Posts Tagged ‘DCU’

Report shows ‘notable delays’ on Ballymun Road

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Report shows ‘notable delays’ on Ballymun Road
February 2009
The College View
Cian Ginty

A recent independent review of the Dublin Bus network confirmed what transport observers and users knew for a long time – reform is needed.

The number 4 bus, which serves DCU, was used as a sample route in the report, which showed large waiting times in the O’Connell Street area as well as notable delays on the Ballymun Road.

It says there is “a wide range of running times at ‘Ballymun Road (The Rise)’ and this is where the average wait time increases. This then becomes perpetual. As the interval widens more passengers are waiting at the stops, boarding takes longer and the bus becomes more and more delayed”.

It noted “serious traffic congestion, especially in the city centre.” In that regard, proposals that will see restrictions for motorists on Dame Street and College Green are set to go to public consultation and may lead to improved city runnings.

Some of the main points of the report on Dublin Bus included how the network is too complex with too many variants of routes, timetables are complicated, that there is often a “bunching” of buses, how paying in cash holds up buses, and that the bus lane network is incomplete.

It points out that the subvention paid to the company by the government is “relatively low when compared to comparable operations in other countries.”

Dublin Bus gets funding which amounts to only 29% of total revenue, compared to 68% in Brussels, 67% in Zurich, 62% in Amsterdam, 79% in Lyon and 38.5% in London.

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Abuse of DCU mailing lists is worse than spam

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Abuse of DCU mailing lists is worse than spam
March 2009
The College View
By Cian Ginty

The phrases “sorry to people this does not concern” and “apologies to those for whom this is of no concern” probably sound familiar to DCU students and staff.

Under Irish spam laws the sender of such messages could be opening themselves up to fines of up to €5,000 if treated as a less serious offence.

When treated as a criminal offence, this amount jumps to a maximum of €50,000 for an individual and up to €250,000 for corporate bodies.

Sending unwanted emails over DCU’s mailing list system, however, seems to be a grey area that is outside the law. Or, at least, it’s untested in court.

At the time of writing, the Data Protection Commission was unsure if spam laws apply to email sent within the system. Companies who send unsolicited emails are the main target of spam legislation.

Sending spam is ruled in the DCU code of conduct for use of computer resources. It says: “It is prohibited to… send or forward chain letters, junk mail, spam and viruses.”

But if the definition of spam used in law was applied then there is a serious lack of reporting and enforcement of the anti-spam policy.

The mailing list system is invaluable, that’s exactly why it should be treated with respect. Class lists should be restricted, automatically or in written and enforced rules. The main function should be for sending mail to the class, directly related to the same.

Clubs and societies – including the College View – should be limited to one email per week to the class and other mass lists. Or maybe even less? There are separate mailing lists for these, so why do a club or soc need to annoy people who have shown no interest in their group?

The same goes for emails to the undergraduate and post graduate lists. Why are religious and campaigning emails being sent to people with little interest in such? It is nonsense that a scatter gun approach is used for emails which most students don’t want. It’s unsolicited email. It’s spam.

No, it’s not central to people’s education, or social life, or health etc. Corporation spammers could use the same excuses. By having large volumes of unwanted email in their inboxes, it’s more likely students will miss or accidentally delete important emails.

The societies’ mailing list set-up is a good one. It’s pretty much spot on for what the law allows companies to do. People sign up and then they get updates.

Why can’t this be used as a rule for the vast majority of emails sent out? Then there’s no need for meaningless notes like “apologies to those for whom this is of no concern”.

Some of the emails sent using the mailing list system – although in the minority – are very much like marketing messages from companies, and that’s maybe something the Data Protection Commissioner could look into.

A spokesman from the office said: “In relation to the sending of marketing messages promoting commercial products, companies can only send you direct marketing if there is an existing relationship between the company and the recipient and the product / service being marketed is of a similar nature.”

By enforcing stricter rules now, such a move could stem the need for expensive cases that state agencies would need to take against future spammers.

At least marketing spam is illegal, but, for now, DCU students suffer with spam clogging their inboxes, wasting their time and energy.

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Being green is not just for one week

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Being green is not just for one week
November 2009
The College View
By Cian Ginty

DCU has energy conservation methods in place, like light in hall ways which turns off when nobody is around, but in other ‘green’ areas such as the promotion of cycling and waste disposal the university is more than lacking.

DCUSU held “green week” recently, and while the promotion of environmental issues is laudable, the impact of recycling bins in a hand-full of locations is questionable at best.

The Students’ Union can’t, of course, be held responsible for the waste management issues around campus. But if recycling bins are needed, a few bins tucked away in one corner of the canteen simply won’t suffice.

Unfortunately, even with all the good will in the world, things can go wrong. What marketing person at stopclimatechaos.ie thought it would be a good example to set by printing a ton of leaflets twice the size of A4 on heavy paper?

Handing these out to promote change is bemusing. It goes against the grain of the “reduce, reuse, recycle”. Or at least it goes against what those three words were meant to mean before the marketing people got hold of them.

The three should form policy on recycling. They should be read as if they were in an inverted pyramid. Recycling is not on equal terms as reducing and reusing.

Reducing isn’t about waste collection, it’s about not creating that waste in the first place.

Governments shouldn’t be allowing excessive packaging and consumers should not buy such products.
People still need to ask questions such as: Do you need to print that file? Why are you buying bottled water if you know it’s one of the most environmentally indefensible products ever created? Do you need to drive?

While reusing is linked, it is not primarily something the public can do on their own. The reusing of heavy plastic and glass bottles in countries such as Denmark and Germany makes Ireland’s plastic bag levy look like green washing (ie making something look green when it’s not, or in this case, comparably not).

As above, the “Power of One” campaign is limited. There needs to be action by governments and institutions, such as this University. They have an overall more important part to play. So, green campaigns are more likely to make people to feel there is something being done when there’s not.

On one level, the Minister for Transport has said he will be making cycling central to the sustainable transport plan due by the end of the year. On another level, Dublin City University is anything but cycling friendly.

Ramps that aim to slow down cars line the Ballymun Road entrance to the University, make a small portion of cyclists’ journeys worse than most potholed roads.

Bicycle parking is not only full, but overcrowded. The amount of bikes on campus on any weekday far out numbers the parking places provided. And most of the parking is the kind that exposes bikes to vandalism.

Meanwhile, ‘no cycling’ signs decorate the wide and open areas across campus, where security vans and construction vehicles are commonplace.

So much for Universities being open-minded and forward thinking.

However well intended, green campaigns aid peoples’ perception that action is being taking on climate change. But like giving to charity, it gives people a warm fuzzy feeling inside. when substantial change isn’t happening.

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DCU graduates may get Seanad vote

Monday, June 29th, 2009

DCU graduates may get Seanad vote
March 2008
The College View
By Cian Ginty

Renewed efforts for reform of the Seanad would open voting to students from DCU and other third level institutions.

Expanding the university vote beyond students of Trinity College and the National University of Ireland (NUI) is viewed as the first step to wider reform in voting rights.

Unlike a move to give voting rights to the general public, expansion of third level voting can happen without a constitutional referendum.

In the Seanad last week Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley revealed a short timetable for reform based on a 2004 all-party report and new consultation.

Gormley said he is “anxious” to see Seanad reform advanced with an all-party consensus before the next general election and he “committed to ensuring” reform happens while he is Minister.

“Aside from the disparity between graduates who are entitled to vote and those who are not, the system has been criticised because it confers a basic democratic right to certain people and therefore denies it to others solely on the basis of educational achievement,” Gormley said in the Seanad.

“However, given the constitutional opening, reform should focus initially on the area of widening the third level franchise.

“I am anxious to see Seanad reform advanced based on all-party consensus before the election of the 24th Seanad… I am committed to ensuring some of these reforms are made while I am Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,” he added.

The all-party report on Seanad reform in 2004 recommended the inclusion of DCU, Saint Patrick’s College in Drumcondra, the National College of Art and Design, the University of Limerick, the Institutes of Technology, and colleges governed by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council.

Currently the third level vote fills six seats – three from Trinity and three from the NUI.

Eleven senators are appointed by the Taoiseach, and the remaining 43 are voted on by local councillors.

The report was the 12th such report on changing how the Seanad is elected and works, but Gormley has said he will introduce legislation by the end of this year with or without consensus.

The Minister thanked Senator Joe O’Toole for his work on this issue, while also noting that there is not full consensus on reform.

“Senators have said they want to see a whole package and not a piecemeal approach. I do not believe it is piecemeal. We can have a number of smaller reforms,” Gormley said.

“It is vital to have some reform because if there is no reform, people will say we are stuck in a situation where nothing is happening at all. Once we get the ball rolling we can then see what further reforms are possible.

“If consensus cannot be reached it is my intention to introduce legislation by the end of this year that is as close as I can identify to such a consensus. Part of such legislation will include the extension of the university franchise to ensure elections to the 24th Seanad will be conducted with an increased electorate,” he added.

It is understood to be the first time advancements have been made beyond reports, with the Minister laying down a timetable and saying after all-party consultation he would look to have a “final meeting over the coming weeks”.

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Commuters to face Metro chaos

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Commuters to face Metro chaos
October 2008
The College View
By Cian Ginty

Traffic congestion around DCU is expected to incease dramatically when construction of the Metro North gets underway.

The Ballymun Road will be effectively turned into a construction site during the works.

Unlike the city centre section of the proposed light railway line, which is to be tunnelled, the section from just south of DCU to the boundary of Dublin Airport is to use ‘cut and cover’.

Both methods deliver similar results but cut and cover causes greater disruption at construction.

According to the files submitted by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) to An Bord Pleanala, impacts of the project include extra traffic congestion due to a planned reduction of the number of lanes on the Ballymun Road.

Motoring commuters are likely to be affected more than public transport users as bus lanes are to be maintained throughout. However, due to disruption at junctions in the nearby areas, Dublin Bus services are also predicted to be dramatically slower.

“The average bus speed throughout the city is predicted to decrease by 27 percent, a drop of 4kph.

“Furthermore, the bus kilometres lost to queuing per hour is predicted to increase by over 250 percent as a result of construction,” says the Environmental Impact Statement.

The bored tunnelling from the city centre will end in Hampstead Park beside DCU where cut and cover will be used along the university side of Ballymun Road up as far Collins Avenue/Glasnevin Avenue junction where the alignment will switch to the middle of the road.

The impact statement for Metro North says there will also be “temporary severance” to a number of junctions, although works are to be done in a “phased manner” and major junctions are to be “kept operational at all times”.

Access from the Ballymun Road to the western vehicle and pedestrian entrance to DCU, which the RPA simply refers to as “the pedestrian access to DCU”, and the nearby Albert College Drive will be temporal closed off for an undefined time.“There will be some severance of Albert College Drive, however, residential properties will be accessible via alternative access.

The pedestrian access to DCU, next to Albert College Park will be unusable for a short period. Access to DCU will be by the main entrance on Collins Avenue,” states the submission to An Bord Pleanala.

The bus stop at that entrance – used by the majority of students getting buses towards the city centre – is also set to be moved and two buildings will be demolished to make way for the proposed DCU Metro North stop.

A large part of Hampstead Park will also be dug up and used during construction. Trees at the university gates and numerous trees along the Ballymun Road will be removed.

There has been widespread media speculation that Metro North would be scrapped in the budget. However at a Department of Transport press briefing last week this was denied by the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey.

“Provisions have been made to continue work on critical public transport projects of Metro North and the Dart Interconnector. Despite our more constrained economic circumstances we cannot and will not stop planning and providing for future public transport solutions,” Dempsey said.

The Minister said funds have been made available for planning and “enabling works” for the line. After that stage, funding from Public-Private Partnership will be in place. The Government payment for the Metro would then be spread across 30 years.

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Out in the cold: Students refused entry to DCU Ball

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Out in the cold: Students refused entry to DCU Ball
November 2008
The College View
By Cian Ginty

A number of students have complained about ID requirements for the DCU Halloween Ball, although the Student Union says the need for ID was advertised sufficiently.

The Students’ Union highlighted that the need for state ID was publicised on tickets and posters for the event.

However, a number of complaints were received by the College View from students who were not aware that DCU ID cards alone would not be accepted.

