by Samantha Calthrop In protest against the announced 3% raise in rent on student accommodation, UCCSU have pledged to camp on the university quad until the rent increase is reversed. Joining them are a number of students, with approximately 80 overall having set up to sleep in a rotating schedule. The SU and the students…

by Samantha Calthrop Several universities across Ireland have announced their plans to increase the cost of on-campus accommodation, following a worrying trend from previous years. The cost of accommodation in all areas is to be raised by 4%, the maximum increase permitted under new student accommodation laws. DCU’s on-campus accommodation has confirmed plans to raise…

by Samantha Calthrop   The General Summary At the time of writing, the Dáil is looking fairly hung and with little hope of a clear outcome any time soon. Sinn Féin got an overwhelming popularity surge this election, with 37 seats compared to FF’s 38 and FG’s 35 and claiming the largest amount of first-preference…

by Samantha Calthrop   UCC’s Government & Politics and Law Society’s General Election debate saw four party representatives come to UCC and debate 2020’s election issues. Moderated by Government & Politics lecturer Dr. Mary C. Murphy, councillors Lorna Bogue (Green Party), Colm Kelleher (Fianna Fáil), Thomas Gould (Sinn Fein), and Social Democrats candidate Ciarán McCarthy…

by Samantha Calthrop Dairy and milk production creates a large amount of waste products, with outputs of grease, protein, or discarded whey and trimmings. All that nutrient-rich substance is simply thrown away— but could be put to better use, says UCC’s Newtrients research project. The EPA-funded project is headed by plant scientist Prof. Marcel Jansen,…

by Samantha Calthrop Criticism has been targeted at AIB and Bank of Ireland, both of whom have announced that they plan to sell a collective 1000 of their ATMs on to private companies, who may introduce extra charges. Presenter Eoghan McDermott and journalist Michael Wolsey have both taken to the media to voice their protests,…

Writes Samantha Calthrop Mental health in students is an increasing problem, with growing pressure on counselling services at universities. That is according to the USI National Report on Student Mental Health in Third Level Education, which surveyed over 3000 students, found that 33% of participants had been diagnosed with a mental health problem, 70% of…

UCC’s Students’ Union (UCCSU) have successfully reversed a €200 increase in the student capitation fee, reducing the cost to €170 for all incoming students. The increase was announced in June 2019, inciting protest from the Students’ Union, who staged a sit-in protest in the following days; following the increase being implemented, the UCCSU began negotiations…