Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The University Times Irish Student Newspaper of the Year Special supplement inside:
THE TRINITY YEAR Reviewing the year in news, issues and the SU’s performance
Inside Theta Omicron: Interview with frat President
The University Times
Magazine
TRINITY TODAY Special alumni report inside with news and features
Carnival/Global Bass/Lamenting the loss of Tallafornia/Say no to emigration/Bodytonic
A Holi Jolly Time: Trinity students celebrate with the Indian Society
» President Jack O’Connor has his say on the frat fallout
UT News Feature Rory O’Donovan Features Editor AT THE end of February The University Times published an online article entitled ‘Introducing Trinity’s Frat Pack’, that detailed the establishment of a fraternity by Trinity students. Campus reacted almost instantaneously and the comment sections of The University Times coverage were inundated with heated debate amongst students who had very distinct views on the subject. Many highlighted the inherent elitist and sexist nature of fraternities. They warned of the negative im-
moral values and essentially a harmless social collective. Another section of students, although not as vocal about their views on online forums, declared themselves indifferent and decidedly unaffected by the establishment of a fraternity – they probably wouldn’t join it, but they wouldn’t have it closed down either. A number of themes emerged in the following days – some named as connected with the society went to great lengths to distance themselves from it; a Facebook group – ‘No Frat Boys in Trinity’ was created; CSC and SU represent-
The Theta Omicron charter of membership has been the subject of much discussion in the past couple of weeks.
pact an association between Trinity and such organisations could have. Others defended fraternities, claiming they were largely a positive thing – philanthropic, based in
atives spoke out against it – or at least against any affi liation with the college; rumour and speculation was widespread. As claim and counter-claim flew between commentators, UT
journalists and students, a picture of the fraternity’s charter emerged, with the names of the fraternity’s newest members on it. Photographs of the celebratory chartering dinner soon followed, with a group shot betraying the identities of those involved. Intrigue amongst the student body surged once more as prominent and popular students were identified as initiated members. Many wondered why these seemingly intelligent and affable young men would happily defend their allegiance with a body that was being cast in such a negative light. What attracted these people to the idea of a fraternity? Whilst rumour and speculation were doing their worst, none of it can be justified without an insider perspective. In an exclusive interview with The University Times Jack Cantillon, Dave Whelan and Cormac McGuinness relived their experience of the fraternity and why they left. Nevertheless, the most important account would come from an existing member. Jack O’Connor, President of Theta Omicron, the newest chapter of Zeta Psi, granted permission for an interview
on St. Patrick’s Day. Before talking to O’Connor, UT interviewed those who were involved with the fraternity but had subsequently opted out of being initiated as full members. Cormac McGuinness told UT that he ‘foolishly went along with it at the start, as I was curious to see what the fraternity was all about and wanted to make an informed decision about whether or not to be a part of it rather than reject it out of hand’. Eventually McGuinness says he began to question some of the
fraternity’s policies and he ultimately decided it wasn’t for him. ‘Some of the problems I had with it,’ he said, ‘were the risk of hazing, the exclusivity, the secrecy and the attitude towards women. Once I realised the full extent of these problems, I knew I wanted nothing more to do with the fraternity.’ Initially worried about upsetting friends in the fraternity, McGuiness eventually decided he couldn’t remain part of the group and was the fi rst to leave. He told Jack of his decision and ‘they were all very understanding
about it and didn’t give me any hassle’. Whelan and Cantillon are perhaps the most infamous of the former ‘members’. Like McGuinness, their involvement was decidedly casual and Cantillon told me he saw it as just ‘a few lads having a few pints’. As the group sought to become part of the fraternity body, Cantillon and Whelan both decided to leave. ‘Jack spoke passionately at a meeting explaining to the lads why we wanted to leave,’ Whelan told The University Times. ‘I told them I
viewed fraternities as elitist, sexist and not something I wanted to be a part of,’ Cantillon said. ‘To be honest, in hindsight, I probably should have removed myself from the group straight away rather than just being inactive before eventually leaving’. When the two were questioned about the Trinity Cancer Society’s Naked Calendar photograph, which featured them alongside other fraternity members, Whelan told me he had planned to be in another picture but the Cancer
Society told him there had been a change of plan. He knew that others in the shoot were from the fraternity, but didn’t see it as a ‘fraternity picture’, just a collection of prominent students. Cantillon said he was asked by a Cancer Soc committee member to be in the calendar and agreed ‘seeing no harm as it was just a social group of no consequence’. During the interview with Jack O’Connor he confi rmed that the photograph had been organised continued on page 2
SU Council to vote on USI referendum Fees preferendum to be decided this week
» If the vote is passed, USI affiliation referendum will be held next year Leanna Byrne News Editor
TODAY, TUESDAY March 20, Student Union Council will decide whether or not they wish to have a referendum on TCDSU’s membership with USI at the same time as the class rep elections in the next academic year. The question has been revised to simply ask students: “Do you want TCDSU to disaffi liate from USI?” At the end of the Michaelmas term, Student Union President Ryan Bartlett called for a referendum to be held on whether the SU should disaffi liate with the Union of Students in Ireland, the national representative body for most universities and institutes of technology in the country. During an extensive interview with The University Times Bartlett highlighted how he was no longer convinced that
the USI represent the views of Trinity students and that a referendum was necessary to decide whether it was appropriate to continue participating in and paying for USI-organised campaigns. Bartlett was dissatisfied following the “Stop Fees, Save the Grant” campaign, the national protest which was held on November 16, and
However, pages of signatures went missing. In addition, there were problems with the wording of the referendum. Originally the referendum was to ask: “Do you vote that TCDSU disaffi liate with USI and replace it with a 6 euro national campaign levy?”. Due to the fact that the wording was asking two questions in one, the signa-
SU President Ryan Bartlett says that new leadership in USI may improve the organisation.
