel University and the Hebrew University of jerusalem both of which are partly built on settlement lands.

The group explained that trinity enforced the full boycott of apartheid South Africa on the same terms in the 1970s and 1980s, and as a result of actions by trinity and universities Apartheid in South Africa was dismantled in 1991. The referendum will mandate the TCDSU to affiliate formally with the movement, to refuse to stock Israeli products in SU spaces

In a statement also, the group said Trinity should “ have respect for Human rights as a decisive principle in all its proceedings and a solidary approach to research and learning at its core.

state of Israel. The motion was defeated. TSCSU President, Kevin keane broke a campaign promise when he spoke against the boycott at the council and offered a compromise of a TCDSU awareness campaign which was unanimously decided by the SJP. At the council keane said that the SU should exist to “affect the community we have right here”. In February of this year the Israeli ambassador was prevented from speaking a The Society for international affairs (Sofia ) event after a protest organised by SPJ. SPJ were fined for 150 by the SOFIA for the protest.

In April of this year, a motion was brought to council which called for a college wide boycott of the

The campaign is using the slogan “Aramark off our campus” and will officially launch on November 15 in the Robert Emmet theatre. Ellie Kisyombe from Our Table and,Lloyd Sibanda a Bachelor of Arts student in Dublin University College and a resident of the Eyre Powell Hotel Direct Provision Centre in Newbridge will speak at the event. Lassane Ouedraogo the Chair of the Africa Centre will also speak on the night. The campaign hopes to secure a company without connections to direct provision centres to work in Trinity instead. Trinity currently has a contract with Aramark until 2019, with an option to extend it until 2021. The campaign were denied a Freedom of Information request for the value of the contract between Trinity and Aramark. Speaking to Trinity News, a member of the boycott campaign, Jessica Dolliver, a Junior Sophister science student at Trinity said: “We are going to boycott and campaign against the presence of Aramark on-campus until it is permanently removed.” The campaign team plan to hand out leaflets outside Westlands Eats that will include facts about Aramark and direct provision. Currently, Aramark provides food for three centres, accommodating a total of 850 asylum seekers in Cork, Athlone, and Clare. According to the 2016 annual

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The campaign is collaborating with Uplift, which has been the platform for various campaigns surrounding climate change and Palestine, as well as other direct provision projects such as Right to Work report by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), the Irish state paid €5.2 million to Aramark for its services. Aramark also received €16 million from the state up to 2010. Dolliver continued: “Companies like Aramark are benefiting from the exploitation and ill-treatment of these people. No person should have their personal freedoms removed in such a

In 2014, Trinity College Dublin Students Union (TCDSU) voted to oppose direct provision. When speaking of the TCDSU mandate, Dolliver said that the contract with Aramark “flies in the face of the Student Union mandate to oppose Direct Provision. It also directly contradicts the professions of the provost’s strategic plan, which says ‘We will fearlessly engage in actions that advance the cause of a pluralistic, just, and sustainable society’. This is gross hypocrisy and it is hurtful that Trinity students are propping up an exploitative system like direct provision without knowing it.” The campaign is collaborating with Uplift, which has been the platform for various campaigns surrounding climate change and Palestine, as well as other direct provision projects such as Right to Work. They are also collaborating with the group People and Planet. People and Planet trained a number of Trinity students in July and is providing the campaign with resources to potentially run it as a larger campaign beyond Trinity, called “Undoing Borders”, which would target both the media and the government on the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers. In 2015, Aramark installed food outlets Costa, Freshii and Gastro, as well as a new seating area,in the space previously occupied by the Westland Cafe. The new foodlet for the Hamilton was announced as part of Aramark partnership deal with the food franchise Freshii to open outlets in Ireland. Aramark’s contract with Trinity was awarded following a public procurement competition. Aramark did not respond to a request for comment.

At least nine students harassed in Trinity over 3 years

ISSUE 3

In a nationwide university study, most of those who were harassed were female, and those harassing were male Assistant News Editor

T LEAST NINE STUDENTS HAVE been harassed in Trinity between 2012 and 2015, according to a nationwide study by the Irish Times. Most of those who were harassed were female, with those harassing were largely male. Between 2012 and 2016, there were 29 cases of bullying and harassment in the University of Limerick (UL), with 35 men being accused versus 9 women. 23 complaints were made by women in those cases with six made by men. Between 2011 and 2014 in University College Dublin (UCD), 10 students faced preliminary hearings for discipline, all being males. In 2014, a UCD student was caught trespassing on

campus and was involved in an “altercation with a security guard”. The student was fined more than €1,000. Another student was accused of “obstruction or harassment, including bullying”, of another student. Speaking to Trinity News about harassment in College, the Students’ Union Welfare Officer, Damien McClean, said that “whenever these cases happen, we want to know how did this happened” and “try to see if there is a trend”. With harassment cases, McClean said that “all that matters, is that the student gets the support they need”. In 2015, a survey conducted by the students’ union, found that 25% of female Trinity students and 5% of male students have had unwanted sexual experiences. While studying in Trinity, just under one third of women, at 31% surveyed, had experienced unwanted physical contact while in Trinity or in a

Trinity social setting. In 2015, only 31% of students had heard of consent campaigns in College. The UCD College Tribune newspaper reported that there were 5 cases of sexual assault in University College Dublin (UCD) between 2014 and 2016, with 11 instances of harassment in UCD from 2014 to 2017. A ‘Walk Safe’ service began in 2016, to escort students across campus during the night. However, this service was only used 20 times during a 10 month period, and was only publically advertised following a case of rape on UCD campus in November 2016. In December 2016, it was requested 37 times. All universities have a discipline policy, with Trinity’s being called “Dignity and Respect”. The aim of the policy is to prevent bullying and harassment, support good relationships between members of college, provide methods of resolution in

cases where bullying and harassment does occur, and to make it everyone’s responsibility to be aware of the policy in College. The “Equality and Diversity” policy is to be read by every student by the first week of term and is underpinned by equality legislation such as the Health and Safety Act 2005, and the Disability Act 2005. The policy is reviewed annually to ensure its implementation and efficiency by the Equality Committee. In case of disputes, College supports mediation by an impartial and experienced appointed mediator. McClean said that in cases of harassment, there are different routes to take depending on “what you are comfortable with”. “If they want to report it, that goes through the Junior Dean. Some students come in to me [...] they don’t want to go through that route; They don’t want to bring it to that level. That is more wellbeing route, a counselling route. It’s

not one or the other.” The SU have continued to run the consent workshops in Halls that were started in 2016. There was a 90% attendance rate for the workshops during its pilot year, and they have continued this academic year. Workshops are administered by a student volunteer and a counsellor from the Counselling Service . This year, the SU uis using the acronym FRIES: Freely given, retractable, informed, enthusiastic and specific. A 2013 nationwide Union of Students’ in Ireland urvey found that 1 in 8 third level students have had unwanted sexual encounters during their education.

TRINITY

Seana Davis

Life

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House Parties vs Clubs Student thoughts on Christmas exams

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

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“Direct provision is a prison sentence. By continuing their contract with Aramark, Trinity’s Commercial Revenue Unit is ignoring the voices of some of the most vulnerable people in Irish society.”

What They Said

News in brief

Aramark Off Our Campus, November 11

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“The message is clear to management: do not leave this dispute be dragged out longer than necessary seeing students without travel, and Irish Rail workers without the pay they deserve.”

News

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“I have been very uncomfortable in Dáil Éireann, as have many of the women in the Dáil. Shouting and roaring, cutting you off before you answer a question, be it in the Dáil or in a committee. I think it is gender issue,” Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael TD & Minister of State for Higher Education

Michael Kerrigan, USI President

48 students approved for counselling The Perch to restart discount on on the waiting list since mid-October There is currently a 2-3 week waiting time following an initial reusable cups consultation. The Perch previously removed the 10 cent discount

Seana Davis Deputy News Editor

he Student Counselling Services (SCS) waiting time following an initial consultation is 2 to 3 weeks. Students are allocated to a wait list if there are no available appointments within 2 weeks. Students can then wait up to 6 weeks for services, as per figures from the Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI).

Photo Credit: Joe McCallion/ Trinity News

Sarah Meehan News Editor

HE PERCH CAFE, F O R M E R LY KNOWN as the arts block cafe has returned the discounts on reusable cups last week. Since the beginning of Michaelmas term, cafe stopped all discounts for students using their own cup. Previously students received a ten cent discount for bringing their own reusable cup when buying filtered coffee. The Perch came under increasing pressure from the Students’ Union and, in particular, the Part-time Environmental officer , Simon Benson, to restore the discount. Speaking to Trinity News, the SU President, Kevin Keane, called the decision to remove the discount as “not good enough”. Keane pointed out that Trinity has committed to sustainable practices and said, “Any new commercial development should be leading on sustainability, rather than doing the bare minimum, or indeed doing nothing at all. Keane also stated that if the discount was not restored, it would have been taken up with the commercial Revenue unit.

The Environmental Officer, Simon Benson, spoke to Trinity News about the issue and stated that the discount should be restored following “Michele Hallahan, the Sustainability Advisor to the Office of the Provost, who in turn discussed this with Moira O’Brien, who is the Catering Manager”. He also added that because Trinity is a green flag campus it it important to “ reward the people who engage with environmental issues, even on a small scale.” Currently, the Aras an Phiarsaigh cafe, offer any hot drink for 1.05 if you have your own reusable cup and the Students’ Union cafe offer 30 cent off any drink if you bring your own reusable cup. The Perch, is a privately run outlet and is the latest move by Trinity’s commercial revenue unit. It offers a range of foods, such as sandwiches, salad bowls, fruits and pastries

Chuck Rashleigh, a psychologist in the service, said that “all students who are new to the service receive an initial consultation of 30 minutes to assess their support needs. Counselling is sometimes recommended from this consultation”, with pre-booked consultations being available within 2 weeks, and a daily drop-in consultation service on a first-come first-served basis, running between 1-2pm. From mid-October, the students who are deemed to be suitable for counselling are added to a waiting list, with 48 students currently on that list. The Students’ Union Welfare Officer, Damien McClean, stated that “whoever needs to be seen will be seen first”, and that “there are emergency appointments and there are procedures for that”. Emergency appointments are available daily, from 3-4pm. Rashleigh of the counselling service said: “We are doing our best to respond to the needs of students on the waiting list. This includes regular emails and phone calls to students with offers of cancelled or rescheduled appointments, which can become available at short notice.” Rashleigh noted that “a student’s availability to accept offers of appointments can extend this wait time in some

cases”. There is an online service called “Silvercloud”, “with programmes for anxiety, depression, stress management, and body image issues”. Rashleigh also said that there are “weekly drop-in workshops and groups. Information on all these supports can be found on the SCS website”. Speaking in a press release following the budget, Michael Kerrigan, President of the Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI), said that “waiting lists for third-level counselling services are currently seeing students waiting for up to six weeks to see a counsellor”. Kerrigan spoke of the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland (PCHEI) 2014 to 2015 report, and noted that “27% of students who used counselling services indicated counselling was a factor in their retention, and 23% indicated counselling helped with their academic performance”. The USI 2016 survey showed that 61.6% of students are experience “burnout” while attending third level education, and that 27.6% in college have dropped out due to stress. Prior to the budget release, the USI had campaigned for the government to invest €3 million per year into thirdlevel counselling services, though this was not allocated. Following the release of Budget 2018, according to the College View newspaper, Podge Henry, Vice President of Welfare and Equality at DCU’s Students’ Union, said that waiting time for one-toone consultations can take up to 6 weeks at the university. UCD’s Welfare Officer, Eoghan MacDomhnaill said that “it’s as bad as last year, if not worse” when discussing wait times for counselling on campus to The University Observer, and noted that “we’re seeing this ourselves with the people coming into the office”. McClean

said

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All students who are new to the service receive an initial consultation of 30 minutes to assess their support needs. Counselling is sometimes recommended from this consultation’ said Rashleigh

Trinity’s counselling service is “resourced” and “understaffed” and said that “these are students in need”. McClean said that he and the counseling service “work very closely together” and that he is “very confident in the counseling service self review”. McClean said that “there are so many supports out there” in College and that in Trinity, “mental health is being seen as valid as a physical injury” and is “respected”. Psychological Counsellors in higher education said that there has been a 40% increase in demand for counselling over the past decade, with Dr Declan Ahern, head of counselling at the University of Limerick (UL) saying that there are approximately 10,000 students attending counselling at any one time in Ireland, representing 6-8% of students in each university. At Limerick, in 2015 the wait list for one-to-one counselling reached over 40 students. On November 1, a new campaign in Trinity called “Lean on Us”was launched in order to raise awareness and reduce stigmas surrounding student support services on campus. The campaign, lead by the counselling service, aims to promote college services such as the disability Service, Careers Advisory Service, Counselling Service and the Global Relations Service. Students were also chosen as ambassadors for the campaign, as well as an online video of students, staff and alumni promoting college services. Speaking at the launch, Provost Patrick Prendergast said: “It still takes courage to speak out and admit that one has suffered. I hope that soon we get to a place where this is seen as normal. The ‘Lean on Us’ campaign depends on the courage and willingness to share of alumni and student ambassadors.”

that

Trinity replaces dieselTHE Life Sciences rankings powered gardening equipment see Trinity drop 8 places with fuel-free alternatives Trinity dropped eight places in this year’s Life College’s gardening equipment is now solarpowered and noise free Sarah Meehan News Editor

RINITY HAS REPLACED ALL ITS diesel-powered gardening equipment with solar-powered and soundless machines. College’s gardeners are now using the new equipment across campus. Trinity gardeners will use the fuel-free gardening equipment on throughout the College including the Rose Garden, Provost’s Garden, and in College Park and its pitches. Additional sites also include the ten acres of ground at St. James’s hospital as well as the Boat Clubhouse at Island Bridge where Trinity’s rowing takes place, and the College’s Botanic Gardens in Dartry, all of which amounts to 47 acres. This follows a year-long trial, where gardeners have been introducing new tools to lessen the damage done to

the local environment. These fuel-free tools will make college quieter and more environmentally friendly. The new equipment includes solar-energy lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, portable grass cutters, two solar charging units, and strimmers to cut CO2 and noise pollution. The new backpacks that will be used by the groundsmen will now have solar panels, while the new lawn mowers will cut back on waste by slicing the grass into smaller pieces and will be able to cut faster than an ordinary lawn mower. College will continue to introduce more environmentally friendly equipment after the trial. The switch to fuel-free equipment is not College’s first move to make the campus more environmentallyfriendly. Earlier this year, Trinity launched a Pollinator Plan, which saw the installation of a beehive that now houses tens of thousands of honey bees. Trinity, along

with a network of other green areas in the city, is being used to restore urban sites that are important for a range of bee species and other organisms in the centre of Dublin. Trinity is a green flag campus, having achieved its second green flag last April. Since then, Trinity has made many changes to take environmental issues, innovation and research from the academic departments and apply them to the dayto-day management of the grounds. Trinity was also the first university in Ireland to divest fossil fuels, after a 15 month campaign led by Fossil Free TCD. Last November, College announced it was divesting from the €6.1 million it had directly invested in fossil fuel companies. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Ian Matthews, the College Treasurer, said: “Trinity wants to be a leader in sustainability, not only in investments, but in how it operates the campus.”

Sciences rankings, hitting 77th place

Aisling Grace Assistant News Editor

RINITY RANKED 77TH IN THIS YEARS Times Higher Education (THE) subject rankings for Life Sciences and Clinical and Pre-clinical Health. The rankings also included the performance of universities in the field of Psychology, the first year this area has been ranked. Trinity dropped eight places in this year’s Life Sciences rankings, from 65th place in last years rankings. The Life Science rankings encompass the fields of Agriculture and Forestry, Biological Sciences, Veterinary Science and Sport Science. Despite this year’s drop, Trinity has been the making improvements in this category of rankings in recent years. Trinity was excluded from THE’s list until two years ago, when it placed 87th. It is the only Irish college to be featured in the top 100 for Life Sciences.

In addition, Trinity has been ranked 101-125 in the Clinical, Pre-clinical and Health subject ranking. This category includes Medicine and Dentistry, as well as other Health-related courses. Since THE began ranking this subject area in 2011, only one Irish college has placed in the top 100, when University College Dublin (UCD) was ranked 99th place in 2015/2016. Psychology in Trinity has placed 92nd in the THE rankings for 2017/1018. Psychology used to fall under the Social Sciences rankings but, for the first time, the subject has been ranked separately. Education and Law will were also given individual rankings for the first time this year. THE, which examines over 2000 universities worldwide, has expanded this year’s rankings to include 400 institutions, up from 100 last year. This brings THE closer in line with QS World

University Rankings, the other major organisation to rank third-level institutions. QS rates 500 universities each year. To rank these 400 universities, THE used 13 performance indicators to judge the institutions on their “core mission”, which they say comprises “teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook”. When ranking universities, THE consider factors such as the number of studentsto-staff ratio, the percentage of international students and male-to-female ratio. Institutions provide and sign off on the data used by THE. In September, the overall 2017/2018 THE rankings were released, which saw Trinity climb 14 places to 117th, thus maintaining its position as the highestranked university in Ireland by THE’s standards. The organisation attributed Trinity’s rise to a stronger teaching reputation and greater research influence.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

News

Trinity students launch petition calling for elimination of single-use plastics on campus TCD Plastic Solutions have collected over 1,000 signatures so far Aisling Grace Assistant News Editor

group of Trinity students have launched a petition calling for the elimination of the sale and use of single-use plastics on the college campus, including cutlery, cups, bottles and packaging made from disposable, non-compostable plastics. The group, called TCD Plastic Solutions, have collected over 1,000 signatures so far. In addition to the ridding of singleuse plastics, the group are also campaigning for the introduction of compost bins around campus, an increase in the number of water-

fountains, and an increased awareness on campus of the “damaging effects of singleuse plastic consumption”. The group’s founder, Kezia Wright’ told Trinity News: “We are also launching an information campaign and will be distributing reusable bottles to students in an attempt to encourage people to refill durable water bottles rather than going to the shops to buy disposable plastic bottles.” On behalf of the group, a member of TCD Plastic Solutions, Susanna Garside, proposed a motion on campaigning against the use of single-use plastics at the first Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) council meeting of the year. The motion was seconded by Simon Benson, TCDSU’s

Environmental Officer, and passed. Following the vote, Provost Patrick Prendergast tweeted his support for the reduction of single-use plastics in Trinity. The group hopes to further this mandate by the arranged petition, which they hope will reach 3,000 signatures. The petition will then be handed to the University Board. Members of the group have been in contact with Trinity’s catering service, The Perch Cafe, the Science Gallery, and the Pavilion Bar to gauge their interest in the campaign. Wright referred specifically to the plastic cups used by the Pavilion Bar, stating that the group hopes the bar will reduce their use of plastic cups. Speaking on this last month, a member of the campaign, Caitríona

de Búrca, told Trinity News: “The aim of removing plastic cups and cutlery is a big ask, but we don’t think it’s an unreasonable one.” On their online petition, the group referred to Trinity’s divestment last year from the €6.1 million it had indirectly invested in fossil fuel, after months of lobbying from campaign group Fossil Free TCD. A description of the petition states: “Now that Trinity has divested from fossil fuels, this should be our next step as a Green Flag campus.” Trinity gained its second green flag last April. Since then, Trinity has established a Sustainable Campus Advisory Committee to advise the provost on sustainability, and compiled their first annual Sustainability Report. The

report contained a number of objectives on how to improve Trinity’s records in waste, energy and water conservation, among other areas. It showed that Trinity

has reduced its waste in recent years and fell 1% shy of reaching its target of a 50% recycling rate. “Single-use Plastics are inefficient and damaging.

Necessary change can start with us and we can hopefully set a good example for other institutions, cafes and businesses around Dublin,” said Wright.

Professors’ salaries set to rise to up to €250,000 The Irish government has agreed to lift pay restrictions on professors’ wages which will allow colleges to hire employees on salaries up to €250,000 Lauren Boland Staff Writer

comes to competing against the top research university systems for the best scientists or engineers.”

reviously, salaries for academics were capped under the employment control framework. These strict regulations dictated that – in theory – no public-sector employee can earn more than the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach, head of the Irish government, is on a salary of €190,000 per annum.

The Department of Education has confirmed that pay caps have acted as a barrier to attracting “exceptional academics” to Irish Universities. However, the change has been met with opposition from the Department of Public Expenditure which is fearful of knock-on claims across the public sector.

Irish universities have reported struggles for several years in attracting leading academics due to the capping of public sector pay rates. “One academic asked us if there was a misprint in the salary we quoted,” said one third-level source. “We’re not at the races for when it

As of April 1st 2017, a professor at Trinity College receives an annual salary of between €104,000 and €139,000. An associate professor or senior lecturer earns between €67,000 and €106,000, while an assistant professor receives between €35,000 and €79,000.

The lift on restrictions will allow universities to allocate salaries of up to €250,000. The increase will have the largest impact on academics in the science or engineering fields. The Department of Education said that top appointments will be limited to lucrative research projects funded by Science Foundation Ireland. While the research projects will be funded by SFI, the salaries of the scientists or engineers involved will be paid by the universities which have recruited them. It is hoped that higher salaries will attract “world-leading scientists and engineers” and enhance Ireland’s reputation as a location of high-quality research.

Photo Credit: Joe McCallion/ Trinity News

Paschal Donohue praises Trinity led employment programme following the launch of research report The minister also presented certificates to those who completed the first year of the programme Peter Kelly Contributing Writer

inister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe has launched a research report on a Trinity led development programme called ‘Career LEAP’. The report was launched at an event in Croke Park on Thursday, November 9. ‘Career LEAP is a programme that aims to help at-risk 20-24 year olds in Dublin’s North inner city to enter employment. At the event, Minister Donohoe expressed his admiration for the project, stating: “ The Career Leap programme provides a valuable route into the rewarding and fulfilling world of employment as well as education. I am delighted to be able to announce that it will now be rolled out as an integrated youth development and employability programme by the Taoiseach’s Task Force in the North Inner City in 2018.” The programme was led by Professor Carmel O’Sullivan from Trinity College Dublin. It was run in conjunction with East Wall Youth, Swan Youth Service, Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) and was supported by 25 businesses in the area. Many of these businesses funded the programme alongside the City of Dublin Education and

Training Board (CDETB), and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The programme is expected to be rolled out on a national level in 2018 by the City of Dublin Education and Training Board to provide opportunities for young people who face severe challenges in accessing training, education and and employment opportunities. The research report has found that 90% of participants found work within 3 months of completing the programme and have also remained in employment in the 15 months since its completion. It also found that of 6 homeless participants, only 2 of these remain on the streets, despite being employed or in education. The study also stated that the programme excels in developing social and personal skills among its youth participants, where other international studies have failed in doing so. Over 70% of participants reported this increase in confidence and career competency following the programme. The programme provides an unpaid work placement, a 10 module handbook and various handbooks and resources to its participants. The report outlines the effectiveness of these resources and states that it will work to roll them out regionally and nationally in

Students to pay for use of GMB pool tables The pool tables are jointly run by the Phil and The Hist

the future.

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Career LEAP is a programme that aims to help at-risk 2024 year olds in Dublin’s North inner city to enter employment

Minister Donohoe met with the newest group of participants to complete the programme. The group of 14 young people completed the programme in October and four of the members of the group have already secured employment. The Minister presented these young people with certificates following the launch of the research report. Donohoe also awarded community workers and mentors from the participating businesses with CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certificates following their training in the programme. Trinity’s Vice Provost, Professor Chris Morash has also praised the programme stating: “Career LEAP starts with the recognition that being prepared to work is no longer enough. Young adults, often lack the social skills, higher order thinking skills, and self-management skills necessary for the workplace. The Career LEAP programme is designed to combat these career development and employability problems, with a focus on unemployed young adults who may lack work experience and educational qualifications”.

Sarah Meehan News Editor

H E PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY (THE PHIL) HAVE started to charge for the use of the Graduates Memorial Building (GMB) pool tables. Previously the pool tables, located on the third floor in the games room, were free to be used by all Trinity Students. The pool tables have been free in recent years, however a decision made by the Phil will see the students paying to use the pool tables. The pool tables will now be coin

operated, and students will pay one euro per use. The money raised will go towards the initial cost of the tables and the refurbishment of them. Speaking to Trinity News, Ciara O’leary ,Treasure of the Phil said that the reason the decision has been made to charge for the use of the pools is because “previously we were paying approx 300 euro per table to refelt them every two years”. O’leary also added that the charge will also “discourage people who aren’t in trinity from availing of free people in the centre of town”. The society found that people who are not in trinity using the pool tables was a big problem last year as “There’s

no direct way to ensure only Trinity students use the tables”. However, since the society has started to charge for the pool tables they have already had “ had way less issues kicking non-trinity people out of the pool rooms”. The pool tables are jointly run by the Phil and The Historical Society (hist). Speaking to Trinity News, Paul Molloy, Auditor of the Hist, said he was unaware about the new price charge for the pool tables. Molloy also stated that the society was not consulted on the decision to begin charging for the use of the pool tables. Additional reporting by Aisling Grace

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

News

Irregular spending by The Trinity students win ESB Inter-Colleges University of limerick comes to Challenge 2017 light following spending report A team representing University College Cork placed second Staff severance payments worth €1.7 million are among the irregularities Eoin O’Donnell

formal response from the university by November 24.

Staff Writer

President of The University of Limerick, Professor Des Fitzgerald, warranted the independent review following his appointment as the University’s new President. The college initially rejected all calls for an independent enquiry.

n a review carried out by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Department of Education into the spending irregularities of The University of Limerick was released November 8. The University of Limerick (UL) has faced criticism for financial irregularities and its handling of several staff issues in recent years. The report showed that eight severance packages were agreed upon between 2007 and 2015, which resulted in a total of €1.7 million spent by the college. Of the eight cases in question, five were found to involve individuals under investigation for “gross misconduct” under a section of the Universities Act. The Review found that the application of the particular clause of the Act was “overly severe” and that at least some of the cases could have been dealt with differently. The review also stated that a common theme across these five cases was that individuals were under pressure to agree to an exit deal. The Review found that the Department of Education and Skills was not told about the severance packages, nor were they approved by the governing authority of the university. The severance packages were also in breach of public pay guidelines. According to the Review, The University of Limerick entered a quantity of severance packages that was “several orders of magnitude greater than any other institution in the department’s jurisdiction”. Criticizing the actions of those involved, the Review states that “management of the severances (and the events leading to them) and the communication of their facts to relevant stakeholders, was confusing”. In the 122-page report published November 8 by Dr Richard Thorn, the university was criticized heavily for these payments among other actions, and was asked to implement 10 recommendations by the HEA. These recommendations include the need to account for all severance packages, and the HEA has requested a full and

Dr Fitzgerald announced that the new senior management team at the university will consider and act on the report, stating that “it is an extensive report and we must now study it in detail and respond to the HEA as quickly and comprehensively as possible and certainly by November 24th. Nevertheless, I do wish to immediately acknowledge the seriousness of the matters addressed within it”. In his statement following the release of the review, he condemned the actions undertaken by the previous senior management team at the University as “complex management and governance issues”, and claimed that “since I arrived at UL in May, I have emphasised our duty of care as an employer”. Former UL President, Professor Don Barry, confirmed to the HEA that the decision to enter into the agreements was an executive one. The University of Limerick has been the focus of a number of controversies in recent years, including

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The Review found that the Department of Education and Skills was not told about the severance packages.

but not limited to the staff settlement payments scrutinized by the Review. Concerns surrounding the university’s financial irregularities and practises date back to the statements of three whistleblowers from within the university in 2012. Following an independent report published by the HEA in February 2016, the University continued to deny allegations of misconduct in their human resource management department in October of the same year. The University went on to deny the efforts of the HEA to investigate and resolve the situation. The HEA’s unsuccessful attempts to resolve the dispute reportedly cost approximately €80,000. This resulted in the HEA appealing to the Department of Education and Skills for awarding of new powers to deal with uncooperative institutions. A sit in, in January of this year lead by the Whistleblowers, demanded an independent inquiry be launched into the situation, supporting the HEA’s attempts to investigate, and prompting the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, to take action. A settlement was eventually reached with Revenue Commissioners in March of 2017 amounting to €186,000, surrounding controversial payments to staff on sabbatical leave from 2008 to 2012.

Michael Kelly Staff Writer

RINITY COLLEGE HAS ANNOUNCED its intention to sell off investments in fossil fuel companies, becoming the first Irish university to do so. The move comes in response to a 15 month student campaign, spearheaded in Trinity by Fossil Free TCD, to reduce the college’s dependence on the fossil fuel industry for income. Trinity currently has €6 million worth of investments in gas, coal and oil companies. In selling off these investments, College will join a global movement to divest of fossil fuels. The “DivestInvest” campaign will involve 678 institutions, including Trinity, and 58,399 individuals worldwide. Its members include governments, banks, insurance companies, and institutions in the health, education, and religious sectors. In total, they represent 77 countries and €5 trillion in assets. The pledge was announced on December 12th in London. Provost of Trinity, Dr Patrick Prendergast said: “Trinity intends to play our part in delivering the Paris Agreement...We made this decision following the impressive campaign of our own students ‘Fossil Free TCD’.” Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) President Kieran McNulty said that it was student efforts

The project, coordinated by the Centre for Deaf Studies, researched how Europeans who are deaf and use sign language, engage with the justice systems in their countries and in particular, with police forces. It aims to increase access to the legal system for the deaf community. The project’s research found that when deaf people engage with An Garda Síochana, they did not know their own rights in respect

It aims to increase access to the legal system for the deaf community. The project joined deaf researchers and sign language interpreters together to fill the gap between the two fields. The project is the first of its kind within the European Union and is funded by the European Commission that looks at deafs people’s access to justice. The project began

The agreement follows the submission of a petition with over 1,000 signatures to NUIG in last month, and a report highlighting the case for

In September 2014, the World Health Organisation (WHO) calculated that climate change would cause approximately 250,000 deaths each year between 2030 and 2050, unless measures were taken by governments worldwide to curtail it. This September, a collaborative study found

On 29 November 2015, hundreds of thousands took to the streets in cities in 175 countries across the world, calling for stronger and more direct action from their governments against climate change. These demonstrations took place while the COP21 summit in Paris took place, where 195 countries signed the first-ever universal, legallybinding agreement to combat climate change. In doing so, all signatories pledged to keep carbon emissions in their countries within 2°C of pre-industrial levels. TCD students were represented at the Dublin march by bodies such as TCDSU, Fossil Free TCD and the Environmental Society.

