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Tuesday, December 7, 2004
News Editor: Derek Owens
COLLEGENEWS
Trinity News
It’s not Yet Done and DUSTed, claims SU President Eimear Crowe In an attempt to save DUST (Dublin University Student Travel) from liquidation, Students’ Union (SU) president, Francis Kieran, has announced that the travel agency is negotiating a new contract with another company, described as a “major supplier to the youth market”. As reported in the last issue of Trinity News, DUST is facing major financial difficulties, resulting in the very real prospect of the company’s liquidation. DUST generated a loss of over €53,000 last year from a profit of €1,485 in 2002. The
€90,000 originally invested in DUST by the SU is now worth a meagre €7,000, while the most troubling aspect of DUST’s financial difficulties for the SU is the huge €200,000 built up in DUST since its establishment. If DUST does liquidate, this €200,000 owed by DUST would effectively wipe out the SU’s financial resources. It has also emerged that the SU president of two years ago, Will Priestly, turned down an offer to buy DUST while the company was still profitable. DUST’s losses have been blamed on poor trading conditions as well as the widespread deterioration of the profitabili-
ty of the travel sector. Other contributing factors were the extremely sharp downturn of the J1 Visa programme last year and pressure on the gross profit margin. DUST’s falling sales, coupled with its inability to cut costs, resulted in the company generating losses of approximately €5000 a month in 2003. Francis Kieran is eager to clarify that the SU will not tolerate the continuation of such huge losses: “The SU position is clear. We will not and cannot accept significant losses on the part of DUST”. However, responding to rumours that the SU are intending to drop DUST, Kieran stated that, in an
attempt to salvage DUST and help repay the money owed to the SU, negotiations have begun with another successful company: “We are in the process of negotiating a cooperation agreement with another company which could remedy the difficulties and be mutually beneficial for both groups”. Kieran is also eager to explain how such a huge sum of almost €200,000 came to be invested in DUST: “The €200,000 invested in DUST over time represents three main items: Cash travel bonds with the Aviation Commission, the supplier, STA and debtors who
owe money to DUST as at June 2004”. While many believe that this figure, which relates to June of this year, may have increased since then as DUST accumulates even more losses, Kieran is adamant that this is not the case and is confident that DUST will recover the money owed by its debtors: “The amount has reduced from €198, 864 due as at June 2004 to €174,131 as at September 2004, and we will continue to collect on this money.” Kieran was reluctant to comment on the revelation that former SU president, Will Priestly, refused to sell DUST in in 2002, but believes that it
would not have been a wise decision to sell the company two years ago, even though at that time the company was still generating profits and such a sale may have resulted in the SU recovering the money invested in DUST. Kieran stated that: “in hindsight the decision not to sell DUST has proved to be correct, particularly in the context of the potential for cooperation with other suppliers.” Although, for many, DUST’s future may seem bleak as, based on last year’s figures, the company is unlikely to generate a profit or repay much of the money it owes to the SU,
Kieran is optimistic about the company’s future: “DUST does indeed have a future as it is successfully negotiating a new contract with a major supplier to the youth market. This new contract is subject to final discussions but I am pleased to report that DUST will start the New Year, 2005, as a bigger and better operation.” However, it remains to be seen whether this contract will be DUST’s salvation or if the company can recover from the financial blows it suffered in 2003.
Crunch time looms for Trinity Ball * Ball still awaiting a major financial backer * Ents officer Morris remains secretive about lineup Jonathan Drennan The Trinity Ball is quite probably the one event in the College Calendar most students look forward to, but many students have realized that Cinders may not go to the Ball at all this year with lack of finance and interest being key factors in the proposed pulling of the Ball. A crisis meeting for CSC (Central Societies Committee) has been called for the 8th of December, at which Mr. Joe O’Gorman, honorary treasurer of CSC is expected to discuss the situation with various society treasurers. Niall Morris, Entertainments officer for the Students Union remains optimistic however: “last year was the 45th Trinity
Ball and I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t go ahead”. The question of the Ball going ahead is the question on most students’ lips on the Arts Block ramp but there are numerous stumbling blocks on the road to putting on the Ball. The first, of course, is finance. This is something that concerns the honorary treasurer of the CSC Joe O’Gorman, who states: ‘I’m being portrayed as a big bad ogre who doesn’t want the ball but a lot of people forget that it was me that saved the ball 10 years ago”. Mr O’Gorman went to vent his concern about the ball in general arguing “ I don’t think the Ball is a large scale political thing and I’m here to save the Union’s face. I have a job to do which is to make sure the ball
is secure financially”. Mr O’Gormans major gripe about the Ball is the lack of ticket sales, which makes financing the ball a difficult proposition. Mr Morris agrees but hands this down to the fact that the Ball is stuck in the nineties and needs to be revamped immediately, “the ball has to become a more commercial event”. Although Mr Morris stated that he wasn’t able to discuss any sponsorship package, he was confident that if the Ball goes ahead he can make it the once eagerly anticipated the event it was. Morris argued, “ the event has lost its uniqueness and that’s what I’d like to bring back”. Mr Morris still holds out a strong belief but with no big acts in the pipeline and the future of the
Front Square may well miss out on the spectacle of the Trinity Ball this year Trinity Ball looks rather bleak. Mr O’Gorman quite eloquently summed up the problem by saying “the problem is the ball is a bunch of people who want to
have a party in another person’s backyard and then using another person’s pot of gold and that’s always going to create problems, isn’t it?”
