University Observer Volume XVIII - Issue 5

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opinion Should we impose Western values through aid?

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Features

OTWO

Mental Health explored from a male perspective

LMFAO

ELECTRIC SIX & ARDAL O’HANLON

Government retracts financial backing of Sutherland School of Law

Ents Officer causes disturbance during SU-funded hotel stay

BY JON HOZIER-BYRNE · EDITOR

UCD Students’ Union Ents Officer Stephen Darcy caused a disturbance in the Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel after vacating the LMFAO performance in the Student Bar on November 7th. According to invoices from the hotel in the possession of the University Observer, the two rooms Mr. Darcy and an SU associate stayed in were booked under the names of Darcy and SU Events and Logistics Coordinator, Paul Kilgallon, and both rooms were billed to the Students’ Union.

According to the Radisson’s Night Duty Manager’s report from the night in question, Darcy was found by the Night Duty Manager after causing a disturbance in the hotel’s corridors. The Night Duty Manager approached Darcy, who was initially hostile, before being led back to his room. According to the hotel, a number of minor complaints were made by clients of the hotel the next morning regarding the disturbance.

Both rooms were booked with an SU credit card on the day of the performance, under the names of Darcy and Kilgallon. According to Kilgallon, “two rooms were booked for LMFAO, to use at their discretion. They used them for shower purposes before the gig.

These two rooms were paid for and would have been left idle on the night. I decided to reward one of my staff members who lived two hours away with a room to ensure that he got a good night’s sleep – otherwise he was sleeping in a car. There were no other cases like that of the working crew on the day, and if there were, they would have been staying in the second room. Because no-one else needed the second room, it was agreed upon that Stephen would use it, as he had worked a long day as well.”

According to Kilgallon, the rooms were booked in his and Darcy’s name due to the Radisson’s internal policies; “The Radisson, whenever

we’re booking rooms in the past, insist on one name per room ... I’ve tried to book two rooms under my name, they wouldn’t accept it.”

When asked why the rooms were booked on the day, SU President Pat de Brún remarked, “Their manager requested it in the afternoon ... At the request of the band, they wanted shower and changing facilities. We provided them in the Radisson Hotel. They hadn’t intended on staying there, because they had to go to Wales immediately after the gig, but we had to make the rooms available for them. They used them, they were there for several hours. As far as I’m aware, Stephen and someone else stayed there afterwards, but the room was empty, it was free and it was legitimately booked and paid for by the Union.”

De Brún added; “I’m hugely disappointed to hear any disturbance was caused by an SU representitive, especially when it was an SU booking ... I think the whole incident was very regrettable, and I’ll be taking steps to make sure nothing like this could happen again.”

Darcy remarked on the incident, “If people think I set a bad example, I’m really sorry. I do apologise for that – I just didn’t really think at the time that [staying in the rooms] was an issue. I wouldn’t have accepted a room if it was paid for the SU for me, not a chance, I wouldn’t do it.

I wasn’t taking advantage, the room was there and paid for, and maybe it was naïve on my part.”

With regards to the disturbance caused on the night, Darcy concluded, “Maybe a few drinks mixed with a hard day’s work and no sleep for the previous forty-eight hours might have led us to be a little bit noisy, which may have warranted a noise complaint ... I hope it doesn’t set a bad example, and it’s certainly not in my character to put myself in situations like that.”

BY KATIE HUGHES · NEWS EDITOR

A photo from the PleaseTalk candlelit vigil which took place on Tuesday 8th November in remembrance of students who died by suicide.

For the full news story see page two.

Photographer: David Nowak

The UCD Sutherland School of Law, which is currently under construction, the Confucius Institute and the Graduate Medical School project will no longer be receiving state support after a scaling back of exchequer funding was announced last week. The anticipated state funding for these developments was approximately €15 million.

A UCD spokesperson expressed disappointment at the news from the Department of Education, “while this announcement is disappointing, particularly in relation to the UCD Sutherland School of Law, where substantial private donations have already been pledged, the University is committed to doing everything possible to ensure the project goes ahead – despite the difficult circumstances”.

Dean of Law, Prof. Colin Scott, stated that despite the dissatisfying news from the Government, “UCD Sutherland School of Law is an excellent project and the University is fully committed to proceeding with it”.

The Government has also withdrawn state support from the DIT Grangegorman project, which aimed to relocate the thirtynine buildings DIT currently utilise to one seventy-three-acre campus. Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn told the Irish Times that “unfortunately, in relation to DIT’s Grangegorman campus development, exchequer infrastructure investment will be postponed for the lifetime of the investment framework and planning will take place towards an initial public private partnership project, for possible completion in 2017”.

The Department of Education was allocated a yearly sum of €440 million for capital projects over the next five years. According to Mr. Quinn, the cuts were made due to the increase in birth rates, which put a high demand on schools, the building of which would have to be prioritised.

The Government confirmed its €60 million commitment to the UCD Science Centre, NUI Maynooth’s library project, the University of Limerick Medical School and the new campus development at St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra on the basis that “legally binding contractual commitments exist”.

Fees and grants campaign costs estimated at €10,000

BY KATE ROTHWELL · DEPUTY EDITOR

UCD Students’ Union Campaigns and Communications Officer Brendan Lacey has indicated that this year’s fees and grants campaign will cost approximately half of what was allocated to the 2010/2011 campaign. Twenty thousand euro was allocated to the campaign in last year’s SU budget, and while Lacey could not confirm “if they ever spent that much or not” he estimates that this year’s campaign should cost “probably half that”.

A ‘town hall’ meeting held as part of the campaign on the 3rd November

drew the attendance of “around a hundred and sixty to two hundred” people.

Lacey admitted that the turnout “wasn’t what I wanted it to be” and commented that the timing of the meeting, which was held on a Thursday evening, might have affected the numbers, but maintained that he was “still happy with it … it just gives us that little motivation, that we have to step it up again”.

Lacey also spoke of how one response to the ‘Tell Your TD’ campaign, from Fine Gael TD Eoghan Murphy, “confirms that the Government are planning to put up fees and to drop the

maintenance grant”. Lacey explained how Murphy described the governmental financial situation regarding funding for third level education. “In plain terms, he said we can’t afford a loan or graduate scheme at the moment and that’s why the alternative or the interim solution is the increase in the student contribution fee and due to our finances we will also have to cut the maintenance grant budget.” Despite this, Lacey remains confident about the outcome of both tomorrow’s march and the overall campaign. “I really do think the campaign’s going to pay off and I’m

really hopeful about the result we’re going to get out of it”.

Further cuts to third level education were confirmed this weekend, as a government proposal to abolish all maintenance grants for postgraduate students was revealed in the Sunday Business Post. The proposal was described by Union of Students in Ireland (USI) President Gary Redmond as a move that Education Minister Ruairi Quinn “simply must re-consider”.

Both Redmond and Lacey anticipate a large turnout at tomorrow’s ‘Stop Fees, Save the Grant’ protest, with Redmond

predicting that over one hundred and fifty buses will bring protesters from all over the country to Dublin on the day. Lacey remarked that he expects a larger turnout of UCD students than were present at last year’s march; “I think we could get more numbers out than we did last year, which I didn’t think would happen when we first sat down to plan this campaign”. Regarding the sleepout, which is due to take place at Molesworth Street after the march, he emphasised that it would be a “strictly no alcohol event”, and stated that both the Gardai and an event management company would be on-site.

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The University Observer · 15 November 2011

Observer News Leinster Rugby to move to UCD campus news@observer.ie

NEWS IN BRIEF

BY GEORGE MORAHAN

Semester Two Elective Expo close to confirmation An Elective Expo proposed by UCDSU Education Officer Sam Geoghegan is being organised for the beginning of semester two. Geoghegan remarked that he is working “extremely hard” to get it in place but it is yet to be confirmed.

The expo would give students a chance to get a taste for the various electives on offer before they make a final decision as to which one they choose to take, allowing them to find out more about modules from lecturers who have taught them and students who have taken them.

The expo will be offered to make up for the fact that “a lot of students who think that [a module] sounds great, [but] find that the information in the module descriptor wasn’t really representative of what was on offer,” explained Geoghegan.

He found that such an event proved to be “impossible” to hold at the commencement of semester one “because unfortunately, a huge amount of staff in the university seem to take the summer off.”

Geoghegan stated that the event would probably be held in the second week of the second semester, which is the week beginning on the 23rd January.

Amnesty International holding ‘Right to Health’ campaign this week UCD Amnesty International Society are currently holding the ‘Right to Health’ campaign at the back of the Student Centre. The campaign began on November 14th and will run until November 16th from 12pm to 3pm each day. The society will park an ambulance behind the Student Centre, while volunteers, dressed as doctors and patients, ask students to sign their petitions.

The society are collecting signatures to try and force the government to adhere more rigorously to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which holds provisions on infant mortality, industrial and environmental hygiene, disease control and a right to medical attention for all in the event of sickness.

By signing the Covenant, Ireland is bound by international law and must observe the provisions of ICESR. Signs of movement on the issue were seen in the most recent Programme for Government, which included a commitment to “require all public bodies to take due note of equality and human rights in carrying out their “functions”.

Amnesty International Society member Orla Price stated that the society is campaigning for a more “universal, available and accessible healthcare system.”

BY AARON KENNEDY

Leinster Rugby CEO Michael Dawson and UCD President Hugh Brady have agreed that a training facility for Leinster Rugby will be built on UCD grounds.

Renovations are currently underway at the old Philips building on campus, with a number of first-class administrative offices being constructed there for use by Leinster Rugby.

The decision is expected to be implemented soon, says Breen, with dates as early as January 2012 being cited for the official move.

Peter Breen of Leinster Rugby told the University Observer that the agreement has been “on course, on budget, and it’s on time, so from that point of view it’s been first class.”

Leinster currently makes use of the UCD all-weather pitch facilities, but the plans include a new pitch which will be constructed specifically for use

by Leinster Rugby.

Reasons being cited for the move include the plan to have all of Leinster Rugby’s training facilities in one central place. “It’s going to take Leinster into the future in terms of our administrative offices, as well as the team fa-

UCD alumni Brian O’Driscoll and Rob Kearney will be returning to Belfield alongside the rest of the Leinster squad cility, the state-of-the-art gym and everything like that. It will be based up in the one centre so that will help Leinster organisationally and will provide them the best off-field preparation in terms of science.”

Breen says that advancements in facilities is part of a “natural progression” in rugby. He notes that the move marks a significant turning point in Leinster Rugby history and remarks that a long time has passed since the

game first became professional and there were “players getting changed in the back of cars.”

Breen declined to comment on the cost of the move but said that it is being funded by private investors.

Candlelit vigils commence nationwide

Commerce students holding charity fundraiser Commerce students partaking in a module offered by Service Learning are currently organising charity events, which serve to make up their module grade.

The module stems from the Quinn School’s Centre for Service Learning and Community Engagement.

A report given by students at the end of the semester based on their work in aid of charity counts for “approximately ninety per cent” of each group’s overall grade, according to second year student, Jack Fox. Fox, who is taking the module as an elective, explained that the type of work undertaken by each group “depends on the charity; some might want you to do profile awareness, some might want you to do a fundraiser … some groups are basically just setting up a Facebook page for their charities and are trying to get followers”.

Fox’s group are preparing for their fundraiser, the proceeds of which will go to the Marc Owen’s Medical Fund.

The event will be held on November 27th at the Lost Society in Dublin city centre. “It’s going to be a mix between a charity auction and a casino-themed night,” stated Fox. Tickets for the event are on sale in the Quinn building and the Student Centre this week.

Photographer: David Nowak

BY KATIE HUGHES · NEWS EDITOR

A candlelit vigil was held for the third time in UCD outside the James Joyce library on November 8th. The event was run to remember those who had died, in particular by suicide.

Students’ Union Welfare Officer Rachel Breslin was pleased with the event, “I thought that it achieved its main objective. It was poignant, emotive and a tribute to people we have loved and lost, and in particular it gave us an opportunity to mark students who had died during the year”.

PleaseTalk Co-ordinator Vince Mc-

Carthy explained the idea behind the vigil, “The vigil appeared a few years [after PleaseTalk was founded] because they wanted a day of remembrance for people lost by suicide so to highlight attention again to suicide”.

“Suicide is obviously a huge issue for the whole country and population but it’s a massive issue, especially for young men aged between twenty and twentyfour. We want people to take the time to remember people they’ve lost and hopefully to come together around a service like PleaseTalk or around whatever service they think is important to them and promote the idea amongst themselves,

amongst their friends, that it’s really important to take care of each other”.

Eighteen colleges across Ireland and Northern Ireland will be hosting similar events over the next week. This is all in the lead up to the launch of the PleaseTalk campaign in Northern Ireland on the 28th of November, which is a significant step for the organisation according to McCarthy, “to get Northern Ireland involved is massive so hopefully we’ll be opening up a service which started in UCD and will hopefully impact the lives of 200,000 students in Northern Ireland as well, which is a huge achievement”.A similar vigil was held in Cork on No-

vember 7th. This was the first time the event was held on the UCC campus as the PleaseTalk committee was only set up this year. A representative from UCC stated that “we’ve a lot more events planned with them … we’ll be launching seventy-nine Chinese lanterns which is representative of the number of youth suicides last year next week”.

A PleaseTalk event will be scheduled in UCD in March to mark PleaseTalk’s fifth anniversary. The organisation was originally launched in 2007 in UCD

by UCD students and staff. PleaseTalk is currently on thirty-two campuses across the country.

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

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NEWS

Arrest made on UCD Campus

BY EMILY MULLEN

Photographer: Rob Manning

LMFAO play sell-out gig in Student Bar

BY DENIS VAUGHAN

The LMFAO gig held in the Student Bar on the 7th of November has been described as the “pinnacle of UCD Ents so far” by Students’ Union Ents Officer Stephen Darcy.

The gig was one of the fastest-selling events in UCD Ents’ history, with tickets selling out in less than an hour.

Darcy described the attendance of the event as “full-house” with the 850 capacity of the bar being completely filled and was “delighted and ecstatic” with the event and its “smooth” running.

Extra security was in place on the night and was described by Darcy as

being “fantastic, they handled everyone really well. When it comes to big gigs like that they’re usually very well briefed on how to handle it. The security company that’s involved do a lot of concerts and stuff so they’ve been around crowds like that before and they know what to do”.

According to Darcy, LMFAO, who played a one and a quarter hour set, were the “biggest gig ever in UCD”. The duo consists of Stefan Kendal Gordy and Skyler Husten Gordy, better known as Redfoo and SkyBlu respectively. Their chart successes include ‘Shots,’ and the number one hit ‘Party Rock Anthem’ amongst others. The pair were attend-

ing the MTV EMAs in Belfast the night prior to the UCD gig.

Darcy has plans to continue with the standard he has set so far this year, “I need to look at how to keep going up with UCD Ents; obviously I’m a little bit biased, but I think this has been the biggest year ever. I have an idea in my head, contractually I can’t say anything though, with acts that I’ve enquired into, but I aim to not have LMFAO being the biggest act playing the bar this year”.

The next big Ents event will be the Christmas Ball, which is set to take place on November 24th. According to Darcy, “the aim is to keep that just

cheap and cheerful so it’ll be €3 admission with maybe a cover band and Ents DJs”.

The Christmas event will be charity orientated, “so I don’t want to spend €1,000 on an act” Darcy explains, “the idea with the Christmas Ball is that it’s going to be for charity so it’s €3 or €5 in but if you bring a Christmas toy to the door and hand it over you get in free and we give it to charity so it’s going to be completely charity focused”.

The donated toys will be going towards a Christmas shoebox appeal.

Read Matt Gregg’s interview with LMFAO in Otwo

A man arrested on UCD campus is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice with regard to charges of larceny. The man was arrested at approximately 4.30pm on November 4th outside the Science building and was taken to Donnybrook Garda station for questioning.

The man in question allegedly shouted at security guards while they were in pursuit. One witness stated that “the guy actually seemed to be looking for a chase by shouting ‘Oi!’ at his pursuers”.

Another witness described how the man laughed and pointed at the UCD security staff. The accused was caught shortly after this utterance.

A Garda car was brought to the scene to accompany security staff and to make the arrest. Two Gardaí and numerous security personnel followed the man for a short distance before the arrest was made. The Gardaí were said to have arrested the man with comparative ease, with a witness explaining that they “just went up to him, caught hold of him and put the handcuffs on him”. The eyewitness identified the man as having “glasses, a moustache and carrying a bag”.

Upon the arrest, the Gardaí searched the man’s person and subsequently the man’s bag. An eyewitness to the arrest described the finding of a possible piece of evidence, “they took something from his pocket and put it in a notebook but I don’t know what it was”. Nothing was taken from the man’s bag, which was left intact for Gardaí investigations.

It is still unclear as to what was stolen from the campus or from where it was stolen, but it is understood that the offense is linked to the theft of several laptops on October 28th this year. Sergeant Brian Whelan has described the investigations as “on-going”.

Twenty-four hour study area in place for Semester Two exams

BY GEORGE MORAHAN

UCDSU Education Officer Sam Geoghegan has confirmed that there will be a twenty-four hour study area in the new Student Centre during the second semester’s examination period.

A similar area has not yet been confirmed for this semester.

Geoghegan has been trying to organise a study area for students sitting exams in December in the Rendezvous area of the UCD Restaurant building, as well as looking into alternative areas on campus in case his original plan cannot be arranged.

Geoghegan explained that he has “met with Michael Rafter from [UCD Buildings and Services] and things are progressing, but it’s not guaranteed that it will happen,” but also stated that “it is not definitive, but I am hopeful” that it will. Rendezvous had previously been converted into a study area during the 2009-2010 academic year.

The Semester Two study area will be who had looked into it several years in the new Student Centre, as affirmed ago and found it to be “too costly”.

by Student Centre manager Dominic However, Geoghegan is buoyed by the O’Keeffe, who, according to Geoghe- recent extension of the UCD app to Angan, has said that “everything is going droid smart phones due to the fact that according to plan.” The study area will “4,300 students have downloaded the be ready for use when the new Student app and that was only for iPhones. The Centre opens, “which will probably be Android only came online last week in March, so at least that’ll be in place and more people have Android phones for semester two exams.” O’Keeffe was than they do iPhones.” not available for comment at the time With tomorrow’s USI march in proof writing. test against a proposed raising of stuGeoghegan also appears to be mak- dent fees, Geoghegan has been helping ing headway with some of the main to increase awareness amongst students points of his manifesto, which include as well as trying to ensure that students the use of the UCD smart phone appli- would not be academically impeded for cation to notify students of cancelled missing classes, saying that “We are hitlectures. Geoghegan hopes that UCD ting res every night up until Tuesday, will “implement an alert system for any but my biggest role would be in contactsmart phones for cancelled lectures ing lecturers and module coordinators etc,” using the UCD app, going on to say to move classes or to allow students to that “it would be very easy to sync.” attend the march, making sure that if His original idea of having a text continuous assessment is part of that system for cancelled lectures was class on the 16th that they will be alturned down by the Deputy Registrar, lowed to make up for it later on”.

Sam Geoghegan at his desk. Photographer: Conor O’Toole

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NEWS

INTERNATIONAL

Arts Day success as one-day event

NEWS IN BRIEF

BY KATIE HUGHES

Overhaul of UCAS system The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), the UK’s equivalent to the CAO, has made a proposal for the complete overhaul of the university admissions system.

As it stands, the system consists of a student’s application, consequent interview and subsequent provisional offer followed by an acceptance after A-level results are announced.

University offers are made on the basis of a successful interview as well as the predicted grades supplied by the applicant’s second level institution. It was found that only 51.7 per cent of the predications are in fact accurate and 41.7 per cent are over-estimations.

As a result, the proposed system would see A-level examinations taking place earlier in the academic year, with results being announced in July. Students would then, after receiving their grades, be asked to apply to two of their chosen universities – a decrease from the five options students have at the moment. To allow sufficient time for applications to be processed, the academic year would then commence in October.

Universities Minister, David Willetts supported the plan, stating that, “making the university application process simpler and more efficient would be good news for students. It is important that applicants understand how the system works and that any unnecessary burdens on institutions are removed”.

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

BY EMILY LONGWORTH

Arts Day took place on the 10th of November with approximately €2,000 being raised for the Barretstown children’s charity in Ballymore Eustace, Kildare, which aims to help support children affected by serious illnesses.

