Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
December 2005
Issue 8
International Colleges
conflict zones has been has
increased in recent years, as
have the numbers of journal-
ists who have been killed or
kidnapped. Indeed, these
dangers are becoming so Wendy Tapia Trying to explain the reasons
for Trinity’s dramatic decline,
great that certain journalists
refuse to travel to these areas. reports on the Dr. David Lloyd, Associate
Dean of Research at Trinity
A case taken by a former ABC varying fortunes College said there was disap-
News foreign correspondent pointment at the overall drop
in which he claimed he was
of Irish and in ranking. However, he was
international quick to point out that TCD
sacked for refusing to cover
improved in science from 94th
the war in Iraq highlights the
problem. The kidnapping of
colleges in the place to 75th.
On the other hand, Dr. Sean
Rory Carroll, an Irish journal- annual global Barrett, Senior Lecturer in
ist with the Guardian news- Economics, said he was not
league tables surprised, considering that
paper, and his subsequent
the college had spent the past
release, brought the subject two years embroiled in a “civil
even closer to home. war” over proposals to cut
the number of departments
Iraq remains the most physi- and faculties. He added that
“University heads make these
cally dangerous place for jour-
statements before the budget
nalists to work. Since the war every year and err in doing
began, more than 100 media In the world-wide classifica- so”.
workers have been killed. tion of colleges, published in The public relations
Journalists are now seen as November 2005, Ireland’s only department of The National
representative fell dramatically Autonomous University of
participants in war, and prime
in the rankings. Mexico commented: “These
targets for insurgents. In light In the top 200 college global results show the important aca-
of this danger, the work of league table, Trinity College demic development achieved
Robert Fisk is all the more surprisingly dropped 24 by the UNAM in recent years.l”
impressive. He has spent 29 places. As the sole irish repre- According to the latest Mexican
sentative on the list, this was national budget, it was decid-
years reporting from conflict
a dissapointing result. Other ed to give a 40% increase to
zones, and his coverage of universities like The National Trinity College Dublin in freefall research and to improve the
the war in Iraq continues to Autonomous University of educational resources in this
inform a public hungry for the Mexico (UNAM) scaled 100 2,375 academic ranking uni- In the evaluation by different university.
truth. This month, he talks places in just one year. versities and the number of subjects, the study revealed In the classification the
The National Autonomous times that academic research that The National Autonomous top rankings are occupied by
exclusively to The Circular. papers are cited. University of Mexico occupies
University of Mexico is listed Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge.
in 95th place, Trinity College According to this edito- 20th place among the best uni- Now, universities around the
has fallen to 111th place. Areas rial group, The National versities of the world in the field world are waiting for the results
taken into consideration when Autonomous University of of the Arts and Humanities; of another important rank-
calculating the ranking were: Mexico is the highest ranked while in the Science category it ing: The Academia Ranking of
TheCircular peer review, which involved Hispanamerican university. appears in 93rd position. World Universities 2005.
Editor:
Stephen O’Leary Injustice of College Grant System
Iain O’Connor examines the problems surrounding the current means tested
Sub Editors: grants for students, and why those in private colleges are unfairly discrimainated
Anne Marie Duff
against.
James McNulty
Noirin Byrne Everybody says it. Everybody “No”. This will usually shock are not all occupied by people available to these students, the
you talk to says some form of the questionnaire. I found out who can easily afford to pay government is heading in the
Ian O’Connor the words that it even shocked a local for them. The Griffith College opposite direction. According
“Jesus, four grand a year! Fianna Fail T.D. which is very Students Union estimates that to Mary Hannifan, the Minister
That’s shocking expensive!” odd with it being his party’s less than one percent of stu- for Education, there are plans
Advertising: We have all been there. A decision. To be honest, at this dents would be eligible for a to try to cut the amount of
Victor Gamez Martin birthday, a funeral, a chris- stage I cannot see any reason grant. Private colleges could people eligible for grants by
tening or any number of fam- for the policy of not providing cater for so many more people moving the cut off point of
ily events where a relative you maintenance grants to students if means tested grants were €33,890 to a substantially
Layout and Design: don’t really know, or like, tells attending private colleges. available to them. lower number.
you how expensive your degree The State are in a posi- Means tested grants are only The Union of Students in
Diren Valayden is. Because you didn’t know tion where too many people given to full time students who Ireland is in support of grants
already. Inevitably they will are applying to go to college are in households that earn being open to all students.
then ramble on about where and state colleges are getting less than € 33,890 (along with However, because they cur-
“four grand a year” could go. If overcrowded. Fees may be re- a number of other require- rently have no private colleges
you fail to turn the conversa- introduced to try to discourage ments) and if accepted they as members they are not acting
tion in an other direction, they young people from applying to receive €2,945 and full fees. on the issue.
