The contours of toxic “lad culture” need to be understood
The ongoing trial of Ulster rugby players charged with the alleged rape of a nineteen-year-old woman has captured the public’s attention in recent weeks, with the graphic details making the case a difficult and stomach-turning read for many. Regardless of the verdict, the case has raised some concerning items of discussion that have dominated commentary […]
SU hustings: Preaching to the choir?
There are a variety of hustings taking place for the Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) leadership race. From prepared speeches and a brief Q&A with the audience at the Dining Hall and Council Hustings to panel discussions and a debate style audience interaction at the University Times Equality Hustings or Trinity News Activism Hustings. […]
Trinity needs to shake off its classist image
In truth, such a historic and prestigious school as Trinity was always going to have an image as a classist institution, based solely on the fact that, until very recently in its history, only a small percentage of society have been able to afford a college education. The most obvious result of this is that […]
Ireland has changed and it’s time we catch up
When I was away over Christmas, someone from a different country started asking me about Ireland. She had lived in Derry during the 80s, and spent a lot of time going back and forth along the border, so her questions were about the same old things – nationalist politics, corruption, the Church. She was worried […]
Voluntourism shouldn’t be for everyone
Last summer, I spent about two months volunteering on a project in Vietnam. It was an incredible experience. There were around twenty of us from all across the globe doing the project together. We all got along well, but very quickly a notable divide appeared among us – those of us who really cared and […]
Schols is not inherently elitist
The article ‘Schols is an Elitist Institution‘ raises some important questions about Foundation Scholarships, or Schols. It makes valid points about the questionable ethics of rewarding students on the basis of exam results, without taking into account the various factors that help some and impede other students in their preparation for those exams. The […]
Schols is an elitist institution
The concept of meritocracy, defined as the acquisition or maintenance of power on the grounds of ability alone, regardless of resources or social position, has long been debunked by academics and social scientists, who recognise that a complex web of identities, embedded in a specific social context, shape the abilities and life course of an […]
The Burkean Journal would be dangerous if it were any good
A new year, a new sad and cynical play for relevance by Trinity’s least prolific, but most pompous, student publication. The total of twelve pieces published in the Burkean Journal over the past two months must have had such an effect on the students of Trinity that the Journal feels that it’s time to expand […]
Why the 2018 SU elections offer more of less
A dearth of candidates already confirms that the 2018 Trinity College Students’ Union (TCDSU) elections will stand as a reflection of the growing apathy on campus surrounding student politics. Two uncontested races and several clear favourites seem to guarantee an uneventful TCDSU election season. At its conclusion, students can expect a more homogeneous and less […]
The agenda of pro-life groups goes beyond this plebiscite
By Alice Whelan on February 19, 2018 · Leave a Comment
The coming months will see the various factions of the referendum sides amp up their narratives, a process which many of us dread. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the referendum is about more than the outcome of the plebiscite. The pro-life campaigns are hoping to garner support from those who feel pushed […]
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