The University Observer: Volume XVI, Issue 3

SPORT

FEATURES

UCD MOVE TWO POINTS CLEAR

THE RISE AND POSSIBLE FALL

BACK PAGE

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TOMMY TIERNAN

OF

SUPPLEMENT

otwo

The University Observer’s Arts & Culture Supplement

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DOCTORS’ ORDERS Gav Reilly talks to the Galway guys The Saw Doctors

Is there a doctor

in the house?

INSIDE

Observer

Girls Zombieland DEAF Up Hitchiking Dylan Moran Dubai

Observer Digest NEWS 24- hour study area to be introduced A 24-hour reading room will be available downstairs in the restaurant P3

ANALYSIS At what cost?

What breaking into the Top 100 world rankings really means for UCD P6

COMMENT White noise democracy Has political debate been reduced to voting on soundbites and posters?

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UCD in top 100 world university rankings GAVAN REILLY University College Dublin last week broke into the top 100 of worldwide university rankings for the first time.

The university was ranked at number 89 in the world in the Times Higher Education/QS World University Rankings 2009, up 19 spaces from last year’s ranking of 108. UCD is the second highest ranked of Irish universities; Trinity College also rose in the rankings, up 6 places to 43.

The rankings are compiled based on the weighting of six criteria, including peer review, the opinions of employers, ratios of staff-student numbers, and the number of international staff and students in attendance. UCD scored highly in the employer review and international categories, with an overall score of 69.7, compared to last year’s tally of 68.0, with the biggest jump attributable to an increased intake of international students. Trinity College scored 80.1, up from 78.2, scoring particularly well for numbers of international staff and in peer review. Ratings are benchmarked against an assigned score Continued on P5 >>

13th October 2009 ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY...

1582: Becasue of the implementation of the Gregorian Calendar, this day does not exist in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain

The University niversity

VOLUME XVI ISSUE 3

NE QUID FALSE DICERE AUDEAT NE QUID VERI NON AUDEAT

13th October 2009

IRELAND’S AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER

B&L and Arts Societies fined €5,000 over offensive posters BRIDGET FITZSIMONS

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he Business and Legal Society (B&L) and Arts Society have been fined €5,000, to be split equally between the two societies, for a poster advertising their joint event ‘The Virgin Ball’. The poster has been ruled “objectionable and crude” by the Recognition Committee of UCD Societies Council.

The posters were placed on campus on Thursday 3rd September, but were removed later that day on the advice of UCD Societies Officer Richard Butler.

The punishment was decided by the Recognition Committee of Societies Council and Academic Council, to which Butler acts as secretary. The committee found that not only were the posters offensive, but that the event itself was “in breach of the basic standards of propriety and consideration.”

ArtsSoc auditor Niamh Kiely and B&L auditor Aoife McGuinness were asked to submit a joint defence of their societies’ actions, which was emailed to Butler in advance of the meeting. Neither Kiely nor McGuinness were permitted to attend the meeting, which took place last Thursday. The societies were informed of the penalty the following Tuesday, again via email from Butler.

Kiely and McGuinness maintain that they did not deserve a fine of such severity. While Kiely acknowledged that “we may have gone a bit close to the line” in deciding on the event’s title, McGuinness voiced their distress with the fine, stating

Medicine students take to the streets of Dublin on Med Day - see page 2 Photo: Colin Scally that “we’d completely accept a fine, but not €5,000. It’s a lot. I don’t understand how they’re justifying it.”

In a statement sent to The University Observer, Butler elaborated on the reasons for the size of the fine imposed “The Committee considered that the message conveyed by the poster was insidious and dangerous, and that it constituted a

deliberate act of emotional manipulation designed to prey on the fears and worries of students.”

However, Kiely explained that “they said that we maliciously set out to try and harm the wellbeing of the student body, which isn’t the case at all. We’ve given our time to the Welfare Crew to help out with various student cam-

paigns.”

Kiely felt that the “decisive and rapid action” to change the posters taken by the two societies on Butler’s orders, and the fact that they “took on board exactly what [Butler] was saying,” should have lessened their punishment. They also took the decision to rename the event Continued on P2 >>

No reintroduction of third level fees CATRIONA LAVERTY The reintroduction of third level fees has been shelved under the new Programme for Government. Green Party members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new programme, which includes a commitment from the government not to proceed with third level charges.

However, there has been speculation that university registration fees may increase to help fund the higher education sector. Speaking on RTÉ radio, Green Party Leader John Gormley (pictured) said that there is no intention to reintroduce tuition fees, but that increasing registration fees is a matter for the individual universities.

UCD Students’ Union, along with other students’ unions from around the country, had been lobbying Green Party

TDs to reject government proposals to reinstitute higher education charges.

Plans for third level fees had included a graduate loan system similar to that adopted in Australia.

UCD SU President Gary Redmond issued a statement on the result, congratulating the Green Party for accepting the Programme for Goverment and the stay on reintroducing fees. Redmond also said “the Green Party has upheld its principle of free education” and that they “have secured the fate of the next genera-

tion of Irish students.”

The Programme for Government was accepted by the Green Party at a conference in the RDS on Saturday 10th October, when members voted by a majority of 84 per cent to abide by the deal. UCD SU and representatives from the Union of Students in Ireland and students’ unions around the country travelled to the conference to lobby the members to accept the programme, which had been negotiated between the Green Party and Fianna Fáil the previous evening.

A statement issued by USI welcomed the news that the Programme for Government “will not include a return, in any guise, of third level fees.” It also stated that opposition to fees is the “core mantra” of USI and called on the government to “ensure that the issue of tuition fees is not raised again.” USI President Peter Mannion said he was glad “that

the Greens have honoured their word and would not allow fees to return.” He went on the say that the news will come as “some relief ” to students and parents in Ireland.

As well as the issue of fees, the Programme for Government also highlighted other key concerns for the higher education sector. The deal proposes to “develop Higher Education Strategy” and to “examine the potential for greater co-operation and/or amalgamations between institutions to enhance the system-wide performance reflecting the current economic reality”.

The Programme also proposes the establishment of a new statutory agency which will carry out the functions of National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, Higher Education and Training Awards Council and Further Education and Training Awards Council.

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B&L and ArtsSoc fined €5,000 over offensive posters ‘Slave to the Rave’. However, Butler’s statement went on to describe the defence offered by the societies as “mendacious” and that “there was a very real danger of the poster triggering significant harm to members of the university community.”

Kiely and McGuinness said that big societal events such as the Arts Ball, the B&L Ball and Arts Day will

most likely suffer due to the severity of the fine. Kiely conceded that she “wouldn’t be entirely sure if Arts Day could go ahead” in light of ArtsSoc’s resulting financial state.

The societies have not yet been given a deadline for payment of the fine. The fine in its entirety will be donated to the Student Welfare Fund.

Arts Soc and B&L fine: the findings in full Ruling of the Recognition Committee of the Societies Council & Academic Council 1 October 2009

The Committee convened to examine, inter alia, the Arts Society and Business & Legal Society poster for their joint event ‘The Virgin Ball’ and to review various matters arising from the proposed event.

The Committee discussed a number of issues raised by the poster.

The Committee considered that the poster was objectionable and crude.

The Committee further considered that the countenancing of holding an event with such a title was also in breach of the basic standards of propriety and consideration that should be upheld

by any student society. The Committee considered that the message conveyed by the poster was insidious and dangerous, and that it constituted a deliberate act of emotional manipulation designed to prey on the fears and worries of students at an especially vulnerable time in their University career. The Committee decided that there was a very real danger of the poster triggering significant harm to members of the University community.

The Committee rejected absolutely the defence offered by the Society [sic] for their actions, and found that the message conveyed by the poster was entirely intentional and premeditated and was in no way accidental.

For their actions in conceiving such an event, for postulating the message

conveyed by the poster and for offering a mendacious defence, the Committee ruled that the Business & Legal Society and the Arts Society would be liable for a fine of 5000euro, to be paid to the Student Welfare Fund and to be split evenly between the two societies.

Both societies are also warned as to their future conduct in this regard.

Finally, the Committee ruled that, in this instance, the full judgment of the Recognition Committee would be made public.

For, and on behalf of, the Committee, RICHARD BUTLER Secretary to the Committee 5 October 2009

Students celebrate another successful Med Day CORMAC DUFFY Med Day, the UCD Medical Society’s (MedSoc) annual charity fundraiser, took place last Thursday 8th October. The event, which is the largest student-run charity day on campus, has raised over €200,000 for various charities over the last four years, with almost €50,000 raised in 2008.

Beneficiary charities this year included the Irish Cancer Society, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, and The Children’s Medical & Research Foundation.

The day was organised by the MedSoc committee and work was done voluntarily. The day began with a street collection, with 600 students collecting money across the city from 7am. The collectors were from all years of the medicine course, as well as new graduate entry students and biomedical science students. MedSoc auditor Alex Richardson said that “it was great to have involvement from not just the pure medicine students, and we hope to see more of this in future.”

Numerous events were held throughout the day beginning with the collections, before the traditional ‘pom-pom parade’ began at noon.

The male MedSoc members dressed in drag, and performed Beyoncé’s ‘All

the Single Ladies’ on Grafton St while fellow society members collected donations from the public.

Campus events kicked off at 2pm with the ‘Med’s Got Talent’ show held in the Student Bar. Staff members from the School of Medicine donated their time by judging the event, the standard of which is “getting better and better”,

according to Richardson. The talent show was followed by a sponsored chest wax for the boys.

The society also hosted a silent disco before teaming up with UCD Ents for the evening festivities. In exchange for allowing MedSoc members to remain in the bar for the performance of Daft Funk, the society agreed to make a donation

to the Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) Foundation, in whose aid the gig was taking place.

Posters for the event advertised a €15 cover charge for non-collectors’ admission to the Student Bar after party, with those who helped out during the day charged €2.

The total proceeds raised

by MedDay were not available at the time of going to print, but 51 bags of coins and six bags of notes were accumulated.

The society hoped to have the count completed today.

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Belfield FM to seek fiscal independence from Students’ Union Volunteers charged €10 for membership DANIEL FOX

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Photo: Stephen Boyle

24-hour study area to be introduced in Nov BRIDGET FITZSIMONS & GAVAN REILLY UCD are to open a 24-hour supervised student study facility early next month in an attempt to alleviate demand on the James Joyce Library. The opening hours of the library have been cut in a bid to reduce running costs.

The University Observer understands that the study area will be located in the space underneath the campus restaurant, adjacent to the Rendez-Vous lounge area on the basement floor. The venue was chosen due to the nearby provision of vending machines and toilet facilities, as well as the presence of wireless internet facilities and internet-ready SUAS terminals.

The James Joyce Library currently closes at 5:30pm on Saturdays, and is closed completely on Sundays. Students’ Union President, Gary Redmond, explained that opening hours have been cut in line with the University’s requirement “to reduce staff costs by three per cent in all units.”

Redmond added that “Donnacha [Ó Súilleabháin, SU Education Officer] and myself met with the Registrar, the Deputy Registrar for Teaching & Learning, and Joint Directors of the Library last week to restate our position on library opening hours.”

It remains unclear whether the SU will be taking any action to express its discontent at the cut in opening hours.

In previous years, the SU has organised library sit-ins in protest against reduc-

tions in library opening hours.

A spokesperson for UCD cited the lack of weekend usage for the reduction in library hours, saying that “Sundays are the quietest day in the library, and in the current economic climate it was decided to close on Sundays.”

However, the library opening hours are due to be extended from November 9th to accommodate students studying for assignments and end-of-semester examinations. During this period, there will be no issue desk service on a Sunday.

The provision of the 24-hour reading area was established by a staff-student committee which investigated the feasibility of providing an area for 24hour supervised student study, featuring representatives from the Students’ Union and various University bodies.

elfield FM, UCD’s student radio station, has stated that it plans to become financially independent of the Students’ Union. Volunteers are now asked to contribute financially should they become an active member within the station, in a bid to generate revenue for Belfield FM. Station Manager, Eoghan Ó Braonáin, told The University Observer that “when Belfield FM launched as a full-time station [in October] we not only set in motion our progression to a ten-year Community Broadcasting Contract, but also the path to financial independence from UCDSU.” Ó Braonáin has attributed the move to a decrease in funding from UCD SU, under whose constitution the station is established. Belfield FM’s SU budget has been cut by 60 per cent this year, falling from €25,000 in 2008-09 to around €10,000 in this academic year, causing Belfield FM to seek payments of €10 from contributors. Ó Braonáin said that “this €10 goes towards training cost, a contribution towards the station’s costly defamation insurance, and general station upkeep.” Membership money will also

fund training trips off-campus, including an upcoming networking conference hosted by NUI Galway’s Flirt FM, where Belfield FM volunteers will meet with other student broadcasting organisations. Ó Braonáin explained that the fee was an easier way for him to run the station, stating that “we felt that to ask for a once off contribution of €10, and then have the station subsidise all the other costs, was a fairer and more equitable system than asking for €5 for a t-shirt, €20 for a hoodie, €5 towards a guest lecturer, €60 for training weekend and so on.”

According to Ó Braonáin, the station had seen an increase in initial interest in volunteering despite the new fee. Figures from the station report an increase in membership from 276 people last year to 400 students this year. This number has since been “whittled down to 125 active volunteers” who will be asked to contribute the €10 fee.

Belfield FM also receives funding from outside sources, in the form of government grant schemes and other third party donations. The international professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers sponsor the station this year, along with The Irish Times, Supermacs and Bord na Gaeilge UCD.

Students set to bare all for US academic Chomsky nude calendar set for return to UCD JACK HORGAN-JONES Famed American academic Professor Noam Chomsky is to visit UCD next month on the invitation of the UCD Law Society (LawSoc).

Prof. Chomsky (80) will be honoured with an Honorary Life Membership of LawSoc in recognition of his acheivements as an academic linguist and author. Prof.

Chomsky will also deliver a lecture at the event, which has been scheduled for Tuesday 4th November, at 7pm.

It is thought that the lecture will be delivered in O’Reilly Hall.

A noted anarchist, Prof. Chomsky has been a prominent critic of US foreign and domestic policies since the 1960s, and is considered an intellectual figurehead for many in left-wing politics. He has published numerous books, articles, and essays on politics, history and linguistics.

Although he is yet to announce the precise subject of the lecture he will deliver in UCD, The University Observer understands he will speak on the topic of US Foreign Policy.

His latest work, Hopes And Prospects, released earlier this year, addresses the challenges facing the world in the 21st Century, as well as examining the ‘democratic wave’ in Latin America, among other subjects.

Professor Noam Chomsky held a series of talks in UCD in January 2006 Photo Daniel Lynch

Prof. Chomsky has visited UCD on previous occassions, most recently in January 2006 when a series of talks hosted by the student Literary & Historical and Philosophy Societies, originally scheduled for Theatre L, were relocated to O’Reilly Hall after immense public interest. Large screens had to be erected

in the foyer of the O’Reilly hall to accommodate extra attendees.

A Professor of the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at the worldrenowned Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), Prof. Chomsky has taught continuously at MIT for 54 years, and has authored over 100 books.

CATHY SHIRRAN UCD Students’ Union is to produce a nude calendar for 2010, with profits from the sales to be donated to the Irish Cancer Society. Several volunteers have put themselves forward to pose naked for a number of photographs that will appear within the publication. SU Welfare Officer, Scott Ahearn, told The University Observer that “there is a mixture of UCD students taking part – from members of the ladies’ hockey team, SU officers, and other students not affiliated to a UCD organisation.” Well known fashion photographer Lili Forberg has been arranged to work on the project.

Ahearn said that the idea of the calendar “was floated during the summer”, and was keen to emphasise that the focus will be on real people and their bodies, adding that “the emphasis is on ordinary, everyday students participating, both male and female, with many different body types.” This sentiment was welcomed by some students, with first year Arts student Emma Gorman saying that “there’s so much hype over body image that maybe it would be good to see different body types and different body sizes rather than just supermodels.”

Ahearn was also keen to distance himself and the SU from recent postering scandals, emphasising that “this project doesn’t fall into the ongoing debate about inappropriate posters on campus.” He elaborated that the SU were keen to avoid offence, and intend to

take measures to prevent it, saying that “students have the choice whether or not to purchase it, they have the choice whether or not they want to see body images of UCD students – the body images won’t be forced upon them, as with the ongoing posters issue. There will be no images on the front cover of the calendar either.”

The project has met with mixed response from students. First year Arts student Ann Marie Lynch congratulated anyone who is “confident enough with their body” to take part in such a project. Others are unconvinced of the project’s merits; first year Arts student Louise Battrim questioned the need for a nude calendar, asking who exactly was meant to benefit from the calendar.

Battrim also felt that the SU could use less provocative means for fundraising.

Ahern expects the calendars to be available by late November or early December. The number to be printed, and the eventual purchase price, have yet to be determined.

SU Welfare Officer, Scott Ahearn

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O’Keeffe’s mobile number handed out by Cork SU KATHRYN MCKAY

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he Preisdent of a Students’ Union in Cork publicly distributed the personal mobile phone number of Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe TD, at an anti-fees protest in Cork last week.

During the protest, Cork IT Students’ Union President, Gearóid Buckley, rang O’Keeffe’s private mobile phone from a podium set up at the Grand Parade in the city centre. O’Keeffe quickly hung up the phone, prompting Buckley to call out the Minister’s number to the students present, numbering in the thousands, urging them to send a text message to O’Keeffe saying “no fees”.

Although Buckley conceded that he had not initially planned to call the Minister as part of the protest, he stated “that students actually rang him, and gave me the phone so I got a bit of a shock when I heard him on the line.”

When asked how the Minister had reacted to the phone call, Buckley, who is also Mayor of Bandon, com-

sise that he felt distributing the Minister’s number was his last option, having tried to contact the Minister – who is a TD for the local Cork North West constituency – several times, but was declined an audience each time. He told The University Observer that “the Minister refused to meet students on the issue, he refused to talk to his constituents and he refused to speak to me on numerous occasions. He refused to talk to us so I didn’t think there was anything wrong with the idea.”

When asked how he felt the protest went, Buckley replied, “I thought it went very well; I thought it was a fantastic thing. [We had] about 6,000 students out on the streets of Cork to tell this government that fees are not the way forward.”

The protest, which took place on Thursday 8th October, was organised by the students’ unions of Cork Institute of Technology and University College Cork. It is estimated that almost 6,000 students Minister for Education & Science Batt attended the demonstraO’Keeffe tion.

mented, “I think he got a shock, to be honest with you. He asked who was speaking; I said six thousand students in Cork, and he hung up the phone.”

Buckley went on to empha-

NUI may lose seats in Seanad reform DAVID UWAKWE Proposed Seanad reforms submitted to the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, may see the number of university seats in the Seanad reduced from six to two.

This new composition would likely see the National University of Ireland (NUI) and the University of Dublin – comprising solely of Trinity College – losing two seats each, and may also see other accredited third level institutions acquiring a seat for the first time.

There is widespread political support for reform of the House, with the university seat proposal being made by Fianna Fáil on behalf of all political parties. In the past, some commentators, along with the Green Party, have called for the abolition of the Seanad altogether.

The recent An Bord Snip Nua report by UCD Economics lecturer Colm McCarthy, charged with identifying areas for possible budget cuts across government expenditure, pointed out that the abolition of the Seanad would save in the region of €25 million per year.

A rebalancing of the upper house along the lines proposed

by Fianna Fáil would save in the region of €360,000 on Senators’ salaries and allowances.

Despite the adoption of the seventh amendment to the Constitution in 1979, facilitating the inclusion of non NUI or Trinity candidates for the Seanad, the necessary legislative provision has not, to date, been passed. These reforms have been given new impetus, however, in the wake of the

McCarthy report.

The general reform of the Houses of the Oireachtas such as reducing the number of TDs and their salaries is part of an ongoing programme for government review. The proposed shake-up of the upper house may form part of this

package, with the broadening of the university constituency finally being enacted, thirty years after the people of Ireland approved it at the polls.

Over the past 81 years, no fewer than twelve reports on Seanad reform have been produced, including three in the last twelve years. A Seanad internal review concluded that “in the eyes of many members of the public the Seanad is seen as weak, ineffective and of questionable value.”

Apart from the university constituency, the Seanad is composed of 43 senators elected by TDs and local councillors to five vocational panels, intended to represent broad societal interests. These interests include administrative, agricultural, cultural and educational, industrial and commercial, and labour. There are a further eleven senators appointed by the Taoiseach. Currently the NUI is represented by three senators elected by graduates of the University, under a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.

