Our best reward as student journalists is seeing someone pick up our work and enjoy it. To all our readers who have picked up this newspaper over the past year, thank you. Whether reading News, Sport or just Mystic Mittens, the delight that comes when seeing you enjoying our work makes every moment worthwhile.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading as much as I have, and I have enjoyed it immensely. I have cried tears of laughter and of sadness, learned new ideas and been taught new lessons, hated nothing and loved Jedward and it has all been thanks to the most fantastic team of writers and contributors I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

There are too many of you to thank you all by name, but I would like you all to know that your contributions to this newspaper are so greatly appreciated. Without you all, the Observer wouldn’t be what it is and I truly hope you have enjoyed your time with Volume XVI. For those of you moving on, I wish you all the very best in life after UCD and I hope that you will look back on your time with this paper with the same fondness in memories as I will.

And to all of you with a little more time to give, I hope that Volume XVI has inspired and encouraged you to come back to us again next year. I hope that you can bring Volume XVII the same wit, style and enthusiasm that you have delivered so faithfully every fortnight this year.

While there have been so many writers, photographers and contributors with us this year, there has been a core group of outstanding people who have dedicated so much of their time and skills to this publication. Without our Section Editors, the newspaper would cease to function, ideas would run dry, styles would be lost and deadlines never met. This job has been made so easy thanks to their work.

Matt you have never ceased to impress me with your knowledge and dedication, not just to features but to the whole newspaper. Your work has been a pleasure to read, and your witty company in our office has always been greatly welcome. Thank you for so capably taking on the role of Chief Features Writer, it suited you beautifully.

Sean, your unyielding passion for fashion has generated so many Gok comparisons I fear you may hate us all. You poured so much of yourself into your fashion pages and brought so many new themes to the fore – thank you for injecting life and colour into our fashion section, and for bringing it back to our readers.

Conor, from the very first conversation about films, I knew our film and television section would be in exceptional hands. Always a delight to read your work, I hope you have taken as much from your role as you have given. From one minute interviews to two hour junkets, your ability to make us all read with enthusiasm and laugh so easily is one that comes so naturally. Whether stand-up, film-making or reviewing is where your career is headed, I have no doubt you will excel.

Grace, firstly thank you for stepping in to the role of Music Editor, I hope you have enjoyed it. Your presence in the office has always brightened our days, and your ability to argue with Colin over your love of music brought a smile to all our faces. I feel it was fate that your mug is slightly bigger than the others, as befitting your status as a tea connoiseur. Thank you, not just for this year, but for all the years of hard work you have invested with us – I know I speak for several of my predecessors when I say that it has been an absolute pleasure to work with you.

Colin Scally, our image guru. There are so many things to thank you for, not least the introduction of Sporcle to our office. You turned out in hail, rain or shine to follow soccer, rugby, twister and so much more. You gave life and colour to all our pages through your pictures, and brought so much fun to the Observer through your wit and humour. Thank you for giving up your Saturdays to the Hockey stadium, and your Friday nights to the Belfield Bowl. I hope that you have enjoyed working with us as much as I have enjoyed working with you.

Farouq, our northside correspondent, thank you for sacrificing your little free time to the Science pages. Thank you for staying with us until the end – through OSCEs and delivering babies, through exams and Winter Olympic hockey finals, I’m truly grateful for your dedication. We’ve sadly seen too little of you over the year, but your visits have always brought laughter and snacks to the office. Your talent for writing I’m sure is only surpassed by your talent for medicine, and I wish you all the very best in that crazy career.

James, the last of our outlying faculty members, thank you for picking up the mantle of the Comment pages from the great distance of Roebuck Castle. Your style and ideas have always impressed, as has your travel schedule. The day I saw your Freshers’ Week performance in Astra Hall, I knew you would fit in admirably in our swell group. You are not the only, but certainly the first, man to go up against John Logue this year and win, and you did it with significantly less clothing than the others. The paper, and the office, has been so much the better with you.

