College Tribune: Issue 2

Volume 20 / Issue 2

ucd.ie/tribune

3rd October 2006

Losing My UCD Volunteers Religion Overseas Features - Page 10 THIS WEEK

WITH MUSIC FILM HEALTH FASHION CULTURE ARTS

Analysis - Page 12

“I came all the way from the f*cking Netherlands to do this degree" ● Early Irish degree axed ● Final year students forced ● to take new subjects The College’s decision to drop Early Irish as a degree has been branded “a disgrace from the students’ point of view” by course lecturer Gerald Manning. The College released Manning after his contract expired.

Nienke van Etten, a Dutch student who came to UCD in order to study the course, told the College Tribune “I came to UCD to do Early Irish. Also now I don’t even know what my degree will be in. They (the College) don’t even know what my degree will be in. It’ll either be in a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of Celtic studies, and I don’t know which I’ll get.

I’ll see that at the day of my graduation.”

A frustrated van Etten added, “I chose UCD. I’ve come all the way from the fucking Netherlands to do this degree.

“Over the summer I was in touch with one of my lecturers in Early Irish, Gerald Manning, because he thought I wanted to pursue a post-graduate course.

“He tried to figure out some things, so basically he told me over the summer that he wasn’t sure whether his contract was going to get renewed.

Then he emailed me in August to say ‘I m going to be gone in September, so there’s going to be only one lecturer left in the entire Early Irish department’.”

Van Etten added, “He [Manning] was basically laid off. His contract just wasn’t renewed.

His contract ran until September and he found out about this in July, which sucks for him. I mean he had two months notice.”

Manning, speaking to the College Tribune, stated, “the College refused to renew my contract and that just leaves Patricia Kelly. It’s not possible for one per-

Mark Canavan son to offer a degree programme himself or herself.

A case regarding the lecturer’s dismissal is currently pending in the Labour Court.

Manning went on to claim, “It’s disgraceful that a degree programme should be destroyed in this way by the principal, and this has been done against the wishes of all the professors in the school. The students are very good and very interested and their ability to pursue these subjects has been taken from them. That’s what’s most important.”

The Early Irish course had a staff of two lecturers, one of whom was Manning who was on a temporary contract. The staff of the Early Irish course was informed last January that the programme of Early Irish was to be discontinued.

The only remaining Early Irish lecturer, Patricia Kelly, told the College Tribune “we were let know that the college principal did not want to continue Early Irish as a BA subject and that it was to be incorporated into the subject of modern Irish as an option.

“I was told by the Principle that Early Irish was not to be offered as a full BA from now on. The practical result of this was that my colleague of four years’ standing [Manning], who had been on a temporary contract for four years, was not to be renewed.

That’s a reduction in staff of two to one, so a fifty percent reduction in staff meant that we couldn’t offer the full programme, and we were also told that we were not to take in students for first year.”

Continued on Page 4 Nienke van Etten: Doesn't know what her degree will be

2

October 3rd

NEWS

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

A lot of clamps ● Students forced to pay for parking ● People missing lectures

Amy Lynch

Editor Colin Gleeson Deputy Editor Simon Ward Design Editors Tara Phelan & Simon Ward News Editor Owen Priestley Sports Editor Ben Blake Features Editor Matthew Parkinson Bennett Health & Fashion Editor Caitrina Cody Arts Editor Barra O Fianail Music Editor Hugh Fowler Contributors: Paul O'Donnell, Alexa Byrne, Claire Spelman, Deirdre Daly, Kevin Murphy, Jack Horgan Jones, Pete Mahon, Eoin Delap, Conor Doyle, John O'Flynn, Fionn Dempsey, Stuart Alexander, Aidan Mac Guill, Ronan Dempsey, Linda O'Halloran, Susan Cahill, Daniel O'Neill, Orla Kenny, Stephen Humphries, Hanna Kousbroek, Mark Canavan, Amy Lynch, Bernadette Scott, Jack Cane, Paul Dillon, Eoin Mac Aodha.

Thanks To: Gary, Stephen & Billy @ Spectator Newspapers, Eilis O'Brien, Dominic Martella, God.

Contact Us: E: collegetribune@gmail.com T: 01-7168501, LG 18, Newman Building

MEDIUM

The recent installation of parking meters in UCD parking lots has caused serious inconvenience for staff and students alike.

The meters are only for visitors to the college, and cost 50c per hour. Many students however are finding they “have no choice but to use the spaces, because there are no spaces elsewhere.

Parking becomes impossible after 9:00am on a weekday.”

The problem of finding a parking space is one of real hindrance to students who drive. This culminates in students arriving late or missing lectures.

Those who avoid paying for parking by parking on grass verges or on unmarked parts of a car-park risk getting clamped.

Nicola Foley and Viv Rountree, both second year students of the college, were clamped on Tuesday 19th September. They were parked along a stretch of grass due to lack of any spaces, along with approximately twenty other cars. When they returned that evening, they found the whole row clamped.

This pair were left with an €85 fine (€80 for the clamp, and a €5 surcharge). These students claim, however, that despite the “No Parking” signs, “We had no choice but to park there, we would have been late for a lecture if we’d waited for a free space.”

These are students who would welcome the introduction of parking meters if they could be ensured a parking space for the year, declaring, “We just want to go to college.”

Many students feel they have no choice but to drive to college, as the public transport is inconvenient and unreliable. Barry Colfer, Welfare Officer of the Students’ Union, believes that the lack of parking is a huge problem.

He told the College Tribune that the problem could be solved with changes that don’t include more parking spaces or parking meters. Colfer is opposed to the meters in the case of people who have no choice but to drive to college, such as those who are disabled, or those who have no

Clamp down: Finding a free space is becoming impossible after 9am public transport options and don’t live within walking or cycling distance.

He does, however, feel that there should be more encouragement for people who have access to public transport to use it, or people who could walk or cycle, “Huge trade offs will have to be made: who wants to park as opposed to who needs to park, is parking a right or a privilege etc.”

In response to these issues, there is currently a working group being set up throughout the Student Union to generate Union policy on the issue, which will then be presented to the college.

There has also been a request for a general meeting for students to take place, which would be an open forum to discuss their problems with transport to the college, and maybe discuss some solutions, such as car-pools from areas on the

periphery. This meeting should take place on the week of 9th October.

The College responded to queries from the College Tribune on this matter, by stating, “There are no changes as yet to the car parking system on campus. However, a committee set up by the Buildings & Grounds Committees undertook a study of parking patterns with a view to managing the parking resource effectively.

“We are also aware that the County Council intends to introduce pay and display parking along the feeder roads to the N11 and that this will make the problem worse as park-and-ride car owners will increasingly try to use Belfield to park.

“The decision has not yet been made but it is likely that some pay car parking will be introduced in the future.”

Donut or Muffin with Regular filter coffee €1.99 On presentation of this voucher.

While stocks last.

Offer Ends 30th October

NEWS 3

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

‘We've been turning up for lectures but we're sent away each time' ● Module delivery threatened by failure to provide one projector bulb ● Anxious students unable to prepare for upcoming assessments Students taking Film Studies at levels one and two this year have found themselves in a state of total disarray.

Problems are rife and began this year with complications during attempts to register for the popular modules. Issues have since arisen regarding the technical support and equipment used for mandatory lectures and practicals.

One student, Emma Moore, told the College Tribune, “Its ridiculous. The class has been turning up for lectures and screenings for two weeks now and is sent away each time.

“We are all aware that this is out of the lecturers’ hands. The Film Studies staff has all been very helpful. The problem is not just that we are missing a few classes, it’s much worse than that. The students are missing out on part of their education.

“And what is UCD doing if its not educating its students? Is that not its actual purpose? Hugh Brady will want to rethink how he is running this college or there are going to be a lot more unhappy students.”

Undergraduates who have availed of Film Studies as an elective have faced an ongoing problem concerning the equipment used in the class. Students at level one have had two out of three practicals and three out of four lectures cancelled due to broken apparatus, which has been in need of repair for approximately two weeks.

Collectively, this has meant a serious compromise of the module content, and has left them with little material for an up and coming assessment.

Some level two students enquired as to why lecturers have been continuously forced to cancel classes. Service staff

Bernadette Scott have stated that the part required in order repair the projection equipment is in fact “specialist equipment” and expensive. And there are no such parts stored in the university for such occurrences and therefore must be ordered from the UK. After further enquiries, the College Tribune has learned that the “specialist equipment” is in fact a projector bulb, which costs E300, and could have been couriered from the UK in just one day.

The problem has caused unease and anxiety among students after a lengthy period of uncertainty. Another student stated, “Our lecturers are just as disappointed as we are. It’s beyond their control and that’s extremely frustrating for them.”

Level two students also expressed their dissatisfaction to the Centre for Film Studies and the Programme Office for Languages, Literature and Film, regarding the fact that Film Studies would not be available as a minor. In relation to this, members of the class signed a petition in favour of it being offered at level two.

There were four modules that had previously been offered to students at level one and it was hoped that they would be available as a minor for the first time at level two as a result of the modularised system.

Students’ were given “a sense of hope and more certainty” when the provision of a course outline for level two was given to them by their lecturers at the end of semester two last year. Numerous students expressed how passionate their lecturers are for the subject, stating, “They are one hundred percent

Film Studies: The Geary Institute is home to the Film Studies department dedicated and committed to teaching in Film Studies for our students at UCD. ment system, the School of Languages, the subject.”

“It’s unacceptable that one of the Literature and Film administration failed However, two of the four modules set most popular art forms and communica- to provide any significant information. to make up the minor for level two, were tion platforms of our time is not availIn agitation, they suggested to the unexpectedly axed three days before able to UCD students as a programme. students that they write a letter of comregistration. This occurred beyond the The Film Studies staff was informed in plaint to the Head of School, Ms Cliona control of the Centre for Film Studies. an unsigned email from two days before de Bhaldraithe Marsh, and added that Leon Conway, Head of Subject at the students were informed, that the un- they would not comment on the issue. the O’Kane Centre for Film Studies, dergraduate minor in Film Studies was Students, however, have received no explained, “the film studies staff as a being pulled.” feedback as of yet from Ms. de Bhaldteaching team are very committed to When asked by students as to why the raithe Marsh. The college failed to comproviding an undergraduate programme subject was not available on the enrol- ment.

4 NEWS

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

“The college itself hasn't got a clue what to do with me"

Nienke van Etten: Dutch student affected by course cancellation

Continued from Page 1

The decisions that have been taken by the College on this issue have culminated in serious repercussions for both students and academics alike. Final year student Nienke van Etten said, “The College itself hasn’t got a clue what to do with me. But basically, it means that I was doing Early Irish as a minor, which means I should do three modules.

“Patricia Kelly was good enough to accommodate me for that, but there’s a guy in my class called Ian and he was taking Irish folklore and Early Irish as a mode two student, and basically he was supposed to take six modules in early Irish and they’ve only three left. He’s in final year as well.

“Three of the six of his courses in Early Irish were dropped and the College have no alternative for him. So now he has to do some history and archaeology courses, while he has never even done archaeology and he’s in his final year.”

The College Tribune contacted Ian Lynch,

Mark Canavan the student in question, and he said, “I have been forced to adapt to a modularised system - which I never agreed to take - but now I can only take three modules in Early and Medieval Irish which I have taken as a full course since first year, when six is the required amount. I was only informed of this change on the first day of term.

“This has meant that I have had to sign up for History and Archaeology modules instead.

Whether or not the cutting of resources to the Early and Medieval Irish Department has anything to do with the fact that I was the only student in my year due to take it as a major subject I cannot say.

“But the decision definitely seems to be indicative of current changes in the College’s decision-making. The fact that half of a course concerned with the history of our native language can be simply done away with is in itself

"Three of the six of his courses in Early Irish were dropped and the College have no alternative for him. So now he has to do some history and archaeology courses"

a great shame and injustice” added Lynch.

When contacted about the matter, the College stated “Regarding the query from the third year [student], our understanding is that within the Celtic Studies degree other modules are on offer and would include both history and archaeology to ensure that the student retains enough relevant modules for the Celtic Studies degree.”

Final Year

Kelly was also sympathetic towards the final year students claiming “I would have thought it proper to wait until students had finished their final year.”

Regarding the problems encountered by the students concerned, the College stated “Although Early Irish is not on offer to first or second years this year there are plans to revitalise the subject in the context of the suite of subjects within Celtic Studies.

“A further indication of the University’s commitment to Irish is the creation of a new professorship in the School of Irish, Celtic Studies, Irish Folklore and Linguistics. This is one of the core leadership appointments in the university and Professor Liam Mac Mathuna has been appointed to this post.

The university is fully committed to Irish and Celtic Studies and sees great opportunities opening up over the coming years.” It has also emerged that the College turned away four students who wanted to pursue a post-graduate in the subject.

