Technological University Dublin ARROW@TU Dublin

DIT Student Union Dublin Institute of Technology

1995

The DIT Examiner: the Newspaper of the Dublin Institute of Technology Students' Union Special Edition, April 1995

DIT Students 'Union

Follow this and additional works at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ditsu

Part of the Communication Commons

Recommended Citation DIT Students' Union: The DIT Examiner, Special Issue, April, 1995. DIT, 1995

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].

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License e xamtner• The ~~~aper of the Dublin Institute of Technology Student • Union April'95

DIT Mountjoy Held DIT's second The rise and rise of USI's annual its annual fashion institute wide sports John Travolta congress was held in show recently in day took place at continues wlthhls the Ardilaun Hotel, Jury's Hotel. As the ALSAA sports latest film, the Galway. It was a · usual, it was a high complex. Last action fest Broken most interesting class affair and not year's event was Arrow. We check It and revealing without its bizarre always going to be a out. weekend. moments. hard act to follow P~ge ~ PAGE 7 P~~E9 PAGE 12

USI Elections efficient cam-r------·- he new President of USI will be T Colman Byrne, currently Overall paign, play­ President of DITSU. He will be joined ing the need on the incoming executive of USI by for change another DITSU officer, Helen Ryan, card heavily. who was elected Welfare Officer. Helen No mean is presently the Site President of DIT speaker him­ Kevin Street's Students' Union. self, he deliv­ In the end , after a vigorous campaign ered a well by both candidates, fv!r Byrne won the received election quite handsomely, by 100 votes speech on to Bob Jordan's 55. Mr Jordan is the Thursday Deputy President of USI. This is the evening, the first time in five years that the mantle of first - of Presid.ent has not been passed from one Congress. USI candidate to another and will be The reception seen by many as a vote for change. Mr was an indi­ Byrne believes that this was crucial to his cation that victory. the election "I ran my campaign on that. It needs had swung change, needs energy, new blood, but I his way. wasn't asking people to vote against Nevertheless, someone else, I was asking them to vote when Frank for me." He said that that he did not Crummey think he would win by such a margin entered to but professed himself 'delighted' with announce the such a result. Mr Jordan, of whom out­ outcome of the elections, going President Colm Keaveny spoke thetensioninL------~------·~ very fondly in his speech on the final Congress hall day on Congress, said that he will now In the other contests, Ms Noeleen be bowing out of Students' Unions poli­ was remarkable, palpable. The winner in but still the moment her election was the Presidential election was the last to officially announced, and the massive Hartigan, presently USI's Welfare tics, as he had promised himself if he Officer, was elected Deputy President; be announced and when it was cheer that went up, proved too much failed in his attempt to become presi­ Malcolm Byrne, UCD, was elected announced that Byrne had received 100 ~and she too wept. The pressure was off dent. Education Officer and Dermot Quaine, votes (the quota was 78), his supporters and she could relax for the weekend. "I'm going to get · a job," he told the Limerick RTC, was elected Union had heard all they needed. They She said she was delighted with the delegates at the Aridilaun Hotel in Development Officer. Kelly O'Dowd cheered, champagne was uncorked and overwhelming 'yes' vote. Her priorities Galway where Annual Congress was was elected Women's Rights Officer at Byrne was held aloft. for the year will include tackling the held this year. Mr Jordan accepted defeat graciously, housing difficulties which face students Women's Congress. This election had been a tough one to Mr Byrne's priorities for the coming offering a handshake to a tearful My each year. "'The introduction of taxes call and few were prepared to pin their year will be consolidation of current Byrne. Most of the DITSU delegation for landlords means that they are going colours to a particular mast, at least not membership of USI - there were plenty and various others who had supported to reflect that in their rent increases so publicly. Bob Jordan had tradition going of warnings at this year's Congress that the Byrne campaign, then repaired to their may be a housing crisis. We'll be for him; he is well liked and a fine, some people are unhappy - improve­ the hotel bar to continue the celebra- for some sort of relief for people who witty speaker but going against him was ments ro the grants system and the stu­ a certain sense of dissatisfaction with tions, which went on long into the rent to students." dent summer jobs scheme, the legitima­ night. She says that USI will also be closely USI, made abundantly clear when this cy and effectiveness of which most stu­ Minutes earlier, Helen Ryan, who is monitoring the operation of the students year's officer board report was voted dents now seem to accept. presently Site President in DIT Kevin summer jobs scheme and will fight for against. His opponent, Colman Byrne, "We have to adopt what the students Street's Students' Union was elected USI the retention of the £200 extra available is an ambitious young man who enjoys a have said. Now we have to make it bet­ Welfare Officer. She ran uncontested to students on the scheme whose parents good dog fight. He ran a strong, highly ter, to improve it." and so was virtually assured of election are unemployed. So apart from being the largest ~~he D IT Examiner students' union in the country DITSU, DIT Kevin Street, Kevin St., Dublin 8. Ph/Fax: 4783154 email: [email protected] What has Difsu ever done for me?

Here You Go Again Well we organise and provide:

+ FRESHERS/ ARTS/WELFARE/RAG WEEKS It is hard to believe that some students in the DIT are beginning their exams + COMPREHENSIVE SUBSIDISED ENTS. this week. Scary, isn't it? Only yesterday it was September and the year stretched + FREE WELFARE ADVICE ahead with exams nowhere in sight for many of you. Suddenly, there they are, + FREE FINANCIAL ADVICEo looming as only exams do. The next month will be rough, it's as simple and bru­ + HELP WITH COURSE PROBLEMS tal as that. The pressure will be considerable, whether you are a first year or a + HELP WITH GRANT PROBLEMS final year student. and, naturally, the exams are very important; you have worked hard to get to this point and it is understandable that you may think that every­ + HELP AND RESOURCES FOR CLUBS AND SOCIETIES thing hinges on how you perform over the next few weeks + FREE STUDENT NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES But, do not let them take over your life. Certainly, give it you best and com­ + REPRESENTATION WITHIN THE COLLEGE, WITHIN DIT mit yourself to them but do not forget to take time out to relax for a moment: gc GOVERNING BODY AND NATIONALLY for a walk, go for a drink, go to the cinema, do something. The exams will offer + CAMPAIGNS ON ISSUES LIKE STUDENT HARDSHIP, more than enough pressure without you fretting and worrying when you're not ACCOMMODATION AND SAFETY, LIBRARY actually sitting one or studying for the next one. The students' union is still around; the year isn't over yet. If there is anything FACILITIES, CATERING bothering you and you don't know quite where to 'turn, drop in and simply ask; + RAISES THOUSANDS FOR CHARITY THROUGH RAG WEEK that's what they're there for. There is little point in bottling things up, especially + 2ND HAND BOOK SERVICE 0 at this time of year. The solution may be simpler than you think. +PUBLISHES fREE YEARLY HANDBOOK AND WELFARE MANUAL The executive of DITSU and the DIT Examiner wish all of you the very best + DETAILED ACCOMMODATION LIST AT START OF EVERY YEAR of luck in the coming weeks. + INTEREST FREE WELFARE LOANS + USIT CARDS + CHEAP PHOTOCOPYING + SU SHOP WITH WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS AT COMPETITIVE Letters to the Editor PRICES + SECRETARIAL SERVICE, PAST EXAM PAPERS AND FAX SERVICE Dear Editor The Editor Replies +POOL TABLES AND VIDEO GAMES ' . + PAYPHONE IN SU OFFICE 0 I found your recent front page arti­ I do not accept that the front page + CONDOM MACHINES IN TOILETS cles concerning DIT Rag Week more articles referred to were propagandist, related to a propaganda machine rather and I am not too sure what is meant by + FRESHERS, HALLOWEEN, CHRISTMAS, RAG, EASTER, LAST than the newspaper of the 25,000 stu­ 'propaganda machine'. The DIT CHANCE BALLS dent of the DIT Examiner is designed as the newspaper + FASHION SHOW As a sabbatical officer and President of the DIT Students' Union and there­ +BEER PROMOTIONS of a site college and one who was not in fore, naturally, part of its brief is to pro­ + CHEAP PASSPORT PHOTOS favour of a DIT Rag Week, I found that mote and advertise DITSU events, be + FRESHERS WELCOME PACKS the views of students of DIT Aungier they the DIT Sports Days, individual Street as indicated a recent class repre­ fashion shows or DIT Rag week. + POSTAL ADDRESS FACILITY sentative meeting were not being The front page article in the + AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT US TO DO! catered for - not to mention the views January/February edition was largely of other officers in other colleges. For concerned with the various events that example, what did the local were lined up for the impending rag Entertainments Officers think of it all? week. Mr Wade's reser-vations about rag Ditsu Our local magazine, Link, had the week were not included in direct quote. opposite effect of the recent editions of but reference was made in the article to, RUN BY 'S"IUDENTB FOR S"IUDENTB "the Examiner", however 'Link' is writ­ such concerns. Furthermore, such con­ ten primarily by the Student Union and cerns were also referred to in the editor­ SO INYOLYEDI the students of DIT Aungier St and its ial of that issue. No entertainments offi­ readership is the students of Aungier St cer contacted the paper in relation to IT's Y t Sn.JDENTB' UNION. and no one else as expressed in our rag week. recent Editorial. The front page article in the post rag What annoys me the most however is week issue was concerned simply with having had the foresight to see that the the events that occurred on the night of views expressed in the "Examiner" rag ball. I am at a loss to discover any­ would be all one sided, I actually thing of a propagandist nature in the requested an interview and/or comment ptece. on the issue of the DIT rag week. A Once again, reference was made in Clarifications request which although agreed, was nod the editorial to the reticence of the part adhered to. Some colleges do not have of some people to the idea of a DIT Should you encounter anything you feel is in need of clarifica­ local magazines and therefore what is wide rag week. It also expressed the tion in this, or any other issue of the D IT Examiner, please con­ read in the DIT Examiner is often seen view that the rag week was an overall as gospel. Is it any wonder therefore success and that the idea was a sound tact the editor and any such matters shall then be clarified in the that large amounts of editions are left one. The DIT Examiner believes that subsequent edition unread in various colleges? Students are this is the case, nothing more. Mr Wade intelligent people, i~'s about time their is of course entitled to disagree with this representatives and employees treated opinion; that is what opinions are for. them as such. Editor john Carroll Yours Sincerely, Sincerely, Contributors Siobhan Weekes The Editor Associate Editor Colman Byrne Dan Wade Printed by Datascope, Site President, DIT Aungier St Enniscorthy Co. Wexford 2 / The Summer Job Scheme '96

