The University Times Supplement - Vol. 2, Issue 1 by The University Times

Supplement

Fresherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Survival Guide Tuesday 16 September, 2014

2 / Fresher’s Survival Guide Fresher’s Survivial Guide

CONTENTS

20 The Trinity 20 We profile the twenty most influential students in Trinity this year. PAGE 3

5 Apps for Dublin Rosalind Ní Shúilleabháin tells you how to survive if you’re new to Dublin and want to use apps to help. PAGE 8

Comparing Reality with Expectations Sinéad Loftus gives freshers a dose of reality and tries to dampen your hopes and expectations and minimise disappointment about college. PAGE 9

Freshers’ Week 10 Commandments Seasoned student and seasoned contributer to The University Times, Shauna Cleary, commands you to do or not to do ten things this Freshers’ Week (and beyond). PAGE 10

The Best Societies (discounts or otherwise) The societies editor, Paul Behan, and his team give you a thorough run down of which societies are worth joining. PAGE 12

Tuesday 16 September, 2014

Goodbye to Inspirational Bollocks Tom Myatt Supplements Editor

he University Times Supplement has always been a place where great minds and people come to better themselves: ‘The hub of Trinity Civilization’ as, erm, Oscar Wilde once said. Each issue’s theme has, in the past, focused on whatever the Student Union is doing, like Receiving and Giving week. If you don’t childishly laugh at that name like I frequently must, it solely exists to make middle-class Trinity students feel less guilty about doing nothing to stop homelessness… Well, all this inspirational bollocks stops in today’s supplement. No-one is saying we don’t need articles on how terrible it is that we’re all being oppressed by someone, but that’s probably happening in the rest of the paper now. This year, the supplement is giving you more action, more sex, more glamour, more getting fucked up and waking up at 2pm round the back of a McDonalds (you know who you are!). On top of this Fresher’s Survival Guide that you’re reading, we’ll have a Sexxx supplement in October, a Getting Rich supplement in November, a Women supplement in December, a Body supplement in January, a Student Union Election Special in February, the Big Gay supplement in March, and a Year in Review supplement at the end of the year. This issue’s theme is where a load of third and fourth years get to nobly and selflessly talk down to first years, providing you with our infinite wisdom, experience, and generally make Trinity a much easier place for you to live. I’ll begin proceedings now… A load of beer cans, a Leap Card, a pack of Johnnies, a clean shirt, your parent’s money, a couple of books, and a sense of wonder. What do all of these things have in common? Frankly, they’re all you need for first year. A load of cans because, if you’re the partying type (which I really wasn’t in first year; I spent too much time with The University Times), then you need to estab-

lish your animalistic, barbaric party-dominating psychological persona immediately. As long as you don’t look like too much of an idiot, it’s the kind of thing that eighteen-year olds respect, for some reason. In Freshers’ Week of my first year, there was some kind of scandal when some inebriated posh boys urinated on a homeless man. It was the talk of the College. Don’t get into that stuff. A Leap Card because it saves you a fuckload of time and money. In the end, I walked from Trinity Hall to College most days, which actually goes surprisingly quickly once you get in the habit. The pack of Johnnies speaks for itself. A clean shirt. Some eighteen-year olds think it cool to dress like a dick. It was cool

“

A load of beer cans, a Leap Card, a pack of Johnnies, a clean shirt, your parent’s money in school, but now you look like a First Class idiot. Once you get into second year, you realise how easy it is to spot a first year, because they’re overdoing everything. Literally. Loudly talking about parties in the arts block, going to class dressed for a night out and generally being a kid. Books. Study. Why waste all that money to not study? Seriously. The most important thing though is the sense of wonder – a free mind! You come to college to try new things, and try some new things you must. For example, I joined The University Times as an opinion writer (if you didn’t guess). Unlike the societies which seem to give the impression of being clique-dominated, The University Times was surprisingly welcoming. So the supplements are now going to be less ‘Green Weeky’ and more about topics like Getting Rich. If you want to join our awesome group of super-nerds, or are just cool, feel free to hit me up at supplements@universitytimes.ie Hope you enjoy our amazing wisdom this week!

Photo BY SINÉAD BAKER FOR THE UNIVERSITY TIMES

Trinity 20

BY CORMAC SHINE AND SINÉAD BAKER ILLUSTRATIONS BY LAURA FINNEGAN

he Trinity Twenty, now in its fifth year, profiles the twenty most influential students in Trinity College Dublin. If you’re a fresher, look out for the big cheeses swaggering for all they’re worth around Front Square, wearing at least one society hoodie, numerous wristbands and the proud tattoos that are fading nightclub stamps. For most of the entrants on this list, years of blood, sweat and tears have gone into those freshers’ bags you’re already regretting hauling around, in dark committee rooms, House 6, or even outside these four walls in central Dublin that, you’ll soon learn, contain a whole world unto itself.

There are no specific criteria for being a big dog on campus, but many of the people on this list are very impressive individuals indeed in their own diverse ways. Be it affecting the opinions of many students, running organisations with budgets of tens of thousands of euro that keep some of campus’s most exciting activities going, or simply making a lot of people’s days that much nicer, nearly everyone on this list has caught the notice of many students, and won their respect. Indeed, as a fresher you’ll soon learn that the best way to make the most out of your college experience is to do stuff you enjoy and have a bit of craic while you’re at it.

Domhnall McGlacken-Byrne P r e s i d e n t, T C DS U

t’s pretty self-explanatory why the president of the Students’ Union is a powerful figure in college: Domhnall represents the views of Trinity’s 17,000 students to the college, government and to the wider community, and acts as the primary campaigns officer and head of the SU and all of its activities, including maintaining its shops which provide outrageously cheap newspapers and chocolate bars. The president also sits on many boards and committees within the college administration. But Domhnall tops the list because his role seems even more important this year. The president is mandated to campaign for LGBT rights, and McGlacken-Byrne has promised intensive voter registration drives and publicity ahead of the marriage equality referendum, which is expected to be held in spring 2015. The president has previously stated that the referendum could be won or lost based on youth turnout. Domhnall also has big ideas for the union itself, including an “exciting” four-year strategic plan for dealing with the issues like fees, emigration, unemployment, and other long-term issues that can’t be put to bed in twelve months. Domhnall is known to fully commit to whatever he does, as evidenced by

the fact that he once fell asleep on the subway in New York for eight hours after a night out, calmly slumbering through rush hour and arriving home at 11am the next morning (this is actually true). With only a ten foot walk to work everyday, there’s less chance of him falling asleep en route and more chance of him applying this determination to helping the student body. The Bray man has already proved himself a force to be reckoned with. Despite having a name that has more syllables than most people’s have letters, he emerged from the depths of the health sciences building to secure 74% of the vote, charming anyone he came into contact with by hanging out of a tree and skateboarding WITH A HELMET through front square for his campaign photos. Perhaps the lamest campaign shots ever taken, but effective nonetheless. Honourable mention goes to Domhnall’s colleagues, welfare officer Ian Mooney and education officer Katie Byrne. Byrne will act as one of the most important resources for those who have academic issues in College, and Mooney is there to provide support and advice for students in the areas of mental, physical, financial and sexual health. The Timetable Tsar and the Condom King, if you will.

