Volume XX – Broadsheet – Issue 11

The University Observer

ELECTION SPECIAL We preview all the sabbatical candidates in this week’s UCDSU elections

MISS REPRESENTATION A look at the difficulties facing women in politics

AARON CALLAGHAN UCD AFC’s new manager Aaron Callaghan looks at the season ahead

Liz O’Malley P4

april 1st 2014 Volume XX issue xi universityobserver.ie

above Students take part in the election poster run

SOPHIE TURNER Game of Thrones’ Sansa Stark talks about growing as an actor

PHOTO Killian Woods

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SU candidates wary of losing Law students’ votes Kevin Beirne EDITOR UCD Students’ Union (SU) sabbatical election candidates have raised concerns over the fact that UCD Law students will not be able to cast votes in the new Sutherland School of Law during this year’s UCD Students’ Union (SU) elections.

Instead, Law students will have to place their votes in the Quinn School of Business on the second day of polling, Thursday April 3rd, between 9.30am and 5.15pm, or in the Newman Building between the hours of 6pm and 9pm on the same day.

There will also be no polling taking place in the Newman Building at all during the first day of the elections, Wednesday April 2nd. Traditionally, all faculties have been allowed to vote in the Newman Building in the evenings of both days of polling in

» Law students

must vote in either Quinn during the day or Newman in the evening

» No evening

polling to take place on first day of voting

order to accommodate those who are unable to vote during the day.

Voting for the UCDSU elections will take place on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, with the votes expected to be counted on Friday. Students of the Business Postgraduate, Architecture or Engineering faculties are the only ones who will be permitted to vote on the first day of polling.

Welfare and Equality Officer hopeful and fourth year Law student, Rebek’ah McKinney-Perry, has claimed that the decision to take polling out of the Sutherland School of Law “has no basis in logic”.

Meanwhile, fourth year Business and Law student, Amy Fox, who is running for the position of Undergraduate Education

Officer, has described the decision as a disappointment.

“Last year marked one of the lowest voter turnouts for UCDSU elections and over the past year, the Union have placed a huge emphasis on greatly improving this year’s turnout…

Surely the best way to encourage voting is to ensure the opportunity is available in all buildings.”

In reference to last year’s low turnout, McKinney-Perry said, “Surely reducing polling times and completely disenfranchising an entire portion of the student body is contrary to that aim [of increasing voter numbers]. The Returning Officer made the decision on the basis that Quinn is right beside Sutherland, but by that rationale so is the Engineering Building or the Newman Building.

“After speaking with the Students’ Union President Mícheál Gallagher, the decision to reduce the polling times is not a financial one. It was made solely by the Returning Officer and it is a decision I am very disappointed with.

The precedent is there that Law students were able to vote in their building, which previously was Roebuck but now with the new Sutherland School, there is a lot more space to set up a polling station so this decision has no basis in logic.”

UCDSU Returning Officer, Morgan Shelley, could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.

UCD Fashion Show raises €10,000 for Jack Kavanagh Fund UCD Ents have confirmed that the Nissan Generation Next UCD Fashion Show 2014 has raised €10,000 for the Jack Kavanagh Fund, after proceeds for the charity were tallied following the event, which was held over a two night period in late February.

The UCD Fashion Show returned after a one-year hiatus, a break that organisers felt they needed in order to focus time on other significant projects being undertaken, such as the Community Musical.

Paul Kilgallon, UCD Ents Manager, pointed to the amount of money raised for the Jack

Kavanagh Fund as an example of the success of the Fashion Show, which is the most successful charity event run by the office to date.

Over 70 student models took to the stage for the two nights alongside performances from the popular Irish band The Raglans and former X Factor winner Matt Cardle, who played to the sold-out crowds in Astra Hall.

Speaking to the University Observer, Kilgallon said he was pleased at how various groups came together to organise the show, pointing out the involvement of “the UCD Student Centre and its staff, Nissan,

the Fashion Show Committee and the models.” He attributed their close working relationship to the success of the charity event.

The full amount raised will go straight to the Jack Kavanagh Fund, which was chosen as this year’s beneficiary ahead of the event itself.

Student Jack Kavanagh suffered a broken neck after diving into the sea in 2012 and the money raised will go towards his treatment and fight against paralysis. Kilgallon said that

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KAISER CHIEFS

Bassist Simon Nix looks at the challenges facing the band witHout their main song writer Emily Longworth Otwo P14

Cian Carton Senior Reporter

Student Jack Kavanagh suffered a broken neck after diving into the sea in 2012 and the money raised will go towards his treatment and fight against paralysis.

Kilgallon said that he was “over the moon” that the event had generated such a significant sum of money for a worthy cause

BRIAN COX The acclaimed actor discusses how he never watches his own work

he was “over the moon” that the event had generated such a significant sum of money for a worthy cause.

Nissan played an active role in the occasion through its “Generation Next” project, which gives ambitious young individuals the use of a Nissan car for a year.

Kilgallon acknowledged how they “facilitated us in every area possible.”

Jamie O’Conner, Marketing Executive for Nissan, congratulated the effort of all involved. Saying he was delighted at how “the overall production of the show was a tremendous success” and feels that the company “received great value for our Nissan Generation Next brand.”

FUNERAL SUITS

Mik McKeogh of Funeral Suits discloses his formula for success Sean Hayes Otwo P20

ucd weather

by cathal nolan

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Mostly Cloudy

Probably Rain

Still Rain

Even More Rain

It’ll Probably Rain Again

Take A Guess april 1st 2014 1

News

Race to Midnight to raise funds for Cork hospital

€4,000 Maeve Binchy Travel Award launched

Brid Kenny

Claudine Murphy

The UCD School of English, Film and Drama has announced the inauguration of the Maeve Binchy Travel Award. This award, which has been sponsored by an anonymous donor, was set up in order to honour and support new writing talent within UCD. The award commemorates the life, work, the love of travel and the world-celebrated creative writing of Maeve Binchy, a UCD alumna, and for whom travel was an integral part of her early career as a writer.

The award, which is worth €4,000, is open to both undergraduate or postgraduate students currently enrolled in UCD’s College of Arts & Celtic

Studies. The successful student will use the award to fund a travel opportunity that will enhance her/his creative writing.

The award is open to a variety of candidates and applicants will need to put forward a compelling case for a travel project or activity that would enable them to develop their literary skills.

Applicants may also submit a sample piece of original writing and are asked to submit a short curriculum vitae. All applications should be submitted to binchyucdtravelaward@ucd. ie by April 18th, 2014 and will be reviewed by a specially convened selection committee.

The interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place in late April or early May, with the announcement of the successful student to be made on May 28th, Maeve Binchy’s birthday.

In speaking about the award itself, a spokesperson said “This award recognises that writing initiatives support young talent and foster both a sense of engagement and vital challenge with the tradition that comes before them. In this way, projects like the Maeve Binchy Travel Award give aspiring writers a reminder of powerful literary role models and with the proper vote of confidence provided by such projects, young writers can also recognise themselves as that

very necessary voice, for a new generation, capable of saying more.”

The successful applicant will be free to travel wherever they wish, provided that it takes place prior to December 31st, 2014. The successful applicant will be expected to provide “a detailed written report subsequent to travel, outlining the main achievements and learning during their travel and examples of their creative writing influenced by the travel project.”

Further details of the application process can also be found on the UCD website, and any queries can be directed to Professor Margaret Kelleher, Chair of the Selection Committee at binchyucdtravelaward@ucd.ie.

On Friday, April 11th a 12hour swimming event will take place in UCD’s 50m pool in aid of Marymount University Hospital and Hospice in Cork.

The event is being organised by 2nd year Sports and Exercise Management students in memory of former graduate of the programme Aodh Cronin, who spent some time in the hospital before his passing.

One of the organisers, Robert Burke said, “The event is the first of its kind being held in UCD, and the UCD Sport & Fitness Centre have generously let us use the UCD Swimming Pool as the venue.

“The event will start at 12pm and run until Midnight on April 11th.

You can swim for as long as you want, take part in our competitions

and activities or if you’re a member of a sports club you can go with your team for rehabilitation or as a cool down post training.”

People looking to take part in the event register on the day or at the events’ info/registration desk in the Student Centre on April 8th. Prices for registration start at €7 for an individual, €20 for a team of four, €30 for a team of six and €40 for a team composed of eight members.

Funds will be raised on the day through bucket donations, by purchasing a ticket for the raffle that will be held on the day or online by logging onto www.mycharity.ie.

The event is open to all students, Sport Centre members and UCD societies and sports clubs.

Please Talk Day encourages students to talk about mental health Alanna O’Shea

The annual Please Talk Day took place on campus last Wednesday, March 26th, focusing on promoting mental health issues on UCD campus and encouraging people to talk about their problems. The day is also used to help inform students about support services in college.

The event was organised by Zoë Forde, Grace O’Hara and Maeve DeSay of the Please Talk committee. The organisers aimed to create their own “mini Mind, Body and Soul Village” with stands set up all around the college.

Speaking to the University Observer, Forde explained some of the organisation that went into Please Talk Day. “The event involved sourcing food donations from companies, bringing in support groups such as BodyWhys and the Irish Guide Dogs onto campus, and working with mental health awareness groups SeeChange and HeadsUp.” As part of a video project, students were asked to imagine what they would say to a friend who was suffering from a mental illness, while Juggling Soc was on hand juggling

and doing face painting. It culminated in an evening screening of Silver Linings Playbook, a film that deals with the theme of mental illness.

The day required coordination between a number of organisations and food was sourced for donation that went into making 500 free tea packs to give to students. Forde believes the day was a success, saying that, “the food and free tea packs went very quickly due to the amount of students at the stands.”

Forde also highlighted the campaign’s strong social media

presence. “The reaction was also very positive on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #PleaseTalk.” She feels the event is necessary to allow UCD students to start conversations about mental health and to promote positive mental health.

The Please Talk campaign was set up by three students in UCD in 2007 in response to a number of student deaths by suicide. The campaign has now spread to 27 colleges around the country, including NUI Galway and Trinity College. It is funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention,

and in the future its goal would be to be present on every campus in Ireland.

The Please Talk committee is active on campus all year round.

As well as organising the Please Talk Day, they also hold an annual Remembrance Day, a candlelight vigil to remember those who we have lost to suicide. They organise a monthly coffee evening in Residences, the next of which will be in the Glenomena Residences on April 10th.

For those wishing to get involved with Please Talk, any student or faculty member is welcome to join

the committee. It will hold its AGM on April 7th when elections will be held for the positions of Chairperson, Secretary, PRO and Events Coordinator. Everyone is eligible to run for these positions, even if they are not already on the committee.

Please Talk aims to show that to look for help is a sign of strength and not a sign of weakness. Any student experiencing problems at college, at home or in their personal lives can log onto www.pleasetalk. ie, which operates a directory of the services available to students.

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TEDxUCD DATE announced Siobhan Copeland

TEDxUCD have announced that this year’s event will take place on Saturday June 14th, with UCD graduate and Emmy awardwinning war correspondent Terry McCarthy confirmed as a speaker.

Similar to all independently run TEDx events, UCD’s version is devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks.

A spokesperson for the event has described it as “an opportunity to explore and showcase the breadth and depth of ideas worth spreading from members of the wider UCD community including researchers, students and alumni.”

Innovation Education Manager at Nova UCD, Caroline Gill, will

run the event again following on from the success of last year.

The spokesperson for TEDxUCD explained that they feel the demand is there for another event.

“Given the success of last year’s event and the extremely positive feedback we received we decided to host another event this year.”

Last year’s talks focused on the theme of foresight and predicting what will happen or be needed in the future. Speakers were asked to speak on a topic that is close to their hearts and to select a oneword title that encapsulates their foresight talks. The audience heard some powerful talks on various topics such as, thoughtfulness,

hunger, sleep, courage, consequence, and generosity.

A spokesperson for TEDxUCD also expressed their enthusiasm for undergraduate student involvement in these events and emphasised the importance of involvement from all levels of academic life. “Last year a total of four UCD students took part in TEDxUCD and delivered a series of excellent talks.”

They have also confirmed that Emmy award-winning war correspondent, Terry McCarthy, a UCD graduate who is currently President and CEO of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, will be a TEDxUCD 2014 speaker. Other speakers will

be drawn from members of the wider UCD community.

No exact date has been set for the release of tickets for the event, but it was confirmed that 100 tickets be available free of charge in mid-May, which will be allocated on a first-come first-serve basis. Further details will be announced online at www.ucd.ie/ innovation/newsevents/tedxucd/.

TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics; from science to business to global issues in more than 100 languages.

The organisation describes itself

Megan Fanning Senior Reporter for students” and aims to solve the problem of graduate recruitment.

Another successful pitch was given by the group behind the Trigger Tube.

This idea was developed by first year Engineering student, Andrew Cullen, who wants to solve the problem of bulky foam rollers. He has designed a foam roller product that also carries essentials, for example water bottles, to training classes.

Ciara Keane also received the funding requested for her Compare Birth Control (comparebirthcontrol. com) startup, which allows women to both read and write reviews on all the currently available contraceptive pills.

Similarly iSave, an idea put forward by postgraduate student Ciara O’Brien,

will get the opportunity to avail of mentoring from the panel as well as the financial backing. She wants to solve the issue of “lifestyle banking.”

Her app would allow for users to set saving goals for themselves and to in turn be able to manage their finance goals more efficiently.

Getthelift.ie, meanwhile, was set up by Electronic and Computer Engineering postgraduate, John O’Donnell, who has created a website to allow for students across Ireland to form car-pooling services.

The final startup to get financial backing was Shane Keaveney’s innovative biomass to fuel process.

This is an initiative developed by Keaveney, who is finalising his PhD

thesis in Mechanical Engineering.

His plan is the produce a method of creating “high quality, dry, energy dense material from low quality, wet and undesirable biomass in an energy efficient way for fuel applications.

These final firms have the opportunity to avail of ongoing support from either the UCD Students’ Union, the Student Centre staff or from Nova UCD. The competition was seen as a success and a spokesperson from the panel said that they are hoping to make it an annual event.

The UCD Student Innovation Fund is a joint initiative set up by the UCD Students’ Union and the UCD Director of Student Services and Facilities, Dominic O’Keeffe. It was set up to

national

News in Brief Ciaran Sweeney

as a global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world, an ethos that TEDxUCD organisers feel they can contribute to. “We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world”.

They aim to build a clearinghouse of free knowledge from these events in order to inspire people and communities and to create a porthole for the curious minds of our world where people can communicate their ideas and engage with each other online and at the TED and TEDx events.

Six startups awarded funding by Student Innovation Fund The UCD Student Innovation Fund in partnership with UCD Students’ Union (SU) awarded a combined sum of €15,500 to student-run startups last Thursday evening, the March 27th, as part of a new initiative by UCD to invest in student entrepreneurs.

The panel of judges heard pitches from 33 startups in total and following delegation decided to allocate specific sums of funding to the ideas they felt deserved the backing.

Only six of the 33 submissions were successful in attaining a portion of the funding on offer. HireMe was one of the successful applicants. It is a startup that was set up by final year Economics and Finance student, Donal Tobin, who described his business as a “LinkedIn

News

give UCD student-run startups the chance to be awarded funding in order to subsidise their business plans and to ensure that creative UCD startups don’t go unnoticed.

Its aim was to address the lack of financial investment in UCD student entrepreneurs through a Dragons’ Den style panel, open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The competition involved three rounds with the first being a pitch in the ‘den’ by all applicants, then the shortlisted applicants were invited back into the den for further discussion. The third round was an awards ceremony where the winners were announced.

Irish poet Eavan Boland, ahead of being awarded an honourary life memebersip of LawSoc last week

Trinity College Dublin to change their name under rebranding initiative Trinity College Dublin (TCD) are set to change the college’s name to ‘Trinity College, the University of Dublin’ under a new rebranding programme, which will be completed at the beginning of the next academic year. Its new title for official communications was proposed by provost Patrick Prendergast and was backed by the Trinity board.

TCD is Ireland’s oldest university and seen as a brand that resonates with everyone both in Ireland, and abroad and is now making big strides to have its name changed in an attempt to reshape its global identity.

This new identity will also include a new standardised logo, which will be reviewed by staff and other stakeholders within the college, before being passed back to the board for a final approval.

The main reason behind the change was the worry that, from a global perspective, the name Trinity College might be wrongly misinterpreted in Asia or USA as being merely a college as supposed to having a fully-fledged university status which is capable of handing out higher accreditations, as well as being able to hand out masters degrees and conduct research.

The new logo will still retain the Trinity shield, as well as the historical components of the Lion, the bible, castle and harp, but it will have fewer colours to make it easier to distinguish and readily recognisable.

Glitch allows NUIG students access to exam papers before exams A glitch in NUI Galway’s servers has called into question the viability of the University’s current online security after it was made apparent that students could access future exam papers using a basic internet search engine.

The paper that students were able to access was a maths summer exam, which was prepared, as per usual, well in advance of the exam weeks and stored on a server, which has the same IT security system as many other colleges and universities in Ireland.

Having been alerted of the incident, officials at NUIG have confirmed that they have prepared new papers as “inappropriate access to some exam papers… could have potentially compromised the integrity of the exam process.”

NUIG is updating its IT security to ensure nothing of this nature happens in future and other colleges have begun to review their own IT systems as well.

It is understood by NUIG that there was no intention here for the papers to be found through means of internet “hacking,” but that through the vastly improved search capabilities of the internet, the papers were stumbled upon by chance.

UCC Entrepreneur Awards

MacLachlan elected as L&H Auditor for 160th session Cian Carton Senior Reporter Eoin MacLachlan has spoken about his delight following his appointed as the new Auditor of the Literary and Historical (L&H) Society for the 160th session of UCD largest student society.

MacLachlan had previously served as a committee member for the L&H under the previous auditor, Alex Owens, and treasurer, Sorcha Kinder. He attributes the success of last year’s committee as being a key reason behind his decision to go for the position of auditor.

“Having thoroughly enjoyed my time working with Alex and Sorcha,

this year’s outgoing auditor and treasurer, I wanted to contribute further to the Society. Working on Committee with many talented and intelligent people to organize events for the general student body and with debaters across the country, both young and old, was something I really wanted to continue doing.”

For MacLachlan, the role of auditor “entails providing focus and direction for a committee,” and involves “maintaining the society and its various aims and activities.”

He is taking inspiration from Owens’ strong leadership on these fronts, and

plans to push the society to do the best it can for its members through the ideas and work of its committee.

The L&H will be taking a larger role in aiming to create a more “welcoming and engaging atmosphere” around campus. MacLachlan is looking forward to working with both the University itself and other societies to promote and foster a more inclusive outlook amongst students.

The tradition of debating in UCD is inextricably linked with the L&H, and MacLachlan hopes to expand the society’s influence both on and off campus. He is organising new

internal debating competitions, which will be “specifically aimed at those who normally wouldn’t debate or have no experience of it.”

Debating will also be broadened with a new Outreach programme, which will see the L&H training children from disadvantaged schools in the art of debating. It is hoped that they can develop new cultures of debating among school pupils.

MacLachlan acknowledged the challenge that the new programme will bring, but is optimistic of its success.

While plans for next year

continue to be formulated, the L&H have organised several events to bring this semester to a close. They are set to award Michael Eavis, the dairy farmer who started the Glastonbury Festival on his land in 1970, an Honorary Fellowship award.

Eavis will be discussing the growth of the Festival, his life in the music industry as well as his recent philanthropic ventures. MacLachlan is encouraging students to attend the event, which will be held on Wednesday, April 2nd in the Fitzgerald Chamber at 5pm.

University College Cork (UCC) held an awards ceremony to acknowledge its leading entrepreneurial students within the college last month.

A number of innovative, economical and intriguing ides were celebrated at the awards ceremony, with Cork City’s Darren Hayes winning the top prize.