he Stud~nts Summer Jobs Scheme because there is no specific cut-off Department of Social Welfare, P.O. income and expenditure. You can Tallows third level students (Not threshold for family income, so even if .Box 3988, Dublin 1. expect to receive payment 6 weeks from Final Year Students) to take up part­ you don't qualify for a maintenance Final Year students can sign on the the day you sign on. Again you may be time work useful to their community grant, you can still qualify for the Jobs day after their last exam. They should lucky and be paid quicker. during their Summer Holidays and to Scheme. do this because you will only get back­ If you want to claim Rent Allowance receive payment for this work. Eligible students must get written dated payment from the day you sign you must get in contact with your Local The scheme operates from 1st June approval from the Department of Social on. You need some form of ID, a birth Community Welfare Officer in Local to 30th September 1996. The maxi­ Welfare before the work/project com­ certificate or a passport and a letter from Health Centre. mum number of hours a student is mences. A student will be given a Job the college to say you have finished your Information on working abroad is allowed work is 200 over a 6 -17 week Certificate. Working arran~ements are final year exams. You get this letter available from USIT in Aston Quay. period. The maximum hours worked a matter to be agreed between the stu­ from the Administrations Office. You Always research the country you are per week cannot exceed 35. The rate of dent and the sponsor. Before starting must continue to sign on each week. travelling to - it is wise to know how to pay for students is £3 per hour up to a work the student must give his/her job If you have signed on before, your work legally and the do's and don'ts. maximum of £600. This payment is certificate to the sponsor. payment will come through quickly. If REMEMBER to take out insurance not subject to income tax or PRSI. Application forms are available from this is your first time signing on, a over the Summer months, in case of loss Students may also get another job to Student Union Offices or from the Welfare Officer will come out to visit or theft of your belongings. supplement their income for the Department. Under no circumstances your house or flat. If you live at home, If you have any queries orproblems Summer months. will applications be accepted after the you will be means tested on your par­ on any of the above issues - drop into To qualify for work under the scheme closing date on 31st May 1996. Allow ents' income and you will need your the Students' Union for more informa­ you must be currently in full-time third for 21 days for processing of your appli­ parents P60 and possibly other proof of tion. level education, be aged 18 or over on cation. 1st June 1996 and satisfy a means test. The Completed Application Form It is important that all students apply should be sent to : Mountjoy Square Goes Medieval

rog, wenches, lascivious, immoral clergymen. several drunken knights, Gfair maidens, vast amounts of food and more grog.· Chaucer would have loved it. Martin Malone was the winner of the Bus Eireann Travel Vottchers Competition. He won . Such wa~ the scene in. the canteen in DIT Mountjoy Square for the high­ £3 50 worth of USIT Travel Vouchers. Pictured (I to r) are: Karen 0 'Leary, (Bus Eireann), Vcitor Fyfo (Bus Eireann) Martin Malone and Jimmy Kane. light of th~u art and. destgn week. The place had been cleverly and diligently decorated m a medteval manner, as had anyone who wished to attend the dinner to mark the end of the week's activities. The DIT Examiner (modern garb plus infernal soul stealing image creat­ ing machine) dropped in to record the moment. B~iJREANN EUROLINES •-wvo< C6rMiompairEJrunn 0 I TO BRITAIN & EuROPE

LONDON FROM £17*

*(Single fare not inclusive of Govt. tax - £5)

SAMPLE CoNNECTIONS To EuROPE FROM LoNDON:

Brussels :£39 Prague :£89 Paris :£39 Krakow :£9S Amsterdam :£44 Lourdes :£99 Cologne :£S9 Milan :£99 Bordeaux :£89 Bratislava :£1 OS Geneva :£89 Barcelona :£109 Marseille :£89 Budapest :£109

(Off-peak, youth fares) INFORMATION - DUBLIN, 8366111. 3 The Exam. Appeals Procedure

ach year, the DIT's Exam Appeals 2. This form must be completed in (iv) the students in general· and the you list their inclusion on the appeals EBoard received on average, 10 block letters or typescript and lodged prospective appellant in particular, form in the appropriate section of the appeals from students regarding with the relevant director within two have been informed of the appropriate form. exams results. They are usually con­ weeks of the publication of the course regulations Section 10 of the form asks the cerned with an upgrading of a result Provisional Examination Results and appellant to 'please specify the change but not always. Occasionally, there is accompanied by the appropriate fee you seek in your result as a conse­ a request to sit a supplemental exam if (£37). The relevant director must then Other information which must quence of this appeal'. This section, the usual supplemental options have sign and date the appeal and he will accompany the appeal is according to Tom Duff, was intro­ been exhausted.. then forward it to the Academic duced because there have been students There is an appeal procedure that Registrar (Tom Duff). It must be B. A written evaluation of the case who were requesting a further supple­ should be followed and it should be accompanied by: from the relevant director, including ~ental exam rather than an upgrading available from both the library and the comment on the allegations, if any, of a result. Don't be worried by the exams office in each DIT site. This is contained therein request. State honestly your feeling on not always the case and so we will here the matter and why. outline the procedure as clearly as is A.. Information as to whether C. Medical certificates relevant to There is space provided on the possible. This procedure is there to be the case appeals form (section 8) in which you used if you feel you have a genuine (i) the appellant [student making may present your case in your own case. the appeal] has made efforts to resolve, D. The appellant's academic record words. If you feel thre is insufficient Tom Duff, the DIT's Academic through the relevant Head of in previous years and a transcript of space provided on the form, you can Registrar, has pointed out that the Scho0l!Department the difficulty his(her current class group's examina­ continue on separate sheets of paper exam appeals board, which is indepen­ which has given rise to the appeal tion results in respect of which the but make sure you include them with dent of individual colleges, cannot appeal is being sought your appeal and indicate clearly their change results but can pass onto the inclusion. exams board information that may not (ii) a recheck has been requested E. The process by which the app.el­ There is a facility for presenting have been available at the time of the and, if so, state the outcome if lant may continue his/her studies if the your case to the board, either by your­ exam. This may then result in the processed appeal is unsuccessful self or with a willing lecturer/ represen­ exam board reconvening to consider tative of the students' union. One of the student's case. F. Any other relevant information these could present the case for you or (iii) the Examination Board has on the case. you can forego this option entirely. It 1. First step is to get an Examination been made aware of any special cir­ will npt prejudice your case. Appeals Form (Form A1). This should cumstances, including medical, affect­ Be sure to include any information Hopefully, you will not need be available from the Administrative ing the appellant's case prior to deter­ that may be relevant, and if including recourse to this facility, but if you do, Section of the relevant college. mination of results any medical certificates, ensure that don't be afriad to make your case.