Arts Society Representative Steven McCahill described the day as “a fantastic success, every event we ran had big attendance, the sports day went very well. I was happy, there was a big turnout”.

Various events took place throughout the day including leg-waxing, outdoor busking and a mini sports day.

Collections took place around campus, with many students donning Arts Day t-shirts and carrying collection buckets in an effort to raise money. Events were centralised around the Newman building, where buskers were playing on the outside steps throughout the day.

A charity concert took place in the evening in the Student Bar. Donegalbased group Mojo Gogo, who were recently featured on the cover of Hotpress, performed on the night.

“They played for charity and every-

one came together so it was a good success all round” McCahill said.

The Arts Day Beer Olympics, which featured “Beer Pong, Drunken Limbo and more” also took place in the bar before the gig.

McCahill was impressed with the level of student participation, saying “I knew we had a strong group on the organisation committee, but the amount of people that just showed up on the day, just playing guitars and getting involved, was great”.

The event was held over the course of one week last year, and McCahill explained that turnout and participation was more successful this year with the consolidation of all events on one day, “last year, I don’t think there were quite as many [events] going on, it was a very well put together week, they covered every aspect of arts, but I just don’t think the awareness was there”.

When summarising the day as a whole, Steven McCahill commented that “the Arts Block was just alive”, and he was pleased with the level of awareness that was raised and the success of the day, which he attributed to student contribution.

No room for new societies in University of British Columbia Due to a slightly outdated accounting system, the University of British Columbia can only allow the formation of fifteen more societies before they hit their maximum capacity.

The system currently has a capacity for 999 accounts, only 400 of which are reserved for student societies. To make room for new ventures, the accounts of old and inactive societies are being frozen. This year these included, among others, the Canadian Afghanistan Partnership Club and the UBC Green Party.

The introduction of an entirely new system would cost between $20,000 and $40,000 and would be cause to retrain the entire staff according to Societies and Clubs (SAC) Vice-Chair Alannah Johnson.

AMS President, Jeremy McElroy stated that “we feel that with more than 360 clubs right now, all of the club office and lockers accounted for, and our already overworked administrative staff, any significant increase in the number of clubs is next to impossible”.

The SUB, where the various clubs and societies are located, is also lacking in space, having been built in 1968 when the University was much smaller and had fewer groups to accommodate.

Twenty-four people arrested at London protest Twenty-four people were arrested when British students marched in protest of higher education reforms on November 9th.

2,000 protesters were estimated to have taken part, with three helicopters and 4,000 police officers being present to supervise what was described as a “mostly peaceful” event. They were deployed “to facilitate peaceful protests” according to a representative of Scotland Yard.

Two days prior to the protest, Scotland Yard Commander Simon Pountain made an announcement authorising police to fire plastic bullets at protesters “in extreme circumstances”.

A number of the arrests took place after a breakaway group pitched twentysix tents in Trafalgar Square at the base of Nelson’s column. Twelve of the twenty-four arrests were for breaches of the peace, one for the possession of an offensive weapon, three for going equipped and three for public order offences.

15,000 students were expected to attend, a figure that is speculated to have dropped due to individuals feeling too intimidated to attend after receiving a letter describing the necessity of a peaceful march and the consequences of antisocial behaviour. These letters were sent out to all those who had been arrested within the past year.

Photographer: David Nowak

BY EIMEAR MCGOVERN

OVER 10,000 STUDENTS ATTEND UCD OPEN DAY

UCD welcomed just over 10,000 prospective students to UCD on Saturday as part of the University’s Open Day. According to Student Recruitment Manager Kathy Murphy, the event was a huge success.

The day consisted of subject specific stands in the O’Reilly Hall, campus tours, residence tours and talks in the Newman, Health Science and Quinn Buildings explaining all the various courses on offer in UCD in detail as well as more general “choosing a course” talks.

Ms. Murphy explained that up to fifty UCD Student Ambassadors, all current students, were involved, “they were manning some of the

buildings, some of them were out and about welcoming people, others were giving tours”.

The uptake on the tours of the campus was particularly large with between two and three tours being run every fifteen minutes, “probably because it was such a gorgeous day” commented Ms. Murphy.

Certain tours brought future students and their parents on a tour of UCD residences, with an apartment in Merville being available for viewing.

Additionally, tours were brought into the language centre where staff gave introductory talks about UCD’s Horizons Program and the Applied Language Centre.

For the first time this year, the Ad Astra Academy was represented in the O’Reilly Hall. They had three

stands for the academic, athletic and performing arts scholarships. The Registrar, Prof. Mark Rodgers, gave a talk explaining the initiative to the visiting students.

Prospective Philosophy students were given the opportunity to meet their graduate counterparts in the Philosopher’s Café. Students studying Maters or PhD programs in Philosophy were available for students to talk to about the course and what to expect, “to give them a flavour of the type of thing they’d be studying, we hadn’t a clue at the beginning if it was going to be ten, fifty or one hundred people but it was very popular”.

UCD will run another event for sixth year students on January 21st called ‘Applying to UCD’. The day will have talks that focus on filling out the CAO,

applying for grants and fees as well as general talks from programme areas.

“It won’t be as big an event in the sense that we won’t have one hundred degree program talks, but what we’ll do is we’ll have program level talks. There’ll be Science talks, there’ll be an Arts talk, there’ll be a Vet talk, “ explained Ms. Murphy.

The day and all of the information available received a positive response from students and their families, “I thought the stands had really stepped up to the mark, displays were really good, there was a huge amount of staff on for the day considering it was a Saturday and speakers were really great; we had a lot of parents in today with their kids and a lot of them came over to say they had a fantastic day.”

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

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NEWS

Legal-focused week in UCD

BY MAITIÚ MAC SEOIN

Two large scale law-related campaigns were held on campus last week; Law Soc ran its annual Law Week and UCD’s Student Legal Service organised a ‘Know Your Rights’ week which aimed to inform students about their entitlements.

Law Soc organised a variety of events during the week, which included Christopher Lee’s talk on Wednesday evening, during which the eighty-nineyear-old actor spoke to a full theatre and answered students’ questions, and a gig, with the band Responsible Looking Freaks performing an acoustic set.

According to the week’s organiser, Aidan Forde, the high point of the week was the 11-a-side soccer tournament hosted on Tuesday. Out of the seven teams competing, three were made up

of first year students, a great achievement according to Forde as the purpose of the week was to involve more first years in the society. He was “delighted with the response,’’ deeming it a great way of “showing the first years what Law Soc actually does”.

The Student Legal Service (SLS) also hosted many events throughout the week to inform students of their rights. The Service believes that the main impediment to students learning about their rights is due to complications in legislation, or the law not being accessible to students. Chairperson of the Student Legal Service, Sarah O’Meara, stated that the SLS is “there as a buffer, as a bridge between complicated legislation and what affects you”.

According to O’Meara, there were a number of first years interested in

the talks about volunteering overseas, which she attributed to SLS’s involvement in orientation week.

O’Meara considered the talk highlighting students’ rights from a Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) representative, Noleen Blackwell, to be the high point of the week. Prior to this, FLAC and the SLS had been very closely linked, “our relationship with FLAC is really good these days; we base ourselves on what they do, they give free legal advice in centres all around the country so working with them is really great. Seeing that relationship be so harmonious and having a lot of good feedback was probably my highpoint”.

Both societies received positive feedback on their weeks, and both of the organisers were pleased with student involvement.

Renowned actor Christopher Lee and his wife Birgit Krøncke after addressing the crowd at Law Week. Photographer: David Nowak

Preparations begin for first Res Ball

BY KATIE HUGHES · NEWS EDITOR

UCD Students’ Union have begun preparations for UCD’s first ever Res Ball, which is being held on the 29th of November in the Burlington Hotel on Upper Leeson Street.

The initiative is aimed at students living in UCD’s residences, including Glenomena, Roebuck, Merville and Belgrove on campus and Proby, Muckross and Blackrock off campus.

According to SU Campaigns and

Communications Officer, Brendan Lacey, a relatively low turnout is expected as it is the first year the event is being run, “we’re expecting small numbers for the first year ever but we’re hoping that people from res can get involved with it”. He expects a turnout of 250 to 300 students, though insists that the event can be made bigger if there is a substantial enough interest.

Lacey stated that the reason behind organising the ball was to create a greater sense of community among residents

and to give students living on campus something that is exclusively their own.

“The community feel in residences has always been quite poor … there just wasn’t anything for people who lived in residence – you could get involved with societies, most of which have their own balls, you were part of it as a community but you were never part of it as something that was just for you. That’s what the concept behind it is – to give people who live on res something that’s just for them.”

“It could be a really great night if you had people coming from [all residences] coming together for a night for a black tie event. It’s our own soiree and hopefully it will be something that is really good and if it works this year maybe next year they can try make it a bit bigger and improve on it again.

This year we just wanted to make it happen”.

Lacey is eager to have students living in residences to help organise the event, “we’re hoping to get the RAs in-

volved and obviously the res reps; we’ll be putting together a ‘Res Committee’ from people who live on res and who want to have a part in running this.

They’ll be working on the logistics of the event”.

The event is targeted mostly at students living in residences as “the whole concept is to get people from res there”.

Tickets will be on sale from next week in residences and will be available on campus closer to the event. They will be priced at approximately €35.

Will you be going to the student protest and why?

Aislinn O’Brien

Hussein Jafaar

Benedict Turner

2nd Year Science

1st Year Biomedical Science

1st Year Arts

“I think so because I can’t afford to pay fees [of] about five grand, and I want what Labour promised”

“I get in to college on grants, but it’s for the rest of the people, the people that that are in between the grant and the upper class, that’s what I’m protesting for”

“Yes, because I think we have to stand up for our rights. It’s as simple as that really”

Kearin Roberts

Michael Heneghan

Oyinbla Dada

1st Year Politics & Sociology

Arts, Maths & Irish

3rd Year Medical Chemistry & Chemical Biology

“The middle class has been targeted so much, so I’ll be attending”

Voxpops by Jack Walsh Photographs by David Nowak

“Yes. If the fees do go up or if they cut the grant I won’t be here next year, so it affects me as much as it affects everyone else”

“I will be going to the student protests … I only have one year [left] but I do feel sorry for those coming up because they have the full four years of paying the amounts”

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visit our website at www.tcd.ie/business

7

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

Observer Features

I Love You Man F

or many students university is a time of joy, exploration, companionship and self-fulfillment. The cliché ‘best of years of your life’ gets tossed around quite frequently, and for many, this is true. However, there is a significant portion of students for whom university is not a time of joy but a time of despair; not exploration but entrapment; not companionship but isolation; and not self-fulfillment but self-repression. Sounds depressing, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, such problems often lead to exactly that - depression. The widely perceived solution, as seen in the highly visible UCD and national campaign ‘Please Talk’, is discussion. Certainly while talking may not solve a student’s underlying problems, it can often help the student turn themselves around and recognise that there are alternate solutions.

While all students can be afflicted by mental health problems, young men can be hit particularly hard and suicide is the leading cause of death among young men. Men are also the group that support networks find hardest to reach, according to Dr. Lorna Sweeney, whose recently published graduate thesis was entitled Young Irish Male Perspectives on Depression and Suicide. Sweeney believes “that men are typically reluctant to speak out about emotional along with physical problems” and also states in her thesis that suicide rates have increased substantially among young men over the previous fifty years.

When seeking to explain this phenomenon, she examined the contrasting ways in which men and women approached the subject. “Instead of showing any signs of weakness or showing anxiety or emotion when they are faced with a problem, [men] are expected to respond to any stresses with independence, assertiveness, selfcontrol. Women are more likely to seek help for mental health problems [than men], but that doesn’t mean they’re more likely to experience them. It’s just that they’re more likely to recognise that it’s a mental health issue and to seek help for it, whereas men are less likely to identify it as a mental health problem”.

Mark Hyland from the UCD counseling service echoes these sentiments.

“Often [young men] have a perspective that to be in distress is to be weak, and so the choice becomes a very black and white choice of either they are in distress and uncontained and that’s a weak position, and it’s almost a less

In the lead up to International Men’s Day on the 17th of November, Jason Quigley and Matt Gregg explore mental health from a male perspective

preferable position to be in than the lowed to be weak’ and so the minute idea of being in distress but contained, they are weak they have to destroy by not talking about it. They almost re- themselves further, they have to beat tain a sense of masculinity by silently themselves up for being weak, because suffering.” it’s not something that’s allowable for One area where this can be par- them.” ticularly evident is sexuality. “A lot of This dealing with weakness, this young males do tend to view their own conflict between feelings of personal sexuality as a kind of competitive thing, failures and a need to maintain a strong almost detached from feeling and emo- face, can exacerbate existing mental tion, and what it is to form committed health difficulties. Hyland strongly bonds with people in relationships,” feels that to acknowledge your insecusays Hyland. “That’s generally because rities and talk about them is a sign of at the heart you have this black and strength rather than a sign of weakness white piece where it’s a defense against and that “a healthy way of being is to be their own insecurity... we mask our in- involved with other people.” security with an unfeeling exterior.”

Sweeney’s research found that many As a culture we often have role mod- of the young men in her focus groups els that reinforce an uncompromising revealed that most of their peer converposition towards weakness. Hyland sations were light-hearted and they did found the perception of sports figures, not usually discuss emotional or persuch as Roy Keane, particularly in- sonal issues. She concluded that this teresting in this regard. “Roy Keane “may not be the context where people doesn’t like weakness in males and he feel comfortable in raising those [menMen, on the other hand, had fewer believes that you should just drive on tal health] issues”. In contrast, many of of these types of relationships and through everything, he doesn’t allow the men were more comfortable talk- were often only comfortable talking for much vulnerability. I think what ing about their problems individually. to their girlfriends rather than any of happens in a male like that is that it be- In her interviews with the friends of their friends. “When a man is talking comes a kind of catch-22.” suicide victims, she discovered that to his girlfriend he can reveal weak“You either survive based on those “there was a difference between what nesses, whereas when he’s talking to principles, and therefore you can dis- he would have told them [individually], his friends, maybe he can’t, it’s very miss weakness in anybody around you and what he would have told the group.” fluid,” she explains before warning that because you survived, because your Of course this tendency to open up “for young men who don’t have a signifirationale has worked for you. Or you on a more individual basis is not gender- cant other maybe it’s more challenging, become someone who has that way of specific, with Sweeney stating, “It’s hu- because they don’t have that close intibeing, but is broken because of it, and man nature that people would tend to macy where they can share emotions or usually when people are broken be- open up more to one person rather than concerns.” cause of it, that concept, they do a lot to declare emotions to a whole group of Many strides have been made in of harm to themselves, they take their people.” The discrepancy occurs rather terms of support available to young own life, or they have a complete and because women were more likely, on men. Sandra Hagan, spokesperson for utter breakdown and they’re shattered. balance, to have a larger number of the Mental Health Charity Aware, has And then they’re shattered by the re- close relationships with people they been working since 1985 to provide lationship of that concept ‘I am not al- could feel comfortable confiding in. support for people who are experiencing depression. Depression is an increasingly visible problem in Ireland and Hagan suggests, “that more than ten per cent of the population (450,000) experience depression at any one time.”

Though there was no clear imbalance between the proportion of males and females seeking Aware’s help, she does believe young males are a high-risk group. “It is possible that depression in men is under-reported. It can be very difficult for someone to come forward with depression, and this can be especially true for men. Social expectaSANDRA HAGAN, tions can mean that men feel unable to share private concerns that are botherSPOKESPERSON FOR AWARE ing them. This is unfortunate as it can mean that they are prevented from accessing important forms of support for themselves.”

Hagan explains that much progress has been made since the organisation’s inception, including their service Beat the Blues and their newest addition of online support groups. These online support groups had “received a fantastic response from people wanting to sign up for the service. The online service was launched in order to make Aware support groups more accessible for people and to help overcome some of the barriers to seeking help”.

Sweeney agreed that much progress had been made in helping to combat male mental health issues but did point out that more could be done. “We also

“Social expectations can mean that men feel unable to share private concerns that are bothering them. This is unfortunate as it can mean that they are prevented from accessing important forms of support for themselves”

need to have campaigns so that the people around the young man might be able to support him better and might be able to know how to intervene when they know there’s something going on and know how to respond effectively to what he tells them.”

“In all my research, [with] all the young men I talked to it really came across that they really value their friendships, that a lot of their friends they knew their whole lives,” Sweeney says. “I don’t think it’s a matter of not wanting to support friends, I think it’s just … not knowing what to do. Also youth mental health policy in Ireland doesn’t recognise friendships, it always talks about services and we need to improve these services, and that’s good because we do, but at the same time we need to improve the lay support system around young people.”

Young people, including students, remain particularly vulnerable to mental health problems as youth is often a time of great upheaval and it is often only later on in life that people become more relaxed with themselves. Consequently, a huge amount of effort is invested in encouraging young people to confront any anxieties or issues they might hold through dialogue. Campaigns such as ‘Please Talk’, play an essential role in helping individuals recognise that having difficulties is human rather than a weakness.

Despite these efforts, confronting mental health problems remains problematic and this is particularly true for young males. It is a tragic reflection of this group’s vulnerability that the ratio of young men committing suicide, compared with their female counterparts, today stands at seven to one. Young males have a tendency to normalise and ignore genuine symptoms of depression for fear of looking weak. In reality, the more crippling weakness is often giving in to this fear and failing to seek help in tackling problems head on. Of course, there is no guarantee that discussing the issue will solve everything, but that does not mean men should continue to go it alone. In the words of a wise man, a problem shared is a problem halved.

8

FEATURES

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

Wild, Wild Web In light of the government’s recent decision not to regulate the internet, Hanna-Lil Malone explores the feasibility of internet censorship

F

ollowing the first International also impacting upon a country’s the dangerous and sinister side Conference on Cyberspace internet-friendly reputation, thus of the internet?

Surely some in London earlier this month, harming inward investment. Filtering, restrictions should be put on access Minister of State for European Affairs i.e. the blocking of certain URLs, is to certain material, for example Lucinda Creighton has claimed that used widely in China and prevents child pornography. Initiatives in the the Irish government is reluctant about people in mainland China from using UK such as ‘Project Cleanfeed’ have the idea of an international convention certain key websites such as Facebook. attempted to block certain sites which or treaty on internet regulation. Her Still, other social networking sites and display images of child pornography, views echo those of Jimmy Wales, mini-blogs are widely used, and with but the impact of these projects are founder of Wikipedia and William so many people blogging it is difficult limited. According to McIntyre it is Hague, UK foreign secretary, who to censor everything that is submitted “really quite remarkably ineffective … both stated at the conference that online. The other failure of filtering trying to prevent the distribution the Internet should not be stifled is its ineffectiveness, as it is “easily of images online is difficult to a by government control. According evaded and it’s capable of abuse and not point where it’s often going to be a to Hague, regulation of the Internet something that should be developed distraction from other things that would be “self-defeating”. UCD Law further,” according to McIntyre. should be done.” However, initiatives lecturer TJ McIntyre maintains that Despite lack of legislation on the which focus on the host site have been the particulars of an international regulation of the internet by the Irish quite successful internationally. In convention are often not decided in an government, Irish Internet users Ireland the use of ‘hotlines’, where it open, transparent or democratic way are still susceptible to blocking and is possible to report anonymously on and are then implemented domestically. filtering due to private deals made illegal content on the Internet (which McIntyre would “overwhelmingly with Irish ISPs. A 2009 deal between is then subsequently investigated and prefer not to see any attempts to move Eircom with the music industry led to taken down) has worked so effectively towards international regulation”. a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy, that such content is rarely hosted on A large number of countries now disconnecting users following three Irish sites. According to McIntyre it practice censorship or ‘filtering’ of allegations by the music industry that is the “take down” approach, and not the internet at some level. Though they had been sharing music. This filtering, which is the way forward.