Peter, our incredible 26-mile yes man, I still cannot fathom the lengths to which you’ve gone for this newspaper. Our Features section has never been as excellent as it has with you at the helm, your talent for writing is the envy of the office and your company is always a highlight of a day. Should you ever tire of your miniatures, your charm and skill would make you a superb asset to any newspaper.

Kristin, thank you so much for taking our vague ideas of design and turning them into a simply stunning reality. Changing such a longstanding design was a daunting task I’m sure, but you gave our newspaper a beautiful new look with ease and one that is admired by everyone who sees it.

Colin Sweetman, you never let your abandonment issues get in your way, thank you for shouldering the great burden of otwo on your own, you have done such a wonderful job. I know it hasn’t been an easy year for you but you managed to juggle your degree, your job, your music and otwo and never let the quality drop – even napping at the desk. I know you never enjoyed the fame that Sweetward brought you, but you endured it with great humour and grace. Thank you for all your hard work, otwo has been in such safe hands, I hope you enjoyed your year as much as I have.

Killian, our roving iternational sports journalist, never have I seen a Sports editor give so much energy, passion, time and dedication to the newspaper. From the minute you accepted the job before fleeing north to Bundoran, I knew our sport pages were in the safest of hands. Your presence in the office has been a welcome constant throughout the year – you have brought laughter, knowledge and an unprecedented collection of pilfered mementos. Thank you so much for being there every weekend, the whole year has been so much more enjoyable thanks to you.

Bridget, our long-suffering Newshound, your ability to take every joke in your stride and relate any topic back to feminism are two of the reasons we love you so much. Our urban family may be breaking up, but never will I look back on a year with as much fondness as I will this one, and in no small part down to you. I feared I had given you the world’s worst birthday gift when I landed the News section in your lap, but you took it on with enthusiasm and made it something I am so proud of. I truly hope you have enjoyed your tenure as News Editor and fellow Fantasy Girl, I know that no matter what you do, you will always be on top.  Thank you so much for all the wonderful memories this year, and I hope we can have many more.

Gavan, deputy only in title, I could never have done this job without you. There was never any doubt that you would work tirelessly to make the Observer the best it could be, and I know that we have achieved that this year. I am so proud of our newspaper, and so thrilled that our ideas and skills gelled so perfectly together – I would not have wanted to share this year with anyone else. Your vast knowledge never ceases to amaze me, and has resulted in an abundent table quiz booty that should go down in history. I know that no matter what you turn your hand to, you will only ever excel and be held in the highest esteem, as you are here and now by everyone involved in the Observer not least by me. You’ve become a wonderful friend this year, and I know that you will remain so for many more to come. Thank you for simply everything.

Deputy Editor
Gavan Reilly

Art & Design Directors
Kristin McKnight
Shane McIntyre

otwo Editor
Colin Sweetman

News Editor
Bridget Fitzsimons

Comment Editor
James Fagan

Features Editor
Peter Molloy

Chief Features Writer
Matt Gregg

Science & Health Editor
Farouq Manji

Sports Editor
Killian Woods

Music Editor
Grace Duffy

Film & TV Editor
Conor Barry

Fashion Editor
Seán McGovern

Image Editor
Colin Scally

Contributors
Agony Anto, The Badger, Jack Carter, Richard Chambers, Alex Court, Stephen Devine, Gary Dunne, Paul Fennessy, Ciara Fitzpatrick, Sam Geoghegan, Kris Goodbody, Sally Hayden, Jon Hozier-Byrne, Katie Hughes, Alison Lee, Ryan Mackenzie, Jamie Martin, Michelle McCormick, James McDonnell, Hugh McLaughlin, Conor Murphy, Kieran Murphy, Mystic Mittens, Maria Ní Shíthigh, Jake O’Brien, Lynda O’Keeffe, David Osborn, David Reilly, Anne Treanor, Natalie Voorheis, Stephanie Wallace Chavanne, Leanne Waters

