Issue 0 - Dublin City University

ORIENTATION WEEK. SEPT 17
VOL2-ISSUE0 THE OFFICIAL DCU.SU MAGAZINE
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4 Meet The Union
7 Q&A With PJ
Gallagher
8 Supermarkets
10 Bus Routes
14 Clubs & Socs
16 Life
18 Services
22 Alabama 3
Interviewed
Editor
Alan Flanagan
Production Editor
Karen Howley
Contributors
Alan Flanagan, Gary Boylan, Hazel
Hayes, Niamh O’Doherty, Joey
Kavanagh, Clare Bohan, Marian
Scullian, Breffni Lynch, Robert Duffy,
Carmel Harnett, Olivia McGinn
Special thanks to
The Union, Liz Bailey, Una Redmond,
Russell Altman, and Lisa Muldowney.
Here I am with all my power, as the Flaming Lips would
take note. Finally the world has seen sense and I am
getting paid to be in DCU.
Welcome to DCU. Those three words are bound to be
repeated in every speech you hear this week. Ferdie
(the President with the weird surname) will no doubt be
telling you tales of how you are destined to meet your
life partner in DCU amongst other yadda yadda of his.
Campus magazine, on the otherhand, is here to tell you
truths of sorts. Some are half truths and others…well,
we’ll leave them up to you to decide what they are.
Inside every week you will read the lastest news from
our Student’s Union, the celebrity gossip around campus,
and what those clubs and societies have been up
to (other than beating each other silly and drinking their
socks off).
In this special issue of Campus we have decided to
give you a survival kit of sorts to see you through to the
end of the week. Yes, we are wrapping all our lovely new
students at DCU in cottonwool and giving them the best
damn tips on how to party, how to avoid being ripped off
with a guide to local supermarkets, the services available
to you in DCU, and lots more.
Enjoy orientation week kiddos and try not to get too
disorientated with all the red bricks that just simply bare
too much resemblence to each other.
Howley
Stock up on all the emergency supplies that have just
dropped from the sky and landed in DCU. That’s right, I’m
talking about free stuff!
THREE EURO TUESDAY. Go to the bar and drink before it
quickly turns page to Wednesday.
The Bring Back Wispa internet campaign has worked.
The 80’s bar is coming back. Now start a new campaign;
Bring Back Eclipse jeans.
It’s the day after the Orientation ball. You’ll probably
find that you’re completely disorientated. Use the Helix
reflective glass as a compass to find your way home.
You haven’t been going out enough. Get some Bulmers
into you and see something in the comedy festival; then
try your luck with someone by telling a joke.
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YOUR UNION Alan Flanagan
PROFILE
FULLNAME: Alan Peter Flanagan
NICKNAMES: Alfla, Albag, The
Flange
FAMILY: One brother, one
mammy, one daddy
STAR SIGN: Gemini
HAIR: Very, very curly
LIKES: Wordplay, vaudeville,
frivolity
DISLIKES: Alarms, cinnamon,
shaving
FAVOURITE FOOD: Chicken
curry + Egg Fried Rice
FAVOURITE ANYTHING: Handstands
WORST HABIT: Pretending to
listen
BEST QUALITY: Sense of
humour (?)
“When I was a
fresher... this was
all fields. We used
to gallop to class
on our mighty
steeds, clad only
in brown smocks,
with colourful
feathers sprouting
from our velvet
hats (as was the
style at the time).
O those were the
days, I tell you.”
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DCU SU President
A Fresh Agenda
My name’s Alan Flanagan (Alfla for short) and I’m your
Students’ Union President for the coming year.
Firstly, welcome to DCU: please pick up after yourselves.
I hope you’re hearilty enjoying Orientation
Week and have taken the time to pop up to the Students’
Union. Feel free to gaze at the freakshow that
is the bloodshot and bruised image of a Students’
Union officer during the first week of the year (and
it’s all downhill from here).
Hopefully this week’s events are giving you a
taste of what’s to come over the year, where we’ll
be providing every possible opportunity, day or
night, for you to get to know the bunch of randomers
that have found their way to the heart of
the Northside for the academic year 2007/2008
(and, all things going to plan, beyond).
All of our events are an opportunity to meet new
people and cross paths with personality types
and cultural backgrounds you never thought you’d
come into contact with, so get yourself out there.
A university is for EVERYONE – no matter who they
are or where they’ve come from – and it would be foolish
of you not to take advantage of that by immersing
yourself in the weird and wonderful mix of people
we have here in DCU. Long story short, don’t stick
to the same old gang, because university is where
you meet interesting people with stories so exciting
that you’ll no doubt one day pass them off as your
own.
This year we’ve been unofficially throwing around
the slogan of “Your Union, here to help”. Like myself,
it’s not original and it’s not pretty but it sums up
what we do at the Students’ Union. If anything, and
we mean ANYTHING, is stopping you having the best
possible experience here in DCU, we’re here. To help.
