Volume 20 / Issue 5 ucd.ie/tribune 14th November 2006 Careful Persistent Now Occupation Graham Linehan Interview Page 12 Will Tibet ever be free? Feature: Page 14 THIS WEEK Second years up the creek WITH ● Second Year exams to count for fifty percent of degrees MUSIC FILM ● Students' Union in talks with College HEALTH College authorities have informed FASHION second year students that exams Mark Canavan Oh what a night... CULTURE this year will count for fifty percent Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of So- of their degrees. cial Science, Bachelor of Computer ARTS The decision and late notification Science and Bachelor of Music pro- of the decision has sparked outrage grammes. among students. Doyle stated, “Its not the educa- The College Tribune can reveal tional argument that I have a problem that Students’ Union Education Of- with here, but the late notification ficer Brian Doyle is currently in talks given to students is totally unaccept- with the college, in the hope that the able.” college will back down on the pro- He continued, “A lot of students posals and allow students the choice presumed that their degree would be to discount this current semester if weighted on their final year results.” they so wish. He added, “The presence of dual Doyle has expressed his grievances systems of old and new in these fac- over what he perceives as inexcusa- ulties makes students confused. Sec- bly late notification that second year ond years who talked to third years students have been given regarding could have easily taken for granted how the Grade Point Average (GPA) that the situation for their degree of their degree will be calculated. had not changed.” Students have only been given of- Furthermore he feels that students ficial notification about these condi- have been given little time to come tions during week seven of this se- to terms with the new scenario, and mester. that many could already be adversely Due to modularisation in certain affected as they have handed in as- faculties, students will now have signments without knowledge of its their second year GPA counted as substantial value towards their de- fifty percent of their overall degree. gree. This effects second years in the Continued on page four UCD win the Dublin Championship. Full coverage, see sport College Tribune 2 WHAT’S ON 2 NEWS 14th November 2006 Food co-op November 14th encountering difficulties Alan Doyle The student-run food co-operative (Co-op) in UCD Editor Colin Gleeson has encountered difficulties during its maiden Deputy Editor Simon Ward week. Despite the stall’s popularity and the surrounding Design Editors Tara Phelan & Simon Ward enthusiasm, there have been some teething prob- Sports Editor Ben Blake lems in the co-ordination and establishment of the Features Editor Matthew Parkinson Bennett co-op. Health & Fashion Editor Caitrina Cody Members are currently working with the UCD Safety Office to gain inclusion under its insurance Arts Editor Barra O Fianail policy and are liaising with the Buildings and Serv- Music Editor Hugh Fowler ices department of UCD to address some of their concerns. Contributors: Jane Horgan-Jones,Claire Spelman, “They’re interesting in finding us a more appropri- Alexa Byrne, Susan Cahill, Eoin Murphy, Jack Horgan ate location than our improvised one on the con- Jones, Pete Mahon, Killian O'Connor, Jordan Daly, course,” declared the students. Adrian Collins, Chris Whelan, Frank Clune, Amro Hus- “Objections were voiced by corporate interests to The Food Co-op: There have been some early teething problems sain, Steuart Alexander, John O'Flynn, James Haugh- ey, Lorcan Archer, Ronan Dempsey, Aidan MacGuill, our initially planned location of the Student Cen- tating the bulk ordering of dry foods for students Richard Smolarek, an exchange student who has MAree Rigney, Joanna Cochrane, Orla Kenny, Stephen tre.” interested in healthy eating, by elements that do not experience with the Melbourne Food Co-Op upon Humphries, Cian Taaffe, Hannah Kousbrouek, Jack The Co-Op has the backing of the Students’ Union, sell these things or cover the same areas of food which much of this is modelled, is keen to stress Cane, Owen Priestley, Alan Doyle, Linda O'Halloran, the motion in support of the Co-op having passed provision.” the community and social aspect of involvement in Mark Canavan, Bernadette Scott, Paul Dillon, Eoin unanimously on Wednesday November 1st, but some There will be a stall every Monday from 12-2pm, the movement. Mac Aodha, Jane Horgan-Jones, Karen O'Connell franchises on campus view the group as “illegitimate though the location, and the possibility of a per- “The UCD Food Co-Op is a magnet for dynamic, competition” to businesses in the same area. manent home for the co-op group, remains to be committed and passionate