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THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER 21 September 2010
News
news@universityobserver.ie
Under the PRTLI5 (Programme for
Student Centre set to open ahead of schedule
Research in Third Level Institu-
Michael Phoenix
News in Brief UCD Awarded €62.7m under PRTLI 5 to Advance Innovation UCD has been awarded €62.7m as part of the single largest investment in third-level research in the history of the State.
tions), 15 key UCD projects are to receive funding, with the UCD Science Centre receiving the largest funding of €37.7m. It is now set to become the largest national resource harbouring 2,000 researchers and postgraduate students in a newly renovated 45,000 square metre building. The funding is intended to support new infrastructural developments, structured PhD programmes and development research. The PRTLI also awarded funding to Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Brian Cowen made the announcement in July, stating: “This announcement is another clear signal that we are confident about the future of our country.” UCD Student Comes Seventh in Miss Universe 20-year-old UCD student Rozanna Purcell came seventh in this year’s Miss Universe pageant. The contest was won by Miss Mexico, Ximena Navarrete, but Purcell was considered a favourite
U
CD’s new Student Centre is set to be completed and ready for use by next September, according to the project manager and Student Centre manager Dominic O’Keeffe. Excitement has surrounded the structure as its progress was evident before the summer break. Mr O’Keeffe believes he and the whole of UCD can be proud of and take heart in the progress that has been made, stating that it will add a “whole new dimension” to the campus. Students can look forward to access a wide range of new facilities. On completion, the centre shall include an Olympic-size (50m) swimming pool, a media studio, debating and drama theatres, as well a new student health centre. Another feature of the centre will be a cinema which will have reduced prices for students and will, according to Mr O’Keeffe, bring “UCD into the 21st century”. Filmsoc, Dramsoc and the debating societies such as the L & H and Lawsoc, will be given offices, as will the campus media outlets. The construction of the centre has been subject to some criticism. The current Student Centre was opened just nine years ago, and a large portion of the funding for the centre has come from the student registration fee. Mr O’Keeffe says all attempts have been made to ensure students are given what they want and he is adamant that they will not be found wanting. Furthermore, he promises this is not the end of the changes within UCD. Encour-
The new student centre will feature a gym and pool.
aged by the success of the new Student Centre and the fact that it is to open ahead of schedule, he is hopeful that a revamp of the Sports Centre can happen in the coming years. A foundation stone laying ceremony is being
Centre can be found in the information hut outside the sports centre. A comprehensive list of details on the facilities that will be available in the centre can be found at www.ucd. ie/studentcentre.
set for a date in October, with plans for an opening ceremony still in the works. Students can track the progress of the centre via a live webcam which is available online. Further information on UCD’s new Student
by Paddy Power Bookmakers, who gave her 9-2 odds to win the competition. Purcell will now be taking a year out of university to pursue an international modeling career with Trump Model Management. Donald Trump offered Purcell the modeling contract after her participation in this year’s Miss Universe Contest, which took place in the Mandalay Bay Resort and casino last month. Purcell said that it has always been her dream to model in New York: “As long as I’m doing that, whether it’s with Victoria’s Secret or whoever, I’ll be happy.” CAO Points Rise CAO Points for a number of courses on offer at UCD rose considerably this year. The most significant rise was seen in Science Omnibus, where the point requirements rose 50 points to 435 from 2009. Law and Architecture saw a small
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(Continued from page 1) Many students who arrived to check in on the first day of Orientation Week were unaware that they would require their student cards before collection. It is the understanding of the The University Observer that these students were not provided with a place in which to store their luggage when they were directed to the other side of campus to collect their student cards. This year saw a change to the system of allocating on-campus rooms. The former distance scheme of allocation was scrapped in favour of a “first come, first served” system. Ahearn explained how “first years used to have more priority. The waiting list was the 15th June, so many missed out on the opportunity altogether.” The change to the allocation system has also resulted in a number of students needing to move to Dublin for the academic year, missing out on on-campus accommodation as a result of Dublin and surrounding students being eligible for on-campus accommodation. Ahearn believes that the management of UCD Residences was aware some rooms were not going to be ready on time, yet still did not adjust the date on the License to Reside issued to those students affected. Ahearn also said: “They only gave them a list of B&Bs. That’s not the level of support they should have been given.” Ahearn stated that funding issues were behind the overhaul to admissions this year: “It’s about time that money is not the number one drive of this university.” A spokesperson for UCD stated that “UCD Residences have apologised for any delays and inconveniences experienced by students while checking in to their accommodation, and have thanked students for their understanding.”
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rise of ten points each, while the Health Sciences saw a steady increase in points across the board. The demand for Engineering dropped 20 points from last year’s requirements to 425. The current economic situation has been cited in drawing mature students back to education, which resulted in an increased demand for places in university courses. UCDSU Education Vice-President James Williamson told The University Observer that “there was an increase of slightly above 17 per cent in the numbers of mature students applying alone”. Mr. Williamson also added that the points rise is “great for UCD, as it means the quality of students we take in has improved”. - Sinéad O’Brien
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