Volume 20 / Issue 6
ucd.ie/tribune
23rd January 2007
Trevor The injustice Sargent of justice General Election Special, Page 12
The Execution of Saddam Hussein Page 14
O'Connor
O Muircheartaigh
Hughes
Wrixon
Hegarty
Von Prondzynski
University of Limerick
NUI Galway
NUI Maynooth
UCC
Trinity
DCU
Because we're worth it Hugh Brady
● Hugh Brady seeks larger salary than Bertie Ahern ● Leading economist says it's ‘excessive but deserved' UCD President Hugh Brady wants a 55 percent pay-rise of upto 135,000 euro per year, it has emerged. The former Harvard professor joins the six other heads of universities in this country with a proposal that, if passed, will mean that Hugh Brady will be earning more money per year than An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Chief economist with Friends First, Jim Power, told the College Tribune that, “The proposed figures were a bit excessive to be honest, certainly within the context of the public sector, they looked excessive.” Brady is already earning 205,168 euro, which is more than that of government ministers who get 199,000 euro, and more than double that of TDs who’s salaries begin at 90,770 euro. The leading Irish economist did concede however that, “The presidents are now running businesses. And I think it’s important to run any education’s institution as an efficient business.
Colin Gleeson “But obviously, the over-riding requirement is that the education standards of the institution are of the highest standard possible. So in other words, you should not be sacrificing the quality of the education that’s being provided because you’re trying to run an efficient business. You need to marry the two, but at the end of the day, it’s the quality of the education that’s the important thing,” he added. The proposal from the seven heads is outlined in a confidential submission to the Review Body for Higher Remuneration in the Public Service. The report details why the heads believe a pay-rise is deserved. It declares that there is a changing atmosphere in third level education today, and that the current salaries do not reflect the responsibilities of the university leaders. It explains that the rise would reflect their
Just past the Quinn School!
unique “mental horse-power”, “emotional intelligence” and “street-smart, problem solving-skills”. The over-riding factor behind the president’s bid for more money is his view that his role in UCD is no longer that of an educator. The proposal states that the job of a university president “is now more akin to that of the corporate chief executive who must develop and drive strategically and position their businesses to grow and be ethnically and effectively managed and led.” The submission embodies an ongoing trend that is overseeing a move away from an emphasis on education and towards the concept of the university as a business. Power agrees, “The presidents of colleges, they are running businesses. They are managing people, they’re doing an awful lot of the things that chief executives do. And on that basis, they probably do deserve to be paid accordingly.”
Continued: Page 4
UCD MOLLOY’S
MERVILLE
2
NEWS
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
Parking fiasco thickens
January 23rd
● New ‘No-Parking
areas' unmarked ● Clamped students face fines of €80
Linda O'Halloran
Editor Colin Gleeson Deputy Editor Simon Ward Design Editors Tara Phelan & Simon Ward Sports Editor Ben Blake Features Editor Matthew Parkinson Bennett Health & Fashion Editor Caitrina Cody Arts Editor Barra O Fianail Music Editor Hugh Fowler Contributors: Jane Horgan-Jones,Claire Spelman, Alexa Byrne, Susan Cahill, Eoin Murphy, Jack Horgan Jones, Pete Mahon, Killian O'Connor, Jordan Daly, Adrian Collins, Chris Whelan, Frank Clune, Amro Hussain, Steuart Alexander, John O'Flynn, James Haughey, Lorcan Archer, Ronan Dempsey, Aidan MacGuill, MAree Rigney, Joanna Cochrane, Orla Kenny, Stephen Humphries, Cian Taaffe, Hannah Kousbrouek, Jack Cane, Alan Doyle, Linda O'Halloran, Mark Canavan, Bernadette Scott, Paul Dillon, Eoin Mac Aodha, Jane Horgan-Jones, Karen O'Connell
Special Thanks To: Gary, Stephen & Billy @ Spectator Newspapers, Eilis O'Brien, Dominic Martella, A&B, God.
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The Christmas break saw many unhappy students clamped in new no-parking areas on campus, despite the fact that they have not yet been marked as such. One angry student slammed the lack of clarity defining proper parking spaces. “I feel robbed. I’ve been parking there (Belgrove) regularly enough for two years and never been clamped. There was no reason to make me think anything had changed, no double yellow lines or anything.” According to John Free, UCD Traffic Manager, “No policies have changed. There were red lines down there, though you wouldn’t know they were there. But we hope to have all new markings down before the beginning of term.” The news comes as scant consolation to those who have been clamped in areas that were not clearly marked, and now face a fine of €80. Belgrove’s rectangular courtyards are in effect unmarked car parks that used to see cars allowed to park on both sides. Students are now are expected to know that one side is a “roadway”. As of Saturday January 20th however, the car parks in Belgrove were still devoid of any road No go zone: But a lack of markings has led to anger amongst car-driving students markings, or any indication whatsoever of which side of the car park was a roadway. mitted under current safety legislation, over 3,000. On a positive note, new clamping fervour only There is a faded, crossed out ‘P’ sprayed onto It is thus his duty to ensure that this number is not emerges in an effort to enforce safety. Fires are the path. One group of students, however, com- exceeded so that evacuation will be possible in the not uncommon in Belgrove apartments and, acmented that this is “difficult to see, unofficial look- case of emergency. cording to Free, one side of these car parks must ing and on the curb, which could signal a warning He highlights that “it is a huge undertaking” to be kept clear for fire brigade and ambulance acnot to park on the curb.” regulate parking on campus. He went on to defend cess. According to Free, the college accommodates the actions of clampers in the absence of proper However, the only guaranteed safe parking the maximum amount of parking spaces it is per- road marks and signs in Belgrove and elsewhere. spots, according to Free, are those marked out.
Belfield Fm out of tune ● Station in disaray
● “Low morale" after series of problems obstacles experienced throughout the semester. Doyle declared, “there’s just no push in the station”. Contrarily, Redmond wholeheartedly rejected talk of low morale despite the clouds of negativity that reigned last semester. Doyle declared his hopes that Refreshers Day and the new recruitment posters will bring the station a much needed drive for the new year. Most of the staff are final year students and weak recruitment in September has left the group under pressure to provide for the future of the station. “We are trying to bring out a magazine with information about each show and how to get involved with the station,” promised Harkness. In addition, the group plan to organise a karaoke night and a gig at the end of term to help promote the station and earn some “much needed cash”. All things going according to plan, Belfield Fm will break the silence from their new station on Monday, January 29th at 8am, broadcasting on 101.3 Fm.
Linda O'Halloran A College Tribune investigation has revealed that student-run radio station Belfield Fm is very much on the rocks after a series of disappointments this year. Station manager Gary Redmond was paid 1500 euro of students money last semester for his work with the station. The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland allots Belfield Fm fifteen days broadcasting per semester. But last semester, the UCD outfit only managed to broadcast for three full days and five shorter days, though Redmond claimed that the first two weeks ran “as normal”. Most of these discrepancies, however, are a result of bad luck. During the first week, the transmitter was damaged and broadcasting ended after just three days. The second week saw another delay in moving studios, which left the team again in the portacabin by the Centre Bar. In addition, at five every evening, a pirate station, Fun Fm, took over the airspace and forced their evening shows off the airwaves. Subsequently, Belfield Fm failed to avail of their webcast for the duration of that week. The final week of broadcasting last semester heard nothing of Belfield Fm, as the transmitter had not been connected to their new studio in the library tunnel. In addition to a full week’s failed transmission, the webcast did not broadcast again despite the fact that it was up and running at its new location by the Wednesday of that week.
Gary Redmond: The current station manager of Belfield FM
Kevin Doyle, a Belfield Fm presenter and Graham Harkness, the assistant manager, attribute this to the morale among staff due to all the
NEWS
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
3
Crushed ● ●
Christmas exam chaos for students Student crush resulted in delays to exams
Christmas exams were plunged into chaos last semester, as hundreds of students were sent toppling to the ground as they scrambled to obtain their exam numbers after a crush in the RDS. Students’ Union Education Officer Brian Doyle expressed concerns regarding the organisation of the exams, stressing that they were “a bit of a nightmare to say the least. There was a lot of confusion amongst students mainly in the first few days due to the new system of seating.” Changes by the exams office stipulated that students were required to obtain exam seating numbers prior to the exam, dispensing with traditional student exam cards. As students arrived at the RDS en masse shortly before the exam, some began to panic and congregated by a number of sheets displaying the exam numbers on a temporary divide in the waiting area outside the RDS Main Hall. As hundreds of students, waiting in the wrong area by the Merrion Road entrance, arrived, an already brittle
Simon Ward situation began to reach boiling point. In the mayhem, the temporary barrier inevitably gave way and toppled over. Some of the information sheets were then stripped from the boards, and as students scrambled to get hold of them, a crush resulted. The exams were delayed by twenty minutes as a result. Final year student Michelle Shaughnessy was among the throng, declaring, “Students were already nervous enough about the exams and then they had to deal with the fact that they couldn’t actually enter the exam hall without their precious seat numbers. “The exam centre had only been provided with one copy of the seat arrangements with each student alphabetically written on A4 sheets. It seems that it never occurred to the organisers that placing just one notice board in an exam hall for two thousand students would cause problems. “So there’s people trying to get away from the crush by entering the
exam hall, but they’re not allowed in and people are just shouting at them. So, they have no choice but to return to the scrum around the notice board.” Doyle generally expressed dismay with the new format of the examination system, declaring, “In previous years, exams generally took place in a more spread out fashion in the summer, not on a semesterised basis. The arrangement for this year meant a more condensed exam period than that which students in latter years would traditionally be used to. “As almost all exams took place in the RDS and over a short period of time, many students had two or more exams in one day. This meant there was no time to leave the RDS exam centre and so many students were forced to sit around twiddling their thumbs because there was no place set aside to study. In essence a little more planning could have gone a long way.” Both college authorities and the exams office declined to comment on the matter.
Under pressure: Students get under way 20 minutes late
4 NEWS
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
NEWS IN BRIEF
Compiled by Colin Gleeson
Second year degrees UCD have backed down on a decision that would have seen exams for this year’s second year students count as fifty percent of their degrees. College authorities had sparked outrage among students last semester after waiting seven weeks to inform them of the decision to include this year’s results in the awarding of degrees. The decision would have affected second years in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Science, Bachelor of Computer Science and Bachelor of Music
programmes. The related BA programmes will be now be calculated based on the best six modules from second year, and all modules from third year, with the modules equally weighted. This one-off arrangement applies to students currently in second year only. The best six grades in second year and all twelve grades in third year will be weighted equally. This arrangement also applies to students currently in second year for this year only. It will not apply for students next year.
Please talk A campaign to encourage students who are in need of help to talk to their peers will take place in the coming weeks. UCD chaplain Tony Coote has declared in the run-up to the campaign, “The goal is to have students see talking as a sign of strength, not as a sign of weakness.” A website is to be set-up at www.pleasetalk.ie where all the student support services will be listed. The launch of the cam-
paign is set for February and the organisers are said to be in the process of luring Cork hurling star Sean Og O hAilpin to UCD in order to set the wheels in motion. Coote continued, “It’s important that somebody in a time of need looks for help. And their friends, in their loyalty, should try and get people to speak up. A lot of counseling that goes on is between friends, and when your friend is in trouble, the best thing you can do is listen.”
Bereavement Support Support services for students who have lost a loved one have been initiated. There will be meetings of around eight students at a time that will be facilitated by SU Welfare Officer Barry Colfer and student advisors, where students will be encouraged to share their stories as a means to move forward. Those facilitating the groups have been trained by an or-
ganisation known as ‘Rainbow’. Colfer declared, “The meetings are mainly about people opening up to each other and sharing experiences to help get through their loss or their bereavement. Myself and the advisors are simply there to help the discussion along by covering certain topics.” The meetings are scheduled to begin during week three of this semester.
Because We're Worth It Continued from Page One Brady is also a long way ahead of his academic staff when it comes to salaries. The highest paid professor in UCD is earning 136,299 euro. College chiefs have declared that because university budgets have more than doubled over the past few years, their responsibilities have too, and so they are entitled to the pay-rise. They explain in the submission that their leadership roles are far more complex, requiring much greater know-how and that they need to have highly developed problem-solving skills to deal with this increased complexity. Leading Irish economist Jim Power concluded, “I think that across the university sector in general and across the education sector in general, it is one of the most important services that is provided in the country, and I think the education system of primary, secondary and third level be dealt with by the highest quality people. So to get the highest quality people, you always have to pay them accordingly.” The proposal from the college chiefs goes on to state that there has been a substantial increase in the accountability required of them due to the challenges in delivering research and value for money invested. It continues, “Universities must compete in a global anti-competitive market. There has been a massive development of research programmes, with increasing alliances involving large multi-national companies and inter-institutional collaberation. Many services and assets of the universities are now operated on a comercial basis.” The seven university leaders have also detailed proposals for individual governing bodies to set up remuneration committees to decide on the reward for each university
head. “This opportunity to better align the pay of University Heads and send a powerful message that reward demands delivery and performance is critical to the success of Government policies in the third and fourth level sectors. “It is also critical to recognise that the leadership positions in this sector are
I'm considerably richer than you: Brady chats with Education Minster Mary Hanafin
unique within the Irish public sector in that applications for the posts will have international competition for competitively renumerated positions and performance of their institution and consequently their leadership is benchmarked internationally.”