See? Simple.
Al Fla
Stuff I think you should
know as a fresher
•What’s the quickest route from the Tesco front door to the ‘Re-
duced To Clear’ section?
•Is one 750ml bottle of 12% wine at €5.99 better value than three
500ml cans of 5.5% cider at €4.75?
•What in the world is the Harvard System?
•Why is HG35 not in the Henry Grattan building?
•Does anyone else hear that ringing sound?

Hazel Hayes
DCU SU Deputy President for Education and Welfare
A Fresh Agenda
Hi everybody! (Hi Doctor Nick) My name’s Hazel and I’m
your Deputy President for Education and Welfare. This
position is basically what it says on the tin...I look after
all aspects relating to your education and welfare during
your time in DCU. So for example, if you need advice on
examinations or appeals procedures, if you’re unhappy
in your course or where you’re living, or even if you just
need a chat, then I’ll be able to help. At the very least, I
can point you in the right direction so that you can speak
to an expert here in DCU about whatever concerns you
have.
Throughout the year the Union will be running various
campaigns and hosting plenty of fun and wide-ranging
events. Some of these campaigns and events will aim to
make the University aware of your needs in order to
provide you with better services. This year, I’m personally
looking forward to RAG Week, SHAG week and the
“Please Talk” mental health awareness campaign we’ll
be running in Semester Two. We’ll also be pushing for
an extra full-time counsellor and an STI testing service
on campus.
I know that everything seems all new and shiny at the
moment, and most people will go one of two ways in their
first week; you’re either terrified by the size of the campus
and the amount of classes you have, or you’re soaking up
the busy atmosphere and relishing the thought of an exciting
year ahead. Whatever you’re feeling at the moment, I
can guarantee that your time here will be full of ups and
downs. If you’re here for a few years then the likelihood
is that a lot of things are going to change in that time,
both in college and at home. So I want you to know that
through it all, the Students’ Union will be here to help
you in any way we can.
Stuff I think you should
know as a fresher
•Spar rolls and coffee don’t actually constitute a healthy diet.
•Lectures are important but ‘duvet days’ are your duty as a student.
•Throw yourself into campus life (Clubs and Socs) with the force of
a squirrel being shot out of a cannon.
•Never let yourself run out of printer credit when you have a massive
assignment due.
•Make loads and loads of friends; you never know when you might
need someone to hold your hair back.
YOUR UNION
PROFILE
FULLNAME: Hazel Hayes (yes,
really)
NICKNAMES: “H” and Miss
Fantastic 2004
FAMILY: All equally crazy
STAR SIGN: Aquarius on the
cusp of Capricorn
HAIR: Usually messy
LIKES: Pink things, shiny
things, good grammar and
cows
DISLIKES: People who don’t
know how to use roundabouts
FAVOURITE FOOD: Half raw
NuBar chips. Yum!
FAVOURITE ANYTHING: My
boyfriend. And my bed.
WORST HABBIT: Cynicism
BEST QUALITY: My dazzling
personality
“When I was
a fresher I lived in
a flat in Clontarf
with my boyfriend
and a few mice
who lived in the
walls. They made
their way under
our bed at 3am
on one fateful
Tuesday morning
and we ran...all
the way back to
the safety of my
mammy’s house.”
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YOUR UNION Gary Boylan
DCU SU Vice President for Campaigns and Information
PROFILE
FULLNAME: Gary (no middle
name) Boylan
NICKNAMES: I was never cool
enough to have a nickname
FAMILY: 1 Mam, 1 Dad, 1
Sister (Emma)
STAR SIGN: Aries
HAIR: Yes
LIKES: Music (listening and
playing), Art, New media,
Time with friends
DISLIKES: Any savoury food
with cooked fruit in it. (get
that pineaple off my pizza)
FAVOURITE FOOD: Chinese
food. (except with fruit)
FAVOURITE ANYTHING:
Fridge. It’s really cool. (yeh
i did)
WORST HABBIT: Ability to go
off on the widest tangents
known to man.
BEST QUALITY: Laid back...
(and dashingly handsome of
course )
“When I was
a fresher people
were dying of
SARS, cows were
dying of FOOT
and MOUTH.
Worst of all SugaBabes
were at
No.1 with Hole in
the Head”
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A Fresh Agenda
Hi, My name is Gary Boylan and I am the Campaigns
and Information officer of the Students’ Union. First
off, I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you
to DCU. This will be my fifth year here and i hope you
enjoy your time in DCU as much as i have. If you’re
interested I studied the B.Sc in Multimedia.
My role on the Students’ union is pretty much exactly
what is says on the tin, it is a role of communication
and promotion. It is my role to promote
all union policies and activities. so when
a change is being made on campus, or a new
policy being brought in, it is my job to ensure
you are considered and informed.