Colleges have been given deadlines to improve recruitment and promotion practices that do not support gender equality Shane Hughes

News Editor

“

This follows a meeting last Wednesday of NUIG Students’ Union President, Jimmy McGovern, the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) Society in NUIG and Dr. Browne regarding the divestment of €3.4 million worth of fossil fuel shares held by NUIG.

Colm Duffy, Auditor of the CCAFS Society, said: “We are thrilled with the response so far from Dr Browne, and see today’s result as a significant step towards divestment. We are looking forward to announcing NUI Galway’s commitment to divestment, and implementation of an ethical investment policy in February. We are hopeful that successes here, and in Trinity College, are the beginning of a cascade effect among Irish universities.”

According to the study, the oil reserves in operation fields alone would raise the global temperature beyond 1.5°C. The study recommended banning all new fossil fuel extraction projects and the decommissioning of certain fields and mines where resources have not yet been completely removed. The study does not call for an immediate halt to all fossil fuel industries, but a “managed decline” and a “just transition for the workers and communities that depend on (the fossil fuel industry).”

Task force launched to review gender inequality in third level institutions

Sarah Meehan

Meanwhile, the president of the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Dr. James Browne, has committed to fossil fuel divestment in the university.

Following the meeting, Dr. Browne said: “It is important for students to consider their role as global citizens who will shape our planet’s future. By advocating for an ethical policy on institutional investment, the CCAFS society and the Students’ Union leadership are highlighting an important global issue which impacts on climate change, social equity and a range of important ethical issues today. I look forward to working with our students to promote a transparent and ethical investment policy at NUI Galway, including fossil fuel divestment.”

that global temperatures would rise beyond 2°C, the projected survivable limit of increase, if reliance on fossil fuels continues. The study was coordinated by 15 organisations, including Oil Change International, the Rainforest Action Network and the Indigenous Environmental Network.

Following the release of the Thorn Report earlier this week, representatives of the two whistleblowers in question have spoken out. The statement reads “It’s been a very traumatic and difficult time for both of our clients over the last number of years. Our clients will now need sufficient time to examine the Richard Thorn report as published today in detail to consider its findings”.

The project focused on how hearing impaired Europeans engage with the justice systems in their countries

to accessing Sign Language Interpreters. The project also outlined that there was no legal training for Sign Language Interpreters.

Spokesperson for TCD Fossil Free, Deirdre Duff, also contributed: “By joining the international divestment movement, Trinity is sending a message that the fossil fuel era is ending.” Duff went on to say that divestment would be in companies’ interests, as reliance on fossil fuels is financially unsustainable. “The industry has around five times more carbon in these reserves than can be burned if warming is to be limited to 2 degrees as agreed by the world’s governments.” Duff said that these reserves could become “stranded assets” forming a “carbon bubble,” and divestment therefore “makes good financial sense.”

divestment. Browne will table a motion for full divestment of fossil fuel shares as well as the implementation of an ethical investment policy in early 2017.

The University was investigated once again by the HEA in April 2017 surrounding their treatment of the three whistleblowers, two of whom were suspended from work pending the outcome of a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) investigation. The HEA probe reportedly cost €75,000.

JUSTISIGNS project wins European Language label

he Centre for Deaf Studies in Trinity College along with their project partners, has won the European Language Label award with their “JUSTISIGNS” project. The European Language Label is an award that encourages new initiatives in teaching and learning languages. JUSTISIGNS was one of five projects awarded the 2017 European Language Label for innovative ways of teaching and learning languages.

which brought about this decision by administration: “This was a student-led campaign. I hope this spurs on other universities and companies in Ireland to divest. Never doubt the power of young people and students to make change.”

by looking at the European directives on translation and interpretation and the directive on victims rights and compared this to people’s real experience. The JUSTISIGNS website offers powerpoint slides with information for people working with in justice system and has delivered training to An Garda Síochana through their Radical diversity and intercultural department. They have also developed specific training for sign language interpreters, as the Justisign research discovered that these interpreters need to improve on specific legal areas, Judicial settings and working with Garda, and knowing the vocabulary used in the those settings. The Centre for Deaf Studies is the only place in Ireland offering a bachelor’s degree in Deaf Studies, with 20 places being offered annually to students.

Staff Writer

hird level institutions across Ireland face funding cuts in the near future, unless they rapidly address the issue of gender inequality within higher levels of academia. A new task force, created by Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, will be established to oversee and review the recruitment and promotion policies that are currently employed by third level institutions across Ireland. The task force will highlight good-practices whilst informing colleges on areas that need to be improved. These findings will then be used to draw up an action plan in the near future, which Minister O’Connor says will have to be obeyed or financial penalties will be enforced on colleges. Minister O’Connor said that there is “nowhere to hide” for Universities involved in gender discrimination.

The plan was met with approval by the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) stating the taskforce “will complement and support implementation of the detailed recommendations contained in the earlier Maire Geoghegan-Quinn report on the issue.” The taskforce has been established in direct response to the aforementioned Higher Education Authority (HEA) report from July. The report found that only 21% of professors in Irish third-level institutions were women. In addition, women accounted for 54% of employees in lower positions with third level institutions.The best gender equality, reported by the results was in The University of Limerick with 30 per cent of its professors being women. The HEA also reported significant shortfalls in the gender distribution among management teams in Irish Third Level institutions. No University executive management team had more than 40 percent of women and only three out of 14

Institutes of Technology were able to reach this threshold. Furthermore, it found that only 20 percent of those earning above 106,000 a year were women in non academic roles in Universities. The number dropped to 17 percent in Institutes of Technology. The report did notice a slight improvement in gender representation over the course of the last year with a 2 per cent increase in the proportion of female Professors and Associate Professors.The HEA’s report was based on the average data compiled over three years between 2014 and 2016. Speaking at the launch of the taskforce, O’Connor stated that the lack of females in higher education positions is “not because women aren’t talented or driven enough to fill these roles,” instead insisting that the problem is down to a historical bias against women in Irish higher education. “Just look at the past 425 years, there has never been a female president of a university in Ireland,” she said. The HEA report also showed that Trinity is not immune to major gender

inequality issues, just 16% of Trinity’s Chair Professors are females compared to national levels which give an average of 19 percent. However, Trinity is above the national average on other education positions, compared to other institutions, with women accounting for 38 per cent of associate professors and 40 per cent of professors within the college in 2016. Budget 2018 saw funding of €500,000 provided to set up and help support the Task Force in the coming year. The regular analysis of University practices will soon allow for the government to track the changes and improvements that occur under the plans created by the task force. Speaking to the Sunday Times earlier this year, Minister O’Connor said that “if we don’t decide to act now, we will be seeing the same results next year, and the year after that, the current pace of change is too slow and the stakes are too high to continue to just tinker around the edges”.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

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Features

How have tattoos changed over the ages as a means of expression?

page 10

Bridging the divide Alice Forbes explores unseen perspectives of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Art by Jenny Corcoran

Alice Forbes Staff Writer

T THE SECURITY DESK AT TEL AVIV Airport, having just landed, an Israeli guard asked our purpose of visit. My heart catching in my throat, I only knew what not to say: that I had come to the Middle East as part of the “Space to Breath” Program. That our plan was to spend equal amounts of time in both the West Bank and Haifa with both Palestinians and Israelis to see how their lives are affected by the conflict. The program aims to engage in discussions with people of opposing mind-sets and contrasting identities, and to practice envisioning a peaceful solution to a conflict that has spanned decades and is still very much alive today. In a land so segregated by violence and a distrust of “the other”, the idea of cooperation between the two sides can be seen as something of a taboo, yet it is this idea of cooperation that fueled our trip. A first step We began in the city of Bethlehem. Sitting sideby-side with Palestinian participants in a local centre we commenced with reflection by composing a timeline of worldly and personal events over the past century that we felt had impacted who we were as people. While everyone’s early years detailed little that one wouldn’t find in a history book, upon approaching present day, a divide between Irish and Palestinian became apparent. For us, the Irish, our lives had been recently marked by “the year I went travelling” or “the year I started university”. This was contrasted sharpy by “the year my cousin was killed in conflict.”. In the West Bank, there are constant reminders that this is not a peaceful climate, the least subtle being the 26-foot high wall stretching 70 kilometers, separating Israel from the West Bank. Banksy’s “Walled Off” Hotel stands before a section of it, operating as a museum for visitors. For $2 you can buy a can of spray paint in the gift shop and compose a message on the wall. Something along the lines of “make hummus, not walls”. Or you can buy the same slogan on a T-Shirt. The whole concept is darkly comical, yet eerie. As if trailing around a history museum, only everything that you see, this blatant apartheid, is happening now. I later spoke with Palestinian ‘Space to Breathe’ participant, Basil Ibrahim, on the difficulties relating to movement, that the wall and the various checkpoints pose to Palestinians living in the West Bank. He confirmed: “Travelling through the checkpoints feels unsafe and like you’re not in your own country. I know a lot of people who have been hassled and assaulted by Israeli guards at checkpoints more than once, often without any reason at all. In fact, sometimes it feels like the guards do it just for fun.” With the intent of observing the conflict at its most prominent, we paid a visit to the city of Hebron. Split into Palestinian and Israeli controlled areas, some 700 Israelis live in settlements guarded and protected by Israeli soldiers in the H2 zone controlled by Israel, with around 40,000 Palestinians living alongside them. As a result, there are dozens of military checkpoints which severely limit and complicate the freedom of movement in the city. While there, after visiting the Ibrahimi Mosque, we were invited to share a meal with a local, named Mohammad. His house was located on a street which has over time become a predominate home and base for Israeli settlers. Over lunch he conveyed to us how harsh existence can be for him and his family due to their controversial location and how the conflict warps the lives of normal people. He explained that in order to go about daily activities, they are often forced to pass through the same checkpoints multiple times. Despite being completely familiar to the Israeli guards, they are

still subjected to thorough searches on a constant basis. Speaking of his childhood, Mohammad tells of one day playing outside his house with his cousin. He detailed how his cousin was hassled and later shot by an Israeli soldier nearby for refusing to hand over a football. Seeing Mohammad’s own young children, one riding a miniature tricycle, the other excitedly dancing around the table where we ate, I couldn’t help but wonder why they remained in a place of such violence and danger. He revealed that this decision was one of great controversy. His father had been offered excessive sums of money by Israelis looking to buy his house, the latest bid, an incredible 10 million dollars, and had received significant backlash for rejecting it. Justifying his position, Mohammad explained simply that this was his home. He and his family had no desire to leave what was so familiar to them and what held so many memories. A second opinion Struck and surprised by his viewpoint, almost immediately afterwards we were countered with a completely alternate one. After making a brief stopover to allow the Palestinian participants to step off our tour bus, ( the location which we were to visit was one which they were forbidden entry to), we arrived at the gates of an Israeli settlement. Here, we met with a Rabbi named Ardi, who had moved from Chicago as a young man alongside his wife in order to answer what he referred to as “a calling from God to return to the Holy Land”. After Ardi had given us a brief summation of how he and his family came to reside in the settlement, as well as an explanation of the daily operations of this microcosmic town, he opened the floor to questions. After the harrowing stories we had just heard from Palestinians, a confounded silence gripped the room. However, questions soon began to flow, as too did our growing sense of frustration and confusion over his answers. From his

viewpoint, it was the corrupt Palestinian government that was mostly to blame for the harsh conditions faced by Palestinian citizens, and furthermore, for the conflict as a whole. When a member of our group carefully retold Mohammad’s story, desiring to know his perspective, he responded coldly, “that was probably bullshit”. The notion of engaging with Palestinians seemed to be one he was firmly against. “They don’t wear badges saying ‘terrorist’ or ‘not a terrorist’ ” was his reasoning. From his perspective, he was afforded guaranteed security and protection inside this settlement. Regardless of the conditions endured by his Palestinian neighbors, he was not willing to risk his or his families safety for the sake of a solution. Our meeting with Ardi had brought to life a sense of hopelessness that the divide between the two sides was too great, and the hatred too extreme to allow for peaceful communication. So many of those early days of the program were spent on a tour bus, staring out the window and counting road signs warning danger to the lives of the Palestinians or Israelis who ventured from safety. Passing the many checkpoints and the innumerable Israeli guards armed with machine guns who seemed to be no older than I, the task ahead seemed monstrous and change a distant possibility.

EPARTING THE WEST BANK FOR HAIFA, a city known for its large concentration of both Jews and Arabs, we passed a day in Jerusalem. There, we had the opportunity to meet with Jewish Israeli activist, Sahar Vardi, who aids young people in getting out of the mandatory military service in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) that Israelis are obliged to complete upon turning eighteen, either on grounds of mental health, or as a conscientious objector, both enduring processes, the former involving a psychological analysis, and the latter often resulting in a

term of imprisonment. She attempted to provide insight into the reasoning behind Israel’s strong military, as well as the immense effects this military presence has upon the Israeli psyche; that violence is now a concept many Israelis have become numb to. Vardi spoke of how the military is seen as a visual symbol of the state of Israel, this notion transcending even to the classrooms of young children from when they begin school. In high schools, it is regular practice for soldiers to come in and out of classes giving speeches and a week of basic military training is held for students in 11th grade. For us listening, it was almost impossible to comprehend this internalization of violence. Vardi continued to explain what she saw as a large factor in the military’s prominent stance in Israeli society, that being the long Jewish history of persecution. From an early age, the legacy of the Holocaust is imprinted on the minds of Jews living in Israel and Vardi described how having a strong defense system is seen as something of a necessity in order to prevent the Jewish people once again falling under a state of oppression. Israeli participant, Ben Ben Ami later poignantly confirmed this mindset from his personal experience: “As a small child living in Israel, I just had this very simple view: that there are neighbor countries next to us that want to kill us and that’s why we have the military”. Vardi went on to reveal her personal story. As a conscientious objector, she publically refused to serve in the IDF, and endured trial and imprisonment as a result. She spoke furthermore on her views of the military’s detrimental impact on young people, particularly regarding the area of mental health, citing the alarming statistic that the number one cause of death in the IDF is suicide. While this is shocking to come to terms with, what is even more so, is the condonation of this immense power and enormity of the Israeli military by other countries. Vardi explained that the biggest arms dealers in the world endorse the Israeli

military and encourage them to use their weapons in Gaza, in order to stamp ‘guaranteed battle-proof’ on the side. Haifa The insight into the Israeli military mentality we had been afforded remained with us as we arrived in Haifa, and began to colour the previously black and white conflict. During our time in the West Bank, the oppression endured on the Palestinian side appeared so blatant. Upon conversing with Israelis in Haifa I got a sense of the difficulty that exists in trying to empathize with an alternate perspective when the narrative of your own people is what you have been brought up to trust and is all you have ever known. Ben Ben Ami shared with me his personal story of how he came to be involved in ‘Space to Breathe’, among many other programs promoting discussion regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ben Ami’s family originated from Morocco, and like many Jewish families deriving from Arab countries, held quite traditionalist and nationalist beliefs. Speaking of his upbringing, Ben Ami recalled: “Growing up in Israel, I wasn’t exposed to the Palestinian narrative, in the same way that Palestinians living in the West Bank aren’t exposed to the Jewish narrative. The maps in my school classrooms didn’t mark the green line, I never knew what “the occupation” really was, and I only began to understand the Palestinian narrative at the age of 18 when we started speaking about it in my civics class in High School. My perspective on the conflict began to change because I chose to research and I chose to ask questions, it was not what the flow of my life suggested to me. Most of my friends have never met any Palestinians from the West Bank and have never had conversations about identity with an Arab, and I think the same is true for most Israelis and Palestinians.” The significance of communication and engagement to promote a peaceful co-existence became truly apparent during my time

spent in Haifa, and we were fortunate enough to come into contact with many people who work arduously towards establishing this co-existence. One of these people, Amna Kanane, a Palestinian Arab, invited us into her home. Here, she prepared a meal for us and disclosed her personal story; of how originating from a traditional Muslim background, she established “Awareness4U”. This organization aimed at reaching out to women of an upbringing similar to her own, and raising their level of social consciousness, educating them on family planning and teaching them skills such as driving, as well as challenging cultural traditions that disempower women. Kanane remembered as a young girl feeling different and disengaged from Jews of a similar age and so today organizes meetings between Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel in one another’s separate communities. With a smile, she revealed the secret room that hides behind a cupboard in her kitchen, explaining that this space serves as a meeting ground for people of different ideologies. Here, a Palestinian and a Jew can prepare food side-byside, and through this, find a common ground and establish a mutual connection. Kanane has organized many peaceful demonstrations, at which Jews and Palestinian Israelis link arms and stand together in solidarity to condemn violence and promote tolerance and equality between Jews and Arabs in Israel, photographs of which adorned the walls of this secret kitchen. Kanane’s meals highlighted the difficulties of trying to solve a such a deeply ingrained conflict from a worldly and political perspective and showed instead the success found in the mundane. Palestinian Space to Breathe Participant Basil Ibrahimi commented: “I wanted to communicate with Israelis to get to know first-hand how they actually feel from their side, not what the media tells me they feel. I see this discussion as one of the ways to find a solution to the conflict.”

Furthermore, the importance of dialogue and coexistence is being expanded throughout the communities of people who see its significance. Israeli participant, Ben Ami spoke of the impact his decisions have had on those around him: “Personally, as I have become more aware and active, my parents have also changed from their nationalistic social and political views. We have even hosted Palestinians in our home and that’s something that just wouldn’t have happened before. When I started in the military, part of me thought ‘now people will appreciate my word more, because of the credit I will get from serving in the IDF and I can bring about the idea of making peace with the Palestinians in this way’, I understood later on that I do not need this credit, that by being in the army I am taking part in the violence I want to prevent”. Upon returning to Ireland, to my home, where I have never felt threatened by violence, have never worried about having to serve in the military against my will, have never felt oppressed due to my identity or my beliefs, I realized that peace is not something to be taken for granted. It is something we should work tirelessly to promote. Social and political change is never imminent, and it’s clear that peace in Israel and Palestine will not be achieved overnight. However, what has been made apparent to me during my experience so far with Space to Breathe, is that peace will never be achieved with hatred or segregation at the foreground. Every piece of dialogue and human understanding contributes to breaking this hatred and segregation, and will thus pave the way for a more optimistic future.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Features

Ireland doesn’t want me to be a nurse How should eligibility for practical base professions be assessed?

Aislinn Brennan Staff writer

HERE IS A COMMON CONSENSUS that to be in third level education, one does not necessarily need to have a vocation for their specific course. For most of us, our time in college and earning your degree is a matter of making friends, balancing a job and study and getting through it all. Arguably, there are still careers today that could be considered only doable due to the innate calling of a vocation. For instance: nursing. No matter what your personal experiences with hospitals are however, most would admit that they are aware there is always some “crisis” in health care with nurses bearing the brunt of issues such as A&E closures or staff and pay cuts. Despite this, each year, the CAO receives hundreds of applications for nursing in Trinity, UCD and DCU in Co. Dublin alone. Over the past two years, Trinity has offered its general nursing course to the first eligible 169 people who applied. A current Senior Freshman student nurse from Trinity stated that there were roughly 120 people in her course altogether which speaks for itself in the intensity of the course.Furthermore, whilst there is a steady interest in the profession of nursing, the CAO route is not always an option for those wishing to enter the profession. Since we as students began our journeys of finishing school and moving on from the Leaving Certificate, we were force fed the importance of the current college application process, the CAO. Whilst this is the most common route to take when trying to get to third level education, there has always been scrutiny over how fair the CAO system really is in determining your ability to be in higher education. For a practical profession such as nursing, how fair of an assessment is the CAO? Does

it test your ability to care for others? Does it test your patience and endurance?

perfectly fine in all my other subjects so I was devastated to lose my chances on that also.”

For the most part, you could argue yes to those questions. And for most of us the current system works fine. It seems logical that anyone who wishes to embark on an arts or science degree would understand that developing one’s discipline in secondary school was important before entering third level education. This makes sense because higher education demands this personal discipline of you. For others, however, they feel disillusioned by the apparent finality of such a system.

The focus put on academia in Irish society is a major issue for Glynn: “Academia was not my strong point…so why was I being tested on my aptitude for it when my better abilities lay elsewhere? For me, there was also still that young doubtful 19 year questioning if this is what I wanted but because I didn’t get the points I was going to have to go through my last year of school all over again? No thanks.”

Hoping to further explore these issues, I interviewed Madeleine Glynn, a 22 year old Irish student currently studying in Glasgow at the University of West Scotland to be a nurse. In our interview she describes how she felt ostracised by the CAO system and how her route is arguably a more suitable choice for those who feel a calling to dedicate their lives to the care of others. For Glynn, despite the challenges that nursing presented, she went into her Leaving Certificate knowing what she wanted to do: “Around 5th year I looked at what I wanted from life, what I love in general and I came to the conclusion that I wanted to be happy, driven and in a job that satisfied me. I put all those things together and I got nursing. I realised that it was just something that suited me hugely… even if I have blisters on my feet, I know I will come home content that I was doing something I loved every day.” Despite her eagerness however, the road ahead wasn’t to prove simple. “Around the time I did the Leaving, the points for nursing in TCD and UCD…and I think Cork were roughly 425-450. Depending on where you were. I remember that DCU was 450… Which some people would not find too difficult but I only managed to get 400. So that ruled me out. I also didn’t get my C in maths. I was never a maths person and I had done

Major change to the CAO system is called for, according to Glynn. Suggesting an interview based system over an academic assessment, she insists it would better determine people’s passions, skills and talents. Not only that, but students are limited by the options provided for them in school. Even when these students find alternative methods to foster their skills, these aren’t recognised. “My choice of subjects was limited…so what if my essay writing skills aren’t the best? I can still chat and communicate my thoughts clearly when I’m speaking and part of a team. I loved sports and acted a little. I was fully competent in developing these skills further also. But the system that is the CAO basically told me no, actually you don’t get to do what you want because you didn’t work hard enough?” Hoping to better understand the process Glynn undertook to become a nurse, I asked her to outline the education route that she took: “So I chose to do a pre-nursing course in the Dun Laoghaire Institute of further education. I actually really liked the content but the environment was quite motivational. However, this did not deter me or the other students. I was not ready to move just yet so I went on to do a course in physiotherapy in Blackrock Institute of Further Education. I loved this for the simple reason that it proved to me that physiotherapy was exactly what I did not want to do. To run my own practice is not for me. Then finally this summer I applied

Photo Credit: Sam Cox/ Trinity News through UCAS to a few places Furthermore, it allowed her in the UK but I knew I really to mature emotionally, as well wanted either Edinburgh or as prepare financially “For me, Glasgow. I was asked to come I wasn’t ready to move away over and interview for both just yet…which is a huge realand I got Glasgow. I was tru- ity for some when you think ly delighted. I honestly have about it…like what if you serinever felt more ready or em- ously could not afford to live powered to start this journey”. abroad? What are you supposed to do? Put your life on Highlighting the impor- hold and wait till you are a matance of the time and space her ture student?” path afford her, Glynn talked of returned to the advantages Taking all of this into conof the path she took: “The pre- sideration, I asked given the nursing course allowed every- choice, would she have tried one in my course an insight to get more points in order into what they truly wished to to have attended an Irish colbe doing. For instance, after lege. Without a second's hesithe year -long course, some tation, she responded: “No, went into science, social care no and no. I have thoroughly or even became beauty prac- enjoyed every single second titioners. Only a handful went of my courses, diplomas and on to do nursing straight away the journey that it has been. I by applying through UCAS, am so delighted to be studying gaining an interview in Uni- abroad, I love that those other versity’s such as South Hamp- courses reaffirmed my belief ton in England and so on.” in what I wanted to do. It’s just weird to think that I could

have been graduating now at 22/23 when I’m only beginning if the process hadn’t cut me off.”. At the core of the issue, Glynn explains, is not pigeon holing anyone, even with an interview system. When asked the core qualities of a nurse, Glynn responded that she hated that question: “When nurses are asked this question, they do try to bullet point it into “empathetic, passionate, caring, trusting” et cetera. Obviously, these are qualities that you need but to act as if you should have these core characteristics a hundred percent of the time is just wrong. Plus, it’s not all or nothing” Understanding that each student is unique and that different people require different approaches to develop their skills is key to fixing both a broken healthcare and education system.

While Glynn recognises that the CAO system is successful for some students, for others like her, it fails: “It’s just easy to see the cracks in the system when you are the one slipping through and having to find an alternative. Everyone nowadays works and thinks independently and differently…so why isn’t the system accommodating to everyone.” Clearly passionate about her choice of career, there is no doubt about Glynns commitment to her vocation. Why, then, does Ireland not want her to be a nurse?

Wholesome Catholic fun An unexpected past lies deep at the heart of one of Ireland’s primary institutes of art and progress Lexi Demetroulakos Contributing writer

ATTOOS HAVE LONG BEEN PART of important rituals and traditions in a vast variety of cultures around the globe. Amazon tribes tattooed themselves as a ritual of protection, so the dark spirits would not approach them. Some tattoos supposedly had the metaphysical power to bring spiritual guardians. Others were used to show the success in battles and to identify different tribes. The Kayabi had tattoos representing the names of enemies they had killed as symbols of honor, pride and power. Girls would get tattoos under their breasts and stomach after puberty to show men that they were ‘women’. When Christopher Columbus colonized Brazil over 500 years ago, the number of tattooed tribes decreased considerably as the colonizers considered these rituals as a form of tortuous cruelty and sins; the settlers and missionaries wanted to ‘educate’ and impose their moral codes, religion onto culture onto the indigenous people. Consequently, there are less than ten tribes that still practice the art of tattoo today as part of their rituals, because their beliefs had been colonised, the environment had changed. Hawaiian people also believed that tattoo had a spiritual meaning aside from the aesthetic beauty. Hawaiian and Amazon tribes used to apply pigment onto the skin with needles made of bones. When Europeans settlers colonised Hawaii islands, their traditions began to collapse, including the tattoo tradition. In India, customs surrounding tattoos are a mystery. While they are associated with wealth, there have been other reasons in different communities across the country. In the Singhpo of Assam tribe, for instance, women have both their legs tattooed after marriage and men get tattoos

on their hands to show their marital status. Women of lower castes get tattoos on visible parts of their bodies in order to represent their inferior economic status. What’s more, they also believe in the spiritual connection with the aid of tattoos: as a form of protection from dark spirits and an eternal connection with their ancestors. These tattoos need to have geometrical forms in order to achieve the realms of cosmology. The temporary tattoo art of Mehndi still is traditionally used during celebrations, such as weddings.

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Father Delaney’s footage on the IFI Player is the only known film recording of the inside of one of these establishments

Contemporary tattoo art The method of tattooing changed from pigments, bones and teeth into machines and different colored inks. The first tattooing machine was created by Samuel O’Reilley (1854-1909) in 1881, USA. He learned some tattooing techniques while in the Navy. At the turn of the century however, tattooing lost its credibility. As they became particularly popular in prison camps, there too began a growing perceived connection between crime and tattoos. This negative association with criminals led to the banning of tattoos in the majority of industries. Those with tattoos suffered discrimination in the workplace,having their moral and intellectual abilities questioned because of their appearance. To be tattooed became a social taboo Today people of different ethnicities and ages get tattoos for an enormous number of reasons. religion, aesthetics, art sake, ‘just for the laugh’ with friends, or absolutely no reason at all. Hoping to understand the modern motive, I asked some people why they got tattoos and all had different meanings and stories. Yet a curious connection remains between the history of the tribes that inspired these tattoos and the habits and customs of the modern day. The meanings I found ranged from none at all, to a symbol of life achievement . Alex, aged 22, has a line tattooed on his arm that has no meaning whatsoever. He decided to get it as his first tattoo just to have one. Meanwhile Marilene decided to get her first tattoo when she was 50 years old, “with the intention of highlighting a new phase in life. I got retired and I chose a blue butterfly as a symbol of freedom. As the butterfly leaves its pupa to live in the world, I left mine. I left my obligations, responsibilities, timetables and things at work, and now I feel free as well” . Marilene’s story has similar principles to the old tattooing rituals as a celebration act. And yet others symbolise the present with tattoos. Hop-

ing to reveal her inner self, Laura, aged 23. think of them as a form of expressing the inner self. To her, she wants to display the things she loves in life, her ideas and her personality. Laura used to be a tattoo artist, as well as having her own tattoos. She shared with me her experience of different perspectives: being ‘tattooed’ and marking someone else’s body forever. She said, “I like to have animals and geometric symbols on my body to show some aspects of my inner personality, it’s like a selfmanifestation... And I also feel pretty with my tattoos. I think tattoos need to have a personal meaning, it doesn’t matter what other people think about your tattoos. I think it’s a form of expressing your spirituality, a cultural expression.” Laura also explained the

work environment at a tattoo parlour and how she used to feel when she was tattooing other people, “Sometimes you are undermined because you are a woman tattoo artist. I was the only women where I used to work. It was a very negative environment, in my opinion. Some customers wanted ‘good’ tattoos on their bodies, but others wanted ‘bad’ tattoos like clowns. If you get a clown tattoo it means you killed a policeman, but it’s like a theory, I can’t say if the person did that or not.” Laura decided to give up being a tattoo artist because of a number of factors. While some disappoints drove her away, apart from that she did not like the idea of “marking someone’s body forever” as she described it, “I think there is also a religious idea behind my choice, I don’t know if there’s karma because I’m

modifying someone’s body. I don’t want to be penalized for that, I will have to pay the price for tattooing people. Well, according to my parents… So, I was a bit paranoid about that and then I gave up.” In relation to work opportunities, many companies still do not accept tattoos. Those associated with authority such as flight attendants, nurses and teachers often have strict appearance policies that forbid these displays of self, regardless of their meaning. This isn’t restricted to a western context either. In Japan, tattoos are associated with the Yakuza Mob and public bathhouses and gyms have been known to ban entry for those that don’t conceal their art. The city of Osaka even went so far as to introduce a fine for civil servants with tattoos in 2012 in an effort to keep Yakuza off the public payroll.

