Trinity News, Vol. 67, Issue 4

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Sailing Sports Scholar stays competetive

Students living in the eye of Europe’s storm

LIFE pullout

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TRINITY NEWS

Ireland’s Oldest Student Newspaper

ESTABLISHED 1953

Vol. 67, Issue. 4

College yet to make firm decision on next year’s Trinity Ball Audrey Brown

Deputy News Editor

N Likely lineup

Doyle’s profile on the Trinity website notes that she “has always taken a strong role in promoting women in Engineering & Computer Science”, stating that she has been involved in a number of initiatives promoting the involvement of women in science such as Girls in Tech, Teen Turn, and HerStory.

She is currently a member of the National Broadband Steering Committee in Ireland, and is Chair of the Ofcom Spectrum Advisory

O FIRM DECISION has yet been taken by College on the fate of next year’s Trinity Ball.

It is understood that College has not yet made a decisive choice on whether Trinity Ball will take place in 2021.

A meeting of the College Capititations Committee last week was told that there is no decision “at the moment” on whether the Ball will go ahead.

Usually taking place in April, Trinity Ball 2020 was cancelled in response to government restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Students were refunded for their purchase of tickets after the government officially restricted the organisation of large gatherings past the date scheduled for the event.

The Capitations Committee heard that the Trinity Ball committee intends to keep planning towards the holding of a ball in the knowledge that future Covid-19 restrictions must be observed.

It is hoped by College that the ball will take place, but it is not certain whether it will.

The Trinity Ball committee has met and discussed the terms of reference for the committee into the future.

The Trinity Ball committee’s role relates to the formation of contracts between College and

Continued on page 2>>

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Three women among Trinity’s top academics - Professors Linda Doyle, Linda Hogan, and Jane Ohlmeyer - have confirmed their intention to put their names forward in the race to be Trinity’s next provost.

Provost election: Doyle, Hogan and Ohlmeyer to apply for candidacy Finn Purdy and Lauren Boland

Deputy Editor and Editor

T

HREE OF TRINITY’S TOP ACADEMICS are known to have decided to apply to be candidates in the election for College’s next provost.

Professors Linda Doyle, Linda Hogan, and Jane Ohlmeyer have confirmed to Trinity News their intention to apply to run for the

role of provost.

Potential candidates for the position have until December 4 to submit their applications for consideration.

Interviews will take place after the application closing date in December and January, and are to be carried out by an interview committee chaired by Professor Rose Anne Kenny.

Following the interviews, a list of candidates will be forwarded to the Steering Committee who will then invite these candidates to seek 12 nominations from the

electorate in order to have their names on the ballot.

In Trinity’s over 400 year history, the role of provost has exclusively been held by men.

Professor Linda Doyle, one of the three currently known to be putting her name forward, was until recently Trinity’s Dean of Research, a role that she held since January of 2018.

She is Professor of Engineering & the Arts, Computer Science and was the founding Director of the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) research centre CONNECT.

Accounts: TCDSU faces financial struggle as union returns to deficit

page 4>>

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

In this issue News

TCDSU records deficit of nearly €50,000 amid “negative effect” of Covid-19 - page 4

Features

“There’s no going back”: Trinity staff staring down dictatorship in Belarus - page 12

Comment

Students want clarity, not false home or optimism -page 19

SciTech

European Researchers’ Night at Trinity brings research into public eye page 23

Sport

The dark side of social media fitness culture - page 29

TRINITY NEWS EDITORIAL STAFF Editor Deputy Editor Assistant Editor Online Editor Deputy Online Editor Life Editor Deputy Life Editor

Lauren Boland Finn Purdy Jack Kennedy Lisa Jean O’Reilly Saba Malik Maeve Harris Heather Bruton

News Editor News Analysis Editor News Analysis Editor Features Editor Comment Editor Gaeilge Editor Scitech Editor Sport Editor

Shannon Connolly Patrick Coyle Kate Glen Olivia Flaherty-Lovy Dearbháil Kent Gráinne Caulfield Lucy Fitzsimmons Shannon McGreevy

Photo Editor Video Editor Video Editor Art Editor Social Media Editor Head Copyeditor

Vicky Salganik Melanie O’Donnell Kallum Linnie Márta Menta Czinkóczky Brigit Hirsch Ciara Olden

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Provost Election: Doyle, Hogan and Ohlmeyer to apply for candidacy >>Continued from front page Board in the UK. Professor Linda Hogan is a former Vice Provost of Trinity and currently holds the role of Professor of Ecumenics.

She spent five years as Vice Provost and Chief Academic Officer, with her Trinity profile stating that she “coordinated strategic planning, and had responsibility for the direction and quality of research, undergraduate and postgraduate education and the student experience”.

Her research interests are primarily in the areas of intercultural and inter-religious ethics, social and political ethics, human rights and gender.

Hogan has been a member of the Irish Council for Bioethics and has been a Board member of the Coombe Hospital, Science Gallery and Marino Institute of Education.

She has also done consultancy work for a number of national and international organisations, helping them to develop “ethical infrastructures”.

In 2013 it was reported by multiple media outlets that Hogan had been nominated for the role of cardinal within the Catholic church, having been put forward

by Professor of Moral Theology at Boston College, Fr James Keenan SJ. Had she been appointed, she would have become the church’s first female cardinal.

Professor Jane Ohlmeyer is the Erasmus Smith’s Professor of Modern History and has run for the position of provost once before, coming in second to the current provost, Patrick Prendergast, in the 2011 election for the role.

Ohlmeyer is the current chair of

the Irish Research Council, a role she has held since 2015. She was president of the Irish Historical Society from 2003 to 2005, and College’s vice-provost for global relations from 2011 to 2014.

She has served as a trustee of the National Library of Scotland and the Caledonian Research Foundation, was a member of the Council of the Royal Historical Society, President of the Irish Historical Society, and was a nonexecutive director of the Sunday Business Post.

In her 2011 campaign Ohlmeyer argued that Trinity needed greater financial autonomy from the government and private funding.

The term of office for the current provost, Patrick Prendergast, expires at the end of this academic year on 31 July 2021.

The election will take place on Saturday, 10 April 2021.

The name of the elected candidate will go to Board for approval and the new Provost will take up office on 1 August 2021.

The provost is College’s chief officer and is responsible for academic, administrative, financial and personnel affairs.

They chair several governing bodies within Trinity, including Board, University Council, and the Finance Committee.

Additional reporting by Jack Kennedy, Shannon Connolly, Audrey Brown, Kate Glen, and Patrick Coyle.

Trinity News’ coverage of the application process for provost will be updated as more applicants emerge. Prospective applicants can contact Trinity News at news@ trinitynews.ie.

No decision on Trinity Ball >>Continued from front page various agents and artists, and the uncertainty of government restrictions over holding the event this spring caused more difficulty in its organisation than usual.

The situation with Trinity Ball in 2020 was described as “very sensitive” in that the committee had already begun securing contracts, so College could not say that the ball had been cancelled until the government said that events could not go ahead.

This year’s Trinity Ball, which was due to be held on April 14, was officially cancelled on March 24 after the government announced that all colleges would remain closed until April 19.

Speaking to Trinity News, then-Trinity College Dubin Students’ Union (TCDSU) Ents Officer Judith Robinson said that

“following the announcement made by the Taoiseach this afternoon it is clear now that Trinity Ball will be unable to go ahead”.

“I am very saddened by this as we had such a fantastic line up and a huge amount of work has been put in to prepare for the ball.”

Schools, colleges and childcare facilities initially closed around Ireland on March 12, with an initial two week closure extended for several months as Covid-19 restrictions continued.

Trinity Ball 2020 would have been headlined by Tinie Tempah, who was booked to perform Other acts included Irish rapper Rejjie Snow and British DJ Eats Everything, Cooks but We’re Chefs, Lyra, Franc Moody, Moncrief, Maliki and Holly Lester.

Analys Provos be hist While there are still months to wait before official candidates are chosen, the news that three women intend to run is significant

O

n 31 July 2021, Provost Patrick Prendergast’s ten-year term is set to end. The confirmation to Trinity News that Professors Linda Doyle, Linda Hogan, and Jane Ohlmeyer intend to apply to run for Provost drew interest because in the 428 years of Trinity’s history, and over the forty-three provosts that these years have seen, there has never been a female provost.

Indeed, Professor Kirsten Mey’s appointment as Interim President at the University of Limerick earlier this year led to national headlines about her status as the first ever woman to be president of an Irish university.

However, it is important to note that the professors are not technically in the race yet. Instead, they are applying to join it. The election for Trinity’s next provost will take place on Sunday 10 April 2021. The formal campaign period for the election will run from 5 February 2021 to 7 April 2021. Before the campaign can begin there is a selection process to determine who will be able to campaign for the position. Linda Doyle, Linda Hogan, and Jane Ohlmeyer have confirmed that they are planning to submit their

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

sis: The 2021 st elections could toric for Trinity Kate Glen News Analysis Editor application to run for Provost by the closing date of 4 December 2020. More applicants could emerge from within Trinity although many senior academics have confirmed to Trinity News that they do not intend to run - and external candidates can also be expected. After this date, applicants will enter the interview stage of the election process.

The Interview Committee will be chaired by a senior academic, with the interviewing process taking place between January and February. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate that they have significant academic standing, evidence of their capacity to manage and administrate an educational institution, leadership skills and their ability to represent College on the national and international level. The Interview Committee will forward their approved candidates to the Steering Committee, who will ask candidates to secure nominations from the electorate.

Once they have gathered twelve nominations, their name will appear on the ballot, after which

the campaigning process will begin. The winning candidate will be elected in April, after which their name will go to Board for approval and, if approved, they will take up the position of Provost on 1 August 2021. Their ten-year term spans from August 2021 until 31 July 2031.

The electorate is limited to full-time academic staff who have been working in Trinity since before 10 April 2020. Some part-time staff as well as elected members of the Board and the University Council are also eligible to vote. In total, there are ten student representatives in the electorate. Trinity College Students’ Union (TCDSU) holds a vote to decide who the SU members who sit on Board will vote for. The draft electoral list is set to be published on 7 December 2020, however there is an appeals process for those who believe they should be part of the electorate to register their concerns. The final electoral list is set to be published on 14 January 2021.

Although more candidates will likely emerge, the news that three women have announced their

Left to right: Professor Linda Doyle, Professor Linda Hogan, Professor Jane Ohlmeyer

intention to run is still significant.

Jane Ohlmeyer ran in the 2011 Provost election, and came second to Patrick Prendergast who won by 70 votes. Ohlmeyer was the only woman of the six candidates to make it to the campaign stage.

Similarly, in the previous election race in 2001, of the five candidates who ran, Professor Frances Ruane was the only woman.

A 2018 report found that only 24% of professorships in Irish universities are held by women, despite more than 51% of lecturers in the university sector being female. Following this report, then Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor announced in January 2020 that twenty professorships for women would be established this year.

With the increased emphasis on the need for women to be in leadership roles in higher education, the fact that Professors Linda Doyle, Linda Hogan, and Jane Ohlmeyer have announced that they plan to apply to run for provost indicates this could be a historic election for Trinity.

Although there are still months to wait before the official candidates are chosen, the infamous words of Reverend George Salmon (Trinity’s Provost from 1888 to 1904) come to mind: “Over my dead body will women enter the College.” It is possible that by the end of 2021 women will not only be in the College, but a woman will be running it.

Academic Senate to merge with education committee TCDSU Education Officer Megan O’Connor has decided against reviving the Academic Senate this year Shannon Connolly News Editor

T

RINITY COLLEGE Dublin’s Students’ Union (TCDSU)’s Education Officer Megan O’Connor has decided not to revive the Academic Senate, after it was originally put on hold for a year in 2019 by the previous Education Officer Niamh McCay. McCay originally cancelled the Academic Senate last year, reporting that following a twoyear trial period, the Academic Senate was to take a break from its role as a forum for students to discuss academic affairs within College Speaking to Trinity News, current Education Officer Megan O’Connor stated that she has made the decision not to renew the senate, “after consulting with previous education officers, members of the academic, senators and current members of the union”.

“I concluded that it would be more appropriate to merge the responsibilities of the Senate with those of the existing Education Committee,” O’Connor explained. “To achieve this, I also proposed to increase the size of the education committee so that the same principle of crosscollege representation could be maintained.”

The Academic Senate was introduced in 2017 by Dale Whelehan, half way through his term as Education Officer. It ran for a trial period of two full years during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 academic years.

Following its trial period, it was up to previous Education Officer Niamh McCay to either make the Academic Senate a permanent fixture by enshrining it in the union’s constitution, or to scrap it.

Speaking to Trinity News at the time, McCay explained that she opted for a “third option”, deciding

to “give it a break” this year, with the intention of facilitating its return next year.

Explaining to Trinity News about her decision not to renew the senate this year, O’Connor stated that “it’s something I have given a lot of thought to and as it was an item on my manifesto, I did not take the decision lightly”.

“I sat on the Academic Senate as a student for the two year period it ran,” O’Connor continued. “The spirit behind the formation of the Academic Senate was wonderful and aimed to improve efficiency within the SU and develop a more consultative approach to academic issues.”

“I believe that the concept of having a body within the Union solely to work on academic issues is important and for this reason, I proposed a motion to First Council to expand the Education Committee.”

The new committee will include the Education Officer, Faculty Convenors, Deputy Faculty Convenors, Programme Convenors, Student Representative on the Undergraduate Studies Committee, Student Representative participating in professional placement or internship for credit, Student Representative who has wet lab-based learning, Student Representative who is registered with the Disability Service, Student Representative who has gone on or is currently on Erasmus or similar exchange and Four Ordinary Members.

O’Connor explained: “This committee will work on academic policy and work towards improving students educational experience in Trinity, merging the responsibility of the Academic Senate and the existing committee.”

Duties will include discussing union policy on education and to develop and propose new policy relating to education to Council, to advise and assist the Union Forum in the planning of campaigns relevant to the role of the Education Officer and to develop union strategy for academic issues, discussed or to be discussed on at a School, Faculty or College level.

O’Connor concluded: “I hope to strengthen the existing structures we have by working closely with the Faculty Convenors to ensure we deal with local issues, as appropriate, at a local level and that the more complex and widespread issues are dealt with by the Education Committee and Council.”

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

TCDSU records deficit of nearly €50,000 amid “negative effect” of Covid-19 The union will be €63,091 using its reserves to maintain its operations Lauren Boland Editor

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RINITY COLLEGE Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) has recorded a deficit of nearly €50,000 in the financial year ending June 2020, with Covid-19 bringing a “very negative effect” to the union’s commercial operations.

TCDSU will be using its reserves over the next year to maintain its operations.

The union’s excess of expenditure over income for the 2019/2020 year was €49,803.

Last year, TCDSU recorded its first surplus for the first time in four years, with an excess income of €35,522.

However, the union has returned to a deficit this year with a large drop in income from its commercial operations.

In a statement accompanying the accounts, TCDSU has said that its accounts “reflect the very negative financial situation that the closure, due to Covid, had had across all activities, especially in the SU shops”.

“The Union’s successes in the past decade have been built on achieving a surplus and then spending this on student services,” TCDSU said.

“This will not be possible during this Covid period and the SU will be using its reserves to maintain its operations. The SU will, of course, endeavour to maintain its structures and expenditure on student representation.”

Gross income for the union from from Ents events held this year (2019/20)

€238,174

Gross income for the union from Ents events from the previous year (2018/19)

In particular, gross income from Ents has taken a significant hit, dropping from €238,174 in 2019 to €63,091 in 2020.

Ents expenses also dropped dramatically from €211,832 to €54,127.

TCDSU said that “Ents events continued to be well received and supported, and a surplus €8,864 was recorded”.

“The surplus on student services fell slightly from €156,901 to €122,964,” the union said.

“All other Income and Expenditure accounts were on budget or reflected the reduction in activity caused by the Covid lockdown.”

“The SU maintained its significant expenditure on Welfare, Publications (including the University Times, website and Student Diary) and also on Executive Expenditure (Class Representative training), it was anticipated the Students Union would continue this expenditure.”

The union’s shops in House 6 and the Hamilton both operated at a loss.

The Hamilton shop made a net loss of €20,207, compared to a net loss of €3,647 the previous year, while the shop in House 6 made a net loss of €46,265 compared to a profit of €23,891 in 2019.

TCDSU said that the results for the shops “reflect the impossible position of ‘operating’ without any income and with overhead only reduced by a limited amount”.

“The shops will be applying for relief on rental and services charges payments during the Covid period.”

The SU Café returned a deficit of €1,539, compared to a surplus of €979 last year.

“The café has been in decline for many years with turnover shrinking for many years,” the union said.

Expenditure on Officer Expenses and Freshers’ Week rose in 2019/2020 compared to the previous year.

Most items of expenditure saw a decrease from the previous year, including expenses on Officers Salaries, Staff Salaries, Ents, Student Services, Welfare, Elections, Publications, Office Equipment and Maintenance, Council and Executive, the SU Café, and Refresh.

Publication expenses, which include publications such as the University Times, the union’s website, and the student diary, decreases from €33,132 to €30,738.

However, the union’s overall reduced expenditure, from €1,183,084 to €934,799, did not offset its loss of income.

In addition to decreased income from the union’s shops, café and Ents, income from Student Services fell from €499,710 to €437,891.

Income from the Click store dropped from €34,904 to €30,907, and guidebook and advertising income was slightly lower, falling from €35,283 to €34,039.

The union’s Capitation Grant, which is paid to the union annually by College’s Capitations Committee and is funded from students’ fees, increased from €326,650 to €339,680.

Left to right: Former TCDSU President Laura Beston (2019/2020) and current TCDSU President Eoin Hand

Analysis: TCDSU deficit signals a return to financial uncertainty Patrick Coyle News Analysis Editor

L

ast week’s report that Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) has recorded a deficit of almost €50,000 has not come as a surprise. With most students off campus for the final months of the 2019/20 year, income streams such as the SU shops were bound to suffer. The closure of College due to Covid-19 has placed the union back in a state of financial uncertainty, following an optimistic report last year. The Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) and Central Societies Committee (CSC) have been able to weather the storm due to their lower reliance on on campus activity to generate income.

Despite unprecedented circumstances, this is not the most dramatic deficit the union has recorded in recent years. In the 2017/18 year it reported a deficit of 70,622. Described as “extraordinary” by then TCDSU President Shane De Rís, this loss was attributed to a number of factors. The Repeal the 8th and Take Back Trinity campaigns combined to dramatically increase the SU’s campaigns spending to just under €45,000.

Refurbishment work on the SU shop in the Hamilton building cost a further €17,589, while both of the SU shops suffered losses in income from closures due to Hurricane Ophelia and the March snowstorm. While the loss in 2018 was exacerbated by extraordinary circumstances, it marked the third successive deficit for the SU. This led to fears of an audit of the SU’s finances. De Rís said at the time that an audit could pose an “extreme risk” to TCDSU’s financial independence. Though this year’s deficit is sizeable, it is unlikely that any audit will take place, as the reason for the deficit is clear.

After three years of deficit, last year’s financial report represented a step in the right direction with the SU recording a surplus of €32,522. This was largely attributed to an increase to the capitation grant from College, a rise in “click income” from online advertising, and increased Ents income. This surplus will have given TCDSU a boost that will somewhat ease the impact of this year’s deficit.

Whereas 2018’s deficit was followed by a significant surplus, next year’s report is unlikely to represent such an improvement.

With this year’s report accounting

for the year ending June 2020, only the initial three months of college closure are represented.

There has been no indication from College that there will be a large scale return to campus before June 2021, meaning Covid measures will have affected the SU’s finances for the duration of the financial year.

The SU’s expenditure this year did not fall significantly in relation to its income. In an effort to lower expenditure the SU shops are planning to apply for relief on rental and service charges. The SU’s report says that it will be able to “absorb the shock and losses” brought on by the pandemic. However, it is unclear how long TCDSU will be able to continue operating at a loss as Covid-19 closures roll over into next year. The Treasurer’s report following the 2018 deficit warned that changes had to be made to the way the SU’s finances are operated, saying: “The SU can sustain a loss making situation for one or two more years. It must use this time to get a grip on its finances.”

The GSU has weathered the storm of Covid-19, largely due to its having a greater reliance on external sponsorship funding than the SU. Where the SU lost money from on campus income sources such as the shops, the GSU’s increased sponsorship revenue has allowed it to survive.

The CSC’s first surplus in four years seems to indicate that they have benefited financially from that which caused the SU to suffer. With students off campus, expenditure on societies dropped massively. The closure of campus appears to have represented an opportunity for the CSC to save money this year. However, with a drop off in signups at this year’s online freshers’ fair, it is not certain the financial benefits of a closed campus will last through 2020/21.

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

Hist and Phil highest spenders among societies Many societies within the CSC recorded significantly lower spending in the 2019/20 financial year Audrey Brown

Deputy News Editor

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HE COLLEGE Historical Society (the Hist) and Philosophical Society (the Phil) have been revealed as the biggest spenders among Trinity societies in the previous academic year, according to a report released by The Central Societies Committee (CSC) detailing expenditures from each society in Trinity in the 2019/2020 year.

The Hist spent the most, at €12,651, followed closely by the Phil who spent €12,530.

The next five highest society spenders were DU Players at €6,736, Trinity Arts Festival

spending €5,029, Trinity Biological Society at €4,300, the College Dance Society at €3,892 and Trinity Orchestra, spending €3,270 in the last financial year.

Several societies were recorded as having cost no deficit to the CSC, in contrast to the 2018/2019 financial year, when they reported significant spending.

Among these were the Animation Society, Arabesque Society, Entrepreneurial Society, Italian Society, Student 2 Student (S2S), and the Workers’ Party.

The Trinity International Society reported no spending last year in comparison to €2,400 spent in the previous academic year.

Similarly, the Politics Society spent €1,320 in the 2018/2019 year, the Psychology Society spent €1,670; and Trinity Singers €2,702, while they were recorded as having spent no money in 2019/2020.

Before the abrupt conclusion of the 2020 Hilary term in response to government shutdowns following Covid-19, events such as the College Philosophical Society (Phil) Ball, the Historical Society’s 250th anniversary celebration, the Winter Showcase hosted by the Musical Theatre, Music, Dance, Singers and Cancer Societies, and the DU Players’ Glitter Festival were held.

CSC reports surplus for first time in three years The committee, which governs College’s societies, had a surplus of €8,312 this year, compared to a €25,090 deficit last year Shannon Connolly News Editor

T

HE CENTRAL Societies’ Committee (CSC) has returned an overall surplus last year, compared to a €25,000 deficit in last year’s expenditure report.

The committee, which governs College’s societies, had a surplus of €8,312 for the year ended 31 August 2020, compared to a €25,090 deficit the year before.

The CSC’s assets were also considerably larger this year, totalling €338,739, some €8,000 more than in last year’s accounts.

€12,651

The amount spent by the Hist, Trinity’s biggest spendier among societies

Four

The number of socieites who spent over €5,000 last year

€185,127 Overall expendature by the CSC on societies this year.

This is mostly due to the surplus in income over expenditure this year.

Due to Covid-19, the CSC had to cancel their annual dinner for members. However, before the outbreak of the virus, there were several events held by member societies during the year, such

GSU records surplus for fourth consecutive year The GSU has reported a surplus for the academic year 2019/20, despite TCDSU reporting a deficit of nearly €50,000 for the same year

Shannon Connolly News Editor

T

HE GRADUATE S T U D E N T S ’ UNION (GSU) HAS REPORTED a surplus for the year 2019/20, despite the financial implications caused by Covid-19.

The GSU has maintained a surplus of €2,861 this year,

compared to a €1,545 the year before.

Trinity College Dublin’s Students Union (TCDSU) reversely reported a deficit of nearly €50,000 for the same academic period, having to make provisions for the outbreak of the virus back in March.

The GSU has returned a surplus every year since 2016.

Speaking to Trinity News, the union claimed that their financial position is due to “substantial increased sponsorship revenue”, which was raised by the former Vice President and current President of the GSU Gisèle Scanlon.

The GSU developed a number of commercial partnerships in 2019/20, which the union claimed was “incredibly important” considering “the limited amount of funding the Graduate Students’ Union receives via existing funding structures”.

Scanlon stated: “I pressed for

€2,861

The surplus income recorded bu the Graduate Students Union (GSU) this year.

€3,807

The amount the GSU spent adapting their election procedure for during the pandemic

multi-year agreements in 2019/20 from sponsors which allowed the GSU to be able to forecast financial income in the future and this took us through the difficult months of the summer where external funding dried up because of the impact of Covid-19.”

“I’m working on a long-term strategy for the union to secure

our financial future which will be outlined in the 2020-25 GSU strategic plan published in the Spring”, she explained. “I’d like to ensure that the financial model helps us sustain growth.”

The GSU Treasurer’s report for the academic year 2019/20 showed that the income of the GSU increased by almost 17%, where expenses increased by approximately 16%. The union stated that the increase in income can be “directly attributed to the GSU Vice President’s vigorous targeting of external commercial opportunities which were then mainly dedicated to cover the increase of expenses for Events and Elections which arose due to pandemic”.

An increase in events-related expenses was also reported by the union to a total of €3,906 over the prior year. Decreased publications expenses of €1,867 were also reported, “reflecting the communication strategy with a

as the Historical (Hist) Society’s 250th anniversary and DU Players’ Glitter Festival. The CSC did hold a 50th anniversary dinner in the Dining Hall.

The Hist had the biggest expenditure of any society last year, with an overall expenditure of €12,651. This was followed by the Philosophical Society (the Phil) at €12,530, and DU Players at €6,736.

Overall expenditure on societies during the year amounted to €185,127, compared to €221,874 the year before.

The committee also spent around €2777 funding Freshers’ Week, and an additional €7725 funding Fourth Week. The CSC also spent €25,000 contributing towards the Student Centre Project.

Overall, the CSC had a €76,683 increase in cash during the year.

In September, Ryan Grunwell was elected chair of the Central Societies Committee (CSC) at the committee’s annual general meeting, which took place six months later than in a usual year.

The CSC is one of College’s five capitated bodies that receives funding from the Capitations Committee, and is responsible for allocating funding to Trinity’s student societies.

focus on targeted online resources”.

An increase in election expenses of €3,807 was reported, with the union claiming this is “because of a change in election process due to pandemic”.

In a forecast for the upcoming financial year, the union stated that it is “the view of the GSU Sabbatical Officers, Treasurer and external Auditor, that the Graduate Students’ Union is operating as efficiently as possible and has given a true and fair view of the state of the Union’s affairs as of 31 August 2020”.

“The Graduate Students’ Union is in a healthy financial position again and has increased its net surplus which is up slightly on the previous year,” the statement added.

Due to Covid-19, the GSU had to cancel their annual GSU Ball, as well as change their voting systems to take place online.

In May 2020, former Vice President Gisèle Scanlon was elected President of the GSU. The GSU is one of College’s five capitated bodies that receives funding from the Capitations Committee, alongside Trinity College Dublin’s Students’ Union (TCDSU), the Central Societies Committee (CSC), Trinity Publications, and Dublin University Central Athletic Club (DUCAC).

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Zoology students fear Midlands and Midwest to expect newly loss of Dublin Zoo as established Technological University Audrey Brown “valuable resource” Deputy News Editor

Dublin Zoo had lost drastic amounts of revenue due to restrictions on tourism Audrey Brown

Deputy News Editor

S

EVERAL TRINITY ZOOLOGY and natural sciences students have expressed dismay following a social media announcement from Dublin Zoo that the future of the zoo is “uncertain” due to financial pressures caused by the pandemic.

The zoo has lost an estimated €8 million in the time that they were forced to close their doors to the public in light of Covid-19 restrictions.

Since announcing the “devastating impact” of this loss in funds, the zoo outlined several measures that the public could take to support the zoo, including making donations and “adopting” endangered animals.

Speaking to Trinity News, Cian Lynch, a fourth-year zoology student in Trinity, says his “heart dropped” upon seeing the news of the fundraising campaign, and he was immediately motivated to help.

“The welfare of the zoo never even crossed my mind during the pandemic, so it was quite a shock that morning,” he reported.

For students in Trinity, Lynch said, “the zoo is such a valuable resource for natural science students”.

Fellow fourth-year and OCM of DU Zoological Society (ZooSoc) Thomas Green echoed this sentiment by saying that he’d had more than one lab involving a trip to the zoo “to look at animal behaviours and morphology”.

“Being able to observe animals up close is incredibly beneficial for zoology because seeing behaviours is different than reading about them or even watching a video,” he stated.

Green plans to study animal behaviour after graduating from Trinity, and the zoo’s potential closure would have lasting effects on his plans for the future. He explained that “the zoo would give the opportunity for long term but small scope projects that observe the behaviour of captive animals”.

Lynch, too, lamented the lasting impacts that he foresees the loss of the zoo would have on the future, and he noted that it would put “many talented zookeepers and other staff out of work”.

He mentioned that his own interest, and that of many of his peers, was sparked by his childhood experiences at the zoo.

Losing access to many summer camps, educational experiences, and workshops offered to patrons “would potentially cause a declining interest in the natural sciences for young people”.

As both Lynch and Green are in their final year of study, the closure of the zoo wouldn’t have an impact on their study in Trinity specifically, but Green expressed concern that “future students wouldn’t have the opportunity to observe elephants and their communication through physical contact, or the fake eyes on the back of a tiger’s ears and learn about the numerous adaptations that animals have to protect themselves or dorm relationships”.

After hearing about the struggling zoo, Lynch was motivated to do what he could to help. He posted on Facebook the same morning a link to a GoFundMe he had created alongside the statement that “Dublin Zoo is a wonderful resource for not only natural science students, but for all those who appreciate the natural world”.

“Only 7 minutes after I made the campaign, someone donated €50.

They were a complete stranger to me and I was so inspired by their generous donation that I decided to keep going,” he reported.

He plans to organise events in tandem with DU ZooSoc in order to raise awareness and funds for this campaign.

Additionally, he stated that he has “been in contact with Dublin Zoo about the campaign and they are fully behind it, and [he] will be keeping them up to date with how the campaign is going”.

Green concluded by stating that “Dublin Zoo is a great example of a zoo made for animals and not people, and has a large influence on zoos across the globe”.

“The zoo is focused on rewilding and restoring population levels, only taking care of endangered animals etc., and they would have a large impact on restoration ecology and rewilding professionals in the future.”

The zoo’s own campaign has raised over €2 million of its €8 million goal in the days since it announced its difficulties.

Lynch said he has been inspired by statistics provided by the zoo about the impact of donations: “A donation of €25 is enough to feed one of the zoo’s red pandas for a day while €50 will feed a lion for one day, €75 can feed an elephant for a day and €100 will feed a southern white rhinoceros for a week.”

A

T H L O N E INSTITUTE OF Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology are to be re-established as a technological university after their application for such status was accepted by Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris.

The process will see both institutes dissolved and subsequently established as one

university, in line with the 2018 Act proposing that two or more institutes of technology may apply to be granted technological university (TU) status.

Harris welcomed the schools’ application, noting that “This is the third application to be made under TU legislation by a consortium of Institutes of Technology who are seeking to make the step-change to a new type of higher education institution.”

TU Dublin was the first higher education institution to be established in this manner, arising from the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Institute of

Technology Blanchardstown, and Institute of Technology Tallaght.

Its status as a TU was granted on January 1, 2019.

The second TU in Ireland is set to be established on January 1, 2021 when, subject to government approval, Institute of Technology Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology are to be re-established as the Munster Technological University, serving the Southwest of Ireland.

Athlone and Limerick Institutes of Technology currently have a combined student population of roughly 14,000 and staff population of 1,300.

Proposed legislation to reduce size of colleges governing bodies Harris expressed that the new legislation will be proposed next year as governing bodies are “not fit for purpose”.

Shannon Connolly News Editor

M

INISTER FOR Higher and Further Education Simon Harris has confirmed that college governing bodies will be “smaller” and “feature more external members” under new legislation to be published next year.

Harris added that he believes that governing bodies are “not fit for purpose” and that the current system “does not reflect the world we live in”.

