Bonuses Under Investigation

Irish Student Newspaper of the Year 2008 DOING IT THE THE GUIDE TO HARD WAY VOLUNTEERING Stand up and be SILLY SCIENCE Transatlantic yacht counted with Trinity’s The research journeys for those in volunteer societies that should have TRAVEL 20 no rush to get there NEWS FEATURE 8 been forgotten SCIENCE 19 Tuesday 13 January 2009 www.trinitynews.ie Issue 6, Volume 55 Leaked email questions Stokes’ power attempting to discipline Booth. In the former editor of Trinity News, Gearoid email. However, they did not wish to » Stokes attempts to discipline Piranha! editor email, Dr Stokes noted that her role as O’Rourke, in 2007. Dr Stokes had add any further comment. Junior Dean did not include the power attempted to discipline O’Rourke for Responding to Dr Stokes’ recent » Leaked legal advice states ‘the Junior Dean to discipline editors for the content of publishing a letter that criticised staff actions against Piranha!, O’Rourke student publications. members of the Trinity sports centre. commented “It is quite clear that the does not have a role in dealing’ with editors The College Regulations outline Following a lengthy exchange of emails, Junior Dean accepts that she has no disciplinary offences against the college. O’Rourke received an email from Dr jurisdiction over what a student editor By Deirdre Robertson following the publication of an article 1a relates specifi cally to “activity which Stokes stating “Following a request for can print, which make her moves against & Jessica Ryan that included a map of the best places brings the College into disrepute” while legal advice, I understand that, under Piranha! highly improper.” to commit a massacre in Trinity. Editor 4a notes the Junior Dean’s power to current arrangements, the Offi ce of Although the Communications DOCUMENTS OBTAINED by Trinity Andrew Booth was called to the Junior judge “conduct which does, or is liable the Junior Dean does not have a role in Offi ce informed Trinity News that News have revealed that Junior Dean Dean’s offi ce to answer claims that he to cause, violence to person or damage dealing with what you, as Editor, allow Piranha! magazine has been removed Emma Stokes acted against legal advice had breached rules 1a and 4a of the to property.” However, her power in to be published in Trinity News.” from publication, editor Andrew Booth in attempting to discipline Andrew College and Conduct Regulations. this matter does not extend to the Dr. Stokes referred Trinity News was not notifi ed of this. It is believed Booth, editor of Piranha!, regarding the An email written by Dr. Stokes decisions made by an editor of a student to the Communications Offi ce when that copies are still in circulation. content of the magazine. has now emerged revealing that Dr publication. pressed for clarifi cation on the future Trinity News understands that Booth Dr Emma Stokes summoned the Stokes was knowingly acting outside This information came to light in a of the investigation into Piranha! in the editor of satirical magazine, Piranha!, her jurisdiction as Junior Dean in series of emails between Dr Stokes and Junior Dean, Dr Emma Stokes light of the information revealed in this continued on page 2 Bonuses under PHIL FIELDS BEST IRISH TEAM AT WORLDS: PAGE 4 CSC email promotes investigation alcohol » Lavish bonuses given to top academic staff By Deirdre Robertson » Oireachtas calls emergency investigation College News Editor CENTRAL SOCIETIES Committee By Brian Barry Education Authority (HEA) said that a appeared to breach their own rules number of allowances given to university on alcohol promotion in an email staff were unauthorised and that it had advertisment sent out to societies last TRINITY COLLEGE has been called sought clarity on the issue from Trinity week. for investigation by an emergency and other universities. An email sent to all college societies Oireachtas committee over “secretive” Fourteen members of Trinity’s from a CSC Administrative Offi cer on bonus payments and perks paid to staff including eight professors are 7th January, advertised ‘Heat at Tripod’, Trinity’s elite administrative and aca- listed. Professor John Boland from the a student club night that offers “more 2e demic staff. The information emerged Department of Chemistry was paid Drinks than ever”. The email advertising through the Freedom of Information €123,008 in ‘additional allowances’ the Tripod event had no source other Act following a recent investigation by on top of his salary of €143,394. This than the CSC Administrative Offi cer’s the Sunday Independent. The earnings of bonus payment, amounting to 85% some fourteen members of Trinity’s top of his salary level, takes his total “I never received staff - including Provost John Hegarty this email...it - are potentially subject to the investi- “Our education could not have gation. The high earnings have been