“The fact that half of a course concerned with the history of our native language can be simply done away with is in itself a great shame and injustice"

Van Etten was frustrated that this controversy has blown up during her final year. She was also sympathetic toward Manning, her former lecturer.

“You can’t just lay off a lecturer or two lecturers, when they have two more years left. Like Patricia [Kelly] already said, there are no first years taking early Irish so you’re talking about third years. I mean we were basically the only ones. So, if you’re talking about one year and you can phase it out, why can’t they just phase it out?

NEWS 5

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

UCD get egg on face ● UCD attempt to award honorary degree on author ● It later emerged she already had one Colin Gleeson College authorities have exposed the absence of a thought process in their awarding of honorary degrees.

The College attempted to bestow an honorary doctorate on author Edna O’Brien at a recent senate meeting of the National Double Trouble: Edna O'Brien, pictured with Prof. Andrew Carpenter was awarded the Ulysees medal University of Ireland (NUI), but it later emerged that this was impossible, as they had already done so fifteen years ago.

The NUI is the group that awards degrees in UCD and in three of Ireland’s other universities.

Head of English in UCD, Professor Andrew Carpenter, denied that this occurred, stating, “It wasn’t that we tried to give her an honorary degree and failed. When we were looking for ways of honouring her that was ruled out because she had one and the NUI obviously wouldn’t give permission for a second degree.

The registrar’s office at the NUI was able to confirm that UCD had in fact attempted to bestow an honorary degree on O’Brien before realising their error.

UCD awarded O’Brien the Ulysses Medal, which is awarded to scholars whose work has made an outstanding global contribution.

The College responded to queries from the College Tribune on this matter by stating “There was confusion regarding the type of degree and we were anxious to move ahead with her award.”

Professor Carpenter went on to say, “I don’t really want to comment on it. The Ulysses medal is unique. She’s the first person who’s got it for literature, for creativity in the arts.

“UCD wanted to honour her and we were pleased to give her the Ulysses medal, it’s usually only given to Nobel Laureates. She has an honorary degree anyway so that wasn’t an option. It was considered an option for a while before people realised it wasn’t possible.”

xxxxxxxxxxx

UCD may sever links with NUI Relations between UCD and the NUI have been strained for some time as a result of the poaching scandal, and the recent decision to award Ryder Cup captains Ian Woosnam and Tom Lehman with degrees last week without reference to the NUI. Responding to queries from the College Tribune as to whether or not UCD wished to sever ties with the NUI, the College stated, “There is a meeting of NUI scheduled for October.”

The chancellor of the NUI, Dr. Garrett Fitzgerald, had called a meeting of the senate after complaints from academics regarding the fact that UCD had

Colin Gleeson brought the system of awarding honorary degrees into disrepute when they bestowed degrees upon the Ryder Cup duo.

In response to these accusations, the College declared, “The awarding of NUI degrees can go through one of two processes.

One is through the NUI Senate (made up of academics from all four universities). The Second is through our own Academic Council. We have been giving the latter since 1997 (Universities Act).

“The College did however concede that, until now, this had only occurred “up to masters level.”

6 NEWS

College Tribune 19th September 2006

Welfare Guide to contain abortion details ● Lifesoc auditor vows to oppose the motion The availability of abortion information in the Students’ Union Welfare Guide has been challenged by LifeSoc auditor Adam Krock, who branded the move as “adding to the tragedy of abortion.”

The Students’ Union’s policy on abortion information was reaffirmed at the last meeting of Council, with an overwhelming majority of votes in favour of providing contact details and information on abortion clinics in the UK. Krock argues that the legality of such a position is doubtful, claiming “The big issue at the moment is the question of legality [of the welfare guide’s provision of abortion information] as set down by the 1995 Abortion Act. “Section 5b, sub-paragraph 2 says that these things should provide counselling advice and not in any way be promoting abortion. We haven’t seen it [the Welfare Guide] yet, so we don’t know how it’s displayed but there’s a definite question of legality there.”

When asked what form of opposition LifeSoc might take to the Welfare Guide Krock commented, “We’re pro-life, so we’ll be doing something.

But the form [of opposition] we take

Jack Cane will be whatever is needed at the time.”

Krock added “Although I don’t have statistics, generally I think people are sympathetic to our cause.”

SU Welfare Officer Barry Colfer explained that the guide was due to arrive in UCD “in the second semester” and hoped it could evolve “as an organic document that everyone can make suggestions to with stuff they’d like to go in and stuff they’d like to keep out.”

Colfer is mandated by the SU to provide abortion information in the Welfare Guide and plans to circumvent the question of legality by declaring that the guide has abortion information in it before handing it out, either verbally or in print.

The 1995 Abortion Act does not allow the distribution of unsolicited or unwanted material containing information on abortion although solicited information is allowed to be sought.

Responding to Krock’s concerns the Welfare Officer declared himself “happy to talk to Adam about the issue” and agreed that abortion is “a very significant event, not to be taken lightly.”

Pro-Life: The front of a rally in Dublin in 2002

Student Assistance Scheme 2006/2007 The Student Assistance Scheme 2006/2007 is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund under the National Development Fund 2000-2006. The scheme is administered by UCD’s Student Welfare and Assistance Committee.

Applicants should note that funding for the scheme has been significantly reduced from that of previous years. This is due to a change in Government policy whereby funding for the Local Authority Top-up grant has been increased. This reduction in funding means that successful applicants will not receive the same level of assistance as was allocated in previous years.

Eligible Applicants The Student Assistance Scheme is open to students who are currently registered for a course at UCD. The course must be of at least one year’s duration and must lead to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification.

This scheme is targeted at those disadvantaged students most in need.

Application Forms are available from ● http://www.ucd.ie/advisers ● Chaplaincy and Student Adviser Offices ● Welfare Officer, Students’ Union

Closing Date Thursday October 26th 2006 at 2.30pm All students will be notified of the result of their application in November 2006

NEWS 7

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

‘The notion that universities compete like football teams is preposterous' UCD President Hugh Brady was interviewed in The Irish Times last week about the state of this college.

Responding to Brady’s interview, President of SIPTU in UCD, Kieran Allen, spoke to Colin Gleeson Morale The most incredulous aspect of Brady’s interview with The Irish Times was that of his views on staff morale in UCD. Responding to the question of staff morale being an issue in UCD, he stated “No. I think there is a very large middle ground of about 80 percent, where there is a shared commitment to create a university that really can compete and win on the international stage.

“Obviously, people have concerns about what change will mean for them. There are concerns about the detail of implementation of change and, yes, concerns about the pace of change. Some actually think we should be going faster.

“I spoke at length to all the departments in recent months. I think there was a general agreement that we have achieved a lot. Yes, it has taken it’s toll in terms of a certain element of exhaustion, but we are now entering a much more creative phase. The reality is we are playing an international game.”

Responding to these comments, President of SIPTU in UCD Kieran Allen retorted, “You have to operate on empirical indicators. 82 percent of a ballot of SIPTU members voted to take industrial action in UCD. There has been a proposal to carry out a scientific survey of staff morale that has yet to take place.

“There have been informal surveys, which indicate problems of morale, so I believe that it’s not simply a matter of people having a psychological difficulty with change. The real issue is whether there is going to be any way in which the broad group of academics and indeed other staff can have an input into the direction of UCD and I think many would feel that that input has been severely diminished.”

Assessment of Brady's time here The Irish Times asked Brady to assess his time in UCD. He responded “I think that what has been achieved has been quite remarkable and that is a great tribute to the entire staff. We have completely restructured the university and completely restructured the curriculum. We have ‘re-branded’ UCD to achieve an international profile.”

Allen felt differently, stating “If you feel that creating a top-down management is a remarkable achievement, fine, but I personally don’t think it’s a remarkable achievement. I don’t think that re-branding the university is remarkable. What were the figures spent for what we spent on the new logos? It was of some proportion.

“I’m very concerned that according to figures released to our sister union; 2.5 billion has been spent on outside consultants in UCD. I think that money could have been better spent in providing better educational equipment, in providing better language training, a variety of ways that money could have been spent.

I don’t think that’s been a remarkable achievement.

“The issue is not whether we have eighty departments or forty schools. The real issue is whether you want a university that has a democratic input from it’s staff and whether or not people feel they have ownership over decisions or if

there’s going to be top-down management.”

Arts versus Science Brady was then challenged about the view that those working in the arts and humanities area have felt their work downgraded during the re-structuring process. Brady said “On the question of the balance between arts and sciences, we are going for an approach of balanced excellence.

“In fact if you look at the changes in restructuring they were much more radical in the Science-based areas than they were in the departments in arts and humanities. Yes, we have the Conway Institute of Biomedical Research but equally we have the Geary Institute in the Social Sciences and the Humanities Institute of Ireland.

“This is not just a UCD question. Nationally there is concern about balance between arts and sciences.”

Responding to Brady’s comments, Allen was unhappy about the absence of transparency regarding the allocation of funds in this regard. “As a SIPTU representative, I have asked the UCD management to give me a piece of paper that has an open and transparent model of how funding is allocated in UCD. That is still not in my possession. So, I don’t know how the funds are allocated in this university and therefore I am not in a position to comment on arts versus science.

“I do think there should be debates in UCD, based on if we are to be a researchled university, how are the resources to be allocated accordingly. Would that mean that to produce a research-led university, we have to employ people on €150,000 plus, or on superstar salaries, while other staff are being casualised.

“This is a real debate. I do not believe that’s how you get high quality research.

I believe it’s about collegiate spirit, about intellectual excitement, rather than simply the inducement of money to select so-called academic leaders, so it is a debate.

“I’m not talking about a budget. I want to know what the principles that underlie a budget are. The university, or at least the top echelon of the university, have made reference to a resource allocation model, I have yet to see it. I would like to see it.

In relation to staff input, I would like to see a genuine discussion of this university. I would like to see involvement of faculties of academics and indeed other staff and so on, and for people to make an input into how they see the principles surrounding the allocation of resources. How much should be devoted to research and so on, you can raise all these questions then. But you can’t answer anything intelligently if you haven’t seen a transparent set of rules.”

International Rankings The issue of international rankings and league tables is something that has dominated the way in which UCD has gone about its business since Brady’s appointment as president. Many feel there is too much emphasis on this issue. Brady retorted these claims. “We are not afraid to be measured, but we are not obsessed with the rankings.

Staff Morale "There is a shared commitment to create a university that really can compete and win on the international stage"

"82 percent of a ballot of SIPTU members voted to take industrial action in UCD"

Brady's Term So Far “If you feel that creating a top-down management is a remarkable achievement, fine, but I personally don't think it's a remarkable achievement"

“I think that what has been achieved has been quite remarkable"

Funding “On the question of the balance between arts and sciences, we are going for an approach of balanced excellence" excellence.

"II have have asked asked the the UCD UCD management to give me a piece of paper that has an open and transparent model of how funding is allocated in UCD. That is still not in my possession" possession.

University League Tables "My goal is to put UCD firmly into the top thirty universities in Europe. That is a realistic goal and we are working to achieve it"

“How are these measured? Who made up the league table?

I don't think many AThe problem is the mystification of figures"

Hugh Brady Kieran Allen UCD President “On rankings, I think you shouldn’t be afraid of them, but at the same time, many of them can provide useful indicators. My goal is to put UCD firmly into the top thirty universities in Europe. That is a realistic goal and we are working to achieve it.”

Allen was confused by Brady’s comments to this regard. “How are these measured? Who made up the league

UCD SIPTU Representative

table? I don’t think many people are sure. The problem is the mystification of figures. Anybody can put figures on anything, but surely, it’s more interesting to ask how did they arrive at the figures? What were the assumptions they made?

“So, when you say there are league tables, personally I find it difficult to see how people can measure quality of re-

search. How does one measure it? By the amount of articles that are produced? By the value in terms of human intelligence? Contribution to human society? How does one measure these things? So, the notion that there are league tables of different universities in the world, where we compete as if we’re football teams, is a preposterous idea.”

8

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

OPINION The right anti-Semites While critics of the Israeli State are automatically branded as anti-Semitic the true fact of the matter is that the term has lost all meaning and it is the accusers who are often the true anti-Semites, writes Eoin Mac Aodha It is the staple diet of the right wing pro-Israeli lobby to conduct personal attacks on critics of Israel's destructionist policies with the emotive and historical burden of being an anti-Semite.

An anti-Semite, by its definition, is someone who has an irrational hatred of all Semites. The classification derives from the group of Semite languages of which Hebrew is a member. However, you will no doubt be astounded to learn that Arabic belongs to the same group.

Thus, an anti-Semite is by its most literal definition someone who hates both Jews and Arabs. Someone, who for instance hates all occupiers of the Holy Land, be they Jewish or Muslim.

Thus while the American right bandy about the term anti-Semitic at will to personally attack their detractors it is the American right itself that are the true anti-Semites.

