Trinity News Vol. 67 Issue 7

TCDSU elections broken down by race

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LIFE

Running the pandemic away

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TRINITY NEWS

Ireland’s Oldest Student Newspaper

ESTABLISHED 1953

Vol. 67, Issue. 7

Jane Ohlmeyer favoured by students as candidate for Trinity’s next provost Shannon Connolly News Editor

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The contenders for TCDSU President - Leah Keogh, Ben Cummins, and Luke MacQuillan - have fought strong campaigns as three of the twelve candidates in the union’s first ever online-only sabbatical officer elections.

Poll: Keogh headed for landslide victory in President race Jack Kennedy Assistant Editor

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POLL CONDUCTED

BY TRINITY NEWS INDICATES that Leah Keogh is set to win a decisive victory in the election for President of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU). The poll, which used a representative sample of 1,005 Trinity students, was carried out between Tuesday March 2 and Saturday March 6. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.0%.

If poll results from the other races are borne out in the election, TCDSU is on track to have a sixwoman sabbatical officer team for

the 2021/22 academic year. This would be a first since the University Times Editor was established as an elected office.

President In the race for President, incumbent Welfare and Equality Officer Leah Keogh received 69.6% of the first preferences, significantly more than the halfplus-one needed to win on the first count. Ben Cummins came second with 24.6% of the votes, with Luke MacQuillan receiving 4.4% and re-open nominations (RON) on 1.4%.

Fewer than a quarter of respondents said they remained undecided on the President contest, too few to overcome Keogh’s lead.

Nonetheless, campaigns in all races

will work hard to sway decided and undecided voters in the final days of the election period, so the candidates’ ultimate performance may still differ from their polling.

Education In the Education contest, Bev Genockey leads with 55.6% of the first preferences. Dan O’Reilly received 38.3%, and RON 6.1%.

However, almost half of those polled said that they remained undecided in this category so while Genockey’s lead is significant and she is favoured to win, the race is far from decided.

Welfare and Equality In the Welfare and Equality election, Sierra Mueller-Owens leads with 55.8% of the first preferences. Dylan Krug polled at

38.9% and RON at 5.3%. Again, many of those surveyed had yet to make up their minds, with more than 54% describing themselves as undecided. Much like in the Education race, Mueller-Owens has a strong lead but the contest remains very competitive.

Communications and Marketing Unopposed Communications and Marketing candidate Aoife Cronin received 91.5% of the first preference votes, with RON polling at just 8.5%. While almost half of voters said they remained undecided, Cronin’s very comfortable lead suggests she has little to worry about when votes are counted on Thursday evening.

Continued on page 12>>

N A POLL CONDUCTED

BY TRINITY NEWS LAST WEEK, STUDENTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEIR PREFERENCE for the upcoming provost election will lie with Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, favoured by 62.7% of those who expressed a preference.

Professor Linda Doyle followed second in the poll with 21.8%, with Professor Linda Hogan receiving 15.6% of the votes.

However, the student preference vote may very well change as the provost election campaign period continues, with nearly half of students polled indicating that they are undecided in the upcoming election.

Students are not eligible to vote in the provost election appointment, as the electorate is made up of around 850 academics and staff.

Student representatives, such as TCDSU and the Graduate Students’ Union (GSU), have a vote within this electorate, and intend to use it based on students’ preferences, with six and four votes for each union respectively.

Trinity College Dublin’s Students’ Union (TCDSU) has previously mandated to vote in accordance with student’s preference, which will be upheld by holding a vote of the student body to see which candidate they would prefer. With 48.1% of students undecided, the student representative votes could vote for any candidate.

17.9% of students polled said Continued on page 12>>

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In this issue

President

News Analysls: The three provost candidates are largely in harmony on major topics - page 12

Second year Schols candidates consider legal action if concerns are not addressed by College - page 14

Comment

69.6%

College should use this time to refurbish outdated facilities -page 19

SciTech

Sam, Trinity’s resident campus fox - page 24

Sport

Hope for the future of the World University Games - 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 Features Editor Comment Editor Gaeilge Editor Scitech Editor Sport Editor

Shannon Connolly 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

Leah Keogh tops po every voter group in but unsurprising pr Keogh leads the race by a wide margin Lauren Boland Editor

A Printed at Irish Times print facility, City West Business Campus, 4080 Kingswood Road, Dublin 24

T THE OUTSET, THIS YEAR’S PRESIDENTIAL RACE told a tale as old as SU time. The race looked like it would take a similar shape to last year’s: three candidates, one deeply entrenched in the union; one less so but largely walking the party line; and one positioning themselves as a unionoutsider.

However, although incumbent Eoin Hand, who had no previous experience in the union, beat out his more polarised opponents (one boasting a long union CV, the other calling the SU “broken”) in 2020, this year, experience looks

set to triumph with Leah Keogh to take the presidency.

In Trinity News’ poll of 1,005 students, Keogh won the first preferences of 69.6% of decided voters. Ben Cummins came second with 24.61%, followed by Luke MacQuillan with 4.36%.

There was little appetite to re-open nominations, with only 1.41% of decided voters polled indicating that as their first preference.

Keogh tops the poll across genders, faculties, and political affiliations. Her popularity rises to 73.5% among women, but dips to 61.9% among men. Conversely, both Cummins and MacQuillan are slightly more popular among men compared to women - 28.17% and 23.27%, and 6.75% and 2.76% respectively. Of any voter group, Keogh finds least favour among right-wing voters, but is still at the top of their first preferences with 53.77%.

71.3% of respondents were decided on how they would cast their preferences between the

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At hustings, Keogh has been confident and prepared, putting forward wellresearched policies and the plans to achieve them

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24.6%

4.4%

oll among n complex resident race president candidates, the highest certainty in all six races. 24% were unsure, and 4.7% indicated they wouldn’t vote.

A mixed bag of candidates Leading in the poll, Leah Keogh is an unsurprising frontrunner.

She is the union’s current Welfare and Equality Officer, a role she was elected to last year after securing 87.9% of the vote in the absence of any contenders. She twice served as Secretary to Council in 2017/18 and 2018/19, a position that comes with the dual role of Chair of the Oversight Commission, and as a school convenor and class rep.

At hustings, Keogh has been confident and prepared, putting forward well-researched policies and the plans to achieve them. She wants to prioritise safeguarding student representation within College governance, progress the development of the student centre and work on making House 6 accessible, and push for increased sustainability.

A second term as a sabbatical officer – though often seen in

other students’ unions around the country – is a rarity for TCDSU. At Council hustings, Keogh said: “It’s passion. I’m not sticking around for another year for the ‘fantastic’ pay, for the ‘lovely’ working conditions, the ‘great’ work lifebalance. You have to run on a platform of passion if you’re going to rereun.”

Luke MacQuillan has set out a strong defence of his position, framing his status as someone who has not previously been involved in the union as an asset. He has emphasised the idea that his running, and theoretical election, could prove to students that they can become involved with the union at any stage of their time in college.

MacQuillan has touched on most of the points that students want to hear about in this race.

He has promised to address the financial burden of the student contribution charge on students, support students with disabilities, and lobbying for rent caps on private student accommodation.

What he has lacked in some areas has been a specificity on the steps that would need to be taken to achieve those goals.

However, he has hit on some notes during the campaign that his fellow candidates have missed. In his interview with Trinity News, MacQuillan – a financial analyst with the Trinity Student Managed Fund – said he would look at the union’s management of its stocks and potential sales to address its deficit if needed, one of the newest ideas for how to remedy the union’s financial challenges raised in recent years. Similarly, at Equality hustings the candidates were asked how they would progress the provision of gender netural bathrooms. Keogh and Cummins discussed working with Estates and Facilities to expand

their availability on campus and at events, but MacQuillan – a rugby captain - moved beyond campus and identified the lack of gender neutral bathrooms at Trinity’s offcampus sports facilities, such as Santry, and named it as a barrier to participation in sports. In some areas, MacQuillan has succeeded in drawing on his experience in areas of college life outside of the SU to bring ideas to the table that have otherwise been overlooked.

For his part, Ben Cummins has run a clear, competent campaign.

He had a stumble at Council hustings when he was unfamiliar with a student accommodation bill that the candidates were questioned on, but it would be unfair to allow this to characterise his entire race, which has, for the most part, been robust. His key campaign promise has been to build back a community among students post-pandemic, as well as fostering student activism, focusing on mental health, and implementing a survey of students’ sexual experience to use for tackling sexual violence and policymaking.

Cummins was the president of the Junior Common Room (JCR) in his second year, a path that has been walked to the union’s presidency before, most recently

by Shane De Rís in 2018. He is a final year BESS student and class rep, with experience in societies like Trinity Entrepreneurial Society and An Cumann Gaelach.

In another year, Cummins may have been a clear winner, much like former JCR alumniturned-TCDSU presidents, but Keogh has secured an apparently insurmountable lead. Cummins likely has a strong voting contingent among his connections made through the JCR and societies, and may perform better in the final vote than this poll

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There is no recent precedent for a candidate being struck from the ballot by the EC, but this year’s team has been particularly exacting in its response to offences – an effect that has felt by Keogh, who has taken issue with both strikes issued to her to date indicates. However, even if all the undecided voters who were polled ultimately chose to give their first preference to Cummins, Keogh could still win by a comfortable margin.

The state of the union As the leader of the sabbatical team and chief campaigns officer, the TCDSU president is central to determining the direction and focus that the union takes.

Whether the union should hone in on local issues or expand its remit to tackling national problems is largely determined by the students who are elected in a given year, particularly the president, and the vision that they hold of what the purpose of the union should be.

At Media hustings, the three candidates set out a similar vision for the union’s function – one that addresses both micro and macro issues. MacQuillan said that the union must take a “twofold” approach by looking at both student problems and national problems. He looked at the union’s track record on effecting change in the referendums on the repeal of the eighth amendment and and marriage equality. “When the students all come together as a collective, we have caused change, and I think that the students’ union should continue on this path of causing change both on a

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President college level and a national level.”

Similarly, Cummins described the question of micro vs macro as the “perennial debate” and said there is enough time for the president to devote attention to both. “Everyone wants to see the students’ union to be something different for them. Some people are happy for their class rep to be

somebody who emails lecturers and organises nights out and that be that. There are also students that are politically engaged,” Cummins said. “In this college, we have a proud history of standing up for social issues. We have a voice and a responsibility to make people hear it.”

Keogh looked at the relationship

First preferences for Keogh

73.5%

61.9%

between both types of issues, saying that it is “very difficult to evoke local change without the national structures in place”, citing that as a reason why TCDSU needs to work in tandem with the Union of Students’ in Ireland on a national level. “I would say that students feel local change more quickly, more efficiently, more effectively,” she added. “I don’t think it matters what I think, I don’t think it’s the president’s perogative to advance their own agenda, political or otherwise, but I think it’s the president’s duty to action motions passed on at Council.”

A bump in the road There is a caveat to all this, which is the assumption that the three candidates in the race will be the three who ultimately appear on the ballot. Most likely, that will be the case, but it’s worth mentioning that two of the three candidates have both a major and a minor strike beside their names from the Electoral Commission.

Leah Keogh was the first candidate of this election period to be sanctioned when she received a major strike two days ahead of the start of campaigning.

Keogh’s campaign page had been

temporarily published early, securing her a major strike and a ban on campaigning for the first day of the election.

Ben Cummins shortly joined Keogh when the Electoral Commission handed him down a major and a minor strike for separate offences. The major strike was due to early sharing of campaign materials, including a video that was sent to a lectuter to share with a class – a campaign practice permitted by the EC this year in place of in-person speeches to lectures – which was played prematurely. He received the minor strike after members of his campaign team campaigned and uploaded campaign material directly to their personal social media pages.

Coming into the weekend, Keogh received a minor strike after a video was posted to LawSoc’s Instagram of Keogh wearing her campaign t-shirt and promoting herself as a candidate at a society event. Keogh’s campaign manager had requested permission for the candidate to speak at the event, but had not disclosed to the EC that she was also the Social Secretary of LawSoc.

Under the rules set out in Schedule 3 of the union’s constitution, if a candidate receives two major strikes, a decision is made “at the discretion of the EC” as to whether they will remain on the ballot. Similarly, a candidate who receives more than three minor strikes can be struck off the ballot – putting both Keogh and Cummins into potentially precarious position.

There is no recent precedent for a candidate being struck from the ballot by the EC, but this year’s team has been particularly exacting in its response to offences – an effect that has been felt by Keogh, who has taken issue with both strikes issued to her to date and promised to look at reformation of an appeals process if elected as president.

If Keogh were to be eliminated, most of her first-preference voters would move to Cummins as their second preference, and similarly, if Cummins is struck from the ballot, his voters will largely move to Keogh. MacQuillan’s only feasible route to the presidency is an elimination of both his fellow candidates – a highly unlikely, but not impossible, scenario.

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Education 55.6% 38.3%

Genockey leads in Education but O’Reilly still in the picture A 17 point lead suggests a win for Genockey, but a tightening in the gap means O’Reilly isn’t out of the race yet Jamie Cox Staff Writer

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HE RECENT POLL CONDUCTED BY TRINITY NEWS has shown a significant gap between candidates for Education Officer, Bev Genockey and Daniel O’Reilly, with Genockey leading with a 17-point lead at 55.6% and O’Reilly lagging behind at 38.2%.

Whilst Genockey does currently lead the race for Education Officer, it should be noted that the majority of students polled were not yet certain on who they wanted to take the role of Education Officer.

Of the 1,005 students polled, only 43.2% were certain as to who they planned to vote for this particular office. 48.5% said that they were completely undecided in this category, with 8.3% of students admitting they were not planning

to vote in the category at all.

58.9% of female students said they would vote for Genockey over O’Reilly, with only 38.2% stating that they vote for O’Reilly. Likewise, 50.9% of male students said they would vote for Genockey, with 38.4% saying they would vote for O’Reilly.

Both AHSS and EMS students showed a strong preference for Genockey, with 55.1% of AHSS students and 52.9% of EMS students choosing Genockey in the poll.

Right-wing students, however, showed a preference for O’Reilly, with 50.8% of right leaning students choosing him as their candidate. Left-wing students leaned towards Genockey at 60.9%.

However, whilst Genockey is currently leading the poll, the gap between the two candidates tightened in the latter days of polling, implying that O’Reilly may not be completely out of the race.

Out of the number of students who contributed to the poll, 6.1% said they wished for nominations to reopen.

This poll comes following a week of hustings in which both candidates have answered questions concerning manifesto promises, as well as their own views on topics ranging from online learning to the impact of the Trinity Education Project.

Engaging with engagement Whilst the two candidates come from similar backgrounds, with Genockey acting as Deputy STEM Convenor and O’Reilly as STEM Convenor, both have

expressed drastically different opinions on issues, in particular that of student engagement.

Genockey stated in her interview with Trinity News that in her opinion the union should be “always striving” to improve student engagement and that she wants students to be given the opportunity to assess the feedback. O’Reilly however, suggests that it is more important for students to be given the “opportunity to engage”. He suggests that a union that relies too heavily on student engagement is not doing its job.

Despite these differing views, both candidates have centred their campaigns around common policies, concerned with making education more accessible to students. O’Reilly has said that “everything is an access issue if you want to boil it down”.

Drawing on his own extensive experience within the SU, acting as an S2S mentor, class rep, EMS Convenor and STEM Convenor, O’Reilly is presenting a “handson approach” to dealing with student issues, claiming that he will be working with “the guy with working knowledge of the school”.

Many of his promises seem to draw from his claim that as Education Officer, one of his chief aims will be not to assist students on individual issues, but instead to install policies that will allow students to assist themselves and each other. O’Reilly has presented himself as a candidate willing to fight for students rights, stating that he has had confrontations with College faculty in the past, and that he has “already been

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The majority of students polled were not yet certain on who they wanted to take the role of Education Officer

working and arguing with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, the Vice Provost and the Provost himself, as well as countless other College officers”.

Genockey, in contrast, positions herself as a candidate focused on inclusivity, with an emphasis on assisting students with disabilities and outreaching to students, rather than students coming to her. “It is our responsibility to engage with them in some way,” she has explained. With this insistence on outreach and accessibility, it is possible that Genockey’s lead in the poll is down to her

emphasis on approachability and representation. This approach was reflected in the Equality hustings, when Genockey was asked how she would reduce discrimination among students. Genockey responded, detailing the proposed plan she has put forward for a diversity and inclusion document, a “collaboration” that would emphasise how to use languages as a tool for respect in the classroom. Discussing the representation of LGBTQ+ students, Genockey stated the area was one that was close to her heart. Given the appeal this may have to students of diverse backgrounds who lack representation within the student union, Genockey’s advocacy for inclusivity may potentially be a factor in her lead in the polls.

And whilst in no way dismissing the importance of representation, O’Reilly’s promises of pragmatism and “systematic solutions” may be losing him support among students with less interest in the finer, technical workings of the union or those who feel they are not being represented, and may not be enough to see him secure a win in the election.

However, in regards to manifesto promises, O’Reilly certainly offers targeted and unique policies, with particular care given to the reality of how each will be carried out. Recognising the issue of transparency and accountability within the SU, O’Reilly has promised to ensure that minutes of meetings are published, so the student body is constantly aware of every decision that is made by the SU. This emphasis on improving the relationship between the student body and the SU is something O’Reilly presents as a main priority to him, insisting that transparency and accountability are priorities for him as an Education Officer.

Once again differing sharply from O’Reilly, Genockey has provided plenty of promises on her manifesto, putting forward 19 proposals, divided among the headings of; Engagement, Equality and Employability.

However, she does not provide much detail on how these policies will be carried forward, nor the overall effect these might have on student life. O’Reilly, in contrast, has put forward 6 projects, with extensive description regarding their aims and the effect he hopes they will achieve. In his interview with Trinity News, O’Reilly gave honest descriptions of the reality of undertaking each policy, as well as the fact that many of them had already been started. His manifesto provides a simplified description of each policy, with a link provided to a more extensive description.

Genockey, in contrast, does not provide the same level of description, something that may invoke a lack of confidence among

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Education voters, concerning the reality of achieving her 19 promises.

A lively contest Through hustings, both candidates have provided comprehensive, if at times vague, responses. When asked how he actually helped students through Diversity in STEM, O’Reilly was forced to admit that, unfortunately, the committee has not had any representation this year of students from ethnic minorities. Likewise, despite her heavy emphasis on student engagement, Genockey when asked how she would follow through with engagement admitted that the issue was “something we need to address”, however did not specify on what she would do to increase engagement, saying she would “find other ways for people to get involved”, and it would be “small incremental changes”.

Genockey gave more traditional responses to questions, discussing how her style of leadership involved giving students a voice and getting more students involved. This stood out sharply against O’Reilly’s unconventional definition of his own leadership, which involved “encouraging others to act on their own” and allowing students to lead themselves in subjects that O’Reilly himself was less equipped to lead in. Whilst his assessment of leadership stands out as unquestionably unique, Genocky’s focus on outreach and inclusivity may be more likely to win over voters who feel that the union remains an unapproachable system.

Welfare However, an area both candidates struggled with was that of incorporating Irish into their career as Education Officer, with TCDSU Oifigeach na Gaeilge Gretchen Nic Sheanlaoich expressing disappointment that neither candidate had included an Irish version of their manifesto.

Both candidates provided vague proposals of how they would promote the language, with Genockey suggesting she would include a couple of sentences into the weekly emails, along with the translated email. O’Reilly, whilst admitting he didn’t speak Irish, emphasised his respect for the language and proposed that “there should be a capital investment into translating those if they’re available”.

However, both candidates confidently display vital qualities expected of an Education Officer, with Genockey placing emphasis on the inclusivity and approachability expected of the role. O’Reilly on the other hand has shown a desire to use his own skills, to create systems and infrastructure that will make “genuine differences” to the lives of students. And whilst current polls show favour leaning towards Genockey, potentially a result of her loud advocacy regarding diversity and inclusivity of students, it should be remembered that the percentage of students who took part in this poll and knew who they would vote in this category for stands at 43.2%, giving O’Reilly plenty of leeway to overtake Genockey come the election.

STEM vote STEM vote for Genockey for O’Reilly

55.8%

Mueller-Owens leads o large number of voters The Welfare and Equality candidates are 16 points apart in the Trinity News poll Jade Brunton Staff Writer

53%

41%

STEM vote for RON: 6%

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rom the recent polling conducted by Trinity News, it appears that Sierra Mueller-Owens is set to win, favoured by 55.8% of voters, while Dylan Krug is behind with 38.9%. Victory for Mueller-Owens should not be viewed as certain yet as the number of undecided voters surpasses that of all other races.

It is clear that Mueller-Owens and Krug have not yet convinced all voters, as 54.8% indicated their indecision in the poll this week and 8.9% intend not to vote in this category at all. Cathal O’Riordan’s unexpected withdrawal from the race towards the beginning of the week could have led to some

indecision among the voters too.

Mueller-Owens is also polling comparatively better among female students and members of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and Health Sciences faculties. Krug, on the other hand, is comparatively more popular among male students and those in Engineering, Maths and Science.

Mueller-Owens does still maintain a slight lead in both those categories, however.

The two remaining candidates have made their cases to voters this week however as both attended all the hustings without fail to outline their campaign priorities.

Both share a similar vision of the role, putting mental health and pandemic isolation in the spotlight of their campaign.

The two candidates have interestingly similar backgrounds as both are international students hailing from the United States, which most likely shaped their campaigns. Krug is a Junior Sophister Biological and Biomedical Science student while Mueller-Owens is in her final year of Law and Politics.

Their difference may lay in their experiences at college as MuellerOwens’ policies are largely drawn from her experiences as S2S mentor for Erasmus students and Gender Equality Officer in the past

years. Krug is no less experienced as the Class Representative for Environmental Science and as an Ordinary Committee Member on the Welfare and Equality Committee this year. Both candidates are thus highly qualified for the role and have proven their motivation throughout the week.

It seems however that MuellerOwens managed to outshine Krug on the topic of mental health, as she relied on her personal experience to deliver her message. Like her rival, Mueller-Owens recognised the unique and significant challenge presented by Covid-19 and the effect it had on students’ mental wellbeing. As a consent facilitator at Halls, Mueller-Owens has had to move the consent workshops she helps to run online, which she considers to have been a success.

She intends to diversify the kind of Welfare events held next year to “get more people” involved in the SU. Using her personal experience as an example, Mueller-Owens described this “sense of isolation” students were experiencing and proposed the introduction of stress relief services such as meditation and adult colouring in addition to “group office hours” which she described as a measure her younger self would have appreciated.

Krug emphasised continuously

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38.9%

over Krug, but s still undecided

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Both share a similar vision for the Welfare and Equality Officer role, putting mental health and pandemic isolation in the spotlight of their campaign

the need to provide more information to students regarding welfare services, specifically through the creation of “What Do I Do Now” documents, which he mentioned at every hustings throughout the week.

These documents would provide a comprehensive overview of the services available to students on various topics, available on SU online channels and on Blackboard. Citing the “reliance on signposting” as one of the SU’s past failures, Krug wants to “run a Help is Here campaign which would really publicise the resources available to students.”

Mueller-Owens’ slight lead over Krug might also be explained by her ability to respond to issues concerning minorities.

She skilfully used her role as Gender Equality Officer as a source of experience during hustings, mentioning her idea of organising workshops to educate staff on the importance of “introducing ourselves with appropriate pronouns’’ and wants to see diversity campaigns “directed specifically towards STEM.” Mueller-Owens hence reassured the LGBTQ+ community of her support, as she acknowledged the safety issues they face during Equality Hustings. While Krug doesn’t mention this topic at

length in his manifesto, he said that his pledge to ensure the availability of emergency short term accommodation could also be made available to at-risk LGBTQ+ students. Both expressed their desire to work towards the provision of “Rainbow Housing’’ in Trinity accommodation.

Accommodation was also at the center of discussion this week, specifically in terms of students from different socioeconomic backgrounds facing financial difficulties in these unprecedented times. While Krug pledged to campaign for lower international student fees, and promised to “incorporate different loan schemes” into his financial information documentation, Mueller-Owens let her manifesto speak for itself. It includes an assistance fund available for NonEU students as well as a pledge to campaign for a “fee freeze” for first year students. Mueller-Owens could have expanded on this idea, as the subject of student finance was better explored by her rival.

Mueller-Owens also focused on diversity as she was questioned by the SU’s Ethnic Minorities Officer, who asked both candidates for their take on past Welfare Officers’ performance on issues of racial equality. To this, she pledged her opposition to the 27th Amendment while supporting the Colonial Legacies project and the Black Studies module. On the other hand, Krug promised to work with the Global Room to tackle visa issues faced by students.

While both candidates expressed their support and compassion, they largely failed to provide concrete measures to be taken in the future.

Mueller-Owens was more comfortable when discussing her will to work “as a mediator” for students with disabilities in discussions with College, while Krug was quizzed on the absence of disability as a topic in his manifesto. He nonetheless advanced his will to provide students with information on access to LENS reviews.Krug and Mueller-Owens have effectively conveyed their ideas this week but the fact that only 36.3% have decided on their vote indicates that the battle is not over yet and that much remains to be proven by the two Welfare candidates. This could be explained by issues of engagement with SU in the last few years, which had been lamented by former Welfare candidate Cathal O’Riordan in conversation with Trinity News.

The two candidates might not have been able to totally tackle this issue during this week’s hustings, themselves being products of the union. They have until Thursday to convince the remaining 54.8% of undecided students - so little time, so much to do.

Union voters divided along political party lines Women candidates’ popularity drops among right-wing Jack Kennedy Assistant Editor

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he poll results reveal a stark difference in voting preferences between students who support left wing and centre-left parties (defined here as the Green Party, the Social Democrats, Sinn Féin, Labour and Solidarity-PBP) and those supporting centre-right, right wing and socially conservative parties (Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Aontú and the Irish Freedom Party). When only votes from the latter group are considered, the projected outcomes of the Education, Welfare and Ents races are reversed - the female candidates who lead in those three races drop behind their male challengers.

Similarly, the President and University Times Editor contests become significantly closer under this framework. Leah Keogh’s 45-point lead drops to just 20 points, and Peter Caddle’s level of support more than triples to 31.6%. The Communications and Marketing election also tightens, with almost a quarter of students supporting comparatively right wing and socially conservative parties voting for RON over Aoife Cronin.

Conversely, among students who support centre-left and left wing parties, the likely results as indicated by the overall poll become even more decisive. Bev Genockey, Sierra Mueller-Owens and Antonia Brady’s leads in the Education, Welfare and Ents races respectively all increase by five to seven points. Leah Keogh, Aoife Cronin and Emer Moreau also see bumps in their levels of support through this lens.

Despite there having been few outwardly partisan-political issues of contention in any races bar that for University Times Editor, students with different political views clearly assess prospective sabbatical officers in different ways.

When it comes to how represented students feel by the SU, there is also a political divide, albeit not as straightforward a one as you might think.

Students who support parties on the right are more likely to feel somewhat or very dissatisfied with how represented they are by TCDSU - 26%, as opposed to just 16% for those on the left.

However, they’re almost exactly as likely to feel well or very well represented - 46% gave those answers, compared to 44% of left-voting students, with that difference well within the margin of error.

So while right-voting students are more likely to feel underrepresented, this does not mean left-voting students are more likely to feel wellrepresented. The difference is that left-voting students more often report feeling neutral about TCDSU - 38% say they are “ambivalent” about the union’s representation of them, as opposed to just 28% of right-voting respondents. The questions of how well the union acts as a voice for students and which students it represents best will continue to be contentious ones no doubt, but they defy simple answers.

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Communications and Marketing

Cronin on track to secure comfortable win in Comms and Marketing race The Trinity News poll suggests that Cronin could be set to win 91% of the vote Sarah Emerson Staff Writer

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U N N I N G UNCONTESTED FOR THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING OFFICER, Aoife Cronin is on track to receive 91.5% of first preference votes, according to the poll conducted by Trinity News last week.

Usually uncontested candidates in Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) elections earn around 85% of the vote on average, with the remainder voting to reopen nominations (RON) for the role. With only 8.5% voting RON in the poll, Cronin should secure a

significant victory.

At the same time, 40.2% of the total 1,005 pollers said they were undecided in the Communications and Marketing race, and 11.5% said they would not vote, which, in a single-candidate race, could suggest some level of apathy or dissatisfaction.

Her support among students is largely consistent in all three faculties, polling at 91.6% in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 93.1% in Science, Technology Engineering and Maths, and 95.8% in Health Sciences.

As the only candidate without a competitor in this year’s elections, Cronin has received less scrutiny and attention during the campaign hustings compared to candidates in more hotly-contested races.

An absence of competition has meant Cronin has not been pressed to concretely define how she will implement policies, such as expanding sponsorship and collaborating with non-union entities.

That being said, it is evident that Cronin is highly qualified for the Communications and Marketing role. Lack of experience within the union itself may be

initially challenging for Cronin if elected, but she has demonstrated cognizance in the history and workings of the union, areas requiring improvement, and the needs of students.

Wholly uncritical of incumbent Communications Officer Philly Holmes, Cronin has promoted herself as a candidate representing continuity with regard to Homes’ strategies. Moreover, Cronin plans to equip future officers with institutional knowledge and support the SU’s long-term development by organising the union’s archive and compiling news articles published by the University Times pertaining to TCDSU. Similarly, candidate for President Leah Keogh has emphasised the importance of carry-over within the union.

Cronin has answered questions surrounding sponsorship, equality, accessibility and the Irish language by pointing to the activities of the current sabbatical team and Communications Officer. Her intention to build upon Holmes’ term is well received, yet she may need to distinguish herself more and demonstrate a greater ability to develop innovative ideas.

91.5%

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It is evident that Cronin is highly qualified

Meanwhile, Cronin has offered tangible solutions to combating low student engagement with the union. Engagement has been a longstanding issue that candidates promise to tackle each year.

Cronin hopes to show students “what the union does for them” and improve its “public image”.

She aims to make the SU’s work and achievements more apparent, increase the visibility of part-time Officers, and further publicise welfare and education supports available to students. She plans to produce monthly sabbat reports and succinct extracts of Council minutes, and make the SU’s finances transparent.

Cronin also intends to rebrand, make communications more accessible, and collaborate with schools, non-union services and student-led initiatives to spread SU information. She recognises the importance of an “overarching visual identity”, balancing continuity with adding new colours and fonts. Cronin said that Ents would be a special focus of rebranding, intending to make its marketing “lighter and more social” as a “brand of fun”.

Cronin has repeatedly discussed her intention to work with part-time officers such as the Ethnic Minorities Officer, the LGBT+ Officer, the Disabilities Officer and the Irish Language Officer, revealing a keenness to seek and follow advice. Cronin has also referred to the importance of working with societies and campaigns that represent minority groups in order to “amplify” their voices.

Cronin has demonstrated educated approaches to produce accessible content, having sought feedback from Disabilities Officer Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird and examined the guidelines published by the Trinity Ability

Co-Op. As well as continuing the audio version of the weekly email, Cronin intends to increase the use of ISL on social media, and use closed captioning and alternative text in the SU’s visual content.

However, at the Equality Hustings Cronin was challenged on her own manifesto, which failed to pass accessibility checks on Blackboard Ally. Cronin must prove that she is able to transfer knowledge into practice.

During her campaign, Cronin has emphasised her significant experience gained through societal involvement. She has been the Public Relations Officer for the Philosophical Society, Icarus Magazine, and Trinity Arts Festival, and has worked in marketing for an international Tech Company.