Ireland has quite a good reputation for ‘online death penalty’ is not subject In recent years policymakers free speech and lack of regulation of to any investigation or court hearing, have begun to move away from the online content, other EU governments and as such, is vulnerable to abuse. censorship model, and towards a do not perform as well. Italy, France Research has shown that the tracking greater awareness of the power of and the UK have blocked certain systems used by ISPs to track illegal social changes behind the Internet and websites, either through private deals downloads are often inaccurate and the technologies which support these, with Internet service providers (ISPs) lead to false accusations. Particularly at explains McIntyre. Recent statements or via search engines such as Google. risk in this case are Internet users who from the first International Cyberspace Many disagree with the filtering of have wireless modems with insecure Conference seem to reflect this. More the Internet, mostly because it is an passwords that might fall victim to effective and sustained pressure on less infringement on one’s right to free ‘piggybacking’. The private deal by compliant countries to uphold the right speech. At this point access to the Eircom sets a dangerous precedent to freedom of access to information internet is viewed as a basic right, and and opens the doors for other such within their own borders is most McIntyre maintains that to deprive decisions in the future. This might likely to be the approach taken in the someone of this right would seriously lead to further limitations on Eircom future. Hopefully, the emphasis will disrupt his or her daily life. Moreover, subscribers, however other ISPs such soon shift from the censorship model filtering bears a significant commercial as UPC have yet to follow suit. towards a greater understanding of price; it costs the service providers While free speech is of course the significant place the Internet now hundreds of thousands of euro, while an inalienable right, what about holds in society.

With opportunities for work in television seemingly limited, Michael O’Sullivan looks at how UCD students are making their mark in the world of broadcasting

PRESENTING TO YOU

I

t was May last year when former UCD student Sean Regan, now a presenter on kids’ magazine show elev8, got a call from a friend about auditions for a new program on RTÉ.

“It was around the time of the exams, I was in Tesco. He wanted advice because I had been doing campus television, he wanted to send in a video to RTÉ for this new show, I said yeah send it in, we’ll edit it for you. I helped another friend do a show reel piece as well for RTÉ and he asked was I going to enter. I thought ‘no chance’”.

He explains that his time at Campus Television Network (CTN) had given him the added experience and knowhow to understand what was involved.

“I sort of had an interest. I literally put in my application at 6am on Monday, three hours before the deadline. You had to write two hundred words on why you wanted to be the face of Irish children’s television. I included some video links that I had done with CTN. Interestingly enough I had footage of interviews I had done at the UCD Ball with the Vengaboys, Iglu & Hartley and Mundy which I thought would help me stand out rather than just me sitting in my bedroom introducing myself on film ... So that was my thinking behind it.”

The approach clearly drew interest from the producers and industry executives, as Sean was called back.

Being able to stand out from the crowd

“I had footage of interviews Hartley and Mundy which

“We did improvisational type games [with DramSoc] and that’s something that really helped me with getting into TV” SAHAR ALI,

UCD STUDENT & FORMER PRESENTER OF RTÉ’S THE RUMOUR ROOM

on your feet. “We did mock interviews, panel discussions, speech workshops.

Introductions to a show, acting and what we needed to improve on ... We had a baptism of fire; they said it’s going to be a daily show and live. We had four weeks to prepare for it and we didn’t get much training”.

Current UCD student and former contributor to RTÉ’s The Rumour Room and Two Tube Sahar Ali feels that she too had to learn quickly. “When you go into RTÉ you just bring what you have, your own personality, just work with what you know or else you’re holding people back. I became more comfortable [in front of] the camera.

You just have to be a more enthusiastic version of yourself, more energetic but you’re still being yourself”.

Being a member of DramSoc helped give Sahar the confidence to have a real chance of getting the job with RTÉ.

“We did improvisational type games and that’s something that really helped me with getting into TV. In second year we had improvisation classes with this guy called Robert Brown, he was American, I learned so much from him and I think I wouldn’t have had the confidence without him to go for the RTÉ gig”.

Sahar feels that there aren’t many I had done at the UCD ball with the Vengaboys, Iglu & opportunities in Ireland at the moment I thought would help me stand out rather than just me but still encourages students to put sitting in my bedroom introducing myself on film” themselves out there. “We were very lucky timing-wise. Even RTÉ now SEAN REGAN, PRESENTER OF RTÉ’S ELEV8 have so many contacts that they would rather choose someone that they is the main tip he would have for Basically the premise was that there already know. Once I was in there I people who are trying to get in to the were a different set of directors each started getting calls from other people world of broadcasting. “I did a bit of day of the week, the same play but a about work. They are always out for beat boxing. You want to make yourself different cast as well. We had this day- new people though, even when I was memorable.” His time in UCD also gave long casting process which gave me the doing my own thing there were people him an understanding of what it’s like experience to know what it’s like to be watching, although I don’t think they to choose people for a production after in the director and producer’s chair want to take the risk as much now.” only a brief encounter with them in when you’re choosing candidates.”

It seems that the message is clear for auditions.

Eventually Sean got the nod and people looking to get into broadcasting; “Back in the day I was a member of joined two other presenters for the use your time in UCD to hone your DramSoc [UCD Drama Society] and show. He believes that presenting is skills and gain as much experience as myself and a friend held casting for not a straightforward process but once you can, because you never know when an event called the ‘Fresher’s Project’. in the business you learn quickly and an opportunity might present itself.

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

FEATURES

9

students are increasing and he does not feel that these groups “ are well represented”. His sentiments are echoed by Lannoye, who feels that “parts of the current constitution just don’t make sense for the modern student and the modern SU” and can lead to some students feeling “decisions are made above my head so the [SU] doesn’t matter”.

De Brún believes that “there could be a person in each of those courses who really wants to represent their class and they actually can’t under the current constitution”. This increase in reps will involve a new system being put in place that will expand the number of class reps and break up some of the larger constituencies. “We’ve a re-

ally strict quota for class reps for elections but there’s one rep for languages, literature and music when there could be a person in each of those courses who really wants to represent their class,” de Brún adds. Though the expansion of the Class Reps system is likely to increase financial burdens and may not be universally popular, Lannoye believes it is a positive move, commenting that he “would rather have far too many voices and students feeling included, rather than the alternative”.

From the outside, it may appear unnecessary to revamp the entire document and de Brún does agree that, despite having “plenty” of weaknesses, “the [current] constitution is in many ways fine.” Lannoye suggests that the introduction of an entirely new constitution is also a technical issue. He explains that many of the “big changes” the committee hopes to make will have ramifications in other areas of the constitution which means it’s easier to introduce an entirely new document rather than a raft of smaller amendments that could lead to an overly complicated document.

Nevertheless it must be asked if this constitution will be as groundbreaking as we are led to believe. Until this document is presented, this question cannot be answered conclusively. Nonetheless, de Brún maintains that “at the end of the day our core principles are will always remain the same … those things I don’t see changing but it’s just how we go about it and how we do it better.” Lannoye, likewise, seems confident that the committee will produce a document that will be “vastly different from the last one”. More conclusive answers will have to wait until the new document is presented to the SU council on the 19th of January.

Deconsecrating the constitution

With the SU constitution set for an overhaul, Emily Mullen explores what changes the Constitutional Review Committee are considering

“Parts of the current constitution just don’t make sense for the modern student and the modern SU” BRENDAN LANNOYE, MEMBER OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

I

n his election manifesto, current Students’ Union (SU) President Pat de Brún promised that overhauling the SU constitution would be a priority.

Now in office, he chairs a review committee tasked with creating an entirely new document. The current constitution has been a source of discord for many union members who argue that its technicalities are too specific and restrictive, while de Brún maintains that the current document fails “to represent our students in all walks of student life.” It is hoped that the proposed new document will rectify the presently overlooked members of the university, as well as review the SU. The SU are mandated to review the

constitution every five years but de Brún chose to do so during his period in office, just three years after it was last reviewed. The review involves not only revaluating the student body’s opinion of the SU, but exposing the positions held by many in the union to scrutiny. Brendan Lannoye, a fellow Review Committee member and a candidate in last year’s presidential election, believes that “it is the willingness of the current SU President to propose such a new constitution that will cause change”. The committee has placed strong emphasis on collecting ideas from a wide a range of sources, and de Brún states that they have received feedback “from every sports club, from

ten years of the past sabbatical officers and from all the students.” However, Lannoye does add that the committee have not yet looked at these replies but remains hopeful that “a lot of new ideas will come to the table”.

With the role of the SU constantly shifting, the main area where de Brún and Lannoye highlight the need for change is the system of representation.

De Brún asserts that the old constitution served its purpose but feels that it was directed towards a very different university, a university “geared towards traditional students which would be young, Irish, male”. He continues by saying that the number of mature, post-graduate and international

Crèche Course

W

hile slaving away on essays and assignments, spare a thought for students who have a little more to contend with. Instead of letting off steam in the student bar after a long day in the library, they must combine their academic responsibilities with those of being a parent, while many also work part-time jobs, and presumably, have little time for anything else.

As Manager of Oakmount Crèche, Jennifer Kinsella is in a prime position to observe the issues involved in being a student parent. From the humble beginnings in the 1970s of providing forty places, the crèche has more than doubled in size in the past two years, with

120 places now available. Although the facility is available to both staff and students, students’ families get priority on waiting lists, and currently take about thirty per cent of places.

Kinsella has seen a definite pattern emerge in light of the recession, with the crèche’s waiting list having shrunk recently. “I think we’ve noticed a fall off with regards to just making ends meet really … people can’t get further funding for their research or are finding it difficult with fees.”

The crèche does try to accommodate students, with extended hours during exams and a two month feefree place freeze during the summer, but can do little about the difficulty of

With the stress of essay deadlines and impending exams mounting, Anna Curran explores what help is at hand for students with the added pressure of raising a family

reconciling academic pressure with a need to establish a regular routine for the child. Kinsella has observed that those pressures have increased in light of the recession, commenting that “everybody is finding it a little harder to make things stretch and fit and work.”

One undergraduate UCD mother in her early twenties, who wished to remain anonymous, has returned to UCD this year after taking time out following the birth of her daughter last year.

When asked about the support available to student parents in UCD, she is familiar only with the Childcare Assistance Fund, a means-tested subsidy which can cover up to fifty per cent of fees in any crèche.

In Oakmount, this means parents will still have to pay at least €488.50 per month for babies or €460 for children over one year old. The subsidy is not available during the summer, meaning parents must either pay the full fee or mind their children themselves during the break. The combined earnings of both parents must not exceed €39,000 in order to be eligible for the fund. While still waiting to hear from the Childcare Assistance Fund, and with a €20 registration fee and €400 deposit required before a child can even start at the crèche, it’s hardly surprising that financial difficulty is a big concern.

However, she believes that time

“I think everybody is finding it a little harder to make things stretch and fit and work”

JENNIFER KINSELLA, MANAGER OF OAKMOUNT CRÈCHE

constraints are the most difficult thing about being a student parent. Academically, parents get no special treatment and must meet deadlines like other students. “Before … you have your evenings to work, your weekends. Now … I come home, give my daughter food, put her to bed, and by the time I get that done there’s some housework … and then you can’t do any reading because you’re just wrecked.”

On the other hand, the academic side of University is just one small aspect.

This is Anon’s first year as a student parent and she acknowledges that her life is now completely different than before when she used to attend debates and was on a society committee. She does not

“It is doable … I still write my essays of course, but I can’t read everything for class. I just do the more essential things. Now I just accept that I can’t have A’s anymore” UCD STUDENT PARENT view this as a negative thing, however, because she values the small amount of time she gets to spend with her daughter “but now my time with her is so limited anyway so I would like to spend as much [time] as possible with her.”

Although she was always determined to finish her degree, there are times when Anon finds the combination of being a student and a parent overwhelming. She has found her experience with the bureaucracy of the Childcare Fund difficult and their eligibility criteria bizarre. “You have to show that you’re in debt every month [to be eligible] … which I think is irresponsible. If you have a child you don’t live on debts, you look for any way so that you won’t be [spending more than you earn] every month”.

While some assistance is provided by UCD, it is clear that financial worries and time constraints are issues that remain pressing for student parents. Nevertheless, Anon does believe that it is entirely possible to be a student and a parent, albeit with some academic cost. “It is doable …

I still write my essays of course, but I can’t read everything for class. I just do the more essential things. Now I just accept that I can’t have A’s anymore.” Whether or not student parents do receive support from UCD, it seems that unfortunately, their studies are bound to suffer as a result of their parental responsibilities.

10

FEATURES

POSTCARDS FROM ABROAD:

TORONTO T

he last time you heard from me I had just arrived in Toronto, was living in a building site and had a mysterious cat upsetting my sleeping pattern. While the whole cat thing never really got cleared up, thankfully things have changed.

That first month was certainly interesting.

In an attempt to stay away from the building site hellhole I pretty much slept anywhere else that I could.

Any new friends I made soon had an Irishman making a close acquaintance with their floor and Union Station kept me warm for a good night or two. No joke. After two weeks of living like this I moved in to my new English friend’s house until October began, in return

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

After a tumultuous month of house hunting, Niall Spain finally hits the accommodation jackpot

for a bottle of whiskey and a set of pans.

Bartering is underrated.

During this month I searched desperately for accommodation, lugging most of my belongings around Toronto in the blistering sunshine. There were definitely some interesting places viewed; there was the seventeen-storey building where an old lady who had covered her apartment in mirrors told me her priest could “help” me. There was also a room about the size of my shoe that simultaneously served as the fire escape route for the building, meaning I couldn’t legally lock my door (the landlord kindly suggested that I hide my valuables if I moved in). There were many others too, and had I the space, I could fill a few pages describing them. One room seemed ideal

and it was agreed that I would move in within a few days. The owners then called me a day later to say they had decided to give it to their friend instead. With the exception of that one flat, pretty much all of them were unsuitable in one way or another. I really began to despair.

Then, the day before I had to move out, my luck changed. I saw a new ad on one of the accommodation websites and called to ask if I could check it out. It was a two-storey penthouse apartment on the eighteenth floor of a high-rise. It had a large balcony. I would get a room and an office. There was Internet, a dog, and a cat. Rent was cheap if I walked the landlord’s dog. I could move in the next day. To sweeten the deal, the landlord promised he would get me a

TV and cable for my room.

It was perfect.

I’ve been here ever since and it’s been amazing. I can’t explain exactly how good it felt to unpack after a month of living out of a suitcase. Also, the look of grudging respect I get from other tenants in the elevator every time I press the “PH” button (while they press their measly numbers) definitely makes up for the mornings of being woken by builders and mystery cats. To top it off, my landlord regularly buys me KFC (which tastes far better over here than it ever did in Ireland).

With my accommodation problems solved, I’ve finally been able to fully enjoy the exchange experience. I’ve been immersing myself in Canadian culture. That is, I’ve been going to frat houses and toga parties, one of which involved my toga acting as not only my attire for the night but also as a medical aid for a passing drunken cyclist. They really are such handy items of clothing.

College itself is a different experience than back home. Most of

my courses have five or six assessments throughout the semester, which is far more than I ever had in UCD. This is good and bad. It seems like I always have work looming over me but nothing is worth a scary amount of my final mark. Another difference between here and home is the format of the lectures. In Ireland you generally sit and listen while the lecturer speaks and it’s rare for someone to interrupt or ask questions. Not so over here.

Lectures are almost more like tutorials, or chats. It’s an intriguing difference.

The weather is still great, but it’s starting to get colder and I’ve been hearing horror stories about the Canadian winter. The next thing I need to sort out will be proper winter attire.

Somehow I think it will be a far easier task than finding accommodation was, but I’m almost glad the first month was so interesting. I ended up in the perfect place and had a bit of an adventure in doing so. I mean, how many students do you know living in a penthouse on exchange?

Saibhreas éagsúlachta ag Oireachtas na Samhna

Idir damhsa scuaibe, Gaeilgeoirí ón tSiombáib, reigé agus na Rubberbandits, léiríonn Méabh Ní Thuathaláin go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó i gceist leis an Oireachtas ná rince ar an sean-nós

B

hailigh idir óg agus aosta i gCill Airne ag Oireachtas na Samhna i mbliana. Ócáid spleodrach is ea an tOireachtas ina dhéantar ceiliúradh ar chultúr na nGael. Leanann an fhéile le traidisiún a mhair na céadta bliain ó shin in Éirinn. Tagann filí, scéalaithe, amhránaithe, damhsóirí, ceoltóirí agus muintir an phobail le chéile ag an Oireachtas, díreach mar a rinne na glúine Gael a d’imigh romhainn.

Seans gurb é an ghné is suntasaí den fhéile ná go gcothaítear atmaisféar na Gaeilge, go gcloistear an Ghaeilge á spalpadh amach ar bhonn níos forleithne. Meallann an fhéile Gaeilgeoirí le chéile ó gach cearn den tír agus ar feadh aon dheireadh seachtaine amháin ceapfar gurb é an Béarla, ní an Ghaeilge, mionteanga na tíre seo.

D’eagraíodh clár den scoth i mbliana le breis agus céad imeacht idir chomórtais ceoil, amhránaíocht agus damhsa ar an sean-nós, scéalaíocht, filíocht, ceolchoirmeacha, seoltaí leabhair, díospóireachtaí agus a thuilleadh fós. Ní mór a luaigh go bhfuil clár sóisialta ag na Gaeil iad féin - cóisireacht, craic, ceol agus comhrá oíche go maidin thar an deireadh seachtaine ar fad.

Is ar an Aoine a thagann na sluaite de ghnáth agus b’amhlaidh a tharla i mbliana. Craoladh an clár raidió Rónán Beo tráthnóna dé hAoine ó lobbaí Ostán Ghleann an Iolair, áit inár thit mórchuid de na himeachtaí amach.

Níl a leithéid ann agus Rónán Mac an Bhuí le fuinneamh a dhúiseacht agus buzz a chothú. Bhí scoth na gceoltóirí, amhránaithe, damhsóirí agus cumadóirí ceoil ar an chlár. Réamhléiriú iontach a bhí ann don mhéid a bhí le teacht an oíche sin ag an Cabaret Craiceáilte.

Tá an Cabaret á reáchtáil agus á chur i láthair ag Rónán Mac an Bhuí le hos cionn trí bliana anuas agus tá sé ag dul ó neart go neart. Ócáid mhíosúil den scoth atá ann, a thugann ardán do cheoltóirí Gaelacha agus d’amhránaithe idir nua-aimseartha agus traidisiúnta.

I measc siúd a bhí ar stáitse ag an gCabaret Craiceáilte i gClub na Féile, bhí na Rubberbandits, na Dirty 9’s agus an grúpa ska agus reigé Bréag.

Bhí na Rubberbandits thar a bheith greannmhar agus b’iontach an radharc é iad a fheiceáil ar stáitse ag ceol amach i nGaeilge. Bhí scoth na gige ag Bréag

Tura Arutura ag glacadh páirte i gComórtas Amhrán NuaChumtha

chomh maith. Spreag fuaim iomlán an bhanna práis daoine chun damhsa agus lean an t-atmaisféar bríomhar fuinniúil le linn na hoíche. Chuir na mic léinn go mór leis an atmaisféar, iad gléasta suas in éadaí bréige d’Oíche na Mac Léinn a bhí ar siúl níos luaithe san oíche. Chaith mé féin seal den oíche ag damhsa le leon baineann agus cáca milis agus cuma iontach orthu.

Chuaigh Tura Arutura go mór i bhfeidhm ar an lucht féachana chomh maith. Fear gorm as an Siombáib atá ag foghlaim na Gaeilge agus atá a chur faoi le blianta i mBéal Feirste. Is damhsóir é agus bhunaigh sé stiúideo damhsa i lár chathair Bhéal Feirste ina mbíonn ceardlanna hip-hop agus damhsa uirbeach á reáchtáil aige trí mhéan na Gaeilge.

Ghlac sé páirt i gComórtas Amhrán Nua-Chumtha an Oireachtais i mbliana agus d’éirígh go hiontach leis. Bhí sé suas ar an stáitse níos mó ná uair amháin le meascán den damhsa nuaaimseartha agus damhsa ar an seannós. B’ardú chroí é le fírinne. Fear nach raibh aon ghaol aige le hÉirinn sula dtáinig sé agus a chuireann an oiread spéise i gcultúr na tíre. Fear a thuigeann go bhfuil tábhacht leis an

teanga agus a dhéanann iarracht ghníomhach í a úsáid, rud nach ndéanann cuid mhaith do mhuintir na tíre. Is spreagadh é dúinn ar fad, go háirithe do dhaoine nach mbacann leis an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim nó níos measa fós, nach n-úsáideann an teanga agus í ar a dtoil acu.

D’fhág slua ón gColáiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath tráthnóna dé hAoine i dtreo Chill Airne agus is cinnte go raibh am ar dóigh acu nó bhí cúis áirithe ceiliúrtha ann do mhic léinn UCD. Tháinig Aindriú Ó Faoláin agus Eoin Ó Murchú amach sa chéad duais i gcomórtas díospóireachta Gael Linn roimh Choláiste Phádraig a thóg an dara háit.