Big earners
Presidents' Demand
€320,000
Bertie Ahern
€252,000
Selected Public sector league table
Top Professor - UCD
€136,299
TDs
€90,770
Offer ends 28th February
(Taoiseach)
Presidents' Current Salary
€205,168
Government Ministers
€199,000
Noel Conroy (Garda Commissioner) €192,000
Offer ends 28th February
NEWS
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
5
‘More difficult' to get a good degree in UCD ● ●
Only 9% of UCD students get a first class honours degree Lowest percentages of first and second class honours in the country
Figures released by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) have revealed that UCD have been left lagging when it comes to the quality of degrees it awards to students. The statistics indicate that it is more difficult to get a high standard of degree in UCD than any other university in the country. The figures released showed exactly what percentages of students in each specific college get what standard of degree. It emerged that UCD have been left behind across the board. While the figures do not indicate a diminishment in the standard of a UCD degree, they do indicate that a higher quality degree is more difficult to obtain. Dublin City University award the highest percentage of first class honours degrees, with twenty-two percent of students walking away the top mark, while it’s UCD at the bottom of the ladder awarding just nine percent of students with the
Colin Gleeson star prize. The closest university to UCD on this scale is NUI Maynooth who award eleven percent of students with a first. Medical students are among those least likely to get a first or a second class honours degree, despite the high CAO points required. It also appears that, broadly speaking, arts/humanities degrees appear to be more difficult to get a first class honour in than the sciences. Trinity College, who are UCD’s closest Irish rivals in the university rankings, are also far more generous in their allocation of secondclass honour degrees. UCD finish bottom again here with 27 percent, while Trinity top the table with 56 percent. There is a certain amount of distortion to these figures however, as some 40 percent of UCD graduates were returned as “unclassified” by
the college in this report. A college spokesperson explained, “We have course level grading for our Bachelor of Arts Degrees which means that there are separate overall marks for both subjects studied. “This was introduced in the 1995-96 academic year in response to student demands to receive full credit for both subjects. All of these degrees, which are listed as ‘unclassified’, are honours degrees.” When broken down, the figures also revealed that nineteen percent of UCD Science graduates obtained a first class honours degree, with a further 58 percent awarded either a 2:1 or a 2:2. Twenty percent of graduates from the engineering, manufacturing and construction areas were also awarded with a first, while 66 percent also obtained an upper or lower second class honour. Elsewhere, only three percent of UCD medical students got a first, while 62 percent received just a pass in their overall degree.
Percentage of students awarded a 1:1
DCU (top)
22%
NUI Maynooth (right)
11%
UCD (left)
9%
“Embarrassing episode" for the SU resolved
● ●
Students registered to vote at two locations after SU blunder Penalties of 650 euro fine and/or 3 months imprisonment avoided
Hundreds of UCD students could have unwittingly broken electoral law on the advise of the Students’ Union, during last months voter registration campaign. The Students’ Union (SU) campaign, which was being run with support from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), encouraged students to register at two separate addresses, despite this being a breach of electoral law. The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government have confirmed that the offense carries the penalty of a €650 euro and/or up to 3 months imprisonment. It is unclear just how likely it would have been for students to be prosecuted had the issue not been challenged. Electoral fraud is a serious crime however and the SU and USI could have found themselves in hot water for encouraging such behavior. “It has been quite an embarrassing episode for us” admitted SU President Dan Hayden, “although I still believe this was a good campaign”. USI have confirmed that they have sorted through all 2,000 registration forms from UCD and are now confident that all doubly registered students have been contacted and removed from the register at their term address. The USI voter registration campaign had originally set out to register 15,000 students in time for the upcoming Gen-
Stephen Madden eral Election. USI states on it’s website that they aimed “to register every student eligible to vote in both their home constituency and the constituency of their college”. This is despite the fact that the Electoral Act clearly states “a person shall not be registered as an elector more than once in any registration area nor in more than one such area”. During discussions on the upcoming election, some members of the SU executive raised concerns regarding the legality of registering students twice. However, these fear were dismissed at the time and Hayden expressed his desire to take advantage of this loophole so that a student could possibly run for election to the Dail in the Dublin South constituency, according to SU meeting minutes. The UCD Students’ Union is blaming USI for the debacle, which in turn is laying blame at the door of the Dept of Environment. Originally, it was believed that USI President Colm Hamrouge had received personal assurance directly from Mister for the Environment Dick Roche, declaring registering twice was legal. However, Minister Roche has angrily denied ever giving such assurances, and stated, “It was irresponsible for any
Get out and vote: However some registration campaigns may lead students to break the law
Students’ Union to distort the electoral register”. Hamrouge retorted, “I rang the department and was talking to someone in there and they told me that students could register twice.” In the course of the campaign, some students expressed further reservations, but they claimed that they were continually ignored by the SU who insisted that USI had given them concrete assurances. SU Deputy President Dave Curran was emailed with four governmental on-line sources along with correspondences from Galway country council and from the Dept of the Environment that all stated categorically that students could only be registered at their term address.
The SU discovered the mistake when a student personally made contact with Minister Dick Roche, and on the final day of the registration campaign, the SU advised all volunteers to stop registering students at two addresses. It now appears that the SU did not seek written clarification from USI or the Department of Environment at any stage in the process, and even though the debacle came to light during the middle of the week of the campaign, the SU took the decision to continue encouraging students to register illegally. Hayden declared, “I had made a reasonable effort at the time to ensure the information was correct. We had no reason to doubt the correctness of USI at the time. Perhaps we should have re-
quested written confirmation before the campaign started, but USI are the body over us and we to take their lead.” Not all universities suffered the same problems, however. The Students’ Union in NUI Galway ran a similar voter registration campaign, but at no stage did they attempt to register students twice. When contacted, NUI Galway’s SU President Damien Corridan stated that the SU there had never suggested to students that they should register twice. “We had heard USI were suggesting students had a right to be registered twice, but our campaign only encouraged students to register once.” It is unknown at this stage if USI or the SU plan to hold an investigation into the matter, or if any personnel are to be officially reprimanded for the fiasco. At the time of going to print, USI were unable to identify the individual who told Hamrouge that registering at two addresses was legal. But the Department continues to deny that anything of the sort was said. In the meantime the Dept of Environment is strongly encouraging students who believe they might still be registered twice to contact their local authority in the coming weeks and have their name deleted from either address. They added that a postal vote might be the most straightforward option for students who are unsure of where they will be living on Election Day.
6
CollegeTribune Tribune College 23rdJanuary January2007 2007 23rd
Mid Term Report Education: Brian Doyle
If you could re-write your manifesto, what would you change?
It was more sentiment. Everything I had in it, I wanted and I still want. I hate to say working progress, but a lot of these things take years to do. I know I had as one of my main promises to ensure that the student card could be used as a means of payment for everything on campus, and while that’s probably why a lot of people voted for me, and that is something I’ve been meeting with a lot of people in administration and services about. But it’s very slow progress. There’s also better access to the library to be dealt with and I’m on committees to look at that.
internal only, I mean we wouldn’t be releasing it to the media; it would be for our use only. But I want to see how well we’re doing and where we can improve by talking to maybe two or three thousand students. That way, we can see why we’re not touching ground or what we’re not doing. Do you think the SU prioritises issues properly?
It is kind of disheartening when I go in to council and all that’s being talked by certain people is issues that don’t directly affect the students. While I’ve every respect for these campaigns, I do think they preoccupy too much of the SU’s image, which is very dangerous and gives people a negaWhat would the high point of the tive view of the union. I think SU council year so far be for you? needs to be reformed, whereby items are introduced for discussion, I was happy with the rather than everything befact that we managed "Getting everything ing about getting a manto negotiate the whole finalised for students date for something. For me, second year’s having I’d like to bring something half their finals this so they know exactly up to talk about it, see year thing. I know I got what the story is has what people think about a lot of praise in the it and get feedback, but I proven difficult" papers and stuff for shouldn’t have to put in a that, but it was more motion to do that, so that I Paul Lynam, Chris Bond (Arts and Humani- can do my job better. You need to be able ties Programme Officers) and all the other to go in with some sensibility, because, goclass reps. ing in with a very fine mandate doesn’t allow you to bargain or negotiate, and then What about centralising grants, is you’re not taken seriously. So I think little that likely to come about? steps like that could improve council and could improve the SU on a whole. I do think it’s something that will happen. USI (Union of Students in Ireland) deserve So, would you agree that council some credit this year, they’ve been very ac- is a bit of a circus at the motive on this issue. We have gotten involved ment? in it to a certain degree, but I think it’s very hard though as well when you’re bogged Oh completely. I don’t disagree with you down with stuff in UCD to jump on the USI whatsoever. bandwagon, and that’s something we could How do you think things should probably improve on. be changed? What issue has proven the most difficult for you to tackle this year?
I think the whole exams issue was something that’s very up in the air. Getting everything finalised for students so they know exactly what the story is has proven difficult. We still don’t know what the story is there. What’s your opinion on the way the SU has been going about its business in general this year?
Well I intend to bring up at SU council the idea of an internal union survey. When I say
I think people need to be made more aware of the SU, where it is, and that they can go there if they have any sort of a problem. Would you agree that the union has fallen down in that regard, and that the image of the union is something of an ivory tower at the moment?
I think we’ve fallen pretty far to be honest with you, because that is the image that’s out there, and I wouldn’t dispute it for a minute. And it is up to us, I hope that the survey will help, and we’ll be able to try and see why people see the union like that.
Colin Gleeson speaks to the Students’ Union sabbatical officers about keeping their election promises and the need for reform within the Student’s Union.
of things. It’s not just a case of doing it and putting the posters up, it’s about creating the buzz around an event and making it big. And of course, it’s so hard to get to everyone on such a big campus. It is a struggle sometimes though.
Relative to what you thought before you got the job, has it been easier or harder than you expected?
Well I’m learning stuff every day, since I started. Obviously, people have these grand ideas at the start, they can do everything and they can take over the world and all this. But when it comes down to it, you have to narrow it down and see what will work and what won’t. Of course, I expected it to be difficult.
What would you say was the high point so far?
I think Republic of Loose in the student bar was a great night. It was early in the year and it was sold out, it really felt like an accomplishment at the time.
If you could re-write your manifesto, what would you change?
Obviously there were some things thrown in there to catch people’s attention and stuff. I mean things like a UCD trip to Ibiza are just not practical. But I think everyone does that with manifestos.
‘Chaotic but constructive migraine territory'
What about the criticism you’ve received; is there you’d like to say to those people?
Money obviously plays a huge part, but I think it’s even more the organisation
Entertainment: Holly Irvine
"Promotion is very important for it to succeed. We need to get out there more"
What about the low point so far?
What's the plan for the UCD Ball this year?
I’d say the fact that we had to take the Freshers’ Ball off campus. But then maybe that gives a bit more of a uniqueness to the UCD Ball.
It’s going ahead in the same place but we’re hoping to make some improvements on last year. Initially I wanted it up in the heart of campus by the lake, but obviously, that raises security is-
sues. But there’ll be a few changes. When it comes to the union in general, do you think enough is being done to promote it?
I think more should be done that ensures students get to know their officers better. Promotion is very important for it to succeed. We need to get out there more. Would you agree that SU council is a bit of a circus?
It is, I mean there’s about fifteen motions at it and maybe five decent ones and the rest of them are these irrelevant things that could be solved by just
Mid Term Report
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
Welfare: Barry Colfer
President: Dan Hayden If you could re-write your manifesto, what would you change?
If I’d had more information on the insurance industry, I would’ve re-written certain parts of my manifesto. But we’re working around those things. The example I’m thinking of is my promise to provide microwaves in the SU shops for heating up lunches and stuff like that. Apparently, if you take a plate of beans and put them in a microwave, and they explode as beans tend to do, and then someone gets salmonella, then whoever put the microwave there is liable. Bulk buying has also proved to be very problematic. It’s been mostly technical but I think we’ll get there. It’s taking a long old time though. We hope to do it with DIT, Trinity and Queens. We’re in negotiations at the moment, and we’ve agreed on a few things so far.
The priority is always to see that the students’ voices are being heard in the college. It’s that they’re accurately represented, and that all comes back to the class reps again. It’s important to shout loud and shout accurately.
Had you any plans coming into office to try and improve the profile of the SU on campus and promote it to students as a place of refuge more actively?
'My goal here isn't to look good; it's to do good. And we could spend a lot of time putting posters around everywhere, the union shouldn't be on the forefront of people's minds'
How would you respond to the criticism you’ve come under as president?
We’re working hard. And more than ever: the union is open to students for getting their voices across. It’s a really big council this year. We have people who are working really hard and who are really dedicated. Decisions happen. Yes, people are going to like some of the things you do, and not like some of the other things you do. I’ve always tried to be democratic and listen to other people’s views when I’ve been making decisions. But I do think we’ve opened up the union this year, I think we’ve made it easier for students to get in touch with us, and to get in touch with their class reps. There are more class reps than ever before – it’s working well. Do you think the class reps are communicating enough with their classes?
I think the class reps have been great this year. I think more than any other year. What do you see as being the priority of the Students’ Union?
Seeing as SU council is the hub of the class rep system, where they all gather and decide what direction the union takes, do you believe that it’s conducted in an acceptable manner?
There are moments when you question it. But whenever you put two hundred people who are strongly minded and have their own ideas into a room, it can get a bit chaotic. It’s migraine territory really. I think on a whole, it’s really more functional than ever. We’re getting through business quicker, there are more class reps than ever and I think that the union corridor is much more of an open door than it used to be. Union council is basically a way for class reps to communicate to the union officers. It’s not so much a place for discussion. Do you think that it should be reformed in that regard and made more student-friendly?
