The Student Experience

07 The Student Experience Students arrive at Trinity Our mission is for students to leave here transformed, not only with enormous potential and by their academic achievements but by their personal development. We pledge to educate graduates who are able and willing the University takes pride in to engage positively with society in all its facets. We expect our fostering a community where students to be ambitious for themselves and to seek out the their potential is realised. opportunities which we provide for them to develop intellectually, socially, physically, and morally – so that they become active citizens within local, national and international communities. This vision is at the core of the Trinity Student Experience. Trinity recognizes that the Trinity Student Experience is delivered not only in the academic environment but also in the student’s co- and extra-curricular activities. Students are actively encouraged to embrace all the richness of our diverse community and the wide range of extra- and co-curricular activities on offer. Large numbers of students participate in one or more of the 48 sports clubs and 120 student societies, or give their time and talent to one of the numerous volunteering organisations. Students involved in at least one activity outside the classroom are happier, better-adjusted, enjoy college life more, perform better academically, and are better prepared for life after graduation. The Dean of Students, Professor Kevin O’Kelly champions the student experience, integrating the out-of- class activities of students with the academic mission of the University to ensure that their years in Trinity provide students with unlimited opportunities for involvement, leadership, and personal exploration. Trinity College Dublin – The University of Dublin ≥ Students are actively encouraged to embrace all the richness of our diverse community and the wide range of extra- and co-curricular activities on offer. Annual Review 2015–2016 07.0 The Student Experience 07 Student Societies academics, NGOs and the community sector with the aim of Freshers Week showcased the diversity of activities open to bridging the gap between students and national activism. Trinity students from the political to the cultural to plain fun Many of the student activities were recognized and entertainment. AIESEC organized a ‘Global Village’ featuring nationally at the 2016 Student Achievement Awards Ireland: Trinity’s international societies. the SU Consent Campaign won Welfare Campaign of the Year; As in previous years, societies distinguished them- Edmund Heaphy, editor of the University Times, won Journalist selves by the high calibre of their invited guests. The Philosophical of the Year and the University Times itself won publication Society (The Phil) hosted numerous international speakers of the Year; Lia McCann won Class Rep of the Year and Loen including US Vice-President Joe Biden, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Kohl won Best International Student of the year. founder of Pixar and President of Walt Disney Animations Ed Catmull, and the first female director of CERN, Fabiola Gianotti. Volunteering and Fund-raising The Global Development Society and Trocaire hosted Raji The Dean’s Roll of Honour recognizes learning gained through Sourani, director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights various types of co-curricular volunteering. This year the Dean’s Society; the European Law Students Association hosted Susan Roll of Honour received over 200 applications and recognized McMonagle of the UN Refugee Agency on a panel discussion 30 students for the Dean’s Leadership Award and 65 for the on the Syrian refugee crisis; The Law Society invited Fatou Dean’s List. The invited speaker was Colm O’Gorman, exec- Bensouda, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; utive director of Amnesty International Ireland who spoke and teams from Trinity and Cambridge University debated the eloquently about the impact the act of volunteering had on motion ‘This House believes that a Brexit would be good for his own development as well as the community. the EU’ at a Student Economic Review debate co-hosted with Once again Raise and Give (RAG) week was a the College History Society (The Hist). great success. Organised by the Students’ Union and Trinity Social awareness featured in many student activ- Volunteering, it supported 13 charities, including ten stu- ities. TCDSU hosted a two-day activist festival in collabo- dent-run charities as well as the Trinity Access Programme ration with The Phil, The Science Gallery and the Graduate and the Student and Postgraduate Hardship funds. All these Students’ Union. The theme was ‘Turning Theory into Action’ charities and programmes support people in Trinity, outside and the objective was to bring together students, activists, the college, and internationally. Trinity College Dublin – The University of Dublin LEFT – Tim Cook takes a ‘selfie’ BELOW LEFT – Teams from Trinity and BELOW RIGHT – Colm O’Gorman, with Trinity students. Cambridge University debate the motion Amnesty International with Dean’s This House Believes that a Brexit would Leadership Award recipients, Hilary be good for the EU. Lesson and Carla King-Molina. This year’s Med Day, an annual fundraising event run by Trinity’s ≥ This year the Dean’s medical students, raised an impressive €52,000, exceeding last year’s total of €46,000. This year’s funds were in aid of: Roll of Honour received — St James’s Hospital’s ‘Target Lung Cancer’ initiative; — The purchase of an ultrasound machine for the Rheumatology over 200 applications Department in Tallaght Hospital; — The renovation of a family room in the Acute Medical Unit and recognized 30 at Tallaght Hospital; and — The purchase of a ‘Cough Assistance Machine’ for patients students for the Dean’s at the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Some of the funds raised were contributed to the Leadership Award and Trinity Access Programme. The event was sponsored by Lowlow 65 for the Dean’s List. Dairy, and launched by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar. Annual Review 2015–2016 54 | 55.

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