Bealach iontach is é an tOireachtas le haithne a chur ar dhaoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu, le casadh le cairde nua agus le cultúr na nGael a bhlaiseadh. Páistí agus sean-dhaoine i mbun damhsa na scuaibe, seisiúin ceoil sna hionaid éagsúla agus amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós á cloisteáil ar fud na háite! B’iontach na cuimhní iad agus b’iontach an deireadh seachtaine é. Is i Leitir Ceanainn, Co. Dhún na nGall a bheas Oireachtas na Samhna 2012 agus bí cinnte nach gcailleann sibh amach air.

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

FEATURES

11

Res –

the lost society?

With the new initiatives to foster and increase community spirit in UCD residences recently introduced, Emer Sugrue examines community life on campus

G

oing to college can be a daunting experience, but it is particularly tough if you are also leaving home for the first time. After eighteen years of being looked after you are suddenly left to fend for yourself, in a new city, maybe even a new country, sharing a small apartment with complete strangers. New students can often feel isolated during their first weeks away from home but it is also an opportunity to create a new home, a new community with your fellow residents.

Social provisions for a residence community used to be practically nonexistent, with students obliged to forge their own way through campus-wide clubs and societies, and their own social initiative to befriend their neighbours. In the last few years however, the culture of UCD residence has expanded with the establishment of Res Life, a program created by the Students’ Union and the residences management with the very aim of promoting community spirit. Students’ Union Welfare officer Rachel Breslin is one of the strongest advocates of the program, her interest in the scheme stemming from her own experiences living on campus.

“I’ve lived on residence for 3 years and I’ve certainly felt, particularly in my first year when I wasn’t really involved in anything else, that the lack of community spirit in residences that I felt existed at the time can make you feel a bit more isolated. The biggest proportion of residences is first years, there’s over 800 of them, and a lot of them come from schools like I did in Donegal, not knowing anybody else in college. If there isn’t a built-in spirit of community in residences then it can actually add to your isolation rather than make you feel better about being in college.”

On the front line of the campus community initiative are the three Residence Representatives, who assist students with campus issues and represent residents in the Students’ Union council meetings. They have become heavily involved in fostering this sense of community and are working to increase awareness of the various programs and events available. Danielle Curtis, a second year Res Rep, explains how they have worked this year to increase their presence on campus.

“It was one of our aims, myself and the two other Res Reps, to get to know people. We have gone around and knocked on doors and introduced ourselves, we’ve lecture addressed in the main buildings where there would be a lot of country people on Res like Ag and Science and told people who we were. Even when we went lecture addressing about the march we introduced ourselves as Res Reps so the people who were sitting in lectures knew

who we were. Its kind of us trying to get our name out there, to show people that there is somebody who represents them in council because not many people do know about that.”

One of the big projects planned for this semester is a formal Res Ball especially for the students living on campus, held in the Burlington Hotel later this month. “We have got a market of about 2,600 students to sell to, so hopefully

their door and the same offer; like maybe we’re going to do an offer that week in the shop where you can buy tea for less and everyone kind of knows about it, then it will be easier.”

“We were thinking of doing a description of meals that you could cook with suggested recipes but then have house competitions so you might not get everyone knowing about the house if it’s online but if they all get a maga-

it’ll go off”, Danielle explains. “The hitch is that it’s the first year it’s running in UCD … but hopefully we can start something small that will continue through the years.” Though the first of its kind in UCD, there have been hugely successful Res Balls held by other colleges, for example Trinity College.

The second big initiative planned is the residence magazine – a free monthly magazine put together by students and delivered to each apartment in UCD. The hope is that this will increase the community identity of residences as they become more informed about events and their fellow Res students.

“The magazine is really to make people aware of the events that are being run anyway” explains Breslin, “so L&H events, Ents events, any sort of talks that might be going on, even careers events. So kind of a calendar of events that are going over the month in the college itself to make students aware of some of the offers the campus outlets have got on ... ways to save money in residences and then also to do things like, the Res Reps wanted to organise a Come Dine With Me competition. It’s difficult to organise over social media and Facebook but if we get everyone with the same leaflet going through

zine they can get the house together and also post photos to the website, and then they would be in the next magazine.”

Those currently living in UCD residences have a less optimistic tale to tell of SU initiatives however. Fiona Brown, a first year Arts student living in Belgrove, feels that there is little community spirit in her building, “There’s not

really a community feel, everyone just drive for a residence community is very keeps themselves to themselves ... I beneficial for students, particularly for know the ones across the hall though, those who may not be as quick to conwe can’t get rid of them! They’re over nect with classmates and neighbours. here drinking tea now”, she jokes. “It’s “I think that natural community on a a big change, but I live with nice peo- residence, it depends on the people in ple.” Although there are parties and the apartment, so if you have people in nights out among the group, the SU- a block who know each other already planned events have sparked little in- then a community spirit builds up very terest. “Well they tried at the start of quickly, but if you have people who are the year, it didn’t seem to work. There more shy, less confident, who maybe was a sports day organised but no one don’t know anybody then they don’t feel really went to it.” part of that community spirit unless Others paint a more positive picture there’s an event they can go to or unless of the resident community, “All my someone makes an effort to bring them roommates are so nice” Catriona Daly, into the community, which is what I a first year Roebuck Castle resident af- really want to do. I want to make sure firms, “Half of them are exchange stu- that there’s an event for everybody, so dents only here for the semester and that everyone feels comfortable going half of them are here for their whole to at least one event during the year or course and I just think its really nice doing one activity through Res Life.” that we’re all getting to know each Getting to know your neighbours is other, we’re all intermingling. I know a not an automatic process and Rachel lot of people in Roebuck Castle, I’d say Breslin has found that residents are I know most of them because we eat more self-contained than people retogether, we all have meals together. I alise. ”When I put in my manifesto last know people from my course as well year ... I was surprised how many stubut not as well as I’d know the people dents when we went round to the door, in Roebuck Castle. There’s always par- even casually when we asked if the perties going on in different apartments son next door was in they’d say, ‘no, I and people are free to come and join in don’t know them’ - within their own so I’d say it’s definitely a community.” house. There’s more of that than even Catriona agrees that there is little I was aware of.” participation in organised Res events The feedback for the upcoming inihowever, and feels the SU involvement tiative has been very positive so far, is largely unnecessary. “I think that with even those who feel support to be people are fairly good at organising unnecessary expressing huge interest their own events and stuff a lot of the in involvement in the projects. “When time. There was an attempt to have a an event has happened students have Roebuck Halloween thing but only a been really quick to say that it was refew people showed up because most ally good. So rather than outwardly people wanted to go out and stay out. demanding it, when it has happened “I don’t think it’s necessary for the they’ve always come back saying that SU to get more involved. If they wanted was a really good idea. There were lots to I’m sure people would be happy but of people attending so it shows there is at the moment we’re happy to organise an appetite for it here.” our own stuff.”

Living on campus can be invaluable Breslin however, feels that the SU for a new student. It removes many of the pressures of living on your own for the first time; cutting out landlords, transport and depending on where you live, perhaps also cooking, which even final years seemingly struggle to master. Living in the centre of the action with so many people doing the same thing is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and these initiatives should help residents experience what UCD offers to the full.

Reflecting on her experiences as a resident, Danielle Curtis echoes Rachel in her support. “The community feel is there in every sense, I know everyone in my building this year. You just see people walking on the stairs, you introduce yourself and stuff like that. I think there is a community feel in each res and it’s pretty much the same vibe in each res. It made my first year, living on res.”

opinion.

12

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

Should we impose western values through aid?

yes.

The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, recently upset Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni after threatening to withhold UK foreign aid from countries whose governments do not maintain certain standards of civil rights, including countries that criminalise homosexuality. It is appalling that while in many countries gay people and couples can live without the threat of violence and criminalisation, this is currently an impossibility in other parts of the world. Uganda in particular is known for its cruel and unjust treatment of gay people.

Since 2009, Ugandan politicians have been seeking to institute the death penalty for what they call “aggravated homosexuality” - a ridiculous term that they have invented for ‘being homosexual more than once’.

The proposed bill has apparently been shelved for the time being, but the very idea that it was proposed in the first place shows that there is a general attitude of cruelty towards homosexuality in many countries.

Generally, people like to think that the world is becoming more tolerant of people of varying sexualities, races and religions, but in reality this is a false perception. Over eighty countries still criminalise homosexuality today; about half of these countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, many of which receive some degree of financial aid from the UK. Democratic countries have a responsibility to spread basic human rights and stop instances of injustice across the world. In many countries, not only is homosexuality prohibited, but so are the essential values that we take for granted, such as freedom of religion and women’s rights. It is far easier for all purposes if this imposition of ‘western values’ is achieved through diplomatic means, rather than having to later engage militarily. There have been negotiations in the past to institute democracy and freedom through diplomacy, rather than by down the barrel of a gun.

It completely defeats the purpose of foreign aid if the recipient countries do not adhere to basic human dignities. Many governments have regretted making this same mistake in the past. For instance, the United States under President Ronald Reagan funded the Taliban to overthrow the USSR who had been in control at the time, in order to take down the ‘Soviet Empire’. While this arguably helped the United States to win the Cold War, it later led to human rights violations in the country, such as the expulsion of thousands of girls from schools, the of killing unarmed civilians, and the targeting of ethnic groups such as the Hazaras.

Of course, there are many reasons why foreign aid is absolutely necessary, and withholding it could

In light of David Cameron’s recent threat to curb aid to countries intolerant of homosexuality, Evan O’Quigley and Sean O’Grady argue the merits of using aid as a tool for change

Evan O’Quigley be dangerous, but even the fact that such basic human rights laws are commonly referred to as ‘western values’ shows that there is a problem which needs to be addressed in the world. These rights should not be dismissed in countries receiving foreign aid.

Somalia, which saw a 208 per cent increase in aid this year, has an extremely poor human rights record including restriction of freedom, women’s rights and many others. It is listed by the United Nations as a country which uses child soldiers. It would make one wonder; is it worth giving foreign aid to countries to improve economically, considering the serious problems with regard to human rights?

Civil rights are not born overnight, or automatically. In Ireland, the United Kingdom and other western countries they have been gained through campaigning and diplomatic actions, but this simply cannot be done peacefully in countries without stable democratic governments. The restrictions of freedom of speech inhibit such protest. In 2005, two Ugandan MPs from the Forum for Democratic Change party were arrested when the movement was believed to pose a threat to the re-election of President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in office since 1986. This is but one amongst countless other examples.

The world is changing rapidly.

The uprisings in the Middle East that took place just this year show that the world cannot continue to impede basic civil rights and sustain peace. It is time for true equality throughout the world for all people, both in the east and the west.

“the fact that such basic human rights laws are commonly referred to as ‘western values’ shows that there is a problem which needs to be addressed”

Rebuttal by Sean O’Grady

While I do agree that several laws in countries such as Uganda and Somalia need to be changed, withholding aid is not a good alternative.

To ask whether it is worth giving aid to Somalia because of their human rights laws is ridiculous. The entire population of these countries are not to blame for the current state they are in and they do not all deserve to be punished.

If democratic governments have a responsibility to stop injustice in the world, then they should take their own advice and stop withholding aid from countries who do not succumb to their wishes. How on earth can this be called just?

Making these countries democratic is certainly not going to solve all of their problems. The writer seems to think that a democracy is some form of utopia. Ireland is a democracy, are we free of problems and injustices? Clearly not. Refusing to help people in need is not going to make them more tolerant, it will simply make them bitter and resentful.

“The current policy Britain is upholding with aid cannot be called ‘fair’; the most appropriate word for it is blackmail.”

no.

Sean O’Grady

Imagine you were to ask an old enough heart-wrenching Trócaire friend, someone you hadn’t seen in advertisements to know that the a long time, for some money. Like problem is a gravely serious one. many people in today’s disastrous Millions of innocent citizens are economy, you had fallen on hard going to continue to suffer, simply times. Instead of doing what most due to the fact that wealthier would consider to be the right nations don’t like their country’s thing, and help out someone in laws. While it can’t be denied that need, they refused to give you a many people are currently being penny. Not because they thought wrongly repressed by conservative you didn’t deserve it, or that you values, in order to really help them, didn’t need it, quite the contrary – the overall quality of life needs to be your values are the problem. Such improved first. Interestingly enough, is the current situation with several many of the countries whose laws developing countries continuing to are being criticised, are following suffer in poverty because certain the values Britain held before. Some developed nations, such as the forty-one commonwealth nations United Kingdom, don’t agree with currently have anti-gay laws, in the countries’ morals. accordance with what Britain once A notable case is that of Uganda, had. I think it’s fair to say that the who have recently been denied aid UK deserves some of the blame for due to their government’s policy on imposing these discriminatory laws homosexuality, which is currently in the first place. punishable by prison sentence.

If developing states continue While these laws are clearly appalling to be denied aid, the problems and archaic, it is not fair to deny an that they face today are going to entire nation of people aid due to continue to get worse. As countries the policies of their government. continue to develop, so does the Is it fair to make millions suffer for liberalising of their laws, as we have the laws created by a few? About seen with practically every first forty per cent of Uganda’s rural world country. Giving them the basis population, numbering close to for this development will lead to an ten million people, currently live in improved life for all. The current poverty. With the lack of sufficient policy Britain is upholding with aid healthcare and social services in cannot be called ‘fair’; the most Uganda, the AIDS pandemic has left appropriate word for it is blackmail. over one million children orphaned.

The problem does not end here Rebuttal by however, as several other countries Evan O’Quigley in the Commonwealth are dealing It’s easy to oversimplify the issue with high levels of poverty. Malawi when thinking strictly in terms of has also come under fire for their gay or women’s rights, but when attitude towards human rights, and looking at the larger picture and was denied budgetary support what is going on in Uganda and of nineteen million pounds for its many other places, the proposal people, and with Sri Lanka accused seems far more justifiable. The of war crimes, millions more people reality is that female genital will be denied aid as a result of the mutilation, torture abuses by actions of just a few. The war crimes security agencies and child labour in Sri Lanka also demonstrate that are continuing every day. This gay rights are not the only issue should not be addressed simply when it comes to aid. Will we see as an eastern-western culture the day when western countries clash. refuse to give aid to regions where David Cameron himself people can have multiple marriage admitted that this change will partners? Or because they don’t not to be made overnight, and it agree with a majority Muslim is unlikely that the UK are really nation’s policy on the role of women going to cut foreign aid and thus in society? Without a doubt, there immediately endanger many lives. is a lot of progress to be made This writer believes that the threat in many developing countries’ to cut aid is an attempt to change human rights, but it is imperative to the conversation and achieve keep in mind that we can’t expect progress with regards to human decades-old laws and traditions to rights in Uganda and the rest of be altered to more equal and fair the countries concerned. It is standards instantly. This is both useless making efforts to improve unfair and unrealistic. I’m sure most countries through aid if there of us would agree that if we were are not also efforts to persuade in the position of these developing the various world governments countries and were asked to change to implement real democratic our values and traditions overnight, principles, so that all can we too would be inclined to protest. experience a true quality of life The majority of countries seeking regardless of gender, sexuality or aid have very high birth rates, which political preference. ‘Values and means that a very large proportion Traditions’ are no excuse, as those of the people currently suffering who have been affected by such in countries such as Uganda abuses would certainly agree. are children. All of us have seen

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

OPINION

13

Giving the wrong impression Is satire dead? David Moloney examines the changing role of caricatures in society

D

uring the recent Irish presidential election, there was a notable resurgence in the use of political caricature to satirise the presidential candidates by the Irish media. We had Martin the Terrorist, Dana the Ghost of Ireland Past, and Michael D Higgins the Goblin from Gringotts amongst others appearing in our papers, on our websites and even on the radio.

What was most interesting about these caricatures was their complete and utter inefficacy to influence public opinions and peoples’ choice of candidate. An argument could be made that it was the use of caricature that finished off Sean Gallagher’s chances at becoming the Irish President, but this wasn’t and isn’t the case. The Dodgy Busi-

nessman, Fianna Fáiler caricatures political and social climate at the of him had been around since the time with the aim of motivating beginning of his campaign and change. The political caricature proved no obstacle to his success that we are most familiar with in during it. So if this is all true, why Ireland took form in the legendary did the Irish public fail to respond satirical magazine Punch, which to the political caricature, and is was published during 1840-1992, this a new phenomenon? and has persisted in our society This immunity of the presiden- ever since in a variety of forms tial candidates to caricature, and such as Saturday Night Live, Scrap the apathy of the public towards Saturday and Spitting Image. them, is not a new phenomenon in Political and social caricature our society but rather a develop- uses an exaggerated form of the ment that signals the need for a implied values of the group that shift in the motive and role for po- they are targeting. It is hoped litical and social caricature. Cari- that by doing this they will slowly cature has been around for a long change people’s opinions through time and is constantly evolving. It wry smiles and provocation of was quickly adopted by people thought. It is used to point out the to focus the public’s attention on ridiculous nature of some people or something disagreeable in the group’s traits, characteristics and/

or views to achieve two things; to get the public to acknowledge that these characteristics are unacceptable and absurd in our society, and also to make people realise that they’re caught up in a movement that is preposterous, thus motivating them to change out of self preservation and respect.

Possibly one of the most famous and effective attempts at political and social change through caricature was the introduction of the ‘Clan of the Fiery Cross’ to the Superman radio show to caricaturise the Klu Klux Klan. Stetson Kennedy was a journalist who infiltrated the Klan and supplied the writers of the radio show the rituals and passwords the members used. The writers

then exaggerated these aspects of the Klan, satirising them and making them appeal to children.

Soon enough members of the Klan were mortified to see their children playing games that imitated and mocked what they held so dear. Due to this humiliation the Klan didn’t seem quite as impressive anymore, and membership levels swiftly dropped.

Satire can backfire however.

Two good examples are the Tea Party Movement in America and the Ross O’Carroll Kelly phenomenon that hit Ireland at the start of the Celtic Tiger. Both were serious attempts to caricaturise a preposterous segment of society but they were both totally ineffective in changing attitudes toward the groups. What happened instead was that these groups embraced the caricatures and rallied around the caricaturised images of their group. They didn’t look at themselves and think ‘what are we doing?’, but rather liked what they saw and began to exaggerate the caricaturised traits, thus becoming caricatures of themselves. We see Tea Party members taking pride in the fact that they don’t believe or trust in science, almost revelling in displaying ignorance about certain topics. They wear their close-mindedness like a Blue Peter badge for bigotry, and compete with each other to show who has more zeal for the movement. A similar effect has been seen within the RO’CK group but to a less extreme and terrifying degree, thankfully limited to them gleefully adopting all the new words, terms and abbreviations that Ross uses without a shred of irony and exaggerating the snobbery and superiority complex exhibited by the characters in the books.

Satire has always had huge potential to invoke social change and we should be worried that it may no longer be effective. If it loses the ability to effect development, we lose one of the most potent peaceful and non-confrontational methods of moderating the less pleasant aspects of our society.

UNITED WE STAND With the admission of Palestine into UNESCO, Sally Hayden takes a look at the global dispute over the state’s recognition

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n October 31, amidst tributes of statehood.” widespread applause, a Presumably then the same redenial of the wishes of the sponse will also be applied to adUnited States, and a threatened ditional situations. Admission to cut-off of funds, Palestine became UNESCO presages Palestine’s posthe 195th full member of UNESCO. sible acceptance into other agenThe motion was overwhelmingly cies and sections of the UN that passed at one hundred and seven could include the World Health Orvotes to fourteen, with fifty-two ganisation, the World Intellectual abstentions.

Property Organisation and the InThis step will cost the United ternational Atomic Energy Agency.

Nations Educational, Social and The Security Council is already due Cultural Organisation a quarter of to vote on their application next its yearly budget: twenty-two per week, with the US desperately trycent (about $70 million) contrib- ing to find allies so as to avoid usuted by the US, along with at least ing their own veto. another three per cent from Israel Furthermore, there have been and Canada will be withdrawn on suggestions that UNESCO mempolitical-ideological grounds. bership could set a precedent for The seemingly petulant Ameri- acceptance into the International can behaviour grounds itself in Criminal Court. This would have 1990 legislation prohibiting fund- interesting consequences considing to “the United Nations or any ering the US and Israel’s refusal to specialised agency thereof which partake in it. If Palestine was recogaccords the Palestine Liberation nised it is possible that thereon all Organisation the same standing crimes committed by Israelis on as a member state”, and a 1994 Palestinian soil would come under law banning payments to “any af- the jurisdiction of the ICC. filiated organisation of the United Israel certainly is assessing Nations which grants full mem- the possible implications of its bership as a state to any organisa- change in position, with Prime tion or group that does not have Minister Binyamin Netanyahu imthe internationally recognised at- mediately moving to build 2,000

new homes in settlements around their way within the organisation.

