College Tribune - Volume 33 - Issue 2

COLLEGE TRIBUNE Independent Student Media

Issue_02.33

01.10.2019

News

Minister Establishes Rapid Response Group

Big Reads

Election 2020: A Strategic Look Ahead

Culture

Pictured Above: A young girl holds up a poster at the Global Climate Strike on Friday 20th September

Survey: Students Stuck Under Parent Finances Shannon Fang News Writer

T

he reality of ‘free fees is not as simple as it may seem. According to a recent survey, one-third of college students in Ireland turn to their parents for financial assistance for college fees.

Bank of Ireland’s Financial Wellbeing Programme commissioned new research to investigate the financial climate of third-level students.

The survey, which includes 550 respondents, shows that many students rely on their parents to not only pay for tuition, but also other expenses, such as housing and transportation. In August,

the government pledged to freeze college fees so that registration cannot exceed €3,000, and they decided not to introduce student loan schemes.

The study found that 36% of respondents said their parents contribute to paying tuition fees, while one-quarter of students receive help to pay for their commute to college—which is on average €315. The average third-level student earns a disposable income of €258 per month, yet 30% of students said their monthly disposable income is less than €100.

Many students must also juggle work and college, with 63% of students workContinued on page 8

Artist Interview: Keywest

Dr. Beth Shapiro Visits UCD Hugh Dooley News Writer

O

n Thursday the 27th of September, Dr. Beth Shapiro, author of popular-science bestseller ‘How to clone a mammoth’ sat down to speak to the College Tribune before her presentation to UCD Biological Society.

‘Be brave, be confident, be open and don’t spend too much time on Twitter’ urged Dr. Beth Shapiro, as a packed Elan Theatre rose to their feet to congratulate the world-famous Continued on page 11

Sport

From UCD to Yokohama: Russian Rugby Captain

Volume 33 - Issue 02

Editorial

W

elcome to Issue 2 of College Tribune Volume 33. This Issue marks the second release of the Tribune’s fresh new design, aiming at tidying the bits and bobs that went awry in Issue 1. But alas, we invite you to dive in and explore the issues that are most pressing to students of today.

In this Issue, the reader will find much talk on Climate Change.

After the historic Global Climate Protest on September 20th, it’s not surprising that our writers and editors have a hunger to cover the defining issue of our generation. As well as the protest coverage, this Issue features a column from UCD Social Democrats Auditor on the Left Wing Unity over climate change, our Science Editor Adam Boland lays out the facts on how the Irish Government are tackling the crisis, Politics Editor Conor Paterson discusses the Political Green Wave, and there are many more on the topic throughout this Issue.

The Tribune has received a letter to the editor in response to an opinion article by Marcus Dupuy which caused some controversy and polarising feedback in Issue 1, entitled “You don’t have an Anxiety Disorder (Probably).”

Aisling MacAree gives her take on the article’s merits and faults.

We have extended the science section to keep with the demand in contributors, boy do people like writing about science! In

Contact Us Editor@collegetribune.ie +353 1 716 8501 PO Box 74, Student Centre, UCD, Belfield Dublin 4 Letters to the Editor should be sent via email and no longer than 600 words.

The College Tribune

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01.10.2019

The Team College Tribune 0233

a remarkable turn of events, this section contains an article condemning cats and another defending spiders; bizarre stuff altogether.

Philosophy Columnist Aaron Collier delves into the Philosophy of Recognition, investigating what it means to recognise oneself and others, even touching on the troubling complexities of modern-day facial recognition software.

Deputy Editor Alex Lohier sat down with Keywest frontman Andrew Kavanagh to talk about the band and got some pretty interesting stories along the way.

Once again, the Tribune will be on the air with ‘The Paper Round.’ Tune in to Belfield FM at 12pm on Mondays to hear myself and the University Observer Editors (Shoutout to UO’s finest Gavin and Aoife) talk about student journalism, the pressing topics of the day, and any random topics that are chaotically thrown our way.

We hope you enjoy this Issue of College Tribune Volume 33.

If you’re interested in writing for us, we are always looking at expanding the newspaper. If you’d like to write for an existing section, go to our website collegetribune.ie and sign up there. Alternatively if you’ve got a fresh new idea, email the editor at edtor@collegetribune.ie and we can discuss more!

Enjoy the read, Conor Capplis - Editor

Connect With Us

Editor’s Picks

Conor Capplis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Editor Alex Lohier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Deputy Editor

Social Media VS Social Change

18

By Caoilfhionn Murphy Ní Mhaolchalain

Aisling MacAree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Features Conor Paterson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Politics

The Political Green Wave

20

What exactly happened, and what now?

By Conor Paterson

www.collegetribune.ie

Adam Boland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Science Aaron Collier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Philosophy Matthew Derwin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Music Brigid Molloy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Film & TV

Politics on the Dancefloor

28

Octo Octa and Resonant Body

Mallika Venkatramani. . . . . . Arts & Lifestyle Matthew Dillon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sport

By Niall O’Shaughnessy

Film Review: Parasite

30

Original Design Newspaper Produced

By Samuel Mc Sherry

By Conor Capplis @sms.studio

By Anton Rivas Pertile

Contributors From the Halls of Blackrock College to the Fields of Yokohama

35

Russian Rugby Captain Vasily Artemyev

By Matthew Dillon

Ruairí Power News Shannon Fang News Hugh Dooley News Isabel Doyle Law Mark Guilfoyle Opinion Alex Mulhare Features, Film & TV Caoilfhionn Murphy Ní Mhaolchalain Features Conall Clarke Politics

News Tips

Natasha Ballard Science

Sometimes the best news story is right under your nose.

Dorian Dederko Science

For any news tips, on and off campus, please contact the editor via telephone, email or traditional mail. @collegetribune

Rob Ó Beacháin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Law

Alternatively, you’re welcome to stop by our Newman Building Office.

Theo Ward Science Vanessa Gomes Science Seán Kettle Science Eniola Kasim Music Nicholas Lane Music Ryan O’Rourke Music Darcey Dugan Music Niall O’Shaughnessy Music Anton Rivas Pertile Film & TV Raphael Balatzer Film & TV Luke Murphy Arts & Lifestyle Gemma Farrell Arts & Lifestyle

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01.10.2019

Write For Us. Go to www.collegetribune.ie or email editor@collegetribune.ie

Petition Relaunch Calls for End to Religious Discrimination in Schools

5 Letter to the Editor:

In Response to “You don’t have an Anxiety Disorder (Probably)”

Social Media VS Social Change 6

By Conor Capplis

UCDSU Launches Campaign to Promote Rent A Room Scheme

16 Politics on the 28 Dancefloor

By Aisling MacAree

By Conor Capplis

Global Climate Strike Sees Over 10,000 On Dublin Streets

Culture Sport

Big Reads

News

An exploration of whether social media activism is harming rather than aiding its causes?

18

Keywest

8

What exactly happened, and what now?

By Alex Lohier

20 Film Review: Parasite

By Conor Paterson

One Cute Killer:

The Impact of Cats on Wildlife

Will Woolly Mammoths Roam the Earth Again?

Dr. Beth Shapiro visits UCD

By Hugh Dooley

11

The Philosophy of Recognition

By Aaron Collier

30

22 Restaurant Review Pi Pizza

By Alex Lohier

By Natasha Ballard

Facial Recognition & The Self:

29

By Anton Rivas Pertile

By Conor Capplis

26

35

By Matthew Dillon

Artist Interview:

By Caoilfhionn Murphy Ní Mhaolchalain

The Political Green Wave

Octo Octa and Resonant Body

By Niall O’Shaughnessy

From UCD to Yokohama: Russian Rugby Captain

33

In Response to: “It’s Time for Rugby to Address It’s Rampant Doping Culture”

By Matthew Dillon

36

News One Third of Students in Ireland Rely on Parents for College Fee Contribution

Global Climate Strike Sees Over 10,000 On Dublin Streets

UCDSU Launches Campaign to Promote Rent A Room Scheme

Minister Establishes Rapid Response Group on Drug and Substance Abuse in Higher Education explain, ‘I am taking a two strand approach to this issue. Initially I am setting up a group of experts, including academics, Gardaí, students and first responders within institutions, who are going to consider what the key issues that are facing us are, and what the solutions will be. They are going to report back to me within eight weeks. I have also convened an extensive data gathering exercise for all higher education institutions which will be led by Dr Michael Byrne in UCC. Currently statistics on drug use among students are anecdotal and I want a clear and accurate account as to what we are dealing with.’ She also went on to announce that ‘this response

“

I have experts all around me. I’m asking them to go into a room, I’m asking them to collect data [...] because the data we have is very sketchy.

Pictured Below: Minister Mitchell O’Connor with key figures involved in the Rapid Response Group

will be embedded within the Healthy Ireland Healthy Campus initiative which is being rolled out within all our higher education institutions by the Department of Health later this year.’

The Rapid Response group is led by Chairperson Dr Andrew Power who is the Registrar and Vice President of Equality and Diversity at The Institute of Art Design and Technology. Other members come from various third level institutions across Ireland, the HSE, the Gardaí and the National Parent Council. Dr. Michael Byrne, Head of Student Health Department at UCC will lead the data collection process.

The Minister highlighted the importance of gaining

new data to shed light on the drug a substance abuse issue: ‘I have experts all around me. I’m asking them to go into a room, I’m asking them to collect data number 1, because the data we have is very sketchy. […] The resources have been put in place for the data to be collected, but in the meantime the Rapid Response group are going to meet. I’m actually giving them a very tight schedule of eight weeks.

Now I understand of course that the data will take longer but we will come back and revisit it. […] I want to ensure that the two cohorts of students: the one that they haven’t taken any drugs – that they abstain from drugs and [we] want to keep them safe; and then of course on the harm reduction on the other side. And I have the Gardaí here to make sure that we’ve

“

Some students are suffering serious harm. Some are dying and lives are shattered.

“

T

he Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. announced the members of her Rapid Response Group that she has tasked with devising an action plan to deal with drug and substance abuse within the country’s higher education institutions. This Rapid Response Group will be tasked with gathering data and proposing solutions to the most pressing issues facing students with regards to drug and substance abuse.

In a statement outside the Department of Education & Skills, prior to the first of-

ficial meeting of the Rapid Response Group, the Minister said: ‘I have spent a huge amount of time meeting students, their parents and the people working at all levels in our higher education institutions. From all these discussions, it became clear to me that while some good work is being done at institution level, we were not doing enough in a planned and joined up way across the sector to counteract the negative impact of drug and substance abuse. Some students are suffering serious harm. Some are dying and lives are shattered. We all have a responsibility to protect and educate students and parents.’

The Minister went on to

“

Conor Capplis - Editor

an implementable plan.’

Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. concluded: ‘The completed roadmap and data gathering will give us the opportunity to build a sustainable strategy on how we message our young students around drug taking. I want our initiative to also help us to drive home the message of responsible bystander intervention – always ‘step in’ when there is any indication that a friend or fellow student is at risk after consuming drugs by calling the emergency services.’

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News

01.10.2019

Petition Relaunch Calls for End to Religious Discrimination in Schools Conor Capplis - Editor

E

ducation Equality has relaunched the petition ‘Don’t teach religion during school hours.’ The group is advocating for religious instruction in all State-funded schools to be confined to a distinct period of time taught after core school hours so that parents can effectively choose whether or not their child receives instruction in a particular religion. Education Equality is calling for an end to all religious discrimination in State-funded schools.

The petition was launched outside Leinster House on Wednesday 25th of September. Senators Ivana Bacik and Alice Mary Higgins (pictured above) were in attendance to show their support for the petition.

Speaking on the relaunch of Education Equality’s petition, Policy Officer Paddy Monahan noted: ‘With the Catholic Church controlling around 90% of our publicly funded prima-

ry schools, while accounting for less than half of all marriages in 2018, there is a widening disconnect between our school system, which is based overwhelmingly on religious patronage, and the actual beliefs of many of today’s families. The State is forcing parents to send their children to school to receive unwanted religious instruction and it is allowing the segregation of children in the classroom on the basis of a child’s religious background. This is in clear breach of their human and constitutional right to freedom of religion and belief.’

The petition has been launched alongside a promotional video with messages from parents saying: ‘I don’t think separating kids out from the main body of the class is good for them,’ and ‘He is also made to stand out in the class, which I know he finds quite difficult… I don’t think children should be put in that position.’

Speaking to the Tribune at the petition relaunch, Communications

Officer David Graham said: ‘The idea behind the petition is to galvanise public support behind the move to remove religious discrimination and segregation from

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Irish schools during the school day. We want to give parents a meaningful option and choice as to whether or not their children receive religious indoctrination or

religious instruction during the school day.’ He went on to say ‘This is becoming a political issue. Because we’re lucky enough to live in a democracy and in a de-

mocracy the power ultimately rests with the people, the demographics in Ireland are changing very rapidly, ultimately that will exert political pressure.’

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01.10.2019

GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE SEES

Comment: Party Unity Under Climate Change Protest Ruairí Power

Auditor of Social Democrats Society

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Without presenting a unified, credible alternative to amoral government policies nothing will change.

“

our attacks on our left-wing allies while allowing Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to neglect the most vulnerable in our society. That has never worked.

Without presenting a unified, credible alternative to amoral government policies nothing will change. This week we achieved this and we have no plans to stop there. With a moral imperative to meet these challenges together, here in UCD we are committed to fighting tooth and nail for a fossil free UCD, safe and affordable housing and functional mental healthcare. The choice is simple: Climate Action or extinction. The sea levels are rising but so are we. Bígí Linn

Conor Capplis - Editor

‘I

’m calling all students to strike now for climate because we have to - or we’re all gonna die. There’s no societies on a dead planet, there’s no classes on a dead planet and there’s no fucking UCD on a dead planet!

When our planet is under attack – Stand Up. Fight Back.’

These were the raging calls from UCD Labour Chairperson Cormac Ó Braonáin to UCD students gathering to protest later that day. Friday September 20th saw one of the world’s largest Global Climate Strikes, with UCD sending a sizeable delegation of enraged and empowered students to call for immediate action for the government on climate change.

Thousands of students took to the streets of Dublin on Friday as part of the Global Climate Strike. This larger strike saw millions of students protesting around major cities worldwide. The Dublin march saw primary, secondary and third level students protesting alongside one another, in the name of fighting climate change.

UCD students led by members of UCDSU and representatives of student political societies took part in large numbers at the march.

Beginning the protest in UCD with a large walkout from a number of UCD societies from the Freshers tent, the day began with speeches from UCDSU Campaigns & Engagement Officer Katie O’Dea and others. Amongst those speaking to the crowd

were Lisa Frank Murnane (UCD Young Greens and UCDSU Environmental Campaigns Coordinator), Cormac Ó’Braonáin (UCD Labour) and Sadhbh Mac Lochlainn (UCD Socialist Worker Student Society).