It’s very difficult to do it that way, you can’t really have meaningful debate with that amount of people in the room, there’s no format that works for that. It has to be done in small groups by the programme officers and then brought to council by them as representatives. It’s down to the chair to keep things focused and on track, and my job to keep things relevant.
It’s not ideal where it is (The SU corridor), and the way it’s laid out, that kind of lends itself to the notion of the union as a clique. All I can say is that that’s only skin-deep. If you call into any of us, we’re all working, and not for a lot of money. The thing that binds us all is that we’re students in UCD and we’re trying to make things better. But what about promoting the union?
My goal here isn’t to look good; it’s to do good. And we could spend a lot of time putting posters around everywhere, and walking into theatres saying this and that. That’s important, that they know we’re there. The union shouldn’t be on the forefront of people’s minds; that should be their own personal lives and their academics and stuff. But when there’s a problem, they do need to know we’re there, absolutely. So does the average student know you’re there?
The Freshers’ Guide this year was a big success, we got out to more first years than any other year and I think a key thing now is that we email every student every two weeks with an update. You know, we work on things, but there’s no silver bullet to make everyone know who you are. Everybody reacts differently to different things. You can do more posters, but people get poster-blind after awhile. We are putting a campaign together in two weeks time to reinvigorate interest in the Students’ Union, where students will be told that should they have a problem, the union is there. But you also have to keep in mind the cost; it’s not cheap to do a big poster run. I take all that on board, but there’s a limit to what you can do, and we certainly haven’t reached that yet.
What are your priorities within the Students’ Union?
I knew it was going to be difficult going in to the job. As welfare officer, a lot of your time is going to be spent with personal cases. And such has been the case this year. But a lot of what I do is just about rudimentary, standard things for students like getting something signed, finding the right person to ring or email, problems with landlords and stuff like that. What have been the top three things you’ve done?
Is there anything you definitely won’t achieve?
There are some things that will be more difficult than others and won’t happen in my term. But generally, there are lots of balls that have gotten rolling, and those things will ultimately come into being. What do you think of the way the Students’ Union is being run this year? Do you not see SU council as a bit of a circus?
It is a bit of a circus to be fair. I think one of One over-riding thing is the relationship I’ve the big things where the Students’ Union has formed with the various student support fallen down over the years is its profile and services around campus, the advisors and the how it presents itself to students. chaplaincy and all that. I’ve Do you feel the SU also set-up bereavement "Generally, prioritises the issues and loss-support groups, there are lots of it deals with well? which I think have been important. I was very happy balls that have I do think the SU could also with the work myself gotten rolling, promote itself more to stuand Jean (Daly SU Disabilities Officer) regarding dis- and those things dents. It needs to spend time, money and ability access on campus, will ultimately more effort doing this. It could and meetings and stuff have been set-up as a re- come into being" promote itself with a better website and in general sult. creating a better profile on Has the criticism campus. But it is difficult, you’ve received this year been fair? because the whole year is basically solving one problem after another, and as a result, I’m always very open to criticism. I expect manifesto promises and having a bigger proconstructive criticism, but it’s just a situation file on campus suffer. where I‘ve given it my all and I couldn’t have done any more, but of course, there is always So, would you say then, that in choosing to deal with those other the odd jab here and there. Do you think that the Welfare Officer should be a qualified councilor?
I think you’re making a big mistake if you go into this job thinking that you’re a councilor. The greatest power in the office is the ability to refer people on to a councilor. It’s crucial for me to know when I’m out of my depth. The majority of what I do is housekeeping stuff, such as financial problems and advising people how do apply for a passport and ordinary things like that. But I think the most important fact about the welfare officer is that students will relate to students. It’s more about a chat than a counselling session. It’s great if students can see me as a peer. If you could re-write your manifesto, what would you change?
My manifesto was basically my intentions, there’s nothing there I would change, and I’m pleased with what I’ve achieved so far
Well there’s no way that people can bring up something to be discussed, it’s always a case of putting in a motion, so I think that a provision for discussions would be a real improvement on the way council is run. It should be about people collectively thinking and solving problems, so I think this would help with getting people more involved in the decision-making process also.
Do you get much criticism?
I think it’s inevitable that there’s going to be criticism, but I feel that it’s important to be constructive and take criticism on board. But we want to try and get more feedback from students as well, and find out what they think and stuff.
Well I’ve been encouraging class reps to try and talk to their classes more and get the views of their classes on the SU in general. Also, we have suggestion
and there’s more I hope to achieve.
Has the year been easier or harder than what you expected before you got the job?
things rather than creating a bigger profile for the SU on campus, you’re prioritising things badly?
No, I think that we have to give priority to dealing with student welfare issues and education issues. I don’t think it’s wrong that that’s what we choose to do ahead of simply promoting the SU to students in classes and things like that, as nice it would be to have the time to do all that also. Do you not feel that as a result, there is a gulf forming between the SU and the student body? Surely, the fact that it's a vast minority of people who know who the SU officers are, and what they do, is the problem that should take priority?
I would like to see in future years; more time, effort and resources put into speaking to the common man, promoting the union, letting people know that the SU actually exists. So, I would ultimately agree with that point.
Deputy President: Dave Curran
decide what direction the union takes, do you believe that it’s conducted in an acceptable manner?
I think in the coming semester, the various campaign weeks are a big thing. Grants also are something we’re going to be focusing on.
Have you a means to do that?
Editorial - Page 9
boxes now in most academic buildings, so people can complain and give their views. Seeing as SU council is the hub of the class rep system, where they all gather and
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"I think the amount of class reps applying reflects the interest in the SU, and there were more people running this year than ever before"
Do you think that the SU should put forward a system to prioritise motions so that students come first?
forward. But at the same time, if a class rep wants to put forward a motion, I can’t imagine another group of people having the right to say that it doesn’t warrant attention.
People should be encouraged to think carefully about what motions they put
Do you think the union is promoted well enough?
I think there’s always room for improvement, but there have been steps forward in that regard this year, things like the ‘What’s On Guide’ and the e-mail everyone gets from the SU into their UCD Connect account is a positive thing. But there is a case to be made there. What would be the high point of the year so far for you?
I think the amount of class reps applying reflects the interest in the SU, and there were more people running this year than ever before, so I was pretty happy with that.
OPINION
Politics of crime and fear Paul Dillon argues that contrary to what government opposition would have you believe, crime rates in Ireland are among the lowest in Europe and dropping Why is it that fear of crime is going up, while in actual fact the crime rate is falling? This anomaly owes much to how crime is dealt with in the mass media where hype and hysteria are the order of the day. We are asked to believe that crime in Ireland is increasing all the time - it isn't. All the evidence suggests that crime is falling. Things are likely to get worse as the general election approaches. Once the mass media puts aside the racehorse political that springs from its obsession with opinion polls, we are likely to be treated to more “debate" on crime. This debate will take the form of demands for political parties to “confront criminals", “get tough on crime" and perhaps, provide crime “solutions". Many of the political leaders will respond generously to these demands. Political spin-doctors will work overtime to come up with slogans and “policies" on crime. We will be asked to be afraid - very afraid. Fine Gael was first out of the blocks for the New Year. They are currently running a massively expensive billboard campaign on the crime issue. According to Fine Gael, rape is up 33%. This statistic was plucked out of thin air. And besides-does anyone seriously believe that there will be less rapes if Fine Gael is in power? The overwhelming amount of sexual violence occurs in the home. If Fine Gael wants to do something about this, there are a range of policies that might be proposed. Facilities for victims of such violence are notoriously under-funded for starters. But it's likely there wont be a peep out of them on this. Not much will be said either about the prison system. A high proportion of people incarcerated in prison are there for simply not paying fines. They are not members of Ireland's wealthy, tax-dodging elite that have been bleeding the country dry for decades. You are far more likely to go to prison for not paying a television license than for major tax evasion. In fairness to the Green party leadership, they did try and raise the issue of Irelands failing prison system in a policy announcement last week. However, they were virtually ignored. The politics of fear is used as an instrument to distract attention away from the real issues. This could be seen very starkly, when in London shortly before the last general election in Britain, the leadership of the main political parties and the mainstream media concentrated on the politics of fear - competing with one another to whip up fear of criminals, terrorists and foreigners. New Labour and the Conservative party, not a cigarette paper between them in terms of policies with regard to the war in Iraq, unpopular privatisation of public services or widening inequality, competed on the basis of who could terrify the electorate most. The voting public responded by staying away in their millions and giving the New Labour government one of the scantest mandates ever awarded to a governing party in Britain's electoral history. None of what‘s been said above is put across to suggest that the effects of crime are not very serious for the victim affected or those close to the victim. But there are less victims of crime that ever before in Ireland and our crime rate is one of the lowest in Europe. And besides - the victims of crime deserve much more than the self-serving politics of fear and hysterical media responses. Do not be surprised if the media “debate" on crime this general election year ignores the causes of crime, is scant on facts and figures and ignores entirely any criminality that takes place in political or business circles. You have been warned.
Paul Dillon is a former president of the Students' Union
Paying the piper to play the wrong tune The current debate regarding increasing university presidents’ salaries masks some central issues regarding third level education and where it’s going, writes Eoin Mac Aodha Last Tuesday the founding president of the University of Limerick, Ed Walsh, wrote a piece in the Irish Times recommending that university presidents salaries are increased to €300,000 per annum. Walsh undoubtedly makes some very salient points regarding competition and Irish universities continuing struggle to compete on an international level. The central tenet behind doubling Hugh Brady and his cohorts’ salaries is the argument that Irish universities will only be able to compete on an international level if it flashes the cash. In fairness this is probably a valid argument. What right minded individual would come to an educational backwater and take less money than is on offer elsewhere. Career-wise it would be a stupid move and highflying academics don’t get where they are by being stupid. The argument then is that if we tempt them with a little bit more money, we can compete on an international level for our presidents. Walsh points out that vice-chancellors in England can already expect to receive more than €300,000 and that 50 university presidents in America are paid over $500,000 with five being paid more than $1million. Again, Walsh is probably right, if we want to compete internationally and move into the nirvana of the top 100 universities, we have to spend. However, this debate masks the central issue of what sort of education system we want. These are essentially the first shots of the battle to re-privatise our third level education sector. By increasing our university presidents pay-scale, the government will be tacitly admitting that they
are unsatisfied with the current system and that our education system dances not to the tune of educational betterment but cold hard cash. In his article Walsh makes one telling point that reveals the sort of education system he wants by lauding Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT and Columbia which are “run as private corporations with the
Again it comes back to what sort of education system we want, an egalitarian one based on the pursuit of knowledge or a profit driven corporation based on the pursuit of cash? associated no-nonsense policies that nurture excellence and ostracise the second rate.” On the surface this seems wonderful, sure don’t we all want excellence and everybody hates second rate. Again it comes back to what sort of education system we want, an egalitarian one based on the pursuit of knowledge or a profit driven corporation based on the pursuit of cash? Does it not seem utterly dreadful that the whole debate regarding Irish universities is based on money? If it’s not regarding wages it’s about research grants. When was the last time you heard an argument about the sort of people our universities are producing? Does anyone care if our liberal Arts programmes are producing rounded and
reasonable people capable of analytical and independent thinking? If our engineers are excelling themselves in new and innovative ways? Or whether the architects coming out of Richview are capable of the demands of re-invigorating our crammed urban centres? And so on. Surely, these are the important issues. Surely the type of graduate coming out of UCD is more important than money. As trite as this may sound the current debate is a product of nouveau riche Celtic Tiger Ireland, money, money, money. Through eyes blinkered with dollar signs, our “educators” are so keen to turn themselves into CEO’s; that they’ve forgotten what sector they’re in. Education can just be about education. It can just be about learning as a goal, as a way of furthermost. Currently it’s just a means to an end. This is not an article based on the idea that all business is bad and all public sector is good. Obviously privatisation and competition is important in certain areas. It provides employment and is good for the consumer. In a sector like education, it is not good for anyone. We need to appraise our education system as a whole, from the exam-focused orientation of second level to our career-focused third level. It’s funny that in a debate about third level education, nobody’s mentioning the students. Let’s forget about money and trying to break into the over-hyped top100 and concentrate on them instead. Eoin Mac Aodha holds an MA in International Relations and is a former editor of the College Tribune
COMMENT
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
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LETTERS Box 74, Student Centre & LG 18, Newman Building, Dublin 4 Telephone: 01 - 7168501 E-mail: tribune@campus.ie The College Tribune reserves the right to edit all letters. The views expressed on this page are the views of the letter writers and do not reflect the views of the College Tribune.
Successful inaction
Editorial
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to your letter from Mr. Cummins regarding Coca-Cola. I just want to stipulate, for the record, that I think it’s admirable that Mr. Cummins can “derive success” from “not trying”. He should be advised that this is quite innovative in terms of history. For a long time, clever men like Mr. Cummins have confounded themselves in trying to derive anything at all from “not trying”. There are, in fact, laws of physics based on this precedent. It represents a leap of invention that Mr. Cum-
mins’ robust imagination is up to the task. If I might forward a discrete suggestion, in a similar logic, it is perhaps conceivable that Mr. Cummins would be more effective in annoying socialists if he rested on his laurels and didn’t write any letters at all. I wait with baited breath for the results. Yours, 3rd Arts Student
Cecelia Ahern...