Jerusalem, withholding tax mon- In 1974 UNESCO voted to exclude ies Israel collects for the Palestin- Israel because of alleged damage ian Authority and cancelling ‘VIP done during archaeological excapasses’, which enable senior Pal- vations in Jerusalem, which were estinian officials to travel freely. labelled a “cultural crime against These actions have been met with humanity”. Israel was readmitted anger by opposition leader Tzipi in 1977 after the US threatened Livni, who says that Netanyahu is to withdraw contributions worth not focused on peace or prepared $40 million. to make the concessions that it Enhancing a fraught relationwould entail. ship, in 1984 the US itself comUNESCO states its purpose pletely withdrew because of alas being to contribute to peace leged Communist sympathies and security by promoting inter- displayed by the organisation tonational collaboration through wards Soviet Russia, only rejoineducation, science and culture in ing in 2003 under George Bush. order to further universal respect UNESCO and Israel also came for justice, the rule of law, human into conflict again when, in 2009, rights and fundamental freedoms. the former named Jerusalem the The organisation enjoys official Arab Capital of Culture. relations with 322 NGOs, encourGood work done by the body is ages the “free flow of images and not disputed however. In a visit to words” through support for the their Paris headquarters this year, Hillfreedom of press, and designates ary Clinton announced; “I am proud World Heritage Sites. However to be the first secretary of state from worthy this may seem, consider- the United States ever to come to ing its diverse membership it is to UNESCO, and I come because I bebe expected that controversy and lieve strongly in your mission.” conflicts will arise throughout the However, like the long defunct course of its decisions.

League of Nations before it, the This is not the first time the US UN is constantly fighting queshas threatened funding cuts to get tions as to its relevance and ques-

tionable power. Its highlighted reliance on the temperament of its funding members threatens to belittle any strong statements it may make, whether through words or actions such as state recognition.

The November 2nd statement

by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova merely serves to highlight this incapacity, as she speaks of the global losses that will immediately result from the US funding withdrawal, and asks Congress and the American people to look for a way forward.

The extent to which the US is ignoring popular global opinion must also be assessed. The resounding support for Palestine included countries in which the US has an interest, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Libya, and many perceive the recent development as just another blow to America’s image abroad. Considering the $6 billion reputedly given annually to Israel by the US, $70 million is insubstantial. It remains to be seen whether the US will reconsider its position, and until then, how exactly UNESCO will manage its budget is also unknown.

14

OPINION

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

Septic Bank ANGLO IRISH BANK

With the first batch of the controversial Anglo-Irish Bonds now matured and paid, Cormac Duffy argues that it was not so much a necessary evil as a coerced one

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he day that the Irish Govern- them, and anyone who managed ment paid out on €700 million to purchase them at this time is worth of five-year bonds origi- set to make huge profits now that nally sold by Anglo-Irish Bank, the they are being repaid for their full Taoiseach published an editorial in promised value. Guaranteeing inthe Irish Times that said a lot more dividuals’ deposits and savings is than it meant to about the state just, given the level of misinforof the financial crisis. Rather than mation these banks pedalled, but a strong, defiant defence of the emptying the state’s coffers so payout, it read like an apology, or that others can profit is most cera confession of how powerless he tainly not. was in the whole fiasco.

The notion that their payment The bonds were senior bonds, was an essential part of economic guaranteed by the bank to be pri- recovery seemed to be underoritised equally with deposits for mined by the case studies, particrepayment, but when the bank ularly coming after the announcebecame insolvent and was bought ment that the ECB/IMF Bailout out by the state, thus existing only Troika approved Greek plans to as part of the Irish Bank Resolution impose losses on their bondholdCorporation, the situation seemed ers. State guarantees of liabilities too different for the rules to stay have seen the crisis shift from fear the same. Even though they were of bank collapses to sovereign covered by the blanket guarantee default, meaning that any move Fianna Fáil made on bank liabili- to cut Greek debt is sound. We ties, the general feeling seemed should have been supported in doto be that they didn’t deserve to ing the same, cutting payment to be treated the same way as the an amount that removed profit on savings of individuals. This think- the bonds rather than defaulting ing is sensible, for the most part. altogether, especially given that The instinct that anyone who ever we stuck much more stringently to held a bond in Anglo-Irish must be our austerity plan than Greece and a plutocratic bourgeois one per are in a safer position than them cent-er gaining from the exche- by far. But our relative ability to quer’s loss will tragically never be pay, it appears, comes with a relaproven. David Norris was silenced tive duty. When sovereign debt is when he attempted to read out the the problem, burning bondholders supposed list of names in the Se- can pay off well. Iceland’s willinganad last December, but claimed it ness to impose losses on foreign consisted of large European banks. investors and bondholders is one Some have suggested that they of the reasons that it is now seen may have been held by pension as a less risky investment than Irefunds, or other similar middle men land. Given that these bonds seem investors, but Norris’ claims have to have been held by those outside been deemed closer to the truth.

Ireland, our state’s duty to repay is Given the uncertainty surround- effectively none. ing their repayment, their price It was a point raised by Sinn fell to shockingly low levels at in- Féin and ULA TDs as they led a tervals during the last few years, walk out of the Dáil on the day down at times to almost half their the bonds matured. Yet it seems value at maturity. This meant that that for all the political and public many original holders have sold opposition, and even discontent

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his year’s Halloween weekend saw the implementation of several new drink-driving laws, the core of which imposes lower drinkdriving limits on drivers. Where previously one could drive ‘under the influence’ so long as blood-alcohol levels in the body did not exceed 80mg, the new limits are fixed at 50mg for experienced drivers and a more severe 20mg for inexperienced and professional drivers.

While the basic psychology behind the legislation - the desire to curb alcohol-related road accidents – is to be applauded, such a two-tiered system is hypocritical and discriminatory in nature.

The hypocrisy of the new system lies in the fact that it sends out a dangerous message: that drinking and driving, while meriting prohibition in some cases, is acceptable once you have a certain degree of driving experience to your name and do not drive a commercial vehicle. For starters, why do professional drivers deserve harsher measures than nonprofessional drivers? Such a move cannot be justified on the basis that professional drivers carry passengers and therefore have others’ lives in their hands, for bus and taxi drivers form only a subset of the ‘professional driver’

€€ €€ €€

within the government (Michael Noonan has long been unhappy with the full payout of the bonds), it still went ahead, for a multitude of increasingly dubious reasons.

In his editorial, and in clashes with Micheál Martin on the Dáil floor, Kenny is quick to pass the buck back to the last government, saying that they are stuck with the guarantee Fianna Fáil foolishly is-

sued. He seems content to balance the fact that he successfully managed to renegotiate the interest and payment schedule on our EU/ IMF bailout, while paradoxically bemoaning his apparent need to honour terrible legislation passed by a government that has decidedly lost its mandate (not that it actually had one at the time of the guarantee).

While not a declared condition of the EU/IMF plan, the two institutions seem to be pushing for us to pay, as far as we can see from Kenny’s statements. The reason is less one of fiscal sense or political fairness, but more a move to please the all-powerful markets. The consensus excuse is that if bonds are not being repaid by a country that is effectively the EU/IMF’s pet at this point, then investors will demand higher yields to compensate for the increased risk, increasing the cost of funding for EU banks.

Much as the case is with Italian bonds over the last week, there is a frustrated intuition that policy is being dictated to parliaments by markets. Whether we can send a message to markets that losses must be accepted for the general good is an unknown, but failing to try with this relatively small and completely unjust pay-out has become a lost opportunity. With another batch maturing soon, there is a still time for another attempt.

ONE FOR THE ROAD Following the recent introduction of a two-tiered system of drink-driving limits, Kate Smith questions the consistency of the message such legislation sends out

category. Truck and van drivers, and drivers with a trailer attached to their vehicle, often drive solo. It is the experienced person driving for personal reasons who is more likely to have human cargo on board. Nor can the distinction be justified on the basis that employers pay their professional drivers and provide them with commercial vehicles with the understanding that they maintain peak concentration levels at all times, for many professional drivers are self-employed and thus under no contractual obligation to protect the property of others. Such a distinction therefore seem arbitrary.

Secondly, imposing harsher limits on learner and inexperienced drivers suggests that alcohol affects inexperienced drivers differently than it does their experienced counterparts. There are two key problems with this notion.

Under the new laws, one graduates to being an experienced driver after holding a full licence for a period of two years. What constitutes ‘experience’ in this regard, what magical transition takes place on the eve of one’s two-year anniversary of being a driver? While many first-time drivers might avail of their new-found freedom regularly, there are others who, for whatever reason, seldom drive at all. Surely experience should equate to the number of hours notched up behind the wheel rather than the arbitrary length of time one has owned a pink slip of paper.

Such a differentiation suggests that experienced drivers are capable of sustaining a far greater alcoholic ‘hit’ before finding themselves equally as incapacitated as their inexperienced counterparts when in the driving seat.

On this view, the former can consume more alcohol than the latter before their cognitive functions are deemed equally impaired.

However, focusing on the ‘degree to which one is impaired having consumed alcohol’ does not deal with the real issue: the fact that any alcohol intake impairs driving.

According to the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, “Alcohol impairs driving skills by its effects on the central nervous system, acting like a general an-

aesthetic. It [slows] information acquisition and information processing, making divided-attention tasks such as steering and braking more difficult to carry out without error”. When it comes to eradicating the phenomenon of drinkdriving and saving lives, that one is more or less impaired should be immaterial; that one is impaired at all is what should count.

Those behind the legislation maintain that their ultimate goal is to eliminate alcohol-related road deaths and injuries. A zero tolerance approach is untenable since the body naturally produces alcohol in its day-to-day biological processes, and our penchant for alcohol-containing cough syrups and mouthwash would render us all criminals should such a measure be approved. So while the 2mg limit might seem severe to some, at least it has the virtue of consistency since it is tantamount to a zero tolerance injunction on drink-driving as drinking even one unit of alcohol would be enough to put them over the legal limit.

If the ultimate goal of imposing drink-driving laws is to eliminate deaths and serious injuries owing to alcohol-related road accidents, then logically this lower limit should be applied universally across all societal groups. The implementation of such a restricted limit, and the eradication of the current arbitrary differentiations, is the only way to ensure that people refrain from taking risks and second-guessing their ability to drive after having a drink, an ability they cannot objectively judge for themselves.

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

health

&

15

science

DEPR ESSION Depression is a frequently minunderstood condition, the causes and effects of which are only properly beginning to be understood. James Kelly writes about the illness and how we are trying to treat it

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epression is one of the most com- Joseph J. Schildkraut in 1965, posited mon psychiatric disorders, and the idea that depression is the result of the most commonly diagnosed a functional deficit of monoamine neumood disorder. Mood, as a clinical rotransmitters in certain brain regions, term, denotes a sustained emotional and that mania is the result of functionstate lasting for several weeks or longer. al excess. The theory arose out of an asMood disorders are disorders in which sociation between the clinical effects of the underlying features (symptoms) drugs that cause or alleviate the sympseem to be the result of disturbances in toms of depression and their known efa person’s mood. They are usually di- fects on neurotransmitters in the brain. vided into two groups, based on wheth- Drugs that increased the level of monoer or not the individual in question has amine neurotransmitters alleviated experienced a manic episode. Bipolar depression, while drugs that lowered disorder is one in which episodes of neurotransmitter levels were seen to mania and depression are experienced, induce or increase depression. Monowhereas depressive disorders (such as amine neurotransmitters include semajor depression/unipolar depression) rotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine. are those in which mania is not expe- Initially, the thinking was that norrienced. Major depression, or rather its adrenaline was the key mediator, but underlying biochemical mechanisms, further studies revealed that serotonin is our subject of interest. played a more significant role in mood The Diagnostic and Statistical Man- modulation. Some schools of thought ual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR), have even attributed particular symppublished by the American Psychiat- toms to deficits in specific monoamines ric Association, standardises the clas- – decreased serotonin and increased sification of mental disorders, with its anxiety, decreased noradrenaline and criteria for diagnosing depression be- apathy, decreased dopamine and lack ing widely used. According to the cur- of motivation – and recommended sperent DSM, five or more symptoms from cific drug treatments based on the most a set list - depressed mood for most strongly presenting symptoms. of almost every day, loss of interest in A lot of research has been carried everyday activities, insomnia/hyper- out to test the monoamine theory of somnia, fatigue/loss of energy, feelings depression, such as testing neurotransof worthlessness/inappropriate guilt, mitter metabolite concentrations and diminished concentration, recurrent the concentrations of hormones rethoughts of death, etc - must be pres- leased by neurotransmitter-mediated ent during the same two week period processes. While the results generand represent a change from previous ally support the theory, there are still functions in order to diagnose major some anomalies. Inconsistencies can, depression. There are also exclusion to a certain extent, result from probfactors, such as the presence of other lems in testing methods, though some mood/mental disorder, recent trauma/ are less easily explained. Metabolism loss or mourning, to take into account. varies significantly between individuFollowing from this, it would seem als; many receive drug treatment for that clinically diagnosed depression other conditions (further increasing ultimately results from some internal, metabolic variation), drugs such as physiological problem. amphetamines and cocaine enhance In the fifth century BC, Hippocrates, monoamine activity but have no antithe ancient Greek physician and father depressant action, and some effective of western medicine, described unipo- antidepressants have no monoamine lar depression. He believed that mood activity. resulted from the balance between Another problem, somewhat unique four humours; blood, phlegm, yellow to psychopharmacology, is the lack bile and black bile, with an excess of of good, comparable animal models. black bile being the cause of depression. There is no known condition occurring The ancient Greek word for depres- in animals that corresponds to human sion is the same as it is for black bile, depression. Procedures that produce melancholia. While Hippocrates may symptoms similar to those of depresnot have been entirely on the mark, he sion - social withdrawal, loss of appetite, was moving in the right direction. He etc - have been developed. These procerealised that depression might have an dures include the delivery of repeated internal, chemical cause. inescapable painful stimuli that results Modern science’s understanding of in a state of “learned helplessness” and depression is an example of therapeu- apathy, the separation of mother and tic empiricism, with the observation infant, and the use of monoamine-deof effect coming before a mechanis- pleting drugs (such as reserpine). Apart tic understanding. The Monoamine from being inherently abhorrent, these Theory of Depression, proposed by procedures are often expensive and the

similarities between the behavioural states they induce and depression are equivocal. However, like depression, these states can be altered by drugs with monoamine activity. The effects of learned helplessness and mother-infant separation can be reversed by antidepressants, or further exacerbated by drugs that prevent monoamine production, indicating a more than superficial similarity.

One extremely important fact that must be accounted for by any theory of depression is the temporal disparity between an antidepressant’s direct biochemical effect and its antidepressant effect. The former occurs within a matter of hours, while the latter takes weeks. This, coupled with the anomalies unexplained by the monoamine theory of depression, suggests that secondary, adaptive changes in the brain are responsible for improvement rather then the direct drug effects.

Since 2004, a new theory coming out of research into the role of monoamines in depression has gained notice.

There is a lot of evidence suggesting that an association between neurodegeneration and reduced neurogenesis (the naturally occurring formation of new neurons from stem cells) and depression. Imaging and post-mortem studies in humans have shown shrinkage of the hippocampus, an area that experiences significant neurogenesis, and prefrontal cortex, an area associated with complex cognitive behaviours and personality expression. Functional imaging, which gives real-time images of the brain, shows a decrease in activity in these areas. Inversely, an increase in activity is observed during the manic phase, in individuals suffering from bipolar disorder. Shrinkage and decreased function in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex also occur in animals subjected to chronic

stress of various kinds. In these animals, antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy have both been shown to promote neurogenesis and restore normal non-depressed function. The relation between this theory and the monoamine theory comes from the known neurogenic properties of serotonin. Serotonin, in a process mediated by a chemical called brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), is important in neuron development in embryos.

Perhaps this effect actually continues throughout life. Interestingly, BDNF production is reduced by prolonged stress. It is now being posited that serotonin plays a vital role in preventing neurodegeneration in the prefrontal cortex, and protects neurogenesis in the hippocampus. The mechanisms of these processes are currently not well understood.

A logical fallacy and leap in reasoning in the 1930s; the idea that epilepsy and schizophrenia were mutually exclusive and as such that inducing convulsions would treat schizophrenia, led to the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). While useless in treating schizophrenia, it was shown to be quite effective in treating severe depression.

Current ECT involves the patient being lightly anaesthetized and artificially ventilated, and given short-acting neuromuscular blockers (drugs that paralyse so as to avoid physical injury).

The most recent transcranial magnetic stimulation has been used, a technique in which changing electromagnetic fields induce a weak electric current in the brain avoids the need for anaesthetic drugs. The success rate is at least as good as tricyclic antidepressants, at between sixty and eighty per cent.

However, with confusion and memory loss lasting from days to weeks, it is not without its disadvantages. It was thought that studies using ECT would

clarify our biochemical understanding of depression, but with no change to serotonin levels and only a slight increase in noradrenaline activity, confusion still remained. Further research may eventually prove the links between neurogenesis, ECT and depression.

While our understanding of the physiology and biochemistry of depression has greatly improved since the sixties, the drugs currently used are not so far advanced. Drugs affecting monoamine-mediated neurotransmission still remain the most effective way of treating depression, with improvement reported in sixty to seventy per cent of cases. These drugs fall into three major classes; Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

MAOIs were the first drugs used clinically as antidepressants. They inhibit monoamine degradation, but are now used infrequently. Tricyclic antidepressants, so named for their chemical structure, prevent the re-uptake of monoamines. SSRIs are the most commonly used antidepressants (prozac belongs to this group) and work by selectively inhibiting the uptake of serotonin. MAOIs were superceded by tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs, which were more effective with fewer side-effects. Tricyclic antidepressants are currently reserved for severe depression and SSRIs, the most recently developed class, are used to treat mild to moderate depression. While the success rate is undeniable, the use of therapies based on somewhat uncertain science seems frightening. This fear is further compounded by the fact that it is our mental faculties on the line. However, considering that major depression affects eight to twelve per cent of the population globally, it is something we will have to live with for now.

16

THE OBSERVER GUIDE TO SURVIVING TECHNOLOGY Continuing in our bimonthly series on killing the buzz, Alison Lee tells us how to survive the ever-expanding world of technology

Technology. Love it or hate it, it definitely makes life easier - or does it? The luddites among you will rejoice to hear that they were right all along - the gadgets we have come to rely on may not be so beneficial after all. In fact, in some cases they may be downright dangerous.

We’ll start with mp3 players. What better way to relax than by throwing on some bangin’ choons while on the bus to college or hard at work in the library? Lately, music accessories have become fashion accessories. No selfrespecting scenester would be seen dead without their chunky earphones.

However, using earphones to listen to an hour of music every day for five years at high volumes puts you at risk of permanent hearing loss. According to an EU-commissioned study, five to ten per cent of music lovers risk permanent hearing loss if they continue overindulging. A Finnish study found that using headphones for half an hour at a time at half the maximum volume decreases these risks substantially, but like most good advice, it’s unlikely to catch on.

Next, take mobile phones.

Remember showing off your Nokia 3210 in the playground while the grown-ups argued over whether the radiation it emitted would give you cancer? Turns out the real danger may not be radiation after all, but bacteria.

A study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology showed that smartphones harbour more germs than your average public toilet, and that borrowing someone else’s to make a call is a bit like letting that person lick your face. Maybe consider cleaning your phone now and then, or at least investing in a hands-free kit. In case you were wondering, no studies have ever demonstrated a link between cancer and mobile phones, but the World Health Organisation has still classed them as “possibly carcinogenic”.

So now that we’re ruined mp3 players and phones for you, let’s move on to laptops. It’s the guys that have to worry about this one: using a laptop positioned on your lap can render males infertile. This is due to the heat the devices produce - laptops can raise scrotal temperature by a whopping 2.8°C. This is a big deal if you’re a spermatozoon - these little guys are only produced at low temperatures; hence testicles are located outside the body. So if you harbour ambitions to someday become a daddy, please operate your laptop on a desk. Girls aren’t off the hook either - poor laptop use in both sexes can cause bad posture and back pain.

