CSC Societies Yearbook 2016/17

THE CSC SOCIETIES yearbook 2016-17

CONTENTS

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Afro Caribbean 6

Italian 26

Animation 7

Internet 26

Architecture 8

Laurentian 27

Biological 9

Korean 27

Chapel Choir 10

Law 28

Choral 10

Q Soc 29

Comedy 11

Law Review

Christian Union 11

Mathematical 30

Cumann Gaelach 12

Literary 30

Computer Science 12

Music 31

Dance 13

Musical Theatre 32

Gender Equality 14

Muslim Student 32

Alternative Music 15

Orchestral 33

Pharmaceutical 15

Neuroscience 33

Enactus 16

Physical 34

Environmental 17

Philosophical 34

South East Asia

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Players 35

Fashion 18

Science Fiction 35

FLAC 19

Singers 36

Fianna Fail 20

Space Society 36

Germanic 20

Trinity Economic Forum

Geographical 21

SoFIA 37

French 21

Trinity Arts Festival

Food & Drink 22

Visual Arts 39

General Science 22

Traditional Music 39

Historical Society 23

Zoological 40

History 24

Vincent De Paul

International 25

Fourth Week 42

Hispanic 25

Society Of The Year Awards

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37 38

41 44

CHAIR’S REPORT Thank you for picking up a copy of this year’s CSC Yearbook, an annual miscellany showcasing society life at Trinity College Dublin.

This year we’ve reformulated the yearbook slightly to omit society balls and trips – two fantastic elements of society life – so we can give you a better flavour of the regular events societies offer across the year. Each society was invited to submit one event that they were particularly proud of, presented here for your perusal.

Naturally, it is impossible to cover the multitude and diversity of events that societies ran across the year, the volume precluding any such comprehensive review.

What this Yearbook does provide, however, is an excellent introduction to the variety of activities and events on offer from Trinity’s wonderful societies.

Society activity contributes a unique liveliness to College which simply would not exist without their presence. The opportunities provided to society

officers and their members are immense, and I know those involved have developed skills and made memories which will last a lifetime. With mounting challenges to organising society events, not least of which the lack of suitable spaces on campus, it has been inspiring to watch society officers rise to the task and surmount these challenges, excelling in spite of adversity. Orchestrating events, managing committees, dealing with College and the outside world is no easy task, but such experiences are invaluable to those privileged to encounter them.

dent space is under way.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dara Ó Cairbre for designing this beautiful publication, and to the CSC Executive Ambassadors – Adam, Dahnan, Fiona Greta, Matt, Maeve, Shannon and Úna – for their help in gathering contributions. My thanks also go to the CSC’s officers – Ronan, Michael, Patrick and Brian – and its wonderful staff – Lucy, Emma and Joseph – for their outstanding and unfailing work throughout the year.

It has been a privilege for me to represent, assist and promote societies this year. I hope this This year has been a busy one Yearbook will ignite joyful memfor the CSC. Provisional recog- ories for you all of what has been nition has been granted to three yet another remarkable year for new societies since I was elect- the CSC’s societies. ed Chair, and I welcome Trinity Space Society, the Agricultural Go raibh maith agat, agus bain Society and TEDxTrinityCol- sult as an Bhliainiris, legeDublin to campus: I look forward to watching them progBenn Ó hÓgáín ress. As Chair, I have represented societies as part of the co- and extra-curricular activity strand of the Trinity Education Project, and a campaign for increased stu-

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FRESHERS’ WEEK 2016 Freshers’ Week 2016 was as jam-packed as ever, with 123 student societies showcasing themselves to the fresh-faced first years across the week. The week kicked off on Monday 19th of September, with dedicated society members rising at the crack of dawn to nab the best spots for their society stand. Gazebos were precariously erected across Front Square as societies set up colourful displays to welcome the newest members of college to the joys of society life. As students took their first nervy steps under Front Arch, they were instantly met by hoards of enthusiastic committee members, goody bags galore and the sweet waft of copious amounts of free pizza.

Campus was buzzing with activity across all five days of the week. Societies had put in a huge effort into organising their Freshers’ Week events, giving students a wonderful introduction into their activities.

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AFRO CARIBBEAN AFROJAM

The Afro-Caribbean society held the first ever AfroJam in November 2016. The ambience could be felt all around Front Square even before the event started. The society’s logo and the names of the performing acts were projected with style onto the front of the Exam Hall, which was right across from the venue of the event, the Chapel.

From the first performance, there was a steady flux of college visitors to the Chapel, enquiring if they could go in for the event, with a good number of them paying full ticket prices, as they enjoyed the music from the outside so much. A reporter from the University Times was present at the event and took some iconic pictures of the evening.

Prior to the event, the seven acts who performed had to be chosen from the many talented groups who contacted the society and expressed interest in taking part. The acts were whittled down using various criteria such as the ability to carry an audience, vocal ability and variety in genres.

Before the event, there had also been steady promotion of the AfroJam on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, with tickets going on sale in other colleges around Dublin such as UCD, DIT, Maynooth and ITT. Altogether on the night, there were about 120 people in attendance in the 150 person capacity Chapel. This large audience was enthusiastic and thoroughly enjoyed every performance.

The AfroJam was an event about music and promotion of Irish and International acts in the Afro-fusion, soul and jazz genres. Overall, this event was the first Afro-themed musical event in Trinity and was a huge success.

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ANIMATION Gesture Drawing with Niall Laverty On the 29th of November, Niall Laverty, who has worked on a myriad of animation projects, most notably Anastasia, arrived to give us a tutorial on gesture drawing and share his insights into animating with our members. He introduced us to concepts in gesture drawing, followed by supervising our members as they practiced these methods. We learned how to capture the flow and curve of a pose and to express figures fluidly, in motion and direction. Many of our members found themselves enjoying the evening to the point where they volunteered to create dynamic or humorous poses with which Laverty demonstrated the ability to follow the form and line of a body. Within an hour, amusing figures, characters and even emotions were depicted as members were free to express themselves and their burgeoning talents.

This is just one example of our innovative and varied events. Come and join us if you want to take part or just want to get to know those who do. We aim to enjoy and appreciate animation from around the world both studio and independently made. We provide animation showings and for those who would love to get more involved, we organise events which showcase particular techniques and styles which are focused on developing personal drawing and animating skills. Our enthusiastic committee members are always there to help and we hope to get the chance to meet you!

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ARCHITECTURE SHEDDING LIGHT ON EILEEN GRAY On the 8th December 2016, DUGES and ArcSoc collaborated to bring you a terrific discussion on the life of Eileen Gray, one of Ireland’s greatest but most sadly underappreciated designers and pioneers of the Modern Movement.

Gray was born in Enniscorthy 1878. Having studied in the Slade School of Fine Art from the age of 20, she took a special interest in lacquer work. Gray split her time between Ireland, London and Paris. In 1917, she designed her famous Bibendum chair and in 1924, alongside partner Jean Badovici, the famous E-1027 table. While Gray is recognised internationally, she has never achieved a proportional level of acclaim to that of her male counterparts. Le Corbusier, a male fellow designer of the time, also inadvertently took credit for some of her most celebrated works.

The event consisted of three reputable speakers: Sean Kissane, Curator of Exhibitions of IMMA; Mary-Ruth Walsh, a prominent architect, much of whose work has been inspired by Gray, and Patricia O’Reilly, author of The Interview, a novel which explores the relationship between Gray and Bruce Chatwin.

The event was followed by a delicious post-event reception in the great craic bar of Probus on Fenian Street

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BIOLOGICAL ‘Art in Medicine’ Prize Hippocrates once said that “wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.” BioSoc recognises that our promotion of medicine would be incomplete without recognising its intimate ties to the human condition. This year, with the help of a generous donor, we established the ‘Art in Medicine’ prize – €1,000 awarded annually to the student who contributes the most to the promotion of the arts and humanities within the health sciences. We received over 30 submissions including a variety of short stories, poems, paintings, sculptures and even live performances. Students were invited to present their submissions at a specially commissioned exhibition which took place in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute on the 20th of January. The event consisted of an art gallery and live show, was attended by approximately 150 students and academics, and followed by a wine and cheese reception. Each submission was viewed by a judging panel consisting of students and staff from both medical and art disciplines. After careful consideration of many impressive works, the inaugural ‘Art in Medicine’ prize was awarded to Salim Sebaoui and Sam Gray for ‘Who?’ - a moving short film exploring mental health challenges confronting medical trainees. The art exhibition was welcomed as an opportunity for health science students to explore the more holistic aspects of medicine that are often overlooked. We hope that the exhibition will become a staple of our society’s calendar for years to come.

Credits go to the artists, left - Salim Sebaoui (4th Year Medicine) and right - Reane Macarulay (3rd Year Medicine).

