The College View - Issue 7 - XVIII

www.thecollegeview.com

Vol. XVIII, Issue 7

Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

Opinion:

Features:

Sport:

‘Lad culture’ should not excuse revenge porn

Disable Inequality in this year’s Election Read more on page 14

DCU defeated in Sigerson Cup Final

Read more on page 10

See back bage

Read about our coverage on the General Election 2016 on the three page spread — See pages 3-5

THE COLLEGE VIEW DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY’S ONLY INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1999

Róisín Shortall, Social Democrats speaks at the Election 2016 Dublin North-West Debate in DCU on Wednesday, February 17 Credit: Chai Brady

DCU officially takes pro-choice stance Rebecca Lumley Deputy Features Editor @RebeccaLumley1

THE Students’ Union’s official stance surrounding abortion is now pro-choice following a preferendum on reproductive rights last week.

Students were given five options and were asked to rate them in order of preference. The options were: pro-life, pro-choice, legislation & amendment, legislation and no stance. 1496 students voted comfortably surpassing the 749 quota. An overwhelming majority of 1057 voted for a pro-choice stance while 189 voted for pro-life.

When surveyed by The Col-

lege View last week, 43 per cent of DCU students said the 8th Amendment was one of the issues that mattered to them in the run up to the general election.

A referendum amending the DCU constitution was also passed last week.

The constitutional referendum was passed with a majority of 1381 yes votes, with just 221 voting no. The number of valid votes was 1602, exceeding the minimum requirement of 1300.

The constitutional amendment will see changes in four different areas and will allow for the full amalgamation of DCU, St Pat’s and Mater Dei, this year.

Under the changes an Irish Language officer will be appointed to the SU. It will be a part-time position and will be voted upon

in the upcoming SU election.

The Irish Language Officer will act as a representative for Irish speaking students and, according to Caoimhe Ní Chathail, chairperson of Cumann Gaelach, will have a “significant impact on the campus as a whole.”

“We would love to see the Irish Officer assist with the creation of Irish language campus accommodation, encourage DCU to become a bilingual campus and implement DCU’s responsibilities and policies regarding the Irish language,” she said.

The SU election dates are another area that will be subject to amendment as a result of the referendum. Traditionally elections are held in week nine of semester two but will now be pushed back to week 10 in order to ac-

commodate St Pats’ students.

“Next year St Pats’ students will be DCU students, and they won’t be able to run in the election because they’ll be on placement at the time,” said SU President, Kim Sweeney.

While proposed in the constitutional referendum, the final decision with regards the date will be made by Class Rep Council and Returning Officer Steve Conlon. Other amendments include a change in the number of required nominations needed to run in SU elections and the creation of a gender neutral constitution.

When voting, students were not asked to vote on each amendment but simply asked to approve or disapprove all of the changes as a whole.

INSIDE THE SUSS

THE SUSS COVERS THE INSANE GENIUS OF KANYE WEST PANIC OVER POLITICISED POP PRAGUE VS AMSTERDAM

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

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Editorial Katie O’Neill Deputy Editor @Katie_ONeill

Polaroids & Puppies with Global Brigades & Fotosoc Credit: Tom Douglas

MANDATORY sexual consent lessons were introduced, calls for the privacy of the victims were heard and a national discussion on abuse against women was opened up, a lot of impact for a ‘farcical’ story.

The student community in Ireland was rumbled by the fictitious revelations of the UCD student newspaper, The College Tribune, that a ring of 200 male-students in UCD were operating a private Facebook group in which naked images of their latest conquests were traded. The Tribune suggested the men were predominately from the Agricultural Science building of the college.

What followed was a lengthy debate on the issue of sexual abuse and its intricacies in our digital world. A large cohort of the internet stood united with the females that were supposedly used as boasting rights in this group. Some turned to chastising the ladies for their irresponsibility, others retorted that this was victim-blaming.

Nonetheless, the dialogue was happening. The University unveiled plans to introduce obligatory sexual consent classes on the back of the allegations. Only to conclude that the story was “unsubstantiated hearsay,” following an internal investigation.

The compassion of the public has weaned in the wake of the reveal, predictably so as according to the investigation there are no such exploited females to pity. Alliance switched to anger and the lack of editorial responsibility and due diligence of the Tribune editorial staff has been lambasted. Whisperings continue that the story was grounded on fact but evidence to corroborate this is yet to be found.

The ‘UCD200’ may be non-existent but that’s not to say the problem isn’t. A startling survey from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) revealed that one in 12 female students have been the victim to rape or attempted rape. Less than three percent of those surveyed said they reported the crime to the Gardai calling into question statistics on sexual violence.

The rhetoric that this untruthful story has opened up is the only positive facet to emerge from the scandal in which the

names of a whole cohort of students were dragged through the mud (as no names were revealed a question mark was left over the heads of all male agricultural science students).

Last year, the UCD Student Union hosted a ‘slut-walk’ to discourage rape culture and violence against women. Trinity introduced lessons on sexual consent that are mandatory for all freshers. The need for such measures suggest a growing and dangerous problem.

Social media perpetuates this risk of violence. And apps that permit anonymity are devoid of accountability for perpetrators and victims alike. The Tribune story came from claims on YikYak, an app that allows users to comment to those in their surroundings without the reveal of their identity. The app recently started rumours that the UCC Welfare Officer was a cocaine dealer and saw DCU SU deal with a spike in reports of bullying.

Revenge porn is a prevalent issue in modern society and it needs to be condemned unequivocally.

The public and national press were so quick to believe this baseless story because it is a growing reality in our tech-dominated society.

sports@theccollegeview. com arts@thecollegeview. com

Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief: Catherine Devine Deputy Editor: Katie O’Neill Production & Layout Editor: Scout Mitchell Deputy Production & Layout Editor: Niall Connolly

Deputy News Editors: Paul Dwyer, Hayley Halpin, Hannah Kelly & Aura McMenamin

Sports Editor: Aidan Geraghty

Online Editor: Kevin Kelly

Opinion Editor: Lisa O’ Donnell

Deputy Sports Editors: Aaron Gallagher & Cormac O’Shea

Deputy Online Editors: Hannah Moran & Stephen Murphy

Printed By Datascope, with the DCU Journalism Arts Editor: Fionnuala Chief Sub-Editor: Jamie Society Thanks To Sportsfile, Jones Concannon SLC, Office of Student Life Deputy Arts Editor: Contacts Stephen Keegan editor@thecollegeview. com Chief Arts Contributor: news@thecollegeview.

Ryan McBride com features@ Images Editor: thecollegeview.com Chaitanya Brady opinion@thecollegeview. com Deputy Images Editor: gaeilge@thecollegeview.

David Clarke com

Lifestyle Editor: Aoibheann Diver Features Editor: Megan Roantree

Production & Layout Deputy Features Assistants: Daniel Troy Editor: Rebecca Lumley & Oliver Deane Irish Editor: Aíne Marie News Editor: Katie Monk O’Neill Deputy Irish Editor: Aoife Ní Mistéil

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

News

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#GE16: 45 per cent of students still undecided ahead of Friday vote

Credit: Eoin Lúc Ó Ceallaigh

“OH I wouldn’t know enough

about that”, the answer The College View was inundated with when polling students across campus for our General Election survey last week.

Almost 45 per cent of students polled said they have not decided whom they will vote for in the upcoming election. Fine Gael fared best in our survey with 17 per cent of student signaling their support for the party. Fine Gael have consistently topped the national polls in the run-up to the general election.

12 per cent of DCU students said their support was with Sinn Féin for the Friday vote. 58 per cent of students said that college fees are an issue they will be mindful of when voting.

Sinn Fein may attribute their favourable position to their anti-student loan stance and their

promise to abolish student fees.

Sinn Fein were closely followed by Fianna Fáil, whom 11 per cent of students said they will be supporting. “I’m going to vote for Fianna Fáil because my father does,” one student told his friends when completing the survey paper. Michael Martin, leader of Fianna Fail has been praised for his performance in the media during the campaign trail.

Support for the incumbent Labour party is just six per cent among DCU students. Female support was at nine per cent while male support was at three per cent. Labour have committed to holding a referendum on repealing the 8th Amendment, should they be re-elected. In our survey, 49 per cent of female students saw the 8th Amendment as a main issue, in comparison to 36 per cent of males students.

Excluding the undecideds, Fine Gael received 42 per cent of the student support. Followed by Sinn Fein on 12 per cent. 11 per cent of students that have decided

“

I’m going to vote for Fianna Fáil because my father does.

how they will vote support Fianna Fail. Labour were at six per cent, the same figure of support they received in an Irish Times poll on Monday. It appears Fine Gael are more popular with the student demographic than nationally as our figures put them 14 per cent above the recent Irish Times figure.

College fees are the most important issue to DCU students in the upcoming election.

60 per cent said that fees are something they will consider when voting. Student fees were raised by €1000 in the term of the Fine Gael-Labour coalition.

Healthcare is also an area of concern to students with 47 per

“

Catherine Devine & Katie O’Neill News Reporters @thecollegeview

cent saying that it was a main issue for them. Overcrowding in hospitals, medical cards, prescription charges and the HSE are some of the main national issues that have dominated the dialogue in the area of health in this general election.

Job security was more important to males. 51 per cent said it was an issue for them, while 29 per cent of females listed it as important. In the past four years, over 300,000 people have emigrated from Ireland; 40 per cent were aged between 15 and 24. The current unemployment rate is 8.6 per cent with a 27.1 per cent decrease in people on

the live register, since 2011. The controversial JobBridge scheme introduced by the coalition aimed to reduce unemployment figures after the economic crash. However the scheme has drawn many critics as it has a culture of featuring low-paid or unpaid work.

30 per cent of students think housing and homelessness is an issue that will influence which party they vote for while other issues such as transport and mental health came in at four per cent. The death of Jonathan Corrie in December 2014 sparked public outrage about the homelessness crisis in Ireland. The government vowed to tackle the crisis in the wake of this but the epidemic is still prevalent.

The College View polled 245 students across the Glasnevin campus. An even mix of both males and females were surveyed.

Students from each faculty were represented in the poll. Students from a variety of age brackets were surveyed to ensure adequate representation.

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THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

News

#GE16: We profile DCU alumni and staff candidates By: Katie O’Neill, Paul Dwyer, John Casey & Aura McMenamin

Roderic O’Gormon, Green Party Clare Daly TD, Independent BEFORE her time in Dáil Éireann, Fingal General Election candidate Clare Daly TD had her first brush with politics as President of the DCU Students’ Union.

“We mobilised students more than any other college around issues like opposition to education cuts which were dominant in the 1980s. We occupied the Students’ Unions offices and hit the national headlines in that regard,” Daly said of her two terms in the SU. “We were also very instrumental in the campaign around abortion information.”

She begrudgingly admitted involvement with a certain club during her time in DCU, “I was involved in

the Labour Party at a certain stage, very ashamed of that one now.”

During her time in politics, Daly has never been shy in her views. She was jailed for her part in anti-bin charge protests in 2003. In 2015 she served four hours in a Limerick prison for refusing to pay a fine for breaching prohibited areas in Shannon Airport. Daly has long protested the US military refuelling there.

Daly was elected to the Dáil in 2011.

In her bid to retain her seat, she vows “to use the platform to articulate the key issues of concern for ordinary people on issues of social justice and women’s rights. Will that appeal to students, yes, I think so.”