Dear Editor, I am writing to you in consternation. I don’t want to alarm you, but I must speak out. I wanted to inform you that, somehow, a soft-focus interview with “novelist” Cecilia Ahern made its way into your pages. I realise the embarrassment this must cause you, seeing as your readership is largely college-educated and doesn’t tend to brook being patronised like that. I under-
stand that writers like Ahern are becoming rather common these days, so I suppose it’s understandable that she managed to slip through the net. However, and I’m sure you’ll agree, we literate folk must be much more vigilant in the days ahead. Yours, 3rd Arts Student
Comments & Clarifications: The College Tribune reported in its last edition that Eimear Ni Falluin had the grant she receives from UCD pulled. It was in fact her grant from the Irish Sports Council that was pulled. Apologies.
Reform in the Students' Union T
his newspaper last week conducted interviews with the five sabbatical officers in the Students’ Union. They were held for several reasons. Most significantly, the money of every student in UCD goes towards the wages of all five officers. And as such, it is important that they be held to account for their activities throughout the year. It is likely that if you have read this far, you are heavily involved with the Students’ Union. And it is such that brings this newspaper to its second major issue regarding the Students’ Union in this college. It is a vast minority of students that are aware of the Students’ Union, and are aware of the fact that the union is there to deal with any conceivable problem a student may face in day-to-day life. Any student, who is aware of the services that are available, is likely to feel intimidated by the atmosphere that exists in the union corridor. It is a clique. It is driven by a select group of people, many of which have their own agendas, and are not too concerned with the average student in UCD. The class rep system, albeit the only conceivable means of democracy, is fundamentally flawed as it stands. Class reps are not, in general, communicating with their classes regarding the issues that are being discussed in student council. It is clear to anybody, outside of the clique, who attends council that the Students’ Union is in grave need of reform. Council is made up of all the class reps in the college, who are supposedly representing their classes. But a lot of the time, it is clear that council is about little more than ego massaging for wannabe politicians and the hijacking of students’ time to discuss issues that do not affect them. Student council represents the gulf that exists between the students of UCD and those who are supposed to be representing them. One disgraceful example of the farcical nature of student council occurred during their final meeting last year. The issue being discussed was whether or not to publish abortion information in the upcoming Welfare Guide. The ‘discussion’, about a highly emotive and divisive issue, descended into something resembling a farmyard. Those involved displayed no respect for one another’s opinions, and spent an hour shouting each other down. This circus began to take even more shape as two individuals then burst into the room dressed in a horseoutfit, leading to pandemonium among the herd. This newspaper feels it important to let students know exactly what they’re paying for. Three of the five sabbatical officers this year expressed concerns while being interviewed about the fundamental direction of the Students’ Union, and indeed the manner in which council is conducted. But to be fair, SU President Dan Hayden has now made assurances in the interview printed overleaf that there is to be a campaign put in motion in the coming weeks to help promote the union to students as a place to go in a time of need. He also acknowledged that he had his doubts about the system in which council operates, and that the location of the union corridor is far from ideal. He did assure that he would strive to address the issues outlined above, and would look to bridge the gap that exists between the student body and those representing it. It is encouraging to note that there are plans in place to address these issues, but it is important for all concerned to ensure that these promises come into fruition. They are fundamental issues, and this newspaper strongly believes that a reformed Students’ Union; which is on the same level as the ordinary student and which accurately represents the students of UCD, can work towards a brighter, better future for the college.
Elections '07
Greener on the other side In the first installment of a series of interviews with major party leaders in the run-up to this summer’s General Election, Colin Gleeson speaks to Green Party leader Trevor Sargent about his policies and the issues that have divided the country over the past twelve months
He seems somewhat more relaxed than yesterday. Perhaps those trials and tribulations of electioneering, that are synonymous with this time of the year, were just getting on top of him a little bit. Needless to say, he’s far happier to conduct the interview on a Saturday. But Green Party leader Trevor Sargent knows that the coming months herald thunderstorms for Ireland’s political climate. Thunderstorms that will have to see his party at the top of its game should it hope to come out the other side. “Well it’s been encouraging so far,” he confides, “mainly because we’re getting a good group of canvassers about, each time we’re out. That’s a good mix of enthusiasm and experience. “It’s very enjoyable because people can relate now, much more, to what the Greens have been saying for years. Climate change is hardly out of the papers these days, and the energy issues form a geo-political point of view with the war in Iraq. People’s minds are focused on what we’re going to do without oil. And people’s minds have a ready answer to that, with Green Party policies.”
In that regard, what do you think about the potential use of nuclear energy in this country?
I’ve looked closely at nuclear energy quite dispassionately. And I’m quite happy to believe that people are not making nuclear reactors like Chernobyl, but it still doesn’t take away from the fact that the waste arising from nuclear power puts a legacy and a burden on generations to come. Which if previous generations did to us, we’d be describing them as vandals and irresponsible short-term thinkers who didn’t care about their future generations. So we have to ask ourselves, is that how we want to be remembered? We also have to ask ourselves, is it going to solve anything. Nuclear power itself is extremely costly to put together, and that money is money that has taken away from other solutions to challenges that we’re facing. And it’s not good value for money. It doesn’t deal with the area that is causing the greatest problem from climate change, which is transport. It’s not viable to put a nuclear reactor in the boot of everyone’s car.
So you obviously don't think it's inevitable then, or can you propose an alternative?
People are fantasising to be honest with you about nuclear power. When you look at Ireland, we have a vast amount of ocean territory, and a fraction of that would supply us with offshore wind energy that would put us in the position of being able to export energy. Those are the same wires that would join us to England and Europe. That’s my focus, and the Green Party’s focus, to put the infrastructure in place that will make the arguments for nuclear energy completely redundant and obsolete. That’s is far more technically realistic and far more cost-effective than giving the job over to private nuclear power plant companies.
Nuclear energy aside, what is the priority of the Green Party regarding the next few years?
This country is sleepwalking into a very high cost dependency on fossil fuels and we have to get the corruption out of politics. So, we can start building houses that are of a standard that people can afford to heat them. At the moment, we’re tolerating building standards on this country that wouldn’t be tolerated in any other country. So cleaning up politics is an important part of the reforms we want to see happen, to take the corruption out of the way political decisions are made.
What are your views on the war in Iraq?
THIS WEEK:
TREVOR SARGENT
The war in Iraq was an international crime, given that it didn’t have any UN mandate when the invasion took place. And it set a terrible precedent for other countries, giving the impression that if you didn’t like your neighbour for whatever reason, you could simply go in and change the government by force. If that were to take hold as the way to solve international disputes, we’d be in a constant state of worldwide war. Are you glad Saddam is gone?
Well I think Saddam should have been removed, but it should have been his own people that removed him. But if they were incapable of that?
Well there’s nothing to say that they were incapable of that, because they weren’t given the chance to do it. Well to be fair, he was in power for a long time so there was opportunity there, it seemed that they were in fact incapable of doing it?
Look, what I’ll say is that the issue of Saddam Hussein is not at the centre of why America invaded Iraq. Otherwise, they would have to explain why they didn’t invade any number of countries where they regard the leader as a tyrant and unacceptable from a human rights point of view. They chose to invade Iraq simply because they did their sums and identified that America was becoming more dependent on oil from the Middle East. And the only way they could guarantee that the oil was going to be available to them, was to have a benign and supportive government in charge, particularly in Iraq. Do you think then that the Americans should have left matters in Iraq to the Iraqi people?
Well I think they should have first gotten their own house in order and shown us how you can live without oil. That would have been a much more important international favour. I think they should have certainly provided assistance to the people who were fighting Saddam Hussein from a human rights point of view, but bringing in foreign soldiers, as the Iraqis saw it, is enflaming the situation that is now out of control. That’s the legacy of the invasion. So, you might call the end of Saddam’s reign one step forward but ten steps back. So, the Iraqis are now worse off than they were before the invasion. So, do you think they should have supported insurgents in Iraq going up against Saddam?
I think that would have been one of the preferred options. Ideally, it should have been the UN and Hans Blix, who were engaged in weapons of mass destruction process and analysis, and that as it transpired did not have any basis in fact. But the UN was dealing with the matter to the best extent possible. It’s clear that America all along was prepared to act unilaterally, and in so doing they have undermined any concept of international law and given serious recruitment to AlQueda and the groups that they were said to be confronting. What were your views on the execution of Saddam Hussein?
I think it has created the conditions for further recruitment to some of the extremist organisations as provocation. Saddam Hussein has become more dangerous dead than alive.
60SECONDS Favourite Hobby: Playing the guitar Favourite food: Anything I've grown myself Favourite Colour: Green Apart from green: Any shade of green will do Are you opposed fundamentally to the death penalty in general?
Absolutely. Apart from desensitising people to violence, the death penalty is an admission of failure. You’re giving up on the prospect of turning a conflict situation into any level of justice with reconciliation at the end of it.
"The war in Iraq was an international crime... if that were to take hold as the way to solve international disputes, we'd be in a constant state of worldwide war" If thats the case, what are your views then on the Padraig Nally case, whereby a man has walked free having effectively carried out the death penalty in his own home?
Well there is a huge amount of psychological factors to be taken into account with that particular case, which you couldn t equate with the death penalty. The death penalty is carried out by a state; Padraig Nally was not acting on behalf of the state. I do think however that the Pádraig Nally case highlighted just how important the concept of the community is in this country, especially for those who are isolated and living in rural areas. Most people would feel sympathy for the position in which Padraig Nally found himself, but do you not think that we have a system of law and order in this country and that it should be upheld no matter what the circumstances?
Absolutely. And upholding it is taking
What music do you listen to: U2 What car do you drive: I don't drive Britney or Christina: Which Christina? Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears: Ah probably Christina into account all the factors, and the judiciary makes it’s decision based on those factors. Did you agree with their conclusion?
I didn’t, from what I know. But I’m not putting myself up there as a judge. Would you agree that the Nally case highlighted a fundamental problem with the justice system in this country, in that the system as it stands is flawed because it is focused on retribution rather than rehabilitation? And that if it were based on rehabilitation, it would be fair to say that Nally should walk free as he poses no threat to society?
Absolutely yes, there is a fundamental problem there. I’ve no doubt that there needs to be reform there. Everybody knows about the revolving door system that exists in this country’s prison system. People are released and then quickly lapse into crime again, and are behind bars as they were before. And there’s a complete failure to provide the treatment facilities for people who are addicted to drugs. The monitoring needed to help people re-adjust to normal society is not there. Measuring success in the judicial system is not the number of people locked up but the number of people who don’t re-offend. On the issue of immigration, how do you feel about the current policies this country holds?
I think there’s a level of denial out there, that human rights are the only factor taken into account. Which means that people are coming along with stories of human rights abuses, and many of them very tragic and heart rendering, but there
Photo: William Hederman are other people who should be able to say they have particular skills and want to be able to contribute to society. It’s nothing to do with human rights; it’s about contributing to Irish society and then Irish society finding a place for those people. What were your feelings on the afghan asylum seekers who were occupying St. Patrick's Cathedral?
Well I went to meet those individuals. I wanted to hear what they had to say and see if I could help in any way I could. But subsequently found that they had not been completely honest with some of the situations they were describing, which didn’t do their case much good. When people are found to be not telling the truth about something, they’re wide open to the accusation that nothing they say can be taken seriously. Did you think that they should have been granted asylum?
Well each of them presents a case individually so I couldn’t really make a statement generally about them. Approaching the election now, what has the Green Party got to offer students?
Unfortunately, I still see Ireland as bottom of the league when it comes to on-campus accommodation. And that feeds into horrendous living conditions for many students who are at the mercy of landlords, who are understandably in a business situation, and students are victims of that thinking in many ways. So, if we’re serious about developing the third level sector, we have to invest in proper on-campus accommodation so that students have the conditions to live and to study, which in many cases they don’t have at the moment. Another worrying issue is that the third level sector is becoming more and more dependent on private sector funding, and is in danger of being prostituted where the curriculum is determined by the commercial interest of the particular sponsor. And the third level sector is too important for that to be allowed to deteriorate any further. It is important for the third level sector to get funding from the private sector, but this has to be balanced against the need for the third level sector to be the innovating force in society. And we have almighty challenges facing us.
12 FEATURES
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
Saddam: a man to die in the name of Paul O’Donnell explores the moral aspects of Saddam Hussein’s execution and wonders if the international community should be intervening in such circumstances “My view is that Saddam should have spent his last years behind bars for his heinous crimes”, said Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, referring to the fact that the Irish government disapproves of capital punishment. The response of the Irish government to the hanging of Saddam Hussein highlighted an important issue, which surrounds the execution itself. “But,” he continued, “The decision of the Iraqi judiciary must be respected”. The Minister for Foreign Affairs was not alone in his sentiments. His British counterpart, Margaret Beckett, stated, “The British Government does not support the use of the death penalty, in Iraq or anywhere else. We have made our position very clear to the Iraqi authorities, but we respect their decision as that of a sovereign nation.” This last sentence demonstrates perfectly the problem that world leaders face: if they disapprove of the happenings in another state; should they do something about it, or must that state’s laws, customs and traditions be respected? Just how far should sovereign states intervene in each other’s affairs? Should the international community intervene in a state’s affairs when human rights are being violated? Further, at what point should we intervene? Only in the most extreme cases of human rights violations? Indeed, what exactly do we mean by human rights: can there be a universal definition that, for example, someone in Iraq and someone in Ireland could both find acceptable? The U.N. seeks to wade through the murky waters of such questions
and seek a common ground on which all member states can agree. In theory at least, all states of the world under the auspices of the U.N. (which, lest we forget, the new Iraq state is sanctioned by), are equal and no state shall intervene in the affairs of another state. In reality, of course, this is far
from true, and the reach of the U.N., as has become apparent in recent times, is limited. The vast majority of countries
execution took place. But, having promised the Iraqi people “the ultimate justice”, he described it as “an important milestone on Iraq’s course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain, and defend itself.” Conversely the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, stated, “The trial of Saddam Hussein was a missed opportunity in a country which does not have many opportunities. It was an opportunity for Iraq to join the civilised world. “The former Iraqi dictator was a ruthless criminal who deserved to be punished, but it was wrong to kill him. Saddam Hussein is no longer paying for his crimes; he is simply dead, while ordinary Iraqis continue to face their daily ordeal of violence and chaos. “What they need is justice, reconciliation and peace, not hangings and revenge. The death penalty is cruel and barbaric, and I call on the Iraqi authorities to abolish it. It is late, but not too late, for Iraq to join the great majority of civilised and democratic countries in the world who have already abolished the death penalty.” Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme stated, “We [Amnesty International] oppose the death penalty in all cases as a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, but it is especially abhorrent when this most extreme penalty is imposed after an unfair trial.