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CHAPEL CHOIR Christmas Carol Service The festive buzz around campus as Michaelmas Term draws to a close is many people’s favourite time of year. Christmas is a busy time for the Chapel Choir anyway as the festive season brings with it performances at many diverse College events: at Christmas Commons in the Dining Hall, at events at the magnificent Old Library, as well as at our regular biweekly services in College Chapel. The College Carol service is a particular focus during the closing days of the term. On the final Monday of Michaelmas Term, a queue forms outside the chapel that meanders past the Dining Hall, around the Christmas tree, and toward the Arts Block.

Hundreds of people cram into the Chapel with many having to stand as space is tight. At 5.05pm, we join the College’s ecumenical chaplaincy in celebrating a service of carols.

The service was held by candlelight, creating an incredibly atmospheric setting for the highlight of the Chapel Choir’s Michaelmas Term. Our repertoire for the evening included a variety of Christmas classics such as The Wexford Carol and In Dulci Jubilo along with There Shall a Star by Mendelssohn and A Babe is Born by Mathias.

We also premiered a work by one of our previous conductors, Paul Flynn. The congregation joined in for carols including Adeste Fideles, and Hark! the Herald, filling the Chapel with festive spirit. Although the choir are well used to performing in Chapel, the Carol Service was something extra special that we all thoroughly enjoyed, and are already looking forward to the next one!

CHORAL MASS IN B MINOR

Following weeks of rehearsal, preparation and hard work, the University of Dublin Choral Society performed Bach’s intricate and beautiful Mass in B Minor on the 23rd and 24th of November 2016. Within the walls of Trinity’s own Public Theatre, the choir and musicians performed to wonderful audiences on both nights. The Mass in B Minor is a stalwart within the choral tradition and so we were very glad and privileged to be performing in front of those who had a great appreciation and fondness for the work. Audience and performers alike had a very enjoyable evening!

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In the first week of February, TCD Christian Union was running its annual Events Week. There were eight events in total, ranging from lunch Events Week: ‘Story: Lives Transformed’ time discussions to story and dessert evenings. In ‘Story: Lives Transformed’, we sought to reach out to the students of Trinity and engage with the stories that surround our lives.

No matter who we are, there is a story behind our lives that has led us to where we stand today. We wanted to explore that from a Christian perspective and see how God changes the lives of people throughout history.

CHRISTIAN UNION

On 2nd February, 80 students packed into the Hist Conversation Room for “Freedom in Prison - Dessert, Second Chances and Forgiveness”. After feasting on an array of desserts we heard the testimony of former paramilitary, John Hutchinson. There was silence as John told of how Jesus transformed his life; finding a second chance and forgiveness within the walls of a prison cell. His story urged the audience to question the consequences that may arise from the decisions we make. Afterwards, Mark Smith engaged the crowd with the story of Lazarus from the gospel of John; showing how a story of despair can end in eternal hope. This event highlighted the community between the members, the welcoming nature of the Christian Union, and desire amongst the members to engage with the college community about the big questions in life.

COMEDY Comedy Soc presents David O’Doherty

On October 27th 2016, Comedy Soc hosted David O’Doherty in a one-off free gig at the GMB. O’Doherty, who has been a regular guest of the society over the last few years, had last performed in Trinity in 2013. Notorious within the society for giving short notice on availability, he broke all the records this year when he phoned the chair at 8pm on Wednesday asking if he could do a warm-up gig the following day. Some strings were pulled and the next day a line of well over 150 students were waiting outside the GMB. The gig, at which O’Doherty was testing out material for a show in Vicar Street the following week, was quintessential of his comedy style – esoteric songs, self-deprecating narcissism, a description of how he would murder Craig David for being a more famous David than himself. The unrehearsed nature of the show led to the gig running somewhat overtime, but the Phil committee were enjoying themselves too much to mind. He was unapologetic about constantly referring to his notes: “You get what you paid for, and you people paid f**k all.”

At O’Doherty’s request the gig was free, but afterwards FLAC stood outside the door with buckets for the Peter McVerry Trust. Comedy Soc members and non-members alike basked in the glow of that rarest of things, a professionally paid comedian. The gig was a huge success, and Comedy Soc is proud to have brought such a high-quality event to the student body free of charge.

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COMPUTER SCIENCE Google #Hash Code Competition DUCSS organised and ran a hub for Google’s international programming competition, #Hash Code. We ran the hub on-campus, facilitating over 50 students taking part in the competition. Google supported the event by sending us pens, stickers, balloons, banners and so forth to decorate the venue and give to the attendees.

We worked with the department of Computer Science & Netsoc to run the hub. Our competitions officer liaised with the department to fund refreshments for the event while also communicating with Google regarding the setup of the hub. The #Hash Code is an annual, international, 4 hour programming competition with the problem being released to teams online, often focusing on a rather complex topic such as coordinating drone deliveries or deciding what YouTube video may go viral and giving it more server resources if so.

CUMANN GAELACH Lá na Gaeilge Ba Déardaoin é i rith Seactain a 4 timpeall an Champais Choláiste na Tronóide – cuireadh an imeacht bliantúil ‘Lá na Gaeilge’ ar súil arís ag an gCumann Gaelach. Thosnaigh an lá ag a 10r.n. ins an tSeomra na Gaeilge leis an mBricfeasta Gaelach le breis ‘s 100 ispín, 100 slisíní bágúin agus scónaí i ngach áit. Ag a 12.30i.n. rinneadh turas ealaíne timpeall an Champais. Lón mór ag a h1i.n. le breis bhia ar fáil arís! Ag a 5i.n. tháinig ár laoch mór: Aengus Mac Ghrianna, láithreoir nuachta a oibríonn le Raidió Teilifís na hÉireann, le labhairt linn, labhair sé faoin a chuid taithí leis an nGaeilge agus leis an bhfeachtas Chomhionnanais in Éirinn. Ansin bhuaileamar le chéile ag a 9i.n. agus chuamar go léir ar aghaidh ag Club Prhomo i gcomhair Oíche Gaylach. Dúradh linn ‘gurb é an Lá na Gaeilge sin, ceann dá Laethanta na Gaeilge ab fhearr go gconacthas riamh.’ Lá iontach a bhí ann a ghlac an-chuid daoine páirt ann.

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DANCE TRINITY’S BEST DANCE CREW We have had an exceptional year here at DU Dance. Amongst all the workshops, collaborations, competitions, and karaokes, our favourite event has been Trinity’s Best Dance Crew for Rag Week.

We transformed the former ‘Trinity Come Dancing’ which involved one ‘celebrity’ student into ‘Trinity’s Best Dance Crew’ for the sole purpose of inclusion. We had in total 9 societies and clubs that took part, and these groups were taught by members of our committee and Varsity teams in their respective styles. The training and time-planning proved difficult for all those involved, but when it came to the night, all nerves were quickly replaced by adrenaline and excitement. For those in the clubs and societies who have never danced before, it was a bit of a shock to the system, but when they were performing on stage they couldn’t of had any more fun.

Congratulations to Cumann Gaelach on being crowned the winners.

We are planning to continue with Trinity’s Best Dance Crew every RAG week, and to increase the amount of clubs and societies who partake to spread the love for dance.

Our fantastic Intervarsity Crews deserve a mention for representing DU Dance and Trinity so well at the annual Dance Intervarsity competition in Galway this year. Our 4 crews each placed in their categories, with Jazz and Contemporary scooping up 1st place, Irish in 2nd, followed by Hiphop in 3rd.

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GENDER EQUALITY “THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES” This year, on the 10th of March, we closed International Women’s Week with a performance of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” in collaboration with the GSU. International Women’s Week is the most important week of the year in our calendar and after a week of daily events and volunteering at stands, we spent an evening in Freemason’s Hall listening to our amazing performers discuss all things vaginal.

At a sold-out event, the atmosphere was nonetheless intimate and entrancing. The regal setting created an odd incongruity between subject matter and our surroundings, particularly during the monologue during which the audience was encouraged to yell a… certain word. All in the interest of reclaiming the word of course, not just so we could yell it in Freemason’s Hall. Dressed in red and black, in low lighting, the performers left us afterwards feeling inspired and empowered, and keen to take away the message of the play which is the need to celebrate the experiences of all those people who have vaginas and those who identify as women.

The event incarnated the beliefs of the DU Gender Equality Society and the aims of the current committee: intersectional feminism, the celebration and recognition of all said experiences and the exploitation of the arts to this end.

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PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIAL RECEPTIONS (DUPSA), is Trinity’s society for Pharmacy students and one of its main aims is to bring Pharmacy students together to form long lasting friendships and of course to have some phun! The main opportunity for bonding among all years of Trinity Pharmacists-to-be (and we’re not talking about the organic chemistry modules here) are the beloved DUPSA wine receptions. Hosted in locations on campus such as the Buttery Atrium and the GMB, DUPSA hold these events approximately bi-monthly during the year. It doesn’t matter if you are more 7-Up than Sauvignon Blanc as we cater for all tastes on the night and have copious amounts of snacks to perk you up after a long day of lectures and labs in the Panoz. DUPSA takes pride in the fact that these events are what make TCD Pharmacy the close-knit community that it is. For first year students the receptions are a great way to get to know those in their year and for returning students they are a chance to catch up with those friends they haven’t seen in a while, but no matter who you are one thing is for sure, you always leave a DUPSA wine reception with more friends than you had when you arrived!

