The University Observer Volume XVII Issue 7

VOLUME xViI ISSUE 7

Ne quid false dicere audeat ne quid veri non audeat

18th January 2011

IRELAND’S AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER

FEATURES

COMMENT

SCIENCE

The first in our series on mental health depression

Debate: Do your Students’ Union properly represent you?

A personal account of swine flu amid the new pandemic afflicting ireland

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Release of academic transcripts delayed amid backlog KATIE HUGHES

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lumni and students in UCD have recently experienced a delay in receiving their grade transcripts for postgraduate applications due to what appears to be a backlog in requests at the UCD registry.

A final-year student who wishes to remain anonymous told The University Observer that when they phoned to obtain their transcripts in early December, were informed that it would be January at the earliest before their application would be processed.

However, when they made further inquiries at the beginning of January, they were instructed to download a form that they would not be processed for at least three weeks.

The student said: “This delay in the issuing of transcripts could have serious implications for my Masters application and I think the university could have been more prepared for it as it is well known that these transcripts are necessary for postgraduate courses.”

Students who post on the popular internet forum site, boards.ie, appear to have encountered the same problem back in June. One student posted that the Student Desk said the process “would take 14 days, but that was over three weeks ago, so I presume there is a delay”.

The final-year student insists “no communication was provided to final years as to how to obtain these transcripts – I just took a chance on the Student Desk and I was lucky”. Due to this lack of communication, students were unaware that transcripts could be obtained directly from the Services Desk, despite the possibility of waiting over an hour in the queue. There was widespread frustration as a result of these delays. According to one student: “It is all that is left to be submitted for my Masters applications for a course I desperately want in another university.”

A UCD spokesperson stated: “Due to the volume of requests for transcripts, UCD Registry asks applicants to allow at least 14 working days for their request to be processed. The time taken to process an application is dependent on the number of requests pending at any one time.”

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Williamson receives death threats following exam cancellation

UCD DramSoc stage their annual Shakespeare Leaving Certificate play Hamlet. Photo: Catherine Gundry-Beck.

Amy Bracken News Editor

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tudents’ Union Education VicePresident James Williamson has spoken of how he received death threats in the aftermath of the decision to cancel the remaining exams from December 21st onwards due to heavy snow and dangerous transport conditions.

Williamson received a backlash from students who were angry at the decision taken.

Williamson told The University Observer: “I got a few death threats as well saying that I shouldn’t have cancelled them; that I shouldn’t have been in favour of cancelling the exams. I got close to 500 emails again say-

ing that I’d ruined people’s Christmas.”

Having received in the region of 800 emails requesting cancellation on the evening of December 20th, Williamson called Registrar Dr Philip Nolan and informed him that the Students’ Union was wholly in support of cancellation. This decision was agreed upon in meeting between Dr Nolan, Head of Registry, Mr Kevin Griffin, and the Head of Assessment, Ms Jill O’ Mahoney, to postpone the remainder of the exams until after Christmas.

The exam postponement was not the first time that the academic calendar had been hit by the bad weather. In the first week of December, UCD was shut down for over four days due to unusually heavy levels of snow

and treacherous driving conditions, as well as the cancellation of many major transport routes. An email circulated on the morning of Wednesday, December 1st specified that all buildings were to close at 12pm and that the campus should be evacuated by 2pm.

Williamson explained that the decision was taken to create a contingency plan for the upcoming exams, in the case that they might be forced into cancellation: “When it snowed first, in late November, around that time that there were a few meetings held to discuss the possibility of having a contingency plan in place for exams.” Williamson also explained that the selected dates were necessary, as any further delay in rescheduling would result in the academic calendar being completely in

disarray. A small number of students missed or arrived late to exams on the morning of December 21st, but the number began to gradually increase as the day went on and the weather failed to improve.

Williamson spoke of how he worked to answer students individually when the drama ensued: “By the end of the night I had about 800 emails and I stayed up all night to answer all emails. They were all emails saying I had to cancel the exams.”

Despite the backlash that followed, Williamson stands firm by his decision: “It’s very clear in my mind that you couldn’t ask a student to go to an exam in those weather conditions so I was 100 per cent in favour of cancelling them.”

Ó’Broin steps down from USI U Bridget Fitzsimons

SI’s Deputy President Cónán Ó’Broin has announced that he will step down from his position within the Union of Students in Ireland. The decision is due to a job offer made to Ó’Broin over the Christmas period that would have led to “a very serious conflict of interest,” according to USI President Gary Redmond. Ó Broin confirmed on Sunday that he would be joining the campaign team of La-

bour party councillor Robert Dowds, who is standing in the general election in the Dublin Mid-West constituency. Redmond also stated: “It would be unacceptable for Cónán to continue in his current position given that he has been made an offer by a political party.”

In a speech to USI National Council on Saturday January 15th, Ó’Broin stated “this was not an easy decision for me to make,” and that it was “in order to allow USI to conduct an unquestionably impartial General Election campaign which is entirely transparent”. He added that he has “very much en-

joyed my time in USI and that I am, and will continue to be, on the very best of terms with everyone who I have worked with in USI”.

Redmond praised Ó’Broin, a former Trinity Students’ Union President, for his work within USI, saying “Cónán has been a great servant to the student movement over the past 18 months, particularly for USI.” He added: “From an officer board perspective, we wish Cónán the best of luck in his future endeavours and obviously we’ll be sad to see him go.”

In light of Ó’Broin’s resignation, there

are no plans for a by-election. The reasons for this are, according to Redmond: “The convention is that if you’re more than half way through the year, the position won’t be refilled.” USI Officer Board will take over Ó’Broin’s responsibilities, with Redmond appointing an officer to act as deputy in the coming days: “In the interim, I will be taking over Cónán’s campaigning brief and later this week I will appoint one member of officer board to deputise.”

In his speech, Ó’Broin praised Redmond, TCDSU President Nikolai Trigoub-Rotnem,

as well as the members of National Council “for creating what has so far been one of the most active years which the student movement in Ireland has ever had”.

Redmond was keen to emphasise the workload ahead for USI, in light of the upcoming general election. He said: “USI will be having a huge campaign to represent the interests of our members encouraging our members and the general public to vote on education issues.” Ó’Broin will step down from his position this Friday, January 21st.

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THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER 18 January 2011

News News in Brief • LawSoc finish 19th in World Debating Championships UCD was well represented at the World Debating Championships that were held in Botswana from December 27th to January 4th.

Four teams were on hand to represent the university, with two each respectively from Law Society (LawSoc) and from the Literary and Historical (L&H) Society.

Dearbhla O’Gorman and Dearbhail O’Crowley from LawSoc placed 19th overall, edging out Yale’s Ateam by five points, with a total of 1,433 speaker points. Other prominent competitors included Oxford and Cambridge universities.

316 teams in total competed in the competition. LawSoc’s B-team placed 74th, while the A and B-teams for the L&H placed 71st and 130th respectively.

• Beauty and the Beast musical set for February run The UCD Community Musical Production of Beauty and the Beast will be running this February and production efforts are already well underway.

Following last year’s success with Footloose, efforts are being stepped up for Beauty and the Beast.

The Community Musical has always proven popular and is reflected in the participation. A cast of 40 to 50 alumni, staff and current students will be on stage for each performance, as well as a backstage crew that numbers as many as 80 people.

The Community Musical is operating with assistance from the Musical Society and the Drama Society. Third-year Arts student Meabh Carron and alumnus Alec Ward will play the titular characters of Belle and The Beast.

Last year’s production ran with a full audience for its four day run, and this year is hoped to equal or better that success.

The production will run for four days from Tuesday, February 15th to Saturday, February 19th in O’Reilly Hall.

• New Curriculum for Bachelor of Commerce Changes to the Bachelor of Commerce degree were proposed in the past weeks with the aim of creating a more integrated degree with more connections between the various aspects of the program, in addition to a new support for student research in the degree area.

The changes are part of constant drive to refresh the curriculum. The heads of the BComm Programme also consulted with employers in an attempt to develop the “critical skills desired by employers”. There will be a new focus on educating students with a working knowledge as well as a problem-solving ability, instead of just a technical knowledge of the subject area.

Several focus groups were held recently with students from every level of the degree. The main points that the students desired were a more career-focused degree, as well as a simplified final year. The new approach will require less specialisation in their degree, allowing a broader spectrum of studies while still allowing students to concentrate their efforts if they so wish.

The new changes will be phased in starting next September, with the changes only affecting first-year students.

-Matthew Jones

news@universityobserver.ie

Inaugural Health Sciences Ball to be held in March T Aoife Valentine

he first ever Health Science Ball is set to take place on March 3rd in the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire.

The event is being organised by Health Sciences and Nursing Programme Officer Aoife Nic Samhráin along with a committee of around 13 people. The committee is made up of people from every course in Health Science. A number of class reps are also assisting the organisation.

Nic Samhráin told The University Observer that she felt after the success of the Health Science Sports Day in September, this was another way to bring the faculty together: “It just worked really well getting everyone from every single course out and it’s kind of good because we’re always in the same building, but you literally don’t know anyone apart from your fellow course, so I thought it’d be a good idea.”

Nic Samhráin also explained that many of the individual courses within the building such as Nursing and Biomedical Science don’t have their own ball, unlike Medicine or Physiotherapy, and as a result she believes this will be more inclusive.

Talks begin between ITs for new technological university JOE MURPHY

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our Dublin-based education institutes have recently been in talks with the idea of merging together in order to form a united technological university body.

The colleges partaking in the initiative include Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Institute of Technology, Tallaght (ITT), Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) and Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown (ITB).

The four colleges have held several meetings regarding the change and remain optimistic that they will form the first technological university in the state, especially in the wake of the recently released Hunt Report on third-level education, which ruled out the prospect of any new traditional universities being opened in the state in the near future.

A number of meetings have already been held between the four bodies involved and although there is no timeframe being put to the proposals, it is hoped progress will be made soon, in the immediate aftermath of the Hunt Report.

The new team of colleges believe that the initiative will mark a new era in for Irish university education: “We envisage that what will emerge will be a civic and technological university with a nationally unique profile that will constitute a significant addition to Irish higher education.”

The initiative also seeks to abolish the idea that IT colleges have strayed from their purpose of aiding industries, and as such the new institution hopes to be “complementing and collaborating with the traditional university sector”.

The colleges involved said last week that their purpose must be “closely related to labour market skill needs with a particular focus on programmes in science, engineering and technology and including an emphasis on workplace learning”.

The idea of third-level institutes merging has become commonplace recently. Additionally, institutions may begin affiliating with universities, such as seen in the recent agreement between UCD and the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), which was negotiated in the later months of 2010.

The event is mostly being funded from ticket sales, but Nic Samhráin is still looking for sponsorship, and attempting to keep costs down and secure deals on fake tan and makeup, along with one already in place for men with Black Tie. A raffle will take place after the meal, which will be in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, and any leftover ticket money after covering costs will also be donated.

The theme of the night will be Hollywood.

Nic Samhráin explained: “We’re going to try and get a red carpet, and we’ve five little Oscar trophies and we’re going to give out prizes for best couple or best dressed.” A competition is currently being run to come up with “Oscar Award Categories” for the trophies.

There are only 400 tickets being sold for the event, of which the first 200 will go on sale for €35, and the remaining 200 will cost €40. Nic Samhráin is feeling positive that the event will sell out. “People have reserved tickets already because anyone that’s on placement can reserve tickets, so we’ve got a good few people reserving tickets already, so I’d say it should work.”

Tickets will be on sale from January 25th at 11am in the Health Science foyer, on a firstcome, first-served basis.

400 tickets will go on sale for the UCD Health Science Ball.

Dublin Institute of Technology SET YOURSELF APART. INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE WITH A POSTGRADUATE QUALIFICATION IN LAW POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA/MA IN LAW (NQAI LEVEL 9, FULL OR PART-TIME) Law is important to a career in business, finance, human resources, insurance, and in the public service or voluntary sector. The Postgraduate Diploma/MA in Law is ideal for graduates in any discipline who wish to set themselves apart with a legal qualification. The Postgraduate Diploma in Law is a one-year intensive programme. Students can pick from the ‘core’ modules (e.g., Contract, Tort, Property, Equity, Constitutional, Company, EU, Criminal Law) or a range of interesting optional subjects (Human Rights, International Trade, Criminology, Media, Intellectual Property law).

Graduates of the PGDip are eligible to complete the Master of Arts in Law. MA students receive individual supervision on a sustained research project, which will enhance their marketability by deepening legal research, reasoning and writing skills.

Also offered in the School of Social Sciences and Law: MA Criminology MA Child, Family and Community Studies Deadline for applications: April 22, 2011, though offers will be made on a rolling basis. Apply now to secure your place for next year!

To discuss the programme in more detail, call Bruce Carolan, Head of Department of Law at (01) 402-3016.

DIT – It’s a step closer to the real world For further information or an application form, please contact Ms. Emma Linnane at E: emma.linnane@dit.ie or T: (01) 4027181 W: www.dit.ie/socialscienceslaw

Visit: www.dit.ie

18 January 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

News

news@universityobserver.ie

Lynam criticised for calls to renegotiate Croke Park deal

Science Soc faces semester with absentee auditor AMY BRAcKEN News Editor

Paul Lynam has defended USI’s call for a renegotiation of the Croke Park Agreement.

Keira Gilleece

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he Union of Students in Ireland (USI) have called for the Croke Park Agreement to be renegotiated. This comes after UCD Students’ Union proposed a motion that would examine the agreement in order to protect student services from further budget cuts.

The Croke Park Agreement, which was passed in June 2010, is effectively a promise from the government that public sector employee’s will receive no further pay cuts for the next four years. This is to be combined with the reduction in the number of employees and an increase in productivity in order to ensure that standards of practice will not be compromised.

However, a Red C poll has revealed that 63 per cent of Ireland’s population wants to see the Croke Park deal scrapped and its terms renegotiated. 75 per cent of students believe that the deal should be re-evaluated so that public sector pay is adjusted in order to protect front line services, prompting Lynam to call for a renegotiation.

USI’s decision to pass UCD’s motion has received criticism. It was rejected by NUI Maynooth and the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art and Design Technology (IADT). Head of the Department of Humanities in IADT, Dr Paula Gilligan called USI’s stance “outrageous and bizarre” and stated that “the very people who will be impacted most by this are the students – this should be obvious but apparently not to the leaders of USI”.

Similarly, a UCD staff member told The University Observer that she does not support his proposal and that it is unjustifiable to have

cuts all across the board. “Morale is already low among the teaching staff of UCD, with no promotion rounds for the last few years, so academics have no prospects of their take home pay rising for the foreseeable future.”

Lynam defended his decision by stating that the current wage structure in UCD and elsewhere in the public sector is not sustainable, referring to The Irish Times article from November 2010 which placed UCD staff among Ireland’s highest earners. Lynam emphasised this state of affairs by highlighting the fact that UCD Library has faced €2 million cut backs and as a result, 55,000 less students visited the library last year. The UCD staff member responded by saying “Library opening hours are excellent in comparison to other universities in Ireland and the level of service from staff is also excellent.”

Student activist group Free Education for Everyone have also publicly criticised the move, stating that “by passing this motion, USI are accepting that ordinary people, rather than the wealthy, must bear the cost of the present economic crisis”.

A third-year UCD student disagrees: “it is for the tax system to redistribute fairly the wealth of the country between its citizens, not the Croke Park Agreement.”

Many are concerned with the consequences of Lynam’s proposal, in that it effectively alienates trade unions. While Lynam admitted that there is a strong possibility that it will alienate trade unions, he argued that it is not always possible to please every group and he pointed out that it is his job to do what is in the best interest of the students, not the various organisations who have provided UCD and USI with support in the past.

Leinster Rugby set to move operations to Belfield Caitríona Farrell

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peculation has arisen that proposals are under way for a new purpose-built facility between Leinster Rugby and UCD on the college’s grounds, with an annual rent costing €500,000. If the move were to go ahead, the overall operation would be expected to cost somewhere in the region of €2.5m.

The University Observer understands that private benefactors will provide the funding should the proposals come into fruition, despite a reduction in the Leinster Rugby defecit due to a major hike in ticket sales last year.

Leinster Rugby are currently based in Riverview and have their offices in Donnybrook adjacent to its recently renovated stadium, which opened in 2008.

UCD and Leinster Rugby share a long history and the latter already already avails

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of UCD’s all-weather and regular pitches for training purposes. Leinster players such as Fergus McFadden and Brian O’Driscoll began their rugby careers by playing for UCD Rugby. Club insiders say that Leinster Rugby wish to erect a facility adjacent to the UCD campus in the former Phillips building at Clonskeagh, which is owned by UCD. UCD Boat Club currently use this facility to house their equipment.

Leinster Rugby declined to comment when contacted by The University Observer on the matter, as the team’s training and administrative set-up currently does not permit club officials to comment on the issue.

A spokesperson for UCD declined to comment on the speculation.

There is no official contract in place between the two bodies at the time of going to print, however speculation has intensified in recent days, with reports in The Irish Times verifying the validity of these rumours.

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CD’s Science Society is faced with the prospect of an absentee auditor for Semester Two. This is due to current auditor, third-year Actuarial Science student Justin Brayden, participating in a work placement in Scotland.

Brayden told The University Observer: “I was going to be doing a placement in Standard Life in Dublin and continuing living in Roebuck and working with Science Soc. However, the situation has changed and they can’t hire me here in Dublin and need me in Edinburgh.

“Due to the lateness of this news and the compulsory element of my course, I had no choice and was directed by my teachers to take up the position because I haven’t taken a sabbatical year. I have been working solidly throughout the

break to organise everything and I most definitely will be attending some events next semester.”

Deputy auditor Brian Keating is optimistic that the society events planned for semester will go off unhitched in Brayden’s absence.

Keating told The University Observer: “Unexpectedly, Justin’s situation has changed. Justin’s course requires him to complete a six month compulsory work placement. He had been set to start work at the beginning of the year in Dublin but due to events beyond anyone’s control, he has been required to conduct the placement in Edinburgh.”

Science Soc is a new society but Keating insists that it will remain unfazed by the absence: “Responsibilities will be shared by the society’s committee which fortunately are a great crew of workers who have been excellent all year.”

Events planned for the second semester include the flagship event Science Day,

which is planned for February 17th, a Cake Sale in the Science Hub in aid of UCD Community Outreach, as well a number of night time events including the annual Science Ball. Keating added: “Other events to look forward to throughout the semester are the Jock Walk, which is always great fun and the Cycle to Galway, a huge part of Science and a weekend that is looked forward to by many.”

Science Soc and its predecessor (the UCD Science Day Committee) has always aimed to raise money from Our Lady’s Childrens Hospital, Crumlin and the society is adamant that this will continue past the society’s inaugural year: “Due to the successes of the Committee last year, Science Soc has seen a great rise in numbers joining in Freshers’ Week. We are now a society with just over 800 members and this year has kicked off with the Pubathon and the Toga Party, both great nights enjoyed by all in attendance.”

Bord na Gaeilge www.ucd.ie/bnag

Gradaim Bhord na Gaeilge agus Bonn Óir an Chumainn Ghaelaigh 2010/2011 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.

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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)

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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

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Gradam Bhord na Gaeilge / Student Award don ambasadóir teanga is fearr ar Scéim Chónaithe Ghaeilge 2010/2011

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Gradam Bhord na Gaeilge/ Staff/Unit/Office Award Don duine/oifig/seirbhís is mó a chur le cur chun cinn na teanga ar champas

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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 2011

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THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER 18 January 2011

News

news@universityobserver.ie

New swine flu warning issued by the university

On-campus rents frozen for 2011/12 Bridget Fitzsimons

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Students have been advised to visit the Health Centre immediately if they develop swine flu symptoms.

Eileen Crowley

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CD has issued fresh warnings to students and staff about the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as swine flu.

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CD Musical Society’s preparations for the upcoming semester were thrown off course during the Christmas break when the auditor Eoghan McNeill resigned.

The University Observer has learned that McNeill resigned stating personal reasons, tendering his resignation to the society’s committee over the Christmas break.

As a result of the unexpected nature of the resignation and the need for an urgent appointment, rather than hold an election, the society’s committee appointed the new auditor, Aifric Nugent, in the immediate aftermath of McNeill’s departure. Nugent emphasised that she intends to continue the work of her predeces-

sor. Speaking to The University Observer, she said: “I have no intention to change the society’s plans for the remainder of the year, I simply hope to continue to build on the success we as a society have had so far.”

The society is currently preparing for the upcoming UCD Community Musical – an adaptation of Gabrielle Suzanne Barbot dem Villeneuve’s classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast which they are producing in collaboration with the UCD Community Musical committee. The event is to be held over four days in February in UCD’s O’Reilly Hall.

Formed in 2009, the UCD Musical Society previously collaborated with the UCD Community Musical on last year’s Footloose. The Musical Society itself has also produced two successful musicals, The Wedding Singer and Little Shop of Horrors, independently during its time as a society.

system will “relieve some of the extra financial burden being faced by students”.

