uo The University Observer incendiary weapons we look at the covert deployment of white phosphorus in war zones
campus sports latest match reports from ucd rfc and ucd marian
jonny sexton exclusive interview with the irish rugby hero
november 18th 2014 Volume XXI issue 4 universityobserver.ie
above A windless day outside the ucd engineering building
ciarán sweeney P18 sports P20
photo kate cleary
james brady p4
Registry Withdrawal Date extended following SUSI delay chaos cian carton UCD Registry has extended the deadline date for the withdrawal from academic programmes for the third time this year, with the date now set at November 27th. This move was made in an attempt to alleviate the pressure on students who are still waiting to hear whether or not they are eligible to receive a student grant from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If a student does not withdraw before this deadline, they become liable for paying half of the student contribution charge, which stands at €2,750 for the current academic year. If a student then chooses to return to third level education, they will no longer be eligible for free fees. UCD Registry initially extended relief to students for three weeks following the October 1st deadline for paying fees, up until October 26th, as long as students included their SUSI number on their registration. The further extension was made after discussions between the Registry and UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) as by this date SUSI had previously said the vast majority of applications would
be processed. However currently thousands of students nationwide have still not had their applications processed by SUSI and are left in limbo regarding funding for college. The latest attention and criticism for SUSI has arisen since “Gary”, a UCD student, anonymously shared his story to the public via UCDSU in order to highlight the difficulties being imposed on students in securing grants. At the centre of the story is the fact that one cannot be under the age of 23 and “independent” from their parents when seeking support from SUSI. The student, who also spoke to the University Observer, submitted his application on July 31st, but still does not know if he is eligible to receive the grant. He has said that he was requested by a SUSI representative to have an affidavit drawn up to declare he was independent, but was later told in a phone call that it was irrelevant, after having the document drawn up and completed by a solicitor. Maeve DeSay, UCDSU Welfare and Equality Officer, said that the Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) have confirmed they were
su/lgbtq+ push Voter Registration Campaign Sylvester Phelan UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) and UCD LGBTQ+ Society have joined together to promote the “Vote Yes to Marriage Equality” campaign in recent weeks, through a voter registration drive on campus. In order to vote in the Civil Marriage Equality Referendum in 2015, a person must have registered to vote by 25 November 2014, with the official Electoral Register for 2015 set to be published on 1 February. The Draft Electoral Register was published online on 1 November and UCD LGBTQ+ and UCDSU are actively encouraging students to check if they are on the register. Louise Keogh, auditor of UCD LGBTQ+, said that the society joined the Yes Equality Campaign after being contacted by Tiernan Brady from the Gay & Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN). She praised GLEN for furnishing the society with information on how to “register people and [for providing] the merchandise to make our campaign look professional.” According to Keogh, UCDSU had been planning another voter registration drive, which made it logical for the two organisations to combine for the campaign. UCD LGBTQ+ began its two week voter registration drive alongside UCDSU on 10 November and Keogh thinks that it has been well received
receiving calls from students confused as to whether or not they needed to send in affidavits with their grant applications. The student in question became independent from his parents at the age of 18, saying that he couldn’t stay in the home he was in and that it “wasn’t a good environment to be in”. He also described working close to 30 hours each weekend, and more during the week, to support himself through his first two years of university following a rejection of his SUSI application. The eligibility criteria for a student grant is set out in the Student Support Act 2011, Student Support Regulations 2014, and Student Grant Scheme 2014. Section 13 of the 2011 Act defines the classes of applicant for a grant. Section 13 (7) defines a “dependent student” as “every student other than an independent student.” However, for the purposes of the act, an “independent person” under section 13 (3) means a “mature student,” who must be at least 23 years old. Therefore, every applicant under the age of 23 is classified as a “dependent person.”
