The College of SEFS at UCC has introduced a new mandatory unpaid teaching module for postgraduate students requiring them to complete 50 hours of unpaid work. This will negatively impact postgraduate students who rely on income from teaching and demonstrating labs as their primary source of income. It is estimated the unpaid work will cost students between €800-€1,100. A postgraduate student interviewed criticized the new measure as unfair and questioned its educational benefits. The article also notes that the Students' Union has been criticized for its lack of response to address student housing issues in Cork, with over 100 students still seeking accommodation as of last week.
1. Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | uccexpress.ie | Volume 19 | Issue 1
Bryan Danielson - News Writer*
The College of SEFS have introduced
a new module for all incoming Post-
Graduate students that means that they
will have to do 50 hours of unpaid
teaching before being paid for their
work. The module, titled “PG6026 -
Teaching and Demonstrating Skills for
College of Science, Engineering and
Food Science (SEFS) Postgraduate
Students,” means that work done
by post-grads through teaching &
demonstrating in labs will go unpaid,
which was not the case before. For
most post-grads, the money earned
by demonstrating is their main (if
not only) source of income. While
individual departments have said that
students not in receipt of a grant or
other funding can make arrangements
with their supervisors to retain this
source of funds, it is still a crucial
support for many students. Looking at
various different departments in SEFS
we discovered that while it depended
on the individual department, for most
of them it would take anywhere up to
a semester to complete the 50 hours of
work, costing the students anywhere
from €800-€1,100.
We spoke to one current post-grad
student from the College SEFS (who
asked to remain unnamed) who felt
that this new measure was unfair,
as students are already expected to
perform unpaid tasks associated with
teaching & demonstrating (preparation
for labs, grading of papers etc.), and
coupled with other unpaid work
done, like supervising the FYPs of
undergraduate students, can lead to
incredible amounts of stress and can
distract from their own course, thus
elongating the time spent doing their
post-grad course. The student we
spoke to also questioned the point
of the module itself, as they felt only
those looking for careers in academia
would benefit from learning how to
teach, and even then, those doing
postgraduate courses are individuals
with qualifications, and before the
introduction of this module have been
teaching for years without it. This
writer attempted to contact members
of staff from the College of Science,
Engineering and Food Science, but
were unable to get a response to these
concerns before we went to print.
The student we spoke to was also
dissatisfied with the response of the
Students’ Union to this issue. “Due
to the nature of postgraduate courses,
postgrads are hard to mobilise. The
Students’ Union seems to have done
nothing about this, or at the very least
seem to know nothing about this.“
This writer attempted to contact Joe
Kennedy (SU Education Officer) &
Billy McCarthy (SEFS Rep) but were
unable to get a comment before this
article went to print. The Students’
Union does have a Postgraduate
Representative, Patrick Collins, who
sits on its executive and the University
Governing Body, but according to
the current SU Constitution it is also
supposed to have individual College
Postgraduate Representatives and
indeed a Postgraduate Student Council,
neither of which at the time of writing
they have.
*The writer asked to be supplied with
a pseudonym, and thus was given one
Postgraduates to suffer pay cuts in SEFS
UCC launch mental
health booklet
Page 5
Neil Willoughby looks
at UCC’s year in sport
for 2014/15
Page 15
Interview with the
Voice of Night Vale
Cecil Baldwin
Byline
HOMELESS: Accommodation troubles continue for students in Cork, and UCC SU responds. More on Page 3. Image by: USI
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2. Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | UCC EXPRESS
Inside Today:
New CAO System Page 4
Refugee Crisis Page 6
Presidential power Page 10
Endless search Page 11
Eamonn Ryan Page 16
Fitzgibbon Cup win Page 20
Editor-in-Chief: Brian Conmy
Deputy & News Editor: Zoe Cashman
Deputy News Editor: Chris McCahill
Features Editor: Deirdre Ferriter
Deputy Features Editor: Katie Jeffers
Sport Editor: Neil Willoughby
Photo Editor: Emmet Curtin
Designer: Robert O’Sullivan
Fashion Editor: Jessica NiMhaolain
Online Editor: Afraic O’Riordain
Byline Editor: Xander Cosgrave
Fiction Editor: Austin Dowling
Humour Editor: Lauren Mulvihill
Arts & Lit Editor: Colm Ferlong
Film & TV Editor: Olivia Brown
Gaming Editor: Aoife Gleeson
Music Editor: Holly Cooney
Editorial team
2 |
Letters from the Editors
On the Shoulders of Giants
Welcome to the UCC Express, your college
newspaper for the academic year 2015/2016.
My name is Brian Conmy and I’ll be your Ed-
itor-in-Chief for the year. For those unfamiliar
with the paper we print 12 issues a year, usually
every two weeks outside of holidays and study
breaks. I’m sitting in our small Windle building
office space writing this one last article before
we go to print on our 3,000 copy first run for the
year. Needless to say, this feels a bit daunting.
In our offices, in fancy leather bound
books, are issues of the Express (formerly called
the University Express, The University Xpress,
The University Examiner, The Gazette and for
one year the Campus Chronicle) dating back to
1989. While more exist these are the ones we
have easy access to and looking through them in
down time of design and copy editing has been
eye-opening. The Express comes together with
a new team every year, with new goals and new
hopes for that year but it doesn’t exist in isola-
tion. Every issue is iterative of the one before it
going back all the way to the start.
This is my third year on the editorial
team proper, having risen up the ranks from
Gaming Editor to Deputy News Editor to Editor
in Chief now. I’ve personally worked under
two amazing Editors, Audrey Ellard Walsh and
Stephen Barry, both individuals who I have no
doubt will climb
their way to the top in the journalism world and
are names to watch out for in future. Having
been proud to work under them and prouder still
to be part of the grand tradition of UCC’s print
journalism world I once again welcome you to
the Express for 2015/16 and hope you enjoy the
aspects of papers and Editors in years gone by
that we bring forward but also the new things we
try to do.