The Circular is produced will probably ask “that” ques- college due to the lack of space, The grant is designed in such At the moment the Griffith
by journalism students of tion. The one that goes some- so why not just acknowledge a way that it is impossible for College Students Union is
thing like “Would the govern- the problem and let some one people who don’t deserve it to mounting a campaign to try
Griffith College Dublin ment not help you out there a else take care of it? get it. Therefore, the presump- and get means tested mainte-
Tel: 01 4150400 bit... like with a grant?” The fact remains that private tion of rich kids in private nance grants for private college
e-mail: Ok, maybe it's just my institutions supply the country colleges looking for a quick students. If you are interested
circular2006@yahoo.ie extended family that go on with about 5,000 college plac- buck for nothing goes out the in finding out more, please talk
like this but no matter what, es that would not exist other- window. However, instead of to Killian Faulknan the current
the answer is always a firm wise. Ultimately these places making means tested grants SU President.
Dec05 The Circular 3
Hell
Sucks
Danger, violence, murder and death continue to
infect and poison the streets of Baghdad. Robert
Fisk talks candidly to Nóirín Byrne about life and
politics in such a “hell disaster” area.
Beginning his career with the tics believes that constitutions Fisk, who has met Saddam graves being opened, people people on the streets, lead-
Newcastle Evening Chronicle and elections are “irrelevant” Hussein and interviewed dead all over, blown to pieces ing ordinary lives I sometimes
and the Sunday Express “chas- to the ordinary citizens of Iraq Osama Bin Laden on several by suicide bombers, the mortu- think that maybe I missed out
ing vicars who’d ran off with and designed to allow the West occasions, is one of the few jour- ary with dead babies in there", but I can’t turn the clock back,
starlets”, Robert Fisk is now more access to money: “Iraq is nalists that still reports from saying “If you saw what I saw can I?”
the longest serving Western in such a state of anarchy and the streets of Baghdad: “The you’d never support war.” Beginning to regret the paths
journalist in the Middle East. chaos that things like elections Independent and the Guardian Fisk, who has recently pub- he chose, the veteran journalist
The British journalist has and constitutional referendums still take to the streets but it lished his second book The cannot see himself in Iraq in
spent the last twenty nine years hardly matter any more. It was is becoming increasingly dan- Great War for Civilisation, twenty years time and is ada-
reporting from countries such partly drawn up under pressure gerous for journalists in Iraq. concedes that it was an emo- mant that he will not write such
as Lebanon, Iran, Bosnia and from American and British dip- A lot of journalists don’t step tionally draining time writing a book again: “I’m not going to
Iraq; nations torn apart by the lomats in Baghdad and they foot outside their hotels per- the transcript and it forced him want to rush to Iraq in twenty
ravages of war. managed to get the people who haps because they are afraid, to re-think a lot of things: “It years time. I won’t write this
Describing the Iraqi’s as were writing the constitution
“strong, intelligent people”, to water down some of the eco-
Fisk has witnessed first hand nomic paragraphs. For the Iraqi people elections and constitutional
the torture inflicted on the "So that for example, oil
innocent citizens of Baghdad: which is owned by Iraq; some of
referendums hardly matter any more
“When you get up in the morn- the oil concessions can be now
ing you hear the first suicide owned by foreign companies
bombers, there is very little and they forced them to push which I don’t blame them for, was a very depressing book to book again, it’s a very unhappy
electricity. For most Iraqis they that into the constitution which but what I do object to is them write. It was about pain and book", adding, "I used to think
spend their time trying to make in turn allows them to have not telling their readers their death and torture and geno- that it was a privilege to watch
sure that their wives and chil- extra power politically . It’s the circumstances.” cide. When I come back to the history but now I think it’s a
dren don’t get kidnapped for economic side of the constitu- Bosnia, he says, was by likes of Dublin and see ordinary curse”.
money. tion that is important because far the worst for journalists:
"They try to find money to the West is taking more and “Bosnia was pretty terrible
buy generators and to buy fuel more of Iraq’s wealth.” because journalists were being
so that they can have electric- The foreign correspondent targeted. We were deliberately
ity, so that they can keep their with the London “Independent”, sought out for being shot at.
fridges running, it’s very dan- explains why the violence and But Bosnia was terrible because
gerous and there is a lot of terror in Iraq has worsened the kind of weapons being used
mafia and kidnapping.” despite the capture of Saddam were lethal.