After all, the only reason the far right support Israel and its expansionistic policies is as a result of their own warped ideology.

The Christian right, are, you see, waiting for the Rapture. Or for the uninitiated, Armageddon. When that day finally comes they, as true believers, will ascend into heaven and the world will end.

There is however one little snag. In order for this glorious day to come, the Jews (this is where Israel comes in) must be in control of the whole of the biblical land of Israel. When this happens Christ will

"The Rapture states that Christ will descend from heaven and engage in battle with the AntiChrist and his hosts for up to two years" descend from heaven and engage in battle with the Anti-Christ and his hosts for up to two years.

At the end of this apocalyptic massacre only the true believers will rise into heaven. In case you hadn't guessed this means that all non-believers, Jews, Muslims, etc will end up with the Anti-Christ to enjoy an eternity of lashings in the pits of hell.

Despite the inherently farcical nature of this scenario, it is dangerously xenophobic and racist.

So while the Christian right attempt to play the race card they are in fact the true anti-Semite's waiting for the destruction of Jews and Arabs for their own gain.

It may at this stage be necessary to include some form of disclaimer. Not every Christian in America believes this. Not every Christian on the right in America believes this rubbish and not every pro-Israeli lobbyist believes it.

All the same this view is out there and is subscribed to by a portion of those folks yelling about democracy and Israel's retaliatory right to bulldoze houses and bomb hospitals.

The reality is that anti-Semitism in its most often used modern context is just a buzz word. It is laden with connotations and as Europeans it conjures up images of persecution, ghettoes and the holocaust.

This has done two things. It negates the true horrors of Nazi persecution and the true meaning of what it means to be anti-Semitic.

It also blurs the lines on free speech. When does criticism become racism? Debate, bigotry.

By ascribing to this idea we are subscribing to a sort of world society where fear and closed-mindedness are king.

We are subscribing to the sort of society that does not question its wrongs. We are subscribing to no society at all.

The next time you read some article or hear some report where a critic of the Israel state is being described as anti-Semitic by virtue of their criticisms perhaps take a moment to consider where the roots of this criticism comes from.

Is it because the critic hates all Jews or is it because the Israeli Army has just massacred up to 54 people including women and children, as a result of erroneous army intelligence as happened less than two months ago in Qana, Lebanon? Is it because the critic hates all Jews or is it because the people of Gaza are without water and electricity? Is it because the critic hates all Jews or is it because the Israeli Army has again contravened International Humanitarian law by bulldozing innocent Palestinians' houses as a form of collective punishment?

Is it because the critic hates all Jews or is it because they hate oppression?

Close up: Bill Clinton

Will the real Bill Clinton please stand up?

The media love him, but Bill Clinton is not as he appears, writes Paul Dillon Bill Clinton gets great press in Ireland.

The mainstream media just love him. UCD went as far as naming the new centre for American studies after him. Hundreds of posters on campus have informed us that Clinton will receive “the vice presidency of the Law society” in a ceremony at the Burlington Hotel. (The reasons for such advertising of an invitation only event can be left up to the reader to ponder.)

Clinton was the Democrat President of the US from 1992 to 2000. In this era of Bush and Cheney, and the neo conservative dominance, which has brought the world the horrors of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the era is often fondly recalled as a period where the world was more peaceful and US power softer and more benign.

The truth is somewhat different.

From support to the Cuban Embargo to support for the arms trade, Clintons Foreign policy is dismal from a Human rights point of view. Cindy Sheehan, the American anti-war activist who argues, His policies are responsible for killing more Iraqis that George Bush .

The Iraq sanctions imposed by Clinton were responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqis. There are other examples of Clinton s woeful record that come to mind. But the Iraqi situation, from sanctions under Clinton to invasion under Bush, represents something of the continuity of US foreign policy whether implemented by a Democrat or Republican President.

In many ways, there is little discernible difference between the approach of recent Democratic and Republican Presidents. Both have shamelessly promoted the interests of big business at all costs, at home and abroad. This is not to say that the Democrats

and Republican parties are the same. The Democrats, for example, are far more likely to receive support from the working classes and ethnic minorities than Republicans.

In the House of Representatives and in trade union movement, there are Democrats who would be described as on the Left if they were politically active in Ireland. But when it comes to who runs for President, money talks. Candidates who challenge the interests of big business are unlikely to be able to match the multi millions required to even feature in the primary elections.

Clinton wrote to him telling him why he should die and this letter was distributed to the press It has difficult to discern exactly what Bill Clinton s politics are - his language is soft, the message vague. It was in the 1990 primary presidential campaign where Bill Clinton unveiled some of his real politics.

Rickey Ray Rector, a black man who killed a police officer before turning the gun on himself and losing a square three inch section of his brain in the process, was killed by lethal injection in the Arkansas state penitentiary on January 25th 1992. By the time of his trail, medical report estimated Ray had a metal age of six.

Clinton wrote to him telling him why he should die and this letter was distributed to the press. He made sure he was in Arkansas at the time of Rickey Rays killing so as

to be associated with the killing of a man who was severely mentally and physically disabled.

Don t expect any of this to be raised during Clinton s visit to Ireland. The media coverage will inevitably be soft focus and any of Clintons own platitudes condescending and patronising. There will be talk of a “special relationship” between Clinton and Ireland and perhaps solemn declarations about Clintons Role in the peace process in Northern Ireland. The former Fianna Fáil Minster Jim McDaid once went as far as to compare him to Jesus.

Many of us are concerned about the impact of US foreign policy. However, the solution lies not in the replacement of Bush and the neo-cons with a softer, more presentable US Democrat in the White House. The Clinton era proves this.

What is required in America is surely a change of politics - one where new structures and grassroots movements can challenge the hegemony of neo-liberalism which results when both major parties are reliant on funding from major Business interests.

Strict limits ought to be imposed on corporate donations and access to advertising resources not limited to those funded by multi millionaires. The world is also desperately in the need of global democratic structures that do not allow any one power to dominate.

During Clintons visit here, there is need for some honesty and less bowing and scraping. The real Bill Clinton, and the real solutions to the dread of US foreign policy, will not be revealed if we don t seek out what lurks beneath the hype and spin.

COMMENT 9

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

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.

Coca Cola

Editorial

Dear Editor, An article I wrote about Cokes crimes in Columbia appeared in the last edition of the College Tribune. Although my name appeared on the piece, it was not in truth my work. The word alleged was inserted a number of times with regard to Cokes behaviour in Columbia.

Sadly, there is noting alleged about the attacks on trade unionists in Cokes bottling plants nor is there anything alleged about the fact that Columbia is the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist. Readers can find out more at www.killercoke.org.

Yours sincerely, Paul Dillon.

B&L Society Sir, Stephen Quinlivan seems preoccupied with his right to buy Coca-Cola (Issue 1).

As Mr. Quinlivan is a student of Business, I expect he will be able to tell me why he thinks this right is more important than the right of an organisation involved in commercial activity (such as the SU shop) to decide what products they do and do not stock.

I would also be interested to hear whether he thinks there is any more appropriate method of deciding what products to sell other than by democratically asking the owners of the organisation (as was done in the 2003 referenda).

Perhaps Mr. Quinlivan would like to argue that businesses should be obliged to sell certain products at the whim of consumers, and should have no say themselves in the situation.

I await his reply with anticipation, Yours etc, Jane Horgan-Jones 3rd Arts

Registration Problems To whom it concerns I’m sure you’re aware of the problems re: this year’s online registration, I thought I was one of the lucky ones who escaped it, however that is not the case. I’m a 2nd year arts student doing Mode 1 English, whereby most of my credits were pre-selected (40 in total) so I only to picked my seminar options and electives, which I successfully registered.

However I noticed that two of the pre-selected Mode 1 modules were placed on the same day, Friday afternoon from 12 - 1.50pm on the semester 1 calendar, I emailed the student desk to rectify the problem. They didn’t, however someone took of one of the modules and forgot to put it on the semester 2 calendar, so I received the below generic standard e-mail stating I was not fully registered for the 60 credits, even though I have registered for 60 credits. I hope you will highlight this issue in the paper as the mistake is on their behalf, not mine. I have emailed the student desk, Hugh Brady’s office and Mary Daly’s office.

Many regards Helen Quinn

Distressed Students T

he amount of distressed students the College Tribune has been in contact with in the past week is nothing short of an absolute disgrace.

The amount of academics that have spoken in confidence to the College Tribune regarding their fears and feelings of intimidation regarding this college’s administration is as shocking as it is frightening.

There is a general consensus that a ‘dumbing-down’ process is currently underway in UCD. The college is dropping smaller courses that require serious graft and determination. Courses such as Early Irish and the Film Studies module that was investigated by the College Tribune have been axed.

It is quite incredulous at the same time to read some of the coverage UCD has been getting in the national media, during the same week that one student has come out, stating she is actually unaware as to what her degree will be in when she graduates at the end of the year.

The student has expressed a clear interest in learning the subject, coming all the way from the Netherlands to study it. The college also turned away four students who wished to do a post-graduate in the course, so it is clear that, despite the claims of the college, there is in fact a demand for this course.

Another final year student stating that he has had to take modules in history and archaeology despite the fact that he has no experience in these areas.

The College’s response regarding these issues when contacted by the College Tribune, were anything but satisfactory.

A different group of students, taking Film Studies, have missed the vast majority of lectures and practicals in their course as a result of “expensive, specialist equipment” that is broken. Equipment that turned out to be a E300 light bulb that would take only a day to arrive at the college once ordered.

It seems that UCD are more interested in portraying a public image of excellence in the fields of research in order to climb the university rankings. Once again, it is the students and staff alike who are being compromised in order to achieve this.

These stories seem almost unbelievable. The situation students in this college find themselves in is farcical. And at the same time, President Hugh Brady is pictured in the Irish Times sat in an armchair, telling the country that everything is great in UCD. Nothing could be further from the truth. The most important component of the college is the students. And it is they who are being lost in the shroud of this re-structuring process. It is they who are being forgotten by the college. And it is they who deserve to be filling the column inches of the Irish Times.

10 FEATURES

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

It's just so hard to keep the faith Paul O’Donnell examines the apathy of young Catholics toward religion in Ireland today In 1979 the then Pope, John Paul II, paid a visit to Ireland to spread the word of God to his flock in Ireland.

Thousands of people turned out to see the speeches he gave, the main one being in the Phoenix Park, attended by hundreds of thousands of people. A large percentage of these were young people to whom the pontiff appealed: “Do not close your eyes to the moral sickness that stalks your society today and from which your youth alone will not protect you.” Not to end on a pessimistic note however, he concluded by stating: “Young people of Ireland, I love you.” This drew rapturous cheers from the crowd and is one of peoples’ most vivid memories of his visit.

If we return to the present, one wonders whether a visit by the current Pope, Benedict XVI, would elicit the same response from the youth of this country.

Would hundreds of thousands of young people turn out to see the “Holy Father”?

This of course is impossible to answer but if we were to draw on figures of church attendance in this country, and what age groups are attending, then one would be sceptical to say the least.

A poll taken in 2003 by RTE found that about 50 percent of people aged 18 or older attended mass, this was down 10 percent from a poll taken in 1998. Now at face value these figures may seem surprisingly high but when you compare this with the fact that such polls taken before the 1970s returned a result of over 90 percent then it is obvious that things have dramatically changed over the years. What explanation can be given for this disillusionment of the Irish youth with the Catholic Church?

Amy Carey, auditor of the UCD Christian Union agrees that for the most part the youth of Ireland are less concerned with, or certainly less involved in, the Catholic Church than they were some thirty or forty years ago. She feels, “ young people just can’t find anything that is of relevance to them within the Church; it just seems so backward from every other part of life and everything else that’s going on. It just appears to people as a place with rules and a structure so people, especially students, just

don’t want that.”

She does not, however, feel that young people have turned completely away from Catholicism, on the contrary it is the institutional structure of the Church that is causing so many young peoples’ apathy towards the Church: “I reckon it would be the institutions rather than their core beliefs that they are turning away from.”

Dr. Brendan Purcell of the UCD School of Philosophy, himself a Catholic priest, gives one possible explanation, “the Church has not, in some ways, given an impression of being close to them [young people]. Have we been close enough to the kind of questions being asked today? I’m sure there have been individuals who have been but certainly as a Church maybe we have taken for granted an earlier status that we had in this society.” However, the UCD Christian Union signed up over a hundred people at their desk in the Fresher’s Tent this year, a figure that Ms. Carey says “is the

it’s not the most important thing…and they don’t want to give up time to it but when it comes down to the important things like baptism, marriage and death then people go back to it; at important moments in their lives people go back to it.”

Should anyone who considers themselves Catholic be a ‘full-time’ Catholic?

Dr. Purcell feels that “By now the Gospel has been stripped down to is the essentials, so if you want to follow Christ, you know the big thing is to try and basically love your neighbour, be ready to lay down your life for your friend, forgive a lot, the key core things that are there are not going to change.”