Protests were held last year under then-President Gary Redmond against the high rents on campus, which involved a number of SU representatives camping out on the grass beside the main entrance to UCD.

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David farrell

President Scott Ahearn has expressed hope that the scheme can become more convenient for students: “It’s a massive step forward but not the finished article and we will continue to make the instalment scheme more student friendly and hopefully will lead to the introduction of further instalment options.” Lynam added that the new

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Musical Society auditor resigns mid-tenure

Residences such as Merville, pictured, have had their rents frozen for the 2011/12 year.

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Fears surrounding a resurgence of the highly contagious strain have emerged following a break in diagnostics since the peak of the pandemic in Autumn 2009.

Speaking with The University Observer, UCD’s Student Health Service is warning students to remain vigilant, particularly those students that may fall within certain high risk categories.

Students are advised to carry tissues at all times and not to attend university should they display flu symptoms. Additionally, students in UCD Residences who suspect they may have swine flu are asked to make contact with Residential authorities straight away.

The H1NI virus affects mainly young people and, in the vast majority of cases, is easily treated with paracetamol and by drinking plenty of fluids. However certain high risk groups’ contraction of the virus will necessitate further treatment by a GP. Symptoms of the H1N1 virus are similar to that of the common cold, including dry cough, sore throat, headache, running nose, severe weakness/ fatigue aching muscles/joints, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Students’ Union Welfare Vice-President Scott Ahearn spoke to The University Observer about his experience of contracting the virus and offered his advice to students who expect they may have it: “I would encourage students to stay at home and seek medical attention. For students living on campus, obviously their doctor is in the Student Health Centre, obviously I wouldn’t advise they attend.”

Ahearn added: “If are you concerned about it you can get the swine flu jab in the Student Health Centre.”

Those people identified as being particularly susceptible to the virus include those with chronic heart, lung or liver diseases, those with immune system deficiencies, as well as those suffering from conditions such as asthma or diabetes. Pregnant women are also advised to seek the advice of a GP if they display flu symptoms, as the required treatment has to be assessed with regard to the trimester of the pregnancy as well as the severity of symptoms.

The Student Health Service has advised students to adhere to the University Flu Response Committee Guidelines, will continue to monitor the situation and issue updates to the student body if required.

Those who want further information can visit the UCD Student Health Service website (www.ucd.ie/stuhealth/).

rices for rent on on-campus accommodation have been frozen at current levels for the next academic year 2011/12. The rents on-campus received criticism in the past for failing to fall alongside rent in areas around UCD due to the current economic climate. In addition, an instalment scheme has been introduced, which will allow students to pay their rent in three instalments in September, January and March.

UCD Students’ Union expressed their delight at the move, with SU President Paul Lynam stating: “First-year students in particular can benefit from living on-campus and we hope this announcement will make this route more affordable.”

While on-campus residences were traditionally reserved for first-year students in earlier years, they were opened up to all students this year. This was thought to be due to a lack of interest from first-year students. Students from Dublin and the surrounding areas were also invited to apply for on-campus residences, despite not being able to do so in the past.

It is understood that freezing the price of on-campus residences has been a priority of this year’s Students’ Union. SU Welfare Vice-

1) STUDENT DISCOUNT DEALS Emergency Dentists Discount is now available.

Great Student Discount on Fillings, extractions, wisdom teeth assessments. Phone 01-2692932 and you have to present a UCD Student card.

Want to learn how to drive while in college. Ring Ollie from OB drive and take advantaged of the great Student Discounts. €22.50 per lesson. Email info@obdrive.com or ring 087-665126

2) Need Legal advice

Information clinics are held in the Student Center Room 3 every Wednesday 2pm every week from week 3 where we can deal with individual queries in person. This is a private and confidential service.

For more information email studentlegalservice@ucd.ie

3) Want a Fresh Start

UCD Students Union is running the Fresh Start campaign next week where students can take up new habits or hoodies and have a Fresh Start to Semester Two. If your interested in quit smoking and want to get help email kickthehabit@ucdsu.ie, want to correctly budget for the year ahead or you want to get active within Sports watch out for the Fresh start Posters across campus.

Pop into Scott, our Welfare Officer in the Student Centre or contact him at welfare@ucdsu.ie & phone 017163112

18 January 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

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News

news@universityobserver.ie

Hunt Report recommends U reintroduction of third-level fees

First university wide module survey results to be released Elizabeth O’ Malley

Sarah Doran

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he National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 also known as the Hunt Report, was published last week. The report deems it vital that the Government ensures the higher education system is sustainable before introducing third-level fees.

The Hunt Report states that an increase in exchequer funding will not raise sufficient capital to meet the level of higher education costs. Additional funding of up to €500 million a year may be required in order to meet increased demand and economic objectives.

The report describes as “essential” the introduction of a direct contribution from

Tánaiste and Minister for Education Mary Coughlan must now consider the recommendations of the Hunt Report.

students, the “key-stakeholders in the higher education system”.

With many colleges facing a 30 per cent increase in student numbers, the report recommends that growth in student numbers should be “contingent on the introduction of new revenue streams”.

This direct contribution would be based on a combination of fees and an income contingent loan scheme. The scheme has been compared the “study now, pay later” scheme which was proposed two years ago by former Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe. These loans could assist students in covering the cost of annual fees of at least €5,000 and would be repayable.

Numerous student representatives have expressed their concern at the prospect of a graduate tax system. UCDSU President Paul Lynam said: “It is a short-sighted, poor idea. We see how much of a disaster it is in New Zealand. One in four graduates there is working in Australia now, which is a good comparison for us because we have a bigger economy [Britain] beside us too.”

The Hunt Report made further recommendations including ensuring that firstyear students are adequately prepared for the experience of learning at higher level and the improvement of teaching and learning practices. The Irish Times described is as “the first of its kind to address the difficulties first-year undergraduates face in college after

Christmas Ball rescheduled after snow cancellation

Katie Hughes

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he UCD Ents Christmas Ball has been rescheduled to January 25th, with ’90s bands 5ive and S Club still to headline as well as the winners of Battle of the Buskers competition.

The Christmas Ball was originally set to take place on December 1st but had to be rescheduled due to extreme weather and dangerous travel conditions. UCD Students’ Union Ents Vice-President, Jonny Cosgrove said: “We had to move the Christmas Ball which was a big undertaking to be honest, really happy this worked out now.”

Cosgrove continued to say that “it was annoying when the snow came down first and everyone realised that the Christmas Ball was on that week; we were trying to come up with every contingency even looking to bring in gravel trucks.” A Facebook status was posted rendering the event cancelled before 2pm on the day.

Cosgrove says that there was a certain “buzz” on campus the week of the Christmas Ball; pre-

vious weeks had seen students having to hand in assignments and do mid-term exams which is why December 1st was picked, “because everyone was finished up”.

The postponed Christmas Ball will take place at the late bar in the Student Bar and it will be “pretty much the exact same gig that was wrapped up before Christmas, opened up again,” says Cosgrove.

Refunds were available in the Student Bar until the day campus closed. Tickets will continue to be refunded only at the bar during the first week back, or can be exchanged for tickets to the postponed Christmas Ball at the Student Bar or Students’ Union shops.

“Tickets can be exchanged up to the 21st of January” says Cosgrove, “that’s just so we know how many tickets are there and so that we can keep selling; it was pretty much sold out so I have to get it right.”

Tickets went on sale on January 17th and will also be available from the ucdents.com website. “If you want a ticket, get it quick,” warns Cosgrove. “The best thing to do is keep an eye on Facebook.”

a Leaving Cert dominated by rote learning”.

The importance of investment in development and research was also emphasised.

The coincidental announcement that four Dublin-based institutions intend to form a new university will be unaffected by the report’s claim that there will be no more traditional universities in the state in the near future, as they propose a new technological university be formed by their merging.

The report has been criticised by a number of educational bodies, including the Irish Federation of University Teachers who told The Irish Times that the report was “unlikely to have much influence on the future development of higher education in Ireland”.

CD Students’ Union President Paul Lynam and Deputy Registrar for Teaching and Learning, Professor Bairbre Redmond collaborated on a ‘Have Your Say’ module survey over the Christmas break for modules completed in the first semester.

Many schools within the university complete their own feedback surveys, but this was the first university-wide survey to be completed. A spokesperson for Professor Redmond told The University Observer: “A total of 1616 modules were surveyed at the end of the Semester One 2010/11 and full results will be available from February 1st 2011.”

Students were asked to complete the survey via the SIS, which would provide feedback for lecturers and module coordinators.

The survey was first issued on the November 18th and ran until the end of December.

The survey included seven standard questions that are asked for all modules university-wide. Module coordinators were also free to customise their own module survey with the addition of up to seven questions.

The spokesperson said that the aim of the survey was to “give students a voice in the quality review and enhancement of modules university-wide”. Schools will be asked to

incorporate student feedback in their planning of future modules.

The ‘Have Your Say’ module feedback campaign developed from a similar feedback programme that was piloted in 2009/2010.

The results from the pilot scheme indicated that students welcomed the opportunity to give feedback on their modules while academic staff valued the feedback. In particular, the open-ended questions were found to be very helpful in the reviewing and planning of teaching.

“The student feedback is now a key part of a module enhancement approach to the yearly review and update of modules at school level,” added the spokesperson.

The UCD Strategy for Education Strategy 2009 - 2013 outlined the importance of continuous improvement and enhancement of learning, which could only be achieved through feedback. “In order to promote a culture of self-improvement, the university needs to create innovative data sources and information to help broaden our understanding of the educational experience.”

The full results of the survey will be made available the Heads of Schools and Module Coordinators from the February 1st. All the feedback is anonymous and will not be traced back to individual students. Feedback will not become available until after the results of exams have been released.

6

THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER 18 January 2011

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Education nation Increasing funds available for Irish education is essential for the growth of our society, even if it means reintroducing third-level fees, writes Amy Bracken

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he Irish T i m e s made an interesting point last Friday, January 14th, in which it News Editor stated that the timing of the National Strategy for Higher Education, or Hunt Report, publication was conveniently six months after it was completed and in the aftermath of the December budget, which increased the student registration fee for third-level education.

The Hunt Report echoed this move, which can be viewed as coincidental. However, the report does appear to have the best interests of students and education at heart – a fact that is being pushed aside just because it supports an increase in student contribution to education.

It has finally been acknowledged that the Leaving Cert does not adequately prepare students for third-level education and there appears to be more modernisation on the horizon. While the report denies the need for any more traditional universities, it appears that Dublin could be on the verge of adding a technological university to its vicinity.

The word ‘student’ is prevalent throughout the Hunt Report – an indication that it is not basing its recommendations on an economic overhaul of the system and instead aims to modernise and improve it for the benefits of those to whom it is aimed.

While the majority of students are opposed to reintroducing third-level fees, the government seem intent on furthering the cost of education in years to come.

I am going to focus on the three most striking points of the report. For a long time, the Leaving Cert has been outdated and could hardly be viewed as the equivalent of A-levels or most other European or school-leaving examination systems. I will not go into specifics here, but the three basics of rote learning, compulsory subjects and a high quantity of courses are far from sufficient for the transition from second to third-level education.

While there have been calls to overhaul the Leaving Cert for a number of years now, there has been very little discussion as to why it needs to be overhauled. The Hunt Report has shed light on this topic, but im-

mediate responses to the report appear to have overlooked these criticisms, in favour of negative press on the issue of reintroducing third-level fees.

Another important aspect of the report is that it recommends that no more traditional universities be established in the state, yet talks are currently in place between four Dublin third-level institutes to create a new technological university – the first of its kind (although Dublin City University borders on the proposed university). The institutions involved state that they aim to modernise education and offer courses that involve preparation for the workforce, as opposed to having a more academic focus – echoing a recommenda-

tion in the Hunt Report that education should be geared more towards skills and workplace development.

Both changes to the Leaving Cert and the creation of more technological education, as well as the creation of a new university, require funding. As a result of these projected costs, coverage of the report has focused solely on the idea that students and graduates will face debt if third-level fees are heightened and/or if a graduate tax is introduced.

It seems that people are refusing to accept the practical and progressive benefits suggested in the Hunt Report on account of the age-old issue of funding. Last Wednesday January 12th, the Irish Independent re-

ported that students could be forced to part with €25,000 if the proposed “study now, pay later” loan schemes for third-level education are introduced. €25,000 is naturally a ridiculous price to pay after graduation, but the point is that coverage of the report is paying far too much attention to the financial aspect and fails to point out the benefits suggested in the report.

For example, the calls for the overhaul of the Leaving Cert were made by the public a number of years ago. It is only now that it has been acknowledged that the examination does not prepare students adequately for the third-level education, yet people are refusing to hand over any more money for the overhaul they requested. The public is contradicting itself, in a way.

Of course, changes and progress do not happen overnight, but the National Strategy for Education to 2030 is rather realistic and should be a sufficient timeframe to update the system into a fully functioning, efficient and modern system. That can be achieved provided people allay their qualms with the prospective costs of such an operation and accept that this is for the benefit of our economy and ultimately for the benefit of our children.

The reintroduction of third-level fees is an undoubtedly necessary move if the system is to be modernised, yet that appears to have been overlooked by the majority of students and student bodies over the past two years when the fees reintroduction debate began.

Weathering the storm Despite some students’ protests, UCD dealt efficiently for the most part with the snow-induced chaos during exam time, writes Katie Hughes

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he cancellation of the last four timetabled end-of-semester exams in DecemDeputy News Editor ber left many students relieved to see Christmas early and others annoyed at the prospect of books remaining open over the holiday period.

The university, in cooperation with the Students’ Union, was faced with an incredibly tough decision that Students’ Union Education Vice-President James Williamson described as “50/50” in terms of those students who wished for the exams to be cancelled and those who wished them to be held as scheduled. Either way, a backlash occurred, and it seems that credit is not being provided for the situation presented to those in charge.

For students who opted to go back home to study for exams and who had major transportation issues with the snow, the cancellation of exams was a welcome call. Treacherous weather conditions lessened the chances of students arriving at the exam hall on time and the night freezes resulted in roads covered in black ice that, in conjunction with cancelled transportation routes, delayed their arrival home by hours.

Students were kept informed with updates on the UCD website, though complaints were heard that these updates were not frequent enough, resulting in students being unsure as to whether or not they should leave and face hours of travel for an exam.

Not all students who live in Dublin were

overjoyed at the cancellations. They were, on the contrary, rather unimpressed at the postponement of exams which they would not have had too much trouble attending.

Perhaps students who were able to attend their exam on Tuesday evening or Wednesday should have been allowed to do so with the remaining students being dealt with individually, or being asked to re-sit the exam at a later date. Though a good suggestion in theory, the splitting up of classes like this may not have ultimately been the best idea, with the notion of some exam papers posing more difficulty than others being an obvious issue.

To its credit, UCD has catered for students who, with extreme difficulty in some cases, sat exams on Monday 20th at 6pm and at any time on Tuesday. These students “will be viewed as having taken that examination under difficult circumstances” and will not be required to complete an extenuating circumstances form, unless they have other circumstances which need to be brought to attention. Additionally, lists of people who were late to exams on those days due to appalling weather conditions will be made available to Heads of Schools and Programme Boards.

A further matter of annoyance among students is the rescheduled dates for the exams. As a result of the exam times being mirrored on the originals, students are being asked to miss lectures, seminars and tutorials to sit their exams. For many students, this is a major blow and an unsettling way to start off a semester.

Thinking that they had a three-week break ahead of them after the last day of exams, many students had plans to be

The recent heavy snowfall meant certain students had great difficulty attending exams, largely owing to the difficult driving conditions on Irish roads.

out of the country for a proportion of the Christmas break. Taking this vacation away would have resulted in less time to prepare for exams, not to mention the prospect of not having planned to return until after the re-scheduled exam dates. However, the flip side of this situation is that the second semester can begin in the week is it scheduled to start and the academic calendar will not be majorly disrupted by the rescheduling.

The university must also be credited for accommodating students going abroad or on work placements for the second semes-

ter. However, it would have been better to schedule the exams at a time when students did not have classes – perhaps over the course of two consecutive Saturdays or over one weekend.

The postponement of exams has had a knock-on effect for release date of results.

Provisional results will now be available from 5pm on February 4th and final results will be announced on February 24th.

It is not unreasonable to argue that UCD, under the relatively difficult circumstances, handled the situation reason-

ably well, though exams could arguably have been postponed at a slightly earlier date than they were, given that students’ health and safety was at risk on account of the extremely icy roads.

There are many pros and cons to the argument, yet as noted by Williamson, when faced with the prospect of putting students’ lives in danger, rescheduling exams for January is a minor price to pay and both Williamson and the staff involved in the cancellation deserve credit for acknowledging that.

18 January 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

7

Features

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Mental awareness:

Depression In the first of a series in on mental health issues in Ireland, Leanne Waters discusses mental wellbeing and depression

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he term mental health is a concept that we are beginning to see again and again in contemporary Irish Features Editor society. From online support organisations to the HSE telling us on our television screens to “look after your mental health,” it appears that there’s no getting away from the challenge of having to take on and really consider this seemingly enigmatic notion.

With so much importance being weighted on the term itself, one does beg to wonder, what exactly is mental health? According to Sandra Hogan of Aware Ireland – a national support organisation for depression – mental health can be seen in various lights but in a broader sense refers to the emotional and psychological wellbeing of any given individual.

Hogan states: “There are many different definitions for mental health, but in general it refers to our mind, emotions and thought processes; how we think and feel about ourselves and others and how we cope with life and its challenges. Mental health issues are common and can affect any of us at any time. Many factors can influence a person’s mental wellbeing: difficulties in life (for example) relationship problems, financial concerns, bullying and loss are quite significant.”

It has become clear in recent years that mental health has not been valued on the level to which it thoroughly deserves in our society. On this point, Hogan contends: “We still have a long way to go in terms of how we deal with mental health but I think that as a society we are getting better.

“Young people can really help with that too, so it’s important that they do what they can to help to make it a more open society where people with depression (and mental ill-health) can get the help and support they need.”

This being said, awareness, empathy and understanding remain factors of absolute necessity in creating a more open and harmonious country for mental health to flourish. One of the main consequences of poor mental health we can see in daily life is depression. Aware.ie classes depression as “a very common condition which affects more than one in ten people at any one time. Any of us, irrespective of age, gender or background can be affected at any point in our life. Most people come through depression with help, and early recognition and ongoing support are essential for a positive outcome.”

On this matter, there are several different variations and forms in which depression can manifest itself. Among these are mild

Abraham Lincoln was one of the many historical figures to have been regularly struck with depression.

and moderate depression, severe depression, as well as bipolar disorder. The latter of these conditions, in its most primitive of explanations, involves periods of extreme depressions and of extreme highs, along with the usual symptoms of a depressive state.

These symptoms, which are seen in all of the above conditions include: feelings of boredom, sadness, lethargy and anxiety; disruptions in normal sleeping habits; poor concentration; low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness; a loss of interest in socialising and pastimes; and, of course, suicidal thoughts.

According to the experts of Aware, the foundations of this of mental ill-health condition can be rooted from many contributors. They state: “Depression has a number of possible causes. For some people, it comes about as a result of a traumatic life event such as bereavement, relationship breakdown, financial difficulties or bullying.

“In other situations, the person may have an inherent tendency towards depression, and such genetic factors can be key in the case of bipolar disorder. This mood disorder involves not just periods of depression, but also periods of elation, where the person’s mood is significantly higher than normal. During these periods, he/she may have excessive energy with little need for sleep, may have grandiose ideas and may engage in risk-taking behaviour.”

Now that we can argue with extraordinary confidence that depression and mental ill health are not only dangerous to any individual but that they are also extremely common, here we must consider the threat of these things to students.

In a time when we are contending with so many demanding factors, we as students must come to terms with the fact that we are potentially damaging our own mental health. It seems a natural occurrence to be-

400,000 different people suffer from depression in Ireland at any one time, but many hide their condition and never get help lieve in our own invincibility while we are so young.

However, the reality remains that despite our somewhat audacious views on what we can and can’t handle, we as students are extremely vulnerable to the threat of mental ill health. Social life and academic studies aside, without prioritising our psychological and emotional wellbeing, we run the risk of causing more damage to ourselves than a €230 failed module causes to our bank accounts.

On the topic of student vulnerability, Hogan decisively expresses her position: “Yes students and young people are at risk of mental health issues. There are a lot of changes that happen during adolescence and when combined with the transition from school to college, it can cause problems.

“Mental health issues can impact on a person’s confidence, it can cause relationship difficulties, and it can hamper studies as well. So it is very important to get help.

Eating a balanced nutritious diet is important. [As well as] limiting alcohol intake if you are prone to low mood, getting regular exercise, having close friendships [and] talk-

ing through any issues with someone close.”

