Vol XXII - Issue 7 - Broadsheet

The University Observer above Lost student thinks concourse is the football pitch PHOTO James Healy

To leave or not to leave?

A head to head discussion on emigration

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION Are we doing enough to end it?

A FAIRYTALE ENDING? A LOOK AT UCD’S RECENT SPORTING VICTORIES

KEVIN O’LEARY & KEVIN WORRALL P5

Patrick kelleher P11

DAVID KENT P23

UCD recEIves over €1.8 million in exam repeat fees eithne dodd Information obtained by the University Observer under the Freedom of Information Act has revealed that UCD received €1,853,455 in exam repeat and resit fees for the academic year 2014-2015. Furthermore, a total of 16 modules had a 100 per cent failure rate in 2014-2015.

Marcus O’Halloran, UCD Students’ Union President, was critical of the amount brought in by UCD through exam repeats, saying “This figure is outrageous.” He continued, “The existing charge has been in place for many years now and is quite severe. Personally I don’t agree that we should be paying this much for repeat fees. In other universities this sum is substantially lower.”

To repeat a module or resit an exam paper in UCD, the cost is €230, one of the highest repeat fee rates of any university in

Poetry and Fiction Submissions of poetry and fiction from UCD students

otwo p14 & p15 Ireland. However at hustings, incoming education officer Lexi Kilmartin said that she did not believe the repeat fees were unreasonable.

If a student chooses to take a substitute module, it will be offset against their free fee allowance. This means that if the student exceeds the default number of credits for their programme, they will then become liable for the extra modules taken.

The charge for an EU fee paying student registering for substitute modules varies between colleges. It is €468.84 per module to substitute in the college of Arts and Celtic Studies, the cheapest college to substitute a module in. The most expensive college for a student to substitute a module is Health Sciences, where it costs €725.34 per module.

In semester one of the 2014-2015 academic year, 127,163 module grades were recorded for 25,656 students. 3,357 students in that semester failed at least one module and 1,619 students failed more than one module in semester one. In total 16 modules had a 100 per cent failure rate in 2014-2015.

Semester one saw 2.64 per cent of module grades recorded as fails, and 13.08 per cent of students failed at least one module in that semester. 6.3 per cent of students failed more than one module in semester one.

In semester two of the 2014-2015 academic year, 103,196 module grades were recorded for 21,554 students. 3,093 students failed at least one module

Lack of updates on UCDSU website breaches News Editor constitution Roisin GuyettNicholson

Last year, a new Students’ Union constitution was voted in by students, which explicitly outlines the role of each sabbatical officer as well as each college officer.

Since then a number of the criteria have not been met.

The most obvious breach, regarding updates to the SU website, is the responsibility of both the Campaigns and Communications officer and the Secretary of the Union.

The constitution, which last year reintroduced the position of C&C officer, states that the officer is “responsible for the administration of the Union website.” This includes the publishing of SU council minutes, Executive meeting minutes, lists of class reps and the results of the elections.

At the time of going to print, the minutes from only three executive meetings this year had been published on the website. This is in direct violation of the constitution which says “the Union secretary shall take minutes and publish same… not

March 31st 2016 Volume XXIi issue 7 universityobserver.ie

later than one month after the relevant meeting.” The executive, which consists of all the sabbatical officers, college officers and the Irish language officers, meets a minimum of once every two weeks and is ultimately responsible for the day to day running of the Union. At the time of going to print, the latest minutes of any executive meeting published on the website is dated 24th September 2015.

The SU Council minutes are also behind, missing two sessions from this year.

The results of the recent SU elections are not available on the website either, with a search for them leading to a blank page titled “representation,” though these results are available in a post UCDSU’s Facebook page.

C&C officer Cian Byrne explained that some of the problems with the website come from the lack of experience of those responsible. “The issue with the website, I suppose just to clarify it, we outsource it to England and this was a

decision made however many years ago,” he said.

“So there’s myself, David [Burns, Communications and Research Assistant] and Ger [Byrne, Creative Designer], who between us had a two hour webonair training session on what to do with [it]. So we put a lot of time, we put a lot of time after work as well to get the stuff up, but it’s just constantly a work in progress.”

Particularly noting the Executive minutes, Byrne explained “that’s just linking in with the secretary to get them up as well… It’s obviously of great importance to get the minutes up so we’re transparent, everyone knows what’s going on.”

Yet he did go on to say that “it’s just one page in a whole heap of other things that we’re working on as well… as one thing goes up, something else is obviously being affected, especially ongoing things.”

that semester and 1,619 students failed more than one module. Three per cent of the module grades were recorded as fails and 14.35 per cent of students in semester two failed at least one module. 7.51 per cent of students – or almost one in thirteen students – failed more than one module.

For the summer term of the academic year 2014-2015, 5,194 module grades were recorded for 3,119 students.

64 students failed at least one module in the summer term and six students failed more than one.

A registered undergraduate student of UCD repeating or resitting modules will pay €230 per module. If the student is only taking a resit or repeat module and is not registered to any other modules they must also pay the Student

Centre Levy of €247. The cost is identical for graduate students.

Responding to the information released to the University Observer, a spokesperson for UCD said that the practice of having repeat fees in universities is normal. “In the academic year 2014/15, over 135,000 modules were graded for students across the university.

Among this huge volume, the vast majority of students passed all of their modules on their first attempt.

A minority of students who did not pass their modules on their first attempt had the opportunity to make subsequent attempts. There is a repeat fee for each subsequent attempt. This is normal practice among universities where subsequent attempts are available to students.”

However UCD would not comment on how much it costs to facilitate a student in repeating or resitting a module in comparison to the amount of money they take in for repeat fees.

I SPY A TALENTED BAND INTERVIEW WITH THE INDIE SENSATIONS SPIES

CIARA JANE DUFFY Otwo P21

Weak response to SU’s calls for a ministry for housing Gráinne Loughran UCD Students’ Union President Marcus O’Halloran has said that he has heard “nothing major” back from his open letter about the accommodation crisis to the members of the new Dáil.

O’Halloran called for the introduction of a Ministry of Housing in the letter, which he sent on March 16th. Speaking to the University Observer, O’Halloran said that he had gotten a “good response” from Dessie Ellis, but that there had been little other contact. “Everyone was really receptive of it and everyone acknowledged that it’s something that’s an issue and it’s something that needs to be addressed immediately once a government is formed, but time will tell I suppose,” said O’Halloran.

O’Halloran hopes that a full Ministry for Housing will be formed, saying that several parties had mentioned it in their manifestos. “Fianna Fáil had it I think in their manifesto, Sinn Féin are very keen on it… the Social Democrats were keen on a full ministry for housing as well. So I think that it is feasible, obviously they’re going to tell

you that it’s not the most important issue in the world at the moment but for us here it’s probably one of the biggest issues we’ve faced all year and just leading into next year I think there’s going to be an even bigger housing crisis for students coming back next year.”

He added, “I think a full ministry would be adequate at this stage because realistically we need five or six thousand houses this side of Dublin alone, never mind the rest.”

In the letter, O’Halloran wrote that it had never been more expensive to rent in Dublin.

“According to reports on market supply and price trend, rates are higher today than they were in 2007 during the property boom.

Areas traditionally rented by UCD students have seen the sharpest rises over the last five years. A place in Ranelagh, Rathgar, Rathmines and Clonskeagh is up to 30 per cent more expensive than in 2011.”

O’Halloran has previously called on government officials to respond to the student housing crisis, and was in contact with Minister Alan Kelly and Tánaiste Joan Burton during the first semester of this year.

THE CLASH

THOUGHT YOU KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT PATTERNS? MEGAN HICKEY Otwo P27

BATTLES

WE SPEAK TO THE BAND ABOUT THEIR SUCCESS SEAN HAYES Otwo P22

March 31ST 2016

News national news in brief Patrick Kelleher

UCDSU’s “Home to Vote” campaign registers 150 people Roisin Guyett-Nicholson

Student Fees in Northern Ireland could rise to £9,000 Student fees could rise to as much as £9,000 in Northern Ireland, it was recently reported, following a funding option suggested by the employment and learning minister, Stephen Farry.

In a new report, entitled ‘Securing a Sustainable Solution for Higher Education in Northern Ireland’, three funding options were put forward. The report was released by the Department for Employment and Learning.

In the forward to the report, Farry claimed that “a structural under-investment in our higher education system has grown, and has now become unsustainable”.

The first option proposes that public funding would have to increase by at least £55 million, with tuition fees going up to £4,200, from the current £3,805 a year for university education in Northern Ireland.

The second model suggests an increase in fees to meet the funding crisis. The rise would be between £6,500 to £9,000, and would require no extra government funding.

The final option suggests a fee increase of between £5,500 and £6,000, along with an increase in government funding of between £27.5 million and £34.1 million.

The report does not favour any particular funding option, but instead outlines all three to be considered by the Executive after the 2016 Assembly election.

Irish universities score highly in top 50 world subject rankings

USI Pro-Choice awareness week takes place The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) recently held a pro-choice awareness week, starting on 21st March.

The pro-choice awareness week was supported by Ellen O’Malley Dunlop, who is the previous CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC), and is currently running for a seat in the Seanad.

In a statement released by O’Malley Dunlop and USI, she explained why she was supporting the pro-choice movement, and why she hadn’t previously commented on it during her time as CEO of the DRCC. In the statement, O’Malley Dunlop said “we do not want to have another X case, another Savita Halappanavar, another Miss Y, Miss A, Miss B or Miss C. We do not want to have another suicidal 14-year-old rape victim to be denied access to an early termination. If there’s one thing a suicidal rape victim needs it’s immediate help and compassion and not to be treated like a criminal.”

“It’s time to repeal the Eighth Amendment and replace it with appropriate legislation that respects women’s choices,” she continued.

“When I was CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre I never commented on this issue because the policy of the centre is that its mission is to prevent and heal the trauma of rape and sexual assault for victims of these most heinous crimes by providing counseling for them to recover.”

March 31ST 2016

managed to get home to vote.”

The campaign was promoted through handing out flyers and postering around campus, which Byrne says helped the campaign. “Just when people stopped and looked, and got a laugh out of the karaoke, and then because we were talking about politics, which is kind of a hard sell to students, but it was something that related to getting you home and informing you and people responded really well to that.”

The campaign was first announced at SU council the Monday evening before the general election. Byrne claimed that this did not have a significant impact on the uptake. “The response on the ground was unbelievably well taken, so I don’t think we would have gotten many more numbers if we would have opened it up earlier.” He further explained that opening it up earlier would have been difficult as “we would have had to push it, to say get ready to go home and vote two weeks in advance, for a carpool.”

The campaign comes after the SU failed to run a voter registration before the election.

Trinity accused of attempting to sway world rankings

Consent classes were launched earlier this month

by CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Ellen O’Malley Dunlop. The numbers in the class were small with around 20 people, all of whom were female. Graduate Officer and Vice-President Hazel Beattie claimed that feedback for the classes was all positive and that the “only negative was that they were gender specific which I expected.”

O’Malley Dunlop spoke about the issue of consent claiming that it’s “never too late” for people to learn more about it. She also explained that the centre is involved in attempts to get a legal definition of consent. In UCD this year the #NotAskingForIt campaign sought to change the university’s policy on sexual assault and harassment on campus.

The consent classes are part of the campaign, which was launched earlier this year by author Louise O’Neill.

A sexual assault survey is also set to be launched this week across campus.

Beattie explained that “the survey asks participants to

read and respond to some brief scenarios that describe sexual encounters; rate their agreement with questions/ statements about attitudes and beliefs concerning consent; self-report on experiences of harassment (this section is very short and as uninvasive as it can be) and state their preferences for student supports on the area of sexual health and well-being.”

The survey was announced in September 2015, along with posters which showcase anonymous stories “where consent was assumed rather than asked.” Both

Alanna O’Shea

Gráinne Loughran

influence a potential survey respondent to vote in favor of a given institution is unacceptable and where identified, such respondents will [be] excluded from analysis.

Further consequences for the TCD, up to and including temporary suspension from the ranking altogether, will be considered.”

TCD and other Irish universities, including UCD, have been falling in the standings for several years. This year, TCD fell to 78th in the QS rankings, from 71st last year. TCD remains the most highly QS ranked Irish university, with UCD falling from 139th to 154th this year.

Times University Rankings reportedly did not have any issues with the email

sent by Boland.

The QS and THE rankings both use surveys for parts of their rankings. QS also allows individuals to nominate themselves to be surveyed. By sending out an email to encourage academics to nominate themselves in this way, TCD have opened themselves for criticism for attempting to influence the survey responses.

TCD released a statement saying it regretted the letters.

“Our letters were sent in good faith and called for participation in the surveys. At no time were they intended to influence the response of the recipients. We regret that our communication with our community on this matter has caused any concern.”

Voting for the upcoming Seanad elections began this week, with 30 candidates contesting the election in the NUI Ireland constituency. This constituency includes graduates from the National Universities of Ireland, including UCD, NUIG, UCC and NUI Maynooth. The candidates will be fighting for just three seats in this constituency, with the election being held exclusively by postal ballot.

Voting closes on the 21st April.

One of the familiar names on the ballot is Martin McDowell, one of the founding members of the Progressive Democrats (PDs) party and former Minister for Justice. He is one of several former TDs running for the Seanad after previously failing to retain their seat in the Dáil.

Another recognisable name on the list is Alice-Mary Higgins, Policy Coordinator for the National Woman’s Council and daughter of President Michael D. Higgins. She is hoping to follow in the footsteps of her father, who was a Senator for the NUI constituency from 1983 to 1987.

Senator Rónán Mullen is the only current Senator for the NUI constituency who is running in the next election. Senators Feargal Quinn and John Crown have chosen not to contest their seats.

The only other senator on the ballot is former Labour Seanad Whip Aideen Hayden, who is now running as an independent. Other female candidates include Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, CEO of the Dublin

Campus News in Brief Gráinne Loughran Maeve Binchy Travel award open for submissions The Maeve Binchy Travel Award has opened for applications for 2016.

The award, which is worth €4000, will fund travel for the winner that will enhance his/ her creative writing.

The award is open to all UCD Arts and Humanities students, and is in its third year. Applicants are asked to submit a one page document outlining their reasons for applying for the award, a sample of original writing and a CV to binchyucdtravelaward@

are now scheduled to be unveiled in the second half of the second semester.

Campaigns and Communications officer, Cian Byrne explained that the posters will be displayed in areas around campus, but with a warning about the content which he stated could be upsetting to some people.

Further consent workshops are set to be held later this year in week 11 with mixed gender groups. The University Management Team were invited to take part in their organisation before mandatory consent classes are set to be held later this year.

Polling in NUI constituency for Seanad Elections opens

Editor

Gráinne Loughran Trinity College Dublin was recently accused of attempting to sway world university rankings by QS, one of the main world university rankings.

TCD Vice-President and Dean of Research, John J Boland, sent out emails earlier this year informing academics that QS and Times Higher Education (THE) would be sending out reputation surveys, and providing the link for academics to sign up to become reviewers.

The consequences of Boland’s actions have not yet been announced. Simona Bizzozero, head of public relations for QS, said “Any attempt to overtly

Roisin Guyett-Nicholson

ucd.ie by Friday 15th April.

Queries should be directed to Professor Margaret Kelleher, Chair of the Selection Committee, at binchyucdtravelaward@ ucd.ie.

The winner will be announced on 28th May, Maeve Binchy’s birthday.

Binchy completed a BA and a Higher Diploma in Education at UCD before working as a teacher. She then wrote for The Irish Times and was appointed women’s editor in 1968.

Binchy was passionate about travel. She passed away peacefully in July 2012, aged 72.

UCD Choral Scholars perform on The Late Late Show UCD Choral Scholars recently performed their version of ‘Mo Ghille Mear’ on the Late Late Show, hosted by Ryan Tubridy. The Choral Scholars released their version of the Irish tune on YouTube at the beginning of February, and it has since gained over half a million views.

UCD Choral Scholars have also had successes with their version of the Parting Glass on YouTube, which has gained over 800,000 views.

Led by soloist Mark Waters, the Choral Scholars have since performed at a 1916

commemoration concert on Easter Monday in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, which was broadcast live on RTÉ.

Spam phone calls target UCD staff UCD Telephone Services have noted a recent increase in unsolicited phone calls to Belfield and Blackrock telephone extensions. These phonecalls pose a “potential security risk” to staff by the attempted phishing of sensitive information.

UCD Telephone Services advise staff to “never provide sensitive information to unknown callers and never to access external website addresses suggested

Rape Crisis Centre and Laura Harmon, former President of USI. To be able to vote in the election you must be a university graduate on the Seanad register. Only six Senators are nominated by university graduates. As well as the NUI constituency, three senators are nominated by the University of Dublin (Trinity College) constituency. 43 senators are nominated by a mixture of members of the incoming Dáil, the outgoing Seanad and county councilors. The final 11 senators are nominated by the Taoiseach, to make up an overall number of 60 members.

A referendum on whether to

abolish the Seanad was held in 2013, with the No side winning by a narrow margin of 1.7 per cent. In the campaign, opponents of the abolition of the Seanad promised “meaningful reformation” to the upper house.

Proposed reforms, such as plans to expand voting rights to all third-level graduates or to elect half the senators by popular vote, were delayed by the previous government until after this Seanad election. It remains to be seen whether the new government and incoming Senators will push for these changes.

PHOTO: senator aideen hayden

Irish universities have scored highly in a recent top 50 world subject rankings, with UCD and Trinity taking all six of Ireland’s top 50 places. The highest ranking was achieved jointly

by UCD and Trinity for veterinary science and nursing, at number 31.

The figures come from the sixth edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject. The results are obtained from the opinions of 76,698 academics and 44,426 employers. This is accompanied by analysis of 28.5 million research papers and 113 million citations.

10 Irish universities made the list, with UCD being the most frequently ranked university. It features in 32 of the 42 subject tables, closely followed by Trinity at 29 and UCC at 14. Overall, 37 of the 42 tables released in this year’s report feature one or more Irish universities.

UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery was ranked in the top 50 nursing schools, and also experienced the greatest jump of Irish universities in the rankings. Their subject rankings are up four places from 2011.

The Students’ Union campaign to get students home to vote before the general election has been deemed a success by Campaign and Communications officer Cian Byrne. Launched the week of the election, the campaign sought to sign up students to carpool home in time to vote.

Byrne claimed that the success could be seen “especially not going by the quantitative but even the response we’ve got back from people, how happy they are that we’re doing it, that they got to see it.”

About 150 people in total registered to get home through the campaign, which also gave away a number of prizes to participants. Six train tickets were given to people who could not join a carpool to their home county while some students won back their petrol if they posted a video or picture of themselves on their journey. Two cars won their petrol back.

Byrne explained that the idea of the social media posts “was so everyone could see what we were doing… we had a picture from one winner that had a punctured tyre and still

Consent Classes Launched

by such callers”.

If these calls are received, they should be reported to UCD Estate Services.

Similar calls were received in September, when spam calls that fraudulently used the pension fund companies name, Heston Financial, to gain sensitive information were reported.

UCD Switches Off This year’s UCD SwitchOff for St Patrick’s day and weekend was a huge success. An additional 14,687kWh was saved in comparison to last year, which is the equivalent of the annual energy consumption of nearly two homes.

UCD Energy Unit encouraged staff and students to play their part in the UCD switch off by turning off all non-essential equipment over the weekend. The switch-off is part of their

overall energy efficiency programme and will help to deliver the targeted 33 per cent improvement in energy efficiency by 2020.

UCD Energy Unit were also jointly responsible for a cross campus project, led by UCD Estate Services with support from the UCD Alumni, UCD International, UCD Registry, UCD Research and Innovation and UCD University Relations, for turning UCD’s Water Tower and Merville House green to celebrate St Patrick’s day. The Energy Unit said that: “The challenge was to accomplish the required lighting effect while improving energy efficiency.

We installed a number of 110 watt LED light fittings, which deliver approximately 80 per cent efficiency improvements over the previous decorative lights. The old lights had been installed for the 150th UCD anniversary some 12 years ago.”

News UCD graduates and staff collaborate on 1916 play Patrick Kelleher

Patrick Kelleher

Eight writers, all of whom are UCD graduates and staff, have collaborated to write a series of monologues in a new play for the 1916 centenary, entitled Signatories.

The monologues for the play are written by Emma Donoghue, Thomas Kilroy, Hugo Hamilton, Rachel Fehily, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Marina Carr, Joseph O’Connor and Frank McGuinness.

Eilis O’Brien, UCD’s Director of Communications, told The Irish Times that the idea arose “over a cup of tea” with Frank McGuinness, who is one of Ireland’s most renowned living playwrights, as well being professor of creative writing at UCD. Each writer has written a monologue based on one person from 1916, with the show taking place over three nights at Kilmainham Gaol from 22nd-24th April. The performance will be directed by Patrick Mason, and will begin at dusk and finish in candlelight.

Kilmainham Gaol is a historic location for the performance to take place, as the location where the leaders of the 1916 Rising were imprisoned and executed.

Signatories is written by some of UCD’s most distinguished writers and staff. Emma Donoghue is the author of Room , the film adaptation of which received a number of Academy Award nominations, as well as a win for Best Actress at the 2016 awards. Renowned playwrights Marina Carr and Hugo Hamilton are also UCD graduates, and have received critical acclaim both in and outside of Ireland.

The eight writers have written a 10 minute monologue each for the performance. The monologues will serve as creative explorations of some of those involved in 1916, including some of the lesser known leaders, such as nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell, who delivered the surrender from the rebels during the Rising.

Following its three night run at Kilmainham Gaol, the play will be performed at the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire (26th-27th April), in the Civic in Tallaght (3rd-4th May) and in the National Concert Hall on May 5th.

Society News Gráinne Loughran

FilmSoc UCD FilmSoc are running their annual film festival from 4th-8th April, with over 30 events taking place on campus during the week-long event. The week will see Game of Thrones star Aidan Gillen visiting campus for a special screening, as well as numerous other guests from around the world involved in filmmaking. Filmmaking workshops relating to acting, editing, and scriptwriting will be held, as well as pizza events, a UCD productions screening and a fun day.

Further details will follow through FilmSoc’s Facebook page and via email.

UCDSVP and LitSoc UCD Saint Vincent de Paul Society (UCDSVP) and UCD LitSoc are organising an Addiction Awareness Spoken and Written Word Showcase on Thursday April 4th to encourage an open, safe discussion about addiction. There will be an open mic at the event with sign-ups on the night.

LitSoc is also asking people to submit written work and artistic pieces for a visual display. Pieces may be original or the creation of your favourite artist or writer (as long as you don’t take credit) and must deal with the theme of addiction in some way. Send your work to englishliterarysociety@ ucd.ie along with the name of whoever created the piece and how you would like to be credited (entries can be anonymous)

by Friday April 1st.

Dramsoc

LGBTIreland report reveals mental health issues amongst LGBTI youth

include Best Director (Rosa Bowden), Best Actress (Ali Dempsey McMahon), Best Sound (Mark McCarthy) and the judges’ discretionary award for Best Ensemble (cast of Punk Rock!). UCD Dramsoc was also nominated for Best Original Script, Best Actor, Best Set Design, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Lighting Design and Best Overall Production.

A recent report has highlighted the mental health issues LGBTI youth experience in Ireland, as well as their experiences of harassment and bullying.

The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), alongside BelongTo youth service released the report on 22nd March, entitled LGBTIreland. The report was launched at an event by former Irish president, Dr Mary McAleese.

The report found that LGBTI people over 26 were “doing well” and reported “good self-esteem”. However, the results for those under 25 showed extreme levels of distress. Speaking at the launch, McAleese described the results of the report as “horrifying”.

The report found that 34 per cent of LGBTI people had self-harmed in the past year, with 60 per cent saying that their self-harm was in relation to their sexual identity. Younger LGBTI people were found to be most likely to self-harm, with 56 per cent of 14-18 year olds having self-harmed, and 43 per cent of 19-25 year olds.

When compared to the results of the My World national youth mental healthy study of 17-25 year olds, the results indicate that self-harm rates are two times higher amongst LGBTI young people. In the grouping, bisexual and transgender people were most likely to have self-harmed.

Suicidal thoughts were also found to be an issue among LGBTI young people, with 70 per cent of 14-18 year olds and 62 per cent of 19-25 year olds reporting as having thought of

international News in Brief Roisin Guyett-Nicholson

ending their own lives. 21 per cent of LGBTI people had attempted suicide, with a quarter of these having done so in the last year. Attempted suicide was found to be three times higher amongst 19-25 year old LGBTI people when compared with a similar age group in the My World study The report also highlighted the harassment that LGBTI people experience in schools and in their day-to-day lives. 75 per cent reported having been verbally abused at some point for their sexuality. One in three have been threatened with physical violence, and one in six LGBTI people have experienced sexual violence.

Responding to the findings of the report, Louise Keogh, auditor of UCD’s PleaseTalk society and previous LGBTQ+ Society auditor, says that the results are not surprising.

“In my point of view, I didn’t find them too shocking,” she says. “Just kind of knowing so many LGBT people last year and before, and even from my own personal experience, it’s so true. The percentages are so high but it’s so correct, and that’s why I think these reports are so important, because it kind of reminds people that it is an issue.”

UCD students who are affected by mental health issues can seek assistance from PleaseTalk. UCD also runs a counselling service, which students can sign up to on their website or at the Student Health and Counselling service in the Old Student Centre.

IN photo: PUNK ROCK PERFORMING AT isda

Swedish Study Finds Majority of Academics Recruited From Within A study released by the Swedish Research Council found that over half of academics in the country are recruited by the institution that they received their doctorate from. Areas such as Agricultural Science, Engineering, Medicine and Health Sciences all had over 60 per cent internal recruitment.

The trend has led to fears that there is a lack of mobility for Swedish graduates.

The Director General of the research council, Sven Stafström, claimed that the results were worrying, stating that “Swedish higher education institutions ought to a larger degree look upon recruitment as a strategic leadership task.” The report recommended the creation of a national career system with open competition in which mobility counts positively towards job selection.

Internal recruitment also tended to increase with higher positions, such as senior lecturers and professorships.

The number of positions given to international academics was also quite low, with only 7 per cent of academics in medicine, humanities and social sciences having doctorates from nonSwedish institutions. Women are more likely than men to be internally recruited while natural sciences had the lowest level of internal recruitment.

American Student Sentenced to Hard Labour in North Korea A student from Ohio in the United States has been sentenced to 15 years hard labour in North Korea. 21 year old Otto Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia, was arrested for trying to steal a political propaganda poster from the hotel he was staying in. Authorities in the state claimed that he was working with the government in the United States to bring back a “trophy” from his visit.

Warmbier was arrested earlier this year for alleged “crimes against the state”. It is unclear where the student will serve his sentence, with some ambiguity over the existence of prison camps in North Korea. Set up in the 1940s and 1950s, the United Nations issued a report a number of years ago that asserted the camps were still in existence.

If Warmbier is to serve his sentence there, he could allegedly have to work between 14-16 hour days with little food. His 15 year sentence is thought to be more extreme than is usually given in similar cases, though there is some doubt that he would serve the full term of his sentence.

DanceSoc UCD DanceSoc won several awards at this year’s All Ireland Intervarsity Dance competition, which took place in Trinity College. UCD Fusion Crew won first place in the Jazz category with a routine choreographed by Bridget Riley, while UCD Hip Hop Crew were awarded third place in the Hip Hop Category. Katie Wong and Patrick Smith also received Special Performance Awards, making UCD the only university to receive two performance awards.