3, South Anne St, 3, Nassau St, Dublin 2. Dublin 2. Ph:6774339 Ph:6797797

DIT STUDENT SPECIALS 6" Ham & Cheese+ Regular Beverage·

6" Tuna + Regular Beverage

6" Subway Club + Regular Beverage

6" Irish Sausa_ge +·Regular Beverage

Offer only applies on production of DIT Student card 4 I

relevant but it makes the · film seem like a lesson. In Also Showing fact, it often feels like a docu- ;. mentary. Scenes with Prejean and the Get Shorty families of the victims, shot in their Killing· for silent homes, are most reminiscent of The seemingly inexorable rise and this style. In some other scenes, particu­ rise (again) of John Travolta continues larly those featuring Poncelet's lawyer with this smart, engaging, if rather (Robert Prosky) , the dialogue sounds lightweight crime caper set in the pre­ like narration. Only in the final scenes tentious, backstabbing world of movie are we given any visceral, cinematic land. Convenience depiction of what it means to sanction In the best adaptation so far of an the taking of a life. Elmore Leonard novel, travolta plays The ell\L)tional response of the audi­ Chili Palmer, a very cool strong arm ead Man Walking takes on a great comes to terms with the enormity ·of ence at this point is testament to the man who tracks a life insurance scam D deal and unfortunately the weight not so much what he has done as what restraint of Robbins and a sensational artist to Hollywood. A movie maniac, of trying to cover every conceivable the end result will be for him. We are performance by Sean Penn. Sarandon's he is utterly besotted with the place and moral angle in the ongoing debate on. also shown the families of the victims work here pales next to his, in what is when he meets up with Z movie pro­ the death penalty finally renders it less grieving six years on, telling their story admittedly the more showy role. He is ducer Harry Zimm (gleefully OTT effective as a criticism of that policy to Sister Helen Prejean (Susan given the best lines and b~ggest scenes in Gene Hackman), he cannot resist pitch­ than it could have been. Sarandon), who has befriended Poncelet the film and makes the most of the ing his idea for a film. Meanwhile, By remaining as detached as he can in his last weeks, and wondering angrily opportunities afforded him. His charac­ Zimm is so impressed with his new be writer/director Tim Robbins has how sh e can sit with them and then ter is a preening, petulant and, now, underworld contact that he cannot endeavoured to prove in a measured, return to the prison to talk to the killer impotently angry murderer, faintly silly resist talking tough to Chili's ostensible driving argument that the death penalty of their children. Prejean is more a sym­ looking with a high pompadour hair­ boss in Miami (Dennis Farina), thus is wrong, that it solves nothing, is the bol of liberalism than a character; she is style and half assed goatee. Penn sets his getting himself into a whole heap of preserve of cynical vote hunting politi­ asked all the questions and has to con­ face, eyes flat and unblinking, small trouble. cians, and is finally, utterly inhuman. tend with all the apparent contradic­ mouth in a nasty sneer, and gets to it. The top notch cast that includes a It's as if he sat down and decided that if tions which trouble those who oppose His guilt is never in doubt and he tough talking Rene Russo as actress he left anything out, those in favour of the death penalty. It doesn't quite come remains an unpleasant individual Karen Flores and Danny Devito taking the death penalty would point an accus­ off. Sarandon, who ' won an Oscar for throughout, though Robbins allows the complete piss as a preening method ing finger and shout "ah ha, but you her performance, is admirably him occasional flashes of humanity to actor and a! makes the most of the didn't show this, what about that?" And restrained, and, in a film that relies underline the fact that the State is about snappy dialogue and sly digs at so Robbins packs in as much as possible heavily on close up scenes between to take the life of a person. We are Hollywood and the whole movie mak­ but in doing do he robs the film of Prejean and Poncelet, almost always shown his family also (the director takes ing thing. Get Shorty is fast, glossy and a screen or wire, we can see great pains to cover all bases) to empha­ very entertaining but as a satire on ·n her sise the human dimensio~ but the Hollywood it lacks the rapier sharpness scenes are superfluous and are among ofThe Player or Sunset Boulevard. the weakest in the film. The mother's wailing is overdone and may even cause Nixon titters in the audience. Not, I imagine, the desired effect. Oliver Stone continues his trawl The film's climax is inevitable and is through America's recent history 'in this handled in the simple, matter of a fact vigorous telling of the rise and fall, rise ·style of the movie as a whole. It is here and fall of Richard Nixon, played by that its effectiveness stands out; there Anthony Hopkins who looks little like was a palpable, audible emotional reac­ the disgraced President but captures the tion in the darkness even though the mannerisms perfectly and ends up final scenes are intercut with the horri­ doing more than prosthetics ever could. it. ble murders in the terrifYing loneliness Employing an array of visual styles, h e of a Louisiana forest. This is Robbins as he did to irritating, jarring effect in only real cinematic trick, an.d a pretty natural Born Killers, Stone takes us standard one it is. For the rest of the through the life of a man he sees as film, he employs an unfussy and direct filled with self loathing. We are taken style, wisely letting the actors do the through the highs and lows, shown the work and not distracting with clever duplicity of the man and his cohorts Susan Saranaon and Sean Penn in Dead Man Walking answers angles or swooping camerawork (the (played by a great supporting cast - Ed co m e recent Murder in the First was a terrible Harris, James Woods, Powers Booth, intensity and anger. through reference to the unfairness of offender in this regard). Paul Sorvino) but for all the effort put We are shown, for example, the bru­ the death penalty. We are thrown facts Dead Man Walking is a heartfelt into the film and its extreme length - tal rape and murder of two teenagers by about the lack of rich people on death film, well acted and occasionally very three hours - there is no explanation for Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn) the row, the numbers of blacks on death moving but because it attempts to make his more nefarious activities and why he crimes for which he is on death row. row, the politics behind many of the the definitive argument against the thought he could get away with them. This is suggested at throughout the fJ..Im decisions (Bill Clinton, who played the death penalty, albeit it in a reasoned Visually arresting, terrifically acted and only finally shown in detail towards death pe;11alty card when running for fashion, its sense of drama and power as but its psychology is a little too pat and the end, a Ia The Accused, as Poncelet President, take a bow). All very true and a cinematic work is dissipated. doesn't satisfactorily expfain the man.

5 Mountjoy Square Close the Clothes Shows

IT Mountjoy Square brought this year's series of Dlt fashion shows ease and professionalism while· Tara {herself not to be outdone in the high D to a sparkling, shimmering end with their very own high tech, high fashion and higher hair department) emceed with confidence. The audi­ style event recently in Jury's Hotel. The models, by time slinky, silly and ence lapped it up but one question remains unanswered: What in Heaven's downright outrageous in dress and manner, did their thing with consumate name did Mark Lee do to this hair? Beg pardon, two questions. Why?

One ofthese men is not like the others, one ofthese men is not the same

Explain yottrself, yottng man

"What do yott think?" Don 't even try to explain yottrself "Dttnno, they all look a bit crap to me. " • 6 / Sports Day Disappoints in Dreary Weather

'VTas it the weather - grey, drizzly, merciless. W relendessly cold and unwelcom­ In the welcome warmth of the sports ing? Perhaps it was the furious pace of hall, basketball took centre stage - there the surrounding weeks with rag week, always seemed to be a match taking elections and preparations for annual place - while others played volleyball, congress. Maybe it had something to badminton or took part in an aerobics. do with the somewhat rushed nature Upstairs, in the viewing area, those who of the plans. It was probably all three had finished their games or who had but no matter how you look at it, this simply had enough, supped on pints year's D IT Sports Day was a grave dis­ and looked down. Most who were there appointment compared with the glow­ this year were participants and the ing success of its predecessor. whole event. lacked the sense of fun that Swinging into the ALSAA grounds prevailed las.t year. It was all over by by the airport, it was immediately 3.30pm and everyone simply slipped apparent that the numbers attending, away, though the hardier element head whether taking part or simply observ­ for a pre-organised event in McGraths ing, were significantly lower than last later on. year's. The outdoor sports field were Kudos are due to all those who took deserted save for one seven-a-side rugby part in unpleasant conditions but a long match. On the all surface soccer and Jook will be needed at this year's event. hockey pitches, blue legged and red DIT sports day should be a priority eared sports men and women fought on from the beginning of the year and not bravely while their supporters kept a mad dash in the weeks leading up to moving to keep warm. The wind was it.

7 Letting in Some Light

--... Eithne Fitzgerald, Minister for State at the Office ofthe Tdnaiste, talks exclusively to the DIT Examiner about the intricacies ofthe proposed Freedom of Information Bill due for publication next month, and what it will mean for Irish society.