To honour the tradition of this publi-
cation but also remind everyone of why things
sometimes need to change check out pages 10
and 11 which comprise of our new section,
Flashbacks, set to feature pieces of previous
years papers to show just how far we’ve come
but in some instances how little things have
changed.
Welcome to UCC and the Express
Hey Freshers!
Thank you for taking the time to read the Ex-
press, I’m the new Deputy Editor/ News Editor
for the coming year. I’m very excited for the
year ahead and to be bringing all of UCC’s (very
exciting) news to all of you. The team and I will
be doing our best to bring all of the hot gossip
around UCC to you. I hope all of you have a
great year and make sure to get involved in as
many things as you can because the years go by
very fast here.
I wrote for the News section of the
Express all of last year and I really enjoyed it. I
worked under the brilliant Barry Aldworth who
was an amazing News Editor last year. I’m very
nervous but also very excited about this position
and hope I do as great a job as previous editors.
Writing for the Express is a great opportunity to
get involved in college life as you get to attend
many events and interview a lot of people. It
was because of working for the Express last year
that I decided I wanted to pursue Journalism as
a career and it’s what made me decide to run for
News Editor this year.
There’s plenty to do here in UCC
so make sure to get involved. There’s a ton
of Clubs and Societies and there’s definitely
something for everyone! Also for you aspiring
journalists
I’d love to have you on the Express news team!
Writing for the Express is brilliant as it gives
you real experience with writing for a news-
paper. You see what it’s like to do your own
research for articles and work with deadlines
and work individually as well as part of a team.
I’d highly recommend it to anyone. For any of
you who wish to get involved please send me an
email at news@uccexpress.ie. I wish you all the
very best of luck for the year I hope you enjoy
your time here at UCC!
3. UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | 3
Students’ Union respond to student housing crisis in Cork
Zoe Cashman - News Editor
UCC’s Students’ Union has called for
a solution to the current student hous-
ing crisis in Cork. They are trying to
negotiate with home owners to rent out
vacant rooms to alleviate student hous-
ing problems. Students’ Union Pres-
ident, Aidan Coffey, commented that
“some students are really struggling
to find somewhere to stay, it’s a great
way for locals to help out”. The SU has
appealed to more landlords to consider
students as tenants and has said they
are aware of at least 100 students who
were yet to secure accommodation as
of last week.
Pressures in the rental mar-
ket, including landlords insisting on
12 month-leases, have caused great
difficulty for students trying to secure
accommodation. This has led to a
greater demand for alternatives such as
digs or renting rooms in family houses.
Aidan Coffey encourages landlords to
consider nine-month leases for student
tenants and pointed out the benefits as
landlords could earn up to 12,000 euro
tax free by renting out rooms.
Ógra Fianna Fáil called on the
Minister for Education to wake up to
the current crisis. Ógra President, Eoin
Neylon, stated that the Minister ap-
pears to be “asleep at the wheel”. “She
won’t release the report in the hope
that the problem will just go away like
a bad dream, it’s a further example of
this Government’s utter disregard for
young people”. Noting USI’s cam-
paign to flyer private housing to try
and accommodate the shortfall, Ney-
lon continued, “Forcing students to
go out into the community to beg for
places is degrading but unfortunately
now necessary, what’s more worrying
is that the Minister has stated this is a
viable solution to the problem”.
Neylon feels the cost of fees
plus accommodation is causing many
students to leave full time education
as they can no longer afford it. “The
sometimes extortionate rents repre-
sent yet another financial barrier to
students hoping to go onto further
education”.
Ógra 3rd level representative,
Mark Holt, added that “The govern-
ment could introduce countless incen-
tives or schemes to ease the burden on
students, in many cases students are
being met with signs including slogans
such as ‘no students need apply’. This
is a dangerous message to be feeding
already stressed students as they
embark on tertiary education”. Neylon
concluded that “it’s time for the Min-
ister to wake up to the fact that she has
a responsibility to students and that
inaction is no longer an option”.
UCC acknowledges the diffi-
culties being faced by students in
search of accommodation and have
introduced some initiatives along with
the Students’ Union to support the
option of commuting to UCC. This
includes discounted parking for UCC
students in four participating car parks
and discounted Bus Éireann Student
Leap Cards available directly from the
Students’ Union offices on College
Road. Also a new web-based plat-
form known as ‘Student Pad’ has been
launched which includes information
concerning student-house availability
in Cork and a message-board where
students may post information
regarding accommodation availability.
The Students’ Union have been taking
serious action in response to this crisis
and are continuing to work on various
initiatives with the university. Students
who are still worried about accommo-
dation can contact UCC’s Accommo-
dation Service on 021 4902353 and
the Students’ Union can be contacted
directly on 0214902181.
The Genius Of George Boole
Chris McCahill - Deputy News Editor
In 1849 George Boole became the
first professor of mathematics here at
UCC. He is best known for his work
in the area of mathematics. He was the
creator of Boolean algebra and known
as the father of computer science,
essentially it can be said ‘No Boole-No
Google and No Amazon’. As a result of
his successes Boole is eponymous with
the lecture theatre and the library here
at UCC.
As part of the bicentenni-
al celebrations of his birth, Boole’s
biographer Professor Des MacHale
gave a speech citing that Boole was
the inspiration for Sherlock Holme’s
main antagonist, Professor Moriarty.
The non-technical talk given by Pro-
fessor MacHale stated that Boole was
the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle’s fictional character, described
as the “Napoleon of Crime” and is
the arch enemy of Sherlock in many
of Conan Doyle’s stories. By citing
mathematical, visual, personal, and
some coincidental evidence, MacHale
strongly backed up his case. H.G.
Wells, a father of science fiction, is a
vital link in connecting Conan Doyle
and Boole’s wife, Mary Everest Boole.