Drawsoc Drawsoc’s third annual student art exhibition will be taking place from 11-15 April 2016, with the launch night on Tuesday the 12th of April. The theme this year is “Limit[less]”, and the exhibition will feature works from a range of students, in a wide range of mediums.

The works will be on display in the foyer of the Student Centre, and everyone is encouraged to come along and explore the show. For more information, see UCD Drawsoc’s Facebook page.

Support for Higher Education for Refugees Grows The last number of years has seen an increase in virtual resources for refugees studying at higher education.

In Germany in particular concentrated efforts are being made to increase these resources. The website World University Service (WUS) has recently begun providing a consistently updated list of Internet links to guide students and academics in their study. It also helps them coordinate learning activities.

Some such resources include the InZone learning hub, which is based in a refugee camp in Kenya but powered through the University of Geneva. The centre consists of a prefab in the camp with various electronic and internet resources which allow refugees to study and collaborate with other students around the world. The costs for such programmes can be as little as US$300 a year, compared to the costs usually associated with traditional college courses.

In Germany the growth in support has seen greater funding for universities to help refugees in Europe. The funding allows for German language classes and teacher training courses specifically aimed at helping refugees.

The rise in support comes despite the growth of far right parties in Germany during the March federal elections.

UCD Dramsoc won four awards at last weeks’ Irish Student Drama Association (ISDA) festival, which took place in Galway. These

March 31ST 2016

News

News Analysis: Legitimacy in the Sabbatical Elections

After the Students’ Union elections at the beginning of this month, Roisin Guyett Nicholson questions the legitimacy of an election where only 10 per cent of the student body actually cast a vote As the year of five minute SHAG events and countless attempts to fundraise for the masses draws to a close, a new Students’ Union sabbatical team get ready to take their seats. Just as our celebrated TDs find it incredibly difficult to not argue constantly, unsuspecting students are dusting off their robes and heading for the dark and dreary SU corridor.

Over the summer, UCD will welcome new students to those highly sought after offices in the SU. Following the hard to miss elections earlier this month, a grand total of five new sabbatical officers have been elected with seven college officers also part of the executive. This is the body that represents most UCD students both with the university and nationally.

With a turnout of about 2800, these elections were fairly standard for UCD, though it is a large drop from last year which saw about 4,000 students cast their votes. However, the turnout was enough to reach quorum for the constitutional referendum.

Yet that is still only about 10 per cent of the student population in UCD – less still if you consider those studying abroad. By comparison, the general election saw about 60 per cent of the electorate turn out. The result of that election undoubtedly showed a lack of confidence in the previous government, yet what do the sabbatical elections enable students to show about their confidence in the SU? The lack of engagement from year to year would certainly suggest that even less people care about the work of the SU. The lack of candidates and contested races also suggests that student interest is quite low, with only one of the sabbatical candidates having held no previous title within the union.

The elections this year have done little to disprove the argument

that it is simply hacks who are invested in the state of the Union. Yet its avowed purpose is to represent students, though it is difficult to see how they can do this given that only 10 per cent of students voted at all.

Furthermore, that also means that no candidate

even got 10 per cent of the population voting for them.

For the uncontested races, the lowest re-open nominations (RON) vote was 15 per cent for Welfare, while the highest was 30 per cent for President. Of the students that care enough to vote, only 85 per cent decided Róisín O’Mara would

be a good Welfare officer. While the overall turnout was enough to match a possible constitutional change, the RON vote means that this is reduced when you look at single candidates.

Looking at the Presidential “race” the gap widens even further. The highest RON vote of the elections goes to Conor

Viscardi, the President elect.

While the position of Welfare is often seen as one of the most important and visible, the position of President is undoubtedly vital. This is the person who represents students to the University and advocates for them nationally, particularly as UCD remains

PHOTO: A low turn out for this year’s SU Hustings, photo by James Healy

outside of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). Yet this role received the highest vote to re-open nominations.

A third of the students that voted did not want this Presidential candidate elected.

Not only is the basic level of quorum not reached, in this case it simply does not come close. While there is generally an accepted amount of RON votes in every uncontested election, the difference between the highest and the lowest in these elections is vast.

This undermines the basic legitimacy of the uncontested positions. Barely 2,000 people voted for Viscardi, while the most any other uncontested candidate received was 2,382. Despite this, all of the candidates who stood unopposed were elected and are now set to represent the 26,000 students in UCD. With only the Campaigns and Communications race seeing more than one candidate, most of the other candidates saw little need to run high profile campaigns. Postering of election posters was called off the day of hustings while some candidates did not see the need to poster extensively, if at all.

The effects of this can be seen in the low voter turnout. While many unopposed candidates were likely to be elected, there should still be some element of legitimacy to their election. It is difficult to see how somebody can represent the people if barely 10 per cent of the people even voted for them in the first place. By not running high profile campaigns, many of our new sabbatical officers will lack a strong form of legitimacy for their office. They represent the people that they can barely encourage to turn out and vote.

News Analysis: The aftermath of Brussels for Erasmus students With the recent attacks in Brussels, Roisin Guyett-Nicholson looks at safety for students doing an Erasmus year in Europe The option to do an Erasmus year is very often a big part of the student experience. Around a fifth of students in UCD will study abroad for a year of the degree, with international degrees often seen as more employable. The opportunity to go abroad, study in another country and learn what that country is a universal student desire. Yet with the Brussels

attacks this year, following the Paris attacks last year, Europe is seeming like a less safe option for students.

For students going abroad, Europe is always a popular option, not just for study.

Many students go interrailing through the continent, visiting numerous cities.

For both options, countries

like France and Belgium are extremely popular.

Yet with the recent advance of hostilities, it’s less likely that students will feel safe going away for Erasmus. France, Belgium and numerous other countries have been high alert since November last year. In Paris, most tourist attractions had armed guards outside, with

a number of armed police and soldiers patrolling the streets.

An attack is suspected to have been thwarted in Belgium last year. But although security has been increased, attacks can still happen.

Many argue that to change our attitudes and actions simply because of terrorists is to give them another win. Yet when

PHOTO: ZAVENTEM MAIN TERMINAL, JUST BEFORE BEFORE THE ATTACK

March 31ST 2016

such violent and seemingly random attacks happen, a shift in attitudes is inevitable.

After Paris and Brussels, the Erasmus contacted each UCD student studying there with information and guidelines. That’s twice that the office has had to do it this academic year.

Combined with rising student costs at home, it is highly likely that students who would otherwise have gone away will simply opt to stay at home.

Students on Erasmus pay fees to their main institution, not to the one they will study at will abroad, even if the fees are lower. This means that Irish people studying in Germany through the Erasmus programme will still pay the €3,000 even though fees are a few hundred euro there.

It would be naive to suggest that these attacks can have no effect. In Dublin, armed guards are now to police the port and the airport.

Even though Ireland is a neutral country and internationally its forces are generally only deployed for peacekeeping forces, there is still a fear of attack.

The city of Brussels has also been put on lock down, making it incredibly difficult for people to get in or out.

There are stories emerging of people having to pay up to €100 to transfer their flights, with a group of students from UCC stranded in Belgium.

Over 30 students from Cork were stranded in Brussels following a class trip and appealed to Aer Lingus to help them get home.

Attacks such as these put unprecedented strain on the EU as a whole, not just from the perspective of the Erasmus programme. Though if we take

this as an example, it’s clear to see the further potential problems for the organisation.

Set up to bring Europe closer together economically and to prevent significant conflict between its states, in recent years the body has been coming under particular pressure from the rise of far-right parties. In France, Denmark, Sweden and the UK, there has been a huge surge to supporting the right. This has been seen recently with the increased presence of refugees within Europe, leading to support to close borders and focus on national issues.

Similarly, in the last 20 years there has been a push to tie Europe together through more than the economy. Freedom of travel, a single currency and European higher education funding are all a part of this attempt to foster greater connections. Yet, it has not been as successful as hoped with a large number of countries developing anti-Europe factions.

The recent attacks are almost certain to see a drop in cross Europe travel.

A number of people may have had plans to travel to Paris after November but cancelled. After the attacks in Brussels, the country shut down, preventing people from entering or leaving easily.

The Erasmus programme, initially designed to bring Europe closer together, will still have a number of applicants. However, it is impossible to say how many, or to measure how secure students will feel while abroad. But this does not mean that they should ignore the opportunity.

Comment

Head-to-Head: are young Irish people better off emigrating?

With the worst of Ireland’s financial crisis in the rearview, Kevin O’Leary argues that emigration is still a major option for students, while Kevin Worrall argues for staying in Ireland

CON

pro

Kevin Worrall

Kevin O’Leary The word ‘emigration’ stirs up intense feeling in the Irish psyche, but it is worth examining this further from the perspective of the prospective Irish emigrant. Gone are the days when emigration meant boarding a steamship with a flatcap in one’s hand and a wistful eye cast towards the land that would never be seen again. Emigration is no longer an escape from misery and destitution in our own country, but a mark of ambition on behalf of those who are willing to depart for foreign shores to further their own personal development and realise their full potential. There are many compelling reasons for young people to leave Ireland’s shores.

Regardless of the economic situation in Ireland, the state remains a relatively small entity with a population of little more than 4 million. As such, a distinct lack of opportunities exists when the pool of jobs is going to be so limited.

This is most notable in the area of nursing, where many graduates emigrate each year, but a similar reality is found in all professions.

While multinational corporations may set up regional bases here, the high-level executive positions remain in the US or mainland Europe, and for an Irish employee to reach the highest level of their particular industry, leaving this country is in many cases the best option for advancement in their career.

Despite the success of the IFSC, Ireland still lacks a major commercial financial centre that would be similar in nature to London’s Canary Wharf or Paris’ La Défense (albeit on a smaller scale). Until this occurs, the country’s business and finance graduates will still be drawn to the opportunities found in the metropoles of our nearest neighbours.

Though the economic climate remains far from satisfactory, emigrating could be a good option for more reasons than purely what you have in your pocket. The opportunity to work and travel in another country will open a graduate’s eyes to the world beyond the classrooms, lecture theatres and offices to which they have grown accustomed. The experience of another lifestyle, culture and even language equips the graduate with additional life skills as well as a wider variety of attributes to present to a prospective employer.

We need to get beyond the sentimentality that portrays emigration as a fundamentally sad and emotional experience that one can only engage in with reluctance.

The distance from Los Angeles to New York is twice the distance of that which lies between Dublin and Berlin, yet if a graduate made the move from one US city to another, it would be seen as a progressive step in that person’s path to their personal and occupational fulfilment, not a backwards move that one is forced into out of necessity. People

are not leaving this country because they have to, they are leaving because they see opportunities in terms of their careers and their overall lives that are beyond them if they remain in Ireland.

With a volatile recovery and an open economy highly susceptible to external economic circumstances, Ireland’s employment situation remains unpredictable, and long term prospects for graduates are unclear. Following the 2008 crash, Ireland’s unemployment rate went from 4 per cent to 15 per cent in just four years, a rise higher than 22 other EU countries in this period. This rise coincided with the emigration of about 250,000 workers from these shores, whose presence in Ireland would have likely pushed the unemployment rate much further than it actually went. Even in the depths of the recession in the US, the American unemployment rate barely touched double figures. Apart from the short period between the late 1990s and 2008, Ireland’s unemployment rate has been stubbornly among the highest in the European Union.

The CAO figures for 2016 show a considerable rise in demand for third-level courses in areas such as construction, engineering and architecture, with economic prospects currently looking positive for these sectors. But who can be sure of their prospects after a four-year course? For those on the brink of graduating from these degrees, opportunities appear to exist, but how far will a graduate get in these careers before the

economic situation turns again? The figures would suggest that beginning a career in another country is far more likely to provide the sort of job security that workers crave in the modern jobs environment.

The argument for emigration does not imply that Ireland is an undesirable place to live and work.

It does, however, acknowledge that it is quite possibly more beneficial for a graduate to move to a country that provides better opportunities for employment and personal development, as well as greater job security than is currently provided in our native land.

It took a lot of work to think of an argument as to why young people should stay in Ireland after graduation. Four years ago, you wouldn’t be blamed for wanting to leave. Unemployment was nearly 15 per cent, and the cost of living was and continues to be expensive.

With the retirement age continuously being increased, there is little shift or staff turnover in many corporations, meaning most of us are left knocking on company doors, while they hold senior employees captive. It can be difficult to find a reason to stay, especially when you’re a 20 year old student. The likelihood of making it anywhere can seem relatively slim.

For final year students, the same conversations can be heard habitually across the university: what will happen after graduation? Some already have their master’s planned, or are playing the nepotism game and have their foot in an entry-level position in an insurance agency.

For many, they plan on moving overseas as soon as they have saved up enough money working their minimum wage, 16 hour-a-week contracts jobs in Penneys or Nando’s.

We’re all so conditioned into accepting we’ll need to leave that hardly any of us would consider looking for employment here. And the harsh truth is that even if Ireland was the homeland of a special soil which made money grow on trees, a lot of us would still consider leaving. Emigration is seen as the easy option. When anxiety rears its head about finding a job, it is eased slightly by the knowledge that we can relocate.

Therefore, trying to argue that people should stay in Ireland from the “economy is improving ever so slightly” angle is primitive.

Ireland is firmly situating itself firmly alongside the rest of the modern world, having become the first country in the world to bring in equal marriage by popular vote. We’ve shaken the grip of the Catholic Church and welcome many technological advances, holding the Web Summit in the RDS since its inception (it’s moving to Lisbon next year) which showcases compelling debates about many social issues. And due to our low incorporation tax at 12.5 per cent, 8 out of 10 global information and technological firms chose Ireland as their European

REBUTTAL

REBUTTAL

The other argument very much echoes the anxieties which I willingly admitted to in my own argument concerning high unemployment rates as an incitement to leave. However, as stated here, there is an attitude which has permeated across society that emigration should be a rescue remedy to everyone. The attitude towards simply emigrating from Ireland after college has become as easy as wearing Penneys tracksuit bottoms – it’s dangerous and unnecessary.

My main point is that emigration will always be the answer in someone’s world. Even if Ireland struck oil tomorrow and we

The argument brought in favour of remaining in Ireland was at times heart-warming and indeed inspiring. The mentioning of our generally charitable and friendly nature was a point with which one couldn’t but agree.

It did inadvertently highlight a key problem for graduates however. Arguably one of the strongest reasons for staying put is our community roots, and the cohesive nature of our society.

This is not something which provides long-term security for Ireland’s graduates, and these social values are found in many other cultures worldwide.

Our long list of successful entertainers and sports stars is certainly quite impressive, but many of these achieved success after departing Ireland. Roy

became the most viable economy in the world, there will be someone who doesn’t like working in an oil rig. Someone will always just have the dream of living in Barcelona, or LA, and there isn’t anything that we can, or should do, to stop them from living out that fantasy.

This is in regards to the people who are emigrating strictly as a final resort. Postgraduates need to put a stronger emphasis on entering the workforce – big businesses need to give us the opportunity just as much as we need to show it. Only then can we prove our intellect earned by our degrees, and push Ireland towards better days.

base, creating jobs and revenue.

Irish people need to reaffirm their loyalty to their homeland.

We’ve got a reputation for giving up when the going gets tough.

Ireland treats patriotism like their politically incorrect aunt; tolerating her at Christmas because they know they’ll get a twenty euro note out of it.

We love to complain about our homeland. We hate the weather, we hate the government, we hate Dublin Bus and we hate the cyclists who almost hit us as we jay-walked.

We are known for claiming victimhood. And look at our history. Who could blame us?

Anyone can see we are rooted in deep insecurities. We were raised to be humble, to not take compliments. Our achievements are consistently overshadowed by world media, claiming Irish talent to be British or American for instance.

One of the recent trends on Twitter was #BeingIrishMeans.

A lot of these trends were sarcastic. However, there were a few tweets which spoke about the beauty Ireland has to offer.

Have you ever met another Irish person abroad? Think of the great craic that is had. How the person offers to buy you drinks, how they know your friend Matthew, and worked with your Aunt Mona. The conversation you have as you share a taxi ride back to your accommodation about the deep issues in life.

They too enjoy two sugars in their tea, and prefer Barry’s over Lyons. Imagine getting to live in a whole country filled with people like that. Oh wait…

We’ve created Oscar winning actors, won gold in the Olympics, produced musicians, sportsmen, playwrights, filmmakers, broke barriers in scientific research, and are considered one of the best places in the world to do business.

It should be a deep shame that we are seen as not having any pride. Having a firm affiliation with your country, being proud at what it has achieved and wanting to contribute to its legacy, is the real reason for young people to stay in Ireland now.

Keane moved to England to reach the highest levels of soccer, U2 gained worldwide recognition after recording and releasing The Joshua Tree in the US, while athletes like Sonia O’Sullivan and Jim Stynes went to Australia to further their careers.

Outside of these fields, other high-profile Irish figures such as the US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, a Dublin native, would not have reached the positions they have if emigration had not been part of their story.

Ireland is unquestionably an attractive country to grow up and live in, but unfortunately it has consistently failed to provide the opportunities and security that its citizens are entitled to demand and experience, and until this changes, emigration remains a very real consideration.

ILLUSTRATION: AISLING MCGUIRE

March 31ST 2016

comment Mental Health in the New Dáil Mental health was often ignored during the recent general election. Eithne Dodd examines why this is the case, and why mental health has such a continuing stigma in Ireland Mental illness is still heavily stigmatised. This is in spite of the fact that mental health illnesses account for almost 20 per cent of the burden of disease in the WHO European Region, and mental health problems affect one in four people at some time in life.

Ireland has one of the highest rates of male suicide in Europe.

Mental health accounts for up to 30 per cent of consultants with GPs. Sufferers of mental illnesses are nine times more likely to be outside the labour force. Severe mental health conditions can reduce life expectancy by between 10 and 25 years. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that the economic cost of mental health is approximately three per cent of GDP. WHO also estimates that one in five people will develop a depressive episode during their lifetime.

Yet, for such a widespread problem in Ireland, mental health does not appear to be a vote winner. It is mentioned in party manifestos so it is an idea that everyone agrees with in principle, and that someone should do something about.

Unfortunately, the fact that it isn’t a vote winner means that mental health can often be ignored in Irish politics. The last programme of government committed €35 million of their budget to mental health, a figure that was almost cut twice, in both the 2013 and 2015 budget proposals. Kathleen Lynch, former TD and Minister of State and the Department of Health with special responsibility for mental health reportedly nearly resigned last year during these budget proposals.

“A Vision for Change”, a strategy document outlining the long-term vision of mental health services in Ireland published in 2006 was set for completion this year. It outlines a framework to foster positive metal

health and provide accessible and specialist services for those suffering from poor mental health. Since its publication, “A Vision for Change” has seen an increase in the number of multi-disciplinary staff on mental health teams, meaning more people have access to psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists.

However, while there have been innovative projects in various parts of the country, few projects have been

“…few projects have been rolled out nationally, meaning that your postal code is a big determinant in the treatment someone with a mental illness receives.” rolled out nationally, meaning that your postal code is a big determinant in the treatment of someone with a mental illness receives.

Implementation of “A Vision for Change” is not only unfinished, it has been frustratingly slow. The independent monitoring group to oversee the progress of the strategy reported disappointment after disappointment, and was disbanded in 2012. The HSE and other voluntary groups are now in charge of monitoring but since this change, the budget for mental health has almost been cut twice.

Mental health gets neither the public attention nor the fiscal investment it deserves. We spend 6.5 per cent of our total health

budget on mental health. The UK spends 13 per cent, proportionately double the amount that we spend.

Before the general election the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) called on all political parties to commit to national mental health reform and suicide prevention in Ireland. They called on the next Government to produce a “detailed, time-lined Action Plan to continue the reform of mental health supports and improve the mental health of the whole population”. They also wanted adequate funding to ensure a standard of governance and oversight.

Few parties listened. In the run up to the general election the main topics for debate were housing, homelessness and economic recovery and while the 32nd Dáil struggles to be formed, the main talking point is how the major parties will find topics they can agree on to form a coalition.

What has not been realised by successive governments, political parties or the general public, is the connection between the economic landscape and mental illness.

As outlined in the document “A Vision for Change: Nine Years On” there are strong links between mental illness and other social issues. The report found that in 2006, there were 179 admissions of people with no fixed abode to psychiatric units and hospitals across the country.

In 2013, there were 245 people admitted, an increase of 37 per cent.

The document tells us that an audit found that 38 per cent of patients in the mental health unit of Tallaght Hospital (between 2012 and 2013) have accommodation related needs.

This figure jumps to 98 per cent for long stay or delayed discharge patients. It also found that every 9.4 days someone was discharged into homelessness from Tallaght Hospital acute mental health unit and that 58 per cent of homeless people in Dublin and Limerick have a mental health diagnosis.

In terms of economic recovery, the report found that people with mental health problems continue to experience prejudice and social

exclusion, as they are more likely to be unemployed and face more difficulties in accessing housing. It is hard to imagine how ill people who cannot get adequate treatment, housing, or a job will ever be able to contribute towards our economy.

A 2007 report by the HSE stated that “while Irish society will continue to experience considerable change and face new challenges ahead, a mentally healthier Irish society will be much better able to cope.”

While the economic crisis has left more than one area of the health service underfunded and inefficient, the recovering economy may allow the next government to do more to increase mental health services as well as the general public’s knowledge of mental health, but only if it is mandated.

People waiting days on trolleys get more attention not because those issues are more or less important than mental health, but because they demand an immediate

solution. Mental health is a long term illness that requires a long term plan.

Rather than continue to allow one in seven people feel ostracised by their own state, the 32nd Dáil and especially the next programme for government needs to make a plan for long term action towards positive mental health in Ireland. Let all parties agree to an unqualified commitment to mental health that will not be blocked in the future.

PHOTO: TD Kathleen Lynch

Turmoil in Calais’ Migrant ‘Jungle’

The fight between French authorities and migrants in the Calais refugee camp have been rumbling over the past few weeks. Julia O’Reilly examines the struggle in the camp Perched precariously atop the roof of her home, a pregnant protester battles a pair of baton yielding policemen whose job it is to ground her. While this is troubling, it’s all part of the ensuing chaos. Between a makeshift wooden shelter lying collapsed in the mud and a hut engulfed in flames, a stray dog paws at sodden belongings trampled in the dirt. In the near distance, the sound of exploding water cannons masks terrified screams. This is Calais, France.

The Calais “Jungle”, as it has become known, is a migrant camp which acts as a limbo for those attempting to enter the UK. Since 1999, thousands of refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants had been setting up camp there.

In March 2015, the French authorities created a settlement to house displaced refugees who were assured that if they moved there from several smaller camps throughout the country they would not be cleared. Twelve months on, those promises fell to dust as the demolition kicked off.

25th February proved critical as Fabienne Buccio, the prefect of Calais, got permission to clear the camps and promised the migrants ten days to move from the southern to the northern section. But it wasn’t to be, as four days later the demolition began.

Carnage ensued. Some, unsure of their fate, took to the roads with their families, their meagre possessions strewn over their shoulders in binbags. Some, panicked, leaving empty-handed.

Others, in an effort at evading the inevitable destruction defiantly held occupancy.

Hours into the wrecking, stones continue to volley March 31ST 2016

through the smoky air. Teargas chokes adults and children alike. The horror doesn’t end there. Escalating desperation has triggered a wave of self-harm with one woman slitting her wrists and a group of Iranians stitching their mouths shut in response to the destruction. In an effort to mask their prints, migrants cut their fingertips for fear they would be sent back to wherever they first entered Europe. For these people, they have come so far, having almost reached the UK. But, at the final drag, any remaining sense of order they had is now in disarray.

The regional government razed the camp, citing appalling conditions as their justification. The conditions were squalid, the camp being devoid of adequate sanitary facilities and accommodation. For the thousands displaced as a result, pondering the reasons will likely be of little solace.

Indeed, facilities were strained and life was by no means easy. Even though volunteers and refugees toiled to transform that camp into one that was equipped with essentials the state was not supplying. With the razing, the work of countless hours and precious donations were recklessly destroyed.

What did the displaced do to deserve this shoddy treatment?

Hail from a war-torn land? Want something better for themselves?

Is there a chance the world forgets that these are human beings? The “Jungle”, as a name, does not help.

illustration: Dearbhla ross

It draws certain connotations; that it houses something different, primitive, uncivilised. The use of such a feral term subtly fuels the popular opinion that refugees simply won’t integrate.

The name started as a jokey reference to the squalor between migrants. In time it was picked up by the media. Terms

such as “Jungle Warfare” and “War of the Jungle” were bandied about. The “otherness” the term suggests fuels the harmful myths that circulate around refugees and a border-crossing fear culture.

And this is despite the fact that many in the camp have family in the UK and most speak English.

Not so different after all.

When we pretend that those who have been displaced are not like us we invite dreadful consequences. For those who portray migrants as somehow less than human it’s easier to detach from a humanitarian crisis.

Dehumanising language increases the indifference some have to the struggle of the 3,455 people who once lived in the recently razed camp; those who the authorities are claiming will fit in either shipping containers or small centres across the country.

All good and well for them to say, but it’s not that simple.

Converted containers are

distrusted by the displaced, as in order to access them, finger prints must be taken. Under the Dublin Regulations they would then be forced to apply for asylum in France, which many don’t want to do. Regardless, they are almost full. There is also not enough space at these centres for most of the Calais residents. It is clear that the solution is nothing short of fantasy.

Further down the coast, the Mayor of Dunkirk, Damien Carême is being proactive about the crisis.

He used local authority money to build a hygienic refugee camp for 2,500 people a mile from Calais.

This was a timely move that is rapidly attracting residents.

Ironically, while it is France’s first ever internationally recognised refugee camp, it was one that the government tried to stop being built. The rationale perhaps being that hygienic, well run camps are a magnet for migrants. For that reason, Carême is under pressure to close it. And chances are that that will happen, given that he has professed publically that he thinks he can only keep the camp open for a maximum of two or three months without a huge injection of financial aid. While this is a disgrace, it is no real surprise.

Many feel the jihadist attacks in Paris last November have strongly contributed to coarse French attitudes towards migrants. They are not getting the priority they deserve and so, the future remains bleak for the thousands who have been displaced.

A key, but unlikely solution lies in the hands of the British government.

Admitting shared responsibility for Calais and opening routes would go a long way towards easing pressures and tensions. Meanwhile, avoiding problems has never been a solution.

Some things are certain: refugees will keep coming. Complications will escalate; the refugee crisis cannot and will not be bulldozed over.

Comment The Future of Living in Dublin Dublin property and rental prices have been sharply rising over the past few years. Martin Healy analyses the situation before the new government comes into power It’s hard to avoid news of the skyrocketing rents in Dublin. The city is now seeing rents that are 0.4 per cent higher than the peak of the property bubble in 2007.

Whilst the rest of the country sees rents around 14.5 per cent lower than the peak in a number of areas, the sheer scale of the increase in Dublin rent is a terrifying prospect for anyone in the Dublin area.

The damage these prices are doing have already affected the UCD campus – UCD accommodation services prioritised first year and international students at the start of this academic year. Students from around the country, and around the world, are looking to study in Dublin, but the market is unsustainable outside of the lucky few, with increases in rent hitting nine per cent in Dublin last year. The average rent for a house in Dublin now stands at €1,431 per month.