Fisk considers Iraq to be “the Hussein: “The Americans "They were using jet aircraft
most dangerous country now” thought that when they cap- in guerrilla warfare. Many of
that he has reported from and tured him the insurgency would the fighters in Bosnia were
the 40,000 or so that have fled end but it actually got fiercer. either drunk or on drugs so if
Creating Problems
life of individuals, and cost- conducted by an independent
ing the taxpayers considerable person appointed from a panel
amounts. Disputes between established by the Chairperson
landowners and local authori- of the Institute of Chartered
ties have held up major road Arbitrators in Ireland.
projects throughout the coun- Landowners will not lose their
for Owners
try. It is a conflict between goodwill payment by opting for
the ancient and the modern, independent assessment. The
between agriculture and indus- Independent Assessment proc-
try. Agriculture has decrease in ess requires a full exchange of
its importance to the economy reports from each side to the
in the past 20 years however other and an exchange of the
farmers are still reluctant to costs incurred by each side for
give up land that may have the Assessment process. Each
been in the family for decades. side is entitled to comment on
To continue to attract industry the report submitted by the
we must have a modern effi- other party. However four
cient transport system. In the years on some of the parties are
past 10 years the infrastructure unhappy with the situation.
has improved immensely with According to current IFA Vice
major towns having bypasses President Raymond O’Malley,
and a motorway from Dublin to “The time between route selec-
Belfast almost complete. But tion and road completion is
the thorny issue of compensa- ridiculously long, unnecessar-
tion has proved contentious in ily prolonging the anxiety of
the past and as the Government the farm family.” He is also
begin the election offensive unhappy with the “Notice to
and unveil their “Transport 21” Enter” giving the landowners
plans the co-operation of the notice that the authority is
farming community will again beginning work, which he says
be needed. In London there should be “unlawful unless and
is already bad feeling among until the NRA can prove it has
those who will have property purchased and paid for the
taken to facilitate the trans- acquired land”. Compensation
port upgrade before the 2012 is not being received before
Olympics. work commences.
In 2001 things had deteriorat- The agreement also stated that
ed as farmers refused to let sur- “local authorities will provide
veyors and officials enter their and maintain stock proof fenc-
lands. The principal problem ing on all new motorway, dual-
was that the land was compul- carriageway and national roads
sorily acquired under legisla- As the government reveal the Transport 21 provided on or over land to
tion dating back to after the which this agreement applies.”
1st World War, which farmers plans Anne Marie Duff looks at the uneasy Four years on the cost of this
claim, did not allow their land is causing concerns to local
to be fairly valued for compen- peace between landowners, local authori- authorities.
sation. This was what caused Another issue causing concern
the greatest distress to people ties and the NRA. is that farmers are currently
affected by CPO - they were obliged to pay Capital Gains Tax
being forced off their own land, (at 20%) on the sums received
or to sell a part of it, and they as compensation. This, they
were not being properly com- argue is unfair as it immedi-
pensated. Tom Parlon, then ately reduces the amount of
IFA President said “ No farmer the same time the uncertainty together and signed a twenty and made provision of a €5000 compensation and their ability
would sell a strip of land rough- over the future of the land usu- nine point agreement on the per acre “goodwill” payment to to purchase another piece of
ly 65 meters wide through the ally results in depressed val- Acquisition of Certain Lands farmers “in addition to all other land. Raymond O’Malley says
middle of his or her farm, ues. Few people want to buy a for National Roads. Its inten- payments”. “it is morally wrong and even
dividing the unit built up over house, which could be subject tion was to “deliver the nation- Another part is an Assessment legally wrong to charge CGT
generations into two or maybe to a CPO a few years down the al roads development pro- procedure, which can be used on any property seized by the
three fragmented pieces. To line. gramme within the timescale when a landowner and the local State”.
represent the CPO process as At the end of 2001 the parties of the National Development authority fail to reach agree- Tom Dunne, the chairman of
providing fair and reasonable involved, the NRA, the Dept Plan 2000-2006”. It clarified ment on a settlement. Either the the IFA's industrial and envi-
compensation is a travesty.” If of Environment and the IFA, many of the disputed issues landowner or the local author- ronment committee stated
a local authority or any other representing farmers came that, “We have received an
qualified body acquires land by opinion from a senior counsel
CPO, they are required to pay that we have an excellent prima
the market value of the land facie case to get this scrapped.
being acquired. They are also To represent the We are not being compensated
required to compensate peo- CPO process as fully for our land.”
ple for the disturbance caused The two sides have had an
during whatever construction providing fair uneasy peace over the last few
takes place. The process, how- years. If the Government pur-
ever, could take as long as 18
and reasonable sue its Transport 21 plans the
months to complete, meaning compensation is conflict may emerge again.
that the person being forced The value of a piece of land
to sell could receive value a a travesty depends on what it means to
year and a half out of date. its owner. How can a home for
Once an authority decides to 20 years be properly valued?
reserve a particular section of Can the NRA or local author-
land for a roadway no planning ity take this into account? The
Remains of a house demolished to make way for the Dublin/
permission will be given for contentious debate will con-
Belfast Motorway
development on that land. At tinue.