RODERIC O’Gorman, the chairperson of the Green Party, is running for a seat in the Dublin North West constituency in the upcoming General election.

O’Gorman has promised that if he is elected to the Dáil he will try to introduce a new law to promote the building of new affordable houses for the people of Dublin.

He grew up in Dublin 15 and first stood for the Green Party in the 2004 local elections, but was unsuccessful.

He subsequently contested two general elections, two by-elections and the 2009 local election, before claiming a seat on Fingal County Council in 2014.

O’Gorman completed his degree in Politics, Economics and Law in Trinity College Dublin and went onto complete his PhD there in 2011.

O’Gorman joined DCU’s School of

Law & Government from Griffith College Dublin in 2012, where he had worked as a lecturer and a course director for five years. He currently acts as programme chairperson for the BA in Economics, Politics and Law degree in DCU. He also continues to lecture in Politics which, he says, he enjoys doing.

“Education is my passion, both as a lecturer in DCU and now as a board of management member for Castleknock Community College.”

O’Gorman has said that there needs to be more money put aside for facilities in the health, transport and education sectors and has said that he would lobby against any further increases proposed for third level fees.

“Dublin West needs investment in health and education facilities, public transport and childcare places.”

Helen McEntee TD, Fine Gael Enda Kenny, Fine Gael TAOISEACH Enda Kenny studied primary school teaching in St. Patrick’s College, graduating in 1970.

When he returned to open the new St. Patrick’s library last year he spoke about enduring ten o’clock curfews and the local pubs being strictly off limits during his time at the college.

Upon completion of his studies Enda spent four years teaching in a national school in his native Mayo. It was not long before he followed in the family political tradition.

His father, former all-Ireland winning footballer Henry Kenny, had been a Fine Gael TD since 1954. Henry died in 1975 and was succeeded by his son in a

by-election the same year.

For the next three decades Enda held a variety of roles both within government and opposition. Notable amongst these was his time as the Minister for Tourism and Trade between 1994 and 1997. After his party’s disastrous showing in the 2002 general election Enda succeeded Michael Noonan as the leader of Fine Gael. He stayed on as leader after his party failed to unseat Fianna Fáil in the 2007 general election.

Kenny became Taoiseach in 2011 after leading Fine Gael to winning the largest number of seats in its history.

He is currently the longest serving TD who is still sitting.

BEFORE becoming a Fine Gael TD, Helen studied Economics, Politics and Law in 2004. The 29 year old from Navan, co.

Meath looks back fondly on her time: “I absolutely loved DCU. It’s tough going to college from a school in the country. But the friendliness and closeness of the college made it easier.”

She helped resurrect and chaired Young Fine Gael which had been stagnant for the past few years.

During this time, her father Shane McEntee ran in the Meath by-election and was elected into to the 29th Dail in 2005.

Shane’s strong community ties and his campaigning for homeowners whose houses were ruined by pyrite made him a popular politician in Meath.

In 2013, a 26 year-old Helen decid-

ed to run in the by-election caused by Shane’s tragic death. Helen had worked in her father’s office for three years prior to his death, a time that allowed her to see the life of an opposition TD who then became a junior minister.

“There’s a big difference between studying politics and actual politics itself. It’s not until you immerse yourslf in an office or campaigh that you know.

What actually prepared was being able to engage with people and communicate.”

Helen was active in the Yes campaign. She will focus on issues such as improving broadband and telecoms. She also wants focus on young home-owners in mortgorage arrears who were pushed to buy a house during the boom years.

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

News

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#GE16: Parties divided on education policies By; Hayley Halpin & Hannah Kelly

IANNA Fáil heavily focused on student fees and grants Fin relation to third level.

Fees Their manifesto promises to freeze student contribution fees at their current level of €3000 for the next five years.

Despite these promises, their manifesto states they wish to explore an income contingent loan system.

However, they have spoken out in the press and stepped back from plans to introduce the loan system. They were unable to get the plan independently verified, and thus are setting it aside. It is uncertain whether they will follow through with the loan system once in Government.

Freeze student contribution fees at their current level for five years Grants The manifesto promises to keep the undergraduate maintenance grant, while adding an additional cost of €12.5m annually.

They also wish to increase the Student Assistance fund at a cost of €4.7m annually.

They wish to review the effectiveness of access policies, to ensure the needs of disabled and disadvantaged are being assisted effectively.

Like other parties, FF’s manifesto looks into re-introducing the post-graduate grant system with the 2010 criteria.

Their manifesto promises to increase current funding to Higher Education institutions by €100 million.

Unlike any other party, FF’s manifesto promises to freeze public transport fares for three years, while discounting fares for Third Level students and people up to 25-years-old.

INE Gael’s 2016 education focuses on funding Fforpolicy third level institutes, mak-

ing college a viable option for everyone and ensuring the degrees they receive make students highly employable.

No mention of changing student fees ...or a stance on a student loan scheme Funding Gap Increasing taxpayer support in higher education was a main issue due to the funding gap of €100m to provide for a growing student population. They have also promised a €150m Capital Plan for more facilities, including the Grangegorman DIT project.

FG’s 2016 manifesto includes no mention of changing student fees, reintroducing postgraduate grants or a stance on a student loan scheme, unlike other parties.

Loan Scheme However, in their 2011 manifesto, they proposed a student loan scheme to be put in place until registration fees were abolished. These fees have been increased by €1000 since 2011. Postgraduate grants were also cut, which Minister Howlin said would save around €12.6m.

However, under the Student Support Act 2011 the party did set up a student grants appeal board, in accordance with their promise for a faster and cost effective system for paying student grants.

Fair access to third level education is something that has been mentioned by the four main parties.

FG’s manifesto promises to develop online universities, as well as making part-time courses available at universities.

NE of the leading education points that has come out of O Labour’s current manifesto is

the aim to reduce the student contribution fee by €500 in 2017.

Fees However, last week Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan of Labour stated in the press that they cannot rule out increasing fees for third level, contradicting their manifesto.

Labour will not announce their stance regarding student fees until after the election.

The manifesto promises to extend free part-time third level education to those at work, making a total of 100,000 free part-time places available.

With number of students entering third level education continues to rise year after year, their manifesto has promised to increase funding by €15m each year to tackle the reduction in quality that can come with a rise in students. Following on from this, Labour wants to provide €25m to third level institutions for better staff-student ratios.

Cannot rule out increasing fees for third level education Disadvantaged Students The manifesto promises to provide an extra €10m to better support disabled and disadvantaged students.

As mentioned by two other leading parties, Labour promise to bring back postgraduate students grants by providing a new €60m fund.

Labour’s 2011 manifesto had no mention of student fees.

However, they were in Government while the student contribution fee was raised by €1000.

They followed through with the 2011 plans to relocate DIT to Grangegorman.

INN Fein stress that educais a basic human right Sandtion academic freedom should

be protected. Thus they have a firm anti-student loan stance in their 2016 manifesto.

Firm antistudent loan scheme... which promised free education Abolish Fees This coincides with their 2011 manifesto which promised free education (including third level) was a top priority.

Their manifesto sets out a plan to abolish student fees over a government term by gradually reducing student contribution. This is a continuation of their opposition to reintroducing fees in 2011.

Postgraduate grants are planned to be reintroduced, as well as reversing changes in adjacent grants so more people can avail of them, according to their manifesto.

Again this lines up with their promises in 2011 when they wished to reform the grant system to take into account the real cost of college.

Allowance They wish to increase the back to education allowance to €188 for under 26s, as well as extending funding supports for people with disabilities in higher education to part-time students to maximise education accessibility.

Investment in infrastructure and additional funding to tackle shortages at third level are also promised. They hope this investment will create 250,000 jobs over the next five years.

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News

CRC vote in favour of changing SU Election date Jmaie Concannon Chief Subeditor @jamie_concannon

DCU’S Class Rep Council have voted in favour of changing the election dates for the upcoming Students’ Union elections, in order to better suit students who would otherwise be unable to vote.

Due to the amalgamation of the St Patrick’s Drumcondra and DCU campuses, the elections need to be scheduled to accommodate both equally.

The initial dates proposed for the election were unsuitable for final year students in St Pat’s who would be on placement, it was argued.

While the council can vote on whether or not to change the date, it remains only the DCU Returning Officer Steve Conlon

Credit: DCUSU

who can decide on the date itself.

The council said they can provide the Returning Officer with all of their arguments and research, but his decision remains final.

“Basically, the meeting today was to decide if we would revoke

the election dates that were sent out originally. The class rep voted, and I think it was 100 per cent majority to change it. Now we just have to get the Returning Officer to set new dates,” SU President Kim Sweeney told The College View.

“I was trying to include everyone honestly, and I was trying to present the best options that the Students’ Union has come up with.

I hope the class reps will think about that before our next meeting”.

Also discussed at the meeting was a possible protest held by student nurses seeking to be paid at least minimum wage for the work they are required to do for their course. Under the current system, some student nurses feel they are being underpaid, despite doing the same 12-hour shifts as fully qualified nurses.

“We support our nurses completely. If it was to go ahead, we will support them and organise for students to go to the protest.

There was a motion put forward earlier this year to support our nurses no matter what so we will be supporting them, and making sure enough awareness is created,” said Sweeney.

DCU students rally against the introduction of student fees Clara Hickey News Reporter

@thecollegeview

DCU is one of many colleges in Ireland to join in on the ‘Students Against Fees’ campaign created

by Trinity students in November 2015.

The campaign was set up by students who were angered by the defeat of a motion brought forward to the Trinity Student Union council to oppose the introduction of student fees by the government.

As it stands, those who do not qualify for the SUSI grant must pay a student contribution fee of €3,000 to the college.

Earlier this month, both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael announced that they would abolish SUSI and introduce a new system whereby all students could go to college free of charge for the duration of their course, and then begin to pay back tuition fees once their income reaches over €25,000 after college.

Additionally, college fees would be increased by €1000, a sharp increase in comparison to the steady rise of students fees of €250 per year since 2011.

Government

The political parties’ defence for introducing this new system is that as the number of students entering college increases, so does the government’s contribution to student fees, which they believe the government can no longer afford to do after seven years of spending cuts.

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

SU deliver on Irish-speaking accomodation Aine Marie Monk Gaeilge Editor

@thecollegeview

IT has been agreed that Campus Residences LTD will set aside apartments on campus for Irish-speaking students.

This comes after discussions between DCU Students’ Union and Campus Residences.

Students applying for campus accommodation have the option to signal their preference for Irish-speaking accommodation. However, it was brought to SU President Kim Sweeney, that despite requesting Irish-speaking apartments in their form, many students didn’t get them.

“It was brought to my attention that when applying for campus residence there is an option to tick if you wish to be living with all Irish-speaking housemates, however in some cases the applicants have ended up in English-speaking apartments”.

Both groups came to an agreement that two apartments in the College Park Complex, two apartments in the Hampstead Complex and six apartments in Larkfield will be set aside for Irish-speaking students.

No preference It was also noted that a student who applies for Irish-speaking accommodation will not be given any preference over any other student who submits an application for accommodation.

“Once you’ve gotten accepted they will allocate you in an Irish house depending on demand and availability,” Sweeney said.

The SU President will be notified of the levels of interest expressed by students after the application process has ended.

Signage

Sean Cassidy speaks at the Student’s Against Fees meeting last week Credit: Hayley Halpin

Despite Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, and Labour not mentioning the new system of student loans in their manifestos released last week, they can still introduce the new system if they enter into government.