UCD Students’ Union President, Gary Redmond, delivered the budget to a meeting of SU Counci last week

UCDSU project budget deficit as income tumbles GAVAN REILLY UCD Students’ Union Council has approved a draft budget for the Union, projecting a net deficit of just over €25,000 for the current academic year. The SU’s projected income for the year stands at €760,000, with expenditure expected to total €785,340.

The new budget is a radical downsizing on last year’s accounts, which projected a modest surplus of €15,000 based on income of almost €1.5m. Notable shortfalls include a fall in revenue from the Union’s photocopying bureau, expected to total €25,000, in comparison to last year’s projection of €110,000. Commercial income garnered from the SU’s arrangements with Student Travelcard is also expected to drop from €45,000 last year to just €11,500 for the current academic year, a drop of 74 per cent.

Presenting the budget to Council, Students’ Union President Gary Redmond remarked that the SU had “been frivolous

with its monies in the recent past. Expenditure has been high, its true value questionable, and saving has been minimal.”

He added that “the practice of maintaining preferred suppliers has now ceased, with new suppliers selected for presenting better value for money”, and that “many existing suppliers that have remained with the SU are doing so at reduced rates.”

Redmond commended the Union’s officers and staff for their “willingness, without hesitation, to commit to the difficulty [the current financial climate] presents.”

Meanwhile, SU Council has elected a number of new Executive Officers to take office for the coming academic year. Auditor of the Mature Students’ Society, Martin Lawless, was elected as the SU’s Mature Students Officer, while Kevin Regan was elected International Students’ Officer after a second count. Colm Maguire was elected unopposed to the position of Lesbian, Gay,

Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) Rights Officer, while the position of Disability Rights Officer will be filled by Deirdre Breslin who also ran unopposed.

The elected students assume office immediately and are entitled to sit on the Students’ Union Executive as well as being full voting members of SU Council with power to propose motions.

Outgoing Council Chair, Colin Scally, was returned unopposed as Chair for the coming year, with Edel Ní Churraoin appointed as Union Secretary.

Students’ Union Council is comprised of all class representatives, as well as reps from the campus residences and the Union’s sabbatical, executive and programme officers, and meets every fortnight during term.

Council was due to meet again last night, where it was scheduled to appoint the Students’ Union’s representatives to the University’s Academic Council in advance of the latter’s meeting this Thursday.

UCD student scoops major literary award BRIDGET FITZSIMONS UCD student Kevin Power has won the prestigious Rooney Award for Irish Literature, for his novel Bad Day in Blackrock. Power, who is currently researching a PhD in Modern American Literature, has called the award “the best form of recognition”, and said that the victory was “a great feeling and really validates what I’m trying to do.”

Bad Day in Blackrock tells the story of a young man from Blackrock who is killed outside a nightclub, and is thought to have been inspired by the real-life death of Brian Murphy outside Club Anabel at the Burlington Hotel in August 2000. The novel explores the darker side of the life of south Dublin and the young people who inhabit it.

The Rooney Award for Irish Literature is conferred by the Oscar Wilde School for Irish Writing in Trinity College Dublin, and was founded by current US Ambassador to Ireland and owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dr Dan Rooney. Previous winners include Booker Prize winner Anne Enright and

Neil Jordan. The award is given to Irish writers under forty who show promise in literature. The prize is worth €10,000, and was awarded at a ceremony on Wednesday 7th October.

Judges for the prize included writer Dr Éilís Ní Dhuibhne and novelist and dramatist Carlo Gébler.

Mr Gébler said that Power’s work encompasses “a world like ours yet entirely the author’s own through which we gain an improved understanding of our own.” Power cited Professor Frank McGuinness, a UCD lecturer and former winner of the award, as a mentor in the writing of his novel; while Prof. McGuinness was unable to attend the reception, Power said that his mentor “was very happy” with his award.

Power has previously won the Hennessy XO Emerging Fiction Award in April 2009 for his short story American Girl, which was published in January 2008.

Power has meanwhile begun work on a second novel, which he says is “slightly different” from the theme of Bad Day in Blackrock.

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UCD in top 100 world rankings of 100 for the top-ranked institution.

Speaking in response to the rankings, which were released last Thursday, UCD President Dr Hugh Brady commented that “rankings can never measure the full impact of our institutions but I think the reality is that they do matter; they matter to international students and staff in considering what university to go to.

Dr Brady continued that the rankings “matter increasingly to Irish students as they consider whether to stay at home or to go abroad for their education, and they’re one of the top ten reasons that [multinational] companies give when they’re choosing where to locate.”

Dr Brady added that UCD had not “set out to rise up the rankings” when instigating widespread reform of the academic system, including the controversial rollout and that the rankings were “particularly gratifying” as a result.

Dr Brady paid tribute to staff and students who had experienced some

turbulent reforms over the last years, describing the news as “a great credit to the staff and students for all the work they’ve put in over that period.”

However, a university spokesperson sounded a warning bell for future performance in the rankings, commenting that “having made great progress internationally, it will be difficult for the Irish universities to maintain their high rankings given the severity of the cuts they are now faced with, along with the counter-cyclical investment that many competitor countries are making in university infrastructure and research and development as part of their national stimulus packages.”

The news has not met with universal acclaim; one senior academic commented to The University Observer that while “for publicity purposes, these rankings are a university’s dream; in real terms, however, they are pretty much meaningless.”

UCD graduate appointed High Court President GAVAN REILLY A UCD graduate has been nominated by the Government to be named President of the High Court. Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, who completed the Bachelor of Civil Law programme in the 1960s, currently sits on the Supreme Court of Ireland and will succeed Mr Justice Richard Johnson who turns 72 this month and is thus due to retire. Justice Kearns’s appointment creates a vacancy on the Supreme Court.

Justice Kearns was called to the bar in

1968, and was appointed a senior counsel in 1982. He had been designated as the judge with remit for commercial law matters in the High Court upon his appointment in 1998, and was nominated to the Supreme Court bench in November 2004. He has also twice been an alternate judge in the European Court of Human Rights.

It is expected that either Justice Frank Clarke, current chairman of the Referendum Commission, or his predecessor Justice Iarflaith O’Neill will now be appointed to Justice Kearns’s seat on the Supreme Court.

1994: College freezes places as fees rise PAT LEAHY As the threat of third-level fees dissipates for now, The University Observer delves into the archives to discover that in our first edition, printed fifteen years ago last week, fees were very much on the agenda...

FEES ARE SET to rise over and above the rate of inflation for the next number of years. The Higher Education Authority sanctioned a £100 per year increase for each of the country’s seven university institutions during the summer.

The move comes as a result of the summer long struggle between the Heads of Irish Universities and the Department of Education over the level of funding. UCD alone has increased its student numbers by 59% -from 9960 to 15845- in the past 12 years.

The result has been that the heads of the Universities have agreed that as a general policy there will be a freeze on student numbers; the first time since this college was in its infancy.

In a conferring speech during July, Dr Michael Mortell, President of UCC, claimed that the current overcrowding

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and underfunding in the universities constituted a “crisis in university education”.

President of UCD, Professor Art Cosgrove, in a conferring speech this summer, claimed that the proposed abolition of university fees would not of itself create one extra place in university. He described the resources for updating equipment as “derisory”, and called for a rapid increase in university funding.

The result of all this has been a programme forward by the University Heads which proposes a £100m package for the universities. Half of the amount is to be supplied by the Government, and the other half is to be split between fees increases and private fundraising.

In real terms, this means that there will be no course in UCD costing less than £2000 by the year 2000.

At present, Law, Arts and Commerce are the least expensive degrees at £1626 for first years and £1591 for subsequent years.

Veterinary Medicine at £2485 is the most expensive, followed by Medicine at £2421. Architecture, Agricultural Science, Engineering and Science all cost £2125 per year.

Smurfit Masters course tops Financial Times world rankings PAUL FENNESSY The Community of European Management Schools (CEMS) Masters in International Management programme, coadministered by UCD’s Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, has been ranked first place on a list published recently by the Financial Times.

The programme is offered by a global alliance of business schools, of which UCD is the sole Irish representative. The course has been placed second and third place on several previous occasions; however this is the first time that the programme has garnered the top accolade in the Financial Times list.

Leading business schools are ranked in accordance with their proficiency in various areas, including the course’s “internationality”, and the average salary of graduates. The news comes just as UCD has broken the top 100 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education supplement.

The CEMS programme, which was founded in 1988, has been utilised by UCD along with 27 other global academic BNAG institutions working inOB conjunc10168 ADVERT UNI 2:Layout 1 tion with 57 corporate partners. The course offers students “a unique blend of

high quality education and professional experience.”

According to the CEMS website, enrolment is open to students who are adept in three languages and “display high academic standards.”

27 students of nine different national-

“The course has been placed second and third place on several previous occasions; however this is the first time that the programme has garnered the top accolade in the Financial Times list” ities are currently undertaking the MBA course in the Michael Smurfit Business School, which is accepting applications for the 2010-11 academic year from now until next spring.

02/10/2009 09:49 Page 1 Speaking in reaction to the pro-

gramme’s reception of this recognition, a student from the course told The University Observer that she was “not really surprised” upon hearing the news. “It’s a really good programme, but obviously we were all really happy,” she said.

Aside from the academic curriculum, students partaking in the programme from UCD are required to attend seminars given by representatives of various Irish corporate partners, and also travel to different countries in Europe participating in a series of CEMS seminars.

The students on the course also traditionally engage in humanitarian projects by taking part in the ‘Schools for Africa’ UNICEF programme. “That was triggered by CEMS, the Cork UNICEF Project and schools in Africa, and the CEMS club are encouraged to participate, so we are raising funds for Africa for our project,” said the student.

“It’s always great to give something back and to help out.”

The student added that her experience of the course has been a positive one thus far and recommended it to anyone aiming for a career in business.“If you’re in it, you have to work hard, but at the same time, it’s great fun. It’s great because you get to make friends with people from all over the world.”

Bord na Gaeilge www.ucd.ie/bnag

Gradaim Bhord na Gaeilge agus Bonn Óir an Chumainn Ghaelaigh 2009/2010 Bord na Gaeilge and An Cumann Gaelach in Association with the Office of Vice President for Students wish to recognise the achievements of UCD Students and alumni in the promotion of the Irish language.

•

Gradam Bhord na Gaeilge / Society Award don Chumann is mó a rinne iarracht an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i rith na bliana (gan na cumainn ghaelacha féin san iomaíocht)

•

Bonn Óir an Chumainn Ghaelaigh / Cumann Gaelach Gold Medal don mhac léinn is mó a rinne iarracht an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i rith na bliana

•

Gradam Bhord na Gaeilge / Student Award don ambasadóir teanga is fearr ar Scéim Chónaithe Ghaeilge 2009/2010

•

Gradam Bhord na Gaeilge / Graduate Award d’Iar-Mhac Léinn de chuid UCD a rinne éacht ar son na Teanga

Details and nomination forms available • Bord na Gaeilge UCD (oifigeach.gaeilge@ucd.ie) and • Cumann Gaelach UCD (cumananngaelachucd@gmail.com) Bronnfar na gradaim i mí Aibreán 2010

6

THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

13.10.09

ANALYSIS

news@universityobserver.ie

The price of postering As B&L and Arts Soc are fined €5,000 for crude posters with no option to appeal, Quinton O’Reilly questions whether taking such a harsh approach is the right solution

I

f you have ever trekked down the concourse, you will have noticed a growing trend regarding the posters positioned on campus by the many societies. Some of these posters would have stood out from the rest but not because of vibrant colours, an eye catching image or even by its message. They stood out by simply being a blank white poster with the society event hastily scribbled on with black marker.

However, this simplistic method of advertising is not due to the societies thinking outside the box. Instead, they are either placeholders for formal posters that have yet to return fron printing, or – more probably in recent times – they are a quick replacement for their original posters which had been taken down.

While this in itself is nothing new, the frequency with which it has occurred during this semester is definitely unfamiliar. We’ve yet to reach the halfway mark of this semester, and it’s been a regular occurrence thus far.

The university has decided to take a hardline approach to curb this problem, beginning with a €5,000 fine doled out to the Business and Legal (B&L) Society

and Arts Society for their posters advertising ‘The Virgin Ball’ at the start of the semester. Even for a society as large as either Arts Soc or B&L, €2,500 is a considerable amount of money to lose – and with sponsorship falling this year, such fines could easily be a finishing blow for a small society.

While the main concern now for other societies is to become more conscious about their method of advertising to avoid a similar fate, an even bigger concern is that neither society was allowed to attend the meeting to defend themselves. Instead, they were asked to email a defence to be read out to the hearing committee. They are also unable to appeal the punishment.

Immediately, it’s clear to see there are obvious problems with this system.

The main problem is the refusal of the Societies Council to allow the societies defend themselves in person. Regardless of what the charges are, there will always be two sides to a story and by limiting or disregarding one argument or defence, the chances of making an uninformed or unfair judgement are greatly increased.

While the reasoning as to why the

Top 100 –

at what cost?

News of UCD’s entry into the top 100 of the Times Higher Education/QS World University Rankings is undoubtedly a cause for celebration in UCD’s upper echelons. Higher places in league tables equals greater recognition for the university and thus will attract more students and funding. But at what cost has this come?

While no one can say that the rankings are bad press for UCD, one must question the evaluation criteria used by Times Higher Education and QS in compiling these results. UCD has been consistently in debt for at least the last five years, and the current economic climate has not done us any favours. How is it that we are moving up the list?

Arts students are certainly feeling the pinch. Smaller subjects, like Film Studies or languages, have had their funding dramatically cut. At the same time, scaffolding for the regeneration of the Science building continues to spring up, while research in UCD is apparently still going strong. For students struggling to meet essay deadlines because books they need are not in the library, or there are simply not enough copies, these rankings will be met with disbelief. Similarly, academics struggling to maintain relationships with their students due to changing class structures will be surprised that we are moving up the university charts.

There is also clear feeling among the academic world that these rankings are reasonably arbitrary. Each institution considered in the charts is ranked based on a number of statistics, including staff-

student ratios, peer rankings and staff scorings. To properly know and evaluate a university, and to gauge its place in a ranking, visits are essential. Only this way can staff and student morale be measured, buildings be seen, and facilities properly rated. While no system is 100 per cent perfect, the Times Higher Education/QS system must be taken with a hefty dose of salt, probably more than enough to induce a hypertension.

It may sound ludicrous, but at times it seems as if the administration forgets that UCD is a university, or any kind of centre for learning. Thousands of students come here every year to learn, and while UCD’s research investment is undoubtedly important, we cannot forget that we are operating within an educational centre.

Everyone understands that times are tight, but to victimise certain faculties because they don’t look as ‘innovative’ to rankings officials as others is completely flawed.

Surely if a beautiful new Science Village or Gateway complex can be constructed, first year students can also be given a suitable place to watch their class film screenings or use of a properly-fitted language laboratory to hone their linguistic skills.

There must be balance and fairness within the university and its range of faculties, schools and subjects.

It can only be hoped that the UCD administration will take this higher ranking as encouragement to make things tangibly better for students and staff. Taking a lofty world ranking as a mere pat on the back will be fatal for UCD. Our university must continue to strive for academic excellence

posters were taken down is relatively logical – to protect those students who would be either susceptible or vulnerable to such advertising – it is illogical to limit the defence made by the societies, regardless of how implausible the defence may be. By not allowing any members of either society to be present at this meeting, the focus of the Recognition Committee, who made the final ruling regarding the fines, became how severe the punishment should be, and not whether or the punishment fitted the crime.

Additionally, it is much easier to pass a negative verdict when the perpetrators aren’t present to either object or question the result. Delivering bad news and finding people guilty isn’t easy. It is possible that Recognition Committee is implementing an avoidance tactic in case the society representatives argued against the committee.

The other problem is getting the societies to construct a convincing argument in an email in less then two days. This is a tall order regardless of how much time you possess – but because there are no society representatives present, any

weight their argument may have had is lost.

But why do these incidents occur in the first place? Obviously, the aim of advertisements is to provoke as much interest in a product or event as possible, and naturally societies will want to appeal to as large an audience as possible by portraying provocative images or messages. The fact that these incidents have occurred numerous times this semester suggests a lack of communication or engagement between societies and the university on the matter. Both sides have a responsibility to the members of this university to abide by the rules, and to each other to cooperate and resolve any issues openly. While B&L and Arts Soc responded quickly by replacing the posters within three hours of positioning them, they were fined regardless

and their efforts were effectively made obsolete.

To make an example of some societies as scare tactics for any other offending societies to fall in line is unnecessary, and a fine so severe should only have been issued when all other options have been exhausted. However, that doesn’t mean the societies in question are the victims of the story. They too must be aware of their responsibilities and how any of their advertisements could be perceived by the student population.

It is only by both sides meeting halfway through open dialogue that such issues can be resolved and even avoided in future. Both sides can only move forward when they start focusing on the cause of the crime – if indeed it is one at all – rather than its punishment.

As UCD enters the top 100 in university rankings for the first time, Bridget Fitzsimons asks if UCD might be more proactive in restoring morale to the campus News Editor Bridget Fitzsimons instead of basking in the light of flawed rankings systems.

At the crux of thse points is that UCD is a centre for education, not somewhere for endless research to take place in lieu of study. While research undoubtedly has benefits for a university and should not be completely done away with, priority needs to be with students and academia. We deserve suitable facilities, proper library opening hours and access to the texts we need. While the development of Science, for instance, is excellent for Science students and should be celebrated, the university cannot simply allow other faculties to fall by the wayside in a misguided attempt to secure better ratings.

If UCD takes this as an assertion of its good work instead of an encouragement to do more for its staff and students, it is up to us to stand up and demand better.

While the current economic climate continues, producing the best graduates

that the university can is of the utmost importance.

Skilled graduates will go a long way in delivering Ireland from economic struggle, and UCD should be playing its part in helping all of us perform as best we can, and achieve good exam results and degrees. We must continue to strive for academic excellence, even when circumstances may not allow us to do everything we want to: that is how UCD can become a truly great university.

“Taking a lofty world ranking as a mere pat on the back will be fatal for UCD”

13.10.09

THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

COMMENT

comment@universityobserver.ie

The Red party

C

hina last week marked 60 years since Mao Zedong’s bloody revolution created the largest Communist state in the world.

Ironically, the centre of the celebrations took place in the same square where, 20 years ago, thousands of courageous young idealists stood up to say no to repression.

Today, although the reality may seem changed, the Chinese regime remains rotten to the core. Vast wealth should not mask inherent malevolence.

UCD marked 30 years of close ties to China last week, as the university’s Confucius Institute presented an evening “Chinese cultural performances in splendid fashion.” While such an event might sound wonderful, it represents a shocking dismissal of what matters most: that for 60 years, a corrupt Chinese hierarchy have done everything in their power to exact absolute control. Was the subjugation of Tibetan culture, the quelling of all people of faith, rampant state forced abortions, the masses of interned political prisoners conveyed in this act? The answer is no – a word that most Chinese have become all but used to.

UCD is not the only culprit of ignorance. In New York, the Empire State building was adorned with the Chinese colours of red and yellow, soliciting sharp criticism from the American media outlets. Sadly the event is a strong demonstration of the power the Communist regime now holds worldwide. When John F Kennedy said “let every nation know that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, support any friend and oppose any foe to ensure the survival and success of liberty,” it can probably be assumed he didn’t intend to make an exception for anniversaries.

Although the Chinese culture is both remarkable and steeped in history, this is not a time to remember and glorify a legacy of murder. Ordinary citizens were not allowed attend the celebrations in Tiananmen Square, representing a stark reminder of the Communist Party’s self-

admiration. The invitation-only admissions policy was in place to “avoid complications.” Instead the people, the drivers of China’s vast economic growth, were told to watch the celebrations on TV. The BBC noted an “eerie silence” in Beijing during the hours preceding the event.

One argument today is that through cooperation, transformation to a democratic system will eventually transpire. Prior to the celebrations, according to Amnesty International, “Chinese authorities have increased surveillance, harassment and imprisonment of activists ahead of the country’s 60th anniversary on 1st October to prevent them from raising human rights concerns that challenge the authorities’ image of social harmony.” Clearly change has not come fast enough.