The crowd began with a practice of chants such as ‘No more coal, no more oil.

Keep your carbon in your soil,’ and ‘System change.

Not climate change.’

Speaking to the College Tribune, O’Dea said: ‘We are marching today because the Irish government and governments around the world have not acted appropriately to the climate crisis that we are facing. We’re calling on them to follow the demands of the school strikers and to implement the recommendations of the Citizens Assembly on climate change.’

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[...] strike now for climate because we have to - or we’re all gonna die.

“

“System Change-Not Climate Change” was the chant that captured the demands of tens of thousands of Climate Strikers on the streets of Dublin last Friday. The Amazon is burning, the sea levels are rising and a biodiversity crisis rages on all while the Irish government continues to issue fossil fuel licenses with no regard for the catastrophic consequences that will follow.

UCD students responded with a unified front to present a strong resistance to these disastrous government policies. The Student’s Union, Social Democrats, Greens, Labour and People Before Profit along with other societies met that challenge with force by rallying UCD students to act on Greta Thunberg’s call to strike for climate action where they were joined by over 10,000 strikers in town.

Greenwashing corporate solutions won’t solve the climate crisis, only a progressive and energised alliance fighting for radical action will. A truly just transition to a decarbonised Ireland is the only way we can preserve our natural resources, our safety and our future. We need to start having bold conversations about free public transport, the diversification of the Irish farming sector, reforestation, massive investment in clean energy and ensuring that corporations pay for the damage they inflict on our planet.

The Irish left is historically fractured. We have too often focused

UCD FilmSoc Auditor Odin O’Sullivan partook in the walkout from the Freshers tent to join the march. He talked to us about why his society was striking: ‘We’re striking because the issues in regard to climate change, and the absolute ignorance with our current government and governments around the world, is too much to ignore at this point. As a representative of the Film Society, of Socialist Workers in general and in particular as a student I think that it is important to come out to the streets to showcase that we will no longer stand for inaction on the part of our government.’

UCD students were bussed into town to rally with over 10,000 students outside Custom House Quay. The students chanted in their

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OVER 10,000 ON DUBLIN STREETS respective groups before marching towards Merrion square. The rare late September sunshine made for a rather apt day for a climate change march. The crowd protested throughout the streets for Dublin, holding up signs reading: ‘Time Is Running Out’ – ‘The Oceans Are Rising. So Are We’ – ‘The Climate Is Changing. Why Aren’t We?’ Speaking to students throughout the march, there was certainly a hunger for a radical system change in order to effectively tackle the impending climate crisis.

The language heard from students was definitively anti-capitalist and suggested that the ‘big corporations’ and the ‘government’s inaction’ are to blame for the problem that is being handed to the emerging generations of today.

Global Climate activist Gre-

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Of course, marches like these won’t do any concrete action. [...] but it’s such a strong message.

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ta Thunberg commented on these strikes in an interview with the Guardian: ‘Of course, marches like these won’t do any concrete action. I mean, it won’t change everything, but it’s such a strong message. And I think that if enough people go together and stand up for this, then that can have [a] huge difference, both with social differences, social tipping points, but also to put pres-

sure on the people in power and to actually hold them accountable.’

UCD Labour Chairperson, Cormac Ó Braonáin, spoke to the Tribune on why he was marching: ‘I mean, what choice do I have? The planet is dying, [I’m marching] for my children, for myself, for my grandchildren. […]

The planet is hurtling into a mass extinction and I cannot fathom how anyone cannot strike on a day like today. We need to act now to save our planet before it’s too late. We only have five years to act – let’s get our shit together.’ He went on to say what students can do to help: ‘Join Extinction Rebellion. Start getting involved.

Become interested. Our biggest enemy is apathy. There are no climate deniers in Ireland, that is not a threat. Our biggest threat is students sitting at home and not taking notice of what’s going on.

All students need to strike.

All students need to come out onto the street, because if we don’t all do it, we won’t change.’

The march reached its finale with several impassioned speeches from student representatives of Fridays for Future Ireland and the Schools Climate Action Network. Secondary students called for action from governments around the world, specifically targeting Leo Varadkar’s government which issued oil exploration licences after declaring a Climate Emergency in Ireland. A minute’s silence was observed 11 minutes before 2pm, to signify the 11 years to save the climate.

This silence was heard to the sound of thousands of mobile phone alarms set to go off at the same time. At the close of the event it was revealed that the electrics were powered via solar power.

01.10.2019

Tackling Climate Change: Where Ireland Stands Adam Boland - Science Editor

The youth of today won’t be silenced until substantive action happens on the part of the government.

While this event may not have turned the tide on the war against climate change, it certainly demonstrates the hunger that students have to save the planet before it’s too late. It seems the youth of today won’t be silenced until substantive action happens on the part of the government.

On a global scale, Ireland’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions may seem so low as to be irrelevant. It is much more telling, however, to look at our per capita emissions. The average person in Ireland emits 32% more GHGs than the average European, making us the third biggest contributor to climate change per capita in the whole EU. In order to meet our 2020 climate goals, Ireland would need to have reduced our emissions from homes, small businesses and farms by 20% from the levels they were at in 2005. We are on track to reduce them by just 1%.

So why is Ireland lagging behind the rest of the EU? One reason is our massive beef industry.

Agriculture was responsible for a third of all our emissions in 2017. We also produce unusually high emissions from transport, accounting for 39% of our energy-related emissions.

Emissions from this sector dropped significantly during the recession, but recent economic growth has led to more private cars on the road, causing emissions to grow once more at an alarming rate.

Another reason that we are not on target to meet our Paris climate goals is our government. Back in July, Fine Gael used arguably sneaky and

Ireland is 21% compliant with our Paris agreement goals, making us the second worst in the EU in this respect. unethical tactics to kill the ‘climate emergency measures bill’. The bill, which was proposed by People Before Profit and passed by majority vote twice in the Dáil, would have made Ireland just the fifth country to ban exploration for new fossil fuel reserves.

Back in May, just days after reaffirming his commitment to climate action, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar issued new licenses that will allow multiple international companies to explore for gas and oil off our coasts until 2033.

Ireland is 21% compliant with our Paris agreement goals, making us the second worst in the EU in this respect.

For perspective, Sweden is 77% compliant. We badly need to catch up when it comes to climate action, but it seems this government is not making it easy for us.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

The Newsstand Conor Capplis Bernard Shaw to Reopen The Bernard Shaw, set to close at the end of October, has been confirmed to reopen on the north side of Dublin immediately following its south side counterpart’s closure.

Koenigsegg Breaks Fast Car Record Koenigsegg has broken the world record for fastest car to go 0-4000 km/h. The Koenigsegg Regera completed the run in 31.49 seconds, 1.8 seconds faster than Koenigsegg’s previously unbeaten record.

Brexit No Deal Presents Signs of Recession The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has warned that a No Deal Brexit could lead to an Irish recession.

Minister for Finance Paschal O’Donohoe has indicated the government will borrow more money to fund contingency measures in the event of No Deal.

FF TD Hosts Student Union Presidents For ‘Think-In’ Fianna Fáil TD Stephen Donnelly has hosted Irelands first ever ‘Student Thin-In.’ Donnelly gathered leaders of Ireland’s largest University’s Student Unions, in an effort to discuss the most pressing issues affecting students today.

News

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01.10.2019

One Third of Students Rely on Parents for College Fee Contribution Shannon Fang News Writer ing part-time and 8% working full-time.

Eighty-percent of survey respondents claimed they make an effort to save money, mostly toward summer travels, buying a car and contributing to college fees.

However, 30% of students said they choose not to “sacrifice on social life,” with almost one in five students admitting to skipping meals to save costs for nights out.

Student housing is also a complicated issue for Irish students. The survey found that 65% of third-level students live at home. Over half of the respondents receive rent-free board at home, making it the most common form of parental financial support.

For those living in rented accommodations, just under one-quarter of students rely on family to help contribute to rent and utility bills.

Bringing laundry home and taking food back are common, with just under onethird of renters admitting to these.

According to the Zurich Cost of Education Survey 2019, the average amount spent on student accommodation was €4,219, while the average cost of rental was €3,750.

Particularly, Dublin has the highest housing costs across Ireland.

To compare, according to a 2017 report from the European Commission, Ireland has the second-highest undergraduate tuition costs.

About 40% of first-cycle students in Ireland received a need-based grant, which was on average £4,600. The UK has the most expensive college fees—with a cap at £9,250—and students are able to receive tuition fee loans. Eleven countries do not have undergraduate fees, while 14 other education systems cost less than €1,000.

Besides the free fees initiative, UCD offers other forms of financial support, though they often cannot be used for registration fees. These options include the student support fund, student welfare fund and lone parent fund.

UCDSU Launches Campaign to Promote Rent A Room Scheme Conor Capplis - Editor

U

CD Students’ Union has launched a campaign to promote ‘Rent A Room Scheme.’ This campaign aims to improve the uptake of UCD students into homes in the surrounding areas. Due to high rent costs and an ongoing housing crisis, UCD students require affordable and commutable places to live in. The Rent A Room scheme aims to encourage homeowners to rent a room in their house, subsequently earning up to €14,000 per year tax free.

In a press statement on Thursday 26th September, Katie O’Dea, UCDSU Campaigns & Engagement Officer, said ‘UCD is in the highest rent pressure zone in the country which means that many students find it difficult to find affordable accommodation. Renting

a room from a homeowner or ‘digs’ is the most affordable option in this area but we still do not have enough beds for all of our students.’

She went on to explain: ‘Every day since the beginning of term, students are telling us that they cannot find a bed in commutable distance of UCD. […] Students urgently need a place to stay and homeowners can earn up to €14,000 tax free income if they rent out a spare room (or two!) in their house.’

O’Dea concluded: ‘We will be flyering in main centres nearby UCD at weekends and dropping leaflets into homes along the 46a, 145 and 39a bus routes in the coming weeks to promote the scheme to homeowners and hopefully we will find more beds for students who are still struggling.’

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01.10.2019

Society Spotlight:

UCD Northern Society

Pictured Above: Shannon Bas wearing the official UCD Northern Society sweater, featuring their Giant’s Causeway logo

U

CD’s Northern Society is a new Society aimed at promoting and spreading the positives of Northern Ireland and its culture. I sat down with NorthSoc Auditor Shannon Bas to find out what’s on offer for their members this year.

‘[NorthSoc’s] main purpose is to depoliticise the image of Northern Ireland,’ Shannon explains.

The events will be ‘cultural and social.’ The purpose is ‘to raise awareness of the more positive parts of Northern Ireland – the country, tourism, music, sports.’ The group wants to allow people from Northern Ireland to meet and socialise. About half the committee are natives of the North

and found the transtition coming to the south difficult socially and logistically.

NorthSoc aims to help out students experiencing this.

So how did Shannon, a French student from just outside Paris, become the head of a society that promotes the culture of Northern Ireland? About a year ago, Shannon was on the committee of the Hispanic Society as Public Relations Officer. It was there she met Jason McKillen and Ryan Bradley, two lads from Northern Ireland studying Politics & Spanish. Shannon went on to say: ‘eventually all three of us resigned from the Hispanic Society due to political reasons and mismanagement - it just didn’t work out.’

It was from there that the opportunity arose

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‘[NorthSoc’s] main purpose is to depoliticise the image of Northern Ireland,’ Shannon explains. The events will be ‘cultural and social.’

The purpose is ‘to raise awareness of the more positive parts of Northern Ireland’

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Conor Capplis - Editor

for a new student society.

Later that year, the two lads along with a number of other students officially formed NorthSoc. Shannon joined initially as an OCM and later was elected Auditor at the NorthSoc AGM.

That brings us up to now, right ahead of a year full of ambitious plans for the newly fledging society.

With regards to political topics, when questioned on whether they will hold any events on current topics such as Brexit, Shannon responded ‘No Brexit or political events.’ She suggested the possibility of a collaboration with another society on such topics, but they ‘wouldn’t take any sides, it would just be to inform people of the position of Northern Ireland, just informative.

What we have planned for

the moment is only cultural and social.’

Some examples of events to expect over the coming weeks are Northern Irish Comedy Gig, trips to see Northern Irish bands and musicians, Trip to Derry (planned for around week 7 or 8) – before the trip they plan to watch the first two seasons of Derry Girls as a group at events with drinks, for rugby fans: on the 20th December Leinster vs Ulster will play in Dublin. During Semester 2 the group is hoping to organise an trip to Belfast and Antrim. The weekend should comprise a historical and social visit to Belfast, followed by a Game of Thrones style tour to the Giants Causeway in Antrim.

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Campus

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01.10.2019

Continued from Cover*

Will Woolly Mammoths Roam the Earth Again?

Dr. Beth Shapiro visits UCD molecular biologist on receiving the George Sigerson Award for Inspiring Aspiring Scientists from UCD Biological Society.

Speaking exclusively to the College Tribune, Bio-Soc Auditor Sophia Heneghan explained her reasoning for choosing to give the award to the Biology professor from UC Santa Cruz.

‘We found her work to be really relevant to the times today, especially with talk of de-extinction and with climate change killing off lots of species and the loss of genetic diversity,’ she explained, crediting Bio-Soc Treasurer Clifton Lewis with the suggestion of inviting Dr. Beth Shapiro to UCD. Speaking to the Tribune before her talk, Dr Shapiro described the reasoning behind her busy speaking tour ‘I think that communicating Science is so important, I actually started off in journalism, not in science...we need an educated public about the topics that are important like climate change and any way we can get there is good with me! If that means we can attract people to science by thinking we can bring mammoths back to life, [then] that’s good with me ...and that’s why I do a lot of public speaking, [and] why I started to write popular science books.’ The plot of the original Michael Crichton version of Jurassic Park was based upon research done by one of her colleagues: Alan Wilson, drawing attention to how this research into genetics has also crept into modern culture.

Shapiro also touted her new book, ‘Wildish Life: Our long history of messing with animals’ which is set to be released next winter and will make the case for the safe and careful use of genetic editing in the conservation of agriculture.

But what about the mammoths? I hear you asking!

Shapiro explained that ‘for every animal there is a different set of problems, both moral and practical, which hinders the prospect of redeveloping their population […] Once an animal is gone, it’s gone!’ On top of the technical difficulties of extracting live DNA from 5,000 year old remains, there are also moral issues which hinder the development of paleogenetics. Shapiro warns that ‘we are deciding the genetic fate of every animal that we interact with.’

While it seems unlikely that we will be able to reverse extinction, Shapiro revealed that her research is key in stopping the extinction of animals such as the black-footed ferret, an animal which experienced near permanent extinction culminating in captive breeding programmes to revitalise the population.