Cronin has argued that she is wellequipped to produce compelling content to engage the student body online. She also points to her competence in social media analytics as a means to market the SU to potential sponsors.

Regarding sponsorship and the marketing aspect of the role, Cronin has discussed building relationships with existing sponsors, continuing advertisements in the University Times, and collaborating with Ents to find new sponsorship ventures. While sponsorship leaves the SU open to accusations of commercialisation, Cronin argued it is necessary and justifiable, providing a service to students. She said that sponsorship deals would be “student-first” and accord with the union’s political values, including respect for minority groups. Cronin has not mentioned specific companies that she hopes to work with, or has deemed incompatible with the SU’s values.

The prospective incoming Communications and Marketing Officer has a burden of responsibility to secure adequate sponsorship, given TCDSU’s history of deficits and the difficulty of attaining sponsorship this year.

Cronin is optimistic, believing that financial recovery is attainable.

She argued that even if lockdown continues, companies will want to sponsor again, having adjusted to Covid-19. She also said that if students return to campus, the deficit would be balanced and the union “okay financially”, with more income through Ents and the SU café. If sponsorship remains challenging, Cronin also plans to create a sponsorship-sub committee.

In this uncontested race, Cronin is likely to be elected as TCDSU’s next Communications and Marketing Officer. Her campaign has demonstrated she is a strong candidate who understands what is required of her role and the SU in the incoming year. Cronin aims to prioritise student welfare and support, raise engagement and improve accessibility so that all students understand and can reach the help available to them.

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News

Ents 61.2%

27.4%

Poll shows Brady edging out Arrowsmith in unique Ents race Brady is leading over Arrowsmith by 24 points Julia Bochenek and Audrey Brown Staff Writer and Deputy News Editor

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HE TWO CANDIDATES IN THIS YEAR’S ENTS OFFICER RACE have demonstrated throughout the campaign period that they hold many similar manifesto points and ideas for event-planning in the coming academic year, aside from a few clear differences. However, although there has been a likeness in their general philosophies, Antonia Brady has emerged as a probable winner from polling results over opponent Greg Arrowsmith.

Of 1,005 students polled by Trinity News, Brady pulled in 401, or 61.2%, of the 656 decided voters. Arrowsmith garnered 244 votes, or 37.3% of declared votes.

Only 1.5% indicated a preference to re-open nominations, the option which, if emerging higher than either candidate, would force the election to be run again.

65.34% of the polled student population declared that they had decided definitively on a candidate in the Ents race, while 275 students, or 27.4%, admitted that they remained undecided, and 7.3% suggested that they would not vote for a candidate in the Ents race at all.

The candidates have been largely civil toward one another during hustings, often agreeing on answers to questions posed.

Arrowsmith has consistently brought forward a series of concrete, if idealistic, plans throughout the hustings, claiming that his election would guarantee the reopening of the Pavilion Bar by September and promising current first-years their own Senior Freshers’ Week and current fourth-years a chance to return for a second Trinity Ball.

On the other hand, in response to many of the same questions, Brady has been careful to remain grounded in what she believes she can feasibly achieve, saying that she will not make unrealistic promises that she might not be able to keep and which would be contingent on the government’s Covid-19 restrictions.

The role of Ents Officer this academic year has looked quite different to previous terms as all traditional events such as Freshers’ Week and Trinity Ball have been forced to move online or be cancelled altogether in line with restrictions. Brady has remained steadfast that if elected, she has plans in place for successful and entertaining student events, whether they may be held inperson or must be conducted online, whereas Arrowsmith holds an optimistic view of a future with less event restrictions and is confident that his plans for “easing into” nightclubs would be possible to implement. He acknowledges that there might be a need for his imagined “Zoom Playbook” for online event organisers, but in a previous interview with Trinity News, Arrowsmith joked that he hoped he would no longer have to use the skills he has built this year in organising virtual events.

As with all the candidates in this year’s election, both Brady and Arrowsmith have limited their campaigning to that through social media accounts, but each of them

brought in one additional aspect in hopes of garnering student support. Brady demonstrated her ability to host large virtual events by organising a “Space Jam” Zoom party featuring acts from societies such as DU Players, TMT and LawSoc as well as varied breakout spaces for students. This event was very well attended, pulling in over 150 students.

Meanwhile, Arrowsmith conducted an interview through the TFM radio show The Wright Ward, during which he interviewed immunologist Luke O’Neill.

O’Neill asserted that ideally, if all adults received the Covid-19 vaccination as planned, September 2021 may begin to resemble “the good old days”, but he remained wary that nightclubs may not resume at the same capacity for some time.

Accessibility Both candidates have been running on a platform featuring accessibility at the forefront of their promises, and both have claimed that improving accessibility at events is among their primary priorities if elected. Consequently, at hustings, they’ve faced questions pushing them into detail on their plans for accessibility.

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Brady has been careful to remain grounded

The range for their ideas on accessibility has been fairly varied, with Brady focusing on keeping events low-cost and sourcing non-traditional venues that are as accessible as possible, including outdoor spaces, gallery venues and other locations with the most accessibility for as many students as possible.

Arrowsmith has continually highlighted his manifesto point of an “Easing Into It Month”, featuring events that build from small venues to nightclubs in tandem with workshops to build up confidence in students who have never witnessed nightclubs or have not entered large venues since prior to their shutdown.

Furthermore, he has laid out plans for installing distinguishable welfare officers at every Entssponsored event, urging students to “look for the nearest red jacket” if they were to feel unsafe on a night out.

Arrowsmith has also referenced concrete plans to blacklist venues with historical reports of discrimination toward LGBTQ+ students, a manifesto point which Brady echoed when questioned about her stance on the problem of students feeling unsafe at events during Friday’s Equality hustings.

Neither candidate, when questioned by a representative for students with disabilities that, unfortunately, would promise that every event they might plan would be entirely accessible for all students. Brady acknowledged that venues that are wheelchairaccessible might still utilise flashing lights that would make the same venue inaccessible for other students, a point with which Arrowsmith agreed and stated that he could “not promise that every event is accessible”.

However, to combat these problems, Brady has formulated plans to instate respite spaces at all events, whereas Arrowsmith has stated that he would counter the issue of inaccessibility by offering a wider range and larger number of events and publish all accessibility information to students prior to the events.

In person vs online In terms of organising online events vs in-person ones, Arrowsmith and Brady have differed on a more fundamental level than in the case of accessibility.

Brady has brought forth many ideas for the possibility of both in-person and online events, focusing on her promise of society collaborations in planning traditional Ents events such as Freshers’ Week and Trinity Ball. She also plans to instate a new Christmas Day tradition featuring society collaborations and culminating in a night out.

She has maintained throughout her campaign that regardless of current government restrictions, she would be prepared to organise engaging events for students either virtually or in person.

Arrowsmith has relied very

heavily on the prospect of inperson events, maintaining throughout his campaign that his plan to reopen the Pav in September will be possible regardless of current restrictions.

He plans to hold weekly events there, featuring outdoor seating and different themes. However, in the case that Ents events must remain primarily online, Arrowsmith has also promised to publish his “Zoom Playbook”, which would contain interactive ideas for Zoom events to be made available to society leaders and class representatives. He has criticised virtual events this year for being too impersonal, stating that he believes the only way to host a successful online event is to restrict it to a smaller group of people with a shared interest, such as an event held by one course or society.

Trinity Ball?

One stark difference that has emerged between the candidates’ policies regards the planning of next year’s Trinity Ball and Freshers’ Week. Brady plans to stick to the tradition of organising one Trinity Ball and one Freshers’ Week, while incorporating events specifically for Senior Freshers during Freshers’ Week and hosting a weeklong lead-up of events before Trinity Ball. She has claimed that the job taken on by an Ents Officer to organise one Trinity Ball is already difficult, so she sees the planning of a second event as unfeasible. Furthermore, she has argued that students in all years already attend events hosted during Freshers’ Week, so there would be no need to host a second week dedicated only to next year’s second-year students.

On the other hand, Arrowsmith has embraced the proposition made by current candidate for Provost Jane Ohlmeyer to incorporate a second Trinity Ball next year in replacement for the event having been cancelled for two years running. Arrowsmith’s plan for the second ball is that of an off-campus music event to which current final-year students will be invited. He has also said that he plans to hold two weeks of Freshers’ Week, with one week dedicated to current first years who did not experience a traditional week of events this September.

Despite Arrowsmith’s belief that large, unfocused events held virtually are unfeasible, Brady’s online campaign event that drew in students from a range of societies might prove to her benefit as poll results reveal her distinct lead in the race. While both candidates have demonstrated concrete plans for ensuring accessibility and improving the diversity of events if elected, Brady’s realistic acknowledgement of her capacity to fulfill the goal given the uncertainty of event-planning looks fit to secure her position over Arrowsmith’s attractive but arguably idealistic goals for the coming year.

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News

University Times Editor 87.1%

9.2%

Moreau’s path to UT editorship unchallenged by Caddle’s entry to race With a 78 point lead in the Trinity News Poll, Moreau looks on track to be elected easily Finn Purdy

Deputy Editor

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MER MOREAU IS IN MANY WAYS THE TRADITIONAL CANDIDATE for editor of the University Times, the student newspaper funded by Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union TCDSU). She is the paper’s current deputy editor, having been appointed to the role in December of last year and having previously served as assistant editor and news editor. The editorship of the University Times contains a long line of deputy editors elevated to the role, including the current editor Cormac Watson as well as his three most recent predecessors.

Moreau’s challenger, Peter Caddle, an outsider to the paper, is seeking to disrupt this pattern.

However, polling conducted by Trinity News suggests that this challenge by the Chief Project Co-ordinator at the Burkean, an online right-wing website, has no prospect of success.

The poll suggests that Moreau currently has the support of around 87.1% of the electorate, Caddle the support of 9.2%, and around 3.7% of students planning on voting to reopen nominations.

28.1% of respondents to the poll stated that they were so far undecided as to how they would vote in the University Times Editor race which was significantly lower than in some races and further compoundly the unlikelihood of Caddle being able to close the gap.

As might be expected Caddle’s support among students who indicated that they would vote for right wing parties was considerably higher than on average. He polled at 31.7% among this category.

These polling figures suggest that Moreau’s ascendancy to the role of editor has been disrupted so little that she may receive a very similar percentage of the vote that she might have achieved had she run unopposed, with the vote to reopen nominations typically higher in uncontested races compared to those with two or more candidates.

Moreau’s campaign promises include making it easier for students to get involved in the paper, hosting more social events, and promoting a greater racial and ethnic diversity within the staff of the paper. She has emphasised the importance of student publications as “grassroots of the next generation of journalists” and argued that a current racial disparity within the journalism industry in Ireland can be best tackled at the level of student

media.

Moreau’s defence of the apparent direct conveyor line between the position of deputy editor and editor calls into question the faith among University Times staff in the value of their own election process, whereby the position of editor is open to any student and subject to a vote of all students. When asked about why other members of staff don’t more often run during her interview with Trinity News Moreas said: “In the time I’ve been Deputy I’ve learned so much that I didn’t know as an Assistant.” This, she said, is credited to the amount of close

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The margin between the two candidates suggests Moreau will almost certainly become the next editor

work done with the Editor, and she adds that other staff may not run due to not having that technical knowledge of the publication’s “advertising, the website” and journalistic knowledge “about building sources, maintaining sources”.

As such a central member of the paper’s current staff, Moreau has also sought to play up the value that the paper currently provides, exalting the value of “transparent, trustworthy news sources”, and stating that students had relied on the University Times during the pandemic as a source of information.

Caddle’s manifesto and campaign material on social media are focused almost entirely around a single policy, that the University Times should stop producing physical editions of the paper, in favour of devoting more time and energy to their online content.

Given things that he has written in the past, the lack of a print edition however, would likely not be the only difference to the University Times that students would notice under his editorship. For example, in 2018 Caddle penned an article in the Burkean calling for the defunding of Trinity News for the paper’s refusal to platform the views of those who sought to criticise the Philosophical Society (the Phil) in the name of “free speech”, for the society’s decision cancel a debate on the topic: “This House Believes Middle Eastern Women Need Western Feminism”.

The decision therefore to focus on the single policy of cutting the print edition was probably a wise tactical move on Caddle’s part.

His outlook on the issue of free speech, suggesting an adherence to the principle means that student publications should be obliged to publish the views of any student because they are funded by all students, was never likely to be popular with the largely leftwing Trinity electorate. Caddle’s insistence during a hustings event that “if someone wants to write a good article I want to publish it”, regardless of ideology, suggests that he wants the paper to start taking a radically different approach with regards to how it applies editorial discretion. And yet this issue, apparently a longtime concern of Caddle’s, was not what he chose to foreground in his campaign.

Instead his manifesto focuses on cutting the print edition on the grounds that it would “lower the annual running costs of the publication”, “make it more environmentally friendly”, and also “much more easily accessible to those with disabilities”, all issues that have previously been shown to appeal to the Trinity electorate.

In pulling out of last Friday’s Equality hustings Caddle insisted that he had done so in order to stop “appeasing the SU niche”, and yet, aside from his apparently newfound environmentalism, having previously written that “Ireland is wasting time tackling climate change”, he has also sought to play down his right-wing credentials

TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 9 March

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First preferences by gender

94% 4% 79%

Caddle

Moreau

If current polling numbers are reflected in the results, Caddle would receive less than a third of the support than that of Michael McDermott, a joke candidate who ran in 2018 on the platform of increased coverage of Spiderman for a left-wing union audience. He insisted during Council hustings that The Burkean is not right-wing, contradicting the publication’s own claim to being ‘Ireland’s largest conservative magazine’.

Caddle’s focus on a single policy also served another advantage which was to call into question the credibility of his opponent’s plans. Moreau has promised to create two new positions within

Students have their say on TCDSU’s performance, national politics, and Trinity in the pandemic Jack Kennedy

16%

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What else we learned from the poll

the paper, Ethnic Minorities correspondent and Advertising and Sponsorship Director, a new committee, the Diversity and Inclusion committee, and a new online publication written entirely in Irish. Candidates who have gone on to become editor in the past have also promised plans to create new structures to reform the paper which have then fallen by the wayside when these editors were faced with the extremely time-consuming role of simply maintaining the volume of the paper’s output at its current high level.

The feasibility and logistics of Moreau’s plans was something that she was repeatedly pushed on by the panelists of the various hustings events that took place last week.

The margin between the two candidates in the Trinity News poll suggests that barring some colossal upset Emer Moreau will almost certainly become the next editor of the University Times, with perhaps one of the largest margins of victory ever recorded in a contested TCDSU election.

It is notable that were current polling numbers to be reflected in the results on Thursday, Caddle would receive less than a third of the support, in terms of percentage of the vote, than that of Michael McDermott, a joke candidate who ran for the University Times editorship in 2018 on the platform of increased coverage of Spiderman.

With her three’s years experience within the paper and current position helping to guide the direction of the University Times as the highest ranking non-sabbatical member of staff, students can likely expect a great deal of continuity during Moreau’s editorship and she has several times during the campaign sought to reaffirm the central aim of the paper of holding College to account.

Assistant Editor

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he Trinity News poll wasn’t just about the election, students were also asked their views on a variety of other topics. This is one of the largest surveys of Trinity students regularly conducted and gives us a great sense of the mood on campus relating to a number of key issues.

SU representation Respondents were asked “How well do you feel TCDSU represents you?” and then presented with five statements ranging from extremely positive to extremely negative. A plurality, 35.4% said they felt ambivalent about the issue.

32.3% felt well represented and 12.3% extremely well represented.

13.5% responded negatively and 6.6% extremely negatively.

The caveat about these results is that they were attached to a poll specifically labelled as being related to the Student Union election and the data is only from those who then chose to fill out that poll. Thus there is no doubt a certain amount of bias; the survey disproportionately sampled those who are at least somewhat interested in and engaged by TCDSU. That said, the results are still overall a positive for the union.

This election, like every year, has featured much discussion about student engagement, so only 20.1% of those surveyed feeling under-represented indicates that the problem could be significantly worse.

The exact same question was asked of poll respondents last year, and this year’s results show a two-percentage point increase in those responding somewhat or very positively. This year’s union has therefore achieved a slight improvement in making students feel spoken for, albeit one within the margin of error (±2.9% on this question). The proportion of people responding either very positively or very negatively have both dropped by a combined six points, suggesting people just feel less strongly and more unsure about this union than last year’s in general.

Political affiliation Students were also asked to whom they would give their first preference vote to if a general election were held right now, if they

would vote at all. The clear winners were the Social Democrats, with 24.0% of responses (not including those who are ineligible to vote).

Given the party rarely polls at more than 5% nationally, this is certainly notable. Trinity is by no means a perfect sample of either college students or young people, but it nonetheless hints that these groups may be important parts of the SD’s voter base. The next largest was Sinn Féin at 17.9%. This is less surprising, given the party is polling so strongly nationally at the moment, especially among young people – if anything, this result is smaller than one might expect.

Next was the Green Party at 13.8%. When Trinity News asked students last year who they voted for in the 2020 general election, the Green Party comfortably topped the poll at 31%, whereas the Social Democrats managed just 8%. This suggests many centreleft voters in Trinity have fled the Greens for the SDs, presumably due to unhappiness with the party’s performance in government. The number of SF voters has remained relatively steady.

The next two biggest cohorts were the Solidarity-PBP grouping and Fine Gael, on 13.0% and 12.2% respectively. This represents a fourpoint increase for each party since last year. Labourm Fianna Fáil and Aontú received 4.6%, 3.0% and 1.4%, all largely unchanged from last year.

Finally, 3.9% of respondents said they wouldn’t vote. Last year, 17% said they hadn’t voted in the general election. It’s unclear if the difference in these figures represents Trinity students becoming more politically engaged, or if there’s simply a difference between the number of people who say they’re going to vote and the number of people who end up voting.

College and Covid-19 Those polled were finally asked to rate Trinity’s handling of the pandemic, again on a five-point scale from exceptionally well to exceptionally badly. 36.4% said College had performed “neither well nor badly”, the largest single group. 33.8% said it had performed “quite well” and 2.6% said “exceptionally well”. On the other hand, 23.5% described it as handled “quite badly” and 3.7% “exceptionally badly”. These results look quite similar to those about TCDSU. The news is definitely more good than bad for College, in that quite a few more people feel positively about the past year than negatively. That said, the plurality of neutral answers, as well as the degree to which results are tightly clustered in the middle (with few “exceptionally well” or “exceptionally badly” answers) suggest students mostly don’t feel that strongly. People are, perhaps, mostly just not sure what to make of the pandemic and Trinity’s navigation through it.

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Tuesday 9 March | TRINITY NEWS

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Poll: Keogh headed for landslide victory in President race TCDSU is on track to have an allfemale sabbatical team for the coming year Jack Kennedy Assistant Editor

>>Continued from front page Ents In the race for Ents Officer, Antonia Brady is polling at 61.2%, Greg Arrowsmith at 37.3%, and RON at 1.5%. Just over a quarter of voters said they were still undecided, so while Brady’s victory is by no means guaranteed, Arrowsmith’s campaign faces a

steep uphill battle to close the gap in the final days of the election period.

University Times Editor In the University Times Editor election, incumbent Deputy Editor Emer Moreau leads with 87.1% of the first preferences.

Peter Caddle is polling at 9.2% and RON at 3.7%. Again, only just over a quarter of voters said they were still undecided, far too few to overcome the significant gap between the candidates. Despite a controversial and contentious campaign period, Moreau seems all but certain to be elected.

Surveyed students were given a sample ballot for each race.

Quoted statistics for candidates’ performance disclude those who indicated they were undecided or that they didn’t intend to vote.

Levels of support are based on first preferences.

Jane Ohlmeyer favoured by students as candidate for Trinity’s next provost A poll by Trinity News indicates that Ohlmeyer is the most popular of the three provost candidates among students Shannon Connolly News Editor

>>Continued from front page ...they had no preference for who is appointed as provost.

All nominations for the position this year are women. In Trinity’s over 400 year history, the role of provost has exclusively been held by men.

The campaign period for the position officially begins on

February 5, and will run until April 7.

Voting for the provostial position will be held online this year through an “e-voting” format. Only members of the electorate can vote in the Provost elections.

Voting will take place on Saturday April 10, with the eligible electorate expected to be around 850 people.

The electorate is made up of full-time academic staff who have been in post for at least 12 months on the date of the election. Certain part-time members of academic staff are also eligible to be members of the electorate along with some student representatives.

The new provost will take office on August 1.

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.

Beibhinn Hickey Contributing Writer

Analysis: The three provost candidates are largely in harmony on major topics All candidates agree that they will need to lobby for an increase in funding from the government

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head of the upcoming elections, the three provost candidates, Linda Hogan, Linda Doyle, and Jane Ohlmeyer sat down for interviews with Trinity News.

All candidates have previously expressed concern over the lack of autonomy given to the Heads of Schools and Departments in how to spend their allocated funds. They acknowledged that all schools and departments are able to support themselves based on the funds they draw in. During the AHSS forum there was a general consensus that this would need to be increased, with Hogan planning to allow schools to have control over 70% of the income they generate. However, Doyle was the only candidate to stress this point in her interview.

The need for reform to the administrative system currently in place is also broadly agreed, with a dramatic reduction in the administrative load placed upon academic staff being proposed by the candidates. Ohlmeyer proposed that promotions and permanent administrative positions be introduced where possible to allow for staff to feel valued. Where systematic change was also seen as necessary by candidates, Hogan and Doyle both previously proposed increasing the training available to Academic Registry staff during the Health Sciences forum.

In relation to funding, all candidates agree that they will need to lobby for an increase in funding from the government, along with philanthropy. Trinity, which has been underfunded by

the Irish government since the recession, will need in excess of an additional €50 million annually according to Ohlmeyer, in order to fully fund current places, along with the new places added under Covid-19. Ohlmeyer also expressed a willingness for further commercialisation, but stressed the need to strike a balance between tourism and students.

Funding will be very important in the post-Covid landscape.

Trinity is projected to lose €40 million over the course of two years and it is not unlikely that the Irish government will introduce further cuts to tertiary education to alleviate the national economic burden. Though as Chair of the Irish Research Council, Ohlmeyer may be particularly well suited to the job of obtaining funding, her funding projection is optimistic.

Both Ohlmeyer and Hogan listed one of their top priorities as reducing the staff to student ratio to 12:1 or 14:1 and 16:1 respectively. While Hogan does believe that it is important to

lower the student to staff ratio so as to get a better distribution of work between academic staff, she questions the achievability of Ohlmeyer’s target.

Ohlmeyer sees getting down to these numbers as a critical step in reaching her goal of getting back into the top 50 of the world

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The candidates agree that online learning cannot replace face-to-face after Covid-19

TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 9 March

News rankings. She stressed Trinity getting into the top 100 of the world rankings as essential to securing funding and attracting investment. In contrast Hogan’s ambitions to get into the top 50 of the world rankings were framed not as a goal, but as a consequence of her reforms. Doyle has not set any specific objectives regarding world rankings, and asserts that College’s behaviour should drive the rankings, instead of rankings driving College’s behaviour.

During Hogan’s interview, she expresses her goal of creating a more diverse, inclusive Trinity, while Hogan relays her intent to create a more fair Trinity through hiring an interpreter and learning from students on issues such as sexual harassment.

She hopes that this Citizen’s Assembly style system will allow for the University to tackle these issues. Ohlmeyer has proposed a campaign against bullying, in which a zero tolerance policy is established against sexual harassment, misogyny, and extremism. She reasons this by stating that “Bullying… threatens academic freedom.”

Regarding the future of online learning, all three candidates were in agreement that it would not, and could not replace face-to-face learning after Covid-19. They did however, have different views on its future role. While Hogan asserted that the role of online learning should be determined by individual lecturers, Doyle believed it could be used as an enhancement of in person learning, however, to what extent could be decided upon through a Citizen’s Assembly with both students and experts giving their opinions. Ohlmeyer on the other hand believes that online learning could play a more significant role in the future of smaller academic disciplines, where individuals from around the world could take classes, in order to increase student numbers. However, previous to these interviews, all

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PHOTO BY LAUREN BOLAND FOR TRINITY NEWS

The need for reform to the administrative system currently in place is also broadly agreed.

candidates agreed that for online learning to continue, there would need to be proper investment and systems set up to support it.

Ohlmeyer has promised that she will treat the climate crisis with the same urgency as Covid-19, with sustainability at the forefront of every decision being made. She praised students for taking the initiative on the issue, with the Trinity College Students’ Union (TCDSU) launching a petition on the issue in January. Hogan promised to reach carbon neutrality by the end of her tenure should she be elected. Doyle has plans to establish a sustainability office in her manifesto. All three candidates have expressed a willingness to continue the sustainability initiatives of the current provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast.

The provost election is set to take place on April 10, and will be historic no matter which candidate is elected as they will be Trinity’s first female provost.

Condemnations of street party at UL expressed by IUA and USI IUA and USI have both released statements condemning students who joined a social gathering last week, asking people to hold firm as “end is in sight” Jamie Cox Staff Writer

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HE UNION OF STUDENTS IN IRELAND (USI) HAS RELEASED a statement condemning the actions of students at a party in the University of Limerick (UL).

Scenes of large gatherings of people dancing and not adhering to social distancing restrictions surfaced on social media on Wednesday night, which were subsequently broken up by Gardaí.

Speaking to Trinity News on the night of the incident, Gardaí confirmed that “street party which was taking place on Carysfort Avenue, College Court, Castletroy, Co. Limerick” and a “policing operation was put in place and a significant number of Garda units attended the scene”.

Gardaí had to intervene after

ARTWORK BY ELLA SLOANE FOR TRINITY NEWS

attempting to engage with the individuals to disperse them, making three arrests and issuing over 30 fines.

In their statement, the IUA wished to commend students who have to this point adhered to restrictions and appealed “to all students to continue to abide by the guidelines and, especially, to avoid congregation”.

They acknowledged that while the “overwhelming majority of students are abiding by the guidelines and, thereby, safeguarding their own health”, the minority of students who refuse to adhere to restrictions not only risk the health of themselves and their family, they also “prolong the lockdown for everyone”.

The IUA took time to appeal to students, expressing empathy as to the frustration students may be feeling at the moment. IUA said they expressed support for those “working on the front line to care for those affected by Covid-19”.

The IUA emphasised their gratitude for the efforts of its college staff, expressing that the efforts of staff to ensure higher education continued during the pandemic was an “essential service” and was fully recognised as.

Repeating the appeal to students to adhere to guidelines “both on and off campus”, the IUA reaffirmed the consequences for students who refused to do so, stating that “failure to do so will result in appropriate disciplinary action being taken in accordance with Codes of Conduct for students”.

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) released a similar statement, joining in with the “majority of students” in expressing “distress at the scenes posted on social media last night”.

USI continued that many students are “disappointed and upset” following the events of the social gathering yesterday evening. Continuing the sentiment delivered by the IUA, USI wished to express sympathies regarding the difficulties that have faced students this year.

“Like every sector of Irish society, the last year has been an incredibly difficult one for students who have been studying from home, not meeting friends and family.”

USI called on students to show solidarity and do “the right thing”, expressing that the end “was in sight”.

However, USI took the opportunity to call on government to work together and support students who have been put out by Covid-19.

USI stated: “It is not good enough to ask students not to go back to campuses, live in student accommodation or mix with other students, but not support them in this by ensuring they are not out of pocket for doing so.”

The statement comes as Sinn Fein puts forward the Student Accommodation Bill to be ratified in the Dáil.

Current government restrictions place strict limitations on social gatherings in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland.

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TCDSU launch March4Masi campaign for month of March The union’s president is calling on students to participate in the fundraising campaign by getting out to “run, walk, swim, cycle 5km, tag 5 people, and donate whatever you can” Shannon Connolly News Editor

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HIS MONTH, TRINITY COLLEGE D U B L I N ’ S S T U D E N T S ’ UNION (TCDSU) in collaboration with Trinity VDP are launching a fundraising campaign

to raise money for those in Direct Provision.

The “March4Masi” campaign is being held throughout this month to raise €10,000 for MASI and Bridge the Gap, two charities that work in conjunction with those in Direct Provision.

The Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) is an Irish advocacy group for those seeking international protection in the Republic of Ireland, with the goals of ending direct provision and deportation.

Speaking to Trinity News, TCDSU President Eoin Hand said: “I am delighted to announce that TCDSU in collaboration with Trinity VDP are launching a fundraiser, March4Masi during the month of March to raise €10,000 for MASI and Bridge the Gap, two charities that work directly with those in Direct Provision.”

In 1999, Direct Provision was introduced as a temporary solution to housing asylum seekers and migrants who sought refuge in Ireland,” Hand explained.

“Between 2007-2017, 44 people have died in Direct Provision.”

“Covid has run rampant throughout centres with devastating effects. This is having a direct impact on members of the

Trinity College Dublin community, students in our university who live in these centres.”

In August of last year, MASI published documents showing Department of Justice reports monitoring media coverage and social media activity related to Direct Provision which record the amount of traction that posts attracted on social media platforms.

Among the tweets and statements included in the report is a statement from USI calling for vacant student accommodation to be used to support vulnerable students in Direct Provision.

Hand continued: “We at TCDSU, along with the USI and other national student Unions have continuously lobbied for the abolishment of Direct Provision.”

“Although we welcome Minister O’Gorman’s commitment to dismantling Direct Provision by 2024, this simply isn’t good enough, we need action now.”

“We are calling on you to please support this fundraiser, and this March, get out and March4Masi from today until the 31st. Run, walk, swim, cycle 5km, tag 5 people, and donate whatever you can. Any and every donation and support is deeply appreciated.”

Kate Henshaw

Assistant News Editor

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HE UNION OF STUDENTS in Ireland (USI) has condemned the passing over of 39 Trinity medical students for the Covid-19 vaccine on the night it was given to 16 relatives of staff at Coombe hospital.

In a statement to Trinity News, the USI said it was “very disappointed and concerned to see the story break”.

“The medical students were working within the hospital and it is disgraceful that they were treated so poorly by the hospital.

Actions like this fail to recognise students on placement as important members of the hospital community.”

USI also called on Minister for Higher Education Innovation and Research Simon Harris and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to “ensure this never happens again”.

At the inquiry into the incident, which took place on January 8, it was revealed that there were 39 medical students on standby to get the vaccines. Professor Deirdre Murphy, Head of the Department of Obstetrics at Trinity, has told the review that hospital management was made aware of this an hour before the vaccines were given to the 16 relatives.

The details are provided by Professor Murphy in a letter to Brian Kennedy SC who is the lawyer carrying out a review of the episode for the board of the hospital.

According to a senior staff

In an email to College staff, two Law students declare that measures put in place for this year’s Schols exams were “unacceptable” and must be remedied before scholarships are awarded Audrey Brown

Deputy News Editor

USI condemns the passing over of 39 Trinity medicine students for the Covid-19 vaccine on the night it was given to 16 relatives of staff at Coombe hospital The union also called on Ministers Donnelly and Harris to “ensure this never happens again”

Second year S consider lega not addresse

member, the master of the hospital Professor Michael O’Connell told them that the hospital was “not in a position” to vaccinate the students.

Two of Professor O’Connell’s own children had been vaccinated two days before.

Professor Murphy has said she is “personally embarrassed” by the incident, calling the arguments put forward by Professor O’Connell were “untenable”.

She continued to say that the hospital’s senior executive team were aware of the students on standby to receive the vaccines.