Most of this comes from the property bubble and subsequent crash. Due the complete halt in the Irish construction industry in 2008, few properties were being built either in Dublin or elsewhere.

According to the 2011 Census, the Dublin area population grew by 83,427 to 1,270,063 in the five years since 2006. With another Census due for next month, this number has likely increased yet again to over 1.3 million.

As the population – whether it be students, or families in any part of the city – continues to grow, the absence of construction is only going to push property and rent prices even higher. Dublin property prices fell by a 1.2 per cent in January, but they have still increased by 3.4 per cent since January 2015. As prices continue to climb, landlords and residential property owners are happy to keep letting prices increase. It’s the classic economic

supply and demand situation: there are significantly more people looking to rent than properties available.

The effect of these climbing prices is evident in the events at Tyrellstown. Protests broke out in earnest last week as around forty tenants are being evicted due to their loans being sold and their leases cancelled. So many families like those affected in Tyrellstown are feeling the same effect; property

“The pressing need to get apartments and homes built is urgent in the city, but there has to be a certain level of quality, in case of something like the Priory Hall fiasco happening again.” prices keep climbing, so people have turned toward renting houses.

The security of these leases have been proven to be significantly less than that of a mortgage. These families will be forced to move further away from the city and out of Dublin 15, as many cannot afford the constantly climbing prices. While the narrative is that the country is slowly recovering, for many, the era of austerity is definitely not over.

It is crucial for the incoming government to deal with this situation correctly over the coming months and years. The pressing need to get apartments and homes built is urgent in the city, but there has to be a certain level of quality, in case of something like the Priory Hall fiasco happening again. A shift to a European-style renting economy is already entering into Irish life. Dublin citizens just need the kind of long-term apartment buildings that are seen throughout cities all over the continent.

Recent signs have not been entirely positive. Late last year, new regulations came from the Department for the Environment and Minister Alan Kelly regarding the new minimum apartment size in Dublin. The new 40 square metre apartments would be 27 per cent smaller than the current minimum size. It allows developers to fit as many apartments into the city as possible, in order to curb the supply issue.

The plan has drawn a lot of fire towards the incumbent minister. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) vice-president John Mahoney has stated that the new minimum sizes would not be possible due to the constraints on the smallest permissible room sizes. He cites that the actual “practical” minimum for a one-bedroom apartment is 49 square metres at least.

This supposed solution by Kelly and the department is incredibly unlikely to settle things long-term.

While apartments and new homes are desperately needed throughout the city, even just to alleviate rent prices, this supposed plan would be short-sighted. Continental European apartment living is designed with the long-term in mind. These apartments are family homes, with the facilities and

space one would need to live in an apartment over a period of decades.

Kelly’s plan concerns first-time buyers and young people without children, with no eye toward creating apartments for long-term, fixed living.

And while he states that “these are very good standards”, larger and more suitable apartments that are costlier to build would provide an actual long-term strategy. At least they would ease the hike in prices as well as make use of the limited space in the Dublin city area.

The rate at which rent is increasing in Dublin is slowly easing up, but the rates are already at such a high.

The issue effects so many in the city, from the students here in UCD, to the tens of thousands of people on social housing lists. In January, according to the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, 134 families became homeless in the city – which is the highest the figures have ever been on record. This takes the figure of families living in temporary emergency accommodation up to 769.

A new Focus Ireland report from last week wants the new government to commit to construction over 40,000 social homes over the next five years.

Whatever steps that have to be taken, the new government needs to

put their best foot forward in order to handle this situation. With the property boom of the Celtic Tiger in the rearview, the Irish government, as well as its citizens, know the consequences of freely allowing developers to construct as many (widely fluctuating in quality) homes in any part of the country as long as the money kept coming. If Ireland’s “recovery” is to be as such, crucial issues like this are not an area to be squandered, especially for those who want to live in Dublin long-term after their time in UCD comes to an end.

PHOTO: tHE TYRELLSTOWN BUILDINGS IN QUESTION

A Union of Heads, Not Hearts: the Brexit With debate raging over a possible Brexit, Billy Vaughan explores why Britain is destined to leave Britain is locked in a series of unhappy marriages. It is in denial about its failing relationship with the EU, justifying scraping by “for the sake of economics”.

This autopilot mode doesn’t just apply to the EU. Britain is also putting off the inevitable soul searching it must do in relation its own internal unions and attitudes, which are also in deep trouble. A major socio-political shift is on the horizon for Britain, but by letting it happen sooner rather than later, it may succeed in limiting the damage.

So far most of the debate about a possible “Brexit” has centred on economics. And, of course, this is sensible and expected. After all, the whole project was originally conceived as the EEC and as its name suggested, it was purely economic in scope. But as the decades have gone by it has steadily

grown to become the political and cultural giant that it is today.

Is it fair then, to characterise the whole debate over the pros and cons of the EU as if it’s 1975? Because by focusing solely on cold hard economics, that is exactly what we are doing. We are forgetting that treaty after treaty has given more power to the EU in more and more diverse areas, including culture, politics, and social policy. The European Union has, over the years, developed a soul and an identity – sadly one that it will never share with Britain Unfortunately, outlining all the cultural factors that set Britain apart from Europe would fill this newspaper. But a brief mention of some important aspects would include the socalled “Island Mentality”. Some suggest that the geographical break between the two creates a split in national mind-sets.

This is best summed up by the famous 1930s British newspaper headline, “Fog in Channel, Continent Cut Off”. This helps to fuel an “us and them” attitude between Britain and the EU, as opposed to the “we together” mind-set of other member states.

The British media often tends to portray David Cameron as battling against the EU for concessions as opposed to working with it to change the outcome.

It seems that the EU has taken the place of Napoleonic France and Nazi Germany as the new foe across the Channel.

To be completely truthful, most mentions of Britain in this piece could easily be replaced by England. Why? Because mistrust of the EU is very much an English phenomenon. Surveys have shown consistently that most of Wales, and practically all of Scotland are strongly pro-EU, whereas

“Outwardly, Britain is still keeping up the appearance of a solid, coherent world power, but domestic circumstances are making this increasingly difficult.”

the top 10 most Eurosceptic areas are all in England.

The inclusion of Scotland, Wales, and to a lesser extent Northern Ireland in this referendum is the only reason that the projected outcome is currently very tight-run.

This complicates the issue, because the “Island Mindset” argument clearly does not hold up if the island itself is divided on the problem. The key to Britain’s fraught alliance with Europe lies elsewhere.

Another possible explanation is that Britain has had a very different experience of empire compared to other European nations. Unlike France and Germany, who unceremoniously dumped their empires, Britain carefully fostered a working relationship with many of the states it formerly owned.

Today it is the biggest player in the Commonwealth, a successor to the empire which emphasises bonds based on shared cultures, experiences, and values: the very things that it does not share with the European Union.

The same desire for a close match beyond economic issues has also driven Britain’s “special relationship” with the US. Overall, it very much sees itself as more of a global actor than a European one.

While most EU nations are content to focus on regional issues, Britain has much stronger global bonds that it must be mindful of when making major decisions.

Britain also has a very different political culture to Europe. It is more similar to the US model of confrontation and favouring stability over proportionality. The constituents of the EU often need to compromise extensively to stay in power, whereas in Britain, politicians are used to aiming for full control of

the agenda. This difference in mind-set clearly translates to the negotiating table, with David Cameron more than willing to upset the EU consensus to obtain opt-out clauses for migrant benefits. The British public’s horror at the mere existence of the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition speaks volumes about the vast gulf between the political expectations of the British and Europeans.

Outwardly, Britain is still keeping up the appearance of a solid, coherent world power, but domestic circumstances are making this increasingly difficult. Scotland, for instance, is proving to be a long-term thorn in the side of the Union.

According to the British Social Attitudes Survey, nearly three times more Scots would describe themselves as “Scottish” rather than “British”. Scottish politicians were quick to point out the hypocrisy in statements made by Brexit advocates, many of whom were the same politicians that had lectured Scots months before about the great benefits of remaining united. General pride in being “British” is also in decline. In the latest BSAS, 35 per cent stated that they were proud to be British, compared to 43 per cent in 2003. The over 65s are now the only group where “very proud” is in the majority.

Troubled times lie ahead for Britain. Unfortunately, most British politicians seem to think that the best solution is to reluctantly carry on as if nothing is wrong, and persevere with a Europe with which it shares little. The first step forward is to let the inevitable happen, no matter what the short-term consequences.

Britain, it is time to break up with Europe. Buy a sports car and some hair dye, and celebrate your midlife crisis in style.

IN PHOTO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON

March 31ST 2016

features

Why should we care about the Seanad?

Rosemarie Gibbons examines what is relevant to young people in the upcoming Seanad Elections The Seanad, the upper House of the Oireachtas in Ireland, is something probably not recalled by most students since their Junior Cert CSPE exam.

What most people do recall is its lack of power and selective representation, with its electors being made up of NUI and Trinity graduates. Is it possible for the Seanad to represent all of the people, all of the time?

Like most government bodies in this country, there seems to be a struggle with representing Ireland’s diverse population and different demographics.

The Seanad’s main business is the revising of legislation sent to it by Dáil Éireann. This is a safeguard against legislation being enacted too quickly.

Its members can also initiate legislation and can only make recommendations but not amendments to such Bills. The lack of younger Senators and TDs is something to be noted should the Dáil and Seanad, respectively, choose to focus on youth oriented issues. Bills such as the Quinn-Zappone Bill, drawn up by Senators Fergal Quinn and Katherine Zappone, held some promising clauses as it set out to open the voting to all Irish citizens who are eligible to vote, and would have also introduced a fifty-fifty gender quota in seats, amongst other things. The fact that Seanad elections are still not open to all Irish citizens may be what leads to the sense of confusion or disinterest in its day-to-day workings. Should this rule change, young people may have a more direct say in who represents them in the Seanad, as well as the Dáil, and what legislation they wish to focus on.

With issues such as state funding for third level institutions and consistent emigration affecting young Irish people, it is the people in the Dáil who hold the most power regarding what laws they introduce that might affect young people. Rising numbers of people attending third level education means allocating of funding should be directed towards that, but with state funding for universities and ITs being halved in the

“There have been 11 reports done on reforming the Seanad and none of them have been implemented”. last few years, this is surely an area that will be prioritised in upcoming Seanad elections, especially with so many graduates from TCD and NUI institutions amongst the seats.

Similarly, the lack of entry-level jobs for young graduates in Ireland means emigration is still at a high level. It is an issue stressed from

time to time in the Dáil and Seanad but one never really concentrated on. With students being more politically aware than ever, and the ‘youth vote’ a vital factor for many parties, issues that directly affect them such as third level funding should be more closely examined.

With the recent dissolution of

the Dáil, many TDs who have lost their seats will be looking to be voted into the next Seanad. One current issue many TDs faced in the run up to the General Election was their stance on repealing the eighth amendment. This could be the issue that really puts the Seanad into the conscience of young people

this year, as it could have a huge effect on amending the bill, which has been consistently delayed and put off by the majority of members of the Oireachtas. The influence of the ‘youth vote’ was seen in last year’s legalisation of same-sex marriage.

Ellen O’Malley Dunlop is running for election in the upcoming Seanad elections. As CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) for over ten years, O’Malley Dunlop is looking to work towards reform in the equality and mental health services sectors. “Seanad Éireann can also debate important issues and can do so with greater freedom than the Dáil because the fate of the Government is not at stake,” she says.

In theory, the existence of the Seanad would make for a more democratic, inclusive government.

However, O’Malley Dunlop concedes it is not an all-inclusive House.

“The way members of Seanad Éireann are elected is not democratic and is elitist,” she explains. “For example, graduates from UL, DCU and other third level institutions do not have votes. Members of other panels can have four and five votes.

There have been 11 reports done on reforming the Seanad and none of them have been implemented”.

“The three main areas of legislation that I see as necessary to progress are The Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 and the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2015. I also support the repeal of the Eighth Amendment and the passing of legislation to allow women to make their own decisions in very difficult situations”.

“I have made a number of submissions to the All Party Committee on Justice and Equality and the most recent submission was requesting the inclusion of a clear definition of [sexual] consent in the legislation,” she says. With the introduction of mandatory sexual

consent classes in Trinity in the coming year, this is something that will resonate with students especially, as third-level institutions are putting more of a focus on campaigns around consent.

Another issue that resonates strongly with young people is mental health. The Seanad retains the power to amend legislation in relation to the provision of mental health services, something that directly or indirectly affects nearly everybody in this country – one only needs to recall the silent vigil for Caoilte O Broin outside the Dáil this February to understand there is not enough direct provision of mental health services by the HSE in this country. With the fourth-highest rate of suicide amongst young people in the EU, provision of mental healthcare services is one of the most important issues facing those with the power, as it is a matter that cannot be ignored.

O’Malley Dunlop speaks of wanting to provide a “robust, 21st century mental health system”, including the “expansion of counselling and psychotherapy services (particularly for suicide prevention), state funding for NGOs offering free counselling and psychotherapy for victims of sexual crime and domestic violence” and “the inclusion of psychotherapy and counselling services in private health insurances plans.”

She also adds, as a psychotherapist of twenty years, “I would support the inclusion of psychotherapy and counselling in private health insurance plans as well as these services being provided free of charge in the public service”.

The Seanad will elect its members in the coming days, following university constitution guidelines already set in place. With a range of issues up for debate, there will be a lot for young people to discuss.

UCD: A Safe Space For Feminism?

With no feminist society in place on campus, Eva Griffin examines whether UCD is a safe space for feminism

PHOTO: Gráinne loughran

March 31ST 2016

”The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too.”

Rose Schneiderman’s suffragist call for fair wages and dignified conditions in 1912 rang true decades later for a group of UCD students in the mid-1970s. The slogan became the name of a self-published, hand-drawn, black and white zine called Bread and Roses. With 18 pages of content and a distinctive feminist slant, it was published by the UCD Women’s Liberation Movement in an attempt to highlight issues such as abortion and the civil service marriage ban across campus.

The contemporary campus has no such zine, and no women’s society to possibly helm a similar publication team. While UCD women’s groups have existed in the past, at least since the early 1990s when society records began, there is no such group on campus today.

That said, a society’s name isn’t always entirely and accurately reflective of the activities engaged in or the individual member’s political views. It is telling though that no feminist society exists apart from the subgroup of UCD’s English and Literary Society, the UCD Feminist Book Club which is dedicated to a shared interest in feminist readings. It does not publish pamphlets or organise political movements. With no clear space for the sharing and mobilising of feminist thought, can UCD be considered a safe campus for feminists?

Dr Marie Moran, director of the Equality Studies graduate program answers with a resounding no. “I think the environment is quite hostile to feminism and it doesn’t have to be overtly hostile for young women in particular to pick up on cues that it’s not cool to be a feminist,” she says.

“You’re better off being one of the lads. Girls who complain about rape culture, even if they don’t use that language, are told to lighten up or have a bit of a laugh.”

With no clear feminist representation on campus, Dr Moran fears that the only image

of women that impressionable students are given is a damaging one. “I think generally when women are depicted on campus it is in an anti-feminist way.” This, she claims, often comes in the form of on-campus promotions for club nights which are often hosted in tandem with societies. “In each case, they pick a gendered pair and the feminine is always in a state of near if not complete undress, is hypersexualised, and is clearly depicted as an object for the male gaze.”

“I think if you’re a first year undergrad arriving to this new, wonderful experience of university and they’re the images you’re met with on campus, you’re given a very definite impression of what’s expected of you as a young women in this environment.”

It seems that the images plastered across campus could feed directly into this dwindling of student groups dedicated to female empowerment and gender equality.

This hinders the alleviating of the misunderstanding that faces modern feminism and makes it difficult for students to confidently engage with feminist values.

Dr Moran often gives lectures on feminist theory as part of the Equality Studies program, and uses those modules as a chance to ask who among her students identifies as a feminist, with often surprising results. “This year it was really heartening to see that about 60 per cent of the class said they were feminists. The first time I taught the module was seven years ago and I think three hands went up out of seventy. That’s why I ask the question every year since then, to do my own little check of who is a feminist and who feels confident enough to say it in a classroom situation. There might be very many more women and men in the class who do hold feminist values but feel that they can’t express them or feel some ambivalence or reticence or insecurity about owning a feminist perspective.”

Lucy Murphy, a 4th year Politics and History student in UCD, is a frequent contributor to house debates, often opting to partake in those that deal with feminist issues. While she agrees overall that the attending

crowds are “open to feminist arguments”, she has been met with some responses which could be a result of this lack of comprehension.

“People who have an issue with my defending of the title feminist struggle to accept criticisms of lad culture and often say phrases like ‘just banter’ or ‘but men matter too’ without actually engaging with the issue of the debate. My issue with the crowd at debates, and this applies to much of greater UCD, is that even when they recognise problematic behaviour in debates they are reluctant to do anything to confront it. I often get told to leave it, or not take it so seriously. People who I know are feminists, who understand the nuance and complexity of gender issues, are happy to let it slide, because it is easier.”

It is difficult to actively seek out a centre for a feminist community when the outside crowd can be less than accommodating. Despite these debates being will attended, and with Murphy conceding that “there are less trolls than one might think”, figuring out what campus feminism could mean seems to be a slow process. In comparison to the groups of the past, there seems to be less traction, which is surprising considering the press garnered by movements such as Repeal the Eighth and Waking the Feminists.

The toxicity encountered by an actively engaged student like Murphy is worrying, and Dr Moran’s years on campus have done little to quell her worries about younger students seeking acceptance in their new domain. Echoing the sentiments of many, Dr Moran advocates for a feminist friendly campus, one that would be receptive to both male and female students. “I think a very strong message that needs to go out, and I’m not sure whether it should come out from the student body or from staff or probably both, is the recognition that a feminist campus, a feminist society is not just good for women, it’s good for men too, that there are benefits across the board from creating gender equality.”

features

Diary of a Taoismuck: The Final Muck Fiachra Johnston 3/3 Sunday.

Daylight breaks through the canopy of trees, sprinkling the grass with patches of yellow. The air is crisp, the breeze sharp, cutting through me like a knife, worming its way through my jacket, seeping into every crevice. Here I stand, the last bastion of peace and tranquillity against the encroaching turmoil that seeks to rip the very fabric of our being apart.

An armoured sentinel, standing guard upon the hilltop, protector of all, to be buried in his armour. ...

At least that’s how President Higgins described it meeting him today. I should really ask him to stop making me his poetry muse. It’s starting to get weird.

But even so, it’s still an enjoyable afternoon. The sun is shining, birds are singing, Fine Gael are probably off winning a landslide majority never seen before in our time, all that good stuff. The avalanche of voicemails I’ve ignored today are probably either Labour TDs abandoning the HMS Coalition to join the winning team or Micheál Martin sobbing down the line while he congratulates me on another term as Taoiseach/ soon to be Emperor-For-Life. For now, it’s just nice to be alone with my thoughts, safe in the knowledge that my run as the greatest leader in Irish history continues not only unimpeded, but can only get better.

All is well. Then I get the call from Fionnuala. We no longer have enough seats for a majority with Labour.

Feck.

5/3 I’m not panicking. I’m NOT panicking. So what if Fianna Fáil have nearly as many seats as us.

So what if Labour lost 26? It’s like telling me Mick Wallace was re-elected and now has a stranglehold on the pink shirt market in Dublin.

It’s like telling me the CPI have resurrected Marx and taken over Limerick again, or that the Social Democrats have all shown up in the garden wearing robes and masks of Bernie Sanders. Sure it’s a little uncomfortable to hear, but I have absolutely no reason to be worried whatsoever. At all.

Maybe a little.

I just wish I hadn’t checked my answering machine. All it is is Micheál laughing maniacally then hanging up. It’s been going on all day. Joan keeps messaging me asking me what to do and all I can think of is telling her to put some “hard Labour” into things then slamming the phone down in panic.

I haven’t eaten much these past few days either. Coveney came by with a drop of caviar and I could barely finish a plate. That HAS to be a bad sign, right? I shouldn’t be worried about Dáil next week (I mean, let’s be honest here, it’s me, I’m going to kill it as usual), but after five years as the big wig I can’t just hand the reigns to someone else. What if they give it to another Cowen? Barry was just elected back into Offaly. God knows Brian is probably in a cave sharpening a spear somewhere in Birr and plotting revenge against us all.

And what if I just stop being effective, and have to step down as Fine Gael leader? What do I do, go back to being Minister for Tourism and Trade? Do I spend the rest of my days giving bus tours of Game of Thrones sets to tourists? I don’t know if I can hack it in the real world. Being a fantastic politician is all I know.

9/3 It’s become pretty clear now what’s going to happen. Dáil is going to reconvene tomorrow. Whatever we had going before isn’t going to last, and we’ll have to vote on a new Taoiseach, which may or may not happen straight away. Either way, it won’t be me. They’ll expect my resignation in the morning when I step in, no question about that. Maybe they might go easy on me, throw me a party, maybe serve some Lobster Thermidor and an apology note for all the times they interrupted me when I was talking.

I keep going back to all the things I’d miss. Days when it was sunny and the Ceann Comhairle would let us out early. Going two’s on a cheeky fag with Ruari Quinn while Noonan split the bill on a bottle of Chardonnay at the bar. Footie with Gerry. I don’t want to go back to Mayo. There’s feck all going on in

and that leprechauns aren’t real, I’m well aware. But every year the Taoiseach will go to the States for a few days, and since I’m still Taoiseach for now, I still get to go! I may have gotten a little engrossed though, I’ve started picking up all sorts of strange mannerisms. I’ll call the boot of a car the trunk, I’ll call taxis cabs, and for some reason I call the male reproductive organ Trump Tower. It’s the strangest thing, American slang.

And yes, before you mention it, I am feeling better. It’s liberating, being Taoiseach in name only. I mean, I know I actually am still Taoiseach and have things I should be doing, but a little holiday never hurt anyone.

Course, because of all these talks I’ve had down the number of days I’m here to one, including one awkward meeting with the President where I gave him a proud symbol of Irish culture: a shamrock plant. I can’t help but feel it’s a little stereotypical, like David Cameron giving him a mug of tea or Putin annexing part of his country. It’s just a little patronising. By the end of everything I didn’t even get to shake his hand.

He was too busy getting as much photography in before his own term was up. I don’t blame him. With the way the elections are turning out over there, everyone and their mother will need a picture of him to cling to once Donald builds his giant wall.

Still, it’s a pity I’ve to go back to Ireland to face what I have to face. The news hasn’t the foggiest clue what will happen, which is lucky considering we have no idea either. We’ve suggested a minority lead government with Micheál, a new coalition government and whatever it is the independents are mumbling about. At any rate, we need to come up with something quick. We reconvene on the 29th, and if we don’t have something, we may end up creating ourselves a monster.

Mayo. What am I going to do, go back to kicking cans outside of St. Patrick’s again? Maybe cut rude words into the fields to get Corrib Oil to move their drills from the coast?

But it’s more than that. I’d miss Dublin. Mayo is fair… quiet, compared to the city. I used to love the calm, but now the noise of everything is what helps me sleep at night. It sounds like something President Higgins (or if rumours of his new pastime are to be believed, Notorious H.I.G) would write, but

it’s true. It’s more than just the place I would go to work every day for five years. It was home.

I don’t want to have to leave my home.

10/3 Judgement day, at last.

We made our new Ceann Comhairle another Seán. I suppose we felt quite comfortable with the last Seán and thought changing things too much might cause distress and give people a pain in the ceann. It’s

one less thing to worry about at least.

After that, my turn, and it was exactly as expected. No conclusions could be made, so until they can find a suitable candidate, we have no go real government, no real Dáil… no real Taoiseach.

For the first time in a long while though, I’ve had this huge weight lift off my shoulders. I thought leaving the room would be harder, like there were rocks in my shoes. But I’m oddly calm about it all. Maybe this could be the start of something else. Maybe this is

the world telling me I have a higher calling than this. A chance to make something else of myself, perhaps as a writer, or even as a poet, alongside the greats: Joyce, Yeats… Higgins 17/3 Happy Patty’s Day! Now, before you go forgetting yourselves and giving me an hour long spiel on why it’s Paddy and not Patty, and how Patrick didn’t drive the snakes out of Ireland

22/3 Brussels Airport was attacked today.

The papers are saying four men killed 31 people with nail bombs. It’s heart-breaking, to say the least. I can’t imagine what it must be like in Brussels. Here we are, celebrating 100 years on from violence, and now we sit here watching a twisted version of events unfold on our TVs: ignorant people using fear and violence as a weapon to suppress those who would speak out against their cruelty. I hope we can rise above it, as we have before all those years ago.

It makes all of this seem petty, looking back on these diary entries.

There are people running for their lives across Europe from men blowing up airports and shooting up concerts in Paris, and I’m sitting here wondering if my budget after I resign as Taoiseach will allow room for regular caviar portions. I feel I could be doing something, but instead I’m sitting here as a caretaker, watching this squabble in the Dáil as a bystander waiting for them to come sort of compromise on who is going to lead us past events like this next.

Now it all just looks like a group of aging muppets trying too hard to look like they’re better than each other.

Perhaps something needs to change. 100 years on from the Rising, and we still seem to have such an old fashioned touch to things in politics. We’ve become lazy. But change, real change, has to come from everyone. Maybe I do want to change my ways, maybe I’ve had a “Christmas Carol” moment and want to buy the biggest turkey in the store for Tiny Tim, but I can’t do it alone.

If this is the last thing I get to write as Taoiseach, then please, be the difference you want to see in the world.

24/3 I suppose this is my last entry for a while. By the time I get a chance to write another we’ll probably have found another Taoiseach and I’ll have to hand this journal off to him.

Micheál maybe? Gerry? Could Joan be the Darth Vader to my Palpatine?

Should we submit to his tyranny and let Mick and his pink burlap sack of a shirt run this show? But then again, in the face of events such as the ones spreading fear across the world, maybe what I want matters very little to the world now. It’s what we need now that’s important. To find what this country not only needs, but after 100 years of hardship, fighting, and separation, what it deserves.

Anyways, whoever they are, compared to me, they’ll probably be muck.

Yours, Enda March 31ST 2016

features The Drop-Out Conundrum Student drop-outs are reportedly on the increase. Fiachra Johnston asks what can be done to fix the problem

Last month, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) reported that 16 per cent of all entrants to third level in Ireland failed to progress into their second year. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) also reported that 22.1 per cent of those who dropped out stated that the main reason had been financial difficulties.

While the number of Irish students going on to third level education has spiked enormously since the 1970s, so too has the number of students leaving their courses – a trend that

continues to grow as the years pass.

More and more students are able to attend what was, 50 years ago, considered to be an institution for the affluent and the influential.

However there has been a growing number of students who are not able to continue attending their courses.

Dr Miriam Liston, Data and Policy Analyst at the HEA says that she believes that there is a growing need to “broaden our understanding of student’s personal issues and experiences that influence non-progression.”

From studying the problems that arise for those eager to earn a degree, alongside the benefits they miss out on from having to drop out, we can point to a serious flaw in Ireland’s education system: its inability to sustain itself, and its students.

It’s hard to deny that the primary issue that looms over the head of nearly every student is how to fund a venture into college. Kevin Donoghue, President of USI, says that: “Threequarters of students who dropped out of college in 2014/15 were worried about the cost of college before they even started their course. The cost of college came into the top three reasons people dropped out.”