a failed occupation which Bartlett felt was not representative Trinity students views. The referendum has proven difficult to get off the ground. 250 signatures were required to mandate the SU to hold the referendum.
tures gathered for this particular wording of the referendum had to be scrapped. The decision to hold a referendum was a much debated issue amongst students. President of the Graduate Students’ Union Mary O’Connor was also critical of
Bartlett’s move. According to O’Connor, Bartlett had not consulted the postgraduate representatives, positing that running a referendum story on the front page of the UT without discussing it with her was “wrong”. Tonight, Bartlett will be putting “a referendum to take place at the same time as the class rep elections 2012 with the question “Do you want TCDSU to disaffi liate from USI?’” before SU Council. Th is would ensure that the SU would be able to bypass another collection of signatures and that “the wording to which the signatures were attached would have no effect due to a fault in the language”. When questioned on whether the SU President was disappointed that the referendum had not happened this year Bartlett told The University Times “I don’t really mind. For me, I
Online record for www.universitytimes.ie For the month of Feb 10 - March 10, the UT website received over 140,000 page views. Thanks to all our online readers.
just wish that people can express their opinion and vote. It has to be when the people are informed and can make a comprehensive decision.” Yet, Bartlett also said there would be “other things going on between now and then” and that a “change from USI might come” which students would have to be able to consider before making their vote. Candidates running for positions in USI will be at Council to try and persuade TCD to give them their block vote. Bartlett was optimistic that a new leadership might be beneficial for Trinity students. “One of the candidates is trying to do things other than marches. They want to put forward other messages. We have to wait and see if people follow through with their promises.”
Ronan Costello Editor ON TUESDAY, Wednesday and Thursday this week, Trinity students will get the chance to vote in a fees preferendum. Students will be asked how they would like to see taught third level education to be funded. Students will be given a list of six options and must rank them in order of preference. The list of options are a graduate tax, one hundred percent exchequer funded, one hundred percent upfront fees, student contribution, student loan scheme or none of the above. The result of the preferendum will then bind the vote of the TCDSU block that will attend USI Congress in early April, at which USI is to
create its new policy on fees. USI’s current policy is that the Exchequer (i.e. the taxpayer) should bear the entire cost of tuition fees for Irish/EU students through progressive taxation. Th is policy has been reaffi rmed by votes at USI Congress on a number of occasions, most recently in 2009. USI say that the decision to revise the fees policy came as a result of the Minister’s commitment to increase the student contribution charge to €3,000 by 2015. USI Congress happens once a year and all major policy decisions are made at it. Elections for USI’s officer board are also held at Congress. Trinity sends 18 delegates to this conference, correlating to the number
The University Times
Editor: Ronan Costello Deputy Editor: Rónán Burtenshaw Volume 3, Issue 7
of students in the college, who are elected by SU council. These delegates will be asked to vote on behalf of Trinity Students as to what USI’s position on fees should be. Traditionally, the other constituent organisations in USI take a more liberal stance on the fee issue than Trinity. If this bears itself out again and Trinity students opt for a more moderate funding option, then Trinity’s preferred option may not be the one that becomes policy. SU President Ryan Bartlett said that the preferendum was an opportunity for students to have their voice heard on a hugely important issue on which there hasn’t been a general vote in years.
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.