etting information from official becomes law] people realise that this is Gsources in Ireland can be a night­ just part of the furniture. This is way it marish and protracted process and a happens. It can take a long time" And source of screaming frustration. For a with such a deeply entrenched culture long long time, an ethos of downright of secrecy, which suits perfectly those unhelpfullness and secrecy has pre­ with access to the information, there vailed and the systems available have will be and has been resistance. hardly offered easy access to personal . "Those of us in the know who have information that citizens in many done our homework are very conscious other countries take for granted. In a of what is going on but there are those late 20th century democratic state, it in the public service who haven't actu­ is a risible situation. ally realised that this is coming. A con­ In recent years, however, successive sultation period has gone on but there governments have been making noises are still parts of departments saying 'we about freedom of information as basic won't publish this'. Freedom of infor­ right, not privilege, of great changes mation is going to be on the statute that will be wrought upon society fairly books by the end of the year so why soon, making Ireland a more fair and not publish now?" open country. The ball is now currently Official Ireland has been lagging far with Eithne Fitzgerald, Minister of behind most other western democracies State at the Office of the Tanaiste. It is in its attitude to freedom of informa­ she who has been steering a Freedom of tion. Its policy of non-disclosure is Information bill through our legislative frustrating, emasculating and patently loops and chicanes and the bill is due undemocratic. Other countries whose to be published in May. It will doubt­ legislature stems from the Westminster less be heralded by the current model have had freedom of informa­ Minister ofState, Eithne Fitzgerald tion legislation for many years, Government as yet another shiningly are the main standard exclusions. The institutions should come in, she says, Australia, New Zealand and Canada proud example of the open and trans­ appeals system is where is differs. It's a being in receipt of public funds. parent manner in which the country is since 1982. All have been successful key." One of the most interesting aspects now being run while in the other cor­ and do not seem to have heralded the As in other countries with a similar of the Freedom of Information Bill ner, it will be derided as a toothless death knell of effective operation of system, if a request for information is relates to a provision for public servants piece of fluff that doesn't go nearly far good government, threatened by the refused, there will be an appeals proce­ who suspect wrongdoing. It also pro­ enough. pesky intrusions of a nosy public. dure. An information commissioner tects these public servants from disci­ The Minister puts the government In Sweden, which is not modelled will be appointed, the Ombudsman, plinary action when such disclosures positions succinctly, if predictably: "It's on Westminster, there has been a free­ who will have the power to call witness­ are made. Disclosures may be made ro about openness and transparency and dom of the press act in place since es and papers. The ruling ofthe infor­ the Comptroller and Auditor General, accountability in government." At leas 1766 and any citizen can demand to mation commissioner will be binding the Data Protection Commissioner, the she has the good humour to smile see the letters received by the Prime .on public bodies. The Commissioner Information Commissioner or the when she says this as it has become a Minister on any given day. There are will be appointed by the House of the Garda Commissioner. The media are cliche to rank up there with mature few exemptions to this rule. Not sur­ Oireachtas. conspicuous by their absence from chis recollections. prisingly, the proposed bill for Ireland The bill will pertain to public bodies "At present, the bizarrely anachronis­ does not go this far, or anything like it selective list. . and will apply immediately to the It should be borne in mind at chts tic Irish system, based closely on the but even so its provisions are going to mainstream civil service and Westminster model, affords only mini­ be very hard for some to swallow. It is point that under Article 19 of che Government departments. It is envis­ mum access to official information, and based more closely on the legislation of International Declaration on Huma_n aged that its remit will be extended 15 then almost grudgingly, even when that other Westminster type systems. Rights (1948), to which Ireland information is non-controversial mater­ "We've looked at freedom of infor- when the process is operational and party: "Everyone as the right to fre:- . . d ·on· chts ial relating to the enquirer. As regards mation in other jurisdictions around after any wrinkles, and there will be d om o f optnton an expresst · . information pertaining to the opera­ the world and we looked at the stan­ many, have been ironed out. When it is right includes freedom to hold 0P 1 ~­ tions of public bodies that the dard model, particularly honed in on extended, it could prove very interest­ ions without interference and to seed Government would rather not talk the Westminster model. It's very similar ing for third level institutions which are receive and impart information ltn about, this is usually imparted through to our own and a lot of lessons can be notoriously, pathologically protective of ideas through any media and regar ess the use of parliamentary questions. The learned there. We looked closely at students' records. of information." e answers to these are often obfuscatory, '\l-ew Zealand, Canada and Australia. "It will apply to public bodies and We are moving chen, but the ~a~e wishy washy affairs. What this sort of .loth Canada and New Zealand not they will be fairly widely defined. We're will be slow, particularly in this Whtst set up has led to is the embarrassing only have Federal but also State legisla­ going to start with the mainstream civil Blowers section. b he and revealing likes of the Beef tribunal, tion, we looked at a lo.t of models and service and the our plan is that there 'This is a section that I would e t d which then in turn provided further variations on a theme. We also looked will b~ a kind of rolling application to first to say isn't terribly well develope · h' on proof, as if it were required, that the at the American and Scandinavian the Wider public service and our next We wanted to run with somet mg al · d sign 5 system needs to be changed, nay, over­ models. targets are health boards and local this and we were getting m!Xe ed or hauled. The Supreme Court decided "Most freedom of information legis­ auth~rities, people dealing with the on whether it would be d~velo)f felt that a Cabinet Minister could not be lation has the same kind of basic struc­ public. Most countries, 90% of not and the Taoiseach htmse . ed questioned on cabinet matters, collec­ ture: there is a right to information req~ests are from people wishing to see maybe it didn't sit very well. We sltpp . . d d'd , d enorrnou 5 tive responsibility necessitating "the with exclusions, and these are fairly · r~ei: own files and then you have pub­ tt tn an we 1 n t o an identical across the board - security, lic Interest groups, environmental non-disclosure of dissenting voices". amount of homework on it. d 10 f Had such matters been open to scruti­ defence, international relations which g_roups. journalists, opposition politi­ "What we did have was the in cians. m~ ~ ny in the Dail, the Irish taxpayer could could be jeopardised. Generally speak­ the Civil Service reform act of 7h ge have been saved vast amounts of ing, if something is in the course of ""?e hav~ a wide definition of public the States but we didn't do a un't were money. That's the way things are at being decided, most jurisdictions have ~odtes; basically, when someone bene­ amount of work because w.e . We fits from public funds, they can be Ill· present. rules governing that. Cabinet matters sure we were gomg· to ge t . tt . with Ms Fitzgerald describes the current before government would be a subset d~emed public bodies. Voluntary hos­ spent our time d ·aling negouaung ov­ situation rhus: of that. Information given in confi­ p!t~ls wtll come in, secondary schools government departments and r~e g nd ":'h1ch are. privately owned but publicly . . . h ·usnce a "The air people breath now is secre­ dence, commercial secrets, a miscella­ ernmenr ttself, dealmg wtt J were cy and then after a while [when the bill neous rag bag, research, habitats. These funded Will come in. Potentially the net other tri<.:ky issues, and as I say w~ cher can be cast very widely. " Third level getting mixed signals about w e 8 / this would be in or out of the final bill "A person shall not communicate or whether we would be asked to do a any official information to any other separate piece of legislation but we got person unless he is duly authorised to it in and were pleasantly surprised and do so or does so in the course of and in we thought 'we'll do a bit more work accordance with his duties as the hold­ on it before we go back to government er of a public office or when it is in the on it'. But the basic principles is that if interests. , of the State to communicate someone has suspected something It there are three possibilities - they're Given the great changes being pro­ right, wrong in genuine error or mali­ posed by the new bill, there is surely a ciously wrong. We have to allow for very strong argument for abolition of situations when you are dealing with this massively restrictive piece of legis­ that. There's no point if someone has a lati'on. complaint and you give it to someone "I would personally repeal it in the who can do nothing about it, so the list morning if it ·was my job to do so but of people we have there are people who the programme for Government gave can actually do something about it. We the job to the legislation and security may take out the Data Protection committee of drawing up of recom­ Commissioner." mendations for the Department of Ms Fitzgerald is anxious to point out Justice, whose thing it is. What we that there have to be protections have done basically gives a framework against allegations that are incorrect or for the repeal of the Official Secrets deliberately malicious. Act. So our bill doesn't contain puni­ "So within those paramaters we are tive sanctions for people who give going to develop this, again there are unauthorised information. That is not other countries that have done a lot in the public interest because basically more work." the Official Secrets Act covers that but She admits that there are cases where it you were simply to repeal the a vigilant press and "genuinely inde­ Official Secrets Act you would need pendent media may actually be the some sanction for people who, say, leak best way of uncovering" but that they exam papers, hack into security files or may also do damage to innocent peo­ whatever. Or/a 0 'Connor has been nominated by the DIT Kevin Street and the University ofDublin, ple and so more work needs to be done "You do need some protection Trinity College, in Association with the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Association as the most in this area. because there are some few matters outstanding final year student in the B.Sc. {Human Nutrition and Dietetics) for 1996 in The new bill encroaches on territory when the public interest in secrecy out­ Ireland. currently guarded with rabid jealousy weighs the public interest in disclosure, As such she is this year's winner ofthe Flora Nutrition Award and will receive £6,000 for by the Official Secrets Act, introduced but our philosophical view is that pub­ post-graduate studies. lic interest in disclosure outweighs the by Charles Haughey as Minister for Picured (L tOR) is Mary Maloney, lecturer in Dietetics, DIT Kevin Street and Flora Award public interest in secrecy and we are Defence, in 1962. Note the following winner, Or/a 0 'Connor in relation to the passing on of infor­ rrying to do at some length in our bill mation: is to spell out and so limit those areas." John Woos with Broken Arrow ohn Travolta, Christian Slater, Deakins wants them in order to make a script-writer as "Speed"; a young, heroic also gets some of the best lines. bomber planes, missing nuclear war- wad of cash and Hale wants them back man, good at his job who is up against Example:- one of Deakins' baddies is Jeads ...... what more could you possi- with the Government (out of harm's one of his own in order to save lives. shooting at Hale who is hiding behind bly ask for? Directed by John Woo and way?). Essentially, the villains in both "Speed" one of the warheads. Deakins, using the :ritten by Graham Yost ("Speed"), Okay, so "Broken Arrow" sounds like and "Broken Arrow" both use their same tone of voice as a put-upon head­ Broken Arrow" is packed with more the archetypal, no holds barred/ no knowledge of explosives to get their own master says "Could I ask you not to action and square jaws, nay testos- expense sparred action thriller, but back on the system which has mistreat­ shoot at the thermo-nuclear weapons, te~one, than any big-budget thriller of there's much more to it than this. ed them. Then again, considering that please?" Surprisingly, there is no obvi­ thts year so far!! The tide refers to the Directed by Hong Kong turned "Speed" was one of the biggest box­ ous love interest. There is only one code-name given by the US Hollywood film-maker, John Woo, this office draws of last year, Graham Yost female art in "Broken Arrow"; !'-'"-"'"""'" Mathis is the Park Ranger Government when a nuclear weapon • ------=~ finds Hale .wh~n he is ejected goes missing, which is obviously from his plane and who helps him the plot is centred around. against Deakins. Not once d