The students had been previously advised by the Health Service Executive that they should be vaccinated alongside other

health staff during their hospital placements.

Trinity had requested that the students be vaccinated and supplied information to the hospitals to that effect such as students PPS numbers. According to Professor Murphy, new PPS numbers had to be obtained for the international students, many of them from high-risk black and Asian ethnic groups.

Professor O’Connell apologised in January after the story was published by the Irish Times saying he had made “every effort to prioritise and identify additional frontline workers” for the vaccines on the evening of the incident.

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WO SECOND YEAR LAW STUDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THEY would consider taking legal action against Trinity if Scholarships (Schols) are not “administered in a fair and equitable manner” for all candidates.

Schols is awarded by the College to mainly second-year students on the basis of a set of “searching” exams sat after Christmas. Students must achieve an overall first in these exams, to be entitled to “the most prestigious undergraduate award in the country,” of which benefits include free on-campus accommodation and a waiving of all tuition fees for the five-year term of the scholarship.

This exam season saw the instigation of a new system of surveillance over students, as well as the announcement of a quota system. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all Schols exams were moved online, and an invigilation system, by which students were asked to share their screens once to prevent their cheating, was introduced.

Many students expressed concern over the invigilation system when they were introduced to the plan, claiming that the precautions put in place were insufficient to prevent cheating.

Furthermore, College had proposed a new quota system to regulate the number of Schols awarded and to prevent “grade inflation”. In previous years, any student who achieved a predetermined grade point average was awarded a scholarship, but students felt that the newly introduced quota system added

TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 9 March

News

Sinn Féin urges government to “stand Schols candidates al action if concerns are up” for students struggling with mental health ed by College Results from a another layer of competition while taking the exams.

Scholars are typically announced on Trinity Monday, during which all students who have been awarded the position of Scholar receive the honour during a public ceremony delivered from the steps of the Examination Hall.

Two second year Law students who both sat the Schols exams in January say they have since addressed “numerous authoritative persons and bodies within the College” in hopes of raising concern about the “administration, fairness, and selection procedure surrounding the recent Foundation Scholarship examinations” before the announcement of Scholars on Trinity Monday of this year.

Waiting to pursue further action until after the announcement of the Scholars, they claimed, would “prove grossly unfair to students concerned about the administration of the examination itself ”.

In an email circulated to senators representing Trinity as well as the School of Law Director of Undergraduate Studies Neville Cox and other relevant lecturers in the School of Law, Murphy and O’Reilly stated that they would willingly sit the examinations again “at an appropriate date and setting should it be considered the only solution”.

However, if further action was not taken to resolve the student complaints regarding Schols before Trinity Monday, they claimed that they “are ready and willing to take this issue to the courts to ensure that the Foundation Scholarship examinations are administered in a fair and equitable manner as they have since the inception of the College”.

The students continued that the decision to impose a quota on potential candidates this year represented “an unacceptable situation”.

The proposed scholarship quota for all Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences students, of which both the Law and Business schools are members, is twenty-two students.

“By enforcing quotas, the College is implying that the academic standard of candidates for Scholarship this year has increased dramatically, and therefore the number of scholarships should be limited to avert the effects of inflated grades,” stated the email.

Students raised concern that the move online of Schols exams might have allowed for participants to access more resources to be used during the examinations in cases where these resources would not have been allowed in the past.

However, as the email continues, the imposition of quotas that

represent a raised standard on students was “nothing short of an expectation that candidates would attempt to cheat in the examination”.

The students cited the College Statutes and College Calendar in their refutation of the quotas, stating that “there exists no provision... which stipulates that quotas can, or should, be applied, other than the maximum allowance of seventy Foundation Scholars”.

“These criteria are clear and unambiguous--there exists no provision for quotas and students who attain the said qualifications should be elected Scholars”.

The email referenced concerns arising from the way College handled the protocols to prevent cheating, which provoked criticism from students even before the exams were held.

“External assistance could have been used effortlessly, and there were inadequate preventive measures to block this,” claimed the email. Its senders referenced insufficient monitoring of a student’s workspace, of which one only had to show 180 degrees prior to the tests, and the possibility that students “could have evaded the mechanisms put in place to check their computer screen”.

Concerns about the elevated possibility of cheating on the online exams coupled with the imposed quotas have invited criticism from students even prior to the examinations, and the students stated that if instances of cheating came to light, they “would prove deeply damaging to the academic integrity and reputation of Scholarship, and indeed the entire College”.

“This simply does not represent a fair and standardised basis for any academic examination, let alone one of such high stakes and prestige as that of the Foundation Scholarship,” continued the email.

The communication has already received support from the community, with Senator David Norris having responded that the students “have a good case for being allowed to address the Board on this matter” and offering that they may quote him as such.

“As a former Scholar myself I am very concerned that the standard set should be maintained,” he asserted.

The students who brought forth the email hope to make their case of complaint in front of the Scholarship Board, the College Visitors, and other relevant College authoritative bodies before the announcement of Scholars set for this Trinity Monday.

student survey conducted during the pandemic suggest that over 90% of college students have reacted negatively to online learning Audrey Brown

Deputy News Editor

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HE RESULTS OF A NEW SURVEY CARRIED OUT BY SINN FÉIN of 556 college students saw 4 in 5 respondents claim that their current college experience had a negative impact on their mental health, and over 90% reported feelings of loneliness and stress.

The party’s spokesperson on

Further and Higher Education Rose Conway-Walsh TD said of the results that it is clear that there is a looming mental health crisis among students and the Government must act to stand up for students and put supports in place”.

The Student Wellbeing survey was said to reveal “extremely concerning feelings of isolation, stress and poor mental health” among students since the conversion to online education last March.

“Students are doing their best to adapt to current challenges and pursue their education remotely but many are clearly hanging on by a thread and need much better support,” asserted Conway-Walsh.

Many respondents to the survey shared experiences that revealed their struggles to “get an education while living and studying in completely inappropriate environments”, which ConwayWalsh said included “cramped flat-shares” or living at home with “families also juggling working from home and home-schooling siblings”. Additionally, many have struggled with obtaining the necessary supplies for schooling from home, including laptops and internet access.

“The results of this survey are alarming and should be a wake-up call about the level of stress and hardship being faced by students,” stated Conway-Walsh. “I am urging the Government to stand up for students and act.”

She has pledged to bring the “deeply alarming survey results” directly to Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris and request that he “take immediate action to increase supports and awareness to deal with this mental health emergency”.

“The mental health and wellbeing of our students must be a top priority and Sinn Féin will continue to help students during this unprecedented time.”

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald praised ConwayWalsh’s survey on Facebook and further insisted that “government must take immediate action to deal with this emergency”.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health Mark Ward TD stated that “in order for the improvement of mental health and well-being of students to be effective, it must be combined with a broader policy response in society as a whole”.

New funding announced to support third-level students from the Traveller community The €300,000 funding will be aimed at Traveller progression to and Traveller progression in higher education during the Covid-19 pandemic Shannon Connolly News Editor

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INISTER FOR F U R T H E R AND HIGHER E D U C AT I O N SIMON HARRIS has announced new funding to

support third-level students from the Traveller community.

The roll-out of €300,000 is aimed at Traveller progression to and Traveller progression in higher education during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The aims of the funding are to support students with study spaces, access to technology and to lesson the health and social impacts of the pandemic on their education. The funding will also be used for direct financial support and to build capacity for increased engagement between higher education institutions and the Travelling community.

Trinity is set to receive €14,137 under this newly allocated funding. The outline of the scheme states that Higher Education Institutions can prioritise funding “as they see fit”.

Speaking on the funding, Harris noted the struggles faced by the Travelling community throughout the pandemic, stating that “Covid-19 has posed particular problems for Travellers participating in higher

education”, and expressed that this funding will allow for higher education institutions to address the particular needs of individual students.

Harris added: “The aim with this funding is to ensure that the risks associated with Covid-19 do not serve to widen the existing and very significant gap in participation in higher education

by Travellers.”

Anastasia Crickley, chairperson of Pavee Point, said in response to the new scheme: “Pavee Point and the National Traveller Women’s Forum welcome this dedicated funding, which is a tangible response to the recommendations in the report of our National Forum last year on transfer to and progression within higher education.”

Pavee Point is a national non-governmental organisation committed to the attainment of human rights for Irish Travellers and Roma.

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Trinity Business School gains “Triple Crown” of accreditations The Trinity Business School becomes the second in Ireland to be accredited by all three major global business school accrediting bodies

PHOTO BY VICTORIA SALGANIK FOR TRINITY NEWS

Connie Roughan Staff Writer

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rinity Business School has gained the “Triple Crown” after being accredited by all three major global business school accrediting bodies.

The school announced last week that it has been accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, having already

received accreditation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).

In a statement published by the school, its Dean, Andrew Burk, said: “Every top international geographic innovation cluster has at least one world class business

school located within.”

Burke continued: “If Dublin really wants a sustainable position as a world class centre for digital technology business and have a financial centre, then the coming of age of Trinity Business School with Triple Accreditation is hugely positive news both for Dublin and

global competition.”

Burke went on to credit staff for their contributions to the rapid growth of the Business School, saying: “Through devolved leadership, everyone in the School has taken ownership and responsibility to launch new programmes and improve existing activities.”

He underlined the school’s use of blended learning methods, the provision of micro-credentialing in addition to traditional graduate business degree programs and “ethical leadership” as part of a strategy “to promote diversity, inclusivity and sustainability”.

The Business School has expanded by 150% over the past five years and is currently preparing to open a multimedia lecture room, dubbed “the Matrix”.

The room is designed for the use of additional blended learning and teaching methods.

As Dean, Burke introduced a “high-growth policy” for the school in 2015, launching new degree programmes and beginning construction of a new and ecofriendly building. The building was completed and opened by

then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in 2019.

The Business School has since gained in Irish and European business school rankings. It reentered the Financial Times European Business School Rankings at 60th in 2019. In 2020, it gained four places to be ranked 56th.

Other Irish business schools featured in the 2020 rankings were the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School (UCD Smurfit) at 23rd and Dublin City University Business School at 85th. UCD Smurfit is the only other triple-accredited business school in Ireland.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is a non-profit association that provides quality assurance and other services to business schools worldwide.

Founded by a consortium of business schools from the USA in 1916, it has since grown to a global organisation and has accredited four other business schools in Ireland.

New society aims to educate and foster an interest in public health Speaking to Trinity News, Nazeefah Laher says that the PHS aims to educate students of the intersection of health and social justice Jamie Cox Staff Writer

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ast week saw the launch of the Public Health Society (PHS) at Trinity, a new society dedicated to engage and educate the College community on matters concerning the discourse surrounding public health.

The launch of the society was announced on Twitter by Nazeefah

Laher, a medicine student at Trinity.

Announcing the launch of the society, Nazeefah said that she was “thrilled to officially launch the Trinity Public Health Society” and that “so much hard work has gone into creating this society and I’m very thankful to the amazing students who have supported these efforts”.

Laher shared a document on social media detailing the aims and objectives of PHS, as well upcoming events to be held.

According to the document, the PHS aims to “provide tools and support for public health education” and to “engage the TCD community in public health discourse in order to foster an interest in public health”.

It detailed that the aim of the society is to not only be accessible for medical or health care students, but for any students who may be interested in educating themselves on health, and hence share knowledge about health.

Speaking to Trinity News, Laher stated: “The objective of starting the Trinity Public Health

Society was to engage the TCD community in public health discourse and foster productive discussions about issues that have a direct impact on our lives.”

Laher discussed: “Our scope is broad, but our vision is clear.

Public health is rooted in advocacy and centred at the intersection of health and social justice.”

Laher explained to Trinity News how the pandemic has led to a broader appreciation for public health. “The dual pandemic of Covid-19 and racism has shown us just how important public health is in keeping our global communities healthy, safe, and thriving.”

“Public health is not just limited to Covid-19. It’s about protecting the health of entire populations and this means more than infectious disease or access to health care.”

She discussed the role of PHS in advocating for diversity through the conversation of public health, expressing much emphasis on the point that “public health is rooted in advocacy and centred at the intersection of health and social justice”.

She explained: “It aims to address the inequities that are pervasive in our society. Income inequality, gender inequities, racial inequities, homophobia, etc.”

Continuing she said: “It’s fundamental to everything we do… I think with Covid-19 people get a small sense of just how important it is.”

TCD Societies on March 3 tweeted that the Central Societies Committee (CSC) has “provisionally recognised” the group which “aims to engage

the Trinity community in public health discourse in order to foster an interest in public health, provide tools, resources, and a platform for discussions around public health in all its forms”.

Events coming up for PHS in the coming days include “Addressing Health Misinformation at the Scale of the Internet” taking place on March 9 and “Skin of Colour: Racial Inequity and Racial Inclusion in Health Care” taking place on March 11.

ARTWORK BY CELINE DELAHOY FOR TRINITY NEWS

Another St Patrick’s Day on the couch page 5

Catching flights and switching societies page 11

Na Gaeltachtaí agus Covid-19 page 15

LIFE

TRINITY NEWS

Pullout section

Inside: Electrician turned artist at Dublin’s Gerard Byrne Studio ARTWORK BY ANDRÉS MURILLO FOR TRINITY NEWS

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Tuesday 9 March | TRINITY NEWS

Table of contents Reacting to results - page 6 Society spotlight: Vis Arts - page 4 Zoom through online dating - page 7

IWD:

Mary Shelley’s life and legacy

- page 12

Gaeilgheansaí

Careers in the Arts

- page 10

Electrician turned arti Dublin’s Gerard Byrne

Making: Bao Buns - 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 Co-Editor Sex & Relationships Co-Editor

Kerry O’Sullivan

Societies Editor Societies Deputy

Ciara Cassidy Grace Fannon

Student Living Editor Student Living Deputy

Cian Dunne Isha Neurgaonkar

Eva O’Beirne

Emma Lueders talks to modern impressionist, contemporary figurative artist, and gallery owner, Gerard Byrne

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avigating the Art industry can be a daunting task for young artists and potential gallery owners alike. I sat down with Gerard Byrne, both a renowned artist and director of Gerard Byrne studio, to see what insight he had about careers within the Irish art scene. Byrne is one of Ireland’s leading contemporary artists with solo exhibitions stretching from New York to Singapore. Since he first exhibited in Harrison’s Gallery in 1996, Byrne’s been tiptoeing the line between gallery owner and a full-time artist. His current location in Ranelagh, established

in 2017, is a half-hour walk from Trinity. The studio combines his artistic workshop and gallery space to create a less formal, more welcoming environment for viewers to enjoy his work.

Byrne took the less direct path into the art world. From getting his first set of oil paints at the age of 7, he always showed excellent enthusiasm for painting. But after leaving school at age 14, the opportunities to study art beyond the junior certificate dwindled, and Byrne subsequently joined a trade. After years of working as an electrician, he decided to become a full-time artist, and he stretched his savings as far as possible by being able to “live off air”. This allowed him to develop his artistic skills and confidence, before selling his art as a source of income. The community around him often fed him, viewing it as their way of “supporting the arts”.

Although his early entrance into the art world was not easy, Byrne was determined that “‘Nothing was going to hold me back”, “I was going to do this regardless”. When asked recently by an aspiring fulltime artist how to make money in the field, Bryne replied that he was “going at it from the wrong

perspective totally, you have to go at it with compassion, with a love and a want and then the money comes along as a bonus.”

After growing his confidence by exhibiting his paintings in spaces such as Merrion Square’s outdoor exhibition, his lifestyle’s financial restraints exhausted him. He arranged to meet an agent who would introduce him to galleries, and begin to launch Bryne’s work to the world. On that same Saturday morning, Byrne was left sitting in Bewley’s with his portfolio facing an empty seat. After this disappointment, he was heading home when he came across a gallery he was unfamiliar with. He shyly went in, introducing himself and his work to the gallery owner. The owner asked to see his pieces in person, so Byrne availed of the opportunity.

By the Monday, Byrne had to bring in more paintings, as the seven he had brought initially had sold. Byrne’s art was selling consistently in Harrison’s Gallery to the point where the owner felt he was working for Byrne.

He discloses now, that he feels many of these opportunities come about from a mixture of accident

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ist at e Studio

“

The world of art is expensive for both gallery owners and artists and his own enthusiastic and driven personality. He flags it as necessary for both young artists and potential gallery owners to put themselves out there. If he were in search of gallery staff, he would want “someone who is a bit open and a bit forward in the sense of willing to start a conversation and engage with people.” Although knocking on galleries’ doors is a challenging way to introduce oneself, the determination and ambition that drives a person to do so, in Byrne’s opinion, makes them inevitable to succeed.

With Byrne’s popularity on the rise, the owner of Harrison’s gallery interest in the business faded. He presented the option of running the gallery to Byrne himself. Byrne responded that he “wouldn’t know how to run a gallery, and I don’t really want to”. He saw the proposition as a return to a business-based career rather than focusing on art. He eventually agreed to take it over and stayed with the gallery for two years. He later decided to shift his focus back towards art and closed the gallery. Since then, Bryne has juggled both hats, a full-time artist and a gallery owner.

His current gallery is his sixth, in which he combines both his artist’s studio and gallery space together. His partner, Agata Byrne, feels that this harmonious combination of the work and gallery space provides a more relaxed environment than what is found in most galleries. With this, they wanted to have people admiring the work, rather than feeling unwelcome because they didn’t intend to buy a piece. Byrne himself even admits that he can feel intimidated walking into a building that holds a gallery title.

Ideally, they want their gallery to become more of a cultural place, expanding into the possibilities of events, such as book launches and poetry readings alongside exhibitions.

The world of art is expensive for both gallery owners and artists, as Byrne himself says, “when you buy a painting, you’re not actually buying that painting, you are paying for the next one.”

Yet, his Ranelagh studio stretches beyond the financial pressures associated with the art world and returns to why many young artists and prospective gallery owners choose an art career; the viewer’s pleasure. This allure to create art out of passion has been central in Byrne’s own artistic journey.

When I asked Byrne what he felt was the most crucial piece of advice to give to young artists and perspective gallery owners, he told me that it is vital to stop and take it all in. He disclosed it is easy to “want something for so long, and it can just pass you by.” It wasn’t until his second show that Byrne stopped for a moment to take it all in and realised the moment he had been dreaming about was finally happening: “standing in the middle of the room and just kind of savouring the moment”.

This is what all the hard work was for, climbing over the railings of Stephen’s Green to paint early in the mornings, that hardship, that drive, that ambition. That moment is payback for the journey, and for Bryne, those moments of realisation of what he’d accomplished justified the steps it took to get there.

Byrne’s original aim was to have at least one exhibition in his lifetime. Through his drive and ambition, he has landed himself in over 40 exhibitions worldwide.

He is not only an artist to watch in his own right, but a figure that young artists and potential gallery owners can look up to.

Mar bhunaitheoir don chomhlacht Sew it Seams ag aois 19 Labhraíonn Hazel N Bhróin le Mairidh NicCormaic, mac léinn a bhunaigh a comhlacht féin ag tús an chéad dianghlasáil

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á ardmheas agam ar Mairidh agus í ag bunú a comhlachta féin le linn na paindéime seo. Chruthaigh sí an comhlacht Sew it Seams agus i 19 bliana d’aois, ag tús an chéad dianghlasála agus tá sé ag fás ó shin. Sa mheánscoil, ba léir go raibh Mairidh an-chruthaitheach.

Bhí sí iontach ag an ealaín agus thosaigh sí ag dearadh a cuid éadaí féin agus muid fós ar scoil.

Tar éis dearadh a gúna féin i gcomhair damhsa na ndeibeanna, bhí a fhios ag gach éinne sa rang go raibh an-chumas aici. Chuaigh mé chun bualadh le Mairidh chun fiosrú amach na buntáistí agus na míbhuntáistí a bhaineann le fiontraíocht agus tú mar mhac léinn sa choláiste i lár paindéime.

Nuair a chruthaigh Mairidh an leathanach Instagram “sew_it_ seams” beagnach bliain ó shin, ní raibh sí ag súil leis an bhfreagairt dearfach a fuair sí. Dúirt sí: “leis na fírínne a rá, thosaigh mé an leathanach sin chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh ar mo chuid scileanna fuála”. Ní raibh sé ar intinn aici comhlacht iomlán a bhunú, ag díoladh seaicéadí lomra ar chor ar bith: “ba é an seaicéad lomra an chéad rud a chuir mé suas ar an leathanach agus saghas phléasc gach rud suas ina dhiaidh sin”.

Tá sé deacair go leor comhlachta a chruthú leat féin nuair nach bhfuil ach cúpla daoine ar an eolas faoi, go háirithe i lár paindéime. Uaireanta bíonn an dul chun cinn an-mhall nuair a thosaíonn tú amach ag bunú comhlachta úir agus d’aontaigh Mairidh leis seo: “d’fhorbair sé píosa ar phíosa don chéad cúpla mí, ach tar éis mo 100ú geansaí, rinne mé aicsín agus d’fhás mo leathanach go mór tríd sin”. Le cumhacht na meáin shóisialta, thosaigh daoine ag scaipeadh eolais faoi dhíolacháin na ngeansaí ar Instagram tar éis an aicsine sin a rinne Mairidh ar an leathanach “sew_it_seams”.

Tháinig borradh ar an leathanch agus beagnach bliain ina dhiaidh,

tá níos mó ná 13,000 leantóirí ag an leathanach.

Sa lá atá inniu ann, braitheann go leor daoine ar na meáin shóisialta mar bhealach chun deimhniú go mbeidh an gnó atá acu ag dul ó neart go neart.

Braitheann go leor bunaitheoirí ar na meáin chun a gcomhlacht a choinneáil i mbun gnó tar éis na paindéime. Mar gheall air seo, d’inis Mairidh dom go bhfuil sí chomh buíoch as na leantóirí ar fad atá aici: “roineann siad mo chuid postanna, scaipeann siad mo leathanach lena gcuid cairde agus tugann siad tacaíocht dom i gcónaí.” Is léir go raibh Mairidh, mar go leor úinéirí eile timpeall na tíre, ag brath ar na meáin shóisialta an bhliain seo: “gan mo chuid leantóirí ar Instagram, ní bheadh mo leathanach leath chomh rathúil is atá sé inniu.”

Ní féidir liom a thuiscint cé chomh deacair is atá sé a bheith féinfhostaithe agus tú fós mar mhac léinn san ollscoil.

Dúirt Mairidh: “bíonn ort an tasc céanna a dhéanamh arís is arís, rud a éiríonn an-tuirsiúil”.

Lean sí ar aghaidh: “ach b’fhearr liom a bheith ag obair dom féin seachas d’éinne eile - an rud is measa faoi gan dabht ar bith ná tuiscint a bheith agat cathain

briseadh a thógáil agus conas an chothromaíocht cheart a aimsiú.”

Ba mhisniúil an mhaise d’éinne comhlacht nua a bhunú, go háirithe agus tú fós san ollscoil.

Má theastaíonn comhairle nó ionspráid ó éinne atá ag smaoineamh faoina ngnó féin a chruthú deir Mairidh: “an t-aon comhairle atá agam ná díreach chun é a dhéanamh, stop ag suí siar ag smaoineamh faoi.” Lean sí ar aghaidh go macánta: “dá ndéarfadh tú liom fiú seachtain sular thosaigh mé mo ghnó go raibh mé chun comhlacht a bhunú, ní chreidfinn thú!”

Cruthaíonn rath Sew it Seams, gur fiú é dul sa seans le rudaí ó am go ham. “Caithfidh tú é a thosú am éigin agus níl aon am níos fearr ná anois!”

Cinnte, bíonn sé deacair aon rud dearfach a bhaint den choróinvíreas. Ach cabhraíonn sé go mór liom nuair a chloisim faoi dhaoine ag baint leas iomláin as an méid ama atá againn sáinnithe sa teach.

Is léir go bhfuil Sew it Seams faoi bhláth, agus táim ag tnúth go mór leis an todhchaí agus na pleananna atá ag Mairidh dó.

Taispeánann Mairidh dúinn gur féidir rud ar bith a dhéanamh má luíonn tú isteach air.

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Tuesday 9 March | TRINITY NEWS

Society spotlight

Visual Arts Society Grab a pair of Docs and an easel, we’re getting to know the Visual Arts Society, says Grace Fannon

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here is certainly no dearth in style on Trinity’s campus.

From the picnic tables outside the Arts Block and across the cricket pitch to the Hamilton, ‘cool’ is in abundance, manifesting in vintage doc martens, aviator leather jackets, chequered trousers and even the occasional, hard-to-pull-off, mullet. Yet the ‘coolest’ place I have yet to visit was undoubtedly the Visual Arts Society End of Year Exhibition. Members of this society emanate an aura of effortless style, an ineffable ‘artiness’, that leaves us poor mortals writhing in jealousy at the glimpse of their Freshers Week stall. Even the society Facebook page is a well-curated artistic production. Behind the scenes of all this ‘cool’ is Rachel Gunning, Society Chairperson.

Fittingly, Gunning is a final year History of Art student at Trinity. The VisArts Society was the first that she joined back in her first year at Trinity, and she still has her society tote bag from Freshers Week as a memento.

Throughout her first two years at Trinity, she was a regular frequenter of the society’s events, before becoming an Ordinary Committee Member in her third year and finally being elected Chairperson this year. “I loved going to their events throughout college and I was always really interested in getting involved with facilitating art appreciation on campus.” In fact, this is the aim of

the society, to promote interest in “all disciplines of the Visual Arts”, and has been since its founding in 2009. Gunning says, “VisArts has definitely grown and adapted over the years, despite being a relatively small and young society, and we’ve been really lucky to develop relationships with other societies which have led to great friendships and really fun events.”

Events usually held by the society include lectures, gallery tours, workshops and regular coffee hours with an artistic slant, all of which are organised with the goal of “giving members a pressure-free opportunity to release their creativity” while functioning as a “social base for people interested in art.” Each year the society holds a ‘sketchbook project’, whereby members are given a sketchbook to fill over the course of a few weeks, with the help of prompts. In this way, the sketchbook becomes a sort of visual diary of the individual, and can be exhibited at the end of the few weeks, giving students the opportunity to share their art. This project is one that has worked well in the Covid era.As Gunning remarks, it “definitely alleviates some of the Zoom fatigue we’re all suffering from, allowing students to get involved in their own time and to release some energy through art.” Creating and making art is known to be a cathartic exercise, and may be helpful in both filling excesses of spare time and helping people express their emotions in a fun, creative way. It also is an alternative to society events via Zoom, yet still provides an outlet for students to feel involved in something social. A highlight in the VisArts Society’s calendar is certainly the end of year exhibition, usually held in a gallery in Dublin. Artworks in a variety of media and formats can be submitted and the exhibition

is a “really exciting prospect for the members to be shown in a gallery.” For any aspiring artist not sure how to share and show their work, this truly is an excellent opportunity.

This year, the society has been adapting to run virtual events.

They traditionally collaborate with different societies, and this has continued despite new circumstances, including their ‘Botanic Paint and Sips’ events with the Botanical Society, and their involvement in Trinity Arts Festival week in February. During this week, VisArts ran a ‘Rosé and Paint’ workshop, and a Photo Painting workshop. The society also tries to gear their events to current interests and trends.

Gunning says,” Slow fashion is something a lot of people consider really important at the moment, so it was amazing to collaborate with FashionSoc for an upcycling event.” In November, they also ran a ‘stitch along’ with DUGES and Knitsoc to celebrate women and art, paying homage to the often underappreciated and historically more female contribution of craft to the canon of art production.

Covid 19 has been a challenge, of course. “It’s quite difficult to make any sort of plans with constantly shifting restrictions and a limit on social interaction in person”, according to Gunning.

Despite this, the society had a remarkable year in terms of new signups, doubling the amount from last year. They were also able to organise a trip to IMMA in the brief window before Christmas when societies were open. Their end of year exhibition is still going ahead, and is definitely something to look forward to. As always, we can be sure that talent will not at all be in short supply. I have no doubt that we will all be virtually in awe.

ARTWORK BY VIS ARTS SOCIETY

Learning to pole dan Eva O’Beirne explores virtual pole dancing in an interview with the Irish Pole Dancing Academy

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earning to pole dance without a pole may seem like an oxymoron, but founder and owner of the Irish Pole Dancing Academy, Arlene Caffrey, believes that within a matter of weeks anyone can learn the basics of pole dancing, even without the equipment one would think is required. Speaking to Trinity News over Zoom, Caffrey details how she has adapted her classes to an online format and encourages anyone looking for a cure to lockdown boredom to sign up to her Patreon: “Pole dancing is for everyone. I think people are surprised by how fun it can be.

People get so caught up in their responsibilities, especially this year, it’s a great way to unwind.”

After graduating in 2009 from DIT with a degree in graphic design, Caffrey was faced with unemployment due to an ongoing raging recession: “throughout my last year of college, we were told to apply for visas so we could leave as soon as possible. Our professors told us there would be nothing left when we graduated.” Caffrey describes founding the academy as a “necessity”, noting that it was her way to find employment in a seemingly hopeless situation.

Caffrey began pole dancing

as a hobby in her first year of college, going on to win several competition titles. Caffrey had been a yoga enthusiast and references popular culture as a reason why she became intrigued in pole dancing as a hobby.

Although not a sex worker herself, Caffrey emphasises the need to find a balance between enjoying pole dancing as a hobby and paying tribute to the sex workers who paved the way for it to become so universally acceptable: “At the moment, pole dancing is very much a middle-class activity. The classes, equipment, and gear are not cheap. It’s so important for us as educators to acknowledge that pole dancing was invented by sex workers and women of colour. Even with the move to make pole dancing an Olympic sport, things like that are born out of erasure. Cultural appropriation is a massive issue within the activity.” Caffrey notes when she was initially learning how to pole dance, she faced a lot of discriminatory rhetoric about strippers from her teacher, explaining that they weren’t allowed to wear heels in class: “the marketing was very defensive and labelled pole dancing as purely fitness-oriented and nothing else. I’m happy to see a shift in recent years where studios are acknowledging the origins of pole dancing. It is linked to the sex and adult industry but we have a long way to go in terms of acceptance.”

In her teaching methods, Caffrey uses the original names of moves such as the “stripper push up” in order to have open conversations about pole dancing as an activity.

Caffrey went on to detail the physical and mental benefits of pole dancing. Referring to her own

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 9 March

PHOTO BY IRISH POLE DANCING ACADEMY

Another St Patrick’s Day on the couch Noelle Keogh gives us a roundup of the best events happening this St. Patrick’s day

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nce in my bedroom transformation, she notes that she was: “quite underweight in college and definitely not a sporty person or involved in dance.” Caffrey points out that her strength and posture began to improve the more she trained, noting that: “at the time I was so surprised how accessible pole dancing was for someone who had no dance or sport background.” Caffrey explains that weight training or dance training are not required as a beginner: “we teach everything from the baseline. Everyone starts at the bottom even if they’re a gymnast or a dancer. If you have a background, great, but it’s not necessary.” According to Caffrey, pole dancing allows you to become more mobile, self-assured, and aware of how your body works.

In terms of mental benefits, she points out that under normal circumstances the social aspect of attending the academy encourages people to come back: “we do showcases at the studio where students perform in front of each other which is always a highlight.

To be able to choreograph, create and present your work is a huge benchmark in terms of selfconfidence.”