My role involves educating you on a range of issues
from sexual health to tenancy rights. This
is done on a One-to-one basis and through the
organisation of Union sponsored weeks and
events.
Above all i am responsible for ensuring the Union
have a presence on campus. Organising
everything from event posters to merchandising
and branded clothing to the implementation of
Union officer clinics. (speaking of posters, if you
want one for your bedroom wall, just pop up to the
office and i’ll be happy to give you one, don’t just
take them off the walls! please!)
Regardless of the particulars of our roles, the
bottom line is that we are here to help you. It’s
your Union so use it. Call up to the offices, send
us an email or stop us in the corridor.
Every DCU Student is a member. It’s your union,
it’s your university, be proud of it and enjoy it.
Stuff I think you
should know as
a fresher
What bus goes from town to DCU?
How do you get the smell of alcohol off
your breath before going home to see
mammy?
Which is better for you; beans or spaghetti
hoops?
A lot of the fun of going to college
is finding out the answers to these
questions and the best way to find
out is to get stuck in.
If I could give one piece of advice
to you it would be to get involved as
much as you can during your time
in DCU. DCU has so much more
to offer than your 9 – 5 course (or
2 – 3:30 course if you’re studying
communcations).

THE INTERVIEW
Funny man PJ Gallagher will
be taking time out to stew
with the students of DCU this
week when he performs on
Wednesday 20th September
in The Venue. Don’t miss out
on him embarrassing your
mates.
Q&A with
PJ Gallagher
PJ Gallagher, the brains behind RTE’s Naked Camera, takes
some time out to answer some of the most important ques-
tions ever put to him.
How funny are you?
I don’t know to be honest, I only really
got into comedy cause I can’t do
anything else.
Where do you get all your energy
from?
Red Bull, strepsils and petrol station
sandwiches. I don’t expect to live very
long.
Did you ever go to college?
No, it wasn’t for me and I never had any
discipline, I still don’t.
What is your favorite low budget
food?
There’s a Chinese take away down
the road from my house that
sells the best curries ever
and opens really late. I love
going in there after a gig
and trying to remember
what the hell I was going
on about.
Does scone rhyme with gone
or bone?
Bone of course! Jaysus!
Student houses are usually
decorated with traffic cones,
roadwork signs, flags and public
notices. Why do you think this is?
I have no idea why, I suppose it makes
you feel like your on the
street but you still have a kitchen. I
once stole a builders flashing
yellow light that you needed a match to
turn on, it was in the 80’s though, so I
don’t know where it’s gone.
Can you give any tips on how to
recover from hangovers?
Activated charcoal from your local hippy
shop. It’s bleeding brilliant.
Do you prefer performing for the
camera or for the live audience?
It’s hard to say cause they are so
different. At the moment I like TV more
but tomorrow it’ll change again.
How did you create the eccentric
persona of ‘Jake Stevens’?
He’s based on a whole bunch of
different fellas that I used to work with
on a building site years ago. One guy in
particular though cause his voice was
exactly the same.
Have you any plans for the future?
No way, every time I plan something I
do something wrong. I’ll just see what
happens. I guess I’ll write some more
stand up and make some more telly.
Other than that I’ll just be doing the
usual, whatever that is.
What do you understand by private,
protective, and public?
I don’t know, different types of toilets
or something.
Do you like dressing up as a
woman?
It’s alright but the tights are a pisser.
I hear you and drink fell out recently.
Is the relationship reconcilable?
No. Drink and me have split up for
good now and we aren’t going to talk
anymore. It keeps calling though. Such
a temptress.
Do you have any idols?
Not really but there’s lots of sports
people I really admire. I like
my mates a lot too.
Right now you are in front of a
computer. If you could be anywhere
else, where would you be?
In Croke Park in 1995 watching the
Dub’s win the All-Ireland for what might
be the last time ever and shouting like
a lunatic.
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MAN CANNOT LIVE ON PINTS
Sometime in your first semester, the time will come when you’ll have to stock your fridge with
solids for once. Whether its cheap plain chocolate, forty cent nuts, or a pricy bottle of champers
you want, Niamh O’Doherty gives her guide to shopping around.
Eurospar; Up The Road
The Good:
Situated in the pleasant surroundings of Ballymun Road
and just across the road from the bus stop, Eurospar is
perfect for those looking for a little variety and unwilling to
walk to Tesco. Boasting an excellent off license and pizza
selection, Eurospar or, more commonly, EUROSPAAAR!
sung in the style of You’re A Star, even has a deli counter
for those unwilling to defrost everything they eat.
The Bad:
If it’s raining outside and you’re so hungover you can’t
stand up without getting the spins, you’re probably going
to make for Spar on Campus instead of braving the Tree-
Lined Avenue of Death by Slipping on Wet Leaves.
The Ambience:
A jolly mix of students, Ballymun Road residents, people
from the Slipper popping in to use the ATM and lost Glasnevinites
searching in vain for proscuitto.