While many Japanese natives avoid tattoos due to these associations, this is a problem for the increasing tourist population visiting Japan. While our generation is more open-minded about the topic, it is clear tattoos remain problematic in certain fields. However, with the number of ‘tattooed’ people increasing in our generation, certain questions are evoked in regards to self expression. When in the public eye, do people have a responsibility to avoid negative associations? Are these associations unfair, even if they’re a declaration of murdering a police officer? To what extent should our freedom of expression carry over into the professional realm, and how important should our art be in expressing who we really are?

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Features

Head of the Union

Who is the figure behind the title of Students' Union President? Hiram Harrington Contributing Writer

N AN OVERCAST WEDNESDAY MORNING in the Arts Building, I set out to talk to Trinity’s Students’ Union President in his preparation for the March for Education. Luckily, he was not hard to find. Towering above the swarms of students in the concourse, I caught him just as he greeted a group of first year students, asking with a casual enthusiasm if they were attending the march. Kevin Keane is a prototypical example of an SU representative - eager, focused on a student related issue other students don’t seem to care about, and decked in a boldly-coloured t-shirt over a dress shirt. When I waved to him on the concourse, he nodded at me before launching right back into convincing a group of students to attend the march. It was clear he was a man on the warpath, despite his attempts to appear relaxed with his fellow students. We sat down in his office in House Six to discuss his hopes for the march and for the day. Most of the other sabbatical officers were out at the Hamilton gathering support from that end of campus. Keane, nursing an energy drink as he spoke, described what he saw as the most significant elements of this political statement. “Today is really valuable for two reasons - we’re here to show that students are not apathetic snowflakes and we won’t roll over and let any government trample on our rights. It’s important that we show this...In a broader context, politicians view us as a voting block, but they don’t see students as engaged with politics. We have to remind them that students are a powerful voting block. We need to remind the country that students have a strong presence in Irish society.” This is not a short-term solution however, Keane warns. Mentioning Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s recent speech in Trinity where the former student of the College assured we would not have a UK-style loans system, he says the next step is applying

the pressure for him to stick to it. “The point is that if students become complacent and sit on their heels and let the government get away without oversight, then they will let this slip away.” The number one priority, in Keane’s view, is getting the votes to create a better now for Irish students. I spoke with Keane more casually about himself then. As an active member of SUAS prior to his election, he noted how his experiences with the society helped him develop the views and values he holds today. After attending a volunteer meeting on a whim with a friend, he signed up, and ended up going to India that same summer as a member of SUAS’s team. Talking about his upbringing, and the influence of his Law degree on his passions, we were interrupted then by Jonah Craig, the SU’s Entertainment Officer. Enlisting me to help carry over speakers and mics, the two left me on the front of the steps of the dining hall with the

other SU representatives to make some last minute phone calls to organisers. Before the march was to kick off, he went back to the Arts Building with a megaphone in tow to entice more students over with the promise of free t-shirts and a fight for their rights. Passing a group of students outside the Robert Emmett theatre, I overheard one exchange that seemed to summarise the sight at hand: “Who is that?” “I have no clue, but he’s huge.” Despite his cries of “March against loans, Front Square, right now!” ringing in the ears of everyone in the building, he was met with what seemed to be a disinterested student populous. He approaches groups with the same kind of goofy attitude you’d expect from a lecturer trying to look down with the kids. A speedy lecture address concludes his attempt to rally the troops, and even on the path to Front Square attempted to move more bodies over - “If you can smoke out here you can smoke in Front Square!” to

those outside the Arts Building café, “Trinity isn’t that interesting anyway. Tourists join us on the march!” to a group of confused-looking Italians next to the Campanile. I stood watching him work his way through the crowd, picking out Students’ Union part-time officers to hold their banners and flags. Stephen Shiel, the SU’s Citizenship Officer, followed him at a distance, working through the crowd as he registered students to vote on a clipboard. Once a crowd began to form and grow, Keane returned to the steps of the Dining Hall, fiddling with a bottle opener keychain as he waited to start. The Ethnic Minorities Officer, Aghogho Atiyota, could be seen jumping in close by to find out all 200 t-shirts were already gone, with only half of the audience wearing them. It spoke for a decent turnout in Keane’s eyes. Beginning his speech on the steps, Keane spoke quickly,

hurriedly, and with little eye contact. It’s clear he was nervous, but powered through. He was only doing this for the second time ever, the first being at the March for Choice a few days prior, but he spoke with a determination that shows a sliver of what makes a good public speaker - the words were there, but the charisma was not yet. He stood back to give the stage to Carly Bailey, the Mature Students Officer, who spoke with a conviction that only experience can bring. She was followed by Gary Gannon, a representative from the Trinity Access Programme, whose lighter and more casual approach to speaking contrasted the others in a relieving way. Once speeches had finished, Keane took to the microphone again to practice chants with the audience. His own voice broke as he shouted over and over, everything from “our future isn’t set, we say no to student debt” to “Leo, Leo off the fence, students can’t afford their rent”. This is where we parted ways,

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Eating a Jacob’s cookie with a bottle of throat medicine on his desk, the president looked thoroughly exhausted

as he went to lead the small crowd of students out of Trinity to connect with other delegations on their way to the march. After the march to Liberty Hall, and a host of speeches from officials from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), I met with Keane again in his

with a bottle of throat medicine on his desk, the president looked thoroughly exhausted. He noted with a laugh that opera singers used the same kind after a performance. I asked, quite simply, how it went. He sighed, leaning back in his chair. A “very good Trinity delegation”, according to Keane, had made up a majority at the march. He noted how glad he was to see student engagement considering that last year’s march was so topical, and this year it’s fallen out of the limelight. The casual student would perhaps be less engaged than those directly involved with the union. There was great value in the turnouts of the mid thousands, for student activists to be able to see the power of a movement nationally. Many politicians in the last few months, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, have spoken about loans and higher education funding, which Keane equates to being “obviously” about the marches. From my time with Keane, I got much the same feeling as I do with every other sabbatical officer in the country: there’s nothing that really sets him apart from the tens of other student activist speakers - except maybe that he’s a head taller than them. Despite his inexperience, Keane has a spark of something unique. It’s a flicker, if anything at all. With the referendum on the Eighth Amendment looming in the coming year, Keane could be a major player in how students engage with the movement. There are a host of causes, opinions, and sentiments that with Keane’s clout could expand beyond the borders of Trinity’s campus. UCD’s recent debacle with their own SU leader has without a doubt affected the regard of presidential positions within student governance. If Kevin Keane can develop his skills, grow beyond the accepted cardboard cutout of SU leaders, he could do something truly exceptional - he could actually make a difference.

office. Eating a Jacob’s cookie

Photo Credit Joe McCallion/Trinity News

Blood is thicker than water Cian MacLochlainn explains the process of blood donation and its history in Ireland Cian MacLochlainn Senior Reporter

BOUT ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE WILL REQUIRe a blood transfusion at some point in their lives. Over 1,000 Irish people receive blood transfusions every week and approximately 70,000 patients will have blood transfusions by this year’s end. Constant campaigns remind us that supplies in hospitals are always running low. Because different medical circumstances require different amounts of blood units, it is vital that blood supplies remain sufficient. Donating blood is something that all of us, who are eligible,are recommended to do on a regular basis. I donated blood for the first time in my local Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) centre last June, making me a third generation donor as both my grandmother and father are regular donors. Before the donation can begin, those interested in donating must follow certain steps to ascertain eligibility. The process involves giving specific details; name, date of birth, residence, contact information. This is before a simple health screening where a medical form and questionnaire is filled out. This document is filled with questions which are asked on the basis of guaranteeing only healthy blood is donated. The questions revolve around sexual activity, travel history, drug use and overall physical health.After this vital questionnaire is reviewed, those waiting to donate are taken aside by a member of the medical team who take a small sample of blood in order to test your haemoglobin and iron levels. During this time, further questions may be asked. Interested donors are constantly reminded to disclose their entire medical his-

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There are annual appeals of blood donation especially for the hospitals where supplies can dwindle during certain times of the year. It is not wise to assume that possessing a common blood type can act as an excuse not to donate.

tory. This is also relevant for those who feel it may not be necessary to disclose a medical condition that could lead to disqualification from the process. This comes from my own experience where I didn’t mention my Alopecia, the condition does not disqualify me but the medical team is to be informed regardless since it is an autoimmune condition. Before the needle is inserted the medical staff need to find a vein. The donor has a further set of steps to follow to complete the process. Usually, one must lie down on a bed after the vein is found and the needle is inserted so the donation can finally begin. Those who are nervous are comforted by the fact the pain from the needle lasts for less than half a second. With fear of needles one of the main reasons cited by non donors, this myth of painful donation is one many involved wishes would be banished. A member of the team will hand the donor something to squeeze to keep the blood flowing at a steady pace. This is also advantageous as it can also improve any numbness felt during the process. Many people worry about how much blood is actually removed during the procedure. Howevers donor can rest assured that those involved in the process are professionals and never take more blood than they need. Naturally no large loss of blood will occur and the machine attached to the vein which extracts the blood is programmed to end its function once it reaches its target. Once the donation is finished donors are free to take in some light refreshments such as tea, coffee and biscuits. Medical experts recommend to avoid rushing to leave the centre after donation, especially if you are driving. It is advised to abstain from alcohol until the next day after donating. Furthermore, it is deemed necessary to avoid any strenuous physical activity for at least twelve hours as

well. While there are many ways to donate blood, contacting an IBTS centre and undergoing the experience similar to that above is arguably the easiest method of doing so. The history of the IBTS goes back to 1900 when the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Ireland set up an ‘on call’ blood donor panel to serve hospitals in the Dublin area. In 1948 Noel Browne, the then Minister for Health, established the National Blood Transfusion Association in Ireland. Seventeen years later this would become the Blood Transfusion Service Board (BTSB). The Cork Blood Transfusion Service was then absorbed by the BTSB in 1975, followed by the Limerick Blood Transfusion Service in 1991. The name of the organisation became the IBTS in 2000.

Despite the vital service it provides, the organisation has not been immune to controversy. Between 1977 and 1994, a number of people unknowingly received Hepatitis Cinfected blood. Clear evidence of this did not emerge until the mid 1990s. The Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal was established by the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act, 1997, and amended by the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act, 2002, to compensate people who contracted Hepatitis C or HIV as a result of receiving blood or blood products from the Service. The Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) ban has also come under scrutiny. The lifetime ban on those who are MSM was changed to a twelve month ban from the time they last had sexual relations be-

fore donating blood and came into effect on January 16th of this year. Trepidation in donating blood for the first time can be justified but once you have gone through the process once and the fear of the unknown is erased, it becomes much easier after that. There are annual appeals of blood donation especially for the hospitals where supplies can dwindle during certain times of the year. It is not wise to assume that since possessing a common blood type can act as an excuse not to donate. All blood types, common and rare, are needed to continue the life saving work in hospitals. Although many people who are eligible to donate blood, and who choose not to either by fear, or for their political stance regarding the restrictions of men who have

sex with men (MSM) from donating blood for 12 months following their last sexual activity, this should no longer be an excuse. Given that I bided my time before donating for the first time due to my objection to the MSM blood ban, it was after donating that I realised that I have a rare blood type. My blood type, though rare, can donate to the second most common blood group in Ireland as well as the rarest. Since donating I feel that I now have a responsibility, both from a moral and civic standpoint, to donate as often as I can, while I’m still eligible.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Features

Gun control in the United States Caoimhe Gordon speaks to two American students about their opinions on gun control in their nation Caoimhe Gordon Deputy Features Editor

NOTHER DAY, ANOTHER SHOCKING HEADLINe, another series of weeping locals photographed to convey the sense of shock that has brought another town to a standstill in the United States. Another fiery statement from Trump, another erupting debate about the availability of guns, another sense of confusion from other nations towards those Americans who constantly defend the right to bear arms despite the number of deaths caused by gun violence. With two large mass shootings within the space of five weeks, it is poignant that the interviews for this article were completed before the announcement of a shooting in a Baptist church in Texas. At the time, reports were still emerging from behind the scenes of the Las Vegas shooting. Yet this shows the omnipresence of the issue of mass shootings in the United States. When the furore surrounding one begins to pass, another small town becomes synonymous with terror, fear and a rising death toll. Not only that, but it is transformed into another statistic, tacked onto the end of an article about the next mass shooting that will be deemed Breaking News in the weeks or months to come. Anthony Cole Hughes is a recent graduate, hailing from Arkansas in the south east of the United States. In Arkansas, like Texas, gun laws are generally considered quite relaxed: “Typically anyone can own a fireman over the age of 18- rifle, shotgun or handgun. However, you cannot conceal your firearm without a proper licensure- you can, however, open carry after you turn 21.” Open arm denotes the practise of carrying the gun in a holster openly on your hip. However, this law is not applicable to all. Anthony explains that the same option are not open to felons: “your gun owning privileges are revoked

and if you’re caught with one, you’ll typically have your parole revoked and face more punishment.” Charlie Jersey is a student at Williams College in Massachusetts, originally from Connecticut in the New England region. He is not sure of the guns law in his state: “I know that they’re rather loose, but I don’t know the specifics.” Gun laws in Connecticut typically require training, background check and permitting requirements for the purchase of firearms. These is stricter than the equivalent legal set of rules in Arkansas. There are also bans on some firearms classed as “assault weapons.” Like Arkansas, the system for open and concealed carry is relative permissive.

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The fact that we can purchase assault rifles is patently absurd, especially considering the name: ASSAULT rifle.

Both Anthony and Charlie agree that the main issue regarding the sale of guns in the United States is the overwhelming lack of background checks. Charlie would “ban the sale of assault rifles to private individuals and would increase the scope of background checks into purchas-

Art by Megan Luddy ers of all types of rifles. Any mental illness in the last 10 years should automatically disqualify you from owning a gun of any kind, as should having performed a violent felony or having a restraining order in place against you.” Anthony focuses his attention on this matter on the private gun sales events. These are for example three-day gun expos where any private seller can sell a gun to any private buyer. “Since background checks are what show whether someone is a convicted criminal and whether they’re allowed to possess a firearm, I feel they need to be done at these private events.” However, their opinions differ when questioned about the government response towards these attacks. Anthony maintains a philosophical outlook: “One cannot govern morality -- shooting someone is illegal and typically warrants a heavy sentence if done improperly. Other than punishing the culprit after the crime, there isn't much the government can do to stop these mentally ill from obtaining firearms or from using them. Due to the vastness of our country's landscape, it would be…literally impossible, to seize and secure every weapon there is available to a

mentally ill person who feels the need to injure others in mass.” He draws reference to the onslaught of attacks this side of Atlantic, stating: “The strict gun laws [in Europe] have neither helped nor hindered these events from taking place.” He personally believes that guns are not the dominating issue that the United States faces: “Each year in the US there are more deaths by car accident than by gun; there are more deaths… due to prescription medications.” He cites the opioid crisis, which has reached epidemic levels according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. As well as increasing gun control measures, Charlie feels the unregulated frenzy is an issue that requires tackling: “The news cycle and media are not being regulated well enough to stop the mass hysteria resulting from these attacks.” He refers to the reasoning behind the rampages of such gunmen, explaining “Many mass shootings are done as statements, seeking fame or pushing an agenda. Without the publicity garnered through the hyper-reactive media, many of these attacks would not have been performed in the first place.” Finally, the question that causes the most strikingly opposite reactions from the two

American citizens of similar age occurs when I enquire about their own personal beliefs on owning a gun. Anthony refers to the Second Amendment, explaining that his beliefs tend to align with the individual rights theory: “We, as citizens of the United States, have an individual right to possess and bear arms when we feel it most necessary.” He quotes the need to maintain “domestic tranquillity” and the ability to personally defend himself as the most pressing reasons for his choice. He is open about his own choice to carry a gun, explaining that while he now only owns one gun, he previously possessed up to 4: “I own a Glock handgun. It’s a black pistol, the same model that many of our police officers carry. It can carry 17 or 32 rounds.” Anthony has owned the pistol for 4 years “without incident.” He typically wears it on his hip or in his car. He sees his gun as a symbol of protection against “any enemy, foreign or domestic that may seek to endanger myself or those around him.” He believes that citizens have a right to ultimately protect their fellow man and that “our police officers do not always have the time to be there.” His comments resonate with those of the Attorney General of Texas, Republican Ken Paxton following the shooting at Sutherland Springs. He ad-

vised that the churches have a need to be “arming some of the parishioners”. Texans can carry a concealed weapon and Republicans such as Paxton encourage the purchase and concealment of gun carrying while simultaneously blocking any new federal government laws. This statement has now garnered support since the gunman Devin Patrick Kelley in Texas only fled from the scene as a local resident shot at him with a weapon he was legally carrying. Meanwhile, the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott was faced with a blast from the past as a tweet from 2015 where he urged Texans to “pick up the pace” and move out of second place for most new gun purchases in a state resurfaced. Charlie’s opinion presents a stark difference to that of Anthony in Arkansas. “I think that owning a gun is asking for trouble in so many ways. You’re far more likely to kill yourself or a family member than you are an intruder, and that’s just with pistols. The fact that we can purchase assault rifles is patently absurd, especially considering the name: ASSAULT rifle. That is not a defensive weapon. If you, a sane non-felon, want a shotgun, fine. If you want a pistol, fine. But assault rifles are unnecessary for anything but a shooting range. Those do not fall into the category of

a self-protective weapon; they are used to murder.” During the summer I spent in the United States, the moment that a group of us stumbled upon the gun display in Wal-Mart remains eerily present in my mind. Clutching various American treats, we stood staring, giggling nervously at the glass cases in front of us. It was such a foreign concept, one which we had never experienced personally. However, it is more than a difference of cultures that pervades the sale of guns. Trump has said that the worst shooting in modern Texan history is not an issue of guns but “a mental health problem at the highest level” despite the fact Kelley’s mental health status has not yet being disclosed. However, this causes further controversy for many as Trump recently blocked plans by his predecessor Obama and supported by Anthony and Charlie that would have prevented an estimated 75,000 people with mental health issues buying guns,. This saga of gun control looks set to continue and many Stateside wait in fear that their town may be the next to be featured in headlines across the globe. Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton did not try to sugarcoat this in an interview with FOX news, commenting eerily “It’s going to happen again.”

Tattoos: art of the soul How have tattoos changed over the ages as a means of expression? Larissa Brigatti Contributing Writer

ATTOOS HAVE LONG BEEN PART of important rituals and traditions in a vast variety of cultures around the globe. Amazon tribes tattooed themselves as a ritual of protection, so the dark spirits would not approach them. Some tattoos supposedly were believed to havehad the metaphysical mystical power to bring spiritual guardians. Others were used to show the success in battles and to identify different tribes. The Kayabi had tattoos representing the names of enemies they had killed as symbols of honor, pride and power. Girls would get tattoos under their breasts and stomach after puberty to show men that they were ‘women’. When Christopher Columbus colonizsed Brazil over 500 years ago, the number of tattooed tribes decreased considerably as the colonizsers considered these rituals as a form of tortuous cruelty and sins; the settlers and missionaries wanted to ‘educate’ e and impose their moral codes, and religion onto the culture onto the e of the indigenous people. Consequently, there are less than ten tribes that still practice the art of tattoo today as part of their rituals, because their beliefs had been colonised, the environment had changed. Hawaiian people also believed that tattoo had a spiritual meaning aside from the aesthetic their beauty. Hawaiian and Amazon tribes used to apply pigment onto the skin with needles made of bones. When Europeans settlers colonised Hawaii islands, their traditions began to collapse, including the tattoo tradition. In India, customs surrounding tattoos are a mystery. While they are associated with wealth, there have been

other reasons in different communities across the country. In the Singhpo of Assam tribe, for instance, women have both their legs tattooed after marriage and men get tattoos on their hands to show their marital status. Women of lower castes get tattoos on visible parts of their bodies in order to represent their inferior economic status. What’s more, they also believe in the spiritual connection with the aid of tattoos : aand use them as a form of protection from dark spirits and an eternal connection with their ancestors. These tattoos need to have geometrical forms in order to achieve the realms of cosmology. The temporary tattoo art of Mehndi still is traditionally used during celebrations, such as weddings. Contemporary tattoo art The method of tattooing changed from pigments, bones and teeth into machines and different colored inks. The first tattooing machine was created by Samuel O’Reilley (1854-1909) in 1881, USA. He learned some tattooing techniques while in the American Navy. At the turn of the century however, tattooing lost its credibility. As they became particularly popular in prison camps, there too began a growing perceived connection between crime and tattoos. This negative association with criminals led to the banning of tattoos in the majority of industries. Those with tattoos suffered discrimination in the workplace,having their moral and intellectual abilities questioned because of their appearance. To be tattooed became a social taboo Today people of different ethnicities and ages get tattoos for an enormous number of reasons. religion, aesthetics, art sake, ‘just “for the laugh’” with friends, or absolutely no reason at all. Hoping to understand the modern motive modern motivations, I asked some people why they got tattoos and all had differ-

ent meanings and stories. Yet a curious connection remains between the history of the tribes that inspired these tattoos and the habits and customs of the modern day. The meanings I found ranged from none at all, to a symbol of life achievement . Alex, aged 22, has a line tattooed on his arm that has no meaning whatsoever. He decided to get it as his first tattoo just to have one. Meanwhile Marilene decided to get her first tattoo when she was 50 years old, “with the intention of highlighting a new phase in life. I got retired and I chose a blue butterfly as a symbol of freedom. As the butterfly leaves its pupa to live in the world, I left mine. I left my obligations, responsibilities, timetables and things at work, and now I feel free as well” . Marilene’s story has similar principles to the old tattooing rituals as a celebration act. And yet others symbolise the present with tattoos. Hoping to reveal her inner self, Laura, aged 23., think s of them as a form of expressing the as expressing her inner self. To her, she She wants to display the things she loves in life, her ideas and her personality. Laura used to be a tattoo artist, as well as having her own tattoos. She shared with me her experience of different perspectives:: being ‘tattooed’ and marking someone else’s body forever. She said, “I like to have animals and geometric symbols on my body to show some aspects of my inner personality, it’s like a self-manifestation... . And I also feel pretty with my tattoos. I think tattoos need to have a personal meaning, it doesn’t matter what other people think about your tattoos. I think it’s a form of expressing your spirituality, a cultural expression.” Laura also explained the work environment at a tattoo parlour and how she used to feel when she was tattooing other people, “Sometimes you are undermined because

you are a woman tattoo artist. I was the only women where I used to work. It was a very negative environment, in my opinion. Some customers wanted ‘good’ tattoos on their bodies, but others wanted ‘bad’ tattoos like clowns. If you get a clown tattoo it means you killed a policeman, but it’s like a theory,. I can’t say if the person did that or not.” Laura decided to give up being a tattoo artist because of a number of factors. for a few reasons. While some disappointments drove her away, apart from that she dshe also did not like the idea of “marking someone’s body forever” as she described it, “I think there is also a religious idea behind my choice, I don’t know if there’s karma because I’m modifying someone’s body. I don’t want to be penalized for that, I will have to pay the price for tattooing people. Well, according to my parents… s. So, I was a bit paranoid about that and then I gave up.” In relation to work opportunities, many companies still do not accept tattoos. Those associated with authority such as flight attendants, nurses and teachers often have strict appearance policies that forbid these displays of self, regardless of their meaning. This isn’t restricted to a western context either. In Japan, tattoos are associated with the Yakuza Mob and public bathhouses and gyms have been known to ban entry for those that don’t conceal their art. The city of Osaka even went so far as to introduce a fine for civil servants with tattoos in 2012 in an effort to keep Yakuza gangsters off the public payroll. While many Japanese natives avoid tattoos due to these associations, this is a problem for the increasing tourist population visiting Japan. While our generation is more open-minded about the topic, it is clear tattoos remain problematic in certain fields.

However, with the number of ‘tattooed’ people increasing in our generation, certain questions are evoked arisein regards to s about self expression.When in the public eye,

do people have a responsibility to avoid negative associations? Are these associations unfair, even if they’re a declaration of murdering a police officer? To what extent should

our freedom of expression carry over into the professional realm, and how important should our art be in expressing who we really are?

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Features

Don’t let the bedbugs bite What’s crawling between your sheets at night? Art by Nicole O'Sullivan

Danielle Olavario Staff Writer

OING TO A N O T H E R COUNTRY AS AN AU pair is something that has always been on my bucket list. So last summer, after saying goodbye to my parents and promising that I will call them everyday before bed, I travelled to Rome as an au pair for the very first time. My first night felt surreal. There were a million differences between Rome and Dublin. It was hot, for one. Stepping out of my room, I could hear crickets chirping, and I was excited to see that looking up at the night sky, I could actually see stars. It was the beginning of what was to be one of the most memorable summer I’ve had so far, and I knew it. I slept that night smiling. A week and a half later, while walking down one of Rome’s vias, I noticed a disproportionate number of bites on both my arms. They were red and small, but numerous. Mosquitos had been plaguing me in the evenings ever since arriving in Rome, and so dismissing them as mosquito bites, I pulled my sleeve back down my arm and continued my adventures in the city. Three days later, the small, red bites on my arms had turned into rash. What looked like small separate islands before had converged

together and now looked like a red archipelago, stretching from the crease at my elbow up to the edge of my wrist. Cue panicked Facebook video call to my mother. “It’s probably just skin asthma,” she said. “You know, from the heat? It will go away on its own.” It didn’t go away on its own. A few days later, the archipelago had turned into a whole country. I showed my au pair mother the rash, and after an appropriate amount of concerned remarks, she asked me, “Is it only on your arms?” The question had not occurred to me before, but not wanting to inject awkwardness into the conversation, I replied, “Yes, I think so.” Later that night, the question still bugged me, so I finally faced the bathroom mirror for a top-to-bottom body inspection. I found, to my horror, that the bites that are now rash is not only on both my arms, but are also on the inside of my thighs, down my calves, and even around the soles of my feet. Like any alarmed millennial with a health-related concern, I rushed to my laptop and turned to Google. “Small red bites turned red rash,” I typed on the search bar. It brought me to a website that specialised in identifying insects from their bites, and based on the description that was accompanied by pictures, what I had was characteristic of bed bugs. I was horrified. I jumped

up out of the bed, stripped the covers off, and hurriedly put on fresh ones. I took a hot shower, and afterwards searched for any clothing I had that covered the entirety of my limbs. I wore socks to bed. Even at night, the temperature in Rome was in the mid-20s, so I paid the price for wearing my sleeping costume in buckets of sweat. I went back to Google, and once again, looked up bed bugs. Humans have been dealing with bed bugs even going as far back as 400 BC, and their fossilized remains have been found in many ancient Greek and Roman archaeological sites. Germany, China, Italy, France- it seems like there isn’t a place in the world that has not already been infested. In the 1940s, we came close to eradicating them in the developed world, but because of the rise of international travel and pesticide resistance, they are now once again a huge problem. The little creatures have plagued the human civilisation for so long that we have turned their existence into a very wellknown rhyme, which was written when people in the Middle Ages used to sleep in wooden beds with ropes tied in a net-like fashion. But bed bugs are not exclusively nocturnal creatures. They are attracted to their victims primarily by detecting carbon dioxide in their breath, and likes to feed on its host without it

being noticed. Most people do not feel when a bed bug bites them, and a bite can take up to 9 days to become visible, which means that one may not know that their bed has bed bugs until they’ve already been bitten by it. Their detection is made all the more difficult by the fact that it is very difficult to see the actual living insects themselves, and so more often than not, almost like mythical creatures, only things that they left behind point to their existence: eggs and eggshells, bloodstains on pillowcases and sheets, or shed skins. This is why bed bugs are infamously known for how challenging it is to eradicate them completely from a room or a house. A quick google search brought up horror stories of people completely stripping t h e i r

of the room before the extermination even began. They can also go for weeks, even months, without feeding. If you are lucky (or unlucky) enough to see a bed bug with your own two eyes, you will see an oval

Its colour, ranging from light brown to reddish brown, depends on its maturity, and whether or not it

has

apartments and putting their clothes in a black bin bag in the middle

shaped insect that is about 4-5mm in length.

recently feasted on an unfortunate victim. When a bed bug finds a victim, it typically finds exposed skin on a sleeping individual and pierces it with a “beak” or

a rostrum before sawing back and forth through the host’s tissue. During the process, the bed bug injects its victim with saliva that has painkillers and blood thinners. It only takes 5-10 minutes for the insect to become completely filled with blood with the help of pressure from the blood vessel itself. After the feeding session, the insect w i l l return to its hiding p l a c e , usually somewhere warm and well-hidden, like the insides of bedsheets, linings of mattresses, and even behind wallpapers and picture frames. However, aside from rashes and allergies to their bites, bed bugs are not currently known to carry diseases, which is perhaps why I’ve actually grown quite fond of them during my time away, and, perhaps disturbingly, saw them almost as my invisible pets. I slept on that bed in Rome for three more weeks and arrived in Ireland mostly unscathed, with the exception of the last of the rashes and a knowledge of bedbugs that I didn’t know I needed.

Stepping from the heavens What does humankind hope to glean from venturing to the stars? Sam Cox

Features Editor

ITH THESE WORDS ,ON THE 14TH OCTOBER 2012, Felix Baumgartner let go of the handles of his capsule and hurdled into history. As he fell from Earth’s stratosphere towards the ground below, over 24 million eyes watched the Austrian skydiver reach speeds of over 843.6 miles per hour, not least of which were those of his own mother, filled with tears and fear . In doing so, not only was he the first person to break the sound barrier without the assistance of a vehicle but was joining those in history who have risked their lives to push the boundaries of what is possible. Chuck Yeager did the same 65 years earlier when he reached Mach 1 in a plane for the first time. So too did they join the likes of Charles Lindbergh making the first transatlantic flight, or Yuri Gagarin as he journeyed into outer space.