Universally, January is seen to be one of the most depressing times on the calendar, with January 22nd reported to be the saddest day of the year. It remains that time of year when the celebrations have wrapped up, when reality and responsibility have fallen firmly back on the ground, when the weather promotes something along the lines of pathetic fallacy and when funds are probably at their lowest. And with the ongoing economic turmoil that is hitting the majority of the nation, it seems all too natural to allow for submission into what is truly a depressive state.

Moreover, in a matter of such magnitude and of such personal properties, it is nothing less than necessary to approach with an air of delicacy and understanding. It is an important facet of the issue to not give in to the will of an apparent cloud of negativity. In the knowledge that at some point or another we will all suffer from some mental health issue or indeed depression itself, it becomes easier to lighten one’s troublesome load through many ways and outlets. Firstly, we have Aware itself. Hogan talks a little bit about the work they do.

“Aware provides information and emotional support services for both individuals who experience depression and also family members/friends concerned for a loved one.

Services include loCall Helpline (1890 303 302) open 365 days a year; support groups nationwide and online; email support service (wecanhelp@aware.ie); free information and online discussion forums. Aware also offers a Beat the Blues secondary schools awareness programme to increase knowledge of depression among young people and enable them to identify sources of help in their lives.”

The foundation’s mission is to “create a society where people with depression and

their families are understood and supported, are free from stigma and have access to a broad range of appropriate therapies to enable them to reach their full potential”. It is a voluntary establishment formed in 1985 by a group of interested patients and mental health professionals, whose aim was to assist that section of the population whose lives are directly affected by depression.

The website goes on to explain: “400,000 different people suffer from depression in Ireland at any one time, but many hide their condition and never get help. Sadly, over 500 people take their own life each year.

Since its foundation in 1985, Aware has been working energetically to bring support to depression sufferers and their families, and to dispel the myths and misunderstandings of this devastating illness.”

In a context of such a deeply sensitive subject, perhaps the right words can come from few sources. One source may be found in one Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was among the most famous of historical characters who was known to have suffered mental ill health and had a “tendency to be melancholy” and once commented that such an affliction is to be observed as it is “a misfortune, not a fault”.

On the matter, Lincoln said: “In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and, to the young, it comes with bitterest agony, because it takes them unawares. The older have learned to ever expect it.

“Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You cannot now realise that you will ever feel better. Is not this so? And yet it is a mistake. You are sure to be happy again.

To know this, which is certainly true, will make you some less miserable now. I have had experience enough to know what I say; and you need only to believe it, to feel better at once.”

For more information, visit www.aware.ie.

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THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER 18 January 2011

FEATURES

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Tomhaltachas na hÉireannach: marbh nó beo?

Sa timpeallacht reatha seo, le geilleagar náisiúnta lag agus ioncam íseal, an bhfuil tomhaltachas na hÉireannach marbh nó beo, a fhiafraíonn Roibeard Ó Leamhna

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á a fhios ag madraí na baile cé chomh holc agus cé chomh duairc atá cursaí faoi láthair in Éirinn.

Léann tú scéalta gach lá faoi caillteanais post agus cloiseann tú drochscéalta na ngnáthdhaoine: tá a gcoigilteas imithe, ní féidir leo billí a íoc, leannan an liosta ar aghaidh.

Seo iad na rudaí a bhíonn na méain ag plé faoi láthair agus cuireann siad íomha os ár gcomhair, íomha na hÉireann mar thír bhriste, bheagdgeise.

Cúpla bliain ó shín, bhí na méain ag plé rud an-difriúil ar fad – tomhaltachas na hÉireannach. I laethanta an Thíogair Cheiltigh, ba dhordfhocal coitianta é. Bhí méain náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta ag úsáid na tíre seo mar shampla foirfe de gheilleagar saoriomaíochta. Toisc go raibh muintir na tíre ag tuilleamh airgid maith, bhí siad ag caitheamh airgid gan preab ar bith.

Smaoinigh ar na laethanta maithe: bhíodh na tithe tabhairne agus na clubanna oíche lán de chustaiméirí gach deireadh seachtaine, bhíodh na lárionaid siopadóireachta lán de siopaeirí agus ní bhíodh moill ar bith ar dhaoine a gcuid airgid a chaitheamh ar eadaí nua, giuirléidí teicneolaíochta, agus araile. Ó dheireadh na nóchaidí ar aghaidh, bhí nóisean sa tír gur caitheann an duine – agus, go háirithe, lánúineacha óg, pósta – teach a cheannach. Agus teach saoire a cheannach ina dhiadh. Agus carr nua chomh maith.

Agus saoire phacáiste álainn. Agus aon rud eile a thaispeánann gur duine saibhir, rathúil, sásta thú.

B’fhéidir an sampla is fearr ó laethanta an Thíogair Cheiltigh mar gheall ar thomhalta-

chas na tíre ná an fochultúr a fhobairt inar thaistilíodh daoine trasna an aigéin chun roinnt siopadóireachta a dhéanamh i Meiriceá.

Cinnte, bhí na praghasanna an-mhaith agus bhí sé furasta go leor taisteal a eagrú chuig na cathracha móra, ach taispeánann an nós seo an méid iarrachta is féidir le daoine a dhéanamh nuair atá siopadóireacht i gceist.

Sa bhliain 2005, tháinig an Ghníomhaireacht Náisiúnta do Thomhaltóirí ar an saol, eagraíocht rialtais nua chun cearta tomhaltóirí a chosaint. Ag an am, bhí anchuid cainte and plé sna méain mar gheall ar chearta tomhaltóirí agus ar mhiondíoltóirí le praghasanna éagóracha agus dá bhrí sin, cruthaíodh an ghníomhaireacht.

Ghlac an tomhaltachas ról lárnach i ngeilleagar na tíre sa tréimhse seo agus tháinig cuid mhaith d’airgeadais naísiúnta ó phóca an thomhaltóra. Chomh maith leis sin, bhí an-tábhacht ag baint leis an méid tacaíochta a thug tomhaltóirí don earnáil réadmhaoine.

Nuair a thosaigh an cúlú eacnamaíochta go hoifigiúil sa bhliain 2008, b’fhurasta a fheiceáil go raibh deireadh i ndán don chultúr tomhaltachais. Toisc nach raibh an méid sin airgid ag daoine, níor féidir leo an méid sin siopadóireachta a dhéanamh.

Toisc go raibh daoine ag cailleadh a gcuid jabanna, níor féidir leo airgead a chaiteamh ar rudaí gan thábhacht.

Agus leis sin, bhraith na miondíoltóirí éifeacht chúrsaí an gheilleagair.

Dúnadh síopaí móra de shaghas Zavvi, Borders, Barratts agus Habitat, faoi mar a d’éirigh an tomhaltóir i bhfad níos cúramaí

Gluais

Lárionad siopadóireachta Dhún Droma: An bhfuilimid fós ag caitheamh airgid?

lena chuid airgid. Áfach, b’fhéidir nach bhfuil sé cothrom a rá go bhfuil tomhaltachas na hÉireannach marbh na laethanta seo. Mar dhaoine, is aoibheann linn airgead a chaitheamh agus earraí a fháil, fiú in amanna deacra.

An bhliain seo caite, dúirt bainistíocht an lárionaid siopadóireachta Dhún Droma go raibh líon na tomhaltóirí beaganín níos airde ná an bhliain roimhe.

Chomh maith leis sin, is féidir linn muinín an tomhaltóra a fheicéail le dío-

lacháin an Eanáir faoi láthair. Osclaíodh roinnt mhaith siopaí ar Lá Fhéile Stiofán – ní tharlaíodh sé sin cúpla bliain ó shín, fiú. Agus dúirt na miondíoltóirí go raibh freagairt mhaith ó dhaoine agus go raibh na siopaí gnóthach go leor.

Ní féidir linn ár ndromanna a chasadh ar mhargadh maith. Glacann an tomhaltachas páirt thábhachtach ní hámhain sa gheilleagar, ach i sochaí na hÉireann. Ag breathnú siar ar imeachtaí le déanaí, is dócha nach n-athróidh sé sin sa todchaí.

Tomhaltachas – consumerism Caillteanais post – job losses Coigilteas – savings Dordfhocal – buzz word Geilleagar saoriomaíochta – free-market economy Saoire phacáiste – package holiday An Ghníomhaireacht Náisiúnta do Thomhaltóirí – the National Consumer Agency Chun cearta tomhaltóirí a chosaint – to defend consumer rights Éagórach -unfair Miondíoltóirí – retailers

Postcards from Abroad: Lyon Though across shores, Matt Gregg discovers that the difficulties students face both in Dublin and Lyon are not quite so far apart

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just have to get something off my chest straight away. I hate snow. Now, I know this might sound like jumping on the bandwagon but I’ve always hated snow. The weeks leading up to Christmas, during which Europe was transformed into a cross between The Day After Tomorrow and The Terminal, merely reinforced my aversion to Colin Matthews’ powdery nemesis.

Okay, maybe hate is a little strong.

However, when you’re just days away from flying home for the Christmas break and every airline announces their planes are grounded, you can be excused for overreacting. Picture the scene: I was the last to leave so everyone huddled around my laptop, their bags packed, waiting to see if they could make it out.

Tensions mounted as their fates flickered through; flight after flight delayed, disrupted or grounded.

Jonny, my Yorkshire neighbour, had four flights cancelled before deciding to give up and train it home. Others were not so decisive and ended up stranded for over a week. Thankfully, I was lucky and faced only minor delays before I was on my way.

Excuse me if this hasn’t quite the forced optimism or disingenuous pleasantness of traditional New Year columns, but I can’t help it. Unfortunately, both of these things are hard to fake when it’s the day after New Year’s and, already, exams

have begun in France.

Stereotypically, the French are all about indulgent holidays and putting off work.

That stereotype could not be more wrong.

It’s less than two weeks off then straight back into your exams.

As I sit writing, I really should be revising. Various Christmas parties, three roasts in as many days and the new Call of Duty have made Christmas as ineffective a revision period as feared.

Moreover, it appears Christmas cheer is not the only obstacle. Here, the library is closed, as staff turn our hardest weeks of the year into a holiday. Though much maligned, it appears UCD’s own group of sabbatical incumbents aren’t that bad.

Somewhat self-serving, they still manage to achieve the basics. UCD library may not be open 24/7, but at least it’s accessible during exams.

Thanks to Ireland’s very own snowstorms, the horrors of exams in January are something many of you will understand. At least I’m on an Erasmus year, so to some extent, I can get away with gaps in my knowledge by just scrawling ‘FOREIGN’ in big letters across the top of my paper.

Somehow, I doubt that ploy will work back in Dublin.

Looking back, I may have given the snow a bit of a hard time. It’s not all cancelled flights and rescheduled exams. In fact, it does bring some upsides. Snow makes midDecember the perfect time to sample the many delights of Rhône-Alpes’ premier city.

From the top of Fourvière, one of two mounds overlooking the city, Lyon looked serene. Gone was the harsh contrast between central Lyon’s sandy hue and its

greyer banlieux. The ghastly rooftops of Villeurbanne, where most of the city’s industry can be found, were smothered in a blanket of snow. A picturesque town at the worst of times, Lyon is transformed into a winter wonderland.

Located in Place Carnot is a Christmas bazaar that puts anything Ireland could offer to shame. Just outside the Perrache metro stop, it is a series of colourful chalets selling everything from wire dolls to mulled wine and giant gingerbread houses. Lyon’s Christmas Market is also home to the best hot chocolate in the world (even better than Insomnia’s!).

Lyon literally lights up in the lead up to Christmas. The Fetes des Lumières, unique to Lyon, expresses gratitude towards the Virgin Mary by covering the whole city in lights and putting on numerous performances. With public drinking encouraged and most supermarkets offering bottles of wine for less than a euro, it’s a great night out.

Come to think of it, 85c wine is a student’s best friend in Lyon. Called Fin Bouquet and cheaper than a baguette, it comes in very handy when most bars are ridiculously overpriced. The fact that each bottle has a label and an authentic cork, which themselves must cost around 50 cent, makes Fin Bouquet an economic miracle.

It’s no Chardonnay, but certainly does the job.

And if Fin Bouquet doesn’t cut it, then maybe Gluwein in the Alps will hit the Laverty engaged in many extra-curricular activities in UCD, including fundraising spot. The ski slopes of Grenoble are only with MedSoc. an hour away from Lyon and while I may Like Tom Hanks’ character in The Terminal, thousands of Irish people were left hate snow in the city, it’s rather essential for stranded in airports in the lead up to Christmas. skiing, which I hope to enjoy après exams.

18 January 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

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Averting a crisis

In the aftermath of the festive party season, Sarah Doran investigates the link between drink, drugs and date rape

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’was the season to be many things according to the numerous photo albums uploaded to Facebook; jolly, broke and absolutely ‘trollied’ ranked amongst the most popular choices of album title.

The mortifying photos on Facebook which screamed “DE-TAG!” or the grim realisation that yes, you had scored that godawful trainee Garda in Coppers served to remind many that perhaps that last drink or ten had not been such a wonderful idea after all. However, for some it may not have been just that last drink but what had been slipped into it that ensured that the night out proved eternally memorable. Date rape is arguably one experience that no de-tag can erase.

Rape is classed as forced or coerced sex between; partners, dates, friends, friends of friends or general acquaintances. It can be coerced both physically and emotionally with perpetrators employing tactics ranging from threats to reputation to accusations that the victim brought it upon themselves or really wanted it to happen.

Nevertheless, date rape is a form of sexual assault. If an individual has had too much to drink or has been placed under the influence of drugs, they cannot consent to sexual activity. Those who engage in sexual activity with those under the influence can legally be charged with committing a crime of rape.

An article in the Irish Independent described date rape in 2004 as Ireland’s ‘dirty little secret’, with experts agreeing that the crime was ‘vastly underreported’. This reality can often be largely attributed to the fact that the perpetrator of the crime is frequently acquainted with the victim. In fact, date rape is also labelled acquaintance rape, as incidences of the crime do not necessarily occur in an actual date setting.

According to statistics published by the Young Women’s Christian Association in the USA, date rape is the most common form of sexual assault, with one in four girls expected to fall victim to rape or attempted rape before they reach 25. The organisation alleges that three out of five instances of date rape occur before a woman reaches 18. However, women are not the sole victims of this crime: men can be and are regularly the victims of this type of sexual assault. Social taboos can often prevent men from coming forward and reporting instances of this vicious act.

Date or acquaintance rape is associated with DFSA or drug-facilitated sexual assault.

Perhaps the most infamous drug associated with date rape is rohypnol. More commonly known as roofies, these pills are prescription sedatives or depressants. This drug is tasteless and has no distinguishing colour or odour.

Therefore, when it is crushed it can be added to any drink without detection: a drink as simple as water can easily be spiked using this particular pill. The most common symptoms include a loss of inhibition and amnesia: the drug can take effect within only 20 minutes after ingestion by the victim.

Following the controversy of the late 1990s regarding its popular use as a date rape drug, the manufacturer of rohypnol voluntarily altered the formula of the drug. It would now change colour upon contact with liquid: those who had their drinks spiked could identify this change in colour. Despite this advance, it is still easy to find rohypnol in its original generic formulation.

It is hardly surprising that an incident in May 2009 in which 80,000 rohypnol tablets

Rohypnol is one of the most popular drugs used by sexual predators on their victims.

were amongst a consignment of prescription drugs that had been stolen from a pharmaceutical company in north Dublin inspired panic amongst those in the capital and indeed countrywide. Chain-mail text messages and e-mails were swiftly circulated amongst secondary school and college students in order to raise awareness.

However, rohypnol is not the only drug available to would-be attackers; gamma hydroxy butyrate, more commonly known as GHB, liquid ecstasy or EZ Lay can also be administered through drink spiking. This odourless and colourless liquid can easily be mistaken for water and affects the central nervous system: GBH begins to take effect within ten to 15 minutes. GBH acts as a depressant and can even induce anaesthesia.

The death of 15-year-old Samantha Reid in the USA following an overdose of GBH in 1999 evidenced the horrific consequences this drug can ultimately have. Reid’s death inspired the Hillory J Farias and Samantha Reid Date-Rape Drug Prohibition Act of 2000, which banned the drug in the United States. GBH is also illegal in Canada and many parts of Europe. Perhaps the most menacing aspect of this drug is the fact that pharmaceutical companies do not produce it: it is made in illegal drug labs or by amateur chemists in their homes and can easily be produced by those with basic chemistry skills and the correct ingredients.

Another drug associated with date rape is

ketamine hydrochloride. More commonly known as Vitamin K or Special K, this legal drug is sold as a veterinary sedative or hospital grade anaesthesia. It can act as a dissociative anaesthesia, meaning that the user is rendered vaguely aware and yet comfortably detached from all bodily sensations. The most common effects of the drug include delirium, vivid hallucinations and delayed reaction time. When consumed orally, the drug can take effect within 20 minutes.

The tasteless, odourless and colourless nature of these three substances makes them virtually undetectable and therefore desirable to predators. Any trace of these drugs will leave the body within 72 hours of ingestion and they cannot be detected in any routine toxicology screen or blood test unless they have been specifically targeted. The drugs render the victim unaware but responsive and often cause them to act without inhibition whilst it remains in their system. The passive victim can, however, still play a role in this horrific tale, often acting in a sexually or physically affectionate way with their attacker.

Tragically, the victim can often be unaware that they have been raped. However, some individuals have clear memories of the attack, their incapacitated bodies rendered physically compliant though their minds are mentally resistant: such a horrific experience can inflict mental wounds that prove understandably difficult and impossible to heal.

Yet perhaps controversially, the most com-

mon date rape drug is alcohol itself. In 2007, staff and students within the Forensic and Legal Medicine team at the University of Ulster conducted a study that revealed the role played by alcohol in cases of date rape. The team examined toxicology results compiled from victims of alleged sexual assaults over a six-year period from 1999 to 2005. Their findings demonstrated that the average alcohol levels at the time of the alleged assaults were almost three times the drink-driving limit.

In an article in Science Daily in 2007, Dr Janet Hall, who examined the Forensic Science Northern Ireland toxicology database, said: “This research confirms the findings of other studies in the UK, US and Australia – that alcohol is a major contributor to vulnerability to sexual assault in social situations and acquaintance rape.”

Though the study failed to find any trace of specific date rape drugs such as GHB, rohypnol or ketamine, it did caution that delays in reporting alleged assaults or in taking samples could mean that these substances could no longer be detected. Dr Hall explained how “given the very high levels of alcohol consumption by some alleged victims, the findings also raise the question of what constitutes valid consent to sexual activity. The capacity to give informed consent at these levels of alcohol consumption is very questionable.”

Indeed, in recent years it has been asserted

that a number of those who have claimed to have their drink spiked have actually been suffering not from the effects of drug ingestion, but rather excess alcohol consumption.

This fear that they will not be believed can prevent those who truly have fallen victim to drink spiking from coming forward and contacting those who will offer help and support to victims.

The situation presents a stark and unfortunate reality, which ensures that the issue remains highly contentious. Is drink spiking actually an urban legend? Or is it a reality that many continue to silently fall victim to?

Regardless of the statistics, the reality is that rape continues to impact upon the lives of thousands of survivors, both male and female. Simple steps can be taken to attempt to prevent attacks from occurring. The rules are simple: do not leave your drink unattended and do not accept drinks from strangers. Furthermore, ensure that friends who seem too intoxicated from what they have taken get home safely.

On a night out, these rules may seem tedious and unnecessary but the simple steps taken by one person could ultimately change a life. If you found yourself in a situation where your drink had been spiked, you might be glad that your friends would do the same for you, even if they did tag you in that dodgy photo in the taxi home.

The Rape Crisis Centre can be contacted on their free 24-hour helpline at 1800 778888.

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THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER 18 January 2011

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Old habits die hard As the UCD campus buzzes again with new hopes for 2011, James O’ Connor explores the concept of New Year’s resolutions

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t the beginning of another new year, each and every one of us will be thinking about one thing: New Year’s resolutions. The more pessimistic among us will conclude that a resolution is just a failure waiting to happen.

However, in 2011 it is time to rely more on optimism. In 2011, we can look to American blogger Perez Hilton for inspiration, who expresses a desire to continue on path that he is on during a video blog posted recently on his website. In the coming year, Hilton is also hoping to realise some very common resolutions surrounding health, love and self-improvement.

Perez may express himself a little bit more outlandishly than most, but his resolution to look “banging” naked is one that many of us will be taking on board this January. Every festive season, that one turkey sandwich that is one too many results in huge numbers flocking to gyms around the country. Wannabe enthusiasts sign up for everything from spinning classes to Pilates in the hope that by the time the summer rolls around, the holiday weight will be a thing of the past.

Perusing New Year’s resolutions online will present variations of “fall in

love,” “tell her that I love her,” and “take a bubble bath with a loved one”. Perhaps a lonely New Year’s Eve forces many of us to look back on a bad year and hope that the next twelve months will allow us to find that special someone.

Again, Hilton is in search of love. His pursuit, combined with his penchant for all things internet-based, has taken him into the world of online dating, describing himself as either “desperate” or “determined”. Others will use more traditional methods of finding love, such as frequenting late bars and nightclubs.