There is something to be said for doing things the old fashioned way- taking notes on paper, sending messages via carrier pigeon (yes, that’s right - sending messages using a flying rat is probably safer than using a phone), etcetera. But it’s hard to beat shiny toys that play music and movies and let you stalk your ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend at the click of a button.

Moderation is no doubt the key - we need to know when to switch off.

SCIENCE & HEALTH

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

Doctor, Doctor?

PhD student Matt Stabeler talks to Conor O’Nolan about his life as a postgrad and what he hopes to achieve from his work on computer networking

What is the official title of your PhD? Community Based Delay Tolerant Networking in Human Interaction Networks.

Explain the official title in English please.

Given a network of human interactions, I am trying to find a way to efficiently route information about that network, without the need for infrastructure, based on the idea that humans form communities. For example, as people go about their daily routines, they come into contact with, or in the vicinity of, many other people; friends, family, strangers, familiar strangers (e.g. the people you see every day at the bus stop) etc. If I wanted to get a message to my friend in Australia, without sending it using a postal/SMS/ email network, I might want to do it via this series of interactions between people, a bit like an automated postal system, where the person’s mobile phone carries the message. Surprisingly, there are only a few ‘hops’ between most people in the world, and so we should be able to work out the shortest route to the intended recipient through a knowledge of the community structure. I am trying to find efficient ways to predict the best person in my interaction network or community, to pass the message on to, who is most likely to get the message to my friend.

What undergraduate degree course did you do?

I studied BSc (Hons) Internet Computing at the University of Hull.

What made you choose to do a PhD? I enjoyed my undergraduate degree a lot. When I finished, I worked in industry for a while doing Computer

Forensics, but I realised that I would not have the freedom to do really interesting research unless I did a PhD. It just so happened that a Professor at UCD had offered me a position when I graduated, so I took up his offer. At the time I wasn’t sure what a PhD would entail, but I’m glad I took the leap back from industry to academia; it’s a very different pace of life and income, but very personally rewarding.

What is the best thing about research?

To begin with, it was being free to explore fields I had very little knowledge of, but now that I am trying to finish my PhD, it’s knowing that I will be able to contribute something unique to an area I originally knew little about.

Being able to learn about and see all the fantastic things that people are re-

searching makes life interesting - you don’t often get to hear about bleeding edge technology and research in the non-research world.

What is the worst thing about research?

The hardest part for me is keeping up to date with and understanding the latest research, whilst at the same time trying to find my own contributions to the field.

Often, experiments and ideas seem to lead to dead ends. There’s definitely something to the phrase ninety per cent perspiration, ten per cent inspiration!

How could your work make a difference to the world?

There are some scenarios where this sort of research can help, for example, in disaster situations when infrastructure is disabled, or in remote areas, where there are no cell towers to deliver wire-

less data, or even satellite communications between planets. However, I would most like to be able to contribute to the world of environmental sensing, and pervasive computing, where the people in a city become the carriers of information about what is happening, and allows the city as a whole to run smartly and more efficiently.

How do you hope your PhD will affect your career prospects?

I am hoping to continue my research after my PhD, perhaps with IBM, Microsoft or Google. I am sure a PhD will be a requirement for the sort of jobs I might apply for in the future, as I think it’s really just proof of a person’s ability to do research. However, I am a firm believer that it’s one’s attitude and experience that will get the job in the end.

Precipitation of Change Cloud computing has been heralded as a revolution in how we interact with technology, but few people really understand what it actually is, Conor O’Nolan explains

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loud computing is one of the ultimate buzzwords in the world of technology today. It is almost exclusively used as a vague marketing term to make a company seem exciting when in actual fact they are doing nothing new. To try and vaguely define it, you could say it is ‘selling computing as a service as opposed to a product’.

A crude example would be a hypothetical version of ‘SicroMoft Office’ in the ‘cloud’. Instead of paying SicroMoft money to let you install it on your com-

puter, you pay SicroMoft to let you use the software installed on their servers, i.e. you log in to their server, edit your document, save it and log out. Some companies are already operating systems such as this (e.g. Google Docs’ editing capacities), and it is only a matter of time before other companies also make the switch.

Leaving control with the manufacturer has its advantages, but also harbours serious drawbacks.

On the plus side, it ought to cause

the price of computing to come down alongside the ultimate cost of developing and distributing software. If the software breaks, users will be much quicker to force the company to fix the problem. However, if a company ever decides to withdraw a product you use or the infrastructure they use breaks, you won’t be able to use it because you won’t have the software on your machine, and if companies do offer the option to install the software on your own machine, it will most likely be pro-

hibitively expensive in an attempt to encourage people to move to the Cloud.

Few people seem to realise that the concept of cloud computing has been around since the 1960’s. Back then computers were extremely expensive to make, so to get around this, companies sold terminals that could access the actual computer, which was at a remote location, and users would pay for the time that they used the computer.

More recently, Google partnered with Acer and Samsung to release their line of ‘Chromebooks’, a line of laptops with a uniquely limited feature set; the central application is the web browser. If you want to do something other than browse the web as normal, you install an app from the Google App Store. You can use these offline if they don’t require an Internet connection, but the computer becomes an expensive paperweight if your Internet connection dies.

Like it or not, cloud computing, much like tablet computers, is almost certainly the way forward. Hopefully Ireland will have semi-decent Internet service providers by the time we all move ‘to the cloud’.

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

SCIENCE & HEALTH

The Future of Human Space Exploration

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uman space exploration has been an iconic feature in the history of the last few decades.

Recently, massive progress has been made towards what is recognised to be one of the main targets in space exploration: Mars. However, it is unlikely that anyone will set foot on Mars for, at the very least, a decade and a half.

Earlier this month, after just over five hundred days, six men emerged from a locked windowless shed in a Russian research facility. They were involved in an experiment as part of research regarding the feasibility of a manned mission to Mars. Their only contact with the outside world was a phone and Internet connection with a twenty-minute delay.

The men were continuously moni-

tored for psychological stress and fatigue. It was only really after the halfway point of the mission that any vaguely serious problems arose. After they had spent three days performing geological research on a simulated version of the surface of “Mars” (i.e. a warehouse with red sand in it), serious boredom began to set in. Their goal had been completed but they still had nearly another two hundred and fifty days to go.

It is clear from this experiment that one of the most serious problems for astronauts going any further than the moon is passing the time. The astronauts involved spent at least an hour a day exercising, which in space is very important because low gravity environments can cause muscle degrada-

tion. The crew also had a Wii fit board and Guitar Hero with them to help get through the days. Every so often a simulated emergency would happen, such as a fire on their ‘ship’, which forced the crew to work together. Overall, they made it through the entire mission without any major upset, clearly demonstrating that given the right group of people, tasks involving sending people on extremely long journeys in very close quarters can be achieved quite successfully.

China has been making progress in building its own space station after being repeatedly turned away from their attempts to join the other sixteen nations involved in the International Space Station (ISS). Their most recent success was getting two sections of

The human effect on animal conservation

With increasing awareness of environmental concerns worldwide, Katie Hughes looks at animal conservation and the challenges it faces

T

he idea of conserving a species is a warped one. It is rarely the fault of the organism in question that threats exist to its survival; it is undeniably mainly through human inf luence that species come under the threat of extinction. The unfortunate aspect of wildlife conservation is that people with an alternative interest form a vicious circle, continuously compromising the efforts being put into the restoration cause by various activists and organisations.

The main pressures being put on wildlife are climate change, pollution, unsustainable use, habitat loss and the invasion of new species. Certain species fail to adapt sufficiently to these stresses, which is what causes their depletion.

This inability to adapt is particularly relevant with regard to the effect climate change has on ecosystems and their species. Areas of high latitude, i.e. the Antarctic and Arctic regions, have the highest rates of global warming, which results in the melting of sea ice.

The more ice melts, the less reflective surface there is, which results in accelerated melting. This has an impact on polar bears, which are slowly losing their habitat and will be faced with changes in every part of their lives from their denning habits to starvation and malnutrition.

Large expanses of water are not only affected by higher temperatures, which increase their surface levels, or by carbon dioxide, which increases their acid levels and causes a disruption in marine animals’ ability to make

a calcium carbonate skeleton, but also directly by humans.

Waste produced by everyday human activities and industry contributes greatly to marine pollution. Areas called “garbage patches” have been discovered in the middle of the Pacific, North Atlantic and Indian Oceans. These consist of hundreds of kilometres of plastic and chemical debris, which take just a year to degrade. These release toxic compounds as they break down into small particles that enter the food chain after being ingested by aquatic organisms or seabirds.

A non-governmental organisation, Project Kaisei, was set up to study and determine a way to remove the garbage patch in the Pacific, which would yield low marine life loss and low energy expenditure.

17

As the funding for the various international space agencies is maintained despite astronomical costs, Conor O’Nolan writes about some of the recent work in the field

unmanned spacecraft to dock together.

Although their program is significantly behind any other nation’s space program, it marks significant progress in China’s aim to have a functioning space lab by 2016.

While NASA retired their iconic shuttle program this summer, they still have numerous missions planned. Last year NASA’s funding was approved up until 2013; plans have been made for the development of exploration technology for human spacecraft, as well as the development of the American lab on the ISS and the continuation of its use until 2020. Plans for a permanent base on the moon were recently abandoned after budget cuts caused by the global recession. President Barack Obama gave a directive to NASA which

laid out plans to land on an asteroid by 2025. Landing on an asteroid would help lay all the foundations for a mission to land on Mars. MIT professor in aeronautics Ed Crawley stated that “if humans can’t make it to near-Earth objects, they can’t make it to Mars”. Missions to Mars have been plagued with misfortune, even earlier this month a Russian probe due to collect soil samples from one of Mar’s moons ‘Phobos’ got stuck in the Earth’s orbit when some of its engines failed to fire.

Despite the interest in space science that manned-voyages generate, and the colossal technical feat in actually launching a spacecraft, it is often asked whether there is any actual value in sending people into space. The late Nobel prizewinner Richard Feynmann was of the opinion that man’s journeys to space had never really contributed to any major scientific discovery. Ultimately, he is right; we have learnt incredible things from projects such as the Hubble Space Telescope, but what we’ve learned from people being in space is, beyond how they behave or react in completely different environments, fairly minimal. The work that is being done now may as well be thought of as an investment for future generations, who will hopefully have the resources for much grander missions and goals. It is unlikely that any of us will ever be affected by any research that is being carried out, but we can always dream.

This type of waste, while inexcusable, is one few people are aware of and hence feel they hold no accountability for. However, careless industrial practices are equally, if not more, crippling to the movement. Assisting the preservation of species has become increasingly difficult in recent years as large international corporations and organisations have ignored environmental and sustainable development concerns.

Seven oil spills have occurred so far in 2011. Most birds that come into contact with an oil spill will die. Their plumage becomes saturated with oil, which reduces the feathers’ insulating property. The birds themselves become poisoned once they start preening as they ingest the oil, which causes dehydration and a malfunction in liver and kidneys. The same fate awaits seals and sea otters, both of which have heavy fur. Alternatively, the oil may blind animals or impair their lungs and breathing, causing painful death. In the case of oil spills, few things can be done for the affected animals as according to a biologist at the Wattenmeer National Park, Silvia Gaus, less than one per cent of cleaned oil-soaked birds actually survive.

The example of whale harpooning is one that has come to light recently through social media. While it is an example of an individual compromising the overall effort, the US Navy had for years had equally disparaging effects on the same species. They used Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) to de-

tect and locate rival submarines with no measures in place to protect dolphins and whales who themselves use a sonar system to navigate through the water. LFAS is 235 decibels loud and is capable of incapacitating and killing these animals. It was only in 2008 that a federal court prohibited the practice unless safety measures were in place.

As well as protecting the multitudes of species already walking the planet, conservation is important as new species and new adaptations are constantly being discovered. It is only through having a knowledge base of what species are present in the environment and knowing their relations to the newly discovered species that we can begin to understand and piece together where they came from and how they are related.

Measures are taken every day to save polar bears from melting ice caps, pandas from poachers and African elephants from the ivory trade. These are, among many, examples of species whose conservation status is currently threatened. To say that awareness must be raised about these issues is a defunct statement. Awareness has been raised. People are aware that their actions are spurring on life-threatening consequences for species outside of the human race but continue to do nothing about them. We have yet to find out whether the message will finally sink in or whether we have to wait for the pandas and elephants to disappear from zoos before we decide it’s time to act and protect the future of nature.

18

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

Observer Op-Ed

Talleyrand Pray silence, peons!

Well, I told you so. For years now, your humble correspondant has been spreading the truth; that the SU are basically wolves, vile, animalistic party fiends hiding under a veneer of protest shirts and respectable doublespeak. But no longer. The depravity of our student government is so profound, so all-encompassing, that even an Italian Prime Minister would blush. Now the truth has been exposed, and Talleyrand couldn’t be more smug. And let me tell you, Talleyrand has a remarkable capacity for being smug.

Firstly, let’s turn our attention to my personal favourite, UCDSU Campaigns and Communications Officer Brendan “What a penis!” Lacey, who has been tormenting his neighbours with his late night rockand-roll style parties, drug-induced rampages, and both metaphorical and literal orgies.

Complaints from neighbours have been coming thick and fast, and various Garda reports have surfaced about pools of blood emerging from under his doorway, most likely from some combination of his ritual suicides/fight clubs. When questioned, Mr. Lacey simply described the scenario as “Labour’s fault”.

As for Welfare Officer Rachel “The Vigil Auntie” Breslin, no depths of depravity have been too low to sink to. Not content with spreading profilactics far and wide, she has commissioned two giant, man-sized Durex Performas, and has eager first years climb into them, and fight for the right to apply for the Student Assistance Fund.

The Mother-Bear of the SU has been kept busy however, with the swift introduction of the “scam the SU out of a free taxi ride” initiative. Rachel has been out in the field, selecting only the finest taxis for the programme, testing each backseat for comfort, space, and absorbancy.

Rumours abound that she has been complaining, however, about racist taxi drivers; not racist enough, apparently.

Hot on Rachel’s over-priced heels, as always, is the Education Officer Sam “Important” Geoghegan. Driven out of his plush cave by the recent floods, Sam has been forced back to the cosy surrounds of Rachel’s recycling.

Yes, our beloved Ed-Head is homeless once more, and deep in the throws of a Clockwork Orange-style bout of stabbing hobos for what remains of their bindles.

Yes, if you see a cross between a giant baby and Squidward walking the concourse while the theme from ‘Midnight Cowboy’ plays in the distance, you know it’s our Sam. With the infrastructure of UCD so remarkable, why do we need to permit one of our elected representitives to roam the streets, looking to make a few dolla-dolla by squeezing out handy-js for wealthy businessmen and the better-paid Trinity SU? There’s no call for it. Sort it out, Pat. Which brings us nicely to Don Brúnesconi himself, President Pat “Sexual Position” de Brún. Pat’s been taking it easy this week; one begins to be struck with that undefinable ennui after the seventeenth round of what he playfully calls ‘find the penis in the pile of cocaine’.

As such, Pat has been more concerned with propositioning people on the internet for lifts home than getting his bit, or as he calls it, ‘getting brúnned’.

Facebook is awash with calls for automotive assistance, in exchange for the promise of a box of red t-shirts, diplomatic immunity, and the not inconsiderable attentions of his Education Officer. Get de Brún halfway to Rathmines and you’re in over-the-trousers squeezy country. Get him all the way to his front door, and you can officially be President for a day.

As for Ents Officer Stephen Darcy, well, he’s been behaving himself.

Talley-ho!

Talleyrand

DISCLAIMER: Everything in the above satire piece is completely untrue – particularly the bit about Stephen.

Bríd Doherty

Nicholas Lawrie

As graduation and real life come creeping up on all of us, recent graduate Bríd Doherty explains her move to America and why you should start making your post-collegiate plans

In response to the editorial featured in Issue IV, Nicholas Lawrie, a student from the School of Industrial and Labour Relations at Cornell University studying this semester at the Quinn School of Business, writes for The University Observer on the Occupy Movement

A message from Free America

A

fter graduating from UCD of your mind. To stay in Dublin last May, I did what any with your friends, or leave the self-respecting Irish lass island and settle down somewith a proper law degree would where new? To focus on your do: I got the hell out of Dublin. career, or spend some muchNot because Dublin isn’t grand needed time seeing the world? and all, but I felt I’d be doing myThe fact is that while you’re self a disservice not to experience still young, you’re at that place the welcoming world with every where people are going to part of my young and wide-eyed start looking at you and asking, being.

“What’s next?”

So I hopped a plane to Free On the subject of Dublin, America - Los Angeles, CA to be what can be said that can’t precise - and have been living here be said about any hometown? on a visa for the last five months.

I love it, and I love the fine Oh, what’s that? You want to know people that live in it. But if what my American life is like? you’re anything like me, DubFine, I’ll tell you. lin represents our past follies Let’s start with the less than we so passionately wish to good. I don’t have my own room, shed as we walk toward our fubut rather a nook that is sepatures. Do you remember when rated from the living room by Padraig O’Malley peed on your dividers. When I change clothing, head in front of your fifth year I usually do it without lights mates? Okay, so that never on to avoid showcasing sensual happened to me or to anybody silhouettes. I also don’t have a I know, but you can see how bed, meaning I’ve become rather one might wish to leave such adept at sleeping on the floor things behind - if even just for wrapped in my duvet. a while after college as you’re Oh, and Barry’s Tea is ten trying to find yourself. dollars per box, which is just Now don’t confuse all this criminal if you ask this small with a need for a “life plan” or expatriate. some such nonsense. I myself

To stay in Dublin with your friends, or leave the island and settle down somewhere new?

To focus on your career, or spend some muchneeded time seeing the world? The fact is that while you’re still young, you’re at that place where people are going to start looking at you and asking, “What’s next?”

But then there’s the good.

Despite my lack of privacy and sleeping accommodation, my rent is cheap and my apartment is right by the beach. I surf nearly every day. Despite America’s unemployment remaining at a still astonishingly high 9.2 percent, I have a decent job working for a communal workspace, and have received other offers to work as a legal aid. It should be noted, Americans go wild for the accent.

I’m amassing a healthy amount of great friendships and connections for future opportunities.

Now you’re asking, “Why do Bríd’s adventures in Free America matter to me, the humble university student who wants nothing more than to toss off until the last few weeks of the semester, and then cram for a proper grade?” Because, dear slacker, you too will have to make a decision about where you will go and what life you’ll lead. And believe me when I say that that time is coming sooner than you think or would even prefer.

For some of you, graduation is rather seriously nigh. Whether you graduate in December or May or at some point further down the line, the consideration of what you should do post-graduation should be at the forefront

haven’t the slightest clue what I want to wear tomorrow (partly because my dryer is broken), let alone spend the rest of my life doing. Sure, I have my law degree, but I’m actively considering a potential career as a yoga instructor. I also desire to be a postwoman, and to one day write children’s books, but maybe also practice human rights law…

See? No real plan whatsoever. But at least I’m doing something.

And perhaps that’s the ultimate point of this column: Don’t do nothing. In university, our professors breathe down our necks for assignments and deadlines and the like, but post-graduation doesn’t have the convenience of expectation.

So start thinking about your life - the really real one - right now. See the world, start your career, find your true love - do something amazing.

Still not even remotely sure?

Come join me in Free America, where the food makes you fat and the opportunities for the charmingly accent-ridden flow like fine wine. But don’t actually join me specifically unless I’ve invited you, as you might be cramping on my style.