“

Well, it’s there, and we’re human and that’s what humans do. We go to things just because they’re there.

What possesses humans to risk their lives for the unknown? As with Yeager and Gagarin, scientists had no idea what the journey would do to the body of Baumgartner. Every possible preparation and simulation had been made, but it was limited to just that: simulation. Eventually, someone had to be chosen to venture into the unknown and take that step over the edge. Trinity looks to the stars Hoping to better understand the technicalities and considerations involved in pushing these boundaries, I contacted the Trinity Space Society. Chair Maggie Goulden and Rocketry Officer Ian Finnegan sat down with me in the cafe of the Science Gallery, and discussed not only how we travel into space, but why. Smiling, Goulden asked if I wanted a philosophical answer, or a business one. When I chose the former, she simply responded “Well, it’s there, and we’re human and that’s what humans do. We go to things just because they’re there.”. As the three of us considered these words, I couldn’t help but wonder if these explorations detract from other efforts. How could we justify world hunger and disease while turning our eyes to the stars? Finnegan offered his perspective: “We’re just quite nosy people, as a species. Every species is nosy, but we have the ability to compre-

Art by Chloe Aitken whether it’s poverty or whether it’s anything other.” Goulden agreed, pointing out we’re capable of tackling multiple problems at once,and furthermore, the two feed into each other: “You also have the argument as we go to space and move away from the Earth, it brings us together as a species” This, she pointed out, puts us in a better space and political environment that can tackle problems at home on Earth. “If you bring people together, you’re one step closer to solving the problem.”

hend what it is and direct it. And there are those among us who have directed their nosiness and ability towards poverty alleviation, and those who have geared our abilities towards answering questions and scientific endeavours. I don’t particularly think one supersedes the other because they’re both noble causes. The search for knowledge, understanding who we are, why we are, where we came from and then on a more local level how do we fix problems on Earth,

Making it happen Wanting and being willing to go into space isn’t enough, however. Aside from the bureaucratic issue of establishing funding, which Goulden cited as the main barrier to accomplishing space exploration, there seemed to be a plethora of mathematical and scientific considerations. These, she assured me, weren’t as difficult as one might imagine and were fairly simple. When met with a cautious “Well...” from Finnegan, she expanded: “If it’s something you can do by hand, it’s simple.The physics is basic Newtonian.”. Explaining further, she talked about how making the

necessary calculations involved considering various factors and adding them into the appropriate equations. Finnegan gave the following example: “In terms of fuel, it’s just flow dynamics, how much fuel you need per kilogram of a system to move a certain speed.”. This requires a differential equation to account for the decreasing weight of the object as fuel is used (not to mention the changing value of gravity as you leave the Earth). While the vehicle starts with 10 kilograms of fuel , by the time you’re halfway through the journey it is only necessary to calculate for 5kg, and so on. While this may sound complicated, she said these could (and are) asked at a Junior Freshman astrophysics level. Compared with other calculations that can only be done with the aid of a computer, these are rudimentary. As the two continued to talk it was clear they were more than capable of not only tackling any questions I had but of simplifying it to a level I could understand. Despite this, my mind became increasingly boggled as we went on. To try and have a concrete example in my mind, I asked what was involved in putting a man on the moon. Before discussing the physics, Goulden first

pointed out it would be much simpler to put a woman on the moon, and the only reason men were chosen was because of the gender politics of the 20th century. With smaller frames and lighter masses, women were, and are, easier to fit into the cramped cockpits of space vehicles. Once you had chosen a suitable candidate then, multiple factors were involved in the calculations. Pointing out not only is the Moon orbiting the Earth, but both are orbiting the Sun and furthermore, are rotating independently. “So what you’ve got now is two spinning bodies that are moving around each other and you’ve got to launch from one to land on another.”. The orbit of the Moon presents another issue in that it’s a moving target. Rather than fly towards the moon, it is necessary to calculate where the moon will be when you want to arrive, and fly for that destination instead. This, Goulden explained to me with a glimmer of amazement in her eye was what inspired her: “That’s the bit that astounds me most, they know so well where [the moon] is going to go. You could plot it out infinitely for the entire future of the planet.”

Inspiring humankind It was this astoundment and admiration that had connected the early moon flights and Baumgartner's jump in my mind. Watching the livestream on my computer, I had a sense of what it must have been like as the Earth held it’s breath watching Armstrong descend the ladder of the lunar module onto the surface of the moon. This fascination with the stars seemed to have decreased as the century drew to a close, which Goulden confirmed “People did not idolise astronauts like they once did. Things really went downhill after you had a couple of bad accidents with NASA like the Challenger”. Elon Musk, they pointed out, has done wonders for a revival in interest in space however. Goulden explained “His specialty is being able to focus everyone on believing the impossible can be done and then using that to do not the impossible, but doing something that wouldn’t have been done had they just been aiming for the possible. If you set the bar really high, and fall below that, you’ll be grand.”. While she had some trepidation surrounding Musk, particularly concerning his views with life on other planets,

Goulden did seem to approve of what he was doing for the space industry. Closing our interview, Goulden reiterated that the biggest issue of space travel isn’t bravery, mathematical considerations or avoiding cosmic rays “It’s just getting the money to do it. If someone gave NASA all the money to fund all their programs tomorrow, we’d probably be at Mars in 10 or 20 years. The biggest hurdle is money.”. Finnegan insisted on the importance of this investment: “I do believe it’s an effort, and let’s go really grandiose, it’s an effort for the good of humanity. Not only is it unifying us into some exploration of the world, but its unifying us in teaching how to ask questions. To ask what is out there, and why it’s out there, and pushing that boundary of science that little bit more.”. This is what Baumgartner aimed to do in venturing from his helium balloon, and what Yeager hoped to achieve sitting in his plane as it rattled towards the unknown. Stepping over the edge, humans have and will constantly sought what is over the horizon and sometimes have stepped blindly out, just so they can answer “What will happen next?”.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Comment

It’s inconvenient that the trains aren’t running. But it’s sickening to mistreat workers for so long.

page 15

Too short, overcrowded, and the TA won’t stop talking Tutorials at Trinity could be so much better Emma Rodgers Staff Writer

UTORIALS, LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM, they are an essential part of our learning experience, and also the reason I often force myself out of bed after a night out. Many students have an idea of the perfect tutorial: a classroom of ten or twelve people, all passionate about their course; a full hour filled with intellectual discussion about Shakespeare, or sand dune migration, or how the body works. Yet we show up and it is 50 minutes of awkward silence, forced conversation, and a TA doing their best to learn a new group of names. Tutorials could be better. As a TSM English and World Religions & Theology student, I only have two tutorials this semester, and while my tutorials are significantly better than last year, there’s a long way to go before I’ll be fully excited for a tutorial.

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If you know your TA will dominate the discussion, and student participation is minimal, why bother doing the readings only to sit quietly for an hour?

Trinity is one of the best universities in the world, and yet our classrooms are cramped, and either freezing cold or swelteringly hot. They are not conducive to a productive discussion. Roundtable scenarios are ideal and yes, some classrooms have the tables set up in a circle, but others are just those creaky chairs

with a “desk” attached, all scattered around the room. My English tutorials have so much potential to be excellent. From

much to say about Cathy’s and Heathcliff’s relationship and the role of Lockwood, and not enough time t o fully dive into the cold grey moors of

are missing, and then asked how our weekends were, we’ve lost five minutes. Then there is the silence while the TA ruffles through papers in an effort to decide where to

take experience, and both students and teachers need to be given more time to talk. If tutorials are an hour and a half then there is time for the awkward first 10 minutes and the closing five to talk about next week. Imagine how much more you could learn if there was more time for a facilitated discussion. Some TAs are great, very prepared and knowledgeable about the subject. Others expect the students to lead themselves. In an ideal world, we know how to lead our own discussion and ask all the right questions. However, we’ve also got other tutorials for which to prepare, and other materials to read or write. With more structure and open questions, tutorials could go a lot further.

stereotypical literature students to the person you never thought would go near a book, we all have a lot to say. And yet, our discussion surrounding Wuthering Heights was good, but far from great. Wuthering Heights is a literary classic, there is so

England. I want more. I want classes of no more than ten students and I want at least an hour and a half allotted to each tutorial. Why should we have longer tutorials? By the time the TA has taken attendance, made an awkward comment about how many people

begin. Once we actually get around to discussing the novel, poem, play, etc. it’s been almost 10 minutes. I am sure that many teachers would love more time to talk about their subject and to engage with the students. We’re all there, ultimately, because of a desire to learn. It’s a give and

That being said, many times the students find their feet because the TA or someone else brings up a question or topic, and they run with it. Some of the best tutorials I’ve had are those where we spend at least a solid thirty minutes discussing the reasoning behind the landscape of a novel. However, these wonderful discussions have often been brought to a screeching halt when the TA remembers the other topics we need to address and then all the students fall silent, having nothing else to say and wanting only to continue talking about the previous

subject. Students need more of a reason to attend and prepare for tutorials. If you know your TA will dominate the discussion, and student participation is minimal, why bother doing the readings only to sit quietly for an hour? Controversial though it is, mandatory presentations, even five minutes ones, from each student (one per tutorial) is a great way of forcing students to read and prepare for a discussion. In my experience, tutorials with mandatory presentations yield better and more lengthy discussions. Yes, it is stressful to reach Sunday night and realize you’re presenting Tuesday afternoon, but the benefits outweigh the stress; a better and more in-depth understanding of the topic which will benefit you come essay and/or exam time is worth the Sunday night panic. Will tutorials get better anytime soon? Who knows. A systematic change is needed to increase productivity. With more time and more student presentations, or at least more student choice regarding the discussion topic(s), tutorials could be what they are meant to be: a space for close readings, where students can grow and expand their knowledge in a safe environment which encourages questions and discussion. Art by Nicole O'Sullivan

It’s time to talk honestly about drug use We acknowledge drug use, but refuse to discuss it or make it safe Hugh Whelan Contributing writer

IKE MANY CONTROVERSIAL PHENOMENA in Irish culture, recreational drug use is something has remained generally frowned upon and swept under the carpet for years. Certainly, when it comes to the general “drug problem”, the national discourse paints drug use in a one-sided negative light. We are taught to shun and ignore the heroin addicts dotted around the streets of Dublin - “they’re wasters”, we’re told. Drug-related gangland crime is rampant, and the Gardaí are the heroes in a supposed constant battle against the supply and sale of illicit drugs. Celebratory claims are made on RTE about “2 Million Euro Worth Of Cocaine Seized In Dublin Port”. We grow up listening to this, and the impression we get is that drug use is totally, irrevocably evil. “Just say no!” is what we are told in school – this is the way it has always been. However, we soon grow up, and it becomes clear that there is a double standard involved when it comes to recreational drug use in young people. The fact is that casual drug use is part and parcel of social life in Trinity, and wider college life, for many Irish young people. To quote from the “Drugs” information section on the TCDSU website: “You may not have had much (if any) contact with illicit substances to date – but all that could be about to change. You will inevitably come into contact with people who use drugs while you are at college and you may be offered to partake.” They’re right. I will remember my first festival experience - where at the back of the bus to the festival grounds, I had a lively conversation with an enthusiastic late-twenties sunglass-wearing solicitor. He informed me that he worked full time in a respected firm, and takes time off only go to festivals and “go mad on the coke”. I was young, naïve, and

surprised at this revelation, but something that one comes to learn as one gets older is that it’s not just the “addicts” who use drugs, as RTE and the government would have you think – but a majority of the young population. While this may shock some minority of readers, I have a feeling that this is a phenomenon most people are aware of. It’s not something that’s admitted openly – hence why surveys fail to give accurate statistics – however, I think it’s fair to say, as TCDSU have stated, that experiencing recreational drug use has become an inevitable part of the college student’s life. You personally may not have tried it, but you certainly have a friend who has. The issue at hand here is not recreational drug use. It’s 2017, and it’s clear that “just say no” to drugs is an outdated idea. Young people are encouraged to experiment and try new things, and the reality that no-one admits in the public sphere is that today this involves experimental drug use. But while there is a silent acceptance of this casual drug use, there is a complete lack of specific and helpful information on the varying recreational drugs and how, if one chooses to do so, to use them safely. The typical student experience involves “selfeducating” on recreational drug use, which is problematic to say the least. Young people are labelled as “foolish” and blamed for overdosing and ending up in hospital after a night out – but absolutely no information is provided on dosages, or any of the other aspects of the drug-taking experience which have led to people being in that predicament. One only has to attend any festival or large music event to experience this first-hand. Everyone knows someone who “took too much and ended up in the medical tent”. I have heard of people whose first experience of drugs was having something put in their mouth on the dancefloor, with no idea of what it was, how strong it would be, or where they would end up. For the most part, thankfully, these drug-related “mishaps” are non-fatal.

Illustration by Natalie Duda Tragically however, this is not always the case. In 2013, a 15 year old girl Martha Fernback suffered a fatal cardiac arrest, after swallowing half a gram of 91% pure MDMA powder. In a deeply sad interview, Martha’s mother describes how after the funeral she looked through her daughter’s internet history and found that she had been on Google “looking for ‘ways to take ecstasy safely’ ”, just hours before her death. Martha’s failed efforts to find answers on safe drug use are symptomatic of the alarming lack of information and advice being provided to young people on drug use. Why is it that the average young person learns more about safe drug use from chats with fellow students in smoking areas than from institutions who claim to provide for their citizen’s

safety and wellbeing? The drug use situation in Dublin at the moment is far from safe. There is a complete lack of awareness about purity of substances and correct dosages, which leads to young people making misinformed decisions, and risking their health. Some of the most valuable safe drug use information available in the public sphere is being spread by pages like Humans of the Sesh and FOURFOUR Magazine, who have published articles and infographics in the run up to Electric Picnic entitled “Guide to staying safe using club/festival drugs”. These efforts are commendable, and the information contained in them is far more comprehensive and useful

than the vague and general information available from college institutions and other bodies. However these efforts are nowhere near the full extent of what’s needed. The fact is that there is little or no difficulty involved in obtaining drugs for young people today in Dublin or any large city. Hundreds of thousands are spent on Gardaí tackling drugdealing each year; dealers are arrested and seizures of stock are made, and yet, the availability never falters. Surely as this goes on, year after year, someone ought to realise that the system itself is inherently flawed. The efforts of the Gardaí and those involved is commendable, but misdirected, and failing to make any real change in the situation. Classism, ignorance, and

ingrained conservatism are in part to blame. It’s much easier for those in power to look the other way when young people die of overdoses, and recycle the old line that “they should have just said no.” They point to the latest large drug bust in Dublin Port: “Look at the good work we’re doing.” They take cocaine in private rooms, and then give jail time to dealers. I invite any TD or policy maker to come to Trinity Ball or any large music event and speak to the young people, and the. tell me that their drug policy is effective. To speak to the first responders in the medical tent. To speak to Martha’s family, or to any of the countless families who have lost young people to drug-related deaths. of

The silent acceptance injustice, paired with

inaction and repression, is a classic trait in Irish culture. We repress, ignore, and hide issues in the cupboard until they reach a crisis point. But the drug conversation is not going away. In order to make effective policy to deal with the current situation, a dramatic destigmatization of the terms surrounding drug usage needs to occur. We need to talk about decriminalisation and legalisation. We need to talk about testing kits. And at the very least, effective and accurate information needs to be provided on safe drug use. Rumours and stigma perpetuate the cycle. It’s time, truly, to start talking.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Comment

So long, Michaelmas term: we won’t miss you A case for Trinity’s new semesterisation Nicole O'Sullivan Contributing Writer

XAMS? NOT DESIRABLE. TWO SETS of exams? Even less desirable, it would seem. In July, it was announced that Trinity was to have exams at Christmas, a shorter Summer break, and no more fancy names for its terms. When the announcement broke, Facebook timelines were set ablaze with students already lamenting the “loss” of Summer 2018, and there was a nice spread of both sad and angry reacts on every Facebook post that discussed the planned restructure. It seemed as if the ghost of Christmas future had arrived, and it was showing us Decembers filled with study. However, the initial panic surrounding the new academic structure was misplaced. I very much welcome the change, and if Trinity can start it off well, then it could prove very beneficial for students. It will be difficult at first, no doubt – a college of thousands changing its entire system of work within just a few months is no easy feat. But it can be done, and we will all be fine. Let’s take a step back, and consider the issues that many see with the new plan. One of these problems is the regrettable lack of clarity surrounding what a blanket introduction of Christmas exams and semesterisation will look like. Is every course going to have the exact same annual frame across the board? Or will the new system be fitted

and tailored individually to each subject? If it’s the former, then it’ll turn out to be a battle of the disciplines – some courses will benefit from Christmas exams, and some will get the short straw. Why is this so? As it stands, courses obviously vary wildly in terms of workload. Some courses sit up to twelve exams in May, depending on module choice. So naturally, courses with this kind of workload would benefit from taking some of that pressure away from the Summer and spreading it throughout the year. That’s fine for them. On the other hand, however, there are some courses which rely very heavily on continuous assessment – mostly arts subjects – with essays and assignments which are mostly due at around Christmas time. The reason why these modules have so much continuous assessment is twofold: Firstly, because lecturers want to take pressure off of a final exam which would be too dense and essay-based, and secondly because these are subjects in which structured research and planned essay writing skills are a key part of the curriculum, as well as some memorisation of knowledge. These are courses like, say, history or law. Nobody quite knows what will happen in these courses: will continuous assessment be kept, with essays and exams running at the same time, obviously leading to advanced pressure? Or will assessment now be solely exam based, meaning very heavy exams, which may not be the best measure of a student’s aptitude? Neither of these

options are desirable, and people are rightly confused. But this is a problem that can easily be fixed. It’s obvious to me – and it should be to course directors and department heads as well - that the best solution is to have a unique and individual semesterised structure to fit each course. The problem with the proposed calendar revamp lies solely in its ambiguity students and staff both need to be told in plenty of time what the next few years are going to look like for their own subjects. So, that problem can be tackled. But even if the transition to the new year structure is met with some organisational hiccups – although I am trying to have faith that it won’t - I still believe that there is substantial benefit to semesterisation. Semesterisation allows for a workload that is more evenly spread throughout the year, and makes it easier to do well in exams. Under the current system, studying for exams in May means looking over and cramming material that you most likely haven’t looked at properly since December. This material is harder to study as a result, and ends up needing a bit more time and revision than other modules.

One large set of exams in Summer is reminiscent of the Leaving Cert to me – we’re again being forced to cram a lot of material in a short space of time for a highly pressurised set of exams that your whole grade depends on. It’s just better to spread the work out.

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We’re too used to the luxury of having a month of study at the end of the year.

Students can also learn how to study effectively and routinely at an earlier stage in the year, and can identify problems and fix them before it becomes too late. If a student begins studying in November and gets used to having a study routine early on, then you can be sure that that student will have a much more refined and tested exam technique by the time the Summer exams roll around. If their study methods didn’t work in December, then they have time to change it and do better in May. As it stands now, students only really have one shot at getting it right at Summer, when there are more exams on the line. Semesterisation will also benefit students coming over to Trinity for a semester abroad. Currently, because we don’t have semesterised exams, as the majority of the foreign universities these students are coming from do, a lot of visiting students need to have other forms of assessment organised for them – extra essays in December before they leave, or whole different sets of exams. The restructuring would make it easier for Trinity to co-ordinate its assessment and study abroad programs with universities abroad, making the entire process easier for the students concerned.

It’s just a lot easier to get those topics out of the way with exams in December, and students are more likely to do well in them, because there are a smaller set of exams in total. The material being examined is also still fresh in their minds, having just been covered in lectures a few weeks before.

Ultimately, a lot of Trinity students have been of the mind-set that more exams must inherently mean more work. We’re too used to the luxury of having a month of study at the end of the year, and not having to properly worry about exams until

Photo Credit: Joe McCallion/ Trinity News about seven months into What we are seeing is an term. overall beneficial change for Yes, semesterisation means the college. The only probmore work in term one. But lems still to be solved are it’s the same amount of work purely administrative. What that we’d be doing anyway in we can only hope now is that May under the current sys- there will definitely be some tem. We get it out of the way sort of course-specific plans, earlier and we’re studying and if so, that these plans will much smaller amounts of ma- be made clear to students and terial, meaning less pressure staff soon. overall.

The murky world of Ascough’s impeachment has started a culture war “Big Money” The Paradise papers show how divided elites are from the rest of us

Rory O’Sullivan examines the impact of Ascough’s recent impeachment on the upcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment

Alice Whelan

Rory O'Sullivan Comment Editor

Deputy Comment Editor

HE RELEASE OF THE PARADISE PAPERs gives some much needed transparency to the tax avoidance and elite conflicts of interests, but they show also just how murky the waters really are . It’s unclear who even runs most of these accounts, as anonymity can be achieved by hiding the wealth under the names of corporations, pseudonyms and trusts. What we do know now is that it is estimated 10 percent of global GDP is held offshore in such accounts. Süddeutche Zeitung, a German publication, was the first to get hold of the leaks. They shared the documents with an association of journalists, and 96 publications in total worked on the leak of the details of over 1.34 Terabytes of data. The leak is the second largest of its kind, just behind the Panama Papers leak of 2016, and just ahead of the renowned WikiLeaks of 2010. What citizens may find particularly galling is that a lot of this carry-on is legal. Having offshore accounts, redirecting money to other areas, listing your home address as the Bahamas, most of these practices are made legal through a variety of loopholes. The practices have been very carefully crafted by expert legal teams, often quite removed from the individuals themselves. The layers of legal entities surrounding them allow for the wealth that exists to act as a teat for these teams, and the corporations they advise, allowing the wealth of the wealthiest to balloon even further. The wealth of the world's elites exists in sanctuaries, the capital remaining untouched by the ups and downs of the economic systems of their home countries. The world is a low-stakes game for them and this is troubling. It gives them a buoyancy aid that the rest of us don’t have, and reduces their sense of accountability, as well as the sense citizens have of their leaders as being accountable. The International Financial Centres Forum (IFC), which represents offshore

law firms, has been revealed to have lobbied the British government, as reported in he Guardian. “The files show the IFC speaking of its influential ‘penetration’ of the UK government. It boasted that this behind-the-scenes activity may have prevented world leaders from agreeing more wide-ranging transparency measures at a G8 summit in 2013”. It's not a new phenomenon that corporations might lobby national governments or the EU, lobbying is at different levels encouraged and regulated. But there is often no transparency about who is lobbying whom and why. A seemingly benign corporation may represent a myriad of interests, but the most pressing will be an interest in capital and an opposition to greater transparency. The IFC issued a statement in response to the Panama Papers in 2016 where they claim that those such as the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who want to “shut down” the offshore centres will risk destabilising “key platforms for intermediating global investment” with “a resulting impact on growth in both developed and emerging economies.” A year later we know much more about where their interests lie. Whilst pushing against tighter transparency regulations, firms within the IFC, including Appleby, have been revealed to have not even been complying with what is described as the low level of regulation that exists under the status quo. The files show that Appleby was red flagged by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as well as having “flawed compliance procedures in 12 confidential audits over a 10-year period” as the Guardian reports. Appleby also assisted Apple when they began to search for a new tax haven when their practices in Ireland were beginning to be questioned. Apple are revealed to have been actively searching for a new tax haven once the tide turned against them in Ireland. For American citizens, disturbing facts in relation to the Commerce Secretary, Wilbur

Ross, who has ongoing business connections with close relations of Vladimir Putin, have emerged from the papers. This is particularly damning at a time when the interests of Russia in America are being scrutinised. Revelations like these only serve to further worsen the democratic deficit. Citizens are disenchanted as it is with political systems and the elites behind them; contempt for the EU is illustrated in the Brexit vote. The papers can only fan the flames of such disgust, as they reveal the messy entanglement of political and legal institutions with corporations and elite interests. The problem is is that the division between the offshore world and the rest of us, the small men who are expected to pay their tax, is growing. The capital that a corporation or individual accumulates no longer accrues much, if any at all, benefit to the citizens of their country and the laws we have today facilitate this. Bernie Sanders has argued that we are dangerously close to becoming an “international oligarchy” where “a handful of billionaires own and control a significant part of the global economy”. The facts speak for themselves, as do the intertwined interests. Democratic principles that we revere such as transparency and accountability are being undermined by the actions of the elite and the inaction of our governments in tackling the problem. As the wealth concentrates in the hands of fewer it becomes more difficult for governments to even be able to do anything about it. The elites are stateless and taxless with no consequences for their actions, while we remain at the whim of their interests and suffer the fallout of their misjudgments. We must take heed of what the papers highlight, and our governments, particularly the Irish government, should no longer bend over backwards for the big money.

DON’T THINK ASCOUGH WILL ever understand why decent, reasonable people campaigned and voted overwhelmingly to impeach her, but she herself was responsible for it. Whatever actually happened with the handbooks, she was never going to be able to convince a majority of people in UCD that every other sabbatical officer, both student newspapers, and the college executive were biased against her or bullying her. And for most people, €8000 is just too much money wasted. That said, by far the most depressing thing about this referendum has been the sheer denialism of both sides. Her concession speech, in which she characterised the result as a blow to freedom of thought and expression, was a sad abrogation of responsibility. Her argument was in essence that a pro-choice President would never have been impeached but, true or not, that was never the point. Her disregard for and distance from the concerns of the people she represented was clear to the end. On the other hand, her contention that some people have wanted to impeach her from the beginning, because of her views alone, is true. On March 9 just after Katie Ascough’s election, Amy Crean, who would later head the “Yes” to impeachment campaign, posted on her personal Facebook page calling for students to impeach Ascough. She wrote that “democracy that supports oppression is of no meaning to me”. The campaign itself has been much more toned down; the Yes campaign posted a statement on Facebook after the count emphasising that they had no personal issue with Ascough. In a video interview with the Irish Times during the count last night, Crean offered what has been the argument of the Yes campaign: that Ascough didn’t need to remove the information, and in doing so, broke her mandate. The fact is that while the Ascough campaign’s suspicious professionalism and bizarre superhero theme dis-

tracted from its message, the Yes campaign had a simple message and stuck to it. But even if the handbooks and the €8000 were the focus of the campaigns, for Crean, it was never about that. For her Ascough’s views meant that nothing was offlimits. Why not say so? In the last month in UCD, this attitude has appeared over and over again, in one way or another. This was a campaign in which people on all sides were repeatedly vilified and abused for their opinions. The University Observer, one of the two UCD student newspapers, crassly headed an early article about the booklets with a photo of Ascough with ash on her forehead for Ash Wednesday. Crean was booed and jeered by the Ascough campaign as she delivered the victory speech.

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One thing that the UCD referendum has made clear is that in universities the political right have been utterly beaten In a way, all of this is only to be expected. The Irish Times didn’t show up at the count to cover a story about an SU President being impeached for breaking a mandate. They were covering a battleground in Ireland’s culture war. It isn’t, like most student-political issues, a top-down and unrepresentative phenomenon. Of course, not everyone called for Ascough’s impeachment in March, and not everyone was rambling about free speech after the result, but almost everyone seems to have chosen a side. In other words, this thing is full-blown. And in UCD, we’ve had a small-scale example of how a culture war

can chew up and devour a political institution and everyone in it. All of the sabbatical officers but one applied for annual leave to campaign in the referendum. All other student issues - finance, housing, facilities - have fallen out of focus. For some, it has even proven a useful distraction. TCDSU President Kevin Keane’s op-ed on the handbooks, published in this newspaper, typifies this kind of attitude. It’s interesting that despite his insistence in the piece that free access to abortion represents some kind of unshakeable principle for him, he never explicitly condemns Ascough. It’s become a trend with Keane that he firmly believes something right up until it might make his life harder to do so. The idea of that op-ed, in essence, is that Ascough is supposed to be a foil for Keane: unlike Ascough, Keane is willing to publish information on abortion pills, because he believes that “an unjust law is no law at all”. But she’s a better foil than he knows. While the particulars are different, Keane has also broken a key promise, if not quite a mandate, of his election campaign, by shamelessly u-turning on his support of the BDS movement. He has never properly apologised or atoned for snubbing many of the people who voted for him. For TCDSU, the issue of abortion is the only thing that matters this year. There was considerably more effort put into the promotion of the Repeal March than the March for Education. At a time when postgraduate fees are increasing year-on-year and student loans for undergraduates are a serious possibility, they have taken the foot off the pedal. The party line in TCDSU this year has been that Education Officer Alice MacPherson - the deputy, in effect - is doing an excellent job, and a look back at this year’s Trinity Twenty would imply that the University Times are hearing the same things in this respect as I am. And whatever the context the White House, the Dáil, the Students’ Union - heavy praise of the deputy usually means the same thing. But all of this has become secondary now. Many substantive issues have been, if not abandoned, de-emphasised, and the biggest ques-

tion has become what side of the culture war everyone is on. One thing that the UCD referendum has made clear is that in universities the political right have been utterly beaten, rather than simply being suppressed, as Ascough and the editors of the Burkean Journal would like to believe. Ascough is probably correct that a pro-life person can no longer expect to be the President of the Students’ Union of UCD. But if this is true, it’s because the vast majority of Irish students want to repeal the eighth amendment. The problem for the Repeal campaign will be when the culture war properly ignites, because even if they’ll win the universities, most Irish people don’t support their position. In an Irish Times/Ipsos poll in October 2016, only 19% of people said that they supported a “UK style” abortion regime. If the impeachment referendum is anything to go by, the referendum on the eighth amendment next summer will be one of the most bitter and divisive campaigns in living memory. A student-political issue is one thing, but it’s hard to see how two people with as much hatred and disrespect for each other as Crean and Ascough could ever have a discussion about something as emotive as abortion. Most likely, the current trend will continue, with both sides becoming more extreme and lobbing the same tired insults and accusations at each other as before. It’s not just because each side believes the other is either a bigot or a murderer, but also because those insults will start to spiral. In UCD we witnessed the inevitable trajectory of these things, which is that they become personal. The impeachment of Ascough, and the inevitability of its becoming one of the talking points of the referendum, mean that this campaign will become at least in part about the people on either side. At that point, with insults and hatred on a national scale, a path to victory for the prolife movement begins to become clear. When faced with two intolerant, raging, opposing political campaigns, their hope is that most people will chose the devil they know.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Comment

The Irish language and the Northern Irish identity Northern Irish students should embrace their contribution to Irishness, however complicated Grace Farrell Staff writer

y fluency in Irish is almost as woeful as Trump’s in English, but Irish has always been an important part of my life. Many relatives of mine are native speakers, and I spent most of my summers in the heart of the Gaeltacht in the Dingle Peninsula. Being from Northern Ireland, I could have taken it as a subject for GCSE/A Level, but that would have meant restricting my university choices. More recently, the Irish language has become a political football in Northern Irish politics, just another crude way of identifying which tribe you come from; nationalists are Catholics who play GAA sports and speak Irish, and unionists are protestants who play rugby and speak English. Coming to Trinity and being suddenly surrounded by people who can speak the language well has been simultaneously lovely, and alienating. I love hearing it around college, its musicality such a precious and irre-

placeable part of our heritage. Although, as Kavanagh said, “Through a chink too wide there comes in no wonder,” and perhaps Irish only sounds expressive and exotic because I don't understand it. My dad once told me that 'I've an awful headache and I'm going to bed with a cup of cocoa' sounds pretty dull and mundane. But, using Google Translate, it comes out as “Tá tinneas cinn uafásach orm agus tá mé ag dul a chodladh le cupán cócó” in Irish which, to the untrained ear, sounds like something magical from Tír na nÓg. Despite my affection for the language, it has led to an feeling of alienation on many occasions. It brought an internalised insecurity many Northern students face to the surface - I know I am Irish, but am I as Irish as you? If Irish was compulsory in the North, of course, I would be on the same level. But maybe if it wasn’t compulsory in Ireland many of you would still speak it, so maybe this is just my lack of dedication to my culture, my fault for not learning the language in my free time.