Photographer
Casey Germann

Special Thanks
Peter, Malcolm, Ian, Tim, Dave, Jonathan, Ade, Emma, Jed, Bob, Steve (and the robots) at Trafford Park Printing; Paul at Higgs; Eilis O’Brien and Dominic Martella; Colm, Claire, James, Rory and Danielle at MCD Promotions; Dan and Orla at Friction PR; Laura and Darren at Warner; Bernie Divilly at PIAS; Giselle Jiang; Stephen Whelan; Dave Carmody; Dominic, Grace, Mark, Sandra, Charlie, Jason, Paul, Gary and all the Student Centre staff; Laura Turkington at Vodafone; Deborah at Dorland; Bombay Pantry, Four Star Pizza; Tommy Wiseau and all at Wiseau Films; M&S Salami Selection; Easter eggs. Lots of Easter Eggs; Natalie Voorheis’s cupcakes and Catriona Blake’s muffins; Jarlsberg cheese

Very Special Thanks
Rob Lowney, Ciara Brennan

Tel.: (01) 716 3119/3120
Email: info@universityobserver.ie
Web: www.universityobserver.ie

Facebook.com/universityobserver
Twitter.com/observer_ucd

~ “I never hit her! It’s not true! It’s bullshit! I did not hit her! I DID NAHHHT! … Oh hi, Mark ” ~

While many students may not know, approve of or agree with the existence or functioning of the Union of Students in Ireland, they are our representatives on a national level and should therefore have the best possible candidates vying for the positions come election time. According to UCDSU, Ó Súilleabháin is not that candidate. Although this paper has never been particularly kind to USI, or indeed its affiliated unions around the country, the people running for election must be admired for stepping forward to represent our interests.

And some admiration must be reserved for the UCD students who stood up against one of our own officers when they believed him unsuitable for the job. Ó Súilleabháin asked members of Council to judge him on his record, and they duly complied. His record, according to his critics, is a myriad of broken promises, lies and inaction. The scandal surrounding last year’s Science Day finances could be one that Ó Súilleabháin never lives down. While none of the allegations have been definitively proven, the lingering suspicion alone can only follow Ó Súilleabháin through his college career. All in all, his record does not recommend him to USI – and neither, quite rightly did UCDSU.

But the question remains: if his capabilities regarding the position of USI Education are so questionable, if his standing as an honourable person has been so disputed, and if his record is so mediocre, why then is he still acceptable as the Eduction Officer for Ireland’s largest university?

If Ó Súilleabháin is unsuitable for USI, surely he is unsuitable for UCDSU. The argument that a bad officer is better than no officer was summararily rejected last week with regards USI. In that case, is no officer better than a bad officer for UCD?

There were students that defended Ó Súilleabháin’s performance on a personal level, saying that his dealing with students one-on-one have always been exemplary as far as they were concerned. Perhaps UCDSU President Gary Redmond should step up then and remove all other responsibilities from the Education brief and let Ó Súilleabháin concentrate on his strengths. Redmond has a responsibility to his students, the vast majority of whose representatives have voted against the current Education Officer, maybe now is the time to do something to ensure a message is conveyed to any other student considering a career in student politics – a message that a poor officer is not better than no officer, and that poor performers will be substituted with just that.

~

Resit and Repeat Fees

Madam,

I noticed with great interest the promises of the two candidates in the Students’ Union Education Vice-President election earlier this month, particularly in regard to their intention to seek a reduction in the fees charged to students for repeating exams they have failed in one way or another.

While one might argue that it’s only fair for students resitting an exam (i.e. those who didn’t, through no fault of their own, get a fair chance to pass a particular subject first time around) to be charged less for the right to retake an exam, I suspect the student body needs to take a long hard look at itself if it expects to be offered a discount on a repeat exam.

By definition, students sitting a repeat exam have already been missed their first chance to pass a given module – if they’ve been unlucky due to an illness or bereavement, they should have secured an extenuating circumstances form to merit a resit exam as opposed to a repeat. I’m not saying that no student deserves a second chance to pass an exam – everyone makes mistakes. But there exists now a sweeping culture in UCD where it would almost appear every effort is being made to facilitate students who, for one reason or another, don’t do the work expected of them to pass a module.

As a postgraduate student and part-time tutor in UCD, I myself have been through both sides of the academic process and can understand the demands on your average undergrad. Sometimes given the burdens placed on a student by multiple consecutive modules, it’s simply too much to expect a student to get through each with flying colours.