At present no-one knows what is to be the fate of the beloved Trinity Ball but with Mr Morris confident of a resolution and with a renewed interest from
Photo: Matt Pitt the student at large anything is possible. Hopefully by Hilary term the Ball will be on and this issue can be put to bed for at least another year.
USI Protest draws small, upbeat crowd Kathryn Segesser Continued from Page 1 But, if we don’t get out there absolutely nothing will be achieved.” He raised three main grievances: The rising registration fee - up by 543% in eight years - cuts in university spending and unfair grants. Mr. Kiernan ended by summing up quite simply “the government are pants”. Mr. Ryan Sheridan, GSU President, Ms Helen Dryfudd, USI Education Officer and Mr. Luke Ryder, SU Welfare Officer also spoke, again urging students to protest. Mr. Sheridan in particular claimed that students had been “betrayed by Bertie Ahern” and Fianna Fail. Mr. Ryder claimed that the grant system represented “too little, too late, too few”. He in particular pointed to a problem this year with grants reaching students as late as the end of November. The closing date was meant to be
August 31st. Ms Dryfudd urged the protesters on by telling them that this was “a historical day” where they were supported by “all the teaching unions in Ireland”. She claimed that the protest march was for all levels of education. Finally Mr. Brendan Tangney, TCD Computer Science Lecturer addressed the crowd. He said he worried “about the fact that there are so few here” especially as “cutbacks in education affect everybody”. Attendance at the protest in fact was fairly low, with a turnout one SU source described as “very disappointing. There were about four times as many people out in front square for this thing last year, and about four times as many people from outside Trinity took part as well. It was great fun, but from a protest point of view I really wish more people had come” Then they were set to go. Marching to the front gate and stopping just outside the
Provost’s House on Grafton Street, Trinity Students waited for the arrival of other Dublin students. They arrived to the sound of drums and cheers. Then all marched on, down Nassau Street, down Dawson Street and finally stopping on Molesworth Street, directly opposite the DalÌ. Upbeat students managed to fill the street. One, a third year business student from DIT, said: “I’m here today because I’m worried about what’s going to happen to the fees. This year’s increase really pushed me and I can’t afford to pay €1,000 next year which is what’s being rumoured around my campus.” Once the protestors arrived at the stand, they were urged to keep up the chants and the noise. Several office workers had been drawn outside and to the roofs with all the noise. Francis Kieran took to the stage, as did a representative from Marino Teachers Training College.
Dancing to ‘Fund the Future’
Fear & Loathing in the Phil Eddie Connolly, a member of both TUI Trade Union and DIT claimed that: “Ireland lags way behind other Western European countries in spending on
Education. The Budget needs another €1.5billion for education. It is absolutely unacceptable”.
The Real John McCain Union to clarify on restructuring Derek Owens Continued from Pg 1 Russian “interference”, McCain then went on to critique the state of Russian democracy. “I’ve said before that I thought there was a ‘creeping coup’ of autocracy in Russia,’ he remarked, “now, I would call it a galloping coup”. His subsequent criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “assault” on the media, opposition politicians and business, the Iraq war and an Mcain’s optimistic vision of transatlantic co-operation were the areas Journalist Tom McGurk focused on in a tense interview. The tone was such that by the time Mr. McGurk had finished his first question, McCain had interrupted with: “I don’t think you were listening to my speech”. After firing off answers to Mr. McGurk, the Senator turned to trade barrages with the assembled crowd. On
two separate occasions, the time allotted to questions from the floor was extended at McCain’s request, as students from SU President Francis Kieran to political novices had a chance to quiz the Senator. Despite pondering whether “there any conservatives here at all,” McCain characteristically shot from the hip in response to the grilling, one particular incident epitomizing his performance: When asked what he thought of claims that the Iraq invasion was prompted by a lust for oil, he paused for a moment before replying: “Well, in that case we’d have just gone after the Saudis, wouldn’t we?”. When the questioning finally ended, such openness and outspokenness was particularly praised by Mr. Cosgrave as he presented the combative and engaging speaker with an honorary membership of the Phil. Tellingly, McCain departed the theatre to a standing ovation.
