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TRINITY NEWS TRINITY NEWS
NATIONAL NEWS
SHORT CUTS ARTS
FESTIVAL MARKS QUB CENTENARY QUEEN’S, FOUNDED as Queen’s College Belfast in 1845, became an independent university in 1908. The annual Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s will be a double celebration this year, marking both the university’s centenary and the 60th anniversary of the U.N Declaration of Human Rights. The Festival, which has been described by Graeme Farrow, festival director, as “an annual arts and entertainment Olympics”, is due to run from the 17th of October to the 1st of November. The festival was launched with an opening concert by Ennio Moricone, the Italian Oscar-winner who has composed some of the best-known film music over the last forty years. Past accomplishments include scores for The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Once Upon a Time In America, The Untouchables and The Mission starring Robert de Niro and Jeremy Irons. Other highlights of the festival include the events “Human Rights, Poetic Redress” and “Stand Up for Justice”, which have been organised by Amnesty International to mark the 60th year of the Declaration of Human Rights. “Human Rights, Poetic Redress” took place on the 23rd of October and involved a debate by top Irish writers Carlo Gebler, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne, Glenn Patterson and Kevin Barry on the role of the writer in upholding human rights. “Stand Up for Justice” is a comedy show currently in its sixth year at the festival. This year it showcased top international talent including John Bishop, Katherine Ryan and Damian Clark. (Una Geary)
ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
BUS SERVICE TO UCD SUSPENDED DUBLIN BUS have temporarily withdrawn services from the 10 and 46A bus stops on Belfield campus and on the N11 after 8.30 p.m. following what it described as a series of incidents of anti-social behaviour in the past weeks. Bus drivers complained of students drinking on board and being verbally abusive. On one occasion, it was claimed that an inspector was physically assaulted. Aodhan O’Dea, UCD SU President, said, “The alleged incident happened off campus and there has been no proof that the attack came from a UCD Student at all.” The suspension was implemented after a meeting with trade unions, UCD representatives and the relevant authorities. Mr. O’Dea expressed his sentiment that, “The move is disappointing as they are painting all 23,000 students here in UCD with the same brush and judging us all by the actions of a few.” No actions have been taken as yet against students involved in the incidents, as no specific claims have been made. Mr. O’Dea said that, “Anyone caught drinking on campus or getting on buses with drink are dealt with under the Dignity and Respect policy in the University.” The withdrawal of evening bus services is a serious blow to students, in terms of safety and finances. Mr. O’Dea complained that “Students are being forced to walk late at night alone, to use basic bus services or to get a taxi - adding to problems of student debt.” In a statement, Dublin Bus said that “The safety of our staff and passengers is of utmost importance to Dublin Bus and the temporary withdrawal of services is common practice in areas where the company experiences incidents of antisocial behaviour.” Dublin Bus has said that it hopes to re-instate evening bus services to UCD campus as soon as possible.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 October 28, 2008
Students struggling as budget freezes grant rates By Una Geary National News Editor DESPITE THE considerable cutbacks imposed on the education sector by the recent Budget, the Government’s spending estimate for grants is up by 6% to 277.9 million EUR. This is in response to a surge in demand for grant aid due to the current economic downturn. Nearly 3,000 more students applied for maintenance grants this year, increasing the number of applications by at least 5% in the past few months. However, rates are due to remain frozen until at least January 2010. Orlaith Foley, TCD SU Welfare Officer, said that “The government did not increase the grant in any way, making life much tougher for families already struggling. While
inflation is running at 4%, this effectively amounts to a decrease in the financial supports being offered to students.” The standard full rate is currently at EUR 3,420. According to Shane Kelly, USI president, only a minority of 10% of the 57,000 students who received grant aid last year received this sum. The remainder received the 50% assistance rate of EUR 1,710 or less. For students who come from within 24 km of their college, this figure is more than halved to EUR 685. The maximum possible rate of EUR 6,690 is allocated only to the 10% of students in the lowest family income band of EUR 20,000. These rates are grossly inadequate, leaving a considerable gap between the estimated cost of attending college and the grant aid available. Dublin Institute
FAMILY INCOME THRESHOLDS FOR GRANTS Dependents
Full Maintenance 75%
50%
Reg. fee exempt
Less than 4
€39,760
€42,235
€44,720
€49,690
4 to 7
€43,680
€46,415
€49,145
€54,605
8 or more
€47,430
€50,400
€53,360
€59,280
of Technology has judged that students living away from home will be set back by approximately EUR 8,403 per year. Even those living at home are expected to face an outlay of EUR 3,861. However, despite the glaring discrepancy between grant rates and the cost of third level education, even worse off are the middle income families who are just above the cut-off point, some by
as little as €100. According to Ms. Foley, “The direct result of this has been the increase in applications to the Student Assistance Fund, which is administered through the Senior Tutors office. We have seen record numbers of students applying for this funding, both from students who will get a maintenance grant and those who are falling short of the maintenance grant thresholds.”