2 Donal McKeating S e n i o r S o p h i st e r , Ec o n o m i c s a n d M at h e m at i c s

otorious DMK has stalked the squares of Trinity for three years now, ruthlessly playing the societies game with his lilting northern twang, manicured stubble and designer fluorescent rain jackets. He’s kind of like Frank Underwood in House of Cards, if Frank Underwood gave tours of Capitol Hill in his spare time in a flowing cape to American tourists, and if his main hobby was multiplying huge numbers in his head. McKeating is this year’s chair of Players – College’s theatre group and one of the largest and most active societies on campus, with at least one production a week throughout the year and plenty of other activities. Donal previously ran the Players’ Fresher’s Co-op event, which has been rather limply described as “kind of like Navy SEAL training for five weeks, but for theatre people in skinny jeans who smoke rollies, and little to no actual physical activity”.

After a succession of colourful and highly active chairs, McKeating will no doubt carry on the tradition of Players producing some of the most creative and engaging events on campus this year. For example, Donal has vowed to eat three kilos of haggis in one sitting, washed down with three litres of brightest orange Irn-Bru, if Scotland votes for independence this Thursday. Even better, if Scotland votes no, he will sing God Save the Queen in Front Square, wearing nothing but a strategically placed Union Jack. It’s a win-win situation, and an all-round magical theatrical installation. McKeating also had significant success last year, both as chair of the Central Societies Committee (the committee in charge of all societies), and as co-editor of the Piranha, where he and his partner in crime tested the limits of how many doughy, MSG-rich sweet and sour chicken balls a human can possibly ingest in one sitting. The answer? Fifteen.

3 Sarah Mortell J u n i o r S o p h i st e r , E c o n o m i c s a n d P o l i t i c s

arah Mortell this year takes the mantle of Trinity’s largest society, the Phil – also one of college’s most dynamic. The President of the Phil oversees a council of 22 who undertake an unusually heavy workload, which helps to explain the society’s prodigious output of weekly Thursday night debates, panel discussions, paper readings, and honorary patronages. Guests at the Phil last year alone included Angela Merkel and Enda Kenny, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, Jane Goodall, Paul Krugman and many others, and there’s a similar array of guests in store for members this year, including Judi Dench, Kristin Chenoweth, Judi Dench, Lemony Snicket and Judi

Dench and more. Mortell must also be commended for her and her council’s continued challenging of traditional roles within the debating community. Historically a male-dominated environment, Sarah is the first woman to succeed another woman as president of the Phil, and has been explicit in her intent to leave another crack in the glass ceiling of college societies. Her strength is undoubtedly in marshalling the troops to keep this busy society running, and her past successes as secretary and vicepresident of the Phil point to her being both well-respected collegewide and having great success in keeping the Phil at its dizzying heights.

4 Robert Milling and Damien McClean S e n i o r S o p h i st e r , P h y s i o lo g y a n d J u n i o r S o p h i st e r , Theoretical Physics

lthough these two men hold notably different positions, they share an entry as both of their roles will come under the spotlight for the same reason next year. Milling is auditor of Q-Soc, Trinity’s LGBT Society, which acts as a home, safe space and source of education for many of Trinity’s students, ensuring that the LGBT community is never forgotten. Meanwhile, McClean is this year’s SU LGBT rights officer. Damien has a history of involvement with the DU Climbing Club and with the SU, and is just one of those people that seems to know everyone. McClean is in charge of ensuring that the union lives up to its promise of supporting rights for all LGBTQ people, dealing

with any cases of discrimination or any disadvantages students may face because of their sexual orientation. While both men will be educating and raising awareness of issues facing the LGBT community, the two roles will be brought into further alignment with the upcoming marriage equality referendum. Set for spring, these two will be very active on campus ensuring that Trinity students, the vast majority of whom support marriage equality, buck the stereotype of terminally relaxed students and become active citizens by campaigning and, well, actually voting. Milling’s cool mystery should align itself nicely with McClean’s endless energy, as the two combine their forces.

5 Cllr Jonathan Graham Junior Sophister, BESS

onathan Graham is a bit different to everyone else on this list, in that he’s actually at least a little bit influential outside the walls of this bubble in central Dublin. The BESS student ran in the 2014 local elections last May, and was successfully elected as a Sinn Fein councillor for the Clondalkin ward of South Dublin County Council, thus becoming the youngest councillor in the country by a fair margin. Having campaigned on youth issues, including youth

employment and forced emigration, and the introduction of water charges, he believes that “emigration is the single biggest issue facing students today closely followed by the dearth of credible and meaningful jobs.” That he’s now urging young people to get involved with politics, arguing that the current government is failing young people, especially students, means that Graham actually has the ability to affect us all on a national level, because we have to leave these walls sometimes.

6 Finn Murphy

E n t s O f f i c e r , TC D S U

rinity Ents has faced criticism over the last few years for not being as efficient as it could be, but when Ents succeeds it has the power to affect almost every student, both for the better, and for the worse the next morning. Usually the time to come into contact with Ents is at the big events: Freshers’ Week, RAG Week, the mystery tour and of course Trinity Ball, but Murphy seems determined to expand the role of Ents. The ex-Snowsports captain Murphy has promised the introduction of a Trinity Film Festival which may allow Ents to finally provide non-club-based entertainment. The return of the Ents Crew should find Ents more involved with sports clubs and societies. This year’s Freshers’ Week looks set to be the most impressive in years but the most controversial thing he has done is grow something that’s

supposed to resemble a beard, in homage to his predecessor, Sean Reynolds. Despite its patchy coverage, Finn is attempting to ride the beardsare-cool trend. That’s what we love about Finn, an all-round chilled-out mastermind, who we hope will reach for the Gillette Mach 3 as soon as possible.

Commu n i c at i o n s O f f i c e r , TC D S U

Deputy Editor around these parts, seems to have more knowledge about journalism than the rest of us put together. The Bert and Ernie of student journalism are hoping to shake things up this year, and we would wish them all the best, but they’re sitting in the same room as us so we’ll just say it to them.

rinity VDP has continued to expand over the years to become one of the largest student societies in College. With over twenty activities a week, VDP manages to involve students and the wider community in ways that no other on-campus society or organisation can. From soup runs to a Christmas food drive, to the much-loved annual pantomime, an annual weekend away, El Camino de Santiago, homeless care, music clubs, drama clubs, youth clubs and a hell of a lot more, it’s honestly quite hard to avoid Trinity VDP and their endless good deeds. VDP also finds itself involved with other societies on some of Trinity’s largest annual events, such as Jailbreak and the Charity Ball, which only seem

to grow year to year. That Lorigan is the head of all of this places him in one of the most important and influential positions in College. He mainly made this list, however, because he wears shorts 365 days a year.

