Tuesday, February 21, 2012
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The Sex Issue
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“They can keep sipping their hater-aid” » Alchemy promoters in row over sexist advertising Rónán Burtenshaw Deputy Editor MIDNIGHT PRODUCTIONS company has become embroiled in a row over the “sexist and dangerous advertising” of one of its nights at the club Alchemy. The night in question, run with the byline ‘If You’re Not Up for It, Don’t Cum’, takes place on Monday nights in the Temple Bar venue. An advertisement for the night was posted online on
On Saturday, after a number of comments were posted on the ‘Mondays at Alchemy’ page and deleted, a Facebook group was set up to “end [the night’s] sexist and dangerous advertising”. Posts on the page initially featured the images and a blog-post, titled ‘The Sex Sells Myth’ and printed in this paper’s opinion section, which accused the group of “blatant objectification and abasement of women”. At the time of writing the group
Midnight brand manager Dan O’Brien said that his quotes in this article were “very good”...
Friday. It features the event’s byline with a picture of a girl in a skirt. The girl is bending over to reach for her underwear, which are around her ankles, and the image also shows a can of beer on the floor. Midnight’s name and website address is featured in the left foreground with the Alchemy brand logo appearing at the top. On Friday evening a poster on the ‘Mondays at Alchemy’ page, named Anna Candy, criticised the picture and campaign as “a perfect example of sexist advertisement against women”. In response the administrators of the Facebook page suggested to her that “maybe [she]’d be more suited to a nightclub like the kitchen”.
had over 600 members. At about 4PM on Saturday a series of Facebook profi les identifiable as associated with the Midnight productions company joined the group and began to interact with others involved. These included Dan O’Brien (Brand Manager), David Strong (Manager), Ciara Sherlock (Brand Manager), Alex McGonagle (Social Media), Anna Byrne (Promoter) and Darren Scanlon whose Facebook occupations referenced positions inside the organisation. In addition a number of other posters gave indications of involvement with Midnight. Dan O’Brien began by criticising the group, saying that the idea that “sex sells”
» Staff defend “sleazy” promotions despite heavy criticism
was “abundant”. He also referenced a night by north Dublin venue ‘The Big Tree’ which is called “Ride Her Like You’re Late For Mass”. Orla Byrne, who is also employed with the company, followed this with a comment which characterised the campaign as “simply an advertising technique”, saying that Alchemy was “known for getting the shift” and that this was its selling point. Another Midnight employee then posted a comment thread which was later deleted. The employee in question, whose name featured in the original online version of this article, has had his name removed from it in print as a result of a written apology submitted to this paper which appears in the ‘Letters to the Editor’ section. His original post said that the night was “run by 2nd years”, was about “having fun” and “being a bit bold”, and that people could choose not to go to it just as he chose not to go to nights associated with “heavy drug use” and “homosexuality”. That thread continued with the employee saying that concerns about the advertising campaign were unfounded because “girls only really receive [sexual harassment] problems when they are dressed to attract it”.
continued on page two
» Critics say promotions legitimise “rape culture”
His father’s son: Rory Dunne and family celebrate his election as SU President
Photo: George Voronov ABOVE IS newly elected President of Trinity College Students’ Union Rory Dunne with his proud father and sister. An emotional Rory Dunne Snr told The University Times, “I am delighted for Rory and I admire the way he and Edward organised and ran so effective a campaign.” The win came as a huge relief to the Dunnes, as both father and son paced the hall outside the
count room while the ballots were being tallied. Tensions were high as the Presidential count was delayed by a recount in the Communications race. But it wasn’t long before the competition for President became a head-to-head between Kelly and Dunne, as John Tighe was eliminated after the fi rst round. His votes were then redistributed. Dunne was fi rst past the fi nish line, with a margin of 247 votes between
himself and Kelly. However, Dunne has not spent all his time celebrating. It seems that next year cannot come too soon for Dunne. Following his win he has already arranged meetings with the newly elected sabbats and hopes to sit on relevant committees for the rest of the year to learn as much as he can before he takes office. Leanna Byrne
Night of tight counts as SU Trinity Ball lineup announced officers for 2012/2013 elected » Friendly Fires, Labrinth, Marina and the Diamonds to play the Ball Fionn O’Dea Senior News Writer
Jack Leahy Deputy News Editor A TENSE and tearful count night at the Mont Clare Hotel on Merrion Square resulted in the announcement that Rory Dunne, Dan Ferrick, Aisling Ní Chonaire, Owen Bennett and David Whelan had been elected to the five sabbatical officer positions in Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU). For all five of the races, voter turnout figures are in the region of 3,600, down on last year’s ~4,500. 3,600 corresponds to about 21% of the student population of 17,000, a figure likely to disappoint the newly-elected officers who will consider their mandate to be strong regardless.