Hayes, who is studying the MSc Marine Renewable Energy at UCC, put forward his “Mari-Turb” for recognition. His creation is one that will act as a portable wind turbine generator and will save commercial ships huge amounts of money in energy costs by providing a more efficient and environmentally friendly solution to burning diesel using conventional generators.

The idea was lauded by Graham Healy, a senior partner in Accenture Ireland, who described it as a solution to a “significant energy problem” in the business. The consistent high-level of entries was praised by Professor Ursula Kilkelly, UCD’s Head of Business and Law. The Best Technology award was given to a project called “AmputAid,” an idea spearheaded by both Engineering and Medicine students, that keeps amputated limbs cool at the optimum temperature for more than 24 hours for transportation and protection.

Three post-graduate students were also recognised for their entry and awarded the “Dynamic and Emerging Award” for “Sonic Marketing,” an idea which uses high-frequency sounds to provide in-store customers with personalised content. april 1st 2014 3

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Miss representation With UCDSU and Women for Election running a campaign to get more women involved in student politics, Elizabeth O’Malley asks why this is an issue to begin with

If you’re a woman considering running for election to the UCD Students’ Union, the numbers are against you. Since 1976, there have been 25 female sabbatical officers out of a total of 126; 18 of them were in Welfare. There have only been three female SU Presidents in the last 38 years. Probably the worst statistic is that there has only been one female sabbatical officer in the last six years, Rachel Breslin.

When you look closely at the results of the last four years, an unsettling pattern emerges. Every time a woman ran against a man, she lost. Breslin was elected as Welfare Officer when she ran only against other female candidates, and became President in an uncontested election.

Looking back over previous election literature, it appears that the women are just as qualified as the men, with experiences on Welfare Crew, or as class rep for example. There were also no big differences in their manifestos or election promises, with the same issues appearing over and over like better provision of services and trying to engage more with students.

Back in 2010, not a single female candidate ran, while last year there was just one. 2011 was the best year for female candidates, as 7 of the 15 running for election were women. However, when you take into account the fact that three were running in the all-female category of Welfare and Jennifer Fox was too ill to campaign for Education, you’re only left with three candidates.

We have to ask why women often choose not to run, and why women are not elected?

There are similar problems at a national level. 16% of TDs are women. 2 out of 14 Ministers and 2 out of 16 Junior Ministers are women. Ireland ranks 88th in the world for the percentage of women

in the national parliament and is the fourth worst country in the EU in terms of political equality.

The 2009 Women in Politics Report by the European Commission found that, if you extrapolated the results from the most recent national elections across Europe, on average an election with 50% women candidates would result in a parliament with just 39% women members. To put it another way, there would need to be 63% women candidates to achieve parity in the Dáil.

Barriers exist at the entry to politics. A report by the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) pointed to a number of factors that could also explain the lack of involvement by women in student politics.

Professor Yvonne Galligan argues that confidence is a big issue. “This is more than just being shy about speaking in public. It is a consequence of women being less connected with politics than men in the first instance and so being less familiar with the world of politics. They see politics as a tough, confrontational arena and do not feel comfortable taking part in the power struggles that constitute political life.”

A study by the Women and Politics Institute at the American University also found that women were much less likely than men to believe that they were qualified to run, and less likely to receive the suggestion to run.

These differences are ingrained in women through social learning.

Researchers at Brigham Young University and Princeton found that in group settings women speak less than 75% of the time that men did.

This is especially obvious within the university sphere. Despite the fact that women now make up the majority of population of universities, they are far less likely to speak in class. Columbia University found

that women only contribute in class about 33% of the time, are more likely to qualify their questions with words like ‘maybe’ or ‘perhaps’, and to apologise for themselves.

A groundbreaking study from 1995 by New York University and Arizona State University found that gender roles were taught from an early age by parents and society.

In particular, it found that parents characterised the behaviours in their daughters as “being helpful, neat and clean, quiet, well-mannered, being a tattletale, crying and being easily frightened.” By comparison typical boy behaviours include being noisy, rough, active, competitive, defending themselves and defying punishment.

Women are trained to believe that they need to be quiet, sensitive and avoid being seen as antagonistic. It doesn’t help that there are a number of insults specific to women who are considered to assertive such as bossy, hysterical, shrill and, of course, bitch.

For example, Glenn Beck insulted Hillary Clinton by saying, “She is like the stereotypical bitch, you know what I mean? Won’t every man in America go insane?” Former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, was often described as ‘Lady Macbeth’.

More specifically, women tend to be told that they’re too aggressive at work if they show characteristics that would be considered ‘leadership’ by men.

Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, presented data in her book that shows that you there is a positive link between success and likeability if you’re a man, and a negative link if you’re a woman.

If we want women to become more involved in politics, we need to change traditional gender roles, and encourage women to speak. Until women find their voices, they’re not going to step up for positions of leadership.

When you look closely at the results [of UCDSU elections] of the last four years, an unsettling pattern emerges.

Every time a woman ran against a man, she lost. Breslin was elected as Welfare Officer when she ran only against other female candidates, and became President in an uncontested election

The height of apathy With today’s students seemingly lacking the passion of previous generations, Stephen Heffernan examines apathetic nature of the current generation

The tendency of the present generation to regard issues that would have inflamed previous generations with indifference is something that has attracted much attention in recent years. Still, the underlying causes of this unusual situation have not been examined deeply to any great extent.

The generation that has come of age in recent years were born either following or in the years immediately preceding the fall of communism, and therefore cannot remember a time where capitalism was not the unrivalled economic system.

Consider, for example, that the turning point in their young lives was probably 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq. For this generation, unlike its predecessors, the violence and cruelty of conflicts in foreign countries are no longer as shocking to them as the generations who experienced the Troubles or the conflict in Vietnam for the simple reason of Sky News and CNN constantly showing us desensitising images on a daily basis.

Would Bob Geldof have had as much success with Live Aid if it happened ten years later?

The answer is probably no, as the movement struck a far more menacing chord in a world where a plethora of blogs, more digital channels than one could ever ask for and social media did not exist.

A few well-meaning souls may still involve themselves with charity work and are lauded for doing so, but their efforts do not engage with the general populace to anywhere near the extent they once would have done.

The Irish university system is far from blameless either. Niamh Bhreathnach may have had the best of intentions when she removed fees to make third-level education more accessible to all, but rather than creating a generation of wellinformed students actively engaged with their academia, social lives

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and extracurricular activities, the transformation of the university experience from a privilege to a rite of passage has undermined the power of universities in general.

This shift only stratified the social system further. Taxpayers in working-class areas are now subsidising the education of children from affluent background, a situation that could hardly be less desirable.

Yet this system seemed acceptable in the days when money was not an issue. This generation was raised during the wealthiest time in Ireland’s history. Even those in less well-off situations were supported by free fees, education grants and scholarships. The students didn’t have to fight for anything because they didn’t really want for anything.

This has had a huge effect on how students engaged with the university and on the leadership skills of the students playing a role within our students’ unions. Fewer students are willing to speak out with regard to issues that genuinely concern them.

Even though we may loathe them now, Ruairí Quinn, Eamon Gilmore and Pat Rabbitte all articulated their cases well when they were involved in student politics, and voiced the concerns of their generation. Could we depend on the current USI to do this? It is highly unlikely, as evidenced by the decision of the UCD student body to disaffiliate from them last year.

The present generation does not seem to engage with politics in a meaningful fashion. Only 30% of young people turned out to vote in the most recent general elections compared to 50% of the rest of the voting population. How many students could name all of their local TDs, or the ministers in government?

Modern technology, for all the good it has done, can be suggested to have done more harm in certain areas. It has become the case that

many of those brave enough to hold dissenting views will only do so online, and not discuss them outside of their peer group.

Take, for instance, the passing of a referendum by UCD students to give UCDSU a pro-choice mandate.

While in all probability this is an accurate representation of the opinion of the majority of students, by making this declaration they made an issue of conscience an issue that is no longer up for debate within our student body. We seem to be moving more towards an uneasy consensus rather than grappling with hard issues and dissenting opinions.

Perhaps this is why only a few students will take to the streets to protest against the cuts to the under 25 benefits, rent allowance or the right to reside in UCD student residences.

These students didn’t grow up in an age where they needed to fight for everything they got. We didn’t develop that social conscience that urges them to challenge everything, even if it doesn’t specifically affect them. Moreover, we have developed this idea that if you disagree with the mainstream you are some sort of radical.

The idealism of previous generations has given way to a cynical, close-minded apathy. We may have been full of hope when we entered college a few years ago. Now, with an unfriendly job market, high levels of emigration, and the feeling that the recession seems to be unending, we are drowning in pessimism.

Rather like the proverbial spoiled child who has their money cut off by their parents, we have been left unable to care for ourselves, without a voice. This is a trend that does not inspire any hope in the capabilities of the next generation to fix the mess handed to us by the present one.

Hopefully we will be proved wrong.

It has become the case that many of those brave enough to hold dissenting views will only do so online, and not discuss them outside of their peer group

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opinion LGBT* Outreach— I’m not a woman… Or a man… I’m me With March 31st marking International Trans* Day of Visibility, Sam Blanckensee explains how this day is a chance for society to open its mind to gender expression and looks at the differences between gender, sex and sexuality

Authenticity is a rare thing in a society that is built on norms that seem to repress difference.

Society tells us that we have to fit into our box. We have to be either a man’s man or a feminine woman.

Anything other than this perfect presentation is frowned upon and looked down on by society.

March 31st is the International Trans* Day of Visibility; a chance for the world to open its eyes to people of all gender identities and gender expressions. This year, I would like to use it as a chance to point out that not everyone fits inside a binary way of thinking.

I would like to start by explaining the difference between gender, sex and sexuality. Sex is anatomical; it’s how your body is made up when you’re born. Everyone is assigned a sex although doctors don’t always get it right.

Gender is what’s in your head; gender identity is how you feel you fit in to the gender spectrum or sometimes how you don’t. Gender expression is how you present your gender to the world from a visual perspective and gender performance describes how you conform (or not) to the roles of your gender.

Most of the time gender and assigned sex match up, or at least mostly match up. But some of the time they don’t or only partially match up to what society sees as “normal”. Sexuality doesn’t really have much to do with gender at all, but is all to do with who you’re attracted to.

A lot of people who talk about the trans* community will talk about people being born in the wrong body.

I find that this is a simplification a large amount of the time. My body is

But I am not male, I’m not a boy, I’m not a man. I’m none of those things that live up to society’s standards of gender. I am me. I also use a few words to describe myself; trans*, genderqueer, a transguy, a guy.

People don’t see beyond my appearance and that makes my life easier

my body, it may have gendered parts but it’s not a girl’s body because I am not a girl and I never have been.

What even is a girl’s body? Or a boy’s for that matter. In a recent issue, this column spoke about intersex issues, which we now realise occurs in 1 in every 200 births. So, can we even have binary sexes?

When I first realised I was trans* I used ‘they’ as a singular pronoun and that was fine for a while, but ‘he’ made me more comfortable. I guess when I started to come out to more and more people I strayed further and further away from that neutral portrayal of gender because it was easier.

I have described myself trans* as being born in the wrong body even though I don’t believe it myself because it’s easy. It’s so easy not to explain gender or the absence of binary and just say I want to be male.

But I am not male, I’m not a boy, I’m not a man. I’m none of those things that live up to society’s standards of gender. I am me. I also use a few words to describe myself; trans*, genderqueer, a transguy, a guy. People don’t see beyond my appearance and that makes my life easier.

Somebody who doesn’t know me probably doesn’t even know I am trans* and that makes me awkward.

It means that they don’t see my identity at all. They’ll just see a man, someone who they can either relate to, or not and they’ll make that assumption by looking at me.

Genderqueer is just one non-binary gender identity, and I won’t pretend to know them all in detail, because I don’t think that’s possible. I believe there are almost as many gender identities as people on the planet.

Genderqueer can be an umbrella

term for all non-binary gender identities or a term in its own right.

Genderqueer as a term on its own, pretty much means a gender identity that is not easily defined and for a lot of people this can cause some issues due to current society standards.

Pronouns are a big issue for a lot of my non-binary friends who (before they can have their gender identities recognised by their peers) have to educate others on how to use the words they like to have their identities described by. Your preferred pronouns is the one you want the general population to call you by, so she, he, they, zie etc.

To the general population I would give this advice, try to remember to ask someone’s preferred pronouns.

Yes, it can be a pain, but you could literally give someone the chance to have their identity validated.

If someone doesn’t know what you’re talking about, tell them what it means. Also, try not to assume someone’s gender, just because they present one way, or have the type of body that’s seen as gendered.

None of that means that they identify in the stereotypical way.

There are whole groups of people out there whose identities aren’t seen as important enough for a lot of society so they’re not educated on. But those identities are real, they’re real and for those of us who identify outside of the labels of men and women, life can be hard.

Unless you can “fit-in” and be “normal” it can feel like you will never be accepted in the world. This isn’t the case, through education and visibility about these often hidden identities we will begin to change the world, together.

How to be cool with Conor O’Toole As usual, Conor O’Toole complains about things, has an existential crisis and follows that up with an epiphany or something

As this edition reaches the mediocre campus of UCD, I will be reaching the mediocre age of 23. I’m not a girl, not yet a woman.

Quite possibly, I’ll never be a woman. I have little interest in ever becoming one, frankly. They are usually treated quite badly.

I dislike my birthday, as it usually just serves as a reminder of all the things I have failed to achieve in the previous year: Still can’t juggle three pancakes in two pans. Still haven’t fixed my old black bike. Didn’t get that minature golf course in my garden built. Plus, it represents an even further decline in the likelihood of me becoming a child prodigy.

In the month preceding the big day, March, I often find myself trying to panic-achieve things. A common thought is; “Right, you said you’d start doing pilates last year. Now, when you hadn’t done it by New Year’s, you swore you’d meant birthyear, not calendar-year, didn’t you?

“So what’s it going to be, huh? Are you a liar? A liar who wants to have a bad back?” If only my local pilates group hadn’t folded (not a pun) and been replaced by a Weight Watchers.

I might have managed that one.

I think I’m handling the last days of being 22 fairly well. To be honest, the age never really grew on me.

Just a couple weeks ago I was ID’ed going into a bar; I had shaved that afternoon and was in a good mood, so probably appeared to be 15.

I was halfway through telling the doorman I was 21 when my brain caught up, and I shouted “No! Actually I’m 22!” like an kid with his cousin’s driving licence and a penchant for under preparation.

Luckily, I was allowed in and had a pretty killer fifteen minutes before I got tired and went home.

6 april 1st 2014

In many ways I’m on the up and up. I’ve started skateboarding again, and I’m proud to say I am better at it now than I was when I was in my late teens. To be fair, that isn’t hard, I have seen dogs skateboard better than me. In many cases by accident!

I recently ollied over a bottle and I’m still buzzing from it. It was half full and all! I almost did a pop shove-it the other day, too. Sorry, that was a lot of jargon, I forget not everyone is as cool as me. Basically, if you didn’t understand any words in that last paragraph they were the names of some righteous tricks.

I’ve got a signature move too. It was all I used to do (could do) when I was 14 and it was called the Conorama.

I don’t know if it’s got a proper name. Actually, I do. It’s called the Conorama. You do it like this: jump 180* on your board so your back foot is on the nose, lift up the back of the board by leaning on the front and spin the board around 180*. You’ll know you did it right if someone says ‘woah’ or ‘radical, dude’.

I like skateboarding. There are great skate facilities now, and I am now old enough that I can go to the skate park and be terrible without being embarrassed. D’you know why? Because I don’t care what kids think of me. They’re just stupid kids. They like Skrillex and emoticons and MailOnline and jellybeans and handjobs.

There are three factions at the skate park. The skateboarders (legends), who the BMXers don’t like, the BMXers (scobes) who the skateboarders don’t like, and the scooter kids, who everyone hates. They’re all about ten and have no sense of personal space. That place could be a David Attenbourgh segment.

I’ve started skateboarding again, and I’m proud to say I am better at it now than I was when I was in my late teens. To be fair, that isn’t hard, I have seen dogs skateboard better than me.

In many cases by accident!

I realised recently that in the earliest photos of me on Facebook I look different to how I look now. Not like I’ve got a new haircut or cooler glasses, or you can see in my eyes that I’ve done it, it’s just that my face is actually different. That’s bizarre.

While the skate park was being cleared out at closing time one evening, I asked one of the younger skaters if there was somewhere else I could go skate nearby. He recommended a part of the park with a concrete amphitheatre.

“Go now though, the BMXers will take it otherwise. If you’re there they won’t go near you.”

Why? “You’re older than them.

Plus you’re wearing a headband.

That’s pretty intimidating.” I am different now. And it’s great.

Oh, follow me on twitter. @ConorOToole. C’mon, it’s my birthday.

features

The gender gap

Gender inequalities still play a major role within the Irish workforce, as well as society at large, as Nicole Casey discovers

I think a lot of inequalities are institutionalised.

I don’t think it happens at a conscious level, although there may be some inequalities happening at a conscious level, but I believe inequalities that exist do so at an unconscious or subconscious level

Gender equality is achieved when everyone enjoys the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society, and when the different behaviours, aspirations and needs of everyone are valued equally, regardless of your gender identity.

Unfortunately, gender equality is difficult to ensure, and all too often, inequalities exist between men and women. This fact is particularly true for Ireland.

The United Nations compiles a Gender Inequality Index of member states, and on this Ireland ranks 19th across the UN and 13th across the European Union. This Index is based on the premise that “all too often, women and girls are discriminated against in health, education and the labour market with negative repercussions for their freedom.”

Although Ireland is by no means the worst country in which to find inequalities among men and women, we still have a long way to go to achieve a more fair and just society.

In 2008, the gender pay gap for average hourly earnings in Ireland was 17.8%. In the UK, the median hourly earnings pay gap in the private sector was 27.5%, rising to 40% in the financial sector. These figures bring to light the startling reality that the work done by women is not valued to the same extent as the work done by men.

UCD Lecturer in Gender Equality and Diversity Maeve Caraher believes the gender inequalities that exist within Ireland are mostly unconscious and unseen; with the average individual unaware that inequality even exists among genders.

“I think a lot of inequalities are institutionalised. I don’t think it happens at a conscious level, although there may be some inequalities happening at a conscious level, but I believe inequalities that exist do so at an unconscious or subconscious level.”

But inequalities among men and women don’t just exist in the form of a startling pay gap, nor do they occur only in the workplace. All forms of inequalities are societal problems.

According to Caraher, “Gender segregation starts the minute

you’re born. Inequalities exist at a societal level, so it is unfair to ask organisations to take sole responsibility for remedying the problem. It’s beyond an organisation’s control what happens in society.”

Last month UK Minister of Sports, Equalities and Tourism Helen Grant caused outrage when she commented on the option for females interested in playing a sport to take up one that was feminine and aesthetically pleasing.

She said, “You don’t have to feel unfeminine… There are some wonderful sports which you can do and perform to a very high level and I think those participating look absolutely radiant and very feminine such as ballet, gymnastics, cheerleading and even roller-skating.”

This comment sparked lively debates on the internet, with Everyday Sexism founder Laura Bates commenting, “It’s actually discouraging for a minister to say this. With our great athletes performing fantastically at the Olympics, we still see media outlets focusing on the looks and femininity, which the comments seem to do too.”

However, Minister Grant’s comments did not make any major headlines, which Caraher believes to be an evident sign of the gender inequality at work within society.

“If that had been a man saying something about a different portfolio, he would have got a debate going about it in the media. But this didn’t go mainstream. It didn’t make a headline anywhere. It wasn’t a shock.”

In addition, the focus that governments place on ensuring equality is limited, which can be seen just from looking at Minster Grant’s job title, says Caraher.