This is why DCU students Grainne Smith and Sean Cassidy have taken it upon themselves to bring the Students Against Fees

campaign to DCU, as many other students are similarly doing in UCD, NUI Maynooth, and UL. Sean explains that their first aim is to inform DCU students about the campaign, as many students are under the impression that the campaign is against banks giving loans to current students.

The campaign’s main aim is

to gather the support of students nationwide, just as USI did this time last year in a bid to pass the marriage referendum, so that together they can pressure the government into not introducing student loans.

To get involved in the campaign or find out more, look at DCU’s Student Against Fees Facebook page.

Campus Residences LTD also added that they hope to work alongside An Cumann Gaelach to create correct signage in Irish for use in the allocated apartments.

Caoimhe Ní Chathail, Chairperson of An Cumann Gaelach DCU, is delighted with the announcement: “We have come a long way to now be able to guarantee the availability of Irish language accommodation. Campus Res are offering 30 places and while these are all totally dependable on demand and the lottery system for campus already in place, I am delighted with the progress that has been made. I look forward to working with campus res on promoting the scheme and putting proper signage in place as the Irish language accommodation is established”.

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

All eyes on NUIG for RAG week students who attended the event. They said there were no incidents during the week that caused public concern or discontent, “There was nothing apart from the odd little skirmish and I believe the extra Garda presence helped keep things without incident”.

The 2016 UCC RAG week also took place last week.

Events which took place over the week included the Nearly Naked Mile, Iron Stomach, obstacle courses, bouncy castles and concerts as students were encouraged to get involved to raise money.

Controversy

RAG weeks have been a controversial topic throughout the country’s colleges and UCC’s edition has been threatened to be shut down in recent years due to antisocial behaviour from students and the promotion of excess drinking which have bothered residents who live near the campus.

2nd year UCC Dentistry student Niamh O’Gorman says RAG weeks will be the most memorable when looking back at her life in college.

RAG week in Galway Credit: UTV

Aaron McElroy & Brein McGinn News Reporter @thecollegeview

AS RAG Week got underway across the country last week, students were queuing from before 9am outside the Hole in the Wall pub in Galway City for Donegal Tuesday, the most popular day of the unofficial event.

There was said to be over 500

people queuing from before the doors opened for the most popular night of the week.

Gardaí in Galway said before the week got underway they would implement a “zero tolerance” approach to public order offenses such as drinking, drug abuse and assaults.

Students’ Unions in NUI Galway and Galway Mayo IT do not support the event, after they vot-

ed to suspend the official event as it attracted an anti-social image in previous years.

Speaking to the College View, President of GMIT Students Union Michael Kerrigan said the event which is run unofficially by a number of students each year passed without any major issues.

No incidents

The feeling was similar among

Charity

“It’s something you’ll remember for the rest of your life and it’s the college that you see in the films that we wish we had every day” said O’Gorman.

“It’s just one big party and as well it makes us feel better because almost every penny we spend goes to charity for once.”

This year’s charities that are involved are Pieta House, Marymount Hospice, Rape Crisis Network Ireland and Surgeon Noonan.

RAG Society choose raising over rowdiness Jennifer Purdy News Reporter

@thecollegeview

R&G week came to DCU last

week and the Raising and Giving Society aimed to distance themselves from the reputation of ‘RAG weeks’ across the country.

R&G week at DCU saw a big push for the society’s social project including “RAG Rhythms” and “Operation Renovation” in Ballymun as well as evening events which drew huge crowds especially RAG Relief and a Justin Bieber tribute hour during Shite Night.

Positve image Chair of the society, Caoimhe Ní Mhaolagáin said the aim of the week was to highlight the good work the RAG volunteers do and portray a positive image of the society in the community surrounding the college.

“Unlike other colleges throughout the country we are the only one with a RAG society. We

have to take a lot of care in what we do as we help vulnerable people and don’t want to give RAG a bad reputation in the area,” she said.

She went on to say that the heart of RAG week has been lost on the majority of unofficial RAG weeks in different counties are now just a reason for antisocial behaviour.

“The RAG weeks around the country have lost the true meaning of “Raising and Giving Week” and have just turned into another excuse to drink,” she said.

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Twelve students formally sanctioned by DCU last year John Casey Deputy News Editor @thecollegeview

THERE were twelve cases of formal disciplinary action taken by DCU against its students in the 2014/15 academic year.

Three of the cases were for plagiarism, eight for a breach of exam regulations and one for a non-academic offence. Two hearings found that the student had no case to answer. The figures were released to The College View under the Freedom of Information Act. Complaints against students are processed by the office of DCU’s chief operating officer (COO). If they are judged to be serious enough, they are forwarded on to the university’s disciplinary committee.

“A lot of the complaints are dealt with informally,” says Dr. Declan Raftery, the DCU COO. “This will happen if the offence isn’t seen as a major breach of policy. We try to bring cases to the disciplinary committee if it is absolutely necessary.”

Resolution Dr. Raftery’s office mediates around ten of these informal meetings a year. It is then a “judgement call” as to whether to involve the disciplinary committee.

Most of these cases will be resolved without official action on the part of the university.

The DCU disciplinary committee is comprised of members of the academic staff, support staff and representatives of the student union.

They can hand down a number of sanctions to students, from fines and community service right up to expulsion.

Lenient

Proceeds All proceeds raised during the week at events including “Joe Blogg’s 21st”, “The Underwear Mile” and those mentioned above will be donated to the “Laura Lynn” and the “Jack and Jill” foundations.

Ní Mhaolagáin added these were chosen because of the charities’ work with children.

“We chose these two charities due to the fact we do a lot of our projects with children and these charities really hit home for us all”.

News

RAG Chair Person Caoimhe Ní Mhaolagáin performs at RAG relief on Monday of R&G week. Credit: Hugh Daly

The university tends to be lenient with regards to social issues and will often mark down incidents of anti-social behaviour as an honest mistake. There is a zero tolerance policy for academic breaches however.

“There’s no wriggle room when it comes to exam breaches or plagiarism,” says Dr. Raftery. “The policies are there and the terms are absolute.”

While most non-academic cases are dealt with in an informal manner, cases which are deemed to be malicious in nature are automatically put to the disciplinary committee. Social media breaches make up a large part of these cases.

“If we are alerted to a breach of our social media policy we will investigate,” says Dr. Raftery. “Students have been sanctioned for their online behaviour before and I’m sure they will be again.”

8

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

News

Pay by phone; SU unveils new Yoyo Wallet app across campus Lydia McKay News Reporter @thecollegeview

THE Students’ Union launched the Yoyo Wallet app this week that will allow DCU students to pay for goods on campus using their smartphone.

Yoyo Wallet decreases transaction time, eliminates the need to carry cash and provides the user with rewards and discounts.

Students can use the app to pay for items anywhere on campus, excluding Nubar and Spar.

SU president Kim Sweeney announced the introduction of Yoyo Wallet on Monday, after previously promising a new on-campus payment method in her manifesto last year.

She suggested a “multiuse student card” which could be topped up online or at pay stations around campus similar to the printer credit already implemented in the library.

Since Yoyo Wallet’s launch in 2014, the company has signed a total of 26 universities and 40 head office corporate catering locations.

The app is being used on over 600 retail sites.

“Overall, I feel it is a great alternative for students to have the option and it will also be useful for budgeting your money

Credit: yoyo wallet

and seeing what you’re spending,” said Kim Sweeney, regarding the app.

“There are so many great aspects to this app while it is also safe, as passwords are required to use it.”

DCU Cancer society hold annual shave or dye

Shauna Bowers News Reporter @thecollegeview

AROUND €100 was raised for the Irish Cancer society by DCU Cancer society at their second annual Shave or Dye or Oh My event, in association with TodayFm in Nubar last Thursday.

Assisted by Harte’s Barbers, the event was the Cancer Society’s first fundraising event of the semester.

There was a total of 11 participants, five of which shaved their hair while the six others chose to dye their hair.

The chairperson of the society, Cal Commons, also took part and he shaved his head for the charity.

“It’s for a great cause. It’s an annual event to raise both awareness and money

for the charity and, sure, it’s a bit of craic as well,” Commons said.

The society accepted donations both in person and through an online donation account.

Events The society, which was established in May 2014, has already had many successful fundraising events this year including a Movember leg wax and the Bro’s of Tralee competition.

The Cancer Soc are also holding a 24-hour fundraising event called Relay for Life from the 2nd to the 3rd of March.

If you would like to donate to the event you can do so at: http://www.mycharity.ie/fundPageTemplateX.php?urlRef=dcu_cancersoc_shaveordye

Starbucks already uses a similar app that adds a star to the user’s account after the purchase of food or drink in their cafés.

Once a user racks up 12 stars, the customer is awarded a free item.

To mark the launch of Yoyo Wallet, DCU students can get 10 per cent off purchases around campus for the next month.

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

Opinion 9

Everyone has the right to protest – even if we don’t like what they are saying Following recent clashes between anti-Islamic group Pegida and anti-racism protesters, Ryan McBride discusses why no group should be prevented from voicing their opinion.

PEOPLE are quick to judge pro- the anti-fascists had the right

testors, and with good reason.

Imagine, having to walk across town or take a slightly longer route to work. How inconvenient for the average person.

What are they protesting about anyway? Water charges?

I mean, I know they suck but they’re here, and if they’re here, just accept it. Immigrants? Sure we’re the most prolific nation of migrants in world history.

Why are we letting these people inconvenience our lives with their disagreement with the status quo? Protests should be held out of sight and out of mind. If nobody sees it, nobody will be worried about it, right?

These are the arguments that have been put forth by many as a reaction to any protest that happens in our streets by those who disagree with the protestors’ message.

Last week, Pegida – a so-called anti-islamic group with branches all over Europe – set up in Ireland.

Their first rally saw a counter protest from an anti-fascist group, which led to a face off and the Pegida contingent being run into a Euro shop. Then the Gardai arrived and tensions rose further.

The anti-fascists were there to protest about Pegida protesting. One could argue that

to protest, but they’re protesting that the other side shouldn’t be allowed to protest. Surely that’s a bit of a double standard?

Is this a two-tiered democracy? Should the aggrieved minority be barred from voicing their opinion? Should people be disallowed from protest if some other people disagreed with their opinion?

I’m not saying Pegida are in the right – personally, I would prefer if they disappeared into the ether and we heard no more from them.

But that’s not how the world works.

What happens if we do decide to suppress a peaceful protest group by chasing them off in a mob, or going at them with batons?

Let’s take a look-see. To take the Irish example, the original IRA weren’t allowed to protest peacefully in the north – they were retaliated violently by the RUC and loyalist paramilitaries.

What happened then? The Provo’s and an extended armed conflict.

No matter your persuasion, you can’t argue that if they were let shout and march they wouldn’t have resorted to armed retaliation in the first place. The inmates might not have taken over the asylum.

This by no means excuses what they did. It was not an excuse. The IRA’s actions were atro-

Anti-racist protestors rally outside the GPO Credit: Chai Brady

“Should the aggrieved

minority be barred from voicing their opinion? cious. But you shouldn’t bite the dog without expecting a bite back.

Now apply this to the Dublin situation. It doesn’t matter if you disagreed with what they were trying to achieve. Let them expend their energy and let them realise they are wrong. And if they don’t realise it, let them grow disillusioned with their cause. Don’t make them feel aggrieved by giving them a sense of injustice.