Position: Overall President Grogan, Rachel elected eight non-transferable votes McGrath, Niamh eliminated Joyce, Colin Position: Entertainments Officer yes: 2939 Total Poll: 563 , Molloy, Mairead eliminated Second Count no: 831 Spoilt Votes: 25 Byrne, Conor 383 + 49 = 432 Spoilt: 147 Total Valid Poll: 538 Third Count Jennequin, Niamh 252 + 88 = 340 Quota: 270 Coughlan, Bob 228 + 24 = 252 39 non-transferable votes Joyce, Colin elected McCarthy. Damian 156 + 18 = 17 4 Farrelly, Leigh 271 O'Sullivan, Paula 203 + 22 = 225 Byrne, Conor elected D IT Aungier St Manning, Paul 267 Stapleton, Linda 149 + 14 = 163

Position: Site President Farrelly, Leigh elected six non-transferable votes D IT Bolton Street Total Poll: 558 Spoilt Votes: 26 Position: Part time Students' Stapleton, Linda eliminated Position: Site President Total Valid Poll: 532 Officer Fourth Count Total Poll: 1006 Quota: 267 Total Poll: 562 Coughlan, Bob 252 + 41 = 293 Spoilt Votes: 34 Spoilt Votes: 18 McCarthy. Damian 174 + 26 = 200 Total Valid Poll: 972 Grogan, Des 207 Total Valid Poll: 544 O'Sullivan, Paula 225 + 74 = 299 Quota: 487 Kavanagh, Susan 49 Pidgeon, Sinead 276 Purtill, Gavin 22 non-transferable votes Costello, Colin 610 Yes: 421 Mythen, Ethel 362 Sinead Pidgeon elected No: 123 McCarthy, Damian eliminated Costello, Colin elected Position: Deputy Site President Purtill, Gavin elected Fifth Count Total Poll: 562 Coughlan, Bob 293 + 95 = 388 Position: Site Deputy President Spoilt Votes: 17 O 'Sullivan, Paula 299 + 76 = 375 Total Poll: 1003 Total Valid Poll: 545 D IT Cathal Brugh~ Street Spoilt Votes: 17 Quota: 273 29 non-transferable.votes Total Valid Poll: 986 Position: Site President Quota: 494 ,' I I Colman, Maebh 278 Total Poll: 846 Coughlan, Bob elected without reaching Weekes, Siobhan 267 Spoilt Votes: .20 the quota, after recounts Colgan, Eamonn 245 Total Valid Poll: 826 Liddy, Michael293 Colman, Maebh elected Quota: 414 McGuire, Deirdre 448 I Position: Public Relations Officer McCartan, Shane 314 Total Poll: 844 Colgan, Michael eliminated Position: Public Relations Officer McCarthy, Tom 78 Spoilt Votes: 37 Second Count Total Poll: 558 Moran, Patricia 328 Total Valid Poll: 807 Liddy, Michael 293 + 38 = 331 Spoilt Votes: 14 Smith, Co nor 106 Quota: 404 + = Total Valid Poll: 544 McGuire, Deirdre 448 68 516 McCarthy, Tom eliminated Carolan, Michelle 229 Ni Liogh6g, Sorcha Lenehan, Andreas 442 139 non-transferable votes Second Count: Meehan, Rachel136 Yes: 397 McCartan, Shane 314 + 23 = 337 McGuire, Deirdre elected No: 147 Moran, Patricia 328 + 28 = 356 Lenehan, Andreas elected Smith, Conor 106 + 17 = 123 Position: Irish Language Officer Ni Ldoghog, Sorcha elected 10 votes non-transferable Position: Employments Officer Total Poll: 1005 Total Poll: 846 Spoilt Votes: 28 Position: Irish Language Officer Smith, Conor eliminated Spoilt Votes: 27 Total Valid Poll: 977 Total Poll: 560 Total Valid Poll: 819 Spoilt Votes: 12 Third Count O'Briain, Michael Total Valid Poll: 548 McCartan, Shane 337 + 44 = 381 Tighe, Caroline Yes: 846 Moran, Patricia 356 + 60 = 416 Yes: 709 No: 131 De Barra, Maureen 19 non-transferable votes No: 110 O'Briain, Michael elected Yes: 449 No: 99 Moran, Patricia elected after recounts Caroline, Tighe elected Position: Public Relations Officer De Barra, Maureen elected Total Poll: 1002 Position: Site Deputy President Position: Clubs and Societies Spoilt Votes: 40 Position: Equality Officer Total Poll: 845 Officer Total Valid Poll: 962 Total Poll: 553 Spoilt Votes: 17 Total Poll: 832 Spoilt Votes: 16 Total Valid Poll: 828 Spoilt Votes: 23 Mclnerne~ Mark Total Valid Poll: 537 Quota: 415 Total Valid Poll: 809 Yes: 809 No: 153 Nevin, Grainne Condon, Adrienne 57 Hook, George Yes: 398 Coughlan, Bob 202 Yes: 721 Mcinerney, Mark elected No: 139 McCarthy. Damian 147 No: 88 Molloy, Mairead 79 Nevin, Grdinne elected O'Sullivan, Paula 198 Hook, George elected Position: Entertainments Officer Stapleton, Linda 14 5 Total Poll: 994 Position: Clubs and Socs Officer Position: tquality Officer Spoilt Votes: 56 Total Poll: 557 Condon, Adrienne eliminated Total Poll: 839 Total Valid Poll: 938 Spoilt Votes: 13 Spoilt Votes: 28 Quota: 470 Total Valid Poll: 544 Second Count Total Valid Poll: 811 Coughlan, Bob 202 + 26 = 228 Quota: 406 Mitchell, Charles 513 Grogan, Rachel McCarthy. Damian 147 + 9 = 156 Blair, Ruairi 425 Yes: 445 Molloy, Mairead 79 + 5 = 84 Byrne, Conor 383 No: 99 O'Sullivan, Paula 198 + 5 = 203 Jennequin, Niamh 252 Mitchell, Charles elected Stapleton, Linda 145 + 4 = 149 McGrath, Niamh 176

10 D ITSU Elections '96 - The Results

Position: Clubs and Societies Quota: 464 by-election - date to be ftxed Officer Shannon, Michael Total Poll: 993 Byrne, George 280 Yes: 759 By--election Results: DIT Kevin St Spoilt Votes: 59 Keane, Tom 317 No: 117 Total Valid Poll: 934 Whelan, Robbie 329 Position: Public Relations Officer Quota: 468 Shannon, Michael elected Total Poll: 400 Byrne George eliminated Spoilt Votes: 5 Kenny, Jason 403 Position: Irish Language Officer Total Valid Poll: 395 O'Daly, Ross 531 Second Count Total Poll: 912 Quota: 198 Keane, Tom 317 + 52 = 369 .Spoilt Votes: 58 O'Daly, Ross elected Whelan, Robbie 329 + 63 = 392 Total Valid Poll: 854 1st Count 165 non-transferable votes Quota: 428 Mark Flavin: 153 D IT Kevin Street Justin Lawrence: 30 Whelan, Robbie elected without reaching Fox, Diarmuid 390 Ger McEvoy: 84 Position: Site President quota after recounts Maher, John 464 Sinead Redmond 128 Total Poll: 605 Spoilt Votes: 5 Position: Site Deputy President Maher, john elected Justin Lawrence eliminated Total Valid Poll: 600 Total Poll: 927 Position: Equality Officer Spoilt Votes: 130 Total Poll: 912 2nd Count Blake, Dermot Total Valid Poll: 797 Spoilt Votes: 51 Mark Flavin: 153 + 4 = 157 Yes: 544 Quota: 399 Total Valid Poll: 861 Ger McEvoy: 84 + 3 = 87 No: 56 Quota: 431 Sinead Redmond: 128 + 1 = 12 Emmett, Ronan 399 Non transferable : 22 Blake, Dermot elected Kinsella, Raymond 398 Daly, Rosemary 396 Smyth, Raymond 153 Ger McEvoy eliminated Position: Clubs and Societies Emmett, Ronan elected after recounts Townsend, Audrey 312 Officer 3rd Count T oral Poll: 600 Position: Part-time Students Officer Smyth, Raymond eliminated Mark Flavin: 157 + 15 = 172* Spoilt Votes: 28 Total Poll: 922 Sinead Redmond: 129 + 11 = 140 Total Valid Poll: 572 • Spoilt Votes: 47 Second Count Non transferable: 61 Quota: 287 Total Valid Poll: 875 Daly, Rosemary 396 + 34 = 430 Quota: 438 Townsend, Audrey 312 + 20 = 332 Flavin, Mark elected without reaching the Killilea, James 267 99 non-transferable votes O'Conchubhair, Andoni 305 Buckley, Trevor 270 Position: Entertainments Officer Daly, Rosemary elected without reaching Burke, Channelle 605 Total Poll: 401 votes O'Conchubhair, Andoni elected quota Spoilt Votes: 03 Burke, Channelle elected Total Valid Poll: 398 Position: Irish Language Officer Position: Entertainments Officer Total Poll: 601 Position: Clubs and Societies Total Poll: 926 Eimear Cummins Spoilt Votes: 63 Spoilt Votes: 12 Officer Yes 317 Total Valid Poll: 863 Total Valid Poll: 589 Total Poll: 885 No 81 Spoilt Votes: 22 Quota: 432 MacDonnacha, Padraig Total Valid Poll: 863 Cummins, Eimear elected Yes: 501 · Crowe, Andrew 428 No: 88 Spence, Richard Timmons, Ciaran 435 Yes: 734 Position: Deputy President/Welfare MacDonnacha, Padraig elected No: 129 Timmons, Ciaran elected Officer -Spence, Richard elected However, the Chief Returning Officer Total Poll: 402 was notified that Ciaran Timmons did D IT Mountjoy Square Spoilt Votes: 08 not attend and speak at the hustings and Total Valid Poll: 394 Position: Site President Position: Public Relations Officer . is therefore disqualified. Thus, the vote Total Poll: 917 for this position is rendered null and Total Poll: 942 Lloyd, Roisin Shaun 164 Spoilt Votes: 41 void and it will be necessary to re-open Spoilt Votes: 16 Maye, Deridre Total Valid Poll: 876 nominations for this' position and hold a 230 Total Valid Poll: 926 Maye, Deirdre elected USI Elections '96 ~The Results