In some ways, however, having been on both sides of the sense, I would argue that the student movement has done too well for itself. The multitude of financial and academic crutches offered to students now, combined with UCD’s top-down policy of trying to minimise dropout and failure rates as much as possible, mean that it’s now virtually impossible to actually fail a degree. Perhaps your readers should think: when was the last time they heard of a student leaving college not because they’d dropped out for whatever reason, but because they were deemed simply not good enough by the college to earn a degree? Students either quit college of their own volition or spend a few more semesters earning their undergraduate degrees than originally planned. Rarely does UCD concede the honest truth that some of its students are not good enough.

We are taught that all things in the world are relative – that there is no light without dark, no good without evil, and so on. But this leads to a serious point: amid all the talk of grade inflation, the significant underlying concern emerges that if too few – if, indeed, any – students are being given F grades and simply being told they lack the intellect needed to earn (key word, EARN) a degree. What good is a group of students with First Class Honours – with their grades inflated or otherwise – if almost every student who attends the University earns a degree? Without the failure there is no glory – and without failing students, the measure of a degree is made useless.

Sadly I must conclude that the University has become so greedy for cash that it tries to extort every possible grant off the HEA and every possible fee out of the student, while the student body seems to expect a degree to be awarded without having to go out of its way to earn it.

Yours etc,

Name and address with Editor

“I intend to withdraw my nomination until I can make sure that everyone is 100 per cent sure of what the story is”
Donnacha Ó Súilleabháin withdraws from his second election in two months, pulling his candidacy for USI Education Officer

“His performance as a Sabbatical Officer hasn’t been up to standard really”
Incoming UCDSU Education Officer James Williamson pulls no punches as he comments on his precessor’s performance

“I just think RON-ning one of our own candidates is wrong… well…”
A crisis of conscience for SU class rep Katie Galvin as she argues against rejecting UCD’s candidate for USI LGBT officer, Siobhan McGuire

Deputy Editor
Gavan Reilly

Guest Art & Design Director
Shane McIntyre

otwo Editor
Colin Sweetman

News Editor
Bridget Fitzsimons

Comment Editor
James Fagan

Features Editor
Peter Molloy

Chief Features Writer
Matt Gregg

Science & Health Editor
Farouq Manji

Sports Editor
Killian Woods

Music Editor
Grace Duffy

Film & TV Editor
Conor Barry

Fashion Editor
Seán McGovern

Image Editor
Colin Scally

Contributors
The Badger, Fergal Casey, Richard Chambers, Alan Coughlan, Alex Court, Stephen Devine, Caitríona Farrell, Conor Feeney, Paul Fennessy, Ciarán Fitzgerald Bridget Fitzsimons,  Sam Geoghegan, Patrick Guiney, Sally Hayden, Rita Jacob, Aileen Johnson, Matthew Jones, Alison Lee, Jack Logan, Ryan Mackenzie,  Jamie Martin, Brendan May,  Michelle McCormick, Hugh McDowell, Hugh McLaughlin, Doctor McSeamy, Conor Murphy, Grace Murphy, Kieran Murphy,  Mystic Mittens, Maras Ó Cribin, Vincent O’Boyle, O’Brien Jake, O’Keeffe Lynda, O’Sullivan Breffni, O’Sullivan Donie, Ben Storey, Emer Sugrue,  Talleyrand, Keith Thompson, Selva Unal, David Uwakwe, Natalie Voorheis, Amy Walsh, Leanne Waters, Natasha Wetten,  Dr John K. White

Special Thanks
Peter, Malcolm, Ian, Tim, Dave, Jonathan, Ade, Emma, Jed, Bob, Steve (and the robots) at Trafford Park Printing; Paul at Higgs; Eilis O’Brien and Dominic Martella; Colm, Claire, James, Rory and Danielle at MCD Promotions; Dan and Orla at Friction PR; Laura and Darren at Warner; Bernie Divilly at PIAS; Rob Lowney; Giselle Jiang; Dave Carmody; Dominic, Grace, Mark, Sandra, Charlie, Jason, Paul, Gary and all the Student Centre staff; Diarmuid McDermott; Bombay Pantry (but only just – give us our Coke next time); Having Florent Malouda as emergency captain, the Russian teenager who invented Chatroulette, Jem the Car, Foreign Countries Beginning With A Vowel, British TV, Rubik’s Megaminx, loads and loads and loads of daffodils.