Volunteering is also one of many noble causes that huge numbers pledge to support at the beginning of each year. Once again, we can look to Hilton for inspiration. He expresses a belief that senior citizens are forgotten and not cherished as they should be, and vows to visit a nursing home near his own house as regularly as possible. Some will promise to give of their time, others will promise to give of their money with each being greatly appreciated by worthy causes.

Other common New Year’s resolutions include quitting smoking, quitting drinking or learning something new such as a language or skill. Unfortunately, it is not simply the thought that counts when it comes to resolutions and many fall short – some quicker than others. One friend of mine admitted that his plan to stop drinking in 2011 lasted no more than three seconds – the time it took him to say “Happy New Year” after the countdown. Others suggest the majority of people have broken their resolution by January 18th.

In chemistry, the process of reducing or separating something into its components

Perez Hilton has several resolutions. Maybe it’s time to stop drawing cartoons on celebrities, Perez?

is known as resolution. Studies show that people who kept their resolutions tended to have broken their goal into smaller steps and rewarded themselves when they achieved one of these. Other success stories included Twitter updates that allowed friends to offer encouragement.

While the advice allegedly needed to succeed is readily available online, it is also argued that New Year’s resolutions are not beneficial at all. Psychologists have argued that making resolutions is almost destined to fail. Instead of improving ourselves, we break them, become dispirited in the process and finally more discouraged than we were before.

One interesting theory is that New Year’s resolutions are an excuse to live hedonistically in the short term, because all will be redeemed come January 1st. The fact that it is easier to put things on the long finger means we do not choose today as the day of significance.

On a lighter note, a New Year’s challenge is just around the corner for those who wish to seek it. Monina Velarde, a self-professed optimistic graphic designer working in Chicago, created a New Year’s Resolution Generator (http://bit. ly/53qNTx). As a result, I have taken it upon myself to learn Italian. Other resolutions include not having any resolutions this year and simple tasks like drinking more water.

To sum up, resolutions are part and parcel of every festive season. If everyone is to be believed, then we are in for a great year. We can all look forward to an addiction-free year allowing time for intermittent breaks; for bubble baths; for time with loved ones; and to show off our fantastically sculpted bodies. Here’s to 2011.

Postgraduate Open Day 2011 Taught & Research Opportunities Meet the experts and discuss your options at the Postgraduate Open Day Date: Thursday 27th January 2011 Venue: Public Theatre/Exam Hall Time: 4pm-7pm

www.tcd.ie/Graduate_Studies/ FIND US ON FACEBOOK TCD Postgraduate Open Day 2011 50041_TCD_GS_Open11_UCD.indd 1

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18 January 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

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Snow joke The mayhem caused by the snow in UCD around exam time left some students amused and others frustrated, writes Paul Fennessy

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ccording to the novelist JB Priestley, “The first fall of snow is a magical event. You go to bed in one sort of world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found.” Somehow, it is hard to fathom the majority of UCD students subscribing to Priestley’s romantic notion of snow, particularly the thousands of students who were forced to re-sit their Christmas exams in January as a result of recent ungodly weather conditions.

Yet not all students took an entirely dim view of the fact that they would have to experience Christmas with the disconcerting prospect of exams looming over them. Abaí Ní Ógáin, a third-year Science student, explains her optimistic view of proceedings: “You have to take the best from these situations and not moan about it,” she says. “It was cold now and then, but it’s good craic. I do love the snow. It cancelled my exams, what’s not to love?” she laughs.

And yet there was plenty not to love, not least those pesky icy pathways, in the opinion of third-year Arts student Suzanne Bedell: “Falling over quite a bit was always fun,” she admits. “I came down from the DART station, it’s on a hill.

And I just fell on my ass. And on Christmas Eve, I fell again. It happened to be in the same place, so it was kind of sore. It wasn’t too bad; I just got a few bruises.”

“I saw people walking across the lake when it was frozen,” says Lydia Colin, Bedell’s friend and fellow third-year Arts student. “I think they got in trouble though.

But when else could people ever say I walked across the lake in UCD?” Other students, however, were not quite as accepting of the situation and expressed some dissatisfaction at the manner in which it was handled. Ciaràn Farrelly, a final-year Economics student, was one such example of someone who was immensely frustrated by these extraordinary circumstances.

“I just thought the exams should’ve gone ahead because the rest of the country was going ahead,” he argues. “I know people that have gone skiing who have to come back early because of the exams. It just messes up everything. And you can’t blame anyone. The snow happens, it’s just unfortunate.

“I knew lads who drove back and it took them three hours to get from the RDS to the library – the place was shut then and all their stuff was inside.”

Cathal Stack, also in final-year Economics, is more forthright in his condemnation of UCD authorities: “They should’ve just cut the Tuesday off altogether. The line they were given about people being there on the Tuesday was a load of rubbish. I don’t know how they expected people to come in, unless they had bloody skis.”

Another criticism related to the fact that in the lead-up to the rescheduled exams, the UCD library was not open as frequently as some students hoped it would be. Although the library did cater for these students by opening its doors on the weekend before the exam, certain people felt it should have been accessible for longer than the nine-to-five hours at which it was operating during the week

The recent barrage of snow in Ireland led to the enforced cancellation of many UCD exams.

prior to the rescheduled exams.

“They cancelled exams, yet the library’s still open minimum opening hours now.

It’s not open, yet I’ve two exams,” says Farrelly.

“It’s shocking that the library’s closed at half five this week,” agrees Stack, adding: “I was always curious why the Students’ Union cancelled that shuttle bus on the Tuesday.”

Nonetheless, despite these students’ complaints, UCDSU Education VicePresident James Williamson praised the college for the manner in which they dealt with the situation and defended their policy of maintaining the standard library opening hours for the week prior to the exams.

“UCD did actually do quite well, I think,” he says. “It’s kind of opened their eyes. They will always have the exam halls booked in January, as they did this year, in case there’s snow. I think the only thing they could improve on is the communication to students, but the message seemed to get there pretty quick anyway through word of mouth.”

He continues: “To be honest, extending the library opening hours before the exam is not really possible. The exams are cancelled with a day to go, so most of the students would have most of their work done. I know an extra day is a huge amount of time, but they did have all their Christmas holidays and the library was open for an adequate amount of time.”

Williamson also adds that the reason the shuttle bus stopped running at a certain point on the Tuesday of the exam week was due to health and safety concerns for its driver. “It’s very difficult to ask a bus driver, who mightn’t be confident at driving it, to keep going on roads like that, because it is hazardous,” he explains.

Thus, while the great snowstorm of 2010 may have enabled UCD students to literally walk on (lake) water, other normally straightforward tasks such as sitting exams and using transport were unfortunately not so simple. Winter of 2011 probably won’t hear strains of ‘Let it Snow’ from the Belfield campus. Oh, Priestley, what were you thinking?

Holding forum

As a relic of the UCD campus temporarily closes its doors, Caitriona Farrell reminisces about the already much-missed Forum Bar

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he Forum Bar has closed its doors, and sadly, very few got to say their goodbyes due to the adverse weather conditions that gave UCD no choice but to close before the semester came to an end.

Some students were oblivious to the fact that it closed, owing to the pandemonium on campus, with buildings opening and shutting their doors on the whim of the snow during the last few days of term.

Needless to say, other universities have survived keeping the sessions alive, the banter flowing and the general student social life energised with a single student bar such as the College Bar in NUIG and Trinity College’s Pavilion Bar, otherwise known as ‘The Pav’.

The Forum Bar is closing due to the ongoing construction at the new Student Centre.

The new building will become the middle of the Student Centre, as it will extend to both the old Student Centre building and the Sports Centre. The proposals for the new Student Centre were ongoing for many years before the cranes and the scaffolding became

apparent on campus, and its provisional opening date is September 2011.

To many, the Forum Bar was a hidden gem in UCD. For those who knew it well, the Forum Bar, located in that unassuming corner beside the Student Centre, provided more than a venue to have an alcoholic beverage. Memories of the Forum Bar chiefly involve society events, class events or having a lunch between lectures with a few friends.

The University Observer itself has hosted endof-semester get togethers in the Forum Bar and other events during the year and other societies have routinely done the same. The Forum Bar was a meeting place for the beginning of a class party, a venue which suited table quizzes and a place one learned how to play pool. It served as a foil for the often crowded Student Bar and proved the perfect place for less mainstream events such as open-mic nights and comedy gigs.

Second-year Human Nutrition student, Aoife Curran, remembers: “When I was in first year, all of us human nutrition students met with our lecturers in the Forum Bar. It was a lovely evening, as we got to chat to our lecturers and students from different years in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

“It was the preferred venue for societies to

meet up,” she adds. “Particularly at the beginning of term, where new and old members got to know each other.”

UCD Students’ Union Women’s Officer, Regina Brady reminisces: “The last night I was in the Forum Bar was for the Welfare Crew Christmas party and we had a great night there because we were able to section off an area for ourselves. We had some lovely finger food and everyone was chatting away and had a great time.”

With Black Monday taking place yesterday and the prolonged Christmas exams only concluding today, the Forum Bar will be missed this week in particular. A lengthy line of students, stretching longer than your average dole queue, is expected and anticipated in the Student Bar for the remainder of the week.

Asked how the Student Bar and the Forum Bar compared, second-year Engineering student Brian Nolan notes: “It was a different animal really. It was quiet, the drinks were always good.” Second-year Animal Science student Ursula Mc Cormack adds that the Forum Bar was “a cheaper and more comfortable alternative to the Student Bar”.

Being well located beside the Student Centre and the Sports Centre was an ideal loca-

The UCD Student Bar is expected to take on the majority of the Forum’s business while it is closed.

tion for a bar, the Student Bar being located on the opposite side of campus could be inconvenient for Sports clubs after matches unless they are able for the last hurdle which is the extra ten-minute walk. Brady explains: “It was really handy to have the Forum Bar so close to the Student Centre. However, with the news of the amazing new Student Centre with all its facilities, it will benefit students in

the long run.”

Coping with the Forum Bar’s customer base as well as its own customers, the Student Bar will be beginning on a bustling note this semester. The celebrations will have begun already for the fortunate ones without postChristmas exams greeting them on their arrival back from the holidays.

Oh Forum Bar: we will miss you.

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THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER 18 January 2011

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So long Seanad?

As the Seanad comes

under fire by those who view it as ineffective, Eoin Brady highlights a superior alternative

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he Seanad has always been a rather confused and rudderless entity, but if you were based on a militant republican’s reinterpretation of a Pope’s take on Marxism, you’d be something of a muddle too.

The Seanad is the upper house of the Irish parliament – the lower one being the Dáil. Along with the President, they make up the legislature. This is the branch of government that writes legislation. There are two other branches of government: one is the executive, which consists of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and cabinet ministers. Its role is to administer legislation. The judiciary (which is composed of judges) is the third branch. Its role is to interpret legislation.

The point of having these three entities and keeping them separate is to prevent any one group accumulating too much power and influence. The Seanad, which was created with the 1937 constitution, has a number of roles it is supposed to fulfil: to rigorously examine legislation proposed by members of the Dáil and to represent groups of society that would otherwise not receive enough attention.

43 of the Seanad’s 60 seats are given over to a vocational panel, representing areas like industry, culture and agriculture. The idea comes from the then-Pope’s

idea – based on a critical response to Marxism – that the various social classes should be able to co-operate and co-exist, rather than clashing with one another.

The Taoiseach directly allocates eleven of the seats and the remaining six are elected

by NUI and Trinity graduates. The need for extra representation for these groups is not immediately apparent.

Ostensibly, the Seanad’s job is to keep an eye on the executive – to make sure it is held accountable and acts transparently.

However, it is failing abjectly. This is due to the guaranteed government majority there and the strength of the party whips.

Senators and TDs should have the liberty, as individual members of parliament, to oppose legislation that goes against what they perceive to be the best interests of the country. However, a culture of deference and submission leads them to toe the party line too often. This lack of scrutiny has lead to a concentration of power in the cabinet, and a hamstrung Seanad.

These failings have lead to calls for a referendum on the abolition of the Seanad. It is patently obvious that this kind of change would be populist shorttermism, and not reform on the scale for which there is now an appetite among the Irish public. The abolition of the Seanad would be a symbolic but ineffective effort to clean up Irish public life, like the useless attempted cull of quangos by the UK’s coalition government recently.

Now, in Ireland, there is appetite for substantive change. The public recognises that only if Ireland were a nation populated entirely by middle-aged-to-elderly, white, Catholic, straight, male barristers, teachers and publicans would our politics be representative. It recognises that a political system whereby aspiring candidates succeed by fixing potholes serves no one.

There is a solution to these problems.

The solution is to use Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) representation in Dáil elections. It brings about a more represen-

The Seanad has been criticised by some, owing to its perceived lack of relevance in modern society.

tative, more diverse, less parochial parliament. It works by splitting parliament in two: half the seats are regional seats and half are party seats.

Voters have two votes each. One is for their regional representative and one for the party they favour. Regional elections happen in the same way as they do now in Ireland, but half of the seats in the Dáil will still be empty. These seats are allocated to parties in proportion to the number of votes received in the party vote.

Suppose there are 100 seats in a parliament. A party wins 15 regional seats. In

the party vote, it gets 25 per cent. This means it should get a quarter of the total seats. It has 15 seats, so it should get ten more seats to have 25 in total. These ten seats are given to the party’s top ten candidates on a national list.

The use of a list system allows parties to include a broader variety of candidate, rather than the typical “safe” candidate described earlier.

Electing candidates nationally empowers voters. It does this because groups of people that are spread around the country and are not numerous enough in any one

place to win a regional seat can vote along party lines and be represented through the list method. This system is used in New Zealand, and since its implementation in 1993, female participation in parliament has gone from 21 per cent to 34 per cent.

The Seanad is as ineffective and pointless as it always was. It should be abolished, even though the change will be insignificant – the real change that voters yearn for will only be achieved by fairer representation. There is a right way to achieve this, and that way is MMP.

Bye-bye Bertie

Following his criticism of the actions of the current Cabinet, Sarah Doran asks if Bertie Ahern’s legacy will begin where rainbows end

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wentyseven TDs from the main political parties have thus far announced their intention to step down from the Dáil and not contest the 2011 General Election. Amongst the 27 is former Taoiseach and TD for Dublin Central, Bertie Ahern.

“It was always my plan that I would step down before I was 60. With an election due in the spring and my next birthday in September being my 60th, I want to confirm tonight that I will not be a candidate at the next general election,” Ahern stated.

Despite the controversy that has marred the latter days of his career, Bertie Ahern’s three-time electoral success has cemented his position in Irish political history. Ahern was once hailed as the most successful politician in the state since Eamon de Valera. Infamous former Taoiseach Charlie Haughey described him as “the most skilful, most devious, most cunning of them all”. Ahern is also Ireland’s longest-serving Taoiseach.

His role in the negotiations leading up to the Good Friday Agreement was greatly praised; he notably flew back to Belfast for negotiations following his mother’s funeral. His position as an architect of the social partnership in the 1980s during his time as Minister for Labour is also acknowledged. However, it is as of yet

uncertain whether these successes or the more recent failures will define Ahern’s political legacy.

“It is not given to anyone in life who tries and tries again not to sometimes fail.

Years of apparently great success then are apparently tainted by great failures now,” Ahern acknowledged. “But when that stock is taken, when the eleven years I had the honour to be Taoiseach are more coldly considered, the many positives will be put into the balance with the negatives.”

Of course suspicions have been raised as regards the true motivations behind Ahern’s decision. Speculation arguably stems from an inherent belief that politicians such as Ahern rarely keep the promises they make: a track record of alleged dishonesty and brown envelope deals has done little to instil faith in the population when it comes to the good intentions of this particular politician.

The Sunday Business Post claimed earlier this month that following Budget cutbacks, Ahern still stands to gain €60,000 by leaving the political arena before the next general election. This revelation could serve to fuel the fires of electoral disbelief and discontent. Has Ahern always truly intended to leave the political sphere before his 60th birthday? Or is he yet again, as was suggested by many in 2008, slipping discretely out the door in pursuit of self-interest, narrowly avoiding the electoral carnage that his political party potentially faces?

It would seem that disillusionment with the former Taoiseach is deep-seated; allegations surrounding Ahern have proven so pervasive that the issue was even alluded to on the most recent edition of The Late Late Toy Show. It would be interesting to discern whether children’s novel Dirty Bertie proved a more popular Christmas present amongst younger or older readers following that fiasco.

As regards his handling of the country’s financial future, Ahern was adamant that nobody had warned him about the banking sector. Though this may be true, Ahern was warned of the unstable nature of the property sector: he responded by commenting that he didn’t know how these wary economists didn’t “commit suicide”.

It could be argued that Ahern’s resignation as Taoiseach in 2008 was definitive. Controversially trading the Dáil Cabinet for a kitchen cabinet in his new role as a sports correspondent for the News of The World, Ahern caused a furore. UCD Professor of Modern Irish History Diarmaid Ferriter suggested that the move illustrated how Ahern was “bereft of something that is essential to politicians of substance, regardless of their successes or failures: dignity”.

Ahern’s recent comments regarding Brian Cowen’s conduct during the recent crisis were indeed undignified.

Cowen described Ahern as the “consummate politician of his generation”;

Bertie Ahern’s reputation is now somewhat tarnished in the eyes of many.

Ahern responded with a critique of Cowen’s conduct. “My view is you’re better doing it my way, but he opted not to do that,” said Ahern, condemning Cowen’s failure to communicate with the Irish people.

Ahern asserted that the Government failed to act decisively enough to avoid the necessity of intervention. “If we had said to the markets […] there were things we were going to do, it could have made a difference.” Are these comments truly made with the benefit of

hindsight or with more politically opportunistic motivations? It is of course widely accepted that Ahern’s ambitions extend to the Áras.

Regardless of his successes or failures, it must be acknowledged that Ahern’s significance within Fianna Fáil and his place in Irish political history have been secured. Bertie Ahern will leave the Dáil on May 6th 2011, and it is certain there will be no ‘P.S. I love you’ between him and Brian Cowen.

18 January 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

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Drinking us dry The previously everreliable Irish pub trade has fallen on hard times, but lowering the price of alcohol will not solve anything, writes Kate Rothwell

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ints in a pub or cans in a flat?

Cocktails in a bar or a bottle of wine in your sitting room? We all Comment Editor know which are the more glamorous, sociable options and we also know that there has always been a vast difference between the price of drinking at home and in licensed establishments.

The last few years however, have seen a rise in the trend of people spending an evening drinking in their own or their friends’ homes and a steep drop in the numbers regularly frequenting bars and pubs. Publicans have laid the blame on the implementation of the smoking ban and tighter drink-driving laws and more recently on the increasingly low-price supermarket sales of alcohol.

The Vintners Federation of Ireland’s call for a minimum price to be set on the sale of alcohol is an understandable cry for help from an industry that, like many or even most others, is experiencing a crippling drop in revenue.

The idea that supermarkets are selling alcohol at below-cost prices is indeed questionable, but primarily because of the dangerous opportunity that it provides in a country where binge drinking is more prevalent than anywhere else in Europe.

The fact that supermarkets are trying to

tempt price-wary customers with offers on alcohol so that they can outsell the competition however, is completely understandable.

The stereotypically Irish thirst for alcohol was present in our society long before these recessionary times and now that many people cannot afford to drink regularly in a pub, they choose to drink at home instead.

There are countries in nearby mainland Europe where alcohol is sold at an even lower price in supermarkets and yet it is Ireland which has the third-highest level of alcohol consumption in the world.

Admittedly, many continental countries have a lower overall cost of living and a lower average wage, but when you speak to tourists or international students in Ireland, the price difference that shocks them the most is that of alcohol. The only thing that seems to astound them even more is the vast quantity of drink that so many Irish people consume, despite the ensuing costs to their purse, health and dignity.

Various studies have shown that we as a nation have a problem with alcohol, a fact which anyone who has walked down a main street in an Irish town on a Friday, Saturday or even weekday night will most likely have already ascertained.

Current supermarket prices may be fuelling the fire, but they are not what lie at the root of this issue and their restriction will not bring back the business that Irish pubs and bars have enjoyed in previous years. Our unfortunate economic situation means that there are few people who allow themselves the luxury of going to a pub two or three times a week, if even once and no amount of irritating radio advertisements trying to entice punters back will change that.

And when people do go ‘for a drink’ it may well be just that – buying three or four

The worsening trade in Irish pubs has been blamed by some on the availability of cheap alcohol in supermarkets.

drinks in one evening or a round for your friends is a costly undertaking. Some pubs and bars have responded to the downturn with special offers such as a pint for €3 or €4, but others still charge over €5 for a bottle of beer.

Pubs and bars have undoubtedly been hit by the effects of the smoking ban and further restrictions of drink-driving laws, but these were generally lauded legislative efforts that were required in order to tackle greater social issues. It should also be noted that some legislation has been pro-pub – since 2008 no supermarket or off-licence

may sell alcohol after 10pm, while pubs and bars are open and free to serve alcohol for another number of hours.