ALTERNATIVE MUSIC Workman’s Gig In DUAMS we love all types of music and we especially love to showcase the talent around Trinity and around Dublin, through our regular open mics, our jam sessions, and our involvement with ENTS Battle of the Bands. This year we decided to shake it up a little bit, by holding a gig in the Workman’s Club, one of Dublin’s coolest and intimate venues, on the 21st of February. We spent a good part of the year preparing for this gig – it was a huge challenge and took all the collective power of the committee to make sure it went well (two of our exec had to literally run around Dublin the hour before to source drum parts). We sent out an open call for local acts to send in their music and we decided on JOEL HARKIN, BAD SEA and EASY TIDE – with a DJ set by Trinity FM as well. It was an incredible night – to put on a gig ourselves in one of the most iconic clubs in the Irish music scene, and the pride we felt in being able to give these bands a platform and an opportunity to play. We love being there to promote local acts and to give people as many opportunities as possible to play some music – whether it’s casual guitars with a couple of friends at our jam sessions, or on stage in the bright lights.

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ENACTUS Enactus Inspires: Speaker Series Enactus TCD’s aim is to promote social entrepreneurship in Trinity College. This year, we ran a series of talks called Enactus Inspires in which we invited successful social entrepreneurs such as James Whelton, founder of CoderDojo and listed on Forbes ‘30 Under 30’, as well as Chris MM Gordon, founder of Socent. ie. We also organised a panel discussion with the founders of a number of food businesses including Krust Bakery, Improper Butter and Little Ass Burritos.

It was a very fun event where attendees learned about the challenges of starting off a business but also the rewards associated with working on something that you are deeply passionate about. We also learned of the importance of cutting down on food waste in our society and the lengths each of the firms is going to reduce waste. Finally, we all got to enjoy some pizzas and brainstorm on ideas that will be as successful as FoodCloud in the future! Just one of many events in what was an amazing year for Enactus TCD!

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ENVIRONMENTAL FOOD RESCUE LUNCH This year, we’ve been focusing a lot on food waste. In Ireland alone there are over 1 million tonnes of food waste disposed of each year. Up to 80% of this is avoidable. We want to make students aware of ways to avoid wasting food in their own homes, and campaign for larger organisations to reduce their waste too. Inspired by a visit from American activist Rob Greenfield, who visited us the previous year, we started hosting “Food Waste Fiasco” events. These gave students access to free food, which would have gone in the bin had it not been for our trusty food rescuers!

This culminated in a large Trinity-wide event, where we collaborated with The Buttery to make lunch for hundreds of people using food destined for waste. The charities VOICE, Food Cloud, and WeShare Dublin all took part and hosted discussion tables alongside ourselves in the Dining Hall. Thereby, those enjoying their lunch could discover and brainstorm different ways to mitigate or solve the issue of food waste inside and outside Trinity. Perhaps the best thing of all? 50 people got lunch completely free that day. And who doesn’t like free food?!

SOUTH EAST ASIA FOOD BINGO The Dublin University South East Asia Society aims to give all South-East Asian students here a sense of belonging and serve as a home away from home. We also hope to share our culture with the rest of Trinity. As such, the CSC Fourth Week was the perfect opportunity to do so as it encouraged members and non-members to learn about the different societies by attending free events. Our event mainly featured the highlight of every Asian culture: food. With the huge variety of South-East Asian foods, we knew it would be hard for everyone to get a taste of everything. Using Food Bingo, which is a game adapted from the famous Korean TV Show, Running Man, we managed to overcome that, as well as make this event a fun one with lots of interaction among participants. Food bingo uses food instead of numbers, in a 5 by 5 grid, and the first to complete 2 rows won. In this game, we featured foods like Kim Chi, Prawn Crackers, Sushi, Mee Goreng and many more. The event ended with more food – Nasi Lemak (Coconut rice) with Ayam Penyet (Fried Chicken) and some traditional Nyonya Kueh (Sticky dessert). DUSEAS is a tight-knit community fostering bonds within our society through food and games, also providing members with opportunities to meet new people in Trinity as well as in other universities such as during our inaugural Intervarsities Sports Day which saw South-East Asians from UCD, DKIT, UCC, NUIG and QUB participate on the day.

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FASHION Annual Trinity Fashion Show Burnt Out was the theme of this year’s Annual Trinity Fashion Show, which raised vital funds for Pieta House.

The night gained national press coverage and the front row was graced with Irish industry insiders. The night would have been impossible to accomplish without the help of so many of our members who joined various subcommittees, from PR to styling.

Model castings, press statements and sponsorship files needed to be organised and constant interaction with PR companies was essential too. Elaborate displays were created and even more inventive photoshoots took up our time as we quietly made our way towards the big night. The Complex opened their doors last December to an industrial backdrop highlighting the intertwining arches between mental health and the fashion industry. The show focused on current trends like Sports Luxe and Understated Glamour in a raw, contemporary way. This exploration of mental health’s impact on an industry full of creatives was picked up on by MFI Magazine. Machismo Deconstructed and Washed Out were two of the final chapters the show presented, aptly setting the tone for the night ahead. The night was filled with everything from designer labels to high street mecca’s like Topshop.

The after party was held in The Turks Head encouraging all those working during the show to forget the manic stress of the night. DUDJ and BoraBora Dj’s continued with the electric energy that was so present during the show itself.

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FLAC Student Sleep-Out In addition to holding free weekly advice clinics and providing legal information to the student body, Trinity FLAC continues to passionately campaign for the promotion of human rights and the principles of social justice. This year, FLAC dedicated a considerable amount of time to campaigning for an end to the homelessness crisis which, as Michael D Higgins has described it, is ‘the most pressing of all the manifestations of inequality in Ireland’. To further the aims of this campaign, we held a ‘Student Sleep-Out’, in collaboration with the SU. On a chilly October night, over 40 students bedded down outside Front Arch in order to raise greater awareness of the plight of the homeless. By doing so, students also had the opportunity to deepen their own understanding of the challenges faced by rough sleepers, many of whom spend their nights on the streets around our college.

A number of TDs were also invited to take part, in order to ensure that the event had an impact on those with the political power to alleviate homelessness. We were delighted to be joined by Jan O’Sullivan TD who slept out with us and Maureen O’Sullivan TD who dropped down to support us and share her thoughts on solutions to this ongoing crisis. The night had a profound impact on all who took part, with many participants agreeing that their eyes had been opened to the extent to which homelessness infringes on one’s human dignity. The night also had a very successful fundraising element, with students raising over €5000 for the Peter McVerry Trust.

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FIANNA FAIL Imagining One Ireland The Wolfe Tone Cumann hosted a panel discussion to discuss the economics, society and culture of Irish unity in the context of Brexit and the NI Assembly elections. Guests included Dr Martin Mansergh (former Minister of State and key advisory figure during the Peace Process); Stephen Donnelly TD (Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Brexit); Cllr Sorcha McAnespy (Independent Assembly candidate for West Tyrone); and Mr Padraic White (former Managing Director of the IDA). The expertise and calibre of each of the guests ensured a comprehensive and thought-provoking discussion on Brexit and North-South relations, framed by a strong aspiration towards Irish unity. Dr Mansergh spoke about the development of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and the ways in which they could still be considered successful, even in light of the political instability in Stormont. Cllr McAnespy spoke from personal experience about the disruption to daily life caused by a ‘hard border’, recalling her feelings of fear and intimidation as a child when her family’s car would be stopped by British soldiers on the way to the seaside. Deputy Donnelly criticised the British government for its hypocrisy in playing down the effect that a ‘hard Brexit’ will have for Ireland. Among his priorities he listed the protection of Irish citizenship for people in the six counties along with the related EU protections and called on the Government to seek to avoid a hard border at all costs. Mr White drew on his extensive experience attracting foreign investment to Ireland and his work in developing the border region. He called for cooperation, rather than competition, between investment campaigns across Ireland as a way to foster the all-Ireland economy—stating that economic unity will come before political unity. The event was followed by a lively Q&A session.

On the 1st of February, Germanic Society hosted the Swiss Ambassador in the TCD Global Room for a lunchtime discussion. Ambassador Marie Claude SWISS AMBASSADOR VISIT Meylan presented an extremely interesting and engaging talk on gender equality and gender quotas in Switzerland. A new law in Switzerland requires that 30% of company board members ought to be women.

However, the ambassador pointed out that this law does not impose sanctions on companies who do not adhere to the quota, forcing them rather to “comply or explain”. She also contrasted this information with gender equality in Scandinavia, with particular reference to Norway. She explained how Switzerland, a country which only gave the vote to women in 1971, has made huge advances in terms of gender equality. A Q&A session followed and topics from Switzerland’s use of direct democracy to the campaign to repeal the eighth amendment were discussed.

GERMANIC

The engagement of the audience here was clear, as question after question came flowing. This was the first time that the society managed to secure a talk from the Swiss Ambassador. It also highlights our desire to feature presentations from all Germanic countries, not just Germany. This talk was well attended and helped to spread Germanic culture on campus.