Sure Pegida might not have enough members to rise in armed conflict and engage us in guerrilla warfare. But nobody said it was a perfect comparison.

Turn the tables for a second.

Say Pegida were the counter protestors chasing off the anti-fascists peaceful protest. It would be atrocious. Nobody would stand for it. But because the majority of

people disagree with Pegida’s side in this argument, then you’re applying a double standard to this.

The right to a peaceful protest is the civil right of everyone in a democracy, even those who allegedly seek to create ‘fascism’.

Those who begin to twist the definitions of the right of protest to deny others a peaceful protest is breaking away from the fundamentals of democracy.

This is a line the already weak left in this country do not want to cross. If you are using non-democratic means to keep a democracy, is it really a democracy?

If people can be goaded into fascism with the tools democracy uses, is it really fascism?

The anti-fascist group could have taken wiser steps to make the Pegida group disperse. Pacifism is

not passiveness. Take the case a case from America; the Westboro Baptist Church is an organization famous for its virulent anti-homosexual views amongst other things.

The neighbour of one of their members painted their house in the colours of a rainbow flag.

The message was unmistakeable.

And no punches were thrown.

The church has not grown.

You don’t need to agree with what protestors are saying – it’s a matter of respect. Let them blow off some steam. It’s democracy’s ventilation system.

If they are in the right, then people will realise they’re right.

The movement will grow. Democracy works. If they are wrong, they fall away. Democracy still works.

If you can’t get why people protest, you’re privileged. You’re getting the best of democracy, and fair play to you. But protest is a way of letting their causes be known – it forces you to acknowledge them. It doesn’t force you to join.

You shouldn’t be so quick to judge Pegida for being inconvenient. Sure, judge the heck out of their message, it’s toxic. But don’t condemn them for protesting. Let them be wrong. What’s more inconvenient? Loud protests or loud guns?

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

10 Opinion

‘Lad culture’ should not excuse revenge porn

In light of the recent UCD200 scandal, Shauna Bowers takes a look at the rapid growing rate of revenge porn and the consequences it can have on victims.

IN what became known as the #UCD200 scandal, up to 200 students from University College Dublin were accused of sharing explicit photos on a private Facebook group of women with whom they had sexual relations with.

There was no proof to solidify these claims and they were dismissed following an inquiry.

While there was no evidence to back up the allegations, it still brings into question as to whether or not there is a prevalence of ‘lad culture’ and sexualisation of women among the youth of our society.

The craze of sending sexually charged photos, or ‘nudes’ as they’re more commonly known, has skyrocketed in recent years, coinciding with the enthusiasm for social networking sites.

A man is now deemed popular if he receives naked photos of a women. He shows his friends, who then, of course, show their friends until it all spirals out of control and everybody sees the image.

What was once viewed as an act of intimacy and trust, has now become a symbol of triumph and a stepping stone towards reaching the pinnacle of youth: popularity. This is simply not accept-

“These photos should be private and sacrosanct, not something for public consumption.” able, as these photos should be private and sacrosanct, not something for public consumption.

This infatuation with ‘sexting’ is also now becoming a way to seek vengeance, and has been labelled as ‘revenge porn’.

In 2008, an 18-year-old girl, Jessica Logan, fell victim to this ‘revenge porn’ fad. When she and her boyfriend broke up, he shared intimate photos of her to other girls who verbally abused her, calling her a ‘slut’ and a ‘whore’.

Around two months after the release of the photos, Logan was so humiliated that she felt her only escape route was to commit suicide. The craze is not only unethical and crude, but it can have catastrophic consequences and is something that young men and women need to be educated on to prevent it from happening again.

Trinity College Dublin have made plans to enforce mandatory sexual consent classes and UCD are also considering introducing a similar class to educate third level students on the rights and wrongs of sexual relations. This is an approach I believe all colleges should take.

While it’s all well and good to claim that young men view women as sexual objects, it needs to be mentioned that women too play into the sexualisation of themselves.

This isn’t about provocative clothing or extensive amounts of makeup which all women are entitled to wear.

C redit: Andrew Brookes Corbis

The problem, I believe, is feeling the need to expose cleavage to gain likes on Facebook or to strip off your clothes and take photos exposing you in all your naked glory to retain male attention.

Women need to learn they

are beautiful as they are and don’t need to expose their body to gain admiration.

If we want guys to respect us then we must respect ourselves first. After all, an unwrapped present loses its mystery and intrigue.

Will Ireland’s youth turn out to vote in #GE16?

The marriage equality referendum demonstrated civic engagement among students, but can the turn out be mirrored this friday? Leandro Pondoc asks whether or not young people have become more engaged in politics.

Credit: Conor McInerny

PICTURE this. A sea of happy bodies outside Dublin Castle.

Breathless poll recounts. Voters festooned in colourful badges, smiles on their faces. Hashtags bringing the young back home.

All to participate in democracy, to

participate in making a difference.

Now skip a year later. Is it still the same picture? Are we seeing the youth enthused by the possibility of making change through the power of the ballot box? Are they enthusing about

the general election? Are they urging people to register, posting guidelines on how to not spoil your vote, making sure that everyone uses their right to vote?

Already, even before the dust and confetti had settled last year,

there was talk of harnessing the youth vote. Making sure that the hundreds of thousands that registered to vote for marriage equality continue to be engaged.

But if the government parties were honest about keeping the youth vote, they sure have gone about in an odd way of doing so.

After all, what better way to engage with the youth than with tax figures, repetitive slogans and a good ole dose of fearmongering? Apparently, the way to reasonably debate and engage with the opposition’s points is to refuse to answer questions and point out how it’s the other person’s fault they’re in this mess.

Now to be fair, a general election is a different kettle of fish to a constitutional referendum. The latter was, to massively simplify the complex feelings and aspects of social change involved, in the end a binary choice between “Yes” and “No”. The former is a series of choices to decide who will steer this country into the unknowable future. To try and summarize, package and present the scads of information needed to make an informed choice, it’s no small feat.

But surely that didn’t mean an election campaign of regurgita-

tion, sniping and general childishness? There’s a ridiculous malaise hanging over the main parties, which surely comes from Fine Gael and Labour doggedly ignoring that voters aren’t idiots and that they’re being picked apart by opposition slowly but surely. Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein come with baggage neither has successfully jettisoned, baggage they’re content to ignore as well, as if economic malfeasance and a bloody paramilitary past will be that easy to scrub out.

There’s a reason that smaller parties shone in the seven leader debate. There’s a reason the Greens where the fourth most talked about party during the debate despite not being represented, a reason the alternative left is on such a rise. They were alternatives. They were a change.

The fact is, that we, the young voters, want to feel that our vote can truly change the world. We’re young, of course we think we can change the world. The marriage equality referendum was that perfect storm. It felt like we truly changed Ireland for the better.

Come Friday the 26th, there’ll be none of that feeling. Just the same old faces, bickering as always.

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

Gaeilge 11

Trad ‘s Teicnicheol: Sean-Chairde Maithe

Cal Ó Donnabháin Scríbhneoir @thecollegeview

AG éisteacht le halbam de chuid “Justice” le déanaí, d’aithin mé go raibh cosúlacht ar leith ann idir luas an cheoil agus na patrúin bainteach leis an gceol traidisiúnta agus an teicnicheol. Spreag sin an cheist ionam -cén nasc atá ann idir an cheoil traidisiúnta agus an teicnicheol?

Cad as a dtagann spéis an aois óg i dteicnicheol in Éirinn? Is dócha go bhfuil ceol traidisiúnta buailte agus brúite ionann ón dtús agus muid sa bhunscoil - na laethanta fada sin agus an feadóg stain plúchta inár mbéil, gan suim ná nóta ceoil ar eolas againn! I dteannta ár gcairde scoile agus muidne ag pleidhcíocht ‘s ag tabhairt faoin bplámas, tugann an teicnicheol seans dúinn na laethanta spraoimhara sin caite uainn a fheiceáil arís, - ach i bhfoirm eagraithe ina bhfuil doird agus drumaí chomh maith.

Ní rún é go bhfuil cuid mhór

daoine óga tógtha leis an dteicnicheol tr agus nuair a smaoiním ar seo, tagann ceoltóir áirithe chun cuimhne: Dáithí Ó Drónaí.

Rugadh Dáithí i mBaile Uí Bheacháin, Contae an Chláir sa bhliain 1990, am ina raibh teicnicheol in ard a réime. Deirtear go bhfuil an baile seo, in Iarthar Chláire, croílár ó thaobh ceol traidisiúnta de agus is cosúil go mbíonn muintir na háite nochtaithe don aimhrialtacht seo agus iad ina n-óige.

Le fás popcheoil, ag teacht go deireadh an fichiú haois, bhí aos óg na hÉireann greammaithe aige agus an ceol traidisiúnta curtha san áilléar. Leis an gceol nua seo agus na fuaimeanna eachtrannacha ceangailte leis, bhí sé an-mhealltach dóibh siúd a bhí aithne acu ar an gcasadh fuaimiúil agus an casadh curtha i bhfeidhm orthu ó bhí siad cúig bliana d’aois. Éalú a bhí ann agus deis cultúr eile a bhlasadh, mórlach an cheoil ag teacht ó Mheiriceá agus na Ríocht Aontaithe. Bhí sé eachtrannach agus galánta, difriúil agus mistéireach.

“

Tugann an teicnicheol seans dúinn na laethanta spraoimhara sin caite uainn a fheiceáil arís, - ach i bhfoirm eagraithe ina bhfuil doird agus drumaí chomh maith.

Tá go leor scileanna ag teastáil chun go mbeidh duine ábalta ceol traidisiúnta a sheinm, ach is dócha nach mbíonn an meas céanna ag daoine ar an bpopcheoil, cé go bhfuil méid mór suime acu ina leith. Is féidir a rá gurbh as seo as a dtagann an nasc idir an dá seánra, go bhfuil meas ag daoine ar sheinnteoirí a bhfuil ábalta amhráin le suas go 120 buille achan nóiméad a chasadh ach go bhfuil fuaim an phopcheoil ró-mhealltach dóibh.

Tá dearmad déanta agam ar ainm an bhfoilseachán anois, ach is cuimhin liom agus mé suite fadó sa rang Teagasc Críostaí agus sliocht á léamh agam ar an ngrúpa teicnicheoil as an bhFrainc: Justice. In agallamh leis an mbeirt, agus iad ar thuras go hÉireann, dúirt duine dóibh gur chuimhin leo a laethanta saoire agus iad ina bpáiste go Contae an Chláir agus iad suite i dteach tabhairne, ag freastal ar sheisiún de cheol traidisiúnta. Dúirt siad go raibh an inspioráid is mó acu an ceol a chuala siad ansin, go raibh luas an cheoil

Credit: pulsionmusic.fr

agus ilúsáideacht na tuinairde chomh difriúil sin ó achan ní eile.

Feictear ón méid atá le rá ag ceoltóir mór le rá i ndomhan an teicnicheoil as Tuaisceart na Fraince, chomh maith leis na céadta mílte turasóirí a thagann gach uile bhliain, go bhfuil an ceol seo cloiste againn ón am a bhíomar i measc na Naonáin Bheaga chomh difriúil sin ó gach sort eile, an stair bainteach leis, na scéalta, an cruatan.