9 Fionn Ó Deá

Se n i o r So p h i s t e r , L a w

ionn is the leader of an Cumann Gaelach, which now boasts an impressive 1,200+ members and is one of the biggest forces on campus. The final year Law student has been climbing Dreimire na nGaeilgoiri since he arrived on campus in 2011, with not a word of English to his name. A former deputy news editor for this prestigious publication, Fionn now dedicates himself to the promotion of the Irish language on campus, with activities such as ciorcal comhrá and a trip to Oireachtas, the national Irish language and cultural festival.With a large space on campus in the form of Seomra Na Gaeilge, it’s fair to say that the Cumann has continued to up its game over the last few years, deservedly winning Best Overall Society at last year’s CSC awards. Fionn can usually be found behind

or on top of the bar at Conradh na Gaeilge, with a warm can of Druid’s in one hand and a packet of Monster Munch in the other. He is an avid supporter of St Patrick’s Athletic, apparently unaware that any patriotic Irish soccer fan should support Glasgow Celtic.

11 Caitriona Sheil

10 James Ringland

J u n i o r So p h i s t e r , P h i lo s o p h y a n d Pol i t i c a l S c i e n c e

Se n i o r So p h i s t e r , L a w

his Belfast man’s passing resemblance to Harry Potter was immeasurably helped earlier in the year when he took a nasty fall, resulting in a deep, almost lightningshaped scar on his forehead. Indeed, it’s his organisational magic that has taken him to the top of Law Soc, where he is this year’s auditor. It’s James’s job to make sure law students, a sizeable faction in the arts block, are well socialised, professionalised and ready for smooth entry into a miserable life of endless paperwork as solicitors, or grinding poverty as barristers. He’s not all litigation and briefs though. When he’s not billing hours or defending guilty clients, James is engaging in his one true passion: singing karaoke versions of Frank

Se n i o r So p h i s t e r , M u s i c

8 Samuel Riggs

omehow not your usual SU hack, Sam escaped a promising career in societies such as Food and Drink and Q-Soc to become the SU Communications Officer, as well as the editor of this fine publication – the largest (and best? can we even say that?) student newspaper in the country, thanks very much. The former UT opinion editor, Sam certainly knows how he wants things done – so don’t go changing the song once ‘Anaconda’ comes on. From House 6, Sam can be found ‘communicating’ important information, which includes such important tasks as typing up all the other SU officers’ notes and ringing their parents when they’re ill, and of course discovering if the deal of the week still exists. Honourable mention goes to Sam’s deputy editor, Edmund Heaphy, who, despite being the youngest ever

John Lorigan

C Sinatra hits in Korean barbecue joints. If you want to impress young Ringland, simply lay down some sick beats by such undiscovered house music artists as Tiesto, Avicii and DJ Cammy, and you’ll be friends for life.

aitriona Sheil makes the list both for her past achievements and for her current role as secretary of the CSC. She headed up Trinity Orchestra last year, known for its successful covers of hit songs and its now annual performance at Electric Picnic. The orchestra has evolved in the last few years to become a quietly successful and integral part of campus life, and Sheil most definitely continued this upward trend last year. Following on from this success, Sheil was last year elected as Secretary of the CSC, an achievement that also highlighted her commitment to promoting inter-society events. Sheil’s

inclusion in the list also highlights the fact that the CSC Executive is generally all too short on female representation, despite women making up more than half of the student body – indeed, Caitriona is the first female secretary in quite a number of years and so also deserves recognition for that.

12 Hugh Guidera

13 Jack Kavanagh

Junior Sophister, Law and Political Science

Junior Sophister, Pharmacy

ugh is this year’s editor-inchief of the Piranha, which for the uninitiated is kind of like bullying, but institutionalised, college-sanctioned, college-funded and distributed in 6,000 print copies across campus four or five times a year. The satirical newspaper takes aim at whomever its small staff decides is worth libeling at length, with results varying from the cuttingly satirical and cathartically ego-bruising to the downright inflammatory and really quite mean. Hugh is also registrar of the Phil, which means he can also shame people in front of an audience of 250 every week to fulfill his comedic urges. In CBC Monkstown, he was bullied for not being sufficiently skilled at classical Latin and is now a scholar of law and political science and has won

more than a few national debating competitions. Oh, and he’s been recruited to write for Republic of Telly. Look for the man wandering around Front Square this week dressed like Pacha, the hapless sidekick from The Emperor’s New Groove - he’s all about the homespun knitwear.

Senior Freshman, L a w a n d B u s i n e ss

Senior Sophister, Economics

National Finalists of the KPMG International Case Competition. All in all, the above sort of hurts our eyes, and we sort of resent him a little bit. Impressive chap though, so hopefully he can help stop Trinity SMF losing thousands on the markets.

aving won by the narrowest of margins against the lad candidate in a mankini, JCR President Breslin is all business. She heads up the first-ever JCR committee that has more women than men, and there is a distinct tone of seriousness to her presidency. Susanna seems extremely fit for the job and has a strong committee, and although her formality may mean she doesn’t mingle as much with first years as past presidents have, this formality could be a strong point, as it will encourage other societies to work with the JCR instead of just pretending it doesn’t exist. There is no doubt that Breslin is formidable, following in — or competing with — the footsteps of her

older sister, who was Welfare Officer and later President of UCD Students’ Union. Surprisingly, she also sports perhaps the thickest D4 accent in Trinity Hall, despite hailing from deepest Donegal.

17 Michael Coleman Senior Sophister, Philosophy and Political Science

16 Catherine Healy

TRINITY NEW S EDITOR

atherine Healy may be the editor of The University Times’s sworn nemesis, Trinity News, but even we can put such gargantuan rivalries aside (especially given we won more awards last year), and give credit where credit’s due. Catherine churned out a remarkable output as Trinity News’s senior news editor last year, proving her journalistic mettle before taking the throne at Trinity’s oldest newspaper at the end of last year. She was also the only undergraduate to be awarded the prestigious Simon Cumbers Media Fund award, which she used to travel to Vietnam to cover the working conditions of rural migrant women for the Irish Times. Healy may very well use her interest

tional attitude, Jack gives new meaning to the word YOLO. Check out www. jackkavanaghtrust.com or www.facebook.com/supportforjackkavanagh for more details.