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GEOGRAPHICAL GEOWEEK On the week of the 14th to 20th November, DU Geog Soc held events to mark International Geoweek with this year’s theme being “Exploring the Power of Parks”. Events were spread out over the course of the week, with the ever popular Geolympics starting the week off with a bang. The night was filled with geographical based games and challenges, offering much entertainment. Tuesday saw the much anticipated talk by Dr. Shane McGuinness (Dublin Zoo) and Dr. Federico Cugurllo (TCD), with both offering different approaches to the theme of the week.

Dr. Shane McGuinness discussed the history and importance of the Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo, while Dr. Cugurllo presented the exciting concept of “Frankenstein Cities”, which encouraged much debate amongst the considerable audience present.

In conjunction to the events, a photography competition was run throughout the week, with members encouraged to send in pictures of their favourite parks. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges and the popularity of the picture on Facebook, with the first prize being the envy of any geographer - an annual subscription to the National Geographic. To end the week we ventured on our annual international fieldtrip, with the destination this year being Bucharest, Romania, where we attended a geography conference in the University of Bucharest.

Forty-four enthusiastic geographers set forth on an adventure of a lifetime in what was the best ever year for DU Geographical Society.

FRENCH Intervarsity Debating Competition Trinity French Society is dedicated to celebrating the French language and culture. In February, we welcomed Francophiles from colleges all over the country to participate in a two day debating competition. We aimed to make this a diverse and inclusive event, catering for everyone from complete novices to native French speakers.

The event saw three rounds of debating over two days, followed by the grand final which was presided over by an illustrious panel of judges. Participants were faced with challenging, thought-provoking motions- as well as the additional challenge of doing it all en francais! Standards were impressively high and there was a real sense of engagement and interest throughout the competition. Still, we also made sure to showcase our dedication to la bonne nourriture, with a wine and cheese reception along with a night out on the Friday night. This was followed by a lavish French breakfast the following morning. We received really positive feedback about the event and were even featured in Le Petit Journal! It’s been wonderful to see how much participants enjoyed themselves and for me, truly wonderful to have worked with such a talented committee to make it all happen.

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GENERAL SCIENCE FAMELAB 2016 was a big year for the science faculty in Trinity College. The college became the first in Ireland to join the prestigious League of European Research Universities, there were numerous headline making breakthroughs from all departments and for the first time there was a General Science society to promote popular science to the student body. No event better exemplified DU General Science Society’s aim to promote science across campus than the Trinity heat of the international science communication competition, Famelab. On the 8 th of December at 7pm, 10 eager competitors took to the stage to show off their knowledge and dazzle us with little known facts about the world around us. From the positive effect of hugs on the immune system to the zoological terror of the mantis shrimp, the night was an incredible display of how interesting and varied science is. Every person brought a unique perspective to their subject and gave the audience an insight into a wide variety of topics. The night was fantastic example of what DU General Science Society is all about, students coming together to have a good night while also sharing a common appreciation for science.

FOOD & DRINK FEAST IV Another year has flown by for Food & Drink and with many new friends welcomed to our events throughout the year, what better way to celebrate new friendship than with another installment of the growing tradition that is FEAST? On February 14th, we wined and dined 230 foodies in the wonderful space that is South Studios. With 5 courses and an abundance of wine, it was yet another night to remember for FEAST fans, this being the fourth installment of the event. While the physical venue was just around the corner from Teeling’s Distillery (one of our generous sponsors for the night), guests were transported to Rick’s Café, the central setting of the iconic film and theme for the night - Casablanca! With St. Valentine’s Day in the hearts and minds of all attendees, it was a pleasure to serve up a romantic, Moroccan blend of chickpeas, lamb Harira and cous cous for one and all to indulge in. After a short drinks reception, delicious baked goods from the Bretzel Bakery, a sweet potato tahini salad, the lamb or vegetable tagine main, spiced orange cake and a Sheridan’s Cheesemongers board, everyone departed for some dancing. With Dunnes Stores sponsored lanterns, fairy lights and mountains of food served to the backdrop of our amazing jazz band, it is a miracle that the mesmerised and replete party all managed to make their way to Wigwam afterwards at all!

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HISTORICAL SOCIETY Patti Smith Speaks To The Hist The Hist enjoyed a very successful session this year, with debates every week, visits from a number of high-profile guests such Patti Smith, Nick Clegg, Sarah Koenig, and Pat Cox, and much success in competitive debating, reaching the final of the European Debating Championships. The event at the forefront of everyone’s memory of the Hist this year, was the visit of American singer-songwriter Patti Smith, who delivered a very powerful performance.

On Friday, November 5th, the Hist welcomed Patti Smith to receive the society’s Burke Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Discourse through the Arts. Patti Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and visual artist who became one of the founders of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album ‘Horses’. The Chamber of the GMB was packed with students eager to hear from her, and she did not disappoint. She spoke about what it means to be an artist, and how her life experiences have shaped her work, and she also spoke about the current state of the world, the election of Trump and ultimately emphasised how the people have the power to make change.

She then performed a spoken word version of her song “People Have The Power”, and sang “Wing”. It was an incredibly moving performance, and Smith left the stage to a standing ovation.

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HISTORY The King’s Good Servant The King’s Good Servant sought to juxtapose two schools of history and place in stark opposition two great characters of the sixteenth century. Although remembered differently, Sir Thomas Moore and Thomas Cromwell were both apart of the precarious Tudor Court; both rose to the top, only to be executed for treason.

For five weeks, a cast of ten rehearsed nearly every day to create a one hour performance of historical drama based on both A Man for All Seasons and Wolf Hall. Sumptuous costumes were hired from the Abbey Theatre to dazzle in ‘flash mobs’ enacted across College and over two hundred guests who filtered into the Freemason’s Grand Hall on Molesworth Street. Red, purple and blue lights lit the ostentatious columns and created shadows that danced eerily along the aisle of the Chamber – indeed, with the audience flanking the sides of the gallery, both actors and spectators were transported into a physical Tudor trial.

Yet, to make sense of the complex characters the evening was opened by debate. Standing head-to- head, Professor Ciaran Brady and Dr. Graeme Murdock argued the toss for their man in history. Between the quick rebuttals and cutting remarks, we were introduced to the world they lived in – the stage was set and the audience’s votes were counted.

While Moore led by a strong margin as the audience entered, after debate and drama, Cromwell stole the exit poll. The evening, of almost three hours of historical contest and theatrics, had confronted two divergent views and the preconceived ideas of those who came had been overturned. The debate was not settled, but it colourfully showed the power that modern writing can have on the past, and not just the words of historians.

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HISPANIC STRICTLY COME SALSA This year Hispanic Soc teamed up with Salsa Dublin to host the freshest salsa event seen on the Trinity calendar to date! We aimed to showcase an exciting and integral aspect of Hispanic culture with an event that everyone could enjoy, whether they could speak Spanish or not. With over seventy people gathered in Front Square, the event was even bigger than expected, but that didn’t stop our sassy salsa teacher from showing us the best of his moves. We learned the basic steps and then salsa-ed the night away, changing partners every five minutes so that everyone had the chance to impress someone with their spicy new steps. With the backdrop of the Campanile, the Front Square was a picture-perfect setting for our evening salsa class, allowing people to easily join in if they caught the salsa fever when passing by! A surprise visit from Senator David Norris (who also seemed to have been bitten by the salsa bug) ensured our night ended with a bang! Salsa on Front Square was a huge success and Hispanic Soc would like to thank everyone who donned their dancing shoes for the evening! ¡Arrrrrrrrrriba!

INTERNATIONAL GIANT’’S CAUSEWAY TRIP DUISS is a society that brings international people together, through travelling around Ireland and sharing Irish culture. On the 1st of October 2016, a group of enthusiastic students from all over the globe embarked on their first adventure to one of Ireland’s most iconic locations, the Giant’s Causeway. With stops at the Rope Bridge and Dunluce Castle, the trip was sure to be a success. A shy group of international strangers quickly began mingling, amazed by the beautiful scenery and the surprisingly hot and sunny weather. The committee had organised a photo competition, which got people more involved in the trip, as they tried to catch the best one out of the many beautiful images that were on display that day. The Giant’s Causeway trip was only the first one of around eleven wonderful trips, and what a great trip it was!! A great beginning to the incredibly successful year that the society has had, with wonderful experiences and incredible new friends from all over the world!!

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INTERNET CODECON Netsoc is Trinity’s Internet Society, we were originally the only way to get connected on campus. `These days, with the advent of WiFi and all that, we run services like free web hosting for students, with internet and tech-related talks and events every week. On the 13th of October, Netsoc partnered with Microsoft to bring a codecon to House 6. A codecon or coding competition is just what it sounds; competitors assemble into teams, problems are set and points are awarded to those who provide the best solutions. Competitors also got to meet Senior Software Engineers to talk through problems and to find out more about working for Microsoft. The turnout was nothing short of unbelievable; after packing out the Eliz room, we had to spill out over to the CSC Offices. A huge thanks to Microsoft and to everyone who came along, it won’t be the last event of its kind!