Position: President Spoilt Votes: 2 Ryan , Helen O'Callaghan, Matthew: 0 Total Poll: 157 Total Valid Poll: 155 Yes: 152 R.O.N: 2 Spoilt Votes: 2 Quota: 78 No: 3 Total Valid Poll: 1 55 R.O.N: 1 Byrne, Malcolm elected Quota: 78 Hartigan, Noeleen 101 Lyons, Eugene 4 Ryan, Helen elected Position: UDO Byrne, Colman 100 R.O.N 50 Total Poll: 156 Jordan, Bob: 55 Position: Education Officer Spoilt Votes: 1 R.O.N 0 Hartigan, Noeleen elected Total Poll: 157 Total Valid Poll: 155 Spoilt Votes: 1 Quota: 78 Byrne, Colman elected Position: Welfare Officer Total Valid Poll: 156 O'Cathain, Eoin: 50 Total Poll: 157 Quota: 79 Quain, Dermot: 105 Spoilt Votes: 1 R.O.N: 0 Position: Deputy President Total Valid Poll: 156 Byrne, Malcolm: 114 Total Poll: 157 Quota: 79 Moody, Ollie: 40 Quain, Dermot elected 11 Rancour Rules the Roost at Congress '96

SI Congress 1996 will be Mark Garrett, UDO, accepted that motion calling for such policy was another talking about knitting. Before U remembered as the most bitter, this was an oversight. It was already defeated at last year's Congress. These anyone could bay for his blood he rancorous and revealing weekend in very clear that the USI exec. was in for were uneventful and the next issues pointed out that he was "taking the the national union's recent history. a rough time. As usual, lengthy debate that rose hackles were Constitutional piss. Just trying to see if yis are The level of bad feeling was deeper and no small amount of shouting Amendments one and two relating to awake." They were awake allright. In than could have been imagined, the ensured that many motions were not a sexual harassment disputes commit­ the end the motion was heavily defeat­ tee. There were objections from ed. DITSU and UCD on the grounds After lunch women's congress that named external organisations who loomed. In previous years the motions would be members of the committee in this section of annual congress have were not relevant to USI and that such proved fertile grounds for lively, some­ issues were internal matters in the first times bitter debate. This year, for place. After a series of recounts, a chal­ whatever reason, it went relatively lenge to the ruling of steering commit­ smoothly; once a motion of no confi­ tee (defeated) and with bad feeling dence in steering committee chairper­ running at a new high, CA 1 was son Damian O'Broin had been passed, finally passed. CA 2 was not put. that is. Notably, a number of the Later in the evening, the position of smaller delegations walked out in Environmental Awareness Officer was protest at this development and what created after a recount. Recounts were they perceived to be the overall vitri­ to be a recurring feature of the week­ olic tone of Congress 96. end. · The annual congress dinner was a For most of the DITSU delegation, fairly speedy affair, with the staff of the the rest of the night and a fair propor­ Ardilaun, overall wonderful, whipping tion of the early morning were to be away certain diners' soup (mine, OK, spent in wild celebration, with one or · mine) with unseemly haste and then two people revelling in the victory just being too dose for comfort when, on a tad too much. Interestingly, both return of said soup, the plaintive cry Malcolm Byrne and Garrett Tubriddy went up: "my spoon, they took my from UCD were sported DITSU polo feckin' spoon". Malcolm Byrne, incoming education officer, is shirts for the evening. And there was a "Here you are sir." congratulated. This man owes me a fiver conga through the hotel. This must "Oh. Thanks." unhappiness with USI in certain discussed and the post-lunch session never happen again. The conga is The food safely out of the way, the quarters was made manifestly dear at was further shortened by the Satan's dance. DITSU and UCD delegations then every availal,lle opportunity and the announcement of the election results. Saturday's first session was tabled tried to outdo each other with loud overall tone would be best described Opinions had been sharply divided in as nasty. Incoming USI president the weeks leading to this moment; for Colman Byrne will have to walk a a long time no-one was really sure particularly thin tightrope during his which way the election would go, term in office because there are a lot which made the margin of victory for of dissatisfied and angry people out, Mr Byrne al the more surprising. He there. received 100 votes to Hob Jordan's 55 it didn1t start out like that - and the DIT delegation went wild. Thursday's hustings was a largely They then retired to the bar and uneventful affair, with only a particu­ remained wild for much of the week- larly effective speech by Colman Byrne . end. Mr Byrne, a canny operator, had generating any heat - and so USI's conducted a vigorous campaign and executive was taken very much by sur­ he seemed to simply want the position prise during officer board report on more than Mr Jordan. There seems Friday morning. A question and also to have been an element of protest answer format had been decided upon voting, that someone from outside the ' and this was, in retrospect, most USI exec. should be elected. unwise because standing orders were The heady tension broken, a break lifted so that delegates could grill the was needed. A quiet pint in Salthill various officers. In the end, they voted was called for and so off I went, heavily against officer board report, an unwisely opting for the darkest bar in amazing development and a sure indi­ the world, the kind of place outside cation that all is not well within USI. whose open door small children's three Congress 96 in session The mood had turned unpleasant and wheeled bicycles lie on their side, one we hadn't even reached page one of the wheel turning gently. Inside, a man for 9.30am and so naturally began a singing. It was good natured enough dar, which, incidentally, had an image who looked and moved too much like little before 11. The welfare motions but, as with the rest of the weekend, of Trinity College on its cover (Trinity Begbie from Trainspotting played were moving along nicely until the there was a darker undercurrent. is not a member ofUSI). pool. "Game over, " he.spat as he sank brick wall of W3 came into view. Points were being made and muscles Education motions were first on the the first ball. It was time to slither Proposed by welfare officer, it was were being flexed. agenda and it wasn't long before offi­ away. deemed patronising by some male del­ Drinking commenced. And it con­ cer board were again in trouble with Sessions on National and egates. In highly mischievous mode, tinued for a long, long time. The bar ED 2, relating to capital investment, International Mfairs followed and it Cathal O'Driscoll sauntered up to the did finally close around 4.30 and your being disputed on the grounds that it was noticeable this year that there were podium to speak about the ludicrous­ correspondent naturally decided that did not make reference to DIT. far fewer motions in each section than ness of men in one room talking about there was nothing else for it but bed. I Adopting a conciliatory approach, in recent year's - ironically, a DITSU football and beer and women in later learned that a most accommodat-

12 •

ing night porter made several ex€ur• of the smaller delegations walked out sions to a secret place and returned of the room in protest. The session with further beverages for the hardiest was finally' declared inquorate and no­ of the hard. And no-one contacted one quite knew what to do. A flurry me! This will not be forgotten. of meetings followed and after lunch Sunday, be virtue of being a hang­ Congress resumed, the tension high, over heavy zone and the last day of the sense of expectation almost tangi­ Congress· should have been a relatively ble: at this point anything could have tame affair. Instead, to the surprise happened. and disgust of many, it was a morning What did happen was amazing. An of the walkout, the insult and the pal­ emergency motion on the failed peace pable sense of "what the hell hap­ process provided more speakers than pened?" ahy other of the. weekend, people It began for i:his now weary hack, lined up for minutes at a time to offer amusingly enough. Whilst havgin the their opinion and when steering com­ skin flayed from my back by the mittee, pointedly chaired by Damian shower, a member of the hotel's clean­ O'Broin, attempted to close congress, ing staff opened the door, and, realis­ the place erupted, some delegates ris­ ing the a scene from a bedroom farce ing and calling for a motion of no was developing, emitted a small confidence in the chair. This was shriek, an apology and ran out again. I defeated but after some thought, it think I heard her laughing as she ran was decided "because of the extraordi­ down the corridor, why I do not nary circumstances" to extend con­ know. My dignity sufficiently restored gress. Delegates had their say a:nd (some time later) I made for the grand returned to their seats. room where the debate was about to Closing speeches followed, this ses­ begin. sion chaired by the incoming : Before the session started, Steering President. Of the outgoing USI execu­ Committee, made a statement outlin­ tive, only Bob Jordan chose to broach ing their reasons for not including cer­ the extremely thoru'y subject of the tain motions in this year's dar. They weekend's events: "this really hasn't also flatly rejected accusations of bias. been the best of Congresses". Colman Minutes later, a delegate from St Byrne then promised, in the final Mary's teacher training college called speech of Congress, to work to bring for standing orders to be raised so that the various unions together. Some "the individuality of delegates could damage has been done, and the bad be discussed" He was, he said, con­ feeling will remain. cerned about "intimidat:ory tactics". . The incoming president of USI has His speech was emotional and heart­ his work cut out becasue there is--a lot felt, if a little incoherent, but the of work to be done within before motion was defeated. As a result, in a attention can be effectively focuses on move that was clearly planned, several the issues facing studenin this country. THE IRISH TIMES

Competition

PRIZE: First 3 correct entries drawn will each receive a £20 gift voucher for DITSU Students Union Shop.