Very Special Thanks
Graham Wood

Tel.: (01) 716 3119/3120
Email: info@universityobserver.ie
Web: www.universityobserver.ie

Facebook.com/universityobserver
Twitter.com/observer_ucd

~ “I think it’s stylish. It makes me look like I’m on Hollyoaks” ~

Visibility and relevance is a constant problem for the SU, but when placed in the context of the work undertaken by the five sabbatical officers it is one that we ought to expect, rather than something we should argue with a degree of cynicism.

Many students complain that the five officers live in a kind of ivory tower – a bubble in which they can only comprehend a small fraction of what it is to be a student.

The sad truth is that this perception is one that likely cannot ever hope to be addressed. Given the increasing red tape under the presidency of Dr Hugh Brady, and the ever-growing list of committee meetings the SU’s sabbatical officers are required to sit in on, it is almost impossible for them to be able to fully relate to the current student experience, if they are to be in a position to effect the change demanded of them by their constituents.

Of course, the sabbatical officers can always do more to retain the common touch, and to keep their ear to the ground in terms of the problems their fellow students are facing. But a successful SU officer is not necessarily one who can be seen out and about the campus every day of every week: it is one who can strike the balance between retaining their human touch and keeping track of the demanding bureaucratic schedule handed to them by UCD itself.

It is unfortunate that this year’s crop of prospective officers seem to tick all of the same boxes: all seven are male, all have prior SU experience or are heavily involved in campus societies, and all acknowledge that the promises in their election manifestoes are almost entirely contingent on the financial situation of the university – and of their own Union – for the year ahead. It is a crying shame that, for the second year running, there will be no elected female presence on the Students’ Union corridor. Where this culture has developed from is a difficult question to answer and one that requires the student body to look critically at itself.

But irrespective of the fact that there are so few candidates running in this year’s elections, and although their demographic profile might not be fully representative of the membership, the seven men seeking your support in the SU elections deserve to be commended for taking the brave step of putting their names forward for approval or rejection by their fellow students. We can only wish them well in their election campaigns, and hope that the five who win the privilege of representing us can make the best contribution they can to bridging the gap between our union and ourselves.

******

Following recent correspondence received by this newspaper, The University Observer would like to clarify its policy on dealing with student bereavement.

Sadly there are far too many student bereavements each year in UCD, of which the Observer is not – and nor has a right to be – automatically informed of. While the frequency of student passing is of regret to everyone in UCD, including ourselves, it would be inappropriate for us to report selectively on any student deaths.

If the Observer asserted a right to report on all student deaths, we would undoubtedly find many bereaved parties rightfully questioning our place to report on the deaths of students we do not personally know. We fully respect the right of the friends and family of any deceased student to grieve in their own time, and in their own individual manner.

Madam,

I would like to bring to your attention the awful state of the university accommodation, in particular Glenomena.

I think it needs to be brought to light how horrible and substandard the living condition that we are living in. It’s just not on how much we pay for what we are getting.

UCD need to buck up their ideas and realise they cannot treat the students that they are educating like this. I am sick to death of the residence team doing absolutely nothing to sort out the mould and all other complaints that the residents have brought to their attention.