D’fhéadfá a rá go bhfuil an teicnicheoil mar leagan leictreonach den cheol traidisiúnta. Feictear a leithéid de Matador, Dáithí, John O’Callaghan agus mar sin de, iad chomh ráthúil sin i measc lucht an teicnicheoil agus a ndúchas bunaithe go docht daingean sa cheol traidisiúnta. Ní thógadh sé gealt le rá go bhfuil, agus go mbeidh, teicnicheoil ceoltóirí Éireannacha ag dul ó neart go neart sna blianta romhainn. Nil orainn ach súil a choimeád ar an gciorcad agus leanúint leis an modh ina gcuirtear an ceol traidisiúnta i measc na bpáistí.

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

12 Gaeilge

Iomaíocht géar le teacht sa sraith iomána

Paddy Lynch Scríbhneoir @thecollegeview

MAR eol do gach leantóir spóirt

in Éirinn, tá an Corn Liam Mac Cárthaigh aimsithe ag Cill Chainnigh ceithre huaire le cúig bliana anuas. In ainneoin an éacht iontach seo, tá sé fós thar a bheith deacair tuar a dhéanamh maidir leis an bhfoireann is fearr sa tír faoi látháir.

Mar thoradh ar an bhformáid nua, tuigeann gach foireann anois gur mór an seans atá acu cluiche ceannais náisiúnta a bhaint amach go luath sa bhliain.

Tá sé foirne i sraith a haon agus cáilíonn an chéad ceithre foirne don chluiche ceathrú ceannais.

De réir na geallghlacadóirí, is iad na Cait an fhoireann a bhfuil, is dócha, chun greim a bhreith ar an teideal arís. Níl Seamróga Baile hÉil, nó club eile ar bith as Chill Chainnigh fós in iomaíocht i gcluichí ceannais na gclubanna, agus mar sin is cás neamhghnách é go mbeidh rogha iomlán de imreoirí ar fáil do Brian Cody.

Mar sin féin, is míbhuntáisté é nach bhfuil Richie Power agus Ger Aylward ar an bhfoireann níos mó. Ba sarimreoirí iad agus beidh sé deacair teacht ar ionadaí a bhfúil ar an leibhéal céanna sin ó thaobh scíl is díograis de.

Bhí fíor-dhíoma ar Thiobraid Árainn gur theip orthu bua a bhaint amach i gcoimhlint ghéar in aghaidh na Gaillimhe i gcluiche ceannais na hÉireann an Lúnasa seo caite.

Seachas Darren Gleeson agus Séamus Callanan, a thug taispeántas iontach, dochreidte, ní raibh a nimreoraithe in ann an lámh in uachtar a fháil ar na seaimpíní.

Tá an-tasc ar Michael Ryan chun muinín a chothú ina imreorí.

Tá dúshlán mór roimh bainisteoir nua eile, Mícheal Donoghue i gContae na Gaillimhe. Ceapadh é mar bhainisteoir, i ndiaidh stailc ón imreoirí in aghaidh Anthony Cunningham.

Go hiondúil, streachlaíonn said go mór an bhliain tar éis Cluiche Ceannais na hÉireann a shroichint, agus is cosúil go mbeidh an méid seo fós fíor i mbliana.

Foireann a dhearna dul chun cinn ar fheabhas anuraidh ná Port Láirge. Tá Austin Gleeson i mbarr a réime d’Institiúid Teichneolaíochta Phort Láirge i gCorn Mhic Giobúin agus tá Pauric Mahony ag teacht i mbarr sláinte arís i ndiaidh a bhallnasc croiseach a ghortú.

Chreidfidh siad go mbeidh siad in ann Sraith Iomána Náisiúnta a chosaint go ráthúil.

Is dubhfhocal iad na Corcaíoch, tríd is tríd. Tá tosaithe le scil ar a dtóir acu, le cumas meallacach, mar a chonaiceamar in aghaidh an Chláir anuraidh. Ach, ar an láimh eile, thug said taispéantas a chuirfeadh alltacht ar a lucht leanúna in aghaidh Contae na Gaillimhe he anuraidh. Tá ar Kieran Kingston cosaint níos láidre a chur le chéile mar bhunús dá fhoireann.

Tá dúshlán mar an gcéanna roimh Ger Cunningham leis an bhfoireann iomána Báile Átha Chliath. Tá cumas go leor acu, ach níl

“Tá sé fós thar a bheith deacair tuar a dhéanamh maidir leis an bhfoireann is fearr sa tír faoi látháir

Credit: Google Images

said ábalta é a léiriú go leanúnach.

B’é Danny Sutcliffe an réalt ba chorraitheach, ach d’fhógair sé i mí na Nollaig nach mbeidh sé ag caitheamh geansaí iománaíochta Baile Átha Cliath i mbliana mar go bhfuil sé ag iarraidh a haird a dhiriú ar a chuid staidéir. Tá dualgas ag imreoirí ar nós David Tracey greim a bhreith ar stadas mar an tosaí is fearr. Tá an-fheabhas le teacht ar Bhaile Átha Cliath chun dícháiliú a sheachaint.

I roinn 1B, is léir go mbeidh an-streachailt idir na Muimhnigh – Luimneach agus An Clár.

Tá foireann Luimnigh i bfhostú I Roinn 1B ó 2010. Tá imreoirí ar

ardchaighdéan acu agus tá a lucht leanúna i mbarr spioraid i ndiaidh a mbua i gcomórtas fé-21 anuraidh, agus rath Na Piarsaigh ag an deireadh seactain. Má éiríonn leo beirt tosaithe a chur i bhfeidhm i mbliana,b’fhéidir Barry Nash agus Tom Morrissey, beidh sé fíor-dheachair stop a chur leo.

Tá ar Davy Fitzgerald stíl iománaíochta ó 2013 a athaimsiú i measc a imreoirí Is dream an-tallanach iad agus tá tosaíthe an-bhaolach is tapa acu.

I ndiaidh dhá bhliain lán le díomá beidh siad ag súil le taispéantas i bhfad níos fearr i mbliana.

Polasaíthe pléite ag na polaiteoirí Megan Roantree Features Editor MeganRoantree

DÚIRT an Bainisteoir Cosaint Teanga agus Leas Ard-Rúnaí ag Conradh na Gaeilge go raibh an-díoma air go bhfuil an Díospóireacht na gCeannairí a bhí socraithe ag TG4 anois curtha ar ceal.

Dúirt Peadar Ó Fhlannchadha go raibh siad ag súil leis an díospóireacht. ‘Tarraingíonn sé aird ar an nGaeilg agus cé chomh tabhactach is atá an teanga.’

Dúirt Ó Fhlannchadha freisin go raibh lucht féachana ollmhór ag an diospóireacht a bhí ar siúl i 2011 agus mar sin, is mór an trua é nach bhfuil sé ar siúl i mbliana. Bhí Eamon Gilmore ó Labour in éineacht le Joan Burton agus Enda Kenny pairteach sa díospóireacht ceithre bhliain ó shin agus ag an am, moladh iad mar gheall ar an bpaisean agus an líofacht a thaispeáin siad.

De réir foinsí eagsúla sa nuacht faoi láthair, is léir go bhfuil an díospóireacht anois curtha ar ceal os rud é nach bhfuil Gaeilge maith go leor chun a bheith ag cur is ag cúiteamh ag cuid de na ceannairí. Tá fhios againn go bhfuil Gaeilge líofa ag an Taoiseach Enda Kenny agus ag Michéal Martin ó

Fianna Fail ach dúirt Labour agus Sinn Féin nach mbeadh Gaeilge ag Joan Burton agus Gerry Adams a bhfuil ar an gcaighdeán chun díospóireacht a dhéanamh faoin toghchán agus a gcuid polasaithe.

Dúirt Aodhán Ó Ríordáin ó Labour go mbeadh sé sásta an díospóireachf a dhéanamh ar son Burton agus luaigh Sinn Féin Pearse Doherty go mbeadh sé in ann áit Gerry Adams a thógáil ach dhiúltaigh Fianna Fáil é seo mar cheap siad gur cheart go mbeadh díospóireacht na gceannairí idir ceannairí amháin.

Cheap Ó Fhlannchadha go raibh sé suimiúil nach raibh Adams sásta an díospóireacht a dhéanamh: “Deireann go labhraíonn Gerry Adams an méid is mó Gaeilge idir na hiarrthóirí uilig ach ag an am céanna, ní raibh siad compoirdeach é a dhéanamh.

Go hiondúil, ní labhraíonn Kenny as Gaeilge ach amháin nuair atá ceist curtha aige as Gaeilge ach labhraíonn Gerry Adams Gaeilge go minic.”

“Tuigimid nach mbeadh siad sastá é a dhéanamh muna bhfuil siad compoirdeach mar is díospóireacht an-tabhachtach é ach is mór an trua é, cinnte ” In áit díospóireacht a dhéanamh, tá sé socraithe ag TG4 na ceannairí a chur faoi agallamh.

Credit: Alan Pace Fushion Shooters

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

Features 13

Fitness inspiration from Morley’s Motivation DCU graduate Melissa Morley discusses all aspects of her fitness journey

Every year people make new promises to eat better, but is it a lost cause?

Credit: MorleysMotivation

Megan Roantree Features Editor @ MeganRoantree

MELISSA Morley is a 22-yearold DCU graduate who woke up one morning after her first summer ball and decided it was time to change. She was overweight and unhappy about her 16-18 dress size. Melissa went on to lose five stone, inspiring people everywhere to be fit and healthy through her blog Morley’s Motivation.

Many who wish to lose weight make false promises after false promise about making a change, the Mayo native explains why this time was different for her.

“I was so excited for my first summer ball but I wasn’t able to wear what I wanted and I remember how self conscious I felt around all these amazing slim girls. I came home in tears and something just clicked in my head, no take away or chocolate bar was worth feeling so low about myself.”

She stresses that it was little changes over time that made the difference: “It began by changing what I ate for breakfast and snacks and drank more water for the

next week. Then after that week I changed what I ate for dinner and lunch, I think the reason why it was different this time was because I took it really slowly and didn’t overwhelm myself, you can’t go from eating whatever you want to just eating chicken and vegetables. Your body won’t have a clue what’s going on.”

“For the first few weeks I was too embarrassed to face the gym, so I just stuck it out with my meal plan and when I got enough confidence I joined the gym at home and in DCU as well as the boxing club for some added push.”

It seems that a common problem among those who want to be more healthy is their lack of knowledge and understanding of healthy foods, portions and exercise steps that make a difference. Melissa feels that this must change in order for Ireland to become a healthier place.

“There needs to be a complete overhaul regarding education in terms of exercise and health.

The food pyramid we commonly know has been the same for years and yet each year obesity levels are rising. There’s a lot of conflicting information out there and so many of us are con-

“

I took it really slowly, you can’t go from eating whatever you want to just eating chicken and vegetables.

fused as to what’s good and bad.”

Melissa is now qualified as a personal trainer which she said was the best part of her journey “starting out obese and finishing with that certificate was amazing and for me it has come full circle.”

Although most fitness journeys are expected to be tough, Melissa’s journey was even more so, considering just how much she has overcome. In May 2015 Melissa’s mother passed away, her ability to continue on her fitness path is a testament to her physical and emotional strength, she remains honest about how difficult this was, which is inspiring in itself.

Allowing yourself to access the emotion is important, she says.