This follows Trinity opening submissions on proposals to reshape Trinity’s Board in June, following the publication of a consultation document that outlines significant potential changes to Board’s structure, which could include the reduction of Board members by almost half, the introduction of an external chair, and a decrease in student representatives from four to two, or one.

Under the working group’s proposals, Board would consist of between 11 and 15 members instead of its current 27.

If a 15 or 13 member model is implemented, only two student representatives – Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) President and the Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) President – would sit on Board under the group’s recommendations.

Currently, Governing bodies can have as many as 40 members under the Universities Act. Harris told the Irish Times that he plans to publish legislation early next year to replace the Higher Education Authority Act (1971) and amend the Universities Act to include stronger governance and accountability measures.

The new legislation will “respect the autonomy of the higher education institutions”, but will also give the restructured Higher Education Authority the power to “support and assist institutions if there are governance issues”, he explained.

Currently, four student representatives are members of Trinity’s Board, including the Trinity College Dublin’s Students’ Union (TCDSU) President, Education Officer, and Welfare Officer, and the Graduate’s Students’ Union (GSU) President.

An 11 member model would see just one student representative elected to College Board.

Under the new legislation, the governing bodies would be able to investigate misconduct, where in the past there was limited power to investigate instances where more than €2 billion of public money is spent.

Harris said the aim of the changes was “not to impose sanctions on higher education institutions” but to enable intervention should issues of poor governance emerge.

The changes to Trinity’s governing bodies have been proposed by a Board Review

Working Group established in late 2019 to review the Board’s operation and effectiveness and made available to staff and students through a consultation document published in June.

The Board Review Working Group was established late last year following both a selfevaluation by the Board in 2018 and a government proposal to significantly change the governance of College within two years.

Former Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor originally proposed a change to Trinity governance in September 2019 that would reduce the membership of Board from 27 to 15, which was opposed by academics who felt that College would lose its autonomy under the proposed measures. Fellows warned that the changes could have “grave consequences for the College’s autonomy and identity if the Government’s proposals were to be implemented”, according to the Irish Examiner.

The working group advised in June that it may be advantageous to Board to separate the role of Provost and Chair of the Board, a recommendation which was also made Board’s 2018 self-evaluation process.

The Board’s responsibilities include College’s affairs including “education, scholarship, ethics, discipline, finance, and external relations”.

The Board is currently made up of the Provost, Vice-Provost, Senior Lecturer, Registrar, Bursar, six fellows, five non-fellow members of the academic staff, two professors, three non-academic staff, four students (one of which must be a postgraduate), one non-employee and non-student, and one representative from the Minister of Education.

7

TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

18% of SUSI grant applications rejected Over 100,000 applications for the SUSI grant were received this year Shannon Connolly News Editor

T

HE STUDENT Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) has awarded grants to 75,945 applications for the academic year 2020/21 to date, with a further 18,486 being “refused/cancelled”, Minister Harris has confirmed.

SUSI opened on 23 April 2020

for applications for the 2020/21 academic year with 94,431 (94%) out of the 100,231 applications received having been issued with a decision.

According to Minister Harris, as of November 16, of the remaining 5,800 applications, 3,861 are with students and SUSI is waiting for documentation to be submitted.

1,607 are still with SUSI for assessment and 332 are currently having appeals reviewed.

Harris added: “SUSI has achieved and exceeded all MFA Targets in advance of the agreed date and have sufficient staff to complete the remaining applications.”

In October, Labour Spokesperson on Higher Education Senator Annie Hoey said that students who were

in receipt of the PUP this year were put at a disadvantage in their SUSI applications, as the grant application process did not account for government support payment.

This comes months after the Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI) called for more PUP support, as some students faced financial hardship during the pandemic.

With many students working remotely for this academic year, USI called for support including better WiFi connection and better access to devices for students.

According to a recent report by the Department of Public Expenditure, students from Trinity, University College Dublin (UCD) and the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) are the least likely to receive grant-aid,

with only 5-25% being entitled to receive SUSI grants.

The report showed that over half of students at institutes of technology receive SUSI grants, compared to about one third of students studying in universities.

In July of this year, USI President Lorna Fitzpatrick called for extra financial supports to be made available for students this academic year, through SUSI, the Student Assistance Fund and “other funds that support access”.

The report by the Department of Public Expenditure showed the state is spending around €360 million per year to a total of 77,000 students in further and higher education.

According to the Irish Times, the SUSI income assessment process excludes non-recurring sources of income such as overtime payments and excludes the value of any assets, which is assessed as means in many other government subsidies.

The fields of study with the highest share of grant recipients are arts and humanities, business, administration and law, health and welfare, and natural sciences.

Students’ unions condemn discord leak “This isn’t a onceoff incident, it will remain a systemic problem until we see legal protections for those affected.”

Shannon Connolly News Editor

T

HE UNION OF STUDENTS IN IRELAND (USI) and Trinity College Dublin’s Students’ Union (TCDSU) have condemned the leak of women’s personal images from Discord which occurred last week.

The leak has reportedly affected thousands of Irish women and young girls, who have had personal images leaked online without their consent.

The images, some of which are understood to be of minors, were shared on private online forums.

TCDSU Welfare Officer Leah Keogh spoke to Trinity News condemning the act, stating the union are “both aware of and disgusted” by the online-image based sexual violence (IBSV) that has occurred in the past week.

Keogh continued: “As Welfare and Equality Officer of the Union, I outrightly condemn the viewing

or sharing of said media and do not condone victim-blaming in any way. This is a flagrant violation of privacy and unequivocally nonconsensual.”

“I would like to urge anyone affected to reach out and seek support, you are not alone,” she added.

It is understood that thousands of Irish women have been affected by the leak, with photos from various apps like Snapchat and Tinder being posted on forums without the women’s consent.

Speaking to Trinity News, Philly Holmes, Communications and Marketing Officer in TCDSU, echoed Keogh’s sentiments, urging students that “the SU are here if you need to reach out”.

Holmes added that “the DMs are open” and he’ll be “keeping an eye” on the TCDSU social media channels throughout the weekend to make sure that he can “offer support to those affected in any way I can”.

Holmes continued: “Now is the time to support those victims who are choosing to be vocal on the issue and boost their voices where appropriate, but also we have to respect the victims who are choosing to deal with the issue privately.”

“I also urge everyone to recognise the depth of the issues present and the lack of legal protections available to those worst affected,” Holmes went on. “So many people have been complicit in sharing these images,

Above: TCDSU Welfare Officer Leah Keogh

and so many more have been silently complicit in allowing this treatment of women to become normalised.”

“This isn’t a once-off incident, it will remain a systemic problem until we see legal protections for those affected.”

USI have also condemned the leak, “encouraging the victims involved to use the range of services available if needed at this time or in future”.

USI is calling for legislation to make image-based sexual abuse illegal, to be implemented immediately to protect individuals from such future incidents of non-consensual sharing and publication.

An internet petition is currently circulating online, calling for the government to immediately pass legislation to stop “revenge porn” in Ireland since the incident occurred.

The union is “demanding a commitment from government to tackle this issue”, which has

left “many people vulnerable and damaged as a result”.

“However, legislation is only part of what is needed to tackle this issue; there must be a cultural shift too,” the union continued.

“Victim blaming, shaming and the use of degrading language and ‘slut-shaming’ must stop.”

“Consent extends to the sharing of images and conversations, as well as physical intimacy.

USI will continue to work and campaign with others to embed the importance of consent across our society.”

CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Noeline Blackwell, has said the leak is “shocking”.

Anyone affected by this incident has been urged by TCDSU to contact the Welfare and Equality Officer Leah Keogh or the Student Counselling Services.

Persons affected can also contact Women’s Aid on 1800 341 900, Men’s Aid on 01 554 3811 or the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre on 1800 77 8888.

What they said “Meeting TikTok today.

1,100 new hires this year is very deserving of my first attempt I think! Go easy.”

Leo Varadkar, Tanaiste

“Bloody Sunday 1920 is remembered as one of the most poignant days in Ireland’s struggle for independence. The violence of what happened in Croke Park still has the capacity to shock & move us. 100 years on, we remember the 14 people who lost their lives that day.”

Micheál Martin, Taoiseach “They never thought a Vaccine could be done so soon but don’t worry, they will try to give the credit to Biden!”

Donald J. Trump, US President “To transgender and gender-nonconforming people across America and around the world: from the moment I am sworn in as president, know that my administration will see you, listen to you, and fight for not only your safety but also the dignity and justice you have been denied.”

Joe Biden, US President-elect “I’m bringing a motion to impeach Seamus Woulfe this week with [Bríd Smith]. This is a question of accountability. Through his attendance at the #golfgate dinner and his subsequent behaviour, Séamus Woulfe substantially undermined the public health effort.”

Paul Murphy TD

8

Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Beyond Trinity

Studying from hom The view from outside of a student’s accomodation bedroom window

University College Dublin (UCD) has told students that they can finish the academic year online, even if circumstances change and in-person classes can resume. This happened in conduct with University College Dublin’s Students’ Union (UCDSU), stating that the university will operate predominantly online for the upcoming year and the rest of the academic term. President of UCDSU Connor Anderson said this was necessary to provide “certainty” for students, so they can “stop waiting in hope” for the normal resumption of classes.

This announcement was made in contrast to a government announcement shortly after, which said that the government is pushing to have students in more frequently next term.

PHOTO

BY ELIZA MELLER FOR TRINITY NEWS

Government launches USI urges students once-off Covid to register to vote payment scheme for before November 25 third level students President Lorna The scheme will offer assistance to all EU undergraduate and postgraduate students Kate Henshaw Staff Writer

T

HE GOVERNMENT’S plan to spend €50 million on a once-off Covid payment scheme for third level students was launched last week.

Students who receive the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant will get a €250 top up of their grant payment next month.

Any student who is paying their fees in installments this year can take €250 off their next instalment. Students who are not paying their fees in installments or receiving SUSI grants can put €250 towards on campus services or opt to receive a credit note for their institution.

This scheme aims to provide

financial relief for all EU undergraduate and postgraduate students “in recognition of the significant upheaval they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Speaking about this new scheme Minister Harris recognised the impact of Covid-19 on young people. He also expressed his hope that this payment “can go some way to compensating students for any equipment a student may have had to pay for – such as a desk, chair, or new laptop”.

Speaking about the government announcement, Union of Students in Ireland (USI) President Lorna Fitzpatrick highlighted her concerns that the payment will only be available to EU students.

In a media release, she stated that “Covid-19 does not impact students differently, so it would be unfair if students were treated differently”.

She highlighted the expensive fees that nonEU students are paying to Irish colleges and called for students in all higher education institutions to receive “the same payment”.

Since the introduction of Level 5 restrictions, Trinity campus has remained open for students, along with the libraries. Other student facilities such as the gym remain closed under Level 5.

Fitzpatrick argued that “all citizens should have the right to vote in Seanad Elections” Bonnie Gill

Contributing Writer

T

HE UNION OF Students in Ireland (USI) are encouraging students to register to vote before November 25, the cut-off deadline to make it onto the register of electors for the following year.

The USI advised students to download voter registration forms online and post them to their local office in place of yearly oncampus voter registration drives, which could not go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The statement emphasised that “it is still extremely important that students ensure they get on the register.”

USI president Lorna Fitzpatrick said: “Elections can happen any time and we want to ensure that as many people as possible can vote when the time comes”.

As of now, only those living in Dublin can register to vote online, while those in other parts of the country will have to download an online form and post it to their local county or city council in order to register.

The USI is calling for a reform of the registration process, asking for online registration to be available throughout the entire country.

Lorna Fitzpatrick asserted that “we can do almost everything online now and registering to vote should be no different. We should be making it easy for people to register and encouraging them to use their vote”.

As well as this, the USI is appealing for the right to vote to be extended to those aged 16 and above. As of now, the minimum voting age is 18.

The USI also proposed that registered Irish voters living abroad should be able to vote from the countries they reside in, through Irish embassies or consulates. 115 nations currently facilitate voting in this way.

Fitzpatrick stated that the USI “welcome Senator Malcolm Byrne’s Universities Bill to expand voting rights to graduates of all Higher Education Institutions as a step forward, but we believe the system of graduate voting remains elitist and should be removed. All citizens should have the right to vote in Seanad Elections”.

The Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI) President Lorna Fitzpatrick has said that international students “extravagant” fees despite online learning. In an interview with the Irish Times, Fitzpatrick expressed that a sharp decline in State investment in higher education per student has led to universities becoming over-reliant on student fees as a source of income. She explained that this over-reliance on international students as a form of income for universities there is a “risk in terms of reputation”.

She added: “The reality is that most students are being treated as funders for institutions ... international students should be seen as being at the heart of our education system and encouraged to attend and engage, with benefits for society, the higher education system and the wider economy.”

Ireland’s Health Research Board has awarded researchers from NUI Galway and the University of Wyoming a grant of €199,720 to develop a handheld device for rapid detection of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

It operates in the form of a battery device, in which researchers aim to make again less next year. The device can detect Covid-19 within fifteen minutes. The research effort is led by NUI Galway’s Prof Gerard Wall, who is also based at the SFI medical device research centre Cúram, along with Prof Patrick Johnson and Karen Wawrousek of the University of Wyoming.

Samples are collected from saliva, a nasal swab or blood, and are placed in the handheld device.

9

TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

ICOS declares government rebate scheme “unfair”

Trinity’s Grand Canal Innovation District advances with plans for Innovation Hub The space, projected to be operational by 2022, will provide a “dedicated” space for various entrepreneurs and start-ups Adam Balchin Staff Writer

T

RINITY HAS announced the first phase of its Grand Canal Innovation District (GCID), due for completion in 2022.

The first phase, a proposed Innovation Hub, had its planning application sent in this week, with hopes for a public square and a collaborative space for enterprise and start-ups.

The building of GCID will include an Innovation Hub, with meeting spaces for early start-ups and researching teams for corporations, with a view to activate the innovation community within Dublin. It will also include a new public square

with a café and seating.

An old landmark tower will also be incorporated into the new campus.

The GCID, which received approval by the cabinet earlier this year, will drive the clustering of research institutions, businesses, educational institutions, high growth companies and creative startups in an urban environment.

According to the press release, this mix of “innovative people” will act as a “magnet for research”, with “Trinity acting as the anchor in the centre of the district”.

The development of the GCID is supported by two government grants, namely the Regional Enterprise Development Fund through Enterprise Ireland and the Urban Regeneration Development Fund as part of Project Ireland 2040 Remarking on the announcement, Leo Varadkar, An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise commented: “I welcome today’s announcement that the first phase of the Innovation District will soon be in development.”

Continuing, Mr Varadker outlined: “[When it was approved

by Cabinet], we did so because of the critical role innovation will play in supporting the future of the Irish economy… Covid-19 has challenged our economy and GCID is an example of the kind

of investment that will help our economy recover.”

Welcoming the announcement on behalf of Trinity, Provost Patrick Prendergast remarked: “Dublin already has an extraordinary cluster of tech and life science companies, but we now need to bring those companies closer together to create an enterprise culture that encourages entrepreneurs to create new companies that will either become world players themselves or be the basis for expansion.”

Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland on the support Enterprise Ireland provided for the project said: “The district will provide important collaboration space and opportunities for entrepreneurs… to develop innovative approaches to overcoming global challenges like urban living and climate change.”

In response to this week’s announcement, Gareth Lambe, Vice-President of International Business planning & Operations and Head of Office at Facebook Office exclaimed: “Ireland is an important part of the Facebook story, and the establishment of the GCID is an exciting project which has the potential to further enhance Ireland’s attractiveness as a location for companies to establish and scale their business.”

ICOS have expressed their disappointment in the lack of inclusion of nonEEA students in government onceoff €250 payment to students Julia Bochenek

Contributing Writer

T

HE IRISH COUNCIL for International Students (ICOS) has stated that the exclusion of non-EU students from the €250 payment to students is an “unfair and missed opportunity to include non-EEA international students”.

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins earlier announced a €50 million once-off Covid payment scheme for third level students.

This payment will be available only to EU undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Executive Director of ICOS, Laura Harmon, stated: “It’s highly disappointing that all international students are not included in the €250 rebate scheme announced by

“

Equal relief should be afforded to all those in education, regardless of where they come from

the government today.”

Only students who receive the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant are eligible for the €250 payment, other students may receive €250 off their next installment of their college tuition, or will be offered a “credit note” from their institution.

Harmon continued: “NonEEA students who work parttime, many of whom are in front line roles, were included in the Covid-19 relief payments earlier this year and the same equal relief should be afforded to all those in education, regardless of where they come from.”

International students greatly enhance the student experience for all here, bringing diversity and multiculturalism to the education system,” she went on.

“The experience they have here in Ireland will stay with them for their whole lives and they will act as ambassadors for our education system – they should be treated the same as other students and offered the same support during the pandemic as all other students.”

“Non-EEA International students are feeling the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic as much as their peers and it is important that we stand by them.”

Harmon concluded that while this “a great scheme” and ICOS welcome it for “students who can avail of it”, but that it is “deeply unfair” that some international students have been excluded.

In a statement made yesterday, Union of Students in Ireland (USI) President Lorna Fitzpatrick spoke of similar concerns regarding the lack of availability of the payment for international students.

Fitzpatrick expressed that the union are “very concerned” that non-EU students will not be able to avail of the €250 payment, as they “face huge costs and are getting nothing like the usual student experience in Ireland”.

“Again we feel they are being treated like an income source rather than members of our college communities who bring so much to college life,” Fitzpatrick continued. “It also needs to be ensured that all students are treated the same here and students in all higher education institutions receive the same payment.”

“Covid-19 does not impact students differently, so it would be unfair if students were treated differently.”

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Library introduces bundle of new changes to booking system Students will now only allow students to book up to 25 hours in the Library in any given week Adam Balchin Staff Writer

T

U D E N T S ACCCESSING the study space in the library are now asked to check-in to confirm their booked seat, with failure to do resulting in the booked seat being forfeited.

The new rule has been introduced along with a number of other changes to the way that the library operates under current Covid-19 restrictions.

The changes also include a provision that seats at study spaces are now only available for booking up to a week in advance.

In addition, each student is now allocated a limit of 25 bookable hours a week, covering all of the

PHOTO BY SABA MALIK FOR TRINITY NEWS

libraries.

These changes were implemented from yesterday (Monday November 23).

The changes come as a response to an internal review of the system and student feedback.

The email, sent to all students last week, outlined these changes were being brought in to address two key concerns, those being readers not showing up to take

TAKE A GLOBAL VIEW

their booked seats in the libraries and readers taking vacant seats which they have not booked.

In addition to these changes, from yesterday, Library stewards are now posted at entrances to check student bookings, and also to perform spot checks to ensure seats remain in correct positions and follow public health guidelines.

Checking in will involve the

input of a unique 3 digit code that will come with each confirmation email of a successful seat booking.

This 3 digit code will need to be inputed before an allocated slot, and 15 minutes into a booking.

Failure to check in will result in the seat being forfeited for others to book.

The email announcing the measures encouraged anyone who no longer needs their booked seat

to cancel as early as possible, “out of courtesy to others who may wish to book the seat”.

The Library is also foregoing the introduction of the checkin requirement in the 1937 Postgraduate Reading Room or for bookings in Kinsella Hall during evenings or weekends. These will continue to be managed by the Graduate Student’s Union (GSU).

It was reiterated that seats on Floors 1-3 of the Ussher library (Kinsella Hall after hours) will still need to be booked through the main library system up to 5pm each weekday.

In ensuring the smooth running of the Library’s booking system, the staff ask “that you please consider the needs of your fellow readers”.

The Library encouraged students to only book seats if they intend to use them, and to check for cancellations. They also discourage the occupation of vacant seats if students have not booked them.

Remarking on the library’s capacity, Peter Dudley, Head of Reading Room Services & Space at the College Library stated: “As we approach exams in January, demand for Library seats will inevitably increase. The measures outlined above will help, but the reality is that the Library has lost 80% of its capacity due to social distancing.”

He added: “There may be times when seats are scarce due to high demand. We encourage you to plan ahead and be considerate of your fellow Library readers.”

KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS ONLINE, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE NOT ON CAMPUS.

Free subscription for third level students at irishtimes.com/studentsignup

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

Features

Staring down dictatorship in Belarus Jack Kennedy

page 12

Europe in the eye of the storm - and the students caught in it Anna Sheehan

page 14

Stories of survival: Mick Finnegan

Trinity student Mick Finnegan details his history of sexual abuse, homelessness and mental illness, and how he reclaimed his life Jack Ryan Deputy Features Editor

M

any students have overcome significant challenges to reach their desired field of study in Trinity. But few have faced as many as Mick Finnegan (37), who this year started a four-year undergraduate degree in Philosophy, following a year in the Trinity Access Program.

In his life, Mick endured child sexual abuse while volunteering in St John Ambulance, as well as homelessness and a litany of mental health issues, culiminating in two suicide attempts. His story is one of resilience, and is a testament to the power that love and human connection have to heal us.

Mick grew up in “the flats” in Crumlin, in an area in which “heroin was a massive problem” and which didn’t offer many opportunities to its young people: “I was a messer in school, and my teachers would tell me ‘you’ll end up in Mountjoy like the rest of your family.” Mick says that with his background, criminality was

“

My mind was all over the place at the time, for me that time in my life was about survival

nearly expected, and the idea of him attending university seemed a far-flung notion.

Mick’s grandad was the caretaker of the local community centre in which St John Ambulance would have their weekly meetings.

Mick was 12 when he joined the Ambulance. He loved the uniforms, he loved being a part of the organisation, and he loved the free entry into the RDS and Croke Park. “I bought into it all, and I loved it.” However, during his first two years of service he was being groomed by a senior member of his division of the organisation: “He was grooming me, to sexually abuse me, and ultimatley rape me,” he said. The senior officer would use first aid exercises to have Mick touch him inappropriately. This escalated to Mick being forced to masturbate the man, and, ultimately, to being violently raped.

Mick was left shocked and terrified by what had happened.

He eventually reported the abuse to “a local Guard, who was well-meaning, but he struggled to have a serious conversation around that kind of stuff, and was uncomfortable with it. He did a fantastic job and helped me, but the DPP chose not to prosecute this guy.” Mick faced a wall of denial and disbelief all around him. “Nobody believed me, nobody believed this had happened to me,” he said. A recent Tusla investigation concluded that the allegations made by Finnegan and other victims of the senior member were founded, but the man, now in his 80s, has not been charged to date.

Mick was left traumatised by the abuse he had endured, which contributed to a breakdown in his family home. He left home around age 17 and was homeless on the streets of Dublin for the following four years. Mick was not conscious of what the roots of his mental distress were at this point. “My mind was all over the place at the time, for me that time in my life was about survival.”

Mick says his life consisted of simply getting through each day, and he did this for years on end. “It was hell... it was horrible, I remember people would be coming out of Lillie’s Bordello on Grafton Street late at night, and I’d wake up to them pissing on top of me.” He says his years spent homeless “took their toll” on his body.

After four years, Mick managed to secure a place in a supported housing unit. He was helped by Father Peter McVerry, as well as Howard Russell, a Salvation Army

“

Confronting his past helped free him from the guilt and shame that he had carried with him since childhood worker. He was starting to put the pieces of his life back together.

He moved to London while in his early twenties, to work in homeless services, as he felt Dublin had “too many painful memories” for him. However, his mental state continued to deteriorate in the new city. This deterioration eventually led to what Finnegan describes as a “total breakdown”, when he stood on the side of London Bridge for four hours in a standoff with the Metropolitan Police, shutting down the entire London transit system. The incident was plastered all over the UK media. The police believed Finnegan had a gun, and did not want to approach him, so they called his old friend who had originally helped him off the streets in Dublin, Howard Russell.

Upon seeing Mick in his distressed state on the edge of the bridge, Russell walked out and said to him, “I love you... I don’t want you to jump”.

Mick was visibly emotional when repeating those words. “I never….like…would have heard those words before, that someone cared about me and loved me,” he said. Upon hearing Russell’s plea, Mick broke down crying on the side of the bridge and was brought immediately to hospital.

This marked the beginning of his journey through mental health services in the UK, and to his eventual recovery. He found the combination of medication and therapy that helped him cope with his mental health issues. He realised that confronting his past, in particular the sexual abuse he had endured in St John Ambulance, helped free him from the guilt and shame that he had carried about it since childhood. “Nobody wants to talk about sexual violence, there’s

a lot of shame attached to it, and you feel to a degree as if it’s your fault.” Mick added: “The reason why I had suicidal tendencies was because of the trauma that I was experiencing, because I wasn’t talking about how I felt. I found a real power and healing once I confronted those parts of my past.”

The success Mick has achieved from that point in his life is remarkable, even without regard to the obstacles he has overcome in his life. He is the founder of State of Mind Rugby Union charity that works to improve the mental health of rugby players and rugby communities. Mick has travelled as far as Brazil to develop the game at a grassroots level on behalf of Premiership Rugby. He was appointed a National Advisor at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London, and is a Mental Health Peer Support within the Southern Trust, to help guide mental health policy for addressing the needs of patients similar to himself.

He is also part of the leadership team for the Trinity Ability Coop, a student-run collaborative initiative housed in the disAbility Hub in Printing House Square.

Mick attributes his survival of the darkest days of his life partly to his resilience, which he says he developed while homeless on Dublin streets, when he had to constantly focus on surviving the day, every day. He also credits the kindness of others, and the power

“

I wouldn’t be sitting here today if it wasn’t for the love and kindness of others of human love and connection. “I don’t think we really understand the value of that, as human beings,” he said. “I wouldn’t be sitting here today if it wasn’t for the love and kindness of others. Kindness is key.”

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, support is available from the following services: TCD Student Counselling Service: (01) 8961407 TCDSU Welfare Officer: welfare@tcdsu.org Samaritans: 116 123

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Features

“There’s no going back”: St down dictatorship in Belar A diaspora group is seeking to rally support on Irish campuses for pro-democracy protestors Jack Kennedy Assistant Editor

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any of his own people call A l e x a n d e r Lukashenko “the Cockroach”.

Foreign media outlets frequently refer to him as “Europe’s last dictator”. He freely admits to having “an authoritarian style of rule” and until this year, he was the only person to hold the office of President of the Republic of Belarus since the country’s independence from the Soviet Union. But that may soon change.

His grip on power, seemingly unbreakable for the last 26 years, is suddenly slipping in the face of unprecedented popular resistance.

When Art Balenok and Yuliya Aliakseyeva log onto our Zoom call, there is a white-red-white horizontal striped flag behind Balenok’s desk. The flag, which represented Belarus between 1991 and 1995 and the short-lived Belarussian People’s Republic of 1918-19, has become a symbol of popular resistance to the Lukashenko regime. This year, it’s been most frequently seen flying over crowds of protestors staring down armour-clad Militsiya – the national police force of Belarus.

Balenok, a journalist, and

Aliakseyeva, who works in Trinity’s Buttery restaurant, are part of a Belarusian diaspora group in Ireland that has come together since July to mobilise support for pro-democracy protestors at home. Aliakseyeva estimates there are no more than a thousand Belarusians in total living in Ireland, and “we’re talking about 50, maybe 70 people who are really involved” in the group.

“Most of us didn’t really know each other before August or July,” Balenok says. “What the events of August 9 triggered was a never before seen unification of all Belarusians, within Belarus and outside Belarus”.

He’s referring to Belarus’ most recent presidential election. Since taking office in 1994, Lukashenko has claimed victory in five elections, none of which have been regarded as legitimate and free by international observers. This year was no exception. The voting was marred by violence, blatant electoral fraud, and the arrest of campaigners and independent observers.

The day after the vote, government officials and Belarusian state media announced that the president had won an almost comical 70-point victory over the main opposition candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, on 84% turnout. Tsikhanouskaya was, up until this year, a teacher and an interpreter with no prior experience of advocacy or political ambitions. She entered the race in May after her husband, blogger and activist Siarhei Tsikhanouski, was imprisoned for “organization or preparation for a grave breach of public order.”

Belarus experienced waves of popular protest in both 2011 and 2017, but this year’s numbers have dwarfed any seen before. Estimates

ARTWORK BY ZAHRA LOCETT FOR TRINITY NEWS

Protestors march in Minsk, Belarus on August 16

PHOTO BY Максим Шикунец commons. wikimedia.org

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Everyone knows someone who has been arrested or who is still in prison

of the number of protestors in the streets on the biggest days range from 200,000 to more than half a million, out of a population of just 9.4 million. More than 25,000 people have been arrested, at least six killed, and hundreds injured.

“Everyone, everyone has been affected. People from every social class in the country – factory workers, teachers, doctors, pensioners, students, young people,” says Balenok. “Everyone knows someone who has been arrested or who is still in prison.”

Women’s groups, conservative Christians, social democrats, greens, and anarchists are just some of the factions who make up the opposition. Even small groups of Minsk municipal police officers have laid down their riot shields, refused to follow “criminal orders”, and recognised Tsikhanouskaya as the country’s leader.

Aliakseyeva and Balenok cite two key factors that differentiate this year’s protests from previous movements. The first is simply build-up; the protests in 2011 and 2017 were “so brutally suppressed, so quickly” according to Aliakseyeva, but people’s grievances continued to mount.

“There was not enough critical mass of people” willing to stand in opposition, she says. “But it was all milestones that were leading to today. Everything that was happening at that time was generating momentum that was brought to the election, when it all exploded.”

The second factor is Covid-19.

“The way the government handled the pandemic was atrocious,” says Balenok. Lukashenko made international headlines frequently over the past year for his dismissal

of the pandemic, calling it “psychosis” and suggesting citizens visit the sauna or drink vodka “to poison the virus”. Balenok describes ordinary Belarusian citizens having to raise money to buy protective equipment for healthcare workers as the government refused to take the virus seriously. “It was people in Belarus who made things happen, and I am sure they saved a lot of lives.”

But the election was “the catalyst”, he says. “We always knew that this was happening.

We turned a blind eye. But this year it was just too blatant.” And since then the country has been locked in “civil war, revolution, whatever one may want to call it“.

Government forces continue to violently suppress demonstrations, with the United Nations Human Rights Office documenting upwards of 450 instances of torture in August alone. But protestors keep marching, night after night.

“You are constantly on Telegram, checking the news and YouTube, trying to think what you can do to help” says Aliakseyeva, on the experience of watching all this from afar. “We are all badly affected.” Balenok concurs, adding, “It’s as though we were there. Sleep has been affected quite badly. Overall my mental state has not been good at all.”

They’ve been in constant contact with friends, family members and others in Belarus as events have been unfolding. “People have been traumatised for life,” Balenok says.

They speak admiringly of Tsikhanouskaya. The opposition activist has rejected the results of the election, estimating that she received 60-70% of the actual

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taring rus

vote, and worked from exile in Lithuania and Poland to gather international support. A few days after the election, she founded the Coordination Council, to develop “safe and stable mechanisms ensuring the transfer of power in Belarus.” The European Union and the United States have since ceased to recognise Lukashenko as the legitimate president of the country, and called for new elections.“She’s openly said she’d like to go back home and continue making burgers for her kids,” says Balenok.

“Her only presidential program was to become a transitional leader to take the country to a proper free and fair election.” He adds that “her goal was never to become president or to get personal power.”

This emphasis on grassroots organising is reflected in how the Irish diaspora group operates. The initiative wasn’t the brainchild of any individual person but came together organically. “We had a few protests in Dublin and other towns, before there was lockdown,” says Aliakseyeva.

“People got to meet each other and make connections. We organised ourselves on a Telegram channel and tried to involve people from a Facebook group for Belarusians in Ireland.”

“All the diasporas are talking to one another now” Balenok adds, “trying to find common ways and effective ways of helping the country and helping the people.”

Ireland’s Belarusian community is relatively small, the pair say, compared to those in places like Canada, the UK or Sweden. But they’re trying to build truly global solidarity – “we coordinate our ideas and actions with diasporas around the world.”

The Irish diaspora group has hoped in particular to forge connections between Irish students and their Belarusian counterparts, who’ve played a key role in the pro-democracy demonstrations. They’ve been encouraging people to send them videos with messages of support and solidarity, “to show that those who stand up against oppression and abuse are not standing alone.”

The group’s broader goals are very clear too. They want to “ensure that Ireland is part of a consolidated European front” to help enforce “effective sanctions against individuals and progovernment businesses in Belarus.

