An Focal
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Sport: Ladies rugby claim victory over Gardaí
24 February 2009 Tuesday
Volume XVII, Issue 10 FREE
SU calls for security increase after break-ins Katie Harrington
A NUMBER of people have been brought into to custody at Henry Street Garda Station after up to twenty cars in Cappavilla village and the Foundation Building car park were broken into on St Valentine’s weekend. In what has been described by security officials as “mindless acts of vandalism”, the thieves mainly targeted older cars which were unlikely to have an alarm system. After overlooking items such as I-pods which were left in the cars and making no attempt to steal the
cars themselves, Gardaí believe they were primarily looking for cash. Sgt Ollie Kennedy, a Castletroy Community Garda said, “Persons have been arrested in connection with the investigation; the investigation is ongoing but we are not looking for anyone else in relation to the crimes.” The suspects are believed to be known to the Gardaí. Sgt Kennedy advised students not to leave items such as suitcases, laptops or wallets visible in cars as this increases the likelihood of being targeted. He also urged students to come forwards with any
information they may have to Henry St Garda Station on 061-212400. UL security, who patrol the student villages at night, said that following their patrol at around 2.30am – around the time students were returning from nightclubs – the break-ins took place between 3am and 4am. Asked how regularly they patrol the villages, a Federal Security spokesman stated that a full security sweep of campus takes thirty-five minutes and that while they attempt to patrol every hour they do not want to do so religiously on the hour as this will only give potential thieves a clearer idea of when
security are not around. The incidents were described as “smash and grab” which would have taken a very short amount of time. While it is believed that CCTV cameras installed last year helped with identifying and arresting the suspects, security have expressed the view that it has not aided as a deterrent and that nothing short of a 24 hour guard in each village would deter criminals. Security in the student villages has been increased as a precaution, but this is not seen as sustainable in the long term for financial reasons. SU Welfare Officer Caitríona
McGrattan stressed the importance of safety in on campus villages, advising students not to assume they are safer there then they would be off-campus. She said, “It’s important to remain as safety-conscious in on-campus accommodation as you would in your own home or somewhere offcampus. We encourage students to keep doors and windows locked, and not to leave valuables visible in cars.” SU President, Pa O’Brien, strongly criticised Plassey Campus Centre, who run the student villages, for not doing enough to protect students living on campus from
such crimes. “This is a very serious situation and I’m delighted the people doing it were caught. I think the onus has to fall on PCC and Federal Security to increase patrols and offer the students the protection they deserve. “Students are paying very large sums to live on campus so they deserve to have secure car parking. We have a very open campus here which means it can’t be completely secured, but incidents like this show that PCC need to do more to protect their customers.” The SU has advised students to report any crimes or any suspicious activit y t hey come across immediately to Security on 061213446 and to the Gardaí on 061212400.
Students attempt to stop the shafting Aoife Ní Raghallaigh News Editor
ON WEDNESDAY of Week 4, ULSU held a successful protest to highlight student dissatisfaction at unpaid and irrelevant Co-Operative Education placements. The protest was organised following continual complaints from students, particular those in the Health Science and Education Departments. Campaigners and protesters dressed in yellow t-shirts which proclaimed, “Let’s stop the shafting” asked students to fill in generic letters explaining their frustration with the current placement system. These letters were then presented to the Dean of Education and Health Sciences, Professor Mary O’Sullivan. Speaking at the protest Aoife
Finnerty, Equality Officer, explained that the protest “is a testament to the fact that students aren’t pleased with the system that’s in place at the moment. “There is obvious dissatisfaction, particularly with nurses and teachers.” Student teachers, who are due to begin teaching practice this week, often spend upwards of €300 developing lesson plans before they begin their placement. They are then faced with an unpaid position, yet they are still expected to pay for accommodation, food and transport costs where they arise. Student nurses are also aggravated by the placement system. Aisling
Students sign the letters to University faculty to air their grievances with the placement system Fitzgerald, 1st year General Nursing and Mairéad O’Connor, 2nd General Nursing, also said, “It’s ridiculous that we don’t get paid because we’re doing as much as other nurses and I think we should be paid for our efforts”. Students are particularly angry at a rumour which claims that payment for 4th year student nurses is due be reduced. At present, 4th year Nursing students receive payment equal to 80 per cent of a senior staff nurse’s wage. It is now rumoured that will this be reduced, possibly to nothing.
Speaking at the protest ULSU Education Officer, Eamonn Gardiner, stated that the Co-Operative Education office should start planning student placements in 1st year. He believes that a file should be created as soon a student begins their degree and that information regarding QCA and placements would be added to it over time. He also stated that in addition to this file, staff from the Co-Op office should be meeting with students regularly from first year onwards. Mr Gardiner went on to explain that the Co-Op placement was the
original reason that a UL degree lasts for four years. It was initially believed that a practical placement led to a more valuable degree, and thus increased employment opportunities for UL graduates. Mr Gardiner said, “This year’s UL degrees are not worth as much as they were 10 years ago because of irrelevant placements. This is unacceptable especially as employers are beginning to examine degrees more extensively.” Mr Gardiner also explained that a UL student should not be required to spend six months doing irrelevant
modules because early planning was not done with regard to their Co-Op placement. He stated that Mary Sweeney, Head of Cooperative Education and Careers Division, has explained that the issues surrounding placements are not due to lack of staffing or funding. The Education Officer felt that the issue lies with there not being enough advanced planning. The Students’ Union will continue to take on board any issues that students may have with their placements.