Donoghue goes onto say that “Fees are far too high and grants are insufficient. Political parties say we can’t reduce fees or increase grants, but every other country in the EU, with the exception of the UK, has significantly lower tuition fees than us.”

Many universities try to remedy this problem with scholarships for those coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, but there will always be those that are unable to access the funds necessary to attend college.

According to the UCD Foundation, an organisation set up to fund these scholarships, government contributions only cover approximately 50 per cent of administration costs in the University, none of which go towards the funding of these scholarships, forcing UCD to make up the money themselves through charitable donations. This results in a number of scholarships that, while extremely admirable for a program relying solely on donations, could have been improved with greater support. A mere 36 UCD Champion scholarships were awarded in 2015.

The level of first year students dropping out may however point to a different problem altogether.

Dr Liston pointed out the requirement to “unpack the processes underlying pre-entry guidance (at secondary school for the most part) and its influence on student decision making”.

The budget cuts of 2012 saw the removal of ex-quota hours for guidance counselling, effectively crippling the previously well-resourced service that was once available to students in secondary schools. With many counsellors’ time split between their regular teaching jobs and the counselling they were able to manage on the side, the number of students receiving regular sessions with them sank drastically.

In a point in their lives where they’ve only just begun to consider what the future holds for them, secondary school can be a confusing time for teenagers. Perhaps because at this stage of life students may lack a sense of direction, the cuts to career guidance support has had a big impact on students. A lack of support with their CAO choices going into the Leaving Cert can make a student rush into a decision they are not ready to fully pursue.

While elements of secondary

school, such as Transition Year, try to aid them in searching for an enjoyable career, with activities such as work experience, it is a far cry from being able to sit down with trained personnel to discuss the options available for teenagers in the coming college years. Dr Liston feels that there is a need “for further qualitative (and quantitative) investigation in order to further understand the link between academic preparedness and successful engagement of students with their studies across all disciplines and levels.”

If someone wishing to attend university not only has no financial support, but also no career advice to point them in the right direction, then it is no wonder that USI found that 23.9 per cent of drop-outs lefts because “the course was not as [they] expected”.

These hindrances make entry into, and continuation in third level education a torrid affair, but it is not just academic skills students can lose out on. The Irish Times wrote that “an ever-increasing number of reports stress employers’ demand for workers

“If someone wishing to attend university not only has no financial support, but also no career advice to point them in the right direction, then it is no wonder that USI found that 23.9 per cent of dropouts lefts because “the course was not as [they] expected”.

with strong occupational skills. Many of these skills cannot be acquired exclusively in the classroom”. This is a mixed blessing for those who drop out. On one hand, it could be viewed that the skills one can acquire in, say, an apprenticeship may outweigh those acquired in a textbook, meaning not all doors are closed to drop-outs. On the other, availing of the extra-curricular activities a university provides, its clubs and societies can sometimes lead to great things. Success stories such as Ryan Tubridy often begin not within the classroom, but in the production suite of a radio station, or in the offices of a student newspaper. Having to drop out for any reason not only deprives a student of a degree, but also cuts them off from any extra activities they chose to pursue during their time, and potentially any connections they might have made there.

The number of students that cannot continue to pursue a degree due to financial difficulties, or due to lack of direction does not point to a problem with the student body attending an academic institution, but a problem with our education institutions. The increasing costs of every aspect of university life, from textbooks to accommodation, coupled with a stubborn resilience from the government to increase its supplement to the budget of Irish universities and Irish guidance counselling indicate that perhaps third level education is growing too fast for its own good, leading to a problem in sustaining itself without serious aid from both those attending it, and government funding.

How this problem can be remedied is still up in the air, but for now it is important to recognise the growing strain on students not only to get into their chosen university, but to remain there.

Are UCD’s Exam Repeat fees too high?

Following this issue’s front page story on exam repeat fees, Eithne Dodd looks at the fees in greater depth It has been revealed that UCD received over €1.8 million in exam repeat and resit fees for the academic year 20142015, information that was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

In Semester one of 2014-2015, 3,357 students (both undergraduates and post graduates) failed at least one module and 1,619 students failed more than one module. 3,093 students failed at least one module in semester 2 of 2014-2015 with 1,619 students failing more than one module. In the summer term, for postgraduate students only, 64 students failed at least one module.

This means that 13.08 per cent of students had a failure mark on their grade transcript at the end of semester one and 14.35 per cent of students in semester two failed at least one module.

But what do the figures mean?

Lexi Kilmartin, who was recently elected UCD Students’ Union Education Officer, and will take office in June, says that the figures are not surprising.

“Unfortunately these numbers do not surprise me. In fact, it is surprising to me that these numbers are so low. The numbers as taken as an overall percentage of the student population mean that about 1 in 10 students failed at least one module in semester one or semester two last year. In my experience with friends and classmates, particularly in the BA, that number is often higher.”

Marcus O’Halloran, current Students’ Union President, pointed out that for many students, college is a new experience and the culture shock could be a contributing factor to the high failure rates recorded, especially among first year students. “Students who are new to the University, in particular first years can often be caught off guard with examinations,” he says. “The change from second March 31ST 2016

to third level education comes with enormous challenges and pressures. Living away from home for the first time for many coupled with the large scale of UCD life can often be extremely challenging in the preliminary stages.” However it is worth noting that, in percentage terms, the rate of students who failed a module was higher in semester two than semester one.

O’Halloran added: “Areas with high fail rates such as Stats modules need greater tutoring, in particular the maths support centre which at exam time is overloading with students but not enough support is at hand.”

UCD Students’ Union offers advice and support to students who fail modules, as do the Programme Office and student advisors. “We encourage all students that fail an exam to contact their Education Officer Dannii for advice and support, their relevant student advisers and also to speak with their Programme Office,” says O’Halloran. “The most important thing for students that fail an exam is to seek advice as an appeal may be possible under certain circumstances.”

While O’Halloran believes that the means of student support already available to students has the ability and knowledge to guide students when they are struggling with their course or a particular module. Kilmartin says that the services could be improved by providing them with more time and resources and increasing students’ awareness of them. “I would like to work with the university and the colleges to increase and improve these supports and also make it easier for students to access these supports. A large part of the Education Officer’s job is signposting these supports to students who need them and to make students who don’t need them aware of their existence,” she says.

Kilmartin says that she will take a two-pronged approach in helping

IMAGE: the rds, aka the ucd exam hall

students who fail modules: “working with the students and the schools in tandem to explore the reasons behind why the student may have failed the exam/module, in order to direct students to the appropriate resources and give them personally tailored advice.”

Kilmartin also says that she would like to get a broader picture of UCD and its failure rates. “I think the number of failing students needs to be broken down by programme and by year in order to get an accurate depiction of fail rates in each area of UCD academic life.”

“From there, it is important to assess the main reasons why students are failing; is it due to lack of resources, students failing to attend or participate, or poor teaching in order to present the university with a plan for how to tackle this issue.”

It currently costs €230 to repeat or resit an exam in UCD, one of the highest of any university in Ireland. O’Halloran feels that the fee is too high, and says that it is difficult to justify.

“Personally I don’t agree that we should be paying this much for repeat fees. In other universities this sum is substantially lower. Students who are unsure of an exam or for whom the exam doesn’t go the right way on the day are burdened with an extra cost of €230 which more often than not the students don’t have.”

Kilmartin admitted the fee is high for many students but also pointed out that the fee is designed to deter students from failing exams. “I would like to see increased supports for student who are struggling financially and/or academically both on the part of the SU and the University,”

says Kilmartin. She also says she would look into the repeat fee when she takes Office, but will make no promise that the repeat fee will be lowered.

The actual cost of repeating an exam varies depending on the department the student is in and the kind of exam it is.

The cost of repeats though are set at €230 regardless of the kind of exam needed. Kilmartin says that the issue has been raised in the past with the Students’ Union. “There was discussion in [SU] Council last year about lobbying the University to lower repeat fees. During which discussion figures were presented suggesting that lowering fees could lead to unstandardised repeat fees, which would mean that students repeating clinical assessments etc. would

have to pay considerably more than a student having to rewrite an essay or retake an exam.”

Kilmartin added she would look into these claims when she takes office from this June.

When asked about the €1,853,455 UCD took in last year from exam repeat fees, Kilmartin says she wants to know where that money goes. “I would be interested to see what this money is used for. Ideally I would like to see any surplus left after paying the costs of resits reinvested in improving resources and supports for all students, but particularly struggling students.

To see this money reinvested in the writing and maths support centres, in employing more tutors and student advisors and in increasing the number of academic resources available to lecturers and students.”

features

Steps towards ending female genital mutilation Female genital mutilation affects over 200 million women worldwide, with around 3,780 of those affected living in Ireland. Patrick Kelleher looks at the steps that are being taken to end FGM on a global scale, as well as within Ireland On Cathal Brugha Street in Dublin city centre is the Everywoman Centre, a clinic run by the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA).

Among the services offered at the clinic is a female genital mutilation (FGM) treatment service, a free drop-in clinic where women who have experienced FGM can go to receive medical care from doctors and nurses, as well as to receive counselling.

The service is not one that many people know about, because most people don’t need to know about it. Genital mutilation, or cutting, is usually considered to be an African problem. What most people don’t know is that there are estimated to be around 3,780 women living in Ireland who have experienced FGM. According to the IFPA, “female genital mutilation is any procedure involving the partial or total removal of a woman’s external genital organs or any other injury to a woman’s genital organs. The procedure is carried out for non-medical reasons and has serious health and psychological consequences for women and girls.” If the practice is so damaging, and without cause, why is it that over 200 million women are living with the effects of it worldwide?

According to Claudia Hoareau, leader of the AkiDwa organisation (Akina Dada Wa Africa, the Swahili term for sisterhood), the problem is a cultural one, and she is keen to stress that the reasons behind carrying out the practice are rarely rooted in a desire to inflict pain. She recounts a recent experience she had with a couple as a part of her work who were considering putting

their daughters through FGM. “I had been speaking to the woman and she rang her husband to come to talk to us afterwards, and the husband was of the opinion that they were actually wanting to put their daughters through it out of love,” she says. “It was really a sense that everyone else from their culture was doing this, and if they don’t do it they’re almost doing them an injustice. So it’s really about understanding some of the cultures and then talking to people about it, and giving them more information.”

The AkiDwa organisation works with migrant communities in Ireland, with one of their main objectives being to increase awareness about the harm that FGM causes, and to help end it. Practicing FGM was made illegal in Ireland in 2012 with the help of AkiDwa, and they have been campaigning for a number of years to see meaningful legislative changes that would help to end the practice. One of the main problems they consistently encounter is that this is still seen as a distinctly African problem, and many Irish people struggle to relate.

“It’s almost a bit far removed from generalised society,” Hoareau explains.

“It’s this thing that people from that country have, or have to deal with… We have partners from other parts of Europe who have really successful programs where they’ve actually been talking to the students themselves just to make sure people are aware of the practice and aware it’s against the

law, and the kids are aware as well. And here, we got a lot of resistance to doing something like that, because here there’s a process of getting consent from parents… The feedback from a lot of parents is ‘well, it’s not our issue. It’s not something that our kids are ever going to go through, so we don’t see the need to expose them to it’. So that kind of stuff does come out a lot. Or even in terms of say looking for funding to advance the work on it, you’ll sort of hear, ‘well, it’s only 3,780 women in the country, so that obviously means it’s not a huge issue’.”

One of the big issues that Hoareau points to is the lack of reporting of FGM in Ireland.

There’s a great deal of stigma attached to the practice, so for many women suffering with the effects, they don’t know what to do. She says that one of their main goals is to “try and decrease or eradicate a lot of the stigma that exists around reporting. That’s a difficult

area for us at the moment, because there’s a huge amount of stigma about reporting anything amongst the migrant community, and that is again going back to misconceptions.

People often feel that if they report even domestic violence, a lot of people don’t want to report, because they think that somehow it’ll affect their status here, or they might have their kids taken away from them. And a lot of those misconceptions, to be fair, are based on one or two situations that have happened to people, and people hear about them, and it just puts the fear into people about reporting.”

UNICEF estimates that there are over 200 million women across 30 countries that have been through FGM. Countries with the highest incidences include Somalia, Guinea and Djibouti, with most girls being cut before they were five years old. On a European level, the End FGM Network is attempting to stop the practice.

Their goal is, as the name suggests, to bring about an end to the practice of FGM worldwide.

Natalie Kontoulis, an Advocacy and Communications Officer with the network, acknowledges that the goal is not an easy one.

“We know this is a big goal, but we see ourselves as the European focal point in the global movement to end FGM,” she says. “We can only achieve this if we pull together across continents to do so.”

For the End FGM Network, the key is in prevention. “We believe in a holistic approach to ending FGM, comprising, prevention, protection, prosecution and integrated policies. We place a lot of importance on the first two, prevention and protection.

FGM has life long consequences physically and psychologically, so it is best to prevent it happening if at all possible. Reaching out to communities and engaging with them directly is crucial to this.”

Kontoulis explains that there are 500,000 women and girls living in Europe who are

affected by FGM, with 180,000 at risk of being cut each year. “We actually think the true figure in Europe is much higher than this,” she says. “As the European member states all collect data in different ways (and some don’t collect it at all), it is hard to truly know how many women and girls in Europe are affected by FGM. In any case, we think it is more than 500,000.”

FGM is a huge problem globally, and while its origins are in African countries, Ireland is not removed from the problem. With roughly 3,780 women living in Ireland with the effects of FGM, there is clearly a great deal of work to be done. The second national action plan for FGM is due to be launched in May, made by a steering committee made up of 15 organisations. It is not yet known what will be laid out in the plan, but what is clear is that FGM is nowhere near having ended yet.

To protect women and girls globally, awareness must continue to be spread and governments must continue to work to make these practices illegal, and punishable by law.

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www.pac.ie/nuigalway March 31ST 2016

Gaeilge

An Radharc Ón dTúr Uisce

Tá nuacht suimúil tágtha ó Teach Laighin, agus tá seans go mbeidh tionchar aige ar an proiseas polaitiúil. Fiosraíonn lucht an Túr Uisce an scéal Le Síofra Ní Shluaghadháin Bhí gach rud breá ciúin le linn a choícís seo chaite, agus gach duine agaibh imithe ón gcampas ar saoire. Anseo sa Túr Uisce, táimid sáite le nuacht ó d’imigh muid ‘na bhaile. Bhíomar uilig ag samhlú “Cad a ndéanfaimid dá mbéidfadís inár dTaoisigh....” agus ansin mhuscail muid, agus d’aimsigh muid gur tromlach faoi na hArdteiste a bhí ann, buíochas le Dia! Sin ráite, tháinig nuacht chugainn ó dTeach Laighin a cheap muid a bhí an-suimiúil ar fad, agus tá seans go mbeidh tionchar aige ar an proiséis daonlathach le fada an lae le teacht.

Tar éis an Olltoghcháin i mí Feabhra, bhí cuma ar cursaí go mbéadh deacaireachtaí ag aon duine de na príomhpairtíthe polaitiúla rialtas a cur le chéile. Ní féidir le Fine Gael agus Fianna Fáil aontú ar cumhacht a roinnt de bharr deighilt stairiúil, an leithscéal céanna atá in úsáid acu ó na 1920í. Cinnte, is maith an rud é nach ar scoil atá siad, toisc nach nglacfadh múinteoir ar bith leis a leithid sin de ráiméis.

Samhlaigh é ar feadh soicind... “Níl m’obair bhaile déanta agam inniu mar gheall gur thit m’athair mhór amach le do cholceathair naocha bliain ó shin...” Cá fhad a bhéadh ort fanacht siar tar éis an rang sin, i do bharúil? Do fhreagraí ar charta poist chuig an oifig, le bhur dtoil.

De bharr nach féidir leis an dhá pairtí is mó sa Dáil imirt lena chéile go deas, agus toisc freisin nach féidir le go leor de na Teachtaí eile aontú lena chéile, tá réiteach faighte ag na Teachtaí Dála - cluiche cathaoireacha ceoil! Níos cosúil le cluichí.

Ag tosnú an Luain seo chugainn, beidh babhtaí den chluiche seo a imirt ag buaiteóirí an toghcháin fá chóinne postanna sa rialtas úr, ag toiseacht ag a naoi ar maidin le post an Taoiseach. Beidh banna cheoil an Garda Síochána ansin chun fuaimrian a cur ar fáil. Ar eagla go mbeidh tróid ar bith ann (samhlaigh sin!), beidh an t-Uachtarán, Micheál D. Ó hUiginn ansin le bheith ina réiteoir.

Ionas go mbeidh gach duine a mbéas i lathair in ann é a fheiceáil, beidh sé ina seasamh ar dréimire taca.

Go dtí seo, tá cúpla ráiteas faighte againn ó na pairtíthe polaitiúla maidir le strátéis don chluiche seo, agus tá go leor tuairimaíochta thart ar an oifig seo. Is cinnte go mbeidh comortasaíocht fhíochmhar idir an dhá pháirtí is mó, Fine Gael agus Fianna Fáil, ach ceapaimid go mbeidh seans den scoth ag roinnt iarrathóirí eile ó phairtithe éagsúla.

I bpreasráiteas ón maidin inniu, deir ceann chomhairle Sinn Féin go mbeidh sé de pholasaí oifigiúl acu cosa na hiarrathóirí iomaitheach a bhuaileadh agus iad ag rith thart, chun an seans is far a thabhairt don phairtí chun cúpla suíochan sa chomh-aireacht a bhaint. Gheall siad nach mbuailfeadh siad glúine ar bith.

Tá Pairtí an Lucht Oibre chun gúth Joan Burton a úsáid chun cur isteach ar aird gach duine eile. Le bheith ionraic, nílimid ró-chinnte conas a n-oibróidh an stráitéis seo, toisc go bhfuil an Teachta Burton le cloisteáil gach lá sa Dáil. Sin ráite, tá seans go mbeidh sé úsáideach chun cur isteach ar aon Teachtaí nua.

Tá urlabhraí ó Fianna Fáil tar éis

a rá linn nach féidir leo stráitéis a cur ar fáil go poiblí, toisc go mbéadh orthu claoi leis ina dhiadh sin. Measaimid gur plean ar fheabhas é seo d’Fhianna Fáil, toisc nach bhfuil morán cleachtú acu i dtaobh gealltanais a choinneáil. Tá seans afách go seasfaidh siad ag cúl an seomra le linn a chluiche, sula dtarraingíonn siad na cathaoireacha ó gach duine eile ag deireadh an lae.

Maidir leis na pairtithe eile agus leis na Teachtaí neamhspleacha, is deacair le rá cad a tharlóidh. Tá raflaí ag dul thart go mbeidh na Teachtaí neamhspleácha ag dul i mbun feall, ag cur pionnaí ar na suíocháin, ola ar an urlár agus mar sin de. Nílimid céad faoin gcéad cinnte cén toradh a dtiocfaidh ó na taicticí seo, ach is cinnte go gcuirfidh siad leis an spórt ar an lá (Nótá an eagarthóra: Fán soicind, b’fhéidir sin an pointe?).

Caithfidh an AAA-PBP an lá taobh amuigh den Dáil, “ag déanamh fíor-obair”, d’ár leo. Tá seans mhaith nach bhfeicfidh muid iad ar feadh mí nó dhó ina dhiaidh sin. Nílimid ró-chinnte an é seo toisc go mbeidh siad ró-gnóthach ag obair, nó an é toisc go mbeidh siad i bpriosúin.

Níl fágtha againn ach an Pairtí Glas. Deir ráiteas s’acu go gcaithfidh siad an lae taobh amuigh i bPairc an Fhionnuisce, ag déanamh roinnt garríodoireachta.

Nílimid in ann fanacht chun na torthaí a fheiceáil, agus gabhaimid beir bua le gach éinne.

Cad a tharlóidh leis an nGaeilge i ndiaidh an Ollthoghcháin?

Tar éis an toghcháin i mhí Feabhra, amharcann Déonna McLaughlin ar an tionchar a d’fhéadfadh ag an vóta sin a bheith ar todhchaí ár teanga naisiúnta • Comhchoiste Oireachtais seasta don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht ar comhchéim leis na Comhchoistí Oireachtais eile Ag an am chur siad liosta suas do gach polaiteoir is gach toghlach a bhí ar son na éileamh seo nó nach bhfuil.

Ag amharc níos deimhne ar bpolasaí na mór páirtithe, tá cur chuige uile-Éireann ag Sinn Féin, comh maith le sin creideann siad go bhfuil chomhionannas mar pháirt mór den sochaí daonlathas .

Mar sin tá siad ag iarraidh infheistíocht a deanamh in san Gaeilge agus sa Gaeltacht. Tá siad ag iarraidh cur faoi bun cist caipiteal de €2 milliún d’ionad gaeilge a cruthú, cosúil leis an Ciste Infheistíocht Gaeilge

Tá sé deacair a rá cad a bheas an polasaí faoin rialtas úr ar an chaoi nach bhfuil rialtas againn fos.

Bhí an chuid páirtithe seachas fine gael ag iarraidh an rud cheánna leis an gaeilge. Sa 5 bhliain a bhí fine gael agus Labour i gceannas ní raibh mórán déanta i dtaobh na teanga de. Rud a tharla le linn na hama sin na chuireadh teachta dála i mbun mar aire na gaeltachta nach raibh Gaeilge líofa aige.

Le linn an chomhairc toghcháin tháinig le ceile Conradh na Gaeilge agus an-chuid eagraíochtaí eile chun rud atá an Gael Vóta a chur chun cionn. Leis an feachtas seo i nDeisceart na hÉireann bhí trí éileamh acu is iad: • Go ndéanfaí infheistíocht €18 milliúin sa bhreis i bplean phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta le borradh a chur faoi úsáid na Gaeilge agus le 1,175+ post nua a chruthú • Go gceapfaí Aire Sinsearach don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht, le Gaeilge, chun go mbeadh ionchur ag an nGaeilge ag Bord an Rialtais

i dTuaisceart na tíre.

Tá Fianna Fáil ag iarraidh an 20 bhliain plánn a chuir siad I gceannas nuair a bhí siad I rialtas. Sa fiche bhliain seo tá siad ag iarraidh méid daoine atá eolais ar an teanga a ardú ó 1.66 milliúin go dtí2 milliúin.

Comh maith le sin tá sia ag iarraidh an líon daoine alabhraíonn gaeilge go laethúil a ardú ó 83,000 go dtí 250,000 le linn na fiche bliana.Tá siad ag iarraidh an líon daoine a labhraíonn Gaeilge a ardú trí céimeanna beaga

“Ar aon nós tá siúl agam go faightear gach rud ón Gael Vóta. Ní féidir a rá cad a tharlóidh’’

Bhí Fine Gael an t-aon mór pháirtí nár glac le na trí éileamh phobal a bhí ag iarraidh ón gael vóta. Tá siad ag iarraidh leanúint leis an plean fiche bliana a cuireadh i mbun i 2010.

Tá Pairtí an lucht oibre tiomanta comh maith don Plean fiche bliana ach tá siad ag iarraidh níos mó achmhainní a chur leis.

Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil mór chuid de na páirtithe seo ag iarraidh leanúint leis an plean fiche bliana. Tá sé bliana caite den plean ag an am seo agus ní bhraithim mórán difríochtaí leis an teanga go fóill. Ar aon nós tá siúl agam go faightear gach rud ón Gael Vóta. Ní féidir a rá cad a tharlóidh.

Cé ar leo na Réabhlóide?

Amharcann Síofra Ní Shluaghadháin ar an comóradh a tharla thar deireadh seachtaine na Casca, agus na himpleachtaí atá ag an pholaitíocht ar an chaoi ina léiríonn muid an stair Ar an seachtú agus an t-ochtú lá is fíche mí Mhárta seo thart, chuaigh cathair Báile Átha Cliath i mbun cuimhneacháin ar eachtraí Éirí Amach na Cásca, 1916. Ón bpointe inár scríobhadh an t-alt seo, tá an cuma ar chursaí go gciallóidh seo nach mbeidh rialtas ag an tír, céad bliain i ndiadh a fograíodh poblacht in Éirinn. Cinnte, tá iaróin áirithe bainte le seo, ach is cinnte nárbh é seo an t-aon pointe achrannach bainte leis an eachtra seo.

Tá deacaireacht fad-téarma ag an tír seo maidir leis an pholaitíocht, agus an ról atá ag cúrsaí ráthúil ar an stair. Is fíor é seo a rá leis an t-Éirí Amach, agus le Cogadh na Saoirse agus an Cogadh Cathartha a tháinig ina dhiadh. Rugadh an tír atá againn inniu thar timpeall is deich bliana, agus is iad na blianta is deighilteach don sochaí ar an oileáin seo leis na céadta bliana, gan dabht.

March 31ST 2016

Tá a thuairim féin ag gach duine, measaim, ar an topaic seo. Ní féidir ceart ná corr a chuir ar an scéal (agus tá seans nach mbeidh le fada an lá amach anseo) ach, gan achrann a chruthú, is féidir amharc ar cuid de na póintí is mó le rá a tharla agus muid ag teacht chuig an Cháisc i mbliana.

Ar dtús báire, is ceart le rá go raibh meoin andhifriúl i gceist leis na blianta beaga anuas ná mar a bhí caoga bliana ó shin i 1966. Tá anchuid aithrithe sa tír seo ón am sin, maidir leis an mheon stáiriúil agus ar meon an phobail maidir le 1916. I 1966, le mórshúil agus eachtraí míleata, níl aon dabht ach gur ceiliúradh a bhí i gceist. Anois, níl sé seo comh simplí.

Tá comhaontú ann gur rud cásta í an stair, agus go bhfuil níos mó ná taobh amháin, nó fiú tuairisc amháin i gceist. Tá spiorad an comhaontú láidir i lár na heachtraí seo, mar atá feicthe leis an mballa cuimhneacháin atá oscailte anois i Reilig Glás Naoin.

ach fosta dóibh siúd a bhí i lathair mar chuid d’airm na Breataine, den DMP (Póilíneacht Cathrach Átha Cliath) agus dóibh siúd a fuair bás trí thimpiste sa chróslamhach.

Is pointe conspóide é an cinéal cuimhneacháin seo, agus ní hé seo an chéad úr atá sé feicthe. Mar shampla cumhachtach, cur ceist ar éinne cá háit a bhfuil an leacht i gcuimhne ar na fir Éireannach a fuair bás i rith an Chéad Cogadh Domhanda, agus iad in airm na Breatainne? Níl a fhios ag an mhóramh cá bhfuil sé, de bharr an sean-stiogma atá fós ceangailte leis an chogadh sin sa tír seo, agus leo siúd go léir a fuair pá ón Choróin. Cinnte, i 1966, ní raibh móran le rá ag rialtas an am faoi siúd

“Níor chór an stair a úsáid mar gléas pholaitiúil ach an oiread. De ghnáth, tugtar bolscaireacht ar sin, agus is olc an tuairim atá ag an domhain daonlathach ar sin.’’

Ar an balla seo, tá ainmneacha gach uile duine a maraíodh ar Luan Chásca 1916 i rith na Réabhlóide.

Tugann sé aitheantas, ní amháin do naisiúnaithe agus poblachtannaí,

a fuaireas bás i rith Cath an Somme.

Tá an stáid aithrithe inniu, cinnte, ach fós, tá cosc ar diospóireacht poiblí fós ar eachtraí airithe. Tarlaíonn seo toisc nach féidir linn, fiú inniu, freagra a thabhairt ar ceist tábhactach amháin - cén tabhacht atá bainte leis an stair dúine, agus cé leis é, ag deireadh an lae?

