News
Majority of Students Let Down After UCD Ball Cancellation
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Michael Phoenix talks to UCD students about the cancellation of this year’s UCD Ball, and gets differing views on the saga
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The consensus amongst the student body following Saturday’s announcement of the cancellation of this years UCD Ball is that it is simply unacceptable. With most first year students yet to experience the climatic event of UCD’s social year, they may be the most aggrieved. First year B & L student Jenny Molloy said,
“I’m fairly annoyed as it’s a massive part of the UCD experience, however, given the line-up it really doesn’t bare much significance.” What was released of this years line-up had on the whole been poorly received by students, however first year Arts student Caleb McDonough commented,
“I was looking forward to the ball all year, regardless of whether the line-up was good or not. It was going to be a great end to my first year in college.” A more pragmatic view was taken by first year Physiotherapy student Jamie Rath.
“I’m disappointed with the news of the cancellation but I’m sure Jonny [Cosgrove – Ents Officer] had the balls to take on UCD and would not have given up without a fight, I believe the abuse Jonny is getting from the students of UCD is a disgrace” Students from further years, eagerly anticipating the event on the basis of their past experiences at the Ball could not hide their disappointment. Second year student Adam Caldwell was just one particular student.
“Last year’s ball was one of the highlights of my first year in college, and whoever is responsible, should be ashamed at their part in ruining a treasured UCD experience.”
One second year science student placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Ents team.
“I blame UCD Ents because that’s all they have to get right each year, and they couldn’t even do that. They had a whole year to plan it and it looks like they left it to the last minute. I’m absolutely devastated. Law with Philosophy student Lauren O’Brien shared concerns over the reasons given to students for the cancellation.
“At first I thought it was an April Fools joke, a little payback for all the abuse that we had been giving them over this year’s line-up… But I can’t say that I’m very surprised, I had heard that Ents were low on funds this year and they have put up the price with no acts to show for it.” O’Brien’s thoughts were echoed by one second year Neuroscience student.
“I think that it is very suspicious to announce something that the college authorities (allegedly) saw a problem with at this late stage, especially since this problem could have been seen from the start of the year and before. UCD wouldn’t have given the goahead, then stopped the event. They know it would be wasting the money of the Union.” Others however, including Arts student Patrick Wolohan, are less cynical.
“I feel it is a great injustice to the students of UCD – but the blame does not lie with Jonny Cosgrove, but rather with the UCD Administration who are a shower of unsavoury bureaucratic… characters.”
The timing of the announcement seems to be coming under some scrutiny, although it is understandable that Ents and the SU would want to wait as long as possible before releasing the bad news, in order to try and find a solution. However, one third year science student stated their belief that
“We need to be sure that the delay was not deliberate, so as to avoid negative effect on Pat de Brún’s campaign. Students need to feel confident in their new SU President.” Facebook has proved a popular forum for discussion on the issue. With comments ranging from the sympathetic – “Jonny did his best” – to the apathetic – “Happy days! The line-up was awful anyway” – to the obscene… Some students have already made plans for a mass alternative –
“Everyone meet at the running track where the ball was originally planned for, bring drink, friends and whatever else you need for a good time!” Belgrove resident Tadhg Crowley summed up the feelings of the student body.
“I feel like the cool, drunk, summer grass has been ripped from out beneath my feet leaving me cold, bored and alone… and angry, very very angry.” Students have also voiced worries concerning what will be done with the money originally planned to be used on the event itself. With a clause in place that allows the SU to escape from the contracts they had made with acts set to perform, the fees set to be paid to this years bands is now freed up. Precisely how much money the SU spent on planning the event is unclear. The Students Union Executive met at an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the issue.
Scenes like these, from UCD Ball 2010, will not occur due to the cancellation of this year’s proposed event.
4 | www.collegetribune.ie