She added, “The grant cut off points were released very late this summer. The fact that the grant announcement came so late this year has resulted in a huge delay in the administration surrounding the applications and means that to date few grants have actually been distributed. This means that the majority of Trinity students had to pay their registration fee.” Batt O’Keeffe, Minister of Education and Science, will heap further hardship on students next year by increasing this fee by 67% to €1,500. Shane Kelly, USI President, denounced the 2009 Budget measures as “an underhanded way of generating revenue to facilitate Government cutbacks and are essentially, the first step towards the re-introduction of full tuition fees.”
SPECIAL REPORT
Cork student’s fight to free mother UCC student calls on the Government to intervene on behalf of mother currently imprisoned in China for her links with Falun Gong By Kate O’Regan A UCC student, whose mother has been detained by the Chinese authorities due to her connections with the banned Falun Gong movement, has called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to raise the issue with the Chinese government during his visit to the country this week. Tang Liang is a food science student at University College Cork. Both his parents were arrested in June due to their activity with the Falun Gong movement. His father Yu Lin Tang was later released. However Liang’s mother, Aiqin Wang, remains in detention in China. This week, Brian Cowen is attending trade talks in Shanghai and Beijing. Tang Liang has seized this opportunity, launching a plea to the Irish leader to raise the issue of the continued detention of Falun Gong supporters, and wider claims of human rights abuses in China. Mr. Liang was accompanied by Ming Zhao, a former student of Trinity, who spent two years in prison because of his Falun Gong beliefs. Mr. Zhao was released in 2002 after the intervention of several high-profile political figures in Ireland, including Senator David Norris. Mr. Zhao was a computer science student at Trinity in 2000. Senator David Norris was among the high-profile figures who intervened in the case of Ming Zhao, former Trinity student, was was detained for two years in China When he returned to his home in Beijing for the Christmas holidays he was immediately taken into custody by the authorities. Addressing a sub-committee on Human Rights at Leinster House in 2004, he claimed that on his return to China he was arrested without warrant for his association with the Falun Gong movement, and detained in a labour camp without trial. He was imprisoned for two years, enduring torture and brainwashing. He was released in 2002 after a successful campaign for his release and an intervention by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahearn. During his detention, Ming Zhao claims that the Chinese authorities used electric shocks and physical violence to torture him. He is adamant that there is no rational explanation for the detention of Falun Gong practitioners, and that the Chinese government is simply seeking to monopolise people’s lives. Falun Gong is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline that is similar to Buddhism. It is a modern variant of the ancient Chinese practices of exercise, deep breathing, and meditation, that enthusiasts claim promotes physical, mental, and spiritual well-being by enhancing the flow of vital energy through a person’s body. While Falun Gong is practiced in over 70 countries worldwide, there has been a major crackdown on the association in China in recent years. The Chinese government has been accused of human rights abuses towards those imprisoned. The supporters of Falun Gong describe the detention and persecution of its followers as religious persecution. However the Chinese government insist that they are
Above: Tang Liang seeks the release of his mother with former Trinity student Ming Zhao who was imprisoned for two years for his association with the movement, left. acting in the best interest of Chinese society. They have labelled the Falun Gong organisation a cult. Chinese authorities began clamping down on Falun Gong practices in 1999. Those found guilty of association with the Falun Gong movement are often handed lengthy prison sentences. They are reported to be treated in a manner counter to the charter of Human Rights. Organisations such as Amnesty International are concerned that the treatment of those imprisoned may have a broader impact on freedom of expression, association and belief in China. For hundreds of years, China’s rulers have viewed as politically threatening those groups that combine elements of charismatic leadership, a high degree of organization, and popular appeal. They have labelled such organizations “heretical cults” or “sects” and have moved forcefully to eradicate them. Although Falun Gong practitioners claim they practice and promote truthfulness, compassion and tolerance, the Chinese government has deemed it a threat to society and branded it a cult. In the online edition of the People’s daily newspaper, members of Falun Gong are accused of “organizing and using the cult organization to undermine the implementation of law, causing deaths by organizing and using the cult organization, and illegally obtaining state secrets.” In an article posted on the website of the Chinese embassy in the United States, the Chinese authorities brand Falun Gong practices as “cult heresies” which threaten to disrupt the normal order of religion. They go on to claim that their actions against the organization are in the best interest of the Chinese people: “To protect the human rights and freedom of religious belief of the Chinese people, the Chinese Government outlawed the “Falun Gong” cult in accordance with the law.” Amnesty International has been quick to condemn the detention of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese government. In a report describing their concerns about the human rights violations resulting from the crackdown on Falun Gong, the association calls on the Chinese government to reform their policy against the movement. In the report, they call on the Chinese government “to stop the mass arbitrary detentions, unfair trials and other human rights violations resulting from the crackdown on the Falun Gong group”. Other associations, such as the Human Rights Website, have called for the immediate release of all Falun Gong prisoners and for permission to resume public and private Falun Gong practice. According to the Amnesty International report, detainees are subjected to “re-education” processes. On 20 January, 2000, Yang Yong, a spokesman for the Changguang police station in Fangshan