15 Susanna Breslin

14 Eoin Healy

oin Healy is one of those people that annoyingly seems to be successful in whatever he becomes involved with. Elected to the DUCAC Executive Committee in 2012, Healy was the only student chosen to participate in the debate on the future of sport in Trinity. Spotting a gap in the market, he co-founded the DU Cycling Club in 2011, acting as treasurer, captain and then secretary over the following few years. Healy also seems to have taken to the business end of College. Now the CEO of Trinity SMF (Student Managed Fund), Eoin has acted as speakers convenor with the Trinity Entrepreneurial Society, competed in the TES Dragon’s Den Competition 2013, and was one of the Trinity College Winners and

ack makes this year’s list in recognition of his sheer determination. After suffering a spinal cord injury in 2012 just after finishing first year, he vowed to not let this stop him from living life on his own terms, and last year he returned to college to continue studying pharmacy. His ongoing journey has been documented publicly on Facebook and his website, and he now ranks up there with Mark Pollock for galvanising people behind his cause, with fundraising activities including rugby matches, boxing fight nights, and many other events. With plenty of creative fundraising activities set to continue over the next year combined with a pretty inspira-

in history and her left-wing stance to reinvigorate and reinvent the Trinity News brand this year, and we wish her and her team all the best. As long as we continue to win all the big awards.

ichael Coleman takes the helm of the Hist, one of college’s two debating societies along with the Phil, after a stint as Correspondence Secretary. The unassuming Dubliner has been committed to the debater’s life since his successful first year in college debating, and he can generally be found in the GMB pontificating to comrades against the Establishment, of which he is now a member, leading one of Trinity’s oldest societies. Indeed, as with many working-class heroes, Coleman is both privately educated and something of a stranger to manual labour down the coal mines. With the chalice of power now in his hands, it won’t be long before he’s avoiding tax, declaring residency in Monaco and poisoning the minds of honest

politicians with dirty money. For now, he’s content to lead the club founded by left-winger Edmund Burke, and to follow in the footsteps of such illustrious members as Edward Carson, best known his twin achievements of the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant and his successful prosecution of known vagabond Oscar Wilde.

18 Sinéad Baker

19 Eanna Drury

Junior Sophister, EN G L I S H & PHI L O S OPH Y

S ENIOR S OPHI S TER , L A W

s Sinead one of the two people who actually compiled the Trinity Twenty? Perhaps. There’s no real way of knowing who wrote the list, unless of course you check the writer credits that are standard in all Englishlanguage news media. Despite this North Korean-esque method of prize giving, Sinead has firmly earned her spot on the list and - and here I quote her directly - “definitely didn’t write her own profile”. As co-editor-at-large of the University Times (that’s a real title), Baker sits on the paper’s editorial board, delivering regular musings on whatever takes her fancy. She’s also a hack in many other senses, as the SU’s Faculty Convenor for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, aka Queen of

Arts Block SU Hacks, a director of the National Media Conference, and social secretary of Cancer Soc. All we know is, she “literally had nothing to do with the writing of this profile”.

20 Dara McElligott

Junior Sophister, French a n d H i sto ry o f A rt a n d Architecture

ara McElligott takes the helm this year of Trinity Arts Festival (TAF), a week-long festival that has gone from strength to strength in the last few years. The TSM arts student brings a wealth of experience from her time in Players, and we have high hopes for the festival’s continuing success in her hands. Highlights of the Festival last year included Through the Looking Glass, when different societies took over the GMB for an Alice in Wonderlandesque evening, and a workshop by English artist Jamie McCartney, best known for his installation piece the Great Wall of Vagina (no prizes for guessing what this artwork consisted of) and for the fact that his Mercedes

Uber and Hailo

Coming in at joint 4th are two must-have taxi apps - simply tap the screen and place an order. The taxis are tracked, and the safest option if you’re travelling home alone. Also handy if you accidentally leave your phone or wallet on the back seat! HailO has more cars and long-standing popularity in Dublin, and gives the option to pay by cash or card. Recently-launched Uber debits from your credit card and doesn’t have as many cars available so you can be waiting a little longer. However, they’re constantly running promo deals for free taxis, and their fares are 10-30% cheaper than a standard taxi. ‘UberX’ is their standard taxi but you can also order a Black Car, which are pricier but swish - perfect for travelling to college balls in style!

t’s a well-known fact that Eanna’s burning ambition for the last three years has been to be featured on this list. Well Eanna, you’re on the list now - I’ll collect that 500 euro you promised me in exchange for a spot on the Trinity Twenty tomorrow in the Pav. The Drawers is perhaps best known in his role as Chair of the Central Societies Committee (CSC), the body that oversees all of Trinity’s societies, their budget grants and their governance. He’s also a top-class gossipmonger and information broker. In his spare time, Eanna “Thomas Piketty” Drury enjoys supporting far-left causes, such as the complete and utter dismantlement of the imperial capitalist enterprise or the introduction of a punitive estate tax, and he occasionally enjoys a glass of whiskey or two. If you’re looking for Eanna, simply come within a ten-mile radius of

campus and you should soon hear the wailing melodies of his uilleann pipes piercing through the night for all to hear from rooms. Follow the noise until it’s completely unbearable, and you will be rewarded with a sly smile and a morsel of juicy gossip from the TerminEannator himself.

apps ... if you’re new to Dublin

Rosalind Ní Shúilleabháin Contributing Writer

5 has a mould of his own penis stuck on to the front of it. Anyways, it falls to McElligott to keep the more creative side of campus life alive by engaging different societies for this year’s Trinity Arts Festival, and we look forward to this year’s eclectic mix of events.

Dublin Bus

Dublin Bus isn’t glamorous but will soon become one of your mostused apps. Look up routes, bus stop numbers and accurate real-timeinformation schedules. Perfect for timing when to actually head out of the house or the arts block, and save yourself 25 minutes at the bus stop shivering in the rain. You also have the option to ‘favourite’ routes, giving you quick and easy access to schedules in a matter of seconds.

Foursquare

The recently relaunched Foursquare 8.0 is the perfect guide to restaurants, cafés, bars, nightlife, sightseeing and shopping. Suggestions are based on your proximity, food and interest preferences. Rate places, read reviews and check out prices in advance. This app isn’t massively popular in Dublin, but if you’re new to the city, it’s the perfect intro to the Big Shmoke. If you want to ‘check in’ and show off your new cosmopolitan lifestyle, download its sister app ‘Swarm’ and connect with friends there.

Tinder

Love it or loathe it, Tinder is seriously popular. Your innocent roommate might be shocked by it, but this dating app is widely used amongst Trinity students and an easy way to meet people. Enter your sexual preference, upload your best selfie and swipe away – it’s as easy as 1,2,3. Worth downloading just for the hours of fun to be had swiping left and seeing who you ‘match’ with. Honourable nod also to ‘Grindr,’ popular amongst LGBT men.

Domino’s Pizza

When you wake up on the Friday of Freshers’ Week covered in glitter from Club Philth the night before - suggestions for quaint cafés on Foursquare just ain’t gonna cut it. Enter your address and it will find your nearest Domino’s, meaning you can place an order with just a few taps on the screen, from the comfort of your own bed (or someone else’s - see #2 above). Track your estimated delivery time and shake off The Fear by drowning your sorrows in garlic dipping sauce.