ITALIAN Italy and the EU: A Panel Discussion The TCD Italian Society hosted a discussion on the 20th of February on the current position of Italy in the EU, following the rejection of the December 4th referendum. Leading the discussion were his Excellency the Italian Ambassador Adorni Braccesi; Leonardo Simonelli, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK; and Maurizio Mastrangelo, co-founder of the Federation of Italian Business in Ireland (FIBI). Simonelli opened the discussion by praising the society for providing a meeting place for young Italians studying at Trinity. He outlined his longterm projection of world population and trade fluctuations in the next 50 years. This included “the diminished importance of Europe” within the world trade community. Following this introduction, Mastrangelo continued the discussion.

For him, in Brexit “everybody loses” but explained that “crisis is a good word, as it promotes new systems”. Mastrangelo lamented the migration of Italian young people to the UK and Ireland, hoping they would return home with new skills and fluent English. The discussion closed with a few words from Braccesi. He confirmed that “with Brexit, things will change”. He encouraged greater Irish investment in foreign workers who are leaving the UK following the fall of the pound’s value. Regarding Italy, Braccesi did not agree with the rejection of the December 4th referendum and felt a reform of political identity was needed. However, he remained optimistic for the future of the EU.

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LAURENTIAN Visit from the Papal Nuncio Laurentian had a very busy and successful year, with collaborations with LitSoc and the Muslim Students’ Association, talks from Professor Pádraig de Paor, Professor Anna Chahoud, and many other speakers, film screenings, and a bake sale to raise money for Trócaire.

We began the year with a visit from the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown. The Vatican’s diplomatic representative in Ireland, Archbishop Brown kindly agreed to address members of the society on the topic ‘Rediscovering Catholicism’.

Since it was the final month of the Year of Mercy, he focused on the nature of mercy - misericordia in Latin. Cordia means ‘heart’; thus, mercy means having a tender heart, as in the parable of the Prodigal Son. He spoke of how many Catholic beliefs are ‘both/and’ – they require us to hold two concepts in mind at once (for example, the divine and human nature of Jesus, or the unity of God and his nature as three persons). Thus, mercy must always be paired with truth: ‘mercy without truth is just sentimentality, truth without mercy is just moralistic Pharisaism. Mercy offers warmth to those who have only known the coldness of judgement’.

After the Archbishop finished his lecture, there was an excellent and wide-ranging Q&A, with discussion of the philosophy of Kierkegaard, the crisis of vocations in Western countries, clerical celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church, and the possibility of reunification with the Eastern Orthodox churches.

The Korean Society experienced an active year full of activities and events, celebrating the culture with numerous members of our society. We were elected in March of 2016 and had an event with the Korean Ambassador, his excellency Kang Il Huh, during our term to welcome him to Ireland and thank him for the continuous support over the years. We enjoyed other exciting collaborations with the Korean Society of Ireland as well. Our biggest event this year was Seollal (Korean New Year - 설날). For Seollal, we had a lovely dinner which was accompanied with exciting Karaoke, which was funded by the Korean Embassy. It was our most exciting and successful event as we were able to celebrate this special day with a large crowd. We also had a Christmas event to celebrate the holiday before the break. We had a Korean BBQ which allowed the members to become more engaged with the society, interact with each other and helped form long term bonds. The members enjoyed many Korean dishes and had a bowl of Dduk Guk (Korean Rice Cake Soup - 떡 국) making them age a year! Overall, the members had a fun year which was filled with different activities such as Karaoke, food, games, variety shows, movies or talks!

KOREAN

Seollal, Korean New Year

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LAW F.W. de Klerk receives the Praeses Elit Award On 18th January, F.W. de Klerk visited the Law Society to receive the Trinity Praeses Elit Award. De Klerk is a former president of South Africa who made the decision to release Nelson Mandela from prison and to begin the process of dismantling apartheid and instigating reconciliation within a heavily divided South African society.

De Klerk was warmly welcomed by the auditor of the Law Society, and he spoke to a large audience about the concept of equality. De Klerk remembered that in February 1990, he “leapt through the window of opportunity and commenced negotiations”, seeking to entrench principles of equality and non-discrimination in South Africa. He concluded his address by emphasising the importance of defending the ideals of freedom and equality, particularly after the remarkable and disturbing political developments of 2016.

In the subsequent Q & A session, de Klerk responded to queries about nuclear disarmament of South Africa, which he described as one of the most important things he did during his presidency. He noted that he was in favour of reforming, rather than running away from, institutions such as the International Criminal Court, which South Africa recently announced it was leaving. Finally, de Klerk was asked about why he thought he was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela. He agreed that this was a “courageous decision” that he recognised was controversial, however he noted that the actions taken by his party laid the foundations for reconciliation.

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Law Review The Irish Judiciary: Origins, Culture and Reform?

The theme of this Distinguished Speakers Series panel discussion was the judiciary. The topics touched on included the historical foundations of our judicial system, some of the implications which the decisions of the Supreme Court have had on society, methods of judicial selection in Ireland and how these methods impact judicial thought. The first panel member was Ruadhan Mac Cormaic, former legal affairs correspondent for the Irish Times and author of ‘The Supreme Court.’ He spoke about the research he had undertaken and some of the significant constitutional decisions of the 1950s and 1960s.

The second speaker was Dr. Jennifer Carroll MacNeil - barrister and author of ‘The Politics of Judicial Selection.’ Dr. Carroll Mac Neil spoke about the methods of judicial selection in Ireland in comparison with other jurisdictions which democratically elect judges, along with suggesting certain reforms. The final speaker was Professor Simon Lee of the Open University and author of ‘Judging Judges,’ who spoke about the challenges faced by judges and the criticisms of the media, to which they are often subject. The chaired question and answer session focused primarily on issues relating to reform, judicial pay and Minister Shane Ross’s dispute with the judiciary. The event was followed by a reception in the Phil conversation room.

Q SOC OSCAR WILDE SÉANCE On the 27th October Q Soc met under the Campanile late at night to honour one of Trinity’s most iconic Irish queer figures, Oscar Wilde. Inspired by his birthday the previous week and with Samhain approaching we opted for an unusual celebration of his life, including a tour of Oscar’s regular haunts around campus, readings from his many works and culminating in a séance to try to summon his spirit.

Led by Trinity’s resident Occultist Ronan Hodson we gathered in Áras An Phiarsaigh, close to Oscar’s rooms while at college, to evoke his spirit. From his boyhood Oscar Wilde was haunted by the literature and culture of ancient Greece. With this in mind, Mr Hodson led a bespoke ritual to evoke the playwright, including an ancient Greek summoning chant praying to Persephone, Queen of the underworld, to allow Oscar to cross the five rivers of the underworld to communicate with us.

Sadly, though the one thing that Oscar could not resist was temptation, it seems we were not able to tempt him out on this night. However, some of our members did experience some interesting dreams of a Wildean nature the following week. We believe this event represented Q Soc’s aim for the year, blending fun and LGBTQ+ heritage to create a balanced society life.

We think this is well demonstrated by our tagline for the event: The only thing worse than being summoned is not being summoned.

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LITERARY LITERARY LOCk-IN The multi-award winning LitSoc is a haven for all aspiring writers and fervent readers. Among a host of other events, the society holds regular “Literary Lock-Ins”: quiet, productive spaces for members to write and share their work. The two-hour Lock-In literally traps you in a room and forces you to create – but don’t worry, it’s far from King’s Misery! We spread out rugs and cushions to create a cosy atmosphere, and give literary prompts at the beginning of each session for anyone struggling for inspiration. For 15 minutes at a time, the only sounds heard are the scratching of pens and the clicking of keyboards, as members become fully immersed in their writing. Afterwards, the room rings with voices discussing pieces and writing processes. Members are encouraged to perform the writing they produce at our Speakeasy open-mic nights, or to submit to our creative writing journal, The Attic. LitSoc seeks always to show that writing and reading do not have to be solitary acts – they can in fact be enjoyed as a community, and our Lock-ins are the perfect opportunity to both produce your magnum opus, and meet other creative people in the process.

MATHEMATICAL The Mathematics of Origami This year the Mathematics Society collaborated with the Japanese Society to bring it’s members a talk on “The Mathematics of Origami” given by Dr. Victoria Lebed from the TCD mathematics department. The talk explored the fundamental mathematics related to origami such as the constructions for dividing the side of a square into any arbitrary rational fraction, doubling a cube and trisecting an angle.

Origami also has practical uses in mathematics, along with the ability to solve the general cubic equation, some classical construction problems of geometry are proven to be unsolvable using compass and straightedge, but can be solved using only a few paper folds.

The talk was well received and followed by a reception & workshop combination where everybody got a chance to test out their newly learned constructions by making everything from the classic crane to more complicated structures like giraffes, crocodiles and even whales.