Upon reintroduction to its previous environment, the careful progress made by the scientists was lost due to the ferrets catching plague from its prey, the prairie dog. Genetic editing using frozen tissue samples taken years previously could be the solution to this problem, claims Dr. Shapiro, highlighting the practical use of the technology within modern science.

Dr. Shapiro even gave BioSoc members a sneak peek

at some breaking research, revealing that one of her PhD students, had made a breakthrough while studying a 700,000 year old bone, discovering an entirely new species of animal which

Shapiro described vividly as a ‘ancestral donkey-zebra thing’ to much laughter and amazement from the audience ‘This is one of the things I love about Ancient DNA’ Shapiro expanded, ‘it’s

all about discovery!’

Dr. Shapiro spoke about how she got involved in her field of expertise, crediting Svanti Pääbo of the Max Planck Institute, ‘the father of paleogenetics’, who created the

“

The plot of the original Michael Crichton version of Jurassic Park was based upon research done by one of her colleagues: Alan Wilson, drawing attention to how this research into genetics has also crept into modern culture.

“

Hugh Dooley News Writer

foundations of the field of Ancient DNA, for giving her the chance to build upon his research. Shapiro detailed how she hopes the new generations of scientists follow his example; not to just focus on their own area of expertise and research but to explore fields of science that are alien to them, ‘take bits and pieces from different fields of science to establish whole new areas of science.’

Closing her speech Shapiro gave her advice for budding new scientists, ‘We only have one opportunity to live everyday, so we may as well take that opportunity to do something we like […] we only get this one chance, so enjoy it!’

UCD Biological Society will be awarding the 2020 George Sigerson award in the coming months, to get in contact with the society; email them at Biological.society@ucd.ie.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

Business

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IASA: Where Your Aviation Career Could Take Off Alex Lohier Deputy Editor

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he Irish aviation industry is renowned worldwide as a centre of excellence and is arguably the pinnacle of this industry worldwide.

For such a small country, Ireland is home to the largest aviation lessors and financiers. The sector directly employs some 1,500 people and accounts for some €663 million yearly, rendering it an important factor in our economy. From the tumul-

tuous story of Tony Ryan’s GPA to the ever-so-scandalous Ryanair, our small nation is steeped in aviation history. With the likes of Avolon, SMBC, GECAS and AerCap located in Ireland, the future of the industry looks bright.

Naturally, students are attracted to these companies as areas of employment.

The stable industry, strong brand names and allure of the aviation industry is usually enough to get college graduates to apply to the aforementioned companies.

Sprinkle in a generous start-

ing salary (read €50,000 in some companies) and it’s plain to see the hype.

There is, however, one massive caveat associated with all those favourable elements; competition to be recruited is notorious. The average acceptance rate is rumoured to be lower than 5%, which is scarcely believable considering those who apply are already exceedingly well qualified.

Applicants to lessors are expected to have an aviation-focused education, such as DCU’s Bachelor of Aviation Management

course. Masters are pretty much a prerequisite too, again with aviation ones favoured by companies.

Some of these are absurdly expensive, costing up to €17,000 (we’re looking at you, Smurfit). Granted, it’s an investment in oneself, but the price tag is still bewildering. Still, this may not be enough to get a foot in the door of these highly selective establishments.

‘Knowing a guy’ in aviation companies is usually a foolproof way of getting selected. I stress ‘guy’, as this is known as a male dominated

sector, which makes the task even more insurmountable for our female counterparts.

On a more optimistic note, there are measures to put in place to increase chances of selection. Summer internships are one, as the entry criteria is more achievable (read not impossible) and tends to lead to offers for successful applicants.

Elsewhere, the Irish Aviation Students’ Association (IASA) is an organisation I came across last year which may be a useful measure for aiding students to overcome the barriers in the indus-

01.10.2019

try. IASA aim to ‘bridge the gap between students and industry’ through various networking events, informative reports and recruitment fairs. The latter is especially useful to students, with the top aviation players all in attendance. Here, students can avail of free CV clinics from aviation companies themselves, ask questions to recruiters and network with like-minded individuals.

Their ‘Aviation Career Expo’, which will take place on the 22nd of October, is the largest of its kind in the country, which is quite admirable considering the organisation is a non-profit run by students. Who knows, it might just be where your career takes off?

Start-Up Spotlight: Alex Lohier Deputy Editor

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elcome to the very first iteration of ‘Start-up Spotlight’, a column where I aim to shed light on the entrepreneurial endeavours of Irish students and recent graduates. In a time where graduate programmes are the norm, it’s refreshing to see individuals taking risks and creating their own path

in a bid to turn a vision into reality. If this section can inspire even one would-be entrepreneur, I’ll consider it a success.

The first start-up I’m discussing goes by the name of ‘tribetactics’. Run by brothers Aamen and Kareem Mostafa, the company aims to turn one hour of someone’s time into one month’s worth of micro-content tailored to social media. For anyone who doesn’t understand the significance of this; it saves

a lot of time for companies, whilst helping to build a loyal brand following.

The Egyptian-born duo have different roles in the company, reflecting their different college backgrounds. Aamen graduated from UCD’s Bachelor of Commerce Degree this year, whilst Kareem did a Bachelor of Science Degree in DIT with a focus on marketing. Having experienced the corporate life (in Google, LinkedIn and Hubspot no less), the two ventured out

on their own and founded tribetactics. At less than 2 years old, the company has already secured large clients such as Hubspot and Grant Thornton.

So how do they turn such a short amount of time into one month’s worth of content? Well, that’s a trade secret! The basic formula involves creating episodic content (think Netflix shows for individual businesses) that focuses on a specific message. They convert a re-

corded interview into podcasts, short subtitled videos, poster-quote images, articles and, finally, longer video ‘episodes’. They ensure that this covers the month, with three to four pieces of content posted daily. The guys offer analytics of the content’s performance, which makes the results quantifiable for clients.

The result is a stronger brand for the client, an engaged audience and lower costs (as tribetactics un-

dercuts the price of having several employees doing the work internally). No wonder, then, that their client list is growing rapidly. If there ever was a fitting start-up to kick-start this column, tribetactics is it; the vision, determination and work ethic of Kareem and Aamen is a testament that students and recent graduates can indeed found and run a successful company.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

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Volume 33 - Issue 02

Law

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01.10.2019

Pandemonium over Prorogative Powers Rob Ó Beacháin Law Editor

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o justification with taking action of such an extreme effect has been put before the Court,’ claimed Lady Hale, President of the UK Supreme Court, in delivering the Court’s recent historic judgement. This was in response to the legality of Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s advice to the Queen to prorogue Westminster on the 28th of August, just over two months before the UK are set to depart from the EU. Prorogation of Parliament is not unusual, in fact it happens quite regularly, particularly before the dissolution of Parliament, the last being in 2017. However, it was the length and timeliness of this suspension which rose to controversy. Prorogation was to be in effect from the 10th of September until the 14th of October, the longest of its type in modern political history. This coupled with a fast approaching Brexit deadline outraged Johnson’s political

opposition. Johnson argued that the suspension was granting Government time to refocus on domestic policy before the Queen’s speech but eyebrows were raised as his policies aren’t likely to be even settled due to lack of majority.

The prevailing issue boiled down to the separation of powers, a difficult subject matter in the UK which has no codified Constitution.

Does the Executive have the right to suspend the Legislature during such critical stages of Brexit negotiation?

Businesswoman, Mrs. Gina Miller didn’t think so, challenging the lawfulness of the proceedings through the High Court of England and Wales. Her claim was soon dismissed, holding that the issue was not justiciable in a court of law. On the exact same day, the Inner House of the Court of Session in Edenborough held the opposite, claiming that Johnson’s motif was to ‘stymie parliamentary scrutiny of the Executive.’

The 17th of September then saw the beginning of a three-day hearing, considering the appeals of the two

contrasting judgements in a case known as Miller II. The existence and extent of prorogative powers along with limits to challenge it were heavily scrutinised. The case was heard by eleven justices, the maximum number permitted to judge a UK SC case, reflecting its significance. All eleven justices unanimously agreed that proceedings were both justiciable and void. Lady Hale held that ‘if the prorogation has the effect or frustrating or preventing, without reasonable justification the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions’ it shall be deemed unlawful. Parliament’s role as Legislature and supervisory body to the Executive were drastically hindered and so fell within the scope of Hale’s ruling. Under John Bercow’s wishes. Westminster returned to session at 11.30AM on Wednesday the 25th of September to continue negotiations.

In Wake of a Failed Climate Case Ireland: Protestors Stand United

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n Friday, 20th of September 2019, over 10,000 people took to the streets of Ireland to join a global protest calling for climate justice. The words of 16-yearold activist Greta Thunberg echoed throughout the protests. Thunberg addressed the UN Climate Action Sum-

mit on 23rd September with the powerful words ‘how dare you, you have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.’

The protest took place the day after the judgment of ‘Climate Case Ireland’. This case was brought by Friends of the Irish Environment, who sought to hold the Irish Government liable for knowingly contributing to climate breakdown. It was inspired by similar cases worldwide,

most notably the Urgenda case in the Netherlands.

The environmental NGO claimed that Ireland were in breach of its obligations under the Paris Agreement 2015. The claim was that Ireland was not on target to reduce its emissions but rather increase them, asking the court to strike down the National Mitigation Plan 2017 and order a new, more effective plan to be drafted.

McGrath J of the High Court

held that the Court did not have jurisdiction to intervene and order the Executive to draft a second plan. This was mainly on the ground that the Courts must protect the Separation of Powers.

The result of this case did nothing but fuel the fire for protestors on Friday to show the government that they will not allow this inaction to continue. Signs held by protestors included the words ‘tá eagla an domhain orm’ and ‘tick tock Taoiseach’.

The Climate Action Plan proposed by the Government at the beginning of the Summer was disappointing to many environmentalists.

The Plan remains silent on any aims to decrease in the National Herd or incentives to diversify the farming industry. It focuses on afforestation and the rewetting of peatlands to combat emissions from the Agricultural Industry. However, as Climate Science has repeatedly pointed out, reaching carbon-neutral emissions is no longer a viable solution to

“

Many activists no longer hold hope for the so-called “empty words” of politicians who value the monetary agenda higher than the environmental.

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Isabel Doyle Law Writer

climate breakdown.

Another issue is that the majority of the trees which are to be planted as part of the plan are non-native to Ireland and often destroy the surrounding ecosystem. Although they are an effective carbon sink, they are not a long-term or sustainable solution to preserving the Irish environment.

Leo Varadkar, speaking at the UN Climate Action Summit, indicated that Ireland will seek to end exploration of Irish waters for oil and move to a renewable energy-powered society by 2030.

However, many activists no longer hold hope for the socalled ‘empty words’ of politicians who value the monetary agenda higher than the environmental.

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€ €

€ € €

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Big Reads Election 2020: A Strategic Look Ahead

Facial Recognition & The Self: The Philosophy of Recognition

Letter to the Editor:

In Response to “You don’t have an Anxiety Disorder (Probably)”

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Aisling MacAree - Features Editor

o the Editor, I will begin by acknowledging that Dupuy makes two valid points in his article “You Don’t Have an Anxiety Disorder (probably)”.

He rightly addresses the points that; stress is not the same thing as an anxiety disorder and mental health is not adequately catered for on UCD’s campus.

However, despite the existence of a legitimate central thesis, the manner in which Dupuy presents his point is ultimately problematic. He states “every student who is claiming to have an anxiety disorder, here is a message to you, you don’t have one, stop claiming you do”. It was this sentence that prompted me to analyse the article in question with a harsher scrutiny.

Dupuy’s tone is aggressive, condescending and ultimately out of place in a piece that seems at least partially invested in improving mental health in UCD.

It is the hostility that exists at points in Dupuy’s writing that I take issue with. Had he examined how stress can be a trigger for those suffering with anxiety disorders, or if he had explained the misconceptions of the perceived overlap between stress and anxiety, I would be writing a very different letter. Instead, his presentation perpetuates a new dimension of judgement towards those who live with anxiety. Not only is there cause to fear regular discrimination, the ramification of such a manner of thinking, is that the people who attempt to open up about their anxiety disorders will be regarded with suspicion, the legitimacy of their diagnosis questioned.

We should be building a platform for people to speak openly and without fear about struggles with mental health, we should be striving for an open and non-judgemental dialogue. However, if we continue to question the validity of those who wish to share their experiences, we are

only moving further and further away from a positive attitude towards mental health.

With these points weighing on my mind, I was surprised by the sudden contradiction of Dupuy’s closing lines “with waiting lists…for the counselling service, it’s not like you’ll actually get to see someone to diagnose you anyways”.

After his admonition of those claiming to have anxiety disorders without a diagnosis, he then quips that it’s extremely difficult to get one in the first place. While his statement serves as an odd contrast to his previous sentiments, I applaud Dupuy for recognising the fact that many people living with crippling anxiety disorders go undiagnosed for years due to a lack of access to counselling, adequate medical facilities and in part due to an off-putting stigma surrounding mental health.

I would like to reiterate that Dupuy’s article raised several very valid points. Stress and anxiety disorders are very different things. Mental Health facilities on campus need to be improved.

However, I believe we need to approach this issue in a different way. Instead of scrutinising those who claim to suffer from anxiety disorders, we need to create an open dialogue. We need to reduce the harmful stigma. We need to leave the diagnoses to the professionals and mind our own affairs when it comes to somebody else’s mental health.

Regards, Aisling Mac Aree

Brewed Awakening: The Science of Espresso

Opinion: Faux Moral Outrage Will Not Save The Amazon

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Mark Guilfoyle - Opinion Writer

he Lungs of Our World Are Burning’, a common phrase uttered by many in the recent media coverage of the Amazon fires, would have one believe that we inherited the Earth as it is and that the Amazon was our one great forest. Moreover, the revelatory statistic passed from tweet, facebook status and news articles alike states that the Amazon accounts for 20% of the world’s oxygen supply turns out to be false. It is no doubt that the scale of deforestation occurring in the Amazon (And the Rest of the World) is a travesty, but spreading misinformation and a narrow point of view, will not change the reality of the situation.

Firstly, we must look at what we do know about the fires. The fires have been marked as the worst recorded in the Amazon since 2010. It is common for fires to burn during the dry season in Brazil, however, many believe (and with good reason) that many small farmers are setting other farms ablaze themselves in the knowledge there will be no crackdown. These rainforests do matter and Bolsanaro’s lack of environmental concern is striking. The rainforest serves as a huge carbon sink in which a lot of carbon produced by human activities can be absorbed. Furthermore, they are home to millions of plants and animals and around 80,000 indigenous peoples, who depend on the rainforest for food, medicine and clothing.

However, deforestation is not merely the agenda of a far-right government.