The Chinese government has also continued to exercise its values abroad. In Sudan, for example, the regime has frequently used its veto to block stronger sanctions, actions which are largely attributable to close economic ties between Khartoum and Beijing.

The prominent human rights website, savedarfur.org, has called people to action, asking “President Hu Jintao of China to use his influence over Sudan to help end genocide in Darfur.” President Jintao will not act, because his uppermost concern is that of maintaining

Life on Mars With the dust of September finally settling, Gary Dunne reflects on the systemic difficulties faced every year by new students enrolling in courses at UCD They often mimic the appearance of a limpy gazelle on the Serengeti, with a familiar look of isolated confusion. This is the typical new student to UCD: lost, helpless and desperate for somebody to point them in the right direction. Every year UCD welcomes thousands of new students, and every year these new students face the same problems as those gone before them.

Students who don’t know how or where to print their essays; students who don’t know what departments deal with what problem; questions starting with the familiar words, “Where do I go…?”

Lecturers often assume that all students have the adequate required knowledge to maximise their studies. A lack of information provision, information given too late, a lack of knowledge about facilities – all of these greatly affect students new to UCD. These problems might not seem like much, but they regardless cause needless anxiety to students. These same problems

greet new students every year; but does it have to always be that way?

A walk through campus in the opening weeks of term highlights lost faces everywhere. It is not just 18-year-old freshers who are bewildered at the size and complexity of the campus either – often the most lost are the mature students finding the modern UCD very different to its incarnation when they might originally have attended, or vastly different to another college they did an undergraduate degree in.

The things that affect students most in their early academic lives seem to be the ones most overlooked by authorities. Witness the panic when a class has to hand in their first assignment, when mass hysteria sets in as students try to navigate UCD’s bewildering printing sysem. These students are in desperate need of basic ‘how to’ knowledge, sadly often overlooked in

Students are in desperate need of basic ‘how to’ knowledge, sadly often overlooked in favour of things like campus tours

7

power and generating wealth. There is no code of moral principles guiding this indifferent man and his coldhearted regime.

China’s reality is built on a dictatorial system which cannot be allowed to foster in an increasingly cynical world.

Major issues still outstanding include Taiwan – the Communist Party still lays claim to the island, and is committed to its re-integration with the mainland. The US, for its part, still considers Taiwan as a major ally – presenting this as a possible conflict point in the future.

North Korea recently welcomed President Hu on an official state visit to Pyongyang. Thus far, any firm actions against the rogue state have been blocked, due to fears that this would lead

While parts of the world celebrate China’s 60th birthday, Conor Feeney argues that such festivities ought to be condemned to an overflow of refugees into China.

Not surprisingly, Chinese officials have described North Korea as an “ideological little brother.” No matter how many suffer the status quo will remain: this ruthless regime is incapable of moral action.

The Chinese Communist Party has systematically and willingly repressed the everyday rights of its ordinary citizens, smiling and saying ‘no’ while we shake hands and say ‘yes’. That is not what a western country should stand for – apathy of the worst kind where the perceived benefit for a few overshadows a silenced cry for justice. It should not stand or be tolerated under the smokescreen of any hollow celebration.

The Communist regime is not to be rejoiced – it represents an affront to Western values; an insult to common good.

Although the Chinese culture is both remarkable and steeped in history, this is not a time to remember and glorify a legacy of murder

The People’s Republic’s history is not necessarily a cause for joy

favour of things like campus tours and getting €2 out of students to join a society whose events they will likely never attend.

This kind of knowledge is implicitly known by various staff and students around UCD. Staff on the Student Desk, in the libraries or services are asked the widest range of questions possible, but the channels currently used by the University to disperse basic information do not seem to reach everybody. Tacit knowledge does not seem to be chronicled or acted on; instead, it exists merely in the collective mindset of the campus, without being recorded to help future freshers. No doubt UCD carry out extensive research on the dispersion and sharing of knowledge and so on – after all, such is the basic function of a university – but it is useless if the college cannot share information about its own operations or cultures.

The orientation guide service running each Orientation Week is a great success, but the needs of new students do not disappear once they are registered and have a student card. Why can’t a similar

service could be run in the early weeks of term? September could become an ‘orientation month’, with more workshops on all the facilities in UCD. The current orientation week is good, but in a college the size of UCD, nobody can realistically learn to grasp the array of varying services and offices in a single week. A longerterm introductory period to the college is required, especially when the effects of modularisation mean that many modules, particularly for postgraduate courses, often jump immediately into coursework, requiring students to hit the ground running and affording them no time to grow into their new surroundings.

Individual Schools within the university can also play a significant part in introducing students to the facilities of UCD. It is they who have daily access to the students, while expecting them to be able to locate all supplementary material as well as attend to coursework. The university already attempts to help students in this way but a more focused, school-centred approach may be more beneficial.

Library tours, for instance, are one area that could be examined. The tours are a vastly underused service, possibly because they are often meaningless to most students. Perhaps instead of generic allencompassing library tours, specialised guided excursions should be integrated into the timetables of individual courses, helping students locate items needed for their first assignment.

Augmenting services like library tours in a way that makes them more practically useful for students benefits everybody; students would not feel quite so lost early in the year, and lecturers in turn would benefit from better-prepared students.

Integrating existing facilities into courses could eliminate many of the teething anxieties faced by new students at UCD. These small, but significant, issues could be tackled by individual Schools and the Students’ Union without needing any major university input. It is these issues that matter most to students – the latest Ents offerings matter little to a student who is seeking basic information about where to go, or how to do something. Many students need a helping hand throughout their first month in UCD, and a little coordination and co-operation between the various bodies within the campus would aid this important but often forgotten issue.

While students mostly – somehow – manage to survive the induction period to college every year, there is always scope for improvement. As UCD celebrates breaking into the top 100 of worldwide university rankings, it can – and should – aim higher and tangibly improve college life for everybody.

8

THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

13.10.09

COMMENT

comment@universityobserver.ie

Sanctions to soften Iran?

With the Iranian nuclear enrichment programme worrying the West, Alex Court argues that an effective antinuclear international coalition must be more united if the emerging Persion superpower is to be restrained

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he West is not friendly with the Islamic Republic of Iran. With strong Islamic laws, an Ayatollah (supreme leader) and censored press, the Persian middle-eastern country has been ostracised. Following the revolution of 1979 which opposed the ruling Shah, the recently botched Presidential “elections” and everything in between – including the eight year Iran-Iraq war, Iran hasn’t endeared itself to the West.

On top of this, the everpresent nuclear threat raised its ugly head once again towards the end of last month.

Sparked by the recent disclosure of a secret nuclear enrichment plant, stress and conflict over Iran’s nuclear programme soared globally. Exactly why Tehran decided to inform the UN of their scheme remains unclear. Did they send the letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) because they felt they should, or did Tehran learn that western intelligence agencies already knew? President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad predictably played down the significance of this plant, located near the city of Qom, and said it is intended for energy generation rather than the production of offensive materials. Why, then, keep it secret?

The head of IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei, went so far as to say that Iran had been “on the wrong side of the law” in hiding the uranium plant, adding that Iran was supposed to “inform us on the day it was decided to construct the facility”.

With the world already worried, Iran then launched missile tests a week later – trialling the medium-range ‘Shahab-3’ and ‘Sejil-2’ weapons. Both have firing ranges of about 2,000km, meaning decisions in topsy-turvy Tehran can cause explosions, death and reaction in Eastern Europe, US bases in the Persian Gulf, and in Tel Aviv.

Thankfully, world leaders quickly

condemned the tests. A White House spokesman called the actions “provocative”, while France echoed this attitude. British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, labelled the tests “reprehensible”, encapsulating the all-round feeling of distrust directed towards Tehran.

All this doom, gloom and concern culminated in a long-awaited meeting in Geneva early this month, featuring the ‘Big Six’ nations – the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany – who were glad that Iran RSVPed affirmatively.

With the goal of dissuading Iran from their uranium enrichment program, the historic talks were the first time that diplomats from Iran and America had met in thirty years.

While the Iranian representatives were always going to fight their corner, assuring that their nuclear program is meant solely to generate electricity, President Obama has said that the size of the new plant is “not consistent” with an energy-creating goal. Additionally, there is the unanswered question of why the plant was kept secret, given the illegality of hiding the construction of a nuclear plant to the IAEA. With these problems, it doesn’t seem Iran is co-operative, even if it is strictly-speaking, “within their rights.”

So how does a body of world powers achieve their goal of dissuasion? Sanctions are notoriously difficult to decide on, particularly in a case where the stakes are especially high. The UK, US and France have very different concerns to Russia and China – most visibly oil – China gets 15 per cent of its annual supply from Iran. Furthermore, the ideological relationship shared by Russia and China raises issues. Add to this the internal politics of the Kremlin, Russia’s large influential arms lobby groups which trade regularly with Iran, and a growing Muslim population: how could the forces tackling Iran be united, with such mixed agendas?

Suggested sanctions seek to target oil and gas businesses, and banks will feel the squeeze. There are not many options left – any potential sanctions will be the fourth round of embargoes; the current batch of sanctions were initiated back in 2006. There are currently embargoes on sensitive nuclear material, and the individuals involved with Iran’s nuclear program have had their financial assets frozen. Iranian arms exports are widely banned, and the trading of Iranian banks is scrutinised internationally.

It remains paramount that if the sanctions belt is tightened, enforcers must ensure that the leadership feels the effects. In democracy-deficient Iran, ordinary people should not have to bear the negative effects caused by the decisions of arrogant leaders.

Positive incentives would present Iran with something more appealing than the pursual of an enrichment programme. Could this be a non-aggression agreement with America, assistance with developing a civilian nuclear programme, or perhaps helping Iran to get a foot in the door of the World Trade Organisation?

Options do exist.

Calls for a diplomatic solution at this stage seem optimistic, if not unrealistic. In light of this, the ‘Big Six’ must present themselves, at the follow-up meeting later this month, as a united whole, bigger and more threatening than the sum of its parts. The idea of an Iran with weapons of mass destruction is a frightening thought; let’s hope we don’t live to see the day.

Iran’s increasing capacity to develop nuclear weapons is making world leaders feel uneasy

Choices galore In the wake of Careers Week 2009, held in O’Reilly Hall last week, Anna Byrne reviews some of the many events held on campus What do you want to be when you grow up? This age-old question has been put to us all at some point; to some of us at the very early stage of their first day at school, to others during Transition Year, and to some last week, during Careers Week in UCD. Many of us know what we want to be from day one but for the rest, it can be a long and sometimes gruelling process – reading through prospectuses, scanning appointment pages or just looking around you for some sort of guidance.

If you fit into the second category then fear not: throughout the year the periodic Careers Fairs will look after you. This year’s events kicked off with Careers Week, which took place last week on campus.

The start of October saw a range of professionals from chartered accountants to zoologists enter the corridors of UCD giving inspirational speeches,

intriguing presentations and welcome advice to all who cared to listen. Many of the professions were aimed at specific groups, but that was not to say that a law student, for example, was unwelcome to attend a seminar given by a nurse – quite the opposite in fact; talks were open to students from all walks of university life, and

UCD Careers Fair in O’Reilly Hall Photos: Stephen Boyle

attendance for most seminars was great.

A representative from Millward Brown,

one of the world’s leading authorities on advertising, marketing communications and brand equity research, who had been here on numerous occasions insisted he had never seen such a turnout.

As many as 60 people could sit in on talks and seminars during the week; some were moved to bigger venues holding 200300 people due to popular demand. One such example was the presentation given by multimillionaire telecoms entrepreneur, Denis O’Brien, who spoke about successful career development in a recession. The interest was unsurprising, given how many final year students are anxious about the lack of job positions available at the moment and for the immediate future.

It is undoubtedly a worrying time for many graduates: most don’t have the funds they might have had a few years ago, thereby losing the freedom to travel that has been such a feature of graduate life in Ireland. Many are, as a result, under pressure to find a job – and to find it quickly. But thanks to Denis O’Brien, countless students were reassured that the world will not end if they can’t find position immediately after they earn their degree, or if they miss out on that intern-

ship. O’Brien’s advice was to sieze any time off as an opportunity; to be constructive or creative, or to do that something one might always wanted to do, but never had the time.

Elsewhere, System Brand Manager for Procter & Gamble, Fiachra Moloney, shared his Monday to Friday with students, talking about the “endless” possibilities there are in a job such as his, and how every single day brings a new and different challenge. He encouraged all present not to underestimate themselves, and when asked what was the worst day of his career, his succinct and optimistic reply was “I’ve never had one”.

A UCD graduate known to many, Dave Fanning, paid a visit to his alma mater to talk about successful careers in media – a field Fanning would, one might surmise, be well placed to advise on. This, accordingly to Fanning himself though, was not the case; the DJ gave an entirely unrehearsed, off-the-cuff speech for over an hour, recounting the various circumstances that led to his presenting a series

of major nationwide radio shows.

Fanning simply believed himself to have been in the right place at the right time; but as he talked about his career, one did notice that there was a simple explanation for him always finding himself in the right place: his passionate interest in his work. Fanning ultimately came across as the perfect example of what one with a successful career should be; totally engulfed in what they work for, loving every minute, and never looking back.

Feedback from students over the content of the week seemed positive, an encouraging sign, as UCD desperately needs to ensure its graduates are ready for the outside world. Careers Week organiser David Casey was pleased with how the week went, but expressed concern at the reported drop in lecture attendance during seminar times.

The University Observer’s resident ringmistress Amy Bracken forgot to get out of bed last week, so she missed the careers on offer in O’Reilly Hall and resorted to sourcing her own part time work… See Page 12

13.10.09

THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

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COMMENT

comment@universityobserver.ie

White noise democracy In the aftermath of the Lisbon referendum, Conor Murphy looks at the descent of political debate into mere soundbites and accusations

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he curiosity of why Ireland swung so dramatically to the Yes side of the Lisbon referendum is growing.

Was it fear? Was it hope for something fresh? Was it an overall sensation that the acid freaks were right, and we’re all one person after all, and Yes just sounded more positive? It is irrelevant now, and a more important question rears its head. It’s not why, but rather how we came to vote Yes. How did we come to this decision this time? How did we arrive at the contrary, angry, rebellious shout we roared the last time? All of us have a particular strong opinion about something. Jobs, war and health are all hopes and fears that make us vote – but how do we arrive at these hopes fears and ultimately vital decisions?

A man held a poster on O’Connell Street two weeks ago. It proclaimed, “Vote No to Lisbon because of amputated sons”.

I asked why he had chosen a ridiculous statement, on what he saw as the militarisation of Europe. He said, “it rhymes with the line before it.” We both laughed; I wasn’t laughing with him.

The average person on the street doesn’t watch many Prime Time debates and, in contrast to the regular student, doesn’t have access to debates between high-level politicians and protesters on their doorstep. Those non-students, they don’t have time to actually find information. They have jobs, family life and other commitment to attend to. They have limited time to deliberate on issues; they’ve got a life to be getting on with – but nonetheless they must decide, one way or the other.

And so they walk out of their houses and see the posters – ‘Yes for peace’ versus ‘No for peace’ – and decide which one rhymed better, or was more eye-catching.

It was a decision between a giraffe who thinks “they’ve got some neck”, and the four women who seem to find the act of replacing the word ‘sex’ in Sex and the

City with ‘Yes’ and ‘in’ wickedly funny.

(You probably had to be there.)

The main parties’ Yes campaign took

flak from many sides for their banalities. Their posters just seemed to give a half-positive shrug – “Yes for jobs” – and

some of the posters were ridiculous (“Give yourself a treaty”). They could have just put a smiley face, with “big boy high-five for Yes!” written

below, and it would be of equal worth. Sadly, however, these banalities were also the best posters of the campaign, because they were the more honest. They didn’t try to reduce an important treaty, governing the daily lives of half a billion people, to three words. Instead, they just pointed out the generally positive effect they felt it would have.

People, of course, complain and compare these displays to the vibrancy of other posters.

Maybe they could jazz them up like the others; maybe they could reduce it to some New The value of decision making in our society has been seriously diminished by the use World Order scare, or say of inane slogans. Photo: Colin Scally that only ugly people vote No

(‘Yes in the City’?), or pursue the popular ‘you’re an idiot if you disagree’ tactic. All are very good options if you feel like making referendum white noise.

We, as students and as the future of this country, have a position to fight against the degradation of debates to blurbs and soundbites, and to stop treating public debate as being a winner-take-all fight to the death where everyone is desperate to score points, however cheaply. But would we do it, or would we be too afraid?

Would we refrain from standing out, because the first party to stand on principle will be probably see themselves as the party to stand alone outside Leinster House?

This doesn’t have to be the case. There doesn’t need to be the party to take the proverbial bullet. We could resist the banalities and the hyperbole. What about a future where the posters aren’t the debate, but merely the guide to where to find the debate: perhaps a simple ‘Vote Yes/No, visit X to find out why’.

The internet is an incredible tool to foster debate, give it the space to mature, and ultimately allow discussion actually be functional. If a critical mass of parties and groups used it to its full effect in election and referendum campaigns, the few who would retain the prostitution of reactionary images and slogans would – rightfully – seem like the crazy few to push out into the cold. We could stop using bullet points and use actual points. But of course, the internet is also home to several million of those crazies, and discussions do tend to veer off course rather alarmingly. L1sbon FTW. It might appear slightly optimistic, but frankly a full, open and boring debate is far better than the alternative, where we make decisions on the issue of the day by whipping them out and measuring. At the very least, it would be a less arbitrary method of governance than “it rhymed with the other line.”

Not-so-smart economy The symbolic spectre of net emigration has returned with potentially dire consequences for the economic future of the country, writes Shane Murphy The eighties are back. Dodgy hair, dubious fashion, corrupt governments, mass unemployment, and – perhaps most worryingly for the UCD student – emigration have all returned in recent times.

The dreaded e-word, scourge of so many generations of Irish people in the past, has raised its head once more, and the prospect of a ‘brain drain’ reminiscent of the eighties is taking shape with ominous signs for our economic future. Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s much vaunted ‘smart economy’ is fragmenting in the face of government intransigence.

Just over two weeks ago, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published what many commentators had seen coming: net emigration had outpaced net immigration for the first time in nearly 15 years. According to Fine Gael’s Labour Spokesman, Damien English, “for the first time in a generation Ireland is again a net exporter of people, as a combination of rising unemployment and falling job levels drive people abroad.”

Analysing the CSO figures reveals that a total of 65,100 people left the state in the year up to April, whilst only 57,300 people entered Ireland. The emigration figure is up from 45,300 year-on-year, whilst the immigration figure plummeted from 83,800 to 57,300 in the same period – highlighting the first net emigration since 1995.

A staggering 18,400 Irish people choose emigration over economic capitulation Many commentators attribute much of this emigration to the repatriation of the ‘Polish Plumber’ and his European compatriots, who helped swell the population during the boom. However, there is also a worrying Irish component to the migration: of the 65,100 who emigrated, some 30,400 were from new EU member states, while a staggering 18,400 Irish

people choose emigration over economic capitulation.

Whilst this figure might not at first sound alarming, it is something that will invariably worsen as Ireland becomes further entrenched in an economic abyss.

Financial experts have voiced their concern that emigration figures will almost certainly worsen due to additional economic contraction. The fact that the existing figures only go as far as April suggests that the next data sets from the CSO will be even worse. Rossa White, economist at Davy Stockbrokers, suggested “that these figures to April do not capture what seems to be faster emigration in recent months.”

The collapse of the construction industry is the key component in the rise of the emigration figures. A quarter of all jobs lost were in construction, compared with eight per cent in the economy as a whole.

This would certainly explain the exit of a large number of migrant workers. The fact that the downturn in construction is now being matched by other sectors, where the prevalence of foreign workers is not as high, suggests the number of Irish emigrants will rise in tandem.

Dr Alan Barrett of the Economic and Social Research Institute issued a somewhat drastic prognosis for the emigration figures in the second half of the year, stating that “what we are seeing might be

the tip of the iceberg in terms of the outflows.”

The government has so far had a laissez-faire attitude The risk of a ‘brain drain’ threatens the development of towards the probour economy into a vibrant knowledge orientated one lem. Many proposals in governmentalmost certainly lay in ruin unless drastic commissioned reports accentuate the action is taken to support young graduproblem of emigration among young ates. The reintroduction of third-level people. According to the National Youth fees, while commendably stalled, would Council of Ireland (NYCI), government do little to contribute to our economic actions to tackle the recession will force health in the long term. Instead, myopia more young people to emigrate. NYCI like this will only harm our longer-term director Mary Cunningham suggests that economic goals by preventing access to the government is doing little to stem the education for many young people. flow of young people.