people, who are totally Special Thanks To: Gary, Stephen & Billy @ Members feel that there should not be a conflict confirmed. willing to put their beliefs into practice, with whom Spectator Newspapers, Eilis O'Brien, of interest. “We are a group of UCD students, under Other aspects and services, the aforementioned it’s an absolute pleasure to be involved with.” Dominic Martella, A&B, God. the wing of the Green Society, providing a voluntary bulk ordering for members, in particular, will be or- The students declared their eagerness to expand, service to other students. ganised for the coming week and is presently be- to welcome more members and to encourage any- Contact Us: “We should not be frustrated in providing vegan ing co-ordinated online for those who have already body interested in taking part to drop by the stall for E: [email protected] alternatives, one lunchtime a week, or from facili- joined up. information or contact: [email protected] T: 01-7168501, LG 18, Newman Building TTriribokkuu Easy on the ear EASY ● Belfield FM to relocate ● Station undergoes overhaul 146 2859 Emer Ni Chuagain 36 24 Belfield Fm is currently undergoing a mass overhaul. 654 123 The station is currently preparing a state of the art broadcast studio in cooperation with many of UCD’s student organisations, including The Audio 357Visual Centre, Computing Services and the Stu- dents’ Union. 987 654 Station manager Gary Redmond spoke of his happiness that UCD’s only radio station had 19 47 moved out of it’s port-a-cabin behind the Student Centre; “I am delighted that we has finally moving 7138 to a suitable broadcast location, this was one of my main objectives when I was appointed Station 869Manager to improve the professionalism and qual- ity of output of station”. The relocation of the station is part of an overall FIENDISHLY DIFFICULT plan to rejuvenate Belfield Fm, with the projected completion date in early 2007, whilst Redmond recognises the works as ‘highly ambitious’, he is 58 3 confident that the stations services will resume on time. 14 2The first phase of the works saw a new market- ing strategy come into play, most notably www. 82 9 belfieldfm.ie‘s new web stream complete with Broadcasting House: Belfield FM's former home & (inset) station manager Gary Redmond voiceovers and jingles by 2fms Rick O’Shea. Broadcasting Commission of Ireland’s (BCI) regu- The station are said to be “delighted with the 45 Cable installation, rerouting of the stations an- lations. appointment of Graham and look forward to con- tenna, and the formation of a new connection Redmond is keen to see that more students tinuing the redevelopment of Belfield Fm with his 673to the UCD network are all part of the scope of have the opportunity to contribute to the station support”. works. due to increased capacity created by the new web As the station welcomes a new face to the 92 When asked whether the students on campus stream in conjunction with the pursuit of a full team, they say goodbye to Pete Friel, who stepped would benefit from the work, Redmond told of broadcasting licence. down from the position in early September fol- 958his desire to obtain a full broadcasting licence to Graham Harkness has alos joined the senior lowing a summer of hard work. provide the students of UCD with a full time radio management team in efforts to redevelop the Redmond offered the station’s gratitude to Friel, 159service. station. stating, “Pete was instrumental in forging closer The station currently operates six weeks a year, Harkness, who has been appointed as the As- working relationships between Belfield Fm and 684 which is the maximum allowed under the current sistant Manager/Programmes Director, promises the Broadcasting Commission” and added that he temporary licence held, in accordance with the to bring a wealth of experience to the position. “was a great asset the station”. College Tribune 14th November 2006 NEWS 3 Merry Christmas What do you think of dropping autumn exams? ● Repeats carried through to Christmas "I think it'll be tougher at Christmas but it's a good thing because we'll have ● No more autumn exams more time in the summer especially if you're on a J1 or something. It might actually help students Maree Rigney because they might have to put the head down a bit James Autumn repeat exams within modular pro- more if they know". Conlon-McKenna, grammes have been abolished. 2nd Year Bcomm Students who fail summer exams will now be forced to repeat them the following Christmas, "It means you can work while exams failed at Christmas will be carried away during the summer forward to the following summer. or whatever you want to do but there is going to Currently, talks are ongoing between the Stu- be a good bit of pressure dents’ Union and college authorities regarding the on during the term".