The death of the Celtic Tiger was always going to be the hardest hit that this industry would have to take, but it is not only publicans who have been affected by the extent of the recession. Whatever trade their customers are or were in, they too are feeling the pinch.

Nonetheless, the fact that crates of beer are being sold at the price of less than a euro per bottle is ethically questionable, but at the end of the day, anyone who is on

a tight budget will choose the cheaper option. Be it €1 per bottle or three, the supermarkets will always win out in comparison to pub and bar prices.

‘Pub culture’ would be sorely missed if it were to disappear from our society, but I for one believe that it is too beloved by both those who live in and visit Ireland for supermarket prices to be the final nail in its coffin. Yet while more and more people find that they can no longer afford to support the pub trade, making a profit in this struggling industry will be anything but easy.

Pill of rights

Boots’ decision to sell the morning-after pill over the counter marks a milestone in reproductive rights and hearlds an era in which true sexual change can occur, writes Bridget Fitzsimons

W

hile we like to think of ourselves as a modern and cosmopolitan society, Ireland cannot claim to be at the progressive end of the spectrum when it comes to reproductive rights. Abortion remains illegal and bodies like the Iona Institute seem hell-bent on convincing us that sex outside of marriage is abominable. However, steps are slowly being taken to drag Ireland’s sexual health and education policies kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

Pharmaceutical chain Boots announced last week that they would begin selling emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill, over the counter, without prescription. This is the first time that this initiative has been introduced in Ireland and heralds a new era in reproductive rights. However, the Irish College of General Practitioners expressed concern over the move, saying that women may leave themselves open to compromised quality of care while availing of the drug.

This is a historic move and must be celebrated. Ireland has, for far too long, chosen to remain ignorant and unaware of the consequences of proper education and access to sexual health and re-

productive information. In allowing the morning-after pill to be available over the counter, Boots have removed the embarrassment and sense of shame that women often felt going to see their GP. Often, GPs are less than accommodating to women in need of emergency contraception. This move also means that access to the morning-after pill will be far easier during the weekend, especially on Sundays when it is often most needed.

Organisations such as the Irish Family Planning Association and Choice Ireland have come out in favour of the move.

Along with this initiative, we need to see a push in sexual health education. Bodies such as Choice Ireland and the IFPA now must ensure that people are aware of issues pertaining to sexual health and the morning-after pill.

Women should be made aware of the drug, its side-effects and what it actually does to their bodies. Awareness and education is the only way that we can expect people to behave responsibly. In addition, it is now time for the government to instill proper sex education in both primary and secondary education, so that unwanted pregnancies can be less of an issue.

The reality is that sexual health educa-

tion is completely lacking in this country.

I received literally no formal sex education in school, apart from studying the human reproductive system in biology at the age of 17. This is ludicrous. We should be open about sex and its consequences, so that the next generation can be ably equipped and not saddled with the Catholic guilt that seems to currently permeate society.

While GPs may be concerned about lack of care, it is now time for us to place trust in our pharmacists. In deciding whether or not to give women emergency contraception due to misguided ‘morals’, GPs have lost this business themselves.

Pharmacists learn about medication in their training, they just need to make their customers aware that they can ask them questions about the morning-after pill, just as they can doctors. Similarly, pharmacists must not be allowed bring personal feelings into the equation.

Women and couples must make sure that they are given the information that they need in relation to this medication.

This is simply not a moral issue, despite what certain groups would have you think. The moral choices you make should not impinge on the moral choices of others. We are constantly told that re-

Boots began selling the morning-after pill in Ireland for the first time last week.

productive rights come down to moral issues, but the morals of one person have no place in the lives of others. Choice should exist for all people, and this is true of the morning-after pill. No one view has the right to total dominance, so the choice should exist for all.

We can only hope that more pharmacies follow in the footsteps of Boots. To remain ignorant and to choose to curtail reproductive rights in 2011 is completely

foolish. We can no longer allow ourselves to remain stuck in an era that allow tragedies like Ann Lovett’s death to occur.

Silence is never the answer. Education is key. People will always have sex, so it’s time to equip them as best we can. In allowing the morning-after pill to be made available over the counter, we can only hope that Boots will open the floodgates to sexual and educational empowerment in Ireland.

14

THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER 18 January 2011

COMMENT

comment@universityobserver.ie

United we stand?

There is no doubt that the Students’ Union plays a huge role in the student experience, but how well do they actually represent the UCD student body? Bríd Doherty and Sinead O’Brien debate the issue

C

urrently five men preside over the upper echelons of the Students’ Union. Throughout the short history of our independent state, university students’ unions were places in which initial political alliances were formed, loyalties established and connections made.

UCD’s Students’ Union has, since its inception in our university, been a breeding ground for individuals who wish to further their own ambitions and ascend into the Irish political hierarchy. It may also be said in this regard that student politics sets the tone for Irish politics. Irish politics of late has become a barrage of nods, winks and people looking out for one another, rather than for the citizens of this nation.

Women blatantly lack representation on the committee. The officers are currently, as they generally tend to be, exclusively male. Since I began my studies at UCD, there has not been a single female sabbatical officer. This is a blatant lack of representation of the entire student body.

It makes the Students’ Union seem less approachable to female students, as it is such a male-dominated entity. It also cements the image of the Students’ Union as an old boys’ club of sorts.

There seems to be a set path, which by following one may rise through the ranks of UCD student representation. The typical path commences with a successful candidate occupying the role of class representative, before graduating to the position of Programme Officer, being elected a sabbatical officer and then rising to the ultimate position of SU President.

All four of the current SU Vice-Presidents have followed this pattern, as has their President before them. Scott Ahearn, Jonny Cosgrove, Pat de Brún, James Williamson and Paul Lynam all graduated up the system before taking their current roles. While the four Vice-Presidents have jumped three of the first hurdles, and it remains to be seen whether or not they will stand in the presidential election. But can they really care so much for the cause of

students, when they seem more willing to climb each rung of the ladder towards presidency, rather than to focus on one particular area?

It is evident that SU representatives’ time and energy is focused on advancing their own objectives rather than those of the students he represents. This furthermore ties into my point about the correlation between Irish and student politics.

One can be Minister for Finance without possessing any kind of financial qualification. It is merely the attraction of being in power that compels many of the representatives to stand for election. It is not based upon an interest in the office they are occupying.

Student Union expenditure is a manifestation of poor representation of students.

We only have to look back to semester one and the criticism that resulted from extortionate SU spending on class rep training for an example of this problem. It is quite evident that the training could have been carried out for a much lower cost.

It also must be asked why students have to pay for such things as STI tests, while the SU decide to use over €10,000 of their budget to facilitate a weekend away for a few students, rather than minimise the cost of training and put that money towards something that would benefit all students.

At the very least, we, the student body, should have a say about whether the SU should be allowed to expend such a sum on training.

Class SU representation is also very poor. Particularly in the area of Arts where, for example, English, Drama and Film are all placed in the same bracket with only one class rep for all three subjects. This isolates a lot of students from representation. A class rep should be someone who is known to students and someone who they feel they can approach. This is not possible when hundreds of students only have one representative.

It is, I feel, reasonable to expect Students’ Union representatives to take pride in the positions to which they have been

elected. A certain formality and respect in the conduct of these officers would be far from misplaced.

However, the offices of many of the representatives are kept in a manner that does not show any form of regard for the position that they hold. The rooms are often dirty and untidy and seem completely unfit for visits from students. In light of the amount of politicians and individuals from outside the university who come to visit the Students’ Union, it would perhaps be appropriate for them to keep their offices in a more respectable state. This is the image that they are perpetuating of UCD students and it is certainly not a favourable one.

It cannot be denied that the SU have done some wonderful things and that certain members are devoted to their positions. However, it is clear that certain areas of student representation are lacking and that ulterior motives may often be at play in the minds of those in power.

- Brid Doherty

UCDSU’s sabbatical officers represent the 24,000 students of UCD on a number of university commttees.

W

hile the Students’ Union in UCD may have a reputation for being an aggregation of cliquish, rightwing careerists, it can be argued that this year’s team of sabbatical officers and the assemblage of elected class representatives do in fact adequately represent UCD’s student body.

Come election day, you might resent being persistently accosted in the hallways by candidates and their blind followers offering over-zealous renditions of banal manifestos. You may also find the ballot sheet containing uncontested nominees to be slightly offensive, if not largely demeaning. You might even totally and utterly begrudge the very existence of the Students’ Union, the involuntary contribution you must make upon registering to UCD and the type of self-serving, politically motivated animal that breeds within it.

But it is here where I must admonish the begrudgers (myself included), and tell them (and myself ) to get stuffed.

Indeed, the individuals who make up the Students’ Union council may not always be representative of the archetypal UCD student, or simply put; may not be representative of you or me. Perhaps to phrase it even more coherently; our representatives in the Students’ Union are more often than not, predisposed to a particularly calculated craving for power and authority. For example, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that such individuals have already conceitedly worked out how they will achieve government ministerial positions by the year 2020.

However, that is not to say that UCD students are not well represented by the Students’ Union council. Those who represent us in the SU are eager and willing to carry out the tasks the rest of us have turned our nose up at.

The election process cannot be criticised for being undemocratic. Every student is entitled to run for sabbatical and class rep elections. Every student is entitled to vote, although only 4,300 did so last year during the sabbatical elections.

It is fair to say that the union is open and transparent with their student members. SU Council meetings are held fortnightly and open to all members of the Union; i.e. to all students registered at UCD. To maximise efficiency, only elected class reps may speak and vote at council meetings, but as a member you are empowered to make your feelings known to your class rep and he or she can then speak on your behalf.

The SU publicly publishes their annual budget, and although they can be criticised for running at a projected €12,500 deficit this year (admittedly an improvement on the €25,340 deficit run up by Gary Redmond in 2009-2010), at least it is open, honest and subject to criticism about their spending from their student members. And, more importantly, it is this expenditure which funds the activities and facilities that enhance our college experience.

This year saw a dramatic increase in nominations for class rep elections,

amounting to 315 nominations in total.

Perhaps this rise in student interest in the Students’ Union is due to recognition of the fact that the SU is an effective vehicle for supporting and voicing students’ concerns.

One issue that affected students this year was the restricted opening hours of the University libraries. Thanks to the persistence of the SU, next semester will see a welcome extension of library opening hours.

On a much bigger scale, the Students’ Union should be commended for having successfully challenged the re-introduction of third-level fees, something that probably wouldn’t have been achieved without the lobbying, organisation and preparation of the SU and the USI. The Students’ Union gives UCD students a voice, and have proven to be quite competent at advocating on our behalf.

An excellent example of this is when Gary Redmond, acting in his role as President of UCD Students’ Union, presented to the Joint Committee on Education and Science his concerns over the delay in

enacting the Student Support Bill (2008) back in December 2009.

Redmond skilfully pointed out inefficiencies within the maintenance grant system and highlighted that the administrative costs for processing a single grant application amounted to significant waste. He showed that on the lower end of the scale, it cost €71 to process each application form in Westmeath County Council, and in the higher end of the spectrum, the cost of processing a single grant application amounted to €485 in North Tipperary County Council.

I highlight this as an example of how beneficial the Students’ Union is to the average UCD student. It is highly unlikely that students would have their voices heard without the existence of such an established and organised association.

Therefore, the Students’ Union has proven itself to be a very useful platform from which to discuss and improve both the serious and minor issues that affect students studying at UCD. - Sinead O’Brien

18 January 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

15

SCIENCE & HEALTH

science@universityobserver.ie

Dude, where’s my electric car?

Electric cars have, for many years now, been the way of the future.

So why aren’t they popular yet, asks Alan Coughlan Electric cars have still yet to be adopted by the average person, contrary to experts’ predictions.

I

t has been promised for longer than this writer at 26 has been alive, a wonder that could aid in the protection of Science, Health and the Earth’s environTechnology Editor ment. The evolution of the automotive industry, which relies almost exclusively on the finite resource of oil, should logically lead to electric cars – it would seem inevitable.

Alas here we are, eleven years into the 21st century and cars run on the same fuel they did at inception. The fly in the ointment as we all know is that oil really is running out and it will happen soon.

So why are there still no viable competitive and alternative options to petroleum powered vehicles on our roads? The blame, as we will see, lies with several interests.

It could be seen as delusional, if it weren’t so sinister. Our reliance upon oil is so blind and total that we are set to be in a lot of trouble when oil runs out, as it is set to within our lifetimes. We are set to drain this resource dry, yet research on alternative forms of energy for cars seems sadly lacking. For something that is so widely used, motoring companies are seeming increasingly blind to the future of motoring.

In December 1996, General Motors launched what goes down in history as a technological wonder but commercial failure. In perhaps a case of self-sabotage, the product was doomed early on but it is still held as a beacon of hope by those who hope for a greener automotive world.

Almost none of them exist anymore, save a few on display in mechanical engineering museums.

The car was the GM EV1 (standing for electric vehicle). It was not a hybrid but the first fully functioning, mass-produced electric vehicle to be designed and released by a major car company in modern times. A century ago, there were more electric cars on the road than petroleumpowered vehicles, but this all changed when the price of oil came down.

At prototype stage, the EV1 inspired the California Air Resources Board

(CARB) to introduce a mandate to be met by the major automakers in the US. If they wanted to market their cars in California, a certain percentage of them would have to be zero emission vehicles. The mandate also called for this percentage to increase in the future, slowly but surely pushing the concept of greener cars.

This mandate was fought tooth and nail by the car companies through the courts and resulted in them suing the state of California. Under this great pressure, the mandate was abandoned releasing the automakers from any environmental responsibility.

In what could read as a conspiracy theory, the EV1 never stood a chance with General Motors being accused of self sabotage and oil companies being implicated in attempting to keep electric cars off the road. Firstly, the battery that was used was not the best that was available and while its range was favourable (70-100 miles), it was immediately singled out as a limitation.

Interestingly, a better battery did exist at the time, the patent being owned by Stanford Ovshinsky. Tax breaks were offered to those first customers who leased the cars, which were heavily criticised by consumer groups. Some of these groups were suspected of being funded by oil companies who publicly opposed taxpayers money being spent building a charging station infrastructure.

General Motors, after buying a controlling share of Ovshinsky’s company, censured him for publicising his success in a newspaper. What came next is truly shocking, as when GM sold their share in the company, Texaco bought it up.

As a result of the fact that GM only ever leased the cars to consumers, they could take them back whenever they wanted and that is exactly what happened. Amid claims of a lack of customer demand and profitability, all EV1s were repossessed and crushed. As research engineer Wally Rippel puts it, there is still over a trillion dollars of oil in the Earth’s crust, which will net at the very least one hundred dollars a barrel. In the eyes of the oil companies, there is still plenty of business to be done. A significant issue in all of this is the fact that cars, as one of the largest

There needs to be a change of mass opinion and government legislation to encourage the production of vehicles that do not pollute

contributors to emission levels, are created to make profit. Companies will always market what sells and what costs them the least. With no incentive to change to alternative energies throughout their history, why would they bother spending billions in research ad development when they could continue making petroleumpowered vehicles? Governments of the world have to legislate against these practices, as the consequences of global warming are no longer deniable.

Two industries so intrinsically linked as the oil and automotive industries will protect each other’s interests as well as their own. Money has helped them fight greener technologies for decades and it is only the harsh reality that oil is finite that the environmental issue becomes significant. There is little regard for emissions when there is profit to be made and these profits will grow as long as no alternative exists. Even with oil prices sky rocketing, people are still paying. The profits of oil companies have never been higher.

Nicolas Sarkozy recently ordered the French secret service to investigate if China is behind an alleged case of industrial spying within the car company Renault.

The information supposedly being procured is to do with the battery technology to be implemented in the electric car line that Renault hopes to launch in the next year and a half.

The technology in question is still in development and thus unprotected by any patents. This means there is no way to stop anyone from copying it. This case must be viewed in line with the reality that oil production has or may soon peak.

The vast profits to be made from petroleum-powered vehicles will diminish long before the fuel does, as it can only feasibly become a preserve of the rich. Oil prices will continue to rise as the wells run dry.

The long-opposed alternative of electric vehicles must be embraced and as this scandal illustrates, automotive companies are getting desperate. After years of suppressing research into these vehicles, some of the bigger players may now be left behind by an industry that will soon go through the biggest change in its history.

If we are now truly seeing international corporate spying in regards to electric ve-

hicle and battery technology then perhaps the future really is bright environmentally.

It would seem that a high performance and long-range electric vehicle is now the holy grail of the automotive and mechanical engineering professions. While it could have been achieved long ago, with oil prices at an all-time high there is no other direction to go.

Amid claims that the hydrogen fuel cell could solve the entire problem, Joseph Romm (author of The Hype about Hydrogen) has plainly explained that there is no viability in the gas. As it stands, vehicles which can run on hydrogen cost upwards of a million dollars and there is no way as of yet to hold enough of the fuel on board a car to get the range people need in their cars. He places his belief firmly in either electric vehicles or the ever-improving hybrids.

Hybrids have an internal combustion engine along with a secondary power source, usually a battery. As fuel economy improves, more powerful batteries can be used with a possible view to a complete changeover to electric vehicles. They currently seem to be the preserve of environmentally keen celebrities and hip young folk. However, if they can manage to become mainstream, they can be the key to purely electrical vehicles. Indeed, if electric cars can harness the power of celebrity endorsement in our fame obsessed culture, perhaps this can be the key step in putting pressure on oil and motor companies.

What is shocking is that the technology already exists for purely electric cars to be economic and efficient. As can be seen from the EV1 debacle, the powers that be can decide what kind of cars the public buy and what they will want to use through the power of advertising. There needs to be a change of mass opinion and government legislation to encourage the production of vehicles that do not pollute.

The next step, of course, is to find cleaner ways to provide that electricity, as changing the fuel of the car, simply puts more strain on fossil-fuel burning power plants. Interdependent decision making, amongst several fields of science, is needed to solve these problems.

16

THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER 18 January 2011

SCIENCE & HEALTH

Old Wives Tales Debunked: Tapeworm Diet

Sleep to dream Feeling tired? Struggling to keep your eyes open during that godawful final lecture of the day? Perhaps you’re suffering from sleep paralysis, writes Ekaterina Tikhoniouk

Sleep paralysis affects a far higher percentage of people than scientists previously thought.

Y

Tapeworms: Horrible parasite or diet saviour?

The tapeworm diet is certainly an unconventional suggestion as a means of getting fit, but does it actually work, asks Alison Lee

T

he diet industry sure has dreamed up some strange ways to pocket people’s money: there’s the Atkins diet, Celebrity Slim, the cabbage soup diet and some quacks even advocate “healthy food and regular exercise”. In 2009, Tyra Banks joined the nutrition Nazis, extolling the virtues of the most ludicrous of all in the tapeworm diet. This weight-loss concept has been around since the 19th century and it was stupid back then and is still completely bonkers today.

What exactly is the problem with the idea? It seems to make some rational sense. Get infected with an innocuous little parasite, become supermodel slim, and then evict your new friend with a simple dose of de-wormer. Sadly, it’s a bit more complicated than that.

Becoming infected with the diet industry’s tapeworm of choice, Taenia Saginata, isn’t easy. You can’t just pop some tapeworm eggs. You have to eat a small, fluidfilled cyst found in cattle flesh, which contains immature tapeworms. This necessitates travelling to T Saginata’s native lands (developing countries in Africa or Latin America), slaughtering infected cattle and carefully examining their muscles until you find a teeny tiny cyst, which you have to eat raw.

The process is complicated by the existence of other almost identical tapeworm

species, such as Taenia Solium, which also infect cattle. Unless you’re a qualified parasitologist, it’s easy to mix the two up, which may pose a serious problem. Accidentally infecting yourself with T Solium is not something you want to do. This parasite has a penchant for shacking up in the human brain.

So you’ve travelled to Timbuktu, killed some cows, found your tapeworm cyst and chowed down on very rare steak. What then? Possibly nothing. The infection is often asymptomatic, despite the disturbing presence of a 5-20 metre long flatworm in your gut. If you’re lucky and it isn’t asymptomatic, you may lose weight. You may also suffer from diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, anaemia, vitamin deficiency and bloat as fluid pools in your abdomen.

We haven’t even come to the fun part yet. The treatment. Let’s say you’ve dropped to a size zero. How do you evict your buddy? It’s simple: take a dose of a drug called praziquantal. This paralyses Mr Tapeworm and allows your body to expel him. However, expelling a ten-metre long tapeworm from your intestine may leave you with post-traumatic stress disorder that even being skinny won’t compensate for.

If you’d still like to give the tapeworm diet a shot, there are handy clinics in Mexico that charge a mere $2,000 to infect you.

Maybe cabbage soup doesn’t taste so horrible after all.

ou wake up to muffled footsteps outside your room, pinned to the bed with fear and only able to move your eyes. The bedroom door opens then closes, the shuffling steps near your bed, and you become aware of an evil presence in the room with you. You try to move or shout, but nothing comes out and only your eyes move back and forth.