We want them to play a key role in establishing the rule of law” as Balenok puts it. As part of this effort, they’ve been in contact with political figures in Ireland. “I should mention Senator Malcolm Byrne of Gorey. He spoke in the senate about Belarus, and we couldn’t be more grateful,” says Balenok. They also cite Frances Fitzgerald as an ally and advisor in their lobbying efforts.

More direct approaches are also being taken, according to Aliakseyeva. “Some of our members are helping people who’ve been fired or put in prison.

We’re sending money, paying for their food.” Much of their effort has focused on camps in Poland and Ukraine where exiled Belarusians have sought refuge, many lacking basic necessities such as clothes and toiletries.

Though the community in Ireland is small, there are some unique connections between the two countries that Aliakseyeva and Balenok hope will play a part in mobilising support.

Ireland hosted many Belarusians during the as part of Chernobyl Children International’s exchange programmes during the 1990s.

Indeed, Tsikhanouskaya herself visited Roscrea, Co Tipperary numerous times in her youth.

“Nothing is better than a personal touch,” says Balenok, somewhat ruefully.

This pragmatism is a reflection of the seriousness of the situation.

Not only are the Belarusian diaspora constantly bombarded with news of the regime’s brutality, it directly affects their own lives.

“I’d love to go to Belarus for the New Year and celebrate it with my family,” says Balenok, “but at the moment I am not going to do that.

I fear for my safety and my life.”

Aliakseyeva nods in agreement.

But despite this steep cost being paid by the Belarusian people every day, at no point is there any question of backing down.

Everyone is committed completely to seeing democracy achieved, no matter how long it takes. “It’s impossible to put a timeframe on it, although everyone would love to,” Balenok goes on. “And so, we’re looking for that pressure to come from the EU in order to bring this to an end.”

“People are scared and tired,” says Aliakseyeva, “but there’s no way back. No one knows how long it will take, but the regime will go down.”

Oibrithe tosaigh agus an Pobal Insíonn oibrithe tosaigh dúinn faoina dtaithí ag obair i rith paindéime Gráinne Nic Cathmhaoil Eagarthóir Gaeilge

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ás airgeadóir nó dochtúir an duine, d’athraigh freagrachtaí san ionad oibre an-tapa an bhliain seo. Ag cur i bhfeidhm caitheamh na mascanna, ag iarraidh ar dhaoine scaradh sóisialta a chleachtú, nó trealamh cosanta pearsanta a chaitheamh an t-am ar fad, d’athraigh tírdhreach an áit oibre i gcúpla mí gan rabhadh. Labhair mé le cúpla mac léinn a d’oibrigh agus a oibríonn mar oibrithe tosaigh i rith na paindéime don alt seo. Nuair a labhair mé le hEmma agus Cúán, bhí mé ag lorg léargais ar na fírinní a bhaineann le hobair a fhreastalaíonn ar an bpobal i rith paindéime. Bhí mé fiosrach faoi fhreagrachtaí an phobail agus muid ag déanamh caidrimh le hoibrithe tosaigh, agus céard is féidir linn a dhéanamh níos fearr dóibh. Seo cad a dúirt siad.

Ar dtús, bhí mé an-fiosrach faoin difríocht idir an chéad dianghlasáil agus an dara ceann.

An bhfuil daoine níos freagraí leis na srianta anois ná an chéad dianghlasáil? Nó an bhfuil daoine braon de gach rud? D’oibrigh Cúán in ionad siopadóireachta go dtí gur tháinig leibhéal a cúig i bhfeidhm cúpla seachtain ó shin, agus labhraíonn sé faoi na mascanna: “Is fíorbheagán daoine a bhí á gcaitheamh nuair nach raibh orthu iad a chaitheamh de réir an dlí. Tar éis gur tháinig an dlí isteach, déarfainn go raibh masc ar ~85% nó marsin de mo chuid custaiméirí.”

Agus tá an tréimhse athraithe seo feicthe agam chomh maith.

Déanaim an siopadóireacht do mo theaghlach gach seachtain, agus caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil formhór na ndaoine ag caitheamh masc anois agus iad ag déanamh teachtaireachtaí. Cuimhním tréimhse nach raibh sin an cás le chúpla mí anuas.

Anuas ar sin, ní chaithfidh páistí maisc a chaitheamh, fiú is go bhfuil fáth an-chothrom agus reasúnta don choinníoll seo, conas a mhothaíonn na hoibrithe

tosaigh? Deir Emma, mac léinn a oibríonn i siopa milseáin i Luimneach, go “goilleann sé orm uaireanta.” Má oibríonn tú ar an mbearna bhaoil, is cúis imní é seo beag beann ar na fáthanna, mar tá baol ann duit ar scor ar bith.

Maidir leis an atmaisféar ginearálta faoi láthair, deir Emma go bhfuil “an dianghlasáil seo i bhfad níos suaimhní agus i bhfhad níos coscraí do dhaoine ná an ceann eile.” Leanann Emma ar aghaidh, ag rá go dtagann “daoine isteach le haghaidh cúise ar bith, fiú nach bhfuil aon rud ag teastáil uathu, agus ceanaíonn siad aon rud chun a bheith taobh amuigh den teach.” Mhothaigh mé sin i m’anam.

Seachas na mascanna, bíonn ar dhaoine scaradh sóisialta a chleachtú i dtólamh, agus ceapaim gur féidir le daoine a bheith go hiontach leis seo, mar tugaim é faoi deara go háirithe sna páirceanna agus mé amach ar siúlóid. Déanann daoine aniarracht chun bogadh amach uaim i mo thaithí. Ach ar chúis éigin, ceapaim féin nach bhfuil siad chomh maith sna hollmhargaí. Is dócha go mbíonn rudaí eile ar a gcuid intinní, agus déanann siad dearmad faoin scaradh sóisialta go tapa agus iad ag rith isteach go Tesco chun bhainne nó rud éigin a cheannach. Táimse féin ciontach as seo.

Ar ndóigh, ní bhím sna siopaí ach i gcomhair leathuair an chloig nó níos lú agus mé ag déanamh siopadóireachta, ach cad faoi na hoibrithe a bhíonn ann gach lá, ar feadh ocht n-uair? Labhraíonn Cúán faoina thaithí le scaradh sóisialta san ionad oibre: “Is fíorbheagán daoine a d'fhán dhá mhéadar amach uaim. Bhí sé suntasach dom agus thug mé é

“

Is fíorbheagán daoine a d’fhán dhá mhéadar amach uaim

faoi deara nuair a rinne duine iarracht chun fánacht amach uaim mar ba cheart.”

Ach níl an dualgas ar fad ar an bpobal. Is faoi na gnóthaí a gcuid oibrithe agus custaiméirí a chosaint chomh maith. Go pearsanta, mothaím i bhfad níos sábháilte nuair a fheicim oibrithe ag cur na rialacha i bhfeidhm, bíodh iad ag glanadh an scipéad nó oibrí ag iarraidh orm coiméad siar ó áit áirithe.

Labhraíonn Emma faoin dualgas seo ag na gnóthaí: “Bíonn an siopa seo go maith maidir le rialacha Covid-19,” ach “uaireanta, bíonn roinnt baill foirne anréchúiseach faoi na rialacha muna bhfuil aon chustaiméir timpeall, mar shampla ag baint a gcuid mascanna dóibh.”

Leis an alt seo, bhí mé ag lorg rudaí atá an pobal in ann a dhéanamh níos fearr nuair atáimid ag déanamh caidrimh le hoibrithe tosaigh. I mo thuairim, is léir ó na hagallaimh seo go bhfuil daoine ag déanamh a ndícheall, ag déileáil le cúrsaí nach bhfuil éinne tagtha i dtaithí leis. Caith do mhasc, coinnigh d’achar, agus bí ag súil leis na laethanta nuair nach gcaithfimid smaoineamh ar ghalrú níos mó.

Gluais (Glossary) • Airgeadóir - Cashier • Ionad oibre - Workplace • Scaradh sóisalta - Social distancing • Trealamh cosanta pearsanta - Personal protective equipment/PPE • Trídhreach an áit oibre - The landscape of the workplace • Oibrithe tosaigh - Frontline workers • Ag déanamh caidrimh Interacting • Tréimhse athraithe Transition period • Ag déanamh teachtaireachtaí - Running errands • Coinníoll - Stipulation • Goilleann sé orm - It upsets me/It perturbs me • An bhearna bhaoil - The firing line • Cúis imní - Reason for worry • Coscrach - Nerve-wracking • I dtólamh - At all times • Suntasach - Noticeable/ Remarkable • Scipéad - Till • Coiméad siar ó - To keep your distance from • Baill foirne - Staff members • Réchúiseach - Relaxed • Cúrsaí - Set of circumstances • Galrú - Infection

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Features ARTWORK BY JACK SMYTH FOR TRINITY NEWS

Europe in the eye of the storm - and the students caught in it With rising Covid-19 case numbers, Europe now also faces another threat in the form of a terrorism surge

Anna Sheehan Contributing Writer

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ike Ireland, central Europe is currently grappling with a second onslaught of Covid-19.

Since mid-October, a plethora of European nations have reimposed lockdowns, culminating in curfews, compulsory maskwearing and dining limitations for citizens across the continent.

The rapid escalation of Covid-19 cases is clearly a cause for concern, yet the people of Europe have an additional force with which to reckon: an apparent re-emergence of terrorism.

As with the hike in virus incidences, a recent resurgence in extreme terrorist activity is sending shockwaves through

Europe. Widespread trepidation looms, following a series of deadly atrocities in Austria, Germany and France, over the course of the last month.

On October 4, two tourists were seriously injured and one was killed in an attack in the German city of Dresden. Moreover, the same month saw a pair of merciless events in France: history teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded in the Parisian suburb of Conflans-Saint Honorine after showing cartoons from Charlie Hebdo to his class.

Just a couple of weeks later, three more people were murdered in a knife attack at the Notre Dame Basilica in Nice. Most recently, on November 2 a lone gunman of suspected connection to the Islamic State shot 4 people dead and injured 22 in Vienna, a city usually renowned for its harmony.

This influx of extreme rightwing terror attacks comes at a tempestuous time for Europe.

Authorities find themselves in a contentious debacle as they attempt to simultaneously tackle both Covid-19 and terrorism.

However, it is more than just governments bearing the burden of the fight. The question that remains is: amid restrictions and lockdowns, how is the battle against terrorism affecting the people of Europe?

Trinity News spoke with some

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There was definitely a very tense atmosphere on the street that night.

Everyone was watching each other very closely

Trinity alumni and one student, all currently dotted across central Europe. The interviewees, based in Austria, Germany, and France, offered some primary intel on the terrorism situations in their respective countries, and portrayed the prevailing feelings and attitudes.

Comhall Fanning, who

graduated from Trinity this year, is currently living in Vienna and was out for a walk near his apartment, about 3km away from the attack, when the chaos unfolded. He got a notification on his phone from an Austrian newspaper, alerting him that there had been a shooting in the city and that people were advised to stay indoors. He headed home right away and texted friends in the city to check that they were okay. He depicted the eeriness of waiting up until 1am to watch the press conference and mentioned the “sirens and helicopter noises [that were] audible in my room through the night”.

Fanning described the day after as “very strange”. The people of Vienna were instructed to stay home for the day as the police were unsure if everyone had been apprehended. Later that evening, it was declared safe to head out again and Fanning took a quick walk in his area. “There was definitely a very tense atmosphere on the street that night,” he reflected.

“Everyone was watching each other very closely.”

Fanning explained the incredulity he experienced following the shootings: “Vienna is normally such a peaceful and safe city. I really couldn’t quite believe what had happened. Saturday morning was the first time that I went back into the inner city since

the attack and it really did feel odd.

I was pleased to see quite a few people on the street though.”

“It does seem quite worrying when considering the French attacks that happened just before the lockdown too,” he added.

“The night in question was also unseasonably warm, around 19 degrees at the start of November.

It meant that a lot of people were out in the city enjoying the night before lockdown.”

Despite feeling naturally “quite low and stressed” in the ensuing days, Fanning feels positively about Vienna’s ability to recover and to counter such heinous acts.

“I have been quite surprised with how quickly the city has come back to life, there seems to be a strong determination that we should not let this stop us going about our lives,” he remarked. “Coming back from work on Friday afternoon, I was taken aback to be on a crowded underground with standing room only, considering that we are in lockdown and it was only four days after the attack.”

Similarly, the general morale in Germany too exhibits a sense of optimism, according to Caoimhe Gordon, another Trinity graduate, who has lived in the Rhineland city of Düsseldorf for the past two years.

She regards the German reaction to the string of attacks as “nothing if not resilient and realistic”. She recalled a conversation with her German housemate, following the happenings in Vienna last week: “I asked him if he felt another attack in Germany was imminent. He responded calmly, saying ‘yes, it’s only a matter of time.’”

This pragmatism is reflected in Gordon’s feelings towards living in Germany, even after a sequence of such attacks. “I never truly feel on edge”, she admitted. “The Germans have an uncanny ability to deal with a crisis with enviable ease, as was seen with the first wave of coronavirus, so I have faith that they will counter the problem.”

Molly Purcell, third year student of European Studies, arrived in France in early September for an Erasmus year like no other.

Despite being naturally attentive to the country’s constant state of alert, Purcell explained how she “soon settled into normal life without giving the possibility of an attack much thought”.

She recounted President Macron’s pledge at the beginning of October to fight against what he calls “Islamic Separatism”, which attracted significant criticism from the Muslim world, both inside France and beyond. The beheading of school teacher Samuel Paty occured in the weeks following Macron’s announcement. “This definitely brought the issue more to our attention,” Purcell declared.

“But you’re also aware of trying to strike a balance between exercising caution, but not stopping yourself from living your life completely.”

Purcell and her classmates were on their midterm holidays from university when a spate of attacks took place all over France.

“While there was definitely a sense of grim inevitability to it, it was no less terrifying - especially

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Features

“

My friends and I decided to curb our activities, especially around crowded, more touristy areas

coming from Ireland, which seems so relatively sheltered from such random violence,” she remarked.

“My friends and I decided to curb our activities, especially around crowded, more touristy areas, as news of foiled attacks, from verified sources and otherwise, rolled in on Twitter.”

From Purcell’s experience, “French people seem to take it [terror threats] in their stride.”

Echoing Fanning’s comments on Vienna, Purcell explained how the Nice stabbing also happened directly prior to the re-entry into lockdown - perhaps another indication of calculated planning.

Like many others living in France, Purcell is relatively sanguine about the government’s propensity to suppress the risk into the future. “If problems like Islamaphobia and the marginalisation of immigrants are tackled in some way, the country can hopefully make headway in countering the broader issue of terrorism,” she said.

Similar to the spread of the virus, such sporadic attacks remain utterly unpredictable. For many, it is this brutal reality that is most harrowing. In the face of terrorism, some will be especially susceptible; some will be protected, but no one is immune. There are some positive progressions, like the recent draft of an EU declaration which aims to prevent radicalisation, for example. Alas, in the meantime, the people must sustain their apparent drive to rally and their capacity to remain level-headed.

“Die Stärke wächst im Geduldgarten” is an old German adage which translates as: “In your calm is your strength.” No doubt such words are emboldening the hearts of many Europeans at present as they sit at home and await a brighter tomorrow. As Fanning aptly put it: “It is very important for everyone to stick together at the moment.”

“The work of the Science Gallery Network has never been more important” Dr Beronada Montgomery will be the first member of the Science Gallery International board to be appointed by a university in the United States Olivia Flaherty-Lovy Features Editor

D

r. Beronda Montgomery has recently been appointed to the board of Science Gallery International, the nonprofit organization created to provide the tools and resources needed to power and support the work of the Science Gallery Network. Dr. Montgomery, who currently serves as Michigan State University Foundation Professor, and Interim Assistant Vice President for Research and Innovation, will join the team as the first member of the SGI board to be appointed by a university in the United States, having been a self-described “ardent” supporter of the work of the Science Gallery Detroit since its earliest days. In addition to helping to further develop the research capacity of the Science Gallery Network, Dr. Montgomery is looking forward to helping the Science Gallery engage with and establish a wider network, especially in regions that

do not yet have a Science Gallery branch, such as South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. “As a member of the SGI board, I look forward to learning more about the distinctions of the existing sites, additional opportunities for collaboration across the network, as well as plans for expansions into new regions,” she said.

Since its beginnings at Trinity in 2008, the Science Gallery has worked to create new partnerships and has even expanded to include seven additional branches around the world. Science Gallery International (SGI) was created in 2012 as a way to provide the services and support needed to expand the Science Gallery network and is currently led by Provost Patrick Prendergast and Executive Director Dr. Andrea Bandelli. “Having a highly

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The power of mentoring and supporting others in pursuing education is a great honour

PHOTO BY ZAHRA LOCKETT FOR TRINITY NEWS

developed Network is so useful to quickly share ideas, projects and initiatives with colleagues from all over the world, and accelerate the process from idea generation to production,” said Dr. Bandelli.

“SGI allows the universities and their communities to experiment with new ways of learning, doing research and engaging with society; it is a powerful engine where science and art are not anymore separate disciplines, but become a new, unified creative endeavour.”

Dr. Montgomery brings with her extensive experience in research, particularly regarding the responses of photosynthetic organisms such as plants and cyanobacteria to external light cues. “Our work with photosynthetic organisms is largely centered in the idea that organisms that spend their entire life in one spot, or a very limited range, must be exquisitely tuned to perceive what is going on around them and to initiate behaviors that promote their success,” she said. “Unlike animals that can move to a new location if things are not optimal, organisms such as the plants and cyanobacteria that we study are masters of adaptation in place.”

Among Dr. Montgomery’s most fulfilling achievements, however, has been the ability to work with and mentor students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

“Many of the lessons about awareness of the environment and an ability to translate that knowledge into successpromoting behaviours translate powerfully to lessons about life, mentoring, and even leadership,” she said. “I love most parts of my job, but understand the power of

mentoring and supporting others in pursuing education and their careers as a great responsibility and honor.”

In a community that is so dependent on collaboration and the sharing of ideas, the pandemic and subsequent barriers to social interaction have, essentially, completely changed the playing field on which the Science Gallery carries out its work. However, this has only made the need for innovation and creativity more apparent, and has served as a catalyst for the SGI to continue to design and develop new methods of international cooperation. “The work of Science Gallery - of each gallery and of the whole Network - has never been more important,” said Dr. Bandelli. “Science Gallery enables unbounded creativity and fearless imagination for its audience, which is in significant part high school and university students. The insights sparked by the collision of science and art have never been more essential than they are now, when creativity is in all regards our survival tool which allows us to overcome the uncertainties of the pandemic.”

Dr. Montgomery, too, is optimistic about the prospects of the year ahead and confident that the work of the Science Gallery will be able to continue and improve as the year progresses. “Whereas Covid-19 has presented a number of challenges for most domains of work, certainly the work of SG has pivoted in many sites to allow continued engagement,” she said. “While such disruptions in “business as usual” can represent many challenges, it also affords opportunities for us to think creatively, to engage with technology in new ways, and in so doing to sometimes expand accessibility for engagement.”

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Features

A wave of resignations hits the Young Greens The youth wing of the party has suspended its operations for the rest of 2020, to reassess its position within the Green Party and the wider green movement Sean Gordon Dalton Deputy Features Editor

I

t’s been a tough time for everyone since February - including the Green Party. There was significant disagreement within the party about whether or not to enter government, and in recent times the party has lost many of its young members, following a tumultuous few months in government.

There have been several highprofile departures over the last several months, notably Mayo’s Saoirse McHugh and Cork’s Cllr Lorna Bogue. Just last month, the Chair of the Young Greens Tara Gilsenan and the Chair of the Queer Greens Tiernan Mason resigned from the party in a joint statement on social media. Citing recent government decisions relating to the Evictions Bill and the Mother and Babies records, Ms Gilsenan said they were left

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We had hoped that we could fight to make a difference and to hold the Green Party to account, but in our short time as chairpersons, we have realised that our efforts have been in vain

with no other choice as their views were being ignored by the party’s leadership. “We just were not being listened to. We were trying to reflect our views but we realised there was absolutely no way anyone was going to take our opinions on board.”

The pair’s resignation took

immediate effect and did not leave much hope for reconciliation. “We had hoped that we could fight to make a difference and to hold the Green Party to account, but in our short time as chairpersons, we have realised that our efforts have been in vain and that the concerns we have raised have been going unheeded,” they wrote. “To that end, we feel that we are no longer able to represent these affiliate groups of the Green Party.”

Since then, the Young Greens National Executive has released a statement to say that they are suspending all operations until January 2021. Explaining their decision, the organisation cited a significant decline in numbers in previous months, and a desire for current members to “find purpose within the Green Party.”

“The Green Party overall and the Young Greens have had an extraordinary and overwhelming amount of growth and change over the past 18 months.

Young Green members have canvassed and worked tirelessly with the main party, for the elected representatives and for the green movement in Ireland and elsewhere.

From a state of growth and as a campaigning body, the purpose of the Young Greens has changed significantly more recently.

The past five months of government have had a major impact on our membership numbers and negatively affected the drive and passion of volunteers.”

The organisation has said that they will continue to sit on the executive committee of the Green Party during this time

and that Young Green branches will continue to operate as normal. They will also continue to welcome new members.

According to the Young Greens Equality Officer Heather Casserly, the decision to suspend operations for two months was not one that was taken lightly: “After a year fraught with political upheaval resulting in a loss of morale among the Young Greens, not to mention the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, operations were suspended in order to allow the members to focus on their mental well-being, and evaluate their places both in the Green Party and in the wider green movement.”

Speaking to Trinity News, the Trinity Young Green’s Secretary Mark Heavey said: “As a society we have made a similar decision to the national Young Greens to greatly decrease the number of Ossian Smyth TD canvassing during the 2020 general election campaign as a Green Party candidate

PHOTO BY LAUREN BOLAND FOR TRINITY NEWS

“

A political party which does not listen to its members does so to its detriment

events we will organise compared to the first half of the term.” A “sense of exhaustion” among members, combined with a drop in engagement with events, led Trinity Young Greens to make this decision. “Frustration with the climate bill, an apparently endless series of scandals, and in particular the mishandling of the mother and baby homes issue has turned people off the society and the Green Party, and caused a number of resignations, including our former chair Julie Smirnova and OCM’s Tara Gilsenan and Nina Cullen,” Heavey said.

Heavey is not optimistic about the future of the organisation: “Upon return, it will be necessary to precisely establish what sort of relationship the society will have with the main party. Most young members feel the party does not listen to them. A political party which does not listen to its members does so to its detriment, especially members who worked tirelessly, as the Trinity Young Greens did, to help provide them with electoral success. The party is currently highly dysfunctional and unless serious change begins to occur, I think its future is bleak.”

Finding sustainable face coverings page 6

Trinity’s society life from 1683 to 2020 page 10

Coping with grief in isolation page 13

LIFE

Inside: Katy Hessel and the Great Women Artists podcast

TRINITY NEWS

Pullout section

ARTWORK BY JACK SMYTH FOR TRINITY NEWS

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Table of contents Society spotlight: DU Hiking - page 4

Finding sustainable face coverings - page 6

December horoscopes - page 8 Learning from the past on sustainability

- page 11

Making mezze

- page 12

Switch up your weekly shop - page 14

Life staff Editor-in-Chief Life Editor Life Deputy Editor

Lauren Boland Maeve Harris Heather Bruton

Arts & Culture Editor Arts & Culture Deputies

Claire Stalhuth Elena McCrory Róisín Daly

Food & Drink Editor Food & Drink Deputy

Alfie Fletcher Seán McElroy

Sex & Relationships Editor Sex & Relationships Deputy

Kerry O’Sullivan

Societies Editor Societies Deputy

Ciara Cassidy Grace Fannon

Student Living Editor Student Living Deputy

Cian Dunne Isha Neurgaonkar

Eva O’Beirne

Careers in the Arts

Katy Hessel and the Great Wom Jane Loughman interviews art historian and curator, Katy Hessel, on her podcast and the artists of today

L

ondon born-and-raised, Katy Hessel took every opportunity she could to visit galleries during her school lunchtimes. One particular art exhibition that had a profound impact on her as a child was Louise Bourgeois’s installation in the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern. Hessel finds a child’s appreciation of art an interesting subject, as it shows how accessible and universal art can be, stating: “Art is for everyone. It’s the most democratic subject in the world in a way. Anyone (who can see) can be part of it, or you can feel it.”

The 26-year-old art curator and historian is the voice behind The Great Women Artists podcast. Named as one of British Vogue’s best podcasts of the year, The Great Women Artists focuses on today’s trail-blazing women artists, as well as female “Old Masters” of the past. Hessel interviews art historians, art curators, writers, and art lovers about their favourite women artists and also chats to current female artists about their works and careers. It is empowering, engaging, and Hessel’s enthusiasm for art bleeds through the speakers. “I probably get far too into it,” she says. “Not at all,” I reply. “It’s fantastic.”

Hessel graduated five years ago from University College London.

She studied art history, a course that she recalls “opened [her] eyes up to this kind of activist side of art history which [she] just loved”.

However, she only truly noticed a lack of women represented in the art world when she left the university and felt she could hardly name any female artists.

This realisation was the impetus to her starting her Instagram, @ thegreatwomenartists, in 2015, which now has a following of over 150,000 people.

Last September, Hessel decided to create a podcast of the same name. One year on, there have been four seasons and over fifty guests. The podcast does the important tasks of reinserting female pioneer artists into the art history canon and giving female artists of today a platform. Be that as it may, she still manages to make the conversations fun,

“

Art is for everyone.

It’s the most democratic subject in the world.

fascinating, and full of life: “I really hope that it is really accessible to people, and I hope that you can listen to it without knowing anything [about art], that even people who have never even stepped inside museums can listen to it and feel like, ‘okay, actually, it is for me.’”

Hessel has chatted to some big names, some who she will admit she was nervous to meet.

“I interviewed [British painter] Cecily Brown for Season 4 and I was petrified!” Hessel admits.

She remembers her sleepless night before interviewing Frances Morris, the director of the Tate Modern, despite having met her before: “But it’s so worth it, because then you come out of it and it’s wonderful.” Hessel loves that she has the chance to understand artists of the past through the lens of her guests, or to talk to an artist she admires, like Lubaina Himid, who Hessel has loved since she was a teenager.

“I’m just fascinated by people,” she says.

The art historian has had a very diverse range of guests; current artists from Lagos-based artist Nengi Omuku to French painter Julie Curtiss have featured.

As well, “Old Masters” from African-American expressionist painter Alma Thomas to Argentinian surrealist Leonor Fini have been discussed by the likes of journalist Joanna Moorhead and art historian, and Trinity alumna, Alyce Mahon, respectively.

Hessel has also spoken to literary writers on their take on female art: she interviewed Jessie Burton about Frida Kahlo, one of the most famous painters of all time. “Looking at Frida Kahlo from a literary perspective is so fascinating and one that I would never really think about,” Hessel admits.

While listening to multiple episodes, I started believing that an interesting life story was an essential part of an artist’s life, but Hessel believes “it’s totally dependent”. She likes to bring context into the conversation for listeners to get their bearings,

but “you don’t necessarily have to have a crazy life to be an artist at all”. In the podcast with Jessie Burton on Frida Kahlo, Burton says: “I’m always very wary of not falling in love too much with the woman and the person and the personality, and forgetting the creativity and the skill involved, because I think that happens a lot with women.” Despite many historical artists’ works, especially Kahlo’s, being primarily autobiographical, Hessel’s podcast succeeds in balancing the life story with the creativity of the artists discussed.

I ask Hessel if she has Irish guests in mind for the podcast as I loved her conversations with Alyce Mahon and Wicklow-based artist Genieve Figgis. Writers Sally Rooney and Colm Tóibín are on the tip of Hessel’s tongue: “I’m really fascinated by Irish literature, I guess. I just love Brooklyn and Normal People — I feel like such a cliché. I’ve been to Dublin and I love it — I loved visiting the IMMA.” As well as bringing in more Irish writers to The Great Women Artists podcast, she would love to return to Dublin to get more into the art scene there.

At the end of every episode,

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

men Artists podcast

Tinder trials and tribulations Kerry O’Sullivan on how to ace the Tinder game and actually find what you’re looking for

H

ow to Tinder, you may ask? To begin with, you should stop hiding the app in an inconspicuous folder on your phone that no one else will find. Look, I get it. I get the download shame and the thinly-veiled self hatred we think we need to feel when putting ourselves out there in the dating scene like that, especially on an extremely superficial platform.

Before I get into the truly juicy tips, I need to reiterate that Tinder is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Behind every profile is someone just as scarlet as you messaging strangers and looking for something. I’ve spent far more time than I care to admit on this ungodly app, so I’m here to help in any way I can with your Tinder trials and tribulations.

Hessel asks her guests the same question, so I thought I’d put it to her: If there was a female artist, dead or alive, who you would most like to meet, who would it be and what would you say to them?

The American expressionist portraitist Alice Neel is her quick, natural answer. The episode in which Hessel chats with art curator Helen Molesworth on Neel is one of the most exhilarating: “The episode is only an hour, but we chatted for two.”

Hessel’s dream would be to return to Neel’s Whitney 1974 opening, to work with her and to see how

“

I can’t like everything.

I’m a human, and I can’t understand everything.

the public reacted. “She died with hundreds of paintings in her flat and I don’t know how that was possible. I want to know why she carried on painting the same thing that she did.” Hessel would just love to get to know Neel and find out “why people didn’t respond then, and why people respond to much of her work now”.

How does a great woman artist qualify to be featured on Hessel’s podcast? “There are certain artists and artworks that I’m so intrigued by and so drawn to, so it’s really that.” She has a long list of people she hopes to talk to, some dream guests, but they ultimately have to be really special to her: “I can’t like everything. I’m a human, and I can’t understand everything.”

Her advice to budding female artists is to “create something that you really believe in”. Hessel interviews creators who “have some kind of purpose with their art and really know it, and know why they’re doing it”.

Hessel has an exciting line-up for the remainder of Season 4 of the Great Women Artists: make sure to tune in.

The Great Women Artists Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Don’t be picky with appearance, be picky with chat I obviously don’t mean that you should swipe right on someone that you’re wholeheartedly not attracted to, but I would always err on the side of: when in doubt, swipe right. So many of us are rigidly fixed on a type, but Tinder is the perfect time to experiment with other traits you might find attractive too. I can’t tell you how many times someone has surprised me with having a brilliant sense of humor or a great chat even if they’re not necessarily someone that I would go for. There are plenty of Greek God-looking men on Tinder with absolutely zero banter, which is just a little soul destroying.

When you give people a genuine chance in this no-consequences environment, the connections that you form could surprise you.

someone on a regular basis. It’ll give you more to chat about, give you prime social media stealthing opportunities and make your contact more casual and natural.

Know what you’re looking for This is more of a courtesy thing for who you’re talking to, because you’ll get all sorts on Tinder. At the risk of objectifying your Tinder matches, you wouldn’t, or shouldn’t, go to the supermarket without any direction of what you’re in need of, so why go on Tinder when you’re equally clueless? If you’re looking for a relationship, casual sex, conversation, a third in a relationship—genuinely whatever it is, you need to be honest from the getgo. There is no merit in leading someone on that you want a long-term relationship when in reality you want to have casual sex and never see them again. Likewise, don’t torture yourself when you’re looking for something exclusive and they’re there purely for sexy chats and nothing more. There is nothing wrong with being on Tinder for either reason, but you at least owe people the respect of honesty. You can generally tell someone’s intentions after the aforementioned two-night rule, if not there’s nothing wrong with asking.

Perfect the opening line Firstly, you need to be comfortable texting first, regardless of your gender. The taboo of girls texting first in heterosexual matches is archaic and just plain unnecessary. This isn’t the 1950s and you aren’t waiting on the other side of the dancefloor for someone to ask for your hand. You’re in control of the direction the conversation goes in if you start the conversation, and who doesn’t like being one step ahead? The best opening lines either ask someone a question that’s difficult not to answer or relate to the person’s bio or pictures. It may seem a

little clinical to use the same opening line every time, but it can be justifiable by the different directions the conversations go.