“An important milestone on Iraq's course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain, and defend itself." and organisations condemned the execution seeing it as a step backward rather than any sort of progression. Even President Bush has admitted he was unhappy with the undignified manner in which the
EXECUTED
“It is even more worrying that in this case, the execution appeared a foregone conclusion, once the original verdict was pronounced, with the Appeals Court providing little more than a veneer of legitimacy for what
would be wise not to accept the rulings of its legal system, because, in the strictest sense, it is a new state that lacks legal precedent. Conversely, others might argue that as Iraq is one of the oldest nations in the world, the decisions of its judiciary must be respected. These arguments, however, only focus on historic precedent and convention as forms of legitimacy and thus are ultimately too thin. Questions concerning international justice aside, one thing that, regardless of their stance on the issues raised above, many world leaders and various politicians and organisations agree on: that this execution and the subsequent executions carried out on January 15 will push the country into a more precarious situation than the perilous one it is currently in. Their fear is that Hussein will become a martyr for many, a figure to be revered and a man to die in the name of. Even President Bush has warned: “bringing Saddam Hussein to justice will not end the violence
“The trial of Saddam Hussein was a missed opportunity in a country which does not have many opportunities. It was an opportunity for Iraq to join the civilised world" was, in fact, a fundamentally flawed process.” Many would argue, perhaps in a way similar to Smart, that due to the manner in which the current Iraqi state came into existence we
FEATURES FEATURES 13
College Tribune 17th October 2006
in Iraq”. The Russian Foreign Ministry also fears the worst; “Saddam Hussein’s execution can lead to further aggravation of the military and political situation and the growth of ethnic and confessional tensions.” Here, the Labour spokesman for Foreign Affairs, Michael D. Higgins predicted, “Many more will die in the aftermath of his execution” and that “it will do nothing to contribute towards peace and reconciliation in Iraq.” Ending the violence in Iraq is the primary concern for it’s new administration. France has said that it “calls upon all Iraqis to look towards the future and work towards reconciliation and national unity. Now more than ever, the objective should be a return to full sovereignty and stability in Iraq.” In a similar way, Minister Ahern has stated, “The priority now must be to stabilise the situation in Iraq, and help the Iraqi people to come together to rebuild their country after decades of the most brutal dictatorship and war.” Even before the invasion of Iraq, the eventual demise of Saddam
Hussein was something that was expected. Whether he was to be found dead amongst the rubble in the cleanup after the American invasion or whether he lived under constant house arrest in the Hague
awaiting judgement from the International Criminal Court, one thing seemed sure: the persona of Saddam Hussein would come to a dramatic end. Yet his execution on December
30 seemed almost surreal in its occurrence. Notwithstanding the fact that modern media means we are privy to such occurrences like never before, the whole operation of how his execution was carried out was
of a farcical, and worrying, nature. The images of a beleaguered man dressed in black, surrounded by individuals wearing balaclavas, awaiting his fate in what appeared to be a derelict building and being taunted from the gallows, brought a sudden starkness to the whole situation. The BBC’s John Simpson perhaps described it best when he noted that, “The execution as we now see it is shown to be an ugly, degrading business, which is more reminiscent of a public hanging in the 18th Century than a considered act of 21st Century official justice.” The execution may be called many things: a milestone, a violation of human rights, even illegal; but that it happened cannot be changed. In order for the Iraqi state to progress from this point positively and attempt to secure the stability of its country, it must deal with the fallout in an appropriate way, a way that ensures the safety and in due course the prosperity of its people. This will amount to the true justice of the Iraqi people, of which so much is
14 FEATURES
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
No Gaeilge Barra Ó Fianail speaks to the star of TG4’s latest documentary ‘No Bearla’, Machan O Mangan, about the future of the Irish language When dealing with a man who explains that he has spent time “living in some shack in the Himalayas, slowly going crazy, listening to angelic voices in my head and drinking urine and doing all this shit,” you may not expect them to have much to say of relevance to the general population.h However, Manchan O’Magan evades expectations, and has
created quite a bit of controversy with his current documentary ‘No Bearla’ in which he travels the country trying to converse with people “as Gaeilge”. Little surprise perhaps that, to a large extent, he fails. Unfortunately perhaps, O’Magan was confronted with a language that “nobody cares about or wants to speak, except the language outside Club an
Conradh on a Thursday night, but that’s not real Ireland.” It’s not that he expected a universal fluency but he had reason to believe people had some Irish. “I’d seen in the census that 1.6 million people speak Irish so that gave me hope. I thought if that was the case it should be a blast, I should be able to talk to everybody in Irish.” Worse still, not only are peo-
ple unable to communicate with Irish speakers, he found a reluctance to make the effort which is customary with those speaking other ‘foreign languages’.
“I wasn’t going around talking about 14th century Prussian history, I just wanted to do the very basic things like over a million tourists coming to Ireland without English do every year. I thought it shouldn’t be very difficult just to order a drink or a hotel room.” It could be surmised that people were frustrated because they knew O’Magan, unlike the average tourist, could speak English if he wanted to. That is understandable. Something which O’Magan accepts, describing himself as perhaps “looking like a gormless fool, coming in speaking Irish and just annoying people.” But O’Magan has some other interesting explanations for Irish people’s unwillingness to try and engage with those speaking their ‘teanga duchaiseach’. “I think there’s a degree of shame. Irish people are very proud of their country and they feel they should speak their language, and their resulting guilt can be reflected in outrage and in anger.”
"There really could be a revival of the language because it's no longer associated, particularly by the kids, with poverty and hardship" Machan O Mangan
The lack of fluency, O’Magan argues, stems from the language’s association “with hardship and poverty. Half of the country was wiped out in the famine, that has to be in our national psyche somewhere and that’s associated with Irish. Then in this century the IRA took it up and started using it as a weapon in the North, which is another thing people didn’t want to be associated with.” O’Magan shocked Irish speakers and those who care about the language by claiming in the national media that he didn’t care about his native tongue. He is wary of being typecast as a particular type of conservative Irish speaker. He refuses to “become the face of any cause, ever.” He does concede however, “It doesn’t sound good if I’m saying I don’t care, if I’m also a figure that would encourage people to speak the language. I could have phrased that better.” But surely O’Manchan does have a point in that “the reason we fought for our independence is so Irish people would have their own choice on everything. So if we want to accept the language that’s great, and if we want to turn our backs on it we should accept that.” Keeping the language alive is a collective responsibility for the Irish people. If this is ignored, should we really expect gaeilgeoirs like O’Magan to pick up the tab? Times would appear to be very bad indeed for lovers of the language; but that O’Magan himself, despite it all, hasn’t lost hope must be considered a good sign. In fact, he thinks now is the time when the language might have a chance to blossom. “This is the first time there really could be a revival of the language because it’s no longer associated, particularly by the kids, with poverty and hardship. Which is something that was there even for me growing up in the seventies and eighties. Also the war in the North is over so it doesn’t necessarily mean that if you’re speaking Irish you’re a Sinn Fein or IRA head.” Mairimid i ndochas.
FEATURES 15
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
Making Ireland seem like a foreign place Matthew Parkinson-Bennett visits ‘A Time and a Place: Two Centuries of Irish Social Life’ exhibition in the National Gallery, and reports back
While most of the paintings in this expedition are in the style of a TV documentary, depicting their subject matter without interaction, one painting of children gathering for an outdoor puppet-show includes a boy facing out at the viewer, looking through his hands, which form a square in front of his face. Presumably, this is an imitation of the action of the artist trying to frame his scene. It is a confrontational image. The child, by now surely dead, appears mock the viewer, gazing on the past as shown on a rectangular canvas. But rather than turn away, one is drawn, through his hands, into the boy’s implacable expression. There is a challenge being issued, but it is from a foreign world and indecipherable. It is an opportune time for such an exhibition. As a generation emerges into an Irish society for the first time containing immigrants, themselves struggling to digest and understand the culture that surrounds them, the experience of gazing at an Ireland unrecognisable, alien and yet very recently real, is a valuable one. Modern-day “D4” was once the site of the annual “Donnybrook Fair”, which took place on a vast green space, as depicted in Erskin Nicol’s 1899 painting (pictured right). Money and alcohol were in concentration at the fair, which had its origins in the 13th century, and it was an infamous location of violent outbreaks. Nicol’s painting, currently on display as part of the National Gallery’s temporary exhibition focused on depictions of Irish Social Life of the past 200 years, portrays in its foreground a confrontation, which seems destined to be settled the auld Irish way. In the background is the 19th century equivalent of a “Don’t See a Good Night Wasted” billboard: the advertisement of the temperance movement, the self-appointed moral authority which succeeded in having the fair banned in 1855. This exhibition is arranged by themed groupings, such as “Music and Dance” and “Sport”, rather than chronological order. This is not an effort to remove the paintings from their historical significance; in fact, the exhibition prioritises their status as historical, rather than purely aesthetic, artifacts. The achievement of this method of display is to foreground the drama of the people, rather than the political drama conventionally given historical preference. Expectations are both confirmed and defied, as images of crossroads-ceilidhs hang beside those of rituals long lost to popular memory. Even those paintings that are politically significant are connected to social activities and therefore the common ways of life. Downstairs in the gallery are the portraits of Lady Gregory and Wolfe Tone; here, Sean Keating plays on the alternative historical role of the hurl as sporting tool and mock-rifle for military training in his 1928 painting, “The Tipperary Hurler” (pictured right). The painting’s subject, staring intensely over the viewer’s shoulder, is likely an imaginative amalgamation of hurler John Joe Hayes and IRA flying column member, Ben O’Hickey. Other genuinely arresting images, like “Donnybrook Fair”, present familiar locations de-famil-
iarised (ironically, made new) for a contemporary viewer by their topographical and architectural difference. A painting entitled “View of Dublin from Chapelizod” from around 1753 (by Joseph Tudor) shows a group of dancers and musicians in a rural setting, backgrounded by a meandering River Liffey winding into an unrecognisable town. In Charles Russell’s “The O’Connell Centenary” (1875), a huge crowd proceeds down O’Connell Street. It is a parade of political and sentimental motivation perhaps last achieved in Dublin on the occasion of marches against the invasion of Iraq; the mourners of this icon of peace press around the later site of an IRA act of defiant destruction, Nelson’s Column, which stands apparently firm and formidable in the centre of the composition. Pub interiors are depicted as male-dominated places of conversation aided by drink, rather than locations for drinking as an activity in itself, in Harry Kernoff’s paintings (including “Twins…”, pictured right). A better reminder, perhaps, of the departure a generation breaking all records for alcohol consumption has made from a past society whose penchant for booze is welldocumented, than any newspaper headlines regarding the latest statistics. But more arresting, and in some cases disconcerting, are images of traditions both dead and largely forgotten, and of lifestyles completely alien to one’s own but once so typical. Two paintings are dedicated to the sport of “bowling”, which involved the flinging of a ball down a road in as few throws as possible. The contorted body-shapes of the bowlers in action suggest much skill and practice. Maria Spilbury Taylor’s “Wedding Dance at Rosanna, Co. Wicklow” focuses on a group of “strawboys”. A practice common to rural weddings, groups of boys dressed in costumes made of straw would arrive expecting hospitality. This took place as recently as the 1960s, but this journalist had to rely on the explanatory paragraph on the wall beside the painting to decode the strange image. Whether or not your interest is peaked by the social practices of the past, it is hard not to experience some sense of being a foreigner in the company of these paintings. It may be reassuring that most of the artists were themselves outsiders to the scenes they depicted, especially those of dancing and religious ritual in the west of Ireland. Some fell into the trap of romanticising the Irish peasant, such as Trevor Thomas Fowler’s “Children Dancing at the Crossroads”, in which ruddy-cheeked, chubby children are every bit the de Valera dream. Others’ sense of alienation is marked; the first image one meets on entering, “Yellow Bungalow” by Gerard Dillon, expresses the artist’s discomfort at entering a rural home, to be met by the silent stares of its occupants. Paul Henry’s three images of dancing in a cramped “knitting hall”, painted between 1910 and 1911, are the most disturbing of the images, featuring barelyanimated elderly figures in drab colours, the last of a generation and way of life.
"It is hard not to experience some sense of being a foreigner in the company of these paintings"
“A Time and a Place: Two Centuries of Irish Social Life" is on display until 28 January. Admission is 6 with a student card.