The heavy pressure on your chest gets worse and you find it increasingly hard to breathe. It feels as though this evil presence is holding you down and choking you. Bright lights and shapes move around the room and inanimate voices whisper or scream into your ear. What seems like hours drag by, until finally the frightening weight on your chest disappears and you abruptly regain movement of your body.

Sounds terrifying, doesn’t it? But this is no horror story and for an increasing number of people, the above experience is a familiar occurrence, while others only experience it once or twice in their entire lifetime. These nightmarish symptoms are typical of a sleep disorder called sleep paralysis.

Sleep paralysis is described as the most terrifying of all sleep disorders. Once considered very rare, recent studies have revealed that almost half of all people have suffered some form of sleep paralysis at least once during their lives.

According to current studies, 17 to 20 per cent of people report having some form of sleep paralysis during their lives, although many leading specialists in the area believe the figure to be much higher. According to David J Hufford, Professor Emeritus of Medical Humanities in the Penn State College of Medicine and lifelong researcher of subjects such as sleep paralysis, a large amount of cases of sleep paralysis remain unreported. There are even people who had experienced sleep paralysis and believed themselves to be mentally ill, prior to hearing about the condition.

Clinically, this disorder is characterised by a brief period of being unable to perform voluntary movements which occurs at the onset of sleep or when awakening, either during the night or in the morning. In a nutshell, sleep paralysis is summarised as the sufferer being awake but unable to move for a period of time, lasting anywhere from a few seconds to between 15 and 20 minutes.

This is the basic definition, although in over 80 per cent of cases, it is accompanied by an acute sense of danger as well as terrifying hallucinatory experiences (likened to waking

dreams) that include any or all of the following: feeling of pressure on the chest, feeling phantom hands on the throat, the sound of shuffling or dragging footsteps, noises and bright lights, phantom voices, visions of humanoid forms, sensation of floating and outof-body experiences. The sound of footsteps and feeling of pressure on the chest are the most common experiences reported by sufferers of this frightening condition.

The phenomenon has been known to man for centuries. History is littered with reports of sleep paralysis and the hallucinations that often accompany it. In Eastern culture, descriptions of the condition date back as far as 400BC. The famous Greek physician Galen attempted to explain these ‘nightmares’ logically, believing them to be caused by gastric disturbances.

Some scholars believe that sleep paralysis accounted for quite a number of centuriesold claims of nocturnal demonic activity and witch attack, as until about three centuries ago, sleep paralysis was widely explained as the work of evil spirits. Legends have arisen in every culture as a means of explaining why a person awakes unable to move, with a weight pressing down on his chest.

In western culture, incubi sitting on the chests of their victims apparently caused these episodes. In Old English, the name for these beings was ‘mare’, while the Icelandic term is ‘mara’ that translates as ‘The Crusher’.

In South Asia, sleep paralysis is considered to be an encounter with evil djinns and demons. In Pakistan and Iran, this evil entity is known as a ‘bakhtak’, while in eastern culture the demon is the evil female spirit called ‘Lilitu’ who attacks men in their sleep. The ‘Old Hag’ is a female demon in British folklore that sat on the chests of those sleeping on their backs, sometimes choking her victims.

Several scientists have proposed that there is a direct link between sleep paralysis and the increasingly huge number of alleged alien abductions reported every year. This is especially evident in the USA, where the 1992 survey known as Roper Poll claimed that over four million Americans were victims of alien abduction. When scrutinised closely, many of the cases of reported alien abductions have common characteristics that sound all too familiar. Many testimonies report flashing lights, strange sounds, figures moving around the victim, sensations of paralysis and levitation and intense pressure on his or her chest.

Richard McNally, a professor of psychology at Harvard University who has studied alleged alien abductees for the past decade, is convinced that these people were actually victims of sleep paralysis, whose hallucinations had been generated by their exposure to popular alien culture.

Due to the advent of the electrooculogram (EOG) in the 1950s, we have, after thousands of years of blaming it on demons incubi and other evil spirits, finally discovered the real scientific basis behind this strange phenomenon.

The disorder is produced by a physiological mechanism in the brain. Human sleep consists of two states of brain activity; nonREM sleep and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep which alternate in cycles.

During non-REM sleep, the body can toss and turn in bed, as well as engage in activities such as sleeptalking and sleepwalking. But during REM, sleep atonia occurs – the brain locks down the muscles in the body to prevent the body from acting out its dreams and hurting itself during the dream stage. Physiologically, sleep paralysis is closely related to REM atonia, the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM sleep.

Sleep paralysis strikes when a person is moving into or out of REM sleep and results when the nervous and endocrine systems erringly continue to send out signals for movement inhibition, even when the person has woken directly from REM sleep. When this happens, the person wakes up unable to move for a short period of time until the brain realises it is awake and stops inhibiting movement. Thus, the individual experiences sleep paralysis, as demonstrated in a series of experiments by Kzuhiko Fukuda of Fukushima University.

But what is the scientific basis behind the hallucinations associated with sleep paralysis?

According to scientists, these too are a result of brain activity. Activity in the temporal lobe induces auditory hallucinations, while the visual cortex generates visual stimuli, which manifests in the person’s mind as a malevolent presence watching them.

Researchers Adie and Wilson discovered that many sleep paralysis sufferers also suffer from narcolepsy, a sleep disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep during the day. Sleep paralysis may also occur in those who do not suffer from narcoleptic fits, a condition called ‘isolated recurrent sleep paralysis’. Sleep paralysis occurs either at sleep onset (predormital form) or when waking up (postdormital form). Isolated sleep paralysis usually occurs when waking up in 64 per cent of patients, while in narcolepsy-related and familial sleep paralysis, the episodes usually happen at sleep onset.

Detailed research on sleep patterns, as well as the anthropological work of researchers such as Robert Ness and David J Hufford, has given us a new understanding of what we now know to be a neurological glitch and not an evil age-old entity trying to hurt us at night.

18 January 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

SCIENCE & HEALTH

science@universityobserver.ie

Sick as a pig We hear extensively about swine flu in the media, but what is the actual extent of its effects? Alan Coughlan gives a personal account of the disease.

A significant outbreak of swine flu hit Irish shores over the Christmas and New Year period..

T

he great swine flu epidemic of 1918 began in a benign state.

Science, Health and There was no fear Technology Editor of something that in retrospect could look like a modernday plague, but viruses can become lethal seemingly overnight. As Bill Bryson noted, “the First World War killed 21 mil-

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lion people in four years; swine flu did the same in its first four months”. On the face of it, this disease should scare every one of us into quarantine. As eccentric a concept as this might sound, it was and for many, still is the only rational reaction to a new outbreak of swine flu.

The majority of flu strains are not lethal. They can cause hell for the elderly and the very young, but for the most part can be defeated by the average immune system. While we have been told up to

this point that we should be in fear of a new epidemic, so far it has not reared its ugly head in a lethal form. This author, over the Christmas holidays, had the very unfortunate turn of luck to contract swine flu. I visited my GP but as a rational lover of science, did not go looking for an antibiotic as a ‘virus’ such as influenza is not ‘alive’ and thus cannot be killed.

The symptoms which I must admit I had read about this time last year when we were all in fear of dying from this disease

were something I did not really expect. As a twelve year old, I suffered a bad case of the flu. A high fever accompanied with regular bouts of vomiting was the call of about two weeks. Nothing else could be done except sleep.

From this point on in my life when people might be missing from school, work or college for two or three days and their excuse would be: “I had the flu,” I would laugh as I knew just how influenza could make a person feel. You would want for nothing, except relief. It was not like having a tummy ache as a kid. Sleep was the only release.

So when on this St Stephen’s Day I felt a bit of a headache when I awoke, I put it down to the drinking I had done on Christmas Day. By seven o’clock though, I thought the ‘hangover’ was too much and so went for a lie down. I remained off my feet for thirteen days.

On December 27th, I awoke with a headache of the kind I have never experienced. If I could articulate it in language, I would say the front portion of my head, over my right eye, taking up one quarter of the top of my cranium, felt like it was being squeezed in a vice. This pain lasted for a full day, interspersed with my very pathetic whimpering noises.

Ever the soldier, I refused to visit the doctor and took to the bed, hoping that rest would fix me. On the second day, I limped downstairs in pyjamas and turned

This pain lasted for a full day, interspersed with my very pathetic whimpering noises

on the television. It was at this point that I noticed a pain centred completely on my eyeballs. The only way it could be described is as a film of heat and points of pressure spread over the entire eye. No matter what way I turned, my eye hurt.

It became almost a game, but not a fun one, where I would try to look at something and see just how sore it would be.

It became what seemed a cruel trick by the disease, as only my right eye suffered, but eyes can’t work independently so I felt blind. I could find my way from bed to bathroom, but that was it. Conversations or interactions with people were impossible. I was listless to a level of coma where I could not muster strength to interact.

All I wanted was sleep and that was hard to find.

At this point, I needed nothing but bed rest and given that it was Christmas and doctors would be hard to come by, I sought solace in Lemsip and Solpadeine. I was lucky to have a mother who was immune to all of my coughing and kept me in fresh T-shirts as an intense fever caused more sweating than I care to remember.

There were only two nights of hell in this regard, but both included getting out of bed four times dripping wet and having to get new sheets and clothes. While awake, I was too hot to wrap up, but shivering too much to not be covered. Duvet on or off, I would only get a few minutes of peace before a change was required.

And with crooked eyes and a weak body, I was not able for much.

After this point, when it felt safe enough to walk downstairs, I started to get back to normal slowly. New Year’s Eve was spent playing Scrabble with a newly influenzainfected mother as we both complained about our eye pain, but in retrospect I can still smile about a good Christmas.

Obviously this flu was not of the kind that kills, but from what the World Health Organisation tells us, is liable to mutate into a more lethal form. From my own point of view, it was a killer and at the end, I was a stone lighter on January 2nd compared with Christmas Day. The flu, even in its regular form, has intense power.

With the number of Irish infections only supposedly peaking this week, it cannot be known what is to come. Viruses are adaptable and hardy in a way that is almost unimaginable. Being technically unalive, they require no sustenance, just a stable environment to remain in existence until they can infect another organism.

Birds of a feather fall together Birds falling from the skies and countless fish washing ashore, Caitriona Farrell asks what is happening to the world’s animals?

W

Unprecedented amounts of fish have died under mysterious circumstances around the Gulf of Mexico without a definitive explaination from scientists.

h e r ever the phrase ‘raining cats and dogs’ originated from, it was a long time ago. If you want to get with the times, you could simply say it’s raining birds. Different locations over the past month have experienced quite a strange kind of downpour, with a number of birds falling from the sky. Sufferers of ornithophobia, a fear of birds in regions of Arkansas, Sweden and Louisiana, may have been tested quite severely recently.

The media has us all dumbfounded with these extraordinary findings. Some scientists claim that these incidents happen regularly, but that it is only on account of the recent media hype that people have begun paying attention to it.

Research fellow in UCD’s School of Biology and Environmental Science Dr Gareth Dyke’s work is based on the evolutionary history of birds and their dinosaurian relatives.

Dr Dyke tells The University Observer that he has in fact come across the phenomenon birds of falling from the skies “not in real life, but there are some examples in the fossil record of mass accumulations of fossil birds from all kinds of environments preserved in

rocks deep out at sea, or in the middle of lakes. Mass death accumulations are rare, apparently, but must happen because we see evidence for them in the fossil record.”

This certainly means that, while claims were made that fireworks influenced one of the cases over the past month, they obviously played no part in the occurrence centuries ago. Dr Dyke also explains how “these mass death accumulations are rare. Otherwise, they would not make the news.”

One of the latest press releases from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission puts the cause of this bizarre occurrence down to abnormal, deafening sounds and the added disruption of fireworks in the area of Beebe.

The statement reads as follows: “It appears unusually loud noises, reported shortly before the birds began to fall, and caused the birds to flush from a roost. Additional fireworks in the area may have forced the birds to fly at a lower altitude than normal and hit houses, vehicles, trees and other objects.” It goes on to add: “Blackbirds have poor night vision and typically do not fly at night.

Other preliminary testing by the US Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Centre in Madison has reasoned that the sudden blunt force trauma on New Year’s Eve caused the upset and deaths of the birds.

Tests performed on the birds concluded that

they suffered from internal haemorrhaging. Further tests are ongoing for a range of chemical toxins and infectious diseases, while pesticides tested have received negative results.

Commencing at 11:30pm, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife officers have reported of blackbirds falling from the sky within a square mile area of Beebe.

Before the ringing in of the New Year, some 5,000 birds had hit the ground, the majority dead and some still barely alive. The birds, dead or alive, littered the streets of Arkansas, creating a series of obstacles for drivers in the process. Furthermore, lifeless fish have been discovered washed ashore en masse. Crabs have also been the victims of this mysterious epidemic in other reported cases. Moreover, only 125 miles away from the bird case in Beebe, approximately 100,000 fish have been found floating lifelessly.

Officials believed that “cold water stress” was the reason for these highly unusual deaths. However, some people are speculating that the Gulf of Mexico oil leak last April could have played its part despite vast amounts of chemicals used for its clean up.

Avian flu may have been the epidemic here a few years ago, but let’s hope this bird fever does not proceed to infect humanity anytime soon.

18

THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER 18 January 2011

EDITORIAL

editor@universityobserver.ie

Stopping the presses

Talleyrand

Konichiwa cretins,

The Irish press has broken numerous scandals during the recession, despite economic problems.

Gavan Reilly argues that reform of Ireland’s political society to make it more transparent must include newspapers, or risk losing the press altogether

I

t may seem like a long time ago now, in these times of constant talk about Brian Cowen and Anglo Irish Bank, but it was in fact only barely two weeks ago when Fianna Fáil first flew a kite to discuss the potential abolition of the Seanad and the most recent blaze of ideology about political reform was sparked off.

Much of the talk at the time was focused around whether Irish democracy, or government oversight, would be generally improved by the abolition of what many see as an ineffective chamber of parliament, or whether political transparency was better fostered by tinkering with the Oireachtas in some way as to ensure greater honesty in our elected officials.

But already, just a mere fortnight later, talk about such political reform has been swiftly brushed off the table – and since it has been knocked off the front pages, the general discussion about political transparency and openness (qualities which are almost universally agreed to be good things, right?) has, unfortunately, overlooked a bigger and altogether more touch-and-go issue affecting the scrutiny that our public officials are subjected to. On January 7, the publishers of the Irish Daily Star Sunday announced that they were ceasing all operations at the newspaper, with immediate effect. On January 13, one of the country’s better-known local newspapers, The Kingdom, announced that it would also be shutting down; its own last edition is published on the same day as this issue of The University Observer.

If asked to close your eyes and to recall any major feats of groundbreaking journalism, it’s almost guaranteed – and certainly forgiveable – that few people would cite an example for either paper. Perhaps an observer might suggest that the Watergate scandal, revealed through the probing of the Washington Post’s Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, was the last great example of journalism that revealed wholesale corruption. More recent examples, closer to home, could include Sam Smyth’s Irish Independent revelation that Michael Lowry had allowed

Ben Dunne to pay for an extension to his house, valued at IR£395,000.

Others, again, may think of Tom Lyons of The Sunday Times, who was the first to reveal that Anglo Irish Bank had lent millions to ten major investors, so that they could in turn buy shares in the bank and keep its stock market value artificially high – hiding what would ultimately become the most expensive government mistake in Irish history. You could, perhaps, cite the Sunday Independent’s Shane Ross and Nick Webb who first uncovered the remarkable expenses claims of senior staff at FÁS, like Rody Molloy.

Or – and again, perhaps forgiveably – you may not have realised that each one of the above scandals was identified, and publicised, by journalists: average citizens from the media corps.

While neither the Star Sunday nor The Kingdom would rank in the potential chart of the papers that have blazed the trail in terms of major scoops, to merely write off their functions – and their closures, both amid unsustainable losses and rising debts – as being dead weight is an unfair and dangerous proposition, for a single reason: despite all of their losses and their reputations, journalists and newspapers perform a whistleblowing and overseeing function that is rarely practiced elsewhere in society.

The closure of local papers is, to a reasonable degree, foreseeable – more and more local newspapers are stopping their presses, falling victim to the slowdown in advertising spending, demographics (the population is slowly converging towards cities, where ‘local press’ is much less significant), and the obvious hindrance of the fact that younger generations have little love for the inherent formula (council meeting reports, local press releases, parish notices, local hurling reports) of their content.

But the closure of local newspapers is merely an outward symptom of an industry that, at large, has far greater ills. It’s not just local papers that are struggling to stay afloat amid falling revenues and the continued wane of advertising spending – national and international papers are equally, precariously, perched on the brink of the financial abyss.

The Irish Times, for example, made operating losses of €4.6m in 2009 – an €11m turnaround from the previous year. The Irish Independent’s parent company, Independent News & Media, recently sold off its main UK title for £1 (the same price as a single copy of that paper) after Denis O’Brien estimated the paper was losing as much as €80,000 every day. The Guardian, which has been to the forefront of the news in the last six months as a partner in WikiLeaks’ three major operations and is seen as one of the more tech-savvy and innovative publications, ran up an operating loss of £54m in 2009-10 – and has, famously, only ever been subsidised by AutoTrader and other more resilient publications owned by its publishers.

What all of this points to is a major malaise in news journalism: while there will always be an appetite for news, and a demand that our leaders and those who spend public money be held to account, it’s not necessarily safe to assume that those news organs will always be around. All of the examples of groundbreaking journalism I mentioned above are, gradually, going to fall victim to the reality that newspapers need their writers to produce content every day – and that fewer and fewer journalists will be blessed with the resources to follow the tenuous leads they come across that may eventually blow the lid on public corruption.

As I was finishing this piece, news was breaking that Ivor Callely had won his High Court appeal against the Seanad committee that recommended his suspension over his travel expenses. Ivor the Terrible’s mileage expenses were uncovered by the Sunday Independent’s John Drennan, and his mobile phone expenses were revealed by the Irish Mail on Sunday’s Luke Byrne. I’m not advocating that newspapers be taken into some kind of public ownership – to do so would fatally compromise a paper’s editorial independence – but we must guarantee, if we’re reforming public society, to either give the press the resources it needs to do its job, or be prepared to find out whether ignorance of public wrong-doing is, indeed, bliss.

Gavan Reilly is a former Deputy Editor (Volume XVI, 2009-2010) of The University Observer and a staff writer at TheJournal.ie.

Talleyrand has blissfully enjoyed the past few weeks, left all alone, perched on the newly-installed roof beams of the Student Centre Elephantine Extension, surveying the land of Hellfield all covered in snow, not a hack in sight.

But of course, all good things must come to an end. The snow melted, the melt water drained away, and gradually, one by one, the hacks returned to their kingdom, like vermin returning to a beloved nesting area.

Talleyrand has noted a marked change in the Sap-bats that can only have developed with the onset of election fever.

With steel in their eyes, these boys are assessing their chances, composing their manifestoes and rallying their campaign teams. Pat-a-cakes can rest easy, as it looks like he’ll walk right in to the office of El Presidente, barring any appearance of surprise candidates. Each year, Talleyrand does enjoy how the candidates quiver when they think an anonymous Ag student is running on the basis of abolishing the Goonion.

Lecherous Lynam will be buoyant with the news that no rift will form in his administration now that only one of the current team is going forward. At long last, Scott “Moer than a woman to me” Ahearn has made a decision about his future. USIgh can also rest easy though, as he’s set his eyes higher than Crumlin.

With a general election looming, Scrott has decided to return to the motherland and battle it out for the good of the Party.

Enda Kenny has promised him the mental health portfolio in the new government, and Superfluous Scott is giddy with excitement at the prospect.

But can he do it? For the first time in his electoral life, he’ll be without his beloved bride, Jacqueline “Star-crossed lovers” Brennan, at his side. How will this affect his political venture? Talleyrand fears that his comrade Jaded James will have to step up to the plate and start feeding Scott, clothing him, burping him, changing his nappies, tracking down his missing beanbags… Well, you get the picture.

This is sure to interrupt Wilkinson’s, erm, ‘hectic’ working life. Between hanging out with the staff officers and eating flapjacks, there just isn’t enough time in the day for, y’know, actual work. But somehow he’s managed to find the time

to return to Science Suck and assume command following Justin “I’m totally gonna defer this semester LOL JK I’m going to Edinburgh” Brayden’s sudden departure. Best to stick at what you’re good at, eh, Jimmy? The Science Throne shall be thine unto the ending of this world.

Speaking of the end of the world, Crestfallen Cosgrove very near thought it was when Snowmaggedon descended on the UCDunce campus. With Black Friday cancelled, the Christmas Ball cancelled and end of exams cancelled, it’s gone from bad to worse for the once Jolly Jiant. But a new semester brings new hopes and dreams, and the Ents calendar seems fully booked for the next few weeks.