The recent spectacle of hundreds, The NYCI has pointed out a number among them quite a significant number of proposals in these government-comof professionals, eagerly queuing for part missioned reports such as the McCarthy time jobs in Marks & Spencer should Report that serve only to augment the act as a wakeup call to the government crisis. Most significant are the halving about where our economy is headed. Unof jobseekers allowance for those aged less it acts decisively, any chances of the 18-19, a cut of jobseekers allowance for heralded knowledge economy will merely those aged 20-24 by 25 per cent, proposals become another CSO migration statistic. to cut the minimum wage, as well as the The current regime seems determined to shelved possibility of third-level fees. If push for reforms that will extinguish any the government acts on these recommenhopes of obtaining their economic Eden. dations it will simply worsen the situation. Given our current predicament, such acThe much-touted ‘smart economy’, tions are far from smart. ubiquitously cited by a host of government figures for the last decade, will

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Welcome to the House of fun With Daft.ie’s popular Playhouse project wrapping up last weekend, Bridget Fitzsimons reports on a campaign to keep Dublin lit up on a more permanent basis Liberty Hall, arguably one of Dublin’s most hideous landmarks, has received a long overdue makeover in recent weeks.

The Playhouse project has transformed a blocky eyesore into a pretty feast of LED lights, showing publically submitted, eye-catching animations on the building at night. However, as quickly as it came, Playhouse has been stopped. Having started on September 24th, Playhouse finished broadcasting animations last Sunday.

Public reaction to the project has been strong. The transformation of a dull multi-storey to a giant TV certainly seems to have captured the imagination of the public: a Facebook group campaigning for the project to become a permanent installation had garnered almost 8,000 members at the time of writing, and this only looks set to rise. Why Playhouse?

And if public reaction is this strong, why stop it?

Playhouse was an initiative of property website Daft.ie and was part-funded by Ulster Bank as sponsors of the Dublin Theatre Festival. Daft.ie were approached about the idea almost a year ago with a team assembled from Trinity College’s popular and innovative Science Gallery, work began on Liberty Hall. The idea was to turn the building into a low-resolution LED screen, broadcasting animations to

brighten up Dublin’s autumn evenings.

Submissions were invited from the public, who could construct their animations on a tool on the Playhouse website. Submissions came from all over the country and overseas, and encompassed a variety of themes from video games, messages and sports pieces. With a huge diversity in the styles of animations submitted, and Playhouse was truly a playground for the amateur animators’ imaginations.

While campaigners look to keep Playhouse, its future seems ultimately uncertain. SIPTU, who have their headquarters in Liberty House, have announced plans to demolish the building and construct a new headquarters. The new building, which will be 24 storeys high, will consist of 15 storeys of office space, a conference centre, and a revamped theatre. Additionally, the top three floors will comprise of a heritage centre and sky deck that will be open to the public.

This is undoubtedly great news for SIPTU staff members, who won’t have to work in the horrid entity that is daytime Liberty Hall anymore, and for the public who will benefit from more facilities. But in the time that the planning and other work will take before the demolition, why not keep Playhouse sparkling as a fun beacon on Dublin’s skyline?

Whether or not the group can stop the demolition of Liberty Hall, there is definitely a sound argument for keeping Playhouse in operation until the building is demolished. Creator of the Facebook group for the project’s retention, Fionn Kidney, says on the group’s page that “Liberty Hall has been transformed from a dated monolith to a dynamic blank canvas that illuminates and cheers the city centre with animations from all over the world.” Playhouse undoubtedly brightens up the bleak Dublin skyline and really adds something to the city. In a time when we’re all a bit glum over the economic crisis, why not add something to Dublin to brighten up our nights? Kidney succinctly points out that “it’s a beacon of Dublin creativity and a welcome sight for tired eyes at a difficult time.”

Additionally, as Kidney rightfully points out, “the LEDs used are extremely energy efficient and its infrastructure relatively non-invasive.” The lights have been installed, the infrastructure is all there – what’s wrong with keeping it on, even if the building is due for demolition? The environmental soundness of the project has been attested to, so any reason for its removal is simply arbitrary.

An interesting outcome of the Playhouse Facebook group will be to gauge the real power of internet campaign-

The Playhouse project has lit up Dublin’s skylines for the past three weeks, with campaigns set up to retain the installation ing groups. While results are unknown at the time of going to press, the Make Playhouse Permanent group plan to hand their membership list and comments to Daft.ie and the other organisers of Playhouse. One must wonder what the impact of this petition will be. As it is a private endeavour taking place in a public space, Daft.ie do not necessarily have to continue the Playhouse project simply because the public might want them to.

While keeping Playhouse in operation will make Daft.ie popular within the public, one must wonder if they’ll take the chance and allow the project to continue.

This campaign, depending on its outcome, could set precedence for other matters of public and non-permanent art in Dublin city.

Behind all the issues and questions,

it is clear that Playhouse has been an interesting project for the time it has been running. There have been few projects as popular and far-reaching as Playhouse has proved to be. Nothing as interactive has ever happened before on such a large scale, in this writer’s memory at least.

The sheer brilliance of the project cannot be forgotten, even if it won’t endure. Its excellence lay in its simplicity and it will be interesting to see if the Dublin Theatre Festival can come up with anything to rival it for the 2010 festival.

Even if the Facebook campaign fails, at least we had the few weeks of Playhouse.

It gave us something to look at and laugh at, and in the end it gave those living in Dublin something to brighten their evening and something to campaign for other than that place in Portugal.

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Study Abroad Special

Spreading their wings For some, the mere mention of UCD’s opportunities for foreign study is a source of excitement; others may know comparatively little about the extent of the programmes on offer. Five students with experience of study abroad talk to The University Observer and give their own impressions and tips on a year away from Belfield Lee Maguire, Arts Haskoli Islands University, Reykjavik, Iceland From the moment I was informed I had the option of going to Iceland on my Erasmus year, I was determined to seize a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Fortunately I was accepted and from that day on I never looked back on my decision with even a hint of regret. My excitement diminished slightly on my departure at Dublin Airport,

however, when a certain budget airline charged me over €250 for excess weight in my baggage. Once I reached Stansted my airline to Reykjavik luckily charged me one fifth of what I paid reluctantly in Dublin hours earlier. When I finally reached Iceland I realised that the adventure I had waited what seemed like a lifetime for had finally commenced.

During the nine months that followed I would experience numerous unforgettable events: snorkelling in a freezing cold river, white water

rafting down a powerful and majestic waterfall, witnessing the awe inspiring Aurora Borealis, and relaxing in the Blue Lagoon a world renowned spa.

I nervously attempted Icelandic cuisine during my time there from rotten shark to whale and even stuffed puffin, which was customarily washed down with the native brew called Brenevin - appropriately nicknamed ‘Black Death’. Eager to compete with other Erasmus students who travelled around the continent during their free time, I signed up for a

Making the Grade T

he chill of an October evening seems all too distant in the warm fug of a tenth-floor Fleet Street office. When you’re up this high, the blaring of London’s evening traffic seems so faded as to be almost a gentle backing track; like a record with the volume turned down to its lowest level.

That’s what the sub-editor’s diary says so eloquently, anyway, and I’d be inclined to believe him as I idly flip through the notebook pages. He seems an intelligent man. Or at least he seemed an intelligent man before Marty slipped him the old Chloroform handkerchief in the ante room outside. I’m not too sure just how intelligent he’ll still be if - when - he wakes up. Glancing over at Marty, I’m none too convinced he got his sums right when he was mixing the chemicals back in Belgrove. Ah, well; back to the business at hand.

Sitting before us, the editor of the Times Higher Education supplement looks like he’s paying rapt attention to the two Irishmen who’ve suddenly bundled in to his office on a Thursday evening. He would do, though, because his arms are neatly pinioned to his reclining chair by the plastic gardening ties I picked up as an afterthought when we were on our way to the ferry that morning.

He’s stalling for time now, and I don’t like it. Marty might be content to sit there like a grinning simpleton all evening, but I have other plans for the night. A contact says they can guarantee

me admission to rehearsals for Strictly Come Dancing down at the BBC’s Television Centre if I can get there before 8.00.

Looking at my watch, I see that it’s 7.15 already. No, I don’t like this at all.

Leaping to my feet, I begin to pace around the room. The THE supremo watches me intently, his eyes like saucers above the gaffer tape we’d helped ourselves to from Services the other day. He’s nervous now.

“For the last time”, he begins, his voice muffled, “I’ve told you two that it’s not as simple as me just phoning the printers and telling them to change the ranki…”

“Quiet!”

I cut him off, in my best, booming, Kieran Allen-mass-meeting voice. We’re running short of time here. It’s time to go for the rough stuff.

Crossing over to stand close to The Times’ man on the spot, I slowly unroll my UCD scarf. The little metallic studs I had gotten Mummy to spend the other night sewing into the wool glint evilly in the light from the desk lamp between us.

“I’m running out of patience”, I growl in the most intimidating voice a former University Observer hack can muster.

“Don’t make me go for the nuclear option here…”

The Ed’s eyes strain even wider.

“Please… there really is nothing I can do for you gentlemen,” the muffled voice comes again.

I sigh. “We’re going to have to do a little bit better than that.”

week-long trip to live with an Inuit community on the east coast of Greenland. We decided during our week-long expedition to sleep in an igloo we had ourselves created – it was surprisingly warm. Alas, all good things must come to an end and when I boarded that plane in Keflavik International Airport for the final time last May I shed a tear or two; but that emotion will resonate when I return to my adoptive nation in the not-too-distant future.

In this first exclusive excerpt from his averagely awaited memoirs, Slightly Mollified reveals how a spell trouble-shooting for UCD’s President in late 2009 took him far away from his usual Belfield haunts

As the English journalist squirmed, my mind drifted slowly back. How on earth had it come to this? *** It was a crisp September morning at the start of term when I first got the call. First thing in the morning, to be precise. I’d woken up and groggily reached out to feel the shape beside me in the bed.

It felt hairy… and leathery. Doubting even my ability to let the side down that badly after a night’s debauchery in Harcourt Street, I opened my eyes properly to see the horse’s head that had been left neatly propped up on my pillow during the night.

“What on earth?”

I blinked, and then flicked my phone on to dial the 716 number that had been scrawled on the Post-it stapled on to the late Dobbins’ forehead.

He answered at the first ring. I shivered slightly as I heard those unmistakeable, Executive tones flood through the receiver.

“Ah, Mollified!”, he began, sounding unnaturally cheerful.

“Mr President”, I gulped, nervously.

“Really hope you don’t mind my little, ahhh… unorthodox manner of getting in contact, young man. Have to play to the stereotype, you know. Don’t worry for a second about the nag, it was already dead.

I had four of the muscle monkeys from Pulse haul it over to the Tierney Building from Veterinary last night. Quite the mess, slicing a horse’s head off indoors, actually, you’d be surprised… Anyway, I need you for a special mission.”

“Me, Mr President?”, I asked in surprise.

“Yes”, he replied, “we need a student representative to assist us with a University trip to the UK. It’s a matter of… errrr… well, one might say persuasion.”

“Persuasion…”, I repeated, the doubt showing clearly in my voice.

“Precisely, Mollified, precisely. We need a student to accompany our VicePresident for Students on a deputation

to London. It’s a matter of the utmost importance. The student that goes will have to be representative of exactly the kind of young mind that UCD produces these days.”

“But, Mr President”, I butted in, “I’m a lazy, apathetic, waster who rarely attends lectures, consumes alcohol at a debilitating rate, and has generally spent the past two years trying to coast through a Statefunded opportunity of higher education with the absolute minimum of effort.”

“Exactly!”, he announced, triumphantly.

“So are you free early in October?” *** And so back to the present. In front of me, the editor is visibly wilting at the prospect of what’s to come.

“You had your chance to oblige us”, I remind him. “This is your fault from here on in.”

“Please”, he begs. “Please, don’t hurt me.”

“Oh, no”, I reply, a malicious gleam in my eye. “I have much worse than that in store for you.”

I gesture to my colleague sitting beside me.

“Dr Butler; if you’d like to commence?”

Marty rises up on his haunches, visibly brimming with excitement now that his moment has come. He clears his throat

and begins.

“Martin’s the name! Let me just tell you about the cross-campus and cross-community opportunities offered by the UCD Community Musical…”

I back quickly out of the office and close the door behind me. I’m a hard man, but even I don’t want to see this. Five minutes later, there’s an audible thump from inside the room.

I walk quickly back in to see the editor banging his head against his desk in sheer, abject despair.

“No more”, he gasps, in between sobs.

“You can have it, just please, no more.”

Excellent. I silence Marty with a wave of my hand and pass the authorisation sheet across the table for the editor to sign. “#89 in the table should do nicely, thanks”, I add helpfully.

Two minutes later, and Marty and I are exiting the building in to the cool evening air of London, leaving a broken man behind us.

Ah, well. You can’t make an omelette, I think happily, as I anticipate watching Alesha at work later on…

Slightly Mollified’s memoirs, Diamond in the Rough: My Fortnight at the Cutting Edge of Student Journalism, are out in all good bookshops on 22nd October. Possibily.

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Study Abroad Special Julian O’Reilly, Social Science Vrije University Amsterdam, The Netherlands My Erasmus year has definitely been one of the most enjoyable and beneficial experiences of my college life.

I went on Erasmus to Amsterdam, which usually gets a mixed response. However, after living there for a year my preconceptions about the city itself were completely changed.

During your Erasmus you are, in a way, thrown in the deep end of another country’s culture and lifestyle, which I found I really got immersed in.

I study Social Science, and so to see it from a Dutch perspective (and also from the viewpoint of hundreds of other international students) was not only interesting, it also broadened my understanding of certain subjects. I learnt through English, which I found a lot of people didn’t know

was a possibility when studying outside of English speaking countries.

Amsterdam was an amazing city to live in. I really got to live like the Dutch from cycling my omafiets (‘granny bike’) to going for beers in Vondelpark. It was also a great base to visit other nearby parts of Europe - I even hitch-hiked all the way to Paris!

I made strong friendships with people I’d never have expected to make friends with; people from

all parts of the world. I found getting involved with anything and everything was the best way to meet new people.

I think if you’re up to a challenge and a great adventure, want to enrich your university experience, broaden your horizons and have a whole lot of fun along the way then Erasmus is definitely for you.

Paper chase

They might be an inconvenience, but flyering is no fun for those asked to do it either.

Photo: Daire Brennan

They rank amongst Belfield’s unsung everyday heroes, but leaflet distribution on campus is no easy job. Matt Gregg grabs an armful of brochures and takes to the concourse

F

liers: they’re everywhere you turn, particularly in the last month with the addition of Lisbon entreaties to the wide variety already doled out across UCD. The campus is inundated by them.

Sometimes you just want to get across campus without being assaulted on all sides by shiny bits of paper. Sometimes you just don’t want to hear about Crunch Fitness’s latest special offer, or be peddled the latest society gimmick. It’s been a tough day, you’re badly hanging, and that lecturer just doesn’t understand that they’re only allowed take up an hour of your time. Sometimes you just want to go home.

But have you ever stopped to consider what it’s like for the other side? Leaflets don’t exactly hand themselves out, do they? That’s how I found myself sitting outside the Crunch Fitness office at 9am on my single day off of the week, longing for the warm embrace of my duvet. After being handed enough fliers to wallpaper a lecture theatre, and given a brief rundown of what they expected me to do, I was led to my point of distribution for the day.

A wave of relief washed over me when we stopped just outside the James Joyce Library, sheltered from the worst of the elements by a jungle of concrete pillars.

Even so, the cold wind sweeping through left me thankful that I had wrapped up warm. Scarf season is certainly upon us.

But with over a hundred leaflets to get rid of before my shift was up, I could ill afford to wallow in self pity for too much

longer. So with my iPod for company and advice ringing in my ears, I tentatively began to approach total strangers in the hope that they would have some interest in what I had to offer.

Not many takers. The few who did take the flier would rarely keep it beyond the bin mere metres away from me.

Worst of all, with about half an hour gone, one of my new colleagues, Jarik, reminded me we weren’t allowed listen to music.

By ten o’clock my mouth was dry from repeating to a multitude of uninterested passers-by, “Can I interest you in joining Crunch Fitness? Our special offer ends next Thursday!” When Jarik wandered down from his position outside the Ag Block and suggested we go inside for some tea, I jumped at the chance.

With a degree in Business & Advertising from a university in Krakow, Jarik admits he never thought he’d find himself out on the Belfield campus distributing fliers. In fact, until the recession hit, he was working for an advertising company in Poland. I had thought he seemed a bit over-qualified for the job.

As we chatted, a cyclist grabbed a leaflet out of Jarik’s hand as he rode by. I was amazed; Jarik, however, was unfazed. He

explained that this happened more often than one might suspect and that, as long as he didn’t hold on too tight, it was an easy enough operation. With this our break was up and he headed back to his position.

“No, thanks.” It was obvious that very few people had any interest in this latest offer, but that didn’t really bother me. In boredom, watching the lengths people would go to avoid me became a perverse form of entertainment. If I appeared from behind a pillar, they hid behind the next. The human shield approach was very amusing: to complete this manoeuvre, the person on the periphery nearest me would merge to the middle of the group. Without doubt, though, my favourite was ‘the sidestep’ – off the concourse and out into the teeming rain, simply to avoid my outstretched arm.

What bothered me most, though, was when people would turn and deliberately look through me blankly, as if I wasn’t there at all, before moving on without so much as a nod. This job is no fun: some friendly rejection really can go a long way. Next time you see someone desperately hoping you might take a flyer from them, I beg you: consider their mental wellbeing. Take the flyer from them; there are always enough bins in UCD for you to dispose of it out of eyeshot.

Photo: Kristin McKnight

All in good humour An edgy comic, or simply a poor class clown? After his latest bout of controversy, Ciarán Ó Braonáin examines the turbulent life and times of comedian Tommy Tiernan “Deranged”, “demented”, “obnoxious”, “sickening”, “racist”, “anti-Semite”, “juvenile”, “talentless”, “on-theslide, attention-seeking celebrity”, and “a complete fool”: just a handful of the labels being applied to Tommy Tiernan of late. How the Navan man must long for the simpler days when all he had to contend with was “evil blasphemer”. The recent controversy over a Holocaust joke made by Tiernan is not the first time the comedian has courted public derision, but the media furore that surrounds him currently seems to be the biggest threat to his career to date.

Tommy Tiernan has long been a comedian that divides public opinion. Many people find his comedy to be over-the-top, vulgar and childish.

Others enjoy his energy and wildness, and applaud his disregard for the limits imposed by an increasingly politically correct society. His refusal to adhere to the conventional techniques and restraints of today’s gag merchants has won him a tremendously devout fan base in Ireland, but has no doubt played a role in his relative lack of trans-Atlantic success.

The comic’s latest controversy centres on an interview given to Hot Press magazine at this year’s Electric Picnic festival.

At the end of the interview, Tiernan was recalling a past occasion where he had been accused of being antiSemitic. As the comedian recounted the incident in front of a small audience he diverged from the topic momentarily to give the listeners his sincere take on the limits of comedy saying, “It’s all about being reckless and irresponsible and joyful, it’s not about being careful…and mannered.

It’s about…trusting your own soul and allowing whatever lunacy is inside you to come out in a special protected environment, where people

know that nothing they say is being taken seriously.”

Suddenly, returning to the original anecdote in a way which was clearly intended to exemplify his previous take on comedy; “But these Jews... these f***ing Jew c**ts come up to me! F***ing Christ-killing bastards!

F***ing six million? I would have got ten or twelve million out of that.

No f***ing problem! F***ing two at a time, they would have gone! ‘Hold hands, get in, plough it in there.

Leave us your teeth and your glasses.’”

In the black and white of print it is difficult to see how anybody could find these remarks anything other than offensive, let alone amusing.

Fine Gael TD Alan Shatter, himself a Jew, has hit out strongly against the comedian’s rant, labelling it “a disgusting and unacceptable outburst.”

Representatives from the Jewish community have called on the public to boycott “such racist ‘entertainment’ in future” while Irish director Louis Lentin has urged the United States to refuse Tiernan any future working visas, equating him with a Holocaust denier.

