Trinity News has undergone a number of changes over the past few months. We’ve moved to a compact print format, increased the number of pages in the print edition, changed our website, and expanded our issue run for the year. Our core mission remains the same, however, and these changes enable us to better achieve them. The changes refocus our principles and responsibilities: to produce accurate and fearless investigative reporting that challenges the status quo; comment and op-ed sections which boldly and unapologetically stand on the side of the marginalised; features, science and sport pieces that inform and enlighten readers.
It is our belief that the primary purpose of a newspaper is to investigate and expose wrongdoing by those who seemingly act without consequence. Trinity News has done this for 65 years, and will continue to do so. But nothing changes with just one story. What you, the reader, do with that story is key.
The largest student protests on campus in years occurred last March. Take Back Trinity was the culmination of anger and hurt at a provost and College administration that simply does not care about its students. Trinity News reported the stories of Prendergast’s spending, of his control over Board, of his decisions that led to the occupation. However, every person to sit supplementals would be charged €450, were it not for the use of student protest.
Twice now, the students of Trinity have forced the College administration to make a u-turn, exposing the method of operating within the upper echelons of College – through an undemocratic Board, a Finance Committee with unchecked power, players who care about climbing the ranks, their legacy and orchestrating political games to achieve their personal ambitions.
But unlike before, students now wield an immense amount of power and unbound potential. There are two strong presidents representing students, a daring protest group, momentum on our side. Trinity News aims to be the voice of students, and this year, we will continue our job of breaking stories in order to make Trinity, and the higher education sector as a whole, fairer, more transparent, and more focused on the interests of students. But your help, not passivity, is needed.