Fresher’s Survival Guide / 9

Fresher’s Survivial Guide

Tuesday 16 September, 2014

To Hope was to Expect

Sinéad Loftus Contributing Writer

Congratulations! You’ve gotten over the final, hyped up hurdle of your twelve years of formal education and have gained enough points to enter into the unknown abyss of university life. I’m sure by now you have an idea of what to expect. Your older sibling or cousin didn’t skimp on the exciting details on late nights, hangovers during lectures and the shifting. College seems like a breeze when you’re tackling Project Maths. But because we at The University Times want you to make the transition from school to college as smooth as possible (i.e. as not embarrassing as is fathomable), it’s our duty to inform you of just how many of your school expectations of college are wrong. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular beliefs, and have myth-busted them for you. “I did really well in school so I’ll do really well in college.” This may come as a bit of a disappointment. You may have been the perfect example of a high achiever in school. Ninety percent or higher was your thing, right? Don’t expect such high results in college. Here, there is no such thing as getting over ninety percent or eighty or even seventy. Seventy is a first class honours and something to be celebrated. Some departments won’t even award you that unless they absolutely have to and some have no history of doing so whatsoever. Adapt yourself accordingly. Sixty is now the new eighty. Be happy with

your fifty percent result on an essay or exam. Getting a high 2-2 or a low 2-1 is now the norm. In some cases, a pass is just as admirable as getting over 500 points in the Leaving, definitely worth going to the Pav to celebrate over. Lower your expectations and work hard. You won’t be disappointed. “The lecturers and TAs are like teachers. They’ll motivate me to work.” Welcome to the world of self-directed learning. The days of having teachers standing over your shoulder to make sure you did your homework are long gone. No more dreaded parent teacher meetings, no more discussions over your grades. In college, noone is responsible for your work but you. No-one cares if you don’t hand up your assignments, don’t attend lectures or fail your exams. but that doesn’t mean they will be lenient when handing out the repercussions. Our advice is to keep on top of the simple work. Motivate yourself to attend the library and read material not on the compulsory list. Don’t wait for the lecturer to cover the topic you’re doing your essay on before you start said essay. These realisations are the difference between a first class essay finished days before the deadline and an all-nighter the night of. And it goes without saying that there will be aspects of your course you will find utterly boring and may lead you to question why you picked the course in the first place. Everyone has moments like that. If you learn to self motivate, these feelings will pass. If you ignore the work, it’ll only get worse

“I was up at half seven every day for school for 12 years, of course I’ll make my 9 am lectures.” So many people will say that to themselves. You will not make your 9am, nor your 10am. Perhaps it’s because of the lack of that self motivation thing I was discussing earlier or whatever they put in the Lidl naggins, but 99.8 per cent of Junior Freshmen after Christmas will not attend their morning lectures. Don’t expect to make all your lectures in a week either (famously known as the golden week).You may struggle to make a golden day, let alone a golden week. “I have so much choice for food now. I will eat healthily and regularly just like when I was in school.” Face it, you’re a student now. The days of packed lunches are behind you. It is known that the more vegetables you have on your plate, the more expensive it will be. You will not eat regularly. You may find yourself trying to find an open newsagents at 11pm for a sandwich. Chicken fillet rolls and knock off Pot Noodles will become a staple in your diet. The cooked lunches in the Buttery and the Hamilton café will become your luxuries. Burritos and Blues is your new lover. Embrace it. “I’m going to join loads of societies and be active in all of them.” This won’t happen. Joining every society in Front Square may be tempting but realistically, will you do those French classes or go to that weekly event on cat appreciation? Truth is, the only dealing you may have with a society is when you put your name down at the

beginning of the year. Don’t waste your money. Pick two or three societies that interest you and focus on them. You’ll find that even they alone will clog up your email inbox. “I’ll be out every night to make up for those evenings I spent studying” In school, your social life may have interfered slightly with your academic life. In college, your academic life now interferes with your social. Your regular Friday and Saturday night haunts are a thing of the past. You’ll now find yourself out on Tuesdays and Thursdays nursing a hangover in your economics lecture the following day. You’ll avoid going out during midterm for fear of the hoards of fifth and sixth years you left behind at school. But here’s something they don’t tell you when you’re at school: you will get tired of going out all the time. Other things will get in the way like money, relationships, a job, sports, academic work and sometimes Netflix. Some students are known to just not enjoy it anymore and that is perfectly fine, almost expected. Nothing good lasts forever. Cherish your nights in. A raving social life is not the be all and end all of your university life. Having a quiet one in front of the new season of OITNB is perfectly grand. “No more school uniforms means I can wear whatever I want. I’ll put effort into what I wear”. Maybe until Christmas. But then you’ll stop caring. Your new uniform is now whatever is clean enough to wear or your local GAA jersey. Girls, you’ll stop bothering

with make-up eventually. No-one expects you to be dressed up. It’s not a fashion show. It’s college, or maybe it’s just the Hamilton. “In school, we promised that we’d be best friends for life.” I hate to be the bearer of bad news but college is the place where relationships change. You’ll meet new people and forge lasting friendships, you’ll drift away from old people and drift towards new, some even a few years older than you. There isn’t really such a thing as cliques. You will not be the cooliest or nerdiest person in college like you were in school. You’ll be an individual and will be treated like one. No-one cares about popularity. No-one cares about what made you the most popular person in your school. Some may not have even heard of your school. You have a clean slate to do with whatever you wish so use it wisely. You may find that your connections with people will extend beyond your peers. Lecturers and teaching assistants are far more personable than teachers. They enjoy engaging with students, some will even go as far as having a cup of tea with you over a chat. Dating a Junior Sophister is okay. Having a Senior Freshman as your best friend is completely acceptable. Age gaps aren’t as important as they were in school (albeit, not totally redundant!). These kinds of connections give you a chance to extend your experience of the world. However, not all experiences are something to look forward to. It is generally accepted that there is a 99 per cent chance you’ll get with someone from BESS and a 90 per cent chance you’ll get with more than three.

10 / Fresher’s Survival Guide Fresher’s Survivial Guide

Tuesday 16 September, 2014

The Ten Commandments of Freshers’ Week 2014

Shauna Cleary

Thou shall not have any other Gods before me ... aka thou shall not worship thy pot noodles and Berocca

Freshers’ Week is a time when most first years will either lose a stone from their inability to eat due to their severe hangovers or will put on a stone due to their phenomenal beer bellies. Please try and be sensible and live off things that aren’t pot noodles and Berocca. It’s all fun and games until Christmas is upon you and them skinny jeans don’t feel so skinny anymore.