Deforestation is a reality that spreads across the world and back in time. One doesn’t have too look very far to find the socialist leader Evo Morales of Bolivia also coming under pressure for his alleged role in deforestation, with policies for controlled deforestation allowed quadrupling.

Furthermore, mass scale deforestation is an ever-present reality in Africa in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo where Chinese logger companies are given access to forests in return for investment in other sectors. In addition to this we must be aware that in 1600, half of the United States was covered in forests and Europe too has lost 75 percent of it’s forests.

We, in the so-called developed world must acknowledge that we tohho have profited deeply from the clearances of our forests and the extraction of our resources before we look to any country and attempt to condemn and shame them. Not only have we profited from doing this in our own lands, but also exists a legacy of colonialism which we (Yes, the Irish too) have solidified and built our privilege upon. Deforestation, unfortunately, is a great way for a developing economy to build jobs and to boost exports.

Those of us who have the privilege of being able to scoff at these methods of development and call them disgraceful must begin to examine ourselves more closely.

There is no doubt that to some governments across the World, the net highest consumers in the World telling them to cut their production seems wildly hypocritical. Those governments would be correct. There is an obligation upon the developed nations to lead the charge in Climate Action and Climate Justice. We cannot sit around and feel pride in ourselves for finally sharing a status about the tragic burning of the rainforests. We must approach developing nations with humility and perspective and do our best to cooperate, create solutions and to invest in creating a more sustainable and developed world for us all.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

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The College Tribune

Arts VS STEM:

Features

An examination of the deepening schism between STEM and Arts in Universities.

hen I tell people that I’m studying English, I’m often met with ‘So you’re going to become a teacher?’, followed by ‘You went to

W

into a general consensus through the twenty-first century fixation with the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Although an entire academic essay could easily be devoted to exploring the origins of this phenomenon, simply put,

will be lavishly rewarded.

This raises questions about the current status of the human condition, and our willingness to function as cogs in the machine of the grand scheme, thereby providing our capitalist society with the tool which it currently desires and thus values most

the twentieth century, and it is no great stretch to conclude that a substantial reason behind this occurrence is due to our contemporary creative minded individuals no longer being encouraged to academically engage with their crafts. On a smaller scale, however, it is no great

potential in each of these areas, we must broaden our established preconceptions and realise that collaboration is key, not polarisation.

A recent study carried out by the BBC has revealed that there are fewer students choosing to study arts subjects for their A-Levels with

Dublin for that?’, and then I’m ultimately reassured by a variation of ‘Well sure, if you enjoy it, I suppose that’s the main thing’. As an Arts student, there are few conversation topics more disheartening than those of ‘majors’, second only to discussions of rent prices. It’s no secret that those who choose to study within any area of the Arts and Humanities are the least celebrated variety of students, and we are typically regarded as little more than a bunch of dossers with Bachelor’s degrees not worth the paper that they’re written on.

This attitude has undeniably emerged from and evolved

knowledge in the field of STEM is the current method of guaranteeing personal economic security. In a time of increasingly bleak prospects for our collective future, the desired economic stability can hardly be criticised, however, we should be wary of the fact that we are perceiving this trend as a black and white issue.

If a Bachelor of Science degree plus a job in the STEM sector equals an enviable starting salary straight out of university, then it is no wonder why this formula is seldom questioned. On the surface, it mimics a newage American dream - work hard, and your bank account

- advancements in technology.

It is no coincidence that the rapid propulsion of our current technological revolution in these post-war years coincides with the steep fall in popular estimation of the arts; our artists and independent thinkers do not currently possess the key to unlocking the next steps of our ‘societal advancement’, so their skills are not only undesirable, but they have lost their previous cultural value in modern society.

Precious few of the Western world’s greatest artists, irrespective of their precise mediums, have been produced after the midpoint of

surprise that we now prefer to invest in degrees which yield significant financial results, is this not, after all, our current conception of the innate function of attending university? This is certainly not to suggest that we should cease our high emphasis placed on STEM fields but rather, that the deepening schism between these two areas is one which will ultimately prove to be a detriment on both ends.

Steve Jobs once declared, that “it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our heart sing”. In order to reach the greatest

a 13,000 person decline in those taking drama, music and art since 2014, whereas those opting for STEM subjects has increased by 15,500. This follows a series of contentious moves by the government that are designed to prioritise areas of study which will be deemed useful in later life, leaving little space for artistic subjects, which begs the question; is creativity no longer a valued skill among our young people? Rather than encouraging our students in second-level education to neglect their affinities for the arts - or even English, as the same study revealed at 25% decline in its A-Level

Alex Mulhare Features Writer

01.10.2019

uptake among British students - perhaps the Irish government’s approach in offering extra Leaving Certificate points for sitting the Higher Level maths paper is more effective, as in its current state, there is no evidence that it diverts the attention of students away from also studying music, art, or Higher Level English.

Although we have spent the better part of the last decade fostering a rivalry between STEM and the Arts and Humanities, it will prove to be of our collective benefit if we strive towards eradicating this divide and eliminating our black and white approach towards these sectors. Last year, the president of Microsoft, Brad Smith, acknowledged that Arts and Humanities graduates will prove themselves to be of immense value in the coming decades, through working alongside their STEM peers, as opposed to against them. ‘At one level, AI will require that even more people specialise in digital skills and data science, [but] as computers behave more like humans, the social sciences and humanities will become even more important.

Languages, art, history, economics, ethics, philosophy, psychology and human development courses can teach critical, philosophical and ethics-based skills that will be instrumental in the development and management of AI solutions.’

If we must continue to define ourselves and our worth in a post-graduate environment by our employability, then we should, at the very least, admit that the schism between STEM and the Arts in universities is an artificial one. One which can be resolved by celebrating our differences, and realising that these varying skills may even prove useful to one another within shared employment opportunities. We are not representatives of a dichotomy as we have been led, and taught, to believe.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

Features

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01.10.2019

Social Media VS Social Change An exploration of whether social media activism is harming rather than aiding its causes?

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hen considering the use of social media for activism, it is important to keep in mind our engagement with social media platforms outside of the political sphere. It is estimated that out of the 3.196 billion people actively using social media, the average time spent on these platforms is 2 hours and 22minutes.

That is to say, social media plays a massive role in how we receive information, how we share it, and the means we have to act. As our online lives are only ever increasing, how best can we utilise these platforms for the betterment of society?

One of the most common arguments posed against the use of social reform online is the concept of ‘slactivism’ (a term coined to suggest a passive or lazy approach to engaging with social activism). No doubt social media has affected the way we engage with politics, and not entirely for the better. Most social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are

dancefloor.

What these examples show us about human behaviour, is that there is, to a certain extent, a ‘bandwagon effect’ to every social movement, which motivates people to get involved in social change. Needless to say, social media is the perfect medium for creating this effect, as the influx of sharing, tweeting, posting and liking of other peoples acts of resistance does in fact influence the likelihood of our own action.

This effect can be as simple as seeing your friend share an article on plastic waste in our oceans, and remembering to bring your keep cup to college. It can be an Ins-

tagram story of your friends at a protest, and having a sudden willingness to attend the next one. It can be a tweet about the effects of mental illness on people’s lives, and an urge to educate yourself further on the ways in which you can support friends, or indeed yourself, when faced with the same issues. Big or small, our actions impact one another, and as social media provides for global communication, the trace of our online political footprint has helped pave the way for others to spread awareness and get involved.

Recent examples of this include the #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter movements, both of which have

“

As we move from reading in depth articles and news reports to status updates and retweets, our broader understanding of these issues shrinks.

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Caoilfhionn Murphy Ní Mhaolchalain Features Writer

deliberately designed to limit word counts, only allowing for a brief overview of topics.

As we move from reading in depth articles and news reports to status updates and retweets, our broader understanding of these issues shrinks. As well as this, social media profiles can lend themselves to self-promotional, lackluster sharing, under the guise of genuine engagement or concern. But do these shallow intentions actually matter when faced with the alternative of total indifference?

Ultimately, social media platforms provide those otherwise disinterested in politics a means by which they can remain somewhat active, if only by spreading awareness.

Alexander Funcke, in his article Partial Participation towards Collective Action; To Stifle or To Instigate references a theory known as the ‘simple threshold model’, which summarises the effect social media has on our engagement with social activism. The ‘simple threshold model’ explores an individual’s willingness to partake in an activity depending on how many others are willing to partake in the same activity. Studies on this theory include: applause, residential segregation and filling a

sparked massive awareness over the past decade. Not only have these movements opened up a discourse across nations, they have also instigated protests and public speeches. That is to say, social media is not just contributing to social activism, it is in the process of redefining activism entirely.

Without platforms such as Twitter or Instagram, these hashtag movements would not have gained as much international recognition in as short a time span as they have.

As well as this, many people report that social media provides a microphone of sorts for those whose views are overlooked, with 64% of Americans stating that social media helps give a voice to underrepresented groups.

Our words have power, even online, and the circulation of buzz words or hashtags is beginning to prove its place in politics as much as any other form of activism.

Journalist and author Malcolm Gladwell wrote in the New York Times that social media can’t provide what social change has always required, but does this view romanticise past struggles?

Gladwell in his article uses the example of four freshman protesting outside the

Greensboro lunch counter in 1960’s America as an example of how social media activism is weak by comparison.

He recounts the students’ fears of being harassed or arrested during their protest, stating ‘Activism that challenges the status quo— that attacks deeply rooted problems—is not for the faint of heart.’ This is where Gladwell’s argument veers into the idolisation of social struggle, rather than an acceptance of our current social/political climate.

Social activism does not have to come in the form of holding a gun. It does not have to entail self-sacrifice or a hero figure. What social change actually needs is collaboration, collective awareness, and unity; all of which online platforms have granted us.

Its undeniable- social media is instrumental in the way we shape and understand our society. It connects us internationally, providing us with a means of speaking out publicly against global injustices and inequality. If we are to continue sharing our lives online, it is worth exploring how we can use our online presence for inspiring and achieving social change.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

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Politics

Volume 33 - Issue 02

Conor Paterson Trump Faces Impeachment Inquiry The Majority Speaker of the US house of representatives Nancy Pelosi has confirmed that house democrats will be opening an impeachment inquiry into the US president. It results from reports that Trump pressured the Ukrainian president to investigate allegations against democratic presidential favourite Joe Biden for his own political gain.

USI President Refuses to Rule Out Rent Strikes: The president of the Union of Students in Ireland, Lorna Fitzpatrick, refused to rule out rent strikes in the future as a protest to the high cost of student accommodation. In an interview with Hot Press magazine she said that ‘nothing’s ruled out.’

Minister for Finance warns of no-deal Brexit Deficit: Finance minister Pascal Donahoe has confirmed that the planned €2.8bn spending package planned for the upcoming budget will be increased in the event of a no-deal Brexit. He said that the additional resources required to deal with such an impact to the economy will result in a ‘temporary deficit.’

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01.10.2019

The Political Green Wave What exactly happened, and what now?

Conor Paterson Politics Editor

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n her address to the UN climate action summit in New York the 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg said, ‘the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight.’

In her fiery and passionate speech, the climate activist vehemently attacked the politicians in power for failing the young generation on this critical issue. She recognises the important political dimension to her cause. It is no coincidence that the climate strikes that took place all around the world were staged in front of corridors of power. Green politics has been around for decades, but never before has it been the focus of so much attention in the political arena.

Warnings from scientists and vocal demonstrations from organisations like extinction rebellion have certainly brought attention the issue, but what impact

“

Green politics has been around for decades, but never before has it been the focus of so much attention in the political arena.

“

Poli-Ticker

The College Tribune

has it all had in political spheres? Even here in Ireland there has been suggestions of a ‘green wave, but is it enough? And, is it all too little too late?

Media outlets were quick to jump on the gains of the Green Party in the European and local elections in May. We were told a seismic shift had taken place in Irish politics and what we had witnessed was a ‘green wave.’

It is true the elections were a great success for the party. It increased it seat total on local councils from 12 in 2014 to 49, an increase of 37.

Its three European parliament candidates received a combined 190,814 first pref-

erence votes, representing 11.4% of all votes cast and two of its candidates were elected after failing to have a single candidate elected last time around. The result was undeniably a success, but there are concerns. The party’s voters are predominantly urban based. Over 51% of its elected councillors sit on one of the four Dublin councils and less than 25% of its councillors sit on councils outside Leinster. In the European election its candidate for the Dublin constituency was by far the party’s best performer receiving an impressive 17.5% of all first preference votes and topping the poll in the capital.

Also, the party has two deputies in the Dáil Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin, both of whom represent Dublin constituencies.

While the party has main remarkable gains there is still a problem attracting rural voters. Turning this around is a challenge when one of the party’s policies include ‘encouraging the Irish agriculture sector to diversify by moving away from a dependence on animal products.’ In order to advance its policies which climate scientists say are necessary to stop catastrophic and irreversible damage to our planet, the green party will need to expand its voter base wider and quickly if it hopes to have a meaningful influence on Irish climate policy making in years to come.

While Irish government pol-

icies can have an impact, the sheer scale of the climate crisis means it is not down to any one country but is a collective issue for humanity. Green parties throughout the world face some of the same struggles as the Irish party. In Germany the green party has seen its support increase rapidly. A poll in June of this year put it at 26%, making it the most popular party among German voters. While this number has slipped a little since the party is sure to make gains of its 67 members of the German parliament in the next election and will certainly be a huge force in German politics. There are also green parties throughout Europe with a role in governments and are influencing policy.

The Green Union in Lithuania is the ruling party while

green parties make up junior coalition partners in Finland, Luxembourg and Sweden. Outside Europe the idea of specific green parties is not so common. However, the stark climate warnings and growing activist base around the world has seen more traditional party’s adopting more progressive climate policy plans.

The Green New Deal was a piece of legislation brought forward by some progressive democrats in the US. Inspired by Franklin D Roosevelt’s new deal package in response to the great depression in 1929, the bill gained a lot of attention as it aimed to address the climate crisis with renewable energy and resource efficiency whilst also addressing economic inequality through social/ economic reforms and pub-

lic work projects. While the bill ultimately failed it marked a shift in traditional parties aiming to address the climate crisis. Similar ideas have been proposed in the UK, Australia and Canada. This shows that parties can also build policies that combat climate change into their platform with other policies. Progress on this has been slow, however.

Here in Ireland government policy has responded to some extent. The government has announced some measures like aiming for 1 million electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030 and introducing a new retrofitting delivery model. Nevertheless, the green party whilst welcoming the plan said it ‘lacks the significant system change required to truly tackle the climate crisis.’

The term may have been overused at the time but a ‘green wave’ certainly occurred in Ireland and beyond. However, the political systems throughout the world have not sufficiently responded to truly rectify the problem. Perhaps a ‘green tsunami’ is required.