When asked about how Covid-19 has affected the academy, Caffrey mentions the struggle to attract clients throughout the first lockdown as many customers would enquire about when the studio would reopen instead of purchasing online classes: “it was very frustrating as a small business owner because if you don’t support businesses now, they won’t be around for when things do return to normal.” Caffrey goes on to talk about her goals for the next year, acknowledging that although survival of the academy is her

priority, she would like to expand her business venture further: “I would love to open another studio but that depends on rent and everything else. Incorporating new types of classes that involve spirituality would be amazing. My goal with the studio is to build a temple to all things feminine and to encourage people to embrace and celebrate feminine energy, which has often been rejected in Ireland.”

After investigating and investing some time to take several of the tutorials on the Irish Pole Dancing Academy Patreon, I can confidently say that I will be a recurring subscriber. Due to me not owning a pole at home, I purchased the “floor work fundamentals” tier (from €20 per month) and am delighted to report that it has been worth every cent. With hundreds of videos to choose from, you can build up and design your own floorwork choreography from the comfort of your own home. If you’re a bit more adventurous or want to invest in a pole for your home, the Irish Pole Dance Academy offers both off and on-pole tutorials for €30 per month. Caffrey notes that within a month of attending either course, you should be able to see improvements in your flexibility, posture, fitness, and confidence levels, expressing that training twice to three times a week is ideal. When it comes to time in the studio, Caffrey estimates that it takes around 3 to 6 months to be able to: “go upside down” on the pole which is often seen as a milestone for progress but in her own opinion: “the best pole dancers are the ones who look like they’re having fun.”

á Fhéile Pádraig will soon be among us and while we’re in for another unconventional day for the second year in a row, there is still lots to celebrate.

Despite cancelled parades and closed pubs, there are still plenty of people working hard to bring us a grand ol’ celebration of our patron saint and the national day of this emerald isle. Events, performances and workshops will be available online, so consider this the official rundown.

Thinking back to 2020, St. Patrick’s Day probably wasn’t the most memorable of all days.

Or maybe it was particularly memorable, but for all the wrong reasons. This year, we’ve warmed to the idea of virtual living.

With that said, this Paddy’s day, organisers know what to expect and deliver in the hope that this year’s festival will reawaken our spirits and bring a bit of light to the current lockdown gloom.

The theme of this year’s festival is Dúisigh Eire! (Awaken Ireland!).

With a year’s experience in the art of computer-generated fun, there are over 100 events taking place, all of which are accessible online at stpatricksfestival.ie throughout the week beginning on the 12th of March. Here are some of our top pics.

What’s in store for the music lovers among us, you might ask? We all know that it’s not St. Patrick’s day without a bit of trad music. This year’s programme features Seoda:Celtic Connections, a celebration of traditional music and it’s cultural significance across Ireland and Scotland and Wales, three countries deeply entrenched in

folk music. This event will include performances by The Breath singer, Ríognach Connolly and guitarist Stuart McCallum, all of whom will represent Ireland.

Presenting Scotland is the awardwinning folk musician Bríghde Chaimbeul, and there will be a performance from SuperFurry Animals’ frontman and Gruff Rhys from Wales. If you are looking for a side of history with your music, then look no further than the St. Patrick Show, a musical and visual tale from ancient to modern times. This 45-minute show will take place on the 17th of March at the Saint Patrick Centre. It promises to take us on a journey consisting of stories and legends from St. Patrick’s time right up to the present day. Directed by Belinda Murphy with a talented Irish cast, it is not to be missed.

As the so-called land of Saints and Scholars, you can bet that there is plenty out there for the fans of history, literature and film. One of the best things about these events is the opportunity for the creatives of our country to showcase their talents. If you’re interested in Irish film, be sure to check out Ireland’s Young Filmmakers Programme.

It is made up of five 15-minute film collections demonstrating the best short films made by Ireland’s young film producers.

With regard to literature, there is a great selection of events in English and Irish. If you consider yourself a bit of a bibliophile, you’ll be sure to enjoy a reading of An Féileacán agus An Rí (The Butterfly and the King) by author Máire Zepf,composed with optional subtitles in English.

This is a contemporary retelling of the ancient Irish myth that has been around for over a thousand years. The book itself is beautifully illustrated by Shona Shirley McDonald and well worth the read. Máire Zepf will also be giving young writers some tips on how they, too, can be inspired by mythology to create their own short stories.

As our island is growing ever more multicultural, it is fantastic to see the amount of events on offer in which participants will perform pieces from their native lands, giving us a chance to learn about and celebrate different backgrounds. This wonderful concoction of culture will include Indian Classical Dance performing BharataNatyam, a popular dance tradition in India in which the performer communicates a character being portrayed as an inner character to the audience. This performance will be delivered by Rasajna Marepalli, as she portrays the praising of Hindu God Rama, showing how Lord Krishna kills evil. Other day-enriching performances will include Lithuanian folk dance, Rhythms of Brazil and a performance of La Diablada by the ensemble, Alma Boliviana.

Lastly, the pièce de résistance of any St.Patrick’s Day: the parade.

This year will be our second, and please God let it be the last, virtual parade. Much like last year, those of us either at home or abroad have the chance to participate in the RTÉ Virtual Parade by attending online and sharing our home parade with the hashtag #RTEvirtualparade. If you want to participate, get out your best green outfit and film your celebrations in your bedroom, kitchen, garden, or wherever. Just make sure to keep it local and keep it safe.

There are so many fantastic events to choose from this year.

This list is just a taste of what to expect. Hopefully we can all look forward to celebrating together on the streets across the country as a nation in 2022, but, for now, let’s respect our frontline workers and all the vulnerable people in our communities by celebrating from the safety of our homes.

Keep an eye on the website (stpatricksfetival.ie) for more information and the schedules for all of the wonderful events available. Lá Fheile Padraig sona daoibh go léir.

ARTWORK BY ANDRÉS MURILLO FOR TRINITY NEWS

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Tuesday 9 March | TRINITY NEWS

Stuck Somewhere New stuck on screen Ella-Bleu Kiely discusses virtual theatre and an upcoming production with two of DU Players’s directors

Seán Holland discusses the varied responses to exam results

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ow that the ghost light is all that is left energised in unoccupied theatres, one might ask: What is the stage now? How do actors work on their craft? As we head into the Hilary season in Trinity, performers of DU Players (Players) would normally be dropping their scripts, and students would be skipping yet another lecture to attend a lunchtime show at the Samuel Beckett theatre. Players and theatre companies all across the world, however, are in a historical pause. In the effort to keep the art form alive, actors and creatives have been taking to the screen.

Speaking with theatre-makers Faith Jones and Morghan Welt on their upcoming virtual Players production was an exuberant performance in itself. Their piece, Stuck Somewhere New, is an interactive online show about the relationship between space and emotion. It explores the emotional connections people have with rooms, locations and places, while taking the audience on a theatrical treasure hunt.

As seasoned directors, Jones and Welt know that auditions can be intimidating enough as it is without throwing in unstable internet connections and the anxiety of waiting to be admitted into a Zoom meeting. They were conscious of this as they began searching for performers comfortable with improvisation, and had auditionees write and perform a short monologue.

“We thought this was the best approach as it allowed us to

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In the effort to keep the art form alive, actors and creatives have been taking to the screen

Reactin

see who the person was as a writer, which is something very intimate and personal and says a lot about them. We also wanted to see how they interacted with other group members,’, Welt says.

Jones similarly comments on this shift towards virtual auditions: “I think that there’s some very telling things you get from online auditions that you don’t get in person, which is funny because all we’re doing now is looking for positives online. Someone’s behaviour when they join a call is interesting. It shows a different side of them I think, and it can work in your favour.”

Another prominent feature of life via Zoom is one’s background—whether it’s a white wall with a few plants looming or a bookshelf behind you letting everyone know you’re an intellectual, a lot can be said of someone from what they’ve chosen to present in their camera view. Jones expresses that this is something she loved about the Zoom auditions and points towards the tapestry hung behind her so people know she’s indie. “I have a painting of a naked woman behind me just so people know I have tits.”

As Drama students, both Jones and Welt naturally live in a social sphere of creatives.

Be that as it may, they still face some obstacles in the virtual production side of things: “I think the fact that we are online with no set design or new form or stage puts so much pressure

on editing. These departments are quite new to us, so we had to search for a crew who can do HTML and it’s exciting working with computer science students,” Welt admits. When asked if the idea for the show originated purely as an online performance, the pair laugh: “Yes. It would be impossible to do this show in person, and I think it’s fun that we made something completely dependent on being virtual…we both thought: how immersive can an online show be?” Welt then revealed that they both initially hated all things online theatre: “It started off as a joke, but here we are creating a cast-of-twelve show”.

With all rehearsals being held remotely online, there is a feeling of lost communication and intimacy typically shared between director and actor.

However, Players’ directors are finding upsides to these misfortunes. “There’s a new intimacy that comes with Zoom that I really enjoy because it’s that vulnerability and being in that virtual space with this new way of communicating that creates close intimacy,” Jones remarks.

“The connection between cast and director is definitely less tangible, which is sad. But we still have intimacy in the sense that we’re spending so much time together, and seeing peoples’ homes,” Welt asserts. The two have arranged individual weekly rehearsals so they can “re-meet” people in the virtual space: “Our cast is so

willing to make everything as positive and commutative and as nice as possible. We also have the best-looking cast, there’s a bitta something for everyone,” Welt alleges.

In regards to what they themselves feel is the biggest challenge of creating a virtual show, Jones and Welt both agree on the technological side of things: “It kind of freaks us out. I think it’s also challenging that we can’t picture the stage anymore. We also won’t have that immediate interaction with the audience; we won’t hear them laugh, cry, applaud, or boo. Any reaction is from the audience’s private homes,” Welt mentions. In terms of costumes, with a sizable cast of twelve there will be varied decisions: “Overall there will be a check of everyone’s wardrobe...

Costume is definitely valuable throughout the whole piece, but there are certain scenes with higher currency,” Jones says.

Stuck Somewhere New is to be streamed live on the Players Youtube March 17, 18 & 19 as part of Players Week 7 Millenium Festival. The virtual performance may not transport you to a seat in The Abbey or The London Palladium, but it will most definitely take you to a dimension of bizarre and delightful entertaining madness.

“We really want the audience to immerse themselves and get stuck somewhere new.” Don’t miss out.

Theatre is still alive.

he period around exam results can be a stressful time. The comparisons with other people, whether acknowledged consciously or not, are inevitable.

Some people deal with it better than others, and a lot of people usually go out and have a laugh and a few drinks to celebrate regardless of the actual result. For Sophisters in particular, results take on an added importance where they feel tied to one’s future. Overall degrees, internships and post-grad opportunities are often dictated by results. It is easy to feel trapped by a number, to lose the perspective that it is only a number. Results can be one of those numbers like the number of zeros in your bank account, where it is much easier to say it is not important when it is nice and high.

A typical friend group will generally contain people who subscribe to the different range of responses to exam results. There is the humblebragger who, insufferably, will tell you how terrible they did because they received one single piece of criticism (despite getting over 75%). This person is not to be confused with the person who does well but cannot accept any praise because other people might have performed slightly better. This particular type is most often found in the uber-competitive courses such as Law. They can be quite hysterical and attempting to explain that they did well in their own right can prove to be a fruitless exercise.

Equally irritating is the intense worrier who tells you repeatedly how they have undoubtedly failed, meaning that their internship will be retracted and their parents will cut them off and their life is over, and yet they still proceed to come out with a first. There is then the one who is talented, but lacks consistency. Their results fluctuate from very impressive to so-so, and they take each result as it comes and in their stride.

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 9 March

ng to results Finally, there is the clinical one, who seems to endlessly churn out firsts like a well-oiled machine.

Wars will be fought and won, pandemics will come and go and this person will still receive top honours.

Stress can bring up feelings that were buried below the surface only to come up when someone is vulnerable, as during an exam period. Stress itself can come with increased health risks. Instead of labelling someone as hysterical, it would perhaps be more productive and more helpful to ask them why they are so upset and to allow them to answer in their own time.

To use seemingly irrational behaviour as a warning sign rather than a personality trait would be a more compassionate approach.

In the case of the worrier, most people who don’t worry to the same extent will see the worrier’s high result as vindication that they were being over the top.

From the other perspective, the worrier will tell you the high result is at best a pleasant surprise, and irrelevant to the genuine stress and anxiety they felt in advance. In some ways, the high result works against the worrier, who fears telling their friends how anxious they are about results next time around.

They may be

afraid that their genuine worries will be dismissed and the previous high result will be cited as condemnatory evidence, brought out to be used against them rather than celebrated. Meanwhile, the friend who clinically annihilates exams is portrayed as a robotic machine when in reality there is a lot of pressure to perform and long hours of study put in to reach their high standards. They too could be intensely anxious, but afraid to show it because they see how someone else is openly ribbed for worrying.

Personally, my results suffer because of disjointed and unclear work, a disdain for reading over my own essays and a general lack of effort. I find solace in the fact that these issues can be fixed, but at the back of my mind I wonder is this the best I have to offer, or am I just too lazy to get the results I would like to get? Or even worse, am I sabotaging myself because failing while only half-trying is so much better than putting in the required effort and still coming up short? I mask my disappointment with apathy, the results soon to be forgotten about. Yet, it only takes something small to break that kind of cycle of thinking. A lecturer’s comment noting a positive paragraph, hearing that someone who usually gets top marks only scraped by, or most effectively an open conversation with someone you trust who has your best interests at heart.

The sick feeling at the keel of your stomach does not go away because your friend told you it doesn’t matter. Generalisation does not help.

However, a candid conversation where you get your worries off your chest in a conversation where you feel heard can bring closure and a release. This type of communication has the ability to allow you to move on, work on the issues that need to be worked on or simply just see the bigger picture.

ARTWORK BY EVE SMITH FOR TRINITY NEWS

ARTWORK BY MEERA ENQELYA FOR TRINITY NEWS

Socially distanced dates

Zoom through online dating Kerry O’Sullivan discusses how to switch up your online dating life, one call at a time

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nother March rolls around and most of us have had more lockdowns than in-person dates in the last year. There is a definite dating app fatigue, constant talking stages that fizzle out and endless facetime calls with not a whole lot to talk about because nothing is happening.

That is just where online dating comes in - a fun way to spice up your Covid-19 dating life in a safe, socially-distanced way.

Whether it be a hopeful tinder match you want to get to know better, or a date with your long-distance partner that’s more than a quick phone call, here is some inspiration for your next zoom date night.

Zoom games have become something of a cultural phenomenon in the last year, not just in terms of dating, but also for spending some quality time with friends when there’s not much else to do during a level 5 lockdown. You name it, you can make a zoom game out of it. Blow off some steam and have a bit of hard-earned fun. You could go old school with some zoom charades (bonus points for charades of inside jokes), hangman and 2 person pictionary on the zoom whiteboard.

Virtual Cards Against Humanity is always a winner, ditto with Psych (essentially secret roasting of one another), though those may be better options for a group zoom or something a little less intimate than a one-on-one call if you’re trying to muster up a little romance. The iconic zoom quiz also rarely fails, there’s nothing like a bit of competition to fill the void of lockdown days There’s also a multitude of apps and chrome extensions you can get your hands on for something a little different. Netflix parties are a great option for a first date from the safety of your own home. Why not play a drinking game while watching an iconically cringy film, or cry together watching The Notebook? You can binge watch The Office, bake along with the technical challenges of The Great British Bake Off, or have a whole Harry Potter

or Lord of the Rings marathon. Another app worth a mention is Photo Roulette, available for free on the app store and sure to make your date night a little more exciting. It requires a little bit of trust as it involves surrendering your camera roll to other players, but can be a brilliant ice breaker when you are trying to get to know each other and each others’ friends and hobbies (do make sure to censor your camera roll before playing for the sake of your dignity, though!).

There is nothing to stop you from engaging in traditional dates over zoom, either. Get all dressed up in your finery and cook dinner together in your respective homes, or order takeaway to each other’s houses and catch up over your meal together like you would in real life. There is something really special and vulnerable about eating with someone, so why would that same sentiment not carry over into your virtual dating life? Make it a big deal with a three course meal; it’s not any less valid or important just because it happens to be online. There is also a viral trend of signature cocktail nights, where you and your partner teach one another how to make your favourite cocktails and enjoy a tipsy mixology lesson together. If all else fails, call it a night and crack open a can together, that’s sure to be just as fun.

Whilst there may be some limit on what you can do with your partner on a zoom date, that doesn’t mean there has to be a limit on the enjoyment that you get out of the time you have together. The most important thing to remember is to be creative with what you and your partner do together and adapt it to a virtual, socially distanced context. If you enjoy going book shopping and cafe hopping together, you could read the same book or watch the same film separately and dedicate an entire call to talking about it in all immense detail over your favourite coffee. If you are a gallery moocher, have a paint and prosecco night and create your next masterpiece together whilst you enjoy your partner’s company. The secret is adaptability and making the best out of a situation that is certainly impacting the success of so many of our dating lives. You may surprise yourself by keeping an open mind. On the bright side, because of this in-person dating hiatus, you don’t even have to wear pants on a first date.

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Tuesday 9 March | TRINITY NEWS

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 9 March

What’s on(line) in Dublin Tuesday EmpowHERment: Tackling Unconscious Gender Bias in the Workplace Dublin’s Lord Mayor, 11:30am Virgin Media International Film Festival Until Sunday Friday Free virtual yoga and self massage with Laura Home Yoga for All Levels, 10am Student Voice Summit NStEP and USI, 10:30am

What’s on(line) in Trinity Tuesday Journalism in Times of Crisis The Hist, 7pm Broken Glass premiere DU Players, 8pm Thursday Skin of Colour: Racial Inequity and Racial Inclusion in Healthcare Public Health Society, 6pm Friday The History of the Irish Pub Long Room Hub, 6pm

What we’re watching

ARTWORK BY ELLA SLOANE, ANDRÉS MURILLO, ZAHRA TORABPOURAN AND MÁRTA MENTA CZINKÓCZKY FOR TRINITY NEWS

WandaVision on Disney+

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Tuesday 9 March | TRINITY NEWS

Líonann cruthaitheoir Gaeilgheansaí bearna sa mhargadh Is cinnte go bhfuil níos mó spáis san margadh do níos mó tairgí Gaelacha, scríobh Gráinne Nic Cathmhaoil

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dir Brexit agus an phaindéim, cánacha nua agus ganntanas stoic, tá níos mó constaicí anois ná riamh do chomhlachtaí agus d’fhiontraithe. Ina thaobh seo, chuaigh mé chun bualadh le Cecily Nic Cionnaith, cruthaitheoir Gaeilgheansaí, an gnó a dhíolann geansaithe leis na nathanna, “Tá Gaeilge Agam”, “Tá Cúpla Focal Agam”, agus “Bí Bródúil”. Labhair mé le Cecily faoi na constaicí ag baint le gnó le tairgí trí Ghaeilge, comhairle d’fhiontraithe nua, dushláin roimh ghnóthaí sa lá atá inniu ann.

Ar dtús, tá sé soiléir gur líon Cecily bearna sa mhargadh le Gaeilgheansaí. Deireann suíomh gréasáin Gaeilgheansaí go gcuireann daoine “iad féin in iúl óna n-éadaí faoina gceol, tuairimí (ar nós geansaithe Repeal) agus theastaigh an rud céanna uainn don Ghaeilge”. Tá daoine ag éirí níos brodúla faoin nGaeilge agus ag iarraidh é sin a thaispeáint don

domhan, agus ceapann Cecily go mbaineann sé seo le “sochaí go ginéaralta”. Tá daoine ag éirí níos bródúla ar an iomlan, agus “ag éirí níos bródula as an rud atá tábhachtach [dúinn].” Tá sé fíor chomh maith gur tháinig Gaeilge isteach sa chultúr pobail sa blianta beaga anuas, an sampla a thugann Cecily anseo ná an ceol as Gaeilge ó na coláistí samhraidh, “rudaí cineál ‘cool’ as Gaeilge”, a deireann Cecily.

Ach is fíorscéal é go ndeireann daoine gur teanga mharbh í an Ghaeilge. “Cloisim go minic nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge beo agus nach bhfuil aon fhiúntas léi”, a deireann Cecily, ach tá an chuma ar an scéal go bhfuil níos mó díograise amach ansin do thairgí as Gaeilge ná cáineadh.

Leis an gcomhlacht seo, chruthaigh Cecily níos mó spáis do Ghaeilgeoirí ó aon leibhéal scile lena tairgí. Chruthaigh sí spás chomh maith do Ghaeilgeoirí LADTA leis an ngeansaí “Bí Bródúil”, mar baineann sé go léir le bród, compord agus ag dul sa seans- a bheith dóchasach go glacadh daoine leat. Is féidir a rá go mbaineann fiontraíocht leis na rudaí céanna, ag fágáil compoird ar son rud éigin is fearr.

Rinne Cecily staidéar ar Eacnamaíocht agus Gaeilge sa choláiste agus mar sin, chuir sé dhá shuim le chéile chun an gnó seo a bhunú agus chun éirí leis an éifeacht dhearfach seo a

bhí aici. Cad a déarfadh sí leis na daoine a bhfuil ag iarraidh comhlacht a thosú agus éifeacht chomhchosúil a dhéanamh, ach nach bhfuil clú acu cá dtosóidís?

Comhairle an-phraiticiúil atá aici, “Foghlaimeoidh tú an-chuid go tapa, cosúil le cad a oibríonn, cad a thaitníonn ó dhaoine, cad a theastaíonn ó dhaoine chomh maith, agus mar sin sílim gur fiú é triail a bhaint as, mar má theipeann ort, tá rudaí le foghlaim ó sin.” Leanann Cecily ar aghaidh ag rá chun a bheith cinnte go mbeidh “roinnt airgid agat mar má theipeann air, ní bheadh tú i bponc, ní gá na milliúin a bheith agat ach b’fhéidir cúpla céad agus ansin, cinnte tóg an seans.”

I ngnáth-amanna tá na meáin shóisialta fíorthábhachtach d’éinne a bhfuil ag iarraidh rud éigin nua a dhéanamh, ach go háirithe i gcomhair gnólacht nuathionscanta.

Seans chun píosa margaíochta a dhéanamh go hiomlán saor in aisce, trí phostálacha do chustaiméirí nó léirmheasanna a uaslódáil, “Tá anchumacht ag na meán shóisialta agus tá sé an-úsáideach chun an scéal a scaipeadh, le h-aiseolas a bhailiú, agus le teagmháil a dhéanamh le custaiméirí.”

Ar ndóigh, níl duine ar bith nár chur an phaindéim isteach air, agus tá a fhios againn nach raibh na comhlachtaí saor ó éiginnteacht, “bhí moill an-mhór leis an bpost agus tá fós faraor, bhí sé dúnta go

hiomlán go Meirceá agus go dtí an Astráil agus cúpla tír eile ar feadh píosa”. Ach níl an phaindéim an t-aon deacracht ar an láthair a thuilleadh, “tá sé deacair anois teacht ar na clúdaigh litreacha a úsáidimid, ach déarfainn go bhfuil sin bainteach le Brexit thar aon rud eile.”

Cosúil leis a lán daoine eile, bhí Cecily ró-bhuartha faoi 2020 chun a bheith in ann smaoineamh faoi 2021, “bhí an-éileamh [ar na geansaí] ag am Nollag agus bhíomar ag pacáil na n-orduithe gach lá i mí na Nollag, agus mar

sin, níl machnamh domhain déanta againn faoin mbliain seo chugainn.” Faraor, titeann fadhbanna bliain amháin isteach i mbliain eile, go háirithe nuair nach bhfuil smacht ar bith agat ar chinniúint, “tá cúpla smaoinimh againn ach tá sé níos deacra ó thaobh na lóistíochta de, ó thaobh an stoic a fháil in am nó fiú samplaí a fháil.”

Bíonn sé tábhachtach léargas a fháil ar na seirbhísí agus ar shaol na ndaoine a bhraithimid air, go háirithe in amanna cosúil le

Microwaves are the ultimate appliance Recipes for your microwave are your underrated best friend, writes Connie Roughan

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icrowave cooking is often relegated to those wacky 1970s cookbooks that you find in the back of charity shops. Indeed, they may be better known within Trinity as bargaining chips in presidential campaigns. But the nifty little things get a lot more flak than they are due. They are lifesavers when you don’t feel up for doing the dishes or properly cooking.

The classic microwave hack is reheating leftovers or readymeals, but it is often overlooked that you can use it to cook entire meals from scratch. While I love the experimental side of cooking, it is sometimes only the activity of eating with others that makes it worth the time and effort.

Microwaves are much faster than ovens and hobs: they do not need time to warm up, plus

they save on washing up time too as you use fewer utensils. Their limited capacity also lends itself to individual cooking—only a few portions can be made at once.

It is important to understand the basic mechanism of microwaves to see where they can speed up traditional cooking techniques. To my limited understanding as an arts student, they work by heating the oil and water in food very quickly, so any technique that mostly relies on heating water-based fluids or heating water-or-oilbased solids should be good to go in the microwave. However, frying is a bit harder with the whole door-on-microwave-toavoid-deadly-rays and possible splattering situation, so that is probably best kept to the hob. Be careful with the temperature too: a lower temperature is better for larger blocks of food that won’t cook evenly or dishes that might dry out easily. For example, when you’re defrosting meat, make sure to use the defrost setting or a low heat setting.

Rice and pasta can be boiled in a microwave. With a premade sauce, you’ve got yourself a whole meal. It is exactly the same method as on the hob, but has the added benefit of being edible right

out of the same container you cooked it in. But do take it out to stir a couple times, and make sure to have a container with a large capacity that will not overflow.

Instant noodles do well in the microwave too, if you’re looking to graduate from cup noodles.

Steaming fresh vegetables is also easily done with a microwave.

Cube or chop the veg into regular shapes, cover loosely and then microwave in bursts until forktender. Harder fresh vegetables like carrots usually take around 5-10 minutes. Most vegetables will be fine with their own juices but if they are looking as though they might be drying out, a teaspoon or two of water in the bottom of your container will provide some much needed moisture.

Conversely, if you have too many fresh herbs to use, you can dehydrate them in the microwave to use later. Remove any stems and place the herbs on a kitchen towel to absorb any moisture, then zap them in 30-second intervals on high heat until the leaves are crunchy.

In the recipe below, I have used the microwave to make a noodle bowl that is inspired by the Vietnamese dish, Bún Chay.

It is quite a summery dish, but the virtual holiday might do

us all some good. I stuck with rice vermicelli because it cooks in about two minutes, but you can substitute for any other noodle. Feel free to add any other vegetables and herbs. Mint would be a great addition but I was out of it.

Ingredients: A handful of rice vermicelli, or any other kind of noodle 1 large carrot/2 small carrots 1 stalk celery ½ tin braised tofu 4 tbsp water 2 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp minced garlic A handful of chopped peanuts Method: Submerge the noodles in boiling water and then cook in the microwave on high. Cook according to the instructions on the packet. Remove and cover to preserve heat.

Chop the carrots and celery into small matchsticks and then steam them until crunchy but cooked all the way though. In my microwave, this took a minute and a half.

Combine the water, sugar and lemon juice until the sugar dissolves. If the sugar is not dissolving, heat briefly in the microwave. Then add the minced

garlic and set aside.

Chop the braised tofu into smaller pieces and then arrange it with the carrots and celery on a bed of noodles. Drizzle with the sauce and then cover with peanuts.

At the moment with current restrictions in place, popping to the shop for a quick pick-me-up is more and more of a gamble.

However, the craving for a chocolate bar can be satisfied by one of these quick chocolate mugcakes. I like to add cinnamon for a little fun pizazz but it’s not necessary. This is an adaption of a Bigger Bolder Baking recipe.

The website has many more mug recipes, both savoury and sweet.

Ingredients: 4 tbsp sugar, ideally brown but white works too 4 tbsp cocoa powder 4 tbsp plain flour ½ tsp cinnamon 1 pinch salt 1 pinch baking powder 4 tbsp milk (non-dairy works too) 4 tbsp oil Method: Mix all the dry ingredients together in a mug, and then mix in the wet ingredients. Microwave for 1 minute on high.

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Catching flights and switching societies Ciara Cassidy looks at whether incoming Erasmus students are more likely to join our societies than Trinity students abroad

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or some, studying abroad as an exchange student can be an amazing experience.

For others, the idea of working and socialising in a foreign country can be incredibly nerve-wracking. In either case, any student that studies abroad will most likely find themselves in a position where they have to integrate themselves in a new environment and make new friends. It can seem like the first day of college all over again.

Finding a sense of belonging and familiarity through college societies can help students settle amongst like-minded people in what can seem like a new world.

So, what is this experience like for exchange students studying at or away from Trinity? Do societies actually play a large role in the social experience of exchange students? And why does it seem that Trinity students are less likely to join societies when they are abroad than at home?

Trinity offers a vast amount of diverse and inclusive societies.

Most students have probably heard this statement quite often, but does it appear true when compared to other universities across the globe? From the interviews I was able to conduct over this month, I believe that the answer is yes. Speaking to various different exchange students, one thing they all mentioned was how our university offers such a wide range of societies dedicated to many different cultural aspects.

It seems to be one of the charms of Trinity. Albane Le Cabec is an Erasmus student from France. When asked if Trinity is a particularly good university in terms of society involvement, she said: “Yes, because I compare it with French universities in which student life is really poor”.

Similarly, TCD Korean Soc member Coline Pavia, a language assistant at TCD from France, also agrees that a key strength of Trinity’s student life is its societies.

“I had never encountered any university with a society specifically dedicated to Korea

and that proves how interesting societies are here”.

Undeniably, the diversity of Trinity’s societies make it more likely that exchange students will join them. With over 120 registered groups, the wider range of choices for students here means that they are more likely to find a society that will resonate with them and their interests, despite coming from a very different background. For instance, Pavia joined the Trinity Korean Society due to her “[...] recently developed interest in K-pop, K-dramas and, globally, all Korean culture (my knowledge of which KSoc helped me improve)”. Le Cabec joined three societies at the beginning of this academic year in September - DUGES, People Before Profit and the Hiking Society. She says that she decided to take an active role in them because “all of them interest me anyway. But the fear of not being able to meet anyone also participates in my decision to join many societies”.

It appears that the reasons for joining a society given above by Pavia and Le Cabec mirror my personal motivations for joining about 50 different groups when I was a young and timid fresher. I had many interests to explore and I wanted to make friends. From these interviews it seems that the social experience of an exchange student is relatively similar to the rest of the student body. In spite of the difficulties forming bonds over Zoom, Pavia states: “I think being a foreign student does not change much. The KSoc members are all very welcoming and friendly! [...] even when I was struggling with some English or communication problems (as a non-native), they always helped me with kindness and gave me much support!”.

However, when speaking to Trinity students that have left Ireland for an exchange programme, there does not seem to be the same enthusiasm to join a society. Peter Walsh, a Junior Sophister currently in Paris displayed great enthusiasm for societies during his time in Ireland. After joining the Surf Club, Snow Sports, the Phil, the Hist, Pol Soc and TAF, Walsh finds that being part of a Trinity society “transforms” college life.

“I’ve found it facilitates the most amazing relationships not just with your interests but with all those who partake with you. I am currently sitting in a lovely house in the South of France due to friends made through the Surf Club, my favourite society and most welcoming family I’ve found in college life”. But Walsh found that he was unable to join any societies when he began studying in Paris last September.

Whilst the lack of participation in societies this year when abroad can definitely be a consequence of Covid-19, the fact that students coming to Ireland were more inclined to attempt to join a society than those who went abroad highlights the accessibility of Trinity’s societies. Walsh states: “unfortunately due to COVID-19 there were no opportunities to join any” at his university in Paris.