Recent evidence has also been present-
ed on the name Moriarty, pointing to
Moriarty being the surname of several
Cork families. As it stands every com-
puter scientist, mathematician, logician
and electrical engineer knows about
George Boole and his importance, but
should the link between Boole and
Conan Doyle’s most famous villain be-
come more recognised, it is likely that
the popularity of Boole will become far
more widespread across the Globe.
More recently a documentary
was aired by RTÉ entitled “The Genius
of George Boole”, commissioned by
UCC and later screened on September
1st, the documentary investigated the
impact of George Boole on modern
technology and shone a new light on
his legacy, recognised as the forefather
of the information age. The docu-
mentary is narrated by Oscar winner
Jeremy Irons and includes a host of
academics and industry leaders, along
with some insight from UCC president
Dr. Murphy. “The Genius of George
Boole” explores the life of one of the
world’s greatest unsung heroes.
4. Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | UCC EXPRESS
“UCC are trying to make it more accept-
able for students to be able to talk about
their mental health issues by showing that
it is not something which defines some-
one, but rather only a small part of them”
comments Fiona O’Donnell, the mind
behind the powerful project “My Mental
Health Matters”, a booklet recently re-
leased by UCC which shares stories and
experiences of those who suffer and who
have suffered from mental health issues.
With World Suicide Prevention
Day approaching on Thursday 10th Sep-
tember a compelling booklet of stories by
UCC students and staff has been released.
The collection is intended to destigma-
tise mental health issues and offers raw,
honest and brave accounts of vulnerabil-
ity intended to help others. The stories
represent contributors from Ireland and
abroad. The array of backgrounds high-
lights not only how common the issues
are, but also how unifying these stories
can be for those who read them.
Among the contributors were
Head of Student Experience, JP Quinn,
who released a compelling story entitled
‘My Mother Killed My Black Dog’, and
UCC Nursing Student Linda Creedon,
whose silent video released during last
year’s Mental Health Week reached over
20,000 people. Linda commented how
important it is to talk about your mental
health as it “stops a small problem be-
coming a big problem”.
“Mental health isn’t specifically
reserved to mental illness, it’s any situ-
ation that affects your daily wellbeing,
and during your college years there are
so many potential sources that can affect
your mental wellbeing. The sharing of
stories and experiences shows that you
are never alone and there are so many
people out there who have felt the exact
same as you at some point”.
The foreword was written by
Elma Walsh, Mother of the late Don-
al Walsh, who during his battle with
cancer set up the #LiveLife Foundation.
“We are continuing the message Donal
left, to appreciate life and to live it to
the full”. Fiona O’Donnell, the mind
behind the project, started it while on
placement with UCC Health Matters, an
initiative which strives to improve the
health and
wellbeing of the UCC community.
It is hoped that the booklet will
get the community to talk more about
mental health issues and will offer to
support of those in need of it.
The booklet is available to download
and share freely on the UCC Health
Matters website.
Booklet continues positive work by UCC on mental health
Zoe Cashman - News Editor
Zoe Cashman - News Editor
A new CAO point system is set to be introduced for
students starting college in 2017. It is hoped that the
new system will change the way college places are
allocated and ease the pressure on students entering
third level education.
A new scale from H1 to H8 will replace the
ABC system currently in place. This new system will
ensure that less students will reach the exact same
overall score, the top of the scale will continue to be
100 but it will no longer go down in standard steps of
5 or 10 points. Because points are currently awarded
in multiples of five only, a relatively large number of
students can reach the same score. This can result in
CAO applicants subjected to random selection for a
college place.
The new scale means that any points score
between 0 and 625 is possible, which will allow for
greater differentiation when it comes to competing for
college places. The Minister for Education,
Jan O’Sullivan, commented that “this will make it far
easier for students as many students will not be apply-
ing for courses with the exact same number of points”.
For the first time students who score between
30 and 39% in a higher level paper will be awarded
37 points. This change has been made to encourage
students to aim higher while minimising the risk of
getting no points. The new CAO scale is part of a se-
ries of reforms focusing on the transition from school
to college and is designed to take pressure off the
students.
Education Officer, Joe Kennedy, feels that
this is “a positive development. It encourages people
to do higher level subjects, reduces random allocation
and hopefully takes some of the pressure off. A lot of
reform is needed and this is a good first step”. All in
all, the current attitude towards this reform appears to
be a positive one.
CAO points system to experience its first overhaul in more than 20 years
Amount of Students Scoring Between 500-600 Points:
Amount of Students Scoring Between 400-499 Points:
Amount of Students Scoring Between 300-399 Points:
2015 Leaving Cert Results Stats
+396
in 2015
+650
in 2015
+399
in 2015
+285
in 2014
+644
in 2014
+666
in 2014
+2340
in 2013
(from 1995)
+2172
in 2013
(from 1995)
-1622
in 2013
(from 1995)
4 |
5. UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday, September 8th 2015
Reeling in the Years - A Recap of Last Year
Zoe Cashman - News Editor
As we enter into a new year in UCC it
is important to remember past events.
Here is a recap on the main events of
the past year.
September saw the start of a
new college year and with that came
the introduction of semesterisation
to UCC. The new system has proved
challenging and came with many
issues. However, the college is hopeful
that the second year of this new system
brings more success.
The Student Council reconvened and
the proposed ‘wipe the slate clean’ mo-
tion was discussed. It was felt that past
Student Councils did not keep accurate
records and so it was necessary to wipe
the slate clean and vote again. This
particular motion was controversial as
many were unhappy about re-voting on
past issues, such as the support of mar-
riage equality. The motion was passed
however, and previous motions were
voted on again by the council.
The Campus bookshop formerly lo-
cated in Áras na Mac Léinn closed its
doors on November 21st. Due to the
introduction of semesterisation, stu-
dents were faced with sit-down exams
in December. With the added pressure
came the demand for longer library
opening hours which the college prom-
ised would come but never material-
ised, with alternative study areas being
supplied but not covering the increased
need for spaces. The Students’ Union
launched a sit-in protest in the library
and managed to gain extended opening
hours for the study period. They are
hopeful that the opening hours can be
further extended for the coming year.