RULES: Only open to members of the DIT colleges. Employees of DITSU and THE IRISH TIMES ACROSS DOWN are not eligible to enter. 8 Floor or overwhelm if I tune Dan 1 Disease of the heart marked by out? (8) bouts of intense pain (6) No Photocopies - 9 Plant disease, especially of potatoes (6) 2. Gigantic South American snake (8) Entries close: Mon. 29th April. 10 Grasping claw of a prince (6) 3. Strangle by tightening a strong around 11. Preparing for performance by the throat (8) exercise, etc (8) . 4. Stand from which a book is read (7) SEND TO: THE IRISH TIMES I DITSU, 12.Could Ann get a bird?( 6) 5. On a ship, train, etc (6) Crossword Competition, 13. Laugh at, deride (8) 6. Meal eaten out of doors (6) 7. Dealer in candles, oil, soap etc .(8) The DIT Examiner. 15. Look after or incline in some direction (4) 14. 'Beware the ... of March' (to be dropped into local (Shakespeare) (4) 17.Type of armoured car named after 16. Grudge feeling at the good fortune Union office) THE IRISH TIMES opponents of the Crusaders (7) FOR THE TIMES WE LIVE IN of others (4) 19. Lower tidal part of a river(?) 18. Planned or put in good order (8) 22. Tall ornamental container (4) 20. College for future priests (8) Last lssue•s 24. Yet rolls around the American 21. Violent shaking, great disturbance N~------­ winners were: tram-cars(8) or change (8) Donal Commane 27. Hindu elephant river (6) 23. Impute(?) COLLEGE ------­ 29. Originator, one who designs 25. Looked lustfully (6) (DIT Bolton St.) something for the first time(8) 26.Course seiVed at dinner or freedom Y~R------­ Brian Hyland 30. Ten are overturned but are tidier (6) of access (6) (DIT Mountjoy Sq.) 31. Regard with high respect (6) 28 Not flat, level or smooth (6) COURSE------RoryRudden 32 .. Continuous showers of gunfire (8) (DIT Bolton St.) NO. 13 \ All's-Change4, Changed Utterly Colman Byrne, incoming President of US/, talks about his plans for the coming year and reflects on Congress '96, which will not go down in history as the happiest, unless ofcourse, you were elected as President

olman Byrne is a political animal. ners were forgotten at certain points done if they say this when that's not so that when the hear USI and see USI CHe will tell you this himself and over the weekend. true at all. Most people would find it they'll say, "we're part of that"." indeed has gone on record as saying "Some people had not [manners] at distasteful." This will of course be a mammoth that he would one day like to repre­ a particular stage when they had a cer­ "If you can't argue with someone in task, as individual unions, contented sent his constituency (he is from tain amount of drink on them; that has case they disaffiliate then you're never or not with the current state of USI, Roscommon) at a national level. to be forgiven as well. They were told going to get any\vhere because you'll are much more concerned with their When he learned that he was to be that and they know that, a certain never be able to argue the points out. own day to day problems, the umbrella .the new President of USI, comfort­ amount of delegates actually apolo­ You have to be able to tough with each organisation only really taking a place ably beating Bob Jordan, he burst into gised for their behaviour because they other. to argue with each other, dis­ somewhere near the centre of the stage tears and went on a hugathon. He realised themselves that they were agree with each other totally and then during (dis)affiliation campaigns and looked like a man who had been wrong, but that's a once off" at the end of the day say "OK lets national days of action. It is not as if afraid to breath for hours. The elec­ If that was diffused, the threat of move onto the next point".' ' former executives have not known tion means a great deal to him for it is disaffiliation has not yet been so dealt All of this aside, he does expect one about the perception problems for an auspicious addition to his CV and with. Naturally, it is not a situation serious disaffiliation campaign in the US I. he will doubtless go to great lengths with which he is at al happy. near future. "Communication is a big thing, I've to publicise USI in the coming year. "The threat of disaffiliation when At this year's Congress, when officer always been very big on communica­ But before all that, the current presi­ things aren't going your way is always, board's report on the year's activities tion, hands on leadership, not only dent of DITSU will have to deal with as far as I'm concerned, a very danger­ was put to a vote, it was defeated heav­ into talking to people once every three the fallout from this year's Congress; ous and perhaps ridiculous thing to do ily. This was seen by many as an months. I intend to visit every college an occasionally nasty affair where feel­ in that, "things aren't going my way so expression of dissatisfaction with USI, at least once this year and I will be ings ran high and too often bubbled I'm getting out" goes against every­ which makes one wonder about the making sure that the officers are also over. There is talk of disaffiliation and · thing we're talking about when we're extent of the protest vote in this year's visiting the colleges, they don't have to many delegates were clearly unhappy inside. What we're trying to do is have elections, about specifically in the spend days in them, they could visit with the tone of the weekend. an organisation that suits everyone. If Presidential election the 'anyone but a three or four in one day. All they have "I don't think it was the most ran­ it turns into an organisation that only USI officer' vote. to do is sit down with the SU president corous or bad tempered. I think we've suits a few people and people pull out "Well I suppose that if I said it was or whatever for an hour. It doesn't have seen worse. I think some people were then it will always be an organisation very important I'd be taking away from to be a massive process." myself I suppose to a cer­ Other issues at the top of USI's tain extent it was impor­ agenda for the coming year will be the tant but I don't think it ongoing problems with the grants sys­ should be overrated either. tem, the funding of Students' Unions I don't think that anyone and the summer jobs scheme. who got in would say they This last is problematic because in got in because they were spite of vociferous opposition to the the best candidate and did scheme from USI and students' unions the best job trying to get around the country, a survey carried elected." out by USI showed that the students He did run his campaign participating were quite happy with it. promising change, a new It is interesting to note that over a year direction and new ideas but and a half ago Colman Byrne, then he insists, "I wasn't asking running for the position of Overall people to vote for someone President of DITSU for the first time else, I was asking them to expressed the unpopular opinion that vote for me and I said that perhaps the scheme was not such a bad whenl was talking to peo- idea.