In contrast, Pavia and Le Cabec were able to browse through the long list of societies at this year’s virtual Freshers’ Fair. That being said, Callum Perry-Knox, a fourth year student at Trinity who did his year abroad in the USA last year, describes how he was unable to join a society: “I only joined in the second semester so I didn’t really know of too many or even how to join them if I wanted to, because there wasn’t an orientation week or Freshers’ Week or whatever it’s called there after Xmas”.

Indeed, Pavia agrees that the key thing when it comes to students joining a society is the Freshers’ Fair. Perhaps this disproportion could be a more general trend that happens outside of these exceptional times, if some universities do not have the same accommodating society weeks.

It must be said that this article did not conduct a comprehensive study on whether or not all Erasmus students currently at Trinity or studying away from Trinity do/do not join societies.

Yet, from the few interviews I conducted I did find that Trinity students are less likely to join societies when they go abroad than they are when they are at home.

Why is this? Perhaps when studying abroad, you are so focused on academics and enjoying the culture of a new country that you neglect the opportunities that the university can provide you? Or maybe it is due to insecurity? The pandemic?

Or maybe, it’s just that Trinity societies provide something exceptional. Students tend to say that there is pretty much enough choice for everyone out there. Therefore, it can be hard to resist signing up for three or four societies at the Freshers’ Fair each term - be that online or in person.

That being said, the exchange students that came to Trinity who did join societies say that it has definitely enriched their experience at the college. To use Pavia’s words: “I think societies are one of the major, if not the most important, means for an Erasmus student to develop friendships and feel like they belong in their university”.

Easing back into the old normal?

Saibh Downes outlines the hopes and expectations that will come with any return to normality

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vernight, our society plummeted into total isolation. Our country came to a standstill in March 2020 and has yet to recover.

Everything we once knew to be normal no longer is. Normality has been redefined. We are united in our separation. Staying apart has become the ultimate act of coming together, solidarity by means of solitude. We are all going through the same thing, but unfortunately, that doesn’t make it any easier. Our lives are ruled by restriction. Most of us relive a minutely altered version of the same 24 hours, day after day. Yet, in spite of all the difficulties, for some people, there has come to be a kind of comfort in the ways in which our lives have been changed, and the adaptations we have made and become accustomed to.

The four walls of our home shelters us from the realities of a life once lived. We are no longer forced to face life head-on, going out every day and confronting the world as an active participant in society.

Over time, isolation can foster disinterest as a coping mechanism. One may choose to be blissfully ignorant, avoiding the continuous cycles of Covid-19 updates incessantly broadcast by newscast platforms. We are constantly reminded of the sickness and death which has become a cruel reality for so many people. It’s overwhelming. You can understand why someone may feel the need to drown it all out. On the contrary, one may become obsessed with the pandemic’s ever-changing developments which are reported, analysed and dissected in the greatest detail every single day without fail - on television, radio and social media. This behaviour is something I have been guilty of, crossing the line from an innocent effort to stay informed, to an unhealthy obsession. But I do not blame myself. In hindsight, this was an attempt to distract myself from my own lockdown anxieties, a way to deal with what was happening in my own life. There is no right or wrong reaction to what we are going through. We are all just trying to cope, trying to survive this period of darkness as best we can.

Lockdown can be convenient.

We don’t go to school, university or work, they come to us. Our professional environment is projected instantaneously through the screen of a laptop. There is no 8am rush hour, rather, a mosey from one room to another, often dressed in one part shirt and one part pyjama bottom. The daily commute has become a thing of the past. For many, the commute to and from work was a necessary, but uncomfortable, feature of every working day. The prospect of once again forcing yourself onto an overcrowded Luas at 8am, or searching in vain for a seat on the upper deck of a Dublin bus, is not one that inspires a great deal of joy.

The pandemic has put an end to the social lives of many people. Countless students found themselves cocooned at home with their parents and siblings for the first lockdown period. The easing of the restrictions during the summer months offered more opportunities for gathering with friends, though some may still have been apprehensive and limited social encounters as much as possible. For those who decided not to return to Dublin for the academic year, it is very possible that they may not have seen close friends or classmates for almost a year. There may be a fear that once the vaccines have been administered and confidence has been restored, that things may go from 0 to 100 on the social front. Though some may long for the spontaneity and revelry that comes with an unbridled social life, for others, the lack of house parties and nightclub outings and nights in overcrowded and bustling pubs may be viewed as a blessing.

Ultimately, none of us can predict with full certainty when normality will resume. There is also the awareness that really we won’t be returning to normality, but rather adjusting to yet another dreaded “new normal”. For one, masks are probably here to stay, and the days of sharing water bottles at your football training may be condemned to the past.

We all hope for an emergence from the difficulties we have endured over the past year, and hope for positive changes to occur as quickly as possible. Yet, at the same time, there may be a lingering strange nostalgia for this strange limbo period in our lives, when we were united together as one, and life slowed down and became a little bit quieter, and a little bit simpler. If it takes you a little while to adjust and ease yourself back into the bustle of a post-pandemic life, rest assured, that there is no shame in that.

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“Appeeling” potato recipes anyone can make Easy recipes from Grace Gageby to spice up the famous student staple

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iven their affordability and versatility, it comes as no surprise that potatoes are a staple in many students’ cooking repertoire. The downside is, of course, that if left too long they begin to sprout, resembling alien-like entities rather than ingredients. If you have a sack of potatoes in your kitchen and are sick of plain baked potatoes, here are a few ways you can spice them up.

Preserved lemon and herb roast potatoes Save yourself the time of par-boiling by using baby potatoes and quartering them. Roast them in an oven preheated to 180 with a light coating of oil, and plenty of salt and pepper. In a bowl, combine a teaspoon each of paprika, cumin, and coriander with a bunch of finely chopped fresh herbs. I use parsley and mint, but you could also try coriander or basil. Add in two chopped garlic cloves, some fresh lemon juice, and enough olive oil to make a loose dressing. If you have it, add a quarter of a finely minced preserved lemon. After 45-50 minutes, the potatoes should be crispy. Remove them from the oven, pour over the dressing and mix thoroughly. Serve immediately.

Gratin This is an extremely easy dish to make, and is a great accompaniment to meat or fish. Finely slice five or six potatoes such as roosters (you don’t need to peel them).

Layer them in a shallow oven dish. After each layer, sprinkle over some sliced garlic, a few bits of thyme or parsley, a few small pats of butter, and a few teaspoons each of stock and milk. Repeat until the dish is full. Grate over a little parmesan or cheddar, and bake at 180 until bubbling (35-40 minutes). Sprinkle with some chopped parsley, freshly ground black pepper, and serve.

Mashed potatoes Mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food, if a little boring. In order to make them a bit more interesting, you can flavour them with garlic and herbs. Boil and mash your potatoes as usual.

In a saucepan, bring a cup of milk (or cream for extra richness) to a simmer with a bay leaf, a sprig

of thyme or rosemary, and two cloves of crushed garlic. Take it off the heat and allow it to infuse for up to an hour. Add it to your mashed potatoes with a tablespoon of butter, and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Roast potatoes with peppers and sausage This is a really easy one-tray dinner if you aren’t keen on lots of washing up. If you use baby potatoes, you won’t need to parboil them which will save you some time. Quarter the potatoes, and put them in a roasting tray with some sliced red and yellow peppers and onions, a few smashed garlic cloves, and some salt and pepper. If you have it, adding some sliced chorizo or sausage is a delicious way to include some protein. Sprinkle over some paprika and cumin for flavour, and roast until the potatoes are crisp and the onions are caramelized. This should take about 45-50 minutes.

These recipes are all extremely easy to make, and precise measurements aren’t really necessary - you can generally eyeball the amount of herbs, spices and seasoning needed. All the above dishes are great accompaniments to meat, fish or vegetable stews, or on their own if you’re looking for something quick and easy.

Although simply throwing a few potatoes in the oven to bake before eating with butter may be tempting, these are a few ideas that don’t take much more effort, yet have significantly more exciting results.

Mistake Frankenstein monster, but don’t mi his writer for just a wi Marking International Women’s Day, Ellen Kenny reflects on Mary Shelley’s work, life and contributions to literature

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arch 8 marked International Women’s Day, and I believe we can all look around in appreciation at the plethora of inspirational women of the 21st century; Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg are among my personal favourites. Thinking about the iconic women of the present has made me consider the women of the past. Women have been denied opportunities and rights for years, and while it’s important to recognise the barriers they did - and do - face, it’s worth celebrating achievements that were secured in spite of those challenges. For those who might manage to wriggle through a few cracks in the glass ceiling, we can’t let them slip down again without receiving the recognition they deserve.

As someone who loves to write, or at least someone who loves to talk about writing, I find myself drawn to historical female figures in fields like literature; our history books and syllabi are laden with old men who were considered visionaries, while also believing that “blue and pink brains” were scientific fact. The novels I grew up reading, brilliant ones like Of Mice and Men and The Catcher in the Rye, are certainly not the bastion of female representation.

We as young women should look back on our place in the scholarly world, to remind ourselves that we have always belonged here.

I want to focus specifically on the woman that inspired me to write this, a woman who was remarkably both revered and overlooked, living and dead in the arts today: Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein. When I first learned that a woman wrote the benchmark for horror and science fiction, I was even more surprised than discovering that the Frankenstein character was

actually the scientist and not the monster.

Of course, for those who know Shelley’s background, her talent with a pen comes as no surprise.

Her inner circle was a “who’s who” of 18th century culture. Her mother was Mary Wollstonecraft, popularly known as one of the first feminist philosophers, who had an illustrious literary career and was even branded a “prostitute” for her Vindication of the Rights of Women. Despite Wollstonecraft dying shortly after her daughter’s birth, her progressive views on women’s right to education is largely credited by scholars for Mary Shelley’s later talents.

So too was Shelley’s husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, recognised as one of the metaphorical creators of Mary Shelley. As one of the finest poets of the Romantic era, many historians find it difficult not to attribute Mary Shelley’s successes to the successes of her husband, especially considering the melodramatic, story-like nature of their relationship. You think you’re quirky? Come back to me when you elope with your secret boyfriend to Europe and there’s rumours of you having sex for the first time on your mother’s grave. When it came to Percy, Mary had a few skeletons in her closet- or rather, hearts in her desk. Following her husband’s death at the age of 29, Shelley did what any good wife would do; she wrapped his heart in a silk shroud and kept it in her desk, possibly even carrying it with her for some years. It was only found in 1853 a year after Shelley’s death, wrapped in the last love poem Percy Shelley wrote. Don’t deny you’re already half in-love with Mary Shelley.

Shelley was fascinated by the growing scientific advancements of her time, including the concept of bodily reanimation and the implications of such an invention. She drew from her own tragedy of losing her first child and meditated on life, death and loneliness, to write a novel that was one-part revolutionary Gothic horror, one-part haunting philosophical musing.

However, it took years for her recognition as a genius.

Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, was published anonymously in 1818 since women were still a new, exotic concept at the time. Even when her name was added to the book in 1823, her authorship was

doubted and many believed her husband wrote the novel, despite the fact that Percy’s contributions amounted to less than the average editor contributes today. Just like we now mistake Frankenstein for the monster and not the scientist, many often misconstrue Shelley as simply, the wife and not the writer.

Despite a relatively successful career in life, Shelley has been posthumously treated as an offshoot of those around her. Up until the late 20th century, she was less considered a talented author, and more predominantly Percy Shelley’s wife. Many scholars and historians ignore the literary pioneer and fantastic woman

ARTWOR

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 9 March

n for the istake ife Shelley was in her own right.

The lack of recognition Shelley received is still seen in society today; the gender pay-gap, and the catch-up game that women must play just to get a foot in the door.

There are so many women like her in every academic field you can imagine. Mary Shelley connected with me, but there’s a plethora of feminist icons who deserve a seat at your table. As the leaders of tomorrow, it’s important for young students to look to our past to ensure our future is bright. The body of women’s contribution to arts and culture must be remembered and kept alive in the public imagination before it can be revived.

RK BY ELLA SLOANE FOR TRINITY NEWS

ARTWORK BY JACK SMYTH FOR TRINITY NEWS

Missing from film: Have you seen this woman?

Romcoms’ day in the sun is long over, argues Lila Funge

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issing from film: have you seen this woman? She’s average height and weight, has a multitude of interests, emotions that run deep, and a life that doesn’t revolve around love interests. This is the real modern woman, so why has she not been depicted in film? The answer is simple: it doesn’t sell. It is no secret that the entertainment industry feeds on unrealistic and, oftentimes, sexist caricatures of women, particularly the 20-something single, heterosexual woman who lives in her sweatpants and drinks wine while multiple suitors come banging at her door. Yes, Bridget Jones, I’m looking at you. This form of media is oftentimes entertaining and relatable, but it seems to be causing more harm than good.

While shows like Fleabag have been praised for their innovation and authenticity just like Bridget Jones, Fleabag is, at its roots, the same trope. Instead of being a sad, single, and sexuallyfrustrated woman, Fleabag is an independent and single “slut”. And though Fleabag is a commentary on this cliché, with the main character attempting to be onenote to cover up her true depth, the single-slut view of women ultimately prevails.

These tropes, however damaging, are undeniably entertaining. They sell, and they sell a lot. Winning 57 awards since its release in 2016, Fleabag is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. Just like Bridget, Fleabag is relatable to many women. My friends would even watch episodes and say that the protagonist reminded them of me — whether that’s a compliment or not is for you to decide. But why do we relate so intensely to these seemingly one-note characters? Put simply, we have been trained from a young age to find characters we relate to in the media. We are taught that doing so will enhance the entire experience. This means that when a single woman watches another single woman on screen, they already have a connection. This is nowhere near enough to pique the interest of viewers, though.

Characters must have depth that is revealed slowly throughout the film, keeping everyone watching on the edge of their seat. This is exactly what is missing in the romance genre — these characters are nothing more than the figures that surround them.

Despite many women feeling tied to these characters in one way or another, they are nothing more than a façade; a one-page manuscript missing the hundreds of pages that make up a real woman. Little space has been created in the rom-com and romdram genres for multi-faceted women, and it shows.

Another glaring issue must be addressed on the topic of modern

women on screen. Where is the diversity? Women in these films are constantly seen prancing around their New York studio apartments, out for brunch at chic new restaurants, and embarrassing themselves on blind dates. Yet, in all of these scenes, a sea of white faces stares back at viewers. The white male machine of Hollywood chooses time and time again to roll out the same blondes and brunettes instead of showcasing more realistic images of female-presenting persons. This is also the case for LGBTQ+ romance films, which often depict exclusively Caucasian relationships torn apart by familial disapproval. Not only is the plot incredibly predictable, but I’d also allege that more than a few movies immediately come to mind when reading that description. The funniest part of all of this is that production companies would potentially make much more money if they simply made films more diverse. It has been proven, potentially most notably by the release of Black Panther, that there is a high demand for diversity in the film industry, and that most everyone benefits from cinematic inclusivity. The long and short of it is that viewers love to see themselves on screen — it’s part of what makes cinema so magical.

Yet, there is some hope. With shows like I May Destroy You and the recent film, I’m Your Woman, female characters are depicted as more complex and more than just accessories to the men in their lives. Although both of these examples have plots

kick-started by men, they are not the primary focus. These women go on emotional journeys that completely enrich the viewing experience. Having repeatedly seen how the trope of the mob boss’s wife plays out on screen, I felt empowered watching I’m Your Woman, a film that follows a woman’s journey of independence as she learns to fend for herself.

Although she has a son, the focus is not just on her as a mother, but her as an adult, single woman facing up to the dark world she lives in. She isn’t just tough and independent, she also has her breakdowns and moments of fear. This is similar to I May Destroy You. The plots may be different, but the idea remains the same. These women have to be introspective, learn to adapt and become strong in the face of violence. Although these are not rom-coms, screenwriters can easily look to these as examples of what women in film can be.

Keeping women inside the box of single or taken does nothing to change the way audiences see womanhood, and sadly, does more for solidifying the idea of things as fitting into a binary. In fact, it diminishes what women believe they can do, or are meant to do, within society. When a young girl sees a film in which women are portrayed as strong, independent, mature, emotional, and funny, they realise that is who they can be as well. Rom-coms must break women out of this box and share with the world the power female characters can bring to the screen.

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Tuesday 9 March | TRINITY NEWS

Growing c The community garden project in Trinity Hall is underway, with students already reaping the rewards writes Olivia Bayne

Making: Bao Buns Allegra Della Ragione’s tips and tricks to master the fluffy Taiwanese hamburger

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y experience with bao has been a short but passionate affair.

I was initiated into this delicious world quite recently. Previously, I had never given it much thought, or perhaps I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it. I first came across bao when, not expecting much, I nonchalantly ordered it from Bone Daddies in England on Deliveroo, merely as a side to my ramen. It completely changed the takeaway and restaurant game for me - I was hooked. When I returned to Dublin for the semester, I was determined to find restaurants that would match that pillowy deliciousness. My boyfriend and I made our way to Bao House on Aungier Street, but, unable to sit indoors, we had to grab our bao and quickly decide where to eat it.

It was pouring rain and, left with little choice, we ended up on the stairs of the St Stephen’s Green shopping centre, cheeks bulging and sauce dripping down our chins with people staring as they tried to squeeze past. It was that good.

The original bao consists of an enclosed steamed bun that emerged in Chinese culture in the third century. However, the bao I’m talking about is a development from this and is actually Taiwanese. Instead of being an enclosed bun, the Gua Bao is oval-shaped and surrounds the fillings in the same way a

burger bun would. Traditionally a form of street food, bao can be adapted to any culinary event.

They can be eaten as snacks, as starters for a meal or even as a main. The traditional filling for this Taiwanese bun is generally a variation on braised pork belly, coriander, pickled greens of some kind, and crushed peanuts. There are many recipes on the internet for authentic meaty fillings.

However, being a vegetarian, I will be talking about alternative fillings.

Over the Christmas period, my family and I found ourselves with little to do. With lockdown measures becoming increasingly restrictive, boredom was imminent and inevitable. We decided to host a family Come Dine With Me. I instantly knew that bao would be a showstopping main for this dinner party; it is not overly fancy or pretentious, but still delicious. I was surprised at how easy it is to make, too.

Ten Bao Buns Ingredients: Buns: -375 grams of plain flour -1 tsp of dry yeast -2 tbsp caster sugar -1/2 tsp salt -1 tsp of baking powder -225 ml of warm water -vegetable oil (for brushing) To make ten bao buns, mix the dry ingredients (plain flour, dry yeast, caster sugar, salt, baking powder) in a bowl and then incorporate the water. Knead until the dough is smooth but sticky – about five minutes. Then let the dough rest for about an hour and a half in an oiled bowl and cover with a tea towel. When the resting time has passed, knead the dough briefly for a few seconds, before separating it into ten evenly sized balls. Using your hands, or gently with a rolling pin, flatten the dough balls into 1cm thick oval-

shaped discs. Brush the exposed side with the oil (preferably some kind of vegetable oil, as olive oil is too strong) and fold the disc over a chopstick so that the two sides perfectly overlap. Place each bun on a sheet of baking parchment, and leave to rest for another half hour. You may need to cut the baking parchment so that it later fits the size of your steamer During the first hour and a half of the dough resting, you could make the fillings. I went with deep-fried aubergine, saucy mushrooms, and pickled cucumbers.

Deep-fried Aubergine: Fillings: -2 aubergines -Salt -1 cucumber -100ml rice-wine vinegar -2 tbsp water -Coconut oil (for frying) To start, chop the aubergines into 2cm discs, and then into triangles and cover them in salt in a colander so that you get rid of the bitter water. Then halve and deseed the cucumber and slice it finely. To a pan, add the rice-wine vinegar and the water until it simmers. Then pour it over the cucumber slices in a bowl and leave to pickle. After about an hour of leaving the aubergines, rinse them and fry them in the coconut oil. Alternatively, you could coat them in breadcrumbs to have a more intense fried flavour and added texture, or you could fry them as they are, like I did. Once fried, set the aubergines aside.

Saucy Mushrooms: Fillings: -6 tbsp soy sauce -4 tbsp peanut butter (adjust to taste) -8 tsp rice-wine vinegar -4 crushed garlic cloves -4 tsp sesame oil in a bowl.

-600g of mushrooms

S -Vegetable oil (for frying) To make the glaze for the mushrooms, whisk together the soy sauce, peanut butter, rice-wine vinegar, crushed garlic cloves and the sesame oil in a bowl. I actually found that the taste of peanut butter was a bit too pronounced so this would be something to adjust to taste. Roughly chop the mushrooms into thin slices – you can use any mushrooms, but I used a combination of shitake and oyster mushrooms for more variety and tastiness. Then heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the mushrooms on high heat, until they have softened and browned.

Stir in the glaze and leave to cook on medium heat for about five minutes.

Homemade Sriracha Mayonnaise -Ingredients: -2 eggs -250 ml rapeseed oil -Salt & pepper (to season) -Splash of white wine vinegar -Bit of sriracha I then finished off my bao fillings with homemade sriracha mayonnaise (a completely optional but yummy addition), by mixing the eggs, oil, salt, pepper and vinegar and added sriracha at the end for some heat. You could obviously do this with shopbought mayonnaise, but making it from scratch has a more liquid consistency and is more satisfying, not to mention more impressive for a dinner party.

The final stage of the baomaking process is easy; just steam the buns for about eight minutes (bamboo steamers are perfect and they are readily available and inexpensive). After this, all that is left is assembling the bun, the base here will consist of the fried aubergines and mushrooms which provide an incredible umami flavour, topped with the pickled cucumbers for some acidity and balanced out by the sriracha mayonnaise for some creaminess and spice, and finally some crushed peanuts for a crunchy texture. You know you’ve done it right if the contents of the bun are dribbling down your chin.

pring is officially sprung (albeit under the guise of some slightly more unusual weather).

Hopefully, amidst the dewy grass and sprouting shoots, we each had some sort of unique encounter during Green Week that reminded us of the profound pleasure we find in our interactions with nature and its creatures. At some point you may have found yourself compelled to empathise with a bumblebee or a dogwood, or maybe it was a pigeon or a disgruntled flatmate.

No matter; all are among nature’s finest.

Last year, in response to the national biodiversity crisis, thousands of students, staff, and members of the public voted in favour of returning several of

Na Gael

Iomarcaíochtaí, caillteanais ioncaim agus dícheangal — staid na nGaeltachtaí faoi láthair Gráinne NicCathmhaoil

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uair a smaoiním ar an nGaeltacht, smaoiním ar an turas fada a dhéanaim chun í a shroicheadh — an bus go Baile Átha Cliath, an traen go Cathair Ghaillimhe, agus ansin an turas sin sa bhus atá chomh lúbach agus samhnasach, gan deireadh leis na gleannta agus cúinní. Ach sroicheann tú an ceantar agus is fiú gach rud — an Ghaeilge, an suaimhneas, na tránna, na radhairc shléibhtiúla.

Ach an bhliain seo, le cailleadh thionscal na turasóireachta agus na cúrsaí samhraidh, conas atá na ceantair Ghaeltachta ag deaileáil? Labhair mé le Marc agus Katie, mic léinn ó Ghaeltachtaí, faoi sprid na Gaeltachta faoi láthair agus conas atá na pobail ag deaileáil leis na caillteanais

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 9 March

community amid the flora and fauna College Green’s manicured lawns to a more natural, agrestal state.

Now, flourishing wildflower meadows can be found dotted across campus, offering safeguard to plants and insects who otherwise struggle to survive in more urbanised areas of Dublin (the infamous housing crisis is perhaps not restricted to the human race). But this year we are welcoming a new and exciting addition to this blooming flora (and hopefully fauna). In Trinity Hall, students and staff have come together to raise a residents’ organic garden in the hopes of fostering the growth of a supportive community network,

engaging in a deeper relationship with the natural environment, and promoting healthy eating habits, while reducing the carbon footprint of the food system.

Gaining sponsorship for their equipment from the Provost Sustainability Fund, Assistant Warden, Dr Bevin McGeever, has been at the forefront of this project since last spring. With the support of the Warden of Trinity Hall, Dr Roja Faezeli, a plot has been established just outside the botanic gardens at Cunningham House. I spoke with Dr Bevin McGeever and JCR Secretary and coordinator of the Halls Environmental Committee,

Samantha Foley, to ask them how the project is going and what individual students can do to get involved or offer support.

While at the moment the garden is still quite “overgrown and wild”, the Environmental Committee are currently in the planning stages of organising plot layout, time slots, and planting maps, hoping to find room for growing herbs, flowers, spring vegetables, and even a wildlife corner. A growing concern regarding food miles and pesticide use in store-bought produce is what sparked this initiative, noted Dr McGeever, who advocates for investing in organic alternatives

and encouraging sustainable consumer attitudes. Though progress is still underway, the JCR Garden was launched at the Green Week event “Grow a Garden Thursday”, and is finally ready to gain some attention from the student body. “We are looking for more students to get involved as we would love to see the garden reach beyond the Environmental Committee - the more the merrier!” says Foley. Any Halls residents that would like to get involved can email jcrsecretary@ gmail.com.

Alas, due to current Covid-19 restrictions, all provisional planning must be done virtually.

However, the Committee plans to organise in-person time slots for individuals to safely help with the garden or look after their own plants. A tremendous part of any community garden is the “community”, a fundamental aspect of this project being the social environment it cultivates.

As such, the Committee is eager to support those who want to get involved and help students work around their own time constraints and commitments. “[Working on the garden] encourages students to go outside to get some fresh air, to take a break and clear their minds,” says Foley, drawing attention to the importance of nature in maintaining both mental and physical health. All the student body will be only too familiar with the immense social pressures of being a first year, and the difficulties in adjusting to life away from home for all residents.

It is so important to provide residents with fun, accessible activities that require neither immense quantities of alcohol nor blaring techno to feel connected to their new environment.

As well as this, the garden is a great opportunity to learn lifelong skills, as it welcomes everyone, regardless of their experience.

Whether the extent of your knowledge is potted succulents or polytunnels, it takes all kinds.

As Dr McGeever says: “We’re all looking forward to digging in and doing a bit of learning as we go!”

PHOTO BY SABA MALIK FOR TRINITY NEWS

ltachtaí agus Covid-19 ioncaim.

Ar ndóigh, bhuail Covid-19 tionscal na turasóireachta in Éirinn, ach is cosúil le go bhfuil sé seo léirithe sa Ghaeltacht ach go háirithe. “Inseodh na hoibrithe ó na báid fharantóireachtaí dom go raibh uimhreacha an bháid tite beagnach nócha faoin gcéad,” a deir Marc liom. “Scaoileadh formhór na n-oibrithe chun bealaigh”. Deir Marc gur labhair na hoibrithe seo leis faoi “cé chomh uafásach is atá sé nach bhfuil na turasóirí thart, mar ‘thug siad séisíní iontacha dúinn’ agus chaith siad ‘timpeall míle euro ar na geansaithe Árann.’”

Go hiondúil, ní bhíonn na seirbhisí idirlín anmhaith sna ceantair seo. Go minic, téann daoine chuig an Ghaeltacht díreach mar thoradh air seo — chun éalú ó ghnáthghníomhaíochtaí an tsaoil.

Mar is eol le gach dalta a bhfuil taithí acu ar chúrsa samhraidh, ní sheolann do Snapchats chomh tapa agus ba mhaith leat. Mar gheall air seo, bhí mé fiosrach faoi mhic léinn agus conas a dhéileálann siad leis na seirbhísí easnamhacha seo. Insíonn Katie dom gur bheartaigh sí ar bhogadh go Cathair Chorcaí mar gheall ar an “easpa achmhainní digiteacha sa Ghaeltacht — ní féidir le mo Wi-Fi déileáil le

foghlaim ar líne.” Fiú nuair a thóg sí sos ón ghnáthshaol chun cuairt a thabhairt ar a ceantar i rith na srianta níos scaoilte, bhí moill curtha ar obair Katie de bharr na seirbhísí easnamhacha seo: “Nuair a thugaim cuairt ar mo theaghlach, tá orm m’obair adadúil a chur ar leataobh ar an ábhar seo, agus ansin tá orm teacht suas ar gach rud nuair a fhillim ar ais ar Chorcaigh.” Deir Katie go “[gcuireann] sé seo constaic roimh m’fhoghlaim go deimhin.”

Tá an scéal céanna ag Marc:

“

“Tá snáithín-leathanbhanda i ngach áit ach titeann an luas má tá beirt daoine ar Netflix ag aon am éigin.” Tá aithne aige ar chairde a bhóg amach ón gceantar mar nach raibh staidéar sa bhaile go leor chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh san ollscoil, mar “níl na háiseanna i nGaillimh tuaithe sásúil i gcomhair oibre agus staidéir ón mbaile.”

Curtha amach mar gheall ar achmhainní easnamhacha agus fórsáilte chun cíos a íoc — cé mhéad mac léinn agus oibrithe eile atá sa bhád céanna? Agus ar

an ábhar seo, más riachtanas é an t-idirlíon don chuid is mó sna laethanta seo, ar chóir go mbeadh infhaighteacht an idirlín mar cheart an duine sna laethanta seo?

Go pearsanta, is mór an chabhair dom an t-idirlíon agus mise faoi dhianghlasáil, agus ní cheapaim go bhfuilim i m’aonar leis sin. Is sólás éigin é a bheith in ann coinneáil suas leis na daoine is tábhachtaí i do shaol. Ar a laghad, don chuid is mó dúinn, bíonn an seans sin againn nasc a choiméad, chun an scoiteacht a bhrú uait. Le heaspa na hachmhainne seo, an ngéaraítear an scoiteacht? An ndéantar an t-uaigneas níos measa? Insíonn Marc dom go bhfuil “sprid an cheantair tite faoi láthair.” Tá a fhios ag muintir na nGaeltachtaí

go mbeidh “samhradh eile againn gan daltaí, atá ar ndóigh mar ioncam mór i gcomhair a lán teaghlach i mo cheantar.”

Le hobair agus foghlaim ó bhaile i bhfeidhm faoi láthair agus de réir cosúlachta, ar feadh tamaill le teacht, tarraingíonn sé líne faoi scoilteanna sa chóras. Tá daoine ag streachailt faoi láthair ar go leor bealaí. Leis an eolas seo, bíonn sé deacair go minic leanúint ar aghaidh lá i ndiaidh lae, ar an tiaráil laethúil, gan a lán dóchais don todhchaí. Ach beidh laethanta deasa, normálta againn arís. Beidh cúrsaí mar ba cheart arís — chomh ceart agus is féidir leo tar éis gach rud. Táimid tagtha chomh fada seo, feicfimid é go dtí an deireadh.