Amy Fox, UCDSU Undergraduate Education Officer, said that she would like to see continuous communication with a specific individual or two from SUSI, rather than having to go through the long-winded process of verification through SUSI’s Support Desk every time UCDSU rings them. She rejected claims that UCD’s early deadline for paying fees was the problem, and said that those suggestions “which may been a valid reason perhaps in some eyes,” was no longer tenable after the original deadline had twice been extended by UCD Registry. Fox attributed the delays to inadequate staffing levels at SUSI and said that it was a “pity” that individuals like Gary had to make his case public in an attempt to get the support he needs. She further revealed that UCDSU had been contacted by 34 new students during the first week of November, who were worried as they had not heard anything from SUSI. Graham Doyle, Head of Communications and Customer Services at SUSI, said there had been 103,000 grant applications
made for this academic year. He noted that 10,000 of those applications were cases where SUSI was still waiting to receive documentation from students, and confirmed that priority had been given to the applications which were sent in before the deadlines, with 15,000 late applications being made. He reminded students that SUSI was there to help them, and strongly emphasised how SUSI must work within the parameters of legislation, especially in relation to class of applicants, stating that “we can’t make exceptions, there’s legislation there we must be following.” Doyle confirmed that officials from SUSI were going to meet with members of UCDSU in an effort to agree on a solution to problems raised by the ongoing situation. Fox attributes the publicity of the “Gary” story in securing the sit down, after previous attempts to secure one were rebutted by SUSI. A date for the meeting had not yet been confirmed as of going to print.
artists in residence a look at ucd’s growing art in science initiative
james brady and patrick kelleher otwo p14
hamilton leithauser The former lead singer of the walkmen in interview
cormac duffy Otwo P19
UCD Strategic Plan 2015-2020 Unveiled
david corscadden on campus, so far. She said that over 1,000 students registered to vote during the first week of the campaign, and attributed its success to the 30 volunteers that have been “running the stand [in the student centre] and doing lecture addresses.” Keogh claimed that students have been emailing UCD LGBTQ+ regarding the event, and have even “pulled committee members and SU members over in the corridors asking about how to register.” Keogh asserted that the motives behind the campaign were to “make sure that the majority of UCD students can vote for their future and realise that they must vote to make a change,” and believes that a “yes” vote in next year’s referendum would “make an impact on the country’s constitution for the better.” She expressed fear that the referendum may not pass “due to the common mindset that it’s obviously going to pass.” A motion was passed during a Council meeting of UCDSU on 21 October, whereby the Council mandated that “UCDSU campaigns strongly in favour of equal civil marriage.” No society or organisation within UCD has yet formally advocated for a “No” vote in the upcoming marriage equality referendum.
The UCD Strategic Plan 20152020 was launched last week by UCD President, Professor Andrew Deeks. The strategy sets out ten key objectives which are believed will help the university to achieve its vision of an academic institution that supports and develops its “world-leading disciplinary and interdisciplinary research”. It is believed this will help “tackle significant global issues and challenges” as well as improving the university’s ability to turn out graduates who are “equipped with the knowledge, skills, experience and attitudes they need to flourish in present and future Irish and global societies”. At the announcement, Deeks was joined by the Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan, who praised the plan for its ability to offer students the chance to gain “valuable international cultural and educational opportunities.” The strategy sets a clear goal to place the university within the world’s top 100 universities by 2020. It is hoped that as well as a dedicated investment in UCD infrastructure and services, that a review of the university’s curriculum will help achieve this goal. Commenting on this measure, Deeks said “We will identify our core disciplines
neven maguire
ireland’s nicest chef on his love of local produce david corscadden Otwo P6
maintenance in the recently refurbished belgrove
through internal discussion and external comparison in order to consolidate and strengthen them.” Within plans for the improvement of UCD’s infrastructure, in which ‘a lack of uniformity’ was noted, plans are clearly set out to increase student accommodation on campus from its current level of 2,300, up to a population of 5,000. A move which is hoped to offset the current student housing crisis felt in Dublin. To meet this goal, a large-scale fundraising initiative will be announced early next year. The plan has been widely accepted by most in the university with UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) President Feargal Hynes saying that the UCDSU “welcome the overall strategy.” Hynes points to significant
input to the strategy by UCDSU, with all four sabbatical officers sitting on the Governing Authority and feeding in changes based around student needs during the drafting process. Some within UCD have raised concerns about a perceived lack of detail in the plan. The document, at 28 highly visual pages, is a shadow of the much larger documents published by UCD in previous years and by many other universities today. The announcement of the Strategic Plan was the first major announcement made by Deeks since becoming President. For many this offered the first opportunity to hear Deeks’ plans for the university and how he aimed to follow on from the legacy of his predecessor, Professor Hugh Brady.
post-cold war cinema
the politics of the screen in a changing world Síofra Ní Shluaghadháin otwo p11 november 18th 2014