Volume XXI - Broadsheet - Issue 2

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uo The University Observer

October 7th 2014 Volume XXI issue 2 universityobserver.ie

20

th

anniversary supplement inside

confucius institute We examine Ucd’s relationship with the chinese government’s political agenda Gráinne Loughran p7

astronauts an interview with the most isolated man in human history Shane hannon meets al worden P11

Fighting talk conor mcgregor’s rise to the top, ego and how it could all go terribly wrong

above a student reads on the steps of the tierney building

peter murphy P18

photo James Brady

Ucd students will not participate in national rally David Corscadden

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) are holding a national rally for education on 8th October to highlight the group’s pre-budget submission, ahead of Budget 2015 which will be announced on Tuesday 14th October. On the significance of this rally and the group’s pre-budget submission USI President, Laura Harmon told the University Observer “This is the first national pre-budget demonstration in three years.” This march also marks the first time the USI has had organisation such as SIPTU, IFUT and the TUI supporting its cause and joining them on the march. Harmon explains that the rally will “highlight our pre-budget aims to protect student supports and our belief that education is a public

good.” The rally itself will also be used to highlight the positive contributions that students have to make to society as a whole. Ahead of the rally, set to take place this Wednesday, the USI sent UCDSU an invitation to take part in the rally alongside them, despite the fact UCD voted to leave the USI last year. The referendum held in UCD last February saw 64.5% of voters vote in favour of ending UCDSU’s membership of the USI. Explaining the reason behind inviting non-affiliated students Harmon says “I felt as a measure of good will to non-affiliated students, it would be good to extend an invitation. I brought a motion to our national meeting and it passed so I issued the invite. Many non-affiliates

will be joining us on the day.” This point was elaborated on by UCDSU President, Feargal Hynes, in a statement to the University Observer in which he said “The invitation came as part of talks between Laura and myself earlier in the year and it was agreed that where there was an event where we shared the same end goal, that we would consider working together on it.” However following a meeting of the UCDSU Executives last week, the decision was made not to take part in the rally. Hynes explains that he brought the invitation to the group and “we voted not to participate and to focus on our aim at the start of the year to build our presence on campus and to concentrate on re-engaging students in Belfield.” He

added that UCDSU will be working alongside USI in the upcoming Marriage Equality Referendum. The rally, which will see students from around the country marching from the Garden of Remembrance to Molesworth Street, opposite the Houses of the Oireachtas, has taken on a distinctively creative theme this year. The event will see performances by Temper-Mental Miss Elayneous and breakout Irish band, The Original Rude Boys. Commenting on the creative direction the rally has taken and the presence of The Original Rude Boys at the event Harmon says ‘They were students themselves in NCI and they believe in the messages of our campaign. We have a taken a more creative approach to the campaign

this year and it’s great to have such talented artists in board.” In the groups pre-budget submission it has lobbied public representatives on the protection of the student maintenance grant and also the Back to Education allowance. It also highlights the decrease in the Student Assistance Fund and the student accommodation issue as areas of concern. “We are also calling for the return of the €25million to overall HEI funding that was withheld in Budget 2013 and 2014” explains Harmon who will be meeting with Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’ Sullivan, again the day after the Budget.

UCD School of Social Justice Host Graduate Conference

alt-j The curse of the mercury prize and the release of their second album

sean hayes otwo p14

panti bliss politics, selfcensorship and sell-out shows

tadhg dolan Otwo P26

Niamh O’Regan Saturday, 4th October, saw the UCD School of Social Justice welcome over forty graduates, six keynote speakers and guests, to its annual Graduate Conference. This year the conference was entitled “Challenging Injustice in Ireland: Learning from the Past, Actions for the Future”. The conference, which was organised entirely by graduate students in the school, was created to highlight and examine how social justice has developed in Ireland over the years and

Campus news

in brief

UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU), UCD Library and the Director of Student Services, Dominic O’Keefe, have jointly announced the opening of a self-service laptop loan scheme in the library. The move is part of the library’s plan to expand the computer support service it provides to students, and means that laptops can now be borrowed for an additional 30 hours per week. There will be 36 computers

how current injustices can be addressed, through research currently being undertaken by students, organisations and communities, across the country. The conference coincided with various milestones for the School of Social Justice. This year the school marks its own 10th anniversary and also celebrates the 25th anniversary of both the Equality Studies and the Women’s Studies departments, which came together to form the school. These departments and the School of Social Justice available as part of the laptop loan scheme, which will allow students to borrow one for up to 3 hours. President of UCDSU, Feargal Hynes, praised the work of O’Keefe, alongside associate librarian, Marie Burke, calling the co-operative agreement a “strong partnership that I hope will grow into the future.” O’Keefe said that “are always looking for ways to spend money that will directly benefit students.” The laptops are being funded from an overspend in the Higher Education Authority’s (HEA) budget. The HEA agreed to let UCD keep half of the unauthorised €3.3 million in top-ups it paid out to its senior staff from 2005 to 2011, on the condition it spends it on student services.

are of significant research importance in their respective areas, as well as launching the Law with Social Justice, undergraduate course, in 2013. The day consisted of an opening address delivered by Professor Kathleen Lynch Social Justice in the Fitzgerald Chamber, followed by an address by Professor Colin Scott, (principal of the college of Human Sciences), and then a Keynote Address by the Minister of State for Equality, New Communities and Culture, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. Afterwards a panel discussion

was held where Professor Emeritus of UL, Peadar Kirby, UCD Alumnus, Vincent Browne and Cathleen O’Neill of the Kilbarrack Community Development Project. During the panel discussion each speaker presented their responses to what they felt were the core social challenges, facing social justice and equality today. The rest of the day consisted of workshops on various social justice themes, each contained a mix of long and short presentations and discussions

by graduates from various universities and organisations across the country. The closing address was delivered by Professor John Baker of the School of Social Justice. The event also saw information stands set up in the foyer of the Student Centre, representing several organisations which strive towards social justice in their specific areas. Amongst these were the Transgender Network, the Irish Refugee Council, and INVOLVE: In Partnership with Travellers.

sylvan esso

battling the electro-folk-pop fame monster and the creative process grattan aikins Otwo P17

UCDSU lobby for Section 50 tax relief scheme UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU), has continued with its calls for the government to bring back the Section 50 tax relief scheme which was abolished in 2012. Section 50 of the 1999 Finance Act provided for investors or universities to claim up to 90% tax relief against the purchase price of accommodation through the rental income they received for providing student housing. UCDSU President, Feargal Hynes, met with special advisers of both Paidi Coffey, the Junior

Minister for Housing and Jan O’Sullivan, the Minster for Education. They discussed the possible impact of budgetary measures on the student rental market. Hynes sent a letter outlining his proposal to all government departments that would be affected if the scheme were to be re-introduced. He referred to the growing student population, the slow expansion of the property market and the lack of student housing in the capital in support of his point. In a statement, Hynes called

the proposal a “quick, effective measure that will help alleviate the pressure on the student rental market” and that the “student rental market is a safe investment with strong returns for investors.” Earlier calls by UCDSU on the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) to make property available for students resulted in strong criticism from NAMA over UCDSU’s misunderstanding of its operations.

parallax

student photojournalism Otwo P28

October 7th 2014


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