Policies that climate scientists urge politicians to take cannot be solely left to green parties. It must be adopted by governments and parties across the political spectrum and also the world.

Only then can politicians truly say to be listening and responding to the millions of voices of young people around the world at climate protests.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

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The College Tribune

Politics

01.10.2019

Election 2020: A Strategic Look Ahead Conall Clarke Politics Writer

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aoiseach Leo Varadkar said recently that he hopes the next general election would be in May 2020. This will bring an end to a Dáil that over the course of four years has gone from being cheered as the beginning of ‘new politics’ to being described as a ‘do nothing Dáil’. The next question to be answered is what will the upcoming election change?

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The 2016 election threw out almost a century of Irish political tradition.

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The 2016 election threw out almost a century of Irish political tradition. It did this by blessing neither Fine Gael nor Fianna Fáil with the means to comfortably form a majority, forcing, for the first time in Irish history, the two big parties to rely on each other with a confidence and supply agreement.

Many thought this would bring about a new era of Irish politics that wouldn’t be as centred around the ‘big two.’ However, the addition of several new smaller parties and Independents only ended up depriving the Dáil of the ability to create a clear consensus for any new legislation. There wasn’t even the hope that an election would bring about significant change as polling showed that any future Dáil would face the same problems as its predecessor.

This changed on Varadkar’s ascension to leader of Fine Gael. He quickly built up a comfortable 10-point lead over Micheál Martin and looked to be on a safe path to return as Taoiseach. However, he avoided an early election for several reasons.

Firstly, in order to avoid leaving Ireland leaderless with the ever-present threat of Brexit looming over the Irish economy. Secondly, he didn’t want to repeat the mistakes

of Theresa May, who based on positive polling rushed into an early election only to suffer a humiliating defeat and lose her majority.

However, this decision seems to have been a mistake. Since early this year Fine Gael’s comfortable lead has shrunk quite considerably, with some polls giving Fianna Fáil a five-point lead.

This, if true, could effectively exclude Varadkar from a second term as Taoiseach.

Currently polling puts Fine Gael in the mid to high twenties, still an improvement on its 2016 result. This could see them take just under a third of Dáil seats in the coming election. Martin has gained at Varadkar’s expense with him also polling in the mid to high twenties.

While their polling numbers are more variable then Fine Gael’s they do trend higher, giving Fianna Fáil reason to be optimistic about getting a third of Dáil seats.

This split would give the smaller parties considerable power as potential king makers as neither party will achieve a complete majority. Sinn Féin are likely be the third largest party in the Dáil. The issue is that Sinn Féin is notoriously hard to poll for and as such their popularity varies wildly between the low-teens and the low-twenties. Their first preference votes will probably be in the mid-teens which will see their proportion of the vote rise slightly since 2016 and they can be hopeful about getting their percent of seats into the high teens.

Polling for smaller parties is slightly harder to predict as their support is highly affected by the margin of error and as such may be over or underrepresented in the polls. The Greens received an unexpected surge in support in the run up to the European election and

are now polling around 7%.

This could see them take more than five percent of the seats in the Dáil. On the other hand, Labour and The Social Democrats haven’t seen much growth since the 2016 election with their support stagnating at about 5% and 2% respectively. This will leave Labour struggling to maintain the four percent of seats that they currently have and The Social Democrats may not even get a percent. Solidarity–People Before Profit has seen their support fade slightly since 2016 shrink to below 2%. Finally, the various Independents support levels hovers around the low teens, which is similar to their result in the 2016.

So, what is likely to come of all this? The easiest avenue into government for either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael would be to form a coalition with Sinn Féin, who have indicated that they

would be willing to go into government with either party. However, both leaders have repeatedly ruled out any potential coalition with Sinn Féin in the near future.

Another potential route to power for Varadkar or Martin would be another confidence and supply agreement with their counterpart in the slightly smaller party. However, this could be seen as a defeat by the parliamentary party of whomever didn’t get into power, potentially spelling the end of their career. There has also has been talk of a broad left coalition among some circles but this is unlikely as even if it has the unwavering support of all the smaller parties and Independents in the Dáil, which in of itself is dubious: it would struggle to get the numbers to form a government. Some have even suggested a coalition between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael which would give them one

of the biggest majorities in the history of the state, but the chances of this happening are extremely low.

The most likely outcome seems to be Fianna Fáil forming a coalition government with the support of the Greens, Labour, Social Democrats and a variety of Independents to form a majority. This is what Micheál Martin is hoping for with his attempt to woo various centre left parties with his claim that a Fianna Fáil government would ‘embrace social democratic principles’.

However, this government would be potentially quite weak as it would depend on several smaller parties and Independents with only a slim majority. As another election becomes more likely the only certainty is that the two dominant parties in Irish politics will ramp up election plans in the hopes of leading the 33rd Dáil.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

The Lab Report Adam Boland Researchers at the university of Montreal have discovered the first ever exoplanet with water vapour in its atmosphere. The planet, called K2-18b, is 9 times larger than earth and orbits a star which is much smaller and cooler than our sun. Its closer proximity to the star, however, means that it lies in the habitable zone. Aliens ahoy?

The bee-killing pesticides neonicotinoids have been shown to directly harm birds. Birds given 1 tenth of a neoniccoated seed lost 6% of their body weight in just 6 hours and significantly delayed their migration.

Science

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The College Tribune

One Cute Killer: The Impact of Cats on Wildlife Natasha Ballard Science Writer

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omestic cats are highly motivated and skilled predators. They possess very strong hunting instincts, and will actively hunt and kill prey regardless of how well they are fed. The role they play in the decline and even extinction of many species of native wildlife is often underestimated. They prey on small vertebrates such as birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Feral and free roaming cats are

ably predictably similar, although fewer studies have been conducted. With nearly a quarter of a million households in Ireland reported to own a cat, not to mention free roaming farm cats and feral cats, their impact on Irish wildlife is something that requires further investigation.

Cats are the primary extinction driver of at least 33 vertebrate species and are known to be responsible for the demise of many more species across the world; examples include the endangered black stilt in New Zealand, Okinawa wood-

theless, estimates by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy in their summer report of 2012/2013 put it between five and 30 animals a day.

Multiply that by the number of feral cats worldwide and that is potentially tens of billions of native animals killed every year. This has a real impact on native wildlife, which are quite often already under stress from habitat destruction, climate change and pollution to name just a few. The number of native animals killed by cats in Ireland may not be in the billions, but it is still probably staggeringly high

sults in escalating numbers of cats, playing a critical role in the decline of native fauna. Trap neuter and release (TNR) programs are hugely popular in Ireland with the assumption that they reduce cat numbers. However, studies show that given the high intrinsic growth rate of cat populations TNR programs have little impact on free roaming or feral cat populations. Given this information stronger measures should be considered for reducing cat populations and research into alternative approaches should be encouraged.

By observing the skin of chameleons, scientists have developed a flexible ‘smart skin’ using photonic crystals which can change colour at a moment’s notice. Cloak of invisibility here we come!

to eradicate cats from offshore islands to protect susceptible prey species. These feral cat-free zones may be the last hope of many endangered animals. Other options to reduce the impact of cats include traditional baiting, trapping and shooting.

These methods come with their own difficulties as cats are notoriously elusive, and hard to track and hunt.

The issue of cat control, particularly using traditional methods is as complex as it is controversial. They are a much loved and popular pet that have featured greatly in our history since their domestication in Egypt thousands of years ago. This results in the need for innovative approaches. In Ireland, farm cats are seen in a positive light as they prey on mice and rats. Cat control in Ireland could therefore include encouraging the presence of barn owls in rural settings as an alternative to cats. Barn owls are a native predator and are known to prey almost exclusively on rodents. According to biologist Mark Browning, one

Feral and free roaming cats are known to kill billions of animals annually across continents like Australia and the USA.

Research suggests that an ancient fifty-foot marine lizard called the mosasaur did the breast stroke for extra speed, making them the only four-limbed animal ever to use their tail and forelimbs together to swim.

Scientists have discovered the reason for an ice-age which occurred 466 million years ago. It is theorised that an asteroid collision in space covered the earth’s atmosphere in dust which blocked the sun’s rays.

01.10.2019

known to kill billions of animals annually across continents like Australia and the United States of America.

One study from the Smithsonian found that cats likely kill between 1.3 and 4 billion birds per year in the US alone. Their impact on wildlife in Europe is prob-

pecker in Japan and nestling red-tailed black cockatoos in Australia. In Ireland, cats are known to prey on protected species such as the pygmy shrew and the threatened ground-nesting corncrake.

It is difficult to put an exact number on the amount of wildlife killed by cats. None-

given the popularity of cats in this country.

Compounding the issue of wildlife decimation is the fact that cats are prolific breeders. They have no set breeding season, can have multiple litters each year and are sexually mature from six months old. This re-

Other countries are waking up to the destructive nature of cats and have introduced various control measures.

There are entire suburbs that are pet cat free. There are feral cat-free zones where large predator-proof tracts of land have been fenced and people are attempting

family of barn owls can take 3000 rodents in one breeding season alone.

In addition to these active control measures, education surrounding responsible cat ownership is needed to reduce the impact of pet cats.

Cats that are kept indoors or are only allowed in contained outdoor runs pose little threat to wildlife. It is the free roaming cats and feral cats that are destructive.

Keeping your cat indoors will also likely cause them to live significantly longer, since the risk of being killed by cars or wild animals is eliminated. Indoor cats are also far less likely to contract diseases like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Education surrounding the impact all cats have on wildlife may be the key to lessening their damage. Here in Ireland more research is needed to explore the impact cats have on Irish wildlife, and if necessary to find suitable long-term solutions.

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Volume 33 - Issue 02

The College Tribune

Science

01.10.2019

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spiders… Man: Clearing the Name of the World’s Creepiest Crawly

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f all the animals on Earth, the spider probably has the worst reputation, with about 5% of the global population suffering from arachnophobia.

Those who are particularly affected, or the more observant among us, are probably noticing an increase in the number of spiders in our homes and wondering ‘where did they come from?’ or ‘how did they get in here?’

The truth is that they’ve been there all along, minding their own business and keeping out of sight so as not to have a shoe thrown at them. Autumn is ‘Spider Season’, during which time males, after reaching sexual maturity, abandon their webs and start looking for

females.

Contrary to popular belief, it is actually uncommon for the female to eat the male after copulation, the exception being Wasp Spiders. The myth was also popularised

by Black Widow spiders, who get their name from the belief that all females eat the males afterwards to increase offspring survival rates. However, even within this group it is uncommon.

Spiders help us out in a number of ways. For example, they are incredibly effective at pest control. You may not notice their presence, but you would certainly notice their absence as this would result in many more insects flying around your house.

They are also incredibly important for the health of ecosystems. As in the case of sharks or tigers, killing the top predator throws the food

chain, and thus the whole ecosystem, out of balance.

Not only am I not arachnophobic, I actually quite like spiders. I do, however,

understand why people are afraid of them. Growing up, I would regularly be woken up by my older sister and dragged out of bed to kill a

How to Exploit the Sick: Price-Hikes in Medicine Vanessa Gomes Science Writer

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n 2015, Martin Shkreli (AKA ‘pharma bro’) garnered widespread criticism for his role in the price hike of an anti-parasitic medication called Daraprim. With the patent for Daraprim expiring in 2015, it was sold to Shkreli-founded Turing pharmaceuticals.

The price per dosage of the medication jumped, under Turing ownership, from US$13.50 to US$750 within a matter of days.

Daraprim is used to treat the diseases associated with parasite infection in humans and may be used in conjunction with other drugs to prevent pneumonia in people living with HIV/AIDS. With no generic drug on the market at the time, Turing effectively had a monopoly over the medication and as such could afford to charge these exorbitantly inflated prices.

In more recent months, another pharmaceutical company has been ridiculed for a price hike of their own.

spider. I never did. I refused to kill them because they play such an important role in the ecosystem. I hope that next time you too will think

twice before squashing these unsung heroes.

Nostrum Pharmaceuticals, based out of New Jersey, USA was discovered to have raised the price of antibiotic Nitrofurantoin by a margin of 400%, from $500 per bottle to approximately $2300.

Nitrofurantoin is the drug

to monopolize the sale of certain drugs, due to patent protection or a lack of generic variety, allows for the exploitation of those who have no choice but to depend on medication. While pharmaceutical companies are

“

With the patent for Daraprim expiring in 2015, it was sold to Shkreli-founded Turing pharmaceuticals. The price per dosage of the medication jumped, under Turing ownership, from US$13.50 to US$750 within a matter of days.

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Theo Ward Science Writer

used for the treatment of urinary tract infections, and Nostrum pharmaceuticals holds the patent for its liquid form which is primarily taken by those who cannot be administered a pill.

The company’s founder and CEO defended the price hike, asserting that “[they] have to make money where [they] can”. What is apparent here is that the ability

widely criticized for these price hikes, many have also found fault with the FDA approval process which limits the ability of generic products to go to market. Any system which allows abuses like these to occur is not a system which works for the people.

Science

Volume 33 - Issue 02

The College Tribune

Brewed Awakening: The Science of Espresso Dorian Dederko Science Writer

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spresso is the pinnacle of all coffee drinks and is the basis for almost every recipe. In all thirdwave coffee shops (shops which use only the highest quality beans), espresso extraction is a precise and consistent process. But before we get into the actual extraction, we must first understand the delicate chemistry of coffee.

Unroasted (or green) coffee is typically flavourless and must undergo the ‘Maillard reaction’ before the complex flavours come out. This is a process in which amino acids and reducing sugars interact in the presence of

heat and is the reason food goes brown when cooked.

Roasted coffee contains over one thousand chemical compounds which contribute to its distinct characteristics like acidity, sweetness and bitterness. It is important to note that coffees from different regions require different roasting profiles due to variation in soil composition, resulting in a wide range of distinct flavours.

When extracting espresso, we must think about the many compounds present in roasted beans. Although it is the best-known bitter compound in coffee, caffeine only makes up about 15% of coffee’s chemical composition. It is the caffeine which binds to adenosine receptors in the brain to produce

coffee’s stimulating effect.

During extraction, acidic compounds dissolve first, followed by sugars and most of the organic compounds.

The last to dissolve are bitter tasting compounds like chlorogenic acid.

A balanced shot of espresso must contain complimentary amounts of all these compounds. Dark roasted coffee (cheaper and lower-quality coffee that must be burned to hide unpalatable characteristics) contains the highest number of bitter compounds and is therefore not used in high-end coffee shops. Light to medium roast coffees are preferred as these are the most flavoursome and can be used to create extraordinarily fruity and sweet espressos.

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A shot of espresso is made with about 18g of coffee extracted to 36g of espresso.