1 p I e "We have to adopt what the stu­ · Of the people who did dents have said. Now we have to make finally vote for him he says it better, to improve it." that "if you told them that USI will also be seeking an improve­ they were voting against a ment on the numbers of student repre­ =-..;:.;::.=______:::.._;...... ::!:!_...:_ __~:....::=w different candid ate rather sentatives on the HEA's sub-committee than for me, I don't think dealing with the distribution of the upset at the way the elections and I they'd be too pleased.'' · capitation fee of £150. At Congress, think that carried through and I think that suits a few people. If you want to Mr Byrne believes that his top prior­ an emergency motion was passed that perhaps people were more set get your views heard and to get the ity this year is improving communica­ which mandated officer board to behind particular candidates this year organisation to do things you want tion; that itself covers a lot of ground accept the three seats offered. Those than has happened in previous years." them to do then you have to stay but he refers specifically to the mem­ opposing the motion wanted to hold Notwithstanding, Byrne's optimistic inside and convince the people, saying, bership of USI. out for the fourth seat, thus giving interpretation of the week~nd's events, "well hold on, this is a genuine griev- "We have to consolidate what we them more muscle. Colman Byrne he will still have to contend with and ance"'. already have, which is our member­ spoke neither for nor against and this appease those who felt intimidated and It's the old 'better to be on the ship, to get the members happy and surprised many, given the importance with at least one disaffiliation cam­ inside pissing out than outside pissing that this organisation is worthwhile. It of the committee. paign. A veritable baptism of fire could in' philosophy and no doubt one he is not use chasing affiliations when "At the time I was unsure, whether well be in the offing. will, as an utter pragmatist, employ it some of your biggest memb~rs are talk­ 'to go for the three or the four. The way "They feel intimidated by large dele­ as often as is necessary. ing about disaffiliation. There are the debate was going I wanted to listen gations, perhaps with the DIT delega­ He believes that threatening disaffil­ potentially a lot of hard times coming rather than get involved in it, so I tion wearing the t-shirts and being a iation is not the most helpful of up." decided not to speak myselft" group that were together. There was a approaches to addressing a grievance. For him, the perception of USI as a But surely, it was important that the certain amount of triumphalism but "There is no advantage whatsoever Dublin-centred organisation has to delegates hear what the incoming pres­ that's only right in that they canvassed for any college saying they'll disaffili­ change, and that will be down largely ident had to say about such an impor­ for me and they worked for me and ate, to say they'll be out of USI. They to improved communication, "by mak­ tant and pressing issue? when I got elected they wanted to cele­ know its a good organisation. In the ing them see that they are more a part "Yeah but I mean that's imposing brate. They sang their song and they heat of the moment and with the elec­ .of the organisation than they felt that your thoughts on other people, there wore their t-shirts." tion results, some people started to have been before, by making them see are people there who have been In fact some of them did more than mention those sort of things and I that what they spend on affiliation fees involved in the process up to this. I that, allowing the moment and no think sometimes politically foolish they are actually getting something could have spoken on this and said 'I doubt that extra glass of beer to go people make those sort of gestures very back, by making them see that USI is am the incoming president' and said their heads. Mr Byrne agrees that man- quickly and think that more will be ,an organisation which represents them this is the way. I don't think that wa..~ 14 .. the right thing to do. I don't believ.e in "No. It's the organisation for stu­ speaking on something unless I am dents, not for party politics. Left, informed on it." In the end, he voted right, centre, loony, as long as they do to accept the. three seats but says USI their job as professionally as they can will fight for a fourth. and represent their students, their per­ At the beginning of the interview, sonal politics don't matter. Mr Byrne made mention of the "I would supposedly be Fianna Fail, unhappiness some people felt with the supposedly right of centre. I have no way the election had gone. Personal problems doing occupations, ma~ches, enmity aside, it's quite likely that his campaigns, lobbying. You don't have the World .. far flung fares well publicised affiliations to Fianna to be left wing to represent someone's ... London• ... Johannesburg ... Perth ... Sydney ... Brisbane ... Fail will be a cause of some suspicion. rights. I look at my job as a job I have Simzaoore ... Jakarta ... London• ... Dublin Incoming Education Officer Malcolm been entrusted with, to represent stu­ ...... ••...... , ...... , .. Byrne (no relation) also has close FF dents' rights. I am professional in my Dublin ... London• ... Singapore ... Bali ... Melbourne own way to Syaney connections. The incoming president outlook and I will continue to do ... Los Angeles ... San Francisco ... New York ... London• ... Dublin that." ...... •...... , ... . denies flatly that USI is about to Du\)lin ... London* ... Rome ... Singapore ... Sydney ... Aucklana ... Los He talks about this professional become the student wing of Fianna Angeles own wav to Toronto ... London* ... Dublin Fail. approach, about which he is clearly ••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••• "It won't become party political proud, when asked about the some­ Dublin ... London• ... Hong Kong ... Singapore ... Melbourne ... despite the gossip columnists of the what adversarial relationship he has Auckland ... Fiji ... Los Angeles own way to San Francisco ... IR£1165 had with his incoming deputy presi­ Phoenix and Education and Living Boston ... London• ... Dublin [The Irish Times' weekly educational dent, Noeleen Hartigan. He expresses ...... , ...... supplement]. I am far less of a Fianna the hope that what's in the past Dublin ... London• ... Boston ... Philaaelphia ... Honolulu ... Failer than everyone makes me out to remains there. Sydney ... Cairns ... Perth ... Singapore ... Bangkok ... •a£ 1215 be. At the start it was flattering, that I "I hope that people will forget Hong Kong ... London• ... Dublin was made out to be this big person. In things. I want to have a clean sweep, a •••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••• No stopover in London -transfer only ••••••••••• the ~nd it was annoying because it was new beginning and many other cliches ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • ••••••••• used against me wherever I went. if you like. I want to go in, sit down Dublin ... London ... Bangkok own way to Bali ... FromiR£895 "I hold not proper position in and say 'right, new team, no-one will Sydney ... Auckland ... Los Angeles ... Dublin Fianna Fail. I was secretary of a youth be treated any different, better or •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• branch back home but because I am so worse, from anyone else. I would hope busy with the students' union I don't that we start to get on personally. If we have time to do anything with it. It's don't it won't make any difference. I dysfunctional, it meets maybe once a am professional in the way I follow my year. My priorities are with the stu­ work and the way I do my job. I don't Dublin • London • Bangkok • Sydney • Bali own way to Singapore - London - Dublin dents' union, I have shown that think my personal feelings have any Dublin - London - Hong Kong - Sydney or Melbourne - Fiji - London - Dublin because when the big FF events were role in a job I have been entrusted Dublin ... London ... Los Angeles ... Sydney ... Honolulu ... London ... Dublin on I was at the SU events, which were with, to be representative of 150,000 just run of the mill ordinary ones. students. My personal feelings and London ... Tokyo .. Sydney ... Osaka ... London From uK£69 5 Other members in Fianna Fail feel the others sort of pale into insignificance •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• same way. They want to do a job. when you think about the job you "I am not afraid of disagreeing with have been entrusted with." Guidehoofls • Excursions • Travel Insurance • Rail Passes Fianna Fail or anyone else for th~t Colman Byrne is a mass of contra­ matter. I don't think it's going to make dictions. He is canny and ambitious any difference, I think that the way the but along with the drive and aggres­ Call Usit's Long Haul Department at Government is at the moment that it sion that go with this, and which will 01 677 8117 or your local Usit Office could perhaps be used to your advan­ doubtless be frowned upon in some tage. USI should always use the oppo­ quarters, he likes to be liked. Fares open to all excludlnc tax OJ/96 sition as part of the way of getting the Sometimes he cannot understand why ATHLONE • BELFAST • COLERAINE • CORK • DERRY • DUBLIN • GALWAY point across in the Dail and then into his style antagonises some people. His • JORDANSTOWN • LI MERICK • MAYNOOTH • WATERFORD the public domain and if you know is not the style of recent students people within the party, the even bet­ unions presidents and it will be very ter, use them to do your job." interesting to see how he handles the But the organisation has a history of reins of a national organisation. There having left wing connections so some is no doubt that he will make the most may fear a shift to the centre, or the of the opportunity afforded him this right. year. Official D IT Leisure Merchandise Now Available

White tee shirts: £5.50 white/navy polo shirts: £8.00 Navy Sweat shirts: £9.00 Navy tee shirts: £6.50 Nav_y Zip Tops Also Available: £10.00 Available from your students' union shops 15 Fire Drill a Flaming Disaster

he fire alarm went off at the agreed the knowledge that as they were in The whole affair was watched from T time of 10.50am; this was to be a water, and wearing rubber hats, they third floor windows by a number of fire­ punctual little blaze. From labs and were exempt from the evacuation. proof people who had presumably lecture rooms sleepy students emerged Incidentally, also exempt was everyone decided that evacuation was not for and sauntered in the orderly fashion so in the old building, possibly on the very them. Once safely outside the grounds typical of people escaping an inferno valid grounds that a full scale fire drill of Kevin Street we hung around in the outside to the assembly point of their would be a logistical nightmare. light drizzle, disrupting traffic and both­ choice. We opted for point B as that Mean~hile, Dermot Blake, incoming ering passers by trying to make their was where people seemed to be having Site President of the students' union; led way home. the most fun. · a band of evacuees to the emergency exit After some very disorganised standing Assembly point B is located toward to Church Lane (until recently chained about, we were allowed back into the the back entrance to DIT Kevin Street shut). Tragically, the gates beyond the grounds of the now secure, safe and and we were ushered to these gates door refused to open and so the stu­ completely fire free building. The swim­ which had been thrown open especially dents remained, bemused though happi­ mers, protected by their pool, were for the fire; usually they are in a fixed ly not burned, until the gates were even­ unscathed and waving at us from the position which allows only single file tually unlocked from the outside by a third floor were the fireproof students. passage. Presumably these same gates helpful man. Within minutes the gates had been will be equally accommodating on the Back at assembly point B, the evacua­ returned to their former position and case of future, actual fires. And so we .tion was progressing smoothly, thanks the following morning, the cars were ambled along, passing by the swimming largely to the conspicuous absence of once again parked in all the wrong pool, in which several happy people the many cars usually parked on double places. A roaring success then, and a continued to paddle and frolic, safe in yellow lines and other prohibited areas. valuable learning experience. ANevv HORIZON For DIT "The basic principle of the Union of Students in Ireland is the he DIT has been selected to par­ defence and promotion of the fundamental educational, political, T ticipate in the AHEAD Horizon project which is designed to address social, cultural and welfare interests of Irish students. the needs of students with disabilities The National Students Centre was established in J993 within the institution. The European funded project, which with that in mind, so as to provide you with good quality, is already up and running, consists of seminars and tutorials dealing with low cost entertainment facilities." such issues as study skills, learning skills, reading techniques, essay writing, exam preparation and workshops. They We read over our founding principle again recently and figured we needed to change some things. also offer an opportunity for students So from Thursday the 16th of November our new price list will be:- with varying disabilities to come together to discuss their needs and to provide support if needed. A referral service is also available. "It's for every student really, open to anyone who wants to come along," says Draught Pints £1 .70 Susan Lindsay, DIT's Senior Counsellor. "''ve been on to Patricia Callaghan [director of AHEAD] that the DIT Bottled Beer £1.50 needed to do something. We're under­ resourced in that area. This has arisen because there hasn't been any structure available and she felt the timing was Spirits £1.85 right to introduce the programme. This is just paving the way because we're hoping the DIT will take it up because the funding is only going to be for a short time." Liqueurs £1.80 The cost of setting up the project and running it for the year is about £90,000, with 90% of this coming from Horizon and the rest from the Soft Drinks 75p DIT itself. If the project is a success, and finance permitting, the plan is to expand the service to include a career guidance element and possibly a dis­ ability officer. "It's a pilot programme and we may have to go back to the drawing board, 11•s your Club, use it ! but it seems to be working well, " says Ms Lindsay. Remember every Thursday, Friday & Saturday The seminars are currently being held in DIT Aungier Street (Mondays, Music & Munchies till 1 • Beer till 12.30 6pm) and DIT Mountjoy Square MEMBERS FREE • GUESTS £2 AFTER 10.30 (Wednesdays, noon) For further information contact Susan Lindsay in DIT Head Office. 16