“Minister for Sports, Equalities and Tourism: what a title! Really, if you were serious about equality you would have a Minister for Equality and not tag on Sports and Tourism, which are also important, but for different reasons.”

The Irish government claim gender equality is enshrined in the Irish Constitution, and cite

the social protection programme of maternity leave and the expansion of childcare services in Ireland as examples of this.

However, the faults here are evident in that they focus solely on women with children, and suggest that the only area in which women feel they are disadvantaged in comparison to men is when having children. This view needs to change in order to ensure a future with more focus on equality among the genders.

Caraher believes gender equality issues need to be addressed at both an organisational and a governmental level for us to see any real change in the future. In the past we have adopted practices that utilised the carrot and the stick individually, but a combination of both is what is required for the future of gender differences.

“Neither [the carrot or the stick] work on their own, which is evident by the world we live in at the moment.

If we are going to legislate in that area, it will have to be clever and well thought through legislation.

It’s a very complex area, and it’s difficult to come up with simple solutions to a complex problem.”

Progress of issues relating to gender inequality have somewhat stalled in recent decades, and have only just started coming back into the limelight with the financial recession we are currently experiencing.

People are more concerned than ever before with issues of equity and morality, and gender inequality is both a moral and ethical issue. The advancement of the internet and social media has been immeasurably advantageous for the equity movement, as it allows like-minded people to connect and attempt to create radical social change.

Caraher, who is a strong advocate of equality between men and women, as well as among other disaffected groups, believes that this growing focus on ethics and justice may be the driver behind future changes in behaviour.

“Hope springs eternal. It’s a better world if we’re in an equal society. It benefits everyone.”

No place to call home With the Irish constitutional convention recently passing a vote on the right to a home, Joanna O’Malley examines the homelessness situation in Ireland

Statistics have shown that homelessness has been steadily rising in Ireland in the last few years. The Peter McVerry Trust state that, on average, two people exit homelessness every day in Dublin, in contrast to the six new presentations of homelessness in Dublin per day.

Although the census in 2011 recorded the number of homeless people in Ireland to be 3,808, it is now estimated that it has reached a staggering 5,000 people Dublin Region Homeless Executive Rough Sleeper Count Official figures show that in December 2013 there was a minimum of 139 people sleeping rough in the Dublin region, nearly a 60% increase of the sleep count in November 2012, which stated that a minimum of 87 people were sleeping rough in the same region.

However, the most shocking statistic of all states that, on average, 16 families are now losing their homes every month and additionally, five children a week are becoming homeless according to Focus Ireland.

With the ongoing recession, many people are unable to afford mortgage repayments, which means they are often forced to leave their homes.

People are also finding it incredibly difficult to source affordable housing in the current market.

Senator Aideen Hayden recently stated that “rent has returned to 2006 levels, despite the fact that our economic outlook is far less rosy. This is a problem of supply and demand. We have too many people who need housing and too few units being built in Dublin.”

Although NAMA promised to provide 2,000 units of affordable accommodation, as well as identifying 4,000 properties that could be used for social housing purposes, only six hundred units of accommodation have so far been provided.

With the recognition of the importance of the right to a home given by the constitutional

convention, we must ask what practical implications this will have for the homeless and for those struggling with mortgage payments.

According to Bob Jordan, the director of the housing charity Threshold, “If it’s voted into the Constitution then the government will have much more of a responsibility for housing everybody, and making sure everyone has a home… The people with less security in the private rented sector and the people who can’t afford to keep the roof over their head, in the future they will have the right to take legal action against the State if they’re homeless or if affordable accommodation is not available to them.”

Presumably this would operate in the same manner as the South African guarantee. The South African Constitutional Court held previously that the right to housing puts the onus on the State to provide rudimentary shelter for everyone, regardless of resources.

However, such a guarantee cannot be implemented until the Constitutional Convention finishes up, the new Constitution is put to a vote and legal action is heard before the court.

Jordan believes, “The most important thing at the moment is trying to keep people in their homes. There are probably a few things that can be done. One is that organisations like ourselves who are involved in advice and advocacy need to be supported to do our work. We have a frontline role in helping people to negotiate with their landlords, getting them welfare payments, and helping them to secure alternative accommodation.”

Both Senator Hayden and Jordan suggest rent control be introduced.

This would mean that property could be advertised at market prices until let. Thereafter landlords would be required not to raise their rents above a certain level. This might be based on, for example, the consumer price

index. While not a complete solution, this would prevent families in housing currently from being ‘economically evicted’ from their homes.

Senator Hayden argues, “For the thousands of families who have made their permanent homes in rented housing, such a system would assure them that their children would be in the same school next autumn, that they would be playing in the same GAA club, and that they could invest in their community without worrying that an arbitrary and unpredictable rent increase might drive them out of their homes.”

According to Jordan, rent control has become necessary due to a number of excessive rent increases by landlords, stating that they “benefit exorbitantly from the current shortage in the market and hike up rents 20-30% overnight.”

While the government has ring-fenced funding for homeless services in the last two budgets, this doesn’t solve the problem. They have advocated a ‘housing first’ solution, but have only been able to construct 8,500 units, despite the waiting list of 10,000 applicants. And the numbers are only getting larger.

Senator Hayden has called for €1 billion over the next ten years in order to create 60,000 units to keep up with the growth in housing demand.

Jordan suggests that we will eventually get to a level where the private market for development will return. “At the moment the reason developers aren’t developing anymore is because someone can go out and buy an apartment in particular for less than it costs a builder to build it.

“At some point those prices are going to come up to a level where it becomes much more economically profitable for the developer to build and obviously that’ll get the market going again.”

The challenge for the government then will be ensuring that housing is accessible to all.

Dublin Region Homeless Executive Rough Sleeper Count Official figures show that in December 2013 there was a minimum of 139 people sleeping rough in the Dublin region, nearly a 60% increase of the sleep count in November 2012, which stated that a minimum of 87 people were sleeping rough in the same region

april 1st 2014 7

call for applications for editorial team 2014/15

editor Applications are invited for the position of Editor of the University Observer for the academic year 2014/2015.

The Position: The Editor of the University Observer is responsible for all aspects of the newspaper. The Editor is responsible for the management of the newspaper, the publication and distribution of the newspaper, the content of the newspaper and is responsible for the co-ordination of the newspaper’s writers. The Editor is responsible for all internal appointments (with the exception of the Deputy Editor and the Designer) within the newspaper as well as any disciplinary matters that may arise (with the exception of the Deputy Editor and the Designer).

The position of Editor of the University Observer is an extremely demanding one and applicants for the position should be aware that the role involves working unsocial hours in a highly pressurised environment.

The position includes working alternate weekends.

The Editor is responsible for all deadlines being met by the newspaper.

The Candidate: The candidate should exhibit a serious commitment to journalism.

Ideally, the candidate should have experience working for a newspaper or media organisation.

It is preferable but not essential that the candidate is/was a registered student of University College Dublin.

The position is a full-time one and the candidate should be aware of the pressurised environment under which newspaper editors operate. The candidate must be in a position to prove to the interview panel his/her ability to meet fixed, non-negotiable printing deadlines whilst working at speed and under pressure.

The candidate should exhibit a clear sense of duty towards the newspaper, combined with sharp commercial acumen.

A strong knowledge of social media is essential in order to manage the demands of The University Observer website and online resources.

Remuneration: Wages currently stand at €583 per issue minus taxes (twelve editions of the paper are normally published) and some expenses incurred during production of the newspaper may be reclaimed.

Application Procedure: Applicants for the above position must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae and a detailed proposal outlining how the candidate intends to operate and manage the University Observer. The proposal must include a comprehensive outline of strategic changes that can be made to improve the newspaper. Specific areas where the newspaper can be improved should be dealt with in some detail. The applicant should also outline his/her proposals for the day-to-day organisation and management of the newspaper.

Applications should be sent as a pdf file to editor@universityobserver. ie or to the following address: Kevin Beirne, The University Observer, Student Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4.

The University Observer is editorially independent from the Students’ Union, as enshrined in the Union constitution.

The Editor has complete authority over the content of the newspaper, proviso to the standard regulations governing newspaper content (e.g. libel etc).

Applicants with further queries should contact Kevin Beirne, at 01 716 3835, weekdays during business hours, or at the above email address.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview, where they will be expected to answer any questions raised in relation to their proposal.

Members of the interview panel will include the current Editor, two previous Editors of the newspaper, a financial representative of the Students’ Union and the current Union President.

Note: • Applicants are only permitted to enter this competition individually. Joint applications will not be accepted.

• Canvassing members of the interview panel is forbidden.

Candidates who canvass members of the interview panel may be disqualified from consideration.

• No formal training is offered to successful candidates.

• Applicants should make it clear in their cover letter whether or not they would like to be considered for the role of Deputy Editor as well as Editor.

• Applications should be no longer than 5,000 words.

Closing date for applications is 5pm, 25th April 2013.

The Editor is appointed for the full academic year, 2014/2015.

Deputy Editor Applications are invited for the position of Deputy Editor of the University Observer for the academic year 2013/2014.

The Candidate: The candidate should exhibit a serious commitment to journalism.

Ideally, the candidate should have experience working for a newspaper or media organisation.

It is preferable but not essential that the candidate is/was a registered student of University College Dublin.

The position is a full time one and the candidate should be aware of the pressurised environment under which newspaper editors operate. The candidate must be in a position to prove to the interview panel his/her ability to meet fixed, non negotiable printing deadlines whilst working at speed and under pressure.

The candidate should exhibit a clear sense of duty towards the newspaper, combined with sharp commercial acumen.

A strong knowledge of social media is essential in order to manage the demands of the University Observer website and other online resources.

The Position: The Deputy Editor of the University Observer, upon direction from the Editor, is responsible for all aspects of the newspaper. The Deputy Editor, subject in all matters concerning the newspaper to the direction of the Editor, shall be responsible, with the Editor, for the management of the newspaper, the publication and distribution of the newspaper, the content of the newspaper and is responsible for the co-ordination of the newspaper’s writers.

The position of Deputy Editor of the University Observer is an extremely demanding one and applicants for the position should be aware that the role involves working unsocial hours in a highly pressurised environment.

The position includes working alternate weekends.

Applicants for the above position must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae and a detailed proposal, outlining how the candidate intends to operate and manage the University Observer. The proposal must include a comprehensive outline of strategic changes that can be made to improve the newspaper. Specifics areas where the newspaper can be improved should be dealt with in some detail. The applicant should also outline his/her proposals for the day-to-day organisation and management of the newspaper.

The Deputy Editor is responsible for all Applications should be sent as a pdf deadlines being met by the newspaper. file to editor@universityobserver. ie or to the following address: The University Observer is editorially independent from the Students’ Union, Kevin Beirne, as enshrined in the Union constitution. The University Observer Student Centre, The Deputy Editor has authority over University College Dublin, the content of the newspaper, subject Belfield, to the standard regulations governing Dublin 4. newspaper content (e.g. libel etc).

The Deputy Editor is appointed for the full academic year, 2014/2015.

8 april 1st 2014

Remuneration: Wages currently stand at €525 per issue minus taxes (twelve editions of the paper are normally published) and some expenses incurred during production of the newspaper may be reclaimed Application Procedure:

Applicants with further queries should contact Kevin Beirne at 01 716 3835, weekdays during business hours, or at the above email address.

Short-listed candidates will be called for an interview, where they will be expected to answer any question raised in relation to the proposal.

Note: • Applicants are only permitted to apply for this position individually.

Joint applications will not be accepted.

• Canvassing members of the interview panel is forbidden.

Candidates who canvass members of the interview panel may be disqualified from consideration.

• No formal training is offered to successful candidates.

• Applicants should make it clear in their cover letter whether or not they would like to be considered for the role of Editor as well as Deputy Editor.

•Applications should be no longer than 5,000 words.

Closing date for applications is 5pm, 2nd May.

Amy Fox

Undergrad Education Bill Thompson

Name: Bill Thompson Age: 20 Hometown: Poole, England Course: History and German

Name: Amy Fox Age: 21 Hometown: Athlone, Co. Westmeath Course: Business and Law

A 21-year-old final year B&L student from Westmeath, Amy Fox is hoping her experience as both a student and seasoned LawSoc veteran will help her achieve success in the race for the position of Undergraduate Education Officer.

Fox seems to be basing her campaign on improving what’s already available rather than making any grand changes. A policy not very often held by candidates, who usually make outlandish promises, and one which may set her apart from the competition.

“In terms of education, there are very few tangible facilities and services unless you come to the Education office with assessment issues… there are very few services they offer unless people turn up in times of need. So I want to take the Undergraduate Education office out in terms of education clinics.”

The clinics she speaks of were once an accepted responsibility of the Undergraduate Education Officer, but have since been left by the wayside. Fox wants to take the position and bring it back to the students. “I think a major issue, and it’s been an issue for the last number of Education Officers [in general], is being visible on campus and engaging students with the SU. “I feel like once people can identify with a service the union provides then they can identify more with the Union and I feel that this is a particular problem with the Undergraduate Education Officer at the moment.”

It has been a common complaint in recent years that people simply never see the two education officers on campus, a problem that feeds directly into the attitude of disinterest that often accompanies anything to do with elections.

Year after year the posts of Welfare and Equality Officer and President are the most talked about positions, most likely because these are the positions that hold the most visibility.

People may assume, therefore, that these positions are more important and useful. Fox plans to change this attitude. “The Undergraduate Education office needs to make more of an effort to engage with students and be visible… you also need to be a person who people feel they can come and approach.”

Hailing from Athlone, Fox is aware of the challenges faced by students settling in and getting used to the system in UCD. She is also very aware that a lot of minds can be put at ease simply by the experienced hand of an older student. Having

seen the success of the peer mentor system for incoming first years in this regard, she hopes to extend the system somewhat through a project called Peer Assisted Learning (PAL).

“The idea is to use older students’ knowledge to benefit the years below them. If students from older years can, in a seminar-style format, sit down with first year students and give them pointers on the teaching and examination style of certain lecturers I feel it would greatly benefit the students.”

Aiming to affect real change within the system currently in place, Fox favours tweaking current methods so that they better serve the interests of students and hold the college more accountable. What she proposes is neither radical nor groundbreaking, but simple and easily implemented changes that could help to create more consistency and accountability in continuous assessment through her proposed online assessment calendar.

As it stands currently, lecturers are supposed to stick to the dates and weighting of certain tests they set out at the beginning of their courses, however Fox says, “In my experience that hasn’t always been the case.

“The idea behind the online assessment calendar [is] to allow students to plan their work properly so they don’t end up with lots of assignments at once and the other reason was to hold lecturers to their promises at the start of the semester so that students can prepare properly for their busiest periods.”

She has also proposed a tutor rotation system, which would stop students having all their work graded by the same tutor. This addresses the fact that “the difference in grading between tutors has been very wide” and allows for a fairer grading process, a solution that should be amicable to all parties.

Fox is also focused on class reps and their roles. She feels that reps at the moment have a poor idea of what exactly their role as class reps entails and are failing to fully represent their respective faculties as a result of this.

“The [class] reps at the moment have a huge amount of responsibility in that they deal with academic issues, welfare issues and the social aspect of their courses… We need to look at training class reps to ensure that they understand their importance and to understand that they have to be stimulated to engage with academic issues, that they can feed those issues to us.”

Fox also wants to try and create greater industry links with the

In terms of education, there are very few tangible facilities and services unless you come to the Education office with assessment issues… there are very few services they offer unless people turn up in times of need. So I want to take the Undergraduate Education office out in terms of education clinics

college so that students can make summer placements a credited part of their degree. “What I would like to see is some sort of third semester internship in that they work a month during the summer and it is also credited as a module.” In this manner she hopes to improve the employability of graduates by increasing their experience levels while they are in college.

Game-changing or sensational are terms that will never be used to describe Foxs’ campaign. Rather she has come up with a set of well laid-out and achievable goals to improve the system already in place rather than altering it completely.

Her level-headedness and nonantagonistic approach may serve her well during the campaign.

Second year History and German student Bill Thompson believes his communication skills are the greatest asset that he will bring to the Undergraduate Education Office if elected. Viewing the role as being a problem solver and advocate on behalf of students, he feels the most important part of his job will be dealing with individual students.

“For all one might say, and for all I will espouse, what it comes down to is individuals… There are 25-odd thousand undergraduate students here [sic: the amount is actually closer to 17,000]. That is a big number, but that is 25,000 individuals and you can’t let down the individuals. It’s about personal cases,” he says.

While his communication skills may not be as “laconic,” or concise, as he describes, it is difficult to argue with him when he asserts that he presents a strong case. He is a confident speaker and seems keenly aware of the best way to approach the types of UCD officials he would encounter in the role.

This awareness is clearly a product of the experience he has gained in student politics; in school, as a class rep and this year as the International Students Co-ordinator. “Since I was about 14, I’ve been involved in student politics and representation at some level or another so I understand how academic systems work, I understand how boards work, and how students work as importantly as anything else… If you can bring yourself onto the level of the people you’re trying to bring an idea to, they’re much more ready to accept it.”

When asked to rate the performance of this year’s Undergraduate Education Officer, Adam Carroll, however, it is this focus on personal cases that Thompson criticises most harshly.

“There haven’t been any big key initiatives… Others have done a lot of admirable day work, but I do think there is room for some bigger initiatives to be pushed through.”

Naming the reopening of the James Joyce Library on Sundays as the last major achievement by the Education Office in the SU, Thompson hopes to focus his energy on lowering resit fees and streamlining the registration system, as what he calls his “marquee campaigns.”

However, he believes these are relatively basic goals. “I’m not necessarily offering anything particularly out there or beyond, but I’m a very realpolitik kind of person; what’s achievable, what can we do, what workable. I don’t want to promise something absolutely out there and then not be able to deliver on it. I want to aim to work on things that are deliverable.”

Though not one of his flagship campaigns, Thompson also hopes to ensure all of UCD’s libraries are open seven days a week. He believes compromise will be necessary on the opening hours on other days in order to ensure that Sunday openings in each library are financially viable.

“There are students who do not necessarily need the James Joyce Library, who need their specialised libraries. I want to make sure they have the same level of access as everyone else. This could mean cutting back, in order to make sure there are Sunday openings, even during peak times.”

The lowering of re-sit fees and an increase in library opening hours are promises made year in, year out at election time, and promises Education Officers regularly fail to deliver on. However, Thompson is confident that these are very achievable plans on his behalf.

He believes changes in the University Management Team, not limited to UCD’s new President, Professor Deeks, marks “a wind of change in the air,” which he feels will be to his advantage. “I believe this is the time we can stick a flag in the ground and say ‘Look, everything’s changing. There’s new opportunity, there’s a fresh chance. The way things have been for the last few years; that’s changed now. It’s the time for change.’”

Focusing strongly on possible opportunities created by these changes, it seems beyond this Thompson hasn’t thought much about the actual feasibility of his campaigns. While he is confident his negotiation skills are strong, it appears the actual logistics and the realities of the situation have surpassed him.

He asserts, in his own defence, in terms of viability, much will depend on the situation he finds himself in next year. “I’m not necessarily looking at this point to nail down campaigns and specific strategies because I believe it’s something where you have to see how the land lies, see who you’re working with, see how everything is.”

Since the new constitution came into effect, class reps have been the responsibility of the Undergraduate Education Officer, something that has been largely ignored this year.

Thompson seeks to focus more on this area, by giving reps more responsibility and authority, as well as offering them more support.

He hopes through this to increase engagement with the Union. “I think that by making class reps a more obvious point of contact, a more obvious rallying point for their class to take issues to, to take concerns, to take

ideas to them, then you can really open up the Union through that.”

