Christmas lights are up around the city and it is dark by the time you get out of your 3pm lecture. This can herald one thing and one thing only: the swift and unforgiving approach of Christmas exams. In the penultimate week of lectures you may be feeling overcome by the urge to wrap yourself in extra sweaters and scarves and sequester yourself in a corner of Kinsella Hall. However, there are still plenty of events happening this week that are worth taking a study break for.
The Phil is kicking off the week with a talk from philosopher Slavoj Žižek, taking place in the GMB at 2pm Monday. The spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will be speaking to Trinity Indian Society at 5.30pm in the Business School, which will also be attended by the Indian Ambassador and the Provost. At 6pm a collaboration between TCD Genetics Society and LawSoc will commence. This is an interactive discussion of the ethics of genetic data featuring guest speakers Professor David McConnell and Dr. Katherine O’Keefe.
Tuesday will see a night of incredible musical talent at The Grand Social for this year’s Winter Showcase. Featuring performances from Trinity Musical Theatre, DU Dance, Trinity Singers and DU Music, this event will hopefully inspire a more festive mood compared to the out-of-tune carollers on Grafton Street. All the proceeds from the €10 tickets will go towards the Irish Cancer Society.
It is a beautiful time of year in Dublin, and face it, you should probably spend some time outside of the library while you still can. There are some fantastic opportunities this week to explore the city and visit a couple of cultural landmarks with some wonderful societies. Join LitSoc on a guided tour of the Listen Now Again exhibit at 1.50pm this Wednesday to learn more about one of the greatest Irish poets of our time, Séamus Heaney. Follow that up with a trip to the National Gallery with DU History at 2.45pm on Thursday, where you will have the opportunity to attend a free guided tour of the Irish art wing. Back on campus, two politically charged debates will be taking place in the GMB this week; the Hist will be holding a corresponding debate against Oxford on the motion This House Would Elect Politicians By Lottery on Wednesday, while the Phil is collaborating with Politics Society to debate the motion This House Has No Confidence in the Government on Thursday.
DU Players along with Ents are holding a Hop-On Hop-Off Mystery Tour this Wednesday night, while Trinity VDP hold another Mystery Tour: Anything But Clothes. If that is not your cup of tea, LitSoc’s Literary Quiz at Doyle’s is a more relaxed alternative. Also, DU Film will be screening the classic When Harry Met Sally at 6:30pm, but with a special announcement beforehand.
On Friday, the inaugural Great Law School Bake Off will be filling the Atrium with various baked goods lovingly prepared by students and lecturers alike. A joint effort between Trinity Law School, Trinity LawSoc and FLAC, the baking competition will raise funds for Focus Ireland. Contact FLAC or LawSoc to enter, or just pop over between 11am and 1pm for some sugary study snacks and to contribute to a good cause.
Whatever societies mean to you, be it an extracurricular education, a social outlet, or a means of acquiring free food while you spend the whole day in the library, make some time to try something new this week – you won’t regret it.