The water must be between roughly 90-95 degrees Celsius. The process must also happen under 9 bars of pressure, which is about the same as the pressure 90 meters underwater. The high temperature is required to dissolve the desired organic compounds and the pressure ensures that the process takes no more than 35 seconds (as opposed to filter-brewing under gravity, which can take minutes).

This is just a brief overview of the science that goes on behind the bar in a coffee shop and is in no way exhaustive. There are still many more areas to discuss like milk-steaming and filter-brewing but for now let’s just sit back and appreciate the overwhelming complexity of one of the world’s most common beverages.

6 Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Waste Seán Kettle Science Writer

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lastic is both amazing and destructive!

It is an extremely versatile material which is used in everything from airplanes to smartphones. The problem is that most plastic items are designed to be used once then thrown away. 8 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the world’s oceans each year, strangling and poisoning countless animals. Here are a few ways that you can reduce your plastic use and save some money in the process.

Reusable Bottles and Cups: These are tools that we use every day so why not make them reusable? If you don’t normally drink plain water,

try adding lemons or strawberries to your refillable bottle for that extra kick.

If you know that you’re going to have a cup of tea or coffee, bring your own cup.

Although mostly paper, disposable cups have a thin layer of plastic on the inside, so they usually end up in landfills rather than being recycled.

Containers and Cutlery: If you are bringing lunch from home, put your food in a reusable container and use your own metal cutlery.

Even if you are buying food, let’s say a salad, ask if you can take it away in your own container rather than the single-use bowl provided.

Reduce Packaging: Buy your fruits and vegetables loose and plastic-free where possible. Most store-bought meat is covered in plastic. A way

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8 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the world’s oceans each year, strangling and poisoning countless animals.

of avoiding this is by bringing your own container to the butcher. Most butchers will be more than happy to oblige.

Ditch the Straw: This one’s easy! Just don’t use a straw.

People were drinking liquids without issue long before the plastic straw was invented. If you do need one, metal straws are now available.

Hygiene: A lot of plastic is produced by hygiene products. Use bars of soap rather than bottles of liquid soap. You can also get razors which only require the blade to be changed rather than the whole plastic razor-head.

Get People on Board: The most important one of all.

Be an inspiration! If you can convince one person to reduce their plastic waste, then you can rest easy in the knowledge that you have done some good in the world.

Although some people can’t get rid of all the plastic it is about reducing the amount.

Remember that just because it is recyclable doesn’t mean it will be recycled. Reducing and reusing are more effective than recycling and should always come first.

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Volume 33 - Issue 02

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Go to www.collegetribune.ie or email editor@collegetribune.ie

01.10.2019

Volume 33 - Issue 02

Philosophy

The College Tribune

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01.10.2019

Facial Recognition & The Self: The Philosophy of Recognition Aaron Collier Philosophy Columnist

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found myself in the Dublin Airport arrivals terminal recently being funnelled into the bright wall of facial recognition machines, eagerly waiting to scan your mug against their database of all the most notorious criminals and terrorists from around the world. My mind couldn’t help drifting back for a moment to the beautiful simplicity of hastily throwing open my passport and handing it to a fedup security guard behind a desk as high as your chin, and with a quick glance at my prepubescent-esque photo being sent on my merry way home. Yet, with a little bark by the gate-staff to get a move on, I stepped on the green laminate footprints and looked where they asked me to. The whole alien process took just under a minute, but it was stressful, and it left me feeling sorry for the poor people who just couldn’t work the things.

However, as I went home the experience had me wondering about what it means to recognise others, and how this relates to arguments surrounding the usage of facial recognition technology.

We recognise people every day in very simple ways that we often think are unique to ourselves, the smile of your mam or dad, the particular way a friend laughs, the colour of someone’s hair or even little overlooked mannerisms. The notion of

recognition is a much-discussed topic in philosophy and is incredibly important socially and for the formation of the sense of self. Recognition always involves a subject/object relationship, whereby the subject (the recogniser) objectifies or in other terms perceptually analyses the other (the recognised) as if they were an object in the world. We actively encounter this interaction every day of our lives unless we live alone like hermits. When we encounter another person, whether we are passing on the street or chatting in a coffee shop, we recognise the other person through a variety of bodily features and social skills. Most importantly, we recognise the other person as an autonomous free-thinking agent that can recognise us along the same lines.

When you see common features in the other person, you generally react positively and may become friends for example.

For many scholars, this interplay is how we develop a sense of self-consciousness. We always stand in relation to the other freeagents and they are always spatially and perceptually in relation to us. We ultimately determine our own selves and our value through our relational interaction with other people. The biggest proponent of this type of theory was the 18th century German philosopher Hegel, who foremost claimed that we gain self-consciousness only by interacting with autonomous subjects. In the ‘Phenomenology of Spirit’ he states; ‘Selfconsciousness exists in itself and for itself, in that, and by the fact that it exists for another

self-consciousness; that is to say, it is only by being acknowledged or ‘recognized’’. For Hegel, this formation of the self is integral to our ethical and political lives and we continually depend on receiving and dishing out recognition. Even if someone seems as though they lie outside the system, who may even make it their goal to stand out from the crowd (remind you of that Emo phase of yours?), regardless they are still perceived in relation to this very crowd. Without the crowd made up of equally free agents, there would be no full conception of the self for Hegel. This interaction also presupposes a set of norms that we recognise others by, like a sort of check list that can vary from recognising human bodily form to other areas like skin colour that can lead to more pernicious outcomes. This begs the question, who designates these norms?

Within a particular socio-political context, people can become marginalised by certain institutionally or historically established norms or values, recognition can become inadequate which in turn causes misrecognition. This warped form of recognition dehumanises a subject, and strips them of their autonomy in the eyes of the other. The academic and author Franz Fanon describes being forced to profoundly question his own conception of selfhood on a regular basis because of the often-subtle gaze of racism. Hegel also addresses the often-brutal struggle for recognition in what he terms as the master/ slave dialectic, whereby the master destroys

the notion of mutual recognition with the slave. The establishment of exclusionary norms weighs in heavily on the discussion of facial recognition software used in policing because when using a rigid algorithm to determine recognisable criminality, certain factors need to be taken into account such as whether black people will be targeted far more because of arresting and sentencing biases or predominantly black mugshot databases for example.

At the moment, tech companies are rushing to fill the demand for these sort of ‘antibias’ and ‘recognition’ tools which are based on algorithms and machine learning, a shocking example of this is when in 2016, researchers at a Chinese university claimed they had trained an algorithm to distinguish criminal from noncriminal portraits, through the analyses of particular micro facial features. This poses the threat of other huge companies such as IBM and Amazon creating technology that allows them to make similarly sweeping statements about criminality based upon recognisable physical traits. The question that this situation leaves us with is whether socially constructed institutions can commit acts of general misrecognition, as non-material bodies like the state, the police, and the law can radically alter a subject’s notion of the self and the self’s relationship with the social world.

Culture Artist Interview: Keywest

Hello, Love, Goodbye: Should I think of you or should I think of myself?

Celery Juice in the Mornings: Yay or Nay?

Sound Waves

All My Heroes Are Cornballs

Norman Fucking Rockwell!

Why Me? Why Not

★★★★

★★★

★★★

JPEGMAFIA

Lana Del Rey

Liam Gallagher

Eniola Kasim - Music Writer

Nicholas Lane - Music Writer

Ryan O’Rourke - Music Writer

JPEGMAFIA’s third studio album, All My Heroes Are Cornballs is a mixture of punk rap, experimental hip hop, lo-fi and trap beats which, in theory, feels like it shouldn’t work - but it does, and does so incredibly well.

Peggy’s sound in this album is energetic, sometimes chaotic and melodic, alternating between rap and song. If you’re looking for a fresh trippy sound, provocative bars and a relevant socially conscious message, this is an album worth listening to.

Lana Del Rey’s sixth studio album sees the return of her signature dreamy sound while the lyrics cut closer to the bone than ever before. Over 14 tracks, Del Rey laments the failure of the American dream, showing the listener what she sees around her; insecurity, beer bottles, and brokenness, punctuated by ghostly and understated instrumentation.

In a political and social climate of so many loud voices clamoring to be heard, Del Rey showcases the power of silence.

Some themes this album touches on are internet culture and fame, mental health and the racial disparity the rapper faces as a black man in America. Personally, I thought the standout song from the album was ‘Jesus Forgive Me, I Am A Thot’ which touches on the social media status, the fake ego that comes along with internet fame and debating whether to “thot” yourself out for mainstream or financial success. He also includes a kick-ass cover of ‘No Scrubs’ entitled ‘BasicBitchTearGas’ – which is definitely worth listening to!

The opener starts the album strongly with a gorgeous, rolling piano backing joined by disdainful opening lyrics - “God damn, man child”. Throughout the project, the singer effortlessly melds compelling, thought-provoking lyrics with sexually charged, tongue-in-cheek quips. Highlights include her innovative cover of Sublime’s ‘Doin’ Time’, the plush violin and piano harmonization on ‘Love Song’, the eerily beautiful ‘How to disappear’, and the heartwrenching lyrics of ‘California’.

‘You only get to do it once’ is the bridge to the best song on Liam Gallagher’s second solo album, and it’s the perfect representation of Gallagher himself. With Why Me? Why Not Gallagher tries to reach for the star power he once had with Oasis. Despite his best attempts he doesn’t quite succeed. The album opens with ‘Shockwave’ which plays off more as an Oasis tribute act than anything else. In truth all the harder rockers on this album seem to be dedications to Gallagher’s influences: The Who, The Stones, and The Beatles.

The strongest thing about this album is just how creative Peggy is with his flows and beats– you’re always left wondering what he’ll come out with next.

Ultimately, where this project falls short is Del Rey’s tone. While her deadpan delivery has become somewhat of a trademark, some tracks in the second half of the album seem spiritless due to the lack of energy with which they are performed. Lana’s message feels so lethargic and lifeless at times that I don’t think I have the energy for a relisten.

Gallagher has professed his adoration for The Beatles on numerous occasions and that influence is evident most strongly on the songs ‘Alright Now’ and ‘Once’ which find Gallagher at his most Lennonesque.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though the influence seems to supersede his originality.

This album sees the youngest Gallagher dabbling in more than straightforward rock ‘n’ roll, with tracks delving into the realms of glam, psychedelia and more. However, the true power of this album lies in its softer, reflective acoustic ballads where Gallagher’s vulnerability shines. What this album lacks in originality and complexity, it makes up for in hypnotic grooves and unchallenging enjoyability.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

Music

Upcoming Gigs

The College Tribune

28

01.10.2019

Politics on the Dancefloor Octo Octa and Resonant Body

Darcey Dugan - Music Writer

Alice Phoebe Lou October 11th @ 8pm Whelan’s, Wexford Street South African artist Alice Phoebe Lou has been busking in Berlin for years and lives to play live for people- it’s what she does best. Singing with a sense of freedom and empowerment, her vocals are mesmerising and unique and her stage presence brings a sense of awe - and lots of dancing.

At only €15 it’s very worth the whole magical experience.

Easy Life October 6th @ 7pm Green Room, The Academy Easy Life is a fresh indie band who infuse their music with an old jazz record feel mixed with modern hip hop.

For €17.50 you can hear some of their must-listen-to indie tracks including ‘OJPL’, ‘Pockets’ and ‘Nightmares’.

They told interviewers they’re ‘gassed to be coming to Ireland’ and for Irish fans to expect ‘the usual vibe’ with ‘maybe a couple classic Irish tunes thrown in there’.

Two Door Cinema Club October 14th and 15th @ 7pm Olympia Theatre

Following the release of their new album ‘False Alarm’, Two Door Cinema Club are touring again, with tickets selling for €37.65. Our friendly local Northern Ireland indie-rock band has blown up- this means bigger production and they know how to put on a show. So, go and see them return to the stage with their familiar colourful attire and very catchy tunes.

I

Niall O’Shaughnessy Former Music Editor

don’t know about you, but I like to start each day with a quick scroll of Twitter to check what new crisis I need to update myself on. It’s exhausting. There’s a pressure to make sure you’re equipped with that day’s hot take to avoid social exclusion. That pressure is amplified for artists with really any type of following. The consequences are even graver; taking the wrong side in the latest culture war may cause ticket sales to stall, having a measurable impact on one’s livelihood. Expecting our favourite musicians, authors and directors to navigate the media landscape unscathed in 2019 is unreasonable. Demanding accurate, nuanced responses to that day’s crisis while removing the opportunity to learn through making mistakes - is a perverse contradiction.

Similarly, it is those same figures we turn to in times of uncertainty and unrest. It is their view of the world, which manifests itself as art, that can put as at ease, or inspire us into action. How art is exhibited is also political, as is its context. A lazy example is Dublin’s attitude towards its cultural spaces- their closure, and the public response, cannot be separated from the politics of the situation.

One of the deepest wounds inflicted on Dublin’s creatives was the closure of Block T in 2016, which contained over 70 artist studios in Smithfield. Even if the music or DJs that played District 8 stayed away from politics, there was a lack of recognition from political actors about the space’s cultural significance. Anyone who demands

artists stay away from politics displays a deep ignorance about how the two spheres constantly inform one another.

One artistic space that cannot be removed from its political origins is the dancefloor.

House and techno owe its current ubiquity to the clubs and communities of 70s and 80s Chicago and New York. Specifically, the black and gay communities that cultivated these scenes as spaces they could go to dance and get high without fear of violence.

One DJ and producer who embodies the counterculture roots of house and techno is Octo Octa, who’s new album Resonant Body, was released earlier this month. It’s a record that, removed from context, presents itself as blistering reinterpretation of classic house and breakbeat. Track two, ‘Move Your Body’, is a call to action. Octo Octa relies on a simple ‘tension/release’ dynamic to emphasise a blistering synth motif. The penultimate song, ‘Can You See Me?’, would just as easily fit into a headline closing set.

The central message of “I know exactly how you feel” is a nostalgic sentiment repeated constantly in dance music. In this instance, it’s drawn alongside playful arpeggios and busy hi-hats.

Resonant Body could be one of the year’s best records based on these uncontextualized merits alone. However, it is only when we consider the circumstances behind the work that we begin to understand its potential political and cultural impact. Octo Octa came out as trans midway through her career and, together with her trans partner Eris Drew, released Resonant Body on T4T LUV NRG, a label they co-own and operate. Suddenly, a line which seems lazy at first glance, “I know exactly how you feel”,

becomes a bridge between the artist and listener, a mutual reminder of the strength and support of the queer and gender nonconforming communities. At the same time, the statement could be read as an insight into the artist’s past, as her ability to empathise with oppression comes from a life lived in the margins. The closer, ‘Power to the People’, is an overtly political statement in these circumstances. The track revolves around a field recording of a crowd chanting- what exactly is unclear- but their tone is ecstatic.