Thompson appears to have a good understanding of the Union, and seems committed to taking the role further, to campaign on the education issues that are affecting students on campus. While personal cases are a large element of the job, each year Education Officers are criticised for not being visible enough outside the walls of their office, and a determination to change that can only be a good thing.

arguably her intention to have UCD issue a separate transcript for extra-curricular activities, such as a student’s involvement in societies and sports clubs.

There is certainly a theme this year of the two candidates suggesting ideas that have been proposed (and failed) many times before.

While it is true that there has been a change in the management structure of the University, a lot of the hurdles to things such as a 24-hour study area are still in place.

One of the biggest criticisms of the previous Education Officers has been their lack of visibility on campus. Fox hopes to become more visible by posting “viral videos” to “highlight issues”, although she admits this is a bit vague. Her idea of holding an education clinic every fortnight in every building seems a little ambitious, but it is a step in the right direction.

Thompson, meanwhile, does not give much information on this in his manifesto beyond the seemingly

compulsory claim that he will have more office hours and will be “open and available” to students who need him. He appears to believe that giving more responsibility to class reps will held counteract this.

In what has traditionally been a low-key position in the Union, we have two candidates who have so far failed to make themselves stand out. With low voter turnout already an issue for the Union, it’s hard to imagine either of these candidates inspiring the notoriously apathetic UCD student populace.

I’m not necessarily offering anything particularly out there or beyond, but I’m a very realpolitik kind of person; what’s achievable, what can we do, what’s workable

Election Analysis Kevin Beirne

Last year, the Education Office of UCDSU was divided into the Undergraduate Education Officer and the Graduate Education Officer. As of yet, it is not clear if this undertaking was the best possible course of action.

Of the two, the undergraduate role is seen as the more important.

This year, there are two candidates for this position, fourth year Business and Law student Amy Fox and second year History and German student Bill Thompson, but neither one really stands out as the obvious

choice. Both candidates have rather unspectacular manifestos, a fact some might argue is befitting of the position they hope to hold.

Where Fox hopes to stop fees from increasing at all, Thompson seems more resigned to a coming change in the way Irish students pay for their education and has said he would be open to seeing the Australian scheme being adopted, although that does not match the current SU mandate.

Both candidates stress the importance of cooperation with the

University on a number of issues, but it is unclear if either of them have the necessary experience to know what to do if negotiations break down.

Thompson hopes to open more libraries than just the James Joyce on Sundays. While his proposal to re-allocate hour from other days might be accepted as it would not increase labour costs, it may not fix the problem, but just move the problem around to a different time to where it currently is.

Fox’s most ambitious goal is

april 1st 2014 9

Welfare & Equality CiAn Aherne

sam blanckensee

Name: Cian Aherne Age: 20 Hometown: Killiney, Dublin Course: Actuarial & Financial Studies

Differing from the other candidates, the basis of Cian Aherne putting himself forward for the role of Welfare and Equality Officer is firmly based on the belief that there is a need for change and that visibility and communication have not been strongly adhered to by this year’s officer.

Aherne is keen to emphasise that “the most important part of the position is to be seen, that people know that you’re there as a resource to be used. I don’t think that was emphasised enough this year. A lot of people I’ve talked to don’t know where the Welfare and Equality Officer is.”

The 20-year-old from south Dublin has held no previous positions in the UCD Students’ Union (SU), but is an active committee member of several student societies and also on this year’s Welfare Crew. Aherne believes his qualities showcase his readiness for the role. “[I’m] a compassionate leader, empathetic, a keen ear. I’m extremely driven and I care quite a lot about the welfare of the students of UCD.” Aherne is very keen to stress his leadership qualities, feeling that there is a need for a visible leader who follows through on their promises and helps students engage in the SU. “They don’t see the officers in the SU holding up their promises and they don’t care because those that aren’t first years have been here a number of years and feel that they’ve failed to connect with their SU officers on a personal level.”

In creating a more socially inclusive and friendlier place for freshers, which is the building block in creating a more socially aware campus, Aherne wants to revamp the peer mentor system, along with attempting to extend the orientation process.

Refocusing the efforts of traditional week-long campaigns towards initiatives that are spread out over the course of a year is something that Aherne feels will increase students’ awareness of the work done by the Welfare and Equality Officer and the issues that need to be highlighted.

Aherne also feels he can follow through on a lot of his ideas by the first day of term. “I think, making sure a lot of the promises our Welfare and Equality Officer makes come into place come by the 1st of September, or the start of term [is important]. Making sure that they actually happen is quite important, I don’t think starting these campaigns after Christmas is doing anybody any good.”

Name: Sam Blanckensee Age: 20 Hometown: Greystones, Wicklow Course: Veterinary Nursing

Of the most pressing issue facing the role, Aherne sees the stigma surrounding mental health as something that needs to be broken down. He plans to draw from his own experiences and combine that with his public role in order to eradicate the negative barriers he sees still existing among students.

“If people know that someone in charge suffers from a similar thing, they won’t think it’s such a weird thing anymore. Once they discover that their friends suffer from it, their families suffer from it, it won’t be such a bad thing to talk about anymore.”

Physical health goes hand in hand with mental health and as such Aherne is campaigning to carry over an alternative healthy food option to be produced by the many vendors across campus. “It’s a simple matter of making them see that it will be a profit and a possible alternative for people.”

In dealing with the current residence rights issues, Aherne wishes to build a large Welfare crew next year combined with getting “more support from the student body in lobbying these issues, and I believe in strength in numbers. I think negotiations should take place and I believe I’m quite a good negotiator.”

When focusing on the content of his manifesto and the ideas and promises contained within, Aherne’s concedes that he has been unable to offer concrete plans or can’t make such promises, citing that as he has not been elected into the office he cannot offer fully laid out plans.

One such idea includes the Dublin Bike Scheme and new bus routes to UCD, which are matters that are out of his control and will require a significant amount of liaison with the DublinBikes contractors and bus companies themselves before any plans get the go ahead.

Transport is, however, a unique aspect of Aherne’s manifesto, and he does promise to lobby to improve such services. “I think it’s a really simple matter of negotiation because it has benefits for both parties. No there is no plan in place right now because I have no authority to do that.

I’m not quite sure of the process up to now, if [the DublinBikes scheme is] not already underway [on campus], then I don’t think I can get it done by the end of the year… I think there is a good financial benefit to DublinBikes. There’s 25,000 students in UCD, 3,000 on Residence, so I think that it would be financially beneficial for DublinBikes to do this.”

Another unique aspect of Aherne’s

They don’t see the officers in the SU holding up their promises and they don’t care because those that aren’t first years have been here a number of years and feel that they’ve failed to connect with their SU officers on a personal level

proposed plans includes a part-time job fair. The idea of a part-time job, however, is very different than the standard graduate fairs traditionally set up by UCD. Aherne sees the fair as promoting UCD students to employers and allowing them to “find the best person for a job and it should shorten the negotiation process.”

Aherne, in terms of equality wishes to differentiate between the ways in which male and female health is dealt with, along with what he sees as under representation in the SU. “It’s not that women are excluded… they’re not encouraged enough to run for these positions and I think that really needs to happen more.”

As stated in his manifesto, Aherne’s candidacy is based on a feeling that there is a need for change and that he cares about the welfare of UCD students. He is confident that his ideas outlined and his determination to see them come to fruition before September will see UCD students vote for him.

Currently the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Co-ordinator of UCD Students’ Union (SU), Sam Blanckensee is another candidate going for the role of Welfare and Equality Officer that has been involved with initiatives focused on promoting welfare and tackling inequality for a number of years.

Blanckensee believes his experiences in secondary school, his work with youth groups such as BeLonGTo, and involvement in UCDSU demonstrate that he is more than capable to fulfill the requirements of the role.

“I’ve been working on specifically mental health all through school. I have been working in BeLonGTo, which is the LGBT youth organisation, since I was about 17-years-old and I was a facilitator there for a few years so I was working on mental health, sexual health workshops.

“I was giving a lot of workshops myself, around a lot of LGBT issues, but also around mental health and sexual health. I was working with the Welfare Crew quite a bit this year, as far as whatever work it did I was involved with, and I’ve been working with Cian [Dowling] throughout the year.

“As the Welfare Officer for the LGBT society, I’m Safe TALKtrained and have been working on personal cases. So there’s been about ten personal cases I’ve been working on throughout the year on a range of issues; whether that was coming out or mental health.”

On a personal level, Blanckensee feels very excited and enthusiastic about the upcoming elections, and feels that would be translated into the role of Welfare and Equality Officer if he were to be elected. “I’m excited… When I get a role I want to be able to put 100% into it, and I think I’ve definitely shown that this year as LGBT Co-ordinator and Welfare Officer for the society.

I really have put my 100% into it.

“The stuff that I’ve done this year hasn’t been done in a few years and I think that’s what you really need in a Welfare and Equality Officer. You also need to be approachable, and I do feel that I’m an approachable person. I’ve been through a lot of the things that you will have to come across in the welfare position. I’ve been through mental health stuff myself.”

When talking about some of the prime issues that affect students on campus right now, Blanckensee singles out and

assesses how openness is a serious problem on campus. “I think UCD students are really struggling to talk about things in general.

“I think openness on campus is hard to come across, so whether that’s trying to impress your new friends when you’re in first year or just not wanting to open up about something because it’s too close to home when you’re in later years; it’s very much trying to make people be open.”

However, expanding on this solitary issue, Blanckensee says, “The three top issues, Cian [Dowling] would say he’s dealing with everyday are the personal cases he would get in, [which] would be, crisis pregnancy, mental health and finances. Those are kind of the top three that UCD students are dealing with on a day to day basis.”

With the Welfare and Equality race so well contested, it is key for candidates hoping to be elected to stand out from the rest. Some of Blanckensee’s personal ideas include the suggestion of putting in place a night bus service for students on UCD Residences to avail of.

“I want to bring in a night bus, which is something that, it’s been tried before, it’s failed before, but I think that if you can do it in a kind of business smart way I think it could really help students go on nights out.

And from Monday to Wednesday you’ve got no NiteLink to get home.

“I know myself, living so far away from campus, I commute, so it takes me an hour and a half to get back home even from UCD. But on nights out, on Thursdays and Fridays there’s a NiteLink, and Saturdays, but the days that students go out is Monday to Wednesday.”

Although it is a broad term, Blanckensee does believe that he can also make the position more “fun” to be involved with. “I’ve seen different campaigns such as the living library. Basically it’s where humans are books; so these human books have different titles per se; so maybe a homeless person, an alcoholic and these people are put on UCD campus and people can check out the books. And they can ask this book whatever questions they want for 15 minutes once they don’t hurt the book, and it’s to try to reduce stigma.

It’s quite an interactive campaign “There’s also a ball pool where every ball has a question on it and two people sit in the ball pool and they sit there for say 15 minutes, and they talk to each other and they make friends from this ball pool and from asking each other questions.”

Blanckensee also places a significant emphasis on aiming promote sexual empowerment should he be elected to the role.

“I’ve an awful lot of experience with sexual empowerment because it’s something that really big at the moment in the LGBTQ+ community.

It’s something that is so core.

“Sexual empowerment is a new way of looking at sex where it’s about talking about sex, communication and that’s exactly what I want to try to bring on campus; where having poster going ‘So you want to have better sex?’

And literally talking about sex. Being the person who goes ‘yeah, but sex is cool, sex is fine.’ Sex is something good if you want to have it.”

There is no doubt that Blanckensee is an enthusiastic candidate.

He has much experience having worked as part of the Welfare Crew, completed his Safe TALK training, and through his involvement in the LGBT Society and his work as LGBT Co-ordinator of UCDSU gained an understanding of what issues students are worried about.

This work with the SU gives him an understanding of how the organisation works, but more so gives him a grounding in the compassionate and empathetic abilities that are needed for the role of Welfare and Equality Officer.

will listen to his suggestions and why he will be the one to ensure that kettles and microwaves are put in each college faculty when it is promised every year by sabbatical and convenor candidates.

Similar to Aherne, Sam Blanckensee has some ideas that clearly need to be teased out further and are possibly unviable. The night bus scheme has been proven not to work in the past and the carpool scheme whereby students

will carpool to college seems like an unreliable and possibly unsafe initiative to put in place.

Rebek’ah McKinney-Perry’s ideas, meanwhile, are mainly sourced from issues that she has personally experienced. These ideas include informing students about financial assistance, raising awareness for the lack of disability access, and addressing gender inequality in UCD. These are all issues that she has felt directly affected by and she

will be speaking from experience, however, if these issues need to affect her to come to her attention, it demonstrates a lack of awareness of other issues affecting students.

One of Maeve DeSay’s main ideas, the Fee Abatement Programme, would be a useful service for students to have access to, but is based on dealing with University officials who have annually refused to budge on the issue of resit and repeat fees. What could be different

I think openness on campus is hard to come across, so whether that’s trying to impress your new friends when you’re in first year or just not wanting to open up about something because it’s too close to home when you’re in later years; it’s very much trying to make people be open

Election Analysis KILLIAN WOODS

In the UCD Students’ Students’ Union (SU), the Welfare and Equality position is unrivaled as the most important job in the Union. Regardless if there are four people going for the role, or it is an uncontested election, the members of UCDSU have no room for error when they cast their vote.

The Welfare and Equality Officer is on the front line addressing the main problems that affect students and fighting against inequality that

10 april 1st 2014

is carelessly ignored by society at times. They are a crucial service that provide a link to students, pointing them in the right direction of services that can help them with their problem, or simply being an attentive and compassionate ear that is there to listen.

Following the lack of interest in last year’s elections in general, it is reassuring that there is still an appetite among students to put themselves forward for these

sabbatical positions. It is clear that all candidates for this race are genuine in their intentions to help the students of UCD, however, there is a sense of naivety with a lot of their ideas lacking originality.

A lot of Cian Aherne’s key plans will require a significant amount negotiation with University officials and companies such as Dublin Bus and DublinBikes. With no relative experience for lobbying such entities, it is difficult to understand why they

Maeve desay

Welfare & Equality rebek’ah mckinney-perry

Name: Rebek’ah McKinney-Perry Age: 22 Hometown: Cabinteely, Dublin Course: Law

Name: Maeve DeSay Age: 20 Hometown: Lucan, Dublin Course: International Relations and Irish

Maeve DeSay is a candidate for the position of Welfare and Equality Officer that is no stranger to being involved with campaigns that focus on promoting positive mental health.

She intends to focus on fulfilling the basic requirements of the Welfare and Equality Officer, but aims to stand out by bringing a new approach to tackling these issues.

Outlining her passion for the role, DeSay reflects on her first week in UCD, where she saw an opportunity to raise awareness for services in UCD that facilitate students who have issues with mental health. When she was 15-years-old, DeSay organised 1,000 cards the size of credit cards to be distributed in schools in her local area that had contact details for mental health services on the back.

DeSay felt UCD could also benefit from such an information campaign.

“On my second day in UCD, I marched up to [the Welfare Officer at the time] Mícheál Gallagher and said I want to do this in UCD. I know how to get the funding, I know how to run a campaign, and I know how to get people involved in it.

Later I had 10,000 of these cards distributed for the students of UCD. They were distributed and they will be given out on Please Talk Day.” Determination is a key personal skill that DeSay feels shines through in her ability to see through such a campaign. She also thinks this trait is complemented by others crucial for the role of a Welfare and Equality Officer. “I know how to budget, I also think I am a very approachable person and very compassionate, which is also very important for the personal cases that come through your door as Welfare and Equality Officer.

“As Welfare and Equality Officer, I think it is vital for students to see me as the most approachable person on campus if they have any issues whatsoever. They need to know that my door is open.”

DeSay is adamant that she can improve on the presence of the Welfare and Equality Officer on campus through some targeted initiatives. “I will run bimonthly outreach clinics in various faculties in UCD, so that students first and foremost know who I am and if they want to come up to me and talk about any personal issues they are having or if they have any questions about the Welfare and Equality in UCD. “I’m also going to be running a Know Your Welfare campaign in the first week in UCD. I’ll be very active during orientation week and ensure that my face is what first years see

all the time and to introduce them to the other support services here on campus and let them know that I am a link between the support services and the students.”

Last year, due to a constitutional reform, the role of the Welfare Officer was redefined to incorporate equality. DeSay feels due to this redefinition, there is no single issue that can be perceived to be of paramount importance anymore.

“I don’t think that there is a single most important part of the job. I don’t think that you can put one thing above another…I think the mental health of the country is affected as a whole and obviously I am very much an advocate of mental health and looking after somebody’s mental health. So, that is a massive issue affecting UCD students.

“Finances as well, they are so important. It would break my heart to see any student leave college because they can’t support themselves financially. It is also really important for the students of UCD to be treated equally. Equality of access and equality of opportunity.”

After mentioning equality as a major issue affecting UCD students, DeSay focused on a campaign she would like to introduce that aims to increasing gender recognition in UCD. “One thing I stress on my manifesto is the Think Outside the Box campaign. I think it is really important for the University to recognise that all students don’t fit under the binary male or female terms and I would like for a box titled ‘Other’ to be introduced. The reason for the title other is that gender is a spectrum and should not be a titled put on this.”

Other unique initiatives that DeSay feels she can bring to the position include the Fee Abatement Programme and the Accessibility Blackspot campaign.

Elaborating on the Fee Abatement Programme, she says, “At the moment, the resit fee or repeat fee in UCD is €230. It is remarkably higher than our fellow universities.

The Fee Abatement Programme is not to support students that are failing exams. It is there for students that are suffering financially and for those who have extra pressure on them, therefore their academics are suffering even more. “[I intend] to lobby the University and to set up a panel to listen to the students and to let them propose their problem, and I will advocate on behalf of this student

about DeSay’s approach that will make the University interested in hearing out students who may be worthy of their resit fee being amended based on an appeal.

With regards to experience that is relative to the role, no candidate specifically stands out as the most qualified. McKinney-Perry has outlined she feels that she is the most experienced person for the role, backed up by her involvement in the Welfare Crew for four years,

but both DeSay and Blanckensee have relative experience for the role due to their involvements in the organisation of Please Talk Day and work as the LGBT Society Welfare Officer respectively.

Aherne does have a significant amount of experience with UCD life on a society level and as a member of the Welfare Crew, but none made apparent when it comes to organisational skills.

A key aspect of the Welfare and

to have their [resit] fee either fully abated or partially abated.”

Also expanding on the Accessibility Blackspot campaign, she says, “Have you ever seen someone in a wheelchair try to get into the Newman Building? Yes, they have those buttons… they don’t work.

“We have many students with a disability, whether it is invisible or visible and it is important for other students to know where there are blackspots in UCD so they know where students with disabilities might need help with a door and so UCD knows that a change needs to be made.”

At 20-years-old, DeSay is a young candidate who could be perceived as inexperienced and too young to take on such an important position in the SU. However, she is insistent that she is under no illusions about how difficult the job is and that she is going for the position for the right reasons.

“Some people have asked am I terrified and the answer is always ‘No’. I’m not oblivious to how difficult an election is and am aware of how tiring and how intense it is, but it is nothing compared to what I will face next year. Any candidate entering an election campaign, specifically a Welfare and Equality campaign, who thinks that the election is the most difficult bit, is maybe entering for the wrong reasons.”

You run for a position because you believe you’re the best person for the job,” says this year’s Gender Equality Co-ordinator, Rebek’ah McKinney-Perry, who is the oldest of the four candidates for this year’s race for the position of Welfare and Equality Officer of UCDSU. A fourth year Law student, McKinney-Perry intentionally doesn’t promise too much in her manifesto. “My manifesto is fully feasible in my opinion,” she says. “I guess, having the year as Gender Equality [Co-ordinator], I’ve learned that my manifesto for Gender Equality [Co-ordinator] was very ambitious. I guess, while I got some of it completed, I didn’t get all of it completed.”