Anne-Marie Ryan Continued from Page 1 process, given that every student was a member of a department. The final comment from the floor came from Dr. Seán Barrett, former Junior Dean and lecturer in the Department of Economics. He told the meeting that: “morale in college was never so low”. He expressed his determination to not allow the economics department be abolished, pointing out that his department had “done revolutionary things in this country”. He asked the Provost to publish the figures on which restructuring was based, a request he has made on many occasions in the past. He said dealing with the provost on the restructuring issue was like “negotiating with a bulldozer”. The Provost pointed out to Dr.
Barrett that he came to the meeting to hear what students have to say. “There are other forums for staff”, he said. Trinity News asked SU President Francis Kieran whether he thought it was appropriate that a member of staff was present at a student meeting. “Sean Barrett has given much time to the restructuring issue and he made many very insightful points at the meeting” said Kieran. Following the meeting, Trinity News spoke to a number of students who expressed their frustration at what they felt was the Provost’s failure to answer the questions put to him fully. Francis Kieran said: “There was a feeling at the meeting that the Provost’s answers were not satisfactory”. Kieran spoke of the need for further student input in the restructuring debate. “The SU will not tolerate students’ concerns falling on deaf
ears,” he said, “We have to have not only consultation but involvement in the process. At meetings of the Board, University Council and other fora we have made our points and our reservations clear, and have been forwarding positive suggestions and proposals.” Kieran also spoke of the further action the SU will take in the restructuring process: “We will be carefully studying updated drafts of the Resource Allocation Model to ensure that our concerns are reflected in the document.” Once firm proposals have emerged on this and on the composition of Departments or Faculties, we may ask SU Council to take a formal position on the matter, which would be binding as SU policy.
Derek Owens The Phil are happily wallowing in controversy yet again, with the seemingly simple task of paying four musicians necessitating a melodrama. An ugly scene marred the end of term ‘President’s Drinks’ reception on Wednesday, December 1, when members of the Raphaela Quartet were informed that they would not be paid on the night. Mr. Paul Brennan, treasurer of the Phil, is reported to have advised to quartet to “enjoy your evening” rather than worry about payment. Ms Kate Higgs, who arranged the performance with Phil President Paddy Cosgrave, was adamant that they were entitled to be paid on the evening: “It’s standard, whenever you get musicians in, to pay them on the night,” she remarked, “I wasn’t there to enjoy my evening, it was a professional gig”. She approached Mr. Brennan again during the reception to make her feelings known, to be told by the treasurer that: “You’re annoying me now”. Mr. Cosgrave, when contacted by Trinity News, argued that “It was made clear that they would be paid, but not on the night. They were told the Treasurer would be busy with other things on the night” The dispute continued on Thursday, 2 December, when Ms Higgs met with Mr. Cosgrave to arrange payment. At
this meeting, it is alleged, Mr. Cosgrave told Higgs that a cheque was in his possession, signed by Mr. Brennan. He is also understood, however, to have said: “I don’t like to see my officers aggrieved” and requested that Ms Higgs send an email to Mr. Brennan apologising for her conduct. Ms Higgs offered to meet with Mr. Brennan to discuss the incident, but Mr. Cosgrave insisted that an email or letter of apology be sent, or payment would be withheld. As Higgs remarked to Trinity News: “I’m not going to send a letter apologising just so it can be read out in the Phil”. Mr. Cosgrave later confirmed that he did ask Ms Higgs to apologise. When asked if he had in fact delievered an ultimatum, he was less definite, but conceded that “she was told that some kind of apology would be needed”. Further complicating the situation, Trinity News has heard reports that the Phil now intends paying the other three members of the quartet, but not Ms. Higgs. Quizzed by Trinity News on this claim, Mr. Cosgrave declined to confirm or deny the report. He did, however, express his hope that the matter would be resolved at a Phil committee meeting on Monday night. He described the whole affair as “Apersonal issue between two people,” and opined that: “It’s a situation where one person needs to apologise, and the other person probably does as well.”