W

e have all heard the are bailed out by taxpayers and phrase “a picture is unable to otherwise succeed, worth a thousand that’s not success, that’s not risk words.” However, depending on - that’s a handout. Worse, these how the picture is cropped, the handouts come on the backs of number of words it is “worth” the working class and bail out can drop dramatically. Regardthe private sector with public less of our individual political funds. The recent €700 million affiliations, it is in our best paid to unsecured bondholders interests to not crop the picture of the now defunct Anglo Irish we may each be developing about Bank and monies paid out to the now global Occupy MoveAmerican banks are examples. ment; rather, we should analyse Yet a recent Wall Street Jourand assess the bigger view so that nal article highlighted the fact we may objectively ask ourselves that nearly one hundred banks who we are, how we got here, which received bailouts are now and define what kind of society in danger of failing. Punishing we want to live in. success? No - we’re giving away The Occupy Movement is not the futures of ourselves and our easily defined. While it would future children. If you’re “too big be beneficial to anyone who is to fail,” you’re too big to exist. interested to take a trip to Dame Tangible successes have been Street to chat with protestors had - for example, Democratic there, even a detailed conversasenators in America recently tion with one person would be introduced a proposed constijust that - a conversation with tutional amendment to repeal one person. I don’t speak for the the “Citizens United” decision, Movement, and that’s part of which allows corporations to the beauty of it - nobody does. give unlimited money to promote Grassroots and transparent, or attack political candidates. consensus-based meetings are The simple fact that we are now held across the world at “Genhaving a discussion about ecoeral Assembly” meetings, and nomic inequality and injustice minutes are placed online. Most all around the world is a victory. “occupations” require a minimum At the time of writing, hundreds of ninety per cent consensus to of thousands of Americans have act. These aren’t “hippies” or pledged to take their money out kids with an unrealistic sense of big banks on the 5th November. of entitlement. Surely there are Last month, 650,000 Americans some, but there are many more switched from a big bank to a everyday members of the workcredit union - all of last year, only ing class making their voices 600,000 did. This accounted heard. It’s a big tent - no pun for $4.5 billion shifted from big intended. banks to local credit unions. AcInstead of trying to figure out cording to the National Credit what they are for, we can look Union Administration, their at what they are against. Some assets have grown by nearly $60 individuals are entirely against billion since the 30th June. This capitalism, most are not. I’m figure does not even include nonnot against capitalism - I’m an profit community banks. Rome American, after all. What I am wasn’t built in a day, and neither against, and I believe many other will this Movement be - but it is protestors are against, is a pargrowing. ticular kind of capitalism - crony Not as members of any politicapitalism. cal party, but as young people and I’m not suggesting there students, we should all be gravely should be a limit on profit; I concerned about our futures and believe in the American Dream. opportunities. The number of Hard work should be rewarded jobs available is far less than the and people should be able to number of people who need them. enjoy the fruits of their labour.

It won’t matter if we are staunch However, success should be obsupporters of Fianna Fáil or Fine tained by playing by the rules and Gael in Ireland, or Democrats working hard - by manufacturing or Republicans in America if we products that benefit society don’t have jobs and are unable not manufacturing financial to put a roof over our heads and instruments that add nothing but food on the table once we graduwealth to the few at the expense ate. It’s high time we examine of the many. economic inequality and move to There is a new kind of capitalmake some changes to improve ism in America - socialism for the our chances. rich, and capitalism for the poor.

When critics of the Occupy Another well-known phrase is movement speak out against it, I “to be the best, you’ve got to beat am reminded of the famous quote the best.” Critics of the Moveby Mahatma Gandhi: “First they ment often claim that protestors ignore you, then they laugh at want to ‘punish success’. But I you, then they fight you, then you bet anyone reading this could win.” It appears that protestors run a highly successful business around the world are now someif consequences of decisions where between the second and were not a factor. When banks third section of the quote. Fasten and other private institutions your seatbelts.

19

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

Observer Editorial editor @ universityobserver.ie

Reproduced below is a re-drafted edition of the University Observer’s submission for the consideration of the Constitutional Review Board

T

he University Observer, has, in the past, come under criticism for the position it holds as aligned financially with the Students’ Union. Various individuals have criticised the newspaper for serving as editorially independant, while still recieving backing from the SU. These arguments have, unfortunately, been grounded in a great deal of misinformation.

The previous debate over the Observer’s continued existence has been grounded in an entirely false figure; the 50,000 euro allocated to the Observer on the SU budget, openly displayed online. This figure is simply not accurate.

This is a gross figure, and does not take into account the very considerable advertising revenue the Observer takes in, which is funnelled back directly into the SU. Last year, the newspaper took in 42,013 euro in advertising, and ran at a final cost to the Union of 22,735 euro.

In the current volume, we are considerably increasing our income, and we have a business plan implemented to effectively monetise the paper by the end of the next academic year. As of Issue VI, the Observer will be cut by 2,000 copies per distribution and four pages of the Berliner, saving the paper 5,677 euro a year, bringing the cost of the paper, per Volume, to approximately 17,058 euro a year. It is worth noting that the equivalent SU paper in Trinity College, the University Times, spends approximately 18,000 euro a year on the wages of the Editor alone.

This Volume, I have personally emphasized two key goals; to transition the Observer from print to online media, and to bring the paper to the point where it can make a profit and turn the Observer into a business that can actively make money for the Union. I personally feel that the Observer has come on leaps and

bounds this Volume, with three of our four lead stories in the last four issues being picked up by the national media.

A feature article by Mr. Matt Gregg in Issue II was quoted in a proposal for governmental legislative reform. The design has changed radically, and the quality of the writing has improved, to the point where the Observer can legitimately compete with the Trinity papers that have, in recent years, received the majority of the acclaim come awards season. This year, the Observer will represent UCD on the national stage, and I personally feel we will represent the SU in a remarkably positive fashion. The Observer has already been selected to represent Irish student journalism, in its entirety, at a European Commission summit in Brussels last month, paid for by the Commission itself. The Observer is a reflection on both the SU and the University, and I firmly believe that reflection is growing increasingly positive.

As of this issue, the Observer is uploading online media on a daily basis, and we are glad to announce we will hold a re-launch of a new look website after Christmas, including podcasts, liveblogs, and a blog wheel, providing students with an opportunity to get their online media publicised. We will be holding writing workshops in the Astra Hall, for students who are interested in writing for the paper, but feel unsure about their writing ability or feel nervous about coming to meetings.

As such, we feel the Observer provides students with a valuable resource, above and beyond that of the newspaper itself. Furthermore, with this new online platform, we will be able to sell a wider portfolio of advertisements, and further monetise the paper. In a university in which no media courses whatsoever are offered, the Observer professionally fulfils that role on campus, providing

student writers with constant feedback about their writing, as well a remarkably positive and nationally recognised addition to their CV. Writing and editing for the Observer is recognised by national media sources as not just equivalent to a degree in Journalism, but surpassing it in terms of employability. I believe that in this role, in and of itself, the Observer plays a valuable role in the well-rounded education of the hundreds of students who write for the publication each year.

With this in mind, we feel that the University Observer provides remarkably good value for money. The cost to each student, per issue, is six cent. For that six cent, we provide not only the opportunity for all students to get involved, gain real-world journalistic experience, and attain a more varied and more valuable college experience, but also access to an increasingly professional and modern media source. I personally feel that the Observer plays an important role in student government, providing an editorially independent watchdog to both the Union and the University, as well as fostering a community spirit and openness on campus that I feel the University would suffer without.

I am concerned, however, that there are those who would seek to change the position of the Observer, and limit the work we do. As such, I must request that when the role and funding of the media is being discussed during the Constitutional Review, that no participant with a role in the decision making be present, should they be in any way affiliated with any other media source.

Should this happen, it would represent a direct conflict of interest, and undue prominence to one media source in direct competition with our own.

I feel that it is only justifiable to have all interests represented at this point in the decision making, or none of us.

Letters to the editor

Dear Sir, With the advent of campus wide restaurant closings many people have been using the main restaurant to have lunch. As we are living in recessionary times many people choose to bring in their own lunch (also because of the lack of non-fried choices). Many people go to the restaurant, some buying lunch, some bringing lunch.

Recently, we were asked to leave because a few of us had brought our own lunch and one person was asked had they heated up their soup in the microwave because there would be a charge of 4 euro!

Needless to say the colleagues who were buying their lunch there will not be returning.

Thought this might be of interest to you.

Regards, Suvi Harris

Dear Editor, I’m writing to inform you of the increasingly terrible parking facilities offered by the University. At the beginning of the year, a new open-form carpark was opened near the sports grounds, which happily housed about two hundred cars.

Recently, NCPS placed metal barriers on the site, and posted signs threatening to clamp anyone who parked outside of the ill-defined imaginary lines it created.

Congratulations, you have effectively monetized a field. When will the University stop further taxing its students who have the audacity to try and get to class on time?

Yours etc, The Disgruntled Drivers of UCD

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 The editor reserves the right to edit any letters.

All letters are subject to editorial approval.

the

University Observer Volume XVIII Issue V Telephone: (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.

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.

Editor Jon Hozier-Byrne

Sports Editor Daniel Keenan

Deputy Editor Kate Rothwell

Irish Editor Séamas Ó Meachair

Art and Design Director Conor O’Toole

Music Editor Cormac Duffy

Otwo Editors George Morahan Aoife Valentine

Film Editor Dermot O’Rourke

News Editor Katie Hughes Features Editor Matt Gregg Opinion Editor Emer Sugrue Science & Health Editor Conor O’Nolan Chief Science & Health Writer Alison Lee

Fashion Editor Sophie Lioe Food & Travel Editor Elaine Lavery Online Editor Ryan MacKenzie Contributors Ciara Andrews The Badger Steven Balbirnie Elizabeth Beecham Daryl Bolger

Furthermore, I would like to formally request an opportunity to address the Board during this point in the review.

I would further propose an amendment to the relationship between the SU and the Observer. The Observer costs a comparatively very small amount when compared to other student newspapers, and 17,058 euro per year represents a very small drop in the bucket when compared to other SU investments. The Observer does, however, require a gross investment at the start of each year to allow the paper to function.

Our spending is in no way extravagant; we print at the Guardian in Manchester, as even with delivery, it is significantly cheaper than any domestic option. The editorial staff get paid the equivalent of 4.50 euro an hour, significantly less than minimum wage. As such, I propose that the Observer’s budget be guaranteed, and may not be altered by the Students’ Union President without a campuswide referendum. This will guarantee complete editorial independence for the paper, so that the Observer may remain openly critical of the policies and actions of both the SU President and would-be Presidential candidates, without fear of financial repercussion.

With the guarantee of the Observer’s budget, we will remain free to fulfil our role as an independent press, while having the confidence to continue to grow and further monetize the paper, so that a year from now, we can be turning a profit for the Union in our own right, while still representing both the University and the Union positively on the national and international stage.

Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely, Jon Hozier-Byrne Editor of the University Observer

Clarifications & Corrections Regarding the article ‘It’s vintage, darling!’ featured in the last issue of Otwo, the clothes featured were credited to ‘Siopaella’. It has been brought to our attention that the clothes features were pulled from the store ‘9 Crows’ in Temple Bar. Within the ‘9 Crows’ store there is the concession ‘Siopaella’ that deals with designer consignment clothing, not vintage clothing. In the article the store is named as ‘Siopaella’ but the clothes and the store itself are all ‘9 Crow Street’. We apologise to both establishments for any inconvenience caused.

Aoife Brophy Dixon Coltrane Rory Crean Anna Curran Donna Doyle Hannah Dowling Lorraine Haigney Sally Hayden Sara Holbrook Maitiú Mac Seoin James Kelly Aaron Kennedy Emily Longworth Rob MacCarthy Dave Maloney Hanna-lil Malone Coire McCrystal Eimear McGovern Dave Moloney Matthew Morrow Mystic Mittens Emily Mullen Niamh Murphy Méabh Ní Thuathaláin Gordon O’Callaghan Sean O’Grady Catriona O’Malley

Rachel O’Neill Evan O’Quigley Michael O’Sullivan Jason Quigley Alex Rathke Maggie Rek Kate Smith Niall Spain Talleyrand Ethan Troy-Barnes Denis Vaughan Jack Walsh Illustrator Olwen Hogan Photographers Rob Manning Heber Hanly Conor O’Toole Chief Photographer David Nowak

Quotes of the Fortnight “I cannot wait, it’s going to be unbelievable.

The only thing is, the closer we get to it the more depressing the situation gets” Brendan Lacey on the USI protest march

“The pinnacle of UCD Ents so far” Stephen Darcy on LMFAO

“The Arts Block was just alive” Steven McCahill on Arts Day

“If I am perfectly honest, apart from posters and stationary and an exam shuttle bus, there’s nothing much an Education Officer can spend money on” Sam Geoghegan

“Hopefully I won’t be doing anything like that again” Stephen Darcy

Special Thanks Peter, Ian, Tim, Malcolm, Ade, Jonathan, Dave, Emma, Ged, Bob, Steve (and the robots) at GPC Manchester Eilis O’Brien Dominic Martella Colm, Sabrina and Rory at MCD Promotions Bernie Divilly at PIAS Giselle Jiang Dominic, Grace, Charlie, Jason, Gary, Stephen, Mark, Sandra, Paul and all the Student Centre Staff Very Special Thanks to Raine Hozier-Byrne, John Byrne, Quinton O’Reilly, Paul Fennessy, Nicolas O’Brien, Sandra and Mark for the all fantastic food.

We’d like to wish a very happy birthday to UCD alumna Alice O’Toole.

STOP FEES We are being threatened with a possibly large increase in the Student Contribution Fee and even the possible reintroduction of full third level

WE WILL NOT ACCEPT SUCH A CRIPPLING BLOW TO EDUCATION Students across the country are dropping out every single day as they ALREADY cannot afford to stay in college with the current level of fees we pay. ONE CENT of an increase would be crippling to so many students.

Your friends, your classmates, the people sitting beside you in lectures, the people in your tutorials they WILL NOT BE BACK in September 2012 if there is any increase.

BE A PART OF THE CAMPAIGN, STAND UP FOR YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS AND STOP FEES.

NATIONAL STUDENT PROTEST WEDNESDAY 16TH NOVEMBER WE WILL MARCH FOLLOWED BY A SLEEP OUT ON MOLESWORTH ST. For more information email Brendan Lacey: campaigns@ucdsu.ie

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

SPORT

21

Feeling the Burn With the GAA season all but over, Daniel Keenan examines player burnout, a growing problem within the sport

F

or years, player burnout has been Repetitive training schedules can a huge issue for the GAA. Gaelic have a negative effect on players and football and hurling, being ama- lead to burnout. They can also cause teur sports, are more at risk of player players to lose interest in the sport. burnout than professional sports, since “Lack of motivation and interest is one most members have to balance work of the symptoms [of burnout],”says Proschedules with trainings and matches, fessor de Vito. “What you find is that but burning the candle at both ends can people become uninterested in training have a detrimental effect on the body. and competition.”

Professor Giuseppe De Vito, ProIt is critical that players, particularfessor of Performance Science in UCD, ly younger players, remain motivated spoke to the University Observer about and enjoy their sport. Players dropping player burnout. off between minor (U-18) and U-21 is “Player burnout is a syndrome. The a growing problem within Gaelic footdefinition was recently attempted at a ball and hurling. While there are many conference in London. It is an under- factors which contribute to this, such performance, when an athlete doesn’t as migration from home, lack of motiperform to their standard, lasting more vation to play because of a poor trainthan two weeks.” ing structure is correlative.

Burnout is not just caused by overIt is difficult to estimate how many training; it is a multi-factor syndrome. players have suffered from burnout in Physiological and psychological factors, their careers since there are so many from stress to malnutrition to infection, factors to consider. Personal tests, such contribute to burnout. The idea that it as measuring a player’s time over a ceris a syndrome brought about purely be- tain distance and recording it are one cause of over-training is a dated notion. way to identify the syndrome. Should In fact, over-training can be a tool the times begin to increase and the to get the best out of athletes. “In order player display some of the psychologito obtain an improvement, you need to cal effects, then burnout is a possibility, overload the system. And then you al- although the test is not conclusive. low the system to recover and overload “It’s not easy to make a [diagnosis] of again,” says Professor de Vito. burnout syndrome,” remarks Professor This method is used as a tool for De Vito. “You need to have a number training individual sportspersons, such of factors together such as energy levas runners or swimmers. Doing so with els, mood levels, as well as psychologia collective team is much more difficult cal, physiological and medical testing. to accomplish however, since they com- From all these tests together, you can pete throughout a season, rather than have a clear picture.” aiming for one singular event such as The problem for the GAA is that it the World Championships. doesn’t have the resources to imple-

ment these kinds of tests on such a large selection of players. Therefore a focus on prevention, rather than treatment, is more important.

One concept which is often ignored by players and coaches is that of rest, according to Professor De Vito; “Recovery and resting is part of a training programme. When you plan a training week you need to alternate between a

There are a number of factors which cause a player to burn out, but central to it is incorrect training period of loading [training] and a period of recovery, to replenish your energy levels. Younger players always want to train harder without understanding that sometimes a resting session or reduced volume session is better.”

There are a number of factors which cause a player to burn out, but the central element is incorrect training. One of the main problems, it seems, is players and coaches being ignorant of proper training regimes, as well as not realising the importance of recovery.

Technical Development and Sports Manager at the GAA, Jimmy D’Arcy,

explained how one of the aims of GAA is to increase knowledge of correct conditioning for players.

“Education and awareness are as big a part of the solution as a regulated games programme,” says D’Arcy. “We have a formal coach education programme. We want every team to be coached by an appropriately qualified coach ... Currently it’s not a requirement for any coach to have a certain status [within the course].”

In order to reduce the physical and mental burden on players, particularly younger players who may have spent the previous season playing across different age groups, the GAA has a ban on inter-county teams training collectively for the winter break.

“There is a restricted period in November and December whereby intercounty teams are not permitted to train collectively. This would have been one of the initiatives that was brought in to counteract the burnout problem.

Burnout isn’t only a physical issue, it’s a stress-related issue. Collective training is something that puts a stress-related requirement on players.”

The GAA has moved in the right direction but if they hope to truly minimise player burnout, they need to step up their current plan. The Coach Education Programme was set up more than twenty years ago but there is still limited knowledge on correct player conditioning among coaches and players.

The off-season restrictions on collective training are almost unmonitored, allowing county teams around

the country to continue training into the winter break should they choose to do so. Although there are sanctions against this, there is minimal enforcement of the rule to prevent teams from training.

Burnout is the danger of amateurism. The great tradition of the GAA is the hard-working nature of those who play their sport. Amateurs training like professionals can be very dangerous without proper monitoring and education. Should this not be addressed correctly, burnout will continue to loom large in GAA.

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SPORTS DIGEST

BY ALEX RATHKE

Rugby The UCD Under-21 team retained the Conroy Cup, racking up seventy-seven points over three matches and not conceding any scores in the process. They overcame University College Cork 22-0, then beating University Queens’s 33-0, before finally seeing off local rivals Trinity College 20-0. It is the fourth successive year that UCD have won the competition, this year held in Belfast.

SPORT

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

The Scottish Takeover

Leave sports writing to the Badger

As Alex Ferguson surpasses twenty-five years at Manchester United, Aaron Kennedy asks why Scottish managers are outperforming their English counterparts

Soccer UCD AFC beat TEK United 3-2 in the Leinster Senior League Division 1. Goals from Brian O’Brolchain, Eoin Roche and Kieran Harte secured the Students a narrow win over TEK. UCD lost James Timmons after he received a blow to the head and needed to be replaced by John Burke. Nevertheless, UCD went on to their fourth unbeaten game in a row.

UCD AFC’s Senior team recently held their annual Player of the Year awards. UCD Keeper Ger Barron received the Player of the Year Award after a season of tremendous goal saving and all-round defensive organisation. The New Player of the Year Award went to Darren Meenan for his threatening runs on the wing, as well as high quality goals. The next award was arguably the most competitive as it went to the Young Player of the Year. Defender David O’Connor pipped midfielder Paul Corry to the award.

Hockey The UCD Women’s Hockey team upset reigning champions Pegasus on Saturday, November 5th, with a 4-3 victory in Dublin. It was the champions’ first defeat of the season, in an exciting game where Pegasus came back from 3-1 down to level the game, before a goal from Anna Flanagan won the game for the Belfield outfit. UCD’s goals came from Nichola Gray, Leah Ewart, Jamie Deacon and Anna O’Flanagan.

Donncha O’Callaghan has released a book. The Badger has ignored it.

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Sir Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp. The Scotsman, Ferguson, has twenty-three major trophies in comparison to Redknapp’s one

ver the last few decades, English managers have struggled immensely in terms of making a name for themselves and gaining silverware. Out of the five managers who have won the prestigious Premier League trophy, not one has been English, while two have been Scottish. The remarkable success of Scottish managers has been evident for some time and has highlighted the lack of accomplishment of their English equivalents.

The six English-born managers who are currently managing Premier League sides are Neil Warnock, Harry Redknapp, Alan Pardew, Brendan Rogers, Steve Bruce and Roy Hodgson.

Only Redknapp and Pardew currently manage two of the big sides, in Tottenham and Newcastle respectively.