It’s unfortunate that our standards are so high that a “hi” or “hey” generally go ignored. Try opening with a debate that has minimal real world consequences—it’s not the time to whip out Trump versus Biden yet, but maybe cats versus dogs? Pineapple on pizza? You get the gist. Name puns always go down a treat, too.

They’re personal, funny and show a little bit of personality. You can’t really go wrong with a purposely and disgustingly cheesy pickup line or a cute GIF of a fluffy animal waving. Whatever works for you, you need to consider what opening line you yourself respond best to. That way, you’ll most likely attract the right type of person for you and get in your flow!

Let’s talk pictures I wish there was some kind of formula for the perfect set of Tinder pictures—if only it were that easy. Everyone is different with a different persona, and it’s great to convey this on your profile. It’s ideal to have your first picture on your own, purely for logistical reasons. There’s no need for more than five pictures in total, including a mixture of group pictures, you with some of your interests and one silly one. I have a picture of myself shoving a full slice of pizza into my mouth as my last picture and, honestly, the amount of conversations that has spurred on is slightly iconic. Don’t take this part too seriously. There’s no point in only having perfectly polished and airbrushed pictures up, no one is seeing your actual personality.

There is little opportunity in your Tinder profile to show who you really are, so utilise the power of the picture with everything you can. Also please, no Snapchat filters - you don’t need dog ears to look cute.

Get it off Tinder as fast as possible If you think that you have a connection with someone, I personally have a two-night rule.

I know where your mind is going, but I mean this purely in terms of moving to another social media or platform to communicate with your match. By the end of the second night or day, it might be a good idea to change your mode of communication or decide this may not be the match for you.

Not only does this tend to prove to you that they are a real person, and a real person that you could conceivably eventually spend time with in person, but it also cements the connection that you made on Tinder, which I don’t think is a great place to continue to talk to ARTWORK BY SARAH MURNANE FOR TRINITY NEWS

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Keepin

Society spotlight

DU Hiking society

Heather Bruton interviews Trinity’s music societies on how they are getting creative amidst social restrictions

Grace Fannon speaks to Chairperson Camille Stock about moving hiking online and how not to lose someone up a mountain

T

T

he Wicklow Mountains are, presumably, still just south of Dublin City. But for Trinity Hiking Society, caught in the limitations of Level 5 lockdown, they may as well be as far as San Diego, where coincidentally, their chairperson currently resides. Camille Stock, a PhD astrophysics student, decided to return home after the announcement of Level 5 restrictions for the remainder of the semester. She didn’t see the point in staying in Dublin—a choice many international students have made. The fact that the chairperson of a functioning society can reasonably live a whole continent and ocean away from Trinity is telling of how far this year has brought us.

Indeed, hiking, by its nature, an activity that generally requires fresh air and preferably includes mountains, is particularly illsuited to a virtual life under Covid-19. While Zoom events are a challenge for all societies, it is especially difficult to move a Hiking Society online. In a normal year, the main staple of the society is its weekly weekend hike, most often taking place in the Wicklow mountains. Reenacting a group hike in a video chat when most people don’t live within 5km of a mountain perhaps defeats the purpose of hiking in itself. Instead, the society has turned to other, more indoor forms of socialising, like coffee hours, film screenings and quizzes. According to Stock, “this year has been good for that it’s forcing us to be more creative with the society”, and the extra social events have “allowed the community to be a bit more cohesive”. It has been somewhat of a learning curve for Stock, as she has ended up running a different society to the one she had expected. “I didn’t expect to be running a society that did a lot of social events. In a normal year, hiking is fairly low key on the committee end—you just run and attend the hikes. But this year we’ve been doing virtual events

once a week.” In fact, despite the lack of actual hiking in this year’s iteration of the Hiking Society, the society still had 750 new sign ups, a record number since its founding.

The Hiking Society is, in the grand scheme of things, a relatively new addition to Trinity’s societies. Founded in 2012, the society “hasn’t changed that much” since then, barring the unforeseen circumstances of 2020.

The main focus of the society is the weekly hikes, along with a few social events throughout the year, including a Christmas party in which people often wear their hiking boots. Generally, the weekend hikes last the entire day, and culminate in a trip to a pub in the evening—a necessity after any exercise that involves copious amounts of mountain air.

The committee also often designs the hiking routes themselves and don’t always follow pre-made trails. About 26 to 30 people can attend each hike—any more than

“

Weather is the biggest problem, you know, it’s Ireland, it changes so quickly

that and it “gets disorganised and you lose people”. Stock assures that the Hiking Society hasn’t actually lost any members, that they know of, and that at least three, and usually five, committee members attend each hike.

In regards to safety precautions, most important is hikers having the right gear. For this reason, the society insists on proper hiking boots and waterproof clothing, an essential for day-long hikes in unpredictable weather. Nothing they do is very strenuous or technical, and usually, “weather is the biggest problem, you know, it’s Ireland, it changes so quickly”.

Stock herself has never been on any society hiking trip that went awry, although she herself broke her ankle this past summer when the weather changed abruptly on a hike with friends. Having to hop down the mountain was a “learning experience” in how calling Mountain Rescue works, and she hopes to organise a more advanced first aid course for all committee members. Along with weekly hikes and Christmas parties, the society usually organises two trips each year, including hiking Carrauntoohil in the autumn, while every second year they organise a trip abroad, and have previously journeyed to Wales and Scotland. 2020 was to be the year of the biennial trip outside Ireland, and Stock had been looking forward to maybe going further afield in Europe.

However, this, like a lot of other things has been put on the backburner for now.

At Trinity, hiking has been classified as a society activity rather than a sports club. Stock has no ideological issues with

this categorisation and says that usually, it doesn’t matter because they have enough funding from the CSC for their hikes, which is the important thing. However, this was a source of some irritation at the beginning of this year as under Level 3 restrictions, sports clubs were allowed to operate in some capacity, while societies could not. Most would agree that hiking, of all forms of exercise, is perhaps most suitable for Covid regulations, as it takes place outside and it would be relatively easy to maintain social distancing on mountains while wearing a mask. Stock mentions that “when Level 5 happened, we were in the process of planning whether we could get some exemption for hiking”. They intend to re-evaluate in January and hope that, depending on the level we find ourselves in, the society may be able to resume hikes, at least with reduced numbers.

In the meantime, the society has included a link in their weekly emails to a public View Ranger account, “a kind of google maps for hiking”, for those looking for walks and hikes that may be within a 5km radius. “We’ve put together a whole bunch of routes that you can get to by public transportation, so you don’t need a bus or a car.” Stock also mentions the Howth Cliff Walk, the Bray to Greystones Walk and the Dublin Mountains, just south of Marley Park, as hike-like possibilities for anyone living in those areas. Until the Hiking Society returns, the rest of us will just have to satisfy ourselves with parks and gardens, and simply imagine the mountains.

he music scene at Trinity is rich, colourful and plays a central role in the lives of many students. In the midst of Level 5 restrictions, we need music more than ever.

We are lucky as students to be surrounded by a myriad of spaces to explore our particular music interests. DU Music, Jazz Society, Trinity College Singers, Trinity Belles and Trinitones are just a few of the music societies and choirs that students at Trinity can get involved in. All of these societies are doing their best to adapt to Covid-19 restrictions by getting creative during an undoubtedly difficult time for the arts.

The impact of the pandemic on performing arts has been devastating. Speaking to Trinity News, Niamh Howley, Chairperson of Trinity College Singers (Singers) discusses how the lack of in-person choir rehearsals has been “a great loss for singers from a musical and social point of view.” So much of acapella and choral singing is about connection on an individual and group level and Singers have had to try to recreate this experience online. Howley attributes this commitment to “a fantastic committee” who have worked hard to maintain a high standard of music, but she does acknowledge that “nothing can replace the feeling of singing with others, hearing the blend of voices around you”. Yet, moving everything online has given Singers the chance to be “innovative and imaginative” in

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Nothing can repace the feeling of singing with others, hearing the blend of voices around you

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

ng the Trinity music scene alive

Trinity College Singers

Trinitones the ways they make music.

Similarly, Aoibhín Powell, Co-Director of Trinity Belles, highlights the difficulties of moving rehearsals, auditions and events online. Online rehearsals were “a bit of trial and error”, but they found their way using Zoom. The disadvantage of this of course is they can’t hear themselves singing. However, Powell was quick to point out that having “a platform where [they] can actually rehearse and it is almost normal is such a blessing”.

She was also really pleased with how well online auditions went, particularly impressed by “how quickly everyone was able to understand the new instructions and adapt accordingly.” Certainly, this pandemic has highlighted how truly adaptive and creative those involved in the arts can be.

Patrick Kennedy, Co-Director of the Trinitones, found their auditions to be just as successful, citing them “as competitive as ever with auditionees adapting quickly to the additional challenge of singing into a computer screen.” In general, online rehearsals for the acapella group have taken some getting used to; they are “still figuring out the winning formula, but [their] experimentation with breakout rooms, games and learning lines have all been useful and productive.” Like many Trinity performing groups, they are

“disappointed by the loss of [their] in person gig line up”. Powell also commented on how live performances were Belles’ “main source of income”, touching on a significant problem for the whole music industry at the moment.

DU Music has been trying to help with this particular issue by providing a platform for student artists. Bronagh Conroy, Public Relations Officer for the society, called attention to their weekly playlist, “curated by the bigger Trinity-affiliated acts”. The DU Music committee realises that without gigs, there is less chance for artists to promote their work. Conroy emphasises the importance of creating “a space for [artists] to talk about their influences...and plug a few of their own songs.” DU Music’s most recent project was The Song Project, an online cover version of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now by 30 members of the society. Conroy says it was fun arranging the piece for “whatever instruments signed up”, pointing out that there was even “a tuba in there somewhere”.

Just like Belles and Singers, DU Music have moved their open mics and recitals online. Instead of asking members to show up to a pub and perform, Conroy says they are asking members to “submit home videos in advance, which [they] edit into a live stream.” Conroy adds that this can be “easier for a lot of people,

because you don’t have to be nervous about getting on stage”.

Hannah-Kate Ní Shioradáin, Chairperson of Jazz Society (Jazz Soc), also acknowledges that, in many ways, online performances are “definitely less work for the committee, to just log onto Zoom to host an event”. That being said, Ní Shioradáin would “give anything to be running around campus at the last minute trying to find a kettle lead for a gig.”

Not having a big band this year has been a blow for the society as “it’s pretty much impossible to play music over Zoom as a group with the lag and the delay”.

Instead, Jazz Soc has decided to run weekly competitions. Every week they announce a theme and then all you have to do is send in a video of you playing something that relates to the theme. Ní Shioradáin emphasises the great prizes they have up for grabs such as “Splice memberships and Bandcamp credits”. They also “showcase all the entrances on [their] Instagram and discord so that at least people can meet some other cool musicians through seeing their entries.”

Social connection is a big concern for all of the music societies at Trinity, but they have been incredibly impressed by the amount of first years who have been eager to get involved. Most have gotten the usual number of sign ups, if not more. During a time where connection has become all the more difficult, perhaps students are more eager to find ways to bond with like-minded people. Powell was “over the moon with how many people showed interest in joining Belles” and Howley added that “the dedication and community

“

Many of the societies feel that Covid-19 has forced them to expand their social media presence spirit that characterises [their] choirs has meant that [they’ve] had a great return rate”. Similarly, Ní Shioradáin has found that freshers “are really taking online events in their stride” and that it is sophisters who have been less engaged in Jazz Soc, most likely because “they know what they’re missing” out on. Conroy points out that for first years “societies are really one of their only options” of finding friends this year, hence why so many have involved themselves in DU Music.

Kennedy has found it “a challenge to make online rehearsal and events sound appealing” as Trinitones “cannot hide the fact that it is not the same as being in the same room together.”

However, Kennedy says they are “eager to turn [their] attention to producing new online content through [their] social media pages”.

Shifting music societies online has impacted group interactions,

but Howley points out that, as individual singers, this has been a wonderful “opportunity to work on individual tuning, sight singing and general musicianship”.

In many ways, moving so much online has allowed Trinity societies to reach new, virtual audiences. Many of the societies feel that Covid-19 has forced them to expand their social media presence. Powell cites Belles’ recent release of a Queen medley on their social media, which they enjoyed working on during the last lockdown, to “have a bit of distraction from the chaos.” Howley promises that the choirs are planning more virtual performances this term, seeing it as a “great privilege” to participate in a worldwide “outpour of musical and artistic virtual performances”. To stay up-to-date with exciting events and opportunities follow their four social media pages: Trinity College Singers, Boydell Singers, Trinity Belles and Trinitones.

Get stuck in and join some of the wonderful music societies Trinity has to offer. DU Music have a host of projects and competitions in the pipeline which Conroy feels “should keep all those musically-minded folks ticking over until Christmas”.

Or, if jazz is your thing, enter one of Jazz Soc’s weekly, themed competitions. Of course, all of the societies lament the loss of in-person gigs and they are eager for a return to normality, but it is clear that through hard work and some out-of-the-box thinking, students are keeping the Trinity music scene alive and flourishing throughout this pandemic, albeit virtually.

Trinity Belles

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Mac léinn ag staidéar Finding sustainab thar lear i rith paindéime Sydney Prins on Labhraíonn beirt mic léinn ón bhFrainc atá ag staidéar in Éirinn le Hazel Ní Bhroin faoina dtaithí le linn na paindéime seo

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liain gan réamhshampla inár measc an bhliain seo, go háirithe i gcomhair mic léinn atá ina gcónaí thar lear don bhliain acadúla. Tá sé deacair go leor a bheith ag foghlaim is ag déanamh léachtaí ar líne an bhliain seo, níos deacra má tá tú i do chónaí as baile i gceantar nach bhfuil eolas agat air, agus sin gan trácht as a bheith i dtír go hiomlán difriúl. Ta go leor rudaí athruithe timpeall an domhain an bhliain seo mar gheall ar an gcoróinvíreas. Dúshlán scáfar atá ann cairde nua a dhéanamh i dtír dhifriúil, agus nuair atá gá le mascanna a chaitheamh agus scaradh sóisialta a chleachtú. Labhair mé le mic léinn Maeva agus Mathilda faoina dtaithí leis, agus iad ina gcónaí in Éirinn faoi láthair.

Is páirt ollmhór é an saol sóisialta agus siamsaíocht oíche d’eispéireas an mac léinn. Ach faoi láthair, tá formhór na múinteoireachta déanta ar líne agus níl aon shiamsaíocht oíche ceadaithe ach an oiread. Bhí Maeva agus Mathilda ag tnúth go mór leis an saol sóisialta in Éirinn roimh an gcoróinvíreas, “Nílimid i gcoinne na srianta ar chor ar bith, ach, caithfidh mé a rá go raibh saghas

díomá orm nuair a thángamar anseo”, a dúirt Maeva, “agus an bhliain seo i mBaile Átha Cliath á samhlú agam, níor cheap mé nach mbeadh cead agam a bheith i gclubanna oíche le mo chairde nua!”. D’aontaigh Mathilda le Maeva, “Cinnte, aontaím go bhfuil na srianta ag teastáil agus ar mhaithe linn ach, tá sé an deacair dúinn bualadh le daoine nua i dtír go hiomlán difriúil nuair atá ár léachtaí ar fad ar líne agus nuair nach féidir linn taisteal níos mó ná 5km ón árasán seo”. Tá an-trua agam dóibh agus d’aon mhic léinn atá ag staidéar thar lear an bhliain seo.

D’fhéadfadh, dar liomsa, go bhfuil mic léinn ar fud an domhain ag mothú uaigneach cosúil le Maeva agus Mathilda, mar níl go leor eachtraí ar siúl na laethanta seo. Ach i rith paindéime, le cultúr difriúil agus bacainní teanga, is dócha go bhfuil mic léinn i mbun staidéir thar lear ag streachailt leis an gcumha agus leis an uaigneas níos mó ná riamh. “Cinnte, cheap mé go mbeadh sé deacair a bheith i mo chónaí i dtír dhifriúil gan mo chlann agus mo chairde ar fad” a deireann Maeva, “ach, cheap mé go mbeadh mo laethanta ar fad líonta le himeachtaí difriúla”.

Chlaon Mathilda a ceann go gruama, “sea, cheap mé go mbeadh mé chomh gnóthach sin, nach mbeadh an t-am agam a bheith cumhach!”.

Nuair a bhog mé amach as an teach don chéad uair an bhliain seo, cinnte mhothaigh mé cumhach ar feadh tamaill, ach bhí a fhios agam nach raibh mo chlann agus mo chairde i bhfad uaim. Bhí mé ar mo shuaimhneas mar bhí a fhios agam go mbeidh mé in ann iad a fheiceáil pé uair ba mhian liom, ach, is scéal difriúl é i gcomhair Maeva agus Mathilda. “Bhí ár n-eitiltí curtha in áirithe againn cúpla seachtain ó shin, ionas go mbeadh muid in ann dul ar ais go dtí an Fhrainc don Nollaig” a mhínigh Maeva dom.

Lean Mathilda ar aghaidh, “Ach, cúpla lá ó shin, fuaireamar ríomhphost ag rá go gcuireadh ár n-eitiltí ar ceal, agus bhíomar trína chéile”. Is léir go bhfuil go leor neamhchinnteachta timpeall gach rogha a dhéanaimid na laethanta seo agus cé nach bhfuil sé ceart, caithfimid go léir fanacht chomh dearfach agus is féidir.

“Níl dabht ar

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Ach, fós féin, is timpeallacht nua, spreagúil é agus tá gach duine chomh cairdiúl, táimid sona sásta anseo! bith ann go bhfuil an bhliain seo lán le mascanna agus díghalrán lámh, go hiomlán difriúil ná an bhliain lán le cóisirí agus spraoi a shamhlaíomar anuraidh” a dheireann Maeva, “ach, fós féin, is timpeallacht nua, spreagúil é agus tá gach duine chomh cairdiúl, táimid sona sásta anseo!”. Deireann Mathilda gur “áit álainn í Éire agus táimid ag súil go mbeidh muid in ann cuairt a thabhairt ar níos mó áiteanna timpeall na tíre níos déanaí sa bhliain”. Tar éis an agallaimh seo a dhéanamh, táim fágtha ag smaoineamh ar fhocal tábhachtach amháin: dóchas. Deireann Maeva go bhfuil “ballraíocht glactha [againn] i gclubanna agus cumainn dhifriúla atá curtha ar fáil ar líne agus ar dhóigh amháin nó ar dhóigh eile, táim cinnte go mbainfimid lántairbhe as an mbliain seo”.

Le linn na n-amanna gan fasach seo, bíonn ort titim isteach leis na cúinsí. Tá sé deacair tú féin a choinneáil dóchasach faoin todhchaí, ach thaispeáin Mathilda agus Maeva dom gur chóir dearcadh dearfach a bheith agat más féidir, fiú mura bhfuil rudaí ag dul de réir mar a bhí beartaithe agat.

Gluais (Glossary) • Dúshlán scáfar - daunting challenge • Ag tnúth go mór - really looking forward to • Bacainní teanga - language barriers • Bhí mé ar mo shuaimhneas - I was comfortable • Pé uair ba mhian liom - whenever I wanted • Cuireadh ár n-eitiltí ar ceal our flights were cancelled • Díghalrán lámh - hand sanitizer • Dóchas - hope • Ballraíocht glactha - joined/ membership • Ar dhóigh amháin nó ar dhóigh eile - either way • Bainfimid lántairbhe - make the most of it • Titim isteach leis na cúinsí adapt to circumstances • Rudaí ag dul de réir mar a bhí beartaithe - things going to plan

ARTWORK BY VICKY SALGANIK FOR TRINITY NEWS

where to buy sustainable face masks in Dublin and online

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he face mask has quickly become the staple accessory for navigating the universally disdained “new normal” brought on by the challenges of Covid-19.

With Dublin now under Level 5 restrictions and uncertainty clouding our expectations for the coming months, the face mask is one of the main long-term weapons in the universal artillery against the spread of coronavirus and, consequently, a daily feature of our wardrobes. We’ve all seen the bright yellow signs outside of public transport stops, retail shops, salons, and most indoor College facilities: face coverings are mandatory.

Now, as much as we all have come to appreciate those powderblue surgical masks that served the populus so bravely in these critical times, it’s time to look into alternatives for college. A small investment in one or two reusable cloth face masks certainly seems like the most sustainable, stylish, and comfortable choice.

Particularly with the challenge of conscience environmentalism in the time of a pandemic, in which sanitizer and plastic wrap act as necessary evils to limit contamination of products, any chance we have to opt against single-use products is one we should readily take. Purchasing a few go-to reusable masks, as opposed to going through boxes of disposable ones, will also be far more cost-effective in the long run.

Supporting small Irish businesses has never been more essential, and, in this effort, we have compiled a list of retailers selling reusable masks online and in Dublin city for when Level 5 restrictions lift.

Online Online shopping has emerged from this pandemic as the dominant method for the sale and purchase of clothing, particularly given the recommendations to limit trips into physical shop spaces.

The Owl One Our first featured mask retailer is a small scale online shop that goes by the endearing moniker, The Owl One, after Mary O’Reilly, a volunteer with the Tramore Hospice Support Group who handmakes each mask. Selling a wide range of reusable cotton masks at a reasonable €9 a piece,

Mary donates €2 of every ask sold to Waterford Hospice in collaboration with the Irish Hospice Foundation.

Face It From the founders of Irelands Eye Knitwear, Face It was started as a way to upcycle donated cotton fabric into reusable masks to be sent to local nursing homes, clinics, and other frontline workers. After consistent demand from their base of knitwear customers, the company began selling their masks and have now rearranged their entire knitwear production factory to focus on crafting these face masks. Face It offers a variety of floral, solid, and other patterned masks at around €13 each, with a surprise “Lucky Dip” option for only €6.50.

Irish Made Masks Created in an effort to stimulate Irish industry during the pandemic, Irish Made Masks designs and produces threelayer cotton masks in Dublin.

This retailer has one of the wider ranges as far as style and pattern, with prices varying from €10 to €22. They even offer custom embroidered masks.

Irish Linen House A textile company based out of Smithfield, Irish Linen House had to close their local storefront as a result of Covid-19, but they have since prioritised the production of reusable face masks over all other products. These masks can now be purchased from their online shop. Their range of face masks feature simple designs made from 100% sustainably sourced Irish linen and, as a nice bonus, come with free shipping within the Republic of Ireland. Jumping on the much-needed good-samaritan

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

ble face coverings

PHOTO BY ZAHRA LOCKETT FOR TRINITY NEWS

Socially distanced dates

Virtual dinner date PHOTO BY RÓISÍN HACKETT FOR TRINITY NEWS

Róisín Hackett on the perfect recipe for distanced dinner and a show

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t was my third day of 14 days of selfisolation. It was off to a bad start as day one was my 22nd birthday. To make matters worse, day four was the start of Level 4 restrictions, and that very day was when I should’ve been recording a virtual gig with my friends.

With all my meals being delivered to my doorstep by my dedicated, but not very vegetarian, parents, I was gagging for some tasty food and a bit of choice. I had been seeing my girlfriend for about two months at that point and we had been semi-joking about a virtual dinner date, and it couldn’t have been suggested at a better time.

bandwagon, Irish Linen House are sending a percentage of the proceeds from their mask sales to Depaul and The Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People as well as frontline healthcare workers and other small businesses in their own Smithfield and Stoneybatter neighbourhood.

We Make Good We Make Good is a Dublinbased social enterprise offering cloth masks made by employees of The Textile Studio — a charity which provides jobs and training to women from refugee backgrounds. Made clear on their website, all masks are made remotely by workers with appropriate PPE and are not touched again until they reach the consumer to prevent any possible contamination by an asymptomatic carrier of Covid-19.

In partnership with the Irish Refugee Council, each mask sold

by We Make Good donates a percentage of profits to someone living in Direct Provision. They also offer a €25 deal, which offers a washable mask while donating a mask to someone in Direct Provision. A full range of these masks is available on their website, but if you find yourself in the D6 area, you can pop into April and the Bear just off Rathmines Road, where they sell We Make Good masks for €16 each.

If you need a Covid-friendly excuse to get out of the house when Level 5 restrictions end, you can journey out to a number of shops in Dublin carrying reusable masks.

Health Matters One of Dublin’s favourite health food shops, Health Matters, has started offering washable

cotton masks for under €5. These can be found in their Grafton Street shop as well as in the Crumlin, Clondalkin, Citywest, and Bray locations. If you are trying to limit your treks into the real world, however, you can still support Health Matters and purchase these reusable masks on their website.

Kilkenny Shop Just across from Trinity on Nassau Street, Kilkenny Shop is now selling a range of Irish-made face coverings with several prints and styles on offer. Kilkenny Shop also offers shipping for online orders.

Foley’s Chemist Pop into Foley’s Chemist on Parnell Street for a variety of reusable face masks. These masks are very affordable, largely ringing under €5. Foley’s range of masks can be also purchased online, and, due to the medical nature of these accessories, most local pharmacies are now carrying options for reusable face coverings.

Supermarket If all else fails, pick a reusable mask up at your nearest Lidl or Tesco!

A face mask may not have been everyone’s ideal fashion statement for the new college year, but if we take it as another way to make the most of a troubling situation, we might just be able to save arts block septum piercings from months of screening. For official guidelines on mask-wearing, mask-washing, and other social distancing recommendations, check the HSE website pages for Covid-19.

You will need : Two devices for video calling Takeaway Candles * Wine / fancy beverage of choice * Cutlery * *optional To summarise a virtual dinner date: it’s just eating takeaway over video chat, a twoway mukbang if you will. You can dress it up or down. You can choose to literally dress up, drink some wine, order some kind of expensive sushi, or, alternatively, go for a tracksuit and cheesy chips type of occasion; the choice is yours. We opted for the latter.

If you have talked to me for longer than five minutes, chances are I have talked about Phibsboro’s, and maybe Dublin’s, finest eatery: Yeeros. This Greek street food restaurant is located less than thirty seconds from The Bernard Shaw and has much less of a gentrification-y reek about the place.

Now, to achieve a yeah-I-guess-it-sortafeels-like-we’re-eating-a-meal-together feel to a virtual-date I would recommend getting a takeaway from the same place.

If you’re further separated by distance on top of restrictions, I’d recommend getting takeaway from at least the same type of cuisine. If you’re not in a city, you may be a bit snookered for choice, but hey, nothing is more romantic than tucking into a fish and chip dinner, illuminated by your laptop glow, with your new grá, right?

Being the gay saps that we are, Anna cycled from town to Phibsboro to pick up and deliver the food to me so we could wave

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To summarise a virtual dinner date: it’s just eating takeaway over video chat

at each other through my window, with a Rapunzel meets when-will-my-husbandreturn-from-war like drama about it. This is an optional step for those who want to go above and beyond, and a deeply adverturous move for hetrosexuals.

Predictably on-brand, I started lashing into my wrap the second I waved her off on her trek home. However, my will to impress overtook my animal instincts, for I immediately remembered our plan and rewrapped my meal. I waited with my food on my laptop for about ten minutes until she called, feeling like one of those babies used in the Stanford Marshmallow experiment or an unnervingly smart dog on TikTok. It had to be a test.

Our data-harvesting platform of choice for wine-ing and dining that night was via Facebook video call but WhatsApp, Zoom, and Google Hangouts were all close contenders. I was only delighted to both see her face pop up on my screen and for an excuse to use my vocal chords for the first time that day. It was delightful to hear tales from the outside world, laugh at our misfortune, hang out and finally eat my Santorini Gyros. Before you ask, I know what you’re thinking. I opted for grilled veg, halloumi, hummus, tzatziki, and chips.

Some alternative virtual date ideas I’ve gathered over the past eight months are: Firstly, getting dressed up for a virtual drink. This could be an option for couples at any stage of their relationship really, but the trick to make it feel like an occasion is getting really glam. We’re talking full face, we’re talking suit, we’re talking body glitter.

Go nuts! It’s your world and we’re all just living in it.

Next on the list is using Netflix Party to watch some terrible, gas or bizarre shows together — anything that you’re going to want to talk about in the middle. I would recommend Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop Lab, any Louis Theroux or Louis Therouxaligned shows, or intentionally awful reality TV like Too Hot To Handle.

Lastly, is seeing how they handle a game of Among Us. This is for couples who have been seeing each other for a little while, you really don’t want to drop a tinder match head-deep into having imposter accusations thrown at them from six of your closest friends. Allegations aside, I do think this is a good way to introduce them to your friends in a casual way when group hangouts are still illegal. Happy wine-ing, happy dining, and happy virtual sixtynining.

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

December Horoscopes DU Astro Soc’s Buse Tobin on what you can expect as we look into the new month

ARTWORK BY ZAHRA LOCKETT FOR TRINITY NEWS

Aries Feel that? Mercury has entered Sagittarius – there’s an air of optimism in your communications.

You’re ready for new and exciting experiences as a New Moon in Sagittarius comes in the middle of the month, and coupled with Venus entering Sagittarius too it’s a time for big ideas, adventure, and new experiences.

Jump in head first – the stars will hold you up.

Taurus It’s a time for developing your love life in new and exciting ways, little Taurus. You may be too locked in a pattern, too settled in your routine and love life.

Branch out, try something new!

Gemini You should feel a new and fresh breath in your communications, Gemini. Are you ready for change? It’s coming!

Think big, as new ideas flow this month. Take leadership, take charge, and take control of your life.

Cancer Take it easy this month, Cancer, and let yourself go with the flow.

Change is a natural part of life – don’t swim against the current. A full Moon in Cancer towards the end of the month offers closure in domestic spheres – let your heart be open.

Leo Are you ready to take charge?

Sagittarius offers much in the way of leadership, as the Sun, Mercury and Venus all enter the sign. Take a chance, let go of a bit of control, and watch your life take new and exciting turns.

Virgo This might be a difficult month for you, as daily routines make way for big changes. Don’t be afraid to take unconventional turns as Aquarius enters Saturn in the middle of the month. Try on some new ideas, let yourself be taken by adventure. True inspiration comes from diversity.

Libra Feelings come to the fore this month, Libra. Develop ideas, and let yourself express them.

There may be changes in your love life – lean into them.

Scorpio The openness of this month might jar you, but allow yourself to flower. New developments might arise in your love life. A whirlwind romance might be on the cards – despite an intense month, open your heart to new possibilities.

Sagittarius It’s your time, baby. The Sun, the Moon, Venus and mercury all bow to you this month.

Whatever you’re thinking about, do it. Now is the time. The work will follow.

Capricorn Settle into a leading role, Capricorn, as we end Decemeber in your season and Mercury in your sign. Remember the easiness of Sagittarius season as you settle into your routine at the end of the month.

Emotional moments might throw you off at the end of the month (looking at you, full moon), but don’t let it keep you down.

Aquarius Are you feeling intellectual?

New ideas will flow, new art will be made, and new connections will bloom. All you have to do is open your heart to it. As Saturn enters Aquarius on the 17th, ready yourself for intellectual pursuits. With hard work, they’ll pay off by the end of the month.

Pisces Sagittarius season offers time to develop the Big aspects of your life – grow, expand, heal and develop.

It’s a time for adventure and for freedom.

Cast off the intensity of November and open yourself to new experiences. They’ll come for you whether you’re ready or not!

This week, the Trinity News art team are exploring what mental wellness in a time of Covid-19 means to them.