Slices of Irishness - Clockwise from above: 'Twins: There's only a Few of us Left' (Harry Kernoff); The Tipperary Hurler (Sean Keating, 1928); Donnybrook Fair (Erskin Nicol, 1859); Courtin' (William Conor, 1922).
16 FEATURES
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
Broadcast Yourself Alan Doyle explores the impact of Youtube on the world of the media, politics, and comedy The four top-rated clips of the Youtube and semi-anonymity of the internet, but phenomenon are comedy advertise- without the facelessness, as well as the ments, banned from television. grammar and spelling problems, that The most popular of these features a plague message forums. young father in a supermarket, refusing There is a flourishing and hilarious to buy his toddler a packet of sweets section of comedy clips on the site, and causing the child to throw a tan- with a healthy portion of Irish content trum. As people begin to stare at the amidst the TV sketches and stand-up scene, and the child begins to throw and routines. Shows like “Skanger me Bangdestroy things in the shop, we see the er”, a Dublin parody of MTV’s “Pimp my frustration and embarrassment on the Ride” which features Damo in his Celtic man’s face. Then we are shown the cap- Jersey and two foot peaked cap, havtion, “Zazoo condoms. Fun, Sexy, Safe”. ing his ‘94D Honda being fitted with a Charming. spoiler and racing stripes, gain tens of Video sharing sites “represent a shift thousands of views and portray our fair from mass media to personal media”, city in a colourful and amusing light. Likewise, our political scene doesn’t in the words of technology forecaster Paul Saffo, and are one of the factors escape the attention of Youtubers, that are decreasing the importance of with “Bertie Ahern” getting two dozen television in media and entertainment results, the first of which features a slightly edited speech of An Taoiseach in our society. Traditional forms of fame and celeb- declaring “De only money I received was rity are being challenged by the power from Joseph Doyle, it was merely a gift given to average individuals to have their from one friend to another. I was stuck voices heard on the Internet. Youtube. for ten Euro for six Dutch gold and ten com, founded in February 2005, now Blue, and that’s all I have to say about displays over 100 million videos a day to the matter.” A search for UCD also turns up a several million viewers. Their idea took off and developed number of random results, demonstratrapidly from a $3.5 million, high-risk in- ing nicely the variety of videos one can vestment to a $1.65 billion asset of giant come across when browsing obscure Internet corporation, Google, in October topics. Here one can find an eleven-secof 2006. It was named Time Magazine’s ond clip of the lake and its ducks, 24 seconds of the Stillorgan Road bus stop, #1 invention of the same year. Youtube and sites of its kind will and a ten minute photo compilation feahave an important role to play in po- turing a number of quite drunken figures litical campaigns and manifestos of the in various locations on campus, under “First Year Frolics future. Last Wednesday, UCD”. Democratic senaOn-site tor Barack Obama Youtube is truly advertising, announced his directly and intention to run the forum and voice indirectly, is for President in of the people, and ecoming the next Amerigovernment attempts bincreasingly can election via to utilise it towards popular with a video feed on businesses. his website. This their own ends have Some such was almost inmet with failure. amusing ads, stantly distributed the ones that on Youtube, attractcan make TV ading thousands of views and generating a popular response on breaks bearable, have become online sensations, viewed voluntarily by users the site. Some user-generated content has at- and shared around, much to the delight tracted hundreds of thousands of view- of the advertising companies. Youtube is truly the forum and voice ings on Youtube. The option to “Post a video response” to anything you see of the people, and government attempts has created long exchanges and discus- to utilise it towards their own ends have sions over political or trivial matters, met with failure. Government-sponsored and brought about the development of campaigns began to use Youtube to disa unique community between many play anti-drug public service announcements, which, of course, became proregular users. News and current events can be ar- tected content after being parodied by gued with the unchecked aggression users, and flooded with user responses.
The submission of TV clips and music videos, sometimes entire episodes of shows or illegally recorded clips, has caused problems for the site, but also forced a change in the attitudes of television networks and distributors. Several companies, like American networks NBC & CBS, have changed their stance and adapted to the new technologies, setting up their own channels on the site, rather than challenging and suing when their content is displayed. “Our inclination now is, the more exposure we get from clips like that, the better it is for CBS News and the CBS television network,” says Sean McManus, president of CBS. Things look even better for music fans, as the site owners seek to provide “every music video ever created” to users, in an agreement with Warner music. The site has played host to a variety of political debates, with clips from news channels, and of various political commentators, being responded to and rebutted by opposing clips or personal responses, put forward by users. As well as those clips – some of which develop into series’ with a huge following – of users simply informing their webcams about the minutiae of their lives, there
is a lot of well-produced amateur content. Stop-motion animation, acting, impersonation and martial arts have been used to create interesting scenes and stories. Search for “Ask a Ninja”, “Hope is Emo”, “Chad Vader, Store Manager”, “free running” and the “Will it Blend” series (featuring, most recently, an ipod, in a long line of experiments to see what a blender will be successful against) to find some of the best content. If you’re looking for Irish content, check out “Omega Team Alpha Action Force Six Part II The Return” or “Tommy Chernobyl Vs. The Southside Satanists,” film productions by UCD students which have featured on the Blizzard of Odd series on RTE. Hours can be spent browsing through all kinds of content, or a quick search can find a suitable video for decorating a Bebo page. Whether this site will continue to flourish or be diluted and replaced by imitations remains open to speculation; time will tell. But at the moment Youtube is the place to go if you want to find 4000+ videos demonstrating the manifold reasons to place a Mentos into a two-litre bottle of Diet Coke or, for whatever reason, twenty thousand videos relating to pirates.
Clockwise from top: Chad Hurley & Steve Chen, founders of Youtube; 'lonelygirl15' - a 'real' video blog, portrayed by actress Jessica Rose; 'Geriatric 1927' - one of the most subscribed to members, who blogs anecdotially; Ronaldo's former wife, Daniela Cicarelli - who sued Youtube when videoes of her having sex on a Spanish beach surfaced on the site; footballer Ronaldinho, who's Nike advert garnered mass attention; Terra Naomi - an unsigned musician who has achieved mass attention through her 'virtual tour'.
TURBINE URBINE THE
VOLUME XX ISSUE VI
IT’S SATIRE, STUPID!
INSIDE SHOCK AS DOCTORS CONFIRM GLORIA GAYNOR WILL NOT SURVIVE BRADY ON BECKHAM – ‘IF THAT TALENTLESS CLOWN IS GETTING A RAISE, SO AM I” PANTO IN DISARRAY DUE TO SHORTNESS OF DWARVES TYPING ERROR BLAMED AS POPE “BEAUTIFIES” MOTHER TERESA
BURRELL REVEALS THAT DIANA IS “STILL DEAD” INSOMNIAC RUINS CHARITY SLEEPOVER
STILL ONLY
31P
ANOTHER WANABEE ARRIVES IN HOLLYWOOD DAAAVID ARRIVES FULL STORY - PAGE 23
SADDAM - ALWAYS UP FOR A LAUGH
Saddam: Loved a bit of a larf
A close friend of executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has hit out at the former president’s killing, declaring that it was “bang out of order.” The Sunni Muslin told the Turbine that he was deeply aggrieved by the decision to hang his old friend. He referred to the man responsible for between one and two million deaths as “misunderstood” and “not all that bad”. The source in question met Hussein in the town of Baghdad, when the Iraqi dictator fled there at aged ten to live with his uncle. “I mean he used to like a couple of pints watching a game of footie just the same as the next man. He did get a lot of bad press – I mean all that stuff with Iran and Kurds and stuff was only a small part of who Saddam was inside. He actually a really sensitive kind of guy. “Put it this way, he had a vision. A vision of a new world. Admittedly, that new world had considerably less people in it than this one, but come on, if we lived in a perfect world, life would be pretty boring don’t you think.”
The Sunni Muslim declared that he would make it his life’s work to ensure that the world got to know who “the real Saddam” was. “He was actually very funny, a great joke-teller. At parties, everyone would want to sit at the table where Saddam was because he always had everyone in stitches before the food even arrived.” The claims from the source have sparked outage in the international community, with US President George Bush leading the condemnation of the comments, declaring, “Saddam Hussein was a murdering tyrant. He was responsible for the deaths of almost two million people, he was an oppressor, a dictator, a hatefigure for all lovers of peace and freedom, how could anybody overlook this.” The Sunni Muslim responded to Bush’s accusations, declaring, “Ah come oonnnn..!!!” President Bush responded, “Oh. Well Ok, I never saw it like that before, maybe it was a mistake to hang him.” Saddam Hussein was unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.
PROPOSED SHUTTLE BUS TO STUDENT RES Fianna Fail minister Eamon O Cuiv has announced plans for a shuttle bus to run from the Student Bar, adjacent to the Quinn School, to student residences in Belgrove and Merville. Clearly concerned at the social - and no doubt electoral - effects of drink-driving legislation on community life in UCD, and the adverse effect the legislation was having on the viability of getting to and from the Student Bar, Minister O Cuiv was quick off the mark yesterday to reassure students that help was at hand when it came to getting to and from the bar. He outlined fears that students would not be able to socialise properly for fear of attacks or muggings when departing the student bar in the early hours. He also declared, “How are students who frequent the bar meant to get back to Belgrove and Merville? There are no buses, no taxis and no trains in that area of the college. It’s simply unacceptable. I believe for a very modest amount of money we will be able to deal with that issue as an adjunct to the existing transport scheme,” the Minister added. He continued, “The Student Bar, once the hub of the UCD student community, will rapidly become extinct if adequate transport measures
Comfy: O Cuiv’s student transport plan ‘07 are not put in place.” “a spoilsport”. He went on to say, “Well it’s typiOpposition leader Enda Kenny rubbished the cal really isn’t it. He never has a good word to matter, declaring, “Is this for real? You want to say about us. Elections this and elections that, put a bus inside a university? It’s all of a couple did he ever think that maybe we just wanted to of hundred yards to the residences from the do something nice for people? It’s purely a matbar! This is outrageous!” ter of ensuring the safety of students, anything O Cuiv was unhappy with the response of could happen to them on their way home,” he the Fine Gael man, branding him “cynical” and concluded.
18 REGULARS
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
Introducing the Secret Diary of a Tutor
Naïveté meets Stupidity You can always spot the new boy or girl in the tutors’ room. They have a large pile of handouts and their well-thumbed copy of the text has brightly coloured markers sticking out of it for quick and easy reference to the key passages. These people have spent three years sitting in lectures and tutorials observing and criticising and making resolutions about how it would be done much better if they were up there at the podium or behind the desk. They would inspire the students! Now here they are, a newly made postgrad still enthusiastic about their subject, the brain mildew doesn’t start to grow until half-way through the second year from when it’s all sclerosis and cynicism. For the moment, however, they are bright and enthusiastic and they chuffed to have been called upon to assist in the formation of the next generation. The newbie imagines that the higherups in their subject have been so impressed with their dedication and the brilliance of their insights that they have chosen to fast-track them to a lectureship via this convenient testing ground. The reality is that all the mildewed postgrads mentioned earlier have burnt-out of tutoring and firmly declined to continue taking them. This leaves the powers casting about for cheap labour to fill that gap in the time table. Inexperience and inability will not disqualify. If you are a postgrad and are willing to do it then the Gods of scheduling are appeased. You have only
to turn up in a certain room at a certain time and take attendance. The rest is up to you. A free hand therefore to prize open these eager minds and show them the world that is their oyster. On arriving at the designated place at the right time and checked the names on the list, however, the time comes for the newbie tutor to address the first question to the class and finds that other seafood metaphors are in order. A question throw out to the class meets with silence, what you have here is a row of clams fearful of opening their mouths and leaving the fleshy innards of their brains exposed. Slightly perturbed by the silence the tutor rephrases the question and directs it at the nearest individual, who is probably sitting five rows from the front as tutorials, like churches, fill from the back. The hapless individual may persevere in a clam like attitude, mouth firmly closed, shaking their head in fearful bewilderment or they may start to grape like of goldfish, pouring forth a stream of incoherence. The newbie realises that the chance of stimulating and engaging debate is slim and lowers their sights to a mere understanding of the text which of course nobody has bought yet, frustrating any plans to examine the introductory pages. From there it just gets worse; they have never heard of the work and have very little interest in the topic in general. And so our newbie is initiated and in the coming weeks they will meet the fascinating menagerie of students that will conspire to make their tutori-hell.
T H E I N C R E D I B L E A D V E N T U R E S O F. . .
DOCTOR HUGH
REGULARS 19
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE
PUNT OF THE WEEK Tottenham Hotspur have been matched at 6-1 on Betfair to win the Uefa Cup, the lowest price of their European campaign, after their last-32 opponents Feyenoord were eliminated from the competition. The Dutch club was expelled after crowd trouble at their away game at Nancy on November 30. Uefa have not yet confirmed if WislaKrakow, who finished fourth behind Feyenoord in Group E, will face Spurs or Martin Jol's team will be granted a walkover. Given the likelihood of the Londoners' presence in the last sixteen, and Middlesborough's run all the way to the final last year, 6-1 might be worth a few bob. Bet 365 have extended Chelsea's odds to 11-4 to lift their third consecutive Premiership title, their biggest odds this season, following last weekend's demoralising 2-0 defeat at Liverpool. The odds are fairly encouraging for prospective punters, given that missing duo Ricardo Carvalho and John Terry are soon set to join star goalkeeper Petr Cech on a return to the side. Inter Milan are 12-1 to win this season's Champions League. Bet 365, Totesport, Betfred and VC Bet have all splashed out on the Italian outfit. In light of the vast array of talent that has arrived at the San Siro this season, Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho earlier in the year declared that the Italian champions' off-season transfer campaign had made them “the best squad in the world", as arrivals included star players Patrick Vieira, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hernan Crespo. Spanish club Valencia will provide opposition in the last-16 of the competition for the Italians.