However, we shall soon see how long that lasts. Talleyrand has started a betting pool on what event gets cancelled first – the odd-on favourite is his ever-elusive Fashion Show.

Even with the recent bout of cancellations, Ents has still managed to do a (slightly better) job than the imperceptible societies, who have essentially written off this entire year. Things are so bad that it’s quite possible Delightfully DivaIsh Dramsoc will walk away with ‘Best Event’ for their annual Leaving Cert production. Whatever has the world come to?

Meanwhile, over at Centra Crumlin, the Union of Stupids in Ireland is reeling from the news that one of their own has actually done something sensible and jumped ship for a better job. The hacks just can’t comprehend why Cónán “Are ya having the craic?” Ó Broin could ever possibly leave the height of existence that is national student politics. The wound is ever more deeper for Gary “Et tu, Brutus?” Redmond, as his darling secondin-command crossed to the dark side and become a servant of his most hated and despised political party, Labour.

Talleyrand’s main concern, however, is that the number of lookers in USWhy has now been slashed in half. It all solely rests on Loguey Bear’s shoulders to bear the brunt of being good-looking and charming.

Talleyrand suspects you’ll be seeing more of that Donegal charm on campus in the coming weeks as the KBCrooks roll out a random, useless student to run in the SU elections and Loveable Logue seeks to impart some wisdom on to them.

Talleyrand’s own nugget of wisdom would be to avoid Logue’s failures and actually produce a manifesto that has some content, not just pretty photographs of oneself.

Talleyrand both abhors and relishes the season we are all now entering. Potential candidates, hear this: Talleyrand knows what you did last summer, and this humble commentator will be present on the Panel of Inquisition at your Snobserver interviews. You have been warned.

Talleyho!

Talleyrand

Quotes of the Fortnight: It would be unacceptable for Cónán to continue in his current position given that he has been made an offer by a political party.

USI President Gary Redmond explains why his Deputy President Cónán Ó Broin was forced to step down after a job offer from the Labour Party.

I got a few death threats as well saying that I shouldn’t have cancelled them; that I shouldn’t have been in favour of cancelling the exams. I got close to 500 emails again saying that I’d ruined people’s Christmas.

UCDSU Education Vice-President James Williamson notes the intense reactions students had to exam cancellations.

It is all that is left to be submitted for my Masters applications for a course I desperately want in another university.

A final-year student expresses frustration at the delays in obtaining academic transcripts from UCD.

18 January 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

EDITORIAL

editor@universityobserver.ie

Editorial This issue, The University Observer has begun its series on mental health, both illnesses themselves and how society perceives them. Our world is not forgiving to those with mental illness.

Despite how overwhelmingly common it is to experience some form of mental illness, be it mild or serious, a stigma still seems to surround mental illness and the issues surrounding it.

Whether we want to admit it or not, college is an incredibly tough environment to exist in. Some of us travel across the country to attend UCD. Living away from home can be stressful and entering a new everyday routine in a place as big and anonymous as UCD can be alienating and highly stress inducing. It is highly common for depression to take hold in university as well as other mental illnesses such as eating disorders.

So, why the stigma? Nobody feels ashamed or guilty for having the flu, or breaking their leg. Why do we choose to live in silence while we suffer endlessly with mental illness?

There really is no simple answer for this, but the responsibility for changing things lies with our generation.

Our parents grew up in conservative Ireland, where silence and shame was king. We are fortunate now that things are so different, but the stigma of mental illness remains.

For the stigma to be removed, we must begin to talk. If you aren’t comfortable talking to your family, talk to your friends, or if that’s not possible, utilise UCD’s counselling service.

These services exist for a reason and beginning to talk, both publicly and privately, is the only way that we can begin to remove the stigma surround-

ing mental illness.

From a personal perspective, I myself have struggled with depression and know the isolation and alienation one can feel when battling mental illness. I have seen friends struggle, some more than others, but one thing tied us all together: we were all too ashamed to properly speak about it.

It was only when people began speaking out that something could change and help could be sought, be it in the form of counselling, medication or, in some cases, hospitalisation.

Things rarely get this bad, but it is still important to be able to verbalise our feelings and speak openly about mental illnesses without fear of shame or stigma. But what services are available? Here in UCD we have a lot to help those who are struggling. Chaplains and student advisors are there to advise students or to refer them to counselling or other mental health services. Counselling remains free in UCD and help can also be found from UCD Students’ Union Welfare VicePresident Scott Ahearn.

Seeking help and speaking up is far easier said than done. We are bombarded with the Please Talk message, but it doesn’t explain how to properly work up the courage to admit to yourself and other people that something is wrong. When you find it hard to get out of bed in the morning and feel alienated from everyone around you, having a smiling Welfare Crew member telling you to speak up can feel somewhat patronising. Care and compassion must be central in dealing with those who are suffering with mental illness.

It’s incredibly hard to feel able to

speak about these things, but by some of us speaking out, hopefully this can empower others. The message is very simple and clear. Mental illness is far more common than anyone would think. You are not alone.

There are supports and structures in place to help you. Campaigns like Please Talk can only do so much. It is up to people to actually sit down and talk to each other. A culture of openness and understanding must be created so that we can move on from stigmas.

In seeking help, I found a way in which to live with mental illness, as did several others around me. It is not impossible to come back from struggling, just as it is not impossible to come back from a physical illness. Openness on everyone’s parts will help alleviate the alienation that currently stigmatises mental illness and allow us all a deeper understanding of each other and ourselves. Seeking help for mental illness is an incredibly brave thing to do. It is now up to all of us to help sufferers feel this way, especially if it’s ourselves we are trying to convince.

It is with sadness that we must announce that this is the last issue that our Music Editor Grace Murphy will be working on. Grace imbued the music section and The University Observer office with her trademark effervescence and infectious enthusiasm as well as a sense of professionalism.

We wish Grace good luck on her new third-level path and hope she finds happiness there. We’ll miss you Grace, so don’t forget to visit us!

Letters to the Editor Madam, I am writing to you to complain about the joke that is on-campus accommodation in UCD. I am a final year student living in Glenomena and I want to highlight some of the major problems on-campus. Firstly, there is the major noise problem. I am kept awake every night until at least 12.30am and woken up again at about 3.00am until about 5.00am.

The reason for this, in my opinion, is due to the change in rules of allocating rooms to students.

Last year Glenomena was restricted to final years only, but this year they have put all years together. I am living with first years as well as second and third years. Understandably the first years want to enjoy their first year of

19

college, partying late into the night and going out. It is not fair to ask people in their last year of college to put up with the current conditions on campus when we are trying to study for exams that will dictate the rest of our lives.

Secondly, there is a lack of RAs on campus. This is due to not to lack in funding but because our money is being spent on ridiculous res life projects, I fail to know one person on campus that uses these facilities.

I have recently discovered that these facilities are plagued with nepotism.

These co-ordinators are both paid full wages that would be better spent on security to keep down the noise and more RAs who were cut by three per residences this year. This makes the RAs’ job even more difficult.

Thirdly, the gate into Glenomena, with the exception of the main gate, is locked at random times during the night. I came in one evening at 9.00pm and was forced to walk, in the rain, the whole way around campus because the gates were closed early. This is completely unacceptable. It also does not stop people climbing over them. Someone will eventually fall and break a leg or worse and this will fall under the responsibility of Residences.

The current RAs and June in the office are more than helpful but they cannot exercise their full potential when they are so under resourced.

Sincerely, Name with the Editor

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

Clarification and Corrections In Issue V of Volume XVII, dated 16th November 2010, in an article titled ‘UCD staff top survey for Ireland’s highest paid educators’, The University Observer stated that Professor Desmond Fitzgerald was Vice-President of the Conway Institute. The Institute’s current director is in fact Professor Walter Kolch.

The University Observer is happy to clarify this. 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.

Contributors: Volume XVII, Issue 7 Editor Bridget Fitzsimons Deputy Editor Paul Fennessy Art and Design Director Jenn Compeau & Shane Mc Intyre o-two Editors Emer Sugrue Killian Woods News Editor Amy Bracken Deputy News Editor Katie Hughes Features Editor Leanne Waters Chief Features Writer Natalie Voorheis Comment Editor Kate Rothwell Science, Health and Technology Editor Alan Coughlan Sports Editor Ryan Mackenzie Music Editor Grace Murphy Film Editor Jon Hozier-Byrne Fashion Editor Kieran Murphy Online Editor Killian Woods Contributors: The Badger, Steven Balbirnie, Fachtna Basquille, Kevin Beirne, Eoin Brady, James Conlan, Elaine Crowley, Stephen Devine, Bríd Doherty, Sarah Doran, Cormac Duffy, Caitriona Farrell, David Farrell, Sam Geoghegan, Kiera

Gilleece, Matt Gregg, Michael Halton, Rachael Heavey, Matthew Jones, Elaine Lavery, Alison Lee, Sophie Lioe, Fadora McSexypants, Mystic Mittens, George Morahan, Joe Murphy, Sinéad O’Brien, Gordon O’Callaghan, James O’Connor, Riobeard Ó Leamhna, Elizabeth O’Malley, Conor O’Nolan, Gavan Reilly, Talleyrand, Ekaterina Tikhoniouk, Aoife Valentine, Maria Whelan Illustrator: Olwen Hogan Photographers: Janet Daly, Catherine Gundry-Beck, Blathnaid Hughes, Aisling Twomey Special Thanks: Peter, Ian, Tim, Malcolm, Ade, Jonathan, Dave, Emma, Jed, Bob, Steve (and the robots) at Trafford Park Printing; Paul at Higgs; Eilis O’Brien and Dominic Martella; Colm, Sabrina and Rory at MCD Promotions; Bernie Divilly at PIAS; Elaine Byrne at POD; David and Margaret Fennessy; Catriona Blake; Quinton O’Reilly; Giselle Jiang; Dave Carmody; Dominic, Grace, Charlie, Jason, Gary, Stephen, Mark, Sandra, Paul and all the Student Centre staff.

Very Special Thanks: Rob Lowney, Gavan Reilly.

Tel: (01) 716 3119/3120 Email: info@universityobserver.ie www.universityobserver.ie The University Observer is printed at The Guardian Print Centre, Longbridge Road, Manchester, M17 1SN.

Pat de Brún

Scott Ahearn

Paul Lynam

Jonny Cosgrove

James Williamson

Campaigns & Communications

Welfare

President

Ents

Education

E: president@ucdsu.ie P: 01 7163110

www.ucdents.com E: jonny@ucdents.com P: (01)-716 3113

E: campaigns@ucdsu.ie P: 01 7163122

E: welfare@ucdsu.ie P: 01 7163112

E: education@ucdsu.ie P: (01)-716 3111

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Your SU Sabbatical Officers are holding an open meeting where they will present mid‐year reports.

This is your opportunity to find out what your officers have been up to forthe semester and to question them on any issues that you may have.

Thursday 20th January @ 1.30pm in the Student Centre

Student Support Fund Finding it hard to pay for college books, are you on placement and you cant afford the travel costs.

Applications are been accepted for the Student Support Fund, to collect one you can pop into Scott Ahearn the Welfare Officer in the Student Center Office G18 or email him on welfare@ucdsu.ie.

Applications can't go over €100 and you must be research the price of the books you want.

Deadline is February 7th 5pm.

LIBRARY UPDATE Following the Students’ Union proposal on a seven day library, I am pleased to announce that the James Joyce Library is now open on Sundays starting from the week of the 17th.Deadline is February 7th 5pm.

UCD Societies SOCIETIES Council Council

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21

Sport

sport@universityobserver.ie

2010: A year of sport in review As we begin a new year, Ryan Mackenzie recalls the sporting achievements and controversies that characterised 2010

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e l d o m does a calendar e l a p s e without providing a flurry of sporting triumphs Sports Editor and blunders that encapsulate some of the most shocking and euphoric moments of the year. Not surprisingly, 2010 was no different. We saw footballing controversies to rival Thierry Henry’s handball, fairytale stories which wouldn’t seem out of place in Hollywood, feats of jaw-dropping calibre and, of course, the ever-present disappointment and dismay, which serve to remind us that sport is, after all, human.

Early in the new year, the NFL Playoffs took centre stage stateside, as the New Orleans Saints began their campaign towards achieving their first ever Super Bowl appearance.

Since the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the city of New Orleans had been trapped in a period of slow and sorrowful rebuilding. In fact, the Saints organisation was almost moved from the city, as it’s home stadium, the Louisiana Superdome, had become more a refuge for the thousands who were left homeless after the storm than a place of football.

The 2010 season was a glimmer of light in the lives of the New Orleans faithful and indeed an unprecedented level of success from their team. Led by quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints fought bravely to earn their spot in the ‘greatest show on earth’ in Miami on February 7th, where they were pitted against the majestic Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts.

The underdogs won 31-17, to bring the Lombardi Trophy home to the ‘Big Easy’ for the first time and cap off a Cinderella story.

Only days after the Saints’ success in Super Bowl XLIV, the 2010 Winter Olympics got under way in Vancouver.

Always a heavily anticipated event, the games were the focal point of the world’s media but for all the wrong reasons, as tragedy struck the competition hours before the opening ceremony.

On February 12th, as practice for the upcoming luge event winded down, Georgian hopeful Nodar Kumaritashvili took to the course. When the 21 year old approached the final bend of the notoriously dangerous circuit, he lost control of his luge and was propelled off the track and into an unprotected steel column that supported the structure. Kumaritashvili was travelling at almost 90 miles per hour when he hit the column. He died of his injuries later that day and the Olympics were irrevocably tainted. In Italy, Jose ‘The Special One’ Mourinho achieved perfection with Inter Milan, by winning an unprecedented Italian treble, which included the Champions League, Serie A, and the Coppa Italia. Prior to his term as manager in Milan, the club had been experiencing a slump in form, making their 2010 season even more impressive.

For this, Mourinho was awarded the FIFA Manager of the Year award.

Undoubtedly though, 2010 will be remembered as the year the football World Cup came to Africa. The tournament had everything we have come to expect from the greatest competition in world sport: the English believed they were going to win it and showed countless clips of the 1966 final, the Africans won the hearts of the neutral fan with their spirited play, the controversial Jabulani ball was heavily debated, vuvuzela became the word of the summer, the world’s biggest stars exhibited spectacular football and referees made terrible decisions – notably the sending off of Kaka against the Ivory Coast and

the disallowing of Frank Lampard’s goal against Germany.

However, the tournament was also one of firsts. Its staging in South Africa made it the first World Cup to be held on African soil, we were subject to watching football amid the incessant drone of vuvuzelas and Spain became the newest member in the elite club of nations to have won the competition.

Indeed, the Spaniards, arguably the greatest international side ever, lived up to expectation by demonstrating a wonderful combination of fluid skill and dogged determination. Their 1-0 extra-time win over Holland in Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium was a perfect end to a terrific campaign.

However, the summer months also threw up a few unsavoury moments of controversy. In Cleveland, basketball fans were stunned when Cavaliers star LeBron James announced he was essentially giving up on them by moving to Miami and the Tour de France once again suffered from allegations of cheating as Spanish champion Alberto Contador was found to have tampered with illegal substances.

Meanwhile, the tennis world was witnessing Rafael Nadal at his finest. The Spaniard put his loss in Australia behind him and laid claim to yet another French Open title, as well as dominating and eventually winning Wimbledon. The great man added the previously elusive US Open to his impressive trophy cabinet in early September, thus completing one of the most dominant seasons by any player in history.

While Nadal was winning in New York, there was disappointment in Kilkenny.

The Black Cats went to Croke Park in search of their fifth consecutive All-Ireland title on September 5th. However, an impressive Tipperary side earned a deserved and emphatic 4-17 to 1-18 victory

Rafael Nadal continued to dominate the tennis world in 2010.

to end Kilkenny’s run and bring the Liam McCarthy Cup back to Tipperary.

The biggest event now left in 2010 was the Ryder Cup. The best golfers from Europe and the United States faced off in Wales’ Celtic Manor Resort and the home side fulfilled their reputation as favourites, beating the Yanks by 14.5 to 13.5.

The poor weather caused play to enter a fourth session on Monday for the first time in the tournament’s history. Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell – who had won the US Open in June – played a pivotal role as he beat Hunter Mahan in the last match of the competition to regain the Ryder Cup for Europe.

Change of scene?

As Leinster Rugby look set to establish their headquarters on the UCD campus, Stephen Devine suggests that their money could be put to better use

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einster Rugby has always had a good working relationship with UCD. The college’s rugby club has provided many players to the provincial set-up and in more recent times, Leinster have made use of the training facilities on offer within the college. If reports are to be believed, plans are afoot to make the connection between the two bodies more permanent.

Currently, Leinster’s training and administrative set-up is spread out in a three-mile radius from Donnybrook where the stadium that is synonymous with Leinster Rugby is located. Their gym facilities are based in the

The Leinster side have benefitted from a significant increase in their fan base in recent years.

Riverview complex in Clonskeagh, which also houses head coach Joe Schmidt’s office, along with those of his coaching and medical staff.

Their training facilities are housed in UCD, incorporating the grass pitches adjacent to the Student Centre and also the all-weather pitch. Meanwhile, all the administration of

the province takes place in the relatively small Donnybrook office located across the road from the Stadium.

It has long been believed that for any top-class organisation to be completely efficient and productive, its resources should be centralised. The Munster team has based itself in the University of Limerick. Relocation to UCD, and in particular the Phillips Centre, presents Leinster Rugby with the chance to follow suit.

The proposed move, however, would not come cheap – with an estimated fit-out cost of €2.5million and a yearly rent of €500,000, which, in the current economic climate, seems excessive. The move certainly has its drawbacks. Although the Leinster branch has made no official comment, it is believed the move

would be funded through private benefactors.

Leinster’s current financial situation must also be assessed. The province declared a deficit of €300,000 at the end of last season. They are currently burdened with the debt related to the €8 million refurbishment of Donnybrook stadium which took place in 2008. This financial reality meant they were not able to sign a big-name replacement when Australia’s Rocky Elsom returned Down Under.

The emergence of Kevin McLaughlin and Sean O’Brien masked the hole left by the Wallaby, but more departures could be on the way.

Reports in the media recently have linked influential outhalf Jonathon Sexton with a move to France at the end of the current season.

With the current crop of academy outhalfs, including Ian Madigan and Ian McKinley, not

The year closed with Spain’s La Liga grabbing the headlines as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 5-0 in a famous El Clásico encounter, with a performance that many believe to have been the greatest ever seen on a football pitch.

English hopes were quashed as Sepp Blatter’s FIFA committee strangely chose Russia to host the 2018 World Cup, and homosexual football fans were warned to avoid the 2022 competition as Qatar plan to host what could be the most anti-climactic World Cup to date. All told, however, 2010 was a uniquely spectacular year for sport and one, which, for reasons good and bad, won’t soon be forgotten. yet ready for the step up to Heineken Cup rugby, Leinster fans would expect a big-name overseas player to come in and fill the void if Sexton were to depart. The name being suggested as a possible replacement should the money on offer in France prove too much for Sexton to resist is Berrick Barnes, who currently plays his rugby for the New South Wales Waratahs.

Many fans will feel that this is where the province should be allocating their resources.

The team has seen both their performance levels and support rise over the last five seasons with their current set-up. Consequently, a move towards centralisation of resources is seen by many as unnecessary and merely, as an attempt to follow fashion.

The move on paper would seem to be very attractive from a UCD point of view.

The rent coupled with the prestige of having a professional sports team based on campus would no doubt appeal to UCD management. The loss of the Phillips Centre, however, will concern the UCD Boat Club as it is the current home of the club’s training facilities.

While the partnership between Leinster and UCD would have many benefits from a UCD point of view, it may not be in the best interest of Leinster Rugby going forward.

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THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER 18 January 2011

Sport

sport@universityobserver.ie

SPORTS DIGEST SNOOKER The University’s snooker team recently reached the semi-final of the Intervarsity Cup, where they were beaten by eventual champions Maynooth for the second consecutive year. However, club captain Steven O’Reilly will be captaining the Irish team in the upcoming Home Nations tournament for the third year in a row. Boosted by the presence of teammate Vinny Muldoon, a former Irish Champion and ex-professional from Maynooth, O’Reilly will feel confident that he can lead his team to victory in April.

SWIMMING The recently formed UCD Elite Swim Team won their first national title in Leisureland, Galway, at the Short Course National Championships late last year.

Coached by Earl McCarthy, who swam for Ireland in the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, the team competed in the 4x100 Freestyle Team Relay. The quartet of David Cooney, Niall McCauley, Conor Hillick and Paul Murphy won gold in a time of 3mins 41.33secs, holding off the challenge of Dolphin and Trojan.

Aisling Cooney took gold in the women’s 50m butterfly (28.15 seconds) and was named the swimmer of the meet.

Cooney has enjoyed a hugely successful career thus far – the 20-year-old Food Science student from Sandymount is already an Irish Olympian.

Cooney competed in the 2008 Beijing games and in November of last year, she competed in the European Short Course Championships in Eindhoven, finishing in ninth place.