Cinnte, b’fhearr é nach raibh ceist úinéireachta i gceist leis an eachtra stáiriúil seo. Go fóill, tá na deighilt poláitiúla a tháinig leis an Chonradh Angla-Éireannach le feiceáil inniu, agus ní féidir linn iad a sheachaint.

Níor chór an stair a úsáid mar gléas pholaitiúl ach an oiread. De ghnáth, tugtar bolscaireacht ar sin, agus is olc an tuairim atá ag an domhain daonlathach ar sin. Sin ráite, níl dabht ach go raibh iarrachtaí ar phairt Fine Gael agus ar Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre le linn deireadh an tearma Dála deireanach leis an eachtra seo a úsáid mar sampla den dul chun cinn a bhí déanta acu. Is cinnte go raibh iarrachtaí ann leis an

stair a cur faoi stiúr an pholaitíocht - mar a bhí le feiceáil, agus mar fós le réitiú i gcás an iarsmalann atá molta i Sráid Moore. Ar chóir an stiúr ar an insint a bhaint ó na daoine go hiomlán? Ní doigh é, ach tá gá ann le comhoibriú idir na stairithe agus an phobal, chun an oiread agus is féidir de na tuairimí agus de na scéalta atá amach sin a cur le chéile.

Tá deacaireacht soiléir anseo – tá scéalta pearsanta agus stair polaitiúl, sean-bholscaireacht agus an nua-mhargaíocht ceangailte go dlúth agus muid ag caint faoin Réabhlóid ina iomlán. Níor chór iad a cur na bhfolach, cinnte. Sin ráite, caithfidh muid a adhmháil nach mbeidh “Scéal na Réabhlóid” riamh againn, ach gur féidir meas a thabhairt don stair chásta ina iomlán.

The benefits of free money Emily McMorrow looks at the policy of providing a “basic income” to its citizens, recently introduced in Finland and Holland. Is this just another form of a nanny state?

With mounting deficits, international governments are eager to cut welfare payments, which seems at odds with budget proposals for generous Universal Basic Incomes (UBI). The policy plans to replace means-tested welfare benefits with UBI available to all citizens, regardless of their income.

Finland hopes that a basic income will counteract their recent rise in unemployment and growth decline.

Whether free cash will correct their economic woes remains to be seen, as UBI proposals are set to take effect by November 2016.

The initial pilot scheme will see the Finnish receive €500 per month.

If successful, this payout should increase to €800 per month tax-free.

Similarly, in various cities throughout the Netherlands citizens will receive €850 per month. The Swiss are set to receive a whopping €2,300 monthly UBI. Economists believe these generous non-discriminatory payments will save the taxpayer in the long run.

While intuitively the scheme seems at risk of breeding laziness, the economics behind the proposal are compelling. Existing welfare schemes extract benefits from low earners as they earn more, discouraging work. Evidence suggests that basic income gets rid of this poverty trap and increases incentives to work.

Economists against the scheme warn that the majority who assume basic income will decrease inequality should think twice. UBI will have minimal effect in raising those on the poverty line into the middle class, because by definition payments are basic. Higher payments to effect such a change would be too costly and counterintuitive.

Incentives to work may be offset if basic incomes are set too high.

Switzerland’s recent proposal is unnecessarily costly at approximately 30 per cent of GDP (€180 billion).

Generous basic incomes, coupled with

very high taxes will encourage the very laziness the scheme hopes to diminish.

Ultimately, some redistribution will still occur. High-income earners will be taxed to fund the scheme.

Overall government revenues should rise because of increased labour participation, as the employed are not penalised for finding work. It is a lot simpler to post every adult citizen a cheque every month than the current complex means-tested welfare payment system. The streamlined UBI system promises fewer bureaucrats to administer.

Trials in India and Africa found basic income to be an economic success.

Uganda saw UBI recipients work 17 per cent longer hours and receive 38 per cent higher earnings. UBI also reduced healthcare costs as lower income groups could afford more basic goods and services. This increase in per capita income also stimulated demand and ultimately government tax revenue.

Economically it seems free income pays for itself. It is no surprise that other countries plan to follow suit. In February, Ontario’s government announced their own pilot scheme to take effect in the Canadian province later this year.

Aside from the economics, there are also social benefits from UBI schemes.

With all other welfare payments eliminated, so too would be the stigma of our current benefits system.

Once we get past initial reservations of this new nanny state, there is a lot to gain. Not only could we see an increase in demand, there may also be a creation of demand. Basic incomes offer the financial security to enhance entrepreneurialism and career changes.

Politically, UBI may be a hard sell to the Irish electorate because of our initial kneejerk reaction to any talk of indiscriminately free income.

Perhaps with hard evidence of the Finn, Swiss, Dutch and Canadian successes, Ireland might follow suit.

Business & careers

Where are the women in the workplace?

After International Women’s Day, Jane Purdom looks at gender equality within the Irish labour systems, and asks whether we are doing enough for change With International Women’s Day having come and gone, the topic of women’s rights in Ireland has been reinstated to the “current events” section of the media. It appears to be the general consensus that although Irish women are becoming less and less inhibited by their gender, there is still a great deal to be achieved before they can be seen as truly equal to their male counterparts.

The fact remains that only 56 per cent of women in Ireland have jobs, compared to 65 per cent of men. This difference suggests that more needs to be done to combat the hindrances facing women entering and re-entering the workforce, particularly after childbirth. Recent legislation, such as the introduction of male paternity leave, is perhaps a small step in the right direction.

However, with a 9 per cent gap to eliminate before a gender balanced workforce, there is no doubt that two weeks paid leave for spouses is not enough in the strive towards gender equality.

It must also be noted here that on average, men earn 12.8 per cent more than women. Although this is lower than the European average of 15.5 per cent, it is still a far cry from equal opportunities for men and women in Ireland.

The fact remains, however, that changes to Irish law will continue to be small until women’s needs in Ireland are given more significance within Irish politics. As women are grossly underrepresented in the Dáil, this significance could be a long time coming. A great deal of Irish women consider the eighth amendment of the constitution the greatest obstacle to equality, by denying them the right to determine their own reproductive health. Despite this, no major political party is calling for a referendum on its repeal,

further echoing the claim that Ireland still has a long way to go before we achieve true gender equality.

Those that claim Ireland to be a place of equal opportunity for men and women will often respond to criticisms of their claims by suggesting we compare Ireland to countries like Iran, Chile and Saudi Arabia – where, yes, women are currently fighting for the right to drive. However, comparing a country of unequal opportunities to one that is just more inhibiting of women is by no means a valid argument for gender equality. What about comparing women in Ireland with, for example, women in Iceland?

Iceland has what many claim to be the greatest opportunities for women in the world. What are they are doing for women that Ireland isn’t? The fact that over 90 per cent of the nation’s children under 5 are enrolled in state funded childcare is perhaps a sizeable factor in enabling women to continue working. With the largest female occupied labour force in the world, the statistics are there to prove Iceland as a model on how to achieve gender equality. Initiatives such as state-funded childcare show the crucial role that government legislation has in improving the lives of women. One can therefore understand how repealing the eighth amendment, and closing the gender pay gap, the Irish government need to step up and take concrete steps to tackle the issues facing women.

It is true that there is still a great deal to be done before women and men in Ireland are truly equal.

However, a lack of political interest in this area suggests that changes for women could be a very long time coming. Perhaps we must take it upon ourselves to act as catalysts for this change, by putting more pressure on our newly elected government to bring about much needed changes for Irish women. But the question we must ask ourselves is that if we ourselves are only discussing this issue once a year, when International Women’s Day comes by, what chances of change do we really have?

Trump, Clinton or Sanders; what’s best for America’s voters Sinead Conroy looks at the different economic policies of Donald Trump, Hilary Clinton and Bernie Sanders

Murky emails, a ban on immigrants, an attack on the big banks, Mexican walls and the inevitable list of promises – economic and otherwise.

The US presidential race is in full swing. There is a billionaire, a committed socialist and the wife of an ex-president among those battling it out for the hearts, minds and wallets of the some 235,200,000 eligible voters. But can they actually deliver on their promises and what impact will those promises have on the American economy?

Donald Trump, the Marmite of American politics, has divided opinion with his intensely confrontational style, policy flipflops and outlandish economic policies. Those who have lauded or endured, depending on your point of view, his charismatic performances and less than politically correct statements have questioned the foundations of his policies, particularly on the economy.

Trump’s economic policy is built on three pillars: tax reform, immigration reform and trade reform. His plan to cut tax rates would see an increase in take home pay for all American citizens. This increase would range from 1.7 per cent for the lowest earning 20 per cent to 18.9 per cent for the top 0.1 per cent. In other words the so-called “Trumponomics” stands to best benefit those at the highest earning end. On the surface, an across the board increase in take home pay seems like a winning strategy.

However, critics have been quick to point out the flaws. The Centre for Tax Justice has put the total cost of Trump’s tax reforms at $12 trillion over the next 10 years, meaning the debt/ GDP ratio could be as high as 140 per cent after a decade. Trump also plans to reduce the corporate tax rate from its current 35 per cent rate, the highest in the OECD, to a more competitive 15 per cent. The down side of the Trump tax cuts? A far greater than expected increase in debt, an inevitable decrease in public expenditure and an even more wealthy 1 per cent.

So if Trump is planning an across the board tax cut, you could conceivably say Clinton and Sanders are doing the exact opposite. The

Democrats plan to only increase the taxes of the “wealthy” in society – the catch? The Democrats only consider anyone earning $250,000 to be wealthy. From an individual point of view, Clinton’s tax plans would see a reduction in take home pay of 7.1 per cent for the wealthiest 0.1 per cent of society, according to the International Business Times. Her policies for spending will centre around the family, including reform of childcare, sick pay and paid family leave. From a business perspective, Clinton has called for tax relief for small start up businesses, an exit tax on businesses that try to relocate overseas and tax incentives for businesses that opt to share profits with their employees. The impact of all this? In theory, a more stable employment base as a result of a more viable small/medium enterprises sector, increased employment numbers, a wider distribution of wealth and a move towards a more welfare orientated state.

Similarly, Sanders’ will place a top rate tax of 52 per cent on those earning more than $250,000 as well as an employers’ tax of 6.2 per cent.

Forbes has estimated that Sanders’ aggressive tax plan would raise in the region of $1 trillion annually.

His socialist agenda would see this increase spent on free third level education at public colleges across the US, as well as huge spending on “Medicare-for-all” and infrastructure.

His estimated public spending over the next decade is $18 trillion. If such policies came about it would see a move towards a more European style socially reformed America.

Whether this is economically sustainable remains to be seen.

Are the Americans ready for Donald Trump to run the US economy as a business? Or will Bernie Sanders convince business, the markets and ultimately the public that the economy can sustain a more socially fair society? Or will America take the middle ground and plump for relatively tried and somewhat trusted familiar name – another Clinton in the White House? Only time will tell.

march 31ST 2016

science The Link between Tampons and Toxic Shock Syndrome Can wearing tampons lead to toxic shock syndrome? Alanna O’Shea investigates There are many terrifying things about puberty. Your hormones are raging, your body is becoming unfamiliar and absolutely everything is embarrassing. Even worse, if you are a girl you have to deal with things like tampons and pads for the very first time.

Tampons themselves are frightening little things; but then you hear the phrase “toxic shock syndrome” for the first time. As you are handed your first box of tampons by your mum you might be warned “not to leave them in too long or else you’ll get toxic shock syndrome (TSS).” You might hear about TSS from the more worldly girls at school or chat nervously with your friends about it at a sleepover. What exactly TSS was, no one was able to tell you: you just knew it was bad. You had just gotten over being scared of the monster underneath your bed and now, here was an even more terrifying, menstrual bogeyman.

I’m sorry to tell you that TSS is a very real, but rare, syndrome. A tampon, absorbent and filled with nutrient rich blood, provides an ideal place for bacteria to set up shop. Menstrual TSS is caused when a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus colonise a tampon. Once it has colonised the tampon, the

bacteria releases something called a superantigen which is then absorbed by your body.

The superantigen provokes a massive immune response by activating certain cells in your immune system and by releasing large amounts of inflammatory mediators. This is when the trouble starts.

Many people will experience two to three days of mild, flu-like symptoms before they develop TSS. The disease can progress rapidly and symptoms include a sudden high fever, vomiting and diarrhea, and a rash that looks like sun-burn.

It can also cause a decrease in blood pressure which can then progress to shock – a dangerous state where your organs are not receiving a sufficient blood supply.

If you are feeling these symptoms while you are wearing a tampon during your period, remove your tampon immediately and seek medical attention. Most importantly if you feel like you have the serious symptoms of TSS, tell your doctor if you are or were wearing a tampon. TSS syndrome can be a serious, fatal disease but

it can be cured by antibiotics.

It is important to note, in among all this scary stuff, that this is a very rare disorder.

It probably affects around 1 in 10,000 women who use tampons. There was a time when mentrual TSS was more common – this is probably why your mum may have frightened the living daylights out of you about it when you were 13.

The first documented cases of menstrual TSS occurred just over 30 years ago and were associated with the rise of new, super absorbent tampons.

The modern tampon had been around since 1929, but before the 1980s, tampons had always been made out of cotton. Now, new tampons made of synthetic materials were flooding the market, perfumed and promising to absorb 20 times their weight in fluid. One tampon was marketed to be worn for over 24 hours. There was a huge influx of women into emergency rooms with the symptoms of TSS. Once people realised that super absorbent tampons were the culprit, these items were removed from the shelves.

The rate of TSS caused by tampons severely decreased

but the disease has never gone away. Mentrual TSS now only accounts for 50 per cent of the cases, with many occurring after surgery, and even simple skin infections can cause TSS. Every so often a news item of a woman with TSS may appear online or on your Facebook news feed and strike fear in the hearts of the menstruating. A few years ago, the model Lauren Wasser almost lost her life to TSS (caused by a tampon) and had to have her right leg amputated. Her story went viral this year after she walked in this year’s New York Fashion week with her prosthetic leg proudly on show.

There are a few easy things that you can do to reduce your risk of getting TSS. Wash your hands when removing and inserting a tampon.

Most importantly, change your tampon every 4-8 hours. Consider wearing a pad instead of a tampon one day of your period. If you have had TSS before, your doctor will most likely tell you not to wear tampons.

Hopefully, if we continue to educate women on the causes and symptoms of TSS we can make the syndrome almost a thing of the past, leaving the pubescent girls of the future one less thing to worry about.

Lab-Grown Organs might be the Future for Drug Development A research team recently grew a liver from stem cells. Laoise Fitzpatrick looks at the benefits of such a technique One of the main obstacles for pharmaceutical companies in drug development is testing the efficacy and safety of new drugs.

In order to receive approval for a drug to be used in humans, it must undergo a lengthy process of testing in animals and humans, commonly known as clinical trials. Unfortunately for the companies, this is where many drugs fail: unforeseen side effects not apparent on the cellular level but only on the tissue, organ or system level render many promising drug candidates too dangerous for use.

This means that every drug that does make it to market carries the cost of all the failed candidates before it. Now, however, researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a technology that could dramatically reduce the time and cost incurred in developing new drugs.

The team of engineers led by Professor Shaochen Chen have successfully created a model liver, using a revolutionary 3D printing technique also developed by the team. The model is capable of accurately reproducing real liver function and physiology.

According to professor Chen, a typical drug that passes clinical trial takes 12 years to develop and over $1.8 billion. His hope is that by testing drug candidates on this liver model, pharmaceutical companies can disregard those that display adverse effects and instead focus on a smaller group of more promising compounds.

The liver is responsible for metabolising many drugs that enter the body, and so it is one of the organs most commonly affected by drug side effects. Attempts have been made to produce models of the liver before, but only simple two dimensional or spherical three dimensional models have

been created. The new model more accurately creates the complex cell structure and architecture of the liver, as well as its unique blood delivery system. This will allow more accurate analysis of drug effects on the tissue. When tested against these other models, the new tissue showed improvements in key areas of interest such as albumin secretion and urea production.

The liver tissue is created using a unique “bio printing” technique developed by the team. Layers of hexagonal liver cells, each 900 microns wide, are produced from pluripotent stem cells. These are then supported by two types of proteins. As with other models, the resulting scaffold is then allowed to sit in a cell bath, for a period of 20 days. One major benefit over costly time consuming techniques in the past is the speed at which this can be performed. A 300 x 300 micron square sample can be made in a matter of seconds.

The samples also performed for longer periods of time and produced larger amounts of key enzymes than other models.

While the main aim of the technology is to reduce the cost of developing new drugs, the models also have other possible uses. Due to the fact that pluripotent human stem cells are used, it is possible that liver tissue could be developed for individual patients to repair or replace areas of the liver that have been damaged by diseases such as cirrhosis. This might be some way in the future, but with fewer companies willing to spend billions on risky drug development, this technology shows promise in allowing more companies to enter the market and develop and test large numbers of unique treatments.

A vicious cycle: war and technology War has often been given as the excuse for creating weapons and machinery, but does it increase the speed at which technology is created? Helen Carroll investigates It has long been a debate for historians; does a crisis such as a war improve the speed at which technology is created?

Many would argue that these sort of events create a technological arms race to find the best minds and invent something that would stop the enemy in its tracks.

On the other side there is the moral argument; should certain inventions have ever been created, such as nuclear bombs and chemical warfare? Would we have invented them without war?

War does appear to speed up technological advancements for military use, which often develops a secondary purpose for the civilian population later on. The most frequently cited example of this is radar, which was first developed by the British for use in the second world war. After the war, the technology became used most commonly for air traffic control.

What is interesting to note is that once a new technology has been invented, other inventions are often created as a response to it. Once the Americans discovered the invention of radar, they quickly began research into ways to get past it, creating stealth aircraft technology, including the famous B2 Bomber plane.

Microwaves were discovered by accident when a man called Percy L. Spencer was standing near the “magnetron” sets that powered the radar systems and March 31ST 2016

a chocolate bar in his pocket that it is not only war that creates began to melt. This had huge the need for new technology, implications for science, as before but competition in general. then very little like it on the wave One of the most hotly contested frequency spectrum had been parts of this debate is the internet. discovered or observed properly.

Many say it was created by the US War seems to be a big trigger in the 1960s when they funded a for technological advancements famous project called ARPANET, because it creates the perfect which had the main aim of creating excuse of stopping the enemy. This a network for their supercomputers “arms race” was one of the reasons to communicate with each other. the Americans got to the moon so The purpose of this was to ensure early. The technology was so limited that in the possibility of an back then, but a invasion on combination of US soil or in luck, willpower, “The motives behind the event of and the burning technological adcatastrophe, desire to beat computers vancement in wartime the the Russians would remain can be seen by many as intact and be (who had already beaten morally questionable.” able to transfer the Americans data over. This for several records, including was not created during direct putting the first satellite in orbit wartime, but was a response and getting the first animal in to the possibility of future war space) spurred them on to land between the USA and Russia. two men on the moon. This proves There is no one defining point

that a person can call the defining moment of the conception of the internet, so many would argue that it didn’t in fact exist until much later. In 1978, Danny Cohen, David Reed and John Shoch split TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) into TCP and IP (Internet Protocol), thus creating a fast and reliable method of real-time of controlling traffic and the transfer of data that is still used today. This happened much later than those who claim the internet came into existence, yet it was still in the Cold War era, and thus could still technically be viewed as an invention of wartime.

The motives behind technological advancement in wartime are seen by many as morally questionable, as often the technology was designed not just for defence, but to find the most effective ways of killing and harming as many people as possible. Chemical and nuclear weapons are totally discredited and unwanted by most people, yet they were created in response to war: Agent Orange in the Vietnam war, or mustard gas in WW1.

It has happened multiple times over the years that when something is discovered or created, the first thing many think about it is “how can I turn this into a weapon?”

One of the most famous examples of this was when James Chadwick discovered the neutron, which was later harnessed and used to create the atomic bomb in the Manhattan

project. He came out years later and reported that he deeply regretted what it caused and how many suffered because of him. He didn’t set out with the end goal of finding a way to kill hundreds of thousands of people in the most devastating way possible, yet that is what happened.

So many inventions were created in both times of peace and times of war, yet it seems that during wartime, the pace at which things are created increases exponentially, especially amongst the sort of inventions that could harm other people, such as planes or tanks.

After the war, many of these different inventions were further refined and repurposed for civilian use, such as tampons, commercial airlines, and nylon stockings.

The race to find the best minds that the world had to offer was never as strong as it was during the threat of war or in the midst of it, with many scientists and researchers fleeing oppressive countries such as the USSR to the USA, where they felt that they and their families would be safer, as well as the fact that they would not be forced to work and create weapons of mass destruction.

Technology is advancing still and is very unlikely to ever stop.

Humans seek to create and explore, which is why there is a robot on Mars and drones in the sky. War time may have given us impressive machines with which to hurt the enemy, but we are still creating at an extraordinary pace, and not just with the intent to kill.

science

Does your Sweet Tooth Make you Smarter?

With a recent study linking chocolate with positive cognition, Aoife Hardesty explores the world of chocolate after the indulgence of Easter weekend

For many, Easter has become a time for testing the limits of how many giant chocolate eggs you can fit in your belly at any one time. And so, by the time you are reading this, you may be swearing that you will never again eat another square of chocolate.

Every single year, news reports pop up from a wide variety of sources citing the reasons we should or should not be eating more or less chocolate. “Chocolate improves your mood!” “Chocolate makes you smarter!” “Chocolate causes cancer!” “Chocolate cures cancer!” It is important to note when reading such articles that they are not all based on scientific experiments.

However, a recently published results from the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study (MSLS) published in Appetite suggests eating chocolate once a week can have positive effects on mental cognition.

Chocolate began its journey as a beverage, made in the

South Americas from cacao beans and unknown to the rest of the world until the 16th century. The beans themselves were considered so valuable they were used as a form of currency by the Aztecs. When chocolate became known to the Europeans, sugar was added as a sweetener and eventually, chocolate began to be made in a solid form for eating rather than drinking. Chocolate became considered a staple part of the diet, so much so that it was included in American soldiers’ rations during World War II. In the 1970s, the MSLS began.

In longitudinal studies, information is collected repeatedly from the same individuals over an extended period of time. The MSLS was gathering information on people’s cognitive abilities and aiming to observe the relationship between blood pressure and brain performance. In 2001, the study was expanded to include the relationship between

diet and brain performance.

Almost 1,000 people regularly gave feedback via questionnaires on their diet and performed cognitive tests. The study found that people who reported eating chocolate “at least once a week” scored higher on several forms of cognitive tests designed to test visual-spatial learning, working memory and multi-tasking.

So now you’re probably thinking about increasing your weekly chocolate intake to give you better exam results, to become smarter, to ward off Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Well, let’s not jump the gun.

Firstly, the information gathered only indicated if people ate chocolate never, once a week, or more than once a week. The amount of chocolate eaten was not quantified, so it can’t be said that eating one whole chocolate bar once a day, or twice a week, or every Sunday at exactly 17 minutes past 11 is the way to go.

Secondly, they did not collect

any data about the type to the brain, and this function of chocolate people were may be responsible for the eating. Anyone who has eaten cognitive benefits of chocolate. chocolate can tell you that Sweeter chocolates do have there is a difference between some benefits, but mostly white and 85 per cent dark over mood. As with any food, chocolate, and it is actually sugar boosts energy and quite a big difference. happiness, however, it can Put simply, the percentjust be the temporary sugar ages let you know how dark high and can then leave you the chocolate is. What the feeling wiped out of energy. percentage is actually saying Beware, always, of articles is the ratio of solid cocoa promising you a certain food powder and cocoa butter in the is full of surprising miracles chocolate. Cocoa butter is a of which you never dreamed, vegetable fat, like olive oil, that but also be wary of articles comes from cocoa beans, but claiming certain foods are is not itself chocolate. So the slowly killing you without your “purer” chocolates knowledge. are the darker Read critically chocolates, with the and research. higher percentages. “Cacao beans In this wonderMilk chocolate has themselves ful age full of a much lower pertechnology, a were considcentage value than quick Google dark chocolate, but ered so valusearch can white chocolate does able they were provide a lot not in fact have any used as a form of information. cocoa powder solids And remember, at all. White choco- of currency by scientists base the Aztecs.” late is made from conclusions cocoa butter mixed on published, with milk and sugar. peer-reviewed Looking at the difference scientific papers, not on on a compositional level hearsay and rumour, so if between different chocolates, something sounds outlandish exactly what chocolate the to you, look it up and see if participants in the study and where it was published. were eating would be rather Chocolate seems to be useful information to have. chock-full of health benefits, Unfortunately for the so don’t feel too guilty for sweeter-toothed amongst us, gorging on ridiculously large there have been a multitude quantities of chocolate over of studies over the years Easter. But with the sugar which indicate the health contents of chocolate so high, benefits of dark chocolate, and don’t make a regular thing really only dark chocolate. out of binge-chocolating. Or Dark chocolate contains flamaybe do, because chocolate is vanols which have been shown amazing; the Incas themselves to aid the body’s circulation called it “the drink of the gods” system. Flavanols reduce and the scientific name for blood pressure and prevent the the cacao plant is Theobroma growth of plaques along the cacao, theo meaning god, walls of blood vessels. Flaand broma meaning drink. vanols also increase blood flow

My Chemical Romance, or My Chemical Apocalypse?

Danielle Crowley investigates mankind’s history of chemical and biological warfare Chemical and biological warfare (or CBW for short) isn’t new. The Byzantines created the world’s first flame thrower through the use of Greek fire, a highly volatile substance (the exact components of which have been lost). It could burn on water and was so feared that fully armoured soldiers would rather throw themselves overboard to drown rather than face it in battle. The Romans dumped dead animals into the water supplies of their enemies, and the Mongols catapulted the bodies of plague victims into the besieged city of Caffa in 1346. From the battlefields of World War I to modern day terrorists, from James Bond to BBC’s Sherlock and many science fiction stories in between, CBW has haunted the popular imagination.

But what is the difference between them? What makes them so effective? And are they as dangerous as we have been led to believe?

Firstly, some definitions.

Chemical warfare relies on man-made chemicals to kill people. Biological warfare uses bacteria, viruses or toxins to kill people, as the Romans and Mongols did by using corpses. Either way, they are both nasty ways to die.

One of the most well-known large scale uses of chemical warfare was during World War I, when mustard gas (first synthesised in 1860) was first used by the Germans in 1917.

It affected the eyes (sometimes leading to blindness), caused blisters to erupt on the skin, irritated the respiratory system and induced diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain. Mustard gas, or sulphur mustard, is a blister agent or vesicant, meaning that it damages skin and mucous membranes, which are found

in your nose and throat. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it’s also an alkylating agent, which means that the chemicals present within it can destroy DNA and cells and liquefy tissue. Mustard gas wasn’t the only chemical the Allies had to worry about. Chlorine gas, small amounts of which are bubbled through swimming pool water to kill bacteria, was used in 1915 and killed 5000 soldiers

by burning the lining of their throats and asphyxiation.

Chlorine and mustard gas are ranked medically as “lethal gases”, meaning that they can cause disablement and death. One other infamous member of this club of killers is sarin. Sarin hit the headlines in 1995 when the Aum Shrinrikyo group released it in the Tokyo metro, resulting

“Llamas could be our saviours.”

in the deaths of thirteen people.

Sarin is a nerve agent, meaning that it attacks the nervous system.