Thou shall not bear witness to false (music) Gods ... aka Thou shall not offer thy iPod for predrinks choonage

One of the main problems that any culchie will face in choosing to come to university in Dublin is that they will come into contact with people who are a different type of cool to the normal status quo back in Galway, or even Kerry. This abnormal demographic of individuals (who are apparently referred to as ‘hipsters’ when in their natural habitats) are not like the “lads” back home. No, no. They

wear strange clothes and listen to eccentric music by Swedish DJs. So putting forward your iPod with Pitbull’s latest offering probably isn’t going to win you any brownie points with the cool kids. Lay low for the first few weeks until you’ve infilrated one of their iTunes and learned to sing in Flemish.

Thou shall not take thy S2S leader’s name in vain

Yes they are power-tripping. Yes they are annoying. Yes they are bringing you on a boring tour of the library. But be warned: you will need them... so be nice. They will come in handy later on in the term when you have an essay due and no idea who Stella is.

Remember the bus rules, keep them holy ... aka thou shall not offer thy bus driver notes.

Please. Just don’t. Change only.

Honour thy mother and thy father.. aka Thou shall not lose thy phone on thy first week.

Every year hundreds of first years will drink enough alcohol to sink a small ship on their first night out in the Big Shmoke and will undoubtedly lose their wallets, phones and for the mostpart their dignity. The emotional trauma that ensues the

losing of the phone on the poor country Mammies who are unable to contact Mary or John after their first 24 hours in Dublin is a trauma which no Mammy should ever have to experience, so please folks, if you think of anything as you down your fifth shot of tequila, please let it be the Mammies. Make that obligatory once a week phonecall.

Thou shall not kill ... thyself by using thy cider as mixer

“Who would do such a thing?” we hear you say. Freshers. Freshers would. Wednesday night falls upon the penniless first year and suddenly the choice between a €1 can of cider and a €2.50 bottle of Sprite becomes evident. Take this as a once off warning young people, the drunkness and subsequent memory blackout is not worth it; nor is the genuine physical damage that you will inevitably do to your insides.

Thou shall not commit adultery

If ever there was a motto of the fresher it has to be “shift and drift lads, shift and drift.” So naturally, this presents a difficulty for many first years coming into college in a relationship. If you can make it work, we’ve nothing but praise for you. However please refrain from doing the dirty on your boyfriend/girlfriend back home... it’s really seriously not cool at all.

Thou shall not steal ... thy fellow clubbers drinks

In all seriousness, this is quite an important commandment. Remember how Dad would shout “MIND YER DRINK” before you went out on the lash back home... well he’s not going to be here to tell you this week. Don’t leave your drink unattended nor steal a drink that someone else has left behind. It’s not safe and it’s not good.

Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbour ... aka Thou shall own up to eating thy roomie’s food

It happens. You’re late for college, the last bus is just about to leave and the only slice of bread/smithereen of milk left doesn’t belong to you ... so you take it. It’s okay. No-one WILL KILL YOU. But please, don’t blame it on your fellow roommates and break the golden circle of trust within the home. Just own up, it will all be fine.

Thou shall not covet thy neighbour’s / roommates’s wife.

This is so unneccessary that it barely needs an explanation. Dublin is a sea, the singletons are the fish, there are plenty of them in it. Don’t do it. The end. Shauna Cleary is a former Supplements Editor of The University Times

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12 / Fresher’s Survival Guide Fresher’s Survivial Guide

Tuesday 16 September, 2014

Only the Discounts Eleanor O’Mahony Contributing Writer

It goes without saying that Freshers’ Week is exciting. One can be overwhelmed with the variety of new opportunities that are presented. A new class, peer mentors, peer learning mentors, a new (and what seems to be very big) campus and, of course, a whole new course of study. But what I most loved about Freshers’ Week last year were the societies. The idea that I could take up any activity that I could ever imagine, from Capoeira to stand-up comedy, from gaming to knitting, was amazing to me. So much so, that I actually went to Freshers’ Week and spent around €60 on joining societies alone. Although I am a person with many interests, I can’t help but feel that this was a mistake, albeit a mistake made by many a fresher. How did these societies pull me in? Why, oh why did I join the Yoga Society? (Sorry guys.) What they don’t tell you before Freshers’ Week is that each and every society offers its own set of discounts as well as goody bags. To me, this was top notch. ‘Wow, everything is so cheap in college!’ I left with roughly ten goody bags, one inside of the other, like Russian dolls, and about twenty-five membership cards. A happy camper. This year, I decided to do some research into the deals, discounts and goody bags the societies would be offering during Freshers’ Week. While most of them were very obliging, some of them did not want to disclose some information to me, probably to maintain the surprise factor. The first thing you need to know is that there are some great deals that every society has, so you should not join a society based on these deals. Join one or two that interest you and you will be bound to have them. These common deals include, 2 for 1 at Wagamama, 2 for 1 in Captain America’s (a very popular college haunt), ten per cent off Muji stationery and a discounted entry to Somewhere at Workman’s. These deals are probably the ones that saved the most money for me, as main courses in both are, on average, €13 a pop. This makes going out for dinner very affordable. You may convince yourself that ten per cent off a certain shop would be life-changing, but let’s face it, unless you’re a regular it probably

doesn’t make sense to become a member of a society because you think you are going to go to Muji twice weekly for stationery. For the foodies out there, (who isn’t a foodie in this day and age?) the societies have done well for you guys this year. The burrito wars of Dublin is a recurring theme. I am not a burrito fan, but for those who are, you will soon learn that there are five or six burrito places in the vicinity of Trinity and that you will have to choose one to remain loyal to. The Hist and the Phil have deals with Burritos and Blues, FilmSoc have a deal with Tuzo, DUGES and TCD Afro Caribbean have an offer for Mama’s revenge and DU Music offer a discount in the Little Ass Burrito Bar to name but a few. One society that I think has done very well on the food front is the Chinese Society, who have offers on fifteen restaurants! They’re not all Chinese restaurants either, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indian restaurant deals are also offered. Frozen yoghurt is also a common deal. Many societies have deals with the ever popular Yogism. The discount is usually 10 per cent off and ‘buy one get one half off’ on a particular day. If, like me, you are a froyo lover this deal will serve you well. The newer frozen yoghurt places, Mooch and Pog also make an appearance on the membership cards this year. The Biological Association offer 50 per cent off a frozen yoghurt or coffee when you buy a salad in Póg froyo. Members of the Chinese society will have 10 per cent off Mooch froyo, the place opened just beside Lemon. The Pizza Hut deal that comes with membership of Trinity Singers (50 per cent off!) is one of Trinity’s best kept secrets, nothing better than cutting your bill in half. If you like cafes and baked treats DU Dance have a deal with the lovely place, the Queen of Tarts. Players have a great deal with the Mongolian Barbeque: €12 allyou-can-eat stir-fry buffet including bottle of beer, glass of wine or soft drink after 4.30pm, Sunday to Thursday. It is really worth noting that the Trinity Ents card features great deals from Crackbird, Skinflint and JoBurger. Every student is entitled to the Ents card, just go up to the Students Union Stand and ask for one! Societies this year are offering a few discounts on activities. Many societies have a deal with the IFI. This deal gets you €5 off a year’s membership if you join in September or October and 2 for 1 Mon-