The Bottom Line:
Cheaper than Spar, but not as cheap as Tesco or Lidl.
Look out for special offers in the off-license and free stuff
give aways with some products - I’ve kitted out half my
house in lasagna dishes at this stage.
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Luckily, our campus sits in a veritable haven of food
outlets, so whether you feel like a bagel in between
lectures, want to know where to find the cheapest
pasta when your grant isn’t going far enough, or
feel like splurging on some Tesco’s Finest fare,
check out our no-nonsense fully-researched guide
to DCUisine...d’ya get it...like cuisine, but with a D
at the front....I think I ate too much pick and mix.
Spar; On Campus
The Good:
It’s super close, so if you feel like a feed and only have
a few minutes, this is where its at. A superb collection
of rolls, frozen meals, rolls, cereal, smoothies and rolls.
Also fully stocked with biros, notebooks, folders and
sticky tape - fierce handy when you have five minutes to
a project deadline and need staples.
The Bad:
It’s super close, so expect the kind of queues more familiar
in post-war bread lines during lunchtime. And no
matter how hung over you are, stay away from the bacon
and cream cheese bagels. Heart attacks in sandwich
form.
The Ambience:
Frequented by anyone who’s anyone in DCU. Expect to
find yourself queueing up behind superstars like President
Ferdy and Phylis From The Canteen.
The Bottom Line:
As it operates as the sole dispenser of cigarettes, Fanta
and Pot Noodle on campus, Spar is very, very, very expensive.
For those on a budget, avoid at all costs and
stock up in Tesco instead.
supermarket
ALDI
SPAR CENTRA
TESCO EUROSPAR
pyramid

ALONE: LET THERE BE FOOD
Aldi; Santry Avenue
Tesco; Santry Omniplex
The Good:
A mere fifteen-minute walk away in Santry’s Omnipark, Tesco’s
has everything you could ever need. Surprising good
own-brand chocolate. Wine for five euro. Fruits and vegetables,
which are pretty to look at. Tesco’s own-brand pasta,
when you’re hungry and you have less than bus fare left.
Random kids games for two euro, sometimes.
The Bad:
Far, far away. Not an option for a quick break during lectures.
But then you get all the fun of making friends on the
various Tesco Expeditions that take place every Monday as
students decamp from Res in search of sustenance and
Rice Krispie cereal-and-milk bars.
The Ambience:
In this cathedral of riches, you’ll lose and find yourself
among mountains of sausages, ice-cream and pitta breads.
And remember: no-one ever said the free samples are a
one-time-only thing.
The Bottom Line:
Varies from the ultra-cheap Tesco’s Own to the ultra-expensive
Tesco’s Finest, which I’m sure are both the same, just
in different wrappers.
The Good:
For those lucky enough to own a car or a bus fare, Aldi is the
cheapest place to for all your college needs: frozen food,
sweets, random own-brand fun, mad German names and very
cheap drink. Great place to go for cocktail-making stuff, and
watch out for their deals on laptops and DVD players.
The Bad:
Even further away than Tesco. Get the 103 from Collins Ave
and jump off half-way down Santry Avenue, across from the
Northwood Gym.
The Ambience:
Nestled in the cultural wastleland that is Santry Avenue, Aldi is
surrounded by approximately 7,345 apartment complexes and
is mostly populated by bemused-looking yuppies who thought
‘Santry Cross’ was nowhere near Ballymun.
The Bottom Line:
Cheap as chips, which are very cheap here. Just stay away from
the leisure wear. ..
The Not-So-Well-Known Centra
The Good:
Its located right beside Eurospar and has one vital thing Eurospar doesn’t
have; bus tickets. No-one’s ever there. They have a lot of Haribo. Nice paninis
for a fair price. Has a nice selection of chick lit, should the mood take you.
The Bad:
If you’re walking all this way, why not just go to Eurospar?
The Ambience:
Bewildered people. More lost Glasnevinites searching in vain for proscuitto.
The Bottom Line: Much of a muchness between here and Eurospar.
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BUS ROUTES
The nearest busstop to DCU is located to the left of the Ballymun entrance to the college. If you are headed
towards the city pay no more than €1.40 from DCU. Here are a list of the local bus routes and where they
will take you. Try not to make the mistake of hopping on a 19 instead of a 19A when you are headed DCUwards…
Bus Number From Via Destination
13 Harristown DCU, Whitworth Rd., City Centre Merrion Square
13A Harristown DCU, Drumcondra, City Centre Merrion Square
19A Jamestown Rd. DCU, Phibsboro, City Centre Limekiln Avenue
4 Ballymun Rd. DCU, Phibsboro, City Centre, Ballsbridge St.Vincent’s Hospital
11/A Wadelai Park DCU, Drumcondra, City Centre, Ranelagh Kilmacud Rd.