With the new semester came many
exciting events. In January there was
a campus referendum on whether to
stay a part of USI and on the upcoming
Marriage Referendum. The campus
voted yes on both with a 91.4% yes
vote to USI and 92.35% in support for
Marriage Equality. A ‘Breaking Down
Barriers’ talk led by current Welfare
Officer Katie Quinlan saw student
Joanne O’ Riordan and Irish celebrity
Bressie speak about the mental and
physical barriers in life and how to
overcome them. Mental health became
a big topic in the college this year and
was highlighted by the annual ‘Dark-
ness into Light’ walk associated with
Pieta House which saw a staggering
80,000 people participate nationwide
this summer.
R&G Week turned out to be a
great success as students raised over
20,000 euro for charity which
surpassed last year’s total and the week
saw fewer arrests and public order
offences than in previous years. Stu-
dents’ Union Elections got underway
in March which saw two officers being
re-elected, Joe Kennedy and Barry
Nevin, the election of the first female
Welfare Officer in 6 years, Katie
Quinlan, the election of our new
Students’ Union President, Aidan
Coffey and the election of Deputy
President and Campaigns Officer
James Upton. Plans for a new Student
Hub were revealed in which many
new facilities would be available to
students, such as learning and teaching
spaces, offices, a ‘Student Life Zone’
and more. This Student Hub is hoped
to be completed in 2016.
Former Deputy President and
Campaigns Officer, Dick Murphy,
led the ‘Break the Silence’ Campaign
launched on March 23rd which sought
to get students and the wider society to
talk about rape. The Students Union’
organised and ran UCC’s first ever
college ball equivalent to that of the
Trinity Ball to finish out the year. All
in all, the year proved to be mostly a
success and it is hoped that this year
can even surpass the achievements of
last year’s students.
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6. Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | UCC EXPRESS
The Mediterranean Refugee Crisis
Does the world care?
Deirdre Ferriter - Features Editor
“People panicked when water filled the
boat and it sank, we had life vests. I was
holding my wife’s hands. My children
slipped from my hands. We tried to hold
on to the boat but it deflated rapidly.
Everyone was screaming. I could not
hear the voices of my children and my
wife. I tried to swim to the beach by
following the lights. I looked for my wife
and children on the beach but couldn’t
find them.”
The above account is that of Abdullah
Kurdi, the father of the 3 year old boy
Aylan, who washed up on the shore of
Bodrum, Turkey on Wednesday morning
of last week. The picture of Aylan’s body,
face down on the beach which emerged
last Wednesday evening has had a sober-
ing effect on all those who have seen it.
Aylan drowned fleeing across the Med-
iterranean along with his brother Galip
and mother Rehan leaving his father alone
in the world and in a foreign country.
Abdullah has since been interviewed and
has said he no longer wishes to go on to
Europe and would prefer to return to Syr-
ia. He has decided to return his wife and
children’s bodies to Kobani in Syria;
“I just want to see my children for the
last time and stay forever with them.”
The EU estimated death toll for Syrian
people fleeing their homeland this summer
alone has now reached 2,500 but it was
the image of one boy that brought this
issue home to us, everyone who viewed
this picture saw a child just like any Irish
child, race-less, genderless and innocent.
Perhaps this is the way we need to view all
Syrian refugees, they are innocent ordi-
nary people and one death in the Med-
iterranean is the same as a drowning or
sudden death in Ireland. It is the loss of a
life that could been saved.
The Government response thus far to this
humanitarian crisis has been to send Naval
ships to the Mediterranean on search and
rescue missions. The crews of these ships
have done amazing work thus far saving
lives under immediate threat. It should be
noted that Ireland; along with Denmark
and the UK, secured an opt-out in certain
matters related to Justice and Home Af-
fairs at the last Lisbon Treaty and there-
fore, the Government’s decision to waive
this clause and accept an as yet undecided
number of refugees resulting from the cur-
rent crisis should be commended. Howev-
er as a nation we are not truly addressing
the future of these people. The Govern-
ment have offered refuge to a mere 600
people at time of writing when thousands
are in need of homes. In contrast to their
Government, as usual the Irish people
have proven themselves enterprising, char-
itable and conscientious. As of last Friday
6,000 people had offered beds in their own
homes to refugees. One Clare man, Aiden
O’Neill, has even offered to adopt or to
foster a child while their parents get back
on their feet. He has taken it upon himself
to set up a Facebook page call the ‘Aylan
Kurdi shelter’ and told George Hook on
‘The Right Hook’ that he hopes to find
other like-minded families who will do the
same;
“I would love - and I’m putting this out
as an
appeal, George - there’s a meeting in
two weeks’ time, in Brussels, an emer-
gency meeting, and I would love to fur-
nish Enda Kenny with a list of 600-odd
families who would be willing to do the
same... that would make me the happi-
est man in the world”.
This entire situation brings to mind the
emergency evacuation of children to the
safe countryside from cities like London
during World War II. Globally we are
fortunate to live in the safe and idyllic
countryside of the world in the midst
of the greatest humanitarian crisis since
World War II.
Instead of proactively volunteering to take
in a specific number of refugees however
the Government of the Irish Republic is
now waiting to be told how many they
should take in by the E.U. I think we can
all answer that and the Irish people have.
As many as possible. The Taoiseach Enda
Kenny has instead decided to remain
vague and noncommittal on this issue. He
has reportedly asked the Justice minister
Frances Fitzgerald to have a “flexible
mind” at the upcoming European Com-
mission meeting on the 14th of September.
A more sceptical person might say Fine
Gael and Labour would prefer to spend the
current surplus tax take of 1.4 billion Euro
on vote winning than housing refugees.