Yours, etc,

Terri Ward

Deputy Editor
Gavan Reilly

Art & Design Director
Kristin McKnight

otwo Editor
Colin Sweetman

News Editor
Bridget Fitzsimons

Comment Editor
James Fagan

Features Editor
Peter Molloy

Chief Features Writer
Matt Gregg

Science & Health Editor
Farouq Manji

Sports Editor
Killian Woods

Music Editor
Grace Duffy

Film & TV Editor
Conor Barry

Fashion Editor
Seán McGovern

Image Editor
Colin Scally

Contributors
Agony Anto, Ruth Aravena, Zoë Austen, The Badger, Niamh Beirne, Rachel Boyle, Marian Carey, Richard Chambers, Alan Coughlan, Alex Court, Stephen Devine, Ciara Doyle, Gary Dunne, Conor Feeney, Paul Fennessy, Sean Finnan, Ciara Fitzpatrick, Deirdre Flannery, Adam Frazer, Sam Geoghegan, Patrick Guiney, Niamh Hynes, Rita Jacob, Alison Lee, Sophie Lioe, Jack Logan, Nicola Lyons, Ryan Mackenzie, Jamie Martin, Michelle McCormick, Hugh McLaughlin, Doctor McSeamy, Slightly Mollified, Conor Murphy, Grace Murphy, Mystic Mittens, Ciarán Ó Braonáin, Jake O’Brien, Quinton O’Reilly, Breffni O’Sullivan, Michael Phoenix, Shane Regan, Fionnuala Ryan, Emer Sugrue, Talleyrand, Ekaterina Tikhoniouk, Selva Unal, David Uwakwe, Natalie Voorheis, Amy Wall, Leanne Waters, Natasha Wetten

Special Thanks
Graham, Malcolm, Ian, Tim, Dave, Jonathan, Ade, Emma, Jed, Bob, Steve (and the robots) at Trafford Park Printing; Paul at Higgs; Eilis O’Brien and Dominic Martella; Colm, Claire, James, Rory and Danielle at MCD Promotions; Dan and Orla at Friction PR; Laura and Darren at Warner; Bernie Divilly at PIAS; Rob Lowney; Giselle Jiang; Dave Carmody; Dominic, Grace, Mark, Sandra, Charlie, Jason, Paul and all the Student Centre staff; Philip Bourke and all at UCD AFC; Ruth Ní Eidhin; Attracta Halpin; Michelle McCormick; Tommy Bowe; Cesc Fabregas; Wayne Rooney’s forehead

Tel.: (01) 716 3119/3120
Email: info@universityobserver.ie
Web: www.universityobserver.ie

Facebook.com/universityobserver
Twitter.com/observer_ucd

~ “That’s a nice cow” ~

What is worrying about the remarks of our extra-campus neighbours is that very few appeared to actively engage in the UCD Community Dr Martin Butler is so doggedly trying to build. The notion that those living in the surrounding areas do little to interact with their student neighbours surely isn’t the best news for Dr Butler’s endeavours. Using the campus for walks is one thing, but surely for UCD to be a true community, it can’t close the borders on those living just beyond the gates.

While we talk of a population of 22,000 students, the actual number of inhabitants of Belfield is closer to 2,500. At the weekend, that number drops even further. Developing the campus for this small a group is simply unsustainable – we need the surrounding community to start using the facilities here. A community project such as the Gateway one in a place like Belfield needs to incorporate the needs of the surrounding residential areas if it is to thrive. These are not people hoping to encroach on our library places or use all our plugs to charge their laptops, but they should be using our shops and restaurants, buying pints in our bars and supporting our football team.

******

If the results of our doorstepping the community were a pleasant surprise, the results of our official poll were no surprise at all. The fact that 47 per cent of students polled could not name any of the five sitting Sabbatical Officers is probably not a new phenomenon, and while some of the blame lies with the Officers of the Union, students must accept responsibility for their own ignorance.

With the elections only weeks away, it’s time to sit up and take interest in the Students’ Union again. While they might not be recognisable, some of them at least are working hard behind the scenes for our continued benefit.

And yet some are simply using their year as a year out from college, doing little in the way of helping students or indeed fulfilling the promises they made this time last year. The only way we can deal with Sabbatical Officers not pulling their weight is to make our voices heard – through our class reps especially. Ask questions of your class reps, find out if they’ve been to SU Council – many are absent on a regular basis – and ask them what your Union is doing for you this week.

The campus is about to bombarded with election material, and yet only two of the positions are to be contested in the election race. If this sorry trend is to be bucked next year, we need more students to get involved and take an interest in how the Union works.

Our Students’ Union is far from perfect, but for now it is our only voice, make sure it’s saying the right things.