Her manifesto outlines her top five priorities (should she be elected) as; introducing an online counselling service, “Free Condom Fridays”, creating a better sense of community in UCD Residences, anti-sexism and anti-homophobia training for society auditors and the creation of a rent deposit loan scheme, in that order.

McKinney-Perry sees herself as the candidate with the most experience, saying that “I know how the system works and, because I have been around an extra two years than the other candidates, I think I do have that extra experience of knowing how realistic is it, what is the feasibility of these ideas?”

In this year’s race, the visibility of the Welfare and Equality Officer on campus has been mentioned by all four candidates as a priority issue, and McKinney-Perry is no different.

“What should the Welfare and Equality Officer be? It should be a very visible port of call,” she says.

She also hopes to make students more aware of the myriad of services available to them. Certain services, she believes, are under-utilised due to lack of knowledge among students about their existence. “I don’t think [disability services] are advertised well enough, because they have fantastic resources available, and people are not making use of them.”

Other campaigns that she hopes to run include the “Free Condom Fridays” each and every Friday, and “Tea & Chats” for students living in each of the UCD Residence locations at least once a month. Residence is an area that McKinney-Perry feels was “let down a little bit this year” by all of the current SU Officers.

Although she acknowledges that the position of Welfare and Equality Officer is quite “time poor”, she believes that by giving

greater responsibilities to faculty conveners and the co-ordinators on the Campaigns Forum, there will be time to achieve all of her goals.

On top of this, McKinney-Perry proposes to introduce a Res Officer for each of the residences on campus, as well as adding a Mental Health Co-ordinator to the Campaigns Forum, which would require a referendum that McKinney-Perry hopes could be held alongside the class rep elections at the beginning of the 2014/15 academic year.

Some ideas, however, will require greater cooperation from services within UCD with no direct connection to the Union. McKinney-Perry outlines a plan to reduce the cost of the morning-after pill in the UCD Pharmacy by either asking them to reduce rates to be closer in line with some cheaper pharmacies, or by the Union itself subsidising the cost, thanks to increased funding from corporate sponsorship.

In her manifesto, McKinney-Perry claims that she “will ensure a certain percentage of jobs on campus are allocated to students”, with the food service providers being the focus of this campaign. This is an example of something that she believes could be in place before students return from the summer break.

In terms of her own employment, McKinney-Perry proposes to take a 10% pay-cut if elected, with the money being saved to be redistributed back into the Welfare Fund. “Having been someone who has availed of the Welfare Fund, it is totally not tokenistic. It’s me saying ‘I have availed of this, if in any way I can help someone else avail of it, or even show my gratitude for the fund.’ I know people have suggested that it is perhaps populist but it is actually, on my part, completely genuine.”

A 10% pay-cut would represent around an additional €2,000 for the Welfare Fund, although McKinney-Perry says she would encourage the other three Sabbatical Officers to follow suit.

“I think it is a good gesture,” she says, “that we do take our jobs seriously. Even if that provided bus tickets for 100 students for the year, I would feel like I was doing good.

It may be perceived as tokenistic, but it is genuinely not. It’s more that I’d like to show my gratitude and if I’m in a position to give back to a fund that has been very good to me, I would love to do so.”

Despite being involved with the Union since arriving at UCD in 2010, McKinney-Perry sees

the need for breaking down the barriers between the average student and the “clique” of the SU. “I think the SU needs to be more relevant and more localised. Again, harping back to my manifesto, that’s kind of my idea. Because I had been involved with the Union since I came to college, I have a certain view of the Union.” She explains.

“So when I was deciding to run for this position and writing my manifesto, I just went to a load of friends of mine who have had nothing to do with the Union… and said ‘what would make the Union more easier for you?’ ... People only care what’s relevant to them.” Whether or not McKinney-Perry is the one to reignite students’ interest in the SU once more is still to be seen.

Equality role that has cropped up is that of visibility on campus. All candidates have made reference to their intentions to boost the awareness of the officer on campus, however, DeSay has firmly outlined a series of targeted methods she intends to use if elected to boost UCD students’ awareness of who their Welfare and Equality Officer is and what they can provide through her Know Your Welfare campaign and bimonthly clinics in each faculty.

McKinney-Perry does outline that she will make it easier for students to make appointments with her, but this is not an idea that broadens the scope for awareness. Blanckensee broadly suggests working tirelessly and allowing students to text him at any stage, feeling that this alone will boost availability.

While Aherne also feels offering a public phone number will increase the perceived availability of the Welfare and Equality Officer, he

also intends to run drop in clinics in different areas of campus.

As mentioned previously, the candidates for Welfare and Equality Officer have their best intentions at heart. Their overtly ambitious plans are meant to demonstrate to students how determined they are to affect change if they get elected.

However, there is a difference between showing ambition and suggesting, as a candidate, that you will ensure and promise populist

ideas are definitely brought in.

UCD students have the tough decision to make and even if they don’t feel the SU represents them or don’t think the SU actually achieves anything, the Welfare and Equality Officer actually makes differences in people’s lives. So, pick apart the candidates’ manifestos, question the viability of their policies, and make sure you vote for best candidate whose compassion will make a lasting difference in students’ lives.

Any candidate entering an election campaign, specifically a Welfare and Equality campaign, who thinks that the election is the most difficult bit, is maybe entering for the wrong reasons

I know how the system works and, because I have been around an extra two years than the other candidates, I think I do have that extra experience

april 1st 2014 11

president

Feargal Hynes

We need to have a conversation about the future of thirdlevel funding and I think it’s something that the Union and all of the students need to be involved in

Feargal Hynes is the sole candidate for SU President this year. Although it has been common in the past for the role of President to be uncontested, this will most likely be the first time in five years the role has not been filled by a former sabbatical officer.

Hynes, who hails from Wexford, says that he decided to run because he felt that there was a lack of engagement between UCD students and the Union. “I went to concentrate solely on final year and I took a step back from Ents and I chose not to run for class rep and the Union Council and I found out how little engagement there was between the Union and the student body.”

Hynes argues that this is because the Students’ Union has been waiting for students to come to them rather than the other way around. “This idea of them coming down to the corridor is simply not good enough because they’ve been elected to represent the students and they have to take the first step of engaging with the students.”

Hynes believes that the three biggest issues facing students at the moment are fees and grants, mental

Name: Feargal Hynes Age: 22 Hometown: Wexford Town, Co. Wexford Course: Commerce

health and balancing the focus on education with the need to create a sense of community on campus. He argues that, “the level of camaraderie and the level of atmosphere in campus at the moment were at a worrying low, I think, in the past year.”

Hynes’ four-point plan for better communication with students involves video updates, lecture addresses, presidential open hours and SU clinics in a different faculty every week.

Hynes’ experience in Ents shines through in his manifesto as he has placed moving the UCD Ball back on campus as one of his top priorities.

Citing the post-show report from the O2 last year, which showed there were no serious incidents, Hynes believes that the proof is there that UCD students can act responsibly and are deserving of trust.

“We worked vigorously on an

I don’t believe that we as a union can properly represent the students if we’re not engaging and we don’t fully understand what they want to be represented on…

It’s just about realising that the power of the Union is in the student; it’s not in the corridor

alcohol policy that, while it got a good reaction from the authorities, they were not comfortable with it on campus again so we’ve been in the O2 last year and obviously we’re in the O2 again this year.

“Last year we had no serious events, we had no arrests or serious incidents in the post-show report and if you compare that to other shows that have happened up in Belfast and Phoenix Park it shows that there is a strong level of responsibility among students… The vast majority of people are there to have a good time and to enjoy it.”

He has also suggested introducing a UCDSU app which would inform students of all the different society events on campus, provide a feature to get onto the guestlist of clubs and offer a “Groupon-esque option on it for a meal of the day, maybe in one of the Students’ Union outlets.”

While Hynes’ experience lies in Ents, he believes that the most important service provided by the SU is welfare. “I think maybe the reason it’s most important is that these are the students who need the service the most… it’s irreplaceable.”

Hynes plans to ask for a substantial commitment towards mental-health services. “I want to see medical and mental health facilities to meet the basic requirements of the students in one year and world-class facilities within three years.”

Hynes sets out a long-term plan for the reduction of exam resit fees.

“I want to reduce it by €25 a year for three years. I think we’ve been naïve as a union to come in, bang down the door and say ‘we want a reduction of €100 this year’… We have to be realistic, the university is in financial difficulty as nearly every university in the country is.”

With the upcoming referendum on marriage equality, Hynes plans on running a voter registration drive during Orientation and Freshers week, as well as a #UCDSaysYES campaign. “It’s about equality and not about a preference. It’s the most historically significant referendum that someone of my age, of 21, has ever had a chance to vote in so we need to promote the seriousness and the importance of this referendum.”

Other plans include protecting student grants, changing the Graduate Education Officer portfolio to take on more of a welfare role, moving the res application to before summer break and providing support to the nurses campaign for fair pay and working hours.

When questioned about how he would deal with a stand-off with the university, Hynes said he would exhaust all options. While

he was not opposed to marches or sit-ins he believed that the support wasn’t there among students.

Regarding fees, he stated that while it was a big issue for students, there wasn’t the “appetite to fight it in the way we did in the past…

We need to have a conversation about the future of third-level funding and I think it’s something that the Union and all of the students need to be involved in.”

Hynes reiterated throughout that the power of the Students’ Union came from the students.

“I don’t believe that we as a union can properly represent the students if we’re not engaging and we don’t fully understand what they want to be represented on… It’s just about realising that the power of the Union is in the student; it’s not in the corridor.”

While many of the plans put forward by Hynes seem like a reiteration of what students will feel they have heard before, he argued that the focus on ‘simple, effective’ plans as well as working with a new, more student-focused university management team would help him achieve his goals.

Election Analysis KILLIAN WOODS

When students do eventually rack their brains for a reason to vote for candidate A or not vote for candidate B, it usually comes down who they feel has the best ideas for the SU. In previous years, that method for picking a candidate has led to many people undeserving of election a role within the UCDSU sabbatical team.

The presidential race, and most other races, shouldn’t be about the ideas any given candidate running for the position can bring to the table. It should solely focus on the candidate as a person. All students’ eyes and attention should be focused on drawing into question Feargal Hynes’ character, and not the campaigns he feels the SU will/might get involved with should he be elected.

His ideas shouldn’t even really factor in. Any candidate could promise that they want to reduce the resit fee, campaign for marriage equality, and demand the provision of better mental health facilities, but until they are actually mandated to do exactly what the students want by a policy referendum, they really don’t have to follow through on their promises.

This is a Students’ Union, and you as students should be bringing ideas to the SU President and not letting them or their sabbatical team decide by themselves what issues affect students and need to be addressed. It isn’t rocket science to know that they can’t know exactly everything that affects every student.

As mentioned, when voting, you shouldn’t be giving Hynes a first preference for his ideas.

Your preference should be based on breaking down what his experience and credentials are, and based on his character.

12 april 1st 2014

First and foremost, you want a president that will listen to students’ issues and cater for them first, and not simply come into work on a daily basis looking to cross another unrealistic promise off their manifesto.

So, solely assessing his character, it is evident that Hynes is somewhat charismatic. He can speak at length about issues that affect students, but then again, you wouldn’t expect any less from someone running for office.

Another positive aspect of his character is that he is mindful and compassionate to a certain extent.

He will admit that he is not wellversed in the intricacies of mental health; proven by the fact that he intends to “tackle mental health”, which is akin to saying you’ll remove someone’s lungs so they can’t be affected by second-hand smoke.

Similarly, using the term “sufferers” when relating to people who have issues with their mental health is a poor choice of words and something that he has openly apologised for, citing again a lack of knowledge about this issue that affects students greatly.

Nevertheless, despite these issues not affecting him personally, he had the compassion to notice that they are worthy enough to include in his manifesto. Equally in this regard, he makes marriage equality a priority of his.

Then again, citing these issues and making promises to boost the quality of mental health facilities on campus and get people to register to vote for the referendum on marriage equality could be construed as populist issues to support with empty promises because he knows it will drum up interest in his campaign and more importantly, votes.

If this is a tactic to get elected, it is clever tactic, but not a sly one on his part. Hynes appears very genuine when he says that he wants to address these issues. UCDSU will probably march alongside supporters of marriage equality and Hynes will advocate for better mental health facilities on campus, but it is the naivety to feel that it is as simple as making a demand and even loosely saying he will demand such is also shows short-sightedness.

Who will he be demanding these mental health facilities from? Who will he demand a more transparent Union from? Who will he demand a lower resit fee from? How could he possibly convince the Gardaí to ignore all the health and safety issues with having a UCD Ball on campus?

These demands are very empty in their delivery and specifically relating to the demand about lowering resit fees; this is something that every candidate feels they can change.

What makes him different?

Those are the sorts of questions voters need to ask. What does actually make him different? How approachable is he? Can you trust him to follow his mandate? This is not saying he is unapproachable or will betray his role, but merely pointing out that students need to exercise more critical thinking and not just vote for the notion of a UCD Ball back on campus. Always vote for a person’s character first, and then if you can trust them, you can have more faith in their promises.

Looking at his character is so important because it feeds into what kind of president Hynes might be.

Based on his manifesto, it looks like he will be an Ents-focused one; he openly admits that “Getting the ball back on campus is #1 for me.” This

Over the last few years, there has been an observable change in the type of person students have voted into the office of SU President. The shift in their priorities has seen two incumbent Welfare Officers get elected to the position of president in the Students’ Union for the last two years

type of president is a stark contrast to the somewhat welfare-focused presidents that Rachel Breslin and Mícheál Gallagher ended up being.

Over the last few years, there has been an observable change in the type of person students have voted into the office of SU President. The shift in their priorities has seen two incumbent Welfare Officers get elected to the position of president in the Students’ Union for the last two years. Regardless of the fact that Breslin and Gallagher were virtually unopposed, students chose to elect them to the role of SU President.

The aforementioned two were Welfare Officers during a time period when finances were a serious issue affecting not just students, but it was also an issue that the SU had to deal with themselves.

Breslin, and Gallagher to a certain degree, have been forced to put in place strict fiscal measures to cope with the crippling debt the SU was in due to reckless financial behaviour by previous presidents.

Meanwhile, it was also crucial that the SU began to make a concerted effort to ensure that the organisation doesn’t fall into such a economic mess again by releasing audited accounts and hiring a General Manager to oversee operations and maintain some continuity between the high turnover of sabbatical officers.

Objectively, Breslin and Gallagher have come in and wiped the slate clean, putting the SU back on course and also campaigned successfully increase counselling service hours. So, is the SU ready for another ents-type president?

That doesn’t mean you should vote for RON. It means you should make Hynes convince you that he is capable of financially keeping the SU in check

while also taking huge risks to bring the UCD Ball back on campus.

Aside from focusing on his character, it is important to assess the continuity that a candidate brings.

Hynes admits that he has taken a step back from SU life this year to focus on his studies; and it is a just reason.

It must be kept in mind though, that this year there will be no sabbatical officers continuing their current role or seeking election in a different sabbatical role in the SU. Continuity is key in the SU, and although you can say that previous officers will be there to help or lend advice, there will be that lack of experience on a day-to-day basis.

The last year that no sabbatical officers carried on their roles within the SU was between the 2007/08 academic year and 2008/09 term.

Interestingly enough, the latter year is commonly observed as a tipping point for the SU, from which a lot of the financial issues (that came to light in 2011 and 2012) and racking up of debt can be traced back to.

Admittedly, some support structures have been put in place that will hopefully ensure that this won’t happen again, some of these structures involve a Board of Directors on which former SU Presidents who are somewhat responsible for the financial mismanagement sit, which is food for thought.

Remember to think about who it is you are voting for. Hynes is a genuine candidate and means well, but UCD students have the right to representatives who mean business too. And Hynes could well be that president if you push him to represent you on the matters that you care about.

gradUATE Education Anabel Castañeda

Election Analysis Kevin Beirne

Name: Anabel Castañeda Age: 23 Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Course: Media & International Conflict, MA

It is highly unusual for a someone to run for one of the full-time positions in UCDSU after just one year in the college, but Anabel Castañeda has decided to do just that. The Media & International Conflict student from Las Vegas is the only person to throw her hat into the ring for the position of Graduate Education Officer.

One can be forgiven for being surprised at Castañeda running for the position, especially since it seems to caught her by surprise too. “I didn’t know that the position existed,” admits Castañeda, “and that’s really sad because I’m a postgrad [student] myself and I tried to be really involved.”

Castañeda arrived in Dublin via the University of Edinburgh, where she earned an MA in International Relations. She believes that her experience as a graduate student is what makes her the perfect candidate for the role. In addition to this, she has experience of working in student governments before, having served as the International Student Commissioner during her time as an undergraduate student.

Her manifesto is clearly informed by her experiences of university life outside of UCD, allowing her to pick and choose from the good policies she has seen abroad that are not yet in place here.

She speaks of promoting greater transparency in the Union, saying that there needs to be greater communication between class reps and the students they represent.

Although a newcomer to UCD, she is aware of the difficulties faced in

getting graduate students involved in the Union. “I really want to focus on making more programs available for postgraduates and just showing them that there are sources that the SU can provide.” She says.

“Whether it’s more connections with the careers office, or just general help… Whatever the Graduate Education Officer could do, I would really make that available to them.”

One way in which Castañeda hopes to bring postgraduate students closer to the Union is by spending more time on the Blackrock campus. This year, the current Graduate Officer, Dylan Gray, spent one day a week in Blackrock. Castañeda proposes to change this to two days a week.

“There’s just so many postgrads in Blackrock. Even though they’re just Business, there are different programs within the Business School and they’re more concentrated, they’re in one location. Postgrads in Belfield are more spread out.

“Blackrock students aren’t going to want to come all the way to Belfield if they have any issues, so giving them two days would actually be more beneficial to them so that they can have the option.”

Castañeda is also looking to help graduate students out in other ways. Although it may lead to nothing, she does intend on reducing the cost of interlibrary loans for postgraduates who need many books from many different libraries in order to conduct their research.

She also proposes to host workshops specifically aimed at giving graduate students transferrable skills, like public speaking, as well as helping

I didn’t know that the position existed and that’s really sad because I’m a postgrad [student] myself and I tried to be really involved

students to more easily network with the kind of people they need to be in touch with once they leave university.

These networking sessions would be done across a series of faculties, and would allow students to collaborate with both students and staff of their own faculty or from a different school in the university.

Although she is relatively inexperienced in UCD, it is clear that Castañeda has high hopes for the role of Graduate Education Officer. Whether or not the students have the same optimism will be seen in Friday’s count.

RON In each of the sabbatical and convenor elections, regardless of the number of candidates running for the position, voters will have the option of choosing ‘RON’ or ‘Re-Open Nominations’. This, in essence, is a ‘none of the above’ option, so if none of the candidates meet with your approval, you can choose to vote for none of them in addition to your right to spoil your vote or abstain from voting in the first place.

For electoral purposes, the RON option is treated exactly as if it was a human candidate, so under the Single Transferable Vote system used by the Students’ Union, which is similar to that used in Irish general elections, you can choose to give

After last year’s abysmal turnout of just 68 people for the Graduate Education Officer byelection, there is pressure on UCDSU to ensure a larger amount of votes to be cast this year. The fact that it is being held alongside the other sabbatical elections means there should be more than 68 people voting, although it is unclear just how many there will be.

This year, there is only one candidate in this race, Las Vegas native Anabel Castañeda, a Media & International Conflict MA student. Rather unusually, she is running despite only recently learning that the role of Graduate Education Officer existed.

In any other race, a candidate who only just learned about the existence of the role and who cannot name UCD’s President would not stand a chance. The fact that Castañeda is running unopposed tells a sorry story of students’ engagement with the role and raises serious questions over the viability of the Graduate Education Officer as a full-time position within the Union.