system cannot come from CSC” condemned as “hypocritical” and “hard afford these Joe O’Gorman to comprehend” by the Irish Federation hugely expensive of University Teachers (IFUT) and gov- individuals” IFUT email address from which it appeared ernment offi cials in light of pleas by to be sent. Trinity’s senior staff for increased fund- remuneration €115,000 over the The email directly contravenes CSC’s ing in the diffi cult economic climate. maximum recommended salary level to regulations on alcohol advertisment. Trinity News obtained information university academics. The other Trinity CSC previously informed societies that released by the Staff Offi ce noting that academics being paid in excess of the they ‘may not advertise the cost of drink, Trinity’s high-earning academic staff Review Body’s recommended levels are or “free drink”, “cheap drink” etc.’ Any receive bonus payments and perks Professor Igor Shvets, Professor John society that receives more than one which bring their pay levels outside Coey and Professor John Bethica of warning for disobeying these rules can normal pay grade structures. In many the Department of Physics, Professor be punished by a 10% cut in their annual cases the total pay received by them is Kenneth Wolfe and Professor Seamus grant. To date, a number of societies in excess of recommended pay levels Martin of the Department of Genetics, have received a preliminary warning. established by the government’s Review and Professor Kinston Mills of the Joseph O’Gorman told Trinity News Body for Higher Remuneration in Dpartement of Chemistry. that he had never seen the email in January 2007. It appears that the effect The College Treasurer, College question and commented that it could of these recommended salary caps are Secretary and Senior Lecturer also not have come from CSC because they do being avoided through the payment of O’Leary Photo: Caroline not advertise alcohol and always - unlike bonuses. A spokesman for the Higher continued on page 2 this email - use Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) in emails to student societies. Indeed, in the same email which had outlined the College’s alcohol policy to societies, CSC advised all societies to use BCC in any group emails. He further said that Flyers at dawn: O’Riordan vs. Halls JCR the CSC would contact IS Services this week. By Brian Barry promoted by O’Riordan. it as an “artifi cial monopoly created by pulling out of a Student Union event Mr. O’Riordan, who has enjoyed their own rules”. would be seen as bringing her Ents team considerable personal fi nancial Trinity Hall Ents team will now not in direct confl ict with Ents on campus. A RIFT has broken out between success promoting Citi Bar Tuesday be supporting the Student Union Ent’s “People forget that we’re part of the Trinity Hall Entertainments Offi cer nights, posted fl yers around Trinity ‘Thai Beach Party’ at Citi Bar on Tuesday SU. I’m fully on the side of the SU. They Amy Dunne and events promoter Ed Hall, contrary to Trinity Hall Ents’ of Rag Week as had been initially are so good to me” she said, pointing O’Riordan over “underhand” fl yering regulations brought in recently which negotiated. Ms. Dunne told Trinity News out that she has previously worked her of O’Riordan’s Citibar Tuesday nights. require prior permission. Ms. Dunne why Trinity Hall Ents pulled out of the calendar around Student Union events. Jesse Ex-Student’s Union Ents Offi cer called for security to close gates around Cancer Society’s event: “If you’re trying O’Riordan spoke of his O’Riordan was locked into Trinity Hall Trinity Hall, making it impossible for to say Trinity Hall isn’t supporting the disappointment at Trinity Hall Malin / by security at Ms. Dunne’s request while O’Riordan to leave the complex. “I felt cancer society, that’s not the case at all. Ents pulling out of the event. “I can he tried to get out of the complex after like a f***ing 10 year old” O’Riordan We want to stand on our own two feet understand where they’re coming from, Bats / fl yering for the Law Society welcome told Trinity News. ourselves, and focus on promoting our but don’t punish a charity”, he pleaded. back party held at Citi Bar. As a result Ms. Dunne told Trinity News own charity event on Wednesday of Rag Ms. Dunne offered another point of Fashion of the altercation, the Trinity Hall Ents that O’Riordan’s actions were “very Week”. Ms. Dunne spoke of Trinity Hall view, saying O’Riordan, by hosting the and fur / team have pulled out of supporting Rag underhand”, and that O’Riordan and Ents’ successful run of events this year, charity event, is merely motivated by Week’s ‘Thai Beach Party’ to be held in his team “have behaved very badly suggesting O’Riordan “doesn’t know “gathering momentum” for subsequent Cake shops / Citi Bar - a charity event to raise money since.

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