Specifically, it causes a build up of acetylcholine which leads to overstimulation of nerve cells. This in turn means that the affected person cannot control their breathing, and unless an antidote is administered, death by asphyxiation follows.

Even a non-lethal dose can result in permanent damage if medical help isn’t sought out immediately.

The good news is that not all gases used in chemical warfare are lethal. The “Gay Bomb” was envisioned as a non-lethal way to disrupt fighting by using female sex pheromones to make the opposing side sexually attracted to eachother.

However it never came out. The group known as “harassing agents” don’t kill (usually) but are used to disrupt enemy soldiers. Or protesters. Or rioters. Or crazy football fans. Tear gas includes an agent that stimulates the hormones that produce tears. Chemical burns, coughing and vomiting may occur.

So next time you feel like getting involved in a protest, it would be worthwhile to remember this.

Biological warfare, on the other hand, has moved on from flinging disease ridden corpses over a wall in the hope that it might infect someone. The first “bioterrorism” attacks in the US took place in 2001, where anthrax spores were hidden in envelopes. Five people, four of which were not deliberately targeted, died. A biological weapon using a particularly virulent bacterial or viral strain has the potential to kill thousands, either through aerosol dispersal or through ingestible products like food or medicines.

And the natural world has provided us with thousands of toxins which are as fascinating (to scientists at least) as they are deadly.

Botulinum toxin, found in the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, is one of the deadliest substances known to man. It causes paralysis by preventing communication

between nerve cells. It is one of the components of Botox and can only survive in the absence of oxygen, such as in soil and sealed jars of meat. Bacteria living in jars of duck paste sandwiches caused the deaths of guests in a Scottish hotel in 1922.

Toxins can severely damage victims’ minds. The year 944 was known as The Great Fear in France due to a fungus called claviceps purpurea, which produces ergot toxin. This toxin killed 40,000 people and as well as causing symptoms such as gangrene, victims also experienced hallucinations and temporary insanity, or permanent insanity depending on how long it took to kill them. LSD is derived from this toxin and was involved in various military experiments in the 1950s aiming to use it as a psychochemical weapon.

But it’s not all doom and gloom.

Large scale chemical warfare has been banned since 1925 and biological warfare since 1972.

Deadly toxins can be used to heal as well as kill. Ricin and alkylating agents are used in the fight against cancer. Botulinum is used to cure patients of uncontrollable muscle spasms. And if all else fails, llamas could be our saviours.

Llamas (as well as camels and sharks) have incredibly strong, resilient antibodies. Scientists are aiming to develop a whole range of sensors from these antibodies to detect the first signs of biological warfare. Medical treatments for hardy and resistant diseases are becoming better and better all the time. If we are faced with a biochemical threat in the future, we should be better equipped to fight against it.

Humans are great at coming up with newer and more inventive ways of killing each other. Hopefully, one day in the future, chemical and biological warfare shall be relics of a distant, more primitive past.

March 31ST 2016

OPINION Making ends meet: money worries in college As fees and the cost of living continue to rise, Amy Gargan shows how difficult it can be to finance a year in college Money and college are two words that appear almost exclusively together. Rarely is college mentioned in the media without concerns over the rising fees or the cost of moving out following. Attending college in Dublin can cost up to €11,000 a year if you live away from home, so there’s reason to be concerned.

Through the resources available and the student’s input, you can fund a third level degree. There are grants to help pay for fees, and a student card is a powerful weapon for discounts. It is possible to make ends meet, and at the end of the day, it is worth it, but a student’s entire journey through college should not be plagued by money worries.

Unfortunately though, it can be.

The issue with rising fees dominates students’ worries. There is little room to relax when the final numbers are tallied up. For families that fall below an annual income, or for students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, there are schemes and grants available to ease the pressure. Around 40 per cent of Irish families qualify for either grants or schemes, which pay tuition and give a monthly student allowance. So why are we so obsessed with the cost of education when there are grants and schemes to help? As essential as they are for thousands of students throughout the country, their misuse and abuse calls into question the lack of regulation.

Money is tied so closely with decisions students make in college that failing a module is more terrifying due to the €230 repeat charge rather than having it on record. The SUSI grant does not pay

for repeating, but reinstates itself once the student moves on. It’s understandable that students who fail a part of their degree should have to pay, but it seems that in institutions such as UCD, there is no consideration for why someone would fail. It is plausible that an excessive social life and no respect for college can play a part, but this is not the case for every student. In UCD, students who drop out before a certain deadline are spared, but those who decide after are liable to pay full fees if they start a new undergraduate degree, being punished for not deciding quick enough.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) pays tuition fees for most students, with exceptions of course. This free fees scheme excludes several groups of people who would definitely benefit.

Students who are not residents of the EU are not only excluded but have to pay more to study in Ireland, adding to the pressures of finding somewhere to live in a foreign country. Currently Irish students pay a €3,000 student contribution charge, as set by the government. What angers students about this charge is that since it was ‘frozen’ at €2,000 five years ago, it has increased by €250 every year since. The economic situation of the time is the given excuse. The question posed here is whether asking students who already pay high fees to pay more is justified.

Stepping away from fees, living costs are where most money is spent. The average student lives on

between €70 and €100 a week. Placed into UCD’s 27-week term including exams, is a minimum of €2,100 not taking in to consideration rent and utilities for those who have moved out. There are students who live 30 to 60 minutes away on bus routes, commuters from surrounding areas and counties, and students who have to move out. For commuters, Student Leap Cards cap weekly travel off at €20, along with having Rambler tickets available. Yet, these discounts are by a mere 30 or 40 cent. Those who have moved out have to budget rent and utilities rather than commuting. God help you if you’ve moved out but still live 30 minutes away. It has been proven that students who live at home save money, but where the financial burden is lessened, the general amount of independence is not as great as students who have to cook their own dinners. Students argue that the first time someone gains significant independence shouldn’t come with such a high price tag, especially when moving out is their only option.

Everything regarding college education comes with a cost, whether it’s discounted or not. Being a student has some benefits, but no matter how many two-for-one deals we are entitled to, there is more that could be done to lower costs. Many things are out of our control, but campaigning for lowered fees and more grant availability could pave the way for a system where everyone benefits. For now, there are no solutions on the horizon, so students will have to continue strategically budgeting and hoping for a change.

PHOTO: James Healy Iglesias

Why I’m voting for Bernie Sanders in the US Presidential Elections As the US Presidential race continues to gain momentum, Alec Stott, an American UCD student, explains why living in Europe has changed his political perspective My view of the world was shaped in a post-9/11 America. News coverage was obsessed with terror. In the mornings, I would pack my bags for school while the news reported overnight acts of terror in Iraq and military casualties from Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the education system I experienced from elementary to high school seldom strayed from its American-centric nature. In history classes, my high school teachers had a habit of teaching how global and Euro-centric events affected the US, rather than how the US affected the areas and events in question.

When I first arrived in Dublin in the autumn of 2013, I had a onedimensional view of the world. I was defensive and reacted badly to criticism of the United States, especially comments concerning foreign policy in the Middle East.

However, as time passed, I began to feel a sense of disillusionment. I was enjoying life in Europe, and jealous of the ease in which my friends were able to afford university, travel, and receive medical attention. I began devising plans to remain in Europe after my degree at UCD so I could

march 31ST 2016

spend the rest of my life in Europe.

Then a man named Bernie Sanders entered the race for the 2016 Democratic Presidential Nomination.

His race for the White House is inspiring my journey back home.

Sanders’ momentum began to build during the summer and by the time of his narrow loss in Iowa, I was a committed supporter. On the morning after the Iowa caucus a 76 year old senator from Vermont gave me reason and a deep desire to return to the US. I donated to his campaign, actively learned about his policies, and consistently watched interviews, debates, and town halls. Politics would often come up during phone calls with family members, and I began to openly express my intention to vote for Bernie Sanders. One day, a family friend messaged me saying he was supporting Republican candidate Donald Trump and insisted that I had been brainwashed by going to university in Europe and was all but demanding that I give up my United States citizenship if I was supporting a “socialist” like Bernie Sanders.

That was the turning point when I started paying attention to Donald

Trump and his “reality TV” style campaign for the GOP nomination.

The success of Trump’s campaign can be attributed to recent Republican pandering and fear mongering as well as a sensationalised media. Politics in the United States have become incredibly polarised, leading to government gridlock and shutdown.

Trump attracts Americans who are disillusioned, believing that career politicians have failed the country. Their ideal candidate is bold, politically incorrect, and not afraid to speak his mind even as he offends women and immigrants.

However, I wonder if Trump supporters realise the consequences that a Trump presidency could have for the United States and the world.

Under a Trump presidency, the policy of the United States would be immediate deportation of up to 10 million immigrants, construction of a wall along the border of Mexico – costing an estimated $12 billion to construct – and active religious profiling of immigrants.

Since this race began, I have seen the darker side of the American

political process. I feel a growing frustration toward a political process that seems to be rigged, the unequal media coverage for candidates, not to mention the dangerous rhetoric being spread by Trump.

However, I have not given up.

Since I began studying at UCD, I have had the chance to live in three countries: Ireland, Germany, and Austria. As a foreigner, I have seen different styles of government that exist to serve the needs of the people.

The United States is a country of more than 300 million that is crippled by wealth inequality and private interests’ interference in government. Frankly, the American idea of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is outdated. The US needs to undergo a great deal of change, a task that I would have thought impossible a few months ago. However, experiencing life abroad, and seeing inspiring moments of political triumph like the marriage referendum in Ireland, as well as the political revolution that Bernie Sanders’ has unleashed has left me inspired, and even somewhat optimistic for the future.

OPINION Society (dis)engagement Student engagement with societies and the SU at UCD is traditionally poor. Jack McCann looks at the problem, and asks how we can fix it

PHOTO: The Good Aul Days, JoAnna O’MALLEY

With the recent low turn-out in the Students’ Union elections and USI referendum, the question has been raised about student engagement with the Union and society events across campus.

Turn-out for some races in the elections was at a minimum 50 per cent down compared to the previous year, when turnout had been at one of its highest levels for years. Due to that extremely good turnout this year’s elections were always going to have a tough job to reach those heights. Student engagement with societies has always been an issue, no matter what society it may be. The idea of ‘provide it and they will come’ is not the case regarding societies. The lack of engagement can be put down to a few key things: communication,

interest and what is offered.

Most people don’t read their emails.

Plain and simply, when people receive loads of emails at the start of the week, they may read the start of them all just to see who they’re from but it’s probably rare for all the emails sent to a student to all be read top to bottom.

Some students’ main purpose is to spend the minimum amount of time as possible in college and get out after the minimum amount of time required.

These people aren’t wasters – they’re people who, if they have a lecture at 11 and 2, they’ll go to them but either leave college at 2.50 or go to the library for a bit and then leave. They just don’t have an interest in being involved in the extra-curricular activities on campus, as often they have activities or commitments off campus that they’ve kept up and don’t want to drop.

That’s what they do and that’s allowed. However, when people talk about the lack of student engagement with societies, that group of students has to be remembered as they make up a large number of the student body.

Even though there are many societies – over 70 according to the societies’ website – many of the events that are held throughout the year hold a lot of similarities. There are only so many tea and coffee mornings that students are able to cope with. To be fair, societies have only limited resources. The people who make up the committees are full-time students and there are rules and regulations that they have to abide to when running events.

In terms of engagement with the Students’ Union, there has been an extremely indifferent

relationship between students and itself for years; it is not a new phenomenon. Many students who have an interest in student politics feel that UCD Students’ Union has not been orientated around the students enough and has focused on other issues too much. This relationship came to the fore during the USI referendum.

Ask most students you come across on campus three questions: 1. Do you know where the Societies’ corridor is?

2. Do you know where the Students’ Union are based? and 3. Have you been to either? The majority will answer no to the last question, and most probably won’t be able to tell you where either of them are either. Students are a lot less likely to get involved in a society or Union if they don’t know where either is located. Many students, mainly first years, don’t know how to get involved

even if they had an interest.

Getting first years interested is paramount to any long-term student engagement plan for any society or the Union. If you successfully engage first years, you have the foundations for a committee or Union representatives for the next two to three years.

Getting first years involved could be done by allowing them to organise a society or Union event from the start to finish with little to no other input from other people other than to offer guidance every now and then or when asked to help.

People interested in being involved will take the chance when they are offered it. To engage those who have less interest, it’s probably best to ask them why they’re not interested and start from there.

Actions speak louder than words.

The 145 Across the Bypass: the College Commute Commuting to UCD is a struggle for most students, but not all students have a 117 minute commute like Ruth Ennis. She recounts her experience of travelling to UCD every day, and what makes it worth it I’ve lived in the same house for the past 15 years of my life in a numbingly beautiful rural area. I’m not quite placed in the middle of the boglands or surrounded by dozens of farms enclosing hundreds of cattle. I do, however, live surrounded by large, imposing fields, near a few detatched neighbours.

The house is on a sturdy but quiet road in a lovely area I am glad to call home.

I commute an average four days a week (an improvement from my five day week in first year) from my home to UCD. That journey takes an estimated two hours every day. I wake up a half hour, the latest, before I leave the house. I am lucky to have a dedicated mother to drive me for ten minutes to the nearest bus stop. I get the first stop of my first bus onto Nassau Street, taking an hour and ten minutes.

Then we, myself and the countless other students I frequently meet in the city centre get the first bus we see to UCD, usually taking thirty minutes. I am not in the slightest bit ashamed to admit I cling desperately onto the hope that the 145 that goes over the bypass into the campus road will appear magically, in order to escape that dreaded two-minute-longer walk into the college. Seeing as I am one step away from living in the student centre of UCD, the walk takes an average of five minutes (seven minutes

if I decide to wear heels). 117 minutes from my front door to the entrance of a campus building.

The commute is a practicality.

I fought tooth and nail against its existence for the majority of my first year, and still do fantasise about having the superpower of teleportation. The ever-increasing bus fares act as a painful reminder that it is still cheaper than digs or on-campus accommodation. Ironically, I would rather save this money to travel in the future; just hopefully not with Dublin Bus. I don’t deny that getting up at 6am for a 9am lecture causes me to question the sadism of my education. I don’t deny that it infuriates me to no end that I am expected to remain punctual for a class two hours away from me, whilst those who live on campus fail to make it to their third lecture. I don’t deny that I spend as much time on campus as I can to make the commute worthwhile, resulting in the occasional thirteen hour days away from home. I don’t deny that I despise the commute. But I also don’t deny it is worth every single second of it.

I am lucky enough to study an arts degree that summarises what I want to do for the rest of my life. I am so lucky that I can travel to study what I genuinely love learning about every single day, rather than settling for a course, 10 minutes from my house in a subject I know I will detest in my thirties. I am lucky to have the chance to travel to a college that is incredibly privileged, from its education standards to its treatment of its

students. I am lucky to love what I do with my college years.

I have good friends who repeatedly let me stay in their Dublin homes so I can experience the typical student nights out. I am lucky to be heavily involved with such a brilliant society (or five) that give me cause and inspiration to work beyond my degree. I have made memories that I can reflect fondly upon during the bus journey home.

I am lucky for a number of reasons that make the commute worth it. I come home to my darling cat and dog every day, who I would miss beyond belief (if you live away from home, you will understand that their welcome home is so worth it). I come home to home cooked meals every day in my desperate attempts to avoid pizza takeaway. I am lucky to come home and hear the silly, funny stories of my family in person, which are never quite the same on WhatsApp. I get to go home to my own bed, only to be rudely wakened by the dog the next morning.

The age-old question does pop up frequently; which is better, the city or the countryside? If I’m honest, I would learn towards the city life, solely based on the fact that it is a relatively new concept to me. But I love my rural home and return to it for good reason. It is my home and this is the unchangeable fact that no amount of frozen yoghurt will tempt me to abandon.

March 31ST 2016

OPINION

Ireland’s Achilles Heel: Should we repeal the eighth amendment?

With the mounting public opposition to the Eighth Amendment, Roisin Murray argues that Ireland has outgrown its current abortion legislation We need to talk about the Eighth Amendment. It is one of the most notorious pieces of legislation to pass through the Dáil. It undermines women’s autonomy over their own bodies, instead conferring women’s rights to the Irish State. And it is legislation that is still denying women their independence to the present day. Isn’t it about time we ceased to reduce women to their reproductive organs?

Irish citizens do not have to have studied law to be familiar with the Eighth Amendment and its significance for Irish women. The amendment was integrated into Irish law in 1983. Essentially, it enacted a constitutional injunction on abortion and imposed even more restrictions upon future possibilities of legalising abortion. At 33 years old, this amendment may be outdated and obsolete, but it still has the jurisdiction to strip women of their free will. It was justified on the basis of protecting the rights of the foetus, for defending those that could not speak up for themselves. But simultaneously, it stifles the voice of women, and implies that Irish society is indifferent to preserving both their health and dignity. Ultimately, the Eighth Amendment question is a debate about rights – who deserves them, and who does not.

The Eighth Amendment currently prohibits abortion in Ireland, except in the rare circumstance that pregnancy endangers the mother’s life.

It does not extend to cases in which a woman’s health is placed in jeopardy. The constitution discriminates against non-life threatening diseases, and minimises other

adverse medical consequences of unwanted pregnancy such as poor mental health. This archaic legislation stipulates that even if a pregnancy is the result of rape, incest or the foetus has no chance of survival, abortion remains outlawed.

In 2015, Clare Daly proposed a bill in the Dáil that would allow abortion in the case of fatal foetal abnormality.

Only Labour TD Anne Ferris supported the bill, with all other TDs either rejecting it or abstaining. The government ultimately maintained the bill equated to ‘flawed legislation’ and would require a referendum that it did not have the authority to hold. But the current legislation no longer reflects the public sentiment. A poll conducted by the Irish Times in February 2016 demonstrated that 64 per cent of readers were in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment, while only 25 per cent opposed it and 11 per cent had no opinion.

Biologically, motherhood is a natural state delegated to the sphere of women only. So women are the only gender who will ever be subjected to the distressing experience of being forced to keep an unwanted pregnancy. Yet men play a hugely decisive role in influencing this decision.

Charles Haughey suggested the amendment, and it was enacted under Garrett FitzGerald’s government. For too long, women have endured their male counterparts making decisions on the behalf of women; decisions that will never affect them as they directly impact women.

1992 saw the enactment of the Thirteenth Amendment and

the Fourteenth Amendment.

These amendments stipulated that a pregnant woman was entitled to travel abroad for an abortion, and to procure information about the availability of abortion services overseas. These laws essentially equated to Irish politicians burying their heads in the sand.

Abortion was a burden that they did not wish to address on their soil. But they readily conferred this responsibility to overseas nations, who became responsible for looking after Irish mothers in a way that the Irish State refused to. The Eighth Amendment is not a victory for Irish conservatism. It is merely an acknowledgement that Ireland is not prepared to adequately address the abortion problem.

Prohibition of abortion in Ireland has not led to the curtailing of abortion. Instead, it has forced women to resort to different methods to obtain an abortion – methods that are implicit with discriminations, and even danger. Thousands of women have been forced to travel overseas to receive abortions, in order to avail of the basic access to healthcare that their own country refuses to facilitate. From 1983, over 160,000 women have travelled overseas to procure an abortion, with many travelling to England in particular. Those most negatively affected by the ban on abortion in Ireland are the most marginalised sections of society: asylum seekers, and those unable to travel due to insufficient funds or poverty.

The current legislation criminalises those attempting to procure their own solutions to unwanted pregnancy in Ireland.

You need only visit the toilets

PHOTO: Senator Aideen Hayden showing her support for the ‘REPEAL THE 8TH’ CAMPAIGN WITH UCD STUDENTS, PHOTO BY JOANNA O’MALLEY

in Workman’s or the James Joyce Library to see advertisements for self-abortion pills scrawled across the cubicles. Women are compelled to depend on underground channels in order to obtain access to abortions in Ireland. The illegality of this method creates a culture of shame, exacerbating the trauma of women who have unwanted pregnancies.

A trawl through Women on Web, a self-abortion website, demonstrates the resentment that Irish women feel at being forced into illegal abortion practices due to the antiquity of Irish law. Emotions described by these anonymous women ranged from fear, isolation, anxiety and

feeling like delinquents in their own country. The illegality of this last-ditch effort is also dangerous; it dissuades women from seeking medical help for fear of being criminalised, which can place the health of mothers in further compromising positions.

Yes, we celebrated as a nation when Ireland became one of the world’s forerunners in promoting equal rights for same sex couples. But Ireland’s newfound progressive culture highlights the problem. We applaud the liberalism which has allowed Ireland to uphold the rights of homosexual couples in the

recent marriage referendum, but in the same breath, we condemn a woman’s right to choose the outcome of her own body. Is the hypocrisy not apparent?

The Eighth Amendment is obsolete, and does not allow for a rational discussion on the reality of legalising abortion, or easing the stipulations for abortion. It does not address the issue, but rather ignores it. As a country, we should strive to eradicate the stigma and shame surrounding a woman’s right to choose motherhood. Women should have a voice, and a choice. But for now, let’s take a step in the right direction: let’s repeal the Eighth.

Quinn’s Bizzness As students sink back into the monotony of college life after the mid-term, Jess Quinn is here to recap on UCD’s recent events, and to launch her new campaign: #NotQuackingForIt

IN PHOTO: UCDSU PRESIDENT-ELECT CONOR VISCARDI, PHOTO JOANNA O’MALLEY

march 31ST 2016

Hello UCD heads! It’s been an exciting few weeks on campus with the Students’ Union Elections, USI Referendum and that wet paint that was drying in Newman the other day. Gripping stuff. There were no surprises in the SU elections with the only people running for a position being elected, and a handsome bearded fellow winning the only contested position. The only reason I did not vote RON is I couldn’t bear seeing any more posters, hashtags or Facebook posts. The USI referendum was also a roaring success for the “No” crowd. How could they fail with such winning slogans like “One Union Is Bad Enough” and “€5 Could Get You Two Chicken Fillet Rolls”. Never underestimate the power of stinginess and general disinterest of your student body.

The US Presidential elections are about as monotonous and overdone at this stage. Basically, Trump is what would happen if the comments section on a Facebook Irish Mirror article became a human and ran for President. Although you have to admire Trump’s use of the Schrodinger’s Douchebag theory: say offensive things and decide whether or not you are joking based upon the reaction of the people around you.

How do people find their soul mate within the first two months of college and it took me three years to find my Programme Office?

All I want is someone to look at me the way Librocop looks at his CCTV monitors. What is better than hearing “I love you”? Eh, hearing that krrrr sound the ATM makes when withdrawing money.

Dating is hard. People are like “are you a morning or a night person?” and I’m just like “buddy, I’m barely even a person.”

I matched with a guy called Marco on Tinder and I wrote to him saying Polo. He unmatched me, but I had a good time.

Don’t you hate it when you don’t pull out quick enough and you lose half your biscuit in your tea?

My dating tip is to walk up to boys and tell them how brave they are for not wearing make up. However I did work up the nerve to ask the girl I was dating out. I asked her on the 29th of February. Our anniversary would be every four

years, think of the savings! However, it didn’t work out. It’s so annoying when you love someone and want to spend the rest of your life with them and they don’t accept your friend request. Trying to open a Capri Sun is the longest relationship I’ve had in 2016. I’ll get back on the horse.

I’m already working on a fresh batch of pick-up-lines. Damn girl, are you from Dublin 6W? Cos I can see myself Terenure clothes off.

For the midterm break, I went home to visit my family. They said they didn’t recognise me I was so “covered in notions” with “that fancy accent and spike in my ear”. They think I’m in Dublin studying magic. “Aaaand now, for my final trick, I shall turn into a disappointment.” I didn’t miss Mammy’s nagging. “You’re going to hate yourself in the morning if you stay up late.” Jokes on you, I’m going to hate myself in the morning no matter what. Finished my 5kg bag of pasta in a week. Worth every penne.

Paddy’s Day was as interesting as always. People all around the world raving about how great the Irish are. Meanwhile, we fight each other in Temple Bar and puke tricolour.

Being 2016, we commemorate the great heroes of our nation, James Connolly, Patrick Pearse and Conor McGregor. Is it too soon for me to comment on The Notorious’ dramatic defeat? However I am not “a true UFC fan”, so how dare I say anything.

You’re not a true fan unless you spin around in circles and provide cool air for those around you.

Society AGMs are taking place these days. So, for your chance to climb the social ladder into “uncool, but popular” territory, look no further than Film Society, LGBTQ+ Society and International Students Soc. Steer clear of Harry Potter Society, Games Soc and Sci-Fi Soc unless you want to grow back your virginity. Of course the L&H are too cool to have an AGM like the rest of us. I’m really looking forward to seeing the potential auditors race around the lake. Here’s hoping they get attacked by swans.

This brings me to a very serious campus issue, “Swan Culture” in UCD. It may all seem like a bit of quack, but there’s a negative undercurrent of disrespect around campus and I for one am sick of all that lark. Ducks, seagulls and other feathered creatures should not have to

live in constant fear of harassment, unwanted advances or abuse from swans. There is a rise in levels of this behaviour due to modern advances. With the new lake it is hard to keep track of the comings and goings of all the birds. Let it be known, whether it’s the new lake, the old lake or the “secret group lake”, this behaviour is unacceptable.

Mandatory consent classes relating to lake etiquette should be introduced in the coming months to ensure the safety and security of all of UCD’s birds.#NotQuackingForIt Do you ever just want to do a backflip but realise that you can’t?

That’s what college is. Ever want to leave college and become a golden retriever owned by a middle-class family in the countryside? Imagine being completely naked in a room full of people who speak a different language and want to touch you. This is the life of a dog. Maybe being a cat would be easier. Cats are great.

They don’t hate you for your race, religion or sexuality. They hate you because they’re cats. Maybe cats are jerks because they have the ability to lick their own genitals, but also have a tongue like sandpaper.

There’s just so much in this life that doesn’t make any sense. Everything I like is either expensive, fattening, or won’t text back. Never get into a car with strangers unless an app tells you that it’s okay. My shampoo says damage repair, but I’m still broken on the inside. I drink to forget about the time I waved at someone waving to someone behind me. Why does the radio stop the music to tell you they have non-stop music? €2.95 for a chicken fillet roll?!

If Tetris has taught me anything, it’s that errors pile up and accomplishments disappear. So leading up to exams again, don’t stress, we’re all screwed. My life is extremely similar to Rihanna’s song “Work”. It’s just work, work, work, and the rest I can’t really understand. I’ve been tackling assignments like the Welsh rugby team. Safe to say, I don’t like referencing et al. Life is like violin lessons. My Mam signed me up for it without asking and now expects me to try my best even though I hate violin. Finishing on a positive note, my bank account is foolproof security keeping me safe from identity theft.

Student Voices

Sketching a Fresher’s Take on UCD

DrawSoc are one of the newer societies on campus, having formed in recent years. Edith Donnelly talks about her experience of getting involved with DrawSoc, and the effect it had on her first year experience

Let’s get one thing straight: anybody who says starting college is easy is a liar. Trying something new is never as easy as anybody makes it seem, and college is no exception. There’s a jump into a new environment that goes against everything that had been drilled into our heads in secondary school. There’s also the stress of trying to make people like you, and making friends without them knowing that behind the great smile is internal screaming.

That’s just my experience, and it’s different for every other fresher attending any college.