Whether the joke was funny or not at the time, in the context, it is fair to say that it has been, by now, blown so far out of context that anything other than utter condemnation is immediately denounced as thinly veiled anti-Semitism. It is quite probable that many people now calling for Tiernan’s head have only seen the interview in print, often in disjointed form and already heavily opinionated.

I, for one, do not believe that Tommy Tiernan or the audience he had in raptures are fanatical anti-Semites.

All things taken into consideration, most impartial, level headed people should see this as, at worst, a tasteless and insensitive joke and not an inten-

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Study Abroad Special Ligita Kuklyte, Science University of Auckland, New Zealand I love travelling, so when the opportunity arose to study Zoology in New Zealand, naturally I jumped at the chance. I knew that I would have fantastic adventures and learn at the same time in this beautiful country on the other side of the world. During my first semester I lived in student

accommodation where I was instantly made feel comfortable.

Making many great friends, I hit the ground running. We took part in extreme sports such as white-water rafting, glacier climbing and mountain climbing: heartstopping, but totally exhilarating! New Zealand is magical: snow-capped mountains, active volcanoes, fjords, forests and lovely beaches.

The international staff were wonderful. They organised many

trips, fun evenings and parties and, as students, we never said no to the free food!

Zoology is my passion, and New Zealand is a paradise of flower and fauna. Much of its ecology and wildlife has remained unchanged for millions of years and we had the opportunity to study this on the many field trips we went on during the year.

In New Zealand, you can find incredible wildlife such as fur

seals, dolphins and the enormous wetas insects. Remarkably, there are species of wildlife such as the kakapo parrot and black robin which only exist on these small islands! One cannot forget, of course, the Kiwi bird, flightless and vulnerable.

The New Zealanders are fantastic, friendly people and the Maori culture is fascinating. As a Zoologist in the future I will certainly go back to New Zealand to study further.

It’s a tough job…

Might a career in the circus be a cure to your financial woes?

tionally cruel ridiculing of a horrific tragedy by a bitter anti-Semite.

Tiernan’s first brush with controversy came after his debut appearance on RTÉ’s Late Late Show in 1997. After a routine in which he mocked the crucifixion of Christ, RTÉ’s phone lines were jammed with hundreds of complaints. Tiernan himself was forced to remain inside the building for a number of hours before a large crowd of protestors were dispersed outside the Montrose studios. Many commentators predicted then that his career was over before it had begun, but Tiernan was to have the last laugh. The following year he won the prestigious Perrier Comedy Award for his Undivine Comedy show, which was largely a re-enactment of his Late Late Show appearance and the fall-out which ensued.

Since then the Meath joker has caused offence with material on the Travelling community, Madeleine McCann, and sufferers of Down Syndrome as well as countless remarks about priests. Despite all this; Tiernan has enjoyed tremendous success, especially in Ireland where he is considered by many as the uncrowned king of Irish comedy.

The comic has demonstrated time and time again that he is more than capable of surmounting the obstacle of bad press.

Hopefully those seeking to blacklist the comic over his most recent controversy will accept his apology and understand the context in which Tiernan’s comments were made, illustrating the preface that went before them and that the comments were not meant to be taken seriously.

On the other hand, though, perhaps Tiernan has finally fallen across the line along which he has danced for so long.

“Perhaps Tiernan has finally fallen across the line along which he has danced for so long”

As Careers Week winds down in UCD, Amy Bracken broadens her horizons and assesses the more extreme side of the jobs market

D

id you attend the UCD careers fair last week?

(No? Me neither.) In these recessionary times, the number of university students – or graduates, for that matter – currently employed has fallen dramatically, and it’s no secret that a part-time job while you study has become even harder to obtain, just like it has become virtually impossible for the average student to qualify for a third-level grant.

Yet it may come as a surprise that if you look in the right places, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing your part-time (or full-time, if you’re a graduate) earner. In these businesses it’s not who you know that will land you the post, but rather what you’re willing to try in order to hear jingling in your pocket. Looking for some work to fund your weekly boozing exploits while at college? Here are some suggestions currently on offer – so long as you’re not fussy as to what type of work it is, one of the following might be the answer to all your problems.

For the male big-guns – though, of course, some females may be suitable – a hotel in Cork is currently seeking some “well build body bouncers [sic]”. If you can handle a bit of shouting, a reasonable amount of rioting and an awful lot of vomiting, this might be the solution to your intolerable weekends at home with your parents. Not for the sensitive, though.

Or perhaps our female audience would prefer something involving a little more class and a little less vomit. In that

case, a career as a pole dancer is for you.

Some training classes are a prerequisite, most of which won’t break the bank, and will make you very attractive to employers (in more ways than one). You’ll burn calories, make tips, and feel gorgeous, but it’s not to be recommended if you don’t like being stared at.

If neither of the above is sufficient for the adventurer in you, then perhaps spending your holidays with the circus will satisfy your daredevil desires. Although none seem to be currently hiring, the circus offers those with talent the opportunity to embrace life in a caravan, although this is not as glamorous as it sounds. Applicants are informed that being in the circus involves lots of hard work and sacrifice. Your caravan may be located next to the scary lions or the foul-smelling elephant trailer. “You’ll be expected to put on a smile and work weekdays, weekends and some holidays, through fatigue and bad moods, even when there are only five people in the audience. After each succession of performances is over, you pack up, move to a new town and do it all over again; this goes on year-‘round”, informs one website. Maybe your experience of being a student has abolished your squeamishness and your normal body rhythm.

Stinking elephants probably sound like heaven, compared to your stinking pad in Belgrove or some other UCD campus residence.

On the other hand, if taking care of stinking elephants is in fact your forte, then why not consider a long-term career in zoo-keeping? (This is not

specific to students of zoology-according to the Dublin Zoo website; anyone can complete the required Zoo Animal Management Qualification course.) But be warned: those with the experience will tell you that it’s not all about cuddling the cute little animals, but that “working with zoo animals all day is often dirty and smelly,” as one staffer told me.

If your stomach can tolerate the faeces and general stench that permeates that region of the Phoenix Park, however, then the compulsory public speaking should be piece of cake for you. But after all the physical work involved, at the end of the day you shall be well-deserving of such a piece of cake – though not before you’ve thoroughly washed your hands.

The point of all these weird and wacky suggestions is to emphasise that despite the current economic doom there are jobs out there, even for students: you just have to be willing and lose your fussiness. The media is busting with reports of ‘economic meltdown’ and full of statistics on rising unemployment figures, but if you’re flexible, adventurous and able to swallow your nerves or squeamishness, then you will find something to fit the bill. It’s all about confidence.

In short, there’s no need to attend a careers fair where 500 people are competing for two posts in a well to-do firm, working 9am-5pm six days a week.

Just broaden your search-terms on that jobs website, broaden your flexibility and your willingness and you’ll easily broaden your horizons – and hopefully earn some cash too…

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13.10.09

FEATURES

features@universityobserver.ie

Study Abroad Special Sandra Farrell, Commerce and German University of Passau, Bavaria, Germany Because I’m a Commerce International student I knew as soon as I started in UCD that I’d be spending my third year abroad; I think the chance to go abroad was one of the chief attractions of the course, and it was something I knew I could look forward to for the third year of my course.

I ended up choosing Passau as a kind of compromise within our class; there were six different institutions we could have attended but there were a limited number of spaces in each so our class were basically locked in a room and made to decide ourselves. Thankfully it mostly worked out for the best; as it turned out most people got to go to the places they wanted.

Passau ended up being a bit of a mixed bag; the town itself was gorgeous – it was founded in the 12th

century and has beautiful medieval architecture everywhere. It was only the size of Athlone and you could walk anywhere you needed to, but because it was in a country like Germany it had every amenity you would ever need, and loads of cafés, restaurants and pubs to hang out in too.

The university itself was a bit of let down, sadly – although it’s policy for our course that UCD doesn’t take any active role in our year, there wasn’t much co-ordination for

us and we were left trying to make sense of some crazy bureaucracy there, which was really stressful considering that unlike most students, our Erasmus year was a fundamental part of our degree and if we failed subjects, it would have real impact on our degree back home.

Overall I loved Erasmus but I’d advise people to just be a bit wary about how well your host college might deal with people who aren’t familiar with the college’s own systems and cultures.

Feeling the pinch As student finances become increasingly strained, Natalie Voorheis digs out her lunch box and leaves her wallet at home, spending a day in college without spending any money

I

woke up late on Wednesday morning.

I live in Ranelagh and usually take the number 11 bus into college, but this costs money and I was not about to fail at my challenge so early in the day so I arrived into my first tutorial of the day late. Fantastic(!).

I reflected that I was actually lucky that a half-hour’s walk got me into college, when so many students are forced to spend hours on crowded motor ways and commuting by train. Spending large amounts of money on petrol or train tickets everyday is a cost which, sadly, is simply unavoidable especially as rent prices in the area are so extortionate.

In preparation for my experiment I had made myself a packed lunch, rooting out my old lunchbox from years and years ago. The words ‘pink’ and ‘ponies’ only go so far in describing the tweenage vibes of this lunch box, which really has to be seen to be believed. Convincing myself that I might even be able to make the lunch box seem vaguely ironic and trendy, I made my own lunch for the first time in about a decade.

Most students simply don’t have the time to make their own lunch every morning - and doing so often seems worthless as lunch time in college is, without doubt, a social time; one invariably ends up in a café with some friends. Nobody wants to look a cheapskate with a homemade bland ham sandwich when you could have sundried tomatoes with goat’s cheese wrapped fennel, rocket flavour pancetta dipped in gold dust and served on orphans’ hand kneaded foccacia for €16.95 from one of UCD’s fine eateries.

Or you know, a baguette with too much butter, wet lettuce, rubbery chicken and mouldy cheese.

By one o’clock on Wednesday, I was absolutely starving and desperately in need of some caffeine. I had just started to text a few friends about lunch plans when I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see a guy I knew vaguely as a friend of a friend, and who – I must admit – is hot.

Before I knew what was happening, I was sitting in Starbucks with him.

I reached down to get my ironically packaged homemade lunch from my bag, when I suddenly came back to my senses: my companion would run a mile if he thought I was the kind of person

who brought a lunchbox like that into college.

This, combined with my mounting desperate need for some caffeine – I am, like so many students, totally addicted to the stuff – led me to spend money for the only time that day in college when I bought a cup of coffee. I ate my packed lunch later with a few friends, who are still teasing me about the incident.

Wednesday night: the traditional low cost night out for students, where clubs slash their entry fees and heavily advertise their drinks promotions. What could be more student friendly? Personally, however, I’m lucky to have change from a fifty euro note left in my purse on a

Thursday morning.

But does this have to be the case – could I go a whole night without spending any money? I vowed to go out for a night without spending a cent - or at least as close to that as I could come.

My Wednesday night inevitably commenced with a pre-drinking session. I was determined to stick to my aim of spending absolutely nothing, meaning I was going to have to get myself something to drink without buying it – and as I live at home, my parents’ liquor cabinet was (unfortunately for them) my first port of call. For a student not living with their parents this would not have been an option; I know that if I had been in this situation I would have probably have

caved and bought my drink.

After all, drinking is the divine right of the student, correct?

Incalculable Jameson and Cokes later, my friends and I set off to walk into town. The prospect of a cheap night didn’t seem to bother anyone - until we hit Harcourt Street and saw the line for Crawdaddy. At this point there was no persuading my friends to continue walking towards Doyle’s or one of the free clubs such as Q-Bar and I was forced to pay a five euro entry fee – which, in my defence – is not much to get into a decent (ahem) club. I didn’t spend anything else throughout the night, as I was luckily able to turn on the charm and

persuade a few guys to buy me drinks.

Sticking to my aim seemed horrible when I caught a whiff of the aroma wafting from Harcourt Diner that night. What I would have given for some fast food just then! But this, I told myself firmly, was the whole point of my experiment: to avoid this overpriced pitfall of every student’s night out. I rang my brother at home and told him to stick a few frozen pizzas into the oven.

Inviting everyone back to mine, we started to walk home, ignoring the numerous puzzled taxi drivers who pulled up beside us. Being so close to town was a wonderful aid to saving money, but for many students the only route home is in a taxi late at night, and pricey fares are definitely not conducive to maintaining a student budget.

As I opened the front door we were greeted with the smell of hot pizza, and as I sat down in the warmth of my kitchen, kicking off my heels with a cup of tea in one hand, a slice of pizza in the other and my friends all around me, I

reflected that this was one aspect of my night out which I would definitely be happy to relive.

The day, in hindsight, was somewhat a success. Although I had not fulfilled my aim of spending absolutely nothing for twenty-four hours, I had only bought one cup of coffee and paid a small entry fee into a club.

So can students spend a day on campus without reaching in to their pockets?

Eh, no.

“I made my own lunch for the first time in about a decade”

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FEATURES

features@universityobserver.ie

Study Abroad Special Claire Nolan, Psychology University of California, Santa Barbara Last year I spent my year abroad at the University of California at Santa Barbara. I would recommend this international year to anyone who is considering it. It really was the best experience I could have imagined.

Santa Barbara is a beautiful town on the coast of California. The university campus itself is located in

an area called IV, solely inhabited by students, boasting gorgeous beaches where students surf, sunbathe or even study. The student population means that the area is constantly buzzing, and does have the party atmosphere that UCSB is famous for. Everyone cycles around IV and onto campus, so not having a car puts you at no disadvantage.

I found the students of UCSB to be, in general, laid-back, friendly and fun-loving. This makes it very easy to meet people. My main group

of friends were the people that lived in the same apartment complex as me, and they then introduced me to more people. I got very lucky with my accommodation, as I got on really well with my roommates and neighbours, which made a huge difference to my entire experience.

From an academic point of view, I only did Psychology courses at UCSB but I found them very manageable, especially because of the lack of essays and the majority of exams being in the format of

multiple choice questions. Though I know that I got very lucky in many ways with my year, in my view the majority of people would have an incredible year at UCSB. If you’re interested in studying abroad, UCD’s International Office hosts an information session this Thursday, 15th October, from 12 noon in the Blue Room, Student Centre.

Visit www.ucd.ie/international or call (01) 716 1701 for more details.

Familiar Face-book They’re an unlikely area of common ground between individuals as diverse as Ashton Kutcher and Stephen Fry. They’ve made literal billions for a few, and have had take-up figures numbering in the billions elsewhere. Cormac Duffy examines the rise and rise of the social networking site.

Over the last few years, online social networking has been subject to unstoppable growth, becoming one of the defining revolutions of the information age.

It has changed the way millions of people communicate and looks likely to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. It has made billionaires of the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, and Tom Anderson, the founder of MySpace.

Analysing them has become a key area in information studies, but questions of what make particular sites so popular and whether or not they can survive in a volatile market still exist. Why is Facebook seen as better than Bebo? Is MySpace still as popular as it once was?

What on earth draws people to Twitter?

The simplest factor affecting sites’ popularity is obviously their usefulness.

Sites have to strike the perfect balance of being open to editing as consumers add videos, pictures, music and backgrounds to their profile, while making sure all these applications are highly userfriendly.

Dr Lee Komito, who lectures in the UCD School of Information Studies, shared his academic opinions on social networking with The University Observer.

Komito is the module coordinator for ‘Cybersociety: Technology, Culture and Communication’ and ‘Weaving the Web: the Internet and Society’. He believes any social networking site’s appeal comes from how it grants users “the ability to see what friends and family are doing… to communicate easily with them and exchange information with them in a user friendly fashion”.

In terms of being user-friendly, many complain of the difficulty of editing on MySpace, as edits mainly require inputting HTML and CSS code, neither of which are known for their accessibility.

In terms of features, students in particular seem to be drawn to sites with built in instant messaging features, as it keeps things more interesting than simply waiting around for a comment to be left.

Features aside, for any aspiring social network, the image of the site is the most important. Sites either need to find a niche audience, as LinkedIn did with the business community, or be seen as possessing some sort of mass marketable status and appeal. Without doubt, the worst thing that can happen to a social networking site is having a stereotype about it develop. Frivolous notions such as ‘Bebo is for kids’ or ‘MySpace is for geeks’ became self fulfilling prophecies, as people were discouraged from using them for fear of falling into one of these stereotypes.

Social networking is ultimately a

highly refined from of conspicuous consumption. The right person joining the site can bring large numbers of friends along with them, starting a chain effect. Of course this chain effect can apply in reverse as when people stop using sites, so too will their friends. These notions obviously only apply to younger

businesses connect directly with their target market. “They will also have a great information storehouse, which, depending on the privacy rules of different sites, they can then sell

users, which according to conventional knowledge are the main market for social networking. It is true that in this area social networking has achieved near full market saturation. Komito disagrees though, citing his research into the appeal of the service to those working in foreign countries.

“We’re finding that it’s a very important means by which people living in a foreign country can keep in contact with friends and relations and events in there home country,” he remarks, adding: “this is happening regardless of age”.

Komito also discusses how changes in the market can occur without drops in usage, citing the example of how even though many users ‘migrate’ from Bebo to Facebook as they enter college, Bebo will continue to attract users new to secondary schools.

It needs to be understood that social networking is big business: in fact, it is one of the biggest new businesses of recent times. Facebook alone is estimated to be worth somewhere in the area of $15 billion. How is this earned in the first place though?

on in some aggregated form to marketers” says Komito.

As a business model, it’s simple. But this ignores the massive importance of consumer taste. As discussed, trends in social networking can be volatile.

Having the largest membership may work in terms of business, but it runs the risk of harming the site’s image. In terms of consumer loyalty, the most successful sites will be the ones that allow its users to communicate with the coolest people in the coolest ways. If the site becomes overpopulated, users can often be put in

As sites increase their membership and web traffic, they become able to increase the amount they charge to advertise on their site, thus increasing their profit. This can be taken to further levels as social networking sites use the information on subscribers’ profiles to help

touch with people they rather wouldn’t be, not to mention having to deal with large levels of spam left in their comments section.

In terms of popularity, the clear winner is Facebook. According to alexa.com, which tracks global internet usage by

site, it is second only to the behemoth that is Google, and ranks safely above competitors such as MySpace and Twitter. It even manages to attract higher usage than Youtube and Wikipedia, as well as msn and Yahoo. As trends change, Bebo has suffered a massive drop in popularity, with a decline in usage of almost 20 per cent over the last three months. Somehow, it has managed to maintain a huge market share in Ireland, where it remains one of the top ten most visited sites.

People often question the potential damages of social networking, as they become a forum for extremism. Within the last fortnight, Facebook was forced to remove a poll from a user’s profile which asked “Should Barack Obama be assassinated?” The poll offered response options including “If he takes my healthcare.” The site removed the poll after it was brought to their attention and the story was soon picked up by national news.

In typical American fashion, the ensuing debate has focused on issues of free speech and whether or not Facebook

were right to intervene by removing the poll. According to Komito though, it was standard procedure to deal with incitement of hatred. “What happened there is no different to legislation that would govern television, radio or newspapers.”

The advent and success of Twitter secured the popularity of ‘microblogging’, leaving short messages updating your followers on your current activities. Twitter has been heralded by many as the future of the media. Just last month, the crash of the Luas and a Dublin Bus was reported almost instantly on Twitter, with RTÉ News taking their images and information from the Twitter website. Sites like this promote the notion that mainstream media is a dying breed. Twitter it seems could be a revoloutionary step in social networking.

We can only wonder what the next big thing in social networking is going to be. In terms of hardware, sites will be aiming to increase their suitability for the new generation of smart phones entering the market. Google are working on a program that will host all your individual profiles from Bebo, Facebook and MySpace in the one place. Either way, we can be assured that the industry will continue to be as dynamic, innovative and revolutionary as it has been in the last decade.

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COMMENT

comment@universityobserver.ie

TALLEYRAND Regimes may fall and fail, but I do not…

It’s amazing how a fortnight can change perspectives.

Two weeks ago Talleyrand bemoaned the inactivity of your marvellously overpaid Crap-batical Officers as they meandered through another hundred students’ worth of registration fee seeking fresh meat for their frenzied egos.

Talleyrand, being the withered observer he is, must take his cap off to Belfield’s own Boys Club though: never did he suspect that the Students’ Pooh-nion would manage to change their habits, and instead squander the registration fees of thousands of students in drunken debauchery in a holiday village at the arse end of who-gives-a-shit at Class Rep Training. (‘Training’? Talleyrand suggests ‘Indoctrination’ at the very least.)