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

What’s on(line) in Dublin Wednesday Alice Rawsthorn - Design as an Attitude Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, 6:30pm Thursday Folk and Trad Session Five Lamps Art Festival, 7:15pm Saturday Bike Maintenance Workshop Sustainable Days, 11am Sister Black, by Margaret Hannon An Grianan Theatre, 8pm

What’s on(line) in Trinity Tuesday Beginner’s Debate Training The Phil, 6:30pm Oíche Shóisialta Cumann Gaelach, 7pm Wednesday College Awareness Week Panel Discussion TCDSU, 1pm The Mock Trial DU Players & Law Soc, 8:30pm

What we’re reading

ARTWORK BY MÁRTA MENTA CZINKÓCZKY, JACK SMYTH, VIRGINIA GINNY BERNARDI, ELLA SLOANE AND ZAHRA LOCKETT FOR TRINITY NEWS

Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origins and Spread of Nationalism - Benedict Anderson

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Society life from 1683 to 2020 Grace Fannon on how new societies reflect changing social contexts and student values throughout Trinity’s history

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t Trinity, it is a wellknown fact that the Phil, founded in 1683, is the world’s oldest student debating society. This admittedly impressive information is eagerly brandished from the moment we step into Freshers’ Fair as youthfully impressionable first years, if not before. The Phil is part of the venerable triad of the college’s oldest surviving societies, along with The Hist and The Theological Society (The Theo). But what can the founding of these, the most historic of Trinity’s student societies, tell us about the early days of the college, back to the 17th and 18th centuries, a time of manuscript-reading scholars, black-gowned professors, and plantations? Indeed, how does the emergence of different societies throughout Trinity’s history reflect the social changes going on within the college and within Ireland? From a time when Trinity was perceived as a symbol of the Protestant ascendancy in Ireland through to the Gaelic revival and on to today’s more progressive era, the interests of the college and its students are mirrored in the societies they establish.

The Theo is the third oldest society at Trinity. Auditor Lucas Dowling explains the reasons for its founding in 1830. Since its 1592 beginnings, Trinity College was engaged in training prospective Church of England clergymen, and the Faculty of Divinity (Theology) was “considered the

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Since its 1592 beginnings, Trinity College was engaged in training prospective Church of England clergymen

most important and prized of all the academic departments.”

During their training, the clergymen were expected to complete an exam called the Divinity Testimonium, and The Theo was, in part, established to provide a “space for discussion and mutual support” for those undertaking such studies in theology. It would not be unfounded to suggest that the time of The Theo’s foundation was an era more invested in formal religion than we are now, and also a time when Trinity was still perceived as a distinctly Protestant university, despite having begun accepting Catholic students in 1793. Considering that neither of these things are necessarily true now, where and how does the Theo fit into Trinity?

According to Dowling, it still functions in much the same way, as a place for theological discussion, specifically the study of Christian theology, as the society’s constitution outlines. Dowling believes that Trinity’s identity is “invested in many ways with a Christian heritage”, evident in the traditions that we still uphold, such as Choral Evensong, and even in the complete formal name of the college. In fact, Church of Ireland ordinands still study at Trinity. Many might think that certain teachings of the Christian Church are antithetic to how Trinity presents itself and its ideals today, but Dowling considers The Theo a place to do the “hard work” in regard to asking questions about the doctrines of the Church and facilitating discussion about the role of faith in the college and in our own lives.

When it comes to Trinity’s identity, Irish culture is now prominent within the college despite its colonised origins. An Cumann Gaelach TCD exists to promote Irish language and culture at the college. Ciara Ní Mhurchú, An Cumann Gaelach’s Chairperson, explains how the society’s foundation in 1907 aligns with the Gaelic revival, or Athbheochan na Gaeilge, a late 19th century movement which sought to bring Irish culture and traditions back to an Ireland that had become anglified since the plantations of the 16th century.

This was a time when people were, as Ní Mhurchú describes, “starting to show more interest in the Irish language and culture”, and the society was established in the context of a “debate about whether it would be worthwhile to have a society for the Irish language”. Some famous figures involved in An Cumann Gaelach’s founding were Douglas Hyde and WB Yeats, whose names alone conjure up a spirit of 20th century patriotism.

Interestingly, the society was originally called Dublin University Gaelic Society. Ní Mhurchú explains that “in its early years, the

“

Our purpose was, initially, to engage in radical activism, fight for our rights, and let ‘polite society’ know that we would not hide anymore society’s meetings were conducted through English and it wasn’t until the 1920s that the meetings were conducted through Irish and all the minutes were taken in Irish.”

This in itself indicates the progress made in the advancement and promotion of Irish culture in the early 20th century. As to whether it was worthwhile to establish a society dedicated to the Irish language, the growth of An Cumann Gaelach to one of Trinity’s largest

societies is an answer in and of itself.

The early decades of the 20th century were a time of rapid progression in re-establishing a distinctly Irish cultural identity.

Subsequently, the later decades of the century were a time of rapid progression when it came to creating what could be called a more inclusive, liberally minded Irish society. Ireland today is hugely different to the Ireland of the 1950s and 60s as can be seen, for instance, in the rights and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people.

Luca Caroli, Auditor of Q Soc, explains that the society can trace its origins back to the “first gender and sexuality minority activist group” active in Ireland in the 1970s: The Sexual Liberation Movement. Across the world and within Ireland, the 1970s are known as a time of social revolution and a rethinking of traditionally accepted beliefs. Q Soc, originally called The Gay Society, was officially founded in 1982 to fight against discrimination and bigotry. This was a radical move in an Ireland still quite conservative and still very much integrated with the Catholic Church. As Caroli describes: “our purpose was, initially, to engage in radical activism, fight for our rights, and let ‘polite society’ know that we would not hide anymore. That has not changed

to this day.” Although the general aim of the society is the same today, the society has changed with the times. From being The Gay Society, it has expanded to accept more people of different sexualities. Caroli also explains that rather than acting primarily as a place for activism, Q Soc now functions as a “safe space” where people can escape prejudice and explore their sexuality and gender identity. However, discrimination still exists within Ireland today, and the society is “still here to educate the college community both within and without Q Soc about LGBTQ+ topics.”

These three societies, founded at different times in Trinity’s history, present a picture of a changing Ireland, and within that, a changing college. This is true today; among the most recent additions to Trinity’s collection of societies are the Vegan Society and Trinity Young Greens, suggestive of a more environmentally conscious student body. There are many ways to gauge how the values and interests of the student body have developed over time, but perhaps a surprisingly effective way of doing that is to look at the societies the student body chooses to establish. It is of note that 2020 has brought us the possible addition of a BBQ Society.

Make of that what you will.

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

Should we even count?

Saoirse Joy unpacks the stigma of one’s sexual body count, and whether it should matter at all

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make no secret of the fact that I love sex. It’s something that, as a single college student in her early twenties, I enjoy immensely, especially after a brief quarantine induced hiatus, and something that I don’t feel ashamed of enjoying.

But recently, a discussion came up with my friends in which we revealed the number of the people we have slept with. In my less than sober state I was mortified, and vowed in that moment I was going to pack my bags and join a nunnery somewhere in the middle of nowhere to escape the shame I felt.

However, as the night drew on, I realised that it wasn’t necessarily that I was being seen in a negative light by other people, but that subconsciously,

I myself felt ashamed of my number. Rationally, I was able to tell myself that it’s an incredibly arbitrary scale of measurement for something that, I would argue, doesn’t even need to be measured.

So why does it have such a hold on me?

The first suggestion to appear when you google body count is “body count for ladies”. When you click into that, you are met with a whole host of Youtube videos, magazine articles, and Reddit

threads discussing the average number of sexual partners women should have in their lifetimes, and, by extension, whether or not the number holds any meaning. Does it matter? Should we even count?

When I approached my friends with this topic, I was particularly surprised with the range of answers I received. People seemed conflicted. Although the general consensus was that as long as everything was consensual, there was no magic number they

ARTWORK BY MEERA ENQELYA FOR TRINITY NEWS

deemed to be too much, even with my most sexually-liberal friends, there was an implied asterix where they confided there would be a point where the number was too large. On the whole, the overwhelming answer was that not only did it not matter, but it was really none of anyone else’s business. What was interesting then, was when I asked whether or not they thought there should be a conversation about one’s own body count with a potential partner. The most surprising difference was the way in which the men and women answered when I asked if they would want to know their partner’s number.

Almost all of the women I asked said yes. I can’t help but wonder why; is this pure curiosity, or is it because, as women, we know that our number is far more likely to be judged than a man’s is?

No matter how hard we try to combat it, there is still a cultural stigma attached to women who have multiple sexual partners.

Take Love Island for example, where summer after summer, no one bats an eyelid when the boys boast about how many hundreds of women they have

slept with. But when Winter Love Island’s Rebecca revealed that she had slept with 20 to 30 men in her life, Twitter was awash with complaints that she was a bad influence to young girls. The problem with that is that women are liable to be called “sluts” irrespective of how they behave.

You can be called a slut for wearing too much; not wearing enough, for having male friends, for the way you present yourself to the world, and even for the beliefs and opinions you hold. The word, which literally originated as a means to describe people who were physically unkempt or dirty, is undoubtedly an incredibly loaded term. We are so terrified of being called a slut that we forget that it’s meant to signify someone who has multiple sexual partners.

By that definition, I am a slut.

How, then, do you move past the dishonour of the word to move into indifference? I believe that the reclamation of the word must first come from the acceptance that your “number” is nothing but a concept; a concept that is both unimportant and anachronistic.

Sex is an integral part of the human experience but one that doesn’t define who we are as people. As long as the sex you engage in is consensual, mutually fulfilling, and enjoyable, then crack on, lads.

The past shows us a path towards a sustainable life There is much to learn from the past when it comes to securing our future, writes Sophie Brennan

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s we moved out of lockdown, Dublin sought to create wider footpaths and cycle tracks to accommodate a safe reopening of the city. Eager to take advantage, I began to search for a new bike.

However, one peripheral impact of Covid-19 has been an increase in bike sales. This made it difficult for me to find one in time for the start of the academic year.

I eventually managed to buy one from Adverts and set off to collect it, hoping that it would not disappoint. Having travelled from Dublin to the countryside I rejoiced upon arrival that weeks of committed searching for the perfect new bike had prevailed – I had found the one. However, I also found that my road trip gave me the chance to pause and reflect

on some wider issues. It led me to thoughts of sustainability, of nature, and the way in which we view the past and its link to our future.

Country dwellers still root their lives in a common experience. In the upkeep of traditions, the preservation of old buildings — all of which cement a sense of heritage.

Nature works in tandem with the countryside to prevent the advent of swift broadband, a potential disturbance to the natural waves and rhythms of the camprestral world. Evolution is seen in the plough, the role of animals, breeding and crop production, improving due to the necessary inducement of humanity’s need for nutrition. The countryside has evolved by its own nature, at its own pace. This is in contrast to the rapidly changing, forceful industrialisation of the city. As I process these feelings, I wonder if perhaps the answer to the future question of a sustainable life lives in the advances of the past as opposed to the technological present and future.

For a long time now, we have known of the dangers associated with global warming, yet we have not taken sufficient action to prevent it. We will eventually

reach a stage where we must finally stop peeking around the corner with inert trepidation, and instead, turn the corner to confront the problem. The appearance of the PX-10 model Peugeot bicycle in my life seemed to me like a call to make my own turn. Compared to the bike models I had been viewing in contemporary bike shops, this model seemed very trendy to me. Already I felt my cool alter ego bloom. As I pondered, the owner told me how she used to ride this very bicycle to school every morning about 40 years ago.

Just then I felt a different wave of emotion, a woe for all today’s products that will live on only in memory, never to be physically handed down to younger generations. Will the future’s past even exist without any heirlooms to pass on?

One day I cycled to meet my friend El, a long-time, earnest bike rider. While giving them a detailed rundown of my now treasured bike, they became wonderstruck by the dynamo light. In particular by how largely sustainable it is, a release from batteries still yet unfortunately little known about. For those unfamiliar with this dutiful light, a dynamo is a machine resembling

ARTWORK BY ELLA SLOANE FOR TRINITY NEWS

a small bottle mounted to a bicycle’s fork, turned by the tire or rim, thereby converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. The dynamo, introduced in the mid-1930s, continued to be widely produced up to the 1980s.

It does make me wonder, why was their production stopped?

Particularly in the age where global warming is beginning to exert its most damaging effects, the dynamo being recyclable as scrap metal and absent of hazardous chemicals should be valued as a godsend.

Writing from experience, I’m happy to report that the dynamo light is convenient, always

switched on, secure, as it does not appeal to bicycle thieves, and perhaps most importantly, reliable even in the capricious Irish weather conditions. Moreover, coming from the view of a nightcyclist aficionado, the magic of the flickering beam throwing light ahead is the happiest way to live. In addition, I feel the dynamo helps me feel safest, an unfortunate but necessary consideration for a female cyclist.

Will the future’s past even exist without any heirlooms to pass on?

Everyone tells us to learn from the past, but this not just in regards to their mistakes, but also their successes.

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Making: Mezze Alfie Fletcher on how to make Middle Eastern sharing plates

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ezze is a table creaking under the weight of mismatched plates.

Mezze is colours, glistening with olive oil and flecked with herbs and spices. Mezze is competitive: who can wipe more hummus onto their pitta; whose elbows can beat away their neighbour to reach that last falafel?

But most of all, mezze is about sharing. There are no individual portions, just plates of deliciousness for everyone to dip into.

When I went to visit family in Israel, it’s not the Wailing Wall that I remember, it’s mezze.

Roughly translated as snacks, or tasting, having an array of small sharing plates is a common feature across the Middle East, the Balkans, and northern Africa.

This means that there is no strict regime, as different dishes are prepared across the different territories. Think taramasalata in Greece, or baba ganoush in Lebanon. As long as it fits on a plate, and can be easily shared, then it’s mezze.

Below, I have included some ideas for how to create a mezze spread of your own. The recipes are inspired by Ottolenghi – the Marco Polo of Middle Eastern food. I have tried to give recipes for food you might not have eaten before - there are enough recipes about hummus in the world (by all means make your own because homemade hummus is nectar compared to the grainy artifice of supermarkets) and the same goes for baba ganoush. Also, each of the dishes I have chosen has an excellent afterlife, able to reappear later in the week as something new. There is also a recipe for pitta bread, which is the heart of every table, the edible cutlery of mezze.

Although there are lots of components to consider, they can all be prepared earlier in the day.

When your guests arrive, you can relax, take some plates out of the fridge, and fight over the hummus.

Labneh Tart and refreshing, Labneh is the creamy palate cleanser at the table, acting as a base to the other flavours competing at the table.

And, it couldn’t be easier to make.

Look at how short this ingredient list is: • 1kg natural yoghurt, full fat • 10g salt Mix the two together, and then spoon into either a cheese cloth, muslin, nutbag, or even a clean t-shirt. Place that bag in a sieve, and put that in a large bowl to

trap the liquid released. Weigh it down with a couple of cans and leave in the fridge for 12-36 hours; it should halve in volume. Spoon into a jar and cover with olive oil, or directly onto the plate, and drizzle with olive oil.

Labneh can be eaten on its own as a dip, but its versatility is what is so endearing. Use it instead of butter to make your sandwich more interesting, or eat it with roasted vegetables to provide a contrast to their deep flavour.

But also try it in a sweet context: Ottolenghi has a recipe for labneh with mixed berries, dressed in orange-infused olive oil. It is amazing.

Muhammara This recipe, made across the Levant, requires slightly more work, but the burst of flavour in your mouth makes it entirely worth the effort. It is also an excellent contrast to the creamy labneh.

• 3 red peppers • 50g walnuts • 50g breadcrumbs • Half a lemon’s juice • 1 clove of garlic • 1 tsp chilli flakes • 1 tsp cumin powder • 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses • 2 tbsp olive oil Roast the peppers in a 200C oven for 25-30 mins, until a bit charred. Place in a lidded bowl to steam for a few minutes. When the skins are peeled, add to a blender (or pestle and mortar if you’re feeling authentic and energetic) with the rest of the ingredients. Pulse until it is chunky, and spread on the plate. Drizzle with olive oil and pomegranate molasses (it’s hard to come across, but adds an extra punch of flavour.)

Crushed Peas with Herbs and Feta This is not traditional mezze fare, and again owes its inspiration to Ottolenghi. But given how delicious and year-round frozen peas are, and how fresh and zesty the dish tastes, I think it deserves to be added to the mezze canon.

• 500g frozen peas (go for petit pois) • 15g mint • 15g parsley • The juice of a lemon • 1 clove of garlic • Salt • Pepper • 100g feta Blanche the peas in boiling water and then refresh under a cold tap. Add to a food processor (or pestle and mortar), add the rest of the ingredients (apart from the feta), and pulse until still fairly chunky. Spread the mix on a plate, and crumble over feta. Top with olive oil (or the Za’atar oil below).

Za’atar Oil Za’atar is a herb and spice mixture that varies across the Middle East. You can sprinkle it over anything, adding perfume

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Pitta is one of the most ancient breads, and perhaps it is its simplicity that has carried it through the ages

PHOTO BY ALFIE FETCHER FOR TRINITY NEWS

and texture to dishes. Letting it infuse in oil allows that flavour to coat your mouth. Swirl it across the top of your labneh; or just dip your pitta into it.

• 2 tsp za’atar • 50ml olive oil Ten Pittas So far, we haven’t been presented with too much of a challenge.

But making bread; shouldn’t that be left to bakers? Well, no. Pitta is one of the most ancient breads, and perhaps it is its simplicity that has carried it through the ages.

It is both forgiving – and hard to get wrong. Not only that, but the difference in quality between the flabby cardboard that is found in the back of a supermarket in the long-life section, or the smell of fresh bread scenting your kitchen… it will leave your guests’ jaws hanging.

• 500g flour (bread flour) • 350g luke warm water (high hydration to increase puff) • 10g salt • 8g active dry yeast • 20g olive oil Mix the yeast into the water with your hands, and then gradually add the flour. Mix in the bowl until all the flour is incorporated.

Keep kneading in the bowl for a few more minutes, and then let it rest for ten minutes (to allow the gluten to relax).

Add the salt and olive oil, and with a wet hand, knead for another five minutes (you can do this in the bowl by scooping the dough underneath and stretching it). Then leave in a warm place for 1 hour to allow it to prove. (You could do this process in the morning, and leave it in the fridge until 1 hour before you want to eat.)

Turn on the oven to max heat.

Invert a baking tray and leave it in the oven to heat – this will be the cooking surface.

Turn out the dough onto the table, and separate into 10 pieces.

Round them into balls, and then leave them to relax for 15 mins.

Then, using a rolling pin or a wine bottle, roll them into 15cm rounds, or until 0.5cm thick. (Too thin and they won’t puff, too thick and they won’t cook). Use plenty of flour so that they don’t stick to the rolling pin. Leave the discs for another ten minutes under a damp cloth.

Working quickly, place the pittas onto the hot tray, and let them cook for 5 mins. They should puff up nicely. Take them out and keep them wrapped in a cotton cloth to preserve the moisture.

Place your plates in the middle of the table, arm your guests with pitta bread and you’re ready to mezze. Don’t let tradition dictate you: open up your soul to mezze.

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

Coping with grief in isolation Nicole Gent says there is no correct way to mourn, but there are ways to ease the pain

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y Granny died on May 9. During the first lockdown, while people worried about haircuts, holidays and toilet roll, my family were most concerned about our family’s matriarch, at first alone in hospital and then in a beautiful hospice with a TV and a lovely view of a garden. Daily figures coincided with our daily phone call from Granny.

It is important to remember that all suffering in a pandemic is relative, and if this had happened three or four years ago, before Granny got cancer, she would also have complained about cancelled flights and haircuts and stupid household rules that don’t make sense. She’d have been up to us in early March with enough pasta and flour to survive an apocalypse. That was just the sort of woman she was.

Grief is an awkward subject for Irish people. I’ve googled “coping with grief during Covid-19” enough to know that advice like “video chat and message your friends” just doesn’t cut it. Shows like Fleabag and After Life are much better guides to the grieving process. Some people aren’t lucky enough to have access to mental health services, and Irish society being so shrouded in guilt as it is, some won’t feel like they’ve had it “bad enough’’ to deserve it — which is a lie, by the way. Here are some of the things about grief that I’ve picked up along the way that I hope might help you too.

Be angry Anger will come your way. It’s natural, as it’s not fair that this has happened to you or your loved ones. You might find yourself spying out your bedroom window at neighbours breaking lockdown rules, stalking an ex, or caught in an endless despairing cycle of scrolling through stupid people commenting stupid things under Reddit or The Journal posts. I had to keep asking myself “why?” to try and snap myself out of it.

Then a monk on an episode of This Morning said that “holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”. It resonated with me. I realised that I only felt this way because it somewhat rationalised what I was going through in a way pre-grief me could understand. You might not get angry, but your grief will come out in an unusual way, so try to understand

PHOTO BY ELLA SLOANE FOR TRINITY NEWS

why it comes in the way it does.

Try to feel it, but not act on it. As much as I wanted to message my ex-boyfriend to air old grievances, I don’t think that would’ve been the best way to commemorate my Granny. Then again, she probably would’ve just laughed.

Don’t be too hard on yourself If you do message that ex-boyfriend, don’t get swallowed up in a cycle of shame. Don’t be afraid to eat junk food either. Don’t start to beat yourself up about things you should and shouldn’t have done when your loved one was still here. If you get to say goodbye, that’s amazing, but the truth is: death is messy and unpredictable, and while you may be able to have a beautiful funeral, it’s harder to have a beautiful death.

If there are things you didn’t get to say, write them down. If there are things you regret, forget about them. People say life is short but the truth is, life is long — long enough to have fights with people and for those fights not to matter at the end. I didn’t get to say

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Don’t be afraid to cry because your loved one’s phone contract got cancelled

goodbye, and my Granny and I fought all the time — women! But we loved each other. We wouldn’t have fought otherwise, and that’s all that really matters.

Live on as if they’re still here Some of us believe in God and heaven, and that can be a huge relief when someone’s passed. “She’s up there having a laugh at us with a cup of tea and a cigarette,” Mam and I would say to each other when we got particularly upset.

Some of us don’t, and that’s okay too. It was in David Nicholls’ One Day that I read another impactful quote about grief — that you have to keep living as if she’s still here. It is important though. Your loved one doesn’t want you to fall apart and get stuck. They are not gone from the world because they are dead either. They live on in memories, in cards and letters they sent, messages, pictures and videos. Sometimes when I feel stuck or torn, I ask myself: “what would Granny do?” She was always a moral compass and guide for me before, why should that change now?

There are so many losses to get through After the funeral, you’re aimless. Between funeral planning, wakes, and pre- and post-funeral customs, you’ll be so busy that once it’s all over you’ll just be glad to be alone. I’m not the most social of people, so the coronavirus loss-of-pints-after-the-funeral was a blessing in disguise for me. I did miss the sandwiches though.

The arrival of the platters of sandwiches in the pub does not mark the end of your grief, in normal times anyway. After losing Granny, we had to go through losing the world that surrounded

her bit by bit. We had to lose her home that was so dear to us as it contained so much of her, and my aunt and my cousin had to go back to their lives in Australia after Granny’s estate was resolved and probate was granted.

Sometimes it can feel like a never-ending stream of grief on top of grief on top of grief, and I reckon that the only remedy is to grieve them as you are grieving the person. Don’t be ashamed to cry because your loved one’s phone contract got cancelled.

People will let you down They do. Friends will conveniently forget to text you to say “sorry for your loss” even though it only takes a minute, or say wildly inappropriate things under the guise of being funny or edgy.

It’s part and parcel of grieving as a teenager or someone in their early 20s, although people don’t stop being disingenuous and insincere in their late 20s — they just get better at hiding it. I had men try to use my grief as an opportunity for a bit of trauma bonding.

Another friend was so supportive, and, after two weeks, reckoned all that emotional labour was deserving of some nudes.

Don’t be disheartened. There are some really wonderful people in the world who more than make up for the idiots. For example, the amazing person you’ve just lost.

The fact that you are grieving is proof that there are people in the world worth loving.

Your peer group aren’t the only ones worth your time. My dad’s best friend texted me every second day to let me know that I could talk to him about anything.

I am not ashamed to admit that I have struck up some good friendships with my Mam’s friends since

May. One of my new friends even taught me one of the most important things I’ve learnt, which leads me to my next point.

Acceptance Grief is a spiritual journey. It will make you question everything you believe in. You will find yourself agreeing with things pre-grief you would never have considered before. Whatever your journey, acceptance will have to be a part of it, and it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

My Granny was the centre of our family and did everything she could to protect us from things within her control. Things outside of her control too, as she did whatever she could to protect us from the reality of her death. She even organised her own funeral so we didn’t have to, so I really do believe that she’s now protecting us from above.

Don’t be afraid to talk to people about how you really feel. You’ll be surprised by how much people who might not have even gone through grief will understand.

Eat well and sleep well, now is not the time to try to lose those few pounds that have been getting at you. Make sure to spend some selfish time on yourself, whether that’s doing a face mask, going to get your nails done or spending a day in bed laughing at stupid YouTube videos.

Try to limit your time on social media and on the news, it won’t make you feel better about life.

Don’t be afraid to move on when something feels right, because moving on is a myth. Your loved one will always be an important part of your life no matter what you do. And if you haven’t already, do watch Fleabag. I promise it will help.

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Grow your green How to switch up y quarantine friends Anatasia Fedosova details how to start your own home herb garden

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hen doing a grocery shop, I like to look for items that give me versatility in the kitchen. Having done extensive food research as someone who happens to eat every day, I have compiled a list of ten items that I feel every kitchen deserves. With them you still need your basic carbs, vegetables, and proteins. But they might add a bit of jazz to your cooking, making the weekly mundane meal a touch more exciting.

Courgettes An often overlooked vegetable, courgettes have a wide array of applications. Their high water content makes them great in soups and they can be roasted slowly with spice to be flavourful.

They are ludicrously healthy, containing a large amount of vitamin C, and are a nice change to just eating lettuce and bell peppers all the time. A nice fresh vegetable that has underrated versatility. The only thing to note is that they are going out of season fast so make sure to get them when they are in stock now.

Sriracha Sauce This is my favourite chilli sauce. It is just spicy enough that you feel some warmth, but not so much so that it is overpowering.

It is great as a glaze when your meat is nearing completion in the frying pan; it can be added to chilli con carne to add depth and kick, or mixed with mayonnaise to create a dipping sauce for whatever you may fancy.

Balsamic Vinegar Balsamic Vinegar is often used in salad dressings and it does that job very well — I eat salad exclusively for that sweet and sour kick — but it also has such a deep flavour that it can add richness to any sauce if added in early and cooked slowly. A little bit goes a very long way.

Sweet Potato Fries (from frozen) Sweet potato fries are undoubtedly delicious and a great alternative to the average chip,

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ays went on, months crept by. My friends were spread around the globe, shops and restaurants remained closed, all social activities were moved online and I had nothing to do. After a marathon of Friends and Harry Potter, I turned to cross-stitching, meditation, and learning Irish. But lockdown got to me at last. I realised the time had come: time to start gardening.

Spending most of the time at home indoors, I started to miss nature, and winter was fast approaching. The idea of having my very own piece of flora that would remind me of summer’s freshness and greenness perched on my windowsill filled my mind. However, I didn’t just want fancy blooms, I wanted functionality. Thus, instead of making a simple garden, I settled on herbs. Not only are herbs easy to grow, but they are also nice to look at and can be used in pretty much any sort of cooking.

The variety of herbs one can grow at home is wide: from more traditional ones like parsley and thyme, to lavender and oregano. I settled on basil, parsley and mint – easily found in any local supermarket. Indeed, one of the benefits of home gardening is that you can get as creative as you want, so let your inner artist out. You can get some large glass jars, or take old cups and kettles, or coffee cans, or no longer used cupboard drawers, or simply beautiful pots. The options are endless. However, keep in mind that for this you will have to get some loose soil, and perhaps gloves and a shovel. When transferring the plant, keep the roots covered with an earth clod and don’t forget to water it afterwards. If you are putting the plant in a non-conventional ‘pot’, place some expanded clay aggregate (or any kind of small stones, for that matter) on the bottom of the container. That is for good drainage, so that water does not stagnate and the plant’s roots do not rot.

Speaking of moisture, water your plants approximately once a week, or when necessary, that is, when the earth dries.

Unfortunately, Level 5 interfered with my brilliant plans. All gardening-related shops shut down, and I was unable to get my hands on some mud. I would have gone and robbed the neighbouring

Ten underappreciated items every kitchen deserves, writes Tom Comer

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PHOTO BY ANATASIA FEDOSOVA FOR TRINITY NEWS

Absolutely anyone can become a home gardener

park, but I am not sure my student accommodation would have approved. Thus, I ended up having three supermarket pots and no gardening tools whatsoever. Now, if you are wondering if supermarket pots put in a row on a windowsill can be considered to be a legitimate garden, my answer is yes! – as long as you name them.

Let me introduce you to my green trio: Basil Christopher. Basil originates in Italy and is a beloved herb across Italian cooking. In Genoa, they love it so much that they invented Genoese pesto – a paste with pine nuts, garlic, parmesan, olive oil and basil.

Mint Alice. That is easily explained as well. For me, mint is strongly associated with tea. Tea, I associate with tea-parties, and tea-parties with Alice in Wonderland. Therefore, meet Mint Alice!

As a matter of fact, mint tea is not the only way of using the herb.

You can try and make mint jam, you can also add a handful of mint into your morning smoothie; or, and this is the best one, freeze the leaves and drop them into a glass of water, or mojito (depending on how stressful the week in college

has been).

Parsley W.B. Yeats. No comment here, it might just as easily have been Joyce, or Agatha, or Bronte, or Dostoevsky after all! On the one hand, I am paying tribute to my degree. If I was studying Physics, I would have probably had a baby Albert on my windowsill. On the other hand, me naming a plant after a writer is just an intrinsic thing. I have to confess, I am not the biggest fan of parsley flavour, but, luckily enough, my flatmate is obsessed with it. She adds parsley leaves to her salad, soup and just uses it as garnish for almost every dish.

W.B. almost died because I totally forgot to water him. Normally, supermarket pots will have little holes in the bottom – that is for drainage. Instead of just pouring water at the top of the pot, place it into a container or a bowl and add water in there. Be generous! To put it simply, the container should never be empty. However, it is important to maintain balance, because overwatering causes the roots to rot.

Sunshine is vital for plants.

Therefore, place them on a windowsill or a balcony – somewhere light and warm. Now, some might say that Ireland and the sun in one sentence is an oxymoron. Well, if you want to get really fancy, you can purchase a lamp for plants, there are some compact and lowcost ones online.

The key thing to realise here is that absolutely anyone can become a home gardener. I have never grown anything in my entire life, and now I have my own mint leaves to add in tea and fresh basil to use in my recipes. I am excited to keep experimenting with my plants, adding to the family, and I hope I managed to inspire you to grow a home garden too. Enjoy your herbs!

They might add a bit of jazz to your cooking, making your weekly mundane meal a touch more exciting

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

your weekly shop providing more nutrients and vitamins. When bought from frozen they are cheaper but can also be quickly rustled up on those cold weeknights when all you want is chips.

Celery Salt An often overlooked flavouring, celery salt provides a richness and saltiness to your dish. The flavour is quite far removed from celery itself but it is an excellent seasoning for vegetables.

Happy Pear Fresh Pesto Happy Pear pesto sauce is healthy, delicious, and has so many applications in the kitchen.

Pasta is such a staple in the student diet. Flavouring it with this fresh pesto goes a long way as it has a vibrancy and freshness that many jarred pesto’s don’t.

Don’t limit its use to pasta; pesto sits nicely on top of roasted veg, delicately flavors a salad, and also seasons soups.

Chorizo The Spanish brother of pepperoni, chorizo has a phenomenal flavour and many supermarkets now make ownbrand versions, so it can be found inexpensively. It has a smoky sweet flavour of paprika, so brings a new level to tomato sauce, a carbonara or even a fajita mix.

Make sure to cook it first in the pan then add its accompaniments to absorb its flavoursome oil.

Lao Gan Ma A brilliant chilli oil that adds a delicious spice to any dish, it can be added to sandwiches or wraps to give them a real kick or can be simmered slowly in a sauce to add layers of rich and deep spice. It can be found in any of the bigger supermarkets and I know

O BY VICKY SALGANIK FOR TRINITY NEWS

that Tesco stocks it in the asian section.

Dukkah This nutty spice mix is great for sprinkling on top of any savoury dish to give it an extra zing of flavour and texture.

Made from ground sesame seeds, nuts and savoury spices, it adds earthly undertones which compliment other flavours nicely without being overwhelming.

A traditional Eyptian spice mix, it is used to coat meats, but I personally love to use it as I would chopped peanuts on a curry or in wraps. Either way, it is a brilliant simple flavour booster.