What’s great – and not great – about UCD is how vast everything is. The multitude of societies that go hand in hand with the lifestyle of the average student is one of the highlights of going to university. The problem with the amount of societies, though, is figuring out which ones to join, or even knowing what societies are there in the first place. This brings me to my experience with DrawSoc. I love drawing. It’s easier than doing normal work and far more enjoyable, so what’s not to love? Art is everywhere, and on everything. Although I decided not to attend art college because I need a job at some point (pray for art students everywhere), I still love to draw. But with the vast array of new courses and subjects being thrown at me, I noticed that I had very little time to actually do the things I love. I was too busy trying to find enjoyment in the new things.

Losing passion for something

that’s previously been central to your life is a pretty big smack in the face. I needed an outlet to keep my hobby alive. The only thing bigger than a smack in the face at the thought of losing your hobby is the even bigger smack in the face when you find the perfect solution. For me, as you might have guessed, the solution was DrawSoc. Among the talk of the Classical Society, Arts Society, Japanese Society and Game Society, I had never once heard of DrawSoc. In a way I felt a little foolish; I mean, of course there’s a visual arts society, why wouldn’t there be one? A lot of people don’t have a clue about it, though, and not long ago that included me.

Among other societies I joined, I mustered up the courage to visit the DrawSoc table in Freshers’ Week and get myself a membership card. This is no mean feat when you’re a smaller-than-average Fresher surrounded by way too many older students in the bustle of the Freshers’ Tent. Pushing myself to join the society has to be one of the best decisions I’ve made since I came to UCD. Societies hold events every week, and DrawSoc is no different.

What is different is the variety of activities that the members bring to each week’s classes. I think that’s what drew me into the society, along with the overwhelmingly friendly atmosphere that seems to flow out of people.

For anyone not familiar with the society or who has only heard snippets: DrawSoc is not a life-drawing society. From watercolors to pastels,

photography classes to art gallery trips, guest artist workshops to flash-fiction graphic novel introductions with LitSoc, DrawSoc offers much more than just people drawing other people. I’ve found it to be a little niche in college life where you can sit back and create new things, try new things you’ve been too nervous to try, and meet new people you can soon call good friends.

As a fresher, college never seems to get easier, and new challenges tend to hit you whenever you’ve just conquered one. That’s why it’s so important to keep up with your hobbies and keep the spark alive. I’ve met first years just like me who find themselves drawing in lectures and classes because they think that’s the only time they have to do it, not knowing there is a society on campus for exactly that. In a University that can make you feel a little too small and hidden in the crowds, DrawSoc provides events where you can express your passions and talents that make you who you are.

There’s an exhibition at the end of every year that displays your artwork, the work that you can feel proud of creating for others to see. Art is a form of expression, and DrawSoc provides an outlet to express yourself, and to do so through a wide array of mediums.

The concept of “art” is as abstract as anything you’ll ever come across, but that’s

PHOTO: DRAWSOC

no reason not to try it out.

Some people who think they can’t draw, or that they can only draw stickmen, seem to think they won’t qualify to become a member. If that’s how you feel about your skills as an artist, though, what have you got to lose? If I can learn how to play a new game with GameSoc, or discover a newfound love for anime with the Japanese Society, it’s just as possible to find a brand new liking for drawing, or the art of creation itself with DrawSoc. DrawSoc has been such a major part of my UCD life that I applied to become a committee member – a task

that proved highly rewarding considering all the new, fantastically interesting individuals I’ve met and the fun that comes with being around them. College life for me so far has been nothing but excitement and freedom, mixed in with the inevitable stress of assignments and whatnot.

Being a fresher in such a large university comes with its hardships, but the friends you make and the bonds you share can help you feel like you’re part of a big family, rather than a massive cluster of anonymous students. That’s what DrawSoc has done for me. It’s brought a heightened

sense of colour to my college experience that I can only see getting brighter. Art isn’t restricted to a ‘talented’ minority, and the entire spectrum is out there for everybody to enjoy. If you feel like you could be brave enough to pick up a pencil or paintbrush, or you want to create something new with your own hands, DrawSoc are always around if you need an extra little push to help make it happen.

Why we need to stop belittling mental illness

Bipolar disorder continues to be a misunderstood mental illness. Amy Ní Shionnaigh recounts their experience of Bipolar 2 disorder, and how they found help and started to get well “Ah sure, it’ll be grand.”

“What do you mean you won’t have a cup of tea? You surely will, here you go now, that’ll fix you.”

Where else would you see the likes? The likes of what? A society* which tolerates mental illness, has accepted that one in four people will experience a mental health difficulty, but unfortunately seems content to simplify the solution down to chats and cups of tea.

I love a nice cup of tea and certainly lovely company can brighten up any day. I’m a final year student, with a part-time job on UCD campus, some truly lovely people to call my friends, an adorable pet dog, and a love for music, dance, the Gilmore Girls and unusual tea cups. I have a tendency to sing along to the radio, I often start reading books that I rarely finish and I have bipolar II(2) disorder (manic depression). Only one of these facts remains a secret.

Three years ago, or thereabouts, something changed. Still to this day, I can’t put my finger on a cause or trigger; there was no bereavement, heart break or tragedy.

Previously I wasn’t just perceived as happy and perhaps quite immature, I was. I was well settled into UCD, I had a great group of friends, and with an abundance of events and energy around campus, I was in my element.

Changes to my mental health were quite slow at first. Slight reluctance to attend events I had always enjoyed, desires to spend a little more time in my own company and difficulties concentrating on study and motivating myself to do my very best. I ignored these feelings and forced myself to continue on as ‘normal’. Over the following two years, my self-worth lowered significantly. Day-to-day life was a struggle, and I began to very slowly self-destruct. I still had days of excitement and enjoyment, but they seemed to get further and further apart. Internship applications or J1 visas seemed meaningless, and seeking help didn’t even cross my mind.

I couldn’t wait for summer to get away from it all. Deep down I knew something wasn’t right, but I never allowed myself to think about it and convinced myself that I was perfectly normal. That was my biggest fear; god forbid that anyone might realise that something was wrong or abnormal.

It all still feels like a blur of dull

pain and emotional exhaustion that has spanned over the last three years.

Inflicting various forms of self-harm on my body and mind was no solution.

There is a stigma around self-harm in Ireland, and it’s that stigma that has and continues to propel my own feelings of shame and embarrassment.

Initially, the self-harm took the form of neglect. I neglected to eat, sleep, look after myself, maintain friendships and avoid dangerous situations.

Later, I turned to physical harm and tried to drown out the storm of thoughts in my head by focusing on the physical pain. I still tried to convince myself and everyone around me that there was nothing wrong.

One of my lowest memories is that of sitting in the student centre, with throbbing arms and eyes stinging from lack of sleep and tears. I sat in the same spot, lifeless, all day. To everyone else who was milling around, I was an exhausted student, probably tired of study and exams, but excited for Christmas. Inside, I had very little hope of reaching Christmas and even less desire or energy to try. In January, on the night of my birthday, I had had enough. There was cake and friends and endless good wishes, and I have never hated

every second of a day so much. The sadness was inexplicable. Holding myself together until I got home was so difficult that I can’t find any words to describe it. I convinced myself that if I could just make it home to my room, that that would be it.

I am eternally grateful for the person I reached out to that night, and that they were ready to listen and determined to help.

Thankfully in recent years, it has become much easier to talk about mental health. Not easy, but easier. The biggest hurdle for me was finding a way to describe how I was feeling. I can’t stress enough how confusing and terrifying it can be to know that you’re not OK, but no idea how or why, or where to start finding help. If this sounds familiar, please talk to just one person. Talking terrified me, but as soon as I let my guard down, things genuinely started to get that little bit easier.

Little things aren’t the magical solution. Being able to talk to a friend, go for a nice walk or cup of tea can certainly help, but they don’t fix all mental health illnesses or disorders.

Mental health illnesses and disorders vary to the same degree as physical illnesses and disorders. While you

might treat a common cold with plenty of rest and care, you’d be best advised not to treat pneumonia with the same casual care. The spectrum of mental health illness and disorders require proper medical attention from a doctor/counsellor/ psychiatrist and individual solutions, often including medication.

We need to take mental health seriously in Irish society. If we continue to belittle and simplify the solutions, we can also belittle the strength of those managing to cope and live with poor mental health. I spent years telling myself that it was my own fault I wasn’t getting any better. I shouldn’t need anyone else’s help, it’s all in my head and I should get over myself. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Had I broken a leg, I wouldn’t have hobbled around without consulting a doctor or using crutches.

I wouldn’t have decided to break my arm too, to distract from the pain of my leg. I wouldn’t have ignored the problem and hoped it went away.

What is commonly known as Bipolar, severe episodes of depression and mania, is known as Bipolar 1. Bipolar 2 is primarily a form of depression and is much less severe than bipolar 1. The symptoms of depression can

last for weeks at a time, and it can almost feel like a relief to experience the happy, productive and energetic feelings associated with hypomania. However, productivity is usually disguised in excitement and can be quite spontaneous and irresponsible. Depression and hypomanic episodes are never a 50:50 split, approximately 80:20 respectively.

Considering the overwhelming negative thoughts for the 80 per cent of time, it felt quite liberating to lose sight of responsibilities for a while, but potentially disastrous for a grown up with work and financial responsibilities. However, with professional help and medication, I can look forward to a return to a more balanced lifestyle, with less extreme symptoms in either direction. And dare I say it, a little bit of normality. *A society which for the most part fails to seriously contemplate the serious need for mental health supports and resources, especially public services. Not to completely dismiss the fantastic work done by the small number of organisations and charities in operation who do provide supports.

If you are currently struggling with mental health issues or just want someone to talk to, call UCD Counselling Service on 01 7163133, or enquire at reception at the Student Health Centre.

March 31ST 2016

call for applications for editorial team 2016/2017 editor Applications are invited for the position of Editor of the University Observer for the academic year 2016/2017.

The Position: The Editor of the University Observer is responsible for all aspects of the newspaper. The Editor is responsible for the management of the newspaper, the publication and distribution of the newspaper, the content of the newspaper and is responsible for the co-ordination of the newspaper’s writers. The Editor is responsible for all internal appointments (with the exception of the Deputy Editor and the Designer) within the newspaper as well as any disciplinary matters that may arise (with the exception of the Deputy Editor and the Designer).

The position of Editor of the University Observer is an extremely demanding one and applicants for the position should be aware that the role involves working unsocial hours in a highly pressurised environment.

The position includes working alternate weekends.

The Editor is responsible for all deadlines being met by the newspaper.

The Candidate: The candidate should exhibit a serious commitment to journalism.

Ideally, the candidate should have experience working for a newspaper or media organisation.

It is preferable but not essential that the candidate is/was a registered student of University College Dublin.

The position is a full-time one and the candidate should be aware of the pressurised environment under which newspaper editors operate. The candidate must be in a position to prove to the interview panel his/her ability to meet fixed, non-negotiable printing deadlines whilst working at speed and under pressure.

The candidate should exhibit a clear sense of duty towards the newspaper, combined with sharp commercial acumen.

A strong knowledge of social media is essential in order to manage the demands of The University Observer website and online resources.

The University Observer is editorially independent from the Students’ Union, as enshrined in the Union constitution.

The Editor has complete authority over the content of the newspaper, proviso to the standard regulations governing newspaper content (e.g. defamation etc).

Remuneration: Wages currently stand at €583 per issue minus taxes (eight editions of the paper are expected to be published) and some expenses incurred during production of the newspaper may be reclaimed. Wages for the academic year 2016/2017 are to be confirmed pending discussions.

Application Procedure: Applicants for the above position must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae and a detailed proposal outlining how the candidate intends to operate and manage the University Observer. The proposal must include a comprehensive outline of strategic changes that can be made to improve the newspaper. Specific areas where the newspaper can be improved should be dealt with in some detail. The applicant should also outline his/her proposals for the day-to-day organisation and management of the newspaper.

Applications should be sent as a pdf file to editor@universityobserver. ie or to the following address: Gráinne Loughran, The University Observer, Student Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4.

Applications are invited for the position of Deputy Editor of the University Observer for the academic year 2016/2017.

The Candidate: The candidate should exhibit a serious commitment to journalism.

Ideally, the candidate should have experience working for a newspaper or media organisation.

It is preferable but not essential that the candidate is/was a registered student of University College Dublin.

The position is a full time one and the candidate should be aware of the pressurised environment under which newspaper editors operate. The candidate must be in a position to prove to the interview panel his/her ability to meet fixed, non negotiable printing deadlines whilst working at speed and under pressure.

The candidate should exhibit a clear sense of duty towards the newspaper, combined with sharp commercial acumen.

A strong knowledge of social media is essential in order to manage the demands of the University Observer website and other online resources.

The Position: The Deputy Editor of the University Observer, upon direction from the Editor, is responsible for all aspects of the newspaper. The Deputy Editor, subject in all matters concerning the newspaper to the direction of the Editor, shall be responsible, with the Editor, for the management of the newspaper, the publication and distribution of the newspaper, the content of the newspaper and is responsible for the co-ordination of the newspaper’s writers.

The Deputy Editor is appointed for the full academic year, 2015/2016.

Applications are invited for the position of Art, Design & Technology Director of the University Observer for the academic year 2016/2017.

Remuneration: Wages currently stand at €525 per issue minus taxes (eight editions of the paper are normally published) and some expenses incurred during production of the newspaper may be reclaimed. Wages for the academic year of 2016/2017 are to be confirmed pending discussions.

Application Procedure:

Applicants for the above position must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae and a detailed proposal, outlining how the candidate intends to The position of Deputy Editor of the operate and manage the University University Observer is an extremely Observer. The proposal must include demanding one and applicants for a comprehensive outline of strategic the position should be aware that the changes that can be made to role involves working unsocial hours improve the newspaper. Specifics in a highly pressurised environment. areas where the newspaper can be improved should be dealt with in The position includes working some detail. The applicant should alternate weekends. also outline his/her proposals for The Deputy Editor is responsible for all the day-to-day organisation and deadlines being met by the newspaper. management of the newspaper.

The University Observer is editorially independent from the Students’ Union, as enshrined in the Union constitution.

The Deputy Editor has authority over the content of the newspaper, subject to the standard regulations governing newspaper content (e.g. defamation etc).

Art & Design Editor

Note: • Applicants are only permitted to enter this competition individually. Joint applications will not be accepted.

• Canvassing members of the interview panel is forbidden.

Candidates who canvass members of the interview panel may be disqualified from consideration.

• No formal training is offered to successful candidates.

• Applicants should make it clear in their cover letter whether or not they would like to be considered for the role of Deputy Editor as well as Editor.

• Applications should be no longer than 5,000 words.

Closing date for applications is 5pm, 29th April 2016.

The Editor is appointed for the full academic year, 2016/2017.

Deputy Editor

Applicants with further queries should contact Gráinne Loughran, at 01 716 3835, weekdays during business hours, or at the above email address.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview, where they will be expected to answer any questions raised in relation to their proposal.

Members of the interview panel will include the current Editor, two previous Editors of the newspaper, a financial representative of the Students’ Union and the current Union President.

Applications should be sent as a pdf file to editor@universityobserver. ie or to the following address: Gráinne Loughran, The University Observer Student Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4.

The Position: You will be responsible for the design and layout of the newspaper, working in conjunction with the editors and contributors in producing and sourcing high-quality imagery and related media. The position requires an understanding of visual culture, and the integral role it plays in journalism.

The position will require work at alternate weekends, whilst working hours during the week are flexible. Although this work is highly demanding it is also highly rewarding. The successful candidate would be expected to constantly strive to improve the overall design of the newspaper.

The Art, Design & Technology Director is to report to the Editor and Deputy Editor.

The Candidate: The successful applicant will have excellent computer skills and be proficient in Adobe InDesign as well as Adobe Photoshop. Experience in photography, illustration or graphic design is essential. A knowledge of video production is an advantage.

It is expected that the candidate will have a good understanding of the modern media context and an enthusiasm in taking part in what is a defining era for print media.

As a person you should possess ability to meet tight deadlines and

Applicants with further queries should contact Gráinne Loughran at 01 716 3835, weekdays during business hours, or at the above email address.

Short-listed candidates will be called for an interview, where they will be expected to answer any question raised in relation to the proposal.

Note: • Applicants are only permitted to apply for this position individually.

Joint applications will not be accepted.

• Canvassing members of the interview panel is forbidden.

Candidates who canvass members of the interview panel may be disqualified from consideration.

• No formal training is offered to successful candidates.

• Applicants should make it clear in their cover letter whether or not they would like to be considered for the role of Editor as well as Deputy Editor.

•Applications should be no longer than 5,000 words.

Closing date for applications is 5pm, 6th May 2016.

manage a large workload. You must also have the ability to meet technical guidelines in print and digital media and a basic knowledge of the production/printing process.

Remuneration: Wages currently stand at €525 per issue minus taxes (eight editions of the paper are normally published). Wages for the 2016/2017 academic year are to be confirmed pending discussions.

Application Procedure: Applications should be sent as a pdf file to editor@universityobserver. ie or to the following address: Gráinne Loughran, The University Observer, Student Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4.

Note: • Applicants may be required to present a portfolio of work upon request.

• Interviews may be conducted using modern communications media for candidates who are not able to attend in person.

• Canvassing members of the interview panel is forbidden.

Candidates who canvass members of the interview panel may be disqualified from consideration.

• No formal training is offered to successful candidates.

Closing date for applications is 5pm, 13th May 2016.

editorial editorial Not everybody wants to admit to it, but many of us are simply bored of the 1916 commemorations. It’s a classic case of beginning the build-up too early and running out of steam by the time the event arrives. Discussions have raged over everything, from who was and wasn’t included on the banner outside Bank of Ireland on College Green, to which bus the Rising leaders would have gotten if Dublin Bus had been around (if it had, the Rising leaders would probably have been late for their own revolution).

We have argued about whether the commercialisation of 1916 has been acceptable (it hasn’t), whether women were sufficiently acknowledged for their contribution to the Rising (they weren’t) and if commemorating the Rising is inappropriate (of course not). But although the commemoration of 1916 is of course a time to look back, the vast majority of us are less concerned about remembering the past, and more tied up in thinking about the future – and rightly so.

It goes without saying that Ireland has of course had innumerable positive changes since the days of the Rising.

As a country we have made enormous social progress, most particularly in the last 25 years, with the vote to permit divorce in 1995, the closure of the last Magdalene laundry in 1996, and the legalisation of gay marriage in 2015. The fact remains however that we have a long way to go in order to create the Ireland that was promised by the rebels in the Proclamation one hundred years ago.

As we celebrate the achievements of the men and women of the GPO, it is perhaps more important that we take this opportunity to examine where we are as a nation and where we hope to go. The proclamation that guaranteed “religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens” and the “cherishing all the children of the nation equally” is still at some distance away. All that must be done is to look through the topics covered in this newspaper to see some of the issues that still prevent this Ireland from existing. Repealing the eighth amendment has still not been added to the political agenda, and Ireland still exports its women to the UK to obtain abortions. A recent GLEN survey found that 75 per cent of LGBTQ+ young people in

Ireland have been verbally abused for their sexuality, and a higher proportion of LGBTQ+ young people suffer with mental health issues. Women in the workplace are still paid less than their male peers. Asylum seekers in Ireland are still subjected to the purgatory of the direct provision system. These are just some of the equality issues facing Ireland today, and many more exist than can be mentioned here.

The Rising is a period of Irish history that we all must remember.

But if the time, energy and money (€50 million was budgeted) spent on this commemoration was instead spent on making changes to the Ireland of today, perhaps we would be a bit closer to achieving the country that the rebels planned for 100 years ago. It is only by confronting the problems that Ireland faces today that we can truly honour the efforts that were made to allow us the freedom to do so. All of the commemorative coins and memorial marches in the world won’t add anything to the issues of equality we still face, and as Easter draws to a close, we will gain more from remembering these instances of inequality as we go forward into the next hundred years, than the bloodshed of Easter week in 1916.

Talleyrand

ILLUSTRATION: louise flanagan

Greetings, dirtbirds, Firstly, I must congratulate you.

You have survived a most trying time, a time of great peril and trying circumstances. Of course, I am referring to the recent SU sabbatical elections. It is a time of jubilation and exhilaration, a time of rebirth and renewal as the horror that is springtime on campus has truly sprung with the growth and blossoming of baby SU saplings. I can only look on as I have always done, watching the scenes of joy and misery as most of those who ran for election got elected, and two didn’t. How amusing it was to see one of those running for Campaigns and Communications take defeat so very bitterly as to complain about his loss rather than congratulating the winner, and to say (overheard by me, as I rattled around that most miserable of venues, the Old Student Centre) that the winner was not deserving. To add to their paranoia, for my own personal amusement of course, I will not mention which candidate was so horrifically ungracious, but such a sorry show of sportsmanship has rarely been seen outside of Belfield Bowl. Still, it is Campaigns and Communications – subtlety is rarely their strong point.

The elections as a whole were an enormous non-event, as just one position was contested – although Mucous O’Halloran was amusing to listen to as he bleated that of course this wasn’t due to disinterest in the Union. Keep dreaming, kiddo.

Disinterest in the Union doesn’t just stretch to students, but also to the government, as they continue to ignore his open letters calling for a Ministry for Housing. Perhaps it may have been a better idea to send the letter when a government was actually in existence.

Although this hasn’t posed much of a problem before, as was seen when SU Council attempted to send a letter of condolence to the Lebanese embassy following a bombing – before realising that it didn’t exist. One can only hope that such ineptitude continues to exist and provide me with entertainment.

Conor Bacardi will, as you know, become the new beacon of ineptitude in the SU corridor as he continues to spend most of his waking hours in the bar. Lexiiiiiii Kilmartin will attempt to keep him in check, while Roisin O’Mammy will fuss and prattle. Fluke Fitzpatrick will keep the party atmosphere going with his numerous apps and amusing hats.

And the Postgraduate person will be there too, I suppose, doing nothing of great significance. Welcome,

friends, to another year of SU politics.

I for one am shocked that any of them managed to find their way to the SU corridor to begin with, let alone hold office there. I am considering staging a coup, although my non-corporeal existence may make this problematic. Although potentially not, seeing as for the last week all of the sabbats bar Mucous have been missing in action, apparently taking a nice long Easter break. Actual presence in the office doesn’t seem to be a problem for actually holding down the job. Perhaps I would be just fine.

Our own dear President, Andrew Reeks, spent an enjoyable number of days in none other but Washington DC celebrating St Patrick’s Day at the White House reception in order to “improve relations with alumni”. Ah, but what else would any of us do if we had €1.8 million in exam repeat fees in their back pockets? It is truly wonderful to see somebody profiting off the failure of students. Personally, I’d spend it on providing additional supports for current students, rather than fancy lunches for former ones, but to each his own. I would probably also give some additional funding to the SU so that they could pay SU employees enough that they might be able to afford groceries after working a sixty hour week, but that’s just me – and that’s for another column.

TALLEY OUT

the university observer Editor Gráinne Loughran Deputy Editor Patrick Kelleher VISUAL CONTENt & Design Editor James Healy Chief of pHOTOGRAPHY Joanna O’Malley News Editor Roisin Guyett-Nicholson Comment Editor Martin Healy Features Editor Eithne Dodd Science, Health & Technology Editor Aoife Hardesty BUSINESS & CAREERS Editor Megan Fanning Eagarthóir Gaeilge Síofra Ní Shluaghadháin Sports Editor David Kent

letterS to the editor Letters, corrections and clarifications pertaining to articles published in this newspaper and online are welcome and encouraged.

Letters should be addressed to The Editor, University Observer, UCD Student Centre, Belfield, Dublin 4.

Correspondence may also be sent to editor@universityobserver.ie.

Otwo Editors Eva Griffin & Karl Quigley Food Editor Niamh O’Regan Games Editor Adam Donnelly Film & TV Editor David Monaghan

Photography & Illustration Joanna O’Malley Louise Flanagan Dearbhla Ross Sarah Dunne Aisling McGuire David Winn Leandra Stracquadanio Words Alanna O’Shea Helen Carroll Laoise Fitzpatrick Jess Quinn The Badger Owen Steinberger Adam Lawler Kiera Black Rosemarie Gibbons Talley Conall Cahill Ciara Duffy Sinead Conroy Jane Purdom Billy Vaughan Kevin O’Leary Deonna McLaughlin Aaron Poole Andrew Carroll Seán Hayes Katie Devlin Megan Hickey Julia O’Reilly Emily McMorrow Danielle Crowley Amy Garvan Jack McCann Ruth Ennis Alec Stott Edith Donnelly Amy Ní Shionnaigh David Kennedy Sean Lambe

Music Editor Aisling Kraus Fashion Editor Lucy Coffey Creative writing Editor Roisin Murray Arts & Literature Editor Maebh Butler ONLINE EDITOR Keira Gilleechi

March 31ST 2016

sport

Head Trauma: The growing danger of Concussion in Sport

With long term injuries becoming more and more frequent, David Kennedy focuses on just what can be done about concussions On average, a woodpecker hits its head against a tree at 15 miles per hour, 20 times per second, 12,000 times per day, every day for the duration of its life. And yet, the woodpecker will never suffer a concussion or head injury of any kind. How can they withstand ten times the impact as a human?

The answer is physiological: the woodpecker’s brain is larger proportionally to the size of its skull, its hyoid bone is located in the skull (as opposed to the human’s neck), acting as a seatbelt for the brain and perhaps most significantly, the woodpecker only experiences force from one, linear direction.

Aside from modifying rugby or American football so that players can only run in straight lines, what can be done to address the growing incidence of concussion in sport?

Concussion is becoming an increasingly pressing issue in modern sport at all levels. At underage level, precautions are being implemented such as the barring of headers in under-10 soccer in the USA or petitions to remove tackling from under-14 rugby. Realistically, these changes will never happen at professional level. As the incidences of concussion appear out of our control, the focus has instead turned to increasing the precautions taken with players after the occurrence of a head injury.

Back in January, American college footballer Shaun Nieto’s story caused a stir amongst those campaigning for increased awareness of concussion in sport.

The 16-year old was hit in a tackle and fell limply to the floor. His school officials said he had been unconscious for around thirty seconds, had suffered a concussion and, according to protocol, would have to wait seven days before returning to play, meaning he’d miss the following week’s state championship game. However, the Nieto family denied any concussion had occurred and felt so vehemently about it that they brought the case to court, where the player was granted a temporary injunction and allowed to play in the game.

The case highlights a lot of the uncertainty regarding concussion,

particularly in children and adolescents. One argument says that the developing brain is more susceptible to trauma. On the other hand, it has been suggested that collisions in underage sports are far less than those experienced by professional athletes. Jonny Sexton, who missed three months whilst plying his trade with Racing Metro in France due to head injury decorum, recently went on record to say that he has only ever suffered “two serious concussions” in his career despite numerous incidents of head injuries. Prior to the start of this season’s Six Nations, the number ten dominated discussions again after he passed fit to start in Ireland’s curtain raiser against Wales in Dublin despite being withdrawn in Leinster’s game against Wasps a couple of weeks previously.

Head coach Leo Cullen initially revealed that Sexton had failed his HIA (head injury assessment) but then backtracked, saying that the substitution was precautionary.

The HIA is a questionnaire consisting of questions regarding orientation, immediate memory, recall, balance assessment and a symptom checklist. It is indicated if the player’s diagnosis is not immediately apparent to the team doctor. The problem, however, is that balance aside, the form is purely based on the player being truthful, especially in cases where the concussion may be more subtle.

