Volume 20 / Issue 2ucd.ie/tribune 3rd October 2006 Losing My UCD Volunteers Religion Overseas Features - Page 10 Analysis - Page 12 THIS WEEK “I came all the way from the f*cking Netherlands to do this degree" ● Early Irish degree axed WITH ● Final year students forced MUSIC ● to take new subjects FILM The College’s decision to drop Early Irish as a de- gree has been branded “a disgrace from the stu- Mark Canavan HEALTH dents’ point of view” by course lecturer Gerald son to offer a degree programme himself or herself. FASHION Manning. The College released Manning after his A case regarding the lecturer’s dismissal is cur- contract expired. rently pending in the Labour Court. CULTURE Nienke van Etten, a Dutch student who came to Manning went on to claim, “It’s disgraceful that a UCD in order to study the course, told the College degree programme should be destroyed in this way ARTS Tribune “I came to UCD to do Early Irish. Also now by the principal, and this has been done against the I don’t even know what my degree will be in. They wishes of all the professors in the school. The stu- (the College) don’t even know what my degree will dents are very good and very interested and their be in. It’ll either be in a bachelor of arts or a bach- ability to pursue these subjects has been taken from elor of Celtic studies, and I don’t know which I’ll get. them. That’s what’s most important.” I’ll see that at the day of my graduation.” The Early Irish course had a staff of two lecturers, A frustrated van Etten added, “I chose UCD. I’ve one of whom was Manning who was on a tempo- come all the way from the fucking Netherlands to rary contract. The staff of the Early Irish course was do this degree. informed last January that the programme of Early “Over the summer I was in touch with one of my Irish was to be discontinued. lecturers in Early Irish, Gerald Manning, because he The only remaining Early Irish lecturer, Patricia thought I wanted to pursue a post-graduate course. Kelly, told the College Tribune “we were let know “He tried to figure out some things, so basically that the college principal did not want to continue he told me over the summer that he wasn’t sure Early Irish as a BA subject and that it was to be whether his contract was going to get renewed. incorporated into the subject of modern Irish as an Then he emailed me in August to say ‘I m going to option. be gone in September, so there’s going to be only “I was told by the Principle that Early Irish was not one lecturer left in the entire Early Irish depart- to be offered as a full BA from now on. The practical ment’.” result of this was that my colleague of four years’ Van Etten added, “He [Manning] was basi- standing [Manning], who had been on a temporary cally laid off. His contract just wasn’t renewed. contract for four years, was not to be renewed. His contract ran until September and he found That’s a reduction in staff of two to one, so a fifty out about this in July, which sucks for him. I mean percent reduction in staff meant that we couldn’t he had two months notice.” offer the full programme, and we were also told that Manning, speaking to the College Tribune, stated, we were not to take in students for first year.” “the College refused to renew my contract and that just leaves Patricia Kelly. It’s not possible for one per- Continued on Page 4 Nienke van Etten: Doesn't know what her degree will be College Tribune 2 NEWS 3rd October 2006 A lot of clamps October 3rd ● Students forced to pay for parking ● People missing lectures Amy Lynch The recent installation of parking meters in UCD parking lots has caused serious inconvenience for staff and students alike. The meters are only for visitors to the college, and cost 50c per hour. Many students however are finding they “have no choice but to use the spaces, because there are no spaces elsewhere. Editor Colin Gleeson Parking becomes impossible after 9:00am on a Deputy Editor Simon Ward weekday.” The problem of finding a parking space is one of Design Editors Tara Phelan & Simon Ward real hindrance to students who drive. This culmi- News Editor Owen Priestley nates in students arriving late or missing lectures. Sports Editor Ben Blake Those who avoid paying for parking by parking on grass verges or on unmarked parts of a car-park Features Editor Matthew Parkinson Bennett risk getting clamped. Health & Fashion Editor Caitrina Cody Nicola Foley and Viv Rountree, both second year Arts Editor Barra O Fianail