Quinoa A great alternative to rice or pasta, quinoa is very healthy, containing all nine essential amino acids. It can always be eaten in place of couscous or rice, or cold in a nice fresh salad. Some people even like to have it sweet with honey for breakfast.

With these ingredients and a few others you should be able to make this recipe, which I personally found to be delicious.

Spicy Pork with Quinoa, Sweet Potato Fries, and Salad Preparation: Marinate your pork, though the recipe would work with chicken, or maybe even mushrooms or tofu, in a mixture of your chilli oil, a clove of garlic, and some paprika. It can be marinated long term but I recommend around two hours in the fridge because it lowers the risk of forgetfulness.

Method: • Cook the sweet potato fries according to the instructions on the packet. Season with salt, pepper, garlic granules, and some sage if you have it.

Meanwhile finely chop one red onion, quarter some cherry tomatoes, and roughly chop your lettuce.

• Add some neutral cooking oil to your pan and put it on mediumlow heat, add half your onion and your pork chops. Add some crushed chillies and celery salt.

To assemble the salad, add the other half of your onion, your lettuce, and tomatoes into a bowl. I add just a teaspoon of Lao gan ma, balsamic vinegar, and some celery salt to really give it a nice fresh kick.

• Continue to cook your pork chops on medium-low heat for around 12 minutes, then finish them off with 1-2 minutes on high heat to develop a nice crust. Now it is important to note that your pork may take longer, or shorter depending on the size of the cut and just how hot your pan is. Make sure it is cooked all the way through.

Remove sweet potato fries when they’re done.

• Finish pork chops with a squeeze of lemon juice, and serve with microwaved quinoa, your lovely fresh salad, and your delicious sweet potato fries.

PHOTO BY ZAHRA LOCKETT FOR TRINITY NEWS

Shopping ethically online Shopping sustainably and ethically doesn’t have to mean forfeiting online shopping addictions, writes Fern Kelly

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he‌ ‌pandemic‌ ‌restrictions‌ ‌have‌ ‌been‌ ‌tough‌ ‌on‌ ‌all‌ ‌of‌ ‌us‌ ‌and‌ ‌even‌ ‌tougher‌ ‌on‌ ‌our‌ ‌bank‌ ‌ accounts.‌ ‌When‌ ‌lockdown‌ ‌began‌ ‌in‌ ‌early‌ ‌March ‌we‌ ‌resorted‌ ‌to‌ ‌seeking‌ ‌comfort‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌ anticipated‌ ‌arrival‌ ‌of‌ ‌our‌ ‌latest‌ ‌online‌ ‌purchases.‌ ‌Naturally,‌ ‌we‌ ‌turned‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌fool‌proof‌ ‌method‌ ‌of‌ ‌retail‌ ‌therapy‌ ‌to‌ ‌counteract‌ ‌our‌ ‌lockdown‌ ‌blues.‌ ‌Thanks to restricted movements, however, it‌ ‌is‌ ‌more‌ ‌tempting‌ ‌and‌ ‌more‌ ‌accessible‌ ‌than‌ ‌ever‌ ‌to‌ ‌feed‌ ‌into‌ ‌the‌ ‌sites‌ ‌that‌ ‌reign‌ ‌over‌ ‌the‌ ‌fast‌ ‌fashion‌ ‌industry — but‌ ‌that‌ ‌is‌ ‌not‌ ‌your‌ ‌only‌ ‌option.‌ ‌The‌ ‌prevalence‌ ‌of‌ ‌eco‌‌-conscious‌ ‌attitudes‌ ‌on‌ ‌social‌ ‌media‌ ‌have‌ ‌propelled‌ ‌the‌ ‌notion‌ ‌of‌ ‌fashion‌ ‌sustainability‌ ‌into‌ ‌our‌ ‌everyday lives. ‌Tips‌ ‌and‌ ‌tricks‌ ‌for‌ ‌shopping‌ ‌ethically‌, ‌and‌ ‌more‌ ‌importantly,‌ ‌cost‌ ‌efficiently,‌ ‌are‌ ‌everywhere.

By‌ ‌being‌ ‌mindful‌ ‌of‌ ‌your‌ ‌current‌ ‌wardrobe‌ ‌contents ‌you‌ ‌decrease‌ ‌the‌ ‌opportunity‌ ‌of ‌buying‌ ‌slightly‌ ‌varied‌ ‌replicas‌ ‌of‌ ‌what‌ ‌you‌ ‌already‌ ‌own.‌ ‌Trends‌ ‌and‌ ‌styling‌ ‌fads‌ ‌change‌ ‌constantly and‌ ‌companies‌ ‌such‌ ‌as‌ ‌Pretty Little Thing ‌and‌ ‌Boohoo‌ ‌are‌ ‌aware‌ ‌of‌ ‌this‌ ‌and‌ ‌use‌ ‌it‌ ‌to‌ ‌their‌ ‌commercial‌ ‌advantage.‌ ‌The‌ ‌truth‌ ‌is,‌ ‌we‌ ‌are‌ ‌all‌ ‌guilty‌ ‌of‌ ‌buying‌ ‌something‌ ‌we‌ ‌don’t‌ ‌necessarily‌ ‌need,‌ ‌especially when ‌one‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Kardashians‌ ‌looked‌ ‌so‌ ‌good‌ ‌in‌ ‌it‌. We‌ ‌didn’t‌ ‌have‌ ‌a‌ ‌choice.‌ ‌As‌ ‌a‌ ‌result,‌ ‌your‌ ‌14‌th‌‌ ‌black‌ ‌bodysuit‌ ‌is‌ ‌left‌ ‌gathering‌ ‌dust‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌darkest‌ ‌alcoves‌ ‌of‌ ‌your‌ ‌wardrobe‌ ‌and‌ ‌is‌

‌never‌ ‌worn.‌ ‌Reducing‌ ‌how‌ ‌often‌ ‌we‌ ‌shop‌ ‌online‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌major‌ ‌step‌ ‌to‌ ‌shopping‌ ‌more‌ ‌sustainably.‌ ‌ The next step is asking yourself: ‌do‌ ‌I‌ ‌need‌ ‌this?‌ ‌Do‌ ‌I‌ ‌already‌ ‌own‌ ‌something‌ ‌similar?‌ Don’t‌ ‌get‌ ‌me‌ ‌wrong,‌ ‌I’m‌ ‌familiar‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌excitement‌ ‌associated‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌new‌ ‌purchase‌ ‌and‌ ‌how‌ ‌great‌ ‌it‌ ‌feels ‌to‌ ‌wear‌ ‌your‌ ‌new‌ ‌fit ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌next‌ ‌big‌ ‌night‌ ‌out.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌shopping‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌purpose‌ ‌is‌ ‌way‌ ‌more‌ ‌rewarding‌ ‌than‌ ‌shopping‌ ‌for‌‌novelty’s sake. We‌‌can be both ‌fashionable‌ ‌and ethical‌ly ‌and sustainably conscious, they don’t have to be mutually exclusive. ‌ Shopping‌ for ‌vintage‌ ‌and‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌clothing‌ ‌has‌ ‌expensive‌ ‌connotations,‌ many‌ ‌of‌ ‌our‌ ‌beloved‌ ‌stores‌ stocking preloved items ‌in‌ ‌Dublin‌ ‌city‌ ‌centre‌ ‌reinforce‌ ‌this‌ ‌stereotype.‌ ‌As‌ ‌people‌ ‌board‌ ‌the‌ ‌sustainability‌ ‌train‌, which‌ ‌I‌ ‌personally‌ ‌hope‌ ‌is‌ ‌not‌ ‌temporary, ‌businesses‌ ‌see‌ ‌an‌ ‌opportunity‌ ‌to‌ ‌maximise‌ ‌profits.‌ ‌€40 ‌for‌ ‌a‌ ‌stained‌ ‌jumper?‌ Really?‌ ‌I’m‌ ‌not‌ ‌going‌ ‌to‌ ‌turn‌ ‌this‌ ‌into‌ ‌a‌ ‌targeted‌ ‌call‌ ‌out,‌ ‌but‌ ‌I‌ ‌will‌ ‌offer‌ ‌you‌ ‌some‌ ‌inexpensive‌ ‌alternatives‌ ‌to‌ ‌help‌ ‌you‌ ‌achieve‌ ‌your‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌fashion‌ ‌dreams.‌ ‌Instagram‌ ‌accounts‌ ‌such‌ ‌as‌ Studio‌ ‌Minti‌ (@studio_minti on Instagram),‌ ‌use‌ ‌their‌ ‌online‌ ‌platform‌ ‌to‌ ‌showcase‌ ‌their‌ ‌shop‌ ‌and‌ ‌studio.‌ ‌Additionally,‌ ‌they‌ ‌take‌ ‌donations‌ ‌of‌ ‌your‌ ‌pre-loved‌ ‌items‌ ‌and‌ ‌sell‌ ‌them‌ ‌at‌ ‌a‌ ‌reasonable‌ ‌price‌ ‌on‌ ‌their‌ ‌online‌ ‌store: Minti.ie.

Afterall, ‌one‌ ‌person’s‌ ‌trash‌ ‌is‌ ‌another‌ ‌person’s‌ ‌treasure.‌ ‌ Local‌ ‌charity‌ ‌shops‌ ‌are‌ ‌following‌ ‌this‌ ‌same‌ ‌trajectory‌ ‌and‌ ‌moving‌ ‌at‌ ‌least‌ ‌a‌ ‌portion‌ ‌of‌ ‌their‌ ‌stores‌ ‌online.‌ ‌We‌ ‌may‌ ‌not‌ ‌be‌ ‌able‌ ‌to‌ ‌physically‌ ‌venture‌ ‌out‌ ‌into‌ ‌the‌ ‌world‌, ‌but‌ ‌being‌ ‌met‌ ‌with‌ ‌online‌ ‌visuals‌ ‌of‌ ‌beautiful,‌ ‌pre-loved‌ ‌items‌ ‌isn’t‌ ‌that‌ ‌bad‌ ‌an‌ ‌alternative.‌ ‌Jack‌ ‌and‌ ‌Jill‌ ‌ Children’s‌ ‌Foundation,‌ ‌Saint‌ ‌Vincent‌ ‌DePaul,‌ ‌Simon‌ ‌Community,‌ ‌and‌ ‌others‌ ‌have‌ ‌online‌ ‌stores‌ ‌on‌ ‌Thriftify.ie. ‌You‌ ‌can‌ ‌browse‌ ‌through‌ ‌thousands‌ ‌of‌ ‌items‌ ‌to‌ ‌find‌ ‌exactly‌ ‌the‌ ‌outfit‌ ‌you’re‌ ‌trying‌ ‌to‌ ‌emulate‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌comfort‌ ‌of‌ ‌your‌ ‌own‌ ‌home.‌ ‌Think‌ ‌Oh‌ ‌Polly‌ ‌and‌ ‌Shein,‌ ‌but‌ ‌without‌

‌the‌ ‌mass‌ ‌exploitation.‌ ‌By‌ ‌using‌ ‌Thriftify‌ ‌or‌ ‌similar‌ ‌platforms,‌ ‌you‌ ‌know‌ ‌the‌ ‌clothes‌ ‌you’re‌ ‌buying‌ ‌online‌ ‌are‌ ‌being‌ ‌donated‌ ‌in‌ ‌or‌ ‌around‌ ‌your‌ ‌locality.‌ ‌It‌ ‌cuts‌ ‌down‌ ‌on‌ ‌transportation‌ ‌costs‌ ‌and‌ ‌simultaneously‌ ‌benefits‌ ‌a‌ ‌local‌ ‌charity.‌ ‌I‌ ‌couldn’t‌ ‌possibly‌ ‌mention‌ ‌pre-loved‌ ‌online‌ ‌platforms‌ ‌without‌ ‌mentioning‌ ‌the‌ ‌infamous‌ ‌Depop. This‌ ‌platform,‌ ‌although‌ ‌incredible‌ ‌in‌ ‌theory,‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌exploited‌ ‌by‌ ‌certain‌ ‌sellers‌ ‌hoping‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌an‌ ‌easy‌ ‌profit‌ ‌off‌ ‌their‌ ‌own‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌finds.‌ ‌ However,‌ ‌the‌ ‌positives‌ ‌of‌ ‌Depop,‌ ‌in‌ ‌my‌ ‌opinion,‌ ‌outweigh‌ ‌the‌ ‌negatives.‌ ‌You‌ ‌have‌ ‌an‌ ‌opportunity‌ ‌to‌ ‌both‌ ‌buy‌ ‌and‌ ‌sell‌ ‌pre-loved‌ ‌clothing.‌ ‌The‌ ‌platform‌ ‌offers‌ ‌the‌ ‌chance‌ ‌for‌ ‌smaller‌ ‌businesses‌ ‌or‌ ‌independent‌ ‌sellers‌ ‌to‌ ‌kickstart‌ ‌their‌ ‌online‌ ‌stores.‌As‌ ‌Depop‌ ‌is‌ ‌quite‌ ‌popular,‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌ ‌possible‌ ‌to‌ ‌refine‌ ‌your‌ ‌searches‌ ‌while‌ ‌shopping‌ ‌sustainably.‌ ‌It’s‌ ‌rare‌ ‌you‌ ‌would‌ ‌ever‌ ‌get‌ ‌the‌ ‌chance‌ ‌to‌ ‌do‌ ‌this‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌charity‌ ‌shop‌ ‌where‌ ‌clothing‌ ‌is‌ ‌dependent‌ ‌on‌ ‌local‌ ‌donations.‌ ‌ Finding‌ ‌my‌ ‌local‌ ‌charity‌ ‌shop‌ ‌online‌ ‌has‌ ‌revolutionised‌ ‌my‌ ‌online‌ ‌shopping ‌as‌ ‌well‌ ‌as‌ ‌injecting ‌some‌ ‌well‌ ‌needed‌ ‌excitement‌ ‌into‌ ‌lockdown‌ ‌in‌ ‌general.‌ ‌The‌ ‌internet‌ ‌still‌ ‌has‌ ‌more‌ ‌to‌ ‌offer‌ ‌though.‌ ‌I’ve‌ ‌got‌ten ‌in‌ ‌touch‌ ‌with‌ ‌local‌ ‌artists‌ ‌on‌ ‌Twitter,‌ ‌Instagram‌ ‌and‌ ‌Etsy‌ ‌who‌ ‌sell‌ ‌jewellery,‌ ‌handbags,‌ ‌masks,‌ ‌upcycled‌ ‌clothing,‌ ‌or‌ ‌simply‌ ‌post‌ ‌inspirational‌ ‌ideas‌ ‌you‌ ‌yourself‌ ‌can‌ ‌emulate.‌ ‌ ‌ • IG:‌ ‌@nmc.govern‌ ‌-‌ ‌jewelry‌ ‌and‌ ‌upcycling‌ ‌ ‌ • IG:‌ ‌@bourkily.design‌ ‌-‌ ‌eco‌ ‌conscious‌ ‌textile‌ ‌artist‌ ‌ ‌ • IG:‌ ‌@charityshopglam‌ ‌-‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌fashion‌ ‌ • IG:‌ ‌@prelovingitt‌ ‌-‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌fashion‌ ‌ ‌ • IG:‌ ‌@maiseyymade‌ ‌-‌ ‌bags‌ ‌ ‌ • saoirseryan.com‌ ‌-‌ ‌artist‌ ‌ The‌ ‌novelty‌ ‌of‌ ‌entering‌ ‌your‌ ‌long‌ ‌card‌ ‌number‌ ‌over‌ ‌and‌ ‌over‌ ‌again‌ ‌wears‌ ‌off.‌ ‌Trust‌ ‌me.‌ ‌Instead‌ ‌of‌ ‌buying‌ ‌something‌ ‌new‌ ‌or‌ ‌pre-loved,‌ ‌why‌ ‌not‌ ‌give‌ ‌upcycling‌ ‌a‌ ‌try?‌ ‌The‌ ‌world‌wide web ‌is‌ ‌your‌ ‌oyster‌ ‌when‌ ‌you‌ ‌decide‌ ‌to‌ ‌upcycle.‌ ‌

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Puzzle page

11. Baroque 12. Gambit

Down 1. Oloroso

7. Ollivanders 2. Bindi 8. Myosis

3. Huey

10. Kir Royale 4. Soma 13. Knowledge 5. Fascism 14. Strine

6. Nightingale 9. New Deal

5. Colour changing reptile (9) 6. Small Animal farmed for Fur (4) 7. Formerly ‘Queen’s County’ (5) 9. Mixer for Gin (5) 12. Biblical Garden (4) 13. Prestigious French film festival (6) 14. Botanical Batman Supervillain (9) 17. Frontman of The Cure (11) 18. Rocket Scientists and Brad Pitt don’t impress her much (11) 20. 4th US President (7) 21. Labrador poodle cross (11) 22. Home to Gatsby (7)

CROSSWORD BY JULES O’TOOLE FOR TRINITY NEWS

Down

1. Tonic wine made

by Benedictine Monks (8) 2. Wife of Jupiter (4) 3. North American Brown Bear (7) 4. You might have a ‘mild fetish’ for this Red Line Luas stop (10) 7. Portuguese capital (5) 8. Burgundy French wine region (8) 10. Tights with an open diamond shaped weave (8) 11. The ‘worst pets’ live in this west coast town (8) 14. Collective noun for owls (10) 15. Former Irish President born in New York (8) 16. East London football club (7) 19. Tropical Stone fruit (5)

Crossword solution, November 3 Across 4. Shofar

Across

WORDSEARCH BY DARRAGH CREAN FOR TRINITY NEWS

Alpha Atavistic Cobble Concrete Crisis Draconian Echo Euphoria Jaded Lush Motion Oblivion Oracle Tambourine

Trinity shouts and murmurs Things I miss: the quiet of the library, bumping into friends in the library, taking one too many coffee breaks after bumping into friends, walking home after a long day, feeling tired after a long day of doing and seeing things, feeling focused, reading in cafes -@grainne_stn I just very confidentially gave the completely wrong answer in a seminar, the only reasonable reaction I can see is to drop out immediately -@followthelaoide u can put a hot water bottle in the front of your dungarees and go to the shop. no one will stop you -@furtiso all of this introvert extrovert shit is just astrology for nerds.. we made it all up stop the jungian industrial complex -@eefaw_cr0nin medieval marriage has thought me that marriage is fuckin dumb but widowhood??? kinda cool -@NathanOByrne1 I miss the chaos of second year when I had a dummy broken laptop I used to reserve seats in the Ussher -@melandaughter

PHOTOS BY SABA MALIK FOR TRINITY NEWS

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

Comment

Students want clarity, not false hope or optimism Darragh Crean

page 19

Grace Gageby

Deputy Comment Editor

The celebritisation of politics is deeply corrosive

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oe Biden’s election as the 46th President of the United States has led many to hope that this marks the end of what has been labelled “Trumpism”. Aside from referencing Trump’s policies and views, this is broadly used to refer to a style of politics characterised by crude soundbites, outlandish personal attacks on opponents, and an appeal to populism. While the focus of criticism should be Trump’s policies, rather than his decorum, all of these things are undoubtedly more expected of reality TV and gossip magazines than political leaders. The manner in which televised debates were conducted, with many taking to Twitter to laugh at Biden’s one liners and Trump’s ludicrous comments, are further testament to the manner in which politics has

been reduced to entertainment.

The celebritization of politics is of course not unique to America, although for obvious reasons it is the clearest example. The fact that a man who is famous for his appearance on The Apprentice is the leader of the most powerful nation in the world is a testament to the increasingly commodified nature of global politics. It seeks to normalise the fact that politicians are celebrities or entertainers, no matter how damaging their policies are, when their job is in fact to represent the people who elected them.

The proliferation of social media and its increasingly fleeting, bite-sized forms is often at a detriment to substantial debate.

Theodor Adorno coined the theory of the “culture industry”, claiming that as popular culture

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The celebritisation of politics is two-fold; politicians act like celebrities and celebrities are expected to act as political polemicists

becomes increasingly trivial and sensationalist, we begin to encounter a pseudo-reality rather than reality itself, as we are constantly bombarded with increasingly homogenous subject matter which infiltrates every sphere of daily life; political debates are game shows, with conversation reduced to a series of pre-prepared one liners. Adorno was deeply critical of anti-Vietnam war songs, popular among artists like Bob Dylan or Joan Baez, whose lyrics lamented how unbearable the war was. Adorno argued that the utter fixation with transforming all subject matter into “content” meant that “they take the horrendous and make it somehow consumable.” At the intersection of internet humour and politics, the ease with which people may mock the spectacle of Trump’s outlandish statements, ARTWORK BY PATRICK BYRNE FOR TRINITY NEWS

A new provost is a new chance for Trinity Editorial

page 22

can arguably erase the genuine human suffering that stems from slogans like “build a wall.”

This celebritization of politics is two-fold; politicians act like celebrities, and celebrities are expected to act as political polemicists. While it’s extremely positive that movements like Black Lives Matter or Me Too have entered popular consciousness, the age of social media often sees uproar at various singers or actors online for failing to tweet or post on Instagram vocally supporting these movements. The argument that celebrities should “use their platform,” or else they are a certified bigot is disingenuous, and such denunciations are often carried out with quasi-religious zeal aimed more at virtue signalling than anything constructive. The idea that celebrities’ support is the sole measure of validity for a movement is disempowering to people campaigning on the ground. For example, large swathes of women and young people poured huge amounts of energy into campaigning for a repeal of the Eighth Amendment.

The amendment was repealed due to tireless organising, not celebrity endorsement.

Blindboy Boatclub often receives attention for coming out with truistic opinions such as “you shouldn’t be sexist or racist” or “homelessness is bad” on his popular podcast. These are by no means groundbreaking statements, yet receive disproportionate praise due to the visibility and popularity of the proponent. Of course, it is positive when somebody uses their platform for good, and they may come from a genuine place.

However, the problem arises when those in the public eye become self-appointed spokespeople about class-based marginalisation, or discrimination they have no authority to speak on, when those directly affected are frequently dismissed.

The notion that marginalised groups of people need saving or celebrity heroes is not only patronising, but hypocritical, particularly when one looks at figures like Bono, who, while infamous for tax avoidance, preaches about the need for his fans to give to charity. The overlap of celebrity culture and politics also results in campaigns being dominated by personalities, rather than operating in a communityled way. While slightly different to the aforementioned examples, the same trend of hero worship can have detrimental effects on activism, in which self-appointed leaders set the agenda, and success is measured not by results, but by how it measures up to the ideals of activist cliques. The Trotskyist left in Ireland (Solidarity and

People Before Profit alliance) are infamous for using campaigns to promote their public reps, and turning social movements into promotional exercises. Again, this ultimately turns organic campaigns into image-bolstering exercises to be abandoned when the next shiny topic comes along.

The commodification of political values has extended beyond “feminist”-embossed t-shirts made in sweatshops, and has now made activism itself a brand. It is not uncommon to see “socialist” or a similar political label in a Twitter bio as an assertion of one’s own personal aesthetic, rather than as an indication of striving for material change. The fact that USI has an award for “Best Student Activist of the Year” is testament to the fact that activism, particularly student activism, is reduced to a hobby or promotional exercise. This enforces the idea that there are some people who simply have the correct ideas and methods, rather than a model where people engage in a grassroots way. These kinds of awards only serve to reinforce students feeling alienated from SUs, and viewing them as an “incrowd” or clique. It also contributes to the understandable scepticism many have towards SU candidates who run for election, using issues such as Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) or housing to bolster their image, despite no previous allegiance or connection to these issues. This only exacerbates the often reasonable accusations of careerism directed at SU candidates.

Ultimately, politics shouldn’t be about personalities. Engaging in cult-like hero worship, and prioritising performativity over action only seeks to further disempower people, at a time when we should be building alliances and centering communities.

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Ellen McHugh

Contributing Writer

Social media plus online college equals a mental health catastrophe

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s we approach the end of Michaelmas term, it is important to take time to reflect on the impact that online learning has had, not merely on academic performance, but on the wellbeing of students.

While some may benefit from the increased flexibility online learning can provide, it must be acknowledged that it has taken a toll on the mental health of undergraduate and postgraduate students alike. Online learning has eroded the space between college life and home life, meaning that it is increasingly difficult to separate the two.

Additionally, the transition of society events to online platforms has created a scenario in which meeting new people and making friends is a major challenge. As students become increasingly isolated, it is natural for us to turn to social media to fill the gaps in our social lives, in an attempt to connect with each other. However, becoming over-reliant on social media comes with its own harms – and these harms aren’t as innocuous as over-exposure to 5k challenges and undercooked loaves of banana bread.

The key manner in which online learning affects mental health is isolation, both academic and social. Learning online drastically distorts your perspective of how other students are faring with academic work, as it is often students who are struggling the least who have the confidence to contribute verbally to online classes. No longer can you see your own panic reflected in the eyes of your classmates as a lecturer derives complicated equations at rapid speed (yes, I am an arts student who has ended up taking classes in maths. Yes, I am aware that I did this to myself). No longer can you discreetly nudge the person beside you to confirm that they, too, are completely lost. The closest thing you can get to this confirmation is sending a “Do you understand what’s happening???” text to a friend and hoping for a

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No longer can you discreetly nudge the person beside you to confirm that they, too, are completely lost thumbs-down emoji to appear next to it – and that just isn’t the same. The inability to gain a clear perspective on the relative level of difficulty of academic work is incredibly detrimental to mental health: it is easy to feel like you’re the only one struggling, to feel like you don’t deserve to be where you are. You begin to feel like an impostor (unrelated to Among Us), a feeling that is incredibly difficult to quell once it has taken hold.

Social media is not the answer to feelings of inadequacy. In fact, it is often social media that exacerbates these feelings, because it presents us with a distorted perspective on life. There is little room for uncertainty or insecurity on social media: opinions are expressed with confidence and authority; daily life is presented with the underlying assumption

that it is worth being observed.

This is not conducive to quelling feelings of inadequacy or insecurity, and it is certainly not the answer to isolation.

Additionally, the addictive nature of social media can be incredibly detrimental to both mental and physical health. It is incredibly easy to spend hours, even full days, scrolling through Twitter and Instagram and so on, which can lead to physical harms such as headaches and back pain, and has also been linked to increased anxiety and other mental health issues. While there has been some positive news of late regarding a potential vaccine, it is not an exaggeration to say that much of the news coverage on social media is highly negative. Of course, it is important that news outlets report accurately on current events but we should be careful not to allow this to overwhelm us. Taking time away from the constant barrage of negativity that social media often throws at us is beneficial for the mind and for the body, and in times like these, it is of vital importance that we reach out to one another – not just

over text or Zoom, but in person, wherever possible under current guidelines.

Online college has taken away many of the simple social interactions we took for granted.

Gone are the “quick coffees” in the Buttery that turn into hourslong discussions on life, love, and the universe. Gone are the walks across campus, and the buzz of the crowds outside lecture halls between classes. Gone are chaplaincy soup, endless society coffee hours, and sunny evenings outside the Pav. If we have learned anything from this pandemic, it is that we are, at heart, social creatures. These small, everyday interactions are vital to our mental health, and their absence causes considerable damage.

This is experienced particularly keenly by first years, especially international students in Ireland for the first time: not only are they unable to see family and friends from home, it is difficult for them to meet new people.

Between restrictions on gatherings, and fatigue from online lectures and classes, in-person social interactions are incredibly limited, and it is exceedingly difficult to forge friendships over large Zoom calls. However, not all is lost.

It is still possible to connect in these difficult times, if we make an effort. Arrange a socially distant walk with that person you struck up a conversation with on your course Zoom call.

Book a seat in the library, even if it’s just to watch other people working. Stroll through your local area, wherever that may be, and notice the other people doing the same. While it may seem odd, it’s comforting to know that you are not alone. We’re all looking for connection, be that deep and meaningful or quick and transitory. And, one day, we will be able to connect fully again.

Until then, it’s important that we step away from our screens every now and again, however hard that may be, and leave online college and the doom-scrolling through Twitter behind for a while.

ARTWORK BY CELINE DELAHOY FOR TRINITY NEWS

Erasmus happen n with incr

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ince its inception, the Erasmus programme has been hailed by students and academic institutions across Europe as being a rite of passage. One of the programme’s centrepieces is its support network between students and the institutions involved, be it through the flagship Erasmus grant, networking events for overseas students or language learning opportunities directly from the programme itself. As an Erasmus applicant for 2021/22, the public health crisis surrounding Covid-19 was an unnerving blow to my study abroad ambitions. It is welcoming then that Erasmus seems to be pushing ahead, despite the present circumstances.

The choice to take a year abroad is not an easy one to make. The sheer number of factors involved and decisions to be made is enough to turn people off studying in another country. These factors are all the more complicated due to the ongoing pandemic. Hot zones, testing capabilities and ease of travel are only the first of many considerations that students need to take into account, at least for the near future.

The support systems already in place should carry on regardless of the current situation with Covid-19. These are vital to keeping students informed, financially stable and, perhaps most importantly, content that they have made the right decision to study in a different university.

These supports alone, however, are simply not enough. For Erasmus to continue next semester, student support must be of the utmost importance to all parties involved, be it through physical support or measures geared towards ensuring that student’s mental health is prioritised in these worrisome times.

Physical supports are of critical significance to a student’s immersion in their host country and host institution, but they also keep them tied to their origin institution. The networking

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

Comment

Adam Balchin Staff Writer

s must only next semester reased supports events most Erasmus alumni will be familiar with, such as pub quizzes, receptions and discussion panels can easily and perhaps have been easily transferred into digital form. I hope these continue as an accessible method of social integration that may otherwise be lacking due to the pandemic.

I would, as a prospective Erasmus student, also advocate for the unilateral option to return to the student’s origin institution should circumstances allow.

Given this option was extended to students out on Erasmus exchanges this semester, I see no logical reason why outbound students in Hilary Term should be denied this invitation home. A sense of familiarity might be a welcome sight for many abroad, especially given the present situation.

It must be said that Trinity, along with other universities across Ireland, have taken precautionary measures in light of Erasmus exchanges taking place next semester. For example, they have made integrated Erasmus exchanges, such as those for language-based subjects, voluntary. This will undoubtedly

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It would ease students’ anxiety to know support networks are being bolstered to counter the impact of Covid-19

provide an extra level of comfort and reassurance to many students in these subject areas.

The European Commission has already offered financial backing through relief packages. These are aimed at making courses digitally accessible, even while studying abroad. The Commission has authorised the possibility of refunds being given out for travel expenses to those who might have to cut their exchange short, and this will definitely ease financial burdens that some might experience.

With regards to mental health services, it is excellent that Trinity students abroad can still avail of the college’s wide range of support services, such as student counselling, Student Learning Development (SLD) and other resources. This could be extended further through the organisation of dedicated Zoom workshops and check-up sessions. It is no secret that national lockdowns have had a negative impact on our mental health. In broadening these already exceptional services, which have recently been boosted by government-backed funding, College could focus on taking care of students’ well-being.

It would ease students’ anxiety to know support networks are being bolstered to counter the impact of Covid-19, while also strengthening existing systems in the long run. Trinity, for its part, has noted that “the Global Relations Office is in touch with all of Trinity’s partners worldwide, working closely with them to establish an approach that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff ”.

The opportunity to study abroad, to experience a new way of life and to see the world in a different light should not be robbed from any student. Equally however, there should be a commitment from the institutions involved that, in this time of crisis, choosing to embark on Erasmus is not considered a dangerous move, but a safe choice.

Students want clarity, not false hope or optimism Darragh Crean Puzzle Editor

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he fall from grace of everyone’s favourite fascist and a slowly rising cacophony of vaccine hysteria have injected the last few weeks with a sense of hope and a tinge of optimism which seem a bit out of place in 2020. Combined with the slow encroachment of Christmas fever into November, thoughts have started occasionally flicking towards the coming year, and, for the most part, things are looking good. Almost too good. So good in fact, that the Minister for Providing-Students-with-FalseHope, Simon Harris, announced last week that he would “like to see some more on-site activity” in universities in the coming semester.

A beautiful wish; probably one shared by every student in the country. But should Mr Harris be making such grandiose claims?

In the same week that University of Limerick, NUI Galway, and Maynooth have all thrown in the towel and begun to put in place measures for the continuation of online learning for the rest of this academic year, is it irresponsible, even dangerous to even suggest that the coming semester could differ greatly in format from its antecedent?