“Losing my mother changed my life completely. There are days where I struggle to get out of bed, where I can’t stop the tears, when I have tonnes of emails or work to get done and I feel so overwhelmed and just want a hug from her. Nobody teaches us how to deal with grief, depression or anxiety. I’ve learnt that when you feel down or want to cry, do it. Take some time out, think about why you’re sad and feel the emotion.”

“I remind myself that grief is a passage, it’s ok to break down

but just don’t unpack and live there. Other days the gym helps me, it’s a place I can put headphones on and forget the world, it’s a natural anti depressant.”

For student’s feeling inspired by the communications graduate’s dedication and determination, she has advice on how to successful become fit and healthy.

“Meal prep and bulk buy! Tesco, Lidl and Aldi always have great deals on fruit, vegetables and meat so stock up and prepare meals for the week! It saves time and will stop you eating unhealthy and it’s much cheaper then eating from the nubar or spar every day.

If you can’t afford the gym use the park or join a club or society that might make you more active, boxing, fencing or even dance.

With simple advice, positive mental attitude and honest information about staying motivated through difficult times, it is no wonder that many people look up to Melissa, and she says she feels blessed to be referred to as a role model “I try to help as many people as I can -young women especiallyreach a normal relationship with their body image so it means a lot to hear such high praise back.”

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

14 Features

Disable Inequality in this year’s election

Áine Monk discusses one campaign that aims to have a defining role in the election. Áine Monk Gaeilge Editor @thecollegeview

THERE are many issues to be discussed in relation to the upcoming general election, from the economy to education to healthcare, but what about those who can’t express their opinions on what changes they would like to see and how the government could better cater to their needs?

Disable Inequality is a campaign to end discrimination for people living with disability and to make equality a defining issue in Election 2016.

With more than 600,000 people with a disability living in Ireland, two in three people know at least one person, be they a friend, a family member, a colleague or neighbour.“ Disability is the biggest issue of our time. But, it does not receive the political leadership, attention and commitment needed to make Ireland a truly modern, truly equal Republic.”

The campaign calls on the public to ask them the question “does this seem fair to you?” They highlight everyday difficulties endured by individuals who have disabilities, from using public transport, seeking an education, finding a job, and keeping warm

“

This is in an effort to show election candidates that they must create a fairer place to live and end discrimintion for those with a disability

in a safe setting.

People who have experienced inequality as a direct result of disability are being urged to submit their stories via the website disableinequality.ie.

This is in an effort to show political leaders and election candidates that they must endeavour to create a fairer place to live and end discrimination against those who may feel like outsiders in society.

Through demonstrating the daily discrimminations dealt with by people with disablities, it is hoped that a great difference can and will be made. Some of which, according to the website, include 24 hours notice needed when a wheelchair user wishes to travel

Credit: Tomconlon.ie

by train, denial of enrolment to local schools because of lack of necessary supports, difficulties living on the level of income they receive and trouble finding employment due to lack of resources and training.A multitude of personal accounts and examples of daily difficulties have been submitted and uploaded to the site. Many highlight trouble accessing public amenities such as shopping centres, supermar-

kets, social meet-up points and, of course, using public transport independently.

Another worry for many who chose to share their story is struggling to make ends meet and afford to live with medications, doctor’s visits and other individual needs. Many others tell tales of how they have little or no access to supports such as PA’s, carers and SNA’s, despite deeming it a necessity, which is

down to lack of government resources and the fact that the individual with a disability certainly cannot afford to pay for private homecare or otherwise.

The campaign seeks to get all voices heard, one story at a time, calling on anyone who has been affected by inequality to come forward.

Whichcandidate.ie, a tool for voter clarity With an abundance of information on all candidates in the general election, Smartvote aims to aid your decision.

Sean Looney Contributor @thecollegeview

THE prevailing mood for the 2016 General Election is uncertainty. Many voters don’t know what they want; as shown by the Irish Times Poll which found that while 63 per cent of voters wanted a change of government, 64 per cent of voters believed that Fine Gael would be in power again in some manner after the election.

The newly launched website whichcandidate.ie is a tool which voters can use to find out where their local candidates stand on important issues. Set up by the Department of Politics and Public Administration at the University of Limerick the website functions by asking candidates to fill out a form of 22 questions ranging from water charges to minimum wage increases to abortion.

Upon reaching the site, voters are asked to find their constituency. Once they have done so they are presented with the same questionnaire which the candidates were given. After completion these forms are matched and the system works out which candidate is best suited to their views. In this way

“

This enables people to find a party based on issues important to them rather than the opinions of their families or friends

a voter is able to think critically about who to vote for beyond the face value of party politics.

The site is a huge boon to students who are often first time voters and are now much more invigorated about the democratic process than before after the success of the same-sex marriage referendum. It enables them to find a party based on issues important to them rather than the opinions of their friends and families.

This election, and many before it, has been characterised by an environment where much of the political party rhetoric is concerned with simply attacking the other parties for political

Credit: Chai Brady

points. This has led to voter bias based on history or perceived party membership rather than on policy. Whichcandidate.ie helps to eliminate that by boiling party politics down to its purest form; who stands for what on specific issues.

One possible problem with the website is that while its focus is on which candidate to vote for, the candidates tend to stick to

the party line pretty feverishly in filling out the questionnaire with copy pasted responses from the party manifesto. While this is to be expected to a degree it is seen which such regularity that the website may, at times, be simply; whichparty.ie. This can be seen as a party whip issue or simply that politicians in political parties tend to band together, but it can be a problem for voters hoping

for change within the established parties which are frontrunners in every election.

While whichcandidate.ie is a fantastic tool for voters, new and old, to vote based on issues which are important to them it is just that; a tool. It is not a machine which will decide for voters but a lens with which to view the general election more clearly through.

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

Features 15

Resourceful food revelations Numerous new initiatives have been set up to avoid excessive food waste.

Credit: Google Images

Fionnuala Jones Arts Editor @FinstewlaJay

“YOU DON’T EAT WITH YOUR

EYES!” Sound familiar? It’s a phrase uttered by many an exasperated parent at some point, as they tried in vain to get you to eat that last apple in the bowl, ever-so-slightly bruised.

Our fussy eating habits have seen a huge increase in food waste. According to StopFoodWaste.ie, set up by the Environmental Protection Agency, there is over one million tonnes of food waste disposed of each year in Ireland. Around a third of this comes from households and means that, at home, each person is throwing out about 80kg of food waste each year. Sixty percent of this is classified as avoidable food waste.

This is merely a drop in the ocean – commercial businesses are said to generate 300,000 tonnes of organic waste, with each tonne of food costing between €2,000 and €5,000.

France has become the first country in the world to ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food, forcing them instead to donate it to char-

ities and food banks. Under the new law, large shops are no longer allowed to bin good quality food approaching its best-before date.

Those behind the initial campaign for the legislation are now looking to bring the change to the whole of the European Union.

Ireland adopted a similar approach in the past. In late 2014, Tesco became the first retailer in the country to sell ‘Wonky Veg’ – irregularly shaped carrots and mushrooms which would normally be thrown away or used as animal feed. Fronted by model and cookbook author Rozanna Purcell, the initiative was welcomed by farmers.

“The reality of the situation is that the 5-10 per cent of vegetables that never make it to the retail shelf are perfectly fine”, according to mushroom grower Leslie Codd, “They may look a little bit odd, or wonky, but they taste every bit as good as the perfect looking produce we are used to buying. If customers bought this wonky-looking veg more, it would greatly reduce wastage at farm level.”

English retailer Morrisons has also committed to changing the way businesses dispose of food waste. The company made its wonky veg range – which includes parsnips, potatoes and onions – permanent at the end of last year,

“Our fussy eating habits have seen a huge increase in food waste

at a discounted price.

The change was a complete 180 for the supermarket chain, following mounting pressure from celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. His BBC docu-series ‘Hugh’s War On Waste’ saw him hand out irregularly shaped parsnips outside a store to customers, highlighting supermarkets’ extremely particular aesthetic needs.

The chef was also critical of supermarket’s increased use of anaerobic digestion, where food waste is sent to plants in order to capture the gas released as it degrades, for use as electricity.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) have recognised the potential anaerobic digestion technology in Ireland, awarding Limerick farmer David McDonnell a grant of €108,000 for his own alternative energy plant.

But surely it would just make sense to give hungry people food to give themselves energy? There are estimates that one in 10 people suffer from food poverty in Ireland alone.Enter Foodcloud – a charity founded by Irish entrepreneurs Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien aiming to combat food waste. The company uses technology to connect companies with charities and redistribute excess food.

“We have a smartphone app and a website that allows businesses to put up details of what’s left at the end of the day and the time for collection,” says Ward.

The app then generates a text message which it sends to local charities.Ward was interviewed

by The Irish Times in response to France’s action, saying that “establishing a scalable and sustainable model for redistribution of that surplus food has its challenges … There’s work to do to ensure the infrastructure is in place to support charities in availing of this food.”In Cork, the Bia Food Initiative does something similar.

Working with various retailers, it’s estimated that the organisation donates 1,000 meals a day to its charity partners. The company has now added depots in Galway and Dublin, and are also partnering with Origin Green, Ireland’s national sustainability programme. It’s unique in being the only sustainability programme that operates on a national scale.

Undoubtedly, Ireland is making huge advances when it comes to preventing increased food waste. Establishing forward-thinking food banks and sustainability programmes reflects the country’s progressiveness, but only time will tell if the new government will follow France’s lead.

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

16 Features

Inspirations: Rei Kawakubo

The fashion designer is known for her unique designs.

Sarah Magliocco Contributor @thecollegeview

WHILE most designers bask in the glow of a post-show bow, Japanese fashion maverick Rei Kawakubo never takes to the stage ensuing her catwalk creations. Kawakubo is the illusive and ground-breaking founder of fashion brand Comme des Garcons.

Growing up with an opposition to trendy fashion in the typical sense, Comme des Garcons was always one of my favourite brands, I followed religiously, scrimping together my meagre pocket money to buy Nylon and Vogue each month. Rei Kawakubo brought the statement back into fashion, at a time when the industry was saturated with the glamour and gloss of the 80’s sexualised cuts, colour pop and power shoulders.

Kawakubo debuted her first collection, ‘Lace’ at Paris Fashion Week in 1981, a collection which led her fans to become known as ‘crows’ due to their love of the draped and deconstructed black garments. While the crows may have loved her concepts, Comme

“

I followed Kawakubo religiously, scrimping together my meagre pocket money to buy Nylon and Vogue each month

des Garcons was not immediately accepted by the fashion crowd, who simply didn’t get her concept, and was accused of being ‘post-atomic’ with political

undertones. Many shows later, Comme des Garcons had become synonymous with the avant garde and had made its mark on the fashion world, who had come to expect unique concepts and statements about the state of the industry to be shown through Kawakubo’s work.In the late 90’s, Kawakubo grew weary of the sexualisation of women’s bodies in the fashion industry and produced the ‘bumps’ collection, or professionally known as ‘Dress meets body, body meets dress’. In the 1997 collection, Kawakubo used padding to create lumps and bumps on other wise form fitting clothing, creating strange silhouettes of hunchbacks, comically huge hips and growth like protrusions.Her Autumn 2012 Ready-To-Wear collection was Kawakubo’s way of calling out the duplicated feel of fashion, how it had become cheap and two-dimensional, a churned out mass production of trends.

For this Kawakubo showcased garments printed in such a way that they appeared to be worn by paper dolls.