For example, in the recent Capital One Cup final between Liverpool and Manchester City, Mamadou Sakho’s clash of heads with teammate Emre Can left both players requiring treatment. The former clearly came off the worse and when he returned to play after a lengthy stoppage, it was evident he was suffering. When eventually substituted, the French centre back was clearly furious, which is understandable – the stakes are massive in professional sport in this day and age and nobody wants to miss big games. Nevertheless, Sakho later admitted that his manager had done the right thing in withdrawing him from the action.

To be fair to Sakho and Sexton, there are also numerous examples

of players not being looked after by their superiors. In the case of Christoph Kramer, making only his fourth international appearance in the 2014 World Cup final, it was only after he asked the referee Nicola Rizzoli if he was playing in the final did the bench take notice and withdraw him from the action. Similarly, closer to home, Mayo’s Lee Keegan was allowed to play on after a clash with Cork’s Eoin Cadogan in January’s league encounter between the two sides.

While Cadogan was immediately taken off, the Mayo management were criticised for their decision to only act when Keegan collapsed to the turf once more ten minutes later.

To address the problem of the subjective nature of concussion diagnosis, Dr Áine Kelly and Dr Fiona Wilson of Trinity College Dublin have led a collaborative project in conjunction with Leinster Rugby that looks at player’s blood biomarkers as a concussion indicator.

The idea behind the research is to investigate any existing difference between biomarkers at baseline and post-head injury, adding an element of objectivity to concussion diagnosis. In theory, by using a portable blood test and measuring these biomarkers, incidents such as the Nieto case could be easily avoided. If successful, this research could open up an entirely new method of determining whether or not a player should be substituted: using technology implanted in a player’s jersey or mouth guard, making it transferrable across all elite sports.

It was recently announced that a new study has begun to investigate the long-term effects of concussion on male and female athletes, beginning with jockeys and potentially extending to other sports in the future. Unfortunately, the reality is that only a shocking revelation from studies such as these will change the mentality surrounding concussion at present.

Players, coaches and parents at all levels are still ignorant of the dangers of repeated head trauma. Until the human body evolves to resemble that of the woodpecker, increasing awareness and the emphasis on player welfare is the most effective intervention organisations can make.

IN PHOTO: CHRISTOPH KRAMER WALKING OFF THE PITCH WITH A CONCUSSION

The Greatest Show on Turf

After a historic week of racing, Sean Lambe looks through the highs and lows of the 156th Cheltenham Festival

A record breaking crowd of 67,000 flooded through the gates of Prestbury Park in high anticipation for day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

A day that 12 months ago threw up one of jump racing’s most infamous and heart stopping moments when superstar mare Annie Power crashed out at the final hurdle with victory at her mercy; a tumble that not only prevented the horse from a deserved first festival success, but one that also broke the hearts of thousands of punters, and saved bookmakers upward of a colossal £80,000,000.

One year on, punters founds March 31ST 2016

themselves in an eerily similar scenario as bookmakers ran scared once again of a Walsh/Mullins accumulator that had them sweating.

The dreams of punters of landing the elusive four timer were soon dashed in the opening contest, the Supreme Novices Hurdle. Min was sent off a 15-8 favourite to begin the meeting with an Irish win but it was in fact the Nicky Henderson trained Altior who stormed clear of the field to score by a convincing seven lengths.

Normal service was soon resumed for Walsh and Mullins in the shape of Douvan. Widely acclaimed as

potentially one of the best horses master trainer Willie Mullins has ever trained, the strapping son of Walk in the Park was left clear at the second last fence by the departure of Vaniteux, and cemented his position as one of jump racing’s most exciting prospects.

The Mullins juggernaut quickly rolled onto the main event, the Champion Hurdle.

The untimely defection of titleholder Faugheen meant it was left to racing’s sweetheart Annie Power to emulate the immortal Dawn Run and become only the fourth mare to win one of racing’s most prestigious prizes, in the process erasing the painful memory of last year’s fall.

There were very few moments of concern for her supporters as she showed a clean set of hoofs for a post to post win that had her owner Rich Ricci in tears.

Latterly on the card, the well touted Vroum Vroum Mag would round up a tremendous three timer on the day for the pairing of Walsh and Mullins.

Day two saw three former champions take to the start for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, yet it was the young pretender Un De Sceaux who headed the market and was widely expected to bring the prize home to Irish Soil.

However, after failing to dominate the running and possibly finding underfoot conditions not to his liking, the door was left open for one of National Hunt’s greatest ever comebacks.

Hailed once upon a time as the best two mile chaser of his generation, Sprinter Sacre appeared a light of his former days in recent seasons, having suffered from a well publicised

heart problem. What was to unfold over the following three minutes and forty nine seconds would leave every racing fan with a sense of euphoria that only the Cheltenham Festival can provide. Having set off at a ferocious gallop, Sprinter took up the running turning for home and held on for a three and a half-length victory, sending Prestbury Park into a frenzy in the process.

With Ryanair sponsoring the two big races of day three, Michael O’Leary sent out a strong contingent in a bold bid to claim his own races. His efforts fell agonisingly short however, as he was forced to settle for the runners-up position in both races.

The controversially switched Vautour lit up racing’s greatest stage once again for the third consecutive year by landing the Ryanair Chase with ease.

However, it was Thistlecrack who perhaps stole the show by confirming himself as the leading staying hurdler in the Ryanair World Hurdle with a performance that oozed class.

One of the stories of the National Hunt season was undoubtedly the resurgence of the incredibly admirable Cue Card and his quest to complete a famous treble that would see him land a staggering £1 million bonus alongside racing’s most prestigious prize.

Having safely negotiated himself over 19 fences and roughly three miles of the Gold Cup trip, an air of tension overcame the crowd as he was presented between his two main rivals with what possibly looked to be a race winning move under usual big race pilot Paddy Brennan – but it wasn’t to be.

With the race tantalisingly poised approaching the notoriously difficult third last fence, Cue Card took up the running looking as likely a winner as any only to misjudge his takeoff – a move that sent him and Brennan crashing to the ground and left onlookers in shock.

It was left to the favourite Don Cossack to stay on best up the hill and capture racing’s blue ribbon event for the talented pairing of Bryan Cooper and Gordon Elliot.

The heart went out to Djakadam who could not provide W.P Mullins with an elusive first ever Gold Cup. 24 amateurs took to post for the St. James Foxhunters Challenge Cup, but it was firmly the lady riders who stole the spotlight. The race was won by the highly likeable On The Fringe for a second successive year, a feat not to be underestimated, under quite possibly the greatest female rider jump racing has ever seen, Nina Carberry. Yet she was forced to share the limelight with one Victoria Pendleton. A gold medal winning cyclist, Pendleton was approached this time last year

by Betfair with the bizarre challenge of riding in the 2016 Foxhunters having never sat on a horse before – a challenge most would deem as nigh on impossible. Such is the sheer determination of this athlete, however, that she would eventually take to the start with many racing pundits questioning her ability to ride in a race of such a nature. There was little doubt post-race however as she finished with a flourish to grab a very honourable fifth place aboard the ever competent Pacha Du Polder.

In what has to be considered as one of the most memorable Festivals in recent times – for punters and the racing purists alike – it seemed only appropriate that Britain and Ireland were to share the Betbright cup for the first time in history with 14 races apiece; a truly fitting end to the greatest show on turf.

sport Ward and Murphy shine as UCD secure historic double After seeing their male equivalents lift the Sigerson Cup, the O’Connor Cup team headed to Tralee for a fairytale finals weekend. David Kent reports The fairytale narrative doesn’t usually exist in sport.

More often than not it’s the case of “so close and yet so far”, one of a cruel twist at the end that denies the romanticism. UCD already had its plot written.

The men’s team had lifted the Sigerson Cup the week before, paying tribute to Dave Billings in doing so. The Ladies were tasked with reaching deep to achieve the female equivalent – the O’Connor Cup. After an opening round defeat to back to back champions UL, Ciara Murphy led her side to victory, first over NUIG and then a mauling of Trinity College to book UCD’s place at the O’Connor Cup weekend in Tralee over the 11th-14th March.

After the defeat to UL in the league phase, UCD’s management team, led by Peter Clarke with selectors including Angie McNally and Pat Ring, would’ve been happy to avoid the Munster side in the semi-final. Instead they were drawn against University College Cork who had managed to navigate their way out of a tricky group containing DCU, Queen’s University Belfast and rookies NUI Maynooth.

The old GAA cliché is that goals win games. Certainly, this was the case on the Friday evening, as UCD struck three of them to reach their first O’Connor Cup final since they last won the trophy a decade ago. After early points from Murphy and a brace from Roisin Curran, Niamh Collins won a penalty and Curran converted into the bottom corner.

It was a lead UCD would never relinquish, shell shocking UCC with a second goal three minutes later. Galway inter-county star Megan Glynn hit the net after a mazy run. Glynn was working well with Nicola Ward and the combination had UCD 2-8 to 10 points ahead heading into

IN PHOTO: UCD CELEBRATING A WELL DESERVED WIN, PHOTO VIA UCD

the latter stages of the second half. It was Ward who calmed the nerves with a third goal.

UL had come out of the other semi-final over DCU victorious thanks to an inspired performance from Niamh O’Dea, and it was all set up perfectly. The standard bearers for third level Ladies GAA in UL against the plucky underdogs UCD with Billings’ Army ringing in their ears. Two subplots whet the appetite even further. UCD were aiming to become only the fifth side to do the Sigerson/O’Connor double.

Not only that, but the Ward twins would now come face to face on opposing sides. Nicola was shining for UCD while Louise had helped guide the champions through. John Mitchels Park was the venue on a dull Saturday afternoon. Conditions were about as close to perfect as you could get for March football.

A scrappy opening saw wides aplenty. Kate O’Sullivan had UCD ahead, albeit briefly, as O’Dea levelled within five minutes.

Nerves were clearly a factor for both sides as balls were dropped short and sent wide of the posts

by Roisin Leonard and Clodagh McManamon. O’Dea was unlucky to hit the bar for UL after a fine individual effort. UCD sub Emma Guckian and Leonard traded points before the half time whistle with the sides level at 0-2 apiece.

The second half started in spectacular fashion with Nicola Ward raising a green flag.

Receiving the ball around 30 yards from goal, Ward carried it to the edge of the D before shooting. The spin of the ball left UL keeper Lisa Crowley flailing helplessly as it looped past her and into the top corner. Another

brace of points from Guckian (including an impressive effort struck over her own shoulder) and Curran put UCD into the driving seat with a six point lead.

Leonard was UL’s main point of attack, with the ball landing in her hands more often than not. The Corofin native pulled a point back but it was cancelled out first by a free from Curran and then by Rebelette Elaine Scally. The gap was six once more but just as UCD were looking comfortable, UL found their range.

Referee Seamus Mulvihill penalised the UCD rearguard, and Leonard put on her shooting boots with four points in the next seven minutes as the clock ticked towards 60. It was real backs to the wall stuff from UCD, with even the half-forwards O’Sullivan and Collins tracking back to desperately

defend Orla McDonald’s goal.

Another Leonard free brought the deficit to within a goal. O’Dea knocked over another point as the game entered three minutes of injury time. Leonard put over another free to leave the minimum between UCD and UL, with all of the momentum. There was time for one more attack. UL full forward Ailish Considine came out to the half forward line to collect the ball before playing a one-two with McManamon. Under pressure from Martha Byrne, it was the captain Murphy who forced the Clare star to relinquish possession on the 21 yard line. UCD won the ball back and referee Mulvihill blew for full time seconds later. UCD had the historic double in the most dramatic of circumstances.

For UL there was to be no three in a row, despite taking the

Lynch Cup earlier in the day.

Speaking to the University Observer after the opening round defeat to UL, Murphy emphasised that the determination was with the girls to get to the O’Connor Cup weekend. It was evident in both the semi and the final that the will to win was ingrained in the side.

Some might suggest that it was the legacy left by Dave Billings that ensured that Jack McCaffrey would take the men to the Sigerson.

There is no doubt now though, that Billings had an influence over the weekend in Tralee. Now both of the major third level college football trophies reside in Belfield. A fairytale ending for a man so beloved by UCD.

The badger The Badger is not a fan of March. It brings out the worst kind of Irish sports fans. 2016 was no different, from Conor McGregor’s bandwagon being taken apart to the All-Ireland Club championship finals.

But nothing grinds my gears more than Cheltenham. An entire week consisting of thousands of inebriated people using a horse race meeting as an excuse to get drunk on champagne, dress up fancy and eat pheasant for five days. Seven horses were killed at the Festival over the course of Tuesday to Friday, the highest tally for a decade, with many commoners caring about them only because they had the horse backed with a bookies.

Let’s see the same numbers turn up at Chepstow or Kempton Park in the new few weeks Horseracing. The main requirement for the sport is in the name. And yet people stay quiet when one is killed in action, when jockeys use a whip for “safety and encouragement”.

Absolutely, lashing an animal with a piece of leather is “safe”.

Horses are clearly disposable,

as Cheltenham proves year after year. Oh hang on, just because they’re trained to race, that makes it all better then. Silly old Badger.

So after the annual trip to the Patrick’s Day Parade in town, the Badger continued another tradition of his and went for a couple of pints in his local in the evening time. Paddy’s Day is supposedly a day to be proud of your Irish heritage and a day of celebration – especially in this centenary year. So instead of the usual ceoil agus craic in the pub, the Badger was instead horrified when he was blasted with chorus after chorus of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and chants of “United United United” sung in the thickest Dublin accents you will find around.

The same accents that scream insults at English international teams were now roaring support at two English soccer teams in a European competition on the day that we’re all meant to embrace our Irishness. A quick reminder – there are six Irish football clubs in Dublin with others dotted around the country. And yet there are still more Aston Villa fans in Ireland than there are going to the games of our national league. The Badger isn’t so sure about being Irish anymore.

Sports Digest A round-up of the sporting happenings around UCD UCD American Football UCD’s American Football team had a dominant 39-2 over the North Kildare Reapers last weekend.

Touchdowns from Aodhan Mullan, Tom Donovan, Alfie O’Sullivan and a brace from Dave Bennett, alongside a defensive TD from Lewis Barrett meant the College were comfortable winners, coughing up just a safety to the Reapers. They host Craigavon in a fortnight.

UCD Marian After a successful league campaign, UCD Marian Basketball headed to the Champions Trophy on the 19th. They were eliminated in the semi-final by UCC Demons.

After threatening two major comebacks, Loannis Liapakis’s

side were defeated by the eventual champions on a scoreline of 75-71.

The Marian did have two call ups to the Irish international team though in the form Mark Nagle and captain Barry Drumm.

Fencing UCD placed 2nd out of 10 at the Fencing Intervarsities, losing out to Trinity. There were six weapon categories contested with UCD winning the Women’s Foil outright, coming second in the Men’s Sabre and 3rd in both Women’s Sabre and Men’s Foil. It was a huge achievement for the club, as many of their high performance Pentathletes were away at a World Cup in Brazil aiming to qualify for Rio 2016.

GAA In addition to the Sigerson and O’Connor Cup double, UCD GAA has had a very impressive year, winning the Junior Hurling Championship, the Intermediate Football championship and being runners up in the inaugural Dave Billings Cup. The Collidge were defeated by DCU in the final in Croke Park at the end of last month.

Ladies Basketball The UCD Ladies qualified for the ‘A’ Varsities after beating IT Carlow 55-35. Jay Fazande’s side now head to Galway for the finals weekend from 1st-4th of April Cycling The Irish Track Intervarsities

took place on St. Patrick’s Day in the Velodrome in Crumlin.

Overall winner on the day was UCD student Simon Jones.

Tennis 31 members of the UCD tennis society participated in the Irish Tennis Intervarsities in Sunday’s Well Tennis Club in Cork. This was a four-day tournament, which had both a Bowl tournament for Men and Women and a plate tournament for Men and Women teams who were knocked out in the first round.

Three Men’s teams and two Ladies teams from UCD participated in the event. Many colleges took part such as UCC, Trinity, Sligo IT and DCU. It was a successful weekend which was enhanced by the Ladies first team victory.

The Ladies first team, which consisted of Nicola and Alexandra Drummy, Alison Clarke, Aubree Ryan Flynn, Eimear McGann and Kate Hennessy, beat Trinity in the final, becoming the first UCD Ladies side to win the Intervarsities since 2002.

Men’s Hockey UCD qualified for the EY Hockey League playoff places with a 5-2 victory over Avoca on the 20th of March. Goals from David Nolan, Shane Madeley, Brian O’Malley, Andrew Ramsey and Andrew Meates meant the scoreline was comfortable to secure a second place finish in Division 1A.

Athletics: Two of UCD’s Olympic hopefuls, Ciara Mageean and Mark English have had successful springs.

Mageean set two new national indoor records, running 1,500 metres in 4:08.66 and then a mile in 4:28.40. English tasted victory at the National Championships, taking the 800 metres (for a UCD double with Mageean) before running the sixth fastest 500 metre time by a European in history at the Globen Galen race meeting in Stockholm, going round the track in 1:00.93.

Unfortunately, an injury to his ankle meant he missed out on the World Indoor Championships over St. Patrick’s weekend.

Mageean is currently taking some down time in Portaferry ahead of the next race meeting.

March 31ST 2016

sport

O’Neill enraged as Students stunned by waterford

Conall Cahill reports on UCD’s lacklustre result against the Blues “There’s a lot of them would like to win the league. But they don’t really want to win the league.”

Such was UCD AFC manager Collie O’Neill’s assessment of his players’ levels of desire against Waterford United on a cold Friday evening at the Belfield Bowl. It was an analysis that few present would disagree with. Roddy Collins, the Waterford manager, prides himself on producing combative teams, and his players seemed to shock the students with their intensity and energy levels throughout the game.

Yet for the first 17 minutes of the encounter, UCD were in control.

Cathal Brady and Dan Tobin were combining neatly down UCD’s right wing, with Brady looking a real threat, coming close with a sweet half-volley on the ten minute mark. Waterford’s closest effort on goal was at the wrong end, Kevin Burns gathering the ball into his arms after a deflection off one of his own defenders rebounded off the post. But this all changed when a fairly hopeful ball lofted through caught the UCD rearguard napping.

Anthony McAlavey was first to react and guided a sweet volley past Niall Corbet into the net.

The goal proved to be the catalyst for how the rest of the game would pan out. The slightly maniacal Waterford support proceeded to spend the rest of the occasion in a sort of disbelieving, delighted frenzy, willing their players into every tackle with an incredible fervour.

For the remaining 72 minutes the relentless beat of the WUFC fans’ drum would be matched in energy by the fist-pumping Collins and his team of possessed warriors.

In contrast, UCD would fail to match the quality of their opening spell. The remainder of the first half was dominated by the midfields, as UCD captain Gary O’Neill tried

to get moves flowing for his team, only to be constantly thwarted by the tigerish Blues. After his goal, McAlavey in particular looked threatening, engineering some impressive exchanges with his forward counterparts Philip Gorman and Dylan McGuire as Waterford proceeded to edge the remainder of the opening period. As the half-time whistle sounded, Collins practically

“For the remaining 72 minutes the relentless beat of the WUFC fans’ drum would be matched in energy by the fistpumping Collins and his team of possessed warriors.” bounded towards the dressing rooms, being serenaded by the dubious vocal abilities of the United faithful.

In his post-game comments O’Neill would admit to missing the sturdy presence of the injured Tomas Boyle in defence, and whether UCD would have conceded the goal they did shortly after half-time with Boyle present is a salient question. United centre-back Colum Nugent seemed to rise with all the time in the world

to meet James O’Brien’s cross after a simple set-piece move, and duly took advantage of the space afforded to him to thump a header past Corbet.

The goal threatened to totally bury UCD’s challenge, but they rallied in the ensuing 15 minutes.

If Cathal Brady was the leading light for the home side in the first quarter of the game, left-back Mark Langtry was the main driving force behind UCD’s brief purple patch in the second half. Neat play from Langtry in the middle of the park led to Ryan Swan taking possession to the right of the Waterford penalty area and delivering a threatening cross to Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters, whose cross-shot was tapped in by O’Neill. The game looked poised for an exciting last half-hour as UCD, led

by Langtry, started to string together some passes, and the home support even murmured a (admittedly feeble) chant or two in support of their side.

Waters, a recent signing from Shamrock Rovers, went close with a drive from distance. Hero of last year’s Europa League run, Ryan Swan, was put into a good position after neat interchanges with Georgie Kelly, only to drill his effort straight at netminder Burns. Things looked promising for UCD, whose dream-like state appeared to have been shattered

by Waterford’s second goal. Until, that is, United captain Gorman got his head to a peach of a cross from Dylan McGuire. As with the first goal, space between UCD centrehalves Kouogun and McLaughlin was exposed; and, as with the opener, the finish was clinical.

With the thud of the ball against the white of the Belfield netting, UCD seemed to accept defeat. The last 24 minutes passed with the Belfield men in a strange trance, while Waterford’s supporters continued to shout support and satisfaction with what must be their most impressive performance

since the 2014 season. The final whistle was celebrated by the away side with the gusto of players whose season may just have been kick-started.

It was a buoyant Collins who addressed the small gathering of media outside the dressingroom after the game. Did his side simply want the victory more?

“We needed it. We couldn’t let UCD go 6 points ahead of us after three games, no way. I said to [the players] at halftime, ‘Right lads, now we find out if you’ve got it to do it for two halves.’

And they showed it – we have.”

The togetherness of the entire Waterford unit – from manager to players and supporters – came from what Collins called the “community”

nature of the club, and a connection the players have with the fans that, unlike players at the top level of the game, they can’t afford to take for granted.

“It’s a community thing, and that’s what we need to build because we do not have the finances of some of the clubs. But we have a lot of spirit.

We have a connection with [the fans] because they are helping us out. They raise funds for us for our buses and that.

And I love it, I think it’s so important – because when you win a game they share it with you, and when you lose a game they understand it with you.”

Down the corridor, outside a quiet home dressing room, UCD manager O’Neill was damning

of his charges’ attitude over the course of the ninety minutes.

“There were parts of our play where we were just too soft. Too nice. And if you want to continue being soft and nice, well then, you’ll be nowhere near the proper end of the table come the end of the season. So collectively, we all have a lot of work to do.”

As a member of the Waterford media team waited outside the side’s dressing room, reluctant to enter, he was ushered in by an insistent Collins. Patting the correspondent on the back, Collins declared “We’re all in this together.”

This, in one phrase, perhaps summed up why his side were such comprehensive victors over a disjointed UCD.

Club Focus – shooting the breeze with UCD Rifle Club In Club Focus this issue, Conall Cahill speaks to UCD’s Rifle Club, one of the lesser known clubs operating on campus The pigeon is not a creature many of us would express great levels of affection for. But neither is it a creature that inspires any particularly vicious hatred in the average person. Certainly not enough to warrant being shot in front of thousands of spectators, which was the fate of three hundred unfortunate birds at the 1900 Olympics in Paris.

Belgium’s Leon de Lunden was the victor in the ‘live pigeon shoot’ on that occasion, with an impressive 21 kills. But fear not, pigeon lovers. This was the only occasion on which the event took place at an Olympics. Nowadays Olympic target shooters aim at the fairly lifeless form of a target, or else a clay disk.

Perhaps the re-introduction of feathered, live targets wouldn’t please animal rights campaigners, but it might attract more of an audience to

the sport of shooting, which is barely featured on mainstream sports channels. However, the sport is trying to change, says UCD Rifle Club Captain Tim Kennedy, with moves as simple as making competitors’ scores more visible to an audience.

“What we’ve done down at UCD is that we have a 12 foot canvas that can project everyone’s scores,” says Kennedy. “Makes it more amenable for people to come down and look at the scores. Which is what they’re doing at international events, and have done for the last few years. It’s gaining momentum.”

Kennedy’s passion for shooting and UCD Rifle Club, runs through everything he says, and his colleagues Una-Mary McCarthy Deering and Boun Chun from France, both first year shooters, have clearly picked up a love for the sport as well. The club operates from its 14-lane, Olympic

standard shooting range which is located 35 feet under the water tower beside the UCD student centre. This secretive location, which most UCD students are completely unaware of, is, Tim admits, “probably one of the problems we have, in terms of people not knowing we’re there”.

Despite this, the club boasts “two to three hundred members a year”. One of its standout features in terms of membership is the sheer diversity of nationalities.

Tim has a list of countries from which the club draws its members that includes such exotic locations as Mongolia, Iran and China. Indeed, one Chinese student, only a novice, outscored a former Irish international at the recent Intervarsities competition, something the Captain is quite proud of: “We trained her to that level.”

The club has several unique

“ One student, only a novice, outscored a former Irish international at the recent Intervarsities competition, something the Captain is quite proud of: “We trained her to that level.”

IN PHOTO: THE UCD RIFLE CLUB IN ACTION

March 31ST 2016

features. Members are for life, which means they can come back and shoot at the range even after their student days at Belfield are over. One sprightly 64-year old still pulls the trigger for UCD in competitions (and no, he’s not still repeating his Arts exams).

Unlike most UCD clubs, the Rifle Club maintains activity over the summer months, with training at least once a week and a competition every month.

Boun claims one thing really attracted her to join the club: “I wanted to try something really special. If I joined a football team or a swimming team, you can find that in France, anywhere.”

She also describes the “high” level of competition within the club and the great “ambience” as elements that encouraged her to maintain her involvement after initially joining the club. When asked what started her interest in taking up the sport, Una-Mary agrees with Boun that the sport’s distinct nature, the fact that “you wouldn’t really try it in normal everyday life”, was a source of interest for her, as well as the club’s on-campus accessibility.

Every sport has its striking features for those not entirely conscious of its intricacies.

A first-time observer of rugby will be blown away by the scale of the physicality.

Someone witnessing hurling for the first time might remark upon the speed at which the game operates. Watching the sport of shooting leaves one with an appreciation of the athletes’ ability to concentrate body and mind on a single action – shooting a target – which to the casual fan might seem simple, but is in reality composed of several elements, from the shape of your hips to the position of your cheek. The high level of focus required in shooting is a feature of the sport Una-Mary relishes and is one she feels

is relatable to University study.

“It is very good for focus and concentration...you have to be really focussed on your body and know yourself very well,” she says. “It’s good for academics – the whole concentration side of things.”

The intricate nature of the sport at competition level extends to the weight of shooters’ pants. Kennedy says that in the North American World Cup last year, twenty-seven shooters were disqualified due to the heaviness of their underwear, the hot conditions causing them to (any particularly nauseous readers, look away now) sweat profusely, leading to their underwear’s expansion and increased weight. This can apparently provide extra “stability and balance”, according to Tim. Despite the shenanigans, the club is competitive. With ten competitions in UCD a year, all of which go towards national ranking, there is ample opportunity for both Irish and international students to progress up the Irish standings. Currently there are only two university shooting clubs (Trinity also have a club), so most competition is against non-college teams, such as the Defence Forces team.

But it’s not all about competition at UCD Rifle Club. Boun names the regular “Tuesday pancakes” (the range has a kitchenette) as one factor in her extended participation, as well as trips such as paintball – though how wise it would be to go paintballing with shooters such as Tim is debatable.

With a state of the art range that is open most days during the week, a varied programme of competitive and social events and a membership that is diverse, friendly and passionate about their sport, the UCD Rifle Club seems like an ideal outlet for anyone seeking to fill their evenings with something a bit different. Unless, of course, you prefer shooting pigeons.