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METAPHYSICAL Terry Eagleton on ‘The Death of God and the War on Terror’ On the 6th of December, Dublin University’s finest Metaphysical Society hosted well-known literary critic and Marxist writer Terry Eagleton. His talk was entitled “The Death of God and the War on Terror” and took place in the Robert Emmet Theatre. He talked about our society’s transition from a Christian, or theistic society, to a naturalistic and right wing one. Also, he submitted that religious extremism and modern terrorism challenge the secularized liberal world order and that this is caused by the ignoring of religious societies by modern capitalistic societies.

The talk was generally very well received and many audience members found that getting the opportunity to listen to such a distinguished and illustrious academic was very exciting. It was a successful event in what was a great year for the Metafizz. A year where, once again, we succeeded in bringing more philosophy to the University. And of course, after the event we adjourned to the Gingerman pub for refreshments and further discussion. See you at the next event!

MUSIC ‘NOSFERATU’ FILM SCREENING DU Music’s Fourth Week event, a screening of 1922 film Nosferatu, was a great example of one of the unique and enjoyable experiences on offer from the DU Music Society. The screening took place in the Chapel, a thoroughly fitting venue for the Gothic-esque atmosphere of the film. The red hue of light surrounding the venue added to the eerie nature of the event.

This event provided a platform for the society to showcase how music interacts and enhances other mediums of entertainment. The biggest selling point for the event was the live, completely improvised score delivered by organist Ronan Murray, played on the impressive Chapel organ. The event encouraged people from all musical and film interests to attended, displaying the inclusive nature of the society. The film itself was engaging, and very appropriate considering the event’s proximity to Halloween. Murray provided a hugely entertaining soundtrack, creating an atmosphere that was sometimes unsettling, sometimes hopeful, and even briefly comical, not once breaking the flow of his performance. It followed on from last year’s screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, hopefully establishing a new tradition for the society’s Fourth Week contribution, providing a singularly unique experience for all who attend.

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MUSICAL THEATRE WEST SIDE STORY In its inaugural year, Trinity Musical Theatre Society was thrilled to present its first production — the multi-award winning West Side Story. Over 250 exceptionally talented individuals auditioned for the musical, which kicked off the year on a high note. For 6 months, the cast of West Side Story dedicated 2 nights a week to intense, but unbelievably enjoyable rehearsals.

In the hours spent perfecting double pirouettes, polishing 4-part harmonies, and solidifying stage fight choreography, each cast member enjoyed the chance to step out of their comfort zone, develop an array of new theatre skills, and meet a whole new group of friends while doing so.

A team of costume designers and makeup artists were assembled to sew the show together in its final dress rehearsals, while the lighting, sound, and stage crew worked to ensure each spot light, set piece, and prop were directed to the right place at the right time throughout the show. West Side Story took place on March 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, in the O’Reilly Theatre, which packed nearly 400 audience members each night. The 3 night production was acknowledged and adjudicated by the Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS), and had the audience on the edge of their seats from curtain rise to curtain fall.

MUSLIM STUDENT WORLD HIJAB DAY This year TCD MSA celebrated World Hijab Day alongside many other countries around the world, in support of women who choose to wear the hijab. The day began with a stall in the Arts Block where all were welcome to ask questions, take a leaflet or even try on a hijab. Many joined us at the stall and took photos with their friends. This was followed by the main event which was held in the Chamber of the GMB, that evening. We had the pleasure of hosting two lovely speakers, Lorraine O’Connor and Nuara Bazama, who both recounted their experiences and perception of the hijab.

Lorraine spoke about the changes she experienced after wearing the hijab while Nuara spoke about how the concept of the hijab extends much further than just the physical headscarf. These impactful speeches were followed by two captivating spoken word poems performed by the very talented Raneem Saleh. A short Q&A session was conducted, after which everyone moved into the conversation room for some tea, sandwiches and discussion.

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NEUROSCIENCE Careers workshop On the 21st of November, the Neuroscience Society (NeuroSoc) hosted our first ever Careers Workshop. Dr. Max Bianchi of Transpharmation Ireland Ltd. presented a seminar to undergraduate students on careers in academia and industry. This was followed by an open panel discussion with senior researchers and professionals, including Dr. Áine Kelly (TCD), Dr. Robert Whelan (Global Brain Health Institute, TCD), Dr. Derek Costello (University College Dublin) and Dr. Claire McDonald (Science Foundation Ireland). The workshop aimed to give undergraduate students the opportunity to gain insight into career progression in science and how to take the first step on their chosen career path. It was followed by a pizza reception in the Knowledge Exchange of the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute.

This event conveyed the spirit of NeuroSoc because it combined an academic event with a social event. Students obtained very constructive guidance about how to progress through a career in science and our pizza reception afterwards allowed everyone to get together and chat. The panel also attended this reception, which gave students a chance to speak with them in an informal setting. This event was particularly well attended and feedback was excellent; students appreciated hearing from experienced professionals about their own personal experiences during their careers and what they expect from applicants. It is sure to become an annual addition to the NeuroSoc calendar.

ORCHESTRAL DAVID BOWIE EXAM HALL GIG After performing at Electric Picnic at the beginning of Septembe, the orchestra knew they wanted the chance to perform our David Bowie set one last time before moving on. We decided that if possible we wanted to perform on campus and obviously the Exam Hall would be the perfect venue. So with the help of Enquiries, we managed to secure the hall for October 6th. The preparation was slightly different to our normal classical concerts, with much more to think about and prepare. Mics, amps, band, singers, lights and visuals are just some of the things needed to put on a pop gig. However we managed to organise everything, in fact the only problem we really ran into was being over capacity on the night, which isn’t something we could complain about. So with a packed out Exam Hall we played our David Bowie set to an audience who seemed to love him just as much as us. The atmosphere was one of the most special the orchestra have ever had, people knew every word and sang with us. The night ended with everyone on their feet for the chorus of ‘Let’s Dance’, a very memorable moment. We’re looking forward to next year, when we can hopefully have another Exam Hall gig with a brand new set, amongst many other exciting performances and events!

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The Eliz Inaugural: Women in Performance was an event held as a celebration of women in all aspects of performance, specifically focusing on the areas of acting, comedy as well as behind-the-scenes roles such as casting and set design. The Eliz was a female only debating society founded in 1905, after the inclusion of women in college. The society merged with the Phil in 1981. In recognition of the Eliz, the highest ranking female Phil officer is appointed the honorary president of the society. This year, Sheila Naughton, Registrar of the Phil acted in this role. During the event, the following individuals were awarded the society’s Bram Stoker medal for Entertainment: writer and actress Fiona Looney, author Kate Beaufoy, comedian Joanne McNally, set designer and activist Lian Bell, famed casting director Maureen Hughes and finally, comedian and actress Beth Vyse. The format of the event was held at the preferred pace of each of the guests; some chose to give a speech about their experience, some chose to do a Q&A session, while one treated the audience to a comedic performance. The event was filled with laughter and intrigue as each speaker offered their own take about how it is for women working in their particular field. Many spoke of struggles they had faced due to their gender. However, each speaker encouraged those inclined to go forth and strive to achieve their goals in performance despite the existence of structural barriers to women’s participation in this field. After the event, attendees were left with a resounding feeling of hopefulness that women would continue to achieve in the entertainment and performance industries.

PHILOSOPHICAL

The Eliz Inaugural: Women in Performance

PHYSICAL Guest Lecture: Prof. Emeritus Eric Finch On Thursday 9th of March, Physoc welcomed Prof. Emeritus Eric Finch to give a talk on the life and times of Nobel Laureate Ernest Walton. As the last professor appointed by Walton himself, Dr Finch is an expert on Ireland’s only Nobel prize winner in Physics and has also authored a book on the subject. He gave a great talk, with a perfect mix of personal recollections, photos and even a voice recording of Walton. As usual the talk was followed by a reception where Dr Finch delighted students with his anecdotes and advice.

We were also honoured to present Dr Finch with Honorary membership of the Physics Society, in recognition of his long standing support of Physoc. Dr. Finch was delighted with the award. Not only has he given some amazing talks, which are usually highlights of the Physoc year, he is also a fountain of knowledge and a great enthusiast for physics.

In his collection of documents he has such gems as an invitation to a Physoc talk back in the eighties with “black tie optional” written in a footnote. We hope to one day recover that tradition.

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PLAYERS FRINGE FESTIVAL The dawning of Hilary Term 2017 saw DU Players abandon the usual black t-shirt in exchange for vibrant pink apparel, as the society orchestrated its inaugural Player’s Fringe Festival. For these three days, our building was transformed as every room become a stage of its own. Dressing rooms became immersive art installations, rehearsal spaces became playhouses for magic shows, and some rooms were so filled with balloons that they appeared unrecognisable. The aim of our Fringe echoed the purpose of DU Players - to offer a space with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere where one may experiment with their art. Those who wished to submit to our Fringe needed but two things, an idea and the passion to bring it to life.