She also deals with tough emotions through her art. One of her more recent collections ‘Ceremony of Separation’ deals with the ways people in Eastern, Western and ancient cultures deal

Credit: abcnews.go.com

with death and loss. The show included a small number of looks, eighteen in total, showcased by faceless models adorned in lace, black ribbons and hints of gold, its ornate gleam symbolising the death masks of past civilisations.

Kawakubo is an inspirational woman, both as a feminist who loved calling her label ‘like boys’ after growing up in the suppressed forties and fifties, and

as a true artist who always stood by her remarks on fashion and communicated profound messages through her work.

Her determination in growing a rebellious conceptual platform into a multi-million dollar fashion company is a perpetual encouragement to struggling artists, who’s work, like Kawakubo’s in the 80’s, is currently under appreciated and misunderstood.

The thoughts behind the thinness An honest and personal account of living with anorexia...

Anonymous Contributor @thecollegeview

ANOREXIC. I never liked that

word, spoken as if anorexia is all that one is, as if you are the disease. It has become a popular choice of conversation topic amongst our group these days, Facebook photos being flashed around the group as the girls gasp in awe and disgust at the bony frame of that girl. “She is not anorexic, she has anorexia,” I tell myself as I bite back the anger I feel at the use of the word like an adjective, and I am brought back to the years I spent in the depths of my anorexia.

Depression, loneliness, self hatred, self harm, fear of food and a desire to starve myself to death.

Daily weigh-ins, collapsing during exercise, swallowing handfuls of laxatives and sleeping in the bathroom.

The scales decided how much hatred I should swallow for the day and how many laxatives I should take before bed. That was my life. I was desperately grasping at something, that would make me forget about the chaos unfolding around me. The pursuit of thinness and control did just that. Three years later and three months in hospital and I am doing much better.

I look okay. It doesn’t mean that I am okay. I am not over anorexia; I am living with it. Some days are harder than others, and I am ready to trade recovery in for that other me, that controlled me.

But I am going to say the thing I am not meant to say; I still miss it, because conversations about “anorexics” make these thoughts all the worse, make me want to go back there. Maybe I could show everyone that I am strong enough to become that thin again. Maybe they’ll admire me for it.

That’s what I am thinking when you speak about eating disorders as if they are something to be jealous of. You make me miss the disease which threatened my life.

You wouldn’t speak about cancer they way you speak about eating disorders, show me a photo of a cancer patient and comment on it as if it is something to admire. I did not want to let go of my disorder, I had to. I never thought I was good enough to be “normal” again, I thought death was my ticket out. When you show me a photo of that girl I am comparing myself to her, I think I was never as good as her, as thin as her. You make me struggle to love, even like myself. Because everyday is already a battle not to revert to my old ways.

“

You wouldn’t speak about cancer they way you speak about eating disorders, show me a photo of a cancer patient and comment on it as if it is something to admire Credit: Getty images

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

Sport

17

DCU and St. Pat’s deadlocked in final game of Fitzgibbon Cup

DCU 2-17 St Pat’s 1-20 Fitzgibbon Cup Jack O’Toole Sports Reporter @cvsport

THE DCU Senior hurlers played out a thrilling 2-17 to 1-20 draw with local rivals St. Patrick’s College in the final game of the Fitzgibbon Cup group stages as former Dublin county player Danny Sutcliffe hit a last gasp sideline free to ensure DCU avoided defeat.

It was the last of Sutcliffe’s three points and arguably his most difficult but the score meant DCU avoided defeat in a game they really should have won. After a slow start which saw Pat’s race out to an early four-point lead, DCU battled their way back into the first half to head into half time down just two scores.

Some excellent defensive work from Daire Barden and some crafty play from right corner forward Cathal Curran set the tone for Nick Weir’s charges just before the interval.

The hosts were able to capitalise on late first half momentum early in the second half with two goals in quick succession from Gary Howard and Peter Hogan. Sutcliffe and Hogan provided the assists in the build up with Pat’s goalkeeper Paul Simms never really standing a chance at stopping either shot.

Further scores from Whitehall’s Sean Gray, Kilkenny’s Conor Joyce and Howard meant that DCU boasted a seven-point lead just after the forty minute

Action from the DCU St Pat’s Fitzgibbon game Credit: David Clarke

mark. Weir’s side looked destined for a routine win after a seemingly very slow start but a five-point second half haul from Waterford’s Paddy Curran meant that Pat’s narrowed the lead to just two.

As the game entered the final minutes both sides exchanged scores with Pat’s substitute forward Christy Breathnach adding a late goal to put the visitors in

front.

Both sides would exchange scores before Joyce missed a crucial long range free that in hindsight would’ve won DCU the game. Curran looked to have sealed the winner with a routine free but Sutcliffe’s late equaliser meant the game would finish as a tie.

The result matters little to both sides with the game a

dead-rubber at this point in the competition but it will be the last time the two teams face each other in the Fitzgibbon Cup with Pat’s now falling under the DCU banner in a long term effort to incorporate the teaching college into the University.

Heaney, D. Barden, C. Curran, G. Howard (P. Lynam 57’), D. Sutcliffe, D. Staunton, P. Hogan (S. Gray 26’), C. Joyce, N. O’Connor.

St. Patrick’s College: P. Simms, D. Egan, C. Shaw, K. Treacy, B. Hanlon, R. Fitzpatrick, J. McGrath, N. Mullins, J. de Barun, W. Murphy (C. Breathnach DCU: D.D. Renehan; J. Tyrell, 52’), M. Collins, E. Price, J. BruT. French, P. O’Dea, M. Daly (E. ton (F. Ó Cuirrín 40’), P. Curran, McHugh 47’), K. Fitzgerald, M. T. Devlin.

game. This despite DCU taking the game’s lead with a well-worked exchange between Amy Gleeson and Aoife Norris before a quick hand pass on the turn saw Nicky Feery slide the ball over the bar.

Aoife Nic an Bhaird registered MIC’s first score of the game before a deadly looping pass from DCU forward Gleeson, diverting the entire opposition defence, landed neatly in the arms of Laura Fleming who dispatched the ball past MIC goalkeeper Karen O’Dwyer and into the bottom left hand corner.

Further tit-for-tat scores for both sides preceded DCU enduring a barren period that saw Mary’s register seven scores without reply, including Aileen Buckley’s magnificent goal off the underside

of the crossbar, which brought the halftime scoreline to DCU 3-2, Mary’s 1-10.

DCU began the second half brightly. A half-time tactical switch saw them counter MIC’s persistent first half points tally with brazen and successful closing down of any and all scoring opportunities with herds of bodies throwing themselves at the opposition forwards, howling in raucous intimidation.

This however would wear thin as Mary’s claimed their second goal of the night less than two minutes into the second half. Aileen Buckley forwarded the ball onto corner forward Nic an Bhaird who swept the ball cleanly into the back of the DCU net.

The second period would see

DCU bow out of Giles Cup DCU 3-5 Mary Immaculate 2-11 Giles Cup Aaron Gallagher Deputy Sports Editor @cvsports

THE DCU ladies Gaelic football team was knocked out of this year’s Giles Cup following a 2-11 to 3-5 loss at the hands of Mary Immaculate College of Limerick in the second round of the competition.

In a thoroughly entertaining game that saw five goals, two of which were spectacularly worked efforts from DCU that lobbed MIC’s goalkeeper from distance, the home side always appeared just out of reach of toppling the visitors on a freezing cold night at the DCU Sports Grounds.

Phases of MIC domination that would see long scoreless spells from DCU would cost the hosts dearly in the latter stages of the

DCU sure up its own defence but at the same time register only three points in the final 30 minutes. This moved the pulling power into the visitors’ favour as a final score for MIC again from Aoife Nic an Bhaird followed a lightning break that saw the ball scramble into her possession inside the DCU square for her to tap over from close range.

DCU pushed late on for the crucial goal that would bring the scores level, but earlier misses combined with an eagerness to go for the killer goal too early when the taking of one’s points would have kept the meter running, saw them bow out of this year’s Giles Cup as Mary’s earned a deserving 2-11 to 3-5 victory

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THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

Sport

Credit: Sportsfile

DCU hold out to win Fresher A Championship DCU 3-11 UCD 3-10 Freshers A final Cormac O’Shea Deputy Sports Editor @cvsport

DCU beat UCD by a single point at Croke Park in the Corn Daithi Billings Final on Monday, February 15th.

DCU were eight points up with eight minutes to go and looked to have the game wrapped up if not for a late onslaught by UCD, scoring two goals and reducing the deficit to a point with a minute left to play.The Northsiders managed to see it out however and were crowned champions, lifting the trophy named after the late Dave Billings, the former Dublin GAA stalwart who passed away in April last year.

Billings was once in charge of UCD GAA and it was the South Dublin side who got off to a better start scoring two unanswered points from the boots of Barra McGarry and Darragh Lafferty.

It took five minutes for DCU to get into the game and they registered their first score with a goal from midfielder Ronan Jones.

A good run from Matthew Ruane opened up the UCD defence and his pass to David Brady put the corner forward in on goal, unselfishly offloading the ball to the Meath man Jones who punched the ball in from close range.

The goal turned the tie as DCU began to exert their dominance

on the game with two points immediately after, Rory Feely’s one handed catch in the build up to DCU’s second point of the game was a particular highlight as the Athy man leaped far above his opponents and set up Ronan Jones to add to his own personal tally.

Darragh Lafferty and Gleeson kept UCD in touch with points before the aforementioned Lafferty punched a hopeful ball into the square by Barry McGinn into the back of the net to give UCD a onepoint lead five minutes before the break.

DCU bossed the final few moments of the half as Brian Reape scored a free and a great point from play along with a score from Matthew Ruane as DCU went in at half time with a twop o i n t lead, 1-6 to 1-4.

DCU manager Brendan Gillen was undoubtedly d i s a p pointed at the break as seven wides from his men meant they didn’t make their dominance on the field tell on the scoreboard.

UCD looked to make DCU’s wastefulness pay in the second half and as like the

first, the Southsiders started on top and by the 40th minute of the game things were all level.

Wing back Jordan McLoughlin finished off a swift move by last year’s champions UCD for the levelling point although a goal may Michalel Miller celebrates with his six-month-old brother Rua Credit: Sportsfile

have been on.

DCU introduced Pierce Smith as they looked to regain the lead in the game and he made an immediate impact, a great run by the substitute brought play into the UCD 21 and when he passed to Brian Reape, the full forward beat his man and put the ball past Tommie Maher into the bottom left corner of the net.

Points followed from Brady and two from Smith before DCU struck the net for the third time in the game and looked to have the match won in front of a good crowd at a cold Croke Park.

Half forward Feely once again completed a great catch, beat his man and opted to go alone instead of using the man outside him blasting the ball into the corner of the net to open up an eight point gap with less than 10 to play.

U C D showed great spirit as they began to chase down the sizeable lead, some questionable defending by the DCU backs left the ball bouncing around the square and Darragh Lafferty was on hand to kick it into the Canal End goal.

With five minutes to go UCD

full back Cillian O’Shea decided to take matters into his own hands running almost the length of the field to smash the ball into the top corner of the DCU net - a great finish for a full back.

Nerves were evident among the DCU players as they committed eight fouls within the final three minutes of the game, one resulting in a black card for Donegal man Conor Morrison for what can only be described as a rugby tackle.

DCU did hold on however, as a late free from McGinn brought UCD within a point but they were unable to level things and DCU were crowned champions in a game worthy of the surroundings on Jones’ Road to complete their league and championship double.