As the new Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris has spent the best part of his autumn being grilled on his failings to provide students with clear, detailed plans for the outlook of the current college semester. His request, expressed in an interview with the Irish Times, that universities await the conclusion of government talks before making decisions on reopening, seems even more ridiculous, more out of touch than many of his pronouncements over the course of the summer.

Because while he is fulfilling his desired role as the all-round good guy by at least entertaining these ideas, such haphazard,

uncoordinated announcements have real, material consequences for thousands of students around the country, many of whom have already suffered greatly at the hands of this government’s indecisiveness.

Harris’ specific desire to prioritise first and final year students in any adjustments to the current modus operandi are welcomed by both groups, with the social costs of online lectures significantly exacerbated when starting or ending college. And perhaps there are adjustments which could be attempted to afford these groups more opportunities to engage with the wider college community, perhaps putting in place facilities for small scale socialising or attempting to ensure face-toface graduations. But whatever approach is adopted, students need to be provided now with the necessary information to allow them to make informed decisions about where and how they will live, come January. Unfortunately, irrespective of how the coming months pan out, the government will be unable to make anything but unstable predictions as to the situation we will find ourselves in with respect to the virus after Christmas, and thus any plans which rest on such predictions will be as unreliable, as doomed for failure, as they were in August.

Playing the long game, holding out until the last minute to make decisions will just mean another period of tension and uneasiness for countless students across the country, a situation which both the government and colleges should be working relentlessly to avoid.

What this virus has demonstrated throughout the course of this year is that unfortunately, our wants, desires, wishes or hopes, will always play second fiddle to the dictates of the virus. “Facts don’t care about your feelings,” as we are so often reminded. It is only when we forget, or ignore, this simple mantra that the virus is able to gain a foothold and we are forced to take drastic measures to curtail its spread. We may have wanted the pubs and restaurants to open earlier this summer, but it inevitably led to a surge in cases, and the dreaded R rate quickly popping its head up above one.

The government may have wanted to ignore the advice of NPHET

when they recommended an immediate Level 5 lockdown, but all that this moment of sciencedenial achieved was a longer, stricter lockdown and a radical exacerbation of the countless economic and mental-health concerns which had seemed so important when ignoring the initial advice.

Now, this is not to say that we should bow down to the virus and allow it to impose its despotic rule on us unchecked. But we must choose our battles, and choose them wisely. Face-to-face lectures in the midst of a pandemic pose, in the vast majority of cases, a myriad of unnecessary risks, which could be very easily avoided by continuing with the current model of online learning.

Online learning has not been perfect by any stretch of the term, but many of the issues which have arisen in its implementation directly result from the fact that colleges ploughed ahead with their plans to reopen until the last moment. In doing so, they failed to provide professors with any real assistance in preparing and developing online teaching methods. Rather than spending the coming months engaging in complex thought experiments pertaining to how many students can sit in a classroom if an easterly wind blows at 2km/h, colleges should be assessing, improving, and enhancing online teaching, ensuring both students and professors can make the most of a bad, but consistently improving, situation.

Everybody’s favourite pharmaceutical company Pfizer has emerged with the oh-soneeded light at the end of this strange, meandering tunnel. Hope can slowly make its way back into our conversations. Dates for holidays can be discussed, rendezvous can be arranged, life can slowly shed its veneer of doom and gloom. Slowly. We are not out of the woods just yet.

The joy and jubilation that came with the announcement of the vaccine will in no way alter the epidemiological nature of the virus. Likewise, neither the Time Square Ball Drop nor the onset of Hilary Term will reduce the potential damage which this virus can inflict on society. We will still be “Living with Covid” for most of the remainder of the college year, and so it is impossible to say with any certainty whether or not classes will be able to take place in person. For the sake of student sanity, College should follow the lead set by other institutions in recent weeks and commit to continuing with online lectures for the remainder of the year and provide some element of certainty in these still uncertain times.

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

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Rosa McGovern Contributing Writer

We need more than hate crime legislation to eradicate racist systems

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ecently, hate crime law (HCL) has seen increasing popularity within the Irish antiracist movement. The Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) proposed the Love Not Hate campaign calling for HCL in 2019. The main goal of this campaign is to introduce the Criminal Law (Hate Crime) Bill 2015, which focuses on crimes that were motivated by racism and other forms of discrimination.

INAR concluded that with the implementation of this bill, the government will push down harder on perpetrators giving them enhanced sentencing.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties launched the Lifecycle of a Hate Crime report in 2018 which outlines actions the State must take to “protect” vulnerable and marginalised communities from instances of harm. Additionally, they highlight the lax nature of the Irish Government in regards to HCL. Through 38 interviews with criminal justice professionals,

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We need to look at the origins of oppression in order to gain a better understanding of how we can actively fight against racism

they concluded that there’s little guidance available for prosecutors when met with a hate crime element in the criminal justice process. They argue for hate crime legislation to be implemented to act as a “message crime”, which ostensibly sends out the message to the public to not commit hate crimes. The closest account of proposed laws in the Irish legal system is the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017, which enacted a socio-legal procedure whereby individuals impacted by crime are given certain rights. Namely, the right to an individual assessment of their needs and preventative measures to protect them from further victimisation. The Irish state is not equipped to deal with instances of prejudice such as racism, transphobia, homophobia or classism. However, we must ask ourselves a very vital question: does enacting hate crime laws effectively deter these crimes, or even fundamentally challenge the systems which uphold and reproduce this oppression?

To assess whether these laws work or not, we need to look at the origins of oppression in order to gain a better understanding of how we can actively fight against racism.

Racism as we know it, began through racialised social organisation. This broadly began in the 15th century, when Europeans colonised people who were consequently racialised by their oppressors. They did this in order to hierarchically manage society for their own benefit through slavery, extraction, and profiteering. This legacy of colonialism still lingers. Ireland was not a colonial power in the same fashion as many other European countries, but the Irish were involved in upholding slavery, which is pitiful considering the Irish could have extended solidarity with

other colonised peoples instead.

Ireland benefitted from the trade of African slaves through producing merchants and helping expand slave colonies. Irish history presents how the Irish calculatively made themselves white through labour competing with the Black population in the States and supported slavery.

Noel Ignatiev wrote a groundbreaking book, How the Irish Became White, which highlights how the Irish constructed themselves as “white” post partial independence. Mechanisms such as labour unions, the Catholic Church, and electoral politics helped to achieve their goal of becoming white. Since history informs who we are today, and what the State has become, it will take a lot more work than putting a band-aid over an inherently exclusionary and discriminatory state.

With this in mind, it is clear to see how the extension of the same system that harms us will not protect us.

Hate crime legislation is

symbolically used as a sign of progression.

Advocates of this legislation argue that we need to “crack down” on personal incidents of abuse in order to deter further instances. The proposal that HCL works fails to acknowledge how there is a body of evidence which shows that

these laws have not deterred violence in other countries such as the US. Furthermore, it is an outright refusal to address the fact that the police systemically targets the most marginalised communities, which are often not comfortable with reporting to the police in the first place. It takes away from the pivotal work of dismantling the dominant culture that breeds this harm. The reality is, these performances of hatred come from deep-seated issues within the State.

Fine Gael TD, Charles Flanagan, proposed amendments to the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989. This will take into consideration the report published by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties on changes to the legislation which prioritise hate-motivated crimes. These views include “better reporting and recording of hate-motivated crimes, enhanced procedures for the investigation of such crimes, and training and guidelines for prosecutors”. Conservative politicians calling for HCL is paradoxical while doing nothing tangible for genuine change. It’s time to stop relying on these people for justice and safety. As Adrienne Maree Brown states: “if the original conditions were unjust, then returning to those original conditions is not justice.”

Hate crime law sweeps the symptoms of an oppressive social structure under the rug.

In the Irish context, the majority of prisoners in Mountjoy Prison come from areas marked by high levels of socio-economic disadvantage. Women from the Travelling community are disproportionately visible within prisons. 22 percent of women in Irish prisons are Mincéirs.

24 percent of people incarcerated in Ireland are non-nationals.

Migrants may not interact with the police when they have experienced harm because they’re afraid of being deported.

Since we want to see a better world where less people are hurt, I cannot invest energy into campaigning for hate crime legislation to be introduced into the same system that already enacts so much harm to those marginalised most.

These proposed laws would add to a legal system which already protects the unjust International Protection Act 2015, which allows the state to deny refugee status to applicants via the “inadmissible application” dimension of said act.

Furthermore, it adds to the same institution that by legal definition sustains Direct Provision (DP). This process, made visible by the Movement of Asylum

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We should not add more laws aimed at protecting our communities into the same system that think it’s alright to deport a nine year old boy

Seekers in Ireland (MASI), has been deemed inhumane by refugees and a “severe violation of human rights” by the UN. Arguing for HCL is a rejection of these statements by the marginalised members of our society, who ultimately see the flaws inherent in our legal system.

We should not add more laws aimed at protecting our communities into the same system that thinks it’s alright to deport a nine year old boy who was born in Ireland but does not have Irish parents. Let’s not add more laws to a legal system which already protects DP, which allows businesses’ to profit from grossly inadequate living arrangements. The answer to harm is better conceived of through transformative justice. Let’s shift the focus to alternative pathways to justice outside the carceral state, in order to sincerely support those most affected.

ARTWORK BY PATRICK BYRNE FOR TRINITY NEWS

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

Comment ARTWORK BY MÁRTA MENTA CZINKÓCZKY FOR TRINITY NEWS

Julia Bochenek

Contributing Writer

Zooming through the pressure of navigating social life in Trinity

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t’s no surprise to anyone that socialising this semester has been very different and quite difficult for many, especially first years. Students are used to going out with friends, meeting for coffee, eating on the green and going to the many bars and clubs found in Dublin. Pre-pandemic, Trinity campus life revolved around society events that take place for the general student body and Freshers’ Week, the first years’ initiation into Trinity’s rich culture of on-campus organisations. These events often involve drinking and clubbing, and offer many new and old students exciting opportunities to mingle with their peers who may share a common interest.

However, the success of many Freshers’ Week events in the past tended to rely on Ireland’s heavy

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Pre-pandemic campus life revolved around drinking and clubbing

drinking culture, with Ireland having one of the highest alcohol consumption rates per capita in Europe. The alcohol and club oriented events that take place often leave little room for drinkfree events every time the new term rolls around. There are many students who join events at clubs and pubs with the Junior Common Room (JCR), Ents and numerous societies, or even just drink-related get-togethers. This can be a struggle for people who don’t want to or can’t take part in socialising over a drink or in the club. Alcohol and clubbing can bring a whole new set of anxieties for people, especially those new to college who haven’t drank before, or those without any desire to.

The emphasis on socialising with alcohol within student societies

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There is now an opening for different types of events that are allinclusive

also perpetuates Ireland’s drinking culture, and students may feel peer pressured to drink or left behind if they choose not to.

With the pandemic, socialising has had to change significantly - nearly everything has taken place online, especially the events for societies and clubs. Now, everyone has had to adapt to the new environment of zoom calls, and everything is on social media and messaging apps instead of in-person. The closed doors of nightclubs and bars mean that they are no longer the go-to options for societies and clubs, and there is now an opening for many different types of events that are all-inclusive. This has created an opportunity for people to make new friends in a setting that they may feel more comfortable in, without the usual pressures that can cause extra stress and force people to spend less time socialising.

Societies have been coming up with various types of events.

For example, cooking together over Zoom, quizzes and movie viewings. None of these events need to include alcohol, and the peer pressure to drink has disappeared from students’ lives.

These events are also much less stressful, especially for first years.

It’s possible to go to an event without the pressure to show yourself or even speak, while being able to experience how the society functions and to feel like a part of the online community of that society or club. There may be the added stresses of having to make an effort to look out for events, and sometimes the idea of joining another Zoom call in a day filled with online classes and the constant glare of a laptop screen may not be appealing, but it’s often worth it. It is so important for people to be able to put themselves out there and navigate the social scene, even if it has to be online.

Trinity is fortunate to have a wealth of societies and clubs, and even though it can be a daunting experience, just joining these societies and trying some of their events can be a great way to get involved with student life. Those starting university or even those continuing have the opportunity to meet new people online and attend many more society events than they could in years prior.

With everything at students’ fingertips, it is so much easier to access events, and a lot of the pressure that comes with attending them alone in-person has also gone away.

There are an abundance of different types of events that can go on without alcohol. For example, group games such as Among Us and quiz nights have become very popular over zoom calls. Sometimes it’s also fun to create together over technology, whether it’s following a Bob Ross tutorial with friends or learning to cook a dish. Large events that have been held by societies at Trinity this semester have included debates, guest speakers and movie viewings, all of which have been easy to find online and have not required alcohol to attend. Even smaller events are geared towards more relaxed chats with coffee or tea and baking events, emulating the pre-pandemic coffee mornings held by many societies on campus.

There are still many events going on over Zoom that give students the opportunity to drink with fellow students, like cocktailmaking classes and pub quizzes for those who might miss socialising in the pub with friends. However, it’s nice to see many more chances for other events to flourish and the possibility for many people to be social online without the pressure to drink when they don’t want to. Whether it’s a special cooking class for egg fried rice from DU Food and Drink, or a screening of a classic with DU Film Society, students have been given many opportunities to participate in societies through these lonely and socially-distanced times. While it’s far from ideal, these adaptations within society life may be even more inclusive than usual.

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

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Editorial: A new provost is a chance for a new Trinity

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e now have the likely field for the provost election.

While Professors Linda Doyle, Linda Hogan and Jane Ohlmeyer still have to apply for candidacy, be accepted, and secure the necessary nominations, it seems highly probable they will, given their respective profiles and CVs. There is also a significant chance the eventual winner will be one of them. No other prominent Trinity academic has yet confirmed their intention to run - indeed, many have confirmed to Trinity News that they will not - and outsiders are always at a severe disadvantage in the final election.

With that in mind, Trinity seems near-certain to have its first female provost in more than four centuries. This would make us just the second university in Ireland to be led by a woman after Professor Kerstin Mey took over as Interim President of the University of Limerick in September. As academia and third level education continue to struggle with issues of systemic sexism and other kinds of discrimination, this would be a long-overdue marker of progress.

No one is under the impression that this would immediately level

the playing field or solve all of the problems in Trinity but it would serve as a symbolic victory and a signal of Trinity’s willingness to become a truly 21st-century institution.

The start of the electoral process for the new provost is not just a time to look to the future, but also to consider the past. It means Patrick Prendergast is approaching the end of his ten year term, and reflecting on his performance during that time yields many lessons on how the next occupant of 1 Grafton Street can do better.

Prendergast, since taking office in 2011, has very consciously tried to shape Trinity according to his vision of how a university should function. He has tried to promote a culture of “innovation” and, though publicly in favour of increased government funding for higher education, frequently opposed education as a universally accessible public good. For instance, he came out in favour of a student loan scheme last September after the Cassells report cited it as one of three options to deal with the funding gap in higher education.

He also threatened, in response to the funding crisis, to cut the number of places Trinity offers

to Irish students, effectively using students’ futures as a bargaining chip in a game of brinkmanship with the government. Meanwhile, he has focused much of College’s financial strategy around the intake of international students due to the higher fees they pay, but without paying any heed to their welfare. The extent to which international students have been ignored, misled and left in the dark during the pandemic demonstrates just how disposable College thinks they are as people.

Early on in his term, in 2013, Prendergast also indicated a preference for full privatisation of the university, citing the importance of third level “independence” from government oversight.

On the surface this might seem like a good thing, but the Provost wasn’t referring to academic independence. In fact, he went on to bemoan Trinity’s inability to subject staff to forced redundancies, and to pay highranked academics even bigger salaries than they already receive.

This antithesis to labour standards and desire for privatisation is a trend – Prendergast has also overseen systemic exploitation of teaching

Jamie Cox

Contributing Writer

Movember asks us what we can do for Ireland’s wider mental health crisis

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n the month of November, we see the work being carried out by Movember in the campaign’s attempt to lift stigmas around men’s mental health and donating to research both for mental health and physical conditions men face, such as testicular cancer.

Last year alone, the organisation raised 62 million globally. This is a phenomenal example of the work that can be done by one organisation in an attempt to combat mental health issues.

However, it begs the question: why do we rely on charities to carry out this work as opposed to our governments that should be showing initiative in their attitude towards mental health? And is

it time we establish these same organisations across all sectors of society, catering for the respective mental and physical health issues that affect each?

Graphs of suicide cases in men show that of those men that died by suicide, roughly 35% had been diagnosed with some kind of psychiatric disorder and roughly only 25% had been diagnosed with depression. Of the recorded cases of suicide in women, roughly 65% had been diagnosed with some form of psychiatric disorder whilst roughly 40% had been diagnosed with depression with around the same percentage having anti-depressants in their system. Women are roughly three times more likely then

men to attempt suicide but tend to use methods that could be considered “less lethal” then ones commonly used by men. What these figures from the National Suicide Research Foundation and mentalhealth.org.uk can reinforce is the general idea that women are more likely than men to seek and accept help for mental health difficulties.

What this evidence seems to suggest is the implication that the work Movember covers on the lifting of the stigma surrounding men’s mental health is only the tip of the iceberg in regards to the overall mental health problems we face in this country. The issue of mental health is one that spreads beyond stigmatisation, a very real

assistants by College, reported by this newspaper at least as far back as 2014. He also oversaw the outsourcing of jobs in areas such as catering and security.

More broadly, the Provost has overseen significant reductions in staff/student ratios and tutorial hours, at the same time as the college invested in a €80m business school and extensive and expensive “rebranding”, as well as rent increases in College accommodation. He would have introduced a €450 supplemental exam fee, but student activism forced him to back down.

The next provost, simply put, needs to do better. Trinity is not just a place for research and “innovation”; it’s also a centre of learning, and it’s unacceptable for its leader to have such an adversarial relationship with and dim view of those it teaches.

A university should be led by someone not who wants to pull up the ladder and make the institution more exclusive, but who thinks that as many people as possible should be able to access the benefits of education. The new provost should care deeply about student welfare, amplify our voices, and seek to include us in discussions about the future of

College.

Even that, however, will not be enough. The world will be a different place in 2021 than it was in 2011, and the newly-elected provost will face completely new challenges. The funding crisis not only remains unresolved, but with every passing day becomes more serious and more urgent.

It is no longer possible or acceptable to sweep under the rug issues like systemic racism, and the general lack of diversity of voices and perspectives in academic spaces. Disruptive forces like climate change and the automation of labour will pose difficult questions which the wider world will expect universities to answer. A successful new provost will need to be prepared to tackle these issues with determination, compassion, and openness to change.

When the nomination process is completed and the election begins in earnest, we hope to see candidates willing to articulate a truly new vision for Trinity. The relentless commercialisation of the last decade has been a failure, and we need fresh thinking to guide us through the challenges that lie ahead. It’s time for a Trinity that truly serves its community.

problem for men, but into the issue of how effective a country we are at addressing these issues both among men and women and in all our communities.

An example of this is the new “Sharing the Vision” policy.

Brought in by the government this year, the scheme allocates €12 million for existing services and €38 million for the opening of new services, an indicator that the government recognises the severity of mental health issues.

Importantly, this policy is selling itself on the idea of mental health services for everyone.

Yet Movember represents a significant step forward in the work done for men’s mental health and the value of the work done by them cannot be discounted.

Boys are raised in environments rife with toxic masculinity.

Discussing one’s feelings and personal issues appears weak. This is the patriarchal model that leads men to stay silent and become reliant on substances and alcohol which is a factor in over half of completed suicides in Ireland, with 76.5% of men under 40 who died by suicide having a history of alcohol abuse. However, what is needed now is for the Irish government to take this approach and apply it across all sectors of society.

Once someone musters the courage to reach out for help, the next hurdle is receiving the help they actually need. We need to examine the efficacy of mental health services in this country.

If we look to other countries, such as Cyprus which has the

lowest suicide rate of any country in the EU, we can learn more about what we can do to improve mental health services for all in Ireland. One reason given for this is not that they have sophisticated prevention services, but due to tight knit social circles feelings of loneliness are reduced in people.

Increased funding would certainly make a difference, as limited resources are often an issue that face mental health services, causing long waiting lists for appointments with professionals.

We shouldn’t have to rely on charities to provide and fund mental health services.

Movember has helped break the stigma surrounding men’s mental health, creating the cultural momentum of men growing out ridiculous facial hair in November and encouraging men to raise awareness. What is needed now is for us to address the wider problem of mental health. One that spreads beyond stigmatisation into the lack of ability we have to cater for all members of society. One that reveals itself heartbreakingly, in sucide statistics for women that appear to show a woeful overemphasis on antidepressants that in many cases do not prevent tragedy.

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, support is available from the following services: TCD Student Counselling Service: (01) 8961407 TCDSU Welfare Officer: welfare@tcdsu.org Samaritans: 116 123

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

Scitech

Cutting through nonsense to get to the science Niamh Tiernan page 24

Trinity ecologists monitor biodiversity in Japan Nina Chen page 26

European Researchers’ Night at Trinity brings research into public eye The move to virtual leaves no shortage of research-related events and fun Lucy Fitzsimmons SciTech Editor

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uropean Researchers’ Night is an annual initiative that aims to bring researchers and their work into the public eye and to encourage those from all backgrounds to engage with research. Last year over 1.6 million people attended European Researchers’ night events spread across 400 European cities. This year the virtual event will naturally look a little different, but promises to be equally engaging and informative as previous years.

START (Start Talking About Research Today) is Trinity’s event being held to mark Researchers’ night this year. Though this takes place on November 27, the online format means that a large amount of interactive content has been available to access from as early as November 18. Like the in-person event, START is set to cater to a wide range of age groups and scientific backgrounds. Replacing the physical tents and marquees filling Front Square for European Researchers’ Night 2019, 2020’s (virtual) Tent of Bad Science will be a space where the public can tune in to hear some big names discuss big scientific questions.

Expect talks on science versus fake news, trust in science, protests in the pandemic, and even the science of storytelling. These will take place in the week running up to Researcher’s Night and the public can tune in for free.

The virtual nature of the event this year in some ways allows the public to dive deeper into the world of research than any Research night before. This year you can take a virtual tour of a tuberculosis

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If you are tired of endless Zoom quizzes, you can enjoy the thrill of a virtual escape room

research lab in Trinity and let the researchers studying the disease show off their work. Dr. Seónadh O’Leary will guide you through her research on how smoking affects tuberculosis by damaging immune cells in the lungs. And in standard Research Night format, questions are strongly encouraged.

If you’ve had enough virus talk for the time being, what about learning to read Homer in ancient

Greek? Professor Ahuvia Kahane will be holding a live demonstration using online Chicago Homer software that allows readers to study Homer in ancient Greek without any knowledge of the language. The talk will also include an introduction to the Greek alphabet, which is displayed on the Chicago Homer software.

From Greece to a little closer to home, participants can hear about the research being carried out in Trinity’s Phonetics and Speech Lab and their work with Irish speech recognition technology, Abair. ie. Think Alexa but as Gaeilge.

In order to create successful technology, the lab needs as many voice recordings as possible and is aiming for míle glór (a thousand voices). Participants on the night can record some sentences for the Abair team and hear about the importance of speech recognition technology or text to speech technology in Irish, particularly as an aid for those with disabilities.

If you are tired of endless Zoom quizzes, you can enjoy the thrill of a virtual escape room being held for Researchers’ Night: Back to The Future Escaping the Climate Crisis. Like any traditional escape room, there is a backstory. “The year is 2050 and Earth has been devastated by the climate crisis.

It’s too late to save the planet now;

the only solution is to go back in time and set humanity on the right course. Your colleague will travel to the year 2020 and finish off the vital research needed for a green, sustainable Ireland.” Participants can book a free slot and take part in climate-based quizzes and puzzles with up to 6 friends. This event is online from November 27 to 29.

Interested in the molecules that make up the world around us?

Trinity researcher Dr. Christina Trujillo has developed a site for Researchers’ Night where you can explore what many important, weird, or wonderful molecules look like, in a 3D simulation.

You can carry out a simulation to see how soap fights coronavirus particles, and see for yourself why it really is essential to wash your hands!

European Researchers’ night stands apart as being one of those real cases where you can learn through having fun. An event that certainly aims at this is the Kid’s Science: Coronavirus workshop, which teaches about viruses like Covid-19 through arts and crafts and experiments.

The workshop will look at what viruses are, how they affect us, and how social distancing and soap stop their spread. The open event is being held from 7-8 pm on the

November 27.

Children aged 7-14 can also take part in a competition combining geology with toys. Participants are asked to build a diorama using their toys to tell a story about Ireland’s past environments that geology helps to study. After a little research to pick a geological period that interests them, they can get to work with lego pieces, playdough, and household objects they can find to build a scene that takes them back in time. The most creative and scientifically accurate dioramas will be rewarded with fantastic book voucher prizes.

Entries are open until the 24th of November, and winners will be announced on the night!

If art and architecture are more up their street, children (around the 9-11 age group) can take part in a virtual tour of the sculptures at St. Canice’s Cathedral Kilkenny, fill out activity sheets and attend a question and answer session with heritage expert, Sarah Myers.

They can learn about the history of stone in Kilkenny, and about the medieval stonemasons who created the sculptures around the cathedral.

The world of cryptography, ciphers, and codes will be explored in another children’s workshop (10-12 age group). Participants can have a go at writing their own secret messages using different ciphers. They can also participate in an interactive game The Code Of Kells, where they put their new knowledge of codes to the test to figure out who stole the Book of Kells. The workshop takes place on November 26 from 4-5.30pm.

The programme for Researcher’s night here at Trinity is bursting at its seams, with something for all ages and backgrounds to enjoy.

2020 has been a difficult year for research and researchers alike. But events like START at Trinity not only help to shine a light on the perseverance of research in these difficult times but also to renew that spark of curiosity in us all.

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Scitech

Cutting through nonsense to get to the science Luke O’Neill on his new book, Covid times, and taking inspiration from a Rubber Bandit Niamh Tiernan Deputy SciTech Editor

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centre of fake news: Why shouldn’t drugs be legal? Will we destroy the planet? Why shouldn’t you let people die if they want to? Why are you working in a bullshit job?

I was thrilled to chat to O’Neill about the book, which he had been working on before the Covid-19 outbreak but altered to include some aspects more relevant to current times. When I first saw that O’Neill was bringing out a new book, I was drawn to its front cover. The cover illustrations show an uncanny resemblance to the cover of the 1977 album ‘‘Never mind the bollox, here’s the sex pistols”. O’Neill first makes his love for the band very clear, and then goes on to explain: “When that album came out, the UK was in bits. There were strikes, politics, endless politicians debating, and they kind of said look, never mind the bollox, we’re here, the sex pistols”. O’Neill likens the album release amidst the surrounding chaos in the late 1970s, to the release of this book, when we’re drowning in Covid talk and fake science news. “I just thought, that’s exactly what the book is trying to capture”.

The diversity of topics covered in the 317 pages is extremely unique. When asked about the part of the book he’s most proud of writing, he refers to Chapter 11 “Why are you working in a bullshit job”, and gives a brief overview of the main idea behind the chapter.

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A chat between one of the world’s leading immunologist and a Rubber Bandit as a source of inspiration for a science book isn’t what you might expect

“It’s all about the nature of work, and how 50% of jobs in the economy are bullshit, they don’t really do anything.” This chapter,

PHOTO: @LAONEILL111

ver the past few months of chaos and change, a large proportion of our society has turned to science more than they ever have before, for clarity and, at times, for comfort. It has been really enjoyable to see the public actively engage in topics that otherwise would just be associated with those more directly involved in the world of science. Words such as vaccine, R number and pandemic have become part of the average person’s daily vocabulary. Science communicators, like Luke O’Neill, have become beacons of light in times of despair- fizzling out any confusion over more complex concepts, and encouraging us to stay hopeful that the science will pull us through.

It is safe to say that Professor O’Neill has had a hectic but fascinating few months: being the face of communication for Covid-19, selling the company Inflazome, that he co-founded, for a staggering 380 million, and writing a book for good measure.

“Never mind the b#ll*cks, here’s the Science” mosaics a variety of science topics that often find themselves at the centre of conversation, and therefore the

he says, touches on the notion of fulfillment and is somewhat like a career guidance chapter, incorporating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. “The ultimate need is called self actualisation, which means you feel fully alive. Sports people get it, they call it ‘flow’.

A goal of a career is to achieve that, we should all be living lives that are trying to achieve our full ambitions in some way, to give us full satisfaction, sadly in our society, so many people hate their jobs.”

You can find inspiration in the most unexpected places, but a chat between one of the world’s leading immunologists and a Rubber Bandit, as a source of inspiration for a science book, isn’t what you might forsee. Unlikely as it is, O’Neill found speaking with Blindboy on his podcast a great source of inspiration in driving him to finish the book.

“To be honest talking to Blindboy in January, I had maybe 3 chapters left to write, I hadn’t finished it. That podcast really inspired me, it gave me that kind of a push, and I got it done in about 2 weeks. Blindboy was very helpful!

He gave me the encouragement I needed.” Doesn’t this just sound like two very unusual words colliding? If you haven’t already, I would highly recommend giving this episode of the podcast a listen, to hear Blindboy’s curious mind play around with outlandish

science ideas, and then O’Neill putting some factual reasoning and explanations to them.

With each chapter tackling a completely different topic, and each being very distinct from one another, people are going to relate to particular aspects of the book differently. “Speaking to Niall Breslin, he wanted to talk about the mental health based chapters. He was, like Blindboy, very interested in it. It resonates with people, people who happen to have a curious mind, that’s the idea I suppose”. So, for lack of a better phrase, there’s something in it for everyone!

The arrival of a vaccine: a glimmer of hope we’ve waited for for so long, has just crept over the horizon. The melting pot of opinions on vaccination is starting to bubble once more - as conversation turns to the prospect of it being available to the public in the coming months. Of course, I couldn’t pass the opportunity to bring up the v-word with a world-leading immunologist. On asking Luke about how the book covers O’Neill, he explains how he quite simply makes the case that vaccines are great, lays out the evidence, and allows the reader to make up their own mind.

“I’m a firm believer in liberalism, should we call it. If someone decides not to vaccinate their child, that’s their decision, they can choose to ignore the

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

SciTech

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A common blue butterfly pictured on a Common Bird’s-foottrefoil during a biodiversity survey of the grounds at Áras an Uachtaráin by a tea of ecologists from Trinity.

Vaccines are a massive benefit to humanity

evidence,” says O’Neill. “They’re known as anti-vaxers now, as vaccine deniers, a bit like a holocaust denier. The evidence is so compelling that vaccines are a massive benefit to humanity, that if you decide not to vaccinate yourself or your child, you’re actually a vaccine denier because all of the evidence is there”. This chapter of the book could be a great starting point for someone feeling particularly anxious or unsure about the idea of vaccination, giving insight into the scientific basis of what vaccines are all about.

Having completed his undergrad in Trinity, and being a member of the teaching staff for some time now, O’Neill is fairly accustomed to the norm of campus buzz and day to day of Trinity life. Although not the centre of his focus at the moment, he took the time to express his concern for students during these very tough and altered times. “We’re programmed, at that age to be making friends and getting your identity sorted, trying to figure out who the hell you are. That involves social activity for definite, we are a social species. Now it’s tough, because socialising is so limited, and so I’ve got great sympathy firstly and then secondly, you just gotta tough it.” He goes on to say that it’s very important to stay connected, and to look out for each other in these times: “It’s so important to keep an eye on the mental health issue. It’s easy to slip into a bit of a depressive state and feel down because you’re missing that social connection with your friends.” He ends with “we will get through this”.

As a premise for the book’s readers, O’Neill says that he hopes the book “helps, and informs you in your deliberations on these weighty matters”. From speaking to him, and giving the book a read, I think that’s very accurately put.

“Never mind the b#ll*cks, here’s the Science”, enables us to do just that, laying out the basic scientific facts, without any room for them to be misconstrued, and allows the reader to mould their own opinions and stances on these topics. The book is a refreshingly filtered down version of topics we hear and talk about on the day-today.