The openness of the submission form led to an overwhelming response, and a busy three days! Allowing people to submit all kinds of art forms led to exciting collaborations with individuals like Choy-Ping Clarke-Ng (ART by PING), and societies such as DU Comedy and VisArts. The Fringe performances ranged from teenage diary entries being read from a paddling pool, to mind-blowing movement pieces and riotous acts from improv groups. We also had the honour of hosting interviews and workshops with professional theatre-makers such as Michael Keegan-Dolan and Emily Collins. Everyday was followed by a night-time extravaganza, including a launch party with DUDJ, an eclectic Sound Cavern, and a classic Hollywood murder mystery. Our Fringe was definitely a highlight and we cannot wait for its return.

SCIENCe FICTION AMIIBO MAFIA With it being our resident Games Master’s last year, here at Sci-Fi he decided to go out with a bang! And there’s nothing classier than a mafia themed event. So to round out the year, on the 10th March, we hosted the Amiibo Mafia in House 6.

The Amiibo Mafia is a unique event in that players cheat and bribe their way to victory by rigging a Super Smash Brothers Brawl tournament, without ever having to get their own hands dirty. By investing in Amiibo characters you develop whatever advantage you can to weasel your way to the top. But don’t worry, it’s all above board. At least, that’s what the black-tie formal would have you believe. With a great turnout and The Don overseeing it all there was fantastic night to be had by all.

Sci-fi has always put a big emphasis on bringing people together over the common interests of science fiction and fantasy.

We pride ourselves on being a welcoming society where people can come hang out with their old friends and make some new ones too. We were very pleased that we could host another fun night for everyone and hope for many more in the years ahead.

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SINGERS CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY As has become tradition in recent years, Trinity College Singers opened the Christmas season within Trinity by performing at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. The evening began with a fantastic spread put on by College catering, featuring mince pies and mulled wine for anyone willing to brave the elements. Members of each of Singers’ four choirs, Trinity Singers, Boydell, Belles, and Trinitones, arrived to rehearsal in the Chapel hours before the performance. Not content to keep the Christmas cheer to only one sense, the Singers wore a particularly garish array of Christmas jumpers, reindeer antlers, and tinsel. From there they put the final touches to their pieces, and then took their place to lead the carols from the steps of the Postgraduate Reading Room.

The singers mixed old favourites such as Silent Night and Jingle Bells with Eric Whitaker’s Sleep and other contemporary pieces. Following a rendition of Away in a Manger, Provost Patrick Prendergast borrowed one of the microphones to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and begin counting down to the lights being turned on. On the shout of “one” the Christmas Tree flared with light, and Singers broke into a verse of Ding Dong! Merrily on High. The crowd, and even the Provost, joined in enthusiastically with five more carols, before heading on their own merry way. The Singers drained the barrel of mulled wine, and headed to rehearsal in preparation for their Christmas concerts to be held the following week.

SPACE SOCIETY SPACE ROCKETRY WORKSHOP It has been an incredible journey since the Trinity Space Society’s recognition in October. We view events as the main vehicle through which we can educate our members and help create a sense of community. Our events throughout the year have included panel discussions, launch live streams, quizzes and talks. But, our stand out event was, without a doubt, our first ever Rocketry Workshop held in January. The workshop was led by the society’s own Rocketry Officer Ian Finnegan and Colin Fitzsimons of the Irish Rocketry Society. Collaboration with the external Irish space industry is vital for the Trinity Space Society. Such collaboration strengthens the society’s community and offers countless educational opportunities. The purpose of the Rocketry Workshop was to design and build the society’s first rocket taking physics, aerodynamics etc. into consideration. The design mirrors that of many stock hobbyist rockets. The final rocket is over six feet in height, houses custom avionics, incorporates separation and recover mechanisms and has been signed by all those who aided in its construction. The event was a resounding success and we are proud to say the TSS rocket is ready for lift off.

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SoFIA AMERICAN AMBASSADOR VISIT The highlight of SOFIA’s Ambassadorial Series, whereby we invite Ambassadors from across the world to Trinity, was the visit of the American Ambassador His Excellency Mr. Kevin O’Malley. Over 100 students came to the House of Lords to listen to the Ambassador speak about the historical and present links between the USA and Ireland. As a long-time supporter of President Obama, the Ambassador spoke passionately about his time on Obama’s campaign trail and about the Obama Administration’s work. Following this there was a lengthy Q&A session which everyone was eager to take part in, as the event took place just days after the election of Donald Trump. The debate and questions focused on the President-elect. Questions darted around the room, from ‘was this an anti-Obama/anti-women vote?’ to, ‘should we be worried about the J1 Programme?’ and ‘what will this mean for the Iran deal?’. Students were then treated to a wine reception during which they had time to continue the conversation and debate with the Ambassador.

SOFIA’s aims are to bring International Affairs to students by providing a platform for professionals to speak and give an insight into how diplomacy is enacted.

TRINITY ECONOMIC FORUM TEF, now entering it’s seventh year is Ireland’s first and only student run economic forum. This year the forum took place the 3rd and 4th of February. It brought together over 200 students from colleges and universities across Ireland to engage in the policy-making process. TEF delegates took part in policy workshops and attended keynote addresses and panel discussions, featuring the foremost speakers in economics, business, journalism and politics. The forum continues to seek to change traditional discourse surrounding economics and ensure a more informed Irish policy debate in the future. This rings especially true today in what has been dubbed a post-truth society by many in influential journalists and academics. The topics addressed at this year’s forum included Trumponomics, the effect of a hard Brexit on Ireland and the economic importance of education. There was also a keynote speech from both Deirdre McCloskey and William Black both incredibly prominent economists in their own right. McCloskey’s work is far reaching she’s written on topics ranging from economic and statistical theory to transgender advocacy, philosophy and the ethics of the bourgeois virtues. Black ‘s work is mostly pertaining to white collar crime. He is also the author of Author of ‘The best way to rob a bank is to own one: How Corporate Executives and Politicians Looted the S&L Industry’.

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TRINITY ARTS FESTIVAL WhaT LIES IN THE WOODS ‘‘What Lies in The Woods’ was based on the tales of the Brothers Grimm with the GMB being transformed into an enchanted forest for TAF’s annual Fourth Week GMB Takeover. To begin the night there was a thrilling fire show from Juggling and Circus Society in front square. The GMB was lit up in a variety of colours to create an enchanting yet ominous atmosphere. In the Chamber, the Brothers Grimm began to read ‘Little Red Riding Hood’. However, disaster suddenly struck when a storm hit and the pages flew out of the book.

The audience were sent on their quest to retrieve the pages in order to restore peace to the woods.

The Phil and Improv, She Wrote took on the role of Magic Mirrors, asking attendees to look within themselves to find the missing pages. Food & Drink and Caledonian Society were hosts of a fairy tale ball with feasting and reeling. In the Crafty Cottage, VisArts had a crafts table, BioSoc had set up a fairy tale A&E and FashionSoc provided fairy makeovers. In the Deep Dark Woods, attendees were blindfolded and had to follow a rope around the room while Afro-Caribbean Soc drummed and LitSoc whispered passages of Grimm fairy tales into their ears. Next, attendees entered the Wolves’ Den which featured a DUDJ set and a DU Film

projection decorating the walls. Player’s actors playing characters such as Snow White, the Three Bears and the Big Bad Wolf roamed between rooms, making the event an immersive experience. When the missing pages had been located. The Brothers Grimm were able to finish the story before the audience headed into a reception in ‘Ye Olde Tavern’ with refreshments and music from TradSoc. 38

TRADITIONAL MUSIC RECITAL SERIES Continuing on from last years’ popular Spring Recital Series, TradSoc held a total of 4 recitals throughout the year. A favourite amongst members was undoubtedly the uilleann pipe and accordion duo, Pádraig McGovern and Peter Carberry, who were about to release a new album together. In the homely surroundings of Seomra na Gaeilge, over fifty people came to listen to the duet who not only graced us with their unique style but also with their humorous commentary between sets. Pádraig also offered some words of encouragement to our aspiring tune-writers in advance of our new publication, Tunes of Trinity.Our other guests included Caoimhín Ó Fearghail, Aidan Connolly and Thomas McCarthy. The recitals were thoroughly enjoyed by both Irish and international students, and attracted listeners from outside College. They even sparked a newfound interest in Irish traditional music for some listeners.

VISUAL ARTS END OF YEAR EXHIBITION This year Visarts held its 9th edition of the Student and Staff Exhibition. We received a record number of submissions this year, with 57 students and staff applying and a total of 175 works. Everything from painting and print to interactive installations and photography were sent to us over the course of 3 months. In the end, a total of 41 works were chosen for display for four days in the Temple Bar Gallery and Studios from March 6th-10th .

The opening night was a roaring success, where we welcomed over 300 guests to the warm interiors of the gallery.

The night began with a speech by acclaimed curator, Mary Cremin, before the mic was handed over to guitarist Ryan Tysall, and afterwards to the wonderful Trinity Belles. The exhibition continued for a full 3 days afterwards, welcoming both members of the college and the public alike. It was wonderful to hear the compliments directed towards the work and also to see members of the college community lounging about in the bright rooms of the gallery during their lunch hours. Indeed, the End of Year exhibition is a fantastic follow up to our smaller show in Michaelmas termThe Sketchbook Project. The TCD Visual Arts Society aims to encourage art practice and appreciation in Trinity College beyond academic life, and the Exhibition is one of the many ways in which we do so. We are delighted with the success of the 2017 edition.