Tá snáithínleathanbhanda i ngach áit ach titeann an luas má tá beirt daoine ar Netflix ag aon am éigin PHOTO BY LAUREN BOLAND FOR TRINITY NEWS

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Puzzle page Crossword solution, February 9 Across Down 1. Meerkats 2. Rose 4. Cricket 3. Aphrodite 7. Katy Perry 5. Clontarf 8. Chardonnay6. Blink 182 10. Apple 9. Aisling 14. Kermit 11. Lockdown 16. Hoglet 12. North 18. Dustin America 19. Salazar 13. Fawlty 20. Harry Hill 15. Gentlemen 21. Dalton 17. Istanbul

Tuesday 9 March | TRINITY NEWS

Across 4. Of a map; connecting points of equal height (7) 6. Mozart’s seductive Spaniard (3,4) 7. Australian slang term for Brits (5) 9. Sharp rise in crypto value (2,3,4)

Down 1. Cupid’s Athenian Counterpart (4)

CROSSWORD BY DARRAGH CREAN FOR TRINITY NEWS

2. Black treacle (8) 3. Of climate; dry, parched (4) 5. Abyss; gorge (5) 8. Better ______ Community Centre (8)

11. “The French 9. Ethiopian Sherlock Holmes” conflict centre (6) (5) 10. Papal envoy 12. Thus far (6) unsuccessful attempt to share 13. Pointless, vaccines (5) ineffectual time wasting (4) 14. Chinese currency (4)

WORDSEARCH BY KATE HENSHAW FOR TRINITY NEWS

Hustings President Ents Vote Policy Poll Welfare Sabbatical Education Candidate Election Campaign

Trinity shouts and murmurs for every like this tweet gets i’ll write 100 words of my dissertation. please like this tweet I’ve only written 16 words today -@bumbogbeag The instant boost of serotonin in breaking out the sunglasses to go on a walk -@MackenShane lockdown brain rot is so bad that i currently am fantasising about having a BABY like a REAL ONE that i’d actually have to be RESPONSIBLE FOR call the fucking gards ive never even in my most hormonal state wanted this before -@mahertymcfly i’ve never met a person who is anti-lockdown that hasn’t gotten sucked into a pyramid scheme at some point -@yupfinglas vintage stores b like: vintage jumper with vibrant pattern as this item is pre loved some signs of wear and tear are expected such as a few holes, dead mouse in the pocket, smell of piss, this is reflected in the price anyway it’s 60 quid -@rectangulrhalos

PHOTOS BY SABA MALIK FOR TRINITY NEWS

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 9 March

Comment

Trinity cannot rely on greenwashing Sophie Finegan

page 18

Darragh Crean Staff Writer

We must move towards a radically new union

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he last referendum held by Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) saw only 652 students vote, a mere 4% of the student body. It can be argued, as many candidates running in the upcoming SU elections have done, that you cannot force people to take an interest in the Union and that there will always be a small number of people who are uninterested in engaging. But 4%; it was online; people didn’t even have to go anywhere.

Apathy has clearly come to dominate students’ attitudes towards the union, and political apathy of any form must be addressed. We need a plan to rescue the students’ union from its demise, to increase voter turnout beyond that of an authoritarian dictatorship, and prevent it from joining the Academic Registry in the long list of defunct Trinity

institutions.

Firstly, let’s discuss student activism. For any students who were in or around College in the months prior to the Repeal Referendum in 2018, they would remember a palpable sense of excitement in the air: voter drives, marches, information evenings, many of which were organised by the Students’ Union. That same year, the ‘Take Back Trinity’ movement emerged in opposition to a proposed policy to charge students for sitting supplemental exams. Granted, not set in motion by the SU, but when they came on board they were crucial in disseminating the message of the students inside the Dining Hall and generating support for their goals. Both of these moments fit into a long line of activism within College, a tradition which has secured significant improvements for students. Forget lectures, what

PHOTO BY DONYA BAGHAIE FOR TRINITY NEWS

use is a college if it doesn’t implant some element of revolutionary fervour inside the souls and brains of the students it supposedly educates. Against what you may ask?

Anything. Student nurses still not being paid? Skyrocketing rents?

The SU should engage seriously with such movements and their respective demands if they wish to gain credibility and relevance among students.

Secondly, town halls. Bureaucracy is killing us. Committees and elected representatives take the fun out of caring about things.

Let us return to a time when a man stood atop a wooden box could enthral and engage crowds for hours in hearty debate over the ills of the world. So, the second step in the Students’ Union’s path towards popular uptake should be the organisation of weekly, bi-weekly or monthly town halls, where any and all members of the

College should use this time to refurbish facilities Lara Monahan

page 19

college community can voice their concerns in a public forum. This will allow the union officials to actively engage with the students they supposedly represent, and will give students an opportunity to hold said representatives accountable.

The union must also look to new and innovative ways to engage with students, tactics that perhaps step outside the traditional remit of student politics but that have demonstrated their effectiveness in generating excitement and eliciting real change.

The #RIPOFFNUIG movement, launched by the NUIG’s students’ union has been an incredibly effective means of maintaining student engagement with the SU throughout this pandemic. When Simon Harris was due to speak at an Oireachtas hearing on student accomodation in October, the union was immediately able to mobilise its social media following and launch a nationwide Twitter storm demanding the minister address student concerns. The achievements of said storm were minimal, but for a few minutes it did genuinely feel as though students had a voice, and were able to take collective action which had the potential to affect change.

Whilst it may seem unimportant, irrelevant, and oftentimes void of any use, the true power of the Students’ Union should not be misconstrued. Rarely in our lives will we have access to a representative body with as much power to ameliorate our lives in real and meaningful ways as a students’ union. Representing fewer than 15,000 students and having direct links with countless government institutions and public bodies, a properly harnessed students’ union could be extremely effective in its pursuit of change, both in the day-to-day lives of students and on broader national issues.

The failure of TCDSU and students’ unions across the country, is having real, material consequences on our lives. Unlike students’ unions across Europe, Irish unions have proven completely incapable of opposing the simultaneous assault that has been launched on students by both government and colleges over the past decade. We now boast the highest undergraduate fees in Europe, student housing has become almost laughably expensive, and colleges have become completely impervious to student concerns, consistently opting to place financial motives at the centre of their philosophical and organisational outlook.

A glaring consequence of the withdrawal of students’ unions from the political landscape is the government’s complete and continued disregard for third-level

“

It is clear apathy has come to dominate students’ attitudes towards the union, and political apathy of any form must be addressed students throughout the entirety of this pandemic. Each time a new set of restrictions was announced, Twitter exploded as students bemoaned the latest bout of disregard displayed by the government towards their lives. Why would they care? The government’s attitude is testament to their understanding that students’ unions, and by extension students, pose no threat whatsoever, and a failure to reorientate the union will mean student concerns will continue to slip down the list of government priorities.

So, when you vote in this upcoming election, and please do, promise yourself that next year you will be more in tune to the comings and goings of your elected, and generously reimbursed, representatives. They are there to act as your representative to the college and to the government throughout your time as a student. There have always been, and will always be issues and concerns facing students that the Students’ Union is in a position to address.

As a recent email from the union, relating to the lack of protection for student renters noted: “This is urgent for students; we cannot wait any longer. Action must be taken as soon as possible.” And yes, they are correct. But receiving that email exactly one year after the first case of Covid-19 was identified in Ireland can’t but lead people to question the power, and purpose, of the union. If the SU wants to increase engagement, it must demonstrate that it can and is willing to take serious action to address the issues that truly affect students. Maybe then people will start to care.

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Tuesday 9 March | TRINITY NEWS

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Fionnán Uíbh Eachach Contributing Writer

We should embrace the prospect of Scottish independence

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romised a “devolution revolution” by Prime Minister David Cameron following the failed 2014 Scottish independence referendum, Scotland now finds itself at the whim of a Westminster government that has little interest in hearing its concerns. Much like Ireland a century before, the Scottish might have expected something in return for their show of loyalty to the United Kingdom. Instead, they have been dragged out of the European Union against their will, refused a voice in the subsequent negotiations and repeatedly denied the right to hold a second independence referendum, despite 20 polls in a row showing majority support for it. Many of us in Ireland naturally sympathise with our neighbours and we must now consider how Scottish independence might affect our own country.

It is no secret that the history of Ireland has long been intertwined with that of our north-eastern neighbour.

Whether it be our common Gaelic heritage, centuries of long mutual migration or common membership, first of the United Kingdom and then of the EU, our two countries have rarely been apart. This closeness poses both opportunity and danger for the Republic however, as events in Scotland will have a particularly deep impact on the fate of Northern Ireland (NI), where reunification now enjoys broadly equal support to remaining in the UK.

It is of the utmost importance for peace on the island of Ireland that any future referendum on Scottish independence is conducted in a clear and legal manner, as if carried out well, it might very well set the framework down for a border poll in Northern Ireland. It is therefore incredibly disappointing to see that Prime Minister Boris Johnson outright refuses to countenance another referendum. His refusal to do so despite clear popular support for independence in Scotland pushes the country in a dangerous direction, as Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party (SNP) will likely seek to unilaterally hold a referendum following the 2021 Scottish parliamentary elections in which the SNP is likely to receive a majority. One need look no further than the chaos that followed the unauthorised 2017 Catalonian independence referendum to see where this could lead. With peace in Northern Ireland already hanging by a thread because of unionist opposition to the NI Protocol, such instability in Scotland could spill over and result in a return to violence in the north-east of our country.

The danger that instability in Scotland could reignite the sparks of civil strife in the North is only one possibility however, and it could be avoided completely if Boris Johnson consents to an authorised referendum. A well-run, authorised referendum campaign could set the tone for a border poll in Northern Ireland

“

It is incredibly disappointing to see that prime minister Boris Johnson outright refuses to countenance another referendum and one would expect Irish nationalists and unionists alike to pay close attention.

While a referendum campaign alone would therefore clearly affect Ireland, a vote for Scottish independence would almost certainly make reunification inevitable. Right now, many unionists are dismayed at the introduction of the NI protocol.

Antipathy towards Northern Ireland’s place in the UK has long been the norm in England; it is difficult to imagine any English government, weakened by the loss

of Scotland, willing to continue to subsidise the costly region.

Unionists are nonetheless of course likely to remain suspicious of the prospect of reunification and while demographic trends favour the nationalist vote, we must still attempt to persuade members of both communities of unity’s merits. There is a clear role here for third-level educational institutions such as Trinity, as the cultural and political diversity of universities in both jurisdictions makes them perfect grounds for inter-community discussion and debate.

However, Scottish independence would not only affect us in Ireland through its impact on Northern Ireland. An independent Scotland would almost certainly apply for membership of the European Union and could become an important Irish ally in the EU. Were Scotland to be accepted into the EU, its position as a highly educated, English-speaking nation within the world’s largest single market and customs union would be similar to that of Ireland, and Scots might very well attempt to imitate the Irish economic model driven by foreign direct investment (FDI). In such a situation, Scotland could become a key ally for Ireland in opposing issues such as the EU tax harmonisation favoured

by France’s Emmanuel Macron and join with Ireland on fishing and agricultural debates. Having Scotland as a fellow EU memberstate might also go some way towards easing unionist fears by ensuring free movement of people, goods and services between our two countries and its smooth accession to the EU is therefore imperative. Once again we return here to the importance of an authorised referendum, as the only obstacle to Scottish membership would likely be fears in Spain that accepting an unauthorised referendum would embolden Catalan separatists.

As is now clear, a vote for Scottish independence would indisputably alter the nature of Irish politics forever. This may well seem daunting to some, given the possible dangers that lie in disturbing the constitutional situation of Northern Ireland, yet if we in Ireland fail to prepare for the effects Scotland’s exit from the UK would have we run the risk that events will overtake us.

Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster for both Ireland and Scotland, but it also provides us with an opportunity to build new relations with one another. The Irish government has already taken positive steps in preparing for reunification by ensuring that students in Northern Ireland retain access to the Erasmus+ programme and that the general NI population can access EU health insurance. We must now also begin to prepare for the possibility of an independent Scotland and recognise that in many ways, it could be our most important ally for decades to come.

Trinity canno

I

nstitutions such as Trinity are not exempt from greenwashing practices.

Greenwashing, defined as an organisation deceptively using green values to persuade the public that their actions and policies are environmentally friendly, is driven by the heightened demand for sustainable practices by consumers. Allegations of greenwashing have been on the up in recent years. Is Trinity also practising some aspects of greenwashing, and should it be doing more to alleviate the existential risk of climate change?

There is no denying that Trinity has made significant steps to reduce its environmental impact.

The Business School is perhaps the most obvious example of the College’s growing focus on sustainability, with its own wastereducing water management system, a solar-shading system to control heat in the building, and Dublin’s largest “living wall”, home to 96 bio-diversity-boosting plants.

Moreover, Trinity has an extremely active Green Campus Committee who have made significant gains in recent years. On-campus catering options have expanded to include a range of plant-based options, composting has been introduced in Trinity Hall, and 18 “green” projects have been funded by Trinity’s sustainability fund.

However, these sustainable successes must not be allowed to mask the issues that still exist within our university. There are a number of issues requiring further attention and Trinity, as a leading educational institution, has a responsibility to address them. A key area of unnecessary waste and consumption is Trinity’s laboratories, of which there are over one hundred. The average person in Ireland produces 61kg of plastic annually, whilst the average bench scientist typically produces over 1000 kg of plastic waste each year. Put simply, labs consume ten times more energy than an office or classroom of a similar size. This is frequently due to poor resource management and unsustainable habits.

The ongoing campaign to make one of Trinity’s labs a “green lab” will help College to reduce its energy usage and waste disposal exponentially.

Transitioning to sustainable labs will have an added benefit on operational costs in the long term, making this an economically and

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 9 March

Comment

Sophie Finegan

Lara Monahan

Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

ot rely on greenwashing College should utilise environmentally attractive option.

It is in everybody’s interest to place sustainability at the forefront of Trinity’s aims when operating research laboratories.

Whilst making one of our labs environmentally-friendly is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done to accelerate Trinity’s transition to green infrastructure.

Instead of having one “green lab”, our aim should be to make them all more sustainable, and fast. Indeed, Trinity should aim to reduce the environmental impact of all its buildings. Only then will College be able to fully benefit from the economic and environmental benefits of its reduced impact on our planet.

There is a distinct lack of compost bins on Trinity’s campus. This is a clear area for improvement. On-site composting bins would help Trinity to achieve zero-waste status.

Moreover, discussions with a member of Trinity’s waste disposal team revealed that campus recycling bins are regularly contaminated with other types of waste. In 2019, the percentage of Trinity’s waste that was recycled was 48%. However, 67% of waste in campus black landfill bins is recyclable. Contrary to this, it is not uncommon to see a disposable coffee cup thrown carelessly into a library recycling bin. Coffee cups are not recyclable, and students and staff need to be educated on matters such as these in order to prevent contamination.

This reveals a clear issue: visitors to Trinity’s campus, whether they be students, staff, or tourists, either aren’t paying enough attention to their waste disposal or don’t know how to dispose of it effectively.

There is one simple solution to this. Trinity, as an educational body, must make a greater effort to educate its population on sustainable practices and the climate crisis. If College wishes to have a positive impact on our planet, emphasis must be placed on integrating environmentalism into every aspect of the curriculum and College life. The only way Trinity will achieve its sustainability potential is by striving to change the everyday habits of its population through climate-focused education.

Developing a Climate Strategy There are currently a number of environmental goals which Trinity is in pursuit of. However, what our university really lacks is a well-

defined, ambitious climate strategy encompassing both practical matters and education. Therefore, the issue of Trinity’s climate strategy comes down to our next Provost. In order to achieve real change, we need a plan for the future of Trinity’s climate action.

It is the responsibility of the next Provost to make climate action central going forward.

One enormously important change for the new Provost to implement would be the introduction of Trinity’s own Sustainability Office, where fulltime staff would work to formulate and carry out Trinity’s climate strategy. Currently, most of the environmental progress on campus has been carried out by a scattering of students, societies and staff.

Nowhere near enough change is driven by the top level of Trinity personnel. If the new Provost were to introduce a sizable and wellfunded Sustainability Office, such as the University of Edinburgh’s 35-person Sustainability Office, climate action can become a whole university approach.

A petition circulating Trinity at the moment calls for just this, having been sent to students in advance of the next Provost election. This petition, and the election, provide us with a chance to make sustainability a lens through which all of the College’s activities are viewed. Trinity has certainly become a greener campus.

However, there is always more to be done, and institutions such as ours cannot allow sustainability efforts to plateau whilst relying on successes so far. Whilst our resource-saving Business School is certainly a great feat, there are many 400-year-old buildings on campus which require updating, as well as a range of issues to do with waste management and education that still demand attention.

Trinity must not rely on its successes to date in order to appear e nv i ron m e nt a l l y - c ons c i ou s .

Instead, a climate strategy must be put in place to achieve continuing improvements. This ultimately lies in the hands of the future Provost who, through both practical measures and education, must shape Trinity’s future response to the most serious threat to humanity today. Doing so will prevent Trinity from operating under a façade of environmentalism whilst failing to achieve sustainability goals.

this time to refurbish its outdated facilities

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e seem to endlessly hear the phrase “use this time” at the moment; it encapsulates the dramatic shift in the way we are working and living as a result of the pandemic, and the immense pressure to do more, insinuating that lockdown equals leisure, a statement we all know to be untrue. However, while our collective change in lifestyle has been isolating, and has negatively affected mental health, it has also allowed many to be more productive. While it may seem bizarre to increase the pressure for renovations at Trinity during a national lockdown, in many ways it is the perfect setting in which to enhance college facilities. The college community, and its tourists, would benefit massively from a return to a newly refurbished and newly busy campus next year.

Arguments for refurbishing facilities are strong: there are fewer people onsite that can be disturbed at the moment, and refurbishment would act as good preparation for the inevitable influx of tourists post-lockdown.

There is also a prevailing sense among students that we are owed a better learning environment next year. For example, international students paying extortionate fees are unable to benefit from being on campus as usual. This is just one of the groups feeling slighted, and thus hoping at least for an investment in the facilities they can use in future, if not now. Many students have not even been able to experience being a Trinity student on campus yet, and others are spending their last term at college shut away in their rooms. Having the threat of disease on our doorstep also reminds us that we must savour the life experiences we do have. This only highlights the frustration of students having to defer using facilities like the library which mark the college experience, due to limited spaces and personal anxieties about Covid-19. The “which library is the best” debate loses its jovial fun for students who haven’t been able

to visit the Berkeley, Lecky or the Ussher. In this sense, refurbishing, renewing and reinforcing facilities would be a shining promise to many students who hope to use them in years to come, and after such a gruelling year, a symbol of a fresh start.

College facilities have been put to the test this year. In other circumstances, the slight shabbiness of Trinity’s facilities could become a source of nostalgia. This is evident when older years reminisce fondly on their pre-Covid college life. This has now become another hurdle over which students must jump, in a situation difficult enough as it is. Even a renovation that could give the library and study spaces more seating, as so much of it has been cut down to accommodate social distancing, would be extremely and immediately beneficial. While the frustration students are feeling with the facilities this year stems from an aversion to the difficulties of online teaching, these difficulties have only highlighted the gaps in Trinity’s armour, and an urgent need for refurbishment.

Even an improvement over the next month or two of online services, such as the Student Counselling Service, would improve the college experience exponentially this term. This is an incredibly important service

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Project timelines to revamp campus could lend a sense of certainty and excitement

that continues to be overwhelmed after receiving “over 600 enquiries over in [a] three week period”, as reported by Trinity News last November. By turning our attention towards this online facility and reinforcing it, relief from the mental burdens students face which have been, in many cases, exacerbated by the pandemic, could be provided on a wider scale. This is crucial in making sure every student makes it through the term without feeling alone, and extra support for the Student Counselling Service during what feels like endless lockdowns could be a lifesaver.

While it has become obvious over the past year that putting more pressure on progress - when mental burdens of adjusting to a new way of living, the threat of disease, and feeling responsible for the safety and wellbeing of others are already pressure enough - does not work for everyone, refurbishment at Trinity could be an essential part of marking an entrance into coping with Covid-19. With staff already onsite still working on maintaining campus at least every week, if not more often, why wouldn’t we move to give new life to some of Trinity’s facilities?

Starting refurbishment at this time of year be it physically visible or, for example, the reinforcement of IT Services, could be a look to the future, and a way for us to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Where lockdown can often make us feel like time has lost its meaning, project timelines to revamp campus could lend a sense of certainty and excitement to emerge back into a world at least partially recognisable from before last March. Lockdown has felt hopeless and unfruitful in a myriad of ways; as we brace for the vague timeline of the end of lockdown with the prospect of the vaccine, it would be encouraging to feel that we have at least gained something from it. If not banana bread baking skills, then a freshly refurbished campus to enjoy next year.

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Tuesday 9 March | TRINITY NEWS

Comment

Kate Glen

News Analysis Editor

A United Ireland would require a considerable culture shift

T

he quest for a United Ireland (UI) has long been a matter of the thrill of the chase, like a dog running after a car.

But as a UI grows more plausible the question must be asked: when the dog catches the car, what does it do? A UI is now being talked about as a real possibility, but as it becomes more probable, discussions around it should be treated with realism. A UI would have ramifications for everybody on this island. It would lead to the creation of an entirely new state and it would necessitate a massive culture shift.

There are a multitude of factors why a UI is becoming a genuine possibility, including Brexit and changing demographics in Northern Ireland (NI). With the Republic’s economic and social evolution and European Union (EU) assurances that the six counties would immediately become members of the EU in the case of a UI, it is a much more attractive proposition than it was a few decades ago.

An Interim report released late last year by the Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland suggests that referendums on Irish unity should only take place with a clear plan for the future. If we can learn anything from Brexit it is that you cannot ask people to vote on such an important and complex issue with a simple Yes/No referendum.

It is not enough for voters to be asked whether they support Irish unity; we need to have a clear model of what a UI would look like for voters to support or reject.

Britain has demonstrated that the other way leads to chaos, the last thing our island can afford.

A UI would necessitate compromises, it will mean the merging of armies, police forces, healthcare, and education systems. National curriculums will be subject to change, our nationalistic histories taught differently. The position of the Irish language too, could shift. The Republic currently emphasises the language’s importance in public sector jobs and it is a mandatory

subject in schools, but this might not be the case in a UI. There are huge economic questions to be answered, and a UI will be a new country, with a new flag, anthem, passports, and political system. We might even rejoin the Commonwealth. However, these issues are covered elsewhere.

What has been talked about less in conversations about a UI is culture, and specifically what it means to be Irish. We need to work towards a large culture shift if we are going to take reunification seriously.

Specifically, a UI is a country that would require the proper incorporation of unionist voices to be created fairly, to be a place where unionists could feel safe.

However, unionist voices have not typically been well-respected in republican circles.

Ironically, the very politicisation of Irish culture that was intended to push Ireland closer to independence may be one of the largest obstacles to reunification, as it created an Irish identity that is frequently incompatible with being British.

Many citizens in the Republic consider themselves “more Irish” than those in the North, as though Irishness can be distilled into the language you speak, the customs you follow, or the songs you sing. As though Irishness is not divided equally among all on the island.

A UI would be far more British than the Republic currently is, and concurrently would have to be far more tolerant of what is seen as “Britishness”. During the cultural revival of the late 19th century the identity of “Irish” was manipulated by the Gaelic League and others to be in direct opposition to “British” in an attempt to counter the anglicisation of the country. For example, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) banned its members from participating in or watching “foreign games” (hockey, soccer, rugby) and no GAA member was allowed to be a member of the British security forces.

This cultural manipulation

resulted in a distinction being made between the “real Irish” and the “West British” and was carried on past independence.

This exclusive cultural interpretation shuns those who are “not Irish enough” as though Irish and British are incompatible. One of the more ridiculous manifestations of this manipulation of identity was when in 1938 Douglas Hyde, who was the founder of the Gaelic League, a longstanding patron of the GAA and, at the time, President of Ireland, was banned from the GAA because he attended an international soccer match between Ireland and Poland. The “foreign games” ban was not lifted until 1971, the ban on

Constabulary (RIC) was cancelled. Sinn Féin, the island’s loudest political party to support Irish unity, was especially vocal in its condemnation of the event. The boycotters spoke about the members of the RIC as the faceless soldiers of a colonial power, instead of as Irish citizens in their own right.

In a UI we would have many communities with long links to the British state’s policing. These communities and their ancestors were and are no less Irish for their links to the British state.

Such exclusionary attitudes are unhelpful and unrealistic in the face of a real UI. The nationalism that seeks to get rid of the border conversely makes it harder to unify the island. Unionists do not disappear after unity, and many feel justified anxiety about republicanism. It is not even certain a UI will happen, at least not in the near future. Last year’s opinion polls suggest a border poll would fail to pass if it went to the ballot boxes. However a UI is now being spoken of as a serious possibility, and that is exactly what it is: serious. If it is to be

membership of the security forces was in force until 2001.

Last year a planned commemoration of the Royal Irish

discussed, it should not be thrown about as a political slogan, but discussed in pragmatic terms with sensitivity, and a

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A United Ireland would necessitate compromises, it will mean the merging of armies, police forces, and healthcare, and education systems sense of self-awareness that Irish republicanism has been lacking.

A UI would necessitate a significant cultural shift in the

Republic especially.

Everybody on this island has a right to their Irish culture and heritage; there is no “correct” way to be Irish. Being British and being Irish are not mutually exclusive identities; they are inextricably linked, and that needs to be recognised.

The work to shift our cultural understanding of what it means to be Irish must begin now. It should be done alongside other practical, material preparations for a UI. If we want to create a stable foundation upon which this island could be united, we need to foster cultural tolerance.

ARTWORK BY ZAHRA TORABPOURAN FOR TRINITY NEWS

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TRINITY NEWS | Tuesday 9 March

Comment

Grace Gageby

Deputy Comment Editor

Our treatment of Britney Spears shows little has changed for women in the public eye

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ame something Britney Spears has lost in the past year.” To raucous laughter and applause, the answers “her hair,” “her dignity” and “her husband” were called out on a 2008 episode of the popular game show, Family Feud. This succinctly captures the callous disregard and ridicule Spears was subjected to in the wake of her public mental health crisis. The fact that her distress was not only mocked, but used on national television as a punchline, unwittingly reveals the cultural normalisation of Spears’ persecution at the hands of the paparazzi, tabloids, music industry, and those around her.

By extension, it also illustrates the limited vocabulary we had associated with mental health just 12 years ago, as well as the ruinous effects of the pressure on those in the public eye to reconcile the contradictory pressures of modern womanhood. The infamous photos of Spears wielding an umbrella at a paparazzi's car after shaving her head, served as a meme and punchline for years to come, despite portraying a moment of great personal tragedy. The recent New York Times (NYT) documentary, Framing Britney Spears, has engendered renewed media scrutiny around the pop star, and most notably, the controversial conservatorship she was placed under after her publicised meltdown in 2008.

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The material reality of misogny persists

PHOTO BY LIKE_THE_GRAND_CANYON / COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG

After shooting to fame in 1999 with the release of “...Baby One More Time”, Spears was subjected to tabloid scrutiny and lines of questioning from media representatives which would be considered grossly inappropriate and unthinkable today; Framing Britney Spears shows clips not just of the aforementioned Family Feud scene, but of middle-aged male presenters quizzing a teenaged Spears on her breasts, her virginity and her sex life with then boyfriend, Justin Timberlake. In 2021, a time when liberal feminism has largely won the mainstream culture war, it is easy to forget that in the early 2000s, the front page of popular magazines were more likely to feature invasive paparazzi shots of Spears, or speculations about her weight loss, virginity, and relationship status. Today it is the case that, due to the mainstreamisation of left-of-centre ideals in popular culture, the front page of Teen Vogue reads “Teen Vogue's Guide to the Climate Crisis,” “Six Women Who Changed History” or “Young Black Leftist Are Creating Their Own Space on Tiktok.” A significant proportion of the discourse surrounding the NYT documentary, and the “Free Britney” Movement (composed of loyal fans calling for the end to Spears’ conservatorship) is concerned with asking “How could we have allowed this to happen?” or speculating on the regressive nature of our attitude towards women just over a decade ago. “This wouldn’t happen today” is undoubtedly an understandable and largely true sentiment, but it is an oversimplification to look at values from a decade ago and deem their dated nature as indicative of how far society has progressed. While there may be a growing opposition to public elements of misogyny in the media, such as invasive lines of media about a woman's body, the material reality of misogyny persists. Similarly, we may balk at the sensationalist language used to describe Spears' public mental health crisis; it was undoubtedly cruel and indicative of our collectively poor understanding of mental illness. However, while more well-intentioned, the renewed scrutiny surrounding Spears, due to the “Free Britney” Movement, features the same invasion of privacy, and reduction of somebody's personal struggle, to a public spectacle.

While a cultural shift in how we discuss mental illness has undoubtedly taken place in the last decade or so, the material benefits of this remain more ephemeral.

The dominant narrative is largely centered around awareness and reaching out to family and friends.

While state institutions preach the importance of "reaching out" and "breaking the stigma," the reality is that when one does so, they're met with insufficient support. Breaking the silence around mental illness is important, but is no replacement for state-funded therapists, doctors and mental health experts. While Spears' famous breakdown where she shaved her head and attacked paparazzi was sensationalised by

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It is deeply wrong when narratives of victimhood focus excessively on the moral character of the victim tabloid media, who deemed her "psycho," and her meltdown as an embarrassing personal failure, to many retrospectively, it appears to be a rational response to the repeated invasion of her bodily autonomy at the hands of the press.

A stint in rehab was followed with the well-known and controversial conservatorship placed on her to this day, with her father, Jamie Spears serving as conservator. This particular type of conservatorship is typically reserved for those with severe dementia. The fact that Spears was deemed competent enough to release several albums, complete a world tour, judge the X Factor and a complete a residency in Las Vegas, but not competent enough to control her own finances or personal life more broadly, has garnered justifiable scepticism about the motivations of her father and the validity of the conservatorship. Again, while many fans including the author, doubt the validity of the conservatorship and believe it should be removed, the widespread trivialisation of the “Free Britney Movement” is a harmful continuation of the public inserting themselves into Spears’ affairs, and making a spectacle out of her suffering. Like many fans, I was struck, when watching Framing Britney Spears, at how down-to-earth, kind and likable she was. While there is no harm in this observation, it is deeply wrong in any circumstance for narratives of victimhood to focus excessively on the moral character of the victim.

The manner in which Spears was treated was disgusting; the NYT documentary has sparked a public apology from Justin Timberlake, as well as endless think pieces on how we allowed a woman to be treated in such a way. While I agree wholeheartedly, my question is not how did this happen, but rather, why is this still happening?

While we may pat ourselves on the back over our more extensive vocabulary with regards to mental health and feminism, I remain unconvinced that the pressures that drove Spears’ to a public breakdown are really any better today.

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Comment

Dearbháil Kent Comment Editor

It’s up to Trinity to facilitate online language exchanges

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arlez-vous une langue étrangère? Just 13% of the overall Irish population describe themselves as multilingual in a language other than Irish or English, according to figures from the last census. Many European countries share multiple borders which in theory should provide more opportunities to learn different languages.

Ireland, in contrast, only shares one border, and both sides speak either Irish or English as their first language. In this sense, Ireland is at a disadvantage; out of 28 different country populations aged 16-65 surveyed within the EU, not including Ireland,

35% can speak one foreign language and 21% can speak two foreign languages. 8% of these populations can speak three or more languages.

Famine, recession, J1s: historically, the Irish population has spread worldwide. Although those who have moved abroad long-term may have adapted to their environments by learning the native language of their new home, it has not made waves back in Ireland. It’s disappointing that there is not more of an emphasis on speaking more than one language in Ireland.

As a leading university in the heart of Dublin, Trinity could change this national attitude

towards the aversion to learning new languages. Learning another language breaks down barriers and makes skills more transferable — this realisation needs to be recognised nationally and Trinity could pave the way for this change of attitude institutionally.

Just because you don’t study a language as part of your degree doesn’t mean you should abandon the idea of learning a new language entirely. As the eighth international university in the world, many students coming from abroad to study at Trinity know this all too well. Accrediting language modules as electives or extracurriculars as part of an overall degree as soon as students

enter Trinity could provide a much needed change towards learning an additional language.