In secondary school I found the normal teenage struggles to be challenging enough. I was trying to maintain good grades, while managing a normal social life. Taking on an extra subject might have been too demanding. I grew up in a village, a couple of hundred metres across the border, drenched in Irish culture. The wildfire conversations and activities all concerned the local GAA teams. I watched my family crowd around the television to scream at matches. I remember the early memory of my Primary 3 teacher making us all learn how to spell our names in Irish, my aunt leading her choir ‘Cór na nÓg’ in mass every Sunday, my granddad saying toasts in Irish every evening at dinner. I spent the rest of my time in a, well, very Catholic grammar school. I never questioned the validity of my kind of Irishness until coming to college. Until then, it was made absolute by my unquestionable belonging to one of the two sides of society Northern Ireland supposedly consists of.

All at once I noticed the sterling in my purse, the “UK” at the bottom of my address, was asked if I'm an international student, remembered someone I encountered at an American summer school who described his view of Northern Ireland as “the part that England owns,” and the vague otherness of my accent which leads to Dublin coffee shops spelling my name “Grease,” or on a good day, the slightly less off-putting “Greece.” Whether it be someone saying something to me in Irish even though they know I don't understand, reading the body language of people speaking it to each other when I am trying to participate, or simply their disappointment upon learning I don’t speak it, Irish triggers the unsettling feeling that arises when I can’t bond with people over the Leaving Cert or “Debs” nostalgia - am I as Irish as you? Are we really the same? Why don’t I feel a sense of belonging with those I’m supposed to? Northern students have a hybrid identity, used to being asked questions like, to quote

my old Trinity Hall assistant warden, “Are you Catholic/ Nationalist/Republican/Protestant?” Language is just one factor in defining identity; I love Irish, but I don't have to speak it well to love it. I’m reminded of James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. When Stephen Dedalus feels patronised by an English priest because of his use of local dialect, he asserts that “the language in which we are speaking is his before it is mine’’. As Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o argued, language is both a memory bank of culture and a tool of colonial subjugation. These ideas manifest in the work of many great Irish writers. In ‘The Ministry of Fear,’ Seamus Heaney articulates the self-consciousness he felt in his youth regarding his pronunciation of English, he remarks that 'Ulster was British, but with no rights on / The English lyric.’ When I read the poem, it reignited my unease with only speaking English. I started to believe I was betraying the very culture that defines who I am.

I discovered that many of my friends were unaware of the DUP until they were on the news for Theresa May’s billion-pound deal with them. These friends were from both the Republic and from England. It poses the question, if I am less Irish for speaking only the language of the coloniser, are you less Irish for knowing only about the portion of the island which affects you? These are not questions that can be answered, but they must be asked if we are to understand the kaleidoscopic nature of Irish identity in a truthful and all-encompassing way. My older brother went to Trinity too, and while he loved his experience here, he warned me of the common apathy concerning everything north of the border. This led to him becoming more ardently nationalist, and solidified his perception of his own Irish identity. I grew up hearing news about Stormont and the Dáil, whereas many people I’ve met in college think we have bodily autonomy and marriage equality, so that says it

all. I’m not suggesting you must be an expert in Northern Irish politics to be Irish. But if you claim to be Nationalist, and sing songs on Harcourt Street about the dream of the 32 counties, perhaps you should know more about those 6 you pine after so amorously. Most of my friends in Trinity speak Irish, and I admire them greatly for doing so. I wish I had studied it in school, and I plan on learning it eventually. But Northern Ireland’s frustratingly complex and fascinating perennial struggle with identity is ultimately different — I can’t think of a solution to the problem, but maybe it lies somewhere within embracing the differing contributions to Irishness. We have a personhood contingent on politicising where we come from, one that doesn’t exist without constant reiteration that we are Irish, both to ourselves and the world around us. That in itself, is a new factor in defining identity, and we should embrace it for the passionate patriotism it represents.

Left behind

Sinéad Barry comments on the hundred years of failings in Left-wing Irish politics Sinéad Barry Staff writer

N THE 1918 IRISH GENERAL ELECTION, the election of the first Dáil, the Labour party abstained from running, so that the people of Ireland would have a clear choice between the two most important strands of political thought of the time: the Irish Paramilitary Party (IPP), who were in favour of Home Rule, and Sinn Féin, who were chiefly concerned with the emancipation of Ireland from British control. Unbeknownst to them, this act of passivity would set in motion a tradition of weak left-wing politics in Ireland, which has continued for 99 years and still shows no sign of slowing. It is even rumoured that Éamonn DeValera went so far in belittling the worker’s movement that he declared publicly: “Labour must wait”. Whether he did or not, Labour claimed the backseat for their own. It is unclear what uncontested chance at power they were waiting for. In keeping with this handsoff approach to government, Labour supporters once again refrained from campaigning in 1921 for the Treaty vote. While these actions seem insignificant when compared to the bigger political picture of the foundation of the State, it is exactly this perception that became a troublesome trope in our society.

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They have latched onto this fashionable and progressive idea of being left without seeming to propagate any of its ideals This is the trope that everything that the left in Ireland does is insignificant. Forever doubtful of their own right

Members of the Irish Women's Workers Union to participate in real politics, Labour created a self-fulfilling prophecy when they took themselves out of the picture all of those years ago. The majority of what the Left in Ireland have accomplished has been inconsequential. Let it not be thought that I am skimming over the fact that the most popular Irish Party of the early 20th century, Sinn Féin, also consider themselves to be left-wing; but the key difference is that Socialism as a concept is more universally than nationally concerned. It is more involved with humanitarian issues than with those of the Irish people, or of any other country for that matter. Sinn Féin have always been and likely will always be a Republican party before all else. They can thus hardly be considered a true representative of the Left. As our Free-State learned how to walk, the Left was abandoned far behind, due

in part to its passive beginnings, and in part because of the influence of the Church on public opinion. The early Irish state relied immensely on the support of the Church for funding. Just how heavily the state depended on this institution is made clear in a report published by the Department of Education that asserts that a whopping 90% of primary schools are still owned by the Catholic Church today. The Church’s firm grasp over 20th Century Irish thought, coupled with their renowned fear of anything coloured red, indisputably hindered the development of the Left wing’s already stumbling movement. Due to this, throughout the 20th century, Labour’s economic focus shifted to one more centrist and led the American historian Emmet Larkin to describe the party as “the most opportunistically conservative Labour Party anywhere in the known world”. Today, we hardly consider Labour to

Credit: National Library of Ireland be inclined leftward at all. To fill its place have sprang up a number of self-inflated, babbling “liberals” with little obvious political direction. The root of the problem facing most of the leftist Irish parties today - including but not limited to the likes of People before Profit, and Solidarity - is that they have latched onto this fashionable and progressive idea of being left without seeming to propagate any of its ideals. Parties such as Solidarity (aptly previously known as the Anti-Austerity Alliance) truly epitomise the anti-party. It is immensely difficult to fathom what these parties actually stand for. They instead adopt a negative approach, the complaining antithesis of politics, people who wouldn’t be able to revoke any of the things they are so enraged by if they were ever given any real power. For example, Solidarity’s proposed budget in 2016 cen-

tred around the core idea of recovery for the majority. But their plan was knotted in contradictions, including, but not limited to, a reversal of cuts that would cost no less than €6.25 billion. This party and its many clones simply can not deliver what they promise. They are scarce more than a flickering projection of an amusing Sassy Socialist meme onto the real world. One of the key elements of Socialism is to pay relatively high taxes, and receive in return high service standards in areas such as education, healthcare and welfare. In order to pay for these fundamental services money obviously must come from somewhere. During the Irish Water fiasco these parties advocated the total boycott of this tax. Yes, there was gross mismanagement on the government’s behalf during this time. However, none of the left parties provided any alternative way to earn capital that could be spent on continuing our country’s recov-

ery from the recession years. They march and they boycott and make it seem as though a Leftist solution to any of the country’s problems is an impossible dream. This belligerent approach to politics is what gives them their aggressive element. With these kinds of parties as our only Irish Socialist role models, it isn’t difficult to comprehend how student politics - which tends to skew left - can so easily become smeared in antagonism. We see Trinity’s own People Before Profit (PBP) society egotistically removing prolife posters. We see our SU president Kevin Keane striding through the Arts Block with a megaphone on march day, pressuring students to go to the March for Education, in an ironic push to ensure enough people exercise their democratic rights. The selfpromotion doesn’t stop there, however. Looking outward from our campus, we see this conceit mirrored in big-

ger politics. For example, the Communist Party appeared at the Repeal march, with not a single pro-choice banner, but instead an immense Communist one. It is clear that the Irish Left are more interested in themselves than in the ideals they claim to promote. The general population of Ireland by no means have anti-Left tendencies. Those coming from Left-Wing parties as of May 2016 hold 41 seats in the Dáil. The Journal published an article stating that eighty-eight percent of people support a special tax for those earning over €100k per annum. Over half of working-class voters share left-wing ideals on tax and welfare. Why then can this country not pull together a halfway reasonable movement? From the establishment of our state the Left have claimed the back seat. Now is the time for them to grow up and learn how to drive.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Comment

We need to broaden our discussion of homelessness Activists and support services need to be more demographically specific

Sorcha Sheil

Contributing writer

HE HOMELESSNESS SITUATION IN IRELAND has been worsening every year, with recent findings from the annual Peter McVerry Trust revealing that there are currently 8,270 people experiencing homelessness in Ireland today. The need to assist the most marginalized in society and offer safe and supportive environments through service provision has never been more important. We need to broaden the discussion to ensure that support services are available to all people experiencing homelessness, and we need greater recognition of the wide spectrum of needs that exist in our society. A recent report by Paula Maycock from the School of Social Work and Social Policy entitled: ‘Women’s Responses to Homelessness: Services Implicated, Implications for Services’ highlights the limited attention that is paid to the gender differentials regarding homelessness. The study, which was carried out in September of this year, says that 42% of the national homeless population are women, with this figure rising to 44% for Dublin. While data regarding homelessness is becoming more accurate, and reports from many EU countries are providing clearer statistics surrounding homelessness, much of this research neglects the various dimensions of female homelessness. The increasing feminisation of homelessness in Ireland does not correlate to service provision largely due to the underestimation of the sheer quantity of women experiencing homelessness today.Hidden homelessness, a key aspect of homelessness among women, has received

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Women have differing needs to men, and require access to specific health care services such as prenatal care, mammograms and cervical screenings little examination or research and is not adequately recognised or recorded when analyzing the experience of homelessness. Details from the report reveal that women on average tend to rely more on informal support systems such as help from neighbors or friends before reaching out and seeking assistance from formal support services. This results in homelessness among women becoming easily concealable, or even completely invisible. The report goes on to detail the fact that many women don’t engage with the support services that are currently in place. The report focuses this explanation on the issue of stigma surrounding homelessness in Ireland today. The need for greater sensitivity when acknowledging the prevalence of homelessness in our communities is clear. There is a lot of evidence, in the report and elsewhere, evidence of general feelings of fear and distrust that permeate interactions between homeless women and the support services that are in

place. Many of the women who do avail of support services are regularly in and out of homelessness services for lengthy periods of time. This begs the question: what is it about these services that means that they fail to take into account the long-term wellbeing of individuals? The issue of homelessness among women has received insufficient research and attention in Ireland. Healthcare for homeless women is an important issue that needs to be addressed. Women have differing needs to men, and require access to specific

Don’t attack the striking rail staff

health care services such as prenatal care, mammograms and cervical screenings, just as men also have their own specific needs that have to be dealt with. These health services need to be made more easily available to homeless men and women, whose main priorities such as shelter and food take precedence over their health. The fact that it is more difficult to maintain hygiene levels when homeless will only add to a person’s feelings of hopelessness and leaves them feeling even more vulnerable, for example, menstruation adds

an array of challenges to the homeless woman’s life. The issue seems to be one of a lack of specificity regarding the services that are made available to homeless individuals, be that men, women, trans people, young people, or whoever. Another factor is the disconnect that can arise between homeless people and domestic violence services. Domestic violence as a cause of homelessness is not adequately documented, and is seen as a somewhat separate social problem. There is a clear need for these factors to

be considered in the homelessness discussion today especially when evaluating the effectiveness of support services currently in place for both men and women. Women’s experiences with support services, according to Maycock’s report are negative in many cases, and this only adds to their feelings of exclusion and marginalisation from the rest of society. We need to make homeless services more specific in order to encourage both men and women to access help when they need it. A wom-

an’s experience of homelessness is different to that of a man, just as the homelessness experience of a child is different to that of a migrant. The shifting cultural and social relations that surround these differing situations need to be acknowledged. We need to broaden our discussion of homelessness in Ireland if effective and sustainable change is to occur, not just regarding gender but all groups in society that experience homelessness in a unique way such as migrants, young people, trans people etc.

Student loans: a blight that we should not spread

It’s inconvenient that the trains aren’t running. The current UK setup can be a painful ordeal for many levels But it’s sickening to mistreat workers for so of society, and should by no means be used as a model for long. Ireland Xander Cosgrave

sure its completion.

Contributing writer

Now, the Luas is useful, for people in Dublin, but this is happening while the government is cutting routes from rural Ireland faster than you can say ‘Thatcherism’, and Ireland is one of the countries with lowest public transport uptake in Europe, second only to Cyprus.

RUSHING INEQUALITY, THE THREAT of nuclear annihilation, a Dub that is inexplicably Taoiseach despite a large part of the country believing him to be one of the worst choices for the job and two major strikes in a year; it feels like the 80s. When the bus strikes happened earlier this year, I was annoyed, I had things to do, and the only way to do them involved public transport, and because I was living in Limerick, which has a shared station, there were no trains either. I am annoyed by this strike, though now that I live in Dublin I am substantially insulated from the issues of public transport that face the rest of the country. My annoyance was the point, though. Your inconvenience, your ruined plans, your difficulty moving around the country: that is the purpose of a transport strike. Right now, Shane Ross, ostensibly our minister for transport, does not care about the strike. Shane Ross didn’t care about the last strike. He doesn’t care about the workers being expected to take a 1.75% increase in pay for even more efficiency increases, while TD’s get an extra €2700 this year. The only thing Minister Ross seems to care about at the moment is stopping the threat of North Korea’s nuclear program, which, while a noble and lofty goal, is probably something that should be the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and not an Independent TD. This isn’t purely to be laid at the feet of Minister Ross. There are other failings in the Irish system; for example, the single most significant piece of transport infrastructure in the country in recent times, as per the Department of Transport’s own website, is the Luas cross city line, which is getting €344 Million to en-

The government has been pumping money into public transport vanity projects in Dublin, so they can say they have trams like a ‘big European city’ rather than dealing with broader structural deficits in our public transport.

“

Your inconvenience, your ruined plans, your difficulty moving around the country: that is the purpose of a transport strike.

So this brings me back to the rail strike, and the issues that cause it to happen, such as no pay rises in the guts of a decade, and efficiency increases (more work) to try and make a system that is incredibly underfunded a little more cost efficient. Then being given an offer, that is at best paltry and insulting, to try and stop the workers from revolting, while still not addressing the issues about general underfunding. This isn’t just the rail workers either; the bus strike

happened earlier this year because of critical underfunding. The Luas strike happened because drivers wanted some basic increases in benefits like better maternity leave and rostering hours that were actually humane. Dublin Bus went on strike because they hadn’t gotten a pay rise in 8 years and they had to pay to live in Dublin. These are all the same issues; for every case it’s about a failure to pay workers in line with even the most basic increases needed to stay in line with cost of living, much less actually give them more money, and the excuse is always that the services are ‘financially vulnerable’. So much like every other strike, it comes to direct action from the workers when the government has failed to do anything useful or helpful, and management aren’t willing to engage in good faith. Well, get angry, and use it; call your TD’s office and shout at the staffer who is unlucky enough to be on the phone, because you’ve been affected by the strike. Tell them that the failure of the government to do anything in it’s entire lifespan to deal with systemic failures in our transport system is a joke. Email Shane Ross (shane. ross@oireachtas.ie), because it’s his job to fix things like this and he’s once again got his head so far down in the sand that you’d need a JCB to dislodge him. Just don’t get angry at the workers; don’t attack them on Twitter because you’re inconvenienced, attack the government. Don’t blame them for fighting against systemic failures in the only way that they can. Blame the people that perpetuate these failures, the government that would happily sell off state assets for some twisted neo-liberal ideology rather than invest in the future of our nation. It’s been a hundred years since the Bolshevik revolution, so in honour of that, maybe direct your vitriol at an inept government rather than your fellow workers.

Sam Andrew Power Contributing writer

OLLOWING THE €47.5M INCREASE in higher education funding proposed in Budget 2018, three options have taken centre stage as possible structural responses to the higher education funding crisis in Ireland: a statefunded system, in which student contributions are abolished; increased state funding with a continuation of student fees (similar to the current system); or a student loan scheme similar to that of the United Kingdom. As an English resident choosing to study in Ireland, the prospect of this third option – which would come into effect by my fourth year – seems daunting, particularly after hearing the stories of friends back home suffering in the grips of the student loan just six weeks into university. While “free at the point of entry” university made possible by loans paid back if and when the student reaches a certain income threshold may seem like a very attractive idea, the reality can be far from it. This is not least because a potential £36,000 debt (not including interest) is difficult to ignore, regardless of whether the income threshold is met. In fact, on a personal note, each one of my friends in England who did not choose to attend university named this enormous debt as a contributing factor in their choice. This is a key issue with the loans system. Despite a major 2014 study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies into university funding estimating that around 73% of graduates in the UK do not pay back their loan (due to it being written off after 30 years), student debt remains a major deterring factor for prospective students. This is evident in the fact that applications to British universities dropped by 7.7% in 2012, when it was an-

nounced tuition fees were to be raised, with a disproportionate statistical impact on those from working class backgrounds. Any way in which social mobility is limited or not encouraged can be costly for society, especially in the context of education.

the actual tuition that poses the greatest financial problems in the UK, but the plethora of other costs that are supposed to be covered by various loans based on family income. And this is where the crux of my argument comes in, since it is these financial burdens that cause the most problems for the students in a “medium” social position; or, to use one of Theresa May’s buzzword phrases, the “just about managing”.

If Irish higher education could ever look to emulate a British system susceptible to ballooning college fees and maintenance costs, alarm bells should be ringing

Maintenance loans aimed at helping students pay for rent, bills, food, transport, social events, household goods and books barely scratch the surface, and the average student is left with a £3,000 deficit which, unlike a grant, needs to be repaid. On top of this, everyone knows horror stories of irresponsible students blowing their loans during freshers’ week, like one friend of mine who would buy rounds boasting that his student loan was just “free money”. While he was laughing, his wallet was screaming, and six weeks in (after dropping out of college) his parents were too.

“

In addition, the introduction of a UK-style loan scheme could put future students in danger of significant fee increases. The promise of “free at the point of entry” university, the cost of which may never be paid back, gives the government an excuse to raise the overall fees. This has been made clear in England by a steady increase in fees which are now the highest in Europe – the equivalent of €10,000 per year. While this is triple that of Ireland, fees here actually come in at second, according to a new report by the European Commission. This licence to raise fees with no obvious consequences can intensify the noted apprehensions felt by prospective students. For many, however, it is not

Of course this example is worked around by just being responsible, yet an all-toocommon reality for the poorer end of the middle classes is that the maintenance loan is simply not enough. Take another example of someone I know, a member of the ‘just about managing’. The first in her family to attend university, she was close to having to drop out if she couldn’t find regular work in her university city; the maintenance loan being insufficient to sustain her without the financial support of her family which, in this case, they could not provide. A different person thought they had been scammed when they checked their bank balance to find it at minus £2,000, but discovered that their rent had been charged in full without the loan being able to cover it. While these examples are rectifiable, why cause unnecessary stress to students in the most important stage of their education? Yes, the

proposed loan scheme would reduce state contribution to overall higher education funding from 64% to between 55% and 60%, but is this narrow financial gain for the state worth the losses and problems on a personal level? This financial gain may even be purely cosmetic, since the British government is owed over £100bn in student loans dating back to 2012 which may never be paid back, according to the Student Loans Company. I have only given an insight into what it is like under the UK system of student loans based on the experiences of half a term, so imagine the various trials and obstacles a less financially able student will face over a four-year course in terms of money management and mental wellbeing. If Irish higher education could ever look to emulate a British system susceptible to ballooning college fees and maintenance costs anchored to a problematic incomedependent loan algorithm, alarm bells should be ringing for both the public and government. While the reports suggest that the loans system will not be exactly that of the UK system, it is still important to use the UK as an example how not to do it. Indeed, the ongoing debates concerning the abolition of student fees put forward by the UK Labour Party (and already implemented in Scotland) surely shows that introducing loans would be a step in the wrong direction. Some of the most pioneering European nations, who pave the way for progress across the board, have very small tuition fees (if any), such as Germany, Norway and Sweden. Countries need not plunge their students into debt to retain a very high standard of higher education, and introducing a system of student loans in Ireland is certainly the wrong way to solve the crisis in funding for higher education.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Comment

Revolution or witch hunt? Swathes of victims have come forward with allegations of sexuall harassment and assault against big stars. Is this merely a frenzy, or are we seeing positive change? Georgina Francis Trinity Life Assistant Editor

stormy revolution began to unfold as victims came forward to share their stories of sexual harassment at the hands of Harvey Weinstein. A safe harbour was built where victims felt supported and believed which lead to more accusations of Weinstein and other powerful men in the entertainment industry such as Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman. In the wake of the media frenzy the question has been raised, is this a witch hunt? I feel it is more the case that there is safety in numbers. And in this bubble of safety, more women and men feel they have the opportunity to vocalise the sexual misconduct they have endured. As more and more stars are accused, and more and more stories come forward, I think the question should be, is a witch hunt really that bad a thing? In early October, The New York Times broke a piece that detailed three decades of sexual harassment and assault perpetrated by Harvey Weinstein. Once the story broke, women such as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rose McGowan as well as many of his employees came forward with similar accounts. A rumble of a revolution began as other stars started to be shamed for their behaviour as well. As I read through the accounts, what astounded me the most was the lengthy period of time it had gone

on for. Weinstein’s attacks alone went back nearly three decades and it became clear influential people in the industry were well aware, with Quentin Tarantino saying, “I knew enough to do more than I did.” The media highlighted how in 2013 Seth MacFarlane, who was presenting the Oscar nominees, made the joke, “Congratulations, you five ladies no longer have to pretend to be attracted to Harvey Weinstein.” You don’t need a lot of empathy to understand why very few of his victims came forward. Imagine the terror that many of them must have faced, worrying not just for their safety but also for their careers. Gwyneth Paltrow rejected Weinstein’s advances and thought “he was going to fire me.” As many women who have experienced sexual harassment, including myself, it’s your initial reaction to simply get out of the situation. There is no dramatic showdown where you denounce them for their actions, it’s very much flight over fight. Then you are left with this uncomfortable, awkward feeling in the pit of your stomach and as many of these men are skilled manipulators, you might feel even a little bit of guilt, that maybe this is your fault, maybe you got yourself into this situation. Katherine Kendall gave an insight to the complexity of the situation when saying, “If I’m not bleeding then does it really matter?” Emma Thompson pointed out that men like Weinstein

aren’t sex addicts, they’re “predators”. They know to attack the most vulnerable whether it’s women, who feel their entire careers and futures are on the line, or children.

“

There is no dramatic showdown where you denounce them for their actions, it’s very much flight over fight. Everything about this issue is horrible but one aspect that truly saddens me is the large role women played in these manipulative games. Julianna Marguiles recounted her own run in with Weinstein and another Hollywood producer and actor, Steven Seagal, and she asserted that the meetings were set up by women and that these women knew what was going on.

On 19th of November, Weinstein company employees asked in an open letter that they be could be released from a non-disclosure agreement. It is highly unlikely that these men’s antics went unnoticed or without the help of assistants or directors turning a blind eye. These past few weeks has not just raised the issue of mistreatment of women in Hollywood or women in general society but with Kevin Spacey, it has brought up the abuse of the most vulnerable group of all; children. When news surfaced of Anthony Rapp’s claim that Spacey sexually harassed him when he was only 14, Spacey’s response was to admit he was gay. This attracted attention because of the troubling parallel he drew between paedophilia and homosexuality. If Spacey feels his sexual orientation excuses his behaviour, then he is mistaken. Many members of the LGBTQ community condemned his statement online. There has been outcry about all that has happened but the fact remains that we have a revolution as a result of a ‘witch hunt.’ Weinstein, Spacey and Hoffman amongst others, have all come out and apologised because they were caught. Not as a result of long harbouring guilt. This is not the first time we have been faced with the abuses of men in power. Only a few years ago, news broke of Bill Cosby drugging and raping women. Even more recently, Donald Trump was elected as President of the United States. A man who was

accused of rape, is on tape alluding to sexual assault, and has spoken of women in a derogatory manner on many occasions. So, where does it stop? Is this the final nail in the coffin? I hope so, I hope the respect and admiration of the victims coming forward has fostered an environment where women and men feel they can speak out and be heard. In our society, there is a lack of respect for women and the most vulnerable. As Fintan O’Toole addressed in his article in The Irish Times, it starts at a young age and isn’t necessarily malicious. Weinstein and Spacey’s behaviour illustrate not just a deep problem in the entertainment industry but also the archaic relationship made between masculinity and power, sex and women. Our society has changed hugely in recent decades and seen vast improvements to LGBT rights, women’s rights and more recently trans rights but have we seemed to have failed to evolve when it comes to the socialisation of men and boys. There is still immense pressure on boys to fulfil that ‘masculine’ role. As what it is to be a man becomes increasingly unclear do we need to address, as Emma Thompson said, “the crisis in masculinity, the crisis of extreme masculinity”? We can target two areas to prevent another atrocity like this. The first is to ensure we continue to encourage victims to speak out. The fact that women like Angelina Jolie, women we consider to be social influencers with

power, felt they couldn’t come forward illustrates the gross power of these men. It is horrific to think that many of these women might not have had the career they’ve had or would have been quietened had they chosen to speak out at the time. The second is a re-evaluation in how boys are raised to treat and perceive women, and a reconstruction of what it means to be a man so as not to encourage the testosterone driven, aggressive masculine

stereotype which can result in such violent and sexually inappropriate behaviour; the unfortunate norm in our society. Moving forward we need to establish how we can prevent abuses of power including sexual harassment in the future. A witch hunt and revolution has resulted because of an investigative piece but we cannot continue to rely on picking a celebrity or politician and demanding a change.

The end of original cinema

At a time where studios place more value in commercial than critical success, is there still a market for a truly original film?

Ciara Connolly Trinity Life Assistant Editor

Art by Jenny Corcoran

“

The deeper audiences become invested in a story, the more they become willing to spend.

I feel it is more the case that there is safety in numbers. And in this bubble of safety, more women and men feel they have the opportunity to vocalise the sexual misconduct they have endured. As more and more stars are accused, and more and more stories come forward, I think the question should be, is a witch hunt really that bad a thing? In early October, The New York Times broke a piece that detailed three decades of sexual harassment and assault perpetrated by Harvey Weinstein. Once the story broke, women such as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rose McGowan as well as many of his employees came forward with similar accounts. A rumble of a revolution began as other stars started to be shamed for their behaviour as well. As I read through the accounts, what astounded me the most was the lengthy period of time it had gone on for. Weinstein’s attacks alone went back nearly three decades and it became clear influential people in the industry were well aware, with Quentin Tarantino saying, “I knew enough to do more than I did.” The media highlighted how in 2013 Seth MacFarlane, who was presenting the Oscar nominees, made the joke, “Congratulations, you five ladies no longer have to pretend to be attracted to Harvey Weinstein.” You don’t need a lot of empathy to understand why very few of his victims came forward. Imagine the terror that many of them must have faced, worrying not just for their safety but also for their careers. Gwyneth Paltrow rejected Weinstein’s advances and thought “he was going to fire me.”

the victims coming forward has fostered an environment where women and men feel they can speak out and be heard. In our society, there is a lack of respect for women and the most vulnerable. As Fintan O’Toole addressed in his article in The Irish Times, it starts at a young age and isn’t necessarily malicious. Weinstein and Spacey’s behaviour illustrate not just a deep problem in the entertainment industry but also the archaic relationship made between masculinity and power, sex and women. Our society has changed hugely in recent decades and seen vast improvements to LGBT rights, women’s rights and more recently trans rights but have we seemed to have failed to evolve when it comes to the socialisation of men and boys. There is still immense pressure on boys to fulfil that ‘masculine’ role. As what it is to be a man becomes increasingly unclear do we need to address, as Emma Thompson said, “the crisis in masculinity, the crisis of extreme masculinity”? We can target two areas to prevent another atrocity like this. The first is to ensure we continue to encourage victims to speak out. The fact that women like Angelina Jolie, women we consider to be social influencers with power, felt they couldn’t come forward illustrates the gross power of these men. It is horrific to think that many of these women might not have had the career they’ve had or would have been quietened had they chosen to speak out at the time.