103 Santry Omniplex DCU, Beaumont, Killester Clontarf Dart Station
16 Santry Shanowen Rd., Drumcondra, City Centre Ballinteer
16A Dublin Airport Santry Omniplex, Drumcondra, City Centre Lower Rathfarnham
Nitelinks around DCU
If you find yourself in town some night having missed the last bus home, don’t worry, you needn’t fork out for
a pricey cab journey. There is always the option of getting a Nitelink. They cost 4 Euro and get you to a bus
stop near your house super quickly.
40N: This Nitelink leaves from Westmoreland Street and goes past Phibsboro Shopping Centre, the Botanic
Gardens, the Weather Station and continues on up the Ballygall Rd to Finglas.
41N: If you are Shanowen Road bound you should hop on this nitelink and get off the stop just before the
Omniplex. This Nitelink leaves from D’Olier Street and goes through Drumcondra and the Swords Road – Collins
Avenue junction and continues on to Swords Village.
42N: If you live the Donnycarney end of Collin’s Avenue, this Nitelink will see you home. It departs from
D’Olier Street and passes through Fairview, Donnycarney, Coolock, following through to Malahide and eventually
Portmarnock.
Monday – Thursday: 00:30am and 02:00am
Friday – Saturday: Every 30 minutes from 00:30am then buses every 30 minutes or more
frequently if demand dictates until 04:30am.
No Sunday Night Service.
The Interfaith Centre
This is DCU’s equivalent of Home and Away’s drop-in centre. Well…almost. Aside
from being a place where you can worship - whatever your religious beliefs, the
Interfaith centre serves as a meeting place for students. There is a common
room and a kitchen that enables you to make tea or coffee, use a microwave,
and chill out at no cost. It is a fantastic place to drop in if you want to get away
from everything, as there is a quiet room. If you are musically orientated there is
a piano and keyboard provided for students who wish to practice. Summed up,
its a multifunctional place where everyone is welcome. Be sure to drop in!
Parking on Campus
The multi-storey carpark is located opposite the Helix at the Collins Avenue
entrance to DCU. Students can avail of discounted parking rates by buying
6-pass tickets from the car park office at the exit ramp.
Parking for students and staff is free in the car park located beside the Henry
Grattan Building and also in the car park located in front of the Invent Centre.
You need to have your student card with you to avail of these car parks.
They fill up quickly; so the earlier you make it into the college the better your
chances are of securing that free parking space.
The speed limit through campus is 30MPH and for those who break it, be
prepared to part with up to 190 Euro of a fine.
0
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City centre wedding shop looking
for sales staff. Neat dress, good
appearance and good manner
essential.
Contact Aspirations Bridal at 01
6707269. Basic wage of €8.65 but
negotiable depending on experience.
CV required.
If you have any notices to put into campus
email them in to campusdcu@gmail.com.
Guinness Storehouse®
We are currently recruiting for:
Full & part-time Executive Waiters:
Candidate must posses:
Previous waiting / fine dining experience
Excellent customer service skills
The ability to work in a busy environment
The ability to work on own initiative and as
part of a busy team
Full & part time Barista Waiters:
Candidate must possess:
An interest in the area of coffee making
Previous barista experience beneficial
Excellent customer service skills
The ability to work in a busy environment
Please forward your CV to Lorraine - lorraine.
sheenan@diageo.com
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This week Joey Kavagnagh guides you through the A to Z of what DCU Clubs and Societies
have to offer.
Club Twentyone. Redz. Crawdaddy.
Barcode. Tripod. Boomerang. All
fine establishments that you will no
doubt be frequenting over the next
few months.
However, fantastic as these clubs
are, they ain’t got nothing on the
equally perspiration-inducing ones to
be found right here on campus.
Yep, we’re talking about the impressive
array of sports clubs on offer
here at DCU.
From Aikido and Archery to Caving and
Canoeing, Gaelic and Gymnastics to
Rock-Climbing and Rugby, practically
every sporting discipline is covered.
Regardless of whether you’re a jock
of the highest order or just looking to
have some fun and meet new people,
there’s bound to be something that
tickles your fancy.
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The seasoned sports-junkies among
you can benefit from the wide range
of state-of-the-art training facilities at
your disposal.
An elite gym, 25-metre swimming
pool, indoor tennis courts, astro-turf
football pitches, rock-claiming wall,
handball courts and multi-purpose
sports halls are just some of the
sporting amenities located on DCU
campus.
DCU prides itself on a long history of
sporting success and every step has
been taken to provide students with
the necessary facilities to hone their
athletic abilities.
Of course, not everybody has such
a serious approach to sports clubs
and those just looking to fend off a
beer belly or try something new are
catered for as well. You might not
get many chances in life to partake
in an ‘Ultimate Frisbee’ competition,
play for an American Football team or
go surfing in Bundoran, so it’s best
to make the most of these opportunities
now. Who knows? You might
even discover a new passion!