6 The Circular Dec05
Ireland is a country in denial. be free of dissected brains and These views may be stereotypi- try having a drinking problem. consequences, it enjoys a pretty
Our drinking has gotten out of mutilated arteries. cal but most reading this paper There are many people in this wholesome reputation.
hand and we are afraid to take The drink driving ads are a has seen some degree of this country - our friends and family So how can we begin to tack-
that first crucial step on the slightly more effective deter- behaviour. Alcohol abuse is not - that are in fact, drug addicts. le this problem? Michael
road to recovery, acceptance. rent, but even these are aimed only accepted, but also actively Just because they get their fix McDowell plans to issue more
We must recognise that there is at keeping you out of your car encouraged in many circles in from licensed establishments, licenses to cafes in an effort to
a problem. Alcohol is an addic- rather than out of the pub. Irish society. does not make this fact any less encourage Irish people to take
tive drug. It is rarely referred to So why does this enormous dis- The harmful effects of excessive of a reality. food with their drink. In the
as one, but it is. This fact should parity exist? Is it because of the drinking are numerous: ulcers, Many of you may not agree U.K. Tony Blair has introduced
be stated more often. It is a second-hand effects of smok- liver failure, kidney damage, with these views but denial is new licenses allowing 24 hour
drug that most of us use regu- ing? Is there really such a dif- wearing away of stomach lin- a very powerful thing. The fact drinking, with a view to avoid-
larly, but more importantly one ference in the harmful effects ing, heart disease, mouth and that alcohol has never been ing violence, by staggering
that we abuse nearly as often each drug has? Or is that the stomach cancer, and psychiat- condemned in the same way as closing times. In Australia they
(‘binge drinking’ is defined as majority of us just don’t con- ric problems are just a few of illicit drugs, or even tobacco, have placed taxes on drinks in
having in excess of six drinks sider alcohol a drug? Many of the results of excessive alco- means that the same stigma accordance with their potency;
in one night). Our attitude to us know people who drink six holic consumption. has never been attached. the higher the alcohol content,
alcohol’s negative effects has nights a week and still claim One should always be cautious Alcohol kills thousands of peo- the higher the tax. This policy
been truly negligent. they’ve never done drugs in when drinking a substance that, ple every year: It is one of the has seen a marked decrease in
Imagine for a moment if a new their lives. Herein lies the in its pure form, can kill; espe- biggest contributors to Ireland’s the sale of spirits and a move
drug was to come on to the problem. cially when consuming bever- poor road-safety record; is back to lager and less harmful
Irish market tomorrow. This Alcohol permeates every walk ages that are up to 40% proof. linked to nearly every suicide products.
drug costs the Irish economy of Irish life. It sponsors our Ireland needs to begin address- in the country; and accounts Whatever policies are intro-
an estimated €1 billion a year most revered sports events and ing this problem immediately. for more than three quarters duced the country faces a strug-
in worker absenteeism, causes dominates television advertis- The fact that this drug is legal of weekend A&E patients. For gle, against tradition, habit and
an unprecedented number of ing. does not justify half the coun- a drug with so many varying addiction.
car accidents, assaults, beaten Irish people drink in any situ-
and neglected wives, beaten ation. Funerals, weddings, hol-
and neglected children, van- idays, exam results (good or
dalism, public disorder and bad); children’s communions,
is found to be present in the christenings and confirmations;
systems of over 90% of those commiseration and celebration
who have committed suicide all tempt us to indulge in the
in this country. A drug that “nation’s favourite pastime”.
kills ten times as many people It is clear we have a problem
every year, as all illegal drugs
combined. Is it fair to assume
that this new drug would be
outlawed relatively quickly? Alcohol costs
These are the effects of alcohol
abuse, yet alcohol slips through the Irish
the net; untainted by the label
‘drug’. economy an
Tobacco advertising has been
banned in recognition of the estimated €1
harmful effects of smoking.