Photo BY EDMUND HEAPHY FOR THE UNIVERSITY TIMES

days. Other societies have deals in the Savoy Cinema, €5 tickets on particular days. If you want to go out for ice cream before or after the Savo look out for SUAS and SoFIA’s deal in SUSO ice cream. DUGES have 2 for 1 in Leisureplex Monday to Thursday which sounds like fun. Comedy Soc have great discounts on many Comedy nights such as the Comedy Crunch Club. If you’re looking for some cheap nights out, The Phil have done very

“

The idea that I could take up any activity that I could ever imagine, from Capoeira to stand-up comedy, from gaming to knitting, was amazing to me. well with discounted or free entry into seven different clubs. These include Diceys, DTwo, C. U. Next Tuesday and PRHOMO. DU History have deals for the Twisted Pepper and Everleigh Gardens. French Soc have a discount on CollegeNights and the Biological Association have discounts on Signature Events. There are a lot of societies that thought about their members when securing deals this year. One of which is DUPA, the Photography Association, who offer discounts in

Conns Camera on digital printing and John Gunns on Analogue Processing. The Gamers Society have offers with Warchest and Gamers World. The Sci-Fi Society have deals in The R. A. G. E. and the Forbidden Planet. Trinity Entrepreneurial society have very interesting deals, 5GB free Dropbox space and a €10 Hailo voucher when you join up. French Soc have a very appropriate discount in the Alliance Francaise and Film Soc have deals with Filmbase and Laser DVDs. Goody bags are always nice, especially look out for the coupons in them as some of them are only redeemable in them. Many Boojum Burrito coupons will be handed out as well as other restaurant vouchers. TTV will be doing something different this year. Instead of goody bags, they will be hosting a raffle with prizes of a Game of Thrones tour and an iPod! I remember last year the frenzy of the Players diaries. They gave out Paperblank diaries which would normally cost €20. They have not confirmed if they will be giving these out this year but I really hope they do. I am not condoning joining a society for their deals alone, unless it is a very good deal that will save you more money than it costs to join (usually €2 or €3). Student discounts are great and can make your life a lot easier but be warned ... not every deal that looks good is good. Enjoy yourselves this Freshers’ Week, but hold back from joining every society.

Fresher’s Survival Guide / 13

Fresher’s Survivial Guide

Tuesday 16 September, 2014

What Societies to Join Freshers’ Week in Trinity is a bit of a hot mess, with over a hundred societies out looking for fun, friendship and maybe more. To help you navigate braying hoards, here’s my list of the best societies to join this Freshers’ Week. Paul Behan Societies Editor

The Best The Phil Trinity’s biggest and oldest student society has something for everyone. Their main draw is the insanely high quality guests they pull in every year, everyone from Whoopi Goldberg, Hugh Laurie & Conan O’Brien to Angela Merkel & Jane Goodall. The Phil’s staple event is their Thursday night chamber debate where experts and students thrash out a topical issue (like when former international drug smuggler Howard Marks took the brave step of advocating drug use to college students). They always have unbelievable deals for the misers out there and the most generous receptions in college. That’s all only the tip of the iceberg (think parties, a special debating competition for freshers, trips and everything else), so watch out for the veritable army of people in maroon. TAF Trinity Arts Festival is a little bit of everything; from traditional mediums like photography, poetry and sculpture to more unconventional expressions such as knit bombing, graffiti, experimental theatre and whatever else you can think of. The festival offers a dynamic approach to the arts, so whether you prefer to create or to admire, there’s room for you too. Particularly during the main festival, TAF has the wonderful ability to bring Trinity to life and distract you so wonderfully you won’t even care you’ve missed a whole week of college for no real reason. Imagine being really drunk and carefree and dancing in a circle, that’s exactly what it feels like. DU History Soc The people who brought us The Wind That Shakes The Party (the best club night in all the land), the Apollo Ball & a whole host of top notch academic events. History Soc isn’t just fun and excellent at covering conventional history, the also explore the “other side” of history (i.e. graffitti, football, music, and

LGBT culture). They’ve got a new publication in the pipeline, unreal deals with Uber & the IFI as well as some cool war themed events already announced for next term. With their liberal use of words like hootenannie and doozie, they are one of Trinity’s most beloved societies, and deservedly so. Players Empirically the best drama society in the country (based on them winning all of the awards ever) and outrageously productive, Players offers you a sea of shows, nights out and men from the country awkwardly in drag. You’ll find the cutting edge of Irish theatre and some truly excellent professional quality right on your doorstep with DU Players. So, if you like theatre, Rave Aerobics or a combination of the two this is your new home. Cumann Gaelach Funnily enough I say this despite having negative interest in the Irish language but Cumman Gaelach are just like an objectively excellent society. While I’ve struggled to get over the harrowing memory of actually watching Clare Sa Speir multiple times and a vicious Galwegian dictator beating irregular verbs into us, those who have ventured over to Cumann Gaelach wax lyrically about making new friends, nights out, writing for the magazine and engaging in all things Irish. They win lots of awards and their success extends well beyond that so they’re certainly one of the better shouts this Freshers’ Week.

Highly Recommended Law Soc Not just for law students, a wonderful mix of notoriously good nights out (see a swing dancing ball and a masked rave in a castle) and great speakers. They’re one of Trinity’s biggest societies and there’s a very good reason for that. DUPA Apparently photography exists beyond snapchatting various images of your face to people who’ve already seen your face before. DUPA make that cold, scary reality actu-

ally quite fun with unreal trips abroad, classes, talks and beautiful exhibitions. QSoc A place for anyone with an interest in LGBT* issues or just a place to meet very nice people who all seem to really like Harry Potter. A nice mix of social and political events and, with the year that’s in it, it’ll probably be an interesting place to be. Lit Soc Writing workshops, book clubs and open readings are as regular as guest speakers and readers at the literary society and it’s a great place to meet people who also actually enjoyed Eavan Boland & Brian Friel at school. Soc Soc They’re new, they do loads of cool stuff on everything from capitalism, feminism and the environment to Mexican circus, film and globalisation. They’ve had a great first year and they look set to have another one. Hiking Soc A chill, healthy way to prove that you’re better than everyone else around you and good for you in more sense than one. Benefits include subtly but frequently dropping hints that you do in fact hike and ergo are a super human to those cretinous non-hikers among us. Also, fun.

