VOL. XXIV, Issue 4, UO

Page 1

THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER ELECTION COVERAGE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS AND ANALYSIS PAGES 10, 11

HEAD TO HEAD WERE WE RIGHT TO IMPEACH ASCOUGH? D. FLEMING, D. SWIFT PAGE 5

21ST NOVEMBER 2017 VOLUME XXIV ISSUE4 UNIVERSITYOBSERVER.IE

DÁN FORÉIGEAN TAR ÉIS AN PHARÁID BRÓD CIAN GRIFFIN LTH 14

WAITING LIST FOR UCD COUNSELLING SERVICE AT ITS HIGHEST IN RECENT of the 194 students currently on the waiting list, Mac Domhnaill says over 20 are priority cases. For students on the waiting list, priority cases will be seen first, and Mac Domhnaill says it is likely that “some people will be waiting until next semester. It’s difficult to see how the counselling service will be able to accommodate 194 people in 2 weeks.” Mac Domhnaill emphasises that emergency cases will still be seen. “If there is someone in dire straits… AOIFE HARDESTY they can be seen on the day.” Emergency counselling EDITOR can be accessed by going to “the welfare officer, the The University Observer has been told that there are student advisor, the chaplaincy, the access center, and currently 194 students on a waiting list to see a UCD the health service.” Students who are on the waiting list for more than counsellor and that “the waiting list is the highest it’s ever been for a number of years.” Welfare Officer two weeks can be referred to external counselling Eoghan Mac Domhnaill has said “the counselling services, but similar waiting list scenarios can also service are doing they’re very best to get to as many be encountered here as “they are still moving through people as they can…[but] if I was to refer anyone everyone at the same rate.” [now], they’re not going to be seen before Christmas.” In plans UCDSU are making to alleviate the waiting The counselling service is available free of charge to list for counselling, Mac Domhnaill says they are hopUCD students. When seeking counselling, students are ing to collaborate with Pieta House. “Pieta House are categorised as standard,’ ‘priority,’ or ‘emergency.’ Out offering, should UCD students call up Pieta House they

would be given a priority referral, so that they could avail of Pieta House service…[which are located] in Dublin City centre.” Mac Domhnaill is skeptical that possible budget increases would “alleviate the problems that we are seeing at the moment…It would take a considerable increase in the budget.” Nevertheless, “It’s an increase that we will need to see over the next few years and the SU will always be calling on and that we have advocated for already with this year in various meetings.” For students looking for help, they can see Mac Domhnaill “in the office and the SU has a list of external counsellors as well. We do our best to liase with the [UCD] counselling service.” Mac Domhnaill also advises students to look at “external sources, at the like of Pieta House at Samaritans, who are phenomenal.” The second semester will see UCDSU re-joining nightline, a telephone hotline for students needing to talk “so that there is over the phone, during the night service, for UCD students who just want someone to chat to at night.”

DAVA NEWMAN & GUI TROTTI DESIGNING FOR THE FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORATION AOIFE HARDESTY PAGE 14

COMEDY MUSIC THE ARTISTS WHO BRING YOU LAUGHTER THROUGH THEIR SONGS DYLAN O’NEILL PAGE 19

PRESIDENTIAL BY-ELECTION TAKES PLACE THIS WEEK

BRÍAN DONNELLY NEWS EDITOR A presidential by-election is to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, 22nd and 23rd November, almost one month following the impeachment of former Students’ Union President Katie Ascough on 27th October. The current Acting President and Campaigns & Communications Officer Barry Murphy, and final year Nursing student Rebecca Hart are contesting the race. The results are expected to be announced on 24th November. Environmental Biology student Barry Murphy announced in early November that he was entering the presidential race for the “betterment of our union.” Murphy’s manifesto features a commitment to

showcase the work of the SU by livestreaming Student Philip Weldon, and garnering 20% of the vote. Council meetings to Facebook, and to lobby univerIn her presidential manifesto for the elections last sity management to invest in mental health services March, Hart stated that she wanted to alter the process on campus. Additionally, the manifesto states that the for extenuating circumstances, lobby UCD to review “SU needs a full governance review” and to make the their accommodation costs, and establish a ‘Reveal for 8’ campaign. implementation of an online voting system a priority. Murphy volunteered in Tanzania with UCDVO Originally an arts student before transferring to before he ran for Campaigns & Communications nursing, Hart ran for Arts Convenor in her first year Officer. He originally ran on a campaign to reduce and has held the position of Health Science Officer UCD’s carbon footprint, expand UCD RAG Week, and twice. During her second year as officer, Hart went improve transport and mental health services. He has on erasmus in her second semester and delegated her taken annual leave to campaign for the presidential duties to a deputy. by-election. Both candidates addressed the recent controversy Hart stated, in a Facebook post announcing her surrounding the SU, with Barry Murphy stating that candidacy, “I believe I am the best person for this job. “the only people that [the SU] answer to are our student A president you can trust, a president you can rely on.” membership. UCDSU has to be a bottom up organisaIn her manifesto, Hart states that she wants to “make tion and this, now more than ever, has to be reaffirmed.” UCD approachable, affordable and accessible to all Rebecca Hart has commented that “there is no hiding students” by encouraging open door policies among from the past few weeks where UCDSU has faced huge UCD staff, supporting the Education Officer’s work to challenges, but also saw record levels of engagement. We need to capitalise on this and I feel I am the best cut re-sit fees, and fixing broken electric doors. Rebecca Hart previously ran in last year’s presiden- person to unite students and to maintain those engagetial election, placing third behind Katie Ascough and ment levels.”

CINEMA A RUN DOWN OF THE FINEST MOVIE JOINTS IN DUBLIN’S FAIR CITY JACK KNOWLES PAGE 11

COFFEE WHERE IS BEST ON CAMPUS FOR YOUR CAFFEINE HIT AURORA ANDRUS PAGE 21 21ST NOVEMBER 2017 1


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VOL. XXIV, Issue 4, UO by The University Observer - Issuu