TOP PUNTS
SPURS TO LIFT UEFA CUP 6/1 CHELSEA TO TAKE THE PREMIERSHIP 11/4 INTER MILAN TO WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 12/1
CONSPIRACY THEORY OF THE FORTNIGHT
September 11 was orchestrated by the US government A number of urban myths, alternative hypotheses and conspiracy theories have been formulated to explain the events of September 11th. Some conspiracy theorists believe that the US, Israel or Iraq government orchestrated the attacks themselves. They argue that the Twin Towers fell straight down, at close to free-fall speed. This is a similar characteristic to that of a controlled demolition. The dust cloud and its make up are considered un-characteristic of a gravity-driven collapse. It is often pointed out that no steel building before or since the 9-11 attack has collapsed as the result of fire. The rubble of the Twin Towers smoldered for weeks after the collapse. This claim is meant to point out that steel could only have smoldered as a result of pre-placed explosives. Some consider photographic evidence of the plane lying on the grounds of the Pentagon to be ambiguous and unconvincing, citing a visual lack of burnt metal, human remains, passenger’s lug-
gage or seats. The Pentagon was struck in a newly renovated, reinforced section. Some speculate this location, the west side of the complex, to be indicative of government involvement, noting it as an attempt to reduce casualties. Flight 77 was able to fly in the direction of the DC and Pentagon area for approximately 40 minutes without interception. This is thought to be unusual given the Pentagon’s close proximity to Andrews Air Force Base. There are claims that anti-missile batteries at the Pentagon should have intercepted Flight 77. The FBI confiscated a video, which may have captured the impact, from a nearby gas station attended by Jose Velasquez. This video has not yet been released. These suggestions hinge on the view that individuals in (or associated with) the government of the United States knew of the impending attacks and refused to act on that knowledge, or that
the attacks were a false flag operation carried out with the intention of stirring up the passions and buying the allegiance of the American people. The behavior of President George Bush on the day of the attacks gives credence to this conspiracy theory. He was promoting the passage of his education plan at Emma E. Booker Elementary School on the morning of September 11.
Two aspects of his behavior have been offered as indications that he had privileged access to the planning and execution of the events of 9/11. First, neither Bush nor his security personnel responded to the terrorist attacks in a manner that indicated that the President might be in danger, though he would presumably be among the targets of a coordinated terrorist attack. His remaining in the classroom with
schoolchildren reading him The Pet Goat, a fact criticised in Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, would be understandable if he knew what the plan was in advance. A response is that Bush’s intention was to “project strength and calm”, i.e. that he did not want to cause more panic by fleeing the room, as the footage would likely have been replayed over and over on news coverage. Second, Bush made statements on two separate occasions, in late 2001 and early 2002, which suggested he had seen the first plane hit the World Trade Center. But unless he had some special access to the events of that day, he could not have seen the first plane hit the tower live on commercial television, since no television stations were covering that area when the first plane hit. However, skeptics insist President Bush was referring to the aftermath and not the actual jetliner impact at 8:46 a.m. The White House explained his remarks as “a mistaken recollection”.
SPORT SUPER LEAGUE with Jack Horgan Jones As superleague pulls on its muddy cowboy boots in anticipation of the ritual soiling of UCD's collective couch, it is worth looking back on what has been an eventful festive season both within the cosy confines of Belfield and further afield. The clawing and clamouring of the January transfer window was conspicuous by its absence from the epic tables of the four leagues, with most teams preferring to adopt a more home grown approach. Contrast this admirable approach to our sister leagues abroad, wherein we find contempories such as Chelsea fielding squads with a single solitary player representing the millions of pounds ploughed into various youth academy structures. So while Jose and co. can continue to throw the toys out of the pram when their sugar-daddies refuse to fund the purchase of another multimillion premature ejaculation, we can continue our own chaste and pure example of the game. Speaking of overpaid, opinionated gobshitery (or OOG), one inevitably finds perfect examples both within and outside the sporting sphere. Predictably enough, the example from within comes from this columns traditional hate-figure, Didier Drogba. Drogba's litany of offences covers diving, whinging, laziness and the most cynical gamesmanship possible. What makes the endurance of these sins even more painful is the exquisite skill and ability he clearly has as a footballer. Outside the sporting arena, our own homegrown talent Bono seems as good an example of OOG as any other. The brazen cheek of this sanctimonious bullshit never ceases to amaze. The sheer gall it must take to present oneself as a pseudo-God in order to prise people away from their hard earned money while he himself doesn't even pay proper taxes in his own country is mind-boggling. Rant over, time for a look at the superleague tables. Premier Saturday remains as close as ever, with Just Jeff sitting pretty at the top after the Christmas break, closely followed by Football Utd and Dalhousie. Sporting lesbians, Bellend Utd and Fr. Romeo Sensini XI make up the leading tripod in premier Sunday. Orange order and Ruck Fangers remain in close competition at the top of division one Saturday while Yer Auld one's box, Los Bitches and Olympic Real have managed to put daylight between themselves and the rest of division one Sunday.
DOWN THE LINE
No stopping
the rot
Plying their trade: Noel Hunt (above), Richie Foran (L) and Antony Stokes (R).
It is supposed to be the dawning of a new era in Irish football’s memorable history, the unveiling of a vastly improved league format, which in turn will in theory, aid clubs in fulfilling their full potential both in the boardroom and on the pitch. The introduction of the eircom League of Ireland for the coming season has been hyped up no more than by the men of Merrion Square. Surely then, John Delaney and the FAI should be hell-bent on, as well as drastically improving the fundamental methods of our youth development policy, attracting high-quality playing staff into the league by every means possible. Instead, it seems that no intervention is to be attempted as we watch helplessly as several of our domestic league’s most talented individuals make the short trip to what is widely assumed as, the greener pastures of Britain. As the close season pushes on and for this month combines with the January transfer window across the water, the exodus gathers momentum. It has become clear the most popular destination is not the English divisions, but north of the border. Three Irishmen currently sit in the Scottish Premier League’s top 10 goal scorers: Arsenal’s loan starlet remains first with 14 strikes for Falkirk, despite recently being recruited by Roy Keane’s promotion hopefuls Sunderland, while Dundee United’s Noel Hunt has notched eight so far, and Ritchie Foran’s tally is seven for Motherwell. While Stokes’ stay was short lived, the latter two have battled to carve out a reputation for themselves over the last couple of seasons. Hunt, brother of Reading’s Stephen, is a former U-21 international for the Republic
The past couple of months have seen something of an exodus of eircom League players, with Scottish clubs being the major beneficiaries, Ben Blake examines the situation
who made the switch from Shamrock Rovers to Dunfermline originally. Catching the eye of manager Craig Levein, he then took up with Dundee. Foran on the other hand, a favourite with Shelbourne who joined Carlisle United during Roddy Collin’s brief reign, this term has a return of 14 goals in all competitions from midfield for Maurice Malpas side.
"Scouts of Premiership and Championship clubs have taken notice of the bargains to be had, during a time when transfer fees for average players has become astonishing" The achievements of the previously mentioned have tempted bosses to scour the Irish market in search of yet another considerably inexpensive diamond in the rough. Both Levein and Malpas have once again reached for the chequebook to recruit from the eircom League. After a hugely successful stint at Derry City, Stephen Kenny has taken up the challenge of dragging basement side Dunfermline Athletic out of the drop zone. With an in-depth knowledge of the Irish game, it is no wonder that a raid by the Dubliner is expected. First on his shopping-list is Shelbourne centre-half Colin Hawkins. And it is more of the same in England. Everyone witnessed Steve Coppell’s unfancied
Reading side cruise to the Championship title last season. This time around, they have earned the respect of many and have become something of a “neutral’s favourite” by holding their own among the big guns. While no small amount of their success has been down to, the player that’s on the lips of every Irish fan, Kevin Doyle’s instant goal return, the gamble to put faith in 19-year old Shane Long and compatriot Stephen Hunt is beginning to pay dividend. Scouts of Premiership and to a larger extent Championship clubs have taken notice of the bargains to be had, during a time when transfer fees for average players has become astonishing. One cannot deny these players their dream moves for one second. In an age where monetary gain speaks volumes, who is to say that they owe anything by the way of loyalty to the eircom League. They are free to play in whatever such division takes their fancy. From an international point of view, it seems to fair well. As well as moving over at a later, more mature age, it is a given that competing at a higher standard of football will improve one’s technical abilities to help them become a more rounded footballer. While Doyle’s meteoric rise from competing in wind-swept away-ties at the Showgrounds in Waterford, to walking out in front of 72,000 at Old Trafford and being among the Premiership’s top goal scorers may be seen as uncommon, it doesn’t have to be an exception. For the league back home however, it doesn’t paint such a pretty picture. Underage set-ups may be improving slightly, but to believe there is a whole new batch of ready-made talent to step into the shoes of the recently departed is to be horribly naïve.
SPORT 21
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
Out with the old and in with the new With the new FAI eircom League of Ireland only a matter of weeks away, UCD are sure to be there, but a couple of their top players may not be sticking around so long, writes Ben Blake Despite some worries that UCD would be omitted from the Premier Division on the grounds of the size of their fan base, College, alongside surprise package Galway United have made the cut. United, who were due to be in the First Division stunned many, and with them Dundalk FC by beating both the Louth side and Waterford United for the tenth berth. Not for the first time, the major transfer news coming out of Belfield Park concerns the future of UCD’s most sought-after pair. Gary Dicker and Darren Quigley have constantly been linked with a move elsewhere over the last few months. “As of yet, nothing has happened in relation to Gary Dicker or Darren
Quigley” stated manager Pete Mahon, who seems resigned to losing his prized assets. While the duo, who are both capped at Under-21 level for Ireland, are at this moment and time contracted to UCD, they have been extremely busy since November. Quigley spent a week at SPL side Falkirk as they looked to add to the number of Irish representatives already present there. Although whispers from inside the club suggested that he had done enough to earn himself a move, they eventually opted instead to sign Kasper Schmeichel, son of Manchester United legend Peter. The young Dane will move from Manchester City on a season’s loan with the hope of gaining much needed first-team experience. Not short of admirers, Quigley has been strongly linked to West Ham United, Stockport County, and Pat Fenlon’s
Derry City, while Spanish Segunda Liga side Vecindario have also shown an interest in the services of the talented shot-stopper. Dicker too has been invited by a number of clubs including Bradford City, to take part in a trial period. The midfielder was over at Birmingham City all last week, as he attempted to prove his worth and earn a contract alongside former teammate Pat Kavanagh, at St. Andrews. The real shock of the close season is undoubtedly Kavanagh’s switch to the Championship table-toppers. Sealing a six-month deal, 2006 has seen the winger’s profile rise by meteoric proportion. Joining UCD during last year on amateur terms from Leinster Senior Side Wayside Celtic, he became an instant hit at Belfield with a debut goal. He also struck in each of the last three games of the season.
To end a remarkable year, the Dubliner Out: Key players Gary Dicker (L) then agreed on a deal after a month’s and Darren Quigley (R) want to trial with Steve Bruce’s promotion fa- continue elsewhere vourites. Speaking of Kavanagh recently, and Dicker, as well as attempting to Bruce explained, “He’s a real throwback, strengthen specific areas on the field one of those tricky, jinky wingers. He’s that have been identified as weak in the been a breath of fresh air.” past, namely the goal-scoring, centreOther than Keith Doyle’s decision to forward position. take a year out of football, UCD haven’t He will certainly have his work cut out been involved in any other transfers as of once again, and may turn to recruiting yet. That is expected to change however raw, young talents with an abundance in the coming weeks as Mahon discovers of potential, as attracting quality top the quantity of his budget. players without the backing of a sizeWith several targets lined up, the able wage bill has proved a sticking point Belfield boss will aim to fill the void left more often than not during his threeby the imminent departures of Quigley year reign.
FOR PETE’S SAKE UCD Soccer Manager Pete Mahon writes exclusively for College Tribune
First of all, I'd like to let you know that I've nothing to say about the Shelbourne job. I turned it down and that's all that matters. It was personal reasons, and those reasons are going to stay personal. Now, this past week, I've been doing my UEFA Pro license. Other than the stress that all managers go through with agents and the likes, not a lot is going on. We were also back training, which is going well. As usual, I've had a great response from the players. Our goal is to improve on last year's points tally, and that starts on the training ground. Elsewhere, the demise of Shelbourne is very sad to be witnessing. It doesn't reflect well on the league and those involved in the league. The players moving clubs and going abroad will always happen. Any fair-minded person would say that the league over there is probably better. However, the Shels side of last year I think would be well capable of holding its own in the SPL. A few more players here that I feel have
No go: Pete refused the Tolka Park job due to personal reasons what it takes to play in stronger leagues. I honestly don't think we've seen the last of them departing to England and Scotland, although I would like to think we have. I can see an awful lot of movement again in July when the transfer window opens again, and clubs over there are preparing for the new season. Many may already have their budget spent for this season, but I would imagine that when everything calms down and players are released, I could see a few more going. The reason they are going is because of what has happened in the past. This is a new chapter in the league with the merger and the FAI taking control, and I'm hoping that we will see a better league. The standard of play has been improving I think over the last couple of years. What we need now is major investment into the league; we need marketing of the league, in which all the clubs have been
given a grant to appoint someone into that position. We need fans coming to the games again. And I think every manager is under pressure to deliver, in terms of entertainment value. Instead of going out to try and not lose a match, we must be more positive and try to win it. While everybody will say “well, we all do that", in actual fact there are times when we actually don't do that, if everyone is being totally honest. So, there is a big responsibility in the teams this year because it is a big, big season. If this merger is not right, and it doesn't work the way it has been planned, then I think we can all pack up and go home. I am confident however, that there will be changes on that front. There won't be anymore of this constant bickering, loophole searching, activities which warrant points deductions or the likes. I'm just hoping that the ruling bodies take real control.