After making his office an appointment-only zone to get through the superhuman workload of the WhoMan Games, Paddy Ryan had his busiest period of the year so far, exerting himself more in preparation for the weekend than the rest of the year put together. First Superdud neglected to actually invite most of the 200 hacks-in-waiting to the incestuous love-in, and then lobbed his unwashed gob on some poor 17-year-old who no doubt left wanting a shower, a bowl of soup, and a hug from Mammy. Poor lamb. Remember kids, crime doesn’t pay.

The rest of the Shitbattical Officers had a far less stressful time; Executive Committee Working Group Taskforce Sitter-Onner, Frank – sorry, that’s Donnacha – O’Sullivan, sadly managed to come away from the weekend without anything achieved on his Weekend Wishlist: a healthy liver, a notch on the bedpost, or a stately portrait of a stoic stag.

Thankfully, Donnacha’s loyal colleagues came to the Achill Arsehole’s rescue, stashing a framed painting of a deer in a crafty hiding place, somewhere among the nineteen thousand boxes of training folders brought on the junket. To think Talleyrand only thought Monarch of the Glen was a repugnant BBC sitcom! Thank Jehovah for Stephen Whelan and his Being Involved in such wonder.

In contrast to Donnacha’s sober (!) weekend, the other careerists seemed to do rather well; Scott Ahearn spent his days (and probably nights) getting rid of those suggestive stray hairs before the Nudey Photoshoot of Sexist Doom™ – those eyebrows won’t pluck themselves now, will they?

He certainly didn’t spend the weekend on spell check with “Marie Murrey”, whoever she is – while hack in excelsis Gary Redmond spent the weekend up to his eyeballs with the hassle of delegating work to stand-in PA, Rob ‘The General’ Lowney, as the regular one was predisposed contracting [advice on] major infectious international diseases.

Mind you, the cockles of Talleyrand’s boulder heart were warmed to hear that the legend of Goldilocks – the yellow-haired cutie who went to sleep only for a host family to show up wondering who was in their child’s bed – still lives on in the Yoof.

Elsewhere, SocietyLand has been in its usual Countdown mode – one from the top and five grand from the bottom please, Carol – as LawSoc played host to Declan Ganley’s 2nd Annual European Hot Air Convention in O’Reilly Hall last week. Mind you it did give Conor O’Hanlon a chance to dig out his mayoral chain (possibly, nay probably, the reason Bertie agreed to come – the Devious One is a fan of chains of office) while the world’s media looked on, all the while asking that golden question, “Who’s that kid beside Bertie?”

At least O’Hanlon will be able to show the photos to his grandchildren; Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Deehee-hee will only be able to recall hazy memories of the Arts and B&L Societies they once ran – into the ground – after Silvertip Butler realised that in the current economic climate, next year’s batch of Fresher’s Week jackets would stretch further than the “Student Welfare Fund” (Ha! Like anything about that fund could be described as ‘well fair’…) and took a swipe at the last remaining vestiges of student life.

As if all of the above wasn’t bad enough, Talleyrand came to the worst, most harrowing conclusion of his perpetual collegiate education on Saturday afternoon: history will judge that the campaigns officer who

Quotes of the fortnight “The SU has been frivolous with its monies in the recent past.

Expenditure has been high, its true value questionable, and saving has been minimal”

“I find it slightly disgusting that Declan Ganley was treated the way he was for contributing one million of his money to the public debate”

SU President Gary Redmond on his predecessors’ money mis-management

Michael McDowell SC, opines on the

“We didn’t set out to rise up the rankings” UCD President Dr Hugh Brady on UCD breaking the THS Top 100 universities

media at a recent Law Society event

“Many thought this was a battle that we

would not win but we never lost hope” USI President Peter Mannion on the new programme for government that took third level fees off the table

Stop the presses Michael McDowell’s address to LawSoc on the role of the media was blinkered by narcissism, writes Jack Horgan-Jones

“T

he media doesn’t like being criticized.

They don’t like being attacked in any way. They don’t like anything being said against them or their standards.” – Michael McDowell, UCD, 6th October 2009 Michael McDowell’s recent lecture to the UCD Law Society was, unfortunately for him, prefaced by the announcement of the results of a first year Class Rep election. For the only sitting Tánaiste not to be returned to office in a general election, this must have brought up some uncomfortable memories.

McDowell’s talk, entitled ‘The Role of the Media in Irish Society’, seemed determined to frame Irish media, and the media at large, in the context of its least scrupulous practitioners. Time and again, McDowell referred to the evils of Fox News, the disproportionate influence of the Murdoch media, and the sprawling (but stumbling) cadre of titles owned by Independent News & Media in Ireland. If McDowell’s media is a woman, he seems unduly preoccupied with her unattractive face, and ignorant of the fact that she has, upon examination, quite a nice arse.

Only a fool would contend that the Irish media is composed solely of paragons of journalistic virtue, or that our red tops are staffed by chin-stroking hacks quibbling over the moral vagaries of photoshopping a composite image of Katy French and Madeline McCann onto the front page. However, to judge an entire profession by the failures of its most flawed practitioners would be serious folly. Imagine, for a moment, if we were to judge McDowell’s performance in his various professions by the actions of Messrs Burke and Lynn.

With all due deference to McDowell, allow me to surmise his argument for the benefit of those not in attendance.

The media, apparently, have great power to shape the form consensus takes in a liberal democracy, and this power is not interrogated enough by the media for self-serving reasons. This absence of interrogation manifests itself through an unwillingness by the media to apply the same standards to individual journalists and media organs, as would be applied to those in office.

Although McDowell argued his case persuasively – as, of course, would be expected by one who took silk before the age of forty – it was disappointing that he presented such a one-sided view of the debate. He failed to recognise that the supposed power of the media does not exist in any legislative sense, or that one can change the channel easier than one can change a government.

The worst example of this came when McDowell implied that The Irish Times was in some way complicit in the recent property bubble, evidenced by their €50m investment in the vastly unprofitable MyHome.ie website. While the media may not have looked closely enough at our rapidly expanding bubble, neither did they put in place the tax incentives that encouraged this bubble; they were no guiltier than the rest of the population in seemingly wanton ignorance.

To suggest their role aggregates with that played by governments who allowed a society to be built around such tragically flawed parameters verges on the farcical.

Furthermore, to suggest that this is a oneway street is selective argument in its most extreme form. The notion that the political establishment might be virginally unsullied in their manipulation of the body politic through the press, is demolished by a brief consideration of the role Alistair Campbell played during the Blair years. Failing that, rent In The Loop from your local DVD shop.

One of McDowell’s most persuasive points, that media do not interrogate themselves sufficiently in the same way they do politicians, has been most serendipitously

exploded in the days since his speech. He contended that the wages paid out by RTÉ were not scrutinized in the same way that those paid to politicians were. The recent outrage surrounding, and subsequent defence of, the wages paid to Pat Kenny etc. has put paid to this particular argument.

One hopes it does likewise to the practice.

It is not within the scope of this article to fully discuss every point raised by McDowell in his address. Neither is it the intent to imply that he is grossly and dramatically wrong, and merely whining that the media give the political classes a hard time. He raised many fascinating and engrossing points, such as the deeply troubling fact that the support of the Murdoch press for the Labour Party in Britain was conditional on the leadership discussing any change in EU policy with Rupert Murdoch beforehand.

In the course of his speech, McDowell contended that a free press cannot exist without a free government. This writer contends that this is the central point of this article: journalists have a right, a duty and a responsibility to interrogate those who hold power. It is not their primary role to apply this duty to themselves.

In executing their duty, they lose their way, and are as totally imperfect as anyone else. However, to characterise an entire profession by these frailties is folly, onesided, and ultimately ignorant of the many honest journalists who prosecute their roles with integrity and public-mindedness. Neither side is perfect, and both are best served by mindfulness of this fact.

To facilitate a consideration of the symbiotic and interchangeable nature of the relationship between government and media, one suggests the reader substitute the word ‘politician’ for ‘media’ into the quote that precedes this article.

13.10.09

THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

17

EDITORIAL

editor@universityobserver.ie

Photo of the fortnight

Editorial

13th October 2009

The posters debate has reared its head again this week, with the fining of two of UCD’s societies for what has been described as an event that was “in breach of the basic standards of propriety and consideration.”

Is it really inconsiderate to promote ‘The Virgin Ball’, is it insensitive? We are the South Park, Family Guy and Perez Hilton generation, and yet that doesn’t seem to translate to this campus. Why are our morals and our horses so much higher on campus than at home? The argument of course, is that we have the choice of what we watch at home – we can’t choose what we see on the way from the science building to the restaurant.

But have we really become that sensitive, that moral indignation and outrage pervade at the sight of a provacative poster, or indeed a childish event name? How have we come to the point that something called ‘The Virgin Ball’ is seen as an offensive and derogatory event?

Crass perhaps. Juvenile undoubtedly. Funny – not particularly, but worthy of a €5000 fine?

Arts Soc and B&L have been made examples of. If that was the intention of Recognition Committee, they have likely succeeded, but not only at a cost to the two societies involved. If our society audi-

tors are constantly worried about fines, punishments and reprimands; the diversity, imagination and creativity of the events they hold will wane. ‘Playing it safe’ can only lead to stagnation. Yes they have a responsibility to the students of this university, they should uphold the basic standards, but why does the line seem several hundred yards further back in Belfield than in the rest of society?

And yet this indignation appears to be reserved for posters alone.

In our last issue, we interviewed a former pornography actress, and included a semi-nude photo from her days in the industry. There were no complaints. Was that image not as provacative, as offensive as the recent ‘Intercourse’ posters that appeared around Belfield?

Of course the debate over offensive posters will rage on, probably well past the time when everyone reading this has graduated. The issue with this incident is not that, or indeed if, Arts Soc and B&L caused offence, but that they were unable to properly defend their actions to Recognition Committee.

It would seem that societies’ only means of successfully defending themselves is by grovelling to a committee. It’s widely known that anything other than profuse apologies will result in harsh rep-

Letters to the Editor Letters should be sent by email to letters@universityobserver.ie or by mail to: The Editor, The University Observer, Student Centre, Belfield, Dublin 4 All letters are subject to editorial approval. The Editor reserves the right to edit any letters.

Missing Person Madam, We wonder whether you could put a notice in your newspaper informing your readers about our missing son (photo enclosed).

Our son’s name is Thomas Mueffke. He is 19, 6’2” in height, wears glasses, and was dressed in blue jeans and a (green) T-shirt with the Irish shamrock.

Thomas might be wearing a sports jacket and might have packed a small brown-green rucksack.

He left Germany for Dublin on 11th September 2009 and there is some doubt surrounding his exact whereabouts.

If our son might be located by your readers, we would be grateful if they could let us know by emailing imueffke@web.de. There is only a small chance, but we are trying anything to find our son.

Yours, etc, Gunter and Iris Mueffke Cunnersdorf, Germany

World Banking System Madam, In light of the recent credit crunch, it is my firmly-held belief that the governments of the world should revoke the licences of commercial banks, and in effect raze them to the ground.

This theory is underpinned by the fact that the commercial banks have destroyed the lives and livelihoods of so many people, in addition to the economies of so many countries.

Each country should simply have a national bank, run purely for national interest, given that the provision of money should merely be a means of exchange for goods and services that add real value to any economy.

In effect, simply having a national bank would mean acting in the public interest and not for profit, resulting in a more efficient market economy, in addition to a more fair and just society.

Yours, etc, Ryan Kelly Armagh City

SU Education Officer, Donnacha Ó Súilleabháin, is pelted by predecessor Paul Lynam as part of the Pink Day charity ‘Splat A Sabbat’ event Photo: Colin Scally

rimands for the society in question.

Presenting your case in a way other than to fully admit fault and plead forgiveness seems to have no effect.

How have we handed so much power over to one body, a body that this time has gone too far – as our societies are so often accused of

doing?

There is something fundamentally wrong with this system. Perpetuating a culture of fear among auditors is not the objective of Recognition Committee nor of Societies Council, and yet that is what they have instilled.

It’s time to change this system, to publicise it and hand it over fully to the students. We can govern ourselves and our societies responsibly in an open forum, if we’d only take back the power we’ve given away.

Contributors: Volume XVI, Issue 2 Editor Catriona Laverty Deputy Editor Gavan Reilly Art & Design Director Kristin McKnight otwo Editors Eoin Brady & Colin Sweetman Chief otwo Writer Jake O’Brien News Editor Bridget Fitzsimons Comment Editor James Fagan Features Editor Peter Molloy Science & Health Editor Farouq Manji Sport Editor Killian Woods

Contributors Seán Allman, Agony Anto, The Badger, Westley Barnes, Amy Bracken, Anna Byrne, Richard Chambers, Alex Court, Stephen Devine, Cormac Duffy, Grace Duffy, Gary Dunne, Caitríona Farrell, Conor Feeney, Diarmuid McDermott, Paul Fennessy, Daniel Fox, John Gallagher, Sam Geoghegan, Kris Goodbody, Matt Gregg, Michael Halton, Sally Hayden, Jack Horgan-Jones, Fearghal Kerin, Lisa Lavelle, Diarmuid Lawlor, Sophie Lioe, Nicola Lyons, Ryan Mackenzie, Catherine Maguire, James Martin, Michelle McArdle, Michelle McCormick, Kathryn McKay, Seán McKernan, Mystic Mittens, Slightly Mollified, Conor Murphy, Emma Murphy, Shane Murphy, Ciarán Ó Braonáin, Quinton O’Reilly, Andy Panda, Cathy Shirran, Emer Sugrue, Talleyrand, Ekaterina

Tikhoniouk, Selva Unal, David Uwakwe, Natalie Voorheis, Stephanie Wallace Chavanne, Amy Walsh Photographers Emer Igbokwe, Kathryn McKay Special Thanks Richard, Graham, Malcolm, Ian, Tim, Dave, Jonathan, Ade (and the robots) at Trafford Park Printing; Paul at Higgs; Eilis O’Brien and Dominic Martella; Colm, Claire, Rory and Danielle at MCD Promotions; Orla Breslin at Friction PR; Laura and Darren at Warner, Bernie Divilly at PIAS; Rob Lowney; Giselle Jiang; Dave Carmody; Dominic, Grace, Mark, Sandra, Charlie, Jason, Paul and all the Student Centre staff; Bombay Pantry, Gong, Cadbury’s Shots (again), Tesco Cheese Puffs, Tiffin, Red Pens, Ceiling Cat, InCopy

Clarification & Apology

Film & TV Editor Conor Barry

In the 29th September 2009 issue of The University Observer, we incorrectly attributed the article ‘Red Dragon spreads its wings’ to Shane Murphy. This article was in fact authored by Hugh McDowell.

Fashion Editor Seán McGovern

It is the policy of The University Observer to rectify any errors as soon as they arise. Queries and clarifications can be addressed to info@universityobserver.ie.

Image Editor Colin Scally “And it was actually a really loud seagull”

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SCIENCE & HEALTH

science@universityobserver.ie

Alcohol dependency linked to ‘bad’ gene Ekaterina Tithoniouk reports on a new study identifying a genetic cause - and maybe a cure - for alcoholism

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n modern day Ireland, it is often difficult to personally realise the boundary between a few hearty drinks, and full-blown alcohol abuse. People who regularly drink heavily develop a reliance on alcohol for every-day functioning. Alcoholism is typically defined as physical dependence on alcohol, to the extent that stopping alcohol use will bring on withdrawal symptoms.

This so-called ‘scourge of humanity’ has existed ever since the first Stone Age people figured out how to ferment ale, and has remained with us for thousands of years.

The ancient Egyptians fermented grapes into wine, while the Incas spat chewed corn into a tub, left it for three days, and then got intoxicated from the resulting brew – and of course, alcoholism advanced hand-in-hand with these developments.

Throughout the ages, there have been many methods thought up to combat alcohol abuse, ranging from public whipping to flamboyant exorcisms of the demons living

within the person, to more modern methods of group therapy and rehabilitation clinics.

Alcoholism was regarded, until most recently, as a craving that could only be beaten with a ‘mind-over-matter’ approach, emphasising willpower and learning control. It was believed to be an addiction that could happen to anyone, regardless of heredity features or family background.

But a growing body of scientific

“Alcohol dependency was drastically higher among twins whose biological parents were alcoholics, regardless of whether their adoptive parents drank or not”

evidence proves that alcoholism has a genetic component. An individual’s risk of becoming dependant on alcohol is influenced by a hereditary gene, identified as GABRG3 on chromosome 15 of a person’s DNA. A study run by investigators at the Washington University School of Medicine is the first to link this particular gene to alcohol dependence. Taking interviews and DNA samples from more than 10,000 individuals in alcohol treatment centres, as well as from their families, the survey succeeded to link small genetic defects in the gene GABRG3 to an increased likelihood of an individual to develop alcoholism.

This new research reinforces many other studies that have used laboratory animals, as well as human test subjects, to illustrate the role of genes in the growth of alcoholism. The most famous of these is a twin study in Sweden, recording alcohol use in twins who were adopted and reared apart.

The incidence of alcoholism was only slightly higher in individuals who were exposed to alcoholism by their adoptive families; however alcohol dependency was drastically higher among the twins whose biological parents were alcoholics, regardless of whether their adoptive parents drank or not.

These tests indicate that genetic

factors play a huge role in the development of alcoholism.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children of alcoholics are four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics.

Alcoholism is a growing problem, especially in such countries as Ireland, Finland Children of alcoholics are four times more likely than and the UK, others to become alcoholics themselves where extreme that larger quantities need to be ingested binge drinking is in order for the individual to become prevalent. Currently 38 per cent of Irish intoxicated. Another result is the appeardrinkers binge drink, compared to a Euance of withdrawal symptoms, where the ropean average of ten per cent. The Irish individual feels an overpowering urge to also have the highest levels of alcohol drink in order to alleviate their distress. consumption per capita in all of Europe, Although this groundbreaking and it is estimated that 5.5 per cent of us research has cast a ray of light on the have an alcohol abuse problem. possible causes of alcoholism, there Dependency on alcohol is prevalent are many more questions left to solve, among young adults, especially in stusuch as the possibility of a medical dents overindulging in their consumpcure. A decade ago the notion of curing tion of this drug. As with many other alcoholism would have sounded almost drugs, repeated abuse can lead to severe ridiculous, but in light of these recent addiction. One result of prolonged use breakthroughs, it seems more and more is an increased tolerance for alcohol, so plausible in the years ahead.

The Ig-Nobel arts Caitríona Farrell investigates the cutting-edge research of the 2009 Ig Nobel Prize winners, science’s own comic relief In the words of the genius Nobel Prize winner, Albert Einstein, “the whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking.” The whole of science isn’t beyond comprehension, a fact proven by the existence of the Ig Nobel Prizes.

The 2009 Ig Nobel Prizes, organised

by Improbable Research, were awarded earlier this month at Sander’s Theatre in Harvard University, with the aim of providing and promoting “research that makes people laugh, and then think”.

This year, the Ig Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Stephan Bolliger and his colleagues from the University of Bern, Switzerland, for determining experimentally whether it is better to be smashed over the head with a full bottle of beer or an empty one, in their work entitled ‘Are Full or Empty Beer Bottles Sturdier and Does Their Fracture-Threshold Suffice to Break the Human Skull?’ Apparently, they’re both capable of breaking your skull if the bottle is big enough. Bit of a moot point really, so. The Chemistry prize, in a related vein, was awarded to researchers from Mexico for creating diamonds from tequila – making a popular night for alcohol-related research.

Women, too, were a common theme among the Ig Nobel Prizes this year.

The Public Health Prize was awarded to scientists from Chicago for their joint effort in a unique and innovative brassiere. In the event of poisonous gas emergency, the bra can be quickly and readily converted into a pair of protective face masks, with one serving the brassiere owner and the other to be given to a needy bystander on the scene.

‘Garment Device Convertible to One or More Facemasks’ has us all eagerly

awaiting this ultimate wonderbra’s arrival in our nearest La Senza – though for the male population, sadly one will need to be a ‘needy bystander’ to benefit from this latest fashion accessory.

It only gets better when physics is in-

“Mother Nature has done her share of talking and is letting physics figure it out” volved. Ever considered why a pregnant woman isn’t slightly off-balance? The prize for physics was presented to scientists from various American universities for their collective analysis determining the logic behind why women during pregnancy don’t tip over.

