College Tribune | September 16 2008
Fresher’s Guide
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Welcome to lesser spotted UCD UCD, a concrete jungle? The College Tribune begs to differ. Broaden your horizons a little; every student must get itchy feet at some stage. Get adventurous and go where no Fresher has ever gone before- out past the lake and into the wildly exciting realms of the lesser-known UCD.
The wildlife trek The Secret Lake This place has seen many a covert tryst, and the secret lake is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s secret, and it’s a lake. However, those murky depths have more use than the static green surface would seem to suggest. It makes the perfect chat-up line, offering to take some poor unfortunate out there, and is a nice spot (during the day) for a quiet cup of tea. It takes most Freshers at least a few months to be let in on the secret, but as this really aims to be the ultimate Fresher’s Guide, you need brain-boggle no more.
Out beyond the drunken throngs of the Belfield bus stop, there exists a mucky country lane, complete with mushrooms, dilapidated buildings and mysterious wildlife. Yes, this is the wildlife trek that extends all the way around the campus. If you close your eyes and inhale the scent of green, green grass, you could be in the Garden of Eden. Until you hear that police car siren whizzing happily by and realise you’ve just mucked up your brand new Fresher clothes. Still, it’s good while it lasts.
The Tunnels These dank underground passages are home to a litany of folklore. It is fabled that this was the location for many a secret sojourn and soiree, and that eventually the party was broken up by a group of homeless gate-crashers either intent on hating the students or looking to rest their
The Sundial Garden Located out by the Clinton Institute, or Belfield House, this is one of the quaintest areas of UCD. In a word, it’s pretty. True, half the Sundial has been stolen, but this rose-bush filled hidden garden might just be the perfect place to get away from that annoying stalker who keeps popping up outside the library, by ‘coincidence’.
weary heads. However likely this may seem, there’s no denying their existence. The odds aren’t wonderful of getting in, the entrances are treated like Brady’s version of St.Peter’s gates to heaven and so are usually locked, but lady luck may be your friend. Grab your burgeoning bag of booze and bumble your way into UCD’s most exclusive nightspot.
Your potential isn’t always obvious. But we see it. Lucy, future solicitor.
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12/09/2008 17:29:25