It would also work in their favour, enabling better employability for its students and graduates.

Even before the pandemic ruined most chances of going abroad, there were language barriers for many. The problem still lingers but has been largely forgotten about because of the pandemic. The structures that are in place for language electives should provide an opportunity for those who were planning on taking part in the Erasmus+ programme but can’t now because of Covid-19. Conversely, those who were planning on coming to Trinity from abroad as part of a language exchange should be extended the opportunity to do so online.

You may have seen a viral tweet by someone taking part in the Share Ami scheme run by a French non-profit organisation, Oldyssey. The scheme allows people learning French to chat to elderly people about things they have in common and get to know each other. Trinity could operate a similar scheme to the ageing population in this country, be it for research with The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) or for goodwill in conjunction with the charity ALONE. Loneliness has long

been a problem amongst the ageing population in Ireland, even before the pandemic; in this time of isolation we have seen reports of loneliness skyrocket in all age categories but especially in those aged 50 and over. This could provide a great solution to students from abroad coming to study at Trinity who could improve their English by means of such a scheme while also tackling a loneliness epidemic amongst our elders. What’s more is that Trinity’s national effort with its Tech 2 Students scheme, which aims to fight social and educational exclusion by providing laptops to students, shows that they have the capacity to operate such an initiative What strikes me is that your best friend could be somewhere out in the world and what separates you is a language barrier. Languages unite people and cultures. By learning a new language, whether it’s through online exchanges or experiencing it in a post-pandemic world where it’s spoken, we can gain a whole new insight into a different part of the world and tap into a new way of thinking. Now more than ever we are living through extreme periods of isolation and loneliness. Learning a new language is one way we can overcome this and Trinity should support students’ efforts to do so.

Editorial: Our representatives seem to have forgotten the latent power of a union

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crucial function of a union, and social movements more widely, is their capacity to display solidarity with struggles they may not themselves face but which are acutely felt by others. In doing so, by banding together with others, a union adds its own voice to the collective power that is exerted when large numbers unite behind a common cause.

The social progressivism this union claims to stand for cannot be neatly separated from larger political questions in the manner that some appear to believe it can be. There is no tidy line that can be drawn between students’ rights and workers’ rights, between local issues and national issues, between national issues and international issues. To try to separate them is a fallacy; they are interwoven at a complex web of junctures.

Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) Council voted last week not to put forward a referendum on taking a long-term stance against the use of Shannon Airport by United States military aircraft. There was significant discussion on the issue, but the broad consensus among those opposed to the motion was that international problems like this are beyond the scope of a students’ union.

This is demonstrably untrue, and betrays a deep ignorance of the history of the student union movement. Students played a crucial role in opposition to the Vietnam War, both domestically in the US and internationally. Student protests single-handedly brought down the French government in 1968, causing Charles De Gaulle to literally flee the Elysée Palace.

The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 were started, led and carried on the backs of students. Far from being politically unimportant, university students as a group have long represented one of the most powerful political forces in the world, one which leaders ignore at their peril. There is nothing students are incapable of changing when they’re united, foreign policy included.

But nonetheless, TCDSU’s current officers and class reps reached a consensus last week that the union does not have this power. Surely, the union that has no power is the union that balks before it even tries. Even sabbatical officers discouraged voting for the motion. Far from wanting to lead, having a sense of vision and possibility, or wanting to drive the union forward, the organisation’s executive prefers to shy away from issues that are “too big”. There’s no sense of urgency, no fire in the belly of TCDSU’s leadership.

Candidates for President of the union did express theoretical support for an activist union at Media Hustings last Thursday, accepting the basic importance of both local and national level issues.

Luke MacQuillan acknowledged that “when the students all come together as a collective, we have caused change,” while Ben Cummins said that “in this college, we have a proud history of standing up for social issues. We have a voice and a responsibility to make people hear it.” Leah Keogh, who is strongly favoured by students in this newspaper’s polling to lead TCDSU into the next academic year, was slightly more lukewarm, saying the union “need[s] to work with the national union and in tandem with the USI” on wider issues.

It seems, however, that this is mostly lip service. In the context of the Council vote and discussion surrounding it, it’s hard to see it as anything else. The political culture within the union is a fundamentally passive one, always setting a low ceiling on what the organisation should strive to achieve. On national issues, like those of Direct Provision or opposition to the CETA trade deal, the SU is willing only to take a symbolic stance, declaring its position but engaging in little to no agitation or direct action. On bigger issues, like

that of Shannon Airport, even a symbolic declaration is apparently too much to ask.

Those who stand to take the reins of the union at the end of this year would do well to remember a number of things.

First, they are the inheritors of a proud, centuries-long tradition of student organisation and political leadership. If the university students of the past could remake the world, calling individual policy issues “too difficult” is just a sign of a lack of imagination.

Second, the whole purpose and strength of a union is contained within its name. Yes, individual sabbatical officers are likely unable to talk politicians around on major issues of foreign policy or diplomacy, but tens of thousands of students marching together in the streets represent huge, raw people power that can upend the political status quo of a country in a single day. But movements need organisers, there need to be people who can provide the spark.

Someone occasionally needs to stand up at a meeting and be the voice that says “no, I think this actually is within our power to change. Here’s how.” That should be our sabbatical officers. If you want to be the leader of a union, you have to be willing to occasionally lead the union. Not wanting to rock the boat, not wanting to take

a side on an issue until it’s already decided - this doesn’t represent leadership.

Finally, symbolism and solidarity do matter. It won’t always be possible to commit 100% of TCDSU’s energy and organising power to an issue. But where that can’t be done, there is absolutely no excuse for not at least making an expression of support. If our representatives believe, as they were quick to insist that they do, that the presence of the US military in Shannon is a stain on Ireland’s conscience, then how is it justifiable not to at least declare as much? It costs nothing, and it does matter. Expressed properly, even the passive support of a body like TCDSU carries some political heft.

And if we’re not honest about what we think is right and wrong, what do any of our stances or sentiments mean?

A symbolic stand, however, must just be the bare minimum.

For TCDSU to have power, to restore its sense of direction, purpose, and drive, it is imperative that it takes action. Those who were in college for the Take Back Trinity movement will remember the palpable, electrifying sense of possibility on campus at the time.

We know that students united can change the world. Isn’t it time the students’ union did too?

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Trinity’s resident campus fox Niamh Tiernan page 24

The science lurking in the Arts Building Evan Carron Kee page 26

Optimism is vital in the fight for the environment The tactics the oil industry uses to fight dirty Nina Chen Deputy SciTech Editor

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ach day, climate change becomes harder and harder to ignore.

In November 2019, wildfires raged across California; another example here.

Many people have tried to make a difference; eating less meat, buying secondhand clothing, and reducing what they buy. Even governments have caught on; in July 2019 the Irish Government put The Climate Action Plan 2019 in place, a long term plan which outlines several goals. Key features include a five-year carbon budget, the implementation of a Climate Action Delivery Board, and a plan to eliminate nonrecyclable plastics. Whilst Ireland

and many other countries plan on implementing new action policies, there is one group of people who want the opposite.

It is no surprise that oil companies and other corporations stand to lose through policies that combat climate change. Michael Mann, a major climatologist, says that the biggest enemies of climate change are the climate change deniers, and the conservative politicians that fund them.

In July 1977, James F. Black, a senior scientist at Exxon Corporation, warned top executives that doubling the amount of carbon dioxide in the global atmosphere would cause global warming and devastate agricultural output.

Then for the next 25 years, Exxon funded internal and university collaborations which would delay the widespread acceptance of climate change.

From the 1990s and 2000s, Exxon helped advance climate change denial internationally; first acting as a significant influence in preventing the

ARTWORK BY GRÁINNE QUIGLEY FOR TRINITY NEWS

United States from joining the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, then by funding organisations critical of this very protocol in order to undermine public opinion about global warming. Even when the company pledged to cut ties with climate change deniers, they continued to fund such organisations and granted nearly $1 million to climate denial groups in 2014. They even went so far as to call emission regulations “aggressive agendas” and did everything in their power to lobby against such regulations.

The likes of this has been occurring for the last fifty years.

Now, the voice of companies has changed, knowing now that there is no credible way to deny climate change. So, large corporations have changed their tune. Instead of calling climatologists and activists liars, they are now partaking in greenwashing. This is the process of conveying a false impression about how a company’s products and practices are more environmentally sound than they truly are, in an attempt to capitalise on the growing demand for green products.

In August 2020, Bernard Looney, BP’s CEO said: “what the world wants from energy is changing, and so we need to change, quite frankly, what we offer the world,” and released a 10 aims plan to help reduce carbon emissions. But nothing in the 10 aim plan provided suggested that BP would move away from their previous plans to increase oil and gas production by 20% over the next 10 years. Even worse, BP had made the same promises in 2008.

And before, in 1997, when the Kyoto Protocol was agreed.

BP makes grand statements about their plans to reduce emissions, but time and time again prove they are dangerous to the planet. In 2010 they were the cause of one of the largest environmental disasters ever: an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which killed 11 people, and resulted in over 4 million tonnes of oil being poured into the coastal waters.

This is a common tactic used by corporations to blame individuals. In 1971 beverage and packaging industries put out an ad with the catchline, “People Start Pollution. People can stop

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To say that we have no chance to clean up the planet is a misunderstanding of science it.” This ad, which won awards for excellence in advertising, seemed to conveniently exclude the fact that most of the pollution was not due to everyday people, but the fact that industries like the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Anheuser-Busch Companies were producing billions of plastic bottles each year- the same companies which funded the PSA. BP created the first Carbon Footprint Calculator in 2004, so individuals could assess their carbon footprint, even gleefully tweeting about it, saying: “the first step to reducing your emissions is to know where you stand!”

Many environmentalists quickly criticised the company, pointing out that BP produces nearly 3.8 million barrels of oil each day.

This tweet, and many other PR strategies, are designed to make the individual consumer feel guilty about their actions. BP coined and popularised the term “carbon footprint”, its original definition being “the amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with all activities of a person”. On BP’s website, there are pages for carbon reduction advice, slogans like: “It’s time to go on a low-carbon diet” and “reducing your carbon footprint.” These statements assign responsibility for climate impact on individuals and allow BP to pretend they are doing something about their own impact.

In 2003, BP released an ad asking unsuspecting people about their carbon footprint. In the ad, many people used words such as “I,” or “we,” when answering questions about climate change, which conveniently took BP out of

the conversation as contributors to the problem.

By placing responsibility for global warming on individuals over themselves, the oil and natural gas industry are able to convince individuals that they are the problem, not the industry.

Along with this, the industry chooses to cause “doomism”: a phrase coined by Michael Mann to explain the phenomenon in which climate inactivists try to convince people that there is nothing they can do to prevent the inevitable doom of climate change.

Climate deniers and the oil industry know that if people believe there is nothing that can be done, they will no longer try to create meaningful change.

The industry weaponises climate science for their own agenda; instead of denying that climate change is having a devastating effect on the planet, they are now claiming that we are doomed to die. For example, there was a theory that once the arctic caps melted, arctic methane gas would cause runaway warming and extinguish life within ten years.

This in itself is bad science.

There is no arctic methane. Yes, the effects of climate change are starting to make their way into our everyday lives, but to say that we have no chance to clean up the planet is a misunderstanding of science.

The truth is: science is not telling us that we are ultimately doomed; there is still a chance to fight back. The world won’t automatically end in 12 years if emissions don’t decline, but reducing the emissions will help keep our planet habitable for us and the millions of species on it.

It can be hard to be optimistic in hard times, but there are moments to feel positive about: there is a rapid take up of renewable energy now and large investments being pushed into renewable energy infrastructure.

As climate activism becomes more and more mainstream, people are beginning to put pressure on governments to act fast. The United States, one of the largest global emissions contributors, now have climate policy coordinated into every single government agency.

This alone will not be enough to save the planet. The most important thing climate activists can do is to vote and use their voice to encourage the government to implement policies, and to not believe the doom based narrative being pushed by the media and the oil industry - your voice does make a difference, and change can happen. But you cannot let oil companies tell you otherwise.

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Dear Demystifying Medicine Every issue, Trinity News’ SciTech section bringing you this new column called Dear Demystifying Medicine, where students can ask questions that spark their curiosity about health, fitness, or human biology.

How do STIs such as gonorrhea cause infection?

Sexually transmitted infections or STIs are caused by the transfer of bacteria or micro- organisms through sexual contact. There are many different types of STIs that all work in different ways to produce symptoms and infection in the body. In this case, it’s easier to focus the discussion on one of the most common STIs in Ireland, which is gonorrhoea. The infection of gonorrhoea is caused by the cocci or round Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. This bacteria has specific characteristics that help its transfer from one person to the next. These characteristics are called virulence factors, which help perpetuate infection. The Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria has pilli which look like small hair-like structures that help it bind to cells in the genitourinary tract. Neisseria gonorrhoea also has a virulence factor called Por, which forms a pore on the surface of the bacteria that prevents it from being killed by the body’s immune cells. If this bacteria is transferred from one individual to another during sexual contact, it can either remain asymptomatic or produce a wide range of mild to severe symptoms. These symptoms can appear after two to five days. If the bacteria remains localized, there can be the presence of a purulent white discharge coming from different areas in both men and women such as: the anus, the cervix, the prostate, the urethra, etc. Gonorrhoea can be extremely dangerous if it spreads from the genitourinary tract into the rest of the body. It can cause skin lesions, inflammation of the heart or endocarditis, arthritis, and it can also be passed on from mother to child and cause congenital blindness. As scary as this may seem, gonorrhoea can be diagnosed by swabbing the affected area and then putting the bacteria on an agar plate to identify it. Urine tests can also be used to diagnose gonorrhoea. The most common medication that is prescribed for this infection is azithromycin, which is a nonspecific antibiotic that helps to fight off various types of STIs. In order to prevent gonorrhoea and other STIs, protection in the form of condoms is key, not only for sexual intercourse, but for oral sex as well. Stay safe!

Does Keto work?

The ketogenic diet consists of a diet high in protein and fat, while carbohydrates account for less than 5% of the daily intake. The reason why this diet has sparked

the interest of the fitness industry to promote it as “the best diet to lose weight” is because since there are little to no carbohydrates being consumed, this means that the body can’t generate enough glucose in order to use it as a fuel source. Instead, the body breaks down fat into molecules called ketone bodies, which are then used as an alternate energy source. As amazing as this may seem, this is not the “fast acting fat-busting diet” that people think it is. However, there are some benefits to the keto diet.

One benefit of being on this diet is that you tend to stay full or feel satiated for longer periods of time because of the high fat and protein consumption. This is the reason for the keto diet’s claim to fame as a weight loss tool. If you are full for longer periods of time, this means that your calorie intake may lower.

Consuming fewer calories can result in weight loss, which is the only reason why people see weight loss on this diet. These exact same results can be achieved through eating a diet that includes carbohydrates, so long as the calorie intake is lower than your initial calorie consumption.

One of the main issues with the keto diet is the fact that it is so restrictive. This is unsustainable for long periods of time, which is why it’s difficult to stick to the diet in order to actually see results.

Overall, the keto diet can be used to lose weight, if you’re trying to lose weight, you can also just as easily modify your diet with carbohydrates. Speak to your GP about how to approach your weight in a safe and healthy way.

Dear Demystifying Medicine says: As a medicine student, I get asked a lot of questions about body functions, overall health, and fitness. Most of the questions I get from people who are in a nonbiology/medical field are based on their own personal curiosity or from reading articles on the internet, where it can be difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.

We’re putting together this column to give students a space to ask basic medical, health, and fitness questions. As a Bachelor of Science graduate, a medicine student, and a member of a professional fitness organisation, I’ll be looking into the most recent and high-quality research to help answer your questions in a way that everyone can understand with the support of a team of peers in science and medicine.

I will not be providing medical advice or diagnoses, so please don’t write in and ask for a cure or a diagnosis.

The information that is presented is for educational use only and should not be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Consult with your doctor or qualified health professional for any advice.

Sam, Trinity’s resi An emblem of biodiversity on campus and an insight into the future of species mergence into urban environments Niamh Tiernan Deouty SciTech Editor

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fter College published the list of successfully nominated candidates for the upcoming Provost election, it’s apparent that for the first time in the college’s 429 year history the new face of TCD will be a woman. Over the past few months, one furry and friendly lady in particular has rooted herself in the college community and created a platform for herself across social media, warming up the public to the idea of a female representative at the forefront of Trinity: Sam, the Trinity fox.

Back in March, two young and unnourished-looking foxes caught campus security’s attention as their strolls around the college grounds became more and more frequent.

After a few weeks, one of the two disappeared, leaving Sam roaming the streets of Dublin alone.

Since then she has cemented herself in the college community, with a collaborative effort between the Zoology Department, campus security, and groundskeepers to make the campus an accessible home for her, and allowing her to interact with college staff and students. Sam’s charisma has become a central part of campus chat, with many students reporting unique encounters with the cheeky vixen.

Campus residents Aidan Desjardins and Ben O’Keeffe have noticed her progression over the past months from being “skittish” and shy initially, to more tame and approachable as time went on. Sam has become particularly fond of resident Aodhan McEvoy, tagging along on his nightly runs on the cricket pitch, pacing alongside him, and occasionally helping herself to his belongings.

She has really embedded herself in Trinity life.

Collie Ennis, of the Zoology department, explains how her comfortability in interacting with the staff and student bodies can be explained by a general trend in city foxes’ instinct to fear people being overturned. “We’re more of a curiosity to them because they don’t feel attacked or threatened… they’re such playful inquisitive animals, that’s why we get these interactions”.

It hasn’t been all plain sailing; Sam had a spell of poor health at the beginning of summer, causing concern among staff that had grown to be quite attached to the

vixen. Ennis explains: “When she got sick during the summer, we started getting worried because she got mange, which is really a death sentence for foxes.” Mange is a type of parasitic skin disease that spreads quite rapidly among urban foxes. After staff intervened with a course of antibiotics and some TLC, she bounced back to her brazen self and has continued to

Rolling out: Trinity studen their Covid-19 vaccine exp As Trinity frontline workers to receive Covid-19 vaccines, some weigh with own their vaccination stories Faye Murphy Contributing Writer

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s the distribution of Covid-19 vaccinations in Ireland becomes more widespread, almost 150,000 first doses have been administered to frontline healthcare workers.

Some trinity students amongst

them shared their experience with the vaccination process.

Many of Trinity’s students are frontline workers, be it a part-time job or integrated course placement.

These students have been at the forefront of the pandemic, and now of the initial vaccination progress. For some vaccination is a no-brainer at this point in the pandemic, but for others the decision holds a little more weight.

“The number one motivator for me to get the vaccine was to protect my patients,” states Eadaoin Fagan, a third-year Children’s and General Nursing student. Emily Mahony, a second-year Biological and Biomedical Sciences student shared that she “didn’t want to put myself or others at risk”, while William Curran, a second-year General Nursing student “saw it as the first step of things going back to normal”. Curran, who

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48 hours later I had no side effects at all, I was completely back to myself is due to start placement, “felt a responsibility to protect the people around me”.

With the constant media buzz around Covid-19 vaccines, their

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SciTech

ident campus fox PHOTO BY ROISIN GUIHEN (@rosiebean_)

charm the college community and the wider public ever since.

At the start of the month, news broke of a love story swelling on campus, as Sam found herself a partner and footage emerged of them romancing around Trinity.

Ennis explains: “The lads got wind that there was a single lady in the college, there was all sorts of drama.” After multiple males

nts and periences efficacy, side effects and many circulating myths, these Trinity students discussed their anxieties and opinions prior to vaccination: Mahony reveals, “I was anxious about the side effects as I have a mild autoimmune disease” but that “all the staff involved made sure I knew exactly what to expect”. Fagan worries about how effective the vaccines will be if a significant amount of the population opts out of receiving it, but states that her pre-vaccination anxiety was minimal as “new research is coming out every day to prove it will work”. Curran, who had contracted the virus the previous summer while working as a healthcare assistant, states that “any anxieties I had about the vaccine were overshadowed by the prospect of things finally going back to normal”.

The process of vaccination is

showing interest in her, she chose a handsome, regal looking dog fox, who was later named “Prince”. It soon came to the surface that Sam was expecting, and as the gestation period for foxes is just 49-58 days, it is expected that there will be a furry clan about campus at some stage this month.

Ennis hopes that the den can be located, and a first glimpse of one we may go through many times, from MMR shots at a young age, to tetanus vaccines or annual flu jabs. Though the new vaccines may be a cause of anxiety for some, the Trinity students assure that it was a normal and familiar experience. Curran received an email from St. James’ Hospital in late December saying that vaccine slots were available for booking, but missed the first wave. He sat waiting at his laptop for the second wave of appointments to become available and compared the feeling to “waiting for EP tickets to drop”. Mahony had to fill out a form about her work and health conditions to ensure she was eligible to get the vaccine. Fagan described the vaccination process: “the hospital had a really good system in place, that ran really smoothly and ensured everyone was socially distanced and safe.

The vaccine itself was not painful, then we were kept for around 15 minutes just to make sure we didn’t have a reaction to the vaccine, then allowed to go home”.

Mahony and Fagan both received the AstraZeneca vaccine and described similar side effects.

“I got my vaccine around 3 pm, and the only side effect I felt was

the pups documented. “What we would hope to do is to set up some cameras wherever they den down so that we can get a first glimpse of the pups. It’s a long shot because they can be very shy and very quiet, you might never know where they go.” There is now a network of college staff and students noting her movements, in the hope of locating where she will decide to have the pups. “With so many eyes around the college, it might be possible to spot them. I have a good lead at the moment so we’re just chasing that up.”

Then arises the question of whether Sam and her pups will be allowed to stay in their chosen location or will be relocated. “If it’s not opposing an immediate annoyance or interference with college life, I’m sure we can learn to live with them…once it’s not in the Provost’s fireplace or under the Campanile of course”. When asked about the naming process for the new campus residences, Ennis insisted on keeping his ideas under wraps for now, but ensured there are “big things coming for the naming of the pups”.

Not only has her presence around Trinity provided a source of entertainment for the college community during these unusual times, but she has also morphed into somewhat of a symbol of the prospect of the campus as a viable and vibrant space for wildlife.

Ennis explains: “Sam is a very obvious and very charismatic creature and a great mascot for the wildlife… I’m looking forward to

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The fatigue of working through the pandemic for a year has overshadowed the glee of being vaccinated pain at the injection site until around 1 am [when] I woke up with a fever, aches and pains, really bad headache and nausea. These symptoms persisted until around 3 pm the next day - so literally 24 hours on the dot! After that, I just had a slight fever but was definitely feeling much better, and 48 hours later I had no side effects at all,

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seeing what we do as a community and as a college for city centre wildlife over the next couple of years”.

Since the wildflower meadows were planted on College Green over the summer, there has been a cascading effect of alterations in the diversity of species found on campus. The insects that have taken habitancy among the wildflowers have drawn in bats that are now situated around the Pav, and birds of prey such as sparrowhawks and kestrels have frequented the areas around campus also. It’s exciting to consider the possibility of Trinity acting as an oasis for wildlife as well as an outlet for the learning of students from Dublin and beyond.

The attention Sam has received through the media is providing an example to the general public and other colleges of how accessible conservation and restoration efforts can be, even in the most urbanised of locations. Ennis details how we can set an example on our city-centre campus. “It’s

a great leading light for other campuses in the world and in the country that have access to more green spaces, further outside of urban areas….if we can do it, anyone can.”

Sam’s pregnancy raises questions regarding the future of urban species, like foxes, as they reproduce and integrate further into our society. As urban species continue to breed and evolve to be increasingly different from their rural cousins, what does this mean for the species as a whole? Prof.

Nicola Marples of the Department of Zoology explains: “As animals become more adapted to urban spaces, with the light, sound, food and predator differences from the rural habitats they evolved in, I would expect the urban populations to evolve to be ever more different from their rural conspecifics, even to the point they may stop interbreeding with them”.

In the event of overcrowding where populations of urban foxes increase so that there is large territory overlap, the prospect of moving them to rural areas really isn’t feasible. “An urban fox who is diurnal, eats from bins and isn’t afraid of humans, isn’t going to be much cop in a field full of uncatchable rabbits and birds which fly away...instead I think we should consider them as part of the urban environment, and judge their management, where they need management, entirely separately from reference to their wild cousins,” Marples adds.

Sam’s success story highlights the benefits of fostering relationships between urban animals and city life. Marples ends with: “We should be glad to have something other than humans sharing the space, and make room for them as best we can.”

was completely back to myself ” detailed Fagan. Mahony shared a similar story of “extreme fatigue, headaches and joint pain for 48 hours after the vaccine”. Both Mahony and Fagan have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and are waiting for the second dose, while Curran has received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Curran states that he “had a bit of a sore arm after the first dose but it was fine after a few hours”, and that he had no side effects after the second dosage. These side effects are normal, differ from person to person, and can occur after most vaccinations, whether for Covid-19 or seasonal flu. Sideeffects, such as prolonged pain at the injection site, are evidence of the body’s immune response being activated and preparing to fight against a real infection.

While Fagan and Mahony were relieved to have started the vaccination process, Curran acknowledges that, though he is vaccinated, the pandemic is far from over. “The general fatigue of working through the pandemic for nearly a year now has definitely overshadowed the glee of being vaccinated”. While the pandemic continues on, all have

hope that, with more vaccines being approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the vaccine rollout will become more efficient and bring about a socalled “new normal” sooner rather than later.

Frontline workers being confronted with some of the harshest, most intense and pressurised conditions our generation have ever seen. When asked what advice they would give those waiting to be vaccinated or those who are wary about the vaccination process, Fagan reminds us “the vaccine is just a quick jab” and that “it will be over in two seconds”. Curran reassures that these vaccines have been proven to work by many researchers, and countries ahead of us in the rollout. Mahony advises anyone with worries about vaccination to “understand the “normal” side effects before getting it and know that the people vaccinating you will be very helpful at clearing up any anxieties you may have”. With still months ahead before the majority of Trinity students get vaccinated, Fagan reminds us to “try and think about how it will all be worth it in the end”.

Sam’s pregnancy raises questions for urban species as they reproduce and integrate

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The science lurking in the Arts Building

Though economics firmly has its realm in the Arts Building, do its empirical methodology and lofty ambitions qualify it as a science?

Evan Carron-Kee Contributing Writer

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conomics has an unfortunate, and somewhat deserved reputation: many consider the discipline to be little more than pseudo-science, or “astrology for men”, and it often lacks the steadfast commitment to empirical evidence found in the natural sciences. Yet the questions asked by economists – how should we end poverty?

How should the government allocate its spending? How can we ensure that everyone has a home? – are essential to creating a better society. Fortunately, economics is changing. Over the last two decades, economists have combined insights from psychology and methodology from the natural sciences to produce reliable answers to the most pressing questions of our time.

Let’s start with measurement, the cornerstone of evidencebased science. The nominal goal of most economic theories is to maximise well-being. Currently, the most widely used metric is Gross Domestic Product (GDP), calculated by adding up all the income earned by producing goods and services in the economy. However, GDP has become something of a surrogate for proper measures of well-being and progress. Even worse, it sets the incentives faced by politicians - governments must keep GDP in the green at all costs, lest the opposition accuses them of presiding over a stagnant economy, or even worse, causing a recession.

As a measure of pure economic activity, GDP is invaluable. As a measure of well-being, however, it is woefully incomplete. If I have no option but to work six days a week, 12 hours a day, GDP will increase, but my happiness will surely decrease. If I pick up a new hobby

and decide to work fewer hours, the opposite happens. As Teddy Kennedy famously noted in 1968, ‘GDP measures everything except that which makes life worthwhile.”

If economists and politicians continue to depend on GDP alone, they will continue to miss the mark when they set public policy.

Economists have tried to solve this issue by quantifying happiness. In 2004, a team of economists and psychologists devised an ingenious technique called the ‘Day Reconstruction Method’. A large population is assembled and are called to regular meetings where they are asked to relive the previous day in detail. They record what they did, who they were with and for how long each episode lasted.

The DRM relies on an insight from psychology: when people are asked to relive an experience in vivid detail, they also relive the emotions they felt during the experience. They even exhibit the same physiological states (e.g. an increased heart-rate or pupil dilation) as they displayed during the event.

The data is then analysed and computed into a U-index’ This is the percentage of time, on average, people spend in an unpleasant state throughout their day.

If the sample size is large enough, the happiness of an entire population can be measured.

For example, if the average U-index of a country falls from 30% to 25%, then the total amount of time people spend feeling unpleasant emotions will fall by a sixth. Even a small drop in a large country’s U-value would e q u at e t o

millions of hours of avoided suffering.

The U-index allows economists to identify which activities or conditions contribute the most to total unhappiness, thus making the allocation of resources to improve well-being more efficient. For example, researchers have found that the distribution of suffering in society is unequal: most people are reasonably happy, while a minority of people experience great emotional pain, bringing up the average. This might suggest that investment in mental health services would be the most costefficient way for governments to bring down their national U-value.

One of the most common and unpleasant activities (at least before Covid-19) was commuting, with a U-index of 29% in some studies. That indicates that increased investment in transport infrastructure would make a real difference to people’s happiness.

On a different note, the U-index of sex is 5%, suggesting that the JCR in Trinity Halls is doing society a service by distributing free condoms.

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While the betterment of society is often a by-product of research in the natural sciences, it is at the heart of why we do economics The use of evidence and controlled experiments in economics has also improved in recent years. Since the late 90s, some economists have attempted to move the discipline away from abstract theorising, and towards reliable, evidence-based conclusions with fascinating implications for public policy.

Economics is often invoked in arguments against the minimum wage; classical theory states that when regulation forces the wage up, firms will hire less as labour becomes more expensive.

Fewer workers are hired, and unemployment rises, hurting the people the law was supposed to help.

Yet when

ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH MURNANE FOR TRINITY NEWS

economists David Card and Alan Krueger tested this theory, they found that the opposite happened.

In 1992, New Jersey increased its minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.05, while neighbouring Pennsylvania kept its constant at $4.25. The economists collected data on employment in fast-food restaurants in both states. In New Jersey, employment did not fall relative to Pennsylvania – instead, it increased.

This evidence flew in the face of decades of armchair economics, the kind of baseless theorising which was used to justify the policies of deregulation implemented by Reagan and Thatcher in the 80s. However, in light of Kreuger’s findings, most economists nowadays acknowledge that minimum wages are often desirable. This is especially true under conditions of ‘monopsony’ where firms are able to force wages lower than they would be under fair market conditions.

If those classical models had been tested empirically, would neoliberal economics have become so influential? Unfortunately, these developments have yet to make their way into popular political discourse; especially in America where there exists a deeprooted opposition among many republicans to any increase in the minimum wage.

Experimental economics has found a place in development economics too. In rural western Kenya, a group of development economists wished to compare the effects on educational outcomes of greater access to textbooks, and free school meals. They couldn’t simply collect data on schools that had more textbooks, and analyse the outcomes; for example, greater access to textbooks often indicates that children from wealthier families attend the school. Wealthy families provide their children with other advantages too, meaning it would be impossible to isolate and measure the effect of the textbooks.

Instead, they used a large sample size of schools, and randomly assigned each school to one of two groups. One would receive free textbooks, and the other would receive free school meals. The fact that the groups are randomly generated ensures that on average, the characteristics of the two groups were the same.

Surprisingly, they found that neither more textbooks nor free school meals had any significant impact on educational outcomes, suggesting that investment in such programs is a waste of resources.

