If the wrath of Storm Ophelia wasn’t enough to keep you entertained this week, there’s plenty more to keep you occupied as the week continues. This week marks the fourth academic week of the year, known simply as Fourth Week, Trinity’s only week dedicated to the 120 societies on campus. Every single event taking place during Fourth Week is open and absolutely free of charge to all students and staff, allowing all members of the college community to experience the wealth of different societies that are on offer, without committing to joining up to them.
The week provides an ideal opportunity for those of us in somewhat of a rut after the craziness of Freshers’ Week to get involved in societies that we didn’t manage to get involved with, or simply forgot to sign up to. Fourth Week is a jam-packed one, with pretty much every society eager to attract some valuable new members and promote themselves across the college.
Some of the highlights of the week come in the form of guest speakers, with a selection of well-known faces making appearances. On Tuesday the Phil will host popular Irish chef Rachel Allen to present her with the coveted Bram Stoker Award. Later that day Trinity News have organised a panel discussion, hosting by seasoned Irish journalist Vincent Browne on Racism in the Media. This promises to be one of the most popular events of the week and guarantees lively, eye-opening discussion with a healthy bit of controversy thrown in for good measure.
We may have to think carefully about which event we decide to attend on Tuesday as Fashion Soc also play host to one of Ireland’s best-known freelance makeup artists and published author, Ciara Allen. One not to be missed for any aspiring makeup artists as Ciara has worked on a range of A-listers including Alexa Chung, Def Leppard and AC/DC. Keep an eye out on all the societies Facebook pages for more information about their Fourth Week events.
This week also welcomes the annual 8×8 festival to campus, in association with Suas. 8×8 is a film and photography festival focusing on critical global issues, this year paying particular attention to the refugee crisis. It is run by students for students, aiming to challenge our global perspectives through photo exhibits, inspirational documentary films and in-depth speaker events. One event worth going to is the ‘Speak Your Mind’ panel discussion with S2S which will focus on a variety of pertinent issues from direct provision to speaking about depression. Student representatives will be speaking openly about how they have become comfortable speaking their mind both on campus and off, and how they cope when things get rough. The full timetable can be viewed on the 8×8 festival Facebook page.
Aside from these two week-long events, Thursday marks Trinity Green Day 2017 which will celebrate everything sustainability-related. One of the most thought-provoking events of the day will surely be the Hist’s Burke Panels discussion on ‘Solutions to Climate Change in a Shrinking World’, which will feature Senator Grace O’Sullivan, Irish Times environmental journalist Sylvia Thompson and Professor Jennifer McElwain, head of TCD’S Botany Department. If environmentalism isn’t quite your thing, DU Players are holding the first of their ‘Improv She Wrote’ events this Tuesday, which will see a host of Players’ most talented improvisers taking to the stage playing a host of fan-favourite improv games based upon the audience’s own suggestions.