Irish Student Newspaper of the Year 2008 BANKERS’ HIGH- LARGE BOLLYWOODVIVISECTION DEBATE STAKES GAME HADRON DREAMS Global fi nancial COLLIDER Backpack your way crisis explained Is there really straight onto the stage a threat? WORLD REVIEW 12 SCIENCE 19 TRAVEL 20 BUSINESS 18 Tuesday 28 October 2008 www.trinitynews.ie Issue 3, Volume 55 The day the student voice was heard “A callous and cynical attempt by Government” SHANE KELLY PRESIDENT OF USI WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22nd 2008, This coming Wednesday, teachers will forever stand out in the history of unions and parents will gather outside the student movement in Ireland. 0ver the Dáil, to highlight their anger at 15,000 students took to the streets of the series of cuts planned for our Dublin, to protest at what we believe is primary and secondary schools. We as the callous and cynical attempt by the students will stand with our parents government to plug the hole in public and our younger brothers and sisters funding of our universities. and demand an education system that Over 5,000 Trinity students turned works at all levels, from primary right out in a show of support for their through to third level. national union. Such large numbers If the politicians continue to ignore have pricked the attention of the us, we will wait in the long grass of the government parties, and the Minister local and European elections and we for Education in particular. Students will take them down. We as students have spoken, and with one voice must now build on the success of our have declared, we will not be made show of strength. A long and sustained scapegoats by this government for a campaign is now planned. Your decade of waste and under-investment support and involvement will be vital Trinity students marched to O’Connell Street where they met other students from around the country before descending on Leinster House. Photo: Cian Clarke in our higher education system. if we are to succeed. By Rory O’Connor “Fees r bad lol”. participating universities gave speeches speeches at Leinster House were made Trinity students congregated in Front on a large stage at the top of the street. by Union of Students in Ireland President CONOR JAMES MCKINNEY Square before setting off up to O’Connell The demonstration comes as part of Shane Kelly and the Labour Party STUDENTS FROM Dublin colleges Street to meet hundreds of other students a wave of student protest against fees. education spokesman Ruairi Quinn. CLEARLY, WE students are starved as a psychadelic “Make Love Not Fees” took to the streets against the proposed 5,000 protested in Cork on 10 October Mr Kelly said part of the reason for the of creative outlets. If one were to heed banner made its appearance; and while reintroduction of college fees last O’Keefe’s inability with others doing likewise in Galway rally was that the Minister for Education these Students’ Union types, we’d be punning on the word “fee” is quite a Wednesday. Gardaí estimated an to meet student and Limerick. Last week, UCD students Batt O’Keeffe would not discuss the matter starved in a more literal sense should feat,“Not Feesible” was another strong attendance of 15,000 protestors at the leaders was cited by attempted to block the Minister for with student representatives. College the Government have its wicked showing. “Stop Robbin’ Us, Battman” rally. the USI as a reason Finance Brian Lenihan’s entry into the heads also have found the Minister slow way with fees, which is why some of was a clever one – in stark contrast The protest passed off peacefully and for the march Clinton Institute on the Belfi eld Campus to commit to meetings, despite a request that surplus energy has of late been to those louts urging the Minister with general high spirits. Serious chants where he was due to chair a function. from the UCD president Dr Hugh Brady. channelled into placard manufacture. to shove his reform up unprintable of “more fees means less degrees” were from Dublin universities at Parnell Square. Three UCD students were arrested “He is very happy asking for our After all, if you’re going to protest, you places. For all the quality on display, it combined with humorous chants of The large crowd then turned back on itself during the protest for breaches of the money but he doesn’t want to listen to wouldn’t want to be shown up by the was the plainitive “But I Already Spent “Down with this sort of thing... careful to pass Trinity once more and continued peace when they attempted to break what we have to say on the subject. We old folks. Indeed, the pensioners that All My Money On This Sign” that won now”. Official TCD Student Union along Nassau Street. When the protest through a metal fence that surrounded are here as the second biggest union in thronged the streets may have felt a the affections of this jaded hack – but placards said “Education is a right, not reached Leinster House, politicians and the building. few pangs of nostalgia for the Sixties, could yer man see it from China? a privilege”. One unoffi cial placard read Students’ Union representatives from During Wednesday’s protest, the Continued on page 2 No extended opening Slip-ups at Comedy Soc roller disco By Deirdre Robertson said that the problems were nothing College News Editor to do with health and safety. When for Library this term asked whether alcohol and skating is a SOME STUDENTS were left good idea Mr Kearns said the Comedy diappointed last week when the DU Society had enquired into the risks and By Dave Molloy Librarian Jessie Kurtz. Comedy Society Roller Disco ran out of found that “Roller Disco” had a very low “The Library Committee reviewed the the mildly essential roller skates early track record of injuries at their events. position at its May meeting and agreed on in the night. Chair of Comedy Society Railings in The Dandelion were even MANY STUDENTS have been left that the additional opening be retained Robert Kearns acknowledged there were bubble wrapped. confused on fi nding the library closed on for the BLU Libraries, and extended to the some problems but disagrees with those Although the skates were recalled at Sundays. Despite a very public Students’ Hamilton Library in Michaelmas term, on who say the night was a disaster. 12:30am, Mr Kearns said that the club Union campaign last year which resulted the basis that the Senior Lecturer take the The Roller Disco was hosted by SU was full until 2:30am and that the roller in Sunday opening times, the decision issue of ongoing costs for consideration Ents and the Comedy Soc on Tuesday disco aspect of the night did not seem appears to have been retracted this year. by Executive Offi cers,” Ms Kurtz told 14th October in the Dandelion Club. to affect most students. He noted that A fi nal decision on the future of library Trinity News. “As the Library Committee The club was booked to hold 900 around 500 people were able to skate opening hours is due at the end of the clearly expressed its concern at the effect people and tickets sold out on the and there were only 50-60 students who month, the college has confi rmed. of a continuing commitment on the Book day with students paying €8 each to wanted to skate but couldn’t. The libraries have reduced their Budget, therefore at this time the Library attend the night. However, according A complaints forum has been set hours since last year, with no Sunday is not in a position to undertake the to some students who attended, the up in House 6 but so far Mr Kearns opening hours scheduled for Michaelmas extended opening in Michaelmas term.” night was overcrowded and at 10:30 The scene in Dandelion nightclub during the Roller Disco. has only received 7 complaints asking term. The library’s website subtitles the The idea of last year’s opening hours the queues outside the door were so for a refund. One student disputes this opening hours for the remainder of the being a “trial run” is something that is long that anyone without a ticket was without a pair of skates. Ms Hassett said Soc and SU Ents asking them to host saying she made a complaint but was not year as “subject to revision.” contested by the Student’s Union. “There told to come back at midnight. One that at 12:30 the music was turned down the night. According to Mr. Kearns the refunded. She also believed that “most Last year, a pilot scheme was put in was a trial run last year that was very student commented that the club was so low she could barely hear it and the venue was large enough for 1,000 people people won’t bother complaining”. place to open the BLU library complex successful and as a result, it was agreed so crowded she couldn’t move and the DJ kept repeating that everyone had to and the club wanted that many guests Mr Kearns commented that Comedy on Sundays, the cost of which was borne that the libraries would be open on line for roller skates was so long that give back the skates before they could but the Comedy Society decided to sell Soc are currently in discussion with by the library budget. The numbers Sundays on a regular basis,” said Student’s she didn’t bother to attempt it.