As many women who have experienced sexual harassment, including myself, it’s your initial reaction to simply get out of the situation. There is no dramatic showdown where you denounce them for their actions, it’s very much flight over fight. Then you are left with this uncomfortable, awkward feeling in the pit of your stomach and as many of these men are skilled manipulators, you might feel even a little bit of guilt, that maybe this is your fault, maybe you got yourself into this situation. Katherine Kendall gave an insight to the complexity of the situation when saying, “If I’m not bleeding then does it really matter?”

Emma Thompson pointed out that men like Weinstein aren’t sex addicts, they’re “predators”. They know to attack the most vulnerable whether it’s women, who feel their entire careers and futures are on the line, or children. Everything about this issue is horrible but one aspect that truly saddens me is the large role women played in these manipulative games. Julianna Marguiles recounted her own run in with Weinstein and another Hollywood producer and actor, Steven Seagal, and she asserted that the meetings were set up by women and that these women knew what was going on.

sponse was to admit he was gay. This attracted attention because of the troubling parallel he drew between paedophilia and homosexuality. If Spacey feels his sexual orientation excuses his behaviour, then he is mistaken. Many members of the LGBTQ community condemned his statement online. There has been outcry about all that has happened but the fact remains that we have a revolution as a result of a ‘witch hunt.’ Weinstein, Spacey and Hoffman amongst others, have all come out and apologised because they were caught. Not as a result of long harbouring guilt.

This is not the first time we have been faced with the abuses of men in power. Only a few years ago, news broke of Bill Cosby drugging and raping women. Even more recently, Donald Trump was elected as President of the United States. A man who was accused of rape, is on tape alluding to sexual assault, and has spoken of women in a derogatory manner on many occasions. So, where does it stop? Is this the final nail in the coffin? I hope so, I hope the respect and admiration of

The second is a re-evaluation in how boys are raised to treat and perceive women, and a reconstruction of what it means to be a man so as not to encourage the testosterone driven, aggressive masculine stereotype which can result in such violent and sexually inappropriate behaviour; the unfortunate norm in our society. Moving forward we need to establish how we can prevent abuses of power including sexual harassment in the future. A witch hunt and revolution has resulted because of an investigative piece but we cannot continue to rely on picking a celebrity or politician and demanding a change.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Op-ed

Homelessness, Fees and Intergenerational Inequality: The Importance of Student Resistance

Editorial Aramark

In support of the decision Students Against Fees to include the housing crisis in their remit Claire O'Connor Contributing Writer

N JUNE OF THIS YEAR WE LEARNED of the tragedy of the Grenfell fire. Seared in our memories are the terrifying images of a towering inferno ablaze, of women wailing for children still trapped inside, of exhausted, exasperated Londoners, helplessly trying to reason with the wild blaze of injustice which exploded before their eyes. “If you want to see how the poor die, come see Grenfell Tower” as the poet Ben Okri writes. Ours is the generation to have witnessed this horrific tragedy, to have seen how the poor die. Over 170 years on from Engels writing about the social violence perpetrated against proletarian families in Victorian Manchester, we have seen how workingclass people continue to be, as MP John McDonnell put it, “murdered by political decisions”. Ours is the generation to witness 8000 of our fellow citizens be rendered homeless in Ireland, including 3000 children, over a century on from the promises of 1916 to cherish all of the children of the nation equally. Each day we pass more and more people sleeping rough on the streets. Each week brings new reports of fresh deaths of those forced to sleep in the cold, frequently in the doorways of businesses and offices and government buildings. Our generation recognises this unspeakable inhumanity as the inevitable consequence of a dominant neoliberal policy doctrine. We have seen, first-hand, the social violence that results from the practice of commodification and trading of homes in pursuit of profit. Ours is the generation to have seen 1400 families homeless in 2016 and 2500 children in emergency accommodation, while in the same year an additional 5000 people became millionaires. Ours is a betrayed generation, an exploited generation, a generation that has been ignored, let-

“

This is a system which prioritises the interests and demands of the investors and equity funds over those of ordinary citizens.

down, misled, sold-out. Recent research suggests that almost half of us are precarious workers, confined, typically, to under-unionised, underpaid, insecure work. Within Dublin, we are forced to spend on average over half of our salaries each month on rents. As students, we are getting priced out of the city by an ever-escalating accommodation crisis. And while we are forced to queue for accommodation that is often in dire conditions, to suffer unexpected rent hikes and to shoulder colossal student debt, the privatisation of the Trinity student housing market has seen companies profit from charging us extortionate prices for beds in its accommodation complexes. That Varadkar and his cabinet of landlords are untroubled by the reality which faces our generation comes as no surprise. They do not want to listen to us; they do not represent our interests. When we plea for an end to Third Level fees, they toy with the idea of Income Contingent Loans. When we complain about soaring rents or insecure contracts, they dismiss our concerns as mere whinging. Such a cavalier and uncaring attitude is reflected in comments recently made by the Chair of the Housing Agency, Conor Skehan, that the housing crisis is “completely normal”.

this very well. We know that downward pressure on wages and erosion of employment standards will continue to undermine income tax receipts, while exerting substantial pressure on a welfare state to supplement those on poverty wages.

“

A mass mobilisation of students at universities across Ireland is the only way we can fight the student housing crisis

Indeed Skehan has a point. The current housing crisis is no accident of nature, but an endemic feature of the capitalist system in which we live. It is the inevitable outcome of neoliberal policy choices which sacrifice the housing needs of large sections of the Irish population at the altar of ‘investor and market confidence’. This is a system which prioritises the interests and demands of global investors and equity funds over those of ordinary citizens. It is a system marked by its ideological devotion to the market as the sole supplier of housing need and, increasingly, it is a system which cannot handle its own contradictions. Our generation understands

We can see that while rents soar and homelessness increases, the market fails to deliver enough houses to meet demand because pushing prices higher is increasingly profitable for a dominant property-industry complex. We recognise that this is a system which is itself in crisis, characterised as it is by a deep and diametric

CARTOON

clash of interests between a propertied elite and the rest of us. This crisis is exacerbated by poor policy choices on the part of the Government. In the recent Budget 2018, it chose to deploy €335 million on token tax cuts and to gift developers €750 million or 60 per cent of the cost of constructing 6000 houses. This was a clear political choice to prioritise tax cuts for the rich over solving homelessness. Another choice is evident in the Government’s housing plan Rebuilding Ireland: to continue to adhere to the nonsensical neoliberal dogma of commodification, privatisation and financialisation of social housing through the private rental sector and sale of public land through new forms of Public Private Partnerships. For these reasons, the recent decision taken by Students Against Fees to expand their campaign to include the housing crisis is welcome. Mass mobilisation of students in universities across Ireland is the only way we can fight the student accommodation crisis. Change cannot and will not be won through polite meaningless words, through poorly-attended Marches for Education or passive topdown campaigning. What is required now is a vibrant, energetic grassroots movement of students organising ourselves. Our demands must be as a clear and as tangible as our grievances. And a cornerstone of our campaign must be a call for the government to invest in affordable, social housing, provided as a human right. Ours can be a generation of hope, a generation which can organise and mobilise, which can demand change and resist the given, which can reimagine and rebuild a better Republic. Get involved. Join Students Against Fees. Claire O’Connor is the Policy and Education Officer of Trinity Labour.

IRECT PROVISION SHOULD, BY RIGHTS, represent a major political crisis for the government and any institutions associated with it. This is a system which even the then Minister of State Aodhán O’Riordáin admitted was “inhumane”. Yet despite admitting that the state is housing people in conditions not fit for human habitation, nothing has been done to bring the barbaric system to an end. It is a human rights disaster; a black mark on the moral standing of the state, the government and those who profit from it. This includes Aramark, the college-appointed food caterer for Westland Eats in the Hamilton building. Aramark are now the subject of a boycott campaign to be launched by a group of Trinity students this coming Wednesday. There are certainly questions over the efficacy of boycott campaigns. They often come across as moralistic and overly focused on the choices of individual consumers. “There is”, as the internet is coming to realise, “no ethical consumption under capitalism”. Whether students choose to give Westland Customs is a matter for themselves. The campaign to end Trinity’s partnership with Aramark does, however, provide an important opportunity to delegitimise the system of direct provision and the practices involved in it. If students successfully campaigned for the removal of Aramark from campus, it would send a powerful message about the Direct Provision system as a whole. It would make an important statement that the conditions found in Direct Provision centres are utterly intolerable. To profit from the inhumane treatment of asylum seekers and refugees is abhorrent, and Trinity should have no association with companies who do. Boycotts alone will not end injustice, and we should be under no illusions that our individual choices as consumers can be decisive in shifting the balance of power away from the most powerful in society. Boycotts can, however, shine a light on what governments and corporations try to hide out of sight or normalise. The Dunnes Stores boycott did not end apartheid, but it posed the question of whether Ireland should tolerate doing business with a racist regime. It forced people to pick a side and take a stand. We too in Ireland have our own barbaric system of segregation, and one that is undoubtedly driven by racism. Those who come to our shores seeking asylum are crowded into completely inadequate conditions, are prevented from working and remain trapped in this cycle for years. Direct Provision was, of course, intended as only a temporary measure. But there has been little to no political will to find a permanent solution for those who are not regarded as “our own”. It is easier for official Ireland to waste years of these people’s lives in conditions they acknowledge to be unfit for

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Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

SciTech

Danielle Olavario talks to Gwendoline Deslyper about her most recent work on the parasite Ascaris, and the funding difficulties that scientists face today.

page .19

Does your brain have a sex?

Dearbhaile Casey examines the science behind the male and female brain Dearbhaile Casey

manifesting?

Contributing Writer

T THE MOLECULAR LEVEL, IT IS quite easy to differentiate between men and women. Women have two X chromosomes while men have an X and Y. Those endowed with the Y chromosome develop the male anatomy via the presence of the SRY gene, the necessary component for male sex determination. This biological definitions of the sexes, however, does not strictly apply to society with the concept of gender being very different from these molecular aspects and cast into a storm of sexism and inequality. Gender stereotyping has become subconscious. Yet, more people have begun to embrace the dismantling of gender and the emergence of non-binary definitions. Anatomically, men and women clearly differ, but do these differences apply to the brain? Do our brains have a sex? Differences in the structure and function of the male and female brain are of scientific importance due to the apparent sex-differential susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. Alcoholism, anti-social personality and suicide predominate in males while anxiety, stress-related disorders and eating disorders are more prevalent in female populations. But why and how are these differences

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Anatomically, men and women clearly differ, but do these differences apply to the brain? Do our brains have a sex?

Brain scientists have long been aware that the male brain is larger than the female brain, even when height and weight have been corrected for. In a study by a group in the University of Edinburgh, they looked for sex differences in the structure and function of 68 different substructures in the human brain. Looking at brain-structural MRI data of approximately 2,500 males and 2,750 females aged between 44-77, they reported significant differences between the brains of the sexes. Adjusting for age and size, it was found that on average women have significantly thicker cortices. Studies of the cortex indicate that general intelligence is positively associated with cortical thickness. It was found that men have greater volumes in all other substructures. When this observation was then adjusted for by the total brain volume of the individual, this significant finding became less relevant. This adjustment revealed that men had larger volumes in 14 regions versus 10 regions in the female brain. What was notable was how men were much more variable in the volumes of their substructures and cortical thickness. This variability has also been discovered in studies looking at male IQ. These parallels give the findings increased significance. It is hard to say why men show such high variability.

It has been postulated that it is the female-protective mechanism involving effects on the X chromosome. Deleterious genetic variants found on one X chromosome in females may be buffered by the presence of the opposite allele. As mentioned, males only have one X chromosome so this effect cannot occur. The likelihood that the mutated allele will then be expressed increases and variation in phenotype is thus altered. The paper states that overall, for every brain region that showed large sex differences, there was always overlap between males and females. This confirms that the human brain can not - at least for the measures observed in this study - be described as sexually dimorphic. This overlaps with the idea of the intersex-brain. This hypothesis was put forward by Daphne Joel in a 2015 paper entitled: “Sex beyond the genitalia: The human brain mosaic.” The paper discusses how sex differences in the brain are not stringently male or female but rather a “mosaic” of features. Some forms more common in female brains and some more common in male brains. Some features were also a hallmark of both sexes. The paper sets out to debunk the theory that there are regions of the brain that are either completely male or completely female. i.e. they were looking for sexual dimorphism of brain substructures. Could it be that just as males and females blatantly differ in their genitalia, that they too have

sex-specific structures in the brain? In an analysis of the Joel study by Dr. Kevin Mitchell of the Smurfit Institute of Genetics here at Trinity, he cleverly analogises the structure of male and female faces to the human brain. For each feature of the face; the jaw, the nose, the mouth, the protrusion of the forehead etc., there is no definitive male or female form. There is, however, a distribution “which is shifted one way in males and one way in females”. Yes, one can easily tell a male face from a female face - however looking at the features individually produces a distribution. Classification of a single feature may place it anywhere on the distribution and subsequent amalgamation of all results leads to individuals falling in either the “more male” dense region of the distribution or the “more female” dense region of the data or even perhaps, right in the middle of

the two. If one looks at the brain as a distribution rather than strictly dimorphic; it appears that the high variability in the anatomically male participants of the study by the University of Edinburgh infers that they span more of this hypothesised “distribution”. The anatomically female subjects, however, inhabit a smaller proportion of this “distribution”, with both sexes capable of overlap. One can therefore not take a brain and definitively say whether it is male or female. You can take a brain and say that because it appears to have certain features it is more likely to be a female’s brain, but your answer cannot be conclusive. A distribution, of course, cannot produce discrete results. It is also important to note that there were still regions assessed in the study where there was minimal overlap in the form. These must be

termed sexually dimorphic according to the definition. Most of the results, however, should not be categorised according to gender. Sex has nothing to do with the variation. If there is a distribution and males and females may inhabit anywhere on that distribution it is wrong to say that these forms are either “male forms” or “female forms”. So, do brains have a sex? Unfortunately, science cannot answer this question yet. There are structural differences in the brains of males and females. Males have larger brains and women have thicker cortices. Do these relate to intelligence or susceptibility to certain mental illnesses? Much more work must be done to answer these questions. What the science does consistently say is that male and female brains are more similar than they are different and that brains are not sexually dimorphic.

Plant protein key to I Can’t Believe It’s Not combating global warming? Coal! Legumes, such as peas, beans and lentils have been found to have the highest nutrient density and the lowest environmental production costs.

Daire Brady examines a new greener substitute for coal Daire Brady Staff Writer

Jessie Dolliver SciTech Editor

EW RESEARCH FROM A COLLABORATIVE E U R O P E A N UNION (EU) project TRUE - “TRansition paths to sUstainable legume based systems in Europe” (TRUE) has implicated that plant protein is the key to combating hunger and mitigating against global warming. Legumes, such as peas, beans and lentils have been found to have the highest nutrient density and the lowest environmental production costs, especially in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Agriculture is the sector that contributes the most to Irish greenhouse gases, in the form of carbon dioxide and methane. These gases trap solar irradiance and energy in the earth’s atmosphere, effectively warming the planet and causing the “greenhouse effect”. This anthropogenic climate change is now threatening many lives, especially in developing nations, where drought and floods are causing mass displacement and suffering. For example, the 2010 floods in Pakistan, exacerbated by climate change and subsequent rising sea levels, covered more than one fifth of the entire country and left millions homeless. Such dire circumstances have required all countries to analyze their responsibility and contribution to this issue. Although Ireland is a small country, with a small population, it has some of the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions metrics in the world. This has caused much discussion about the Irish agriculture sector, and how it will adapt and change in order to prevent catastrophic climate change. Despite pleas made by our previous Taoiseach Enda Kenny, and our

current Minister for Climate Action and the Environment, Denis Naughten, for special allowances and loopholes for Ireland, our government had made assurances to the United Nation and to the international community that we will reduce these emissions.

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Agriculture is the sector that contributes the most to Irish greenhouse gases, in the form of carbon dioxide and methane

Failing to follow through on these sorts of promises is not cheap. For example, Ireland is on track to be fined hundreds of millions by the European Union for failing to meet 2020 renewable energy targets. Bearing in mind that it is the Irish taxpayers who will have to pay this fine, and also suffer the consequences of climate change (storm Ophelia anyone?), let’s take a look at what a more environmentally friendly protein production system might look like. Initial results come from

‘Project TRUE’, a European Research Project which brings together 24 institutions across Europe. The project is being backed by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. In a study conducted by Trinity students Shauna Maguire and Conor O’Brien, under the supervision of Assistant Professor in Botany, Mike Williams, dietary protein sources were scored by environmental cost of production (which incorporates greenhouse gas emissions, groundwater pollution and land requirement), and by their nutrient content. The results were very clear. According to Professor Williams,: “Plant protein sources ... show the highest nutrient density and the lowest environmental costs associated with production. For example, peas have a nutrient density to environmental footprint ratio approximately five times higher than equivalent amounts of lamb, pork, beef or chicken.” As a result, the ultimate aim of this practice-research partnership project is now to identify the best transition paths to increase sustainable legume consumption across Europe. The environmental and nutritional indices produced by the study have been applied to a range of diet scenarios, and the Irish researchers have calculated specific environmental benefits where the proportion of animal protein consumed is reduced. Professor Williams added: “Such quantitative estimates of sustainable food and agriculture will hopefully allow a more informed choice for consumers when considering the main protein component of their diet.” Of course it is not all so simple as that. Exacting plans and definite timelines must be drawn up by governmental Departments if any tangible and immediate change is to be taken to ameliorate the

agricultural issue. It will not do to simply demonize the agricultural sector outright and alienate the marginal farming communities of Ireland. If we are to transition from an environmentally damaging agricultural system, based on beef farming, to an environmentally friendly one, based on plant protein, support must be given to Irish farmers. This must be clearly defined economic support in the form of subsidies and grants to facilitate such transitions, and also community and cultural support. Anyone from rural Ireland knows how much a farmer’s cattle mean to them. Dairy and beef farming are central aspects of the Irish identity and culture. To remove them without any support risks the community destabilization witnessed in the English mining towns in the 1980s. However the direction we must move in is apparent. Alicia Kolmans, from the Research Centre for Global Food Security and Ecosystems at the University of Hohenheim in Germany, commented: “These first results of the TRUE Project are an important orientation for European consumers and decision makers, considering the risks to society emerging from the global increase in animal protein consumption, including growing environmental problems and increased food insecurity due to the competition between food and feed on global fields.” Hopefully with the information provided by such advanced modelling approaches, combined with data generated from the 24 case studies, will lead to concrete innovations and to a Decision Support Tool for primary producers, agronomists, processors, associated businesses and politicians.

OR SUCH A DARK, COLD, SLIGHTLY radioactive lump of fossil, we have only coal and a spark of human ingenuity to thank for the explosive development in science, technology and engineering that we have seen in the past 300 years. With so much chemical energy packed into such a dense form, it was the ideal power source for the steam engine, driving mass production, improving transport and contributing to overall quality of life. But no honeymoon lasts forever, and the initial charm of coal has been replaced by something rather unpleasant, irksome and insecure. Nowadays, coal is near the bottom of the list of things you might imagine to be innovative or inspiring. It is the dirtiest and most hazardous of the fossil-fuels. It has lead to many respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses in heavily polluted urban areas and is contributing to smog, acid rain and toxic nitrogen and sulfur oxides in the atmosphere. So it may come as a surprise that coal remains a subject of interest to researchers at the National Resources Research Institute of the University of Minnesota Duluth, who have successfully managed to reproduce a coal substitute with increased energy density and no heavy metal pollutants. This solid biofuel has been shown to have an energy density up to 6.5 kWh per kilogram, compared to between 2.5 and 6 kWh per kilogram for the different varieties of coal, and can be produced from waste biological material such as invasive plants and agricultural waste, thereby benefitting the environment. Seeing market potential in this fuel source, the NRRI have been avidly working to scale up production of the biofuel briquettes to commerciallyrelevant scales for use in energy production. This even

led to a trial in a power plant in Portland, Oregon, where the entire supply of fossil coal was replaced with 3500 US tons of the man-made biofuel. Not only did the they observe a power output increase of over 1.5 kWh per kilogram of fuel, but the process required minimal mechanical alterations, indicating the compatibility of the solid biofuel to coal-powered infrastructure.

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This development comes at a time when coal is experiencing a significant decline across the world in pursuit of renewable technologies and cleaner non-renewables

Solid biofuel is made by a process mirroring the dryroasting of coffee, where wooden chips are dried in a kiln, heated under a low oxygen atmosphere (to prevent combustion) and compressed into a solid. A second process can also

be used for certain types of biomass feedstocks that resembles a pressure cooker. The end product for this process is moist and a higher energy density then dry fuels. It is aptly named ‘energy mud’. NRRI Engineer Tim Hagen reflects on the parallels between their process and the natural process of the Earth - “If you think about how Mother Nature made fossil coal, it’s time, pressure and heat. We’re doing those same processes, but instead of millions of years, we’re doing it in a few hours.” This development comes at a time when coal is experiencing a significant decline across the world in pursuit of renewable technologies and cleaner non-renewables. The USA has seen a 9% decrease in coal consumption in 2016 over the previous year due to increased efficiency of buildings and appliances, as well as an increased interest in natural gas, which may in itself be a problem due to the environmental concerns of fracking and drilling. Less than 25% of the EU’s energy supply comes from coal, with this figure expected to drop due to its commitment to increase renewable energy installation in keeping with the Paris Agreement. China’s coal consumption has dropped 4.7% between 2015 and 2016 and it’s overall dependence has decreased from 64% to 62% over the same time period. These figures are significant, considering that China is the globe’s biggest consumer of coal, at 49% of world consumption in 2014. Overall, coal has lost its metaphorical lustre and is not as economically incentivizing as it used to be. Perhaps solid biofuel can be used as a cost-effective and cleaner alternative to power our homes and business? It may work, it just all depends on whether the fuel will get a grip on the market. Needless to say, our love affair with coal has come to an end. The embers have blown out and now we are just trying to get out as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

SciTech

Parasites, prizes, and problems with pay

Danielle Olavario talks to Gwendoline Deslyper about her most recent work on the parasite Ascaris, and the funding difficulties that scientists face today. Danielle Olavario Staff Writer

N MARCH OF 2012, A 12-YEAR OLD boy from Minia, Egypt was admitted to the emergency room of Minia University Hospital. He was pale, appeared poorly nourished, and for 3 days had been suffering from constipation and vomiting, combined with severe abdominal pain. When he underwent abdominal ultrasonography, parallel paired lines resembling railway tracks were found in his intestines, suggesting the presence of worms. And sure enough, after a lengthy operation, a total of 53 roundworms were extracted out of him. Thirty of those worms were adult males and 23 were adult females. The worms in question were of a species called Ascaris lumbricoides, an ascarid nematode responsible for causing the disease Ascariasis in humans, with symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. It affects up to 1.3 billion individuals, and the worms are the most common parasitic worm in the human population. As prevalent as this parasite is, however, very little research has been done in terms of preventative measures against it. Gwendoline Deslyper, a PhD student in Trinity College, hopes to change that. She has recently won the Frank Jeal studentship award, and with it she will focus her work on Ascaris. “Hardly anyone has heard of it,” Deslyper remarks in an interview with Trinity News. And it is true. Being a neglected tropical disease means that Ascaris is often overlooked, despite it being widespread worldwide, especially in low-income populations in Africa, Asia,

and the Americas. The 12-year old boy mentioned earlier, for example, came from a very poor socioeconomic background. Social stigma against the disease and its “non-commerciality” means that treatment and research are hard to come by. More than that, any resources that these countries have would be allocated to the “big three” diseases- HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, instead of these neglected tropical diseases. “One billion people have it, and there’s hardly any research done on it. Nobody really seems to care that much about it even though it’s got such a big impact in the world,” Deslyper explained. “Probably, people that have it don’t realise what the name of their disease is.” Deslyper, who describes herself as “a willing host for all things parasitology,” has always had a fascination with parasites, even going as far back as her days in secondary school. “I’ve always been very interested in tropical diseases and neglected tropical diseases in particular,” she says. “I feel like [parasites] have their own little minds, especially Ascaris. It’s got a whole pathway it has to go through in the body before it can become an adult.” Deslyper received her undergraduate degree in Belgium, and after working for a number of years in a state-funded lab, she decided to go back to school to pursue a graduate degree. When she moved to Trinity College, she met parasitologist professor Celia Holland, who has worked with Ascaris for many years.

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Deslyper, who describes herself as “a willing host for all things parasitology,” has always had a fascination with parasites, even going as far back as her days in secondary school.

Deslyper is now involved in a collaborative research project between Professor Holland and Professor James Carolan of Maynooth University. Their work focuses on human resistance and susceptibility to Ascaris, using mouse models. The team is studying Ascaris suum, a species of Ascaris that infects pigs. Using two

strains of mice, one resistant and the other susceptible to the roundworm, they had previously found that the fate of the worm inside the organism is highly dependent on the proteins found in the host. They found that a higher abundance of mitochondrial proteins exists in the resistant strain (Day 4 post-infection) which is related to the strain’s oxygen tolerances. They then concluded that the variation in infection levels in mice is dependent on these mitochondrial proteins.

as Ascaris lumbricoides. She is hopeful: “We think it will be the same.” Deslyper attributes this idea to the fact that the two species are very similar in how they manifest in organisms that they infect. “In humans,” Deslyper remarks, “some will be heavily infected while other people won’t. It’s the same in pigs. Some pigs will be heavily infected and some pigs don’t.” Deslyper also hopes to explore the differences in the immunological responses of the resistant strain and that of a susceptible strain.

What mystifies the scientists is that they found very little immunological proteins at Day 4 post-infection. To explain this mystery, Deslyper has two possible theories. “It could be because we were looking too early,” she explains. “Day 4 post-infection may just be too early to see [the proteins]. Or maybe it’s the liver.” The central role of the liver in Ascaris infection has already been alluded to in the previous paper that Deslyper and her team has published, but its staggering importance has only now been realized. According to Deslyper, the liver has a “special immune status,” which was discovered when research was being done on liver transplants. “You don’t have to be a perfect match, actually, to get a liver transplantation from someone else,” she says. “That could be the reason why the parasite goes there, because it can hide [from the immune system].” Deslyper and her team are now studying Day 7 post-infection, and are attempting to see if there are more immunological proteins in this time frame. “We actually do, at this point,” Deslyper says. “But we are still analysing the data.”

With Deslyper studying in the field of parasitology in Trinity College, comparisons have been drawn between her and the Nobel Laureate William Campbell, with Trinity College itself remarking that Deslyper “seeks to tread in Nobel Prize winner’s footsteps.” When asked about these comparisons, Deslyper laughs, saying, “I’m very nervous about it.” Deslyper says that it is an honour to be compared to a person who many people consider to be one of the most brilliant scientists of our time. “It’s very inspirational to be in the same place as he was,” Deslyper says, “and hopefully, one day, I’ll be able to achieve something as good as he has.”

Deslyper hopes to continue her work in the future, moving from Ascaris suum to Ascaris lumbricoides, the species of Ascaris that infects humans. Deslyper and her team want to learn if Ascaris suum has the same migratory pathway

Having just been chosen as a recipient of the Frank Jeal studentship award, Deslyper finds herself in a comfortable position in the next three years. “I’ve got the funding now for this PhD and I’m just trying to enjoy it for the moment,” she says. “Just enjoy the next three years of working on Ascaris and working on parasites, because I don’t know what’s going to happen.” Deslyper admits that there has been little stability in the scientific field in recent years. “There’s definitely job insecurity, lack of funding, [and] there’s a problem that once you’re entering the postdoc field, you often get very short-term contracts [and] you have to move around to

different countries,” Deslyper tells Trinity News. “I think that that’s pushing a lot of people out of academia.” When it comes to the careers of women in science, Deslyper also recognizes that while the problem is not evident in lower levels of academia, it manifests itself a lot more as women progress in their fields. “The further you try to get ahead,” she says, “[the number of women] dwindles down. There are less and less women in there.” However, she says that she has been very fortunate in having Professor Celia Holland as a mentor. “She’s such an incredible woman,” she says of Holland, who she mentions

is part of the Athena Swan Committee for Equality. “She’s always behind me, so I don’t experience any discrimination or anything like that.” Deslyper hopes that her work will enable to help the public understand parasites and understand how to treat them when humans are infected, especially in developing countries. “I do really hope the paper and our subsequent work will have a huge impact on what we know about the parasite and hopefully step towards eliminating and eradicating the parasite,” says Deslyper. “That’s the goal- to have even a small impact.”

Image taken from Trinity News and Events

Virtual Reality technology brings Beckett into a new age of theatre “Play” was chosen because it specifically engages the question of dialogue and interactivity. Aisling Grace Assistant News Editor

OU STAND IN THE CENTRE OF AN UNLIT room, entirely in darkness. You swivel, and a spotlight shines on the head of a woman protruding above the lip of a beige ceramic urn. In rapidfire intonation, she begins: “Yes strange the darkness best and the darker the worse till all dark then all well for the time but it will come the time will come the thing is there you’ll see it get off me keep off me all dark all still all over wiped out-”.