This ban has been accompa- billion a year
nied by uncompromising and
haunting ad campaigns. These in worker
ads show such things as, a brain
being dissected to reveal the absenteeism
oozing tumour that killed the
owner. Or the clogged artery
of a deceased smoker being when the only two days on the
squeezed, gradually expelling calendar alcohol cannot legal-
the contents on to an operating ly be sold-Christmas Day and
table. Good Friday- become two of
What’s the equivalent for alco- the biggest sessions of the year.
hol? Ads warning you to ‘drink Alcohol is a crutch and we use
sensibly’ or you may wet your it often.
pants or embarrass yourself at One of the most disturbing
a party. The disparity is clear. aspects of Ireland’s drinking
These ads would be harder problem is its effect on young
hitting if they weren’t spon- people. Those who do not
sored by Diageo, owner of drink, or even decide to take
many of our favourite bever- a night off, can be mocked for
ages, including Guinness and their “sensibility”. On the other
Budweiser. You can imagine hand, those who drink large
if Benson and Hedges had a amounts of alcohol are hailed
say in a ‘smoke sensibly’ ad as heroes, whose heterosexual-
campaign they would insist it ity is beyond reproach.
Dec05 The Circular 7
No Braking Alonso
Maria Goas looks at the career of Fernando Alonso, the
current Formula 1 World Champion
Fernando Alonso is the new Constructors Championship Monaco (4th), U.S.A. –where space of a year. The next step were quick to realise the
golden boy of Formula 1. The to Renault after a hard fought he had to abandon– and for the gifted young driver was potential of their new Spanish
Spanish superstar is proving battle with the McLaren team Canada –where he had an Formula 3000 –the traditional recruit, and in 2003 he made
to be a worthy successor to the of Raikkonen and Juan Pablo accident. breeding ground for Formula his debut as an official Renault
seven times World Champion Montoya. Fernando arrived in Formula 1. Once again, Fernando driver partnering Jarno Trulli.
Michael Schumacher. On Kimi Raikkonen was Alonso's 1 five years ago, but his love excelled, with victory in the With a competitive race car
September 25th 2005, chief opponent during this of cars began when he was a Belgium Grand Prix and a sec- at his disposal Alonso began
Fernando became the young- year, following the demise of child. He was given his first ond position in Hungary. to show his form. In only his
est winner of the Formula 1 Michael Schumacher's Ferrari. kart at he age of three and The transition to Formula 1 second race with the Renault
Championship with third place Despite the belief that spent the next twelve years
in the Brazilian Grand Prix. developing his talent. During
Only 24 years old, Fernando that time he won a host of
was the youngest per- events, the most important of Alonso has become the
son to win the F1 World which was the Junior World
Championship surpassing the title. youngest racer winner,
Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi In 1999, he graduated to sin-
–who was 25 when he won the
Championship in 1972.
gle- seater cars in the
Euro-Formula
surpassing Bruce McLaren.
Alonso is the first Spaniard Nissan, where
to win the Formula 1 his success
Championship and his success continued,
has created a huge following notching was too prove far more dif- team, he became the youngest
for the sport across Spain. He up nine ficult. In 2001, Alonso signed driver to record a “pole posi-
has broken numerous records victories for the Benetton-Renault tion”, in the Malasia Grand
since his arrival to Formula 1 within team, but they released him to Prix. Brimming with renewed
. For example, he has become the team Minardi. The team were confidence, Alonso went on to
the youngest racer winner, struggling financially and this finish the season in fifth place
surpassing Bruce McLaren. was reflected in a poor car in the Drivers Championship.
During the 2004/2005 and poor organisation. The following year, despite
Championship Alonso won The undoubted skills of finishing in fourth position,
seven races and reached Raikkonen Alonso were hampered and reaching the podium on
the podium fifteen times. had that the best by this situation. The four occasions, Alonso failed
This year's Formula 1 World car, technical prob- following year he sac- to record a single victory.
Championship culminated lems prevented him rificed race time to However, 2005 season saw
with the Chinese Grand Prix from completing many rejoin the Renault the introduction of new rules
in October. Alonso wrapped races. Fernando Alonso team as a test in Formula 1, and the Renault
up the title in style, beating was the most consistent driver. team suddenly became more
arch rival Kimi Raikkonen into finisher throughout the This sacrifice was competitive. The resulting
second place . Moreover, he year. He finished outside the to pay serious divi- success of both Alonso and the
and his team-mate Giancarlo first three on only four occa- dends. Renault team as a whole marks them
Fisichella delivered the sions: Hungary (11th position), team bosses out as a force for the future.
Dec05 The Circular 11