uo
student Newspaper of the year 2014
The University Observer
SU REVIEW We take a look at the performance of each of this year’s full-time officers
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS A look at the language of oppression
INTERVIEW Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental talks about his experiences
Kate Purcell P6
Shane Hannon P10
april 16th 2014 Volume XX issue xIi universityobserver.ie
above Swimmers take part in Race to Midnight charity event PHOTO Joanna O’Malley
p8—9
UCD Res prices to increase by 11% for 2014/15
Lenny Abrahamson The award-winning director talks about his new film
otwo p12
KILLIAN WOODS UCD Residences are increasing their prices for the 2014/15 academic year, with certain accommodation blocks on UCD campuses in Belfield and Blackrock raising their prices by as much as 11%. Speaking to the University Observer, a UCD spokesperson said that rented accommodation on campus is increasing in price to help fund the expansion of UCD Residences and refurbish Belgrove residences over the next two years. “In preparation for the commencement of a new phase of expansion of student residences, the University engaged an expert to review the campus development plan. The report indicated that there is a strong demand for increasing student accommodation on campus. “The capital development of new residences and the refurbishment of existing residences on campus are funded through consolidated residential revenues. However, the report showed that these could not be achieved based
» SU Council
motion calls on Gallagher to explain failure to inform students of rent increases
» Gallagher
defends decision not to disclose confidential information
on current pricing levels.” Previously, deals have been agreed between UCD Students’ Union (SU) and UCD Residences in relation to a price freeze on rented accommodation on campus. However, this increase represents the University’s move to bring campus prices in line with rent inflation. “A second report showed that the residences at current price levels are under-priced. In addition, annual recurrent costs have increased, largely due to new landlord-related costs imposed by Government, such as property tax, water charges, as well as increased utility costs.” The new residences blocks are set to be completed by the 2016/17 academic year, and will increase the number of residences from 2,900 to 3,200. Health Sciences Convenor, Becky Gilmore, submitted a motion to UCDSU Council for the meeting on Monday, April 14th, which notes that President Mícheál Gallagher failed to inform students of these proposed
increases to rent on Residences. The UCD Residences Prices Motion failed to go on notice at UCDSU Council as the meeting didn’t reach the required quorum of 54 for such an item to go up for discussion. The motion will be put on notice at the next UCDSU Council. The motion notes that Gallagher sits on the committee that the proposal for increasing rent on Residences and states that he has been aware of such a proposal to increase campus rented accommodation prices since November 2013. If passed, the motion will mandate the SU President to relay all future “increase in prices that directly affects students to both the Executive and SU Council as soon as they know of any proposed increases” and why rent for campus accommodation is being increased. Speaking to the University Observer, Gallagher revealed information about increases to UCD Residences rent was readily available to full-time officers that sit on exec, namely, the
Welfare and Equality Officer, Undergraduate Education Officer, and Graduate Officer. “All full time officers on exec have access to the minutes of the committees I sit on by measure of being on Governing Authority, and thus have had access to the same level of information in the same time period as me. “It particularly surprises me to find that a full-time officer with the same level of information that I have is seconding this motion you refer to. If the Welfare Officer now feels so passionate to sponsor a motion which calls on the President to break confidentiality, why did the Welfare Officer not do it at the time with the same level of information? “In short the motion you refer to is a poor one, requesting SU officers to break confidentiality on matters is a short-sighted policy decision that will lead to a break down in trust in the currently strong UCD–UCDSU relationship.”
Irish universities blame gender disparity in higher education management on women Jonny Howson
Research just published by sociology professor at the University of Limerick, Professor Pat O’Connor, has revealed that the management teams in Irish universities believe that women themselves are the chief cause of the gender imbalance in higher education. A focus on “fixing the women” is required in order to achieve a gender balance in third level education, according to the survey of 34 of the senior managers in Irish universities. Prof. O’Connor said, “As they [the senior management] saw it, women lacked career ambition, they were poor at marketing themselves, they lacked political skills and had lifestyles that were unhelpful.”
Andy Bell Former Oasis guitarist and current Beady Eye bassist chats about his storied career
Sean Hayes otwo P14
Goat Simulator
We try out the most hotlyanticipated game of the year Karl Quigley Otwo P6
This view of women as “the problem” was particularly prevalent where the managers in question had only worked in the Irish university system, where women currently hold only 19% of senior management positions, and there has never been a female president. In contrast, men with a background in the private sector or abroad were more likely to see the problem as being with the system, or the organisation. Here, a propensity to look after male colleagues rather than attempting to ensure proper representation of women exists. Prof. O’Connor said, “Not all men are like this, but it can be a bit too cosy in a set-up that favours men.” With no female presidents in Irish universities and only 14% of deputy presidents being women, Prof.
O’Connor believes it is a problem that the male dominance at senior management level can only be changed by the men who oversee the composition of these structures. She said, “If you have someone who’s sensitive to the culture of the organisation, and if he’s not sufficiently strong enough to change that, to create a culture friendly to women, the gender composition of the management team is unlikely to change.” Chief Executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Tom Boland, believes the findings in Prof. O’Connor’s study set a challenge for university management teams “to put in place strategies, targets and key performance indicators” to create more widespread gender diversity in the higher education system.
» Management
teams argue that focus on ‘fixing the women’ required for gender equality in higher education
» Only 19% of
senior management positions in Irish universities are currently held by women
The HEA is currently finalising its objectives for academia, research and teaching, and O’Connor feels this presents an opportunity to actively set goals in relation to gender diversity in staffing, as performance indicators for each university. The changes required for gender diversity in Irish universities aren’t happening fast enough, according to Prof. O’Connor. “There was a time when women had to choose between marriage or a career,” she said. “In the 21st century, are we seriously saying that this is still the type of world we live in? Other countries find a solution. It’s not rocket science.” The research was published in Prof. O’Connor’s book, Management and Gender in Irish Education, which was launched at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin last Sunday.
ucd weather
Festival Fashion
A guide to what to wear at this year’s hottest festivals Otwo P20
by cathal nolan
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Cloudy
More Clouds
It Is A Very Cloudy Week
Clouds, I Guess
We’re Just Guessing
Assignment Week april 16th 2014 1