district in Beijing, confirmed to a foreign journalist that around 50 “extremist’’ followers of the banned Falun Gong movement had been locked away in a psychiatric hospital near Beijing. Yang Yong reportedly said that his police force was responsible for Falun Gong practitioners, the majority of them women, held at the Zhoukoudian psychiatric hospital. He told the journalist that the practitioners “are not patients, they are there to be re-educated”. Since returning to Dublin and being granted refugee status here, Ming Zhao has been involved in many campaigns to highlight awareness of those persecuted for their beliefs. Former detainee Zhao has publicly criticised the Irish authorities’ cordial relations with the Communist state. In May 2005 he condemned the twinning of Cork City with Shanghai, criticising the lack of concern for Human Rights abuses in China. In August 2008 Falun Gong practitioners held a protest at The Irish Times building on Tara Street Dublin, to protest over an article that quoted a Chinese official making disparaging remarks about the practice. The protesters said the comments made by the Chinese official demonised those who engage in the spiritual practice, which involves exercise and meditation. This followed a march in July 2007, coinciding with the eighth anniversary of the suppression of Falun Gong practitioners, where Mr. Zhao and others called on Chinese people living in Ireland to quit the Communist Party. Mr. Zhao claimed at the time that up to 23 million people had already publicly quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Irish relations with China have been strengthened in recent years, with many reciprocal business deals being brokered between the two countries. Taoiseach Brian Cowen is in China this week to discuss trade and commercial relations between China and Ireland. Cork based student Tang Liang is hoping that Mr. Cowen will highlight the issue of Falun Gong prisoners and the suggested violation of their human rights. More crucially, he hopes that the Irish leader will raise the issue of his mother’s detention with Chinese officials.
UCD fees protest sees three students arrested By Una Geary National News Editor AS THE anti-fees offensive heats up, a recently formed student campaign group in UCD, Free Education for Everybody (FEE), staged a protest on Monday the 20th of October against the arrival of Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, on campus. Mr. Lenihan was chairing a function at the Clinton Institute in Belfield. President of the UCD SU, Aodhan O’Dea, said that “UCD Students’ Union supported the protest.” Students obstructed the entrance and the minister was forced to enter the building via a side door amidst chants of “No cutbacks, no fees, no Fianna Fail TDs” and “This government has disgraced themselves”. The protest turned violent when students attempted to break through a metal fence surrounding the building. Scuffles broke out and three
people were arrested for breaches of the peace. Dan O’Neill, Deputy President and Campaigns Officer of UCD SU, was one of the three targeted by the Gardai. His version of events was, “We sat down on the road to block the Minister’s car as had been planned and then the Gardai dragged me and two others out of the line and threw us into a patrol car.” However, they were released immediately with only a caution. No charges were made. Government ministers and TDs had previously been warned by students to expect protests if they decide to visit UCD while the debate on third-level fees continues. Speaking to the University Observer in UCD, Paul Murphy, a student campaigner said, “If these ministers are going to try to block students’ access to college, then we’re going to send them a message when they come out to colleges.” He added that, “political guests shouldn’t be able to just waltz into colleges, speak
Students arrested by Gardai
at meetings and not hear the response of students which is opposition to fees.” Prior to Monday evening’s events, a protest had been planned against a proposed visit by Minister of State, Martin Mansergh, on the 7th of October. Mr. Mansergh had been due to speak at a Law Soc debate. The campaigners had envisaged a “peaceful protest of students angrily giving a message to Minister Mansergh.” However, half an hour before the debate, word reached Belfield that the Minister had pulled out. Deciding to persevere with the protest nonetheless, over 50 people marched from outside the Library, up through the concourse and into the Arts Block where they rallied outside Theatre M. A meeting was held afterwards to organise an official student campaign group, which was christened Free Education for Everybody (FEE). A member of the new group, Julian
Brophy commented - “Martin Mansergh withdrew from the debate at the last minute upon hearing of the student mobilisation against fees. This is a clear indication that the government and its representatives are unable to provide adequate answers for the students whose education is going to be compromised if fees are reintroduced.” In 2002-2003, the then Minister of Education Noel Dempsey had to withdraw his proposal to bring back college fees after a wave of student unrest. Julian Brophy added, “For too long we have had our backs against the wall fighting against the step-by-step increase in the privatisation of education. We need to start forcing the government to respond to our agenda rather than responding to theirs. It is up to the students to send out a strong message that they are not prepared to have their education right based on their financial circumstance.”