This kind of research allows NGOs and public bodies to set public policy that will make a real difference to the lives of people on the poverty line.

While the betterment of society is often a by-product of research in the natural sciences, it is at the heart of why we do economics.

Economics has the potential to use the rigorous empiricism and experimentation of the natural sciences to solve very human issues.

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Sport

Hope for the future of the World University Games Phoebe Otway-Norwood

page 29

The best running apps on the market Shannon Connolly

page 30

Giving volleyball a kick Shannon McGreevy Sports Editor

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ave you ever wanted to take volleyball to the next level?

Incorporate a bit of footwork into the manoeuvres or even just kick the ball back over the net? Or, for those avid footballers, try juggling while dribbling with the ball? If these appeal to you then sepak takraw, a native South Asian sport, may be right up your alley.

The game is a blend of football and volleyball with many twists and versions, is a test of dexterity and strength, and undoubtedly a great form of exercise that can be played both recreationally and competitively. With a rich history and lively culture surrounding it, sepak takraw is an entertaining watch and worth giving a shot the next time you have access to a volleyball net and a good pair of shoes with some friends.

In Thailand, the sport has been around for hundreds of years and there is evidence that sepak takraw was played during the 16th century reign of King Naresuan. However, the modern

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version of sepak takraw that we see today began to take shape in the 1740s with a departure from the traditional circular style of play and more official rules being devised. In 1929, the Siam Sports Association drafted the first competition rules. The volleyballstyle net made its way into the sport another four years later and takraw was even introduced into curriculum in Siamese schools.

This is a testament to the cultural root of the game and how it is a source of pride for the Thai. It became such a cherished local custom that another exhibition of volleyball-style takraw was staged to celebrate the kingdom's first constitution in 1933.

The Thai were not the only ones that had a custom of playing takraw, although Thailand is acknowledged to be where the sport originated. The Chinese were inspired by cuju, an ancient Chinese military exercise, where soldiers would try to keep a feathered shuttlecock airborne by kicking it back and forth between two people. As the sport developed, the animal hide and chicken feathers were eventually replaced by balls made of woven strips of rattan. The sport even made its way to the United States eventually, where it was first organized by a group of students from Northrop University.

Malaysian students attending the university often enjoyed playing the sport and taught a handful of American students how to play, which in turn inspired Malaysia Airlines to sponsor a US team from the university to attend the National Tournament in Kuala Lumpur in November 1987. So, while the sport is most popular in Asia, it is still played in North America in the US and Canada as well.

Sepak takraw has a lot of the same rules and characteristics of volleyball. Two teams play with three players each with positions known as left inside, right inside, and back. The official takraw court is a tad smaller than a standard badminton court with a net dividing the court in half. Each team is allowed three touches of the ball to pass it over to the other side–without letting it touch the ground. The balls are traditionally made of woven bamboo or rattan, though modern balls are usually made of synthetic material. The winner is the first team to either 15 or 21 points depending on what is

decided before the game begins.

The match begins when a teammate tosses the ball to the server who has one foot in the “serving circle”. The server then kicks the ball with the available foot over the net to start play. The typical rules of volleyball take over, except that no hands or arms can touch the ball. This is the feature that makes takraw an acrobatically challenging sport that requires a lot of flexibility, coordination, and power. Takraw is known for its intricacy and speed of methods used to keep the ball off the ground. Basic moves include the sole, instep, knee, shoulder, and head kick. An advanced move that you would see if you were to watch it played professionally would be athletes doing a cross-legged kick – crossing your left leg over your right and jumping up to kick the ball with the instep of your left foot. There are plenty of other maneuvers commonly used during the game that take an impressive amount of skill and speed.

The common volleyball spike is more difficult to achieve in takraw because in order to slam the ball like that your foot would have to be above the net. In order to do this though, players do a type of bicycle kick like in football, jumping and flipping in the air in order to get the power and height to kick the ball. A roll spike is a difficult move where a player leaps high to kick the ball over the opposite shoulder.

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Another complicated striking move is known as the sunback, similar to a scissors kick but over the same shoulder. If a player is quite skilled at various striking moves, they are known as the killer and feared by the other team.

Not all takraw is played the same. There are many variations of the game, although the volleyballstyle net type is the most popular.

In-tossing takraw is a simpler version of the game with fewer rules, with the point being to see how many times the ball can be hit aloft by a player. It is often used as a means of training, with a good player being able to keep it off the ground for approximately 10

PHOTO BY DBGG1979 /COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG

With an impressive history dating back hundreds of years, sepak takraw is a test of dexterity, strength, and speed

minutes. This may not seem like a long time, but it takes a lot of skill and practice and is a good test to see how advanced players’ moves are. Circle takraw, closer to the origin of the sport, is less acrobatic and consists of five to seven players standing in a circle trying to keep the ball off the ground for as long as possible. This is the most recreational and beginner-friendly version and a staple Thai pastime.

However, hoop takraw, also known as lawd huang, is the most difficult version of the game. It is similar to circle takraw except the goal is to put the ball into a basket-shaped net with three hoop openings in a triangular formation. The hoops are about five to six metres off the ground, making it a difficult task.

Each team is allotted around 20 to 30 minutes to try and shoot the ball into the basket as many times as they can from the perimeter of the circle. Points are also awarded for creativity, so it is a time for players to show off.

The versatility of takraw makes it an easy game to play for all levels. If you have a background in volleyball or football, it is definitely a sport to give a try. With an impressive history and a current international sport, it is only something to add to the repertoire for athletes. Who knows, maybe a student at Trinity will be brave enough to start a club for sepak takraw. I know I would be willing to give it a shot.

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Cameron Hill Columnist

Sarah McFadden is rallying on Sara McFadden is Ireland’s first visually-impaired navigator for tarmac rallying and speaks of her experiences in the sport

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hen a doctor told Sara McFadden at 12 years of age that she would never be able to drive, it was a crushing blow to her dreams. Growing up with an intense passion for rally car racing, Sara had aspired to become a driver herself some day. “I went to my first rally when I was about six weeks old,” she reveals. “Both my parents have been involved in the sport for 20-30 years–they bought their first car when I was born, and my father started driving and my mother started navigating, then took up driving as well. I suppose you could say there was petrol running through my veins!” It therefore makes sense that she would have such high hopes to get behind the wheel of her own car.

However, Sara was born with both Albinism and Nystagmus, two conditions which would impair her vision permanently.

“Albinism is a genetic condition where there’s no pigment in my hair, skin or eyes, which means I’m quite sensitive to light and changes in light, so if it’s glary or sunny outside, I can see very little. And then Nystagmus means the nerves in the back of my eyes never fully developed, so my irises constantly and uncontrollably move from side to side. It means you always have to be focusing and that leads to a lot of eye strain.” So, with driving out of the question, she did what anyone would do; she became Ireland’s first visually-impaired

navigator for tarmac rallying.

For the uninitiated, the navigator sits beside the driver in the car, reading the course maps and barking out directions while their teammate steers along the winding roads. One would think, however, that navigation would not be the natural alternative to driving for someone with visual impairment. But Sara reveals that while visual acuity is important for navigating, it is not essential: “I can do it mainly through feel, so I’ve adapted the role a small bit, but not too much. In rallying, the navigator always has to be reading two or three corners ahead of where the car actually is, so I can count which corner we’re on by feeling the movement of my seat in the car.”

“Of course, other navigators can look out the window and see which corner they’re at, but actually when you get to the higher levels and the WRC [World Rallying Championship], the way the cars are built means the navigators sit so far back that they can’t actually see out of their cars. So while I adapted the role a bit so I can do it by feel, it’s actually a common

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thing to do at the top level.”

Sara’s determination to become an elite navigator would come as no surprise to anyone who knows her. She learned to play camogie through sound alone, excelling at her local club Ballyvary and even won an AllIreland silver medal with the Mayo camogie development squad.

Her strong work ethic, married with a serious competitive streak, makes her more than capable for any challenge that comes her way. That said, there have been occasions when some may have underestimated Sara’s resolve. She admits that at the start, people just assumed she would “sit in the car and have a slow lap around the track, or whatever.”

But Sara defied those expectations; she studies her car’s performance after every race, watching back tapes from the cameras fixed inside her car and ensuring she improves for the next race.

Her passion and diligence extends beyond sport–she is currently studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Sport with Business at IT Sligo. Sara reports that the college’s accessibility services have been extremely helpful in catering to her needs; indeed, their willingness to help her was in sharp contrast to what she was used to in secondary school. “It wasn’t my school’s [Davitt College, Castlebar] fault at all–they were terrific. It was the Department of Education, really.

I was left without school books for a long time in 5th year, and the school sorted it for me, but I think it was April before I got even a Maths book off them, and even then, it was in large print, whereas I had been using the e-book at the time. I think it was just that you had to fight for everything, so when I went into college, I had my back up, ready to do battle again.”

“But the college came back to me and said, ‘oh don’t worry, we’ll get it all for you!’ and I was shocked! I need special equipment with my condition, like laptops and iPads and things like that–and the Department had taken them all off me since secondary school,

so I was left with nothing–and they said, ‘if you can wait, we’ll have it in a week’. So, they have been second to none in terms of the support they’re giving me.” In 2019, IT Sligo awarded Sara with a sports scholarship for the semester, renewing it last September for 2020/21. As Sara alludes to herself, there are not too many sports scholarships awarded for motorsports.

To a certain extent, this feeds into the perception that motor racing is not really a sport, certainly not to the same degree as football, hockey or athletics. Whereas those sports require peak physical performance, robust mental agility and plenty of effort, the assumption is that in motorsport, the machine does the bulk of the work, with the driver somewhat riding on its coattails. Sara stresses that this is a gross misconception: “In rallying, stages are about 10-15 minutes long. For the navigator, you almost don’t have time to breathe, because you have to be constantly giving directions to the driver for that 10 minutes. Your attention has to be on point, you need perfect concentration.

“For a driver, their fitness levels have to be incredibly high. You’re exerting so much effort because it’s not a slow meander along the road– you’re going up steep country lanes and sharp turns, wearing a threelayer fireproof suit. You could be in an older car, which has no power steering, so it is a very physically demanding sport. But, even when I was starting out, I also would’ve thought ‘what do you mean, it can’t be that physically demanding’, but I changed my opinion on that fairly quickly!”

It’s fitting that Sara would

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It’s fitting that Sara would want to challenge the prejudices around motorsport; she has made a habit out of defying everyone’s expectations

want to challenge the prejudices around motorsport; she has made a habit out of defying everyone’s expectations. She regularly receives correspondence from others who have been inspired by her story to follow their own sporting dreams.

One such example occurred after her appearance on Virgin Media’s Six O’Clock Show. “I got this

message from a mother whose son had always wanted to take up football,” she recalls, “but never thought that he could because he was visually impaired. Then, he happened to see me on the show because his mother was watching, and turned to her and said: ‘I’ll go to football tomorrow night’. And that was because he had never imagined beforehand that someone who was visually impaired; I was the proof that it could be done.”

Indeed, in the last few years, more and more is being done to demonstrate to people with disabilities that they can realise their sporting dreams. In January, Trinity Sport signed the Cara Sport Disability Inclusion Charter, which calls on clubs and organisations to cater more to the needs of people with disabilities and look at how facilities and sporting programmes can be more inclusive. With role models like Sara and John Tanguay [rowing] here in Trinity, there is plenty to encourage those with disabilities to take up a sport.

However, one must exercise caution when talking about athletes with disabilities; one has the tendency to paint them all with the same brush, as Sara suggests.

“I can’t really speak for athletes with disabilities who compete in, say, the paralympics, because I’ve always played sports alongside people without disabilities. I know a lot of sportspeople who do compete in versions of the game that accommodate their disabilities, but it’s not fair for me to speak on their behalf when our situations are different.”

Her comments correspond to a greater problem in sporting culture and the perception of athletes with disabilities–that events such as the Paralympics are viewed as a consolation prize, a separate event from the Olympics for those who are not able to make it in the real event on account of their impairment. Paralympic Swimmer Ellen Keane referenced this a few weeks ago saying that the Paralympics are “often put into the same category as Special Olympics–but the Special Olympics and the Paralympics are two different things.”

The media, organisations and fans tend to put all these sportspeople into a box called “disabled athletes”; by doing so, they completely fail to understand the nuanced implications that a certain condition can have on an athlete’s ability to perform. There can no longer be this simplistic binary between athletes with disabilities and those without them. Sara’s sporting career thus far has managed to challenge and undermine this harmful aspect of sporting culture. One would assume that visual impairment would make it impossible for her to be successful as a navigator, yet she has adapted the role and made it her own. She holds the map for a future where athletes with disabilities can someday be celebrated for their achievements, rather than their mere participation. Drive on, Sara.

Hope for the future of the World University games A multi-sport event that resembles a university student version of the Olympics is still set to take place despite the global pandemic Phoebe Otway-Norwood Deputy Sports Editor

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ollowing the announcement by the organising committee of the Tokyo Olympic games asking people not to cheer during the torch bearing ceremony which is scheduled for the end of March, many people turned to look at upcoming sports events. With the roll-out of vaccines worldwide becoming more and more of a reality, many look to the future and the sports events that are planned for the coming years.

One of these events is the FISU World University games or the Universiade, a term formed by the combination of the words ‘university’ and ‘olympiad’. The second largest multi-sport event after the Olympics, it is made up of both summer and winter games where university students from over 170 countries compete biannually at a number of sporting events including football and archery. What distinguishes this event from many of the other prominent international multisporting events is that host countries can choose to add up to three optional sports to the programme. According to its website, this allows the event to remain at the “forefront of sport innovation and embrace the host country’s sporting legacy”.

Examples of some of the sports that have been added are rugby 7’s, beach volleyball and rowing.

The previous summer Universiade was held in Naples in Italy and was the 30th edition of the event after it began in Turin in Italy, 60 years ago. Ireland sent a total of 53 athletes to this event representing them in a total of four different sports: athletic, archery, football (both mens and womens) and Taekwondo.

There were plenty of memorable moments throughout the competition as Ireland succeeded in bagging one medal and also achieving a few personal bests.

The medal came from Marcus Lawlor, a student from IT Carlow who won bronze in the 200m

PHOTO BY LUCERNE WINTER UNIVERSAIDE/COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG

men’s sprints with a time of 20.55 seconds. Two further triumphs came on the track as Sarah Lavin from UCD came 4th in her finals and Phil Healy from Waterford IT came 6th in his finals. The women’s football team came in 4th place after beating Brazil and South Korea to land themselves top of the group and in the bronze medal play offs. It was only after they lost their two-nil lead against Russia in the bronze medal match that they lost through penalties. The men’s football team placed eighth in the competition after losing out to France on penalties.

Moving to the winter Universidae, the 2019 event was held in Krasnoyarsk in Russia: a city in Siberia where average temperatures fall as low as -20 degrees. The city itself is one of

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T he women’s football team came in 4th place after beating Brazil and South Korea to land themselves top of the group and in the bronze medal play offs

the top winter sports areas in the world with 19 athletes from this area winning gold medals in the Olympics, with three others becoming paralympic champions.

One of the optional sports that was chosen as part of the event was Bandy, a similar game to Ice hockey that is mostly played in Scandinavian and Baltic countries.

Ireland sent three athletes to the WInter Universiade including Cormac Comerford of TU Dublin and Garreth Reilly of UCD. The next iteration of the Summer World University Games is scheduled for August 18-29 in the present year, in the capital of the Sichuan province in China, Chengdu which was chosen because of its intention to become a world famous tournament city.

So far it has constructed nearly 49 new venues and 36 renovated sites for the occasion with an expected 10,000 college students attending from 170 different nations and countries. The city has been rated number 1 by the global sports rating index by sporical for hosting international events. This is a new initiative, set up by academics from around the world that is aimed at creating an internationally accepted methodology for measuring the impact of sports events so as to allow for comparison.

The Winter Universiade is to be held in Lucerne in Switzerland this year after being postponed until December due to the global pandemic. This year an expected 2,500 participants from over 50 countries are expected.

While Ireland has a good record at these events, highlighted by our performance at the last games, as the pandemic draws to a close it will be interesting to see how this extended time at home and the strange times we have been living through will have affected our athletes.

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The best running apps on the m A beginner’s perspective on the best running apps to help you out with taking up the sport during the pandemic Shannon Connolly News Editor PHOTO BY ZAHRA TORABPOURAN FOR TRINITY NEWS

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unning is something I took up at the beginning of the first lockdown and it’s almost become a meditative practice for me in the past year. No matter what happens, running calms me down and clears my mind. I started running because I felt like I needed to get out of the house, and I also wanted to keep relatively in shape despite the circumstances.

However, since I took it up, it has been something that has centered me through several lockdowns and settled my mind during exam periods in my bedroom. Now, it’s even something I look forward to throughout the week. I’m not even remotely a sporty person; other than ballet lessons as a child and martial arts lessons as a teenager, I wouldn’t necessarily workout regularly at all.

Going on a run has become an integral part of my daily routine.

However, getting started and sticking to it is not something that I would say is easy. Since last March, I have tried and failed many times to stick to it, or to even get started.

I reckon I have tried every single app on the internet trying to find the right guided runs for me, and the right methods of running for my body. Not everything works for everyone, and if you’re thinking of taking up running, a bit of trial and error is definitely required. But, as I’ve said, I have tried nearly every method offered to us through apps available on the AppStore, and I have a breakdown of which apps and ways of running may be best for you.

The Best for Beginning: Couch to 5k Couch to 5k is probably the best app to start with if you’re thinking about taking up running. Not only is it slow paced, but it allows you to start, as the name suggests, from right off the couch. The runs presume that you have no running experience, and therefore do not expect any continued running for long periods of time, and establish a clear set plan for your running, which will end with you being able to run 5k. The guided runs are set out for a nine week period, where you are expected to put aside 20-30 minutes three times a week to get

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Couch to 5k is probably the best app to start with if you’re thinking about taking up running out. While the audio on these runs wouldn’t be my favorite, they were encouraging when getting started and had a variety of coaches, from Johnny Dead to Sergeant Block, to guide you through getting started with running. An extremely important part of taking up running is trying to avoid injury from doing too much too soon, and for that reason, the Couch to 5k is the perfect pace for getting started.

The app is also straightforward

and easy to use, as it doesn’t over contemplate tracking the speed or distance of your runs. Couch to 5k is available on the AppStore for €3.49.

The Best for Tracking Runs: Oasis’ Runkeeper If you are a more experienced runner, and are simply looking for a way of tracking your speed, distance and time throughout a run, Oasis’ Runkeeper may be the app for you. While this app also offers a bunch of beginner guided runs by several coaches, the biggest benefit of this app is its feature of tracking runs, which offers to give you stats on your distance, speed and time throughout a workout.

The app offers a setting for tracking runs that entails a very AI type of voice appearing every 5 minutes throughout the run, and offers you the ability to see how you improve week on week, run after run. Not only does Runkeeper track runs though, there are also settings for this app which allows you to track walks, cycling, roller skating, swimming and more. Even better, this feature of the app is completely free, with the option of buying the full version of the app for more guided runs. While I liked the guided runs, there are certainly better options on the market, but for its tracking capacity alone, Runkeeper is certainly worth the

download. My favorite part of this app is the fact that no parameters are set, you can walk or run for however long you want, there’s no strict intervals, and it’s an opportunity to really listen to what your body wants during a run rather than what a guiding voice is telling you.

The Best for Clearing your Mind: Headspace If you’re after a run to clear your mind and de-stress your life, Headspace is definitely one of my favorite apps on my phone. While it’s main objective is meditation, a monthly subscription of €4.99 to Headspace also gives you access to guided runs and workouts with several couches, one of them notably being Kevin Hart.

There’s something about Kevin Hart guiding you through a run which may feel kind of strange, but his upbeat and encouraging attitude has gotten me through some of the toughest runs I’ve ever gone on. It’s invigorating, and it also allows you to run and really feel your body running and be present, without music also pumping in the background. It’s good for centering, and definitely a different type of workout than one I would be used to. A subscription to Headspace actually gives you access to Nike Run Club and Nike Training, which allows you to

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The ultimate app for running in my view would be Nike Run Club, as it encapsulates all the important things a run should have incorporate mindfulness into your workouts, such as the “Stress Free Run” with Coach Bennett from Nike and Andy Puddicombe from Headspace. Although it’s one of the more pricier apps on the market, the ability to have these three apps under one subscription is a huge benefit and on it’s own, Headspace

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market

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R unning really allows you to escape whatever is going on in your life is a fantastic app for centering your mind throughout your workouts.

The Best Overall: Nike Run Club Nike Run Club is the best overall for running in my experience. Not only does this app have a wide range of encouraging coaches and an even broader variety of guided runs, each run comes alongside a suggested playlist on Apple Music or Spotify (depending on which you use). If you’re anything like me, and can never find the appropriate soundtrack to your running, I found this to be a major advantage to the app, as the guided runs almost seem to mold with the playlist itself. The broad range of guided runs available is also any advantage, meaning if you’re only taking up running, you’ve done it once or twice or you’ve been running your entire life, Nike Run Club has a run just in mind for you. The coaches on these guided runs are also my favorite from any app, as for me, the tone throughout all the runs I’ve tried has been very realistic; at times, it almost felt as though they were running alongside me. It is very inclusive, and the coaches throughout any of the workouts are always encouraging you to push yourself, or back off, depending on the state your body is in. This is also an advantage, as pushing yourself too early on in a run increases your chance of injuring yourself. Even the end of runs on Nike Run Club are super encouraging, with an audio message popping up at the end of every run congratulating you, the first coming from none other than Olympian Runner Mo Farrah. For all these reasons, the ultimate app for running in my view would be Nike Run Club, as it encapsulates all the important things a run should have.

Taking up running is possibly the best thing I’ve done throughout the pandemic, and something I hope I’ll keep up well beyond it. Running really allows you to escape whatever is going on in your life, and gives you an opportunity to refresh your mind and exercise your body.

Out of left field: DU Rifle Club With a social scene to brag about, Club Captain Joseph McDonnell speaks to the club’s accessibility for all students Shannon McGreevy Sport Editor

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t’s no secret that shooting is not a very common sport in Ireland, yet Trinity is lucky to have its very own Rifle Club, known as DURC. The club fosters an environment of openness and inclusivity that gives students the opportunity to try out rifle shooting and gain some new skills. With excellent instruction given to newcomes right off the bat, there are also opportunities to move up the ranks and compete both nationally and internationally.

After speaking with some of the committee members of DURC, it is clear that they have a passion for the sport and are dedicated to keeping the club alive.

Club Captain Joseph McDonnell makes an interesting pitch to freshers and others who are looking to give the sport a shot: “I normally tell people that what we probably aren’t what they assume we are! The club is a very cheap and easy way to try out an Olympic sport which they most likely haven’t done before.” What sets DURC apart from the other clubs here at Trinity is: it doesn’t

require an inherent athletic ability, but is more skill based and as McDonnell says, “requires focus, accuracy, and precision,” undoubtedly skills that we all can work on.

Another compelling feature about DURC is that it is a club that is easily accessible. Members of DURC who use a wheelchair have been able to compete in national competitions. Not only this, but McDonnell explains the charity work that the club has done in the past: “In 2019,

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I normally tell people that what we probably aren’t what they assume we are. The club is a very cheap and easy way to try out an Olympic sport

a few of us helped the National Rehabilitation Hospital run their annual sports championship as they had built a range in their new sports facility. People with many kinds of disabilities took part. Everyone is different, and it’s a sport that can be tailored and adjusted to the individual to a very high degree.” I think the degree to which this club is open to all types of students is an extremely high one and gives us an excuse to try it.

In dealing with the current pandemic and Level 5 restrictions, the club has been hit hard. It is not stopping their boast-worthy social scene from thriving though.

Shubhangi Karmakar, Public Relations Office of DURC, says, “we genuinely enjoy making each other laugh and looking out for each other, even if it’s over Among Us with friends from Badminton Club or virtual birthday celebrations.” As a member of the club for 6 years, Karmakar is a fairly reputable source on the social aspect that DURC seems to have. She goes on to say that her fellow members “are genuinely the most wholesome, insightful and kind people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in college – the kind of people you genuinely miss if you haven’t called in a week!”

DURC is making the most of the situation and trying to remain as active as possible and keep the community alive, but they have suffered without training being able to take place.

“We were in the process of having a new range constructed when the pandemic hit which has thrown a wrench into plans for both last year and this year,” remarks Secretary Evan Rork.

This range that is currently well under construction will offer

Trinity students access to a stateof-the-art sports facility directly on campus. Once it is able to be used, it is undeniable how advantageous and enjoyable of an experience it will make training for DURC. The dedication of club members is admirable and will serve the club well in the future as McDonnell says, “Students train to become Range Officers and without them giving up time to supervise and instruct for an entire evening, we wouldn’t be able to open the range. They ensure that everything done is carried out safely, while creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere for all members.”

The club has had success at past competitions and members seem to perform particularly well at the national level. McDonnell speaks to the achievements of the club, “Club members currently hold the men’s and women’s national 10m air titles, as well as the 50m smallbore title. However, one of the most surprising achievements since I’ve been in the club was when one of our freshers came in third in the men’s national air rifle event. He was competing against athletes who have been doing this for over a decade, including members of the defence forces shooting team.”

While remaining a club at Trinity that is accommodating and welcoming to beginners, there are opportunities for those that are competitive to shine and excel.

Ultimately, this club has a social scene and a history to boast about as well as a bright future ahead with the opening of the new range. It is no doubt that DURC will continue to find a way to thrive and once given the allclear to train will come out guns blazing–safely of course.

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Sara McFadden is rallying on Cameron Hill

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Out of left field: DU Rifle Club Phoebe Otway-Norwood

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All to play for in the Six Nations Red cards, questionable tries; it’s all to play for in the Six Nations this year Phoebe Otway-Norwood Deputy Sports Editor

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ollowing on from Wales’ controversial 40-24 home triumph over England and Italy’s extension of their 30 match losing streak by losing to Ireland last weekend, a look back over the Guinness Six Nations tournament shows a competition that is defying expectations and challenging the modern rugby world. While there has been some fantastic rugby played – just look at Jonny May’s dive-try in the England v Italy match – the tournament has been overshadowed by the effects of the pandemic on matches that are being played and also the interesting decisions by referees.

Ireland’s performance has also been slow with reports reading that their ‘backs are against the wall’ during this tournament. This 22nd edition of the international event, which is being played without spectators, has undoubtedly brightened up the weekends and given people much to discuss while we plough on through the extended lockdown.

The first round of the tournament saw many surprising developments and started the tournament off on an interesting foot.

Ireland’s first match against Wales (21-16) took an unprecedented turn when flanker Peter O’Mahony was shown a red card, the first in Ireland Six Nations history, by ref Wayne Barnes just 14 minutes into the match in Cardiff. This saw the Munsterman being handed a three match ban as a result of his direct contact with the face of Tomas Francis in an illegal clear out. Leaving the Irish team with only 14 men, they still managed to crawl to a 13-6 point lead with hopes rising as they held strong in defense and set to hold against Welsh attacks. Yet this all came to an end when George North and Louis Rees Zammit both snuck past Ireland’s waning defence and

Billy Burns kicked the ball dead in overtime – killing any hope of Ireland’s recovery. This began Wales’ winning streak and gave them the necessary confidence boost that has carried them into the later stages of the competition.

The theme of controversial refereeing also began as O’Mahony was awarded a red card, leaving a post-match Johnny Sexton furious for the apparent discrepancies, as Johnny Williams escaped punishment for a high-head tackle on Garry Ringrose. Many Irish players were also left injured after the match, unavoidably denting their campaign.

As France annihilated Italy 5010 in the first round, gaining the necessary and almost required bonus point against Italy, Scotland also fought their way to a magnificent victory over England (11-6). As reigning champions England attempted to defend their title in the 150th anniversary of the oldest rivalry in international rugby, the Calcutta cup, Finn Russel inspired the underdogs to their victory, with Stuart Hogg making valuable contributions to a team that was performing beautifully. The English side began the match to a disappointing start, conceding 4 penalties within the first four minutes, giving Scotland 3 points off the boot. The triumphant effort was not reflected in the score line as Hogg failed to continue his success of penalties after two huge touchfinders that propelled his side only eight points ahead. When the final whistle blew, the celebrations were huge as Scotland celebrated their first win in Twickenham since 1983–a 38 year wait for success.

The beginning of the second round of the competition was met with anticipation as all eyes turned to the Wales-Scotland match. The two teams, which had put in very strong performances in the first round, were seen as an indicator for the rest of the tournament.

George Townsend’s Scottish team was looking to build on their historic win from the previous week against England, yet this was not to happen as Zander Ferguson was sent off with a red card 13 minutes into the game in similar conditions to O’Mahony. The dangerous clear out which resulted in this punishment ultimately led to Scotland’s defeat as they couldn’t manage to hold off Wales’ attack. Two early tries by Darcy Graham and Stuart Hogg were not enough to hold off Rees-Zammits

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double tries, which ultimately led Pivacs team to victory. The double red card of the Six Nations so far is an interesting development and a trend seems to be emerging.

As England hammered Italy to a 41-18 defeat in an expected and rather sad event, Ireland played France in what was a close if not rather strange game. The French team arrived with their usual flair as they took advantage of the opportunities that were afforded to them, leaving Ireland trailing behind. A try wasn’t scored until the second half, when Charles Ollivion touched down following a display of attacking brilliance

by the visitors. Ireland almost managed to pull off an unlikely victory yet this was not on the cards. The loss represented Andy Farrell’s first defeat at home as captain, as well as France’s first victory in the Aviva for almost a decade.

The third round of the tournament saw the France v Scotland match postponed as 11 players and staff, including the head coach Fabien Galthie, testing positive for Covid-19 – prompting the French sports minister Roxana Maracienaue to call for an investigation into the causes of the outbreak as well as threats to France’s place in the Six Nations. This highlights the strenuous conditions under which the sport is being played under at the moment, as tinny recordings of crowds are piped into the stadiums to help emulate the presence of a crowd.

In the other matches played over the weekend, Ireland beat Italy 48-10 while Wales hammered England 40-24 in arguably the most controversial match of the tournament. Controversial decisions made by the French referee Pascal Gauzere allowed Wales to slide to victory and win the Triple Crown title. The first of the controversial tries came from Dan Biggar, who took advantage of the ref ’s call for time on during English discussion that left the team unaware, and allowed Wales

to slide home the first try. Fighting from the captain Owen Farrell did little to sue the decision of the ref as he walked away and awarded the try. Commentators noted the decisions, with Martin Johnson describing it as ‘appalling referring’ and Sam Warburton validating Owen Farrell’s anger.

The second controversial try came shortly after the 29th minute by Liam Williams. As Rees-Zammit attempted to gather in a kick that had been given by Adam just short of the try line, the ball slipped through his hands, dropped down and then touched off the knee of the chasing Henry Slade without touching the ground.

This was gathered up by Liam Williams who hammered home a try. The decision has led to a huge amount of controversy as people turn to the fine print of the rules and question whether a knock on requires losing control of the ball or hitting the ground. England’s captain Eddie Jones is not going to appeal these decisions.

So far the tournament has been a tense one as time and time again people’s predictions are proven wrong by teams performances. The final few weeks will be exciting as Wales set their eyes on the Grand Slam and Ireland aims to crawl back from their two defeats. Italy’s place in the Six Nations also raises questions as they carry on with a losing streak among rumours of a change of nations.

PHOTO BY WYN NERT / COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG