It’s week nine in Trinity and in celebration of Rainbow week, there are a plethora of events in support of the LGBT+ community.
MONDAY
To start off the week, the Phil are hosting a talk from Brad Smith, Microsoft’s chief legal officer, at 2pm in the GMB. In 2013 Smith was named one of the United States 100 most influential lawyers and he plays a key role in representing the company. Later, at 7pm, the Mexican Ambassador Miguel Malfavon will be delivering a talk to SOFIA. At the same time, in celebration of Rainbow week, Qsoc will be showing a screening of But I’m a Cheerleader in the Oldham TV room in Halls.
TUESDAY
On Tuesday, Vegan Society are holding a plant-based nutrition and fitness panel, where a panel of experts including Dr Ailis Brosnan, Leo Venus and Reg Lukosius, will be demonstrating how to become vegan. The talk starts at 6pm in the Hamilton East End LTEE2 room and there will be a reception afterwards. At 7.30pm, in conjunction with TCDSU, Cumann Gaelach are holding their annual Geili in celebration of Rainbow Week, in Seomra na Gaeilge. There you’ll get a chance to try some céilí dancing, hear music from TradSoc and practice your Irish. To round off the evening, the Hist and PolSoc are hosting a lock-in in the GMB, from 9pm to 6am. They’ll be staying up all night to watch the US midterm elections and view commentary from top US political analysts.
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday begins with a relaxing meditation session from DU Meditation and DU Germanic Society at 12pm in the Global Room. The class will have a bit of a twist from usual, however, as it will be performed entirely through German! Afterwards, at 2pm Literary Society are holding a special coffee hour for Rainbow Week in the Attic of House 6. They’ll be discussing LGBT+ representation in the media and how they are portrayed by it. This will be followed by a closed space, coming out discussion hosted by Qsoc . The discussion starts at 4pm, in room 4.03 in Aras an Phiarsaigh, where any member of the LGBT+ community can have the chance to talk about their experience in coming out and its significance for them.
In the evening, at 6pm. DU Amnesty and Trinity Global Development Society will be screening the documentary Syria-The Impossible Revolution in the Thomas Davis Theatre. The documentary seeks to explore the roots of the Syrian Revolution and how it transformed from a peaceful uprising to one of the world’s deadliest conflicts. The societies will also be joined by Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan, the creators of the documentary, who will have a question and answer session about the making of the film. Next, at 7pm DU History will be having a collaboration with UCD History Society in Room AP0.09 in Aras an Phiarsaigh. The two societies will be debating both historical and modern topics, including which of them is the best history society. At 7.30pm, the Hist along the with the Student Economic Review will host an intervarsity-debate with Oxford on the motion This House Would Unite Ireland Post-Brexit. There’ll be a reception before the debate and a night out afterwards for anyone who’s interested.
THURSDAY
Global warming is one of the most pressing issues facing modern society and to demonstrate one of the solutions to that problem, EnviroSoc are hosting a film screening on the use of geothermal energy at 6pm. The documentary looks at the clean energy sector from innovation to installation. Also at 6pm, DU Film Society are hosting a Writer’s Workshop in room 5025 of the Arts Block. The workshop will examine the process of writing a short film script and have brainstorming sessions for film ideas, to aid you in your dreams of becoming the next Steven Spielberg.
At 7pm, the Trinity Classical Society will be screening The Life of Brian in Aras an Phiarsagh. They ’ll also be doing classically themed drawing throughout the film and be heading out for pints afterwards. Afterwards, at 7.30pm, the Phil will be hosting a debate on the motion This House Regrets Rainbow Capitalism. Is it wrong for large corporations to attend Pride festivals where they get to boost their image or is it a genuine form of support for the LGBT+ community?
If you’re sick of staring at the concrete walls of the library and adventure beckons your name, then Jailbreak is for you. At 8pm in the Knowledge Exchange in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Jailbreak 2019 will be launched with guest speakers and free pizza. This event is ticketed so be sure you get one in advance and don’t worry the tickets are free!
FRIDAY
On Friday, join DU Alternative Music Society along with AISEC at 1pm in the Global Room, where they’ll be sampling some international food and music. Also at 1pm, Samantha Power, who served as the 28th US Ambassador to the UN and is a Harvard University Professor, will be delivering a talk to LawSoc. Power is the author of several books and in 2016 was named the 41st most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine. Afterwards, at 2pm, Power will also be attending a screening of The Final Year with SOFIA, a documentary that follows her and four other members of the Obama Administration during the last year of his presidency.
It’s important to find time to relax with your favourite societies or get involved with new ones that you’ve always been interested in. College can be stressful but as long as Trinity’s societies are still hosting such fascinating events, it’ll never be boring.
