EXPRESS
UCC
Tuesday, 21 January 2014 | www.uccexpress.net | Volume 21 | Issue 9
BRITISH INVASION Inside Verge
*LADT in Éirinn
STYLE CRUSH
P14
P17
Taoiseach to deliver memorial lecture
Audrey Ellard Walsh | Editor
@AudreyEWalsh
President backs tobacco free-campus Stephen Barry & Rob O’ Sullivan
A motion about smoking on campus was passed through Student Council last Wednesday. This sitting of Student Council included an address by the president of UCC, Dr. Michael Murphy, which happens once every year. Following on from his speech, Murphy took questions from the floor. The last question, posed by Societies Guild President Pádraig Rice, was whether Murphy would support a ban of smoking on campus, like the one that was voted on by a referendum of students in UCD and is currently being debated on in Trinity College. Murphy simply stated that he would because of his Hippocratic Oath – an oath taken by medical professionals swearing them to practice honestly. Following Murphy’s speech, SU Officer Reports were read and
then the only motion of the night, a motion about smoking on main campus, was debated. The motion referred to the lack of a smoking regulation on areas of main campus, notably outside the Boole Library, the Student Centre and the Old Bar. Smoking is already prohibited outside the main entrances of Brookfield, the Kavanagh Building and the Electrical Engineering Building. The motion was not to ban smoking, but to mandate the Welfare Officer, in association with the Deputy President, to work with the University and the office of Student Experience to find a fair solution, and implement it. Action is to be taken on this by the end of March. The motion stated that; “we need to allow students who do not smoke access to essential buildings and pathways without taking the chance of inhaling second-hand smoke,
and as a result taking on the risks associated with second-hand smoke. It was opposed by a number of speakers, including Markus Knutsson who spoke in opposition on the basis that it was a step towards banning smoking rather than providing facilities for smokers. However Welfare Officer, David Berry, allayed these fears by insisting that any fair solution he would agree to would feature a provision for sheltered external areas for smokers. Zander Cosgrave also spoke about how the motion ostracised smokers, who have few places to go, especially in cold or inclement weather. Disability Rights Officer, Anna Ahern, said that smoking is a choice and people can give it up, which was met with a round of applause from the room. She further spoke against spending student money on areas which facilitate a harmful habit. Smoking shelters, and the
placement of them, was the key point of contention among class reps. SU Deputy President Annie Hoey spoke in support of the motion: “This motion makes no mention of smoking shelters, or of any ban. I think this is something that will benefit both smokers and non-smokers if it is passed. If this is not passed, this conversation will simply end here. I will report to Ian Pickup (Head of Student Experience) saying that this motion failed. That will be the end of it. There will be no further discussion, on smokers and nonsmokers and their respective rights. I would encourage you to pass this motion so we can continue this conversation at a higher level.” The debate carried on for 30 minutes, and comfortably passed the eventual vote.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD will deliver this year’s Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture, it has been announced. The 15th annual lecture in the series, will take place on Friday 31st of January in the Aula Maxima. The Taoiseach’s lecture will largely focus on public service and political reform. The Philip Monahan Memorial Series celebrates the memory of Ireland’s first local authority manager. Monahan served as city commissioner and then city manager in Cork from 1924 to 1959. It is also both a showcase event for the Department of Government and the University at large. Organiser of the lecture series, Dr. Aodh Quinlivan of the Department of Government stated, “We are honoured that An Taoiseach will be delivering the 15th Annual Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture. “The lecture series is a high point on the UCC calendar and has attracted high profile speakers such as John Hume, Mary McAleese, Robert Putnam and John Bercow. The fact that the Head of Government will deliver the next lecture is fantastic, especially given the relevance of the topic and the link to Philip Monahan who was an exemplary public servant.” It is vital to note that due to capacity issues only those on the official guest list will be permitted entry for the lecture. It is also imperative that those attending occupy their seat between 8:30 – 8:45am.
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