It was also put it to Ms. Carey whether or not she thought this disillusionment was a new thing, “I think people weren’t allowed to question the church before so people didn’t, it was just a given, something that was accepted.

Whereas now people have been exposed to different things; being encouraged to question things, to explore different things, to learn, to criticize things.

“Especially students, [for example] Arts students, the whole point of their degree is to learn to be critical so maybe they look at the Church and they do question things.” Dr. Purcell picks up on this and feels that people asking questions about their religion is a good thing, “that’s the world we’re in, and is that any worse than a world where people were lined up to go somewhere simply because the whole school was going somewhere?”

One constant reason that is cited for young people’s apathy towards the Catholic Church in today’s world is that we

"We feel we are representing Christ, to offer them [the teachings of the Gospel], if we do that this Church has a great future but if we fail to do that then to hell with us" largest we’ve ever had”. So what is the reality of Irish students’ attitude to the church?

It would appear that what exists in Ireland today are two types of Catholics: those who are fully devout to their religion; they attend mass regularly and apply religion to their daily life, and those who take the so called “a la carte” approach, that is, engaging with Catholicism in a somewhat incremental way, using it when they feel they need it most.

As Ms. Carey says, “people still feel the Church is important to them even if

Hip to the masses: Pope John Paul II's 1979 visit attracted millions

live in an age of consumerism; a materialistic world where our spirituality is not as important a factor as perhaps it once was. Looking at this in an Irish context, our recent economic prosperity could be seen as the main reason why people are turning away from the Church.

Many Irish youths see the 70s and 80s as a bleak time when financial hardship was one of the key reasons for people being so devout to their religion: it gave them hope. Yet today most Irish youths are not faced with such financial hardships, and as a result do not need the Church as much as their relatives in past decades may have.

As for the future of the youth with the Catholic Church, Ms. Carey believes that for the Church to play an important part in young people’s lives “it will change, there has to be changes… not in the belief system of the Church but maybe in more of what it does, it maybe needs to become more youth-focussed. I think…

people still need to be able to see that the Church is relevant to them.”

Interestingly Dr. Purcell says that: “My experience with a whole pile of young people, those who are on their feet trying to make the Gospel work, [is that] they are pretty much always in Christian movements; a whole lot of them Catholic movements and others, which are lay movements, they’re alive and well… I’m finding they’re putting it up to me, they’re living the Gospel a hundred per cent, as modern young people in the world today, they’re sharing their goods.”

Although he does note that “they are a little flock, there’s not that many of them” he feels that for people like himself and the Catholic movements “and the many other students here, I think its up to us, if we feel we are representing Christ, to offer them [the teachings of the Gospel], if we do that this Church has a great future but if we fail to do that then to hell with us.”

FEATURES 11

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

“A minority commit atrocities and Muslims in general are labelled"

Alexa Byrne explores the world of young Muslims in this country and comes up with some intriguing points If you ask any young Irish person how big a role their faith plays in their lives, the odds are you’ll get a blank look. Much has been discusses about the apathy among Irish youths towards their faith. However, there is a group of young people in Ireland whose lives are directed entirely by their religion – the relatively small but significant Muslim population.

Even those who consider themselves practising Catholics might only attend Mass once a week. Muslims must pray five times a day, as well as attending a service at the mosque every Friday. They must give a percentage of their annual income to charity, abstain from both eating and sexual relations between sunrise and sunset during the month of Ramadan. On top of that, they are forbidden to drink alcohol and cannot have relationships before marriage.

How do young Muslims reconcile their lives in Ireland with the teachings of the Qur’an?

Mustafid (30), the youth co-ordinator of the mosque in Clonskeagh explains, “One of my aims at the mosque, one of my goals, is to ensure that young Muslims are in touch with their faith as well as in touch with the culture that they live in. We have about forty 15-19 year olds, and about 70 children.

“We try to organise activities around the mosque to keep them always attached to the mosque and to have love for the mosque. I was born and brought up in the West, in London, so I understand a lot of the problems they’ll be facing as Muslim youths growing up in a culture that in the beginning may seem different to what they are used to at home. In my role as youth co-ordinator I give them the ability to be able to meet the challenges of the foreign community.”

Some of the challenges faced by young Muslims begin in school. “It’s not the general picture but one or two schools have been a bit uncooperative regarding the prayers, which are very important for Muslims. They are a central pillar of the children’s faith. It’s not an option that they have - it’s obligatory.

Some kids have found it difficult to establish a prayer room where they can have their prayer service in school,” says Mustafid. “But in most cases it’s a good experience. They’re just normal schoolchildren that have their ups and downs in school like any teenager would.”

Muslim youths face many challenges when it comes to peer pressure from their non-Muslim friends. Alcohol consumption is forbidden to Muslims. Mustafid doesn’t consider it a major concern. “Without doubt there are boundaries and restrictions. One of them is the alcohol which isn’t too much of a problem, because I think young Muslims can very quickly see the benefit of not drinking. That is not too much of an issue.”

However, when I spoke to Shafique (28), a Pakistani Muslim who has been living in Ireland for five years and completed a one-year diploma here, he admitted that it is an issue for him. “To be honest with you, it’s very difficult. When you’re working or in college, obviously this is the cultural thing here, that you go out and drink with your classmates or workmates. Although I’m a Muslim, I don’t mind sometimes. I do it, I go out with them and just drink sometimes.”

Mustafid acknowledges that Muslims do find it a challenge to resist pressure to disobey the teachings of their faith. “When I was at school, the majority of people were not Muslims and I had to always give answers for my faith. I remember very specifically going on a geography field trip when all my friends were smoking hash. They offered it to me and obviously I’m not allowed to smoke or take drugs. You’ve got all these people there asking you to do it. As a Muslim we’re always taught to submit our lives to God and He comes before everything else before friends, before peer pressure, before even your own parents. So for me it was like ‘No, I’m not going to submit to peer pressure.’”

He seems to think that the biggest problem for young Irish Muslims is not drugs or alcohol, but premarital relationships. “In Islam we’re not emotionally tied up in relationships before marriage.

As a Muslim we're always taught to submit our lives to God and He comes before everything else - before friends, before peer pressure, before even your own parents

Sex before marriage is not allowed and is regarded as something to resist. I would say that is the single biggest issue that concerns young Muslims at the moment. In Islamic societies, there are mechanisms in place to ensure that young people are not really tied up in relationships before marriage. But here it’s a lot freer, and parents find it more difficult to control their children.”

According to Mustafid, another problem facing Irish Muslims is media prejudice. “I would say that the media in Ireland is probably worse than it is in the UK, and the UK is notorious for its media.

They’ll take a story and completely dissect it and give it a lot more importance than it’s due…a minority commit atrocities and Muslims in general are labelled. The media must act responsibly because it can alienate young Muslims.

“They will read these articles and they’re not going to think that this is the opinion of the newspaper, they’re going to think it’s the opinion of the Irish people. They think ‘My teachers will read this, my employers will read this, and this is what they think of me.’ That will lead to them feeling marginalised, feeling like they’re being treated like some kind of foreign body, when a lot of them have done no harm to the community they’ve done a lot of good. The media, in printing

these articles, are very irresponsible. It will lead to the very thing they’re warning against, like a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is the very thing that feeds into extremism and can feed into terrorism.”

Shafique agrees with Mustafid on this issue.

“The Irish media should do more research before they print these articles [about Muslims].” When asked about the recent media frenzy about the Pope’s comment, Shafique is dismissive. “I really don’t care. I think his message was misinterpreted. The big thing is that the Pope actually apologised…I would say that he’s a good person.

It doesn’t matter that he’s a Christian, the person that can say sorry after his mistake – I would say that is a good, big person. A great person.”

As for integrating into an Irish community, both Muslims were of the opinion that there was generally little prejudice or problems encountered.

“I’ve found Irish people to be a lot more welcoming than in the UK, even though the UK is much more multicultural,” says Mustafid.

“I hear that some Muslims have had bad experiences in countries like France, Germany and Belgium. There’s a wave of Islamophobia and a lot of Muslims feel unwelcome in these countries. I haven’t had a problem at all with Irish people.”

14 FEATURES

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

“In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king."

Matthew Parkinson-Bennett recalls his Erasmus experience back packing through the streets of Amsterdam with can in hand My backpack was too heavy, the sun was too hot, and the future too impossibly unknown, but I had a bellyful of excitement that put a smile on my face as I sweated my way from Amsterdam’s central train station on the first day of my year’s stay. The street which leads towards Dam, the city’s main square, is an eclectic one and very much the deep-end as far as experiencing the city goes.

A large face, covered with blood, loomed towards me out of the gabbling crowd, and another face popped out from behind it aching a grin at me: “Jesus loves you!” A few paces on and another dark, haggard face half-emerged from the shadow and hung its eyes heavily on me: “Hey Gringo, want any coke?” The coffeeshop (cannabis smoking bar, for the uninitiated) across the road from my first abode offered a discount to customers of my hostel. Right so. I’d arrived and it was all that I had never really expected.

I soon got used to the unavoidable, on-every-street-corner, weirdnesses of the town. The Dutch have few scruples when it comes to allowing the seedier realities of the city to display themselves. This leads at one extreme to the Red Light District with barely-dressed prostitutes standing in windows – twenty percent of whom are victims of human trafficking, working against their will. It also extends to a general lack of judgementalism within the population.

The junkie community openly sells cheap stolen bikes outside the University’s Arts faculty – drug addiction is seen and treated as a medical, rather than simply criminal, problem. There is no sense, even on the city’s equivalent of Grafton Street, of people watching each

Amsterdam, however, has the advantage of accommodating most interests, and its small scale means that before too long I’d located bars that showed the films I liked and clubs that played the music I liked. Amsterdam has the highest concentration of galleries and art museums of any city in the world, and 2006 being the 400th anniversary of Rembrandt’s birth meant that it was hard to let a week go by without soaking-up some of the culture on offer in the town. I soon discovered the city as I wished to experience it, and boredom only entered my life at brief moments when I left the door unlocked and allowed it in.

Erasmus, like all good things, begins at home. Should you decide "Never will you hear to apply, be prepared to accept a place in a city other than your firsta snide remark from choice. You will be assigned a parstranger to stranger. ticular lecturer within your departTolerance, which implies ment to act as your “co-ordinator”, a vague role mostly concerning the unvoiced disapproval, academic side of things, such as approving your course choices. is not the right word, “Modularisation”, the current because there is no bane of UCD students and staff disapproval to start with" alike, is close to the norm of operation of most European universities.

Myths that the Irish can and do This allowed me, although under the drink far more than anybody else were auspices of the English department at quickly blown out of the water as the UCD, to study courses outside my own parties began in earnest from the first discipline. night, and ebbed little before the last. It Many courses were offered in the is a daunting task to embark alone on English language, and were attended a year’s study abroad. And I can recall by Dutch and international students in now, if I slide my rose-tinted specs a lit- almost equal measure. Areas I studied tle down my nose, lying in bed hearing included African and Indian cinema parties exploding like mushrooms out and a comparative study of genocides of the ground all around me, feeling not of the 20th century as well as those a lot like socialising but not a lot like directly related to my degree subjects. sleeping either, with a cloud of intimiThere were several differences in dation swelling in my mind. Now I was approach between the Dutch and Irish beginning to wish I was more involved. university systems. Class presentations other and judging. Never will you hear a snide remark from stranger to stranger.

Tolerance, which implies unvoiced disapproval, is not the right word, because there is no disapproval to start with.

As an Erasmus student, I lived in one of many buildings around the city, which hold the several-hundred-strong population of international exchange students.

It is primarily with the residents of this archipelago that a student embarking on Erasmus can expect to socialise. The level of English spoken in the Netherlands is very high – not only did I not learn any Dutch, I studied Shakespeare with Dutch students whose comprehension would shame many Irish students.

were more prevailant than here, and multiple-choice exams were among the unfamiliar methods of assessments I encountered. Also alien to me was the marking system, which graded out of ten rather than 100 and made possible a score of 10.

There is a familiarity between Dutch lecturers and their students that most international students found strange.

The generally small class sizes – by comparison with the standard I’d been used to – created a working environment which was sometimes too cosy, but generally more congenial than the impersonally huge lectures of the UCD Arts faculty.

My living arrangements were takencare of before my departure, through a housing company with a working arrangement with my host university, the “Universiteit van Amsterdam”. The advantage of this was that I lived with a randomly selected group of students from around the world. The disadvantage was that our rent, by the typical standards of the city, were high, a fact I had no knowledge of beforehand.

Several friends of mine sought alternative accomodation after the first semester, and found apartments that

were generally both cheaper and nicer.

Anybody embarking on such an exchange would be best advised to check local rent prices before accepting the easy option that is university-designated accomodation.