Involvement in clubs is a great way to
get to meet like-minded people who
share your interests.
There’s a thriving social scene associated
with sports clubs in DCU, with
the Clubs & Societies Ball and GAA
Ball traditionally proving highlights of
the social calendar.
If, for some reason, you don’t manage
to join to a particular club on
Clubs & Socs Day, don’t fret! You can
sign up at any point during the year in
the Clubs & Societies Office, upstairs
in The Hub.
Check out just how many clubs you can join. And if you think of a sport thats missing from
the list, theres always the option of starting it up.

You can join Clubs and Societies on October 2nd and rd when they will be avidly trying to
recruit new members. Clubs and Societies days take place in The Hub.
It’s often said that your school years
are the best years of your life. Well,
that’s a downright lie! College life has
the potential to be ten kabillion times
better than time spent roaming the
corridors of St. Enda’s in your manky
grey uniform or trading tips on fake
tan at The Loreto. You’ve just gotta
know how to make the most of it.
One of the best aspects of college
life is the wonderful world of student
societies and you’d be hard pushed
to find a college with a better variety
of organisations on offer than DCU.
Whether it’s Art Soc or Accounting &
Finance, Publications or Poker, Sinn
Féin or Style Soc, there’s guaranteed
to be something to cater to even the
most selective of tastes.
By this stage, you’ve heard plenty
about the perks associated with
life at DCU. However, the first few
months can often prove quite overwhelming
for students and some find
the transition from second level to
third level quite difficult. Societies
can help students to find their feet
at the university by providing an opportunity
to interact with people with
similar interests in a fun and friendly
environment.
As clichéd as it might sound, what
you gain from student societies really
boils down to how much time and
energy you’re prepared to invest. As
well as being good craic, involvement
in societies can help to develop valuable
life skills that can’t be acquired
in lecture halls.
It may seem daunting to try and
break into some of the more established
organisations but, provided
you make an effort, you’ll soon find
the majority of society folk are just
delighted to welcome you in.
If you don’t get around to joining a
particular society on Clubs & Socs
Day, this can be done at any point
during the year in The Clubs & Societies
Office, which is located upstairs
in The Hub.
It costs a mere €4 Euro to join each
society and, considering that society
activities are subsidised by DCU’s
Societies and Publications Committee,
you’re almost certain to make
that money back during the year.
So get involved and milk that money
for all its worth!
DCU proudly sports some of the most random societies alive. From Home & Away to Juggling,
you are bound to be joining something on this list.
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Don’t worry…I’m not about to give ye a brief history and philosophy of the word. I’m here to
be your geek chic guide to the life website. So listen up kiddos! If you like to procrastinate the
nights away when you should really be working on a God awful assignment.
ABOUT life.dcu.ie
life.dcu.ie is the official DCU Student’s website.
It is made up with content from individual
students, clubs, societies, and the
Student’s Union. It keeps students up to
date with college events and juicy campus
scandal!
Latest News
The latest news section is automatically updated
with the latest news posted to the site.
It is constantly changing, which allows you to
keep up to speed with what is happening on
and off campus.
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How do I use it?
First off, you have to be a student at DCU. Throughout the next week you
will all be given an important username and password when you register
for your course. The same username and password is used when you
are logging into the ‘life’ website. From once you have logged in you will
get a personalised view of the site and be able to use all its features.
When typing the URL into your web browser make sure you leave out
the WWW that generally goes hand in hand with a website. Just type in:
HTTP://LIFE.DCU.IE and you’ll be well on your way to becoming the next
forum freak!
Site Navigation
The site sports a double navigation system: a top menu and a side
menu. Lets work sidewards first. The side navigation is split into five sections;
home life, my life, club life, union life and society life. By clicking
on any one of these, you will be brought to the corresponding section of
the site. The ‘My Life’ section is customised to contain the latest news,
content waiting your approval, and a shortlist of clubs and societies of
which you are a member.
How do I submit all my great content?
We now navigate to the top menu. To add your own content, click ‘Submit’.
Still keeping up with all this computer jargon kiddos? Okay, now choose
the area of the site that you wish to submit content to. As every student
is a member of the Student’s Union, all visitors may submit content to
the ‘Union’ section. You may also submit to club and society pages of
which you are a member. Once you have chosen a section, click ‘next’.
Now select the type of content to add: news, event, or image and click
‘next’.
Depending on your choice, you will be prompted to enter some information
for news or events, or in the case of an image, you will be asked to
pick an image file to upload. Once all the info is entered, click ‘finish’
and wait for the content to be approved.

life forums more
FEATURES
----------------
Anything and everything is talked about here. Be prepared to
constantly have your mouse hovering over the refresh button
on your browser as you feast your eyes on the blossoming arguments
and scandal that all comes out of using the forums on
life.dcu.ie.
How do the forums work?