Cooney was unlucky to miss the women’s 50m backstroke by an agonising three-hundredths of a second. The next big dates on the young swimmer’s calendar are the World Championships and World Student Games, both of which take place in China this summer. Cooney will no doubt be motivated by her success in Eindhoven and aim to step up to the next level required to make the finals this summer.

- Ryan Mackenzie

Rally, steady, go While the Dakar Rally no longer limits itself to a North African route, the event remains a major attraction for the best racers in motor sports, writes Michael Halton

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he 33rd Edition of the Dakar Rally took place in South America last week, making it the third time the race has been held on the continent. There were 430 vehicles taking part, with representatives from over 50 different countries.

The Dakar Rally was first run in 1979, starting in Paris, running through Algiers before finishing in Dakar. Frenchman Thierry Sabine came up with the idea after becoming enthralled by the scenery of the region while lost in the Libyan Desert during the 1977 Abidjan-Nice Rally. The initial staging had 182 competitors and Cyril Neveu was the Dakar’s first winner on a Yamaha 500XT. The Dakar Rally has gone from strength to strength since its initial staging and the motto that Sabien used to describe the Rally is still as apt today as when it was first run: “A challenge for those who go, a dream for those who stay behind.” Tragically, Sabien died in a helicopter crash during the 1987 staging of the Rally and his father Gilbert took over the organisation of the race.

The event continued to explore the African continent and in 1992, the competitors raced from Paris to Cape Town. This spirit of adventure continued in the following years with the 2000 and 2003 rallies finishing at the base of the Pyramids in Egypt.

The Dakar Rally has always aimed to challenge the skills of the world’s drivers through some of the toughest terrain on the planet. The move to South America in 2009 has continued this great tradition, from the climb into the foothills of the Andes to the fesh-fesh of the desert and from the white sand dunes of the Fiambala to the crossing of a salar. This year’s rally was undoubtedly as tough as any previous Dakar with new and exciting challenges for the competitors, which was in keeping with the spirit of the world’s toughest endurance race.

There are four main categories in the competition: bikes, cars, trucks and quads with a winner declared in each section.

The rally is divided up into a number of stages and each stage is made up of road sections leading up to the start of the timed specials. In each special stage, the drivers must pass within 200m of a number of WPMs (Way Points Masked) or face time penalties.

This task was made more difficult this year as the GPS system fitted on their vehicles had to be within 800m of the WPM before it could guide them in, compared with 3km in other years. This change increased the importance of navigation in relation to driving and made this year’s Dakar even more demanding on the participants.

Any mention of the Dakar would be incomplete without a word on nine-time winner Stéphane Peterhansel, who won the car and bike categories three times and six times respectively, and continues to compete today. The only man to have more specials wins is Russian Vladimir Chagin, who has won over 60 specials in the truck category and is known as the “Tsar of the Desert”.

The Dakar has attracted participants from a multitude of sports and careers, with some enjoying remarkable success, such as Luc Alphand, who was a World Cup-winning skier before becoming Dakar Rally champion in 2006. Formula One driver and six-time winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans, Jacky Ickx, won the 1983 Dakar and has 29 specials wins to his name.

In addition, the first Frenchman in space, Jean-Loup Chrétien, was an entrant in 1984.

The Dakar remains the world’s premier automotive test of speed, racing and navigational skill, but above all else endurance.

The race continues to attract the toughest competitors on the planet who wish to test themselves, not only against each other, but also against the event itself.

The Dakar Rally can be seen in over 190 different countries and has been acquiring increasing popularity in recent years.

The Badger: A New Hope Something old, something new, something borrowed, something tangerine in The Badger’s column this week ugly sister. The Stephen Baldwin.

Now admittedly, Liverpool are not a small club. On a scale of Manchester United to Newcastle, they fall somewhere in between. Yet with old wood steering the sinking ship into the Bermuda triangle, they’d be lucky to wind up in Lilliput. However, even twelve times larger than anyone else, they’d only be barely challenging for European Cup places.

Something old

Kenny Dalglish is pretty old. Well, in the Badger’s eyes, he’s definitely old school.

He’s so old school that he still regards Liverpool as a “big club” that rightfully belongs at the summit of English football.

Unfortunately, this is a disorder most Liverpool fans suffer from, even those who don’t remember the glory days and believe the propaganda they’re fed.

Now if King Kenny is to make any progress at Liverpool, he’s going to need an epiphany in which the reality of the situation hits him full force in the face.

This epiphany will see him realise what Liverpool really are. The runner-up. The

At the time of going to print Liverpool were in a terrible state of affairs and it was assumed they would suffer a 2-1 loss to the other Liverpool club. The Badger is happy to incur the wrath of the Kop if his prediction is wrong.

Something New

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. This seems to be the new attitude to managers these days. Apart from the cockney revolution at Spurs under the guidance of cock in chief, ‘Arry Redknapp, managers seem to find their inclusion among the listed bare necessities at any football club becoming reduced.

Firstly, club owners are “reducing” the manager’s input into the general running of the club by entrusting player purchase

to a director of football and then making suggestions to the manager with regards to team selection – suggestions that on the face of it look more ultimatum-y than evocative. And once there are tenacious feelings reciprocated, or the manager bites the hand of the Sheik’s trillionaire child for pulling his tail, they dispose of the manager in the green bin.

If the manager is lucky, he may get recycled after about eighteen months or so, but try and tell that to Alan Curbishley and keep a straight face. However, still in crisis times, the cream will rise to the top – the tactical genius of Harry ‘fucking run around a bit’ Redknapp being the cherry on top.

Something Borrowed

Bor·row·ed, verb. Synonyms: use temporarily, loan, David Beckham. The LA Galaxy Milky Way solar system star has arrived back in Europe for his annual visit back to the home of football (no, not China). Again his presence evokes some awkward tension when he refuses to go back after a quick New Year’s holiday home.

Like the non-related uncle who slept

with your step-auntie and then got kicked out of home and now sticks around post-Yuletide, Beckham just doesn’t seem to get the picture that football doesn’t want him anymore. Go home David. You’ve missed three weeks of Scientology meetings and Tom Cruise won’t lend you his notes to catch up.

Something Tangerine

Now the Badger will rarely hold his front feet up and say he was wrong, so take a cutting of this article and frame it. Blackpool have utterly proved everyone wrong and continue to play exciting football that ticks all the boxes for the Badger.

Word of warning Blackpool: Hold onto that gem Charlie Adam and keep him away from other Premier League suitors. Without his contributions this season, you would be three goals, four assists and eight points worse off. Not since AC Milan 3-0 Liverpool has the Badger been so royally screwed over by what seemed a definite punters’ banker, but in a change of heart, he is rooting you survive.

18 January 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

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Sport

sport@universityobserver.ie

Grand designs Fenno

on Sport

Can Rafael Nadal continue his march towards sporting greatness by winning the Australian Open, or will the young pretenders come of Paul Fennessy examines age, asks Sam Geoghegan whether commentators’ opinions are still relevant in modern football

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Serena Williams will not be defending her title, due to injury.

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h e Australian Open began yesterday and it promises to be an exciting and exhilarating tournament to signal the new season of tennis. It’s the first Grand Slam of the year, hosted in Melbourne Park over the course of the next two weeks. Switzerland’s Roger Federer is the defending champion in the men’s draw, while Serena Williams of the United States will not be defending her crown or adding to any of her five previous titles as she was forced to withdraw due to a foot injury.

Rafael Nadal is traditionally Federer’s main threat and this tournament will prove to be no exception. Nadal is the number one seed even though Federer is the defending champion. The Spaniard has won the previous three Grand Slam titles, albeit last season.

If Nadal were to claim his second Australian Open title, it would be a remarkable achievement that would see him hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time. This feat has not been accomplished since Rod Laver did it in 1969.

It is so difficult because the four Grand Slams of the year are played on three different surfaces and it is almost impossible to be a master on all three.

Nadal has proved to be the undisputed “King of Clay” with five French Open

titles to his name and he finally broke the grass domination of Federer at Wimbledon in 2008. He has already won the Australian and US Open – both of which are played on hard courts.

Back in September, Nadal became only the seventh man to have won all four Grand Slams when he beat Novak Djokovic in Flushing Meadows, New York, at the US Open. The Spaniard was the youngest man to have achieved this feat in the Open era and his fierce rival, Federer, had only joined that elite group of players the previous year, having always been denied at Roland Garros by Nadal.

For Federer, this tournament could prove to be a monumental shift in not only his career, but also male tennis as a whole. If he were unable to defend his title over the next two weeks, it would be the first time since 2003 (the year of his first Grand Slam) that he has not held at least one of the four Grand Slams. Federer may even re-assess his career and consider whether retirement would be the logical decision, to avoid fading away gradually and unfittingly for a man of his brilliance.

Federer has achieved everything you can in the game. He has won all four of the Grand Slams and his 16 titles are the most by any male ever to play the game, eclipsing the 14 titles of Pete Sampras.

Nadal still has a lot more to win if he is to equal Federer’s record and it could be hard for him to win seven more considering the problems he has with his knees.

The 2011 season could be the turning point of male tennis and herald a new era of champions. Djokovic, Robin Soderling of Sweden and Scotland’s Andy Murray are all in a wonderful position to capitalise on any dip in the form from Federer or Nadal.

For Murray especially, a drop in Federer’s form would be most welcome. Murray carries the hopes of British tennis into every Grand Slam and in the two finals in which he has appeared Federer has stood in his way (at the 2008 US Open and at last year’s Australian Open).

If Murray is ever to win a Grand Slam and be the first British male tennis player since Fred Perry to do so, he needs to get the monkey off his back very soon. If he doesn’t, he’ll just become another Tim Henman and nobody wants that to happen.

On the women’s side of the draw, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark is the number one seed with Russian Vera Zvonareva and Belgium’s finest Kim Clijsters right behind the Dane at number two and three respectively. Venus Williams hopes to keep the title in her family and is well placed, being the number four seed.

Many questions will be answered over the next two weeks. This event may be pivotal in the make-up of men’s tennis for years to come, or Nadal and Federer could continue to dominate. Either way, it will be worth watching, with the finals of both ladies and men to be played in just under two weeks.

oes the opinion of football pundits really matter? Case in point: in October 1973 ITV’s resident football pundit, the-then Derby County manager Brian Clough, famously labelled Poland goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski “a clown” just prior to England’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Poland at Wembley.

England had to win in order to avoid a humiliating exit in the qualifying stages of the World Cup – a tournament that they had triumphed in only seven years previously. The match ended 1-1 and the hosts were denied a victory largely owing to Tomaszewski’s heroics.

This occasion was one of the many instances of a pundit getting it spectacularly wrong. But of course, in an opinion-dominated industry, such mistakes are inevitable.

Nonetheless, misguided analysis and inaccurate facts are arguably more prevalent than people would expect from so-called ‘experts’. For instance, prior to their recent fixture against Aston Villa, Mark Lawrenson described how Tottenham would lose on the basis that their defence was inept. This assumption does not seem unreasonable, especially as several other commentators have expressed a similar viewpoint of late.

Yet a closer examination of the facts reveals these opinions are misguided.

Tottenham have conceded 25 goals so far this season, meaning their defensive record is slightly better than average compared with most Premier League sides. Moreover, their attack is not as proficient as many people assume given that they have scored only 31 goals this season – fourteen less than Arsenal, twelve less than Manchester United and three less than Bolton.

Another common presumption is that Arsenal are perpetual victims of an overly physical and unfair approach when confronted by less technically gifted opponents. However, commentators seem to underestimate the extent to which the Gunners engage in unsporting behaviour, as they currently possess the third worst disciplinary record in the league – with a total of 38 yellow cards and five red cards.

In addition to Arsenal, five of the bottom seven teams in the disciplinary table are Manchester City, Bolton, Sunderland and Newcastle. Therefore, five of the top eight teams in the Premier League also have five of the league’s worst disciplinary records. This finding suggests that possessing a lack of discipline does not necessarily prevent teams from achieving success.

In fact, having an overly cynical streak may indicate a team is willing to get stuck in to their opponents and they may accordingly benefit, owing to

such an aggressive style. It could also be deduced that referees are not punishing these teams sufficiently and are consequently allowing cheats to prosper.

Furthermore, there are countless reasons provided as to why teams drop points. After Chelsea’s recent loss to Arsenal, Andy Gray speculated that Carlo Ancelotti’s side might lack the “hunger” which they once possessed. Meanwhile, many blamed Manchester United’s failure to beat Birmingham on a controversial goal that observers believed should have been disallowed. And of course, there is the England football team’s continual failure to make a substantial impact at major tournaments – arguably since Euro ’96 and before that, 1966.

There are simply too many excuses to mention that are routinely given for their recurring mishaps.

One of the reasons rarely given, which each of the three teams aforementioned cases of underperformance have in common, is that all their matches in question took place away from home.

Commentators have a tendency to underestimate the extent to which this factor influences the outcome of games.

To take one example, if the current Premier League table was based solely on home games, Manchester United would be top by a comfortable margin of six points. Conversely, if the league were based purely on teams’ results away from home, United would only be in fifth position.

While most analysts are occasionally prone to making slightly misguided judgements, there are some who commit glaring gaffes on a regular basis.

The always-entertaining Eamon Dunphy – who, in fairness, goes out on a limb more often than most when making predictions – is the most infamous exponent of this ignominious habit.

Dunphy’s highlights include citing Nani as a player who will never be in a Champions League-winning team, despite the fact that he had indeed played a part in United’s 2008 CL success. He also endeavoured to lambast Michele Platini in the build-up to the 1984 European Championships.

The Frenchman subsequently made a significant contribution to his team’s victory in the tournament, scoring nine goals in five games. In addition, his regular dismissals of Cristiano Ronaldo, indisputably one of the most effective footballers in the world on account of his incredible goalscoring record, created widespread derision among footballing fans.

Admittedly though, statistics are not always a reliable indicator of the performance of a player or team. For instance, the fact that Manchester United conceded the least amount of goals in the league last season would suggest that Edwin van der Sar was the Premiership’s best goalkeeper. However, it could also mean he was the most untested goalkeeper in England owing to the excellence of his teammates.

Therefore, such anomalies show why Mark Twain was right to lament “lies, damned lies and statistics” and why opinion has an undoubted place in football, regardless of pundits’ unreliable assertions.

18 January 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER

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SPORT

VOLUME xViI ISSUE 7

18th January 2011

PAGE 21

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2010: The Year in Review. The highlights and lowlights of an outstanding sporting year.

We discuss the upsurge in popularity of the legendary Dakar Rally.

Paul Fennessy asks if football pundits and their opinions really matter.

Young students stroll past Old Crescent UCD started 2011 in fine form with a 37-3 win over Old Crescent in the Belfield Bowl on Saturday. Gordon O’Callaghan reports UCD 37 OLD CRESCENT 3

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hese two sides had contrasting pre-Christmas form, with Old Crescent only managing to win one of their six games. UCD, on the other hand, were unbeaten in the league and looking to maintain that form in the new year.

The game started as a scrappy affair with both teams struggling to come to grips with the poor weather conditions. However, UCD were first out of the blocks in the seventh minute, when out-half James Thornton slotted over a penalty from 38m away.

UCD, however, were not able to build on this early success as the weather continued to hinder play. Neither side were looking to spread the play, as the ball was rarely moved past the number ten channel.

Old Crescent enjoyed a period of good possession during the half but were met by a well-organised and solid UCD defence.

The visitors quickly ran out of ideas and kicked away possession.

The UCD defence was able to force a second penalty, only for James Thornton to miss with a poor attempt from 40 metres.

However, the Students seemed to grow in confidence after this minor setback, and Thornton regained his composure on 30 minutes with a fine penalty from the left of

the posts to make it 6-0.

UCD were slow in building momentum, but Old Crescent continued to throw away any possession they came across – one such moment in the 35th minute, after an interception from UCD, lead to another penalty. Again, Thornton showed good composure by adding the three points.

The scoreboard was to remain at 9-0 at half time. Collidge, happy with their lead, were able to maintain both territory and possession with a relatively conservative game plan, as Old Crescent seemed unable to deal with their complete domination.

UCD switched to a more attacking style after the break, which saw scrum-half Rob Shanley crossing the white line early on.

Shanley was the beneficiary of some excellent work from flanker Danny Kenny, who was able to break the line and offload in the tackle leaving the scrum-half with the simple task of crossing the line. James Thornton added the extra two points to make it 16-0.

UCD temporarily lost concentration, giving Old Crescent excellent field position inside their own 22. The visitors then proceeded to win a penalty and out-half Fergal Lawlor made it 16-3.

Collidge, however, could smell blood and hooker David Doyle went on the attack in the 60th minute with a wonderful individual effort. Doyle showed blistering

pace as he picked up the ball inside his own half and broke through three tackles, sprinting fifty yards to the line. Doyle was excellent all day and will surely treasure that special score. Thornton again maintained his impressive kicking record in difficult conditions, adding the extras to make it 23-3.

For all of Collidge’s excellent play this season, one negative characteristic seems stood out: their tendency to lose concentration after scores. This was again an issue as the Students gave away a needless penalty off the restart, only for Fergal Lawlor to fluff his attempt at goal.

This appeared to be all the excitement the day had in store as the game descended into a stalemate. Old Crescent huffed and puffed inside the UCD 22, opting on numerous occasions to go for the corner only to be beaten back each time.

As the clock ticked towards the 80th minute, many fans prepared to head for the exit. The old cliché of always staying until the end paid off on this miserable afternoon, as the Students burst open their opponent’s defence twice in the final two minutes.

The first try came from full-back Michael Twomey after an excellent breakaway run down the left by captain Andy Cummiskey. The captain was involved in the second as well, as Thornton broke the line

UCD are currently looking likely to gain promotion following a fantastic first half to the season. Photo: Janet Daly.

to feed the ball to Cummiskey, who in turn sent over David Doyle for his second of the game. Thornton converted both tries, leaving him with an impressive seven from eight on the day.

While the game was largely a scrappy affair, UCD demonstrated the strength and ability that will be needed if they are to earn a promotion out of the second division at the end of the season. Their next league match is at home to Terenure College on Saturday 29th January.

The best of the best Lionel Messi would appear to be the world number one footballer, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent form has reopened the debate, writes Kevin Beirne

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he start of a new year is as good a time as any to ponder one of football’s burning questions: who is the best, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? In the wake of Messi’s recent acquisition of the first-ever FIFA Ballon d’Or, it would seem that he is the obvious choice. However, Ronaldo’s recent form brings the questions back into relevance.

For starters, since his arrival in Madrid, Ronaldo has had an incredible strike rate of 64 goals from 63 matches. Although much of this success has come against the weaker sides of the Spanish league, the winger’s ability to dominate any opponent he faces has seldom been seen before.

Before last weekend, Messi had scored 28 goals for his club this season and once again outshone Ronaldo in Barca’s 5-0 thrashing of Los Blancos. This was an astonishing display of consistency from such a young player.

Although their goal ratio is similar, most teams fear the sight of Messi on the opposing team sheet more than Ronaldo, because of Messi’s ability to consistently create as well as score goals. So far this season, Messi has thirteen assists to Ronaldo’s eight. It is clear that Messi remains the greater team player, although he is playing in a better team than Ronaldo, but great players handle pressure.

This brings us nicely to the definitive measure of excellence: the clutch. Once again, Messi comes off the winner in this one. Ronaldo is notorious for hiding in big games. He was almost a non-factor in Manchester United’s 2008 Champions League final victory over Chelsea, and even missed a penalty in the shoot-out. Ronaldo was also non-existent at the World Cup in the summer. Although it is true that Messi has never scored against a José Mourinho team, he has still made plays. He had two assists in the most recent El Clásico. Another iconic big game in which we saw Messi take on Ronaldo was the 2009 Champions League final.

Both men played the full 90 minutes, but

Messi walked away with a goal, a gold medal and the UEFA.com man-of-the-match award, while Ronaldo had to be content with a losing medal and a yellow card.

But who knows what 2011 will bring for either player. With Messi only 23 and Ronaldo turning 26 in a couple of weeks, these players have seemingly yet to reach their peak. History suggests that both these giants of the game will improve even further – an exciting prospect for football fans. For now, we should just marvel at the magic of Messi and the craft of Ronaldo, a rivalry of magnificence the football world has never before seen.

Messi has generally fared better during games in which he has played on the opposite side to Ronaldo.

UCD: Michael Twomey; John Conroy, Andrew Cummiskey, David McSharry, Andy Boyle; James Thornton, Rob Shanley; John A Lee, David Doyle, Brian Hall; Brian Cawley, Shane Grannell; Keelan McKenna, David Kenny, Kevin Croke.

Old Crescent: Sean Cunningham; Keith Lyons, Rob O’Neill, Anthony Barry, John Noonan; Fergal Lawlor, Andy Brace; James Burton, Ger Burke, Eugene McGovern; Pierse Breen, Tevita Toaia; Manus Collins Smith, Lemiki Viapula, Luke Russell.