Harry Redknapp has had his ups and down as a manager in the English game. While he led Tottenham to the dizzy heights of the Champions League quarter-finals, he was only the second English manager to qualify for the knock-out stages, and the third to qualify for the Champions League group-stages.

Pardew was seriously doubted when he replaced Chris Hughton, but has shown this season that his side have made excellent progress since their relegation two seasons ago. Neil Warnock of Queens Park Rangers has had a promising season so far and is sitting nicely in mid-table. Steve Bruce achieved an abundant amount of silverware as a player under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United but has not reached the same levels of success as a manager. Since becoming manager of Sunderland in 2009, Bruce has achieved very little success and has only a 36.6 per cent win record as manager of the Black Cats.

David Moyes meanwhile, has used limited funds and created consistently strong teams, even if their league positions do not reflect this. A fourth place finish in 2005 was the pinnacle of his career so far, and while he has failed to repeat a feat such as this, with his restricted budget and continual undermining from the Everton board, Moyes’ record is impressive.

Kenny Dalglish is another example of a Scottish manager who has gained great success, winning the Premier League with Blackburn and having a big impact at Liverpool since arriving last season.

Of the Scottish managers in the Premier League, all seven grew up within thirteen miles of Glasgow, the greater city of which also produced Sir Matt Busby. Does the soccer hub of Scotland create a stronger mentality among managers? David Moyes even believes that the cultural problems in Glasgow could be a reason, saying that you had to make sure “you could handle yourself” in the city, which helps you handle yourself as a manager.

The secret to the Glaswegians’ success comes down to better managerial training facilities combined with stricter tactics. Scottish managers tend

Pressure on English managers from the media has always been an issue and may contribute to their lack of success in the game Hodgson led Fulham to their high- to press greater emphasis on having a est ever place in the Premier League, strong structure while English managgaining seventh place and progressing ers are often more prone to attack and to the Europa League Final in the next have a more open style of play. season. This revived his poor reputaCrossing the border to England, tion as a manager in England after his where they may feel they have to prove Blackburn days and won him an ap- themselves more than in their homepointment with Liverpool. Hodgson land, could also be part of the reason went on to have the shortest length of for their success. time as a manager at the club, lasting Pressure on English managers from just thirty-one games, which has virtu- the media has always been an issue ally dashed his hopes of obtaining the and may contribute to their lack of sucmuch-coveted England job. cess in the game. Questions have been There are currently seven Scot- asked about whether the pricey new tish mangers in the Premier League, Wembley Stadium has helped the poor these being Steve Kean, Kenny Dal- managerial case. This money perhaps glish, David Moyes, Paul Lambert, could have been put into developing Alex McLeish, Sir Alex Ferguson and new training centres for up and coming Owen Coyle (who was born in Scotland, managers in the game. though declared to play internationally The on-going success of Scottish for Ireland). managers and their ability to avoid beOut of these seven, it is the Manches- ing dismissed, as is evident with Steve ter United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, Kean, comes down to their stronger idewho has really laid down the foundations ology and the fact that English managers for others to succeed. His twenty-five- have not had as much success in the past. year reign was celebrated on November Managers from other parts of Britain and 6th after a 1-0 win at home to Sunderland. foreign managers are constantly sought Altogether he has won twelve Premier after because of previous success. Before Leagues, five FA cups, four League Cups English managers can begin to improve and two Champions Leagues. their current position, they must first work on their overall reputation.

hen The Badger occasionally turns his head away from the sport on his TV-Sett, he likes to focus his beady eyes on a good book. As an animal who continually writes on sport, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Badger would love sporting autobiographies, but that’s like assuming that a homicide detective likes to murder people.

Sporting autobiographies are nothing short of a crime. Not only are you robbed of money when buying the book and robbed of time when reading it, but bearing through the entire book is like being stabbed.

The books publicised are consistently sub-par pieces of hogwash, more like the writer dribbled onto a page rather than wrote something on it. Then there is the false modesty they always display, and their need to refer to everybody they’ve ever worked with as “a nice bloke” or “a sound fella.”

While the Badger will probably have to deny Nazi affiliations once again, is a good book burning not in order?

When you write an autobiography not because you have something to say or had an experience atypical to most others in your profession, but because you know it’ll sell a few copies, you may as well slap on a pair of your finest fishnet tights and stand at your closest street corner.

The motives are one thing, but the writing is another. Is the Badger alone in thinking that writing a book in the style of a post-match interview makes for a terrible read?

Truly, the books are mind-numbingly boring. For anybody who may want to read Ronan O’Gara’s autobiography, the Badger has some advice. Sit down in front of a blank wall and stare at it for several hours, or until you have yawned 500 times. That is the equivalent to reading his book.

To top it all off, each book is given an incredibly generic name, which most of the time don’t even make sense. Wayne Rooney’s My Story So Far sounds like a personal recap of his career; the problem is that it was ghostwritten by Hunter Davies.

The Badger doesn’t hate all sporting autobiographies: Donal Óg Cusack and Gareth Thomas both revealed what life was like as a closet homosexual in a macho world in their books. The Badger would also appreciate an autobiography from Joey Barton and Tiger Woods.

Having said that, the Badger is only interested in their off-field lives: Woods’ book would probably make the Badger’s “special” book collection, depending on the detail.

So among all the tripe, among all the clichés, fake compliments and attempts at being funny, the Badger has at least discovered something. You don’t need to be able to write to have a book published, nor do you need to be interesting, funny or original. The Badger can only take this as a positive sign as he waits for feedback on A Year in the Dirt: The Badger’s Tail.

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

SPORT

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Blue Moon Rising

With another win for Leinster against their fiercest rivals, Munster, Gordon O’Callaghan analyses the recent development of the two teams

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rofessional sporting teams often talk about cycles of success where a combination of factors can result in teams dominating the sporting landscape, often appearing at times unbeatable, exuding an air of permanent success.

Munster Rugby went through such a phase, starting in 2002/2003 with their maiden Celtic League (Rabo Direct Pro 12) title and ending with their defeat in the semi-final of the Heineken Cup to Leinster in 2009.

In that time Munster amassed two league titles and two Heineken Cups, as well as appearing in two Heineken Cup finals, in comparison to Leinster’s one league success. They provided the core of the Irish team, developing players like Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer, Paul O’Connell, Donnacha O’Callaghan, David Wallace, Alan Quinlan, Marcus Horan, John Hayes and Jerry Flannery to name but a few.

Declan Kidney was the most successful club manager of the time and he instilled a mentality of winning into the Munster dressing room, turning Thomond Park into the most dreaded of European venues. The Munster brand symbolised strength, power, determination, and most of all, success.

Fast forward to 2011, and the cycle has ended. Ingloriously dumped out of the Heineken Cup last year in the group stages, the mantle has well and truly passed to Leinster.

First under Michael Cheika and then under Joe Schmidt, Leinster Rugby has embarked upon a complete transformation. Leinster have shedded the image of pretty boys and nearly men. Hard grit displayed by the likes of Leo Cullen, Jamie Healslip, Sean O’Brien, Shane Jennings, Cian Healy and Mike Ross has been infused with the traditional flair of their back line.

The key to Leinster’s success and their continued upward trajectory, in comparison to Munster’s malaise, is

Munster have faltered in their player development cycle, failing to prepare for the eventual demise of the ‘golden generation’

Doug Howlett races to beat Eoin Reddan for possession, but it is Leinster who have sprinted ahead of Munster in almost every way made up of three elements; player development, player recruitment, and a new ethos.

In 2009, when Leinster won their first Heineken Cup (in their first final) they did so on the back of experience with the likes of O’Driscoll, Cullen, Horgan, Jackman, D’Arcy, Rocky Elsom and Chris Whitaker.

By 2011, although the core of Cullen, O’Driscoll and D’Arcy remained, the next generation of Sexton, O’Brien and Healy had ensured the team had evolved.

The evolution process at Leinster has

not stopped either: Cheika gave way to Schmidt and the rise of Dominic Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Fergus McFadden, Eoin O’Malley, Devin Toner, Andrew Conway and Ian Madigan means that there is continuous pressure on the senior side for places.

In comparison, Munster have faltered in their player development cycle, failing to prepare for the eventual demise of the ‘golden generation’ as well as a failure of underage coaching (the most recent Ireland U-20 squad had just one Munster player in the 22). Conservative squad selection and an inability to de-

velop talent has left Munster in a vulnerable position.

Where talent had emerged, such as with Peter O’Mahony, Simon Zebo, Danny Barnes and Ian Nagle, they have failed to be given enough game time in order to develop their skills.

Looking at appearances between comparable players at Leinster and Munster, the differences are stark.

O’Mahony, who is six months younger then Dominic Ryan, has only played for his province nineteen times, while Ryan has amassed thirty-one caps and five tries.

Ian Nagle, who was named man of the match against Australia last year, has only played for his province thirteen times while Rhys Ruddock, two years his junior, has represented Leinster twenty-eight times in a very competitive back-row, captained his province and been capped at international level.

At the recent Leinster v Munster game at the Aviva Stadium, Leinster fielded eleven academy players in the starting fifteen, two Irish qualified players that they brought in, and two foreign players.

Meanwhile Munster fielded nine academy players, only one of whom has graduated recently, while they had one Irish qualified purchase, and five foreign players.

Munster purchases have lacked in terms of their impact on the domestic game. Jean De Villiers and Sam Tuitupou have not had the same impact as that of Leinster’s Rocky Elsom, Isa Nacewa and Felipe Contepomi. Only Doug Howlett has made a lasting impression on the development and success of Munster.

Joe Schmidt inherited a winning squad and made them better, the sign of an excellent coach. Wise recruitment in the form of Isaac Boss, Sean Cronin and Jamie Hagan was complemented by the fact that Schmidt improved the technical abilities of the players already under his tutelage. Leinster’s ethos under Schmidt has been of improvement, development, and most of all, winning.

Cycles of success are, by definition, cyclical. Leinster’s current dominance of provincial rugby will not last forever.

Whether it will be Munster who take the mantle from Leinster once again is up for debate; the present reality is that Leinster appear to be building for the future while Munster are living in the past.

For the moment, the future of Irish rugby is well and truly blue.

A Trap of the World

The Irish football team all but secured their place in Euro 2012 in Tallinn on Friday.

Ryan Mackenzie gives his verdict on the man who got them there

Thirty years ago the thought of Trapattoni managing the Republic of Ireland would have been beyond laughable.

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ast Friday night was undoubtedly the best football result the Republic of Ireland has had in nearly a decade. We beat a tricky Estonian side by four goals, away from home and under the most pressure felt since that dreadful night in Paris two years ago.

Not since we drew with Germany in Ibaraki way back in the 2002 World Cup have we done ourselves so proud.

We are on our way to our second European Championships and our manager

is the reason.

However, Giovanni Trapattoni still finds himself under pressure and criticism from the Irish public. Much of this negativity is born out of his less-thanentertaining style of football. The nature of international football however, is all about winning, not entertaining - not to mention the fact that his side simply do not have the ability to hold on to possession for more than two minutes, let alone play an expansive game.

The “wily old fox”, as he was so eloquently dubbed by his ex-assistant and Serie A legend Liam Brady, has been around the block a few times.

Thirty years ago the thought of Trapattoni managing the Republic of Ireland would have been beyond laughable. He was working in Italy for some of the biggest clubs in the world and winning pretty much everything he could.

Meanwhile, the Irish team were yet to reach a major tournament and didn’t

look like improving, despite boasting some fabulous players.

It wasn’t until Jack Charlton took over in 1986, the same year that Trapattoni moved to Inter Milan, that we started to enjoy some success. The big man finally got us to a major tournament when we reached Euro ’88, where we beat England, before reaching two World Cups in ’90 and ’94.

But Charlton’s time as manager has since been unfairly immortalised. It seems as though nothing can equate to his success and anything that comes close is immediately compared to that famous night in Genoa and dismissed accordingly. But Charlton did very little different with his side than Trapattoni is doing today. The only difference is that the Englishman did it out of choice, while the Italian is doing it out of necessity.

It is seldom mentioned how good the Irish squad was back in the early nineties. The side boasted a number of Premiership stars such as Ronnie Whelan, Paul McGrath, Ray Houghton, Roy Keane and Denis Irwin, to name a few. However, they were tied to a game plan that involved very little football at all. As a result we scored few goals but didn’t concede many either. We were adequate but, in hindsight, we underachieved considering the talent we had to work with.

This is not the case today. Unfortunately the current group of players we have are very limited and this is telling, notably in midfield. Keith Andrews and Glenn Whelan are about as poor as a central midfield duo get at this level, and will no doubt struggle at Euro 2012.

Aside from Robbie Keane up front, our attacking outlets are in short supply and we usually pose little threat to opposing defences. What we do have, however, is a solid defence, with a fan-

tastic goalkeeper in Shay Given, and Trapattoni knows this.

When he took over in 2008, fresh off the appalling tenure of Steve Staunton, the national side were as bad as they had been since the pre-Charlton era and much of the country had lost interest in them. What’s more, the pool of players to choose from was less than appealing. This led Trapattoni to select a side that fit the only game plan that could give us any sort of success, rather than the best eleven players available.

The turnaround in form was astonishing and almost instantaneous.

After six years of failure under poor management, the side started to win.

In just two years we went from a team that lost 5-2 away to Cyprus, the darkest day in Irish football, to just missing out on a World Cup spot in a play-off because of an infamous extra-time handball. Had this been the only highlight of the Italian’s term as manager, it would be acceptable to condemn some of his stubborn tactics, but this is not the case.

The side built on this success and grew as a team. Out of a tough group they secured another play-off spot and a place in Euro 2012. This is down to their manager instilling a sense of belief in the squad, a consistent game plan for them to execute and camaraderie amongst a team that was allowed to play alongside each other game after game.

The seasoned Italian is the best manager the country has ever ever had. He knows the game and has implemented a system that is getting the most out of a limited side. It is remarkable to think what he could have achieved with Charlton’s team, but at that time he was otherwise occupied with winning the European Cup and multiple league titles in two countries.

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OSbserver P O R T

The University Observer · 15 November 2011

UCD Marian Progress in National Cup St Vincent’s UCD Marian progressed to the second round of the National Cup with an emphatic victory over St Vincent’s, writes Matthew Morrow

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UCD Marian

National Cup 1st Round

INSIDE...

We examine player burnout, a growing problem within the GAA

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page 21

U

CD Marian’s Division 1 team hosted St. Vincent’s in the National Cup at St. Olaf’s on Wednesday evening. These were familiar foes for Marian, as both teams compete in the same league and a difficult encounter was expected.

Marian burst out of the blocks in the first quarter with a superb offensive display, with Ciaran Dunne quickly racking up a couple of two-pointers. The defensive effort was brilliant from Marian all evening, but this was highlighted best in the first quarter when they limited their opponents to only four points throughout the 12 minutes.

Marian could have been out of sight but for some missed lay-ups and solid work from the St. Vincent’s’ centres.

Dunne was again at the heart of the Marian offense, making a three pointer and two-point rebounds. David Gilmartin and Barry Glover also took the opportunity to get their names on the scoresheet as Marian had eleven unanswered points leading up to the buzzer for the end of the first quarter.

Naturally St. Vincent’s had to respond in the second-quarter and duly delivered, as the three-pointers that they had missed in the first quarter started to find the basket, and they were clinical whenever they were presented with a two-point scoring play.

Marian kept the scoreboard ticking over with a two-pointer from Alan Fearon on the break and Ian Monk from a sideline ball, as St. Vincent’s’ pointguard landed five consecutive free throws in the space of three minutes.

UCD Marian’s discipline temporarily abandoned them as the second quarter drew to a close. However, a brilliantly

Donncha O’Callaghan has released a book. The Badger has ignored it.

page 22 Action from Wednesday’s National Cup game in St Olaf’s. Photographer: David Nowak finished three-pointer by Gary Edge ensured that Marian had the momentum as the first half ended, establishing a 2820 lead over their opponents.

The third quarter was always going to be pivotal and just like the first, Marian upped the intensity and the quality of their play to establish a big lead in the game. Glover was at the forefront of this charge offensively, landing a threepointer and three two-pointers during this quarter alone.

This was backed up by Dunne who had a couple of two-pointers, with St. Vincent’s’ point guard keeping them just within touching distance with a well executed three-point play. Paddy Young took this opportunity to register his first score of the night and Marian closed the

quarter with a three-pointer, scored by Mark Byrne, resulting in a 52-30 lead with only one quarter to play.

The discontent was clear on the St. Vincent’s’ bench, with Marian pressing home their advantage at the start of the final quarter with two point plays from Monk and co-captain Glen Caulfield. A response was inevitable from Vincent’s, and they started to make their threepoint plays count.

However further scores from Glover and Conor Lilly, who came on for the final quarter, ensured that the final section of the game was comfortable for Marian. Both sides lost their discipline a little in the final quarter, with Edge and Fearon clinical from the free throw line.

There was still time for Glover to

show his class with an excellent fadeaway two-pointer and Mark Hargadon scoring from the final play of the game to wrap up the victory for Marian, 75-49.

Coach Michael Clancy was delighted with the team’s performance: “St. Vincent’s are always a strong unit and we knew that it was not going to be easy tonight. Whilst I am delighted with the win, we have a long way to go and must make improvements in our conditioning and offensive executions.”

When asked about the most pleasing aspect of the performance he responded: “Probably our defensive strategy, and the way we played in the first and third quarters was outstanding. We were never behind in the match and that was important.”

Why Scottish managers are outperforming their English counterparts

page 22

UCD fall to Glenanne in Men’s Senior Cup UCD failed to overcome Glenanne in Belfield on Saturday, reports Aaron Kennedy

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CD were hoping to put their poor form in the league behind them last week and gain some confidence from a victory in the cup.

They got their first league victory last weekend, after beating Clontarf 7-2.

The Belfield outfit have lacked the capacity to finish this season and needed to be clinical against an onform Glenanne side. UCD were looking to the likes of recent signing Shane O’Donoghue, who is currently a member of the Ireland squad, to step up to the mark for them.

With the Shaw brothers and a strong midfield containing Brendan Parsons, Glenanne would prove to be a formidable opponent for UCD. The game started briskly, with both sides showing admirable movement

around the field. Glenanne started the first half with slick, fast-paced passing, creating an opportunity early on, only to be shot wide in the first five minutes.

Positive build-up play from the Tallaght men created early chances for them and they immediately showed their scoring capability. UCD hit back with a precise and neat ball flicked over the top, which was shot too high. The match was well in the balance in the first ten minutes with both sides showing signs of promise.

Everything changed at the fifteen minute mark when Glenanne’s Gary Shaw made an impressive burst up the right wing and shot across the UCD keeper to make it 1-0 to the away side.

UCD were left dumbfounded and were soon under more pressure from

the Tallaght side with a corner which was sent wide.

The first half had proved quite frustrating for UCD, as their promising build-up play was hindered by their incapability to punish the Glenanne defence. A chance fell to UCD on the edge of the area but it was shot just wide from an acute angle.

UCD had another chance to bring themselves back into the game when Glenanne were reduced to ten men after a yellow card, but UCD failed to capitalise on their opportunity. They conceded a corner soon afterwards which was slotted into the roof of the net by Gary Shaw to make it 2-0, and gave him his second goal of the game.

UCD were having defensive problems, as they went in at the break

UCD

1

2-0 down, but it was the home side who shot out of the gates first in the second half, creating an early chance, only to shoot just wide.

The ball was being spread nicely by UCD and gave them a healthy period of possession. An early corner conceded

by Glenanne in the first few minutes of the second half was just shot wide by the home side.

Glenanne began to ease back into the game when their team was restored to eleven men. Exquisite and delicate inward runs by Glenanne contributed to what became a very fast-paced match.

Both teams tired late into the second half as they began to concede numerous corners.

Poor touches obstructed UCD’s chances of scoring time and again.

Glenanne

3

Parsons was showing strength in the middle of the park for Glenanne and helped to break up the home side’s play throughout the match.

UCD found their eye for the goal at the thirty-five minute mark, when Shane Nolan scored a vital goal for the Belfield team to make it 2-1 approaching the end of the game. One corner could have proved vital for either side in terms of getting a result.

It was then that Jonathan Kane slotted home a third goal for Glenanne, after a well-worked play, to make it 3-1.

The game finished on the highest of notes for the Tallaght team and will lift their confidence for their next game against YMCA. UCD, on the other hand, failed to perform at their best in what has been an uncomfortable season so far.