For all her good intentions, Castañeda simply doesn’t know enough about UCD itself to engender any confidence in her ability to fulfill the role next year. It would not be surprising to see next year’s SU to review the position, perhaps reinstating the now defunct Campaigns and Communications Officer.

Castañeda has some noble ideas for the position, although her manifesto is very vague about how she hopes to achieve them. It is clear that she cares about helping students out, but it does not feel as if she has a plan to achieve her goals.

One can’t help but feel that next year’s Graduate Education Officer will need to really justify the continuation of the position, and it is hard to see Castañeda being that larger-than-life personality that the role so desperately needs to avoid a situation whereby the two Education roles are merged back together to form the Education Officer once more.

Graduate students, in particular, tend to be quite apathetic about the SU. The Union needs to do something to engage them, or else there is no point in even having a Graduate Education Officer.

Based on last year’s turnout, where Dylan Gray was elected with just 42 votes, it would not take much of an effort for a decent RON campaign to be victorious. Students may feel that voting RON would demonstrate that they are willing to engage with the Union, but only when the Union provides services that they actually want. Many feel that the Graduate Education Officer is an

In any other race, a candidate who only just learned about the existence of the role and who cannot name UCD’s President would not stand a chance. The fact that Castañeda is running unopposed tells a sorry story of students’ engagement with the role and raises serious questions over the viability of the Graduate Education Officer as a full-time position within the Union

unnecessary role, or at least it is as a full-time, fully paid position.

As a candidate, Castañeda seems like a nice approachable person. Her manifesto, however, feels rather bare.

She talks of increasing transparency in the Union, but seems unclear of exactly how to do so. There are times when reading it that it feels as if she has simply pasted her name into a standardised template.

Furthermore, her lack of knowledge of the University, and the Union itself, is a major red flag. She suggests that there be a central location on campus for students to buy and sell second hand books, which is a service already run by the SU Book Shop.

Perhaps her naivety will allow her to come into the job knowing what parts of the Union are well advertised and which parts are not. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to have an outsider come in and approach things from a different angle; they can often see errors that others cannot. That said, it does not feel like Castañeda is seeking to change all that much.

In a year when a strong leader is needed to legitimise the position, it seems that the Graduate Education Officer race will be nothing more than an afterthought, with only a RON campaign daring to make it in any way interesting or relevant.

Name: RON Age: 16 Hometown: Belfield Course: All of them

RON your number one preference, or number two or so on for the number of candidates in the election. So, for example if you have a genuine choice for who you want to win an election and if you would prefer to have nobody but your candidate get the job, you could give RON your number two preference.

If the RON option is ultimately deemed elected, the position remains unfilled, and the SU Returning Office will restart the nomination process for that position, thereby allowing new candidates to enter the election for that position. If any of this week’s elections return a RON result, a second election would have to take place at a later date.

The RON system means that candidates who are uncontested, such as in the Presidential and Graduate Education elections this year, must still convince voters to elect them rather than being entitled to take the position by default. In a year with two uncontested sabbatical elections, the RON option becomes much more important. In the Presidential election particularly, we could see a large RON result because of the importance of the position.

The RON option was first introduced in 1998 and won its first election against an uncontested Ents candidate, but has not been chosen since.

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april 1st 2014 13

science

UCD’s frontline innovations The three companies based in UCD that have been nominated for this year’s Irish Times InterTradeIreland Innovation awards chat to Michael O’Sullivan about their unique innovations

Three separate companies that all had their beginnings within UCD have been shortlisted for this year’s Irish Times InterTradeIreland Innovation Awards. The awards take an in-depth look at startup companies across a variety of categories including bioscience, energy and the environment, and information technology (IT).

The problem is that mares that are due to foal early in the year, unless they receive the right amount of light, normally go past their due date and have a smaller than average birth weight foal Dr Barbara Murphy, Equilume

The nominated companies are assessed not just by their products, but also on their business models, meaning that both a good product and good business management are necessary in order to obtain a nomination.

The first nominated company is Equilume, the brainchild of Dr Barbara Murphy of the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science. Murphy, in collaboration with Professor John Sheridan from the UCD Communications and Optoelectronic Research Centre, has come up with a novel idea that allows breeders a greater scope to manage the gestation length of mares.

The horses breeding cycle is directly correlated with sunlight hours, meaning that the breeding season can be advanced and made reproductively active at different

14 april 1st 2014

stages of the calendar year.

Speaking about the usefulness of this project, Dr Murphy said, “We started the research based on the idea that there must be a way to provide mobile lighting to mares. The industry spends a lot of money by putting their pregnant mares indoors from the first of December under lights until 11 o’clock… The effect that we wanted was a reduction in melatonin production.”

It was already known that melatonin was the hormone that controlled the breeding cycle of horses, but what Dr Murphy and her team discovered was that rather than having mares in sheds under full lighting to reduce melatonin production; the same effect could be achieved by simply shining low level blue light directly into one eye.

This has major implications for the breeding industry since it means horses don’t have to be kept indoors, an incredibly costly activity in terms of both man hours and resources.

“The problem is, mares that are due to foal early in the year, unless they receive the right amount of light, they normally go past their due date and have a smaller than average birth weight foal.

“If they only need light to one eye then you could potentially put it onto a headpiece that a horse would wear without them having behavioural difficulties in a field at night time.”

The company has had a very successful run thus far. Since their launch in June 2013, they have sold over 1,200 units across Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Not only this, but they are planning to expand their product line to encompass broader aspects of animal health in the future, as Dr Murphy explained, “If you have a very valuable pregnant mare wearing a headpiece with a powerful battery, you can record a lot of other information about her health and status.”

The second company is OxyMem, a collaborative effort between businessman Wayne Byrne, Dr Eoin Syron and Professor Eoin Casey of the UCD School of Chemical

We identified that one of the principle challenges with the technology, which had limited its development to date, was the inability to control the biosome thickness and Eoin [Syron] identified a method to measure the biosome thickness Wayne Byrne, OxyMem

We’ve earmarked opportunities to start developing and supplying our own medicines so I think that’s exciting and a stepping stone for APC to become a fully-fledged pharmaceutical company Dr Mark Barrett, APC

and Bioprocess Engineering.

Many of us know that wastewater can be recycled and purified for use again. What many don’t know, however, is that the process of purification involves the use of aerobic bacteria, which require oxygen to function.

The current method of delivering oxygen to these bacteria is to bubble the gas through the water tank. A process that is not only costly, but ineffective and long outdated. New options have been proposed for the aeration process, but until now there had been no way to properly manage these new proposals.

In the 1980’s, the concept of the Membrane Aerated Biosome Reactor (MABR) was born. This involves the growth of a layer of microorganisms on the surface of a water tank in order to treat the water.

Until now, however, there was no way to manage the biofilm growth.

Byrne was very keen to emphasise the potential of the programme. “We identified that one of the principle challenges with the technology, which had limited its development to date, was the inability to control the biosome thickness and Eoin [Syron] identified a method to measure the biosome thickness.”

When something can be measured, it can be managed. This essentially allowed OxyMem to overcome the hurdle that had been holding the MABR technology back since its conception in the 80s.

The applications for this new development are boundless and could completely revolutionise the way in which wastewater is treated. The biosome reactor provides environmental oxygen to the bacteria while providing the organic products they need from the water, allowing them to use almost 100% of the oxygen supplied to them, a major improvement on the current industrial standard.

“A newly built wastewater treatment plant would use quite the same process today and it’s incredibly wasteful. Few industrial processes would get away with up to 70% waste in a process.

of two to 35 employees in two “The market has been slow to innovate and essentially the wastewater years all the more impressive.

The fact that they have been treatment market hasn’t changed nominated for the award means a great that much in 100 years. 100 years deal to the company. “It’s massive ago we were blowing bubbles into recognition for the value proposition water in concrete basins basically and technical innovation that we’re to feed the bacteria that treat the bringing to the pharmaceutical industry wastewater and it’s what we do today.” nationally and internationally.

The company already employs “That level of recognition means a 12 people and is hoping to nearly huge amount to our team, but also to triple its staff by the end of the the companies that we collaborate with year while simultaneously scaling in that they can see the great innovation up its manufacturing operation that APC is bringing to the market.” in Athlone, County Westmeath.

Certainly the nomination helps to Having already won an Irish cement their reputation as a reliable Laboratory Award in 2013, the and innovative industry partner, but company is certainly shaping up APC has bigger plans and judging to be a game changer. “We won from their meteoric rise thus far, Innovation of the Year and again they are likely to reach their goals.

I suppose it underpinned the “We’ve earmarked opportunities to innovative aspect of the application.” start developing and supplying our own The third and final company to medicines so I think that’s exciting and be nominated is APC, another spin a stepping stone for APC to become a out from the School of Chemical fully-fledged pharmaceutical company.” and Bioprocess Engineering.

If all things go to plan, Ireland could Ireland is a hotbed of have a homegrown pharmaceutical pharmaceutical manufacturing. In company in a few short years, recent years, Ireland has almost the acknowledgement of APC’s single-handedly matched the rest business model in their nomination of the world in the sheer volume of pharmaceuticals that are exported from for this award is a clear indicator our shores. It makes sense, therefore, to of their likeliness to succeed.

Each of the companies have a company with a prime interest nominated for this year’s awards in cost reduction to assist the industry. have their own individual Winners of the NovaUCD 2011 strengths that make them Start-Up Award, APC have since incredibly difficult to compare gone from strength to strength, to one another. They each their client list growing to include represent major innovations in many of the world’s largest and their own respective fields and most well known pharmaceutical are all just as likely to succeed. companies. Dr Mark Barrett, coThe one common conclusion that founder of the company, outlined can be drawn from these awards is the company’s mission statement. that Ireland, and UCD in particular, “APC is a chemical engineering is a hotbed of innovation across company and we work with the board and more funding for pharmaceutical companies startup companies may well be nationally and across the world to the key to generating employment assist the companies in successfully and international recognition of delivering their medicines to Irish exploits in the future. their patients in a cheaper, more reliable and more safe manner.”

The Irish Times InterTradeIreland Despite the success the company Innovation Awards winners has had thus far, they have yet to will be announced on receive venture capital funding, Wednesday, the 9th of April making their growth from a company

science

Psycollegey

Social media’s influence in Syria Derek O’Callaghan, the head researcher of the UCD project that carried out a social media analysis of the Syrian conflict, speaks to Sara Holbrook about the methodology of his project and the results of his study

Due to the influence that film and television has over our culture, Louise Dolphin feels it is crucial that mental health is portrayed accurately

A 2004 study found that of 34 films produced by Disney between 1937 and 2001, 85% contained verbal references to mental illness and 21% of the main characters were referred to as mentally ill. Many of these characters served as objects of mockery or amusement

The civil war in Syria has been ongoing for three years now and it is thanks to social media that the rest of the world has a clear picture of what is happening. It has been very clear that Twitter and YouTube are playing an essential role in communicating all sides of the conflict to outsiders.

There is a group at UCD, led

by Derek O’Callaghan, that have published a paper analysing social media, specifically Twitter and YouTube, in Syria. The result they found is that the conflict is more complicated than the rest of the world realise. It is not simply one side against the other, but multiple factions holding different beliefs operating in different areas of Syria.

Speaking about his research, O’Callaghan talked about why they decided to compile this research about the Syrian civil war in particular, saying “We have worked with Maura Conway of the School of Law & Government in DCU on a number of papers that have analysed the online social media presence (e.g. Twitter, YouTube) of groups associated with the extreme right.

“We had intended for some time to extend this collaboration to also look into the use of OpenStreetMap (OSM) by other extremist groups, in particular, Jihadist groups. The use of multiple OSM platforms by groups involved in the Syrian civil war to highlight events as they occur there, including Jihadist groups, meant that this was an interesting candidate for analysis.”

They examined over 600 social media accounts that engaged with the idea of the civil war and used a standard community detection algorithm to understand how the different groups were aligned.

The results show 16 separate communities that combined to form four clearly aligned groups.

One of the groups is Jihadist, made up of three communities and including accounts associated with Al-Qaida. Another one is pro-Bashar al-Assad and consists

of essentially one community of supporters of the current Syrian regime. The third group is Kurdish, consisting of a community of political parties. A different group is made up of ten communities who are characterised as secular or moderate opposition. This alone shows that the civil war is not as simple as Pro-Assad versus Anti-Assad.

O’Callaghan says that they were not surprised to find that so many groups existed. “[The] existence of multiple factions was known in advance, particularly within the anti-regime groups, as this has been discussed by various commentators that are monitoring the Syrian situation.”

The fact that there are so many different factions could be why this conflict has persisted for so long. While it would be impossible for this particular study to contain full coverage of all the social media emerging from Syria, it does succeed in demonstrating the complex nature of the conflict to those who are removed from it.

O’Callaghan says, “The aim of the study was to quantify to some extent the existence of active groups on OSM that may reflect the situation on the ground there by focusing on actors deemed authoritative, while also demonstrating how a polarised view of politically-related activity or groups is not always appropriate.”

An example of the type of social media accounts that were studied includes one community supporting the Free Syrian Army that supplies photographs of unidentified bodies so that people can help identify them. This is compared to posts from the Jihadist group that shows weapons and attacks instead.

The team at UCD worked with the University of Vienna in order for an expert there to help them translate and understand the social media posts that were not in English. O’Callaghan mentions that their “previous work on extreme right activity had focused on English-language and

German-language data sets.”

But this project required outside help in order to gain access to the posts. “A major obstacle associated with similar analysis of Jihadist-related data is the language-barrier, in particular the prevalence of Arabic. Maura had previously introduced us to Nico Prucha from the University of Vienna to help with this, as his area of research is primarily focused on Jihadist groups, and his insight into the constituent groups found in this analysis has been particularly revealing.”

The use of social media means that more people involved in the conflict can be heard around the world. The prevalence of social media means that it is more difficult for any form of propaganda to be controlled by the media.

The advantage of this type of technology is that the events are being shown in a true light from people on the ground and it is not just one side presenting their agenda, but all sides demonstrating what is actually happening.

In the future O’Callaghan hopes that “some of the methodology may contribute to, or generate discussion of, a set of best practices that might be considered when performing similar quantitative analysis of OSM activity.

“For example, using multiple platforms as data sources, or the necessity for a qualitative component to this type of analysis that involves close reading of the associated content, rather than relying solely on quantitative results.

This overlaps with other general discussion of big data analysis.”

The originality of O’Callaghan’s research shows that UCD is at the forefront of social media analysis; and with social media an aspect of the internet that is taking on a significant role in wars and conflict, the relevance of his work can only become more pertinent.

An example of the type of social media accounts that were studied includes one community supporting the Free Syrian Army that supplies photographs of unidentified bodies so that people can help identify them.

This is compared to posts from the Jihadist group that shows weapons and attacks instead

The world of film has held a long-lived fascination with mental disorders. It has been depicted in every genre of film, from horror (Psycho) to thriller (Shutter Island) to romantic comedy (As Good as it Gets).

However, many depictions have been criticised for lacking in authenticity.

In addition, the treatment of mental disorders in film has been flagged as inaccurate. It is important to critically consider this, given the powerful impact film and media can have on our perceptions and attitudes.

In a previous article, I highlighted that even media aimed at young children negatively portrays mental disorder. Characters with mental disorders in children’s films are often referred to as “nuts” or “crazy.” These characters are regularly presented as violent, aggressive, and fear inducing.

According to Professor Otto Wahl, “The image of persons with psychiatric disorders as unattractive, violent, and criminal… appears common in children’s media, and references to mental illnesses are typically used to disparage and ridicule.”

Having been an avid fan of Disney movies in my childhood, I was disappointed to realise that they bear some of the responsibility for these harmful representations. A 2004 study found that of 34 films produced by Disney between 1937 and 2001, 85% contained verbal references to mental illness and 21% of the main characters were referred to as mentally ill. Many of these characters served as objects of mockery or amusement.

Mental illness is also projected to children as something that can turn people into villains (102 Dalmatians begins with Cruella De Vil in a psychiatric ward). Hollywood films have also been condemned for presenting misleading information about particular disorders, most notably schizophrenia. For example, one could be forgiven for leaving a cinema screening of Me, Myself and Irene with the view that people with schizophrenia have split or multiple personalities (some of which are violent).

In response to A Beautiful Mind, Professor Anthony David of the Institute of Psychiatry (King’s College London) says, “Judging from the hundreds of accounts I have been given and hear every day, it is not like this. The hallucinations of schizophrenia are fragmented and disembodied, as are the delusions that sustain them. “[A Beautiful Mind] manages to reinforce most of the enduring myths about severe mental illness, not least the link between genius and madness, the healing properties of the love of a good woman, and the brutality of some psychiatric treatments.”

Alongside inaccurate presentation of symptoms, the way in which treatment is represented in film has come under scrutiny. The portrayal of mental health professionals (particularly psychiatrists) has been flagged as inaccurate and unrealistic, with mental health professionals on the big screen often breaking ethical professional practice guidelines and codes of confidentiality.

This may be partially linked to negative perceptions of psychiatry.

A 2010 report published on the stigmatisation of the discipline of psychiatry claimed, “The public image of psychiatrists is largely negative and based on insufficient knowledge about their training, expertise and purpose.

For example, it is not widely known that psychiatrists are medical doctors, and the duration of their training is underestimated.”

Arguably, a more concerning issue, is that the presentation of treatment in film may influence the perceptions of vulnerable groups. A 2006 study in the Journal of Adolescence claimed that watching films depicting characters with mental illness who fail to receive help for their condition, may encourage ineffective coping strategies among depressed and suicidal youth, alongside “a greater tendency to believe that treatment for depression is ineffective.”

Of course, filmmakers are not strictly in the same business as psychologists or psychiatrists. Their job is to entertain and tell compelling stories and sometimes they distort and dramatise reality in order to accomplish this. But given the influential medium that cinema is, should the film industry have any responsibility to counter negative portrayals of mental illness?

Fortunately, it would seem the tide is turning. In Ireland, First Fortnight is a charity-based organisation with the expressed aim of challenging mental health prejudice through the creative arts. As part of their 2014 campaign, they instigated nationwide screening and post-show discussion of Silver Linings Playbook.

The film, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, has been praised as the film that finally saw Hollywood understand mental health problems. Director David O’Russell says the film was originally a gift for his son, Matthew, who has bipolar disorder. “I wanted to treat the characters as humanly as possible. I want people to feel the humanity of the characters.”

Cooper (who plays the lead role of a young man with bipolar disorder) was self-reportedly “ignorant” about mental health issues before this performance. He says, “It has certainly changed a lot in my life.” He believes the film is about “helping people understand that they’re not alone, that the thing they’re feeling, it probably has a name. It certainly has a treatment, and that treatment works.”

Cooper’s attitude reflects the advancement made by the movie industry in portraying mental illness in a more humane and nuanced light. The film made a break from the stereotypical depictions of the past, wherein individuals with mental illness are often catatonic and vegetative or psychopathic and violent.

By examining and depicting the characters in the community and family setting as opposed to an institutional one, the director allowed for a new level of empathic understanding to be facilitated; engaging the viewer to identify the truly human struggle of mental illness that has so often in the past been veiled by fear, ignorance and stigma.

Hopefully, this marks the beginning of a new era, where filmmakers work collaboratively with the mental health sector to bring this long-lived fascination with mental disorder into the future in a more realistic and compassionate light. april 1st 2014 15

sport

EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS POLLING SCHEME 2ND & 3RD APRIL 2014 Wednesday 2nd April

Agriculture 10:30am - 4pm

Agriculture & Vet Architecture & Engineering

Newman Building 6pm - 9pm Richview 10am - 1:15pm

Engineering 10:30am - 4:30pm

Newstead 1:45pm - 5pm

Newman Building 6pm - 9pm Newman Building 9:15am - 5:15pm

Arts & Human Sciences

Newman Building 6pm - 9pm

Business & Law

Quinn School 9:30am - 5:15pm

(Excluding Postgrad. Business)

Newman Building 6pm - 9pm

Business Postgrad.