The exchange year abroad is a unique opportunity, to use a phrase probably echoed in saccharine pamphlets around the campuses of the world. The chance to spend time in another country while pursuing one’s studies – in other words, having an abundance of time for socialising and really exploring the place to a level deeper than any tourist will or could – is something that, ideally, every student should leave college having taken advantage of.

If you choose to apply, however, don’t expect to interact with the place quite as the locals do. Most of your acquaintances will be made within the international community, but this in itself, meeting and living with people from all over the world, is perhaps the most exciting aspect of the experience.

The Erasmus exchange scheme is named-after a Dutch 15th-century philosopher, who coined the phrase, “In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.”

FEATURES 15

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

Perving in the Parisian underground Claire Spelman investigates the issue of sexual harassment for young women traveling the world For any traveler, safety is always going to be an issue. During a month’s travels with four friends, one UCD student discovered that there are threats that can scarcely be predicted and there are few precautions individual women can take against it. That is the threat of sexual harassment.

She recalls “This summer I traveled by train to several European destinations.

Three weeks into the trip, we arrived in Paris. There had of course been a few hiccups and some petty squabbling. We had managed to delay the Budapest to Prague train by a half an hour and seen a racially motivated knife fight on the underground in Vienna. All the same, we still loved each other. We were happy and still had an overall sense of security.

“A few days into our nine-day stay we had already lost a lot of our drive to go into the city or even leave the hostel.

We were sleeping-in and hanging out in our hostel because we were utterly jaded by our experience on the streets of Paris. That experience was one of persistent harassment. It seemed that every time we’d stop for even a minute, men would approach us and invade our personal space, doing anything from staring to grabbing.

“Most women have had the experience of unwanted male attention. Normally if a guy approaches you on the streets of Dublin and your personal space in a sexual way, it is enough to simply would walk away and ignore him.

It’s easy to quickly forget an incident like that when it’s a rare occasion.

“But in Paris it seemed that the occasions when men actually approached and grabbed women were sewn together by constant instances of random men staring and making comments everywhere we went. It is very intimidating, and eventually became a threat one had to be constantly aware of. It made us very uncomfortable, and happened repeatedly everyday of our stay.

“Finally on our last day in Paris, as we were walking through the metro a guy grabbed one of my friend’s breasts as he passed her. Arriving to the platform, on the verge of tears, we realised

that he had followed us to the platform.

He proceeded to grab himself and mimic our requests for him to leave us alone.

“Eventually, after the girl he had touched had tried to push him from her and turned away, he punched her in the head, hard enough to send her stumbling off towards the tracks. Then, in an act so telling of his sheer courage, he legged it.”

Another victim of sexual harassment confided, “I hate the fact that we have to be aware of the fact that we were women. That I was repeatedly reminded of the fact that I’m a woman and they were men.” Another agreed, “It’s like being repeatedly put in your place.”

The College Tribune contacted the Professor of Medieval History and Women’s Studies, Dr Mary McAuliffe, about this issue. Speaking about the precautions women traveling alone might take to avoid such experiences, she felt that, once proper respect is paid to local customs and traditions, it is not the woman’s behaviour that needs to be looked at, but the focus should be laid on the men’s, and they should take responsibility for themselves.

“I know lots of women say it’s great when they’re walking along, and using the kind of stereotypical image, the builders say ‘wahey’ or ‘looking good darling’ or something like that. We’re all human and that can feel great when somebody says that.” she said.

“But when it affects your enjoyment or makes you feel threatened, some-

needs to be questioned. Why do some men think that’s ok? And it needs to be asked of men.”

Dr McAuliffe commented on the dehumanising effect of viewing and treating a woman in this way. “It’s also breaking you down into your component parts, you’re no longer a person, you’re a pair of breasts just sitting there, that just happen to be attached to somebody. So your integrity is being undermined by your body being objectified like this.”

“We’re socialised mainly in the home and in our educational system. That’s where those attitudes need to be broken down, in the very beginning. I think people, particularly young boys, need to be taught that

"It seemed that every time we'd stop for even a minute, men would approach us and invade our personal space, doing anything from staring to grabbing" body encroaching on your space in a sexual way, that is something that really

looking at women as sexual objects in the normal everyday run of things, when they’re walking down the street, touching them inappropriately, is not good manners, it’s not allowed, it’s nasty to them, it’s upsetting to women and really shouldn’t be part of society and how you treat women.”

The student who was harassed in Paris also stated, “One thing that bothered me a lot was the question, what must a guy think of women to treat them in this manner? I found it hard to believe that men who acted like this towards women could have a normal relationship with a woman.”

Dr McAuliffe felt that the fact that we were foreigners had a lot to do with these incidents. “Probably most of those guys have mothers and girl friends and

if they saw you doing that to their women, they probably would be very angry.

There is an attitude of: ‘these are my women and that’s not ok,’ but these are other women and they are ok to treat in this manner, because you’re not part of that community, you’re part of that ‘other’.

“And often women through history were ‘othered’, seen as not part of the community and objectified, seen as danger even, people who invited lust.

So, it’s actually your fault, inciting lust in this guy. And he had to behave, he had to act on that.” What is required in order to solve this issue according to McAuliffe is “a total re-education, resocialisation from a young age, that this is not acceptable behaviour towards women or between men and women.”

16 FEATURES

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

Let me entertain you

Home to many students, Rathmines is a link between all inner suburban areas and town, Matthew Parkinson-Bennett explores both it’s general entertainment value and the various watering holes it has to offer As one of the few areas of Dublin, so close to the centre, that has held onto its identity as a village, Rathmines is becoming increasingly modernised. It nonetheless retains some of its old ramshackle character and as such straddles two eras of the city.

The Stella cinema, for so long an em-

blem of the city at its grottiest, where every screening would be attended by at least one group of teenagers adding to the deep piles of Dutch Gold cans in the channels between seat rows, has closed.

But there are still a number of bars that manage to combine hygiene with character and represent some of the

r e h s ot illy' M e R

's

ery

t

at Sl

The place in Rathmines closest to what a tourist might recognise as “zee traditionelle Ireesh pub", Slattery's is all sloping wooden tables, hard flagstone floors and great pints of the black stuff. It also has one of the best weekend atmospheres for miles around, attracting faithful followers of all sorts who know a good pint when they taste it.

The mix of clientele is particularly notable, with local raggedy students and elder statesmen all swaying together. Live music upstairs every Saturday night further marks Slattery's out as a cut above the competition, especially given that it's usually of a good standard.

Definitely worth checking out, but unless you happen to be writing a play about Dublin life, don't go there during the day: the line of saggy old men drinking but not speaking might just put you off the sauce for good.

Attached to the Rathmines Hotel, the pub affectionately known as “Ma Reilly’s” attracts some of the most loyal customers in the area. Here, “regular” does not indicate old men with bulbous noses trailing their last strands of hair into a pint and a small one, but a more lively young crowd.

The music is consistently good, and gets better on the regular nights when live bands of the sit-down kind play before the roaring fire. It serves some of the best pub grub in the area, including great big platters of deep-fat-fried everything to perfectly accompany the halfway-point of a night’s drinking.

Smokers may enjoy the fact that you can enjoy the warmed beer garden and the (unimposing) football screens at the same time. Reilly’s excellently combines a buzzing weekend atmosphere, which never spills over into rowdiness, with a few quieter nooks.

One of the few places in Rathmines that ever gets dangerously rowdy. There have been stories of men rushing out and starting to wildly swing kicks into cars parked on the kerb.

On this particular occasion, the owner of the said car followed the individual outside, and it was only the Gardai, who probably have a special Rody’s unit on standby at weekends, prevented a brawl.

During the day, you’ll find people doing crosswords by the great fireplace. At night however, it becomes packed. Very popular with a country crowd, GAA shirts are not a problem to the surly bouncers on the door. And if standing cross-armed in a crowded pub that’s too loud to hear the person

Moda Though stigmatised as the preserve of a black shirt and beree type of trendy crowd, Moda attracts a range of customers, from local businessmen to kids skipping school.

It offers by far the best coffee and comfiest seats in the region. Downstairs there are sofas and armchairs, games of Jenga and chess, with tropical fish playing their typecast role of sucking the boredom out of the room and re-releasing it as relaxation.

Upstairs has heavily-cushioned sofas which combine well with Moda’s legendary hot chocolate to lull even the most stressed Rathmines’ workers into a sleep that might outlast their lunch hour.

Good food, perhaps a little pricey but more affordable than a restaurant.

city’s best watering holes. Whether seeking a haven away from town to enjoy a few quiet pints, looking to stoke the fires ahead of a taxi-ride to town, a crawl down to George’s Street, or simply to prelude a Tramco adventure; Rathmines is a great place to start, middle and end a night-out.

co

m a r

T three feet from you, checking the ‘talent’ all night, is your glass of vodka, go for it.

dy ds o R lan Bo

o

o

ll be

rt o P

Easily the most popular club in the village after the demise of Savannah's, Tramco is especially popular with a UCD crowd.

Known for its reasonable prices and the vibrancy of its mostly student crowd, it represents one of the best clubbing options for nights outside of the city centre. If you must keep drinking and dancing, and the Portobello's charms are not to your liking, definitely choose this

The bad reputation of this place has for having an over-rowdy crowd is probably deserved, but after midnight on the weekend, it swells in both numbers and types as punters flock to the best-known late bar around.

You can boogie the night away on the ever-present dance floor, which seems to find itself re-located almost every day of the week. Brilliant for watching the customers of each establishment in the village collide in the high-energy late-night environment.

For those eccentrics who might spend time in the area outside of its booze halls, Rathmines has a few good spots on offer....

Mash

Goodfellas

This is comfort food heaven. As the name might suggest, bangers and mash is a specialty. And if you want to experience an old childhood favourite, as you never have before, this is your place.

Friendly staff also means that this relatively recent addition to the Rathmines suburbia has become popular with locals. Beats the pants off the ludicrously named, horribly sparse ‘Kafka' around the corner.

An alternative method of wasting your money after normal closing time is offered by Rathmines’ casino/pool-hall.

Don’t be put-off by what it claims to be: there isn’t a croupier in sight, the roulette wheel is computerised and the token red carpeting requires no fancy footwear. Bring your chips (of the potato kind, that is), take a nap on the sofa if you feel like it, and pour your coins into oblivion.

Stories include a night where every man in the place fell in love with this one particular girl. She was attired with high-heels and a dress. She tossed her handbag over her shoulder and slid across the beery floor on her knees to give a song-long air guitar accompaniment to AC/DC. After it concluded, she picked herself up, fixed her hair and returned to her Bacardi Breezer.

It's more for the Red Bull and Vodka type than the pints of Guinness man.

The Blueberry Market Nowhere is the cobbled-together, slightly eccentric mood of the area better witnessed than in this second-hand market.

Whether you are seeking a cut-price vinyl copy of an album by an ex-drummer of David Bowie's, a coverless erotic novel, a basket of stones somebody found on the beach or your fortune told through the ancient medium of Top-Trump cards, this market is the place for you.

Worth a visit even if it's only to eavesdrop on the conversation between stallholders and locals, which can range from the brilliantly witty to the hilariously inane.

TURBINE URBINE THE

VOLUME XX ISSUE II

IT’S SATIRE, STUPID! INSIDE

CONSTIPATED TONY BLAIR IN DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO GET RID OF BROWN AHERN TO LAUNCH NEW BOOK: ‘PS I OWE YOU’ SWEAT: MY PAEDOPHILE IN A PLAYGROUND HELL UNIVERSITY DISAPPEARING

BY DEGREES BERTIE: THAT MONEY WAS JUST RESTING IN MY ACCOUNT GARDENER RETURNS FROM LAP DANCING CLUB: FALLS INTO BUSH

STILL ONLY

31P

BERTIE: I’M SH*TING MESELF FULL EXCLUSIVE STORY: PAGE 11

UNDER FIRE PAIR TO BECOME DYNAMIC DUO As the dark clouds of the political underworld begin to gather over the heads of Britain and Ireland’s Prime Ministers, the Turbine can reveal that Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair have decided to join forces.

The under-pressure duo spoke exclusively to the Turbine last week about the angst that has “rocked our worlds,” this past few months, “and not in the good way,” the terrible twosome added.

“It’s basically bullshit,” stated Ahern when asked about the allegations of tax evasion on money he was given to sort out the breakdown of his marriage. “It was a loan. Not a gift. And even if it was a gift, so what? I bought Enda Kenny some nice gifts last Christmas. Did he pay tax on those? I don’t think so. Well that’s the last Christmas present I buy him, that’s for sure.”

Tony Blair was also peeved off with the souring of his fortunes in recent months. He told the Turbine “myself and Bertie have decided we’ve had enough. We’re leaving and we’re going to form our own party. It’ll be called ‘The Bertonies’. We’re obviously starting in a small way. There’s only the two of us, but we’re convinced, that together we can make it if we try.”