The sample conjures an image of what is left when the turntables are unplugged, and the club lights are turned up: a group of strangers announcing their admiration in unison. The music in ‘Power to the People’ is just as resounding, a throbbing bass line rings in a sticky chord progression played on organ. The instrumentation choices are intentionally pointing to a comparison between the relationship of preacher/ congregation, and DJ/dancefloor. In this space, a trans woman like Octo Octa is not only accepted - she is worshipped.

When we entertain calls to keep art and artists away from politics, we concede the first battle in gaining support for a public good. Depoliticising cultural spaces like nightclubs justifies the argument that their closures are merely the market eliminating those that can’t compete. More worryingly, entertaining depoliticization is another means of revising the role played by black and queer people in laying the foundation for modern dance music. The dancefloor cannot become another restricted area for the marginalised, but the doors will remain firmly open to all as long as DJs like Octo Octa and Eris Drew are given their dues.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

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The College Tribune

Music

Artist Interview: Keywest motivates people to steer themselves into the music industry. I posited this to Andrew. Turns out his family is steeped in musical history, so it wasn’t one bit surprising that he chose the path he did. Since he can recall, Andrew has been ‘surrounded by people always singing; my granny and her sisters always sang’. He ‘saw the esteem [from others] that was there when my granny sang’ and respected it and, moreover, was motivated by it. His dad used to play guitar, ‘mainly as a hobby’. For Andrew, doing into music was a natural move.

As the interview progressed, Andrew delighted me with one of the most interesting Keywest stories he could

recall. It was on the set for their ‘Messages from God’ song, which was ‘shot in the Mexican desert’. The video, which can be found on YouTube, depicts American soldiers walking around the desert, fully equipped and carrying M16 rifles. ‘On the way back home, we crossed the border into Mexico by accident’, recalls Andrew, where they were greeted by a squad of armed, angry-looking Mexican officials.

The crew then had to prove that they were simply shooting a music video, and not, as it appeared, some sort of covert US Army convoy. Safe to say they haven’t been back in Mexico since that incident.

At this stage, the interview was coming to a close, and I still hadn’t asked Andrew

“

We crossed the border into Mexico by accident’, recalls Andrew, where they were greeted by a squad of armed, angrylooking Mexican officials. The crew then had to prove that they were simply shooting a music video, and not, as it appeared, some sort of covert US Army convoy.

“

K

eywest are one of Ireland’s leading bands, with some 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and over 164,000 followers across social media channels. In fact, they are officially Ireland’s biggest independent act, having decided not to join a record label, but rather set their own one up instead. Though their rise to the spotlight is relatively recent, Keywest have been busking, supporting other acts and working hard for years to get to the level they currently reside at. I had a chat with frontman Andrew Kavanagh about the band, and got some pretty interesting stories along the way.

The first point of interest for me was the name of the band. In my mind, it evokes a small, rural, coastal village, with a pub or two and not much else. Turns out, my intuition isn’t too bad; Key West is an island located in Florida, with just under 25,000 inhabitants.

So how did this little, far-off place come to be the name of an Irish band? Andrew recalls the story well; when busking around America a few years back, they landed in Key West, where ‘there was a festival or something that made it impossible to gig. We went to a pub and lied about being a band called ‘Keywest’ from Ireland. They let us play and it turned out really well. We decided to continue to use it and the name stuck’.

As someone who is passionate about music, but has no musical bone in his body to speak of, I’m always curious to know what

01.10.2019

Alex Lohier - Deputy Editor

about the upcoming Keywest album, ‘Ordinary Superhero’, and subsequent international tour. I got a sneak preview of the album, and I must say I like it. Their blend of folk, rock and pop is not something I would find myself regularly listening to, but a few of the tracks kept me coming back. I was intrigued by the title of the album, and asked Andrew if related to someone specific.

‘I wrote it for my aunties; they’re more like sisters to me’. Andrew has many, many aunties, so many that I can’t recall the exact amount. When he was younger ‘two of them were single mothers. As I got older, I started to notice and understand and admire their composure, and how well they managed the situation’. The title, then, is a homage to the people who do their best, day in and day out, to provide for their loved ones and shelter them from the negativity that exists in this world. If you listen to the album, you may notice that it is full of passion, as is often the case with talented musicians. ‘I always [try] to draw on feelings; that’s why I got into music in the first place, [I try] to empathise and draw on things [I] went through’. This certainly comes across, and the result is a soulful, emotional album.

‘Ordinary Superhero’ is out on 11th October, with the tour beginning in Belfast on the 17th October and coming to Dublin on the 18th. Look them up if you have a minute; they might just be your next go-to on your morning commutes.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

Film & TV

Film & TV News

The College Tribune

30

01.10.2019

Film Review: Parasite

Alex Mulhare - Film & TV Writer The 44th annual Toronto Film Festival ran from the 5th to the 15th of September, with Taika Waititi’s ‘Jojo Rabbit’ taking home the People’s Choice Award. The film received understandably mixed criticism, however, as it is a black comedy following a member of The Hitler Youth who discovers that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their house.

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards were also held on Monday 23rd of September, where Game of Thrones, somewhat controversially, won the award for Outstanding Drama Series.

Phoebe Walker-Bridge’s comedy series, Fleabag, proved to be the night’s big winner though, earning the awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, Writing, and Directing. In other

★★★★

Anton Rivas Pertile - Film Writer

W

hile Bong Joon Ho might be a name unfamiliar with most western audiences, he has proven time and time again to be capable of making extraordinary films that are both accessible to a modern audience and capable of generating deeper discussion. His latest film, Parasite, might serve as his best work yet, scooping the first ever Palme D’or for a Korean film and a unanimous win at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.

Parasite is a darkly comic film that follows the poor Kim family as they slowly worm their way into the household of the wealthy but ignorant Park family. The Kims, hardworking and cunning, find a suitable host in the Park family who lack any sense of awareness. When the opportunity arises for the eldest son, Ki-woo, to take up place as an English tutor in the Park household, the family find a chance to escape their destitute environment and begin to capitalize on their new-found fortune.

Joon Ho is no stranger to themes of class inequality in his films, Snowpiercer (2014) being a notable example of this, and Parasite continues this tradition in a less fantastical setting. The father of the Kim clan, played

by the brilliant Kang-Ho Song (Memories of Murder, The Host) is a working-class man trying his best to keep the family together.

His values are simple, and he lives day by day without much thought for the next. His children are more ambitious and crave the lifestyle they see in the Park household. The question of whether they can ever dream to possess such wealth pervades in the background, hanging like an unpleasant thought that haunts every character in the film.

One thing that Parasite excels in is its wonderful cinematography, each scene offers beautiful imagery in the lighting and set design. The use of light and shadows is particularly good in this film, a scene with the Park child in an outdoor tent playing with his torch at night lights up the screen like a beacon. Another scene where the camera runs overhead through the streets

during a rainstorm creates an incredible view that keeps the viewer immersed in the film. Parasite is littered with shots like this that elevate the overall atmosphere of the film and capture character moments.

Where Parasite might stumble is in its scenes of brutal violence. It’s thrilling but almost unnecessary and lessens some of the message that Joon Ho is trying to say.

In a film with as much tension as Parasite, a scene where Tarantino-level violence occurs seems unnecessary and surface-level to the rest of the story which is carefully developed over its 2 hour 11min run.

Overall, I give Parasite a 4/5. It’s an excellent film that will keep you hooked and leave you thinking about it afterwards. While Bong Joon Ho might have a flair for the extreme he manages to keep the story on course and deliver a solid ending. Be sure to watch it when you have the chance.

“

[Bong Joon Ho’s] latest film, Parasite, might serve as his best work yet, scooping the first ever Palme D’or for a Korean film and a unanimous win at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.

“

film news, Wes Anderson’s new film has been confirmed for a 2020 release date, and titled The French Dispatch, it has been described as ‘a love letter to journalists.’ Horror fans will also be pleased to hear that Stephen King’s novella, In the Tall Grass, has been given a chilling film adaption which is due for a Netflix release in October.

Another Netflix production to watch out for is El Camino, the Breaking Bad sequel, which appears to take place directly after the events of the original series. In terms of television, the American broadcaster NBC has announced that it will launch its own streaming service, and has a reboot of the beloved series, The Office, in its sights. In lighter announcements, Amazon has revealed that The Lord of the Rings series will be returning to New Zealand, and our screens, within the next few years, and it is reported to have the largest production budget in television history, of a humble one billion dollars. At the cinema, Joaquin Phoenix’s highly anticipated rendition of the eponymous DC villain, Joker arrives on the 4th of October. Renée Zellweger’s biopic portrayal of Hollywood icon, Judy Garland, will be released in Irish cinemas on the same date.

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Film & TV

The College Tribune

Netflix Recommendations

01.10.2019

Brigid Molloy Film & TV Editor

The Social Network

The Good Place

A Simple Favour

Jane the Virgin

★★★★

★★★

★★★

I think The Good Place is the most ambitious TV comedy out there. Kristen Bell plays Eleanor Shellstrop, who after her death finds herself in heaven (or the Good Place). In fact, she has been mistaken for a different person when instead Eleanor, a cruel and selfish person during her time on Earth, should be in hell. With the help of a fellow occupant and former ethics professor, Chidi (William Jackson Harper), she tries to become a better person who would be worthy of being in heaven. Most TV comedies are realistic and quite predictable, so I love how The Good

This satirical thriller was not a huge theatrical hit but that does not mean it is not worth checking out on Netflix! The film stars Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively and Henry Golding. Kendrick plays a virtuous and sheltered single mother called Stephanie.

★★★★

Film

This 2010 film chronicles Mark Zuckerberg’s path to creating Facebook, a journey which began in his college dorm.

The film is primarily concerned with the enemies Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) created on his determined quest to make the website a success. The film cuts between the lawsuits Zuckerberg had to settle and the origin story of the ubiquitous social media platform. I love Aaron Sorkin’s writing in this film; there is a lot of witty dialogue and killer one liners. The now iconic opening scene between Rooney Mara and Jesse Eisenberg perfectly demonstrates the strength of the script. The relationships between the characters are wonderfully drawn, especially between Mark and Eduardo (Andrew Garfield). I am definitely somebody who believes The Social Network should have won best picture instead of The King’s Speech way back in 2011.

Series

Place is a high concept show that has many twists during every season. The ensemble cast is not only racially diverse, they are also a delight to watch. Now would be a perfect time to start watching too as the fourth and final season has only started airing.

Film

She befriends another mother, Emily (Lively) who is Stephanie’s complete opposite. She is confident, glamorous and reckless. One day she leaves her child under Stephanie’s care and vanishes. Stephanie does her best to unravel the mystery of her disappearance.

The film was exciting from beginning to end because of the shocking twists, laugh out loud moments and the sexual intrigue.

It is a loving satire of the thriller genre; it employs its tropes while poking fun at them.

This is perfect to watch with friends because it is exciting, funny and not as scary as a traditional thriller could be.

Series

Jane the Virgin is a satirical take on the telenovela genre, and it is perfect for anyone who loves rom coms. Jane, played wonderfully by Gina Rodriguez, is an aspiring writer in her twenties. She planned to save herself until marriage but in a spectacular turn of events, she manages to get accidentally artificially inseminated.

While she remains dedicated to her longterm boyfriend Michael it happens that the biological father of her child is Rafael, with whom she shared her first kiss. What I appreciate most about this show is that while it is fun and absurd, it doesn’t stray from important, relevant topics. Some characters are undocumented immigrants and there are diagnoses of post-partum depression and cancer over the seasons.

Jane the Virgin illustrates that it is perfectly possible to balance drama and comedy.

Hello, Love, Goodbye:

Should I think of you or should I think of myself?

★★★★

Raphael Balatzer - Film Writer

T

his question has always attached itself to me, even today. If one could truly give and take in a relationship or if you had to choose whether to do either at any given moment. I feel that the Filipino romantic drama ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye,’ directed by Cathy GarciaMolina explored this subject and fleshed it out much more than other romantic dramas have in the past.

The film stars Kathryn Bernardo as Joy who is working in Hong Kong as an overseas Filipino worker. In Hong Kong, she meets Alden Richards as Ethan, who works as the local bartender. Joy is working abroad to provide for her family in the Philippines but at the same time, she wants to grow and be her own individual. However, she’s trapped, desperately working to get by and begging her host Hong Kong family to let her stay. At the same time, Ethan is secure.

His responsibilities only lie in doing well as

a bartender and taking care of his family in Hong Kong. But he wants to make something out of himself and change his fate. His previous relationship ended in him being left back to square one. So now, he wants to prove something to himself: to start a family and have his own business. He wants all of this to start with Joy. He knows that she can absolve him of all of his bad memories.

The problem is, she wants to be free and isn’t ready yet. Ethan: “If you love me, why won’t you choose me, Joy?” Joy: “If you love me, why are you making me choose?” The scene which includes this dialogue between Joy and Ethan was also important in highlighting the importance of communicating. To speak up about who you are in the relationship, not what you are.

That is, an individual and not just a partner to someone. The acting between Bernardo and Richards was particularly subtle but admirable in conveying all these feelings on screen, despite not being together outside of the movie.

My secondary school teacher once told us about how: ‘to be in a relationship, one must never lose themselves to their loved

one. Once that loved one is gone, you will be gone.’ It’s true. If you truly love each other, you need to be patient and grow for yourself too. Only that patience will carry you both

for a brighter future. ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye,’ explored patience while also giving us a film to remember. ‘Joy, I want you to live your dreams. I will not hold you back.’

Volume 33 - Issue 02

Arts & Lifestyle

32

The College Tribune

01.10.2019

Trance Wax Lights up Dublin with a Set to be Remembered Luke Murphy Arts & Lifestyle Writer

G

arry McCartney, who goes under the alias ‘EJECA’ or ‘Trance Wax’ depending on the show, is a young techno DJ from Belfast. He has been putting on performances across Europe for years at festivals and intimate shows alike, bringing a bouncy and energetic performance wherever he plays. This past weekend, he had a show in Dublin’s 39/40. I attended his show and have much to share,

but before that, I would also like to briefly talk about the growing trend of techno and how it is one of the most entertaining type of gig to go to.

Trance Wax started off his set by warming the crowd up with some minimal techno and trance music. Given he had 4 hours ahead of him, he didn’t want the crowd to be climaxing too early. After an hour or so, the Berlin bunker-style venue was at full capacity and the crowd was buzzing. Trance Wax began to pull out all the stops, creating a euphoric show with uplifting techno beats

and a futuristic light show.

Throughout the performance, Trance Wax gave us some blasts from the past, playing the club classic Insomnia by Faithless.

Another stand-out moment was his remix of Silence by Delerium, a fan favourite that has amassed millions of views on YouTube.