‘Fetal Load and the Evolution of Lumbar Lordosis in Bipedal Hominins’ can be traced back to predictions originally made by Charles Darwin, who postulated that bipedal posture (the ability to walk on two legs) and locomotion (the ability to move from place to place) were important distinguishing features of the earliest known hominids.

The 2009 Ig Nobel Prizes, organised by Improbable Research, were awarded earlier this Bipedalism poses month at Sander’s Theatre in Harvard University, a unique challenge to pregnant women. To also incorporating aspects compensate for the extra of social and behavioural weight of pregnancy, evolution has given science involved in the rise to the S-curvature of the spine, and management of livestock. reinforcement of the lumbar vertebrae.

On farms where cows were Essentially, the female race has evolved called by name, milk yield over quite a long period of time to adapt was significantly higher to baby-weight. This is where biology than on farms where cows meets physics and the two agree: equilibwere not assigned names. rium and a centre of mass are established Elite winners of the because Mother Nature has done her Nobel Prizes in the past share of talking and allows physics to including Albert Einstein, take care of the rest Martin Luther King, Marie The Veterinary Medicine Prize also Curie and Sir Alexanprovided the usual mix of scientific der Fleming have high discovery and irreverent humour. Cathcontenders following in erine Doughlas and Peter Rowlison of their footsteps, but we Newcastle University were honoured are now looking at two with this prize, for showing that cows different science brackets. who have been given a name by their The Nobel Prizes represent carers give more milk than cows who are the highbrow standards left nameless. while the Ig Nobel Prizes Their study, ‘Exploring Stock Managrepresent something more ers Perceptions of the Human-Animal recent and fresh. Both Relationship on Dairy Farms and an are research, and each are Assocciation with Milk Production’, was As bright as a Daisy: cows given names are valuable contributions. a great success in the veterinary field,

proven to produce more milk

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science@universityobserver.ie

All about the chemistry

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n the 1870s, a French scientist named Jean-Henri Fabre studied moths and discovered that male moths travelled exceptionally large distances to visit a female.

He theorised that female moths were sending out chemical signals to attract the male – in other words, a type of pheromone.

Since Fabre’s revelation, pheromones have been discovered almost everywhere.

In the 1980s, human sex pheromones were discovered: it transpired that people emitted odourless chemicals with the sole goal of eliciting a carnal response from the opposite sex.

The role of pheromones in human mating behaviour may be stronger than you might expect.

The human immune system is governed by a set of genes called the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), which are a set of blueprints for immune function. Animal studies in the 1990s indicate that an animal’s scent carries information about their MHC – and generally, animals are attracted to mates with a dissimilar MHC so as to make sure that their offspring have a diverse, stronger immune system.

Human studies have indicated that when women are fertile, they prefer the scent of men who have a more diverse set of MHC genes. Other studies have indicated that the scent of mates who are more dissimilar in their MHC profiles may influence the choice of partner. The question remains, however: does this actually change human behaviour in the real world?

According to the above studies, men were adjudged to prefer the scent of women who were either facially attractive or fertile. Scent obviously holds a lot of information – and whether or not we

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consciously perceive it, it may influence our behaviour in subtle ways.

Pheromones are believed to be governed by hormones, and are therefore open to manipulation from external sources. Several studies have shown women using birth control tend to favour men with more similar MHC profiles, than when they are off the Pill.

Recently, British researchers from the University of Sheffield concluded that the use of birth control can genuinely change what type of men women are

therefore those with similar genes, rather than potential mates who would be genetically different. This theory fits neatly with the researched evidence thus far.

A study published in Psychological Science found that women paired with men with similar MCH profiles were less sexually satisfied, and more likely to cheat on their partners. Essentially, if a woman were to enter a relationship on the Pill, she might be more likely to be with someone with a similar MHC profile – and if she subsequently

attracted to.

Those women whose hormonal cycle is controlled by oral contraception are, apparently, more likely to be attracted to effeminate men. They postulate that these women choose mates who are more genetically similar – and this may pose a problem with fertility. Women off the Pill, however, are more likely to seek out more competitive, rugged, muscular men who are genetically dissimilar to themselves.

Some scientists believe that because the Pill mimics the effects of pregnancy, women who are on contraceptives may be attracted to nurturing relatives, and

went off the Pill she would be more attracted to other, MHCdissimilar males, greatly raising the chances of an affair.

Pheromones may also carry information about female fertility.

Hormonal changes that take place over the course of the female fertility cycle may help give off chemical signals that are subtly alluring to men.

The Pill, therefore, can also interfere with natural attraction, but this has not been conclusively proven.

Though it is interesting to note how pheromone signals could be altered by extrinsic hormonal regulation, it is

Farouq Manji explores the role of pheromones in human mating and attraction Science Editor Farouq Manji

not to say that the Pill is a problematic drug. The laws of attraction and mating are too vast and complex to be reduced to simple hormones and pheromones. In other words, don’t stop taking the Pill just because of this article. I don’t want you knocking on my door with your unplanned kids.

That said, it appears as though pheromones are a

medium through which a potential mate can convey information about their genes and fertility status, and maybe more. It’s possible that in the future we could use complex genetic testing, compatibility surveys, and an abundance of other media – which, admittedly, would cost thousands – to find a suitable mate.

All of this information seems to be readily available in our scent, and the evidence thus far indicates that at some level, the receiving person can decode, and is influenced, by the information in our pheromones.

Pheromones convey information about fertility, genetic detail, and even your shoe size

How sorta cool stuff works: the Internet Sean McKernan explains how the world’s easiest way to order pizza really works Very few inventions have changed the world as much as the internet, especially in such a short space of time. Just fifty years old this year, the internet has changed from a scientific tool, into a mainstream provider of services used by 1.5 billion people every day.

Before the internet, data could only be transferred between computers by manually entering it into the second computer. The modern internet evolved in the 1990s from no fewer than four other precursors first created in the 1960s.

The precursors of the internet came from various different sources: a model called Arpanet was designed to allow communication between universities; the RAND Corporation created a military computer network in the US; the National Physical Laboratory in England created a commercial computer network; and Cyclades was created

by French researchers.

The internet is a network of over 350 million computers connected using various methods (wires, fibre optic cables, or satellites). Data is stored on large computers called servers throughout the world, and when needed is transferred to your computer using a set of rules called the TCP/IP protocol.

I obviously don’t want to bore you so I’ll spare you the details, but this protocol defines how data is transferred between computers. The data is initially split into thousands of small pieces, and is sent to your computer using different routes. It is then reassembled in your computer; this process is called packet switching.

Packet switching means that if one cable is severed, data can still flow using other routes.

In 2008 a cable supplying the Middle East was destroyed but, using other cables the internet was still able to

“All of these useful

services, and pizza deliveries, are now accessible from under your bed covers, making it increasingly difficult to get up for those early lectures”

function fully.

The modern internet still relies heavily on cables hanging at 200m depth in the world’s oceans. Other methods of connection include satellites and radio waves.

To use the internet, each computer must be able to be identified and this is done using an IP address (four numbers unique to each computer on the internet) that function like your house address. Using this address data can be sent to your computer. When you type, say, www.google.com into your web browser, it is converted into the number which allows your computer to know where to go. (Google is 216.239.51.99 in case you wondered.)

One of the most important factors of the internet is speed, with broadband connections being some of the fastest. Broadband works by increasing the speed of the internet connection by using multiple ‘channels’ to increase the amount of data transferred.

To connect to the internet, most users will use an Internet Service Provider. These services act as a middleman between the internet and your com-

puter. They are also able to restrict access to sites or files, such as file-sharing networks. This is a controversial practice, compared by some people to censorship.

Eircom has recently been criticised for blocking access to the famous torrent site The Pirate Bay. Other governments place heavy censorship on the internet, such as China, which restricts access to many

services and sites.

Many services now use the internet with banking, communication and gaming all heavily investing in their online systems. All of these useful services, and pizza deliveries, are now accessible from under your bed covers, making it increasingly difficult to get up for those early lectures – at least for me anyway…

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Heineken Cup brews tough tests for Irish Munster and Leinster got off to a slow start in European rugby but Ulster can keep the Irish flag flying, writes Sam Geoghegan

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t has begun: the greatest club competition in world rugby commenced last weekend with its usual panache, splendour and unpredictability. The European Cup is back and, from an Irish perspective, it certainly hasn’t started the way it ended last season.

Leinster and Munster, the two previous champions, lost their opening matches to London Irish and Northampton respectively, and after the brilliant year Irish rugby enjoyed last season, this opening weekend suggests that Leinster and Munster might not have it all their own way this time around.

It was the clash of the titans at the RDS on Friday with Guinness Premiership leaders London Irish meeting Magners League pace-setters, and defending Heineken Cup champions, Leinster. The Exiles met Leinster’s speed and tenacity with their own mixture of free-flowing back play and the disruption of their opposition’s set pieces.

Irish were unafraid of the prospect of the defending champions and came with a point to prove. Leinster seemed to lack a cutting edge after the mauling

of Munster the previous week, and it was left to fly half Jonathan Sexton and Exile fullback Peter Hewat to exchange penalties to level the score, 6-6, at the interval.

Then, with the scores tied 9-9, Irish were awarded a penalty which replacement, Ryan Lamb, kicked with consummate ease, administering a huge blow to Leinster’s chances of emulating last season’s success.

Coach Michael Cheika needs to find a way to sort out Leinster’s set piece problems and ill-discipline, which ultimately cost them the game on Friday night with the concession of needless penalties, before their second match away to French side Brive this coming weekend.

After seeing Leinster lose on Friday, how were Munster going to respond following the 30-0 drubbing at the hands of their close rivals last weekend? The heat was on – especially for Ronan O’Gara, who came up short against his competition for the Ireland number ten shirt, Jonathan Sexton, last week in Dublin.

The display wasn’t one of the typical Munster resilience we are accustomed to witnessing, but it was a huge improvement on the dire performance in

Ballsbridge last week. Following a shaky start from Munster and O’Gara, Paul Warwick’s opportunist drop-goal injected some belief into the red jersey and Munster levelled the score at 8-8 after good work from Keith Earls sent David Wallace in for the try.

Although all eyes were firmly fixed on O’Gara, opposing number Shane Geragthy stole the show with his assured style of play. Geraghty’s class created all of Northampton’s three tries and in the end, he was the difference between the two sides as the Saints held on for a 31-27 victory.

The forgotten province, Ulster, were the only Irish side to win on opening weekend – and an impressive victory it was too. Fly-half Ian Humphreys inspired his team to a 26-12 victory over English side Bath at Ravenhill on Friday night. Ulster scored two tries in the process and carried their impressive Magners League form into the pool stages of the Heineken Cup. Perhaps of the three sides, it might be Ireland’s first Heineken Cup winners of the north who stand the best chance of making an impact on the European stage this term.

A Star performance in the States for Sea Staking a claim to be Ireland’s greatest racehorse of all time, Sea the Stars’ owners are still aiming for Breeder’s Cup glory, writes Richard Chambers In what could prove to be the Irish colt’s final race, Sea the Stars overcame a difficult start to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last week. Emerging from a pack of fifteen, the three-year-old colt produced a miraculous recovery to manoeuvre out of difficulty and surge into the lead on the home straight. By winning the prestigious Paris race, Sea the Stars may now be considered among the greatest horses in turf racing history.

It was the crowning of a year that amounted to six group one wins, in the process becoming the first horse to win the triumvirate of the Epsom Derby, the 2,000 Guineas and ‘the Arc’. Ridden to all six triumphs by veteran jockey Mick Kinane, the Curragh-trained colt may now be finally showing signs of fatigue.

“His coat is gone,” remarked trainer John Oxx following the most recent victory. “He’s a phenomenal horse. You would hate to do anything wrong by him.”

Oxx’s comments may dampen speculation that Sea the Stars would participate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in California on 7th November.

Many racing experts believe that he simply has nothing left to prove. Sea the Stars could possibly now be retired to stud, where owner Christopher Tsui can expect to fetch up to €100 million for the champion colt should he decide to sell him. The consensus now is that he is likely to be retired to the Irish National Stud in Tully, Co. Kildare.

‘Fearghal’ on Sport Rory McIlroy is showing true professionalism at such a young age, while Rafa Benitez and Michael Cheika are the sources of the problems at Liverpool and Leinster, writes Fearghal Kerin - still sans title for his column Rory McIlroy might not have won the Alfred Dunhill Links championship, but his performance once more is a reminder of just how good this young man can become.

It is so easy to forget that he is as young as many of those that are only beginning in UCD this year, with the boy only having turned twenty this year.

McIlroy’s short game still has improvement ahead, and he needs to develop the consistency to shoot four good rounds a weekend.

I have little doubt though, and nor does Tiger Woods, that he will be going all the way to the top of the sport. His treatment of Shane Lowry, buying the amateur a crate of champagne and celebrating with him on the 18th green when he won the 3 Irish Open this summer, showed all the hallmarks of a gentleman, and the fondness with which all involved in the sport hold him is testament to that.

Sky Sports commentators speak of McIlroy with the same tone a loving grandfather would speak about his talented child. The Northern Irishman is just another from the conveyor belt of talented Irish golfers – astounding given the relative lack of size of the country. The North in particular is an anomaly; with the exception of Serbian tennis players or Cuban boxers, there can be very few countries with such an extraordinary number of world-class talents per capita in a major sport. ****

Sea the Stars might yet participate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in California next month

However, Tsui has no intentions of ruling out travelling to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup, as huge interest is mounting in the American racing world over his potential participation. Santa Anita president Ron Charles has admitted that he is lobbying for Sea the Stars to take part, acknowledging that the Classic needs what he termed a “marquee horse”. Whatever decision is taken by Tsui and Oxx, the legacy of Sea the Stars is guaranteed.

The Curragh racehorse comes from a rich line of former greats. The offspring of Uran Sea, a previous winner of the Arc, and thoroughbred Cape Cross, he seemed almost destined for success. The natural

attributes of Sea the Stars are unrivalled by any current ride. Indeed, the versatility that has carried him to victories at every distance has led Oxx to describe him as “the Usain Bolt of the equine world.”

The comparisons are plain to see: the strong finishes at the Eclipse and the 2,000 Guineas, the physical domination of the field at Epsom and Leopardstown, and the temperament to keep cool at the Arc are all reminiscent of the Jamaican sprinter.

“He’s not just the best horse I’ve ever trained,” remarked Oxx before the coup at the Arc, “he’s the horse of a lifetime.” Of that there is now little doubt.

Football’s international break gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the start of the Premier League season. At the risk of schadenfreude, it’s easy to take great pleasure from Liverpool’s slow start.

With four defeats already in all competitions, Liverpool’s form so far this term compares less than favourably to last season’s record over the entire season.

Benitez, for all his aloofness, must surely realise his arrogance in trying to force Xabi Alonso out of the club in 2008 is the reason for many of their woes right now. It will be interesting to see how Alonso’s €20m replacement, Alberto Aquilani, fares - though Aquilani plays a very different role than the Spaniard, and is continually hampered by injury.

One of the more common criticisms thrown at Benitez is the issue regarding the ‘zonal marking’ system, and up to this point the defenders of this concept have pointed out that there are flaws in traditional man-marking too.

This doesn’t stand up in the case of Liverpool, though, who seem to

concede exponentially more goals from set plays than the teams in the top three. Benitez will soon have to accept the facts and consider a change to this tactics.

Despite an inconsistent start to their season, Arsenal have – at times – looked like the best team in England. The problem remains, though, that Arsenal remain like the freestylers on YouTube who balance balls on their heads or hit the crossbar from their own penalty box: they have all the panache and guile in the world, but none of the intelligence or ability to play without the ball.

If Wenger could manoeuvre a situation like in ice hockey, where offence and defence can interchange freely, Arsenal might indeed look like winning a trophy – or more – again. Their victory against Blackburn illustrated this perfectly: though they scored six, Blackburn also had half a dozen clear-cut chances on goal. **** Ireland’s marquee year of rugby seems to have come to a crashing stop with Leinster’s home defeat against London Irish. How fitting, for a team renowned for being their own worst enemy, that it would be opponents with ‘Irish’ in their name that began the dethroning process.

Poor refereeing and moments of madness from newly returned Exiles Mike Ross and Eoin Reddan will be pointed to as causes of Leinster’s defeat, but in the light of day the problems lay a little closer to home.

Sure, Irish are Guinness Premiership finalists, but Michael Cheika’s tactics need to be examined more closely.

The Australian is attempting to build an effective side by installing an impenetrable defence structure, which was an adequate system last season.

However, things were different in previous scenarios: Leinster were usually vast underdogs and could rely on the behemoth Rocky Elsom to lead the pack.

At ‘home’ in the RDS, they’re going to need to show a lot more ambition if they intend making it beyond the Group Stage and avoid a humiliating abdication.

Only Leinster could manage it really.

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Italian ambition delivers Croker spectacle Killian Woods watched on at Croke Park as two Italian coaching heavyweights gave a 70,000-strong crowd a night to remember

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n the eve of Ireland’s final World Cup qualifier against Montenegro, there is a disappointment throughout the Irish camp that the fixture lacks the importance it seemed likely to have after 87 minutes last Saturday evening.

After scoring late against Italy, Giovanni Trapattoni’s team looked to have added a new twist to the penultimate round of fixtures in Group Eight.

Though Italy only needed one point to assure passage to South Africa next summer, the world champions displayed intentions of taking all three, showing real attacking flair throughout the game.

Italy’s ambition to play for all three points, matching the more desperate need of their hosts, made for a fantastic spectacle. Ireland’s overall performance could be regarded as their finest since the scoreless draw in France during the last World Cup Qualifying cycle.

However, as we bask in the excitement of the result and overall experience, it is disheartening to contemplate waiting another five years for a similar display from the Boys in Green.

It is frustrating to think that this impressive result changes nothing about the path Ireland must inevitably take to South Africa.

With the assurance of a play-off berth comes a two-legged tie against runnersup from other qualifying groups.

Potential opponents for the play-off include some of football’s bigger nations, due to FIFA’s late decision to seed the draw – Portugal, Russia and Croatia are

among the possible opponents. While the role of underdogs bodes well with Irish mindsets, Shay Given was disappointed about the decision of FIFA to essentially handicap “smaller” nations in the play-off draw.

Describing the situation as a “carveup for the big nations”, Given told The University Observer his views on Sepp Blatter’s decision. “I don’t know how they have got away with it… if from day one it’s clear, then it’s clear; but now they change it because some of the bigger nations are struggling.”

It would be naïve of Ireland, however, to bemoan such scheming tactics when at stages of the qualifying campaign, Ireland could be perceived to have shot themselves in the foot.

Trapattoni’s cautious tactical approach to the Bulgarian fixtures and the very winnable tie in Montenegro are a stark contrast to the must-win attitude embodied by the Irish team on Saturday.

If performances of a similar calibre to that displayed against Italy could have been produced in these matches, Ireland would have undoubtedly come out on

Without the ball, the Irish midfield became a flat and compact unit, having to compete for every 50-50 ball. Their failure to track Italian playmaker Andrea Pirlo depicted how straightforward and unadaptable the system was, as Pirlo sat between the central midfielders and defence with yards of space.

Without dwelling on the negative aspects, it was rewarding to see Trapattoni stay true to his word and attack Italy as he had promised the media on Wednesday.

It was also a good sign that after sixteen games in charge, the Italian has offered untested players like Lawrence, McGeady and St Ledger the chances to assert themselves on the international stage, while still building a new Irish midfield partnership of Andrews and Whelan.

Trapattoni’s ability to blood younger players has been one of the most positive aspects of his tenure so far. Speaking of Lawrence and his increasing importance in the squad, Trapattoni told the press that the Stoke midfielder “has a good personality; when we saw him, we thought about this situation. He has the mentality for the big occasion, he is confident with the ball.” He added, “We have decided how the team is going to play; we need to look for players who play our way.”

It has taken Trapattoni some time to finally mould a team in his image – but now that he has, some tactical tweaking can offer more performances like that offered against Italy and maybe, just maybe, we’ll meet them again in South Africa.

The Italian has offered untested players like Lawrence, McGeady and St Ledger the chances to assert themselves top.

Ireland’s improvements against Italy were based on added flair and better organisation at the set piece, though it would be wrong to consider this new system as a successful structure for the Irish team when facing stronger opposition in the future.