The Turbine can also reveal that the problematic pair have already agreed on the issue of leadership for the party. Blair stated, “As of tomorrow morning, I will stand down as leader of the Labour Party, and stand up as leader of ‘The Bertonies’. Actually, hang on, that doesn’t really make sense, basically I’m going to be the main man.

Bertie and Tony: Together, they are the Bertonies “But don’t worry, I’ve promised Bertie that I’ll Blair went on to describe how ‘The Bertonies’ stand down eventually and then he can have his would hold daily meetings in his treehouse out in turn. Obviously, I’m not going to give him a date, but the garden of his home in Sedgefield. “We’re going it will happen. I promise.” to have tea and cakes, and decide what we’re going The Turbine enquired as to the policies that ‘The to do about Gordon Brown ganging up on me. My Bertonies’ will follow. Ahern responded, “Well Enda mum says she thinks Bertie is a nice boy and can Kenny won’t be getting a Christmas card, you can come over whenever he likes. She keeps telling him count on that. Same goes for that Rabbite fella, he not to mind those naughty boys in Fine Gael and should stick to burrowing holes.”

Labour, and that he’s just fine the way he is.”

ECRVBNNUBY VTR CESWZEXC ‘VBNMBVRCDE’ POLSKI Whihedinhw mjvidn niadnna nhiadna hiahjd ma hadih ianhd ahidnia iadjijad.

Ih57n jki7rnju hythb3y76e yh6ebhu 7 nmr89u 890wr ef6b ihihfh ifis fijcn ihhiahdihi jbnad ihadihug fuwutqw ertyui,mnbvcd sdfghjkljh gfdsasoli kuhygtdfg hjkjhgfcdh jhgfghjkj hgfghiuytr deyuioi hgfghjklde rftgbyhnuj.

Sexdrctfv gybhunse xdrctfvygb hertgyh sedrtgybhde rftgyhuedrf tgybhujiws edrtyhuii kbvcxcvgb hnuytrexrdc tvybuhiyvtc rdxescrdvbu nuhtcrdxcd vfbnnbvtcrdx esrdcvftbyn huvtfcrddcvtb.

Ynnuhybvtcrdx ecrvbnnuby vtrcexswzexc vbnmbvrcde xswzaxcrxes wzaxcvbvtc rexswesx rcvbnnu hytrdcex Scbncrdexssx ecvbnhjmnh gvfcdxsecv bnnbvcdxesxr.

Ih57n jki7rnju hythb3y76e yh6ebhu 7 nmr89u 890wr ef6b ihihfh ifis fijcn ihhiahdihi jbnad ihadihug fuwutqw ertyui,mnbvcd Sdfghjkljh gfdsasoli kuhygtdfg hjkjhgfcdh jhgfghjkj hgfghiuytr deyuioi hgfghjklde rftgbyhnuj sexdrctfv gybhunse Xdrctfvygb hertgyh sedrtgybhde rftgyhuedrf tgybhujiws edrtyhuii kb-

vcxcvgb hnuytrexrdc tvybuhiyvtc rdxescrdvbu nuhtcrdxcd vfbnnbvtcrdx esrdcvftbyn huvtfcrddcvtb ynnuhybvtcrdx Ecrvbnnuby vtrcexswzexc vbnmbvrcde xswzaxcrxes wzaxcvbvtc rexswesx rcvbnnu hytrdcex scbncrdexssx ecvbnhjmnh gvfcdxsecv bnnbvcdxesxr.

Ih57n jki7rnju hy t h b 3 y 7 6 e yh6ebhu 7 nmr89u 890wr ef6b ihihfh ifis fijcn ihhiahdihi jbnad ihadihug fuwutqw ertyui,mnbvcd sdfghjkljh gfdsasoli Ku hy g t d f g hjkjhgfcdh jhgfghjkj hgfghiuytr deyuioi hgfghjklde rftgbyhnuj sexdrctfv gybhunse xdrctfvygb hertgyh sedrtgybhde rftgyhuedrf tgybhujiws edrtyhuii kbvcxcvgb hnuytrexrdc Tvybuhiyvtc rdxescrdvbu nuhtcrdxcd vfbnnbvtcrdx esrdcvftbyn huvt-

TURBINE URBINE

fcrddcvtb ynnuhybvtcrdx ecrvbnnuby vtrcexswzexc vbnmbvrcde Xswzaxcrxes wzaxcvbvtc rexswesx rcvbnnu hytrdcex scbncrdexssx ecvbnhjmnh gvfcdxsecv bnnbvcdxesxr.

Ih57n jki7rnju hythb3y76e yh6ebhu 7 nmr89u 890wr ef6b ihihfh ifis fijcn ihhiahdihi jbnad ihadihug fuwutqw ertyui,mnbvcd sdfghjkljh gfdsasoli Kuhygtdfg hjkjhgfcdh jhgfghjkj hgfghiuytr deyuioi hgfghjklde rftgbyhnuj sexdrctfv gybhunse xdrctfvygb Hertgyh sedrtgybhde rftgyhuedrf tgybhujiws edrtyhuii kbvcxcvgb hnuytrexrdc tvybuhiyvtc rdxescrdvbu nuhtcrdxcd vfbnnbvtcrdx

“YH6EBHU 7 NMR89U 890WR EF6B IHIHFH IFIS FIJCN IHHIAHDIHI JBNAD IHADIHUG IHHIAHDIHI”

Esrdcvftbyn huvtfcrddcvtb ynnuhybvtcrdx ecrvbnnuby vtrcexswzexc vbnmbvrcde xswzaxcrxes wzaxcvbvtc rexswesx rcvbnnu hytrdcex scbncrdexssx ecvbnhjmnh gvfcdxsecv bnnbvcdxesxr.

Ih57n jki7rnju hythb3y76e yh6ebhu 7 nmr89u 890wr ef6b ihihfh ifis fijcn ihhiahdihi jbnad ihadihug fuwutqw ertyui,mnbvcd Sdfghjkljh gfdsasoli kuhygtdfg hjkjhgfcdh jhgfghjkj hgfghiuytr deyuioi hgfghjklde rftgbyhnuj sexdrctfv gybhunse xdrctfvygb hertgyh Sedrtgybhde rftgyhuedrf tgybhujiws edrtyhuii kbvcxcvgb hnuytrexrdc tvybuhiyvtc rdxescrdvbu nuhtcrdxcd vfbnnbvtcrdx esrdcvftbyn huvtfcrddcvtb ynnuhybvtcrdx.

Ecrvbnnuby vtrcexswzexc vbnmbvrcde xswzaxcrxes wzaxcvbvtc rexswesx rcvbnnu hytrdcex scbncrdexssx ecvbnhjmnh gvfcdxsecv bnnbvcdxesxr.

18 REGULARS

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

PUB TALK

WITH

OWEN PRIESTLEY

THIS WEEK: MALE ETIQUETTE The amber streetlamps are no match for the sparkling diamonds that illuminate the autumn sky. The last memory of your filet mignon fades with dignity from your lonesome tastebuds. You feel the ever welcome pull of your heartstrings as the warmth of a hundred hearths passes from your ladies fingertips to yours as they brush with awkward passion.

You know that despite the fact you couldn't love her more, she felt the same way about you too. You look deep into her eyes, sea blue with a whirl of emerald green. You have to tell her before you burst. As you wrap your arms around and pull her in you can almost taste the warmth of her breath as it caresses your lower ear lobe.

You can't hold it any longer, you lean in so close that it feel likes your hearts have become one and whisper as soft as a fresh blanket of snow “Shit hun, I need to piss".

So there under the Dublin city streetlights you “whip it out" and be done with it, right there on the side of the street.

Now without a doubt this is an extreme example but every night of the week the streets of Dublin are draped in the aroma of freshly roasted urine.

This is not a stray occurance that you stumble across in a darkened alleyway. The men of the capital, the leaders of future generations, the doctors, the lawyers and the average joe for some unknown reason feel the urge to “relieve" themselves in full view of the Sheffield hen party. Bottom line, there is no excuse for pissing in public.

Think about it. Three or four times a week you get your best jeans on, you make sure you spend forty minutes making your hair look like you didn't bother touching it at all and you get the dancing shoes all polished up.

You go out you have a good time, you have a few beers, you try your hand at that Australian girl who keeps checking out your

Better out than in: Some punter who better read Pub Talk mate and everyone has a good time. Then you leave the club and it all goes down a slippery yellow slope.

The city's favourite late night pastime is simply inexcusable. It is an insult to the people you are with. It is an insult to our beautiful city and worst of all it is an insult to yourself.

You are subscribing to every article ever written about young adults in the national media that brand you insignificant thugs who do nothing but get hammered, start fights and rip the piss, excuse the pun.

So many times the discussion of chivalry is brought to the forum and “Pub Talk" isn't going to deal with that. Why? Because you shouldn't need to be told that holding a door open is the proper thing to do regardless of whether the girl or boy thanks you for it or not.

You shouldn't need to be told that girls

DOCTOR . HUGH

don't want to be treated like just one of the lads.

However, for some reason you need to be told that pissing on the side of the street is about as attractive as being covered in, well, piss.

There is no doubt you will think sometimes you just have to go, that when you get drunk it just creeps up on you and the whole thing isn't really that bad. Therein lies the main problem. Think about it. When did painting the town yellow instead of red become a socially acceptable practice.

Well next time you're out, count how many people you pass using the streetcorners, utilising the doorways and decorating someones lawn.

Count how many puddles or streams you step over when it hasn't rained for days and spare a thought for the girls who walk home with their shoes off.

REGULARS 19

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

PARALYSIS S I S ANALY O PART TW

This week our unsuspecting interviewees are members of the study abroad programmes hailing from as far as America, Canada and Australia.

Craig, an Australian with an awfully forced accent (who we suspect is pretending to be drunker than he actually is) almost begs us to talk to him.

Ruth, a vivacious blonde who thinks the Irish have never looked at a map was more than happy to oblige us.

Emily, a lovely girl with short black hair from Washington DC was the drunkest of the three and kept trying to pull up her shoulder strap even though it was never down.

We found out subjects huddled under the rain cover outside Messer Maguires on the Quays trying to avoid the rain.

So what do you think of George Bush?

Emily: Who? Oh Bush, he’s an absolute idiot .

But we are in a bar, why are you asking such

a stupid question. I’m sick of people asking me that just because I’m American.

Eh ok sorry, what do you reckon? (to Ruth):

Ruth: Well I don’t know I am from a small part of North America

and have the same hair.

Ruth: I think all the girls are really pretty and it’s scary going into class when everyone puts in so much effort. I like just sitting in lectures in my sweats and feeling comfortable. I haven’t felt comfortable in a lecture since I got here. They dress better for classes than they do when they go out, they dress really slutty when they go out to clubs.

Where?

It’s called Canada.

Craig: I don’t like Bush, I prefer girls who wax.

Ok, next question what do you think of UCD so far?

Craig: It’s great, the people are really nice. It is hard to remember who you have talked to because a lot of people look the same. Not just the girls, all the guys dress the same

Emily: UCD guys are great. They keep buying me drinks and paying for taxis. They are way more fun than American guys.

What do you think of Irish men and women:

Craig: The girls are all bitches. Not like the girls back home who are all easy for a root (a strange Australian term of unknown origin, to root, get rooted). I havn’t pulled once since I got here and I am good looking.

Ruth: No your not.

PHOTO OF THE FORTNIGHT

Craig: what?

Emily: I love Irish accents. Irish guys could say anything to me at all and I just go crazy.

Ruth: Northern accents are the best. When I was up in Belfast all the men were cuter and had awesome accents but they were really rude. Southern Irish guys are not as cute but some of them are better mannered.

At this point Craig starts shouting at two random girls beside us. They tell him where he can stick his roots. After the bouncers come over there wasn't much chance of continuing our little discussion.

Paralysis Analysis also came across a rather legless Eamon Dunphy on Grafton Street (See Below). Responding to some of our queries, he proceeded to burst into song.

I you ha f ppen to find positio yourself in a n like t free to h mates, send it in to u is, feel th s make a en even bett . If its your g o od sho er. We can expose t h e m for t w of them, tyrants h ideas i that they aree drunken n the bes to tribune@ . Send any t co cam issue wmment sent i pus.ie n i copy o ns a half-pric every f the C e Tribune ollege .

SPORT

SUPER LEAGUE with Jack Horgan Jones

As professional football continues its inexorable slide towards becoming an inhospitable pit of ceaseless bunging, it is worth remembering that in her infinite wisdom, UCD has yet again seen fit to grace the playing fields of Belfield with teams of varying fitness, ability and sobriety. As is the case with football the world over, an entity with such obvious marketability was inevitably going to fall under the evil eye of football tycoonery.