Leadership can hide their head in the sand
but the fact is this situation is escalating,
not going away. The death toll in the
whole of 2014 was an estimated 3,500 and
this summer alone has been 2,500.
The global response to this crisis has been
varied with the greatest effort coming
from Germany pledging to take 800,000
people (1% of its population). Elaine
Byrne of the Sunday Business post has
pointed out that proportionately this would
mean Ireland should take in approximately
50,000 refugees, not 600 which is .01%
of Ireland’s population. The Department
of Justice seemed to be hoping nobody
would bother to do these calculations
when they announced “Ireland will not be
found wanting and as before will do the
right and generous thing commensurate
with our size and our capacity”.
This response by the German government
mirrors the sentiments shown by football
supporters in recent months. Banners
stating ‘Refugees Welcome’ have been
seen at the home football grounds of
Hamburg FC, St. Pauli, Borussia Dort-
mund and Dresden. Bayern Munich have
pledged €1m to projects to help refugees
and Schälke 04 released a video express-
ing solidarity with the hashtag #standup-
ifyourehuman. Closer to home Celtic FC
also promised to donate a percentage of
the proceeds of last weekend’s Jock Stein
30th Anniversary game.
It is clear this crisis has moved ordinary
people all over the world so why isn’t
every Government and every person
acting accordingly? Like most humani-
tarian crises it ignites the best in most but
also gives the few the opportunity to spout
their xenophobic and racist opinions. For
example the reaction on Twitter by former
UKIP candidate, Peter Bucklitsch to see-
ing the picture of Aylan Kurdi washed up
on the beach;
“The little Syrian boy was well clothed
and well fed, he died because his par-
ents were greedy for the good life in
Europe. Queuing costs.”
Although I’m loath to even repeat the
above opinion it demonstrates some ex-
treme and damaging attitudes that do still
exist today. Although Bucklitsch’s remarks
are despicable they are easily dismissed
by many as the rantings of an imbecile.
Perhaps less easily
ignored however are the murmured
opinions amongst the Irish public as to
why we cannot commit to giving refuge
to higher numbers. Examples of these are
the homelessness crisis, the recession,
religious panic and inadequate direct pro-
vision. It is undoubtedly true that there is
a homelessness crisis in Ireland today but
this is not and should not be comparable to
the current situation in the Mediterranean.
There is a vast difference between lives
being in immediate and certain danger
and people being homeless and living in
temporary accommodation. I do not say
this to belittle the homeless crisis but to
portray the enormity of the situation in the
Mediterranean. Homeless
charities around Ireland have even asked
that homelessness not be used as an
extcuse not to help Syrian refugees. Al-
though people may also say that “charity
starts at home” the crisis in Syria does not
call for charity but for instinctual human
decency as argued by UCC’s Professor of
Law Siobhán Mullally in The Irish Times;
“Offering protection to people fleeing
systemic human rights violations is not
an act of charity. It is a Human Rights
imperative, a matter of legal and moral
obligation.”
It is true that in Ireland’s history of
providing refuge to asylum seekers the
Government has been left wanting in the
accommodation and living standards they
provide. Some have been living in the
“Direct Provision” programme for years
and living on 19 euro a week. They are not
given permission to work or study so they
are effectively stranded and cannot inte-
grate properly into Irish society. Although
these conditions are nowhere near ideal,
our previous poor performance cannot
be used as an excuse to do nothing in the
future and last Friday Minister Fitzgerald
announced plans to reform the system as
soon as the Dáil reconvenes. This will
hopefully see both existing and future ap-
plications from refugees processed much
more quickly and prevent applicants from
languishing in a judicial limbo indefinitely.
While the picture of Aylan’s body is head-
line news this week we should not delude
ourselves into thinking this is a new prob-
lem. This crisis has been ongoing since the
beginning of the Syrian Civil War 4 years
ago and governments have been ignoring
the crisis. The death toll has now become
impossible to disregard as the public be-
come roused by the images from Bodrum.
Even if this were a new issue the response
thus far is simply not enough. If we look
at this “human catastrophe”, as the Taoise-
ach described it, from an Irish viewpoint
the only comparable event in our past to
the current mass exodus of Syria is the
Great Famine between 1845 and 1852.
The plight of Afghani, Syrian, Somalian
and Eritrean refugees today should sound
a stark echo in our collective unconscious
when we recall the “coffin ships” that car-
ried Irish immigrants escaping oppression,
starvation and illness to North America at
the gravest time in our history.
6 |
7. What Can We Do To Help?
Donate if you can, no matter how small
Money donated no matter how small to non-governmental groups
working in the affected areas is perhaps the most impactful differ-
ence a person at home can make. Below are some charities working
in the area that can be donated to online;
Non-monetary donations
Many goods that aren’t readily available and can’t be bought easily
over the internet would be especially helpful if you can spare them
Sign a petition
Uplift have a petition calling for increased numbers of migrants to
be allowed into Ireland which has already garnered almost 18,000
signatures. It can be signed on their website Uplift.ie
• Concern Syria Programme Ireland Calais Refugee
Solidarity is raising money
• Irish group Disaster Tech Lab are sending a team to the
islands between Greece and Turkey. Their goal is to
establish working internet and communications at the
sites.
• The UNHCR
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), who have three ships
operating in the Mediterranean at present.
• The UN’s childrens’ fund UNICEF
• Red Cross Europe
• Electric Picnic –donate unwanted tents and other
belongings to the Cork / Dublin Calais Refugee Solidarity
group
• Books – the Jungle Library have set up a makeshift library
at the Calais camp
• Cars – Refugee Action are accepting old cars as donations
• Instruments – Music Against Borders are taking donations
of old or unwanted instruments for the migrants at Calais
UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | 7
8. Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | UCC EXPRESS8 |
UCC’s Next Top Chicken Roll
Robert O’Sullivan - Designer
For those of you new to college life, your relationship with the God of all foods, the humble chicken roll, may only be a passing one. For those of you
who are veterans of the war on hangovers, you know well the almighty powers these simple foodstuffs possess. I would go on further about the messi-
ah-like healing powers they have, but honestly I’m just barely skirting the Blasphemy laws at this stage…Moving on, we’re going to rank the chicken
rolls available around UCC, factoring in quality, cost and consistency.