PHOTO

BY DR AOIBHEANN GAUGHRAN, TCD

A Hairy St. John’s Wort plant.

PHOTO

BY DR AOIBHEANN GAUGHRAN, TCD

A six-spot burnet moth and marmalade hoverfly feeding on knapweed.

PHOTO

BY DR AOIBHEANN GAUGHRAN, TCD

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Scitech

Trinity ecologists monitor biodiversity in Japan using acoustic surveys The research was hindered both by human noise pollution and “noisy” local cicada insects Nina Chen Deputy SciTech Editor

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rinity ecologists, as part of a collaborative team, have published new research using recordings of animal noises to assess biodiversity across 23 field sites in a sub-tropical region of Japan.

The team has assessed how effective these were for pinpointing wild fauna in Okinawa with different sonic conditions.

The study was part of the OKEON Churamori Project

(Okinawa Environmental Observation Network; OKEON in Okinawajima.

Acoustic surveys are audio recordings of animal sounds in a habitat that give an indication of the scale and diversity of wildlife present.

They can be instrumented at a relatively low cost, and taking recordings of a landscape and listening back to it allows ecologists to monitor the biodiversity of an ecosystem.

When listening back on these tapes, ecologists often listen out for the presence of specific species.

Using these recordings, scientists can determine which species, and how many, are present, allowing the design of more effective conservation programmes.

Lead author of the study, Samuel Ross, a PhD Candidate in Trinity’s School of Natural Sciences, said that “in total, we used about 230 hours of sound recordings from a wide range of habitats across Okinawa to gain insights into the biodiversity of the region, to

characterise how it changes near urban areas, and most importantly, to assess how effective the various audio recording and assessment techniques are in extracting reliable information”.

The ecologists found that human noise pollution and local cicadas have interfered with the ability of scientists to get beneficial information about the landscape.

The paper, which was published in the journal Ecological Indicators, writes that human-related sounds interfere with animal communication, particularly in the lower frequency range.

Additionally, the research shows that soundscapes are dominated by cicada choruses, which disguise the true diversity of the region.

Dr Nick Friedman, a postdoctoral researcher from Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, said that the forests in Okinawa are “really noisy when the cicadas are out”.

“The sound they make is so loud, it’s at least annoying if not painful.

It conceals a lot of different species

that are in the forest because they don’t really bother calling to each other while the cicadas are going,” Friedman said.

While the soundscapes utilised in the study are a useful tool at gauging biodiversity in a region, they also have another range of functions.

They can provide an insight into the physical landscape and

habitat structure of the region, the weather patterns prevalent in the area, and highlight practices like illegal logging that pose a risk to the habitat.

With a better understanding of what can disrupt the data in audio surveys, ecologists can better prepare for the future of studying biodiversity, making greater efforts to protect our environment.

Trinity research shows polio causes previously unknown changes to the brain The research could impact drug development and patient rehabilitation for polio and similar neurological diseases Lucy Fitzsimmons SciTech Editor

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rinity research on the effect of polio on the nervous system has unearthed newly found changes to the brain caused by the disease.

Polio, now a rare condition in most parts of the world thanks to a highly effective vaccine, was once a huge cause for concern in public health.

Though most people who

contract the viral disease show no symptoms or mild symptoms such as vomiting, fever, or muscle stiffness, it can cause paralysis in 1 in every 100 infections, and 1 in 10 of those paralysed will die as a result. Though the last recorded case of polio in Ireland was in 1984, there are still many living with the effects of previous infection from the disease.

Polio affects muscle movement by damaging neurons in the spinal

cord. Neurons stimulate movement by taking up and transmitting electrical and chemical signals around the body, including to and from muscles. If these are damaged by the poliovirus in extreme cases, mobility and even breathing can be seriously impaired.

Until now research had suggested that polio affected only the spinal cord and not the brain.

But recent research from clinical medicine researchers from Trinity

has shown that polio does in fact create changes in brain networks.

In essence, the brain has been “rewired” by the neurological disease.

The research was carried out by taking neuro-electric measurements of brain activity and muscle activity in 25 adult survivors of infant/childhood polio and a control group of 11 individuals who had never contracted the virus.

“Our research findings show for the first time that the brain “rewires” in those who suffered from polio in childhood. This has implications for our understanding of brain plasticity, and in the longer term for rehabilitation and new biomarker development,“ says Prof Orla Hardiman, team leader and co-author of the study.

The research gives important insight into the effect neurological and neurodegenerative diseases have on the nervous system and how the brain compensates for these changes. The new information may not only be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of polio caused neurological disorders but could also shed light on Motor

Neuron disease and childhoodonset Spinal Muscular Atrophy which affect the same neurons.

The first author of the study and Clinical Medicine PhD researcher, Dr. Amina Coffey said “This study shows that neurophysiological markers can pick up changes in brain connectivity patterns that have implications in our understanding of other similar neurological conditions like Spinal Muscular Atrophy.”

The findings of the study could impact drug development and patient rehabilitation for these neurological conditions.

It supports current precision medicine approaches where a patient’s diagnosis and treatment could be based on how their specific neural network has been affected.

“These types of inexpensive noninvasive methods can be further developed for probing the different “neural networks” in humans that are responsible for different dayto-day movements and different diseases that affect them,” says Dr Bahman Nasseroleslami, Assistant professor of Clinical Medicine, and co-author of the paper.

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

Sport

The dark side of social media fitness culture Shannon McGreevy

page 29

Running on empty Virginia Bernardi

page 30

The evolution of clothing for women in sport

Sports brands are going to need to step up their game if they want to be taken seriously in the eyes of female athletes Phoebe Otway-Norwood Deputy Sports Editor

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have found as a girl in sport that even as I have grown up the approach to women’s sportswear has completely changed, thankfully for the better.

When I first went to secondary school my need for proper sportswear grew as I began exercising and running more; whether it was through playing hockey or in physical education, I was always active. This of course meant that I needed a sports bra, something which we had never been taught in school and was of course still a taboo subject to our immature minds. The very thought of a bra, much less one that was specialized, was enough to silence a room in stunned embarrassment or giggles, the latter dependent on the presence of boys. Yet this has changed. The revolution in sportswear, especially women’s, has overhauled the sportswear industry reflecting the increase in women partaking in sport and has also, in effect, changed the way we dress and approach our image.

I, for one, am delighted with this development.

For years the lack of media exposure for women’s sport meant that there was little need or want by many of the large sporting brands such as Nike or Adidas to make clothes that were tailored for women. The clothes tended to be focused around rudimentary testing with little or no investigation done into the actual comfort or practicality. As a result

sports bras were either industrious scaffold-like implements that were strapped onto the body and in reality provided very little support or skimpy 2000s style bralettes that were more suited for a club than a sports field. The lack of exposure of these sports fed directly into this narrative.

What was the point in big brands producing items of clothing for a market that was barely noticeable and didn’t really have a voice? The products supplied were generally hand-me-downs from male items and of the idea that “shrink it and pink it� would solve the gap in the clothing market.

Clothing in women’s sport has always been a contentious issue, yet it has come a long way from its conservative roots. In the 19th and early 20th century it was incredibly rare that women would partake in sports and when it was permitted, it was a leisurely activity, not with an aim to win. As a result, women’s clothes evolved to reflect this.

Long and heavy skirts were worn to play tennis for example and it wasn’t until Suzanne Lenglen, a French tennis player, arrived at

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Wimbledon wearing a low neck dress as her attire that the question of clothing in women’s sports began to be noticed. Leglen then went on to win the tournament aged 19.

As women’s rights expanded, with Ireland granting women full voting rights in 1922, so too did the expectations of them. It began to be acceptable for women to partake in sports. The 60’s saw a marked increase in participation although this was far from the current levels and the question of equal pay began to gain traction as women such as Billie Jean King began campaigning.

Today the situation has changed since its early days with a huge increase in the amount of women taking part in sports. At the 2016 Olympics, nearly 45 percent of all participants were female and more women now declare themselves as sports fans than ever before. Many big sports brands have now taken notice of this increased demand and have started research and production into clothes aimed at practicality and function while also being aesthetically pleasing.

There has also been a change in

the types of clothing available.

Different attire is required for different sports and as a result big brands have adapted to reflect this.

Adidas recently released its Pure Boost X which is the first shoe specifically designed for a woman.

There has also been an increase in the diversity of clothes in sport whereby brands have designed more modest clothes suitable for Muslim women. There are now more modest swimming costumes to account for women who wish to cover up. They have also released sports focused hijabs for Muslim women to continue to compete with pride in their faith. The body positivity movement has also influenced the trend as the onedesign-fits-all mantra dissipates.

Previously, for example, swimming costumes were designed in one size and the amount of fabric was increased or decreased depending on the size wanted without taking into account the practical needs of different sizes. Now costumes are designed with plus sizes in mind making them much more comfortable for people to wear.

It will be interesting to see where women’s sports brands

go next. Small and local brands are coming up with new and innovative ideas all the time. The movement of “athleisure� has exposed our societies to the idea of women casually wearing sports gear, a previously unheard of phenomenon. There is also more awareness of women in sport and the fact that they want to be taken seriously. As Pam Catlett of Under Armour said: “When brands talk about women’s performance, their achievements have always been compared to men. At the Olympic games, the female swim champion was compared to ‘the Michael Phelps of swimming’. Women want to be measured by their own success and achievements.�

Women in sports are a force to be taken seriously and will be the deciding factor in a number of large firms such as Nike and Adidas’ success over the next few years.

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Sport

Sports to get superfans through the Covid-19 winter

From Formula 1 to tennis, there are still some things taking place this winter to satisfy your sports craving.

James Mahon Contributing Writer

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port has always been a source of entertainment and joy, irrespective of what is going on in the world. Despite being a clichĂŠ, the idea that you can forget whatever ills or stresses that afflict you by being immersed in sport is undeniably true. This has become ever more evident in the world of Covid-19, where for periods the sheer exhilaration and adrenaline-inducing emotions that sport can produce were withdrawn, and little or nothing else could compare. However, many sports have returned to our world, and with them an antidote to the constant swirl of negativity that can seem all-consuming.

Trinity News has identified some of the most exciting sports to get you through this Covid-19affected winter.

Firstly is Formula One (F1):

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although halfway through the season and Lewis Hamilton seems to be progressing inevitably to his seventh world title, it still has plenty to offer. If one positive benefit can be taken from Covid-19, F1 has had to resort to using classic tracks such as Imola and the Nurburgring which previously couldn’t compete commercially for contracts that wealthy, more generic tracks, like Abu Dhabi could. The result has been a revelation; seeing F1 cars, the pinnacle of human

engineering, driven around beautifully-designed tracks, showcasing their spellbinding speed has been astounding.

Whilst Mercedes’ hegemony reigns supreme, having just taken a seventh constructors title at Imola, there are multiple subplots to maintain the sport fan’s intrigue.

Who out of Renault, McLaren or Racing Point can secure third in the Constructors’ Championship?

Can Charles Leclerc continue his stupendous form of dragging the maximum out of an inferior Ferrari car, or can Max Verstappen through sheer skill, luck and human ingenuity snatch another victory from Mercedes? F1 in the madness of coronavirus is as engaging, thrilling and as compulsively watchable as ever.

The Premier League, like F1, is still, with Covid-19 protocols in place, going full blast ahead.

Football is the most popular world sport for a reason. Its unpredictability, brilliance, and at times poetry transfixes billions globally. The Premier League is the perfect representation of this, and it has not disappointed this season.

Every team has already suffered a defeat with some absurd results — Aston Villa demolishing Liverpool by five goals, and Manchester City inexplicably losing by three to Leicester. Southampton are currently in the top four with Manchester United languishing fourteenth. This is set to be one of the most exciting seasons in Premier League history, and with

Liverpool and Manchester City’s superiority potentially threatened, we could see some unexpected challengers for the title. On the other hand, it could just be an aberration of sorts, with normality shortly resuming. Whatever it may be, for sport fans the unfolding season is set to be as gripping and entrancing as any in recent memory.

The Six Nations may have ended, yet domestic and international rugby will still be available for fans to consume with relish. Despite a somewhat anticlimactic end to the Six Nations from an Irish perspective, a new innovative international competition, the Autumn Cup, is set to commence this month.

The Autumn Cup, replacing the traditional November internationals, will take place 13 November to 6 December.

Consisting of a pool format, the Six Nation countries will face off again in addition to Fiji and Georgia. This is another fantastic opportunity for sport viewers to enjoy a month of top-level elite international rugby. Although not having the same intensity and stature as the Six Nations, it is a prospect for the likes of Andy Farrell, Ireland’s head coach, to experiment by introducing some fresh faces to the squad. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see the approach of teams to the inaugural edition of the tournament.

Like Rugby, tennis has enjoyed a condensed season this year, with the US and French open being

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ARTWORK BY CELINE DELAHOY FOR TRINITY NEWS

played out of sync to previous times. It certainly was a strange sight to see Rafael Nadal play ‘til 1am in the darkness of a Parisian September night, rather than a pristine April afternoon. The tennis does not stop there though, with the ATP World Finals set to begin in London at the O2 arena from 15 to 22 November. The top eight players in the world face off in a hyperintense and competitive week of tennis, attempting to claim a title whose stature is only bested by the four Grand Slams that take place each year. This year’s participants are composed of a combination of experience and youth, with four players under 24 making up the field.

It will be fascinating to see if the young Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas can defend the title he claimed 12 months ago against the established elite of Nadal and Djokovic.

While tennis may be a professional sport where Grand Slam tournament prize pots can reach such astronomical figures as 38 million euros, GAA, however, is one of the few amateur sports that is just as watchable. With the disruption of Covid-19, as with most sports, the hurling and football finals are taking place in December rather than the traditional September. This does not diminish the potential possibilities that could grasp the attention of sport fans this Winter.

Dublin seems as imperious as ever, brushing aside rivals with apparent ease. Their supremacy seems to be unchallenged and their quest to a sixth Sam Maguire inevitable. Kerry beaters Cork may provide a bit of competition to an apparent procession to the title. In hurling it is much more uncertain, defending Champions Tipperary comprehensively beaten by Limerick at PĂĄirc UĂ­ Chaoimh, in mitigation it was their first game, and they could possibly soon regain their form that saw them triumph last year. These questions and many more are to be answered in an intriguing Championship that could brighten up this bleak winter.

We have always returned to sport in the hope of finding some sense of pleasure and joy.

Whatever form it takes, be it F1 or tennis it has rarely failed to disappoint. None more so than in this Covid-19 environment has it been emphat ically emphasised.

The sports outlined here will hopefully supply those zealous sport enthusiasts with some satisfaction and happiness in the coming months.

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 24 November

Sport

The dark side of social media fitness culture

Misleading claims, promising miraculous transformations are pervasive among fitness influencers Shannon McGreevy Sports Editor

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ow more than ever, we sit on our phones scrolling through social media between (or during) online lectures. Even if you don’t follow many fitness influencer accounts, it’s bound to come up at some point as a suggested page. You see these overly defined abs and perfectly toned muscles and can’t help but click to check this person out: it’s almost an impulse. All over their page are diet tips, meal plans, workouts to target specific body parts, and swimsuit pictures. It’s hard not to be fascinated and want to achieve those results. They appear to have cracked the code in getting the “perfect body”. Is there legitimacy to their results, or is it all helped with editing softwares, lighting and camera tricks? Influencers are commonly known to be all about self-love and that all shapes, sizes and body types are perfect and beautiful, yet they all sell this one image that you should strive for and sell the viewer products that help them achieve that.

On social media, “beach body in 6 weeks”, or “how to target belly fat” are some of the most common and misleading captions and video titles that catch a viewer’s eye and attention. These influencers seem to have to quick and easy fix to get the picture perfect body in as little as a few weeks. Most of these influencers are people who have trained the majority of their lives in a sport that requires healthy diet plans, a strict training regimen and vast amounts of dedication spanning many years.

To many of the general public, this isn’t the case. Achieving a body type that took years to build and grow is not possible with the short amounts of time they claim.

Advice on targeting specific areas such as “love-handles” or belly fat, is impossible. It has been proven by health experts that the spot reducing fat is nothing but a myth, and the only way to work on “problem” areas is by lowering overall body fat percentage.

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A chieving a body type that took years to build and grow is not possible with the short amounts of time they claim Decreasing overall body fat means exercising consistently and eating a healthy, balanced diet, not the mystified 15 minute YouTube videos claiming they are the secret to a perfect physique.

At the start of the lockdowns due to the spread of coronavirus, free workout videos by YouTuber Chloe Ting became very popular, particularly, her renowned “2 Week Shred Challenge”. It appears to be the perfect time to achieve these “body goals” and with a workout for less than an hour a day claiming to yield unbelievable results, it’s hard not to give it a go. However, the very concept of a two week shred program, along with the tons of progress pics and videos displaying “success”, can give the false impression that these YouTube workouts will give the results most people are seeking when they start. The truth is, as mentioned before, it is impossible to achieve such drastic results in such a short period of time without drastic dietary changes as well. In fact, it’s commonly supported by dietitians that weight loss is roughly 80% diet and 20% exercise. So rather than being led to believe that this free workout program by an unqualified trainer will lead to shocking results, it is necessary to consider the other aspects of a healthy lifestyle that are important.

Ting’s programs can appear enticing because of video titles promoting short term health goals focused solely on aesthetics. Titles like this give the impression that body features shunned by society

such as the “muffin top” and “love handles” can be (and should be) magically removed in just a few weeks with the help of a couple of videos less than 30 minutes long.

Quite frankly, it’s misleading and can lead to a loss in confidence when these miraculous results aren’t achieved. While there are similar programs out there, by Blogilates and Rob Lipsett, for example, Ting’s have gained a massive following over the course of the shutdowns. Her two week ab program has over 200 million views in less than a year after publication. Ting’s programs seem to suck you into a destructive cycle that consists of being promised change aimed at appearance rather than overall health, attempting these challenges only to leave disheartened after immediate results were not gained, and finally, luring in more participants as you become just another view contributing to her popularity.

There are many others all over Instagram and YouTube similar to Chloe Ting and it’s important to be aware of these and make sure

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ARTWORK BY MEERA ENQELYA FOR TRINITY NEWS

It is crucial to be informed and do research before falling for these types of fitness influencers’ gimmicks they actually have qualifications before expecting results from their “training programs” and purchasing their meal guides.

They feed off of insecurities and promising ways to “fix” these and even endorsing products like protein supplements that counteract the results their audience’s want. It is crucial to be informed and do research before falling for these types of fitness influencers’ gimmicks. Ultimately, what is most important is to maintain a healthy and balanced diet and lifestyle. While workouts like Chloe Ting’s can be used in conjunction with others to help achieve the World Health Organization’s recommended 60 minutes a day of exercise, it is only combined with a nutritious diet that such results can be achieved and sustained in the long term.

Many of these influencers can be inspirational in helping to lead a healthy lifestyle, which is an amazing thing and can help people to take control of their health and make it a priority, but the claims that you can “get abs” with their short workouts is a farce. More than anything, in order to increase fitness, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle.

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Tuesday 24 November | TRINITY NEWS

Sport

Running on empty Why tearing my ACL probably saved my life

Virginia Bernardi Contributing Writer This article contains mention of weight loss, exercise addiction, restrictive and disordered eating, and calorie counting

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hen you grow up unathletic and on the “bigger” side, people are at first surprised if you completely change your lifestyle. “How do you do it?” they ask wistfully; “Teach me how to be so healthy”, yet it’s ironic how easily my “positive” lifestyle change took an unfortunate negative turn. In school, I found it very difficult as I was lazy and never particularly sporty, something which had been joked about by my family members for years, affecting my self confidence and ability to run from a young age. I always found running quite a struggle and once walked my school’s Cross Country course in protest because I was too ashamed to run at all, since I had always felt sluggish and awkward when trying.

When I started university, I went out, I drank, I socialised, as all students do and as a result, my already limited exercise regime took a back seat and I stopped doing physical activity completely.

Then, after my first year I decided I should turn this around and I began to exercise consistently, eat healthily and approach my lifestyle in a different way; including more fruit and vegetables in my diet.

To begin with, everything went perfectly and my fitness improved, no one was more surprised than me when I went on longer runs and found that I actually started to enjoy them and want to do them more! Finally I felt healthy, like a proper runner, and I absolutely loved it. But this wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to look fit, not just be fit.

As my new exercise developed, my reasons for improving my lifestyle began to warp and change.

I found that I was restricting and punishing myself as I believed that losing weight would improve my confidence issues. Running became a task, in that I was no longer running because I could or because I enjoyed it, I was running with a drive; I had to run. I felt I had to run to offset any “mistakes” in my lifestyle that I perceived as bad such as drinking or not going

to the gym, I even felt I had to run to punish myself for eating. I finally could run so I felt I had to continue, I just had to keep losing weight.

It was the summer of second year when I went on a sun holiday with my friends that the already drought relationship I had with exercise and food began to take a turn for the worse. My friend praised me for having a six pack and to them I appeared to be a fitspo. Someone who looked and felt amazing, the “sporty one” as they began to call me.

Unfortunately, although I should have been having a great time on holiday my mind began obsessing over my body. The inability to exercise and the heavy drinking on the trip began to unnerve me and I was convinced that all the progress I had made so far would be ruined and I would end up back where I started. I obsessed over my six pack and was ashamed. I had to hide my restrictive behaviour from my friends and as a result I’ll always find these memories are tainted.

I also had the opportunity to volunteer in China which I was so excited for, but I hadn’t taken into account the negative spiral I had entered in relation to food and I ended up living in a depressive panic. I was determined to exercise when I could, running being the only option, and when I could no longer do this, I resolved to eat less and less. Looking back, it’s heartbreaking that, for someone who always identified as a foodie, I was trapped by fear of weight gain when I could have been experiencing the incredible and unique cuisines that can be found

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I always found running quite a struggle and once walked my school’s Cross Country course in protest because I was too ashamed to run at all

in China.

I wore down my body and, as I returned to university, I was the thinnest I’d ever been. I thought I needed to stay at this weight, to remain “athletic”, so I started running again and restricting my eating, in order to mitigate my fears. I started to get weaker and weaker as I ran on an empty stomach and empty body. It was toxic and dangerous. I was often running with my eyes closed because I was so tired. I was running just to look at the “burnt” number, and lost track of normality – sometimes thinking that 90 minutes was not enough exercise.

In photos from that term, I look like I’m having a fabulous time, but those were dark days, ridden with physical and mental pain. I was determined to always present myself as strong and invulnerable.

Meanwhile I was cracking into infinitely smaller pieces. I find that I can sometimes romanticise my appearance then, yet I was so miserable. In hindsight, it was only a matter of time before I snapped.

And I did.

That Christmas I went skiing, and previous anxieties resurfaced: how could I possibly survive six days of drinking and eating, without exercising? Now, my worries sound ridiculous, but at the time they were crippling. On the first day I took many tumbles

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I started to get weaker and weaker as I ran on an empty stomach and empty body. It was toxic and dangerous: I was often running with my eyes closed because I was so tired

and one proved decisive: my knee swelled up and the next day came a diagnosis of torn ligaments. Two days later I headed home; holiday over, and physical activity out of the question. I’m a bad skier but I think in hindsight, had my body not already been breaking, my knee injury might not have been as bad. Injury meant I had to stop. And I was terrified. Terrified of the weight gain I had been so badly trying to avoid. I was also heartbroken. Heartbroken because for the first time in my life I “liked” exercising, and when would this happen again? The answer: a month of complete rest and healing and further weeks of caring for myself instead of pushing my body beyond its limits.

When lockdown came and gyms closed, I empathised with people’s fears about not being able to exercise, having felt this anxiety in December. This time I knew I would survive it. I knew nothing “bad” would happen if I was more sedentary and I no longer wanted to restrict my eating. I still wasn’t running from fear of re-injuring my knee. I gained weight, but when I began to run again in August, I felt amazing. Over-exercising or being smaller didn’t make me a better runner. Rest did. I’m not claiming that every run since then has been easy – but I’m trying to

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listen to myself. I’m not looking at the size of my legs but at the fact that despite my injury, they can walk and run.

I don’t force myself to run when I don’t want to, and I don’t run only to burn calories. I eat to fuel myself and have energy. I’m not saying my relationship with food and exercise is completely normal or healed; I frequently struggle with bad body image days and hostile thoughts, and have to ensure I don’t return to toxic habits. But usually I win these fights. I’m trying to care less about my image, and instead focus

on moving my body in ways that make it feel good and energised.

Running currently allows me to be all the things I wasn’t when I wasn’t eating properly. It makes me feel strong and energetic. It wakes me up and makes me feel alive. I love being able to dance and jump and not feel like I’m going to pass out. I love that I choose to run and don’t feel forced to.

To this day I don’t know what would have happened or how I would have carried on if I hadn’t injured myself skiing: having to look after myself physically meant a mental check-in too.

I could say more, but I am writing mostly for people pushing themselves past breaking point.

Pushing themselves to look or act a certain way. Those who seem happiest or hyper-functional, but are destroying themselves on the inside. I want to say that your appearance won’t matter if you constantly hate yourself. I thought becoming “physically fit� and changing my shape would get me what I wanted. I was wrong.

Having “abs� didn’t make me happy, it drained me. I wanted to show how quickly a healthy lifestyle can escalate in a very unhealthy way and just how deeply the mental scars of this can run.

While I feel so blessed that I can run and enjoy it during this lockdown, I want to emphasise that rest is good. You will survive not exercising, so don’t beat yourself up if you can’t. Ask for help if you’re struggling - I’m still working on this too - don’t let injury be a last resort like I did.

Weight gain is not bad. Bodies need rest, and we need to be kind to ourselves.

Out of Left Field: DU Yoga Cheap online classes are at the heart of the society and yoga community at Trinity Shannon McGreevy Sports Editor

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f there has ever been a time to start practicing yoga, now is the time. It’s time to start being more mindful and taking care of your body and mental health. Yoga has been around for thousands of years, and there are many different types of practices, whether they be vinyasa, which is connecting breath with movement, or yin yoga which is about holding poses for an extended amount of time for relaxation. The DU Yoga Society has been very active throughout the whole pandemic, and lucky enough, yoga can be done anywhere with a little bit of space and some time. With classes ranging from 30 minutes to an hour, it’s the perfect opportunity to stretch and get out of your desk chair and away from the computer.

Interviewing multiple committee members about their experiences with DU Yoga, it is apparent how helpful yoga has been in navigating these difficult times we find ourselves entrenched in.

Events Officer Inga Marie speaks about how practicing yoga has helped her cope: “I’m very grateful for all it has taught me so far, and all that I will learn as I continue

ARTWORK BY SINEAD BARRY FOR TRINITY NEWS

to be involved. I am definitely less stressed than I was a few years ago, and even though I still experience stress very regularly, I have developed a way of dealing with it by using breath and movement.�

Many of the 2020/21 committee members have quite a background in yoga. Conor Myler first took up yoga “in the summer of 2018 after a hectic first year in computer science�. He says: “I had initially tried meditation but later switched to yoga, looking for something that had a bit more movement and could also act as an antidote to all the sitting and staring at screens that my coursework involves.�

Now we are all essentially online and looking at our screens as Myler does for his course, practicing yoga can be beneficial in counteracting the adverse effects of sitting down hunched over the computer all day. “I originally started yoga as my mom had gotten me six free lessons for Christmas of fifth year. I started Viniyoga and with a year of practice started to branch out and explore different styles,� fellow committee member Emma Leuders says. “I still love how refreshed I feel mentally and physically after a yoga class.�

Yoga can definitely seem intimidating to beginners when you think of the very challenging poses and the flexibility that yoga requires. Chairperson Jordan Lynn says to not be discouraged: “First of all, no one is naturally good at yoga asana (the physical part)! Yoga is a process which slowly brings balance into your body, mind, and spirit.� While usually classes would be taking place in person, now they have all moved online. Lynn wants to emphasize the importance of being comfortable while being

challenged and making mistakes in class: “No one cares what you look or sound like. Not one person is looking at you to see what you’re doing or listening to how you’re breathing.�

Transitioning to online events has not been too difficult for the DU Yoga Society. “I think that we as a society are coping as well as we possibly can,� comments Helen Hololei, who helps to facilitate some of the online classes. “Zoom allows us to continue giving classes which is wonderful and our members have been so patient with us, which has helped a lot. The turnout to classes has dropped as we can only provide virtual classes and obviously there are free yoga videos online, but the committee and our teachers are working closely together to ensure that we can provide classes to everyone who wants them.�

The society offers cheap classes which are a huge selling point for them too, with hour-long classes costing â‚Ź4 and half-hour classes costing â‚Ź2. Making classes cheap and available was attractive to Myler when he first looked to join DU Yoga: “The society drew me because of the low prices when compared with the rest of Dublin’s studios which could be a bit expensive if you’re living on a student budget.â€?

DU Yoga offers a community of people who are looking to destress and look after themselves in a healthy way. In a very stressful time when everything seems to be changing by the minute, it is important to have healthy coping mechanisms and practicing yoga even a couple of times a week can be very beneficial.

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Sports to get superfans through this Covid-19 Winter James Mahon

page 28

Out of left field: DU Yoga Shannon McGreevy

page 31

Keller determined to remain competitive despite uncertainties

Trinity Sport Scholar Aisling Keller is reaping the benefits the scholarship brings in keeping up with fitness and training despite her season being on hold Phoebe Otway-Norwood Deputy Sports Editor

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he announcement of the sports scholarships this year was met with both excitement and surprise as the number of awards given out went down from 65 last year to just 35 this year. Bank of Ireland pulled out of their sponsorship deal with Trinity Sport this year as a result of the financial impact of the coronavirus and their loss of revenue, though this did not dampen the mood at the awards ceremony which was held this year online. The scholarships are awarded each year to anyone who has excelled at either a regional or Olympic level in their chosen sport and provides financial and academic support to those who are enrolled in their programme.

One of Trinity’s current Sport Scholars is elite sailor Aisling Keller, the Laser radial sailor who qualified Ireland for a place in the Olympics this year although the games have been understandably put on hold. After falling into the sport by accident she has come a long way from her beginnings in Lough Derg Yacht Club. “I think I started when I was about ten or eleven. Sailing is not in my family at all, my parents didn’t sail or anything so it was just pure luck,� she tells of her humble beginnings.

She began sailing as a result of her school where her principal was an enthusiast and encouraged her to take part. Soon her competitive instinct began to take hold and

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soon enough she was racing, “When I was 15 or 16, that was when racing started to click with me.�

She is now studying physiotherapy in college and trying to balance her rigorous training commitments and her academics. To this end she hopes that the sports scholarship will help her. “With the scholarship we get a lot of support from the Trinity Sport team. They help liaise with your lecturers and head of your course if you need some flexibility with assignments or exams. You also get strength and conditioning support and use of high performance gym and physio.

On top of all that, there’s various workshops throughout the year for different things like nutrition or allergy testing. There is some financial support also.�

Covid has had an upsetting influence over the sports world this year leaving many athletes in the balance and uncertain of their future within the sport. This uncertainty applies to sailing as well since there is no specific start date for the season and no knowledge of how much of a season there will be. For Keller this has made her focus on her fitness and strength so that she is ready to react to a sudden start to

the season, “Covid-19 has caused a lot of uncertainty, especially with competing, I don’t really know when the season will start and how much of a season there will be. It means that I have to keep on top of fitness and skills. But that’s not

something I complain of.�

This uncertainty has also affected her plans for the future as she is transitioning into a different class of boat, yet this has remained exciting and engaging for her as she tries out new things, “At the moment I’m in transition to a different class of sailing so training has been really enjoyable as it’s different. As you can imagine training can become cumbersome so keeping it fresh is important.�

The plans made are up in the air as the ability to train has been so disrupted by Covid-19, although Keller is steadfastly optimistic for the future. “With all the uncertainty it’s hard to make plans so any plans I have are very provisional. I’m trying out different classes of boats and hopefully I’ll get to compete at some European championships within different classes.�

It will be interesting to see what the future has in store for Keller, having already taken the sailing world by storm in the Lasers, yet unfortunately missing out on her chance to compete in the Olympics due to the selection process by Irish Sailing. Trinity will also continue to support her as she navigates the complex world of Olympic Sport and being an elite athlete during these unsettling times.