Seemingly from all angles, lecherous pimps hurled increasing amounts of money at the doorstep of Superleague, only retaining enough roubles and dollars to cover up the embarrassingly small lump in their pants, which had been awoken by the prospect of whoring the innocence of UCD Superleague off to various corporate cronies. Fortunately, all approaches were resisted and Superleague remains a chaste exponent of football at its grassroots level.

Disappointed moguls the world over wiped preemptive semen off their jet powered limousines

"UCD Superleague once again showed off her shiny new morals by avoiding the widely publicised controversy of the summer's tapping-up scandals, a tactic whereby a prospective employer makes an unethical approach for the employee of a rival.

Apparently shenanigans of this sort also happen in football" constructed entirely of money, and returned home to their dangerous foreign lands, cowed by the ideological supremacy and strength of the Superleague hierarchy.

UCD Superleague once again showed off her shiny new morals by avoiding the widely publicised controversy of the summer's tappingup scandals, a tactic whereby a prospective employer makes an unethical approach for the employee of a rival. Apparently shenanigans of this sort also happen in football.

The choice encounter thrown up by the first weekend's action involved last years creatively named high-flyers Ruck Fangers taking on highly fancied newcomers The Posh. The latter apparently are named after classy English side Peterborough, with coaching team John Synnot and Jonny McNally obviously being heavily influenced by the diplomatic managerial stylings of Steve Bleasdale and Barry Fry. The game itself was high-scoring, with the net being shaken at both ends a total of six times (albeit by the one side). The opposing teams employed varied styles of play, with the slick passing and pressure of Ruck Fangers being countered by some tough but fair tackling by The Posh's back four. Despite some heated encounters between players, the referee displayed great temperance to calm things down and allow the contest to develop.

After the match, de facto Posh captain Donnachadh Lawlor summed up his teams efforts by alluding to the ability within his team, “I'm very proud of how the lads conducted themselves. It would be fair to say that with the talents displayed by some of the lads out there, they really should make any seniors side." This game was truly a great example of what Superleague is all about: football for football's sake.

So Superleague was able to avoid the various allures of the Italian fallout and shameless bunging, despite many teams' hording transfer budgets the size of Martin Jol's head. They instead decided to donate these to victims of inadvertent damage caused by this epic edifice, and also to counselling groups dedicated to rehabilitating those damaged by Jose Mourinho's cutting wit and devastating coat collection, which was apparently cultivated with the sole purpose of embellishing his superiority over all men.

DOWN THE LINE

Swimming against the tide

The life and times of Roy Keane has often been one of tragedy.

Colin Gleeson explores the strength of his character and explains that it has deprived him of some of life’s ripest fruit If Roy Keane believes in reincarnation, he’ll For a man to have given to football what Roy and learn more about it. It is calm at times. probably come back as a salmon. Salmon are Keane has, and to receive what he has received Tame. But it can be menacing. Terrifying even battlers. They must overcome adversity in in exchange is the ultimate tragedy of his life. during high winds and rough tides. But it is alorder to reach their goal. Once fully grown, To be denied some of the greatest honours that ways beautiful. And most of the time at least, they begin the journey back to the stream exist in football. Having dragged this country to Roy Keane is like this. where they were born. No one is really sure a World Cup, he was denied the opportunity There is of course a tragic element to his how they find their way back to that one to captain his country at the finals. He claimed lifestyle. He seems to fall out with those whom special stream. Some scientists think the that McCarthy had accused him of feigning in- he grows close to. Alex Ferguson is a good exsalmon can smell very small differences in jury and had thus attacked the foundations of ample of this. Because he feels the necessity the water from different rivers, and that is his principles. He was subsequently sent home to always say what he feels, he is liable to lose how they know where to go. after the ensuing row. friends. More strength of character though. Real As salmon head upstream into rivers, they It must have been the greatest test of his friends should be able to argue. To fight and must pass all the same obstacles they faced character that he had ever faced. He knew the have it out when there’s a problem. Real men as young fish. The chemical pollution and dams prize at stake. All he had to do was pick up can stand up and say when something is wrong are still there, and sometimes the salmon can’t that phone. Swallow his principles and what he or not being done correctly, even when it’s a find good places to lay eggs because of erosion believed to be right. Choke on it even. The de- friend. When it’s harder. Part of his make-up reand siltation. But they keep going. Swimming sire to captain his country burning deep inside ally. Ultimately of course the twelve-year love always. Hard. The current always driving affair came to an end. them backwards. Still, they keep swimming. "Keane is undoubtedly a rare The fire inside Keane came raging forward They are so strong they can swim against two years ago when Manchester United visthe current and jump up small waterfalls. breed. A dying breed it would ited Highbury to play Arsenal in the PremierAnd all this, they do without food. Yes, he The row that took place in the tunnel seem. A man of principle. ship. would come back as one of those. When as the players prepared to take to the field the salmon finally gets upstream and when A man who will not deviate was Roy Keane at his most furious, certainly spawning is over, the adult salmon die. Their for a number of years. He claimed that six from what he believes to bodies become food for all kinds of scavengfoot four Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira had ing animals. Sounds familiar again. been intimidating Gary Neville, both verbally be right for anything or To be fair, nobody expected trumpets. Or and physically. anyone. Admirable" flags. It was just expected that one day he Keane launched an astonishing verbal atwould be gone. That he would just slip away tack on Vieira when he learned of what was in the night. Shakespeare would have told the him. But he remained strong. Gave it all up. His going on. He asked referee Graham Poll as to story in a much smarter way of course. The hopes and dreams. Gave it all up for what he why Vieira had decided to pick on Gary Neville demise of some king in some far flung land. believed to be right. Whatever about the me- rather than “one of us”. His fury at what was His demons finally getting the better of him. chanics of what went on in Saipan, the civil war effectively bullying by the Arsenal captain is In blood steeped so far and all that. Certainly a that engulfed Irish football and whose side you just another example of the sort of character tragedy. Roy Keane deserved better at times. were on. It has to be admired that Roy Keane Keane is. He went on to play one of the greatKeane is undoubtedly a rare breed. A dying stood by what he believed in and sacrificed his est games of his career and show Vieira, on the breed it would seem. A man of principle. A man dreams. field, who was boss. who will not deviate from what he believes to Few would argue with the fact that Roy After an angst-ridden playing career, Keane be right for anything or anyone. Admirable. He is Keane has made mistakes however. He has has bowed out at the highest level and will be now in his demise. His swansong approaching. done wrong. He has his problems and his own remembered by the real men of football for He cuts a strong man still. Despite the trag- demons. If you’re ever out at sea, try and think what he was. A footballer of incredible skill and edies that have befallen him. Bruised and bat- about what the ocean is. Deep. It’s mystery in- commitment. A man of absolute principle and tered maybe. But never broken. trigues us. Man constantly seeks to explore it irrefutable character.

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

WHAT’S ON 21

For Pete’s Sake...

UCD Soccer manager Pete Mahon writing exclusively for the College Tribune

The biggest buck I have is this TV3 ‘eircom League weekly’. UCD just don’t seem to get any kind of recognition or mention.

There have been a couple of weeks in succession that the only time we were mentioned was for the result of our game and the upcoming fixture. So how can they say it’s an ‘eircom League weekly’. It seems to be more like a ‘Cork City weekly’.

Big Trevor Welch is like a fella with two mickeys. He’s drooling over Cork when they’re doing well, and now he’s nearly crying, like our Taoiseach was the other day, because they’re not doing so well.

It seems to be ‘Cork City this, Cork City that’. Thankfully last week we were actually playing Cork, and big Trev gave us a mention on the “Cork City eircom League weekly”, as I call it. That has been a buck of mine.

Then t h e re ’ s all this you hear about certain clubs be-

ing told they were going to be in the eircom League Premier Division next season. The season is not even over. One case and point: I was speaking to Dundalk manager John Gill last week and he tells me that he was chatting to Tony McGuirk, the ex-manager of Bray Wanderers. It’s alleged he was told not to worry about Bray being bottom this year, because they were more or less guaranteed that they would be a part of the new format next year.

I have also just recently been in touch with Mark Dempsey, the assistant manager to Pat Scully at Shamrock Rovers, and they seem to think they will be in it as well. There are a lot of rumours going around, and it would have been better if we had have known the situation from the start of the season.

With no relegation or promotion this year, and just one spot to be taken up, what does the FAI plan to do? Will they just wait until the end of the season when they will see if Rovers win the First Division, and then make the easy decision of promoting them as the league champions? And everyone will live happily ever after.

According to John Gill, he claims they were told they wouldn’t be in the First Division. If all of this is true, as far as I know, we weren’t officially told anything good, bad or indifferent. It’s strange what you hear and I know that you shouldn’t listen to rumours, but when so many people say these things, then you begin to believe it.

Also, there is the issue of these full-time clubs. We played Derry on Sunday night in the quarter-final of the FAI Cup, in probably the most important game of our season. This was our second time in the space of a month that we have had to travel to Derry on a Sunday for a 6:30 kick-off.

The first time, Derry didn’t play for a week before it.

They faced Shelbourne in the cup the previous Sunday, and didn’t meet us until a week later. For a full-time

Trevor Welch: Not Pete's favourite man

team, with 24 players, what’s going on?

It is the same with Drogheda, we will play them on Saturday 14th October instead of the original date of Friday 13th. The reason we have received is that they’re playing Derry on the Tuesday and they want an extra days rest.

Then you look at us and what we’re doing. We had re-arranged any possible replay against Derry for this Tuesday night. I have all confidence in the fitness levels of my players and also in the recovery programme that we use. What is going on with these teams? Is it insecurity on their part, do they need a weeks rest to recover from games?

I know Derry have been caught up in Europe, and they may tell you that they are leaving dates bare because of possible cup replays, but if that does occur, then deal with it then, not two weeks beforehand.

Those are the kind of gripes that bug me about the league. There are a lot of things that are wrong and need to be put right, as soon as possible.

‘I didn't expect it to be so easy beating the World Champion' Ex-UCD student Katie Taylor has won a European Gold medal for boxing and has represented her country in soccer. Jordan Daly meets her and discovers how she does Expressing sheer delight after Irish competitor Katie Taylor retained her European Lightweight Gold medal; Irish Boxing Chief Gary Keegan put the victory into perspective. “This win ranks up there with the great sporting achievements of Irish athletes in any sport.”

Successfully defending her title, Taylor annihilated every opponent put in the ring with her, to gain a huge conquest for Irish boxing and sport in the country in general. “I didn’t expect it to be so easy.

I was boxing against the world champion in the final. I thought it was going to be a lot harder but I beat her in the second round.” She stated.

Speaking to the College Tribune, Taylor cited Roy Keane as an inspirational figure, on the road toward victory. “Roy Keane was my inspiration, Sonia O’Sullivan as well.”

The Irish star won 18:3 on the fifteenpoint rule after landing blow after blow of big right hands. She notched up four victories in Poland against a Swede, a Romanian, a Turk and Russian Tatinia Chayala in the Final.

Taylor truly is a rising star in Irish sport, gifted not only in the ring, but also on the football field. A powerful, free scoring centre forward, she has been capped on the Irish Senior Women’s side.

“I played a couple of international matches this year. I got player of the match against Russia in the World Cup Qualifier and also against Switzerland

Sonia O'Sullivan: An inspiration for Katie Taylor every step of the way when we won two nil, which was amazing” Unfortunately she hasn’t had chance to play much soccer this year with all the boxing commitments. The winding up of the qualifiers means that there aren’t any up and coming matches in the immediate future. However, when Taylor does get the chance, she is sure to shine for Noel King’s side.

Competing at club-level for Peaumont United, Katie puts her success in soccer down to the physical aspects of her boxing training. “The boxing definitely helps with football, the fitness levels and upper

body strength really aids me enormously, especially as I’m a striker.”

Inevitably, problems arise between the conflicting schedules of the two. She doesn’t need to think twice though, as her passion for one well outweighs the other. “I’ve had to choose between boxing and soccer a few times. When they have clashed I always go for boxing.”

Katie’s routine is a delicate balance of studying and strenuous training. Clashes in commitments have taken their toll, and in following her sporting ambition, she has been forced to change her academic field of choice.

“It’s been very tough now for the last year. I was in UCD last year but I was away for all of my exams, so I couldn’t really go into my second year of an Arts degree. I’m doing a fitness and leisure course in Sallynoggin College. It’s grand, the hours are a lot better.”

At the highest levels of performance, discipline is crucial. Physically and mentally, training for both sports is extremely demanding. “I’ve been doing it now for a few years with both the school and the club. So I’m kind of use to it. I just have to manage my time a bit better now.”

Training six days a week and abstain-

ing from alcohol completely would be too much to ask for most students, but Taylor has the iron will of a champion. She does however find some time to unwind.

“I just go to the cinema or whatever. I use to go out at the weekends with my friends but I don’t really go out that much anymore. I don’t drink at all.”