“I assumed DCU ID would be ok as I’ve never used anything else at a DCU ball but the guys on the door wouldn’t even look at it and were trying to turn me away. In the end all I had to do was tell them my age (23) and one guy said ‘go on then, bring ID next time’,” said one student.

The SU also received student complaints but said the number of them was “tiny” in relation to the total 1,600 tickets sold for the event which was held in the Academy in the city centre.

“The day after the ball we had a few complaints which is understandable if people were disappointed. However, compared to the amount of tickets sold the number of complaints was tiny,” said DCUSU Niall McClave.

He pointed out that apart from being stated on tickets, ID is a legal obligation that people should be aware of.

“The requirement for ID was on the ticket and on the posters. We sold 1,600 tickets for that night and had 1,570 people through the door. That’s a pretty normal rate of no-shows that we would have at any ball, even if there had been no ID problems, so I think the message got out there to most people,” he said.

“Besides, having ID is not a requirement of the Union or of the Academy, it’s a legal requirement and people should know this.”

DCU have issued redesigned identity cards with advanced security features to this year’s first year students.

The SU confirmed that although the new ID cards do not display any date of birth, a yellow strip indicates if the bearer is under 18 years.

They also said that the university will be issuing more of these cards in the coming years.

Previously, a student’s date of birth was printed on their ID card if they became a member of the college bar, but all students automatically become members now.

McClave said that he does not see the need to advertise entry requirements better for future events.

He said: “I feel our advertising of the ID requirements was adequate and was the same as any other event ever held off campus, for some reason this event seemed to throw up trouble we’ve never had before but we put the requirement on both the tickets and the posters.

“People wouldn’t expect to show up at any nightclub in town without proper ID and get in, the same laws apply to our events.”

The SU President added that while off-campus events would not become a norm for DCU, their purpose is to also cater for students who do not live on campus.

He said: “We hold at least one ball a year off campus, at most we will hold one a semester off campus. The events off campus cater for a whole raft of DCU students that don’t live on or near the campus.

“We tend to have a completely different crowd at the events off campus and we do this to cater for them.”

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Confusion over funding of Mortimer’s campaign

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Confusion over funding of Mortimer’s campaign
April 2009
College View
By Maeve Feehan & Cian Ginty

An expenses receipt with the name of the GAA Academy director was handed in by the unsuccessful SU presidential candidate and DCU footballer, Conor Mortimer, the College View can reveal.

This newspaper has seen a copy of the receipt, which was handed into the electoral committee for the SU elections. On the Campus Print receipt for €135, the name field is marked “Declan Brennan” and department written as “DCU GAA”.

Declan Brennan, director of the GAA Academy, said he and the academy had nothing to do with Mortimer’s campaign. He said: “I had nothing to do with Mortimer’s campaign at all and the GAA Academy most certainly did not pay for his posters. I never signed anything and have no idea what receipts you’re talking about so be careful what you say.”

However, those involved in Mortimer’s campaign gave contradictory reports for why the receipt with Brennan’s name on it was submitted.

Mortimer’s campaign director, Aron Clogher, echoed Brennan in saying the GAA Academy had nothing to do with the funding of the election spend. However, Mortimer told another version of the events to the College View.

“Well you see that was just a case that I didn’t have the cash in my own back pocket at the time,” Mortimer commented in a phone interview last Friday when asked why the GAA Academy were named on the receipt he handed in.

Clogher said: “Both Declan Brennan and the academy had nothing to do with Mortimer’s campaign at all. He paid for everything himself including his posters.”

He added that the mix up may have been an error due to the same person organising the printing for the campaign and the GAA Ball on the same day. However, in a follow-up phone call, he could not confirm if this was the case, but said: “That may be the situation, that was my thoughts on it. I’m not saying that’s what happened.”

With regards to playing football, Mortimer said it did not influence his decision to run. He said: “I just really wanted to stay in DCU another year. I wanted to do something positive and bring a bit of change to the college. You know, improve the social aspect.”

Asked if he was disappointed in not winning, Mortimer commented: “Yeah. I mean, I’m not upset or anything. You have to park these things and move on. We came into it fair late, just the Friday before. Sure, I gave it a go.”

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