Junior Sophister Immunology student Dunne was elected president on the second count with 1,767 votes, 247 more than History Society auditor James Kelly after John Tighe’s 326 fi rst preference votes were redistrib-
position. A recount was required in the fi rst count of votes for the position of welfare officer, with Ní Chonaire, Andy Haughey, and Emma Walker separated by just 207 votes. The recount confi rmed the
Owen Bennett is now editorelect of The University Times. He brings experience from Trinity News and The Bull.
uted following his elimination. Ferrick, running unopposed for the position of education officer, earned 2,973 fi rst preference votes, some 1,200 above the quota. There were 481 votes to re-open nominations for the
original tally and Walker was eliminated, despite drawing more than 1,000 fi rst preference votes. The ensuing redistribution went in favour of senior sophister psychology student Ní Chonaire, whose 1,530 votes just saw off Haughey’s 1,400.
Trinity News business editor Bennett took the communications race with 1,489 votes, defeating James Hagan by 84 votes after Hannah Cogan was eliminated on the fi rst count. Of Cogan’s 980 fi rst preferences and 123 votes to re-open nominations, 578 were nontransferable. The evening began with a sorting of votes, after which the votes for Ents officer and Education officer were counted. Ferrick’s victory - which never looked in danger - was the fi rst to be confi rmed by the returning officer. Team Whelan campaign manager Jack Cantillon watched on nervously as the Ents votes were tallied and Whelan continued on page four
Apology We at UT would like to apologise to the Trinity News staff for ever thinking we could beat them at football. We have learned our lesson.
THREE-PIECE ENGLISH band Friendly Fires will headline this year’s Trinity Ball, playing alongside acts ranging in genre from rapper Professor Green to the Trinity Orchestra, with plenty in between. Ahead of yesterday’s release of the line-up, Ents Officer Chris O’Connor commented that the decision to book Friendly Fires was made after he attended their concert in the Olympia Theatre. “They said themselves that it was one of their favourite ever shows” he said of the gig, “I couldn’t get over their performance. Really energetic and exciting.” The band’s self-titled début earned them nominations for two Brit Awards and the Mercury Prize, awarded each year for the best album
from the UK or Ireland. Rivalling Friendly Fires for the title of headline act is Professor Green, described by O’Connor as “the biggest name in British hip-hop”. Professor Green returns after playing the ball last year. “He’s come a long way since then so I can’t wait to see what he has in store” continued O’Connor. Specifically, the last year has seen him reach No. 2 in the Irish Charts with his single ‘Read All About It’. However, he went one better in his homeland to occupy the top spot for two weeks. Th is followed his 2010 collaborations with Lily Allen and Ed Drewett that reached no. 5 and no. 3 respectively. English singer-songwriter Labrinth fi rst grabbed the headlines in 2009 when he became Simon Cowell’s fi rst non-talent show signing in six years. His 2010
collaboration with Tinie Tempah ‘Pass Out’ reached the top of the UK Charts while his October solo effort ‘Earthquake’, described by O’Connor as “one of the biggest songs of the year”, climbed to no. 2. Labrinth performs this year having worked as a writer or producer with the likes of Pixie Lott, Gorillaz, and fellow Trinity Ball performer Professor Green. Welsh singer Marina Lambrini Diamandis, known by her stage name of Marina and the Diamonds, will play the Ball a matter o f
The University Times
Editor: Ronan Costello Deputy Editor: Rónán Burtenshaw Volume 3, Issue 6
weeks before the launch of her second album ‘Electra Heart’ following her début ‘The Family Jules’ which settled in the top ten both continued on page two
Marina Diamandis
Th is newspaper is produced with the fi nancial support of Trinity College Students’ Union. It is editorially independent and claims no special rights or privileges.