Feast your eyes on the top navigation again please. You will see a link that
says ‘Forums’. That’s right…you’ve guessed what I’m about to tell you;
click on it!
Here you will find seven permanent forums: General Chat, Technical Support,
Student’s Union, Lost & Found, Classifieds, SPC, and SCC.
Just like when trying to submit other content, you can only access the forums
for clubs and societies of which you are a member.
Beside the forums, you can see how many topics and posts there are and
also who was the last person who posted and when.
How do I post?
To simply reply to an existing topic, just click the ‘post a reply’ button.To
post something on the forum just click on the forum that
you want your topic to be in and click the ‘start new topic’ button.
Give the topic a title and watch the comments roll in.
How do I start a poll?
One clear way of finding out people’s opinions
on an issue is to start a poll. To do so, click on
the area you want the opll to go. e.g. General
Chat, and click the ‘start new poll’ button. Economics,
politic and law students…you’re going
to love and become addicted to this feature!
Events Calendar
The events calender shows the
forthcoming club, society, and
union events. On any given date
you will see a coloured dot. Union
events appear in yellow, club events
in brown, and society events in
green.
All you have to do is click on a
date to get further information on
events scheduled for that day. Now
plan out your social life for the next
month…
U2U
U2U is life.dcu.ie’s own private messaging
service. Although it sounds
like some kind of absurd online dating
mechanism, it functions as an
email inbox. To check or send a U2U,
click U2U at the top of the screen on
the forum section of the site. Alternatively,
you can click on anyone’s name
which will give you an option to send
them a private U2U message. For a
full list of all members of life.dcu.ie,
click on ‘Members List’ on the navigation
bar.
When you receive a U2U message,
the next time you log into the forum
page, you will be alerted that you
have a U2U message waiting for you
so you’ll always be up to speed.
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DCU has a lot of services to support students. Whether you just need someone to talk to
or you want to set up your own website; there is always a service there to help you on your
way. Here is an insight into some of the services that DCU has to offer. And the best thing
about it is; they are all free!
Services in DCU
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DCU Disability Service
The Disability Service offers a range of
reasonable supports and services to
all students with disabilities in DCU.
Whether you need accommodations in
your exams, one to one tutor support
or have an interest in a particular
sport and would like to see if the
facilities can be adapted to suit your
particular needs, the Disability Service
is there to help you access these
supports and put them in place for you.
If you have a disability or think you may have
a specific learning difficulty, e.g., dyslexia,
they offer a free screening assessment
and a referral to an educational
psychologist for a full assessment.
For more information on the supports
provided by DCU and the State to
students with disabilities, visit www.
dcu.ie/students/disability or contact
the Service directly in QAG08 in the
Business School.
Computer Services Department
The Registry
The Registry is located in the Henry Grattan
Building, opposite the Bank. There is a
Student Information Area where you can
speak to a member of Registry staff. This
should be your first point of contact if you
are on campus and wish to discuss any of
the following:
>> Information on Admissions and Registration.
>> Change of Module options, transcripts,
replacement ID cards, and letters confirming
attendance.
>> Withdrawals, deferrals & extenuating
circumstances.
>> Stamping social welfare forms to confirm
a student’s status.
>> Examination enquiries, appeals and ID
Card audits.
>> Collection of local authority grant
cheques.
For more information on the registry visit
www.dcu.ie/registry or drop in whenever
you are passing.
Computer Services provides a wide range of Information and Communications technology
services to DCU students. Their aim is to provide easy-to-access and easy-to-use facilities
that enable students to get the most benefit during their time in DCU.
Among the facilities provided are; Email for life, network storage for files, maintenance
of the computer labs, campus wide wireless network, printing facilities, moodle and
personal portal pages.
The Student Helpdesk is located in C215 in the Henry Grattan building and on the ground
floor of the Library. If you have a problem with a lab computer or with a printer you should
report it to either of the Student Helpdesks, call 5007 or email helpdesk@dcu.ie
If you have a laptop we provide McAfee Virus Scan which can be downloaded from
http://www.dcu.ie/csd/virusdownload.shtml. We will also configure your laptop for use
on the wireless network and in Campus Residences.

Audio/Visual Services
The Audio/Visual unit is responsible for all A/V equipment in all rooms throughout
the University.
The Unit maintains a variety of equipment, which can be borrowed.
This includes: Video Cameras, Tape Recorders, DVD Players , CD Player, Microphones,
Data Projectors. They demonstrate the use of facilities and equipment to staff and
students and oversee equipment loans to student.
The unit provides a service to staff to convert videotapes to DVD’s and can also edit
the material if required.
They can also print poster size posters mainly for postgraduates and signage for
conferences that are held in the university.
Student Affairs
During your time at DCU you will be given the
opportunity to take part in the many events
which are organized by the student support
services around the University. Third level
education is about more than just ‘completing
a programme’ – you should grab every
opportunity open to you…and take the chance
to build your interpersonal, professional and
life skills and take part in as many of the
events as possible.