England expects Are England really capable of finally claiming a second World Cup? Paul Fennessy investigates As the World Cup qualifiers draw to a largely anti-climactic close, there is one question dominating the thoughts of many BBC and ITV observers – whether or not the current England squad have the mentality, guile and sheer talent to triumph in South Africa next summer.

The sporting public can undoubtedly prepare themselves for the usual tiresome tabloid hyperbole proclaiming the team’s apparent magnificence. In addition, people can expect an endless array of painfully bland and unnecessary headlines, along the lines of ‘Capello Praises England Camp’s Spirit’ or ‘Rooney Damages Toenail’.

However, this year appears to be a break from recent tradition, as the hype surrounding the England team for once seems justified. Needless to say, Fabio Capello’s unique regime, noticeably characterised by rigid disciplinary measures – in stark contrast to the laidback coaching style of his predecessors – has been the crucial component to the squads’ marked reinvention.

Yet despite the undue ease with which the team sauntered through qualification, England by no means constitutes the finished article. Pre-tournament form can often be deceiving – the manner in which they demolished Germany 5-1, only to struggle at the subsequent

World Cup in 2002, is a case in point.

In recent competitions, England’s most pressing flaw has been an inability to creatively unlock opponents. During the 2006 World Cup the side’s admirable work rate and defensive solidity were not matched by an attacking zest. Consequently, they exited the competition having failed to score in 120 minutes of football against Portugal.

Although Capello’s side are capable of scoring freely against teams of Croatia’s dubious standard, it remains to be seen if they can match this feat against more foreboding opposition such as Spain or Brazil. While the squad contains players, including Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who are eminently capable of finding the net, a Xavi-type playmaker to orchestrate their undoubted potential remains ostensibly elusive.

Nonetheless, a potential solution to this perpetual problem exists in the form of Paul Scholes. Some may argue, perhaps rightly, that his best days are behind him. But these naysayers would still be hard pressed to find an Englishborn player with a greater passing range than that which Scholes possesses.

While Ryan Giggs grabbed the majority of the accolades for his performance in Manchester United’s recent win over Stoke, there was no question in Tony Pulis’ mind as to who dictated proceed-

ings. “He was the best player on the pitch by a country mile,” Pulis stated of Scholes, following his side’s 2-0 defeat.

Clearly, questions remain over the player’s disciplinary record and his ability to last ninety minutes, not to mention whether he is even willing to be coaxed out of international retirement.

Even though it remains debatable if Scholes warrants a starting place in the England side, he represents a patently viable alternative to the strength and dynamism which Gerrard and Lampard exhibit in spades. He is a completely different type of footballer and thus, the perfect player to introduce if Plan A fails to flourish.

Moreover, when manifestly less gifted individuals such as Gareth Barry and Michael Carrick can be accommodated in the squad, then Scholes is unquestionably deserving of a chance to impress. For all his well documented tackling deficiencies, he continues to display evidence that he possesses the most acute football brain in the English game.

Whether Scholes would indeed accept the invitation to return from international retirement is uncertain, but with his plans to retire for good next summer, he could surely not resist a final chance to secure the one major trophy he has failed to acquire in his career.

The two veteran Italian managers served up a tactical feast

Veldt failing to meet required standards With the 2010 World Cup fast approaching, Ciarán Ó Braonáin thinks questions still surround South Africa’s ability to host the competition As the World Cup qualification stages finally reach the business end of proceedings, the prospect of travelling to the southern tip of Africa becomes a very real prospect for many fans. With teams of the calibre of England, Spain, Netherlands and Brazil booking their places already, we now turn to the host country itself to be sure that South Africa is ready for the World Cup. There is certainly no lack of enthusiasm to be found for the event, with almost 68,000 people, mostly South African, having already applied for volunteer work – almost exactly the same amount that applied to help at Germany 2006. With the competition fast approaching, however, building deadlines seem more and more challenging, though both FIFA and the South African government have stated their confidence in all projects being completed well in line with schedules.

South Africa may be a football mad country but it is also a country enveloped by mass crime, widespread poverty and – as a recent UN study has shown – one of the highest illegal drugs usage rates in the world. It is also a country still struggling to bridge a bitter racial divide.

Aside from the understandable issues resulting from the decades of apartheid, there is an immense general xenophobic atmo-

sphere existent in South Africa. This was highlighted in gruesomely horrific fashion in May 2008 when photographs of thirtyfive year old Mozambique father-of-three Ernesto Nhamuave, who was burned alive by a bloodthirsty mob, were beamed around the world. Nhamuave’s only crime was that he was foreign.

Stories like this do not exactly fill the travelling football fan with giddy excitement at the prospect of following their nation south for the summer. That said, last year saw South Africa’s World Cup dress rehearsal, the Confederations Cup, go off without any major worries in supporter safety. In fact the country has played host to many major sports events, from the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2003 to last summer’s Lions’ tour, all of which were greeted as tremendous successes.

The one major problem highlighted by the Confederations Cup (excluding those incessant vuvuzela horns) was the issue of transport. South African city transport is reliant on private minibus companies, which are currently undergoing an overhaul with the World Cup in mind. Massive investment has been put into the Gautrain, a new rail system in the Johannesburg-Pretoria region, but this will be only partially completed come summer 2010 and will not reach anywhere

13.10.09

Simply the best?

Effervescent NFL quarterback Brett Favre has done it all and now looks to cap a fine career, writes Ryan Mackenzie

B

ing the 2009 off-season but would also prompt the move that, above all else, demonstrates his astounding passion for the game.

After a brief retirement that lasted all of six months, from February to August 2009, Favre signed with the Minnesota Vikings, bitter rivals of the Green Bay Packers. Now the gunslinger finds himself rapidly approaching the wrong side of 40, but – in a curious parallel to Ryan Giggs – surprisingly in the best form he has displayed in some time.

Following the first four games of the season, Favre is the third highest ranked quarterback in the entire NFL, and has led his team to a flawless 4-0 start. What’s more, Favre’s Vikings side beat the Green Bay Packers last Monday night, in a game that saw the veteran shine, with three touchdown passes demonstrating to his old club just what they’re missing.

The win also enabled Favre to become the first quarterback in history to beat all 32 NFL teams.

The Vikings look to be major contenders to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy this season – the first title in the franchise’s history – and should Favre win his second Super Bowl ring, 13 years after his first, it will not only cap off a Hollywood-style career but would also make him a real contender for the title of the greatest player ever.

The Badger

Harrington’s erratic form nothing Major It has been an inconsistent year for Padraig Harrington, with the Irish golfer only showing flashes of his talent, writes Micheal Halton

Padraig Harrington’s Major-winning form has largely deserted him in 2009

The Badger has just aced the Fit and Proper Person theory test, and is off to buy Pompey for a tenner Let there be sackings and let the The Badger cannot fault their managers’ heads roll. Hire ‘em and upbeat attitude but laughs off their fire ‘em, the Badger says. We are delusions that they can turn it two months into the season and around. By adapting the common Phil ‘Tanny’ Brown is still in a job. cliché; if winning when you are The equilibrium must be realigned. playing badly is the sign of chamHull’s manager is probably wonpions; then obviously losing when dering what he has to do to get his you are playing well must be a sign sorry arse fired. He has barely won of, well, losers.

11/2 games since January, and is only As much as Hull and Paul Hart still in the coveted Premiership are showing the key characteristics because Newof hopelessness, castle could West Ham’s “Our innocent only muster chipper gaffer, hopes were cruelly up minus two Gianfranco Zola, wins for all of seems comshot down by Sepp last season pletely immune Blatter, like Bambi’s to negative press. though Brown will be unlikely mother as she His side might to get the sack, be sinking but it jumped the ravine” as long as seems little Zola he and Hull can do no harm.

Chairman Paul Duffen are BBFFs Ordinarily the Badger would like to (Best Boyfriends Forever). see this guy strapped to a lamppost Like Tangerine Phil, Neil Warin Soho so that we could all throw nock’s dead ringer at Portsmouth moderately-sized fruits at him. must be pinching himself that But not Zola. Dear Gianfranco he was still around to pick up a is the nicest guy in football. He pay cheque at all. Paul Hart has once visited a sick child in hospital managed to construct a squad of to try and bring some happiness veteran Carling Cup players who into his life. Later on that year, would lose 5-0 to the Arsenal the child died and Zola promised under 15’s second string. Hart can himself that he was going to score be cut some slack, though, having a very special goal in his memory. to deal with new owners requesting Roughly two years later, Zola fulrefunds after 40-odd days. Anyway, fills his promise, scoring that goal if Tommy Smith is your marquee and dedicates it to the child in a signing of the summer, it would post-match interview. True class by be a safe bet that you are looking the Italian, unlike the current crop down rather than up. of spoilt and overpaid superstars The Portsmouth fans, God love who beat up DJs and get away with them, are refusing to accept that it. they are doomed for relegation.

Speaking of DJs and violence.

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SPORT

sport@universityobserver.ie

rett Favre possesses some years, ending in 2007, after the Packof the most coveted ers’ management decided to replace quarterback achievethe veteran with a younger model. Faments in American Foot- vre controversially moved to the New ball, holding records for York Jets to continue his NFL career, most passing yards, passing touchdespite widespread opinion that he downs, wins, season MVP (Most should retire after a terrific 2007 seaValuable Player) awards, consecutive son, which would have provided the starts and the highest career quarterperfect climax to his legendary career. back rating ever - not to mention the Favre’s time in the Big Apple was all-important Super Bowl ring, won a roller-coaster ride. While showing in 1997 with the Green Bay Packers, needed by any great quarterback to lay his claim to the title of greatest ever triggerman.

While these achievements demonstrate Favre’s outstanding talent, it’s his ability to continue to perform at the top level after almost twenty years that makes him such a legend of the game.

Favre made his NFL Can Brett Favre end his NFL career in style? debut in 1991 with the Atlanta Falcons, before making the moments of brilliance, his season was historic move to Green Bay the next overshadowed by uncharacteristic season where he became a legend at mistakes and overall poor play by his the helm of the Packers’ offense. It own high standards. Unsurprisingly, was here that the Mississippi native most critics attributed this dramatic immortalised his famous number drop in form to his age, as the four jersey and emerged as a surefire autumn of his career appeared to be candidate for the NFL Hall Of Fame. approaching at an alarming rate.

He plied his trade in Green Bay’s This undoubtedly played a vital Lambeau Field for 15 monumental role in Favre’s decision to retire dur-

THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

Mr Gerrard (or “the defendant” as he’s more often known these days) has been awfully vocal in light of Liverpool’s really bad form.

In his latest comments following two successive losses, Stevie MBE promised Liverpool fans that the team would react to the bad form and “continue winning again”. The Badger can’t read people’s minds, but one would assume that the main idea floating around Stevie’s head would generally be to win – does he plan to “continue winning again” as opposed to carry on losing? Talk about stating the obvious.

Here’s one, Stevie: “We’ll never win the World Cup either.”

Such mental deficiencies might be the reason for Liverpool’s bad start to the season. While good performances and victories against West Ham, Burnley and Hull looked to have gotten the wheels rolling again, they left their season unattended for a moment, and their tyres and shiny alloys were proverbially snatched and their season put on bricks – not, of course, that it’d be the first time for that to happen in Liverpool.

On a more topical note, Ireland should seal their passage into the World Cup qualifying play-off extravaganza of death against Montenegro tomorrow night. However, just as we thought that we could see the glorious pastures of South Africa and were jumping on the plane, our innocent hopes were cruelly shot down by Sepp Blatter, like Bambi’s mother as she jumped the ravine.

As Padraig Harrington jetted of to Coone shot with two holes to play, only to penhagen to deliver a keynote address to succumb to a disastrous triple bogey. Harthe International Olympic Committee on rington responded strongly, though, as he golf ’s bid for Olympic admission, he will produced a robust defence of his US PGA have been able to reflect on an amazing title. The reigning champion was within turnaround he has completed over the last one shot of the lead at one stage, before two months. His recent fourth place finish a quintuple bogey wrecked his hopes of in the Tour Championship, just behind Ti- claiming a fourth major title. Despite this ger Woods, was a world setback, Harrington went away from the seven on to claim his only top-ten “The prospect of months of frustration three Irish men on major finish of the year. he endured at the start This renaissance proved the podium in Rio of 2009. to be the catalyst for a brilin 2016 may seem The swing change liant late season run which problems that dogged carried him to four further farfetched, but his early season form, top-ten finishes, includwhen Harrington, ruining his chances at ing the 4th place finish in McIlroy and both of the Opens and the Tour Championship, McDowell are at Augusta, now seem putting him in contention mentioned, the to have been resolved, for the FedEx Cup. Finishwith his prospects in the thought no longer ing second to Tiger Woods, end of season Race to seems so ridiculous” though, meant that it was Dubai greatly enhanced Woods who took the $10m as a result. winner’s bonus. Woods’s greater consistHarrington’s impressive form of late has ency over the course of the year made him come in direct contrast to his early season a worthy winner, as Harrington’s poor travails. A disappointing 35th place finish early results proved too much for him to at the Masters was followed by a string of overcome. five missed cuts in a row, including the The Dubliner will resume his challenge Irish Open and the US Open. A turning for the Race to Dubai in the Portugal Maspoint in his season came when he claimed ters next week, where he will look to chalhis first win of the year at the Irish PGA, lenge the lead of young tyro Rory McIlroy. which was his third successive victory in The northern teenager has had a year to the event. remember, claiming two top-ten finishes While the victory hinted at the prospect in the Majors including a tie for 3rd at the of a return to form, Harrington’s effort US PGA. His performances this year have faltered in the British Open as he stuttered underlined his world-class credentials, and to 65th place, missing out on the opportuin particular his undoubted potential to be nity of becoming the first man since Peter Ireland’s next Major champion.

Thomson in 1956 to win three successive Graeme McDowell’s performances, British opens. Criticism rained down on meanwhile, have highlighted that he the three-time Major winner as many will have major ambitions in 2010. The questioned the wisdom of changing a win- prospect of three Irishmen on the podium ning swing. in Rio in 2016 may seem farfetched, but Harrington travelled to the Bridgewhen Harrington, McIlroy and McDowell stone Invitational matchplay tournament are mentioned, the thought might not under growing pressure, but somehow seem so ridiculous, though Ireland might found himself leading world number one be disappointed by McIlroy’s decision to Tiger Woods in the tournament’s final by represent Great Britain at the Games.

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THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

13.10.09

SPORT

sport@universityobserver.ie

Killian Woods reports from Croke Park on Ireland’s crunch match

OBSERVER

sport

Page 22

Men against Youths as UCD boss proceedings UCD 2 Wexford Youths 0 College retain top spot and hopes of automatic promotion with an easy victory over Wexford Youths, watched by Shane Murphy

U

CD cemented their position at the summit of the League of Ireland First Division with an impressive display against a poor Wexford Youths side that struggled to keep pace in this one-sided encounter.

The Students, eager to secure a Premier Division berth, produced a solid performance to heap further pressure on fierce rivals Shelbourne as the season enters its final month. Youths, who came into the game on the back of a comprehensive win against Limerick, could not have expected to be on the receiving end of such a first half onslaught.

The Students looked dangerous from the off, with Chris Mulhall carving open the Wexford defence with intricate passing, only for Peter McMahon to blaze wide from just outside the six yard box.

College continued to press for the opener with centre back Sean Harding delivering passes deep into the Youths’ half, causing chaos in the hapless Wexford backline. The majority of the first half was played deep in Youths’ territory, allowing Harding and Mulhall to push forward and create openings.

There was a sense of inevitability about the opener. A wonderful strike from just outside the box by midfielder Paul Corry was acrobatically tipped over by Youths’ keeper Packie Holden. From the resulting corner, Corry’s darting run left him unmarked at the near post to glance a header past Holden to give the Students a thoroughly deserved lead in the 23rd minute.

Corry continued to torment the Youths, causing mayhem in the Wexford defence. His intricate passing consistently broke the Youths’ rearguard, with the final touch letting the Students down.

UCD continued to press for a second and their efforts were rewarded just before half time. The imperious Mulhall ghosted past two Wexford players on the right wing, delivering an inch-perfect pass into the box and allowing centre forward Ciaran ‘Killer’ Kilduff to clinically slot past Holden, giving the Students a comfortable 2-0 lead. Kilduff ’s fine

finish was just rewards for an utterly dominant UCD side.

The Students competed up until the half time whistle, with the desperate Wexford defence in total disarray. The break could not come soon enough for Mick Wallace’s charges, who only managed a solitary shot on target in the opening half.

The second half coincided with the arrival of mist, perhaps a by-product of the hairdryer treatment Wallace was likely have unleashed on his young side during the interval. His pep talk seemed to have worked, as Wexford began to hold possession much better in the second half and slowly grew more threatening. Spearheaded by good work in midfield, Youths began to string some neat passes together and open up the UCD cover. The Students appeared to enter a brief slumber, allowing their opponents back into the game.

Wexford pressed for an opening only to be denied by tough tackling from the UCD rearguard, in particular defender Evan McMillan, who produced a stunning tackle to deny Gary Sheehan from just outside the box in the 65th minute. McMillan’s bone-crunching intervention acted as a call to arms for the Students, raising them out of their temporary paralysis.

Re-energised, UCD once again pressed forward in the hope of inflicting further misery on their opponents. In the 74th minute Kilduff was once again through only to see his weak shot easily saved. Neat touches by substitute Robbie Creevy saw UCD dominate the possession stakeholdings once again, and a probing ball from Ronan Finn spilt the Wexford defence only for Kilduff to head over after 85.

Youths showed little of their impressive away form that has been the hallmark of their season, looking tired and unable to match the physicality and intensity of their hosts, who were visibly hungry for a return to more hallowed pastures and illustrious opponents.

The Students, eager to make amends for their loss in the corresponding fixture back in April, duly

With Shels only drawing, UCD’s victory over Wexford puts them two points clear at the top dispatched their opponents. Though far from clinical, particularly in the second half, UCD ultimately strolled to a comfortable finish to set up a mouthwatering finale to the season.

UCD: Gerrard Baron, Sean Harding, Andrew Boyle, Evan McMillan, Ciaran Nangle, Chris Mulhall, Paul Corry, Ronan Finn, David McMillan, Ciaran Kilduff, Peter McMahon. Substitutes: Michael Leahy, Robert Creevy, Keith Wood, Graham Rusk, Billy Brennan

Students run six tries past Greystones College made it two wins from two with an effective performance away in Greystones, writes Stephen Devine UCD recorded their second victory of their AIB League Division 2 season with a 47-9 bonus point win over Greystones on Saturday, scoring six tries in the process.

Greystones started the brighter of the sides, with outhalf Barry Lynn converting two penalties in the first five minutes as the Wicklow side raced into a 6-0 lead.

UCD responded twice through the boot of Niall Earls shortly after to leave the teams level.

UCD sustained some more Greystones

pressure before a great line break in the 25th minute by prop Brian Hall, from the edge of the Greystones 22, allowed number eight Kevin Croke to crash over from short range. Earls missed the conversion to leave the score 11-6 with 25 minutes gone.

A great effort by John Cooney allowed UCD to extend their lead, following a Greystones knock-on in midfield. The Irish U20 scrum half grubbered the ball fifty metres before touching down under

the posts. Earls made no mistake with the conversion second time around, leaving the scores 18-6 with 35 minutes gone.

UCD were presented another opportunity deep inside the Greystones’ half after Barry Lynn produced an abject clearance.

UCD mauled the ball the length of the 22 off the ensuing lineout, allowing lock Shane Grannell, on as a blood sub, to crash over at the back of the maul. Earls again converted from the touchline, and stretched UCD’s lead to 28-6 on the stroke

Greystones 9 UCD 47 of half time with a well-taken penalty.

Greystones scored the first points of the second half as Lynn converted a penalty from straight in front of the posts.

The Wicklow side put themselves under further pressure on 56 minutes though, when winger Butterworth was shown a yellow card for a spear tackle. UCD made the most of their advantage to secure their four-try bonus point; flanker Gavin Murphy forced his way over from the lineout.

Prop Conor Geoghegan edged his way

over from close range just two minutes later, with Earls once again showing commendable composure as he converted to leave the score 42-9. UCD sustained a period of Greystones pressure in the final 10 minutes before winger Fletcher broke out of his own 22, and allowed fullback Michael Twomey to recycle before going over for the final try, leaving the final score 47-9 in UCD’s favour.

A great rehearsal for next Saturday’s second round AIB Cup clash.