The brilliant aspect of Trance Wax’s shows is that they are not exclusively for people who purely listen to techno. His shows are crafted for anyone who wants to go on a night out to groove to some beats and have fun but wants to steer away from the typical nightclub

The Importance of Saying No

“N

o’ - the stuff of nightmares.

I often wonder how this word, one of the simplest words we first learn, can be the hardest to say. The advice we’re often given, that ‘we shouldn’t be afraid of using it’ is usually met with the cliché – ‘easier said than done.’

That may be so, but the liberation and pride in finally plucking up that carefully acquired courage to say ‘No’ can be life changing.

For me, there was one question - one that was particularly topical among my friends - that, in saying no to, I let myself open up

“

The liberation and pride in finally plucking up that carefully acquired courage to say ‘No’ can be life changing.

“

Gemma Farrell Arts & Lifestyle Writer

to a seemingly terrifying deluge of further questioning and ridicule.

‘Do you believe in God?’ I spent much of my childhood in a very conservative Catholic area of rural Ireland.

For years, I attended an equally conservative convent school. The liberal nature of the adolescents I saw on TV was a distant dream for me. The scenes from the ‘Vote Yes’ campaign during the run-up to the Marriage Equality Referendum were met, by my friends, with sheer contempt and disapproving groans. If you didn’t take pride in your Catholicism, you were judged in a rather conspicuous way, despite an outwardly friendly wave from across the street.

I had my doubts for a long time. Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit my mother’s ‘Let them talk’ attitude. The fear of ridicule and of people

experience that revolves around overpriced drinks and getting the shift. With tickets priced around €15 and Trance Wax playing bouncy, boppy tunes, these shows are not ones to miss.

My overall takeaway from Trance Wax was that he not only knows his audience, but also caters towards those who might be new to his music and the techno scene altogether.

His show in 39/40 was vibrant as a result of his fantastic DJ-ing ability, a fabulous visual display, and the hyped-up crowd.

talking about me was a constant source of worry. I would have done anything to stop their talking - including lying in the face of the aforementioned question, after my noshow at the local church the previous Sunday.

On hindsight, by lying to them, I was denying my true self, squashing my beliefs and any bit of individuality I had, all because I was afraid to say no.

So much of our fear of the word ‘No’ lies within the unknown, the uncharted territory of life after using it. However, once you find the strength to use it, you realise the only regret you’ll have is that you didn’t do it sooner.

Aged seventeen and fed up of hiding who I was and how I felt, I finally plucked up the courage. I stopped belittling my beliefs and spewed them out. I didn’t care if my world was to rip apart. To my surprise, it didn’t.

And today, three years later, it still remains very much intact.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

33

The College Tribune

Arts & Lifestyle

Celery Juice in the Mornings: Yay or Nay?

01.10.2019

Pi Pizza ★★★★★

South Great George’s Street, Dublin

€€ Alex Lohier - Deputy Editor By now, most of the Dubs reading this will have ventured to Pi. This new pizzeria has taken the city by storm, and has won many accolades.

For those who still haven’t had the pleasure, here’s a taste of what you’re missing.

If (when!) you go, choose a sunny day, or bring an umbrella; the line is often out the door at peak times. For those clever cookies out there, no, you can’t just book ahead and skip the queue.

This place is walk-in only. Don’t let this deter you, as the line is worth the

wait.

I’ve had everything on the menu, so trust me when I say you can’t go wrong with any of the pizzas. I recommend the Portobello. Though not quite as tasty as their original Funghi one (why the hell did you change it Pi???), it’s really rather marvelous. Don’t like mushroom? Then I suggest the Nduja, the Margherita and the Pea & Pancetta, in that order!

R

ecently, the trend of drinking fresh celery juice in the morning took the world by storm. YouTubers, health bloggers and even celebrities joined the bandwagon – it was seen that the hashtag #celeryjuice garnered more than a 100, 000 posts on Instagram earlier this year.

Celery juice has been labelled as a ‘miracle tonic’ that aids digestion, improves moods, gives a caffeine-free energy boost, leads to clearer skin and many more.

However, is having celery juice daily at the start of the day worth the hype? As with anything else, there are opposing views on this one.

INSIDER published an interesting entry by a writer named Jessica Booth, who shared her harrowing experience of having celery juice in the mornings. She writes that her new daily routine possibly induced another bout of her underlying ulcerative colitis condition and she ‘didn’t experience any of the other benefits she (sic) had heard about.’ She also points out that the pulp (with beneficial

fibres) tends to get filtered out by the juicer, or manually by the consumer owing to its foamy – and icky – appearance.

At the other end of the spectrum, Whimn (a well-renowed Australia-based lifestyle blog) shared the story of a writer named Alexandra Carlton, who claims that she ‘drank celery

“

She notes that her skin cleared up and she stopped yearning for her daily dose of coffee because her energy levels were much higher.

“

Mallika Venkatramani Arts & Lifestyle Editor

juice every day for a month and it changed her (sic) life.’ She notes that her skin cleared up and she stopped yearning for her daily dose of coffee because her energy levels were much higher. She also adds that a friend of hers, who followed this celery juice routine, reported an improvement in symptoms of

her Hashimoto’s disease.

There will always be people on the fence, and I belong to that category. I too tried this fad for 10 days or so, to no visible effect.

However, I still wouldn’t mind having celery juice every morning.

So, what is the conclusion? Celery by itself is chock-full of nutrients and is a very healing vegetable, but as Booth correctly mentions, the fibre and pulp that is left behind by juicers forfeits the purpose of this popular habit. This has been attested by Judy D. Simon, a clinical dietician and nutritionist at University of Washington’s Medical Center in Seattle. So, if you want to get the full benefit of the vegetable, include the pulp (or just eat it raw without juicing it).

Finally – what if you abhor celery, but want to get into this healthful practice of consuming vegetable/fruit juice? These are some tasty and juice-able fruits/vegetables you might want to consider trying: cucumbers, oranges, beetroot, carrot and strawberry. Just remember – keep in as many bits of pulp and fibre you can, that’s where the good stuff is.

This meal is cheap if you don’t get a drink, but it’d be rude not to grab an ice-cold lemon San Pellegrino. They have some pretty decent craft beers if that tickles your fancy.

Dessert is restricted to a Chocolate Budino or Vanilla Ice Cream, with olive oil and some sea salt. As odd as the latter sounds, it’s succulent. If you are there as a couple, try both!

Pi Pizzas do one thing; pizza. And, boy, they do it well. It’s cheap, cheerful, tasty and you watch your pizza being made right before your eyes!

Volume 33 - Issue 02

The College Tribune

34

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01.10.2019

Sport From the Halls of Blackrock College to the Fields of Yokohama Russian Rugby Captain Vasily Artemyev Matthew Dillon Sport Editor

3

2-year-old Vasily Artemyev captains Russia at this year’s World Cup. It’s a lesser known fact that Artemyev is a graduate of Blackrock College, and lesser known still that he is a graduate of our own University College Dublin.

Coming to Blackrock as a boarder Artemyev was not long taking flight on the rugby pitch. He is the holder of both Junior and Senior Cup medals; as well as a fist full of representative honours, including Irish under 19s.

With UCD Artemyev won Metro League and Cup, as well as being part of the intervarsity team to win the

Conroy Cup and an illustrious Irish Universities team.

Not just a high-flier on the field; Artemyev studied law at UCD upon his graduation from Blackrock College.

However, Vasily seemed to hear the call of home: following his graduation he returned to Moscow in 2008 to play for professional club VVA. Around this time, he also began representing Russia.

Artemyev seemed to have returned home to stay. However, following a spate of impressive performances at the 2011 World Cup Vasily Artemyev signed for premiership side Northampton Saints.

He quickly became a fan favourite at Franklin’s Gardens, scoring a hat-trick in his debut against Saracens and a further two tries in his

league debut against Newcastle Falcons.

The former UCD man has since returned to Russia, joining club Krasny Yar in Russia’s unofficial ‘Rugby Capital’ Krasnoyarsk. As captain he was at the helm of a historic victory over Stade Francais in the European Challenge Cup in 2017.

However, what is perhaps most impressive about Artemyev is his attitude towards the game. Whether he picked up this attitude at Blackrock College, UCD or somewhere else along the way it is hard to tell. What is certain though is that this tough-as-nails captain really enjoys his rugby and understands the true meaning of sport. In his most recent Instagram post; pictured with Samoan fullback Tim

Nanai-Williams he writes: ‘For me rugby is respect. Respect for the game, respect for the ref, for the opponent, supporters... We came to this world cup to earn respect for ourselves and I think we can hold our heads high after tonight’s match despite some shortcomings..

Big respect for our Samoan brothers! All players played their hearts out tonight.

Many sore bodies on both sides I’m sure)) From the island of Russia to the islands of Samoa we salute you)))) @tim_nwilliams it’s been a pleasure playing against you, uce! All the best for the tournament!!’

Keep in mind that this was written after an extremely physical encounter with Samoa; a game in which Artemyev was on the receiv-

ing end of two tackles that received yellow cards. He seems to have an uncanny ability to get back to his feet no matter what. He is a tough cookie, no question there; and a great ambassador for his country. Maybe more importantly though is being an ambassador for the sport in Russia, which is small nation in rugby terms.

As I write this the heroic performance of Uruguay against Fiji is on the television; in my peripheral vision. Perhaps the valiant performances of Artemyev’s Russia in their first two pool games have inspired lesser known rugby nations at this year’s tournament. Perhaps, it should serve as inspiration for us all; not just for rugby, but for our lives as a whole. One might have

had the preconception that having started out with two titans of the game in Blackrock College and UCD Artemyev might have missed some of the traditional amateur values of the game.

The reality is that Artemyev understands that the game is about enjoyment and respect for your opposition.

It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight; it’s about the size of the fight in the dog.

Volume 33 - Issue 02

Sport

The College Tribune

36

01.10.2019

In Response to: “It’s Time for Rugby to Address It’s Rampant Doping Culture”

I

write this article in response to a piece entitled ‘It’s Time for Rugby to Address It’s Rampant Doping Culture’ published on April 9th earlier this year in the College Tribune. At this point there is much discourse surrounding the presence of doping in sports; but in particular rugby.

There certainly is legitimate cause for speculation around the presence of doping in rugby. Aphiwe Dyantyi (South African winger) tested positive for anabolic steroids and metabolites on July 2nd while six of 122 South African schoolboy tests came back positive for anabolic steroids at the 2018 Craven Week.

In fact, much of the case made initially in the piece ‘It’s Time for Rugby to Address It’s Rampant Doping Culture’ is difficult to disagree with – particularly the criticism of painkiller culture in rugby. This sort of journalism is positive for any sport; it questions, it challenges.

However, some of what would traditionally be described as ‘development’ of the article’s principle arguments can only be described as bombastic scaremongering.

Firstly, to address the numbers of rugby playing athletes banned for doping. The fact that roughly 30 percent of 50 athletes banned for doping in the UK were rugby players does not mean that rugby is ‘dirtier’ than other sports. People seem to automatically assume that more athletes caught and banned for doping must mean mass doping culture. The counter narrative; which unfortunately would never sell as many papers as aggressive accusations of an epidemic, is that the testing procedures in rugby are more regular and stricter than in other disciplines. When dopers are caught does this not make the sport cleaner? This is notwithstanding

that rugby players are almost constantly in competitive season. Track and field athletes in particular have a much shorter season; with less frequent testing.

Journalists, both amateur and professional seem to have a preconception that athletes being heavier or stronger than in the past is definitive proof of steroid use. To quote Mr. Stokes ‘In fact, players at this year’s World Cup will be, on aver-

age, 2.5 stone heavier than the edition held twenty years previously.’ This sort of assertion is becoming all too common in the work of journalists who evidently lack sufficient knowledge of sports science or the game itself. Rugby Union is not merely a contact sport; it is a game where contact is the sport - it is the essence and heart of the game. For this reason, players have always wanted to improve their strength and size. In

1999 rugby had only been through one World Cup cycle of professionalism. Furthermore, sports science was almost non-existent compared to what it is today.

The developments in sports science; from nutrition to weight training have been so great, particularly over the last two decades that to flippantly disregard the hard work of players and strength and conditioning coaches is beyond flippant.

Without making too much of this quote; this is an average, taken across all the teams at the world cup – is this an attempt to condemn every player, playing for every team as a drug cheat?

Perhaps it is an accusation aimed at only the majority of professionals. In 1999 rugby was only a part time profession; we don’t have to go too far afield to find examples of this when Leinster were still training from the boot of a

“

The developments in sports science; from nutrition to weight training have been so great, particularly over the last two decades that to flippantly disregard the hard work of players and strength and conditioning coaches is beyond flippant.

“

Matthew Dillon Sport Editor

coach’s car and a prefab and garage in Donnybrook. Of course, players weights have increased; they’re full time professionals with the ability to dedicate large amounts of time to gym work.

While Mr. Stokes makes a particularly worthwhile point addressing painkiller taking in rugby, branding them as a performance enhancing drug is not only a bridge too far, but also ill-informed. Mr. Stokes address-

es Brian O’Driscoll’s use of Difene before games in order to push through pain to play the match. While I agree that this culture is a scourge on the game, it does not amount to illegal performance enhancement. Anyone who has taken Difene in the past will tell you that it comes with a heavy side-effect warning; particularly in relation to drowsiness. I simply don’t see how drowsiness and impaired reaction times could be seen to en-

hance an elite player’s performance.

Lastly, I would like to address the assertion made

by Mr. Stokes that ‘The evidence of drug-taking is plain for all to see, mostly in the vastly different body shape of schoolboys players in the last ten years.’ Firstly, youngsters now begin lifting weights alongside rugby from the age of thirteen upwards in schools. The body sizes that are seen at schoolboy level are a product of repetitions in the gym and a lot of protein and carbohydrate heavy meals. The ethics behind bulking schoolboy players up in this manner is a discussion for another time. However, to attack en masse schools’ players, and perhaps more accurately the parents of schoolboy players is unacceptable. This hypothesis that a large proportion of schoolboy players in this country are engaging in steroid use, either with or without their parents’ knowledge is outrageous.

The picture of the South African team after a gym session has caught the eye of the media in recent weeks. Nobody can look like that without steroids, seems to be the general consensus from the journalists. What we see is the picture, what we have missed is the thousands of hours and millions of kilograms shifted over a lifetime to leave the athletes in that condition. I am not saying South Africa have a clean reputation, but to brand every player as a drug cheat is wrong. These athletes have passed rigorous tests.

Is it jealousy or misunderstanding that leads so many journalists to condemn professional rugby players and their physical appearance?

Not that it will make a difference to the mob of angry journalists, but rugby is a game of more than physical size. The All Blacks dwarfed in comparison to the Springboks in terms of size in their recent World Cup clash. I needn’t tell you who came out on top in that affair. Rugby Union needs skills and vision as well as size.