What I’m trying this year Food & Drink Running consistently successful, sold out events and appealing to my never ending love for cheese are two excellent ways to get me on board. I expect delicious, delicious things. Dance Soc Having all the grace, rhythm and coordination of a turkey caught on an electric fence I’ve decided to try my hand at becoming a dancer. I hear the classes are quite good so my nobody-puts-Paul-in-a-corner 80’s themed victory montage seems inevitable. Watch this space (or rather, please don’t).

PHOTo BY ANDREW MURPHY FOR THE UNIVERSITY TIMES

Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke at the Phil’s 329th session Inaugral

Honourable Mentions Think of inclusion here as like getting to the judges’ houses stage on the X Factor or someone likening you to Kelly Rowland rather than Michelle Williams or Beyoncé. Vis Arts (think arts that are visual as opposed to not being so), FLAC (a charity promoting access to justice), Music Soc (great facilities for members), The Theo (the Theological society – great guests), The Hist (debating), Society for International Affairs (SoFIA) (lots of cool diplomatic guests), International Student’s Soc (a great place for Erasmus and exchange students to meet people), Architectural Soc, Europa (hot arts block language hipsters), Cancer Soc & St. Vincent De Paul (two wonderful charities that always have events on).

14 / Fresher’s Survival Guide Fresher’s Survivial Guide

Tuesday 16 September, 2014

Tips for Freshers Paul Glynn Senior Staff Writer

Welcome to Trinity, Freshers! It might seem like time has flown quickly by since you clicked that button to accept your course offer on the CAO website, and now the experience of walking under the Front Arch for the first time seems like it suddenly came out of nowhere. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, try these tips to help yourself get through the early days

Centre and, of course, the Pav bar. Even if you’re off-campus or spending most of your time on placement, it helps to get to know the main campus, where most social events take place throughout the year, as well as your “home base”, be it as near as D’Olier Street or as far as St. James’ Hospital.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Going through any big life change always has its daunting moments, and your first year of college will likely be no exception. In these times, it can be tough to keep on top of everything and know exactly what you’re doing. The great thing about Trinity, though, is that you are never far from someone who’s in the know when you’re feeling lost - all you have to do is ask! TCD has all sorts of people and groups who are approachable and knowledgeable about issues that may seem confusing to new students. The tutor you are assigned to for the duration of your studies is a member of the academic staff, and is on hand for questions about academic life, if you need an extension or for dealing with an absence, and is ideal for if you have any doubts about your PHOTo BY ANDREW MURPHY FOR THE UNIVERSITY TIMES course or the direction you’re going in. The Students’ Unof your college experience. ion officers, particularly in education and welfare, are also there to Know your Surroundings Before the first week of lectures help out with issues from academstarts, take some time out to have ics to your mental health, or if you a walk around campus and ac- just need someone to chat to. The quaint yourself with your new same goes for the JCR, who look stomping ground. Not only will after students living in Trinity Hall. you figure out where the most Look out in particular for the stuimportant points are, the old ar- dents in red hoodies who are part chitecture is also nice to look at. of Trinity’s Student2Student (S2S) Depending on how early you get society. Open to everyone to get details of your timetable, you may involved, this society arranges peer have the opportunity to scope out mentors for all incoming students the rooms and halls you will be – your peer mentors are friendly, having lectures, classes or labs in, always open for your questions, so you won’t get lost on your first and are in the same course as you, day. In the meantime, make sure so they’re ideal for all questions you know the basic anatomy of the you may have about exams and campus, keeping an eye out for the workload. labyrinthine Arts Building, the Old Library, Mandela House (or House Go to your Freshers’ Week Six) where the Students’ Union is Meetings based, the BLU library complex, This may seem a little on the dithe Hamilton Building, the Sports dactic side, but the orientation

meetings are informative and will set you up with the basics of getting through college for your time here. It’s a great opportunity to feel more at ease about your new surroundings, and to make a few new friends at the start of the year. You’ll also get a feel for the new learning environment of the mythical lecture theatre that seats far more than your secondary school classrooms probably did.

Take Care Yourself

Your first year in college will probably bring quite a heavy change in your schedule, and in the process it can become less easy to stay healthy and on track. Looking after yourself can be even tougher when you’re coming from far away enough to have to move. Microwaved pasta, sugar-laden orange juice and whatever biscuits are cheapest in Tesco become a substitute for mam and dad’s hot and substantial home cooked dinners. It may be difficult at first, but taking a second during shopping to make healthier choices will set you up for an easier year. Go for own-brands, buy fruit and veg in season, and limit going to restaurants to stay healthy on a budget. A sports centre fee is included with the fees you pay to college every year, so taking out some time every week to exercise is also well worth the time. Keeping your mental health in check is also key to getting the most out of life, both in college and out. If anything is getting you down, again help is never far. The SU welfare officer, The S2S society, your academic tutor and the Student Counselling Service are all there to offer support should you need it. Get Involved There is far more to life in Trinity outside of academia - in fact, college life can be a little monotonous if your week consists only of classes and study. If you can, find some clubs and societies that in-

VDP PHOTO

terest you during Freshers’ Week, when they all have stands in Front Square vying for your attention. Going to society events can be a great way to find a new passion or hobby, to stay involved in one you already have, and to make friends. If everything goes well, you can even join a society committee, and be on the organising end. Don’t panic if something takes your fancy but you don’t get around o joining during Freshers’ Week – events are held throughout the year where you can sign up as a member, and Fourth Week sees the society stands come back briefly for “ReFreshers’ Week”. You can also get involved with the Students’ Union as a class rep for your year and course, and if you’re keen on sports you’ll find 49 different clubs to choose from all year. Take Advantage of Deals and Discounts Dublin’s high cost of living has a tendency to put us students off going out and having fun, taking part in new activities, and even just getting something nice to eat after a dense week of lectures. Fortunately, one perk of student life is the wealth of discounts and offers that fall into your hands if you’re in the right place at the right time. Don’t feel too guilty if you accidentally join forty societies halfway through Freshers’ Week – most offer deals and discounts in shops, bars, clubs and restaurants nearby (as Eleanor O’Mahony describes

on page 12). Just check out the back of your society membership card, where the discounted places are listed, to get some inspiration. Your Trinity ID card, as well as the Student Travel Card, also unlock some great-value goodies in Dublin and can serve as proof that you’re a student.

Give it Time

The experience of settling in is rarely the same for any two people – some people fall in love with college life and their course right from their first lecture, while others might need a few months, or more, to adjust to the lay of the land. There’s no shame in falling into the latter field – as mentioned previously, there are so many ways to make the college experience unique for you. Don’t worry if it seems to be taking a while for everything to flow, because eventually it becomes second nature. So, for the meantime… Have fun! You’ll be spending enough time here as it is, so find something to be enthusiastic about, whether it’s a class night out, a newfound obsession with knitting, getting to speak at a debate, or the mighty Trinity Ball in April. If you make the most of your course, your opportunities, your friends old and new, and your surroundings, and if you reach out for help and guidance if ever you need it, university life will work out just the way you want it.

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