DCU: David Shannon; Conor Morrison, Daniel O’Neill, Daniel Gallagher; David McAtamney, Barry Kerr, Shehroz Akram (0-1); Matthew Corcoran, Ronan Jones (1-1); Matthew Ruane (0-1), Michael Plunkett, Rory Feely (1-0); John Kindlon, Brian Reape (1-5, 0-3f ), David Brady (0-1).

Subs used: Pierce Smith (0-2), Michael Miller, Matthew Mckenna, Paul McNamara.

UCD: Tommie Maher; Darren Maguire, Cillian O’Shea (1-0), Peter Healy; Jordan McLoughlin (0-1), Colm O’Shaughnessy, Jamie Gillen; Stephen Quirke, Oisin Kelly; Brian Ó Seanacháin, Daragh Lafferty (2-2), Con O’Callaghan (0-1); Barra McGarry (0-1), Barry McGinn (0-4,0-2f ), Dermot Gleeson (0-1).

Subs used: Francis O’Reilly, Evan Morahan, John Joe McGovern.

THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 24 February, 2016

Sport

19

Murray and DCU win gold in Athlone Cormac O’Shea Deputy Sports Editor @cvsport

DCU won the overall competition at the Irish University Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday, February 12th in Athlone.

DCU topped both the male and female points tables winning 33 medals in total, 13 gold, 11 silver and nine bronze. Sarah Murray contributed two of those gold medals and was delighted with how things went, setting a new personal best of 7.46 seconds in the 60 metre race.

“I kind of went out to run my own race, I wasn’t really expecting

to win, I was shocked at the time and the record is a bonus,” Murray said.

Murray not only won the 60m race, setting a DCU record in the process but she was also part of the 4 x 200m relay team who won gold beating off their nearest rivals from Cork Institute of Technology and Trinity College.

Training The Dublin native trains six times a week and feels the wins at the weekend are a testament to all her hard work.

“It is nice that everything is paying off now, I’ve done this for so long and it was a big personal best at the weekend so I was delighted,” she said.

All the training and hard work

doesn’t affect her college work however as she has been “doing it for so long”.

“I’m used to it now, doing it throughout my time at school and growing up it is normal to me,” she added.

Nine in a row Having won the overall competition for the ninth year in a row, Murray believes it is a sign of the talent within DCU. “The DCU team is very strong at the moment, the men’s and the women’s,” the 23-year-old said.

The DCU female team topped their points table having won six gold, five silver and five bronze medals, translating to 116 points, twice that of second placed University of Limerick on 58 points.

Points are awarded seven for gold, five for silver, four for bronze.

Three, two and one are awarded to fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Similarly the men’s team topped their table as six gold, six silver and four bronze medals had them on 108 points, 58 ahead of UL again.

Winners Sarah Murray (60m), Lilly-Ann O’Hara (60m hurdles), Sophie Parkinson Brown (8kg weight for distance), Emily Rogers (high jump), Sarah McCarthy (long jump), Sarah Buggy (triple jump) and the 4 x 200m relay team of Sarah Murray, Catherine McManus, Sarah McCarthy and Katie Berney were the gold medal winners for the female team.

While Antonio Garcia Fernandez (60m hurdles), Conor Duncan (800m), Pierre Murchan (3000m), Michael Bowler (combined events), James Kelly (shot put) and Colm Bourke (long jump) won gold on the men’s team.

302 athletes altogether took part in 32 different events in the annual indoor track and field championships which were being held in Athlone for the fourth year in a row.

The cross-country championships are the next big inter-varsity event and will be held on March 5th in Sligo but most of the athletes who were competing in Athlone will next compete at the outdoor track and field championships to be held in DCU mid-April.

DCU ease past IT Carlow in Sigerson Cup quarter-final to book semi-final weekend spot DCU 0-14 IT Carlow 0-7

Sigerson Cup quarter-final Jack O’Toole Sports Reporter @cvsport

DCU’S Sigerson Cup side has booked a place in this year’s semi final after a comprehensive 0-14 to 0-7 point win over the Institute of Technology Carlow.

The defending champions will face the University of Ulster Jordanstown in the semi final after they saw off St. Mary’s University College Belfast in the quarter final.

Heading into the tie as overwhelming favourites, DCU started the game off slow with Carlow’s Chris Conroy converting a number of early frees to give the hosts the lead. DCU would rally through Monaghan’s Shane Carey and Mayo’s Diarmuid O’Connor as both sides played out a cagey first half.

Carlow’s Chris Healy did knock over a nice point from play to start the game but most of the hosts’ opportunities came from the ground, with Conroy kicking a number of frees to keep them level heading towards the break. Carlow enjoyed strong patches of possession but ultimately struggled to break down a tight and smothering DCU defence as the champions looked to attack Carlow on the counter attack.

DCU broke through the middle a number of times throughout the first half with Dublin midfielder Shane Carthy at the heart of the visitors’ counter attacks.

O’Connor added two first half scores, including one

right on the stroke of halftime, to ensure DCU would enter the break with the scores tied at 0-5.

The second half started just as the first half ended, with Niall Moyna’s side continuing to break through a tiring Carlow defence.

The visitors got off to a flying start, adding four points within the first ten minutes of the restart; three of which were from Carey.

Conroy would add a further two points from frees but it was all DCU from that point on, as the Dublin side cruised to a comfortable victory with Enda Smith, David Mannix and Stephen O’Brien all tagging on late scores to ensure DCU a spot in the semis.

The win brings DCU one step closer to repeating as Sigerson Cup champions, a fact Coach Niall Moyna is all too aware of.

“Yeah it hasn’t been done I think in about 20 years,” said Moyna after the game.

“We’re going up against the hosts and the favourites, a loaded team, but it’s a challenge.

As I said to the guys a few moments ago, if you’re not in, you can’t win, so at least we’re there and we’ll give it 100%.”

DCU: B Flynn, J Smith, K Feely, S Attride, K Daly, C Moynagh, C Begley, S Carthy, C McGonagle, M Quinn, D Byrne, D O’Connor (02), S Carey (0-7), C McGraynor, E Smith (0-2).

SUBS: S O’Brien (0-1) for C McGonagle, E Smith for C McGraynor, D Mannix (0-2) for S Carthy, C McHugh for S Carey, R Lyons for C Moynagh (BC), C Breheny for E Smith.

IT Carlow: R Samson; I Ilunga, T Featherston, T O’Connell, T Dever, D Dunne, D Smyth, M Russell, W Young; C Conroy (0-5), K Ryan, C Ward, C Healy (0-1), M Sherry, M Hurley (0-1). Sub: B McHugh for M Hurley.

DCU’s Conor McNally hits Dan Wharton of Athlone IT in their first round Sigerson Cup match Credit: Sportsfile

INSIDE

Sport THE COLLEGE VIEW

Wednesday, 24 February 2016

DCU 2-2 UCD 0-10 Sigerson cup final

Fresher footballers hang on for All Ireland victory

www.thecollegeview.com

Read more on page 18

UCD End 20 Year Sigerson Wait

Conor Hawkins Sports Reporter @Conorhawkins4

UNIVERSITY College Dublin’s strong second half performance against holders and city rivals DCU earned them their first Sigerson Cup since 1996.

The game, a repeat of last month’s League Final which UCD won with ease, took place in very poor conditions in Jordanstown.

UCD opened the scoring in the 4th minute when Dublin’s Paul Mannion was fouled on the 14-yard line. Westmeath’s John Heslin dispatched the resulting free with ease, scoring the first of his six points.

DCU responded quickly through the boot of Stephen Attride. The wing back swerved the ball over with the outside of his boot from distance, just as he had done in the previous day’s semi-final against UUJ. In the 14th minute UCD’s Paul Mannion scored probably the point of the game. His left-footed free kick from where the sideline meets the 21 yard line was measured to perfection and put his side two points ahead. However that was the last bit of action for Mannion as he limped off with injured quadriceps moments later.

Conor McCarthy then got UCD’s first score from play as DCU struggled to win breaks in the middle of the field. DCU were lucky to not find themselves even further behind as Tom Hayes who replaced Mannion missed what looked to be an easy opportunity for a point.

DCU kept trying to get the scoreboard ticking again but found it very difficult, missing another free. Moments later, after a good run and tidy cut inside two UCD defenders Rory Connor failed to convert on his weaker left foot.

Just when things were beginning to look miserable for DCU, the final four minutes of the half filled them with hope. In the 27th minute UCD’s Niall Kelly was black carded by David Coldrick.

Three minutes later DCU had their first goal. Roscommon’s Enda Smith went on a powerful run through several UCD defenders and a clever hand pass put midfielder Stephen O’Brien one on one with the UCD goalkeeper and he finished well.

DCU brought the half to an end with one more score as Carey finally slotted over his first free, putting his side one point up at the break, leaving the game look-

A dejected Conor Moynagh after DCU’s Sigerson cup final defeat Credit: Inpho

“DCU kept

trying to get the scoreboard ticking again but found it very difficult

ing like it was anyone’s to take.

UCD opened the second half scoring after two minutes thanks to another free from Heslin. In the 12 minutes of play that followed this score there were three more points added, all of them for UCD and all of them involved Heslin. The first two were frees he scored himself and the third came from Conor McCarthy after Heslin held the ball up, drew the defenders in and played him through.

DCU were really struggling to create anything up front and with just 10 minutes left to play had not scored in the second half. This changed when substitute Conor McHugh went on a run through the UCD defence and forced a good save from the UCD

goalkeeper. The rebound then landed in the arms of Conor McGraynor who was swarmed by a group of UCD defenders and dragged to the floor. DCU were awarded a penalty and it was coolly dispatched into the bottom right corner by centre

back Conor Moynagh leaving the game tied with nine minutes to go.

Man of the match John Heslin then added his sixth point as he rounded two DCU defenders and curled the ball over on his weaker left foot, leaving UCD a point ahead with four

minutes of regular time to play.

As the game entered additional time UCD put themselves another point ahead. Corner back Michael Fitzsimons’ perfectly executed cross field pass found substitute Stephen Coen who drove the ball over leaving two between the sides.

In the final minute of the added four DCU were left with no option to launch a Hail Mary into the UCD area. A free was given against Conor McGraynor for pushing and as UCD travelled up the field the final whistle was blown, ending UCD’s long wait for the title and DCU’s record of having never lost a Sigerson Cup final.

UCD: E Keogh; R Wylie, D Hyland, D Byrne; C Mullaly, M Fitzsimons, J McCaffrey; L Casey, R McDaid; C McCarthy (0-2), J Heslin (0-6 4f ), C Basquel; E Lowry, P Mannion (0-1 f ), N Kelly.

Subs: T Hayes for Mannion (17’), J McEntee for Kelly (29’), S Coen (0-1) for McEntee (43’), J Barry for Lowry (53’), S O’Dea for McCaffrey (57’), T Moolick for Casey (58’).

DCU: P O’Donnell; K Daly, K Feeley, J Smith; S Attride, C Moynagh, D Byrne; S O’Brien (1-0), M Quinn; D O’Connor, E Smith, C Begley; R Connor, R Lyons, S Carey (0-1 f ).

Subs: S Carthy for Quinn (HT), C McGraynor for Connor (HT), D Ward for Daly (44’), C McHugh for Carey (47’), C Breheny for Lyons (47’), C McNally for Smith (59’).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)