Health Sci. & Nursing Science Veterinary

TICKETS â‚Ź40 ON SALE FROM SU LIBRARY SHOP AND ONLINE AT UCDENTS.COM

16 april 1st 2014

Thursday 3rd April

Carysfort 12pm - 5pm

Quinn School 9:30am - 5:15pm Newman Building 6pm - 9pm Health Sciences 10am - 5pm Newman Building 6pm - 9pm Science 10:30am - 5pm Newman Building 6pm - 9pm Veterinary 10:30am - 4pm Newman Building 6pm - 9pm

Editorial

Editorial

Depending on when you’re reading this, the UCDSU Hustings are just about to start or they have already taken place. Or maybe they’re happening right now and you’re finding them particularly boring so you’ve decided to read this instead of paying attention.

My point is, Hustings are a thing and I will be/currently am/was co-chairing them alongside my colleague Killian Woods, the Deputy Editor of this publication.

Due to a clash of time with the Belfield FM Hustings, there are many people complaining about the “Official” UCDSU Hustings.

People have tried to make out that the SU blindsided Belfield FM and intentionally held their Hustings at the same time so that the candidates would get an easy ride.

In fact, some have even gone as far as to question the integrity of my colleague and myself, with the implication that we are somehow incapable of asking the candidates hard questions because UCDSU pays our wages.

Firstly, I know that defending the SU in anything will signal to some people that I am an SU hack, but in this case I feel like I need to point out the fact that a motion was passed

at Council back on February 10th that said the SU would hold their own Hustings on the Monday before the elections in the Fitzgerald Chamber in lieu of a meeting of Council. If Belfield FM covered SU Council, they would have been well aware of this fact and there would be no mix up.

Now, onto the bit about my credibility as a journalist, and this newspaper’s reliability as a source of objective news. It is true that the SU pays my wages, in the same way that the government pays the wages of those who work at RTÉ. I don’t see how that in anyway affects my ability to criticise them, however. Especially

considering the fact that Article 15.4 of the UCDSU Constitution gives the University Observer total editorial independence from the Union.

This is an incredibly important article in the Constitution. It means that the Union cannot tell me what to do or say, no matter how damaging a story might be to them. They certainly cannot tell me what to ask and what not to ask at an event such as Hustings.

During the midterm break I, along with some members of the editorial team, spent an average of almost 43 minutes questioning each of the candidates for the full-time positions

talleyrand

on their qualifications for the job and the feasibility of their plans for next year. You can see the results of these interrogations on pages 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of this very paper.

It is interesting that, given the concern for the kind of questions we might ask at the Hustings, not a single person got in contact with me to make sure that I ask a certain candidate about a certain thing. In fact, not a single person took the time to email me at all about Hustings. I suspect this has something to do with the fact that it’s a hell of a lot easier to be brave when you aren’t talking directly to

the university observer Editor Kevin Beirne

Ahoy liberal scum, ‘Tis the season to be hacky, and Talleyrand can smell the the stale stench of campaign teams pulling allnighters in order to get an upper hand on the opposition. If you have slept at all in the past two weeks, chances are you’re going to lose whatever election it is you’re involved in.

And don’t try and act like you’re not involved in a campaign. If you’re reading the editorial page, you’re a hack. And any hack worth their weight in fertilizer has their finger in at least one SU pie.

Perhaps Talleyrand is being too harsh on you, the reader. April Fools: Talleyrand doesn’t care about you.

You are just an abstract concept to Talleyrand. You might not even occupy the same dimensional plain as Talleyrand, for all he knows.

In fact, who is to say that you’re even real at all? What if you are just something the editors of this paper

imagined in order to make themselves feel better? They created you so that they could pretend someone actually reads the tripe they print. Don’t think about it too hard though. Once you realise Talleyrand is right, you’ll stop existing. And if you stop existing, you won’t be able to go to the UCD Ball.

Talleyrand was told the lineup for this year’s UCD Ball and immediately forgot it, which is kind of fitting considering one of the acts boasts “The most Shazzammed song ever”, which is essentially the award for the best worst song; the song is good enough for people to enjoy it, but not good enough for them to actually remember who sings it or what it’s called.

Once again the Ball will be held off campus, which is particularly hilarious because everyone still insists on acting as if it is taking place in the middle of a field, which was a ridiculous enough tradition when it took place in

Dublin 4, but now the Ball will be in the same place that is hosting three shows of Ant & Dec’s Takeaway On Tour in September.

Of course, we all know that the UCD Ball is just a token gesture by President Gallagher so that we won’t notice his illegal occupation of the college formerly known as Trinity.

Perhaps it is one last hurrah for Gallagher before he is extradited to the United States, from where he will be sent to Guantanamo Bay to pay for his crimes.

For now, under the watchful eye of the Donegal Duce, UCDSU appears to have taken control of Ireland’s most prestigious university.

At least that’s the only explanation Talleyrand can think of for their sudden obsession with rebranding.

Perhaps its just that Talleyrand doesn’t like change. Besides the genocidal dictator that controls their minds, Talleyrand is quite fond of this year’s Sabbats. Lorcan

Gray never gave up and finally found his dream job in the SU. They’re some big flip-flops to fill.

And who could forget Lorcan’s loveable sidekick, Captain Kind of Helpful? Talleyrand has it on good authority that he almost achieved something this year. Well done, buddy.

Talleyrand must admit though that he was surprised and hurt that Cian has stopped caring about UCD. He was supposed to be the one to clean up the mess of this year, but he abandoned us in search of the lofty heights of USI. But just like Icarus, he flew too close to the sun and then melted and drowned, metaphorically speaking, for now.

Don’t forget to vote for RON in every race.

Tally out.

Deputy Editor Killian Woods Art, Design & Technology Director Conor O’Toole Comment Editor Elizabeth O’Malley Features Editor Nicole Casey Science, Health & Technology Editor Michael O’Sullivan Sports Editor Shane Hannon Chief Sports Writer Amy Eustace Otwo Co-Editors Steven Balbirnie Jack Walsh Games Editor Niall Gosker

letters to the editor

Film & TV Editor Laura Bell

Send your letters to editor@universityobserver.ie

Music Editor Rebekah Rennick Dear Editor,

Dear Sir, I am no stranger to election season in UCD, with this one being my fourth. While I don’t enjoy the constant harassment from candidates’ somewhat well-meaning friends, or appreciate the luke-warm lectureaddresses for a fortnight before we vote, it does at least show there’s still a small group of people left who care about the Students’ Union.

Even if it is for selfish reasons.

However this year it seems remarkably quiet. Not even one lost-looking candidate has lectureaddressed my classes, and no one has bothered to leave tell-tale flyers and manifestos to try and pretend that they, or one of their minions, might have visited.

In previous years it looked as if candidates simply opened lecture theatre doors and threw their materials with wild abandon from the top, in the hope some might land on a desk for students to see. But at least

they were seeking to get their ideas to us, no matter how poorly designed and difficult to read they were.

This year’s bunch must be rather unconcerned about whether or not the average student has even heard their name before they get to the ballot box, or I can’t help but feel they would try harder to get our attention. I missed the memo where UCD decided it was okay to drop all pretenses that it was about the ideas and policies and surrendered entirely to the popularity contest.

Yours sincerely, Amy Mooney Stage 4 Science

the person you have an issue with.

On Monday, I will be talking directly to the candidates for all of the positions in the SU about what I consider to be their shortcomings in front of a (hopefully) full Chamber of students. You are all free to go along and make sure that I do my job. You are all free to go along and scrutinise whether or not I am being too soft on the candidates. You can submit your own questions and make sure that no one gets let off the hook.

Or, if you prefer, you can just not bother to show up under the assumption that I will go easy on them.

I was disappointed to see the news in your last issue that the UCD Ball would once again be held in the O2. To see the SU President quoted speaking as if this was positive news for students only made it worse.

He may have indicated that if this Ball went off without a hitch, that this would convince the authorities to move the event back to campus in the future, however I am almost certain that this is the same nonsense that was spouted this time last year when the move off campus was first announced. It doesn’t seem any more true this time around.

From what I remember, there were no incidents reported following last year’s Ball, but it seems as if the SU didn’t even bother approaching whatever officials on campus they would have needed to this year, to see about reinstating the Ball where it belongs – on campus.

Hosting the Ball in the O2 gives the event the air of being held in a giant nightclub, only with stickier floors. The SU can encourage us all to continue to dress in festival gear, but last year it only had the net result of having the O2 filled with a group that looked like they got lost on their way to Oxegen. It’s not the same atmosphere as an outdoor event and simply wearing wellies isn’t going to make it what it once was.

To add insult to injury, they’ve upped the price, made the start time later and given us a line up with half the acts there once would have been.

I’m sure some will say that the acts are better quality now, but anyone who has ever been to a real UCD Ball knows the music is about the least important part of the day. I’m sure I’m not the only one disappointed.

Yours etc, Stephen Crowley History and Politics

Fashion Editor Emily Mullen Chief Otwo Writer Emily Longworth

Staff Writers Louise Dolphin Sean Hayes Sara Holbrook Esther Shan Lin Hor Karl Quigley Laura Woulfe Contributors Sam Blanckensee Ause Braike Ciaran Bruder Andrew Carolan Siobhan Copeland Sean Finegan Sean Flanagan Jamie Headon Martin Healy Stephen Heffernan Brid Kenny Conor McKenna Thomas Mitchell Aaron Murphy Claudine Murphy Ellen Murray Cormac O’Connor Joanna O’Malley Cian O’Neill Alanna O’Shea Anthony Strogen Ciaran Sweeney Tara White Illustrations Rory Mullen Emily Longworth Michael Vance Photographers James Brady Erica Coburn James Healy Rory Mullen Joanna O’Malley

Senior Reporters Cian Carton Megan Fanning Thanks Eugene, Maeve and Stephen at Smurfit Kappa. Orla Gartland.

Foil, Arms and Hog. Orla and Rory at MCD. All the Student Centre staff. MARCHPEP. The Ice-Cream Man. Future Islands.

The Ground. Whoever invented April Fools’ Day. Liz and Kate.

Special Thanks Aoife. Rory. All of our mothers.

Happy birthday Conor O’Toole

april 1st 2014 17

sport

Chairman of the Boards World-famous athlete turned politician, Senator Eamonn Coghlan, chats to Shane Hannon about the lure of performance-enhancing drugs, Olympic agony, and life in Leinster House

Growing up in Drimnagh in the south of County Dublin, Eamonn Coghlan played every sport he could, but being an average soccer or Gaelic footballer simply didn’t appeal to him. He decided to join his local athletics club, and never looked back.

“The very first day I ran a mile race and I won. Luckily from the very beginning I was hooked. It was kind of me making a statement about myself, that I was good at something.” It was this fervent and unwavering desire to be more than merely average that would lead to him becoming one of this country’s greatest ever athletes.

Many dubbed Coghlan the ‘Chairman of the Boards’ and ‘Master of the Mile’ for his consistent success on the American indoor circuit (he

won the Wanamaker Mile at Madison Square Garden seven times, a record which stood until Bernard Lagat won his eighth in 2010.)

Coghlan was offered a scholarship in 1971 to the prestigious Villanova University, located in a suburb northwest of Philadelphia and before he himself graduated from that institution with his degree in Marketing and Communications in 1976, he was already making a big name for himself in the athletics world, with the help of legendary coach Jumbo Elliott.

Coghlan speaks highly of his influential coach, who he remarks, “Had an uncanny ability to recruit athletes. He brought some of the best athletes in America, who happened to be some of the best in the world, into

an environment that was conducive to us supporting one another.”

In his mind it is no wonder Villanova became almost a mecca for Irish athletes. “Villanova is a great academic institution, so a combination of academics and athletics makes Villanova a very attractive place for a student to go.”

Perhaps the highlight of Coghlan’s running career came at the World Championships in Helsinki in 1983, when he won gold in the 5,000m. The then 30-year-old Coghlan, third at the bell, overtook the leader with 120 metres to go and clenched his fist in an act not just of celebration at the achievement, but as a mark of thanks to his father and two of his most influential

coaches, Jumbo Elliott and Gerry Farnan, all of whom had passed away in the previous 18 months.

Coghlan’s victory would have been all the more sweet considering what he saw as his Olympic ‘failures.’ He twice finished fourth in the Olympic Games (1976 in Montreal in the 1,500m and 1980 in Moscow in the 5,000m), before missing the LA Games in 1984 through injury and being eliminated in the semi-finals in Seoul in 1988.

The pressure on Coghlan, however, was immense, “I regarded fourth as a big failure because my ambition was to win. People in Ireland regarded it as a failure too because of their expectations and belief that I could win.”

Coghlan was among the first breed of runners to run well into their 30s, and after a brief retirement he decided to attempt to become the first person over the age of 40 to run a sub four-minute mile.

Coghlan wanted to go out on his own terms and did so when, at the Harvard University indoor track in 1994 aged 41, he achieved that goal. “I always believed I could win an Olympic gold medal. And when I didn’t fulfill that dream I kind of retired unfulfilled so going back to try and become the first guy to run the sub four-minute mile at 40 was going to become a milestone in our sport, similar to Roger Bannister becoming the first guy to do it in 1954.”

Coghlan says for a lot of athletes, self-doubt begins to creep in when performances aren’t up to their usual standards and that’s when performance-enhancing drugs come in. Many athletes have ruined their reputations because of their drug use, and Coghlan says the temptation was indeed there.

“When you lose your confidence in your ability, when you lose your belief in yourself, you’ve got to turn somewhere else for aid and that’s where the danger is.” He even

went so far as to get a prescription, without really knowing what the drugs even were. Fortunately, his guilt got to him and he threw it out.

In May 2011, Coghlan’s life took a surprising turn when Taoiseach Enda Kenny nominated him to Seanad Éireann, becoming one of a lengthening list of sportspeople who delve into the world of politics. When asked what he brings to the Seanad he speaks of his ‘Points for Life’ initiative, which stresses the importance of physical education in school-age children.

Coghlan thinks children’s progress in physical education (PE) should be monitored and measured just like it is in other core subjects. “I’m trying to empower teachers to deliver a PE programme in schools where they would see and get instant feedback on a student’s ability to improve.”

Last October a referendum on the future of the Seanad passed narrowly, with support for its continuation squeezing through on a 51.7% to 48.3% margin. In terms of what he would say to those who feel the Seanad is unnecessary Coghlan thinks “the institution of the Seanad provides a very important role in questioning bills and legislation going through. In terms of how people are elected to become senators, that’s another debate altogether.”

In terms of his future, Coghlan is comfortable in Leinster House and plans to see out his term in the Seanad through to April 2016. “With regards to political ambitions, I like it in here and would like to continue.

Whether that role continues as a nominee of the next Taoiseach, through the normal County Council Seanad nominations, or to go for local elections in 2016, remains to be seen.”

Whatever the future brings for Eamonn Coghlan, if it contains a fraction of the excitement of his past there will be chapters to add to his book. Eamonn Coghlan, Chairman of the Boards, Master of the Mile.

I always believed I could win an Olympic gold medal. And when I didn’t fulfill that dream I kind of retired unfulfilled, so going back to try and become the first guy to run the sub four-minute mile at 40 was going to become a milestone in our sport, similar to Roger Bannister becoming the first guy to do it in 1954

Spring revival for McIlroy The Masters signals the start of a new year of golf, writes Anthony Strogen

While the Catholic faith may look to St Brigid’s Day, and superstitious Americans have Groundhog Day marked on their calendar, any sports fan worth their salt will tell you that the true sign of a blooming spring is the teeing off of the US Masters at Augusta.

The first major of the year signals the start of the meaty part of the golfing season and is treated with reverence and awe by both players and fans. No tournament carries as much history or folklore as the Masters, and success at Augusta is a mark of true golfing excellence.

The 2014 edition of the Masters features an incredibly even field, with both the PGA Tour and European Tour seeing a move towards parity in terms of ability. For all this depth in the pool of talent, one golfer has stood out as the best in the world over the last 12 months, and that is defending champion Adam Scott.

Scott was imperious in outlasting the field last year and he is beginning to stake a claim as the natural successor of Tiger Woods. What will be of major concern, however, is the unbelievable melt down he suffered at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he ended up finishing 3rd after holding a seven-shot lead on Saturday.

Any jitters on the back nine at Augusta will be punished without prejudice, and a repeat of Bay Hill will see Scott relinquish his crown. Although Scott returns as both the reigning champ and form player in the world, he is not the favourite. At the head of the betting market sits Rory McIlroy.

The starlet from County Down has shown this season that he appears to be over the terrible slump that dogged his play for so long after his deal with Nike, and form is always crucial in deciding who slips on the green jacket.

The course suits McIlroy’s game perfectly and he is no longer the mentally fragile player who toyed

18 april 1st 2014

Although Scott returns as both the reigning champ and form player in the world, he is not the favourite. At the head of the betting market sits Rory McIlroy

with the course for three days before imploding on Sunday in 2011. He appears to be a worthy favourite, but one must wonder if the Masters is falling a little too early in his revival, as he is yet to close out a win; and that clinical edge is vital when chasing at Augusta.

And what of the Irishman’s perceived rival, Tiger Woods? The participation of Woods is still very much up in the air, with his back causing him difficulty and with the man himself appearing to lean on the side of doubtful. Even if he were to tee off for the Masters, it is hard to see him playing to any decent level if the injury has affected him to the extent it appears.

That said, since his return from hiatus four years ago, the Masters has been the major Woods has looked like winning most, with the sheer familiarity and form he holds at Augusta ensuring he always gives a good showing.

The new generation of superstars will also feature prominently on the Sunday leaderboard. One man who will feel his time has come is Jason Day. After so many fantastic performances at major tournaments, the Aussie clearly has the talent to win multiple majors with it being of a matter of when he starts his haul.

Europe’s number one Henrik Stenson would seem to be a prime candidate for success. However, the Swede has yet to display the

patience and discipline to turn in a complete 72-hole performance at a course like Augusta.

American hopes will rest largely on young shoulders too, with the new era of Keegan Bradley, Bubba Watson, Jordan Speith and Matt Kuchar (amongst others) showing a depth of great talent, without an actual stand-out challenger.

Any of the great young hopes of the PGA have the talent to win, but will they be able to handle the pressure of an expectant golfing nation should it come down to a tense finale?

Of all the majors, the Masters always seems to be less inclined to produce an out-of-nowhere winner, but that

is not to say that a dark horse won’t shock the golfing world by triumphing.

Players like Chris Kirk, John Senden and Jimmy Walker have been playing outstanding thus far in 2014, and would be very decent bets to be in and around the top ten when all is said and done. As for the older heads on tour who could turn back the years, this is a tournament that Jim Furyk loves and one which has quite often been kind to him.

Thomas Bjorn has also been going through a career renaissance of late, and as ever Phil Mickelson can never, ever be ruled out when it comes to Augusta. No matter what the composition of the final

pairings on Masters Sunday reads, viewing will be essential.

No tournament captures the imagination like the Masters, a rare occasion when purists and fair-weather fans unite in veneration for a competition and course. The visually stunning course will frustrate and test the field, and while the Eisenhower Tree may not be around for this year’s competition, there are countless other pitfalls on the most beautiful course in golf.

For a final prediction, this may indeed be the occasion Jason Day converts his major knack into a victory, with Speith and Furyk being decent each way chances to challenge for the title.

sport The club conceded an awful lot of goals last year. I think we were 5th or 6th in the league for goals scored and we were last in the table for goals against. I think we have to address the balance in that

Luge is one of the most dangerous sports in the Olympics and the athletes who race down the icy, high-banked track can travel at up to 140km/h

Changing of the guard New UCD AFC Manager Aaron Callaghan speaks to Thomas Mitchell about Martin Russell’s departure, a year of new beginnings, and the future of the club on and off the pitch

Following the departure of long-serving manager Martin Russell to join Liam Buckley at St Patrick’s Athletic, responsibility has fallen on former Bohemians manager Aaron Callaghan to take control at UCD. Early performances have been positive for the Students and bright displays against Shelbourne and Athlone Town, as well as a 5-3 away win over Bray Wanderers last Friday, have given the Dublin man reasons for optimism in these early stages of his reign at the Bowl.

