The University Observer Volume XVII Issue 2

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VOLUME xViI ISSUE 2

Ne quid false dicere audeat ne quid veri non audeat

5th October 2010

IRELAND’S AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER

FEATURES Has marriage lost its place in modern society?

COMMENT We explain the current bonds crisis

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SCIENCE The links between maths and music Page 17

UCD will not be asked to repay unauthorized staff allowances

UCD to enter into alliance with NCAD

Katie Hughes

Amy Bracken

Chief News Writer

News Editor

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he University Observer has learned that UCD senior staff members will not have to repay €1.6 million in unauthorized allowances that UCD paid to them. Prior to this announcement, it was revealed that UCD may have to repay the funds. The payments were made over a ten-year period, without the mandated approval of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), between 1999 and 2009. On top of the €1.6 million paid out, €266,000 in performance bonuses was split between twelve people, with the payments starting in 2005 and ending in 2008. The details of all payments made were revealed going back to 1999. UCD President Dr Hugh Brady expressed his belief that HEA approval was simply a formality until 2007. The process of phasing out the payments began in 2007, however due to contractual commitments, they could not be completely abolished until 2009. Dr. Brady stated that the payments were made for surplus management duties carried out and that this practice was common internationally. While Dr. Brady insists that “we weren’t told to stop’’ the payments, Chief Executive of the HEA, Tom Boland, said that it was clarified to UCD that the payments needed to be ceased immediately, when asked why UCD was not put under more pressure to end the payments once the situation became apparent. Mr. Boland said that the HEA was first in contact with universities in 2001 regard-

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CD is expected to form an alliance with three other thirdlevel institutions in the wake of the proposed dissolution of the NUI (National University of Ireland), under whose jurisdiction UCD falls. The alliance, which is understood to still be in the negotiation process, is understood by The University Observer to be between UCD, the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), the Institute of Bankers and the Institute of Public Administration (IPA). The Director of NCAD, Mr Declan McGonagle, told The University Observer that the idea originated in the aftermath of the government’s proposal to dissolve the NUI, as the dissolution would prohibit NCAD from being able to issue their own degrees, prompting them to look to other universities for degree validation. Mr McGonagle said that both UCD and Trinity College Dublin were interested in validating NCAD degrees, but that “it would be implicit to talk about more than that. And of course, we were interested in that as well, because there’s lots of synergies with different areas of UCD, and different areas of Trinity.” He explained how after four to five months of discussion, the board of NCAD decided to form an alliance with UCD. The legal elements of such an alliance as well as the relevant paperwork are currently being finalised, and the scheme is expected to be up and running before the end of October: “We’re talking about the alliance being live from October onwards, but live

A student takes the plunge and bungee jumps during Freshers’ Week. Photo: Killian Woods

just means in the preparation.” Mr McGonagle said the alliance will be an expansion of the existing links between UCD and the NCAD: “There’s some linkages already, in some research areas as well; so we will build on those, and then at some point in the future try to develop new programmes as well as creating linkages between existing programmes.” The alliance is expected to be finalised

despite an ongoing controversy with regards the dissolution of the NUI. A spokesperson for the NUI said: “For the abolition of the NUI to go ahead will require legislation; now we understand that the preparation of that legislation is continuing in the Department of Education, but there’s no sign of it. Mr McGonagle spoke of the alliance involving the IPA and the Institute of Bankers:

“The Bankers’ Institute is already linked to UCD. The IPA is in the same position as us; I think the same approximate timeframe as us as well as having the draft memorandum of understanding for that relationship.” When contacted by The University Observer, the IPA declined to comment on the matter. A spokesperson for the Institute of Bankers was unavailable to comment at the time of going to press.

UCDSU launch loyalty card scheme Marianne Madden

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CDSU have launched a loyalty card scheme based on a system of rewards for regular users of SU outlets. Students who activate and swipe their student card when purchasing will receive a point for every euro spent. Every point is worth one cent and points can be redeemed against purchases in SU shops. UCDSU President Paul Lynam said the scheme works on the principle that “if you’re a regular user of the SU shops, you should be getting something in return”. Lynam was keen to highlight that “the difference is we offer rewards also. If you buy ten coffees, you’ll get the eleventh one free. We will have constant schemes like that.”

Top users will receive automatic rewards, while regular users will be entered into draws for rewards. Lynam made reference to Ents “gold-tickets” and Premier League tickets as examples of rewards for the most frequent users. “If you’re the most regular user in Arts, you might get an Ents goldticket which will access you to all Ents events throughout the year.” The rewards may encourage students to spend at SU shops, but Lynam pointed out that the scheme will ultimately be of more benefit to students “if our profits are increased, as always, we put them right back into our shops and into our SU.” The scheme is expected to be extended to the Student Bar in mid-October where meal deals are anticipated. According to Lynam, “you’ll buy four meals and get the fifth one free”. Alcohol and soft drinks are not included in the loyalty card scheme.

UCDSU President Paul Lynam is confident that the loyalty card will succeed.

A Students’ Union loyalty card initially featured on Lynam’s election manifesto. However, some adjustments were needed

to make the scheme operational: “We made it a priority of the year to implement; that meant that we had to change over all the

tills in our shops and introduce new tills that can swipe with your student card.” The scheme is based on a similar scheme of NUI Galway Students’ Union. The UCDSU loyalty card has been integrated with the university student card, whereas in NUI Galway, the scheme was based on a separate card. Lynam explained how “we use the student card because every student has a student card. We have 24,000 student cards out there.” A preliminary report last Wednesday indicated that hundreds of students had already joined the scheme. As an incentive, students who join early can receive extra points to spend. There have been issues with the slow registration online system, but action has been taken to improve the process. Lynam added: “Come this Friday, the time will be halved, taking between 90 seconds and two minutes.”


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