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ZOOLOGICAL BAT & DEER WALK The Bat Walk is an annual favourite of ZooSoc’s but this year we took a new direction and turned it into a new collaboration, teaming up with DUPA to spot, watch and photograph the deer and bats of Phoenix Park.

On a fresh October evening, over 100 budding zoologists and photographers set out by bike and by bus from Trinity to the Phoenix Park. ZooSoc representatives tracked down the fallow deer ahead of time so all the attendees had to do was watch the wildlife and enjoy, with ZooSoc and DUPA on hand to offer expertise on both the animals and how to photograph them. As dusk fell, we armed ourselves with our trusty bat-detectors and decamped to one of the park’s lakes where the bats hunt for insects over the water. In the darkness, the bat-detectors pick up the bat’s echolocation call and the frequency of the call tells us the species of bat. As the bat-detectors beeped furiously to indicate an approaching bat, cameras flashed around the lake - a few lucky individuals were even fast enough to snap a photo of the elusive bats in flight. Truly a wonderful way to connect with Dublin’s wildlife!

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VINCENT DE PAUL ‘The Book of Spells’ Pantomime Every year, Trinity Vincent de Paul puts on a pantomime starring the kids and adults the society works with each week. This year’s production starred 35 college students, 90 kids from inner city Dublin and 18 adults with intellectual disabilities who make up Trinity Club.

The student cast attended weekly activities teaching the kids and adults the songs, dances and the lines for the show. Meanwhile, the costume and sets teams met biweekly to make over 130 costumes and create magical set pieces which transported the audience to the magical world of ‘The Book of Spells’.

From Bagpacking and street collections to promo videos to writing an original script, the production took over 10 months to put together. Rehearsals began in October and continued right through until the nights of the panto in late February.

The most important part of the panto is the kids and adults who relish being given this unique and exciting opportunity to perform alongside their friends in front of their families. The friendships formed and memories made remain with both the college students and the kids and members of Trinity Club for a long time after the panto itself. It’s no wonder that immediately after this year’s final curtain the kids turned to their activity leaders and asked ‘What’s next year’s panto?’. And the truth is, everyone in VDP is just as excited as they are for Panto 2018.

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Fourth week is a fantastic time for the whole college community to try out societies when they have really hit their stride and are ready to showcase themselves at their finest. The best part? All events are entirely free! So it is okay if you missed out during Freshers’ Week because now you can ‘try before you buy’. This year so many societies put on thrilling events so attendees could find out what makes each one so unique and fun to get involved in. Whether you went on a food crawl with DU Food & Drink, decided to try your hand at burlesque dancing with DU Dance or made a blanket with KnitSoc fourth week demonstrated that there is certainly a society (or four) for everyone at Trinity.

Monday kicked off with an event that allowed everyone to become an award-winning director by simply taking your phone out of your pocket and turning on the camera, DU Film’s 48 Hour Smartphone competition. The competition kicked off with a workshop covering the basics of filmmaking and an announcement of three things that had to be included in the films. Teams were then given 48 hours to create their masterpieces before submitting them for judging. The event was a huge success with many brilliant entries. By giving participants a change to engage with their society in a fun and accessible way, DU Film went on to win the award for ‘Best Fourth Week Event’ at the Society of the Year Awards!

Competitions and prizes also featured on Tuesday with Pool society’s doubles tournament and QuizSoc’s edition of the gameshow Pointless. Those who were less competitive but still wanted to check out some new societies were treated to a brilliant selection of talks with Jim Obergefell speaking to LawSoc and the Egyptian Ambassador speaking to SOFIA. On Wednesday it was time to party! First up there was a Cuddle Party hosted by DUGES. This workshop/party consisted of a touch profession-

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al helping students facilitating students to learn how to practice consensual, non-sexual tough and boundary setting. Later on in the evening, TradSoc hosted a Tasty Tune Crawl followed by a Silent Disco. Starting with food at Mama’s Revenge burrito bar and finishing off with a ‘Trisco’ in Whelan’s TradSoc were able to treat attendees to a wild time filled with music and dancing.

Thursday was a jam-packed day with a Drag Workshop by QSoc, a Jackson Pollock inspired Paint Splatter workshop with Trinity Arts Workshop, a Salsa dancing class with Hispanic Soc and the Phil Life Raft Debate in which various lecturers battle it out to settle the age-old question – which end of college is more useful? The Hamilton or the Arts Block?

YogaSoc held a free yoga class and breakfast to help prepare everyone’s bodies for the final day of fourth week fun. The Southeast Asian Society kept our bellies fun with Food Bingo later on in the evening. To bring fourth week to a close, Trinity Arts Festival hosted its annual GMB takeover. What Lies in the Woods was based on the Brother’s Grimm Fairtytales and featured a wide array of various societies from CalSoc and Players to FashionSoc, BioSoc, LitSoc, Afro-Caribbean and DUDJ. After meeting a different society in each room, students came out to a final performance from actors from DU Players and were treated to tunes from TradSoc during the reception.

As usual, Fourth Week was a huge success. While it may have been exhausting for those who organised such large events and the students who went to each event to try out new societies. It was clear that the brilliant atmosphere at each event gave societies and their new members a boost to head into the rest of the year confident that even more exciting times lay ahead, just stick with your favourite societies and they’ll guarantee you a good time.

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SOCIETY OF THE YEAR

AWARDS 2017

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Best Poster AGM DU Players Best Journal Birds of Trinity (Zoological) Best Magazine End of Year Exhibition (Photographic) Best Multi-Day Event Trinity Arts Festival (TAF) Most Improved Society Italian Best New Society General Science Best Individual Molly McAvoy (Players) Best Fresher Abdulqadir Abshir (Afro Caribbean) Best Collaborative Event Speak Me, I’m Irish (International & Cumann Gaelach) Best 4th Week Event 48 Hour Smartphone Film Competition (Film) Best Medium Society Literary Society Best Large Society Cumann Gaelach Best Small Society Traditional Music and Christian Union Best Event Trinity’s Best Dance Crew (Dance) Best Society Literary Society Best Online Presence Literary Society Societies Choice Society for International Affairs (SoFIA)

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AWARDS 2017

The much anticipated, annual CSC Ball took place on March 8th in the O’Callahan Alexander Hotel, with societies rushing in to see this year’s winner of the Society of the Year awards. The evening began with a hunt for free tables, followed by partially non-genuine, and diplomatically-appearing small talk exchange between rivalling societies.

Oh what fun!

Among the more memorable aspects of the night was definitely the MC-ing by CSC Chairperson Benn Hogan, who, in light of how much he enjoyed his own performance, decided to remain in that role. A soft tap on the microphone indicated that the time had come to announce the first set of winners. No one quite remembers in which order the awards were handed out; a clear indication of a fun night.

Following the awards, cheers, and heartbreaks, came the timely three course dinner for the about 310 attendees. To quote one of the starving students asked what they thought of the food: “mmhmmmm”.

As per tradition, the evening soon transitioned into the more informal realm of the Alternative Awards. All but a few societies were spared from the satirical, proposed name-changes read out by the CSC Chair (who made it clear that they not his), none of which I can in good conscience mention in this respectable publication. Strategic Officer, Joe O’Gorman, was seen to be leaving the room, so as to not be associated with some of the more controversial awards.

And so, after what can only be described to be in good fun, the last award was handed out. Societies were asked to vote on their favourite society of the year, and SoFIA took home that one, with little protest from the audience. The night concluded with jackets and purses being let unattended at the tables, and rolled up sleeves and flats meeting at the centre-stage dance floor. It’s a blur after that.

BEST online presence: Literary Society

Societies choice: Society for International Affairs (SoFIA) 46

BEST POSTER: AGM Poster (DU Players)

BEST JOURNAL: Birds of Trinity (Zoological)

BEST MAGAZINE: End of Year Exhibition (Photographic) 47

BEST MULTI DAY EVENT: Trinity Arts Festival (TAF)

BEST IMPROVED SOCIETY: Italian

BEST NEW SOCIETY: General Science 48

BEST INDIVIDUAL: Molly McAvoy (Players)

BEST FRESHER: Abdulqadir Abshir (Afro Caribbean)

BEST COLLABORATIVE EVENT: Speak Me, I’m Irish (International & Cumann Gaelach)

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BEST FOURTH WEEK EVENT: 48 Hour Smartphone Film Competition (Film)

BEST MEDIUM SOCIETY: Literary Society

BEST LARGE SOCIETY: Cumann Gaelach 50

BEST SMALL SOCIETY: Traditional Music and Christian Union

BEST EVENT: Trinity’s Best Dance Crew (Dance)

BEST Society: Literary Society 51

Thank you to all societies for images. Š Central Societies Committee 2017. All rights reserved.