So begins the disorientating experience of Virtual Play, a virtual reality reimagining of Samuel Beckett’s theatrical text, Play. The original 1963 performance consisted of three identical knee-height urns, each containing an actor, with faces “so lost in age and aspect to seem almost part of the urns”. The actor’s speech is provoked by a moving spotlight, which Beckett called “the integrator”. They speak when the light is on them, and remain silent when it is not. The final stage direction in the script is “repeat play”, seemingly perpetually. In its original, strange imagining, Play presents an interaction between the light operator and the actor,

mediated by technology, while the audience members are static, passive viewers of the exchange. Since the 60s, however, the ways we consume art and media have changed dramatically and the technologies available to us have evolved, allowing for more interactivity and direct engagement. In a collaboration with the Trinity Centre for Beckett Studies, Trinity’s V-SENSE group have created a collection, in an exploration of the new narrative possibilities presented by the cutting-edge capture technique of freeviewpoint video, typically accessed through virtual and augmented reality headsets. V-SENSE is a team of 20+ researchers who work at the intersection of computer vision, computer graphics and media signal processing. Their work involves free-viewpoint video (FVV), 360-video, lightfield technologies and visual effects and animation, as well as virtual, augmented and mixed reality. Néill O’Dwyer, the leader of the Virtual Play project, tells me that: “Play was chosen [as a medium] because it specifically engages the question of dialogue and interactivity”. By donning a VR headset, composed of headphones and chunky rectangular goggles, a participant becomes immersed in the researcher’s digital rendering of the play. In their version, the power is transferred over to the viewer, whose gaze determines which actor speaks, and for how long. As O’Dwyer puts it, “your gaze becomes the spotlight”. Not only that, the participant is no longer chained to their theatre seat, but can instead move about the space, walking around the urns, bending down, looking up. “By placing the the centre of the process, they appropriately to the virtual

viewer at storytelling are more assimilated world and

are henceforth empowered to explore, discover and decode the story, as opposed to passively watching and listening,” says O’Dwyer. The virtual environment was constructed in a game engine, a software framework designed for the creation and development of video games. The actors, directed by Nick Johnson, were filmed using free-viewpoint video against a green screen with a multiple camera setup involving seven DSLR cameras, and then transposed into the environment. As a 3D model for every single frame of the virtual world needs to be constructed, all the clips the researchers filmed needed to be synchronised so that each frame of the actor’s movement aligns with each point of view. The images must also, obviously, be synchronised with the audio files, which were captured separately. In a highly labour-intensive process, the figures from each take of each camera are separated from their green screen background, and the raw footage is exported as a series of images. A virtual 3D model of each figure is constructed and a photorealistic model is created using all of these inputs. The resulting effect is of figures undeniably virtual, but convincingly present in space. Sound presented several challenges in the creation of Virtual Play. Enda Bates played a significant role in creating a credible environment for the participant, through the use of 6 degrees of freedom spatial audio. In VR, as in reality, we use sound to situate ourselves in space, to tell us how far or near other objects are to ourselves. Therefore, it was central to the creation of the experience that the actor’s speech sounded like it moved through real space, by ensuring that the timbre and ratio of direct and indirect audio signals changed naturally as the

participant moves closer or further away from each actor, while maintaining a high degree of clarity. In addition, removing microphones and cabling in post-production is a time-consuming task, so tiny microphones were placed discreetly on the underside of each urn’s rim.

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By donning a VR headset, composed of headphones and chunky rectangular goggles, a participant becomes immersed in the researcher’s digital rendering of the play

For this project, Bates drew on her experience creating 360 videos, a community for which has been rapidly expanding. These 360 videos abound on Youtube, including ones created by Bates for the Trinity Creative Initiative. For under E500, anyone can buy a 360 camera and upload their videos online. On the surface, the concept of these videos is similar to that of virtual reality, in that the participant stands in the centre of an environment and has the ability to look around. However, the Virtual Play creators are quick to highlight the differences. In these videos, the user does not have spatial control; they only have the ability to look around them from a position chosen by the movie-maker, whereas the participants of Virtual Play have control over where they are spatially. In addition, Virtual Play participants have a degree of control over the narrative. A central goal of the Virtual Play project was to address

ongoing concerns in the creative cultural sector, regarding the question of narrative progression in a virtual reality environment. When the participant has control over what occurs in the environment, how is narrative to be approached? Should the sequence of the actor’s speeches only play out in the order outlined by Beckett, or should they be fully randomised, based entirely on the gaze of the viewer? And when the participant’s gaze falls upon an actor, should the actor continue where the participant left them? Or should it consider where the previous actor left off, and go from there? The interactivity that virtual reality allows mean the participant is no longer an audience member, but an editor. Authorship thus comes into question, when, to a degree, the user creates the story. Virtual and augmented reality offer exciting new possibilities for storytelling and Trinity’s research demonstrates one way the technology could be used to create a compelling experience. The work of Trinity’s V-SENSE group demonstrate that expertly crafted VR can be made here in Trinity without breaking the bank.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

SciTech

New psychology paper by Trinity researchers examines the effectiveness of compassion as a tool in therapy Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is a new form of psychotherapy which promotes compassion as a means of dealing with problematic patterns of thinking such as anxiety, disgust, and anger. Czara Casey Contributing writer

HE STEREOTYPES WE ALL ASSOCIATE WITH therapy are continually being challenged by recent developments in Psychological research. The image of a Freud-like therapist blaming your father for your fear of heights while you lie across a couch is a far-cry from the latest psychological intervention techniques. Notably, Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is a new form of psychotherapy which promotes compassion as a means of dealing with problematic patterns of thinking such as anxiety, disgust, and anger. The therapeutic approach was developed in 2006 by clinical psychologist Professor Paul Gilbert from the

University of Derby. Gilbert aimed to address difficulties with shame and self-criticism, which are widely seen as factors contributing to a range of mental illnesses and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and trauma. The compassionbased model integrates cognitive-behavioural therapy, neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology to tackle the presenting difficulties. CFT was also inspired largely by Buddhist teachings of compassion and mindfulness. It encourages the cultivation of compassion in patients towards both themselves and others. Empathy and understanding are key, promoting feelings of tolerance and acceptance when dealing with distress. Thus, ancient practices of mindfulness and compassion are combined with very modern psycho-therapeutic approaches.

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The compassionbased model integrates cognitivebehavioural therapy, neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology to tackle the presenting difficulties.

Patients are encouraged to develop their skills in mindfulness, compassionate balancing of thoughts, and compassionate acts towards the self. For example, they may be encouraged to imagine that they’re talking to themselves and re-frame their thoughts in a compassionate way. By utilising compassion, you can engage with your suffering and the suffering of others through acknowledgement, and a commitment to work towards alleviating it. CFT has been established as a promising approach, particularly when dealing with those who have problems with feelings of self-criticism and shame. New findings from researchers at Trinity College Dublin and St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services support this claim. Compassion focused therapy was previously shown to have positive results on diagnostically specific populations.

The Dublin-based researchers examined the effectiveness of the approach amongst a group of those experiencing a variety of different mental health problems such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and personality disorders. A control group underwent treatment as usual while other participants engaged in group CFT for nine weeks. The study observed significant improvements in scores for fear of self-compassion, psychopathology and social safety in the CFT group.

The positive results of the study illustrate the value of addressing underlying psychological processes such as shame and self-criticism. As Dr. Jillian Doyle of St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services puts it:

Improvements in shame and self-criticism scores were also noted. This supported the idea that compassion is an effective tool in group intervention for a wide variety of mental health problems. This supports the idea that CFT groups can operate according to a transdiagnostic model and facilitate individuals with a variety of mental health issues.

Dr. David Hevey, the head of Trinity’s School of Psychology took part in the research experiment. He noted the importance of academic research in the provision of clinical services.

“[the therapy] uses experiential and cognitive techniques to help people learn ways to come out of their threat system… the system that our body goes into when we experience emotions like anxiety, anger, sadness or shame. It’s the system that helps us to survive”.

“Compassion focused therapy addresses issues of shame and self-criticism, which are common and can contribute to numerous

mental health problems. The research shows that by reducing shame and selfcriticism we can alleviate distress among adults attending clinical services. The research highlights the importance of treating the core presenting difficulties and not focusing on the diagnostic labels. The fact that the intervention was run in a group setting means it offers the potential to efficiently help meet the needs of those with mental health needs in a cost-effective manner.” CFT thus has promising implications for future therapeutic groups. By increasing an individual’s sense of compassion the groups aim to decrease feelings of shame and selfcriticism. So next time you’re feeling down, why not try to approach your suffering with warmth and understanding. Self-compassion is key - so be kind to yourself this Mental Health Week.

Dynamic Dung – What Zebra faeces can offer conservation In the scope of the Zebra, it could be used as a watchdog for habitat decline. Daniel Dunleavy Contributing writer

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WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM YOU?’ is not a question we’re used to asking when staring down into the toilet bowl with our hand hovering over the flush. It’s not a question that Zebra ask themselves either, as far as we know, before trotting away from their kidney shaped droppings on the baking African savannah. However, biologists can be a little bit weird- and have asked the question for them. Ecologists led by Dr Jessica Lea at the University of Manchester have turned their focus to the dung of the Cape Mountain Zebra to try and decipher what it can tell us about decreasing habitat quality, seasonal fluctuation and unbalanced population sex ratios. Why this species? The Cape Mountain Zebra has been

through a bit of a rough patch. It suffered a massive decline in population numbers reducing its population to approximately 80 individuals in the 1950s. From this population bottleneck it’s numbers have recovered to approximately 5000, which are currently managed in an active conservation project. This conservation project monitors the various populations and keeps them genetically interlinked (via transfer of individuals between populations) creating population stability through ‘metapopulation’ dynamic. So, onto the next strange question: ‘What do Trinity students in early May and Zebra droppings all have in common?’. The answer is glucocorticoids. These are the chemicals ecologists have been analysing in the faeces. Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that play a role in regulating metabolic function, and are also involved in monitoring stress levels. An elevated concentration of glucocorticoids in droppings

is a potential indicator of two physiological alterations in Cape Mountain Zebra individuals. One - the animals are directing more energy into improving their metabolic efficiency to extract more nutrients from a poor-quality habitat. This in turn leads to less energy for reproductive output. In short, the more glucocorticoids, the poorer the habitat and the fewer the offspring. Two - the higher the glucocorticoids, the higher the stress. Now you see the link between the Zebra dung and the Trinity student in early May. Both showing clear signs of stress. What impact does stress have on the Zebra? High stressed animals are far less likely to breed successfully, which is a serious problem for a vulnerable metapopulation. Extinction after all is just a population game. If those birth rates fall below those death rates for a significant period of time and it’s bye bye stripes! What’s causing this rise in glucocorticoids? Poor quality habitat was already mentioned - and indeed according to the researchers’ statistical analysis, there is a strong negative correlation between habitat quality and glucocorticoid levels. The differing weather patterns between seasons is also strongly linked with increased glucocorticoid levels. The Zebra, based on their dung, are at their most stressed in Spring right before Toto brings the rains down to Africa in the summer.

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It’s an easy way of demonstrating ‘oh there’s something wrong here’ - a statement that often eludes conservationists until it’s too late.

But glucocorticoids aren’t the only clue in the poo. The Manchester scientists also assessed androgen levels in the faeces of stallions. Androgens are steroids that control the development and upkeep of male characteristics. An increased level of androgens can lead to increased aggression in male Zebra. It was found that androgen levels were significantly higher in populations with a high male to female ratio compared to populations with a more evenly spread sex ratio. They were also significantly higher in small populations when compared to larger ones. This of course makes sense. In a social system where groups of females are mated by a single male, an excess of males or deficit of females will intensify the amount of male-male competition for mating rights. So higher levels of aggression will mean you’re a more successful competitor, right? Not necessarily. High levels of aggression have been shown to sometimes have a negative effect on male mating performance. The researchers also showed that, in this study, increased androgen levels were linked to a decrease in female fecundity. However, their long-term impact is less clear as they seem to have no effect on population growth rates. Is it an effective adaptation to increased male-male competition - or a strain on the successfulness of the individual male as well as the successfulness of the population?

‘So, what?’. Again, not a question we’d be usually asking of a pile of faeces. It is an important one nonetheless. The researcher’s statistical analysis churned out some very important revelations. Glucocorticoids and androgens are both negatively linked to female fecundity and glucocorticoids levels are negatively correlated with population growth rates. The hormones act as the physiological explanation. It makes sense that a stressedout Zebra in a nutrient poor habitat will produce less progeny than a Zebra in a grass rich environment. The androgen augmentation of aggression clearly demonstrates how deviations from the demographic norm can have significant physiological effects on the animals. While its ramification for the future of the population is unclear, this androgen augmentation has been clearly linked with a decrease in female fecundity. So back to that first question ‘What can I learn from you?’. Well, as the Manchester ecologists have shown, there’s more to these defecations than meets the eye. This non-invasive examination of changes in physiological processes has shed light on major pressures on the Cape Mountain Zebra metapopulation. It’s an easy way of demonstrating ‘oh there’s something wrong here’ - a statement that often eludes conservationists until it’s too late.

As Dr. Lea and associates indicate in the paper, it’s the first study of its kind that uses a ‘macro physiological’ approach to assess on ongoing conservation plan. In the scope of the Zebra, it could be used as a watchdog for habitat decline, spurring conservationists to investigate when significant deviations in the glucocorticoid levels are seen. Climate change, another hot topic, could also be a future aspect for Zebra dung research. Imagine the stress induced if the dry spring was picked up in a summer drought. Suddenly there’s a new piece of evidence about global warming’s negative effects on population growth rates of large charismatic terrestrial animals. No large charismatic animals means no wildlife tourism, a sobering reality that would surely influence governments like South Africa’s to invest more in slowing the rate of global warming. It doesn’t stop with the stripes. Faecal hormone analysis could be applied to many large mammals, assessing the impacts anthropogenic disturbance, unnatural population dynamics as well as the impact climate change might be having on them. It seems the detail is in the dung and the stage is being set for faecal analysis’ big splash into conservation science.

Journalists vs Algorithms

The migration of journalism and the influence of Google News Chloe Hanrahan Contributing writer

AST THURSDAY T H E INTERNATIONAL TECH AND MUSIC event, Uprise Festival, was held at the RDS in Dublin for the first time. Tipped as being one of the top five talks was ‘The Migration of Journalism’, hosted by media experts Amanda Connolly and Mark Little. Connolly is currently the head digital editor at Newstalk, while Little is the founder of news company Neva Labs, and previously led the Twitter media team in Europe. Individually they discussed the transformation of news reporting from a printed to digitalised platform, and how the Google News algorithm is a threat to media companies trying to reach their target audiences. Before online news was official born in the early 1990’s, Little recalls having to buy a broadsheet in the morning and wait until 9pm to sit and watch the news on the television. There was a limited source of news and what was reported was

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Now, by simply keying words into the Google search bar, you can take your pick from a personalised flood of headlines.

accepted as fact. Today, with the dawn of social media and Google News, even the age of foreign correspondence is gone. On-site images and online reporting has taken precedence, contributing to the international web community of over 7000 news sources. Now, by simply keying words into the Google search bar, you can take your pick from a personalised flood of headlines. The Google News patent application published in 2012 allows a quick and single glance at how the algorithm works. A major factor to filtering the news headlines is based on the user’s individual interests and search history. Connolly realised the significance of this after searching for her newly published article. Her media company was the first to be tipped on the crime case, but when she Google searched for her published article, it came up as second on the News ranking. A decade ago her article would have been the hot-off-the-press news that the public desired. But Google News has now changed the game and is making up its own rules. The Google News algorithm is compiled of factors such

as the quantity of content published by the media group, the “freshness” of the article, location and diversity, according to the patent application. Despite many funded attempts to crack the algorithm by media companies, it remains inscrutable. There’s no point in trying to solve it, says Connolly. You can hire SEO experts and people trained in analytics, which will inevitably be to no avail. All that there is left to do is to foster “better connections with your readers” and to promote loyalty. News groups have reacted to this shift in distribution and have become the news powerhouses for the millennial readers. Resisting this movement somewhat are the Legacy papers, older names in the news industry, who have resigned to prioritising its physical newspapers. Although their printed platform was once the commanding and indisputable method of news delivery, their target audience is being replaced by those of the digital era. To stay afloat, they can only to follow the migration patterns of other news sources.

Little emphasised the point that a recorded view does not always correlate to real engagement. It is far better to have people read the entire article rather than just “viewing” it, which is part of the nature of social media. Advertisement revenue is made from views, but with the ranking metrics of Google News a lot of so-called “one hit wonder” newsgroups can take the lead in the listings and accumulate revenue as a result. With loyalty comes more real engagement and views - as a result. This relationship between reader and news provider was more recently tested by the Fake News phenomenon, causing people to demand a better quality and legitimacy from their sources. Both a curse and a blessing, the outbreak of Fake News has compelled Google News to refine its headline filtering mechanism. In a blog post written earlier this year by Ben Gomes, vice-president of engineering for Google Search, the company promised to “demote lower quality content” and try to eradicate “misleading and downright false information”. At the same time, the surfacing of Fake News provides a welcome

spotlight on the accurate and well-written articles of legitimate news groups. It also supports the future of journalism that Connolly and Little envisages, in the form of paid news subscriptions. Unlike the articles you could be directed to through Google News, a subscription could offer news in the form that suits the reader’s needs. Little promoted the idea of three returns: a return in identity via personalisation, a return in attention by giving concise reports, and a return on intention through

providing sound and accurate journalism. By paying for news, albeit for ideally the same price for a price of coffee, readers can block ads and get the product they want. Both Connolly and Little agree that jumping on the bandwagon of various platforms provided by tech giants, such as Facebook live and Snapchat, can be beneficial but not necessary. The focus must be on the content and the link between reader and news company, a relationship that survives the rise and fall of platform trends.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

SciTech

The Existential Crises of Science Students Science students reflect on the revelations that made them question everything Maeve McCann Staff writer

XISTENTIAL CRISES ARE U S U A L L Y ASSOCIATED with the ever-questioning philosophy students. However, as I have been discovering through my Science undergraduate at Trinity, life can take on a whole new meaning after a single lecture. For instance during the first ever week of Biology lectures, Luke O’Neill not so subtly suggested that if we were in anyway interested in God that we should move to a different faculty. From there, lectures in developmental biology showed us just how similar we look to fish and amphibians in the womb (yes, we have tails for parts of our

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To get the full spectrum of crises encountered in the Science department I asked a few friends for their thoughts and here is what has boggled their minds the most. lives).

Microbiology then taught us that we have more bacterial cells in and on us than we have human cells and that therefore we may not be the amazing beings we think we are, but little more than hosts for a suite of manipulative bacteria. When I say manipulative I mean it. Immunology lectures went on to tell us that bacteria in our gut have been linked to controlling our appetite, immunological reactions and even mood! To get the full spectrum of crises encountered in the Science department I asked a few friends for their thoughts and here is what has boggled their minds the most.

Gemma Caulwell - 4th Year Physics My mind was blown when studying Special Relativity for the first time. Growing up, everyone has a very clear and distinct idea of time; things that have already happened are in the past, things that are currently happening are the present, and things that will happen are in the future. The idea of the present, of right now, this very second, was a simple one. At exactly 17:30 GMT, I am writing this piece in Dublin. Time was absolute; it did not morph or change or vary. Half five meant half five, and the fifteen minutes it takes me to write this piece is, quite simply, fifteen minutes. Special relativity taught me that there is no such thing as absolute time, or indeed of absolute space. The time taken for a certain event to happen; for me to write this piece, say, is relative to the observer. We do not notice this, generally, because the speeds at which we are all moving are miniscule. If however, we were to be moving at speeds closer to the speed of light, this effect would be noticeable. To use an analogy of Brian Cox’s, if someone was sent off into space in a rocket, travelling at 99.94% of the speed of light for 5 years according to their watch, then turned around and returned to Earth, their journey would have taken 10 years according to their time. However, our clocks on Earth would, relatively speaking, been ticking faster, and that person would arrive back 29 years later. The fact that time is not absolute, and is in fact personal to each reference frame, totally changed my view of the world.

Dan Giffney - 3rd Year Neuroscience Possibly the biggest bombshell ever to be dropped on me was during a Neuroscience lecture in 2nd year. The lecturer mentioned Toxoplasmosis; an infection caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which

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So does this mean that being a cat person is a disease, a disorder that can be caught, transmitted and maybe even cured? can only reproduce sexually in cats but can infect most animals. This led me deep down a rabbit hole. In 2000, it was discovered that rats infected with T. gondii had their usual repulsion to cats reversed, and were found to act more impulsively, drawn to the smell of cat urine. In 2015, it was found that this “fatal feline attraction” carried across between Chimpanzees and Leopards. Chimps are one of our closest relatives and it is estimated that roughly half the human population are hosting T. gondii. So does this mean that being a cat person is a disease, a disorder that can be caught, transmitted and maybe even cured?

Aisling Greene - 3rd Year Molecular Medicine

Catherine Doorly - 3rd Year Genetics Studying Science, especially genetics gives us an amazing story of our history. It is mind-blowing just taking a look into our DNA and seeing our evolutionary past and all we have adapted to. As you look further you come across some really bizarre facts. For example our genes (the genes that form our proteins) only make up 2% of all the DNA in our body! What's even stranger is that an ancient virus' DNA, which in the past infected our ancestors, makes up 8%. It is unsettling to think that a virus' DNA outnumbers our own genes fourfold. On top of that, our bodies have exploited the presence of some of this viral DNA to the point where we need it for our continued existence. Viruses are good at integrating themselves into our cells and hiding from our immune systems - they make this 'envelope' which surrounds them and acts like a disguise. Our bodies have exploited this ability by producing this same viral envelope in pregnant women - to allow the exchange of oxygen and nutrients between mother and baby. It also stops the immune system from detecting the foetus as some sort of threat. Possibly without this virus (called a Syncytin) we would not have been able to develop into the beings we are today.

Éinne Ó Cathasaigh - 3rd Year Zoology From my study of science over the past four years, I became increasingly worried about the ever-changing

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...we are seeing firsthand the seventh mass extinction event.

Something that I have found shocking about science is the absence of basic ethics which have paralleled innovative discoveries. The book that opened my eyes to this was Rebecca Skloot’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”. It is about an AfricanAmerican woman named Henrietta Lacks who had a sample of cells taken from a tumour on her cervix without her or her family’s consent in Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1951. This was shortly before she died. Today there is much more of her living in labs across the world than there ever was when she was alive. That cell sample went on to become the world’s first immortal human cell line. Her cells were mass produced and shipped around the world. They are even here in Trinity, and have been used for amazing advances in science including research into cancer, AIDS, the effects of radiation and toxic substances, gene mapping, and countless other scientific pursuits.

world we are living in. As a species that is inhabiting the earth as it warms after a glacial period, we are seeing first-hand the seventh mass extinction event. Will this extinction possibly be at the scale of the K-T extinction event which 65 million years ago - which wiped out all the dinosaurs? Or perhaps the Permian extinction event, which occurred around 252 million years ago, and wiped out 95% of known life at the time. It is a perilous time for our chances in the future, or rather for our existence in general. Perhaps our lineage is also vulnerable in this time of change, and that our children may not walk in the world we can see before us. This scares me a lot.

However her family was not compensated for the universal use of her cells, including the millions of dollars being made from their production. They weren’t even aware of this until journalists approached them with an interest in their story. Her experience, and those of countless others, are enough to reveal historically horrific and controversial research methods - reflecting prejudices regarding race, class, and religion. Despite wishing to maintain respect for the scientific method (particularly nowadays among questions of climate change and health policy) we should continue to question the credibility, ethics, and reputability of scientific research. Finding a healthy relationship between science that is ethical, and trusting good data proves to be a bigger challenge to the global community than I had ever considered.

quenching the luminescent activity. Exploiting the robustness of their MOF, they demonstrated an ON/OFF switch whereby they printed out invisible symbols and images on a paper surface using their lead-MOF, and then made it luminescent with the halide salt before quenching it with methanol and repeating the cycle again. What is particularly exciting about this technology is its genuine potential for application in confidential information encryption and decryption for information storage and anti-counterfeiting in money. Where previous materials of this kind failed was in their insufficient luminescent performances, lack of an ON/OFF switch, tedious synthesis and high cost, and could also be easily exploited to steal confidential information due to their innate photoluminescence activity. This new MOF

must first be reacted with a halide salt before it becomes luminescent providing an inbuilt security feature.

Simon Benson - 4th Year Plant Science When I first came across the idea of endosymbiosis, my mind was blown. I couldn't figure out WHY this wasn't more widely known. For those uninitiated, plants, animals, fungi and some weirder organisms all contain mitochondria, and many contain other similar organelles called plastids. These plastids have their own loop of DNA... DNA that is almost identical to some bacteria we can find nowadays, indicating that way back in evolutionary history, our single celled ancestor cell engulfed another cell but instead of digesting it, essentially kept it as a little production facility. Over time these cells became more and more integrated, and now essentially can function as a single unit. What does that mean for us if almost every single cell in our body is powered by 'cells' that originally came from completely different organisms? What does it mean for plants, who not only have the mitochondria, but also other plastids like the chloroplast, without which the incredible process of photosynthesis couldn't take place? Are we a single organism? Or are we communities that act as 'one', often unaware of our complex biological origins. Not much changes in day to day life, but it does make you wonder if maybe you aren't who you think you are. In any case, we might learn a thing or two by blurring our egos in regards to our physical selves, as it’s certainly not as simple a concept as many would like to believe.

Research Roundup

A look the most exciting scientific discoveries and news of the past month

Kevin Agnew Deputy SciTech Editor

OR SUCH A DARK, COLD, SLIGHTLY radioactive lump of fossil, we have only coal and a spark of human ingenuity to thank for the explosive development in science, technology and engineering that we have seen in the past 300 years. With so much chemical energy packed into such a dense form, it was the ideal power source for the steam engine, driving mass production, improving transport and contributing to overall quality of life. But no honeymoon lasts forever, and the initial charm of coal has been replaced by something rather unpleasant, irksome and insecure. Genetic analysis reveals social interactions between Neanderthals and early Modern Humans Neanderthals are the closest genetic ancestor to early modern humans (homo sapiens) and are studied to understand more about the ancestral history of early modern humans. Studying Neanderthal genetic composition, however, is no small feat. Approximately 40,000 years ago, these archaic humans had all but vanished, leaving very little remains from which to glean genetic data. Some scientists speculate their disappearance is closely related to the advent of homo sapiens, who may have hunted them to extinction. Others that it was the Neanderthals failure to adapt to harsh environmental conditions that lead to their demise, or a combination of

both. The resulting lack of access to high quality genomic data of Neanderthals has made it difficult for scientists to reconstruct their history and genetic contribution to present-day humans. Recently however, a massive collaboration between scientists in America and Europe utilised an improved DNA analysis technology, that allows the reconstruction of DNA sequences from bone samples that are contaminated or not well preserved. With this technology in hand, the scientists analysed 45,500 year old bone fragments from a female Neanderthal found in a cave in Croatia. This helped them piece together a clearer picture of their social interactions with early modern humans and the social dynamics within their own populations. Smaller genetic variance in this female Neanderthal’s DNA was observed, suggesting that Neanderthals lived in small population groups numbering around 3000 individuals. The data also indicated a significant degree of inbreeding within the population of this female Neanderthal, with her parents being related at the level of half-siblings. The DNA sequence generated from these bone samples was compared with presentday human DNA sequences, revealing that 10-20% more of Neanderthal DNA is found in present-day humans. The genotypes acquired from Neanderthals by humans were on the whole considered to be deleterious, affecting our susceptibility to diseases with some of the genotypes being linked to schizophrenia, eating disorders and rheumatoid arthritis.

American Court rules against Open-Access website Sci-Hub in lawsuit filed by American Chemical Society A US court in the district of Virginia recently ruled against SciHub, an illicit website which provides free access to paywalled scientific papers published by the likes of Nature, Science and the American Chemical Society (ACS). The lawsuit was filed by ACS for copyright infringement, trademark counterfeiting and trademark infringement and SciHub have been ordered to pay 4.8 million dollars in damages to the publication. This is not the first time a lawsuit has been brought against SciHub. Publishing giant Elsevier brought a similar lawsuit against SciHub earlier this year, which SciHub also lost and were ordered to pay 15 million dollars in damages. The website, founded by Neuroscientist Alexandra Elbakyan, is unlikely to pay out anything to either publications however, as they are based in Russia, outside of the court’s jurisdiction. It is estimated that SciHub contains as much as 98.8% of all papers published by ACS and 85% of papers from all other paywalled journals. The court also ordered search engines, internet service providers (ISPs) and web-hosting sites to cease facilitating any domains and websites which may host SciHub. This is unlikely to stop SciHub either, as previous attempts have been made to shut the website down, only for it to pop up again using a different domain. Search engines and ISPs may, too, be hesitant to delist the website as many of them adhere to the internet freedom movement and open access to scientific

research. The topic has long been a controversial one, with some individuals siding with SciHub in providing free access to scientific papers in the face of exorbitant fees charged by publishers for access. Undoubtedly, there will be plenty more legal wrangling to come. Material scientists develop new metal organic framework technology for confidential information encryption/ decryption Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University have developed a new lead-based metal organic framework (MOF). These are chemical structures involving a metal atom centre with organic (carbon-based) ligands surrounding them that pack on top of one another to form crystal structures. The MOF exhibits interesting optical and electronic properties, whereby it is invisible in ambient light but when reacted with a halide salt, forms perovskite (a type of crystal structure) nanocrystals which become luminescent in the presence of UV light. The lead MOF was successfully printed onto different paper and foil surfaces via inkjet printing to form detailed images and symbols, invisible in ambient light, but once reacted with the halide salt and activated with UV light, revealed the images and symbols in high resolution. Further investigation by the researchers revealed that the formation of the perovskite nanocrystals was not a destructive process, and they could recover the original lead-based MOF by washing the nanocrystal with a polar solvent such as methanol, which easily dissolves the ionic perovskite nanocrystals,

Dinosaur extinction allowed for mammals to transition from a nocturnal lifestyle to greater daytime activity Mammals today generally exhibit a striking bias in their morphological features of eye shape, retinal composition and visual pathways towards nocturnal activity, but even still many exhibit diurnal (daytime) activity. A popular theory proposed by scientists, known as the ‘nocturnal bottleneck’, is these morphological and physiological traits of nocturnality are a result of an ancestral legacy of mammals avoiding diurnal predatory dinosaurs during the Mesozoic period between approximately 252 and 66 million years ago. To prove this theory, researchers reconstructed

the ancestral behavioural traits of 2415 different species based on taxonomic analysis of their morphological and physiological traits associated with nocturnal activity and diurnal activity. Using statistical analysis of the resulting data set, the researchers estimated that the onset of diurnal activity in mammals occurred around 65 million years ago, coinciding with the K-Pg mass extinction event which wiped out most of the dinosaurs. The results indicate that the advent of daytime activity in mammals probably came opportunistically, no longer having to contend with predatory diurnal dinosaurs, and lends further credence to the ‘Nocturnal bottleneck’ theory.