Honourable Mention #1: Your Own Homemade Chicken Roll
3rd Place: Student Centre Chicken Roll (?) 2nd Place: The Main Rest Chicken Roll
1st Place: Daybreak Chicken Roll (College Road)
Honourable Mention 2: Luxury Char-Grilled Peri Peri Chicken Panini, Glucksman Gallery
We all know the story: the bread
roll you bought on a whim is
technically out of date but your
roommate says it ‘looks grand,’
the Slovakian chicken nuggets
you bought from Aldi two years
ago is taking up space in the
back of the freezer and your
other roommate who you haven’t
seen in a while has butter you’re
*pretty* sure they never use.
And you’ve a lecture in two
minutes. And you’re hungover.
“Feck it,” you tell yourself, “it’ll
be grand,” but quite like any
European army that’s tried to
invade Russia in the course of
history has learned, sometimes
“feck it, it’ll be grand” isn’t quite
correct. The homemade chicken
roll is typically messy, regretta-
ble and something you hope nev-
er to experience again, so it’s a
bit like that one-night-stand you
had with that weird guy from
your sociology class, except the
chicken roll is less likely to lead
to an awkward tutorial.
For most impressionable Fresh-
ers, the Student Centre seems
to be a great one-stop-shop to
buy stationery, clothes, food and
drink. And while a lot of this
is true, their chicken rolls are
really below par. Being the most
expensive on this list, one would
expect a standard befitting its
lofty costs. Yet, here it is at the
bottom of the list. Coming it at
€4.50, the quality of everything
is just...off. The bread is soft
and floppy, the chicken oily and
somehow burned & undercooked
at the same time, the choice of
salads minimal. You’d hope I
just had one of their rolls on an
off-day, but I went back several
times, and the quality (or lack
thereof) was consistent. So don’t
go there for the chicken rolls, but
maybe try something else? I hear
they’re one of the only places in
the country that do tuna without
sweetcorn in rolls…
Probably the most controversial
entrant on this list, the quality
of the main rest chicken roll
is an oft debated topic in the
lofty halls of the Philosoph...
and dingy student apartments
at 3am. And it’s soon to join
the Freddo in the “typical thing
people discuss when they have
nothing to say to each other” as
the price of the infamous roll has
risen...by 55 cent. Yes, the Main
Rest Chicken Roll has risen to
the high price of €3.55. Higher
quality chicken and bread than
in the Student Centre, the Main
is the go-to if you’re extremely
hungover and in a rush to get to
your lecture in the Soviet Bloc
building that is the Kane (which
somehow won an award for ar-
chitecture), then the Main is your
best bet.
Here it is, the King of the Chicken Roll, Clifford’s Daybreak on College Road. Prior the rapid somehow localised inflation that tragically struck the Main over the
Summer, the only barrier to Daybreak clinching the crown (its €4 asking price) has disappeared. The quality of the bread is unmatched, its chicken sublime, the options
of type of chicken & variety of salads unmatched by anything in the known universe...or at the very least the general UCC area. Top tip from a chicken roll veteran, the
crowd in Daybreak at lunch time can often be out the door, so time is of the essence. And if you want something downright class, ask them to throw a few wedges in the
roll, it is top quality.
Okay, I’ll be honest, I’m not
entirely sure that this actual-
ly exists, hence it only being
an honourable mention. The
Lewis Glucksman Gallery, if
you didn’t know, is a fan-
tastic little treasure hiding
on our own campus. And by
hiding on our own campus,
I mean it being that wonder-
ful-looking giant odd art gal-
lery with its own café. I’ve
been there for lunch many
times, but have never had
enough disposable income
to actually warrant buying
something here as opposed
to the other entrants on this
list. Still, if you want to treat
yourself, the Glucksman is
a good option, especially if
you want to treat yo self.
(Pictured: Not A Chicken Roll)
So there we have it. If you have any questions, or if you
disagree with my assessment, then it’s ‘answers on a post-
card’ or you can email ChickenRoll@UCCExpress.ie.
9. UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | 9
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Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | UCC EXPRESS10 |10 |
FLASH
BACK<Every issue the UCC Express team look back at our own print history and
pick out some...interesting bits from papers’ past.
Front page of the first issue of that year (1988). How did we measure up?
11. UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | 11
Disclaimer: We present these excerpts unedited, to highlight how much has changed since they were first published.
14. UCC Soccer are back and fully
immersed in pre-season ahead of their
new campaigns. The club enjoyed a
very successful season last year across
all levels and anticipation is high lead-
ing into their opening fixtures.
The first XI in particular achieved
a lot in 2014/15 including winning the
Munster Senior League for the first
time in the clubs history. The club also
took home the Crowley, Harding and
Collingwood cups each of which is
competed for between different univer-
sities throughout the island of Ireland.
Such unprecedented success has UCC
looking like favourites for the Munster
Senior League as well as inter-varsity
honours and certainly their main col-
legiate rivals will be targeting victory
over the Skull & Bones to gain
confidence within their own squads.
The Freshers team has a new coach
at the helm with the appointment of for-
mer UCC man Neal Horgan. A graduate
of UCC, Horgan also played profes-
sionally in the League of Ireland with
Cork City FC, continuing the College’s
successful partnership with Cork City
FC of recent years. He will undoubt-
edly make a big impact having been
in the same position as those he will
be coaching and especially seeing as
he has represented UCC and Ireland at
the World University games during his
time at College. Horgan will be joined
by Munster Coerver Director, Jason
Brown, in forming the coaching ticket
for the incoming freshman. Brown is
an expert on player development, a key
aspect of the Freshers side which looks
to bring as many players forward for the
First XI in future seasons as possible.
