Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The University Times Irish Student Newspaper of the Year
The University Times
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Security in high profile theft foil Owen Bennett Editor THE UNIVERSITY Times has learned that College Security were successful in apprehending a high profile theft suspect last week. A source within College Security has labelled the apprehension ‘one of the biggest security coups in recent years’. The individual was apprehended after a postgraduate student observed a woman acting suspiciously in the 1937 Reading Room. Speaking to this reporter, a college spokesperson stated that the woman ‘had interfered with a laptop that did not belong to her’. College also confirmed the individual in question is not a student of the college. She was escorted to Front Arch security booth and subsequently arrested and detained at Pearse St, Garda Station. The individual in question was positively identified by College
Security as someone being sought in relation to previous alleged thefts on campus. The Garda Press Office has confirmed that the woman, believed to be in her early thirties was charged with attempted theft. She appeared in the District court on 12th October and will appear again to answer charges on 2nd November. The University Times understands that the woman was previously known to security staff and a CCTV image of her was distributed to security staff prior to her apprehension. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a member of College Security said the staff were ‘absolutely delighted’ to apprehend the woman. ‘She’s been on the radar of security staff, library attendants and our colleagues in other colleges for a long long time.’ He went on to praise the vigilance of those who helped apprehend the woman and said it
Getting Artsy: Trinity Arts Festival takes over the GMB for welcome exhibition
was ‘great to see the college community pulling together on this one. ‘There’s a lot of negativity toward College security most of the time. We’re trying our best to make sure campus is a safe place for the students and staff and thankfully, we’ve managed to sort this one out. We’ve had people coming up to the booth all week and there’s a great buzz among security.’ The theft of unattended laptops has become a major security concern in recent years. This arrest follows a heightening of security of late in light of a significant increase in the number of reported thefts on campus. During Freshers Week alone, close to €3000 worth of equipment was reported stolen from House 6. Increased instances of pickpocketing was also reported during that period.
Photo by Peter Halpin /DUPA
Societies may face code of conduct »» Only 23% of College buildings compliant with disability legislation.
»» Equality Office to push for action on diability policy »» CSC says responsibility for ensuring accessibility falls on College
Hannah Ryan News Staff AT A meeting of the Equality Committee on the 28th May this year, a suggestion was put forward by the director of the college Disability Service, Declan Treanor, that student societies holding events in rooms that are not fully accessible be financially sanctioned. This followed several complaints by disabled students who felt excluded from societal events. The recommendation, since withdrawn, came despite statistics shown to the same committee concerning the current levels of accessibility around campus which suggest that it is often difficult for societies to secure suitable rooms. The 2011/12 report on Trinity’s progress relating to the Disability Act 2005 states that ‘the Built environment [of college] remains a priority with 23% of buildings compliant with Accessibility Legislation (Disability Act 2005), 40% accessible at entrance level only and 37% inaccessible.’ The GMB, built in the early 1900s and home to two of the college’s oldest student societies (the Phil and the Hist), is among those buildings accessible only on the ground floor. Furthermore,
included in these statistics are some historical and many older buildings around college which are more difficult to alter, and liability issues – as in most universities –prevent the majority of societies from holding events off-campus. It was also accordingly at the same meeting that the Capitations Committee draw up a Code of Conduct for student societies, particularly relating to event accessibility. This committee, chaired by the Senior Dean, includes in its terms of reference a large number of stu-
Committee raised this last year and it is due to come up again at its first meeting this month.’ Commenting on the figures relating to accessibility, Treanor said that he had ‘queried’ them at the time of their publication, and the criteria on which they were based, denying that these are adequate grounds for holding inaccessible events. ‘I would find it hard to believe there wouldn’t be space on campus. There is now an accessibility map of college available, and societies can ring the office to
The Dean of Students, Amanda Piesse, has said any code of conduct needs to be developed by capitations to have validity
dent representatives who sit on the executives of the five capitated bodies. Treanor announced his support for this move, saying: ‘With over 1100 disabled students studying in College, the need for inclusive clubs and societies is good for the whole community. I know the Equality
find available rooms that are accessible.’ Qualifying that the introduction of fines for non-compliant societies should be a last resort, he also said that when questioning ‘who is responsible’ for non-inclusiveness of events, it has to be noted that ‘if people want to be inclusive, they will try to be
inclusive.’ Joseph O’Gorman, Strategic Development Officer of the Central Societies Committee, said that ‘The CSC is cognisant of the need to consider the issue of accessibility to events… There is an average of 120 to 130 society events on campus over the five-day teaching week in parallel with an ever expanding full-time student lecture day and a growing number of evening courses and classes... Curricular activity is, quite naturally, prioritised over extracurricular activity. Much space available to societies is not accessible. ‘Most societies find it extremely difficult to find space for events and make do with what they can find. The outcome of this is that not all society activity can be accessible.’ However, O’Gorman denied that a code was being set out, stating that ‘College is responsible for the accessibility of its buildings, not the CSC.’ ‘The CSC does not have in place, nor is it its intention to put in place, a system to fine Societies with respect to the accessibility of events because the degree of accessibility of the space to which
the Societies have access is beyond the control of the Societies and the CSC.’ Ian Beatty-Orr, Captain of the Dublin University Rifle Club, also commented on the subject of event accessibility: ‘Due to the old nature of campus many club and society rooms are inaccessible and so numerous that to avoid their use altogether is just not feasible. Sports clubs in particular often
construction of a larger fully accessible range with the space for us to expand our activities and accommodate disabled users comfortably.’ In any case the club, in its pursuit of having a ramp constructed, is ‘currently being hampered by the slow response from buildings, as after their speedy initial assessment they have yet to even provide us with an estim ate
Joe O’Gorman: ‘The CSC is cognisant of the need to consider the issue of accessibility to events.’ have specialist rooms and can’t conduct their sports in other locations, for instance we most certainly couldn’t shoot safely or legally anywhere on campus other than our current range. While we are pursuing the matter of having a ramp constructed into our current range it will never be an ideal venue for wheelchair users. ‘A much better solution for us and the disabled community would be the
of the cost.’ Amanda Piesse, Dean of Students, also commented on the subject: ‘I understand that the Equality Office is looking at training and awareness-raising solutions, and it is felt that if a Code of Conduct were to be developed it would need to be developed by the Capitation committee to have any validity: the Equality Officer would have a supporting
role.’ Treanor supported this need for equality awareness training for society heads, declaring that ‘societies cannot operate a selective membership. In many cases they are not making enough effort to attract student interest. Freshers’ Week will not suit everybody. Societies should vary the types of events offered, and perhaps appoint an equality officer.’ At present, a checklist for organising events is available on the college website which includes suggestions for making meetings and receptions inclusive, and the CSC’s ‘Officers’ Guide’, which instructs society officers on the running of their organisations, says, of accessibility: ‘Please bear in mind that we must cater for those students and staff members who may have mobility impairment of some kind, so when deciding about a venue’s suitability, try to ensure that the rooms you book are accessible to all.’ There is not, however, a system in place
The University Times
Editor: Owen Bennett Deputy Editor: Leanna Byrne Volume 4, Issue 2
to discipline societies for holding events in buildings and rooms that are difficult to get to. The Equality Committee has noted that although student societies are not technically funded by College, rather by the student registration fee, they must still abide by the college’s policies. Karen Campos McCormack, the college Equality Officer, spoke at the Committee meeting regarding steps being taken to ensure compliance with Trinity’s Dignity and Respect policy and announced her support for creating further awareness about inclusiveness in student societies.
This newspaper is produced with the financial support of Trinity College Students’ Union. It is editorially independent and claims no special rights or privileges.