News

The latest on everything that matters to student life, from UCD’s campuses and from around the country

Otwo

The University Observer’s award-winning arts and culture supplement features the best in new music, film and fashion

Features

Peek behind the scenes of student life and gain a deeper insight into the matters shaping academic life

Science & Health

Thoughts, debate and commentary on the latest breakthroughs and discoveries about the wider world

Sport

Catch up with the latest UCD sports news and read opinion, debate and analysis on all things athletic

Welfare Officer review: Wel-fairy Godfather Part II
Tuesday, 12 Apr, 2011 – 14:04 | Comments Off
Welfare Officer review: Wel-fairy Godfather Part II

It is difficult to scrutinise Welfare Vice-President Scott Ahearn, as his tenure has provoked little controversy and the only pitfalls are minor ones that he himself highlights.

Student Bar ‘struggling’ following significant losses; manager injured
Tuesday, 12 Apr, 2011 – 14:00 | Comments Off
Student Bar ‘struggling’ following significant losses; manager injured

Incoming Students’ Union President and current Campaigns and Communications Vice-President, Pat de Brún, has admitted that UCD Student Bar is “really struggling”. This news comes after it emerged that its manager reportedly suffered a broken …

Student drinking on the rise despite economic hardships, survey reveals
Tuesday, 12 Apr, 2011 – 14:00 | 3 Comments
Student drinking on the rise despite economic hardships, survey reveals

A survey conducted by The University Observer has revealed that the number of UCD students drinking excessive amounts of alcohol has risen since the recession.

SU admits to misinforming students over UCD Ball tickets
Tuesday, 12 Apr, 2011 – 14:00 | One Comment
SU admits to misinforming students over UCD Ball tickets

Ents Vice-President Jonny Cosgrove has admitted that the ‘security breach’ announced by the Students’ Union on the day the tickets were due to go on sale for the UCD Ball was a case of misinformation.
The …

News in Brief
Tuesday, 12 Apr, 2011 – 13:59 | Comments Off
News in Brief

Power failure hits Trinity Ball

Students attending the annual Trinity Ball last Friday were subjected to a disruption by a power cut on the main stage while The Streets were performing.
TCD Students’ Union newspaper The …

SU Elections: Presidential Analysis
Tuesday, 29 Mar, 2011 – 14:08 | 2 Comments
SU Elections: Presidential Analysis

This year’s presidential election race is proving to be a stark contrast from last year where Paul Lynam ran unopposed. It marks a break from tradition in terms of candidates, with two of the three …

Republic of Loose and O Emperor to play UCD Ball
Tuesday, 29 Mar, 2011 – 14:02 | Comments Off
Republic of Loose and O Emperor to play UCD Ball

Republic of Loose and O Emperor are among the acts that have been confirmed at this year’s UCD Ball on April 21st.

Societies set for Student Centre move
Thursday, 10 Mar, 2011 – 18:55 | Comments Off
Societies set for Student Centre move

The University Observer has learned that the university plans to overhaul the lower ground floor area of the Arts Block and to move societies such as FilmSoc and The College Tribune out of their offices.

SU constitution set to undergo review
Thursday, 10 Mar, 2011 – 18:54 | Comments Off
SU constitution set to undergo review

SU Council has passed a motion mandating the establishment of a constitutional review group for the Students’ Union constitution.
The motion, which was proposed by Sports Officer Brendan Lacey and seconded by SU President Paul Lynam, …

Desk shortage consigns students to floor during exam
Tuesday, 1 Mar, 2011 – 14:01 | Comments Off
Desk shortage consigns students to floor during exam

Around 30 first-year Economics students took an MCQ exam while sitting on the floor due to a shortage of seats and desks in the exam hall.
The first-year Principles of Macroeconomics class arrived for their mid-term …

NA: Reviewing your future
Tuesday, 1 Mar, 2011 – 14:00 | Comments Off
NA: Reviewing your future

With the Students’ Union looking to review their constitution, Amy Bracken questions how regularly such a process must occur

Travel: You can’t beat Crete
Tuesday, 15 Feb, 2011 – 18:03 | Comments Off
Travel: You can’t beat Crete

The culture and scenery resonate in the mind of Amy Bracken after her jaunt to the Greek island of Crete

Musical actress replaced following illness
Tuesday, 15 Feb, 2011 – 18:00 | Comments Off
Musical actress replaced following illness

The lead actress for the UCD Community Musical production Beauty and the Beast was replaced after being hospitalised for a week due to illness.

IUA expenditure rises amid universities’ financial crisis
Tuesday, 15 Feb, 2011 – 17:59 | 2 Comments
IUA expenditure rises amid universities’ financial crisis

The Irish Universities Association (IUA), of which UCD is affiliated, had close to a €2 million increase in both income received and expenditure against a backdrop of education cutbacks between 2008 and 2009, The University …

News Analysis: More money, more problems
Tuesday, 15 Feb, 2011 – 16:00 | Comments Off
News Analysis: More money, more problems

The significant expenditure by the IUA in recent years raises serious questions about the validity of the organisation, writes Amy Bracken

UCD student attacked in Chicago contracts hospital superbug
Tuesday, 1 Feb, 2011 – 14:03 | Comments Off
UCD student attacked in Chicago contracts hospital superbug

A UCD graduate who was recovering from an attack made with a baseball bat in April 2010 has reportedly contracted a hospital superbug.
Natasha McShane, 23, from Silverbridge, Co. Armagh, and a friend were viciously beaten …

Students’ Union and INMO to fight for nursing salaries
Tuesday, 1 Feb, 2011 – 14:02 | Comments Off
Students’ Union and INMO to fight for nursing salaries

UCD Students’ Union (SU) in conjunction with USI and eleven other nursing colleges around the country have launched a campaign to oppose the government’s decision to scrap the €200 per week salary allotted to final …

Students’ Union advise USI on seven priorties for semester two
Tuesday, 1 Feb, 2011 – 14:00 | Comments Off
Students’ Union advise USI on seven priorties for semester two

Seven proposals have been put to the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) by UCD Students’ Union, who hope that USI will adopt them as key priorities for this semester.