UCC have kept a familiar feel
to the rest of the clubs coaches with all
other coaching roles within the club
seeing last season’s coaches retained.
Greg Franklin and Stephen Kestell will
be in charge of the J3 squad while Paul
Farrell and Jordan Philpott will join
‘The Kieran Dowd Perpetual Award’
winner, Liam Corbett, in leading the
highly successful J2 squad from last
year. Derek O’Gorman and John An-
drews will continue in their roles with
the J1s and Noel Healy, Mick Conroy
and Conor Uhl will look after the first
XI in a testing year which will see them
having to defend numerous titles. Dave
O’Connell will also continue is his role
as First XI Strength and Conditioning
coach also.
Training has begun for all sides and
all information for this can be found at
ucc.soccer.ie.
UCC will be looking to lay down a
marker on the first day of the season
this year as they take on Skerries RFC
on September 19th at the Mardyke.
Skerries will provide a sizable early test
to the student’s resolve as they remain
one of the strongest sides in the division
and are hotly tipped by many to secure
the division 2A title this season. The
Dublin side were unlucky not to finish
the season with a top two finish and be
playing their rugby in division 1B this
year. Blackrock College RFC edged
their fellow Dubliners out by six points
to take second place, their impressive
34-13 victory in the head-to-head early
in the season proving vital.
At the other end of the table the
students clung on to their division 2A
status by the tightest of margins, leaving
it until the last few matches of the sea-
son to demonstrate their full potential.
A very impressive final four matches
saw UCC take sixteen points, out of
a possible twenty. This included two
convincing bonus point victories back-
to-back over Thomond and Seapoint,
along with a critical marginal victory
over relegation rivals, City of Derry,
away from home. The Ulster side were
demoted to division 2B having finished
just one point below UCC. This set up a
tantilising final day fixture against pro-
motion hopefuls Blackrock. The match
was understandably a tense and tight
affair with a lot to play for both sides on
opposite sides of the spectrum. A 15-15
draw ultimately proved enough for both
sides as UCC secured their survival in
2A and Blackrock their promotion to
1B.
Earlier in the season UCC came out
on the wrong side of the result when
the two sides met as Skerries came out
27-21 winners at Holmpatrick Park in
a hard fought encounter. The Dubliners
scored five tries, earning maximum
points in the process, ultimately forcing
UCC to kick at goal in the dying mo-
ments of the game in order to salvage a
losing bonus point from the game.
The change in the league format
places a heightened importance on each
match as it sees just ten sides take their
places in division 2A for the coming
season, a considerable downsizing
from the sixteen teams last season. The
fixture list has also been extended to
eighteen matches in order to accommo-
date a home and away match between
each side.
UCC’s mid-table tenth placed finish
which did just enough to maintain their
status as a 2A side is reflective of how
tough this division will be this year.
This year’s changes mean that anything
less than an 8th placed finish would
see the students move down a division.
UCC will be hoping to carry their fine
form from the end of last season into a
testing division and a difficult first day
clash.
UCC v Skerries, AIL Ulster Bank
League Division 2A, Saturday the 19th
of September K.O. 16:30, The Mardyke.
UCC FC Set to Build on Momentous Season
College set for revenge in tough Skerries season opener
National Success on UCC WHC’s Horizons
Neil Willoughby - Sports Editor
Neil Willoughby - Sports Editor
Clodagh Moloney - Sports Writer
The success of the UCC Women’s First XI in the
2014/15 season means they will begin their
season in 3 weeks time in the new All Ireland
League(AIL). This league looks set to prove
itself to be a big test for the college side as they
look to compete on a national scale having
previously competed on a provincial level in the
Munster League.
The AIL will consist of the 10 best teams from
across the island of Ireland including two Cork
teams representing the province of Munster.
Travelling around the country to game more
than 10 times may prove a difficult task but it is
one the girls will have to overcome if they
want to compete in this high level competition.
The loss of the talismanic Amy Kate Trevor may
cause an initial upset to the team at the
beginning of the season. Although a squad boast-
ing 14 previous Munster and Leinster
representatives as well as a number of Irish rep-
resentatives should prove enough depth,
experience and talent in the squad to challenge
for the title.
Captain Nicola Kerr and her cohorts will be
pleased to have Emily Reidy, Aisling O’Leary
and former Irish Youth Olympian Antonia
McGrath back in the mix after their year abroad.
Some young well known faces such as Alex
O’Grady and Saoirse O’Leary will also be
joining the squad ahead of the coming season.
This extra depth in the squad may prove to
be the ingredient to success which the UCC
Women’s 1st XI team were missing last year
when competing for titles towards the end of last
season. ‘Veteran’Ailbhe Coyle and
Quercas scholar Clodagh Moloney, in particular,
will be looked to by Coach Phil Oakley for
big performances this season. Phil is embarking
on his second season with this team and
his aggressive style of play will suit the girls in
what may be the toughest season to date.
This team can be expected to cause a lot more
trouble on the national stage this year more
so than years gone by.
The All Ireland League(AIL) is not the only prize
the first team will be gunning for this
season, they will be looking to substitute the title
of Munster plate winners for the greater
prize of being crowned Munster Cup Champions.
The Ladies Second XI were piped at the post for
second place in their league in the later
part of the season and will be hoping to earn back
the title they had previously won. After a
heart-breaking defeat in penalty strokes in the
last game of the season the Fourth XI will be
looking to start fresh and build from this loss.
Both the ladies Third and Fourth XI’s teams will
as always welcome a lot of new faces and will
compete in their respective Munster League
and cup competitions. These teams include peo-
ple who are new to the sport and also more
seasoned players who want to play to avail of the
more social aspects of both the club and
the sport.
