Letters should be sent by email to letters@universityobserver.ie or by mail to
The Editor, The University Observer, Student Centre, Belfield, Dublin 4.
All letters are subject to editorial approval. The Editor reserves the right to edit any letters.

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Confidentiality of Student Records

I refer to Maolsheachlann Ó Ceallaigh’s letter in the last issue, criticising my report in Issue 6 on the ease with which the academic records of any UCD graduate can be compromised by an ill-intending outside agent.

Mr Ó Ceallaigh wrote that, and I quote, “all UCD administrative staff should keep a copy of the article to hand, to produce when students (and staff) complain about ‘bureaucracy’, ‘red tape’, and ‘jobsworthiness’.”

I find it curious that Mr Ó Ceallaigh believes students might complain about the bureaucratic nature of UCD’s administration if said administration was happily capable of safeguarding their personal and sensitive details, or in general performing the functions expected and demanded of it by itself and by the student body. Surely any individual is entitled to complain about, in Mr Ó Ceallaigh’s own words, ‘red tape’ and ‘jobsworthiness’ if such qualities are endemic within a hierarchy that does not pursue even the most basic levels of scrutiny or cross-checking in ensuring that the records of its students and fee-payers are not released to incorrect third parties.

I might take this opportunity to reassure Mr Ó Ceallaigh that, several days in advance of my article’s publication, both you and I approached the University detailing the nature of our investigation, its conclusions, and how such lapses in security could be avoided. I might also state for the record that in the spirit of ‘gentlemanliness’, we agreed not to publish full details of how our investigation might be replicated by others.

I find it regrettable, but sadly all too predictable, that a university staff member might think so little of both The University Observer and of his own employer to assume that neither party might have acted in this matter with preserving the safety and security of student records in mind.

Yours, etc,

Gavan Reilly
Deputy Editor

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Cuts to Library Hours

Dear Madam,

I am writing to you to express my annoyance at the changes made to the library opening hours. The cutbacks of opening hours during the weekend will, if not already, have a detrimental effect on those students who rely on this service during this period.

As some students would have to work part-time jobs or have other commitments during the week, studying during the weekend can be the only opportunity they have to keep up with their coursework. These cuts will cause a great inconvenience to those who avail of these services, be it conducting research for their thesis accessing secondary sources to complete assignments and essays or just simply having a quiet area to work.

While these changes mightn’t affect some students now, I fear that when the midterm assignments and end of year exams begin to loom, such a change will have a negative effect on the majority of students. An already stressful period of completing essays or studying for exams will be made worse because of this.

I am completely aware that the university is facing a difficult period financially and that cuts must be made somewhere. However, the way in which they’ve introduced these changes has left a lot to be desired. Simply introducing these cuts by stating they will only effect the month of January before implementing them for the entire term is one thing but doing all of this without even taking the opportunity to even notify students is disrespectful at best.

Students deserve to know about any changes that may occur since it is we that are availing of this service and rely on it constantly during the term for a multitude of reasons. A simple email to students, while it would not have made up for these cutbacks, would have at least meant that the library services acknowledged this fact.

I can only hope that the library services will take these issues on board later this year as sooner or later, the effects of these changes will be felt by students. I also hope that they would have the courtesy and respect to inform us about any further changes that may be made or perhaps they’ve cut back on those qualities as well.

Yours etc,

Matthew Soden
3rd Arts