Key to her motivation and success is her coach and father, Peter. He pushes her to the limits and is in her corner at every fight. Giving morale support and priceless knowledge of the game is his job, while he punches every right jab with her along the way.

“My Dad boxed as well, he was the Irish champion. He is my role model. He has trained me all my life. He really helps me. I couldn’t have won the European Championship without him. My relationship with my father is brilliant. The boxing really brings us together.”

If she continues down this road of unrivalled success in years to come, Katie Taylor may find herself being looked up to by many aspiring athletes. Her dual talents make her a unique idle. There is no time for reflection though as Taylor looks to the future with a hunger and drive that is both insatiable and admirable.

“The World Championships are next, in November. I haven’t really had time for a break. I have to go straight back into the training. I am very confident but I know it’s going to be tough. I’ll have to be at the top of my game to win my next medal.”

22 SPORT

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

Students pay the penalty for “switching off" On the ball: UCD sweep forward with a rare attack

A ruthless Loreto performance meant the UCD Ladies Hockey Firsts paid dearly for a lapse in concentration after half-time, on a wet and dreary afternoon in Belfield last Saturday.

The visitors enjoyed a period of dominance in the first ten minutes of the second half, during which they took control of the encounter courtesy of strikes from Sarah Scott and Cathy McKeen from the penalty spot.

A hard fought first period saw momentum with the Rathfarnham side as they pushed forward in search of a breakthrough. Their grip on the game provided a stern challenge for the hosts who struggled to break down their well organised opponents. In the end, Scott’s second of the day

Eoin Delap

UCD Loreto

0 3

sealed it for Loreto, as College were forced to rue their lack of precision.

The opening half was a tight affair in which both defences impressed. Neither side translated assured play at the back into an attacking threat; as a result few chances were created. The best fell to Loreto forward Scott. She pushed a shot beyond goalkeeper Smithwick’s challenge, and the slow pace of the ball caused a scramble to prevent it reaching the line.

Incredulously, the ball managed to trickle through the traffic and into the net. The away team’s celebrations were cut short by the decision of the Umpire to disallow the goal, due to a foul on the defender.

The College defence remained resolute through the first fifteen minutes, as Loreto pushed for early advantage. Marshalled by Christine Quinlan, the rearguard allowed UCD to develop into the game so that they dominated the latter stages of the first half.

Unfortunately this proved a false dawn as an inspired Loreto side took control of the game.

The positive attitude they showed on resumption after the break proved fatal to College’s hopes. Their pace and precise passing ensured the robust defending that the home side had shown in the first-half less dominant in the second.

Play after the interval took place in better conditions than the first, and it was Loreto who took the initiative. The dryer surface allowed them push forward with more efficiency and accuracy through their increasingly dominant midfield.

It didn’t take long before Nikki Keogh was making significant progress through the College’s defence.

The first goal of the game came from one of Keogh’s devastating incursions. She laid the ball to Sarah Scott just outside the D, who advanced before neatly dispatching past Pamela Smithwick in the UCD goal.

Loreto’s second came from the penalty spot, after last ditch defending by College was deemed illegal by the Umpire. Cathy McKeen left the College wondering what had gone wrong at half-time, when she hit a sweetly struck penalty stroke that sailed by Smithwick to double the lead.

The visitors’ confidence was soaring as they took the game to a stunned UCD, with the aid of a buoyant travelling contingent. Again Keogh was causing problems as she advanced tellingly from midfield, ensuring Loreto attacking possession and delivering dangerous short and long corners.

The third goal came as Niamh Small slid the ball into the D, where Scott was at hand to slide it passed Smithwick. At this stage UCD were under intense pressure to chase the game and committing numbers forward. This concentration on offence was ultimately costly, as the Rathfarnham team extended their lead and put the result of the game beyond doubt. Nonetheless College showed good spirit and endeavoured to breakdown Loreto until the end.

College coach Peter Johnston was at pains to stress the positives; “In the first-half we played well. We had them under pressure, but we didn’t create enough. We didn’t get enough short corners or shots on target.”

Johnston was adamant about the causes for the key period of the game, saying; “We switched off for five minutes at the start of the second half and conceded two goals. After that we were chasing the game.”

Happier times: UCD ladies firsts with the Leinster Senior Cup

SPORT 23

College Tribune 3rd October 2006

Keeping his options open Goalkeeper Darren Quigley has stood out as UCD’s outstanding player so far this eircom League season. Ben Blake spoke to him last week about his good run of form, playing for Ireland and moving to England UCD have in recent months, earned involvement in the Ireland set-up. Prothe label of undisputed ‘draw spe- gressing right up through the undercialists’ in the eircom League Pre- age ranks, he is these days battling it out with Birmingham City’s Colin Doymier Division.

And glancing at the stats, there is le in the Under 21 squad. The Shankhill much evidence to back-up the sub- youngster cites his place in a green stance of this nickname. Sharing the jersey as an integral part in furthering spoils in eight of their last ten encoun- his career.

“It’s huge. It’s so important for myters, five of them have seen College self to be in the international squad. play out nil-all stalemates.

While their lack of firepower up Playing at UCD has really helped me.

I could be front has been well in England documented and re"Playing at UCD has as a secmains a persistent really helped me. I ond, third, problem, a positive or fourth synopsis can be excould be in England choice tracted from these results. That is their as a second, third, or keeper and wouldn’t tendency to keep fourth choice keeper Ibe getting a clean-sheets, both home and away. and I wouldn't be getting look in. So, first While the back a look in. So, playing playing team footfour can take much ball here has satisfaction from first team football been more their achievements, here has been more b e n e fi c i a l the lion’s share of for me.” the credit must go beneficial for me" With a to the man whose primary job it is to prevent goals. The number of players in recent times makindividual known as the last line of de- ing a thriving transition from the eirfence. The shot-stopper, the goal-ten- com League across the waters to the Championship and even the Premierder or simply just, the ‘keeper.

Darren Quigley has this season, ship, vigilant managers are tending to been receiving rave reviews for his keep a close eye on the progression of actions between the posts for the this country’s hottest prospects. Quigstudents. Producing several man of ley is no exception.

During the English transfer window, the match displays, his performance against Derry City last month stood the likes of Reading boss Steve Copout in particular. Superbly saving a pell and recently-vacated Charlton penalty, he was also on-hand to keep Athletic chief Alan Curbishley have visthe opposition at bay and bring their ited Belfield park to take a closer look hundred percent home record in the at the UCD man. He seems unfazed by the endless, circulating rumours, league to an end.

Dissecting his own form, he points and just wants to get on with what out his desire to continue playing on he does best.

“As I’m the international stage as his incen- "My contract is up at under contract, the tive, “I feel I’ve been doing really well re- UCD in November, so club doesn’t to cently. I had two or I'll see what happens have come and three blips during then and take my tell me if the year, where I was has really disappointed future from there. anyone approached to cost the team a few points. Lately Obviously I'd like to them, and though, when I got go back to England, they have said nothback from Galway that's the big aim, ing. I’ll just after not playing (in keep my Ireland’s recent 1-0 the big goal" head down. defeat to Belgium) for the Under 21’s because of suspen- You hear that there are big-name sion, I was gutted. So I worked really managers at games, but they could be hard to up my form and up my game there to look at any of the 22 players to make sure I’m in the next squad and on the pitch. So all you can do is keep your head down and make sure they make sure I get a game.”

Since arriving at Belfield in 2004, will be going away knowing there is the 20-year old has been a constant a good goalkeeper or a talented midrock for the side. Signing from Kildare fielder at UCD.” Quigley is no stranger to life at a top County as understudy to Neil Gallagher, he soon claimed the number English club. Snapped up some years one shirt midway through that season, ago by Manchester City as a raw 15despite Gallagher keeping nine clean year old, his dream move didn’t quite pan out as he had hoped. He explains, sheets in eleven games.

As previously mentioned, Quigley’s “I was only there three weeks when I obvious talent has seen his consistent broke my arm. So, that meant I was

Darren Quigley: Reaching for the stars out for 5 months. During that time, I found it extremely difficult to settle in. Then when I eventually got back training, I didn’t want to be there. I just wanted to be back home. So I came back and did my Leaving Cert.”

His unlucky experience hasn’t however put him off returning to the bigtime. With five years (two of which he has played as the first-team ‘keeper for a club in Ireland’s top division) under his belt, Quigley feels he now possesses the maturity and confidence to deal with the added pressure. If the opportunity did arise, there seems to

be no doubt that he would jump at the chance to give it another go.

“My contract is up at UCD in November, so I’ll see what happens then and take my future from there. Obviously I’d like to go back to England, that’s the big aim, the big goal. To hopefully get a contract in England and take things further on the international stage as well.”

If however, a move abroad doesn’t materialise, Quigley doesn’t see it as a massive problem. He will deal with it.

Speaking about next season’s restructuring, he outlines UCD’s aims.

“We’re just trying to concentrate on getting as high up the table, so we have a case to put against the FAI. For instance, if we finish sixth, seventh, we can’t be relegated for non-footballing issues.

“It would be a disgrace if UCD were dropped because we only have a small number of fans. We are actually one of the few teams in the bottom half of the table that try and play attractive football. Whereas you have the likes of Longford Town, Bray Wanderers or Waterford United who basically kick the ball long.”

THE TRAGEDY OF ROY KEANE DOWN THE LINE - PAGE 20

SPORT

NO JOY FOR UCD LADIES' HOCKEY TEAM PAGE 22

He's arrived (and he's got a few things to say)

UCD Soccer Manager Pete Mahon launches his brand new column - exclusive to the College Tribune He gets it off his chest - Page 21

College crash out of FAI Cup UCD were sent packing from the FAI Carlsberg Cup at the Brandywell on Sunday night, as Derry City vanquished their bogey team with two goals in as many minutes.

UCD manager Pete Mahon afterwards spoke of how the mindset of his players played a part in his team’s downfall, “I really feel we didn’t possess enough self-belief in ourselves tonight. While all the lads gave me their all, we just didn’t have the confidence to go on and win it.”

He also felt the speed in which City scored their two goals was a crucial factor. “Derry’s second came so quickly after the first. It completely killed us.”

College were hit with a couple of significant setbacks early on, as two of the starting eleven were forced to pull out of the quarter-final tie due to injury.

Defender Darragh Ryan broke down in the warmup before kick-off with a dead leg, while 5 minutes hadn’t even elapsed when Pat McWalter sustained suspected ligament damage and had to be replaced.

McWalter’s situation is considerably more worrying, as depending on the results of a scan, the frontman

Ben Blake

Derry City UCD

2 0

may require surgery.

Facing even more of an uphill struggle as a result of the imposed alternations on the line-up, a draw resulting in a replay at Belfield was more of a realistic aim than victory against such formidable opposition.

The students operated a 4-5-1 formation, which reaped dividends when the sides last met at the northern venue, and that policy was holding firm throughout the opening period.

Both sides were fired up for the encounter right from the off, with both willing to sacrifice an arm or a leg to progress, albeit under disparate circumstances. While Derry are still in contention for an unprecedented treble, UCD were hopeful of progression in order to preserve hope of silverware this season.

Early exchanges saw Derry produce the better of the chances, but with the students’ back-line snuffing out any apparent danger, the half ended goalless. Keith Doyle, drafted into the left-full spot in place of the crocked Ryan, did his chances of future first-team football no harm, as he capped his senior debut with a fine performance.

After the interval, the game generated much of the same as the defensive qualities of the visitors began to frustrate their opponents somewhat.

Hope began to deteriorate after 65 minutes when Derek Doyle, tracking the run of his man, brought down Killian Brennan inside the area. Arriving late with the challenge, he left the referee with no option but to point to the penalty spot. Up stepped Mark Farren, who duly dispatched, sending Darren Quigley the wrong direction.

Moments later Killian Brennan was involved again, as play had only just restarted when the Candystripes found themselves two to the good. Doyle was again in trouble, this time losing possession of the ball cheaply to allow the hosts to set up another attack. Following a series of crisp passes, Far-

ren gained adequate space to unleash a shot goal ward. Quigley could only parry the effort back into play, where McHugh reacted quickest to put the bal through the legs of the keeper and over the line.

Devastated by the swiftness of events, UCD now faced a serious battle to retain anything from the game. They were given a slender life-line however when Conan Byrne was handed two decent oppor tunities to narrow the deficit late on. On both oc casions, however, he lacked the sufficient conviction to find the net.

Derry City: Forde; McCallion, Delaney, Hutton, Hol mes; McGlynn, Molloy, Deery (Higgins, 80 mins.)

Brennan (O’Flynn, 80 mins.); McHugh, Farren.

UCD: Quigley; Mahon, Kenna, McNally, Ryan; P Byrne (Kelly, 84 mins.), McWalter (C. Byrne, 5 mins.), McDonnell, Dicker, Doyle (Moran, 74 mins.)

Sammon.

Referee: Mr. D. Hanney (Dublin)