DIT News, 1St.-31St. of December, 2007
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Technological University Dublin ARROW@TU Dublin DIT Student Union Dublin Institute of Technology 2007-12 DIT News, 1st.-31st. of December, 2007 DIT:Students Union Follow this and additional works at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ditsu Recommended Citation Dublin Institute of Technology Students Union; DIT News, 1-31 December, 2007. Dublin, DIT, 2007. This Other is brought to you for free and open access by the Dublin Institute of Technology at ARROW@TU Dublin. It has been accepted for inclusion in DIT Student Union by an authorized administrator of ARROW@TU Dublin. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License CLUBS& OCS FASHION SPO T We round up the bes All the best dresses fo DIT Sailing continue ofthis month's clubs your Christmas pa winning stre & socs actio P GES 10 -12 PAGES 15-1 Bolon ee Worrying* new trend on campus as thefts increase he pr·ce* ofa c 0 ea We compare prices across DIT and ask are you being ripped off? BIGM I WATCHINGYOU: DIT students win courtbattle against ethical landladies By Rebecca McAdam en tudents were awarded a total Sharon Hughes, who is now Student ered during a search by solicitor Fer wiring in the property. The judge said of €1l5,OOO after the Circuit Support Advisor in DIT Mountjoy gus Gallagher and Garda Alan Sher the evidence left him with "no other ra T court found they had been kept Square, said "It started as a bit of a lock. "When the guards inspected the tional explanation", only the "in under electronic surveillance by their joke, like she must have eyes on the house, they found holes filled with tis escapable conclusion that both landladies. Two DIT students were back of her head and that kind of sue and painted over, as if something defendants set out to obstruct and nul among those involved, with others thing." However as talks progressed it had been there," said Andy Doyle, SU lify the order of[the] court". from OCU and St. Patrick's College. was clear that "something more sinister President. In his ruling, the judge also stated The problem began in 2004 when was going on". Fonner tenant Patricia Hegarty, who that, "It was only through the good OIT students renting accommodation Following an agreement with the stu was a student ofSt. Patrick's, brought a work ofSharon Hughes, that the plain at 46 Mobhi Road, Glasnevin, received dents, Sharon went to the house to case against the McKenna's in Decem tiffs were able to be transported away a letter of complaint from their land check it out for herself. She discovered ber of 2004, which was settled out of and put up in various types of emer ladies; Rita and Edel McKenna. that "the fake greenery which was cov court. The ten other students involved gency accommodation." In the letter the mother and daughter ering a camera outside was also in cer subsequently sued the landladies for He also confmned that the students 'duo' raised the issue ofa broken wa h tain areas inside the house", alongside infringing on their privacy rights. were wrongfully evicted because they ing-machine. The students insisted that ome dubious-looking wires. On November 13th 2007, Judge Ger were tenants and not lodgers, as the they were not to blame for the damage The search was cut short with the in ard Griffm stated that the evidence left landladies had previously claimed. and decided to seek advice from the terruption of Mrs. McKenna just as him "in no doubt whatsoever that the The students were awarded damages former Vice President of DIT Student Sharon stood on a stool to further in defendants had kept the plaintiffs under varying from €7,5oo to €12,500 each. Union (SU), Sharon Hughes. vestigate. electronic surveillance". Students experiencing similar diffi Sharon was familiar with the The students were then unceremoni Judge Griffm also expressed concern c~ties or indeed any problems with McKenna's from concerns voiced in ously evicted and given less than four that the yellow wires found in the their accommodation are advised to the past and suggested they go to the hours' notice to leave the house. Un house were of the international stan contact their Student Union immedi Small Claims Court. The students sure as to where they would go, they dard used for video recording. How ately. could not undentand b the land- bad to pack their personal belongings ever, he was unsure as to whether the "We have a solicitor and the first trip . what was goinS on inside into bin-bags and boxes. Fortunately, surveillance was audio or video. is free. We also have advisors who are their rooms, and decided to discuss the the Students Union sourced emergency The court found that the women had very knowledgeable about law. It is issue further with other students from accommodation for them for the night. acted against a solicitor's injunction less formal than speaking to the Gar the property. Suspicious wiring was later discov- preventing them from touching any dai," said Andy Doyle. PLUS: AS GAEILGE - MISE AGUS SANTY *: Leathana~h- 2 News 2007 NEWS ***Happy C......i .........-as from DIT News! *** Letter to the Editor Dear Madam, land are privately operated. A elcome to the Christmas edi I am responding to Sascha real solutton would be to create tion ofthe DIT News. Right O'Toole's article "Dublin Bus a Transport Authority for now, thousands of students what a nightmare" published in Dublin and other Irish cities W the last edition of the DIT which would create the bus are relying on DIT libraries to study News. routes, set the prices for these for exams and restrictive opening Ms O'Toole seems very routes and lease the routes out hours seem to be a big issue for many. angry that on a regular occur to private operators. Important rence, her bus doesn't show up loss making routes could be The Student's Union is circulating a in accordance with its route subsidised. petition to present to DIT directors in timetable and she was given no This system would introduce order to expand opening hours during good reasons by Dublin Bus as real competition and proper to why this occurs. The answer regulation to the industry. Pri the exam period. If enough people to both these issues is that as vate bus companies would have complain about the shortfall in library there are no shareholders, state to answer to the Transport Au facilities, something might be done to owned Dublin Bus is account thority, who would set targets improve the situation in time for the able to nobody. for the private companies and I'd like to point out the carry out audits of the routes. start of exams. Ask your class rep for naivety of Ms. O'Toole when This means that buses would details. she claims that rival companies come according to their are around, so Dublin Bus will timetable or else the company In this issue we've got lots to keep you entertained through the dreaded exam sea have to "clean up its act." The operating the route would lose fact ofthe matter is that Dublin their license, as well as profits son. Don't miss our guide to Christmas party fashion on pages 15 - 17, where we've Bus operates a monopoly of and they would probably go out picked out the best ofOasis & Topshop's glam dresses and accessories. With 10 per bus services in Dublin and ofbusiness as a result. cent offin both shops for students, there's nothing to stop you finding the perfect there is very little competition. This system works in Eng Christmas party outfit. Rival companies will not come land and other countries which We debate whether it's better to be single or attached over the festive season on along and create a route where embrace Liberal economics, so Dublin Bus already operates. it can work in Ireland too. Un page 14, plus we've got the usual music and movie reviews, as well as an investi There is virtually no regula fortunately for us, the main gation in to gig promoters and their treatment ofunsigned bands on page 20. tion of the services which stream political parties in Clubs & societies have been especially busy with plenty ofnights out and events. Dublin Bus operates. The only Ireland are too populist, con We round them up on pages 10 - 12, with all the best ofyour pictures on page 11. form of regulation is regards servative and cowardly to take Finally, ifyou're looking for some festive fun to take you away from the books, ticket prices, of which any in on the vested interests who are crease in price must be ap content with the status quo. check out www. Ify unelf. m! proved by Government. And So you better get used to the I also wish to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who contributed to because our bus fares are so bus nightmares, because they low, Dublin Bus has very little won't go away until there is this issue. funding to operate a decent Progressive Democrats Minis Happy Christmas service, even if the company ter for Transport. The PD's was competent enough to do have proven over and over to so. To put it quite frankly, you be the party with the courage Katie Teehan get what you pay for.