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

SciTech

Have you tried turning it off and on again? Though technology has been blamed for the spike in mental health issues in this generation, it also may be the only route to equilibrium. Daniel Giffney

than first guessed.

Contributing writer

Population increases have rendered the huntergathering way of life archaic, and equally our seemingly insatiable appetite for data makes it unlikely that we will be entering an entirely offline world any time soon. Though technology has been blamed for the spike in mental health issues seen in this generation, it also may be the only route to equilibrium.

ITH LIFE GETTING BETTER BY ALMOST ALL measurable standards, why have rates of depression and anxiety disorders been on the rise? We have entered the “information age” as a by-product of technological advances brought forth by the internet. It seems that there have been some unsuspected side effects of what might be more of a Faustian bargain

Insta-gratification It seems as though just about everything that can be

streamlined so as to cut small talk or boredom, is. From what Deliveroo or Just-Eat might bring us for dinner, what events we’ll be attending on Facebook and even what dates we might go on thanks to apps like Tinder and Grindr, the vast array of options available to us in our hyper-connected world can be overwhelming. The assortment and easy availability of all these stimuli that were once key in our evolutionary survival can set our reward system haywire. Neural systems which are central to motivational drive pump out dopamine just before you do something

you know is going to be pleasurable. Contrary to popular belief dopamine does not provide the pleasurable sensation itself - that’s the job of endogenous opioids. However, it helps cement pathways that teach your brain what is pleasurable and what is not. Playing a key role in addiction, dopamine is strongly associated with the behaviours that lead up to the opioid pay off. For example, people who smoke can often be seen fidgeting with items that are similar in size and shape to a cigarette - even putting them in their mouth. If you’ve ever found yourself sliding your phone out of your pocket, unlocking it and listlessly scrolling through your apps or woken from a fugue state to find you’ve started typing “faceb…” on your web browser, dopamine is a likely culprit. This may seem harmless but each time this happens it further solidifies these neuronal pathways and you are more likely to have a difficult time stopping yourself. Your interactions in everyday life must compete with your phone and computers sleek, consistent and tactile design. If you’ve ever tried to start a conversation with a stranger, you may know that it rarely goes as smoothly as a swipe to the right. This biochemical hijacking of the parts of our brain in charge of motivation, that initially attracts people with a promise of greater connection can leave them dependant, lost and alienated. Selfie-steem No one puts their bad days online. This furthers the stigma around mental health as it preserves the unattainable standards of perpetual happiness, stability and self-satisfaction. Having access to a highlight reel of people’s lives can leave us feeling deflated, uninspired and utterly inept in comparison to the seeming

Art by Lucie Rondeau Du Noyer

virtuosos and wunderkinds we have surrounded ourselves with. Not only that but the mediums through which we are discovering our incompetence draws us in and consumes a large volume of our time that we might otherwise be using to pursue our goals, thus leading to compounded frustration.

Human Behavior found that participants that were led to believe they were interacting with a computer were less afraid of self-disclosure, focused less on managing the recipients impression of them and were more willing to express profound feelings of sadness. This could mean that in some cases, computers that are programmed to pick up on certain behaviours and phrases might act as a better means of intervention than a human therapist.

Have you tried turning it off and on again? Whether someone suffers from a mental health issue catalysed by social media use, or otherwise, computers could be key in their treatment. One of the quickest growing forms of online mental health treatment is Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CCBT). There are many benefits to this pioneering therapy documented in the award winning short film Code Therapy which is narrated by Carl O’Reilly. In the film O’Reilly talks about his struggles with depression in and out of college, his story is edited together with interviews with mental health professionals discussing the uses of technology in helping people heal. Most of the companies involved with the film are offering mental health management programmes mixed with one on one calls with therapists. But is this any replacement for the long couch of a corporeal therapy office? Dr. Stephen Schueller, a member of the Centre for Behavioural Intervention Technologies faculty said that, rather than comparing online support to face-toface therapy “We should think about comparing these resources [CCBT] to nothing, because that’s what most people get.”

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Having access to a highlight reel of people’s lives can leave us feeling deflated, uninspired and utterly inept in comparison to the seeming virtuosos and wunderkinds we have surrounded ourselves with.

Though CCBT is viewed as the inferior substitute for real life therapy, there are some benefits to using computers that have been widely overlooked. For example, A study of 154 people published in Computers in

These intervention triggers would include examples such as an increased use of first-person pronouns which is indicative of increased introspection and correlated with depression. After such behaviours are picked up the user can be connected with people who have been through a similar experience. Some sites such as Talklife might even read your computer’s cookies in order to develop a more complete psychological profile based on the sites your computer has visited, how long you spent there and what you did on the website. This may seem like an invasion of privacy but many companies are already using these methods to make money via targeted marketing. If many people show greater comfort in discussing how they are really feeling with strangers online and even confessing into what is essentially a cyber-abyss rather than the people around them maybe something greater is required. Rather than seeing these technologies as an opportunity to offload and upload the burden of mental health, we could work in collaboration with these flourishing resources - by stepping away from our keyboards and meticulously groomed avatars for a few moments each day to build more authentic, honest and less inhibited communities. Perhaps even an entire world where vulnerability and openness can be encouraged.

Kilonava observation marks the dawn of Multi-Messenger Astronomy There are rare occasions when a scientist has the chance to witness a new era at its beginning Maggie Goulden

The Swope 1-metre telescope, operated by the Carnegie Institution, was the first ground-based telescope to announce a new point of light in the same patch of sky, appearing close to NGC 4943, a galaxy located in the constellation of Hydra.

Contributing Writer

N OCTOBER 2017, FOLLOWING THE OBSERVATION of gamma-ray bursts, visible light, and gravitational waves, all from the same event (a ‘kilonova’, the merging of two incredibly dense neutron stars), several papers were published in the journal Nature and elsewhere outlining the importance of the discovery. Elena Pian, astronomer with the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), and lead author of one of these papers even went so far as to say that “There are rare occasions when a scientist has the chance to witness a new era at its beginning,”. So why, one might ask, is this the beginning of a new era? To understand the beauty and utility of this observation, which astronomers are now calling multi-messenger astronomy, let’s follow the timeline of events surrounding the discovery - and look at what this one case of multimessenger observation has taught us. On 17 August 2017 the Laser Interferometer GravitationalWave Observatory (LIGO) and Virgo Interferometer simultaneously detected gravitational waves (ripples in the curvature of spacetime, first predicted by Einstein in 1916, and first observed in September 2015) passing Earth. The event was creatively named GW170817. Two seconds later, two space observatories, NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the European Space Agency’s (ESA) INTErnational Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL), detected a short gamma-ray burst from the same area of the sky.

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In total, about 70 observatories all over the world observed the event, across much of the electromagnetic spectrum

After this first discovery, the light was picked up by a series of other telescopes located in Chile and the Hawaiian isles, and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) launched one of the biggest ever “target of opportunity” observing campaigns. These are observing campaign that begin as soon as the event is discovered, without requiring advanced notice - often due to the time sensitive nature of the observations. Many ESO and ESO-partnered telescopes observed the object over the weeks following the detection. In total, about 70 observatories all over the world observed the event, across much of the electromagnetic spectrum (that is, from infrared light through to the visible and ultraviolet). The event marked the first ever confirmed observation of a kilonova, which were first suggested more than 30 years ago. In addition, data obtained from the event indicates that Caesium and Tellurium were ejected from the merging neutron stars. These and other heavy elements would have been created in the neutron merging event, and blown into space by the subsequent kilonova. Prior to this, the formation of elements heavier than iron through nuclear reactions within high-density stellar objects, known as r-process nucleosynthesis, had only ever been theorised. Dr Morgan Fraser, a Royal Society-Science Foundation Ireland University Research

Fellow at UCD School of Physics, was one of the astronomers involved in confirming that the recent gravitational waves source was a kilonova. This was done by showing that the observed light’s behaviour matched with theoretical models. We questioned Dr Fraser about what gravitational waves have to offer that electromagnetic waves do not, in illustrating the value of multi-messenger astronomy. “Electromagnetic waves can only reach us from whatever part of a source is transparent to photons. So, in the case of a core-collapse supernova (for example), we see photons from the outer layers of an

exploding star. It typically takes months before the ejecta from the supernova explosion has expanded and cooled to the point where we can see photons from what would have been the center of the star that exploded.” Note that electromagnetic waves travel via photons, which can be ‘blocked’ by matter, but gravitational waves do not travel via photons and are instead ripples in the fabric of spacetime itself. Thus something which is opaque to photons will happily allow gravitational waves to pass through. “In contrast, gravitational

waves reach us unimpeded from the core of the star at the instant it explodes. They can hence give us unique insight into the physics powering a supernova explosion - how the core-collapses during the initial milliseconds of a supernova.”

but can be studied in detail by gravitational waves. We concluded by asking Dr Fraser what he thought the future holds for the study of gravitational waves, and we were happy to find that the hunt isn't over yet.

In short, rather than waiting until the obscuring matter surrounding the center of the exploded star dissipates - as we would need to do with electromagnetic waves - gravitational waves allow an immediate look into the center of a supernova.

“The next goal will be to find more neutron star mergers (kilonovae). We know now that we can find them, and we have a single example. But what we want next is a sample of 10, or 50, or 100 kilonovae. How diverse are they?

In addition, some events may not be observable by electromagnetic waves at all, such as merging black holes,

Do they all eject the same amount of matter, and produce similar quantities of heavy elements? Do they

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Sport

Keep it in the country Online Sport Editor Eoin Roche does his best to persuade you that real footballing joy comes from following local football, and not the Premier League. Eoin Roche

Online Sport Editor

NTIL LAST FEBRUARY I WAS IGNORANT to the existence of League of Ireland football; I mean I knew there was a League in Ireland but that was about it. With Premier League football on television being such a rip-off and even decent seats in the Aviva starting to look a little steep, I found my way to Tallaght, to watch the closest thing to my local team, Shamrock Rovers. This would lead to my own little footballing renaissance and new obsession: the League of Ireland. I never really understood football culture. As a long time plastic fan of a top 6 Premier League team (the ‘prawn sandwich’ variety), I watched a lot of football, thought I knew a lot about it, but didn’t have any passion. It was Ireland’s win against Germany in 2015 that changed everything. Shane Long’s winner happened right in front of me, literally and blew my mind, figuratively. Suddenly, all the passion and all the singing made sense, and a desire for live, in the flesh football followed. The logical next step was the League of Ireland. So, which team? Well, living in Dublin I could choose from 3 Premier Division teams. I could venture to the northside on a 9 to the traditional home of Irish football, Dalymount park and support Bohemians, I could head westward on a 13 to Inchicore to support St. Patrick’s athletic in Richmond park, or I could hop on a 27 destined for Jobstown and join Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght stadium. In the end Tallaght was the closest and therefore the obvious choice.

“

The first thing that struck me about Shamrock Rovers was the atmosphere. Well no, the first thing that struck me about Rovers was the hatred of Bohemians.

The first thing that struck me about Shamrock Rovers was the atmosphere. Well no, the first thing that struck me about Rovers was the hatred

of Bohemians. Rovers weren’t even playing them at the time and every second chant was about how terrible Bohs were. The second thing that struck me about Rovers was the atmosphere. I swear Tallaght Stadium is louder than the Aviva despite having 10% of the capacity. Tallaght stadium seats around 5000 spectators, which is rarely more than three-fifths full, but fans make up for it with passion, shouting and chanting, the content of which I don’t think I can print with a clear conscience. There’s a great community feeling around Rovers, between the old lads who’ve been following the club for years, the guys my age who come every week, to the families that fill the West stand, every demographic is covered, and makes for some entertaining banter amongst them. The League of Ireland is not the most technically gifted league in the world; the games are often fast-paced but scrappy. Shamrock Rovers, for example, played a 4-2-31 or a 4-4-1-1 for the majority of the season, utilising a big man, often Garry Shaw, up front with runners like Trevor Clarke, Graham Burke, Brandon Miele and Aaron Bolger playing off of him. Ronan Finn, who rejoined Rovers from Dundalk during the winter break, would play in a 2 man midfield pivot, with either Ryan Connolly or Dave McAllister. Both fullbacks would push high, particularly Simon Madden on the right. The game plan was about getting the ball to Shaw to hold up, or down the wings with Madden or Clarke to cross for Shaw. Rovers would play fast and loose, often being caught out spectacularly for it. For better or worse, this made games into an absolute rollercoaster of thrills and spills. So maybe not the ‘Total Football’ of Johan Cruyff that I idolise so much, but certainly more entertaining than watching Manchester United travel to Merseyside.

Having a young squad and a young manager in Stephen Bradley at times led to some passionate displays of what can only loosely be described as tackling. In 5 games against Dundalk this year, Rovers had a man sent off in four. Whether it was a league game, the EA Sports cup final or the FAI cup semi final, players and staff alike were not afraid to go toe-to-toe with the opposition. Specifically, in the FAI cup semi-final replay, an altercation over a throwin between Bradley and a Dundalk player developed into an all out brawl between all players and staff on both teams. A brilliant and enthralling display of passion, even if it wasn’t exactly setting the best example for kids sitting in the family section behind the dugout.

I feel that the League of Ireland has led me to a sort of footballing renaissance. It feels grass-rooted and community driven and very much tribal, probably how the top flight in England felt 70 years ago or more.

FAI for not supporting League of Ireland enough. It’s strange: if you ask Ireland fans, specifically those who travel to away games frequently, they’ll tell you the FAI is doing a great job.

The Premier League, with the possible exception of some of the newer promoted clubs (Brighton, Bournemouth), is so far away from that. I barely know a single chant or song that Manchester United fans sing regularly, despite being a ‘fan’ for well over a decade, although I think I’m more a Manchester United ‘acquaintance’ now, but I’ll still enjoy my prawn sandwiches on the good days.

But Michael D. Higgins walked out at Tallaght Stadium to chants of “F*** the FAI!” at the EA Sports cup final. I think more money could be given to improve infrastructure and grass-roots opportunities for kids; Shamrock Rovers new academy is a great first step but other clubs need support too and if we can still pay top brass in the FAI six figures, I’m sure the money is there. Dundalk’s stadium is made out of farm warehouses, Cork City’s Turner’s Cross ground literally collapsed

I think this is the part of the article where I lampoon the

Research Fellow announced as finalist in “Making an Impact” Competition “Making an Impact” is a researchcommunication competition run by the Higher Education Authority Julia Geoghegan Contributing Writer

RINITY RESEARCH FELLOW, GREG TIERNEY, is one of five finalists competing for a €2,500 prize in the “Making an Impact” Competition. “Making an Impact” is a research-communication competition run by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in collaboration with The Irish Independent. Tierney explained to Trinity News that his entry, “Lowering the Tackle Height Law in Rugby” explores “how lowering the tackle height law in rugby union to below the chest of the ball carrier could reduce concussion incidence as well as improve long term player brain health.” The current threshold for a high tackle is the line of the shoulders. So far Tierney’ s research has found that “tackling around the chest and shoulders of the ball carrier is a high risk scenario for the tackler receiving a direct head impact, and subsequently, being removed from play for a head injury assessment. The research has also found that “active shoulder tackles to the chest/shoulder region of the ball carrier causes significantly higher whiplash style head motions for the ball carrier. This may contribute to the development of the cognitive deficits reported for rugby players, even in those without a reported history of concussion.” Tierney is an Irish Re-

during hurricane Ophelia, and they’re the top 2 teams in the league. Imagine what could be achieved with a little more investment. Whether you live in Dublin all year or only come up during the academic year, if you have any interest in soccer I’d highly recommend the League of Ireland to you when it kicks off again in February; it’s an encapsulating, cheap way to spend a Friday. I’d love you to come to the East Stand of Tallaght Stadium and watch Rovers, but any Dublin team is well worth your time - with tickets often costing as little as €10, you’ll easily get your money’s worth. I’ll even forgive you for supporting Bohemians.

Sports Round-Up October/November 2017 Volleyball National League (D1) Female Trinity College 3 - 0 Newbridge Panthers National League (D1) Male Trinity College 0 - 3 Tallaght Rockets Student Sport Ireland (SSI) League Female Trinity College 3 - 0 RCSI Student Sport Ireland (SSI) League Male Trinity College 3 - 0 Dundalk IT Trinity College 3 - 0 IT Tallaght

search Council PhD scholar at Trinity’s Centre for Bioengineering. Tierney’s research, which focuses on using video evidence to understand the kinematic scenarios resulting in concussion, was awarded the best early stage PhD at the Bioengineering in Ireland Conference in January 2015.

Basketball Trinity Men’s 1st 46 - 75 Blanchardstown IT

The competition is open to registered postgraduate research students of any discipline. The objective of the competition, as stated on the HEA website, is “the effective communication of research to a lay audience…It is not about presenting an academic summary of your work; it is about grabbing a reader or viewer’s attention”. The participants are to outline why their research “matters to Irish society or in a global context”.

DUHAC Women’s Colours Road Relays TCD A: Cliona Murphy, Sorcha McAllister, Deirdre Nic Canna, Sarah Tobin Reihill (2nd place) TCD B: Eileen Rafter, Clare McCarthy, Lydia McCabe, Sorcha McAllister (3rd place)

The five finalists will present their research in front of an expert panel on November 15. They will have a maximum of ten minutes each to make the presentation, followed by a brief question and answer session with the panel. One winner is chosen by the panel, and one by an audience of secondary school students.

Trampoline Munster Student Trampoline Open Intervanced Silver Medal: Aideen Mallon Advanced Silver Medal: Megan Devereaux

Men’s Colours Road Relays TCD A: Brendan Murphy, Patrick Hayes, John Moroney, Donal Farren, Jack Savage (2nd place) TCD B: Adam Geraghty, Louis Catteau, Loughlin Campion, Allan Clarke Ciaran Heelan (3rd place) Dublin Marathon Results Caroline Lawless (3:20:41) Sean Molloy (2:56:24) Chris Coakley (3:34:01) Diarmuid O’Caroll (4:03:22) Rugby DUFC 1st XV 3 - 28 Cork Constitution St. Mary’s College RFC 15 - 18 DUFC 1st XV

Photo Credit: Joe McCallion/ Trinity News

Trinity News | Tuesday 14th November

Sport

Online Sport Editor Eoin Roche does his best to persuade you that real footballing joy comes from following local football, and not the Premier League.

p23

Ultimate Frisbee: Trinity’s best kept secret? Aisling Byrne answers all the questions you have about one of Trinity’s less well-known sports clubs. Aisling Byrne Contrbuting Writer

HIS COLLEGE YEAR IS LOOKING particularly promising for Dublin University Ultimate Frisbee Club (DUUFC). Things kicked-off in early October with the Trinity Women’s team winning the first tournament of the year, The Cork Open. This was their first time as finalists at Ireland’s longest running tournament, open to European teams across all divisions. After six tightly fought contests, they battled the Corkonian Rebels for the second time that weekend, beating them 12-9 in the final. This massive win, along with a record number of women attending trainings and having already taken part in two beginner’s tournaments this season, means there are high hopes for Women’s Indoor Intervarsity’s (IVs) being held in UCC this weekend and Mixed Indoor IVs in NUIG the following weekend. On the men’s side of the team, there are three current Trinity ultimate players and three alumni on the Ireland U24s Men’s squad heading to Perth, Australia for 2018 World U24 Championships. From the 7th-13th January they will be competing with teams from all over the world including USA, Singapore and Great Britain. Not only that, but a further three of our men represented Ireland on the U20s Men’s team at the European Youth Ultimate Championships in the Netherlands last Summer. They were undefeated and made their way to the final coming second to Italy. Since its foundation, Trinity Ultimate Frisbee Club has won six Indoor IVs and six consecutive Women’s Indoor

IVs from 2006 to 2012. Last year, Trinity defeated UCC in a grueling match to take victory at Open Indoor IVs and was shortlisted as College of the Year by the Irish Flying Disc Association (IFDA), the national governing body for Disc Sports in Ireland. Evidently, Trinity Ultimate is an extremely successful club. It takes part in more intervarsity tournaments than any other Trinity sports club, 7 a year in total, as well as a men’s and women’s annual Colours game. However, the club and the sport itself still seems to fall under the radar of most Trinity students. There is something of a mystery surrounding the players seen throwing and catching a disc around the Physiology Garden in between lectures. Are they just random students content in the college lifestyle or are they actually part of that frisbee sport you’ve heard about? With indoor training in the sports hall twice a week and outdoor training in Santry Sports Grounds once a week, it is unlikely that many students will actually see Trinity’s ultimate players in action as they would the rugby teams, for example. So what is ultimate frisbee and why is it Trinity College’s best-kept secret? Ultimate, originally known as ultimate frisbee, is a noncontact team sport played with a disc. Types of throws include a forehand (commonly known as a flick), backhand and various over-head throws, including a hammer or scoober. Points are scored by passing the disc to a teammate in the opposing end zone. It is a game of offence and defence with possession and direction of play switching over after every point scored or with a turnover (interception or incomplete pass.) A fundamental rule is that no steps can be taken with the disc in hand, making ultimate a pivot sport and essentially a game of

Depleted Trinity lose to dominant Blanchardstown IT Trinity’s Men’s Basketball 1st team suffer heavy Blanchardstown defeat Eoin Roche

Online Sport Editor

R I N I T Y S U F F E R E D FROM A COMPREHENSIVE, 46-75 defeat to a clinical Blanchardstown IT (Blanch). Trinity came into this game with a depleted roster of 7 players, looking to continue their decent start to the season. Blanchardstown were in control from the opening 3 minutes, opening up a 10-0 lead. As Blanchardstown swapped out their entire starting 5, some solid scoring from inside and midrange allowed Trinity to fight back to 11-12 with a minute to play in the first quarter, ending with a 3 point deficit at 13-16. Blanch started strong in the second quarter and stretched their lead to 5, playing a very aggressive and high defence, in an attempt to stop Trinity even making it to half court. This led to 3 turnovers by Trinity in succession. This, plus some solid rejections when Trinity did get up court, left Blanch firmly in control, opening up a 16 point lead with 4 minutes gone in the second. Trinity began to turn possession into points in the latter stages of the quarter, but Blanch responded clinically, leaving the score at 24-44 at the halfway stage. Blanch, who could call upon a full bench, began turning on the style, sinking two 3 pointers in the opening few minutes of play in the third quarter. Blanch’s superior

shooting, particularly from 3-point range, allowed them to further extend the lead to 34 points by the end of the penultimate quarter. With the game all but over, neither team excelled in the opening stages of the 4th quarter. Trinity managed to draw several shooting fouls, but often failed to convert from the line, while Blanch kept the scoreboard ticking over with some nice layups. A late surge from Trinity saw them outscore their opponents in the final quarter by 16 points to 11, but the game was already decided. A lack of bodies cost Trinity heavily against a Blanch team capable of not only creating, but frequently scoring baskets from the 3-point line.

Trinity

46 Blanchardstown IT

throwing and catching. Teams employ many different offensive and defensive strategies, each with distinct goals in mind, the most basic being to create open space on the field in which a pass can be completed. Positions are assigned to the players based on their specific strengths, whether that’s throwing or receiving. There are three different divisions for players; women’s, mixed gender and open. Open is literally ‘open to all players,’ although most teams are male dominated. Ultimate, perhaps surprisingly to those who have never seen it played, is a highly athletic sport. The physicality involved is evidenced by the level of injuries associated with it. Last year Trinity players experienced two torn ACL’s and a spiral-fractured femur as a result of playing on the women’s team alone. The intensity of the game can be described through the typical layout of a IVs event. Last year at Women’s Outdoor IV’s,

hosted by UCD, each team played six demanding onehour long games in the oneday competition. Ultimate was founded by a group of students in Columbia High School New Jersey in the hippie era of the 1960s. The first world championship was held in 1983 in Goteborg Sweden and the event is now held every four years. The game made it’s way to Trinity in 1996, making DUUFC the oldest ultimate club in Ireland. In terms of Irish university ultimate, there are 7 IV events every year: Women’s, Mixed and Open being played Indoors and Outdoors and then an extra competition for Developmental (new to the sport) players. On an international level ultimate is played on grass and on beach. Within Ireland and other European countries weather-induced indoor ultimate is played for half of the year.

Another major element of the game is the reliance on fair play and good sportsmanship by all of its players, as matches are self-officiated. The absence of referees ensures that all players learn and abide by the rules of the game, call their own fouls and dispute a foul call between themselves if there is genuine opposition to a call. This mentality is referred to as the ‘Spirit of the Game,’ and according to World Flying Disc Association (WFDF), the governing body for the sport of ultimate, “highly competitive play is encouraged but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play.” Spirit is highly unique to ultimate and is what distinguishes it from all other sports. It is a prime example of putting responsibility on players to ensure that the team that wins the game is most deserv-

ing, without taking away from the athleticism and competition. Teams are awarded spirit scores by their opponents at the end of every game to highlight any issues a team may be having and to reinforce selfofficiating. Spirit also means each player has two roles to play, making sure to call fouls as they happen while also trying to score points. Of course, to a non-ultimate player looking in, the system may seem too far-fetched from the normal operation of sport. There has been much debate regarding the current system within the ultimate community around the world. Although Spirit may be ideal at university level, with an increase in competitiveness at larger tournaments, the lack of players’ integrity and teams taking advantage of the system in an attempt at winning can easily spoil a game. There is also the issue of spirit with the growth of the sport. The International Olympic Committee recognized ultimate in 2015 and it could one day become an Olympic sport. But does this pillar of ultimate need to change to increase interest and professionalism when on the world stage? Some moves in this direction have been made with the addition of official observers at world championships and US nationals who act as mediators for disputes on the field to keep the game in flow. You could argue, however, that the whole concept of spirit completely embodies the Olympic ideal. Ultimate would potentially be the only team sport fully representing the Olympic ethos. Trinity Ultimate engages fully with the spirit aspect of the sport and even elected a Spirit Officer to their committee for the first time this year. It gives the club a USP that is interesting enough to retain Fresher sign-ups but is also a reason why people fully commit to the sport. Not only does

it ensure that beginners understand the rules of the game early on, but it puts a level of accountability on other more experienced players. At Trinity Ultimate, all players are expected to help in developing newer members while also being responsible for their own progression. This transcends the entire atmosphere surrounding the club. There is always a genuinely warm, friendly, welcoming tone to training sessions and club events. There is a balance of competitive play and socializing that Trinity Ultimate effortlessly provides. Socials can range from a quiet movie night after training to notorious fancy-dress house parties that go on until early morning. The inclusivity and care that the club has for its players was obvious this past mental health week. In conjunction with the SU, Trinity Ultimate held two events and released a Snapchat and Instagram story campaign highlighting the issues of mental health in sport and encouraging other college teams to speak to their members about it. Ultimate frisbee being ‘unknown’ doesn’t make it any less of a skillful and competitive sport. If anything it makes it more so. Each player taking part is contributing to its advancement and striving towards recognition from official sporting bodies with limited resources and a relatively small Irish ultimate community. With the possibility of a very successful year for DUUFC and the progression of Ireland’s national teams, ultimate might not be a secret for much longer.

DUFC fall to league champions Cork Constitution The Trinity men’s rugby team failed to make it three wins in a row with a 28-3 loss Michael Foley Editor

UFC FELL TO C U R R E N T ULSTER BANK L E A G U E champions Cork Constitution today in College park, failing to make it three wins on the bounce after beating Young Munster and Buccaneers in their last two league outings. Field position proved crucial, as Cork Con — who were trying to avoid their third loss in a row — spent prolonged periods camped in DUFC territory. An early injury to DUFC Number 10 James Fennelly, an excellent touch-finder, allowed Cork Con to claw their way up the field through an, at times, dominant maul — with fewer relieving kicks from DUFC, due to Fennelly’s absence, to push them back. Cork Con raced to a 14-0 lead after just 16 minutes as their powerful maul caused havoc. Trinity responded with their backline as winger Hugh Connors and full-back Michael Silvester fielded kicks and weaved their way up the pitch with blistering pace. In the 20th minute, DUFC had a line break and a try looked on the cards, but an interception ended the attack. A few minutes later however DUFC were able to put some points on the board as they forced themselves inside the Cork Con 22. After winning a penalty in front of the posts DUFC decided to take a kick at goal, making the score 14-3 as Christian Byrne chipped the ball over with ease. It only took five minutes for Cork Con to add another try to their tally however as their number 12 carried over from an attack launched once again by their powerful maul.

Photo Credit: Michael Foley/ Trinity News

Tomás Quinlan converted for Cork Con making it 21-3 and leaving DUFC with a mountain to climb. DUFC refused to give in hoping to at least get within bonus point range. They defended ferociously as Cork Con attacked looking for a fourth try to secure a bonus point for themselves. A crucial turnover by DUFC lock Jack Burke set up a counter-attack but DUFC couldn’t finish leaving them with an 18 point

deficit at half-time. The second half was much more even with Trinity edging the field position as their backs took advantage of the spaces which began to open up as fatigue set in. They simply couldn’t get the ball over the line however as a stout Cork Con defence gave up a number of penalties but refused to allow a try. While DUFC failed to add to their score tally and allowed a

bonus point try in the last 10 minutes as Cork Con scored in the corner — leaving the score 28-3 at the final whistle — they matched their opponents in the second half and had they started the match with the same level of play the result could have been a lot different.

performance to get back to winning ways.

With an important fixture next Friday night against St. Mary’s College in Templeville Road, DUFC Director of Rugby Tony Smeeth, will look to build on today’s

Cork Con

Trinity