22 SPORT
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
UCD breeze past Garryowen UCD took a significant step towards survival in the AIL First Division with a hard-fought victory over Garryowen in a windswept Belfield Bowl. College scored all their twenty points in the first-half, aided by a stern breeze. Two high quality tries and the dexterous boot of Fergus McFadden ensured UCD turned into the wind with a great chance of victory. Both sides started tentatively as players struggled to cope with the poor conditions. McFadden inflicted the first wound on the Limerick side, converting a straightforward penalty to give the students the lead. Garryowen sought to keep the ball in hand and avoided kicking even in defensive positions. Ultimately they failed to control the ball, which gave UCD great opportunities from broken play and turnovers. And it was from broken play that the first breakthrough of the game occurred when second row Kevin McLaughlin made a superb outside break and offloaded to centre Michael Hastings who beat the Garryowen cover defence to finish to the right of the posts. The quality of the try was matched by a clinical conversion by McFadden. The Limerick side responded by seeking quality field position and in turn brought themselves into the game for the first time. While the UCD defence was resolute a series of ruck infringements tainted the effort and allowed Garryowen to concert pressure. Their first score came through former UCD outhalf Eoghan Hickey who kicked excellently into the breeze to leave the visitors trailing by seven. UCD crossed the whitewash again on 30 minutes as they turned the screw on Garryowen using the gale and an efficient set piece to mount serious pressure. The Limerick side turned over inside their own twenty-two and were fractured by the quickly recycled ball. Outhalf Ian Keatly
KILMACUD UCD Garryowen
20 13
Eoin Delap beat his man on the outside shoulder and powered passed the full back before touching down to score a try of real class. With a half time score of 20-6, after McFadden and Hickey traded penalties, UCD were well poised as they turned to face the breeze. The maturity of the pack and strength of their first half defence gave them the ideal platform to overcome both their opponents and the awkward conditions. Hickey was a key figure in the second half and while he was wearing fifteen he was ostensibly playing an outhalf’s role. In truth he failed to control the game in the way his new team desperately needed, most notably when he kicked a ball dead from inside his own twenty-two. This length of the field turn-around was a physiological boon for College and visibly destroyed the confidence of the visitors. UCD fought Through the hands: UCD give the ball to the backs voraciously on the ground as the second half wore on and consistently spoiled and nervous finish for those in the stands. on the pitch as a meaningful result was celturned over Garryowen possession. The Composure was the key for College as ebrated by the players. While College still backrow was immense with a notable con- they withstood a torrent of Garryowen at- lie dangerously on the verge of relegation, tribution coming from Sean O’Brien. The tacks. In reality the visitors created few this result against one of the leagues most Students were excellent in possession for clear scoring opportunities from a multi- consistent performers gives cause for opmuch of the half with some dynamic car- tude of excellent field positions thanks to timism. rying often accompanied by intelligent off- solid scrummaging and organised multiUCD: Ross McCarron, Vasily Artimiev, loads. This sort of game was suited to the phase defence. The final minutes of the Fergus McFadden, Michael Hastings, Killian conditions which necessitated holding onto game were punctuated by a series of Lett, Ian Keatley, Paul O’Donohoe, John A. the ball for long periods. scrums in the home side’s twenty-two, but Lee, Conor Geoghegan (Capt), Brian McGovGarryowen did manage to break down the UCD pack stood up to the task bravely ern, Kevin McLaughlin, Richard Mandeno, the home defence, with left wing Ciaran and rarely looked like giving their counter- Kevin Croke, Gavin Murphy, Sean O’Brien. O’Boyle crossing to score on the left touch- parts an inch. Replacements: Ger Moran, Gavin Telford, line. Hickey converted well to leave seven The final whistle brought with it a gen- Conor McInerney, Michael Fanning, Brian points between the sides and ensure a eral sigh of relief in the stand and jubilation O’Neill.
PLD PTS
Cork Constitution UL Bohemian Clontarf Dungannon Shannon Garryowen Lansdowne Galwegians Ballymena
9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
33 30 30 28 25 25 25 22 22
Blackrock College Dolphin Terenure College Buccaneers St. Mary's College
9 9 9 9 9
20 18 18 17 16
UCD Belfast Harlequins
9 9
12 6
SPORT 23
College Tribune 23rd January 2007
Demons await in final UCD Marian’s Under 20’s have booked a ticket to the National Basketball Cup Final, where a meeting with UCC Demons awaits them after a comprehensive victory over the Limerick Lions, in Cork. The Dubs led throughout this high scoring encounter, notching up 95 points at the final blow of the whistle. The dual strength in attack as well as defense was impressive. The Lions were forced to make do with a mere 61 in the end. Both teams showed signs of nerves early on, with missed lay ups and scrappy turnovers but it was UCD Marion star Neil Baynes who showed the greatest composure to net eight times in the first quarter. Matt Kelly retaliated for Limerick to keep UCD Marion in sight. Scores from Peter Finn however, maintained the pressure at 17-10. The second quarter saw UCD scholarship student Barry Drumm dominate the Lions marksman Kelly, allowing fellow scholarship students Finn and Baynes to extend the lead to 24-15. An onslaught of three point shooting by the Limerick attack of Ger Myles and Stuart Hehir demanded a solid defensive display. John Young, Donal O’ Sullivan, Nathan Breen and Jody O’ Neill all made up for earlier mistakes with perseverance on the boards. This showed in the thirteenpoint lead at half time, 36-23. The players launched into the third quarter. The sizzling pace caused the Lions to fall into a full court press with point guard Drumm controlling the tempo and setting up Finn for four more. Now at nineteen, the gulf in points was too much for the Lions. This passage of play proved to be crucial as UCD Marian pulled away, edging their way towards the final, which was now within their
KILMACUD UCD Marian Limerick
96 61
Jordan Daly sights. Having been knocked out at this stage last year, Kevin Foley’s lads were crazed with determination. Finn and Baynes never seemed likely to ease their stubborn attack. They forced frustrated fouls out of the careless Lions and scored five of six free throws. Darragh Honan battled back, scoring a few conciliation baskets but with a thumping three pointer from James Kirwan, Marian went 26 ahead. The focused UCD side continued to intensify their dominance, right to the endearing Gibbons and Paddy Chunger ruled defense, while Baynes shone with back to back three pointers. At full time, 95-61 reflected accurately a convincing win for the students. The top scorers were Finn (30) and Baynes (29). UCD Marian now return to Dublin for next Saturday’s final in the National Basketball Arena. They will play UCC Demons, a team they knocked out last year. UCC scraped by Dart Killester (71-70) to advance to the Quarter Finals where they brushed aside St.Vincents (88-56). In the Semis, the Demons narrowly overcame Neptune in a local derby (73-61). The danger-men for UCC are Aidan O’Callaghan and Shane O’Connell. UCD can take confidence in their run up to the final with a thrashing of St.Brendans (78-51) and defeat of Merry Monk Ballina (80-67). Expect a thrilling final with voluminous local support.
Knock knock: Limerick Lions huffed and puffed, but it was UCD that blew the house down
SPORT IN BRIEF Women's Hockey
Re-Freshers' Week
Two of UCD’s Women’s Hockey team are currently on tour in South Africa after being selected to represent the Irish national side in the upcoming games. Roisin Flinn, a 3rd year Physio student and 2nd Psychology student Lisa Jacob were both selected for the squad after impressing at the Senior Interpros in Ulster, last October. The pair were included for some uncapped games against Scotland in Edinburgh at the end of November and then after a weekend camp in mid-December were called up for the first squad of new coach Gene Muller’s reign. The squad is in South Africa for a ten-day warm weather training camp, which includes six full internationals, three against South Africa and three against Canada. Jacob is a scholarship student who hails from Enniscorthy but went to school in Kilkenny College. She has represented the South East and Ireland at underage level and made her breakthrough last summer when she was included in an inexperienced Celtic cup squad. She won her first three caps at this tournament, which Ireland won in France, and was part of the successful cup winning side of last season. Flinn has kitted out for Leinster at Under 18 and Under 21 levels but this is her breakthrough in an Irish
A one-day exhibition will be held for students who missed out on joining any of UCD’s sports clubs at the start of the year, or for students who are attending the college for a short period and would like a fun, enjoyable way of meeting people. It is taking place on Wednesday February 1 in the Astra Hall in by the Student’s Union in conjunction with UCD Sport.
Men's GAA shirt. A past pupil of St. Andrews in Booterstown, she made a great start to her international career, making an incisive run and delivering the scoring pass for Rachel Mulligan to score five minutes into Ireland’s first game on tour. The girls are training strenuously both for club and country at the moment in preparation for the European Championships which are being held in Manchester in August. Before then, there will be further internationals to be played including a four nations tournament here in Belfield in June. The girls will have little respite after Manchester, as the Olympic qualifying tournaments will be held in spring 2008. Christine Quinlan, another UCD first eleven player, is also in the national squad but was not selected amongst the 22 players that were brought to South Africa.
UCD gaelic footballer John McCarthy was named the Dubs Stars Footballer of the Year at the awards lunch in the Westin Hotel, Dublin in December. “To be honest, this award is a big surprise. I’m really honoured to get it. In my life, I don’t expect to get many awards like this, so I’ll really treasure it,” commented McCarthy. McCarthy is one of the six UCD footballers named on the Dubs Stars Team of the Year after their performances in the Dublin Championship. He proved to be an integral element in the UCD defence which only conceded one goal on their way to securing their seventh Championship title. Making it to the Leinster Championship semi-final, UCD were eventually beaten 1-8 to 2-6 by Offaly champions Rhode.
Men's Rugby Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has named a 35-man squad for the 2007 RBS Six Nations Championship which begins for Ireland with an away trip to Wales in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on February 4. There are six players who come into this squad after missing out on the 32-man
squad that was named for the Guinness Autumn Series. Among them is UCD and Leinster’s Robert Kearney, whose good form over the last number of weeks has seen him included. UCD’s Director of Rugby John McClean said, “We in UCD are delighted to see Rob’s inclusion in the squad for the Six Nations, after some early season set-backs he is now playing at his confident best.”
SPORT Volume 20 / Issue 6
23rd January 2007
For Greener Pastures:
Crunch Game UCD defeat Garryowen - Page 22
The Mass Exodus to Britain Down the Line - Page 20
Shelbourne Snubbed Pete Mahon rejects champions Shels to stay with UCD UCD boss Pete Mahon last week rubbed salt into the already gaping wounds of Shelbourne FC, when he snubbed the Tolka Park outfit after being offered the post vacated by former manager Pat Fenlon last month. Not willing to go into any further detail, Mahon explained bluntly his decision to remain at Belfield, “Following a meeting with UCD and Shelbourne over the last number of days and having had a good think about the whole situation, I have decided to remain at UCD for personal reasons.” The former St Francis and Bohemians chief will instead stay on as UCD manager, a position he has filled since Paul Doolin’s departure in 2003. Mahon’s aim is to better every aspect of the club, and while outlining his aspirations; he spoke of his anticipation for the season ahead. “UCD Soccer is about to embark on something very special. It’s a new and exciting initiative which I think will result in UCD becoming a much more competitive participant in the Premier League as well as becoming a leader in the development and education of younger players.” Spokesman for UCD FC Dick Shakespeare expressed his joy at the decision, “We are delighted that Pete has decided to stay with us. We have known him for the last three years and have tremendous respect for what he has achieved with limited resources. “We are about to enter a new era for the club and have a new plan which will ensure that UCD can consistently compete at the highest level. We want Pete and the rest of our management and coaching team to play a key part in fulfilling our ambitions and implementing the plan,” added Shakespeare. Since being crowned eircom
Ben Blake League Premier Division champions in November, Shelbourne have experienced an incredible turnaround in fortunes. Unhappy with the treatment of the playing staff and himself by the club, manager Pat Fenlon resigned his position before filling the vacant job at Derry City. Equally discontented and finding themselves unpaid on many occasions throughout last season, the backbone of the team has also jumped ship in the past month. The most recent to depart were skipper Owen Heary and striker Glen Crowe, who had their contracts terminated by the courts, leaving them as free agents. Chief Executive of the club Ollie Byrne has since come public to take the blunt of the blame for
Champions: But Shels now have a decimated squad the North Dublin side’s freefall, and last Friday attended a Q&A session with supporters in Tolka Park. Shels now look set to appoint former striker Stephen Geoghegan into the hotseat. Seen as a legend by the Shelbourne faithful, Geoghegan ended his career in 2004 after a decade with the club. With the only managerial experience coming in amateur football, the 36-year old former WFTA boss will need to hit the ground running if he is to lift the club anywhere near touching distance of its recent glories. First on the agenda will most certainly be the recruiting of players, as last year’s victorious squad is all but gone. Pete's Mahon's Column: Page 21