“It has been difficult because I’ve missed the main part of pre-season and during that pre-season what you do is you get to know your players as individuals and collectively as a team, so that has been a little bit of a strain, but so far so good,” said Callaghan, who has previously spent time on the coaching staff at UCD. A 2–1 win over Athlone Town at the Bowl gave Callaghan his first

league victory of the season, a result he readily admits was crucial to the development of the team. “It was a very important result really because I think it was ten games or eleven games in last year when they got their first win, so it is always important to get that first win, particularly at home. You have got to make sure that your home form is good throughout the season.”

Callaghan continued, “The one thing I made sure to tell the players was to concentrate on the performance really. If the performance is good individually and collectively, the outcome will take care of itself.”

Callaghan clearly believes in blending a unified team spirit with the talents of promising, young players. Such an individual who has caught the eye in the opening weeks of the campaign is Ayman Ben Mohamad, who last week claimed an

early contender for goal of the season.

The Tunisian forward received possession on the half way line and a stunning run took him past three Athlone defenders, before finishing finely past a bewildered Paul Skinner. As Callaghan explains, “It was a fantastic goal and a fantastic individual effort. He has that ability to go past players and it is very rare you see oneon-one technicians in this league.

They’re few and far between.

“We encourage people when they get one-on-one to take players on and we’ll continue to do that, albeit knowing that you will have a part to play when we do not have the ball. He has definitely got a huge amount of ability and he has got a huge amount of potential. We just need to make sure we can turn that potential in to performances week in week out.”

Under the stewardship of Martin Russell in previous seasons, UCD

have gained a reputation as a team who play an attacking brand of football, a policy that has often left the Blues vulnerable in defence. As a man who spent the majority of his playing career in the back four, this is an issue Callaghan is keen to address.

“The club conceded an awful lot of goals last year. I think we were 5th or 6th in the league for goals scored and we were last in the table for goals against. I think we have to address the balance in that.”

The brand of football introduced by his predecessor is something Callaghan wishes to develop.

“Obviously Martin played a great brand of football. My job now is to address the goals against column whilst also trying to keep the goals for column going at the same time.

“Sometimes you have got to sacrifice a little bit of the attacking flair if you like and maintain clean sheets, but we do encourage the

lads to get the ball down and pass and move it. Certainly from a defensive point of view, you’ll see a lot more organisation of the team and hopefully by the end of the year we’ll have conceded fewer goals.”

It is this organisation that Callaghan hopes will prove doubters throughout the football world wrong.

UCD have once again been tipped as relegation candidates. The manager remains defiant however.

“Obviously the reason is because we have and we spend the least amount of money across the league.

If you look across all the leagues in Europe you will always find that the teams who spend the least amount of money are always nearly relegated or there or thereabouts.

“You’re trying to take the pressure off the players to allow them to go out and express and enjoy themselves.

That is the one thing we try and incorporate in the dressing room. We

The Badger In the penultimate column of this academic year, The Badger tries to come to terms with the upcoming summer break

So, we’re nearing the end of the academic year. The Badger always dreads this time of year because over the summer he has to find some other newspaper that is crazy enough to give him a regular column. Very often the Badger writes these pieces at 3:00am after a rough night out; there’s something about the mixture of Jägerbombs, the sticky floor of Coppers and stale Domino’s that brings out the imaginative brain juices.

Eating stale cuisine always brings the Badger’s mind floating towards the Scottish Premier League.

It appears Celtic have clinched their third successive Scottish Premiership title. What a fantastic achievement for Neil Lennon’s men and to clinch the silverware with a hard-fought 5-1 victory over a team of the calibre of Partick Thistle was nothing short of incredible.

The Badger’s partiality to sarcasm strikes once again. We badgers hate all types of sharp plants, including

thistles, so excuse any indifference towards a football club bearing the plant’s name. Actually, the Badger doesn’t need you to excuse himself.

He’s the Badger, the harbinger of football cynicism. Screw all of you.

Anyway, talking about the Airtricity League and how it is back up and running will calm the Badger down. He’s been saying it for years and he’ll say it again right now; only proper leagues start their football in March, and everyday the Badger wakes up feeling lucky that he lives in a country that has a proper league like this.

The Badger is also delighted to have Soccer Republic’s proper football highlights back on his screen on a Monday night. Finally they seemed to have answered the Badger’s letters and pushed the show back to a true programming slot worthy of its stature.

Just based on the highlights reels (which is what the Badger solely bases his football knowledge

Sports Digest Women’s Soccer Four UCD students have been named in the Republic of Ireland senior women’s squad by manager Sue Ronan for her side’s crucial World Cup Qualifier clash with reigning European champions Germany, which will take place at Shamrock Rovers’ Tallaght Stadium on Saturday, April 5th.

on) so far, this omnivore has been impressed with how omnipotent UCD have looked under a revitalised looking Martin Russell.

Actually, the Badger bumped into Russell the other day and was all like, “Well done Marty.” His response was “Have we met before?” (classic Marty) and “Call me Aaron.” I don’t know what Russell is playing at here, but the Badger doesn’t like change.

Also, more importantly, the letter A occurs in his name far too many times for the Badger to count in the name Aaron so the Badger is going to continue calling you Marty. This issue there is a great exclusive interview with Marty.

Marty says he’s very coy about something or other. Well, at least he seemed coy when the Badger was first reading the Sport Editor’s emails, so the Badger changed around what Marty said to make it sound more interesting.

You’re welcome everybody.

Badger Out.

gaa

UCD Freshers Hurling team claimed the UCD’s first All-Ireland University Freshers title since 2001 The four selected UCD students, with a three-point 0-16 to 0-13 Julie Anne Russell (Peamount United), Ciara Grant (Raheny United), final victory over an IT Carlow Siobhan Killeen (Raheny United) and side mentored by Kilkenny legend Dora Gorman (Peamount United), all DJ Carey and Kilkenny senior selector Michael Dempsey. of whom ply their trade in the Bus In football, Westmeath star and Eireann Women’s National League, UCD student John Heslin has received will be hoping they can help the a welcome boost to distract him from Irish team pull off an impressive result against one of women football’s his recent groin problems that have ruled him out of the latter stages of superpowers and thus continue their his county’s league campaign with solid start to qualifying in Group 1.

the news that he has been named at midfield on the 2014 IDM Gaelic Football Future Champions team.

Athletics UCD’s sailing team is currently immersed in intense training as they prepare to contest the highly prestigious annual Colours sailing match with old adversaries Trinity on Saturday, April 12th. The race, which takes place on the River Liffey, will commence at 10am after the East Link Bridge is lifted to allow the boats pass through at 9.30am. Fresh from their recent Varsities win, UCD will be looking to top off

have our goals that we set each year.

“We pick each round of games and we highlight where we think we can get points. We basically just tell them to concentrate on performances. If you concentrate on the performances and get a good level of consistency about the play then I think the outcomes take care of themselves.”

With a tough succession of fixtures beckoning for UCD, including trips to Shamrock Rovers and the Showgrounds in Sligo, Callaghan will look to use the positivity of the opening few weeks to capitalise on promising performances.

As the Students look to build for a future without Martin Russell, Callaghan will be only too happy to once again upset the odds and lead this young, promising UCD team to Premier League security and beyond.

We badgers hate all types of sharp plants, including thistles, so excuse any indifference towards a football club bearing the plant’s name.

Actually, the Badger doesn’t need you to excuse himself.

He’s the Badger, the harbinger of football cynicism

fixtures with a respectable 2-2 draw a successful season by bringing home the coveted Colours trophy while Trinity at home to third placed Shelbourne.

Sugg will be relatively happy on the other hand will be seeking their with his young squad’s showing in first Colours victory since 2009.

2013/2014, although he will be perhaps a little disappointed with them Men’s Under-19 failing to negotiate the first hurdle Soccer of the Enda McGuill Cup following a 2-1 defeat away to Cobh Ramblers In contrast to the first team’s in November. Such an impressive season, which has only commenced league placing is expected to pique in recent weeks, the curtain has the interest of new first team boss finally come down on UCD AFC Under Aaron Callaghan, who will be looking 19 side’s Dr Tony O’Neill National to blood some of the most promising League campaign. Managed by Albert youngsters from this side into the Sugg, UCD finished the season in first team in the coming months. fifth place in the Elite Division table after completing their programme of Jamie Headon april 1st 2014 19

sport

Early Sligo onslaught too much for UCD in WSCAI Final KILLIAN WOODS

UCD 1 IT Sligo 6 UCD Squad

Emer Cassidy, Emily Duffy, Chloe Mustaki, Orla Haran, Sarah Madden, Dora Gorman, Jetta Berrill, Julie-Ann Russell, Orlagh Nolan, Ciara Grant, Catherine Cronin, Emily Cahill, Niamh Walsh, Lauren Boles, Sarah Clune, Sam Mater, Sophie Pratt, Megan Madonna

IT Sligo Squad

Rachel King, Kathryn Sullivan, Amy Roddy, Kim Flood, Nicole Fowley, Caomhe Barrett, Geraldine McLoughlin, Aileen Gilroy, Aoife Brennan, Emma Hansberry, Colleen Cavanagh, Cliodhna Maloney, Enya Clarke, Colleen Kearney, Louise O’Connor, Tracy O’Boyle

UCD took on IT Sligo in the final of the WSCAI Ladies Soccer Intervarsities at the Belfield Bowl on Saturday March 29th, losing 6–1 despite a valiant second half performance that saw UCD dominate the game.

UCD started the game strongly and dominated the opening stages of the game as they looked to utilise Catherine Cronin down the left-hand channel of the pitch.

Despite having most of the ball in the opening five minutes, UCD were hit on the counter attack by IT Sligo down the left wing. With UCD scrambling in defence, the ball was cut across goal and Sligo’s Geraldine McLoughlin was unmarked, easily finishing from close range to give the visitors a 1–0 lead after five minutes.

UCD continued to stamp their superiority down the left wing in an attempt to force an equaliser and after 16 minutes, they got their reward.

Cronin tirelessly closed down the defenders and forced them to panic and clear the ball into the path of UCD’s right-winger Jetta Berrill who crossed

the ball. Her cut back fell at the feet of Ciara Grant who shot from close range, with a deflection taking it past the Sligo goalkeeper Rachel King.

Following the equaliser, a succession of errors for in defence for UCD saw the game get away from them as two goals in quick succession gave the visiting side a 3–1 lead.

Emma Hansberry made it 2–1 to Sligo during the next phase of play after UCD scored as she rounded the keeper and fended off UCD defenders.

Hansberry had a large part to play in the third goal for her side as well.

She linked up well with Aileen Gilroy as they traded possession before Hansberry squared the ball for Gilroy to cooly finish past UCD’s keeper Emer Cassidy.

The hosts didn’t let their heads drop and continued to try and force their way back into the game, but the Sligo defence was very well drilled as they teamed up on UCD attackers, with one defender tackling the attacker and another Sligo player ready to quickly swoop in and start a counter-attack.

One area of the pitch that UCD

outclassed their opponents throughout was on the flanks. Cronin, Berrill and Julie-Ann Russell were excellent at running at their opponents with the ball at foot and kept the pressure on Sligo.

A lot of the wingers’ work was to no avail, however, as they lacked a centre forward’s presence in the box to aim at when they got the opportunity to cross.

Too often Orlagh Nolan was forced to drop deep to bring the wingers into the game, leaving her too far away from the play when Cronin, Berrill and Russell did get their crosses into the box.

Despite UCD’s pressure, Sligo still looked very dangerous on the counter. Hansberry managed to get one-on-one with King after 29 minutes and rounded her only to see her shot towards the gaping UCD goal trickle agonisingly wide.

Eager to make up for missing such a gilt-edged chance, Hansberry quickly got a chance to make up for her error. Receiving the ball under little pressure again on the left wing, she cut inside in the penalty box and easily slotted past Cassidy again to give

Sligo a 4–1 lead just before half time.

As half time loomed, it was clear that the difference between the sides was simply Sligo’s ability to transition from defence to attack quicker and UCD needed to try something different to contain their opposition.

After the opening stages of the second half, it was clear that UCD had adopted a different approach of attack that Sligo barely coped with for the rest of the game, leaving UCD very unlucky not to add to their solitary goal.

Now playing a 4-3-3, with Russell and Cronin on the left and right respectively, and Nolan playing more advanced than in the first half, UCD were able to pile on even more pressure on their opponents.

Each player raised their performance in the second half, with Dora Gorman in central midfield made some threatening late runs into the box and playmaker Ciara Grant roamed between the lines of defence to pick out UCD’s wingers on numerous occasions.

Even though UCD now had an upper hand in the game, they fell further behind when Kathryn Sullivan’s

excellently taken in swinging corner landed straight on the head of Nicole Fowley who’s powerful header was unstoppable from close range and put Sligo 5–1 ahead.

Despite poor defensive displays, full back Emily Duffy and Orla Haran did make a more concerted effort to spread the ball to the wings as quickly as possible when possession changed hands in the second half.

The introduction of Niamh Walsh and Lauren Boles also appeared to give UCD an added advantage in the middle of the pitch, with Walsh’s passing range particularly impressive.

These changes saw UCD carve out a number of half chances in the second half. Gorman had a few shots from outside the box sail wide, while Nolan at centre forward was through on goal on three occasions, but was under significant pressure each time from Sligo defenders covering.

UCD’s best chances to score in the second half came from two very similar chances that Russell and Cronin created for themselves as

they turned their opponents insideout with their dribbling skills. Both wingers managed to cut in and curl shots just wide of the top corner of the goal, with the King helplessly grabbing at air on both occasions.

With the score at 5-1 entering the final ten minutes and UCD still dominating the game, but unable to add to their single goal, Sligo capped off their fine defensive and counter attacking display with a goal just before the final whistle.

Again on the counter-attack, UCD defenders scrambled to cover a quick break and Aoife Brennan eventually found herself unmarked in front of goal and made it 6–1 as the referee blew his whistle for full-time.

One consolation for UCD in the aftermath of the final was that Catherine Cronin picked up player of the tournament at the awards ceremony later that evening. UCD should take solace in their second half performance and were always facing an uphill battle after conceding that flurry of goals straight after getting the equaliser in the 16th minute.

Morrison nets hat-trick as UCD grab comeback win Cormac O’Connor

Two late goals for the Students saw UCD earn a 5-3 away win over Bray Wanderers in a thrilling game at the Carlisle Grounds, which bore witness to a red card and three late goals.

A Cillian Morrison hat-trick and one each for Dean Clarke and Mark Langtry meant the students scored more goals against Bray Wanderers than they had in their previous three games combined.

A 2–1 win over Athlone Town coupled with this result mean Aaron Callaghan’s men sit in a very respectable mid-table position at this early stage. Goals from Robbie Creevy and the impressive Aymen Ben Mohamed gave UCD their victory in what was a comfortable game for the most part last week; this game saw more goals and more action.

In recent years, games between these two sides have always had goals aplenty and it only took three minutes for the record to be kept up.

It was Cillian Morrison who grabbed the opener from ten yards after a clever one-two with Ben Mohamed saw him through on goal to finish.

The lead could have been doubled in the 5th minute. UCD broke into the Bray half with a three against two advantage, only for the referee to call play back to award UCD a free kick. The travelling UCD support felt advantage should have been awarded.

As the first half wore on, Bray

20 april 1st 2014

began to take control of the match and created numerous chances as Jake Kelly twice drew saves from UCD goalkeeper Conor O’Donnell.

On the 16th minute the Seagulls got the reward their pressure had merited. Shane O’Donnell finished a fine move from close range after a great drilled cross from David Cassidy.

Five minutes later it was Cassidy himself who put Wanderers into a well-deserved lead after the midfielder exchanged passes with Jake Kelly and then finished from six yards out.

The Students spent the majority of the first half camped in their own half, such was the pressure from Bray. Had the Carlisle Grounds club been more clinical they could, and should, have been out of sight by half time. For the most part UCD defended well, and when they didn’t Bray were wasteful.

Kelly and Akinde both headed wide in the space of ten minutes from similar positions no more than five yards out. Both were left unmarked in the box and both should have scored.

Five minutes before half time Akinde raced clear of the UCD defence but blasted his shot into the side netting. Although the angle was difficult, he should have done better and tested the visiting goalkeeper.

If the Nigerian had his finishing boots on he could have easily matched Morrison’s late exploits and claimed

a hat-trick; he was a menace to the UCD defence all game, holding the ball up well and winning more than his fair share of aerial duals.

The Students started the second half much like they had the first and nearly scored seven minutes after the restart when Robbie Mullhall volleyed over when he really should have scored.

Three minutes later the midfielder made amends, putting Morrison through to grab his second of the night with a curling shot into the top corner.

The Students were in the ascendency and just ten minutes after drawing level they were in the lead. The lively Ben Mohamed was involved again, this time teeing up ex- Shamrock Rovers man Mark Langtry who cut inside his man and finished well into the bottom corner of Redmond’s net.

It looked like game over in the 81st minute when Wanderers goalkeeper, Ben Redmond, was sent off for a push on Cillian Morrison. The Bray stopper had needlessly ran out of his box to get involved in a tussle. The red card did seem slightly harsh with Morrison looking to have gone down all too easily.

With just nine minutes to go the Students were a goal up and a man up and the home fans were heading for the exits.

The ten men of Bray rallied and looked to have snatched an unlikely point in the 87th minute when a hopeful

punt up the field found David Cassidy just inside the box. Cassidy spotted the UCD keeper in no man’s land, lobbed the ball over him and it bounced into the empty net to make it 3–3.

Despite time ticking away, UCD remained calm and on the 90th minute they were awarded a free kick between the halfway line and the penalty area. Robbie Benson’s floated free kick was nodded into to the path of Morrison who lashed it into the roof of the net to complete his hat-trick and give UCD the lead again.

Bray had the wind knocked well and truly out of their sails and it was all to easy for Benson to burst through the defence and square it to Dean Clarke whose finish clipped the bar on the way in to make it 5—3 to UCD. Aaron Callaghan’s outfit will face tougher opposition than Bray this season, but coming from behind and not letting their heads drop after conceding a late equaliser shows they might just have the character to avoid the drop this season.

Next up for UCD is a home tie with Limerick FC this Friday night.

The result in Wicklow means UCD AFC leap-frog Bray Wanderers and climb to a respectable 6th place in the Airtricity League. Even though there are only four games played, two wins on the bounce mean the Students are heading in the right direction.

Bray Wanderers 3 UCD AFC 5 Bray Wanderers

Shane Redmond; David Webster, Adam Mitchell, Shane O’Connor, Robert Maloney; Dean Zambra, Graham Kelly (Shane O’Neill 87), David Cassidy; Shane Byrne (Dave Scully 68), Ismahil Akinade, Jake Kelly (Stephen McGuinness 82).

Subs Not Used: Niall Cooney, Jamie McGlynn; Gary Curran; Ciaran Byrne.

UCD AFC

Conor O’Donnell; Michael Barker, Ian Ryan (Hugh Douglas 33), Tomas Boyle, Mark Langtry; Robbie Creevy (James Kavanagh 76), Robbie Benson, Dean Clarke; Chris Mulhall, Cillian Morrison, Ayman Ben Mohamed (Dwayne Wilson 85).

Subs Not Used: Mark McGinley, Gareth Matthews, Colm Crowe, Gary Burke.