There will be an open evening for anyone who
wishes to try their hand at hockey during the
first/second week back to college so stay tuned to
@uccmhc & @uccladieshockey on twitter
and also UCC MHC and UCC LHC on Facebook
for more details.
14 | Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | UCC EXPRESS
15. UCC Sport in 2014/15: A Year in Review
Neil Willoughby - Sports Editor
The 2014/15 academic year brought with it a lot of success for UCC in terms of
sport with many clubs, teams and individuals shining through and accomplishing
big things across both collegiate and national platforms. In particular the Basket-
ball and Soccer clubs enjoyed near perfect seasons with many other sports clubs
enjoying highly competitive seasons.
The aforementioned Basketball club led the way with unprecedented success,
in terms of the college and the country. The side dominated the Super League,
Ireland’s premier basketball competition, going undefeated throughout their
league campaign with eighteen wins. The UCC Demons were also victorious in
the National Cup and Champions Trophy to record an impressive treble to add to
their double from last season. The team firmly setting themselves as the best in
the country. This national and collegiate dominance was further recognised by the
College awarding Adrian O’Sullivan, one of the team’s key players, his second
UCC Sports award this year.
UCC FC enjoyed a season to rival that of the basketball club, winning the
Munster Senior League for the first time in the clubs history. The club were also
were successful in inter-varsity competitions, enjoying victories in the Colling-
wood, Crowley and Harding cups to complete an impressive 2014/15 season.
The success of the club saw both Jason Abbott and Sean O’Mahony receive UCC
Sports awards as well as Liam Corbett, one of the clubs coaches, earning ‘The
Kieran Dowd Perpetual Award’.
UCC RFC did enough to maintain their status in Ulster Bank division 2A. A
dominant end to the season, including 3 wins and a draw, saw the men’s first team
earn tenth place in division 2A and as a result avoid relegation to division 2B.
This achievement is particular notable considering that this year six teams were
relegated to division 2B as part of a restructuring of the All Ireland League. First
year Paul Kiernan earned an award for his contribution to the success of the sen-
ior men’s season. While Alison Miller earned her third UCC Sports Award for her
impressive international rugby exploits. The winger, now graduated, played a key
role in the Irish Women’s rugby teams Six Nations victory in 2015 and has been a
key player for the side in recent seasons.
The Sailing and Cricket clubs also has good years, the former winning in-
ter-varsities for the first time in two decades while the latter won both the indoor
and outdoor inter-varsity competitions.
UCC continued its rich history of success in Gaelic games as the senior men’s
team were unlucky not to retain their Sigerson Cup (Inter-varsity) title. The 2014
champions hosted the 2015 competition and unfortunately lost out in the dying
moments of the final to DCU. Paul Geaney, a member of both the 2014 and 2015
UCC men’s teams, was awarded his second UCC Sports award as he continues to
play at inter-county level for Kerry. Katrina Mackey also received a UCC Sports
award for her role in Cork’s 2014 camogie All-Ireland title, her All-star award and
her integral role in UCC’s camogie team reaching the semi-finals of the Ash-
bourne Cup. Cork inter-county footballer Roisin Phelan received her first UCC
Sports award for her role in the Cork Ladies’All-Ireland victory and her contribu-
tion to the UCC’s ladies football team reaching the semi-finals of the O’Connor
Cup.
UCC students Jean O’Driscoll and Chris Mintern were also recipients of UCC
Sports awards, the former is a member of the Irish Senior Women’s panel while
Mintern earned the first award for Triathlete in the College’s history, narrowly
missing out on the national title.
| 15UCC EXPRESS | Tuesday, September 8th 2015
16. Fred McIlroy - Sports Writer
With only 2 weeks until the
first competitive game of the
year, final preparations are
being put in place for UCC
Men’s Hockey Club 1st XI.
This season will see the team
as the favourites to win the
Munster League for the first
time. This is the result of a
change in the make-up of the
League’s participants. The
new All Ireland League (AIL)
establishment sees Cork’s
Church of Ireland Hockey
Club competing in its debut
season and as a result will not
be taking their usual place
within the Munster League.
The squad has a strong feel
to it ahead of the new season,
however, Adam O’Callaghan
will be a very notable absentee.
The former UCC Centre-back
has graduated and is moving
back to his old club, Cork’s
Church of Ireland.
On a positive note former
Leinster Captain Sam
Grace joins the club having
been awarded the Quercus
scholarship. Captain Fionn
O’Leary is also excited to
welcome back the likes of
Andy Colton and Greg
Chambers, both returning
from Erasmus absences.
O’Leary also highlighted
several talents amongst
the freshman including
international goalkeeper
Peter Coulter. He feels that
this extra depth to the squad
could be the deciding factor
when it comes to the business
end of the season.
Neil Welch who is starting
his 7th year of coaching in
UCC is well used to ever
changing group of players
that comes with a college team
and is looking forward to
the challenge of the Munster
league this year. The Munster
league is not the only title that
is on the cards this season.
UCC Men’s Hockey will
also compete in the Munster
and National cups as well as
playing hosts to the annual
Inter-varsity tournament. The
side will be looking to emulate
the success of 2012 when they
were last crowned champions
on home turf.
It is not only the 1st XI that
haveabigseasonaheadasboth
the Second and Fourth XI’s
will be looking to defend their
Cork and Barber Cup titles
respectively. Andy McGregor,
the Seconds’ captain, is
looking forward to welcoming
new players into his team.
Every year the club grows and
we are looking to welcoming
even more beginners this year.
There is always a big influx
of new players after the clubs
day in early September and
we have special subscription
prices for freshers. It is often
the excellent social side of the
club that is so appealing for
new members.
New talent to play key role for UCC MHC
Inside Sport
Page 14
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME: UCC
FC set to build on momentus season
this year, club appeals to Freshers
Tuesday, September 8th 2015 | uccexpress.ie | Volume 19 | Issue 1
UCC SPORT