students of the college, were clamped on Tuesday 19th September. They were parked along a stretch Music Editor Hugh Fowler of grass due to lack of any spaces, along with ap- proximately twenty other cars. When they returned Contributors: Paul O'Donnell, Alexa Byrne, Claire that evening, they found the whole row clamped. Spelman, Deirdre Daly, Kevin Murphy, Jack Horgan This pair were left with an €85 fine (€80 for the clamp, and a €5 surcharge). These students claim, Jones, Pete Mahon, Eoin Delap, Conor Doyle, John however, that despite the “No Parking” signs, “We Clamp down: Finding a free space is becoming impossible after 9am O'Flynn, Fionn Dempsey, Stuart Alexander, Aidan Mac had no choice but to park there, we would have Guill, Ronan Dempsey, Linda O'Halloran, Susan Cahill, been late for a lecture if we’d waited for a free public transport options and don’t live within walk- periphery. This meeting should take place on the space.” ing or cycling distance. week of 9th October. Daniel O'Neill, Orla Kenny, Stephen Humphries, Hanna These are students who would welcome the He does, however, feel that there should be more The College responded to queries from the Kousbroek, Mark Canavan, Amy Lynch, Bernadette introduction of parking meters if they could be en- encouragement for people who have access to College Tribune on this matter, by stating, “There Scott, Jack Cane, Paul Dillon, Eoin Mac Aodha. sured a parking space for the year, declaring, “We public transport to use it, or people who could walk are no changes as yet to the car parking system just want to go to college.” or cycle, “Huge trade offs will have to be made: on campus. However, a committee set up by the Thanks To: Gary, Stephen & Billy @ Many students feel they have no choice but to who wants to park as opposed to who needs to Buildings & Grounds Committees undertook a Spectator Newspapers, Eilis O'Brien, drive to college, as the public transport is incon- park, is parking a right or a privilege etc.” study of parking patterns with a view to managing Dominic Martella, God. venient and unreliable. Barry Colfer, Welfare Of- In response to these issues, there is currently the parking resource effectively. ficer of the Students’ Union, believes that the lack a working group being set up throughout the Stu- “We are also aware that the County Council in- of parking is a huge problem. dent Union to generate Union policy on the issue, tends to introduce pay and display parking along Contact Us: He told the College Tribune that the problem which will then be presented to the college. the feeder roads to the N11 and that this will make E: [email protected] could be solved with changes that don’t include There has also been a request for a general the problem worse as park-and-ride car owners T: 01-7168501, more parking spaces or parking meters. Colfer meeting for students to take place, which would will increasingly try to use Belfield to park. LG 18, Newman Building is opposed to the meters in the case of people be an open forum to discuss their problems with “The decision has not yet been made but it is who have no choice but to drive to college, such transport to the college, and maybe discuss some likely that some pay car parking will be introduced as those who are disabled, or those who have no solutions, such as car-pools from areas on the in the future.” Donut or Muffi n with Regular MEDIUM fi lter coffee €1.99 On presentation of this voucher. While stocks last. Offer Ends 30th October College Tribune 3rd October 2006 NEWS 3 ‘We've been turning up for lectures but we're sent away each time' ● Module delivery threatened by failure to provide one projector bulb ● Anxious students unable to prepare for upcoming assessments Students taking Film Studies at lev- els one and two this year have found Bernadette Scott themselves in a state of total disarray. have stated that the part required in or- Problems are rife and began this year der repair the projection equipment is in with complications during attempts to fact “specialist equipment” and expen- register for the popular modules. Issues sive. And there are no such parts stored have since arisen regarding the technical in the university for such occurrences support and equipment used for manda- and therefore must be ordered from the tory lectures and practicals. UK. After further enquiries, the College One student, Emma Moore, told the Tribune has learned that the “specialist College Tribune, “Its ridiculous.