Student Affairs is all about the students
– make sure to visit us if you need any
assistance at any time during your studies.
Talk to us about your choice of programme,
career interests, health issues, recreational
facilities or financial problems. They are here
to find a solution!
Student Affairs incorporates the following
areas:
>> Careers Office
>> Chaplaincy
>> Counselling
>> Financial Assistance Service
>> Student Health Service
>> International Office
>> INTRA
>> Student Activities Service
>> Sport and Recreation Service
For more information you can call into Student
Affairs, which is located on the Ground Floor
of the Henry Grattan Building or visit their
website at http://www.dcu.ie/students/
student_affairs.shtml.
The Library
DCU Library provides a spacious,
comfortable and varied environment
in which to study and work. You
can
>>Research material
for your project or essay
>> Use their vast collection of
online resources or print material
(they hold copies of all key texts for
your course)
>> Borrow books, DVDs...make sure
you bring them back on time though
or else you will be fined!
>> Work by yourself, in a quiet study
area, or study with other students in
one of the library’s 17 collaborative
study rooms (book a room online
via your student portal page).
>> Have access to PCs and printers
and access (wireless or data point)
for your laptop on all floors (Internet
access is free).
>> Have access to card-operated
photocopiers on two floors
>> Get help for your IT queries at
the CSD helpdesk on the ground
floor
>> Get help with your photocopying
problems from the technician
>> Chill out in Café Zero on the
lower ground floor
Services in DCU
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please respect your neighbours by keeping
the noise down on your way home tonight
and every night. thank you.
o oo o otune in respect neighbours noise quiet thank you
20 camPus

MaPPing the camPus out
Collins Avenue Main entrance
FREE
PARKING
Ballymun Road Entrance
Parking
...If you want to pay
for it that is.
The Main Canteen
Sporting paninis by
Phyliss. mmmm...
The Gym and Swimming
Pool
Splash out for membership!
Albert College Park
Have yourself some
fun on a swing!
Physical Sciences.
Lets get physical,
physical!
The Hub
DCU’s Student bar. A
place where scandal
is born.
The Interfaith Centre
Make a cup of coffee for
free or microwave that
soup you made.
Computing building
One word: Redbrick.
The Henry Grattan
One step in here and
you’ll have volunteered
your life away!
Sciences
I’m hoping they’ll
invent a hangover cure
that doesnt involve
eggs.
FREE
PARKING
Larkfield Res
Triangular kitchens;
a unique cooking
experience.
Hampstead Res
Security always
try to crash these
parties. Uncool.
College Park Res
Very posh. Great
corridors to play
bowling.
Free Parking
All you need is to
get there early and
bring your student
card.
Nursing Building
Mad hatters
galore. Anyone for
Coppers?
Map key
Giving you a brief
description of
everything you
should look out for
on DCU campus.
Ferdie’s House
I’m not sure he
deserves a mansion
for walking his dog
around the park.
CSD
If you’re nice to
them they’ll give
you a USB key.
The Library
A great place to
doodle and bird
watch...
Business School
Money is tight but
the figures are
great.
Research & Engineering
School
Robot races 24/7 in
here...we think.
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Alabama 3...
Kowley spends an evening with Alabama 3 and quizzes them on their new album M.O.R, The Sopranos,
and how to survive the student house party.
Booze and Rock n’ Roll were
my first impressions of
Alabama 3. On meeting with
the band we promptly changed interview
location to somewhere we could get
free booze; The Heinken Green Synergy
launch.
We sat down in our new destination
after a trip to the free bar and frontman
Jake, aka ‘Larry Love’, ordered a
burrito. This meant that I couldn’t fully
understand what he was saying as he
chomped and alternated his accent between
a country American one and his
native British accent. Devlin Love, who
provides the band with the most amazing
female vocals, looked sexy with her
deep red lips and was more animated
than one would think a girl of her miniature
size could be. ‘LB Dope’, drummer
with the group, sat there quietly;
wishing he hadn’t ate seafood chowder
for lunch after being on a diet of fruit
and vegetables for quite a while.
Jake describes the theme running
throughout their new album M.O.R as
focusing on domestic interior dialogue.
“Where you go tell your missus to go
fuck off at midnight or vice-versa” he
adds, after giving me a rundown of a
scenario involving a couple and a trailer
in the middle of the road.
While their theme may run along similar
lines to Eminem’s white trash lyrics,
there is no such comparison with the
music.
“It’s techno house mixed in with blues
22
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Are Giving Us M.O.R
and country”, Jake tells me as he looks
up from his food. Not the combination
of music that you would think would
work well together…but it does.
I can feel the energy rub off on me from
Devlin Love as she gives me an account
of what happens in their live performances.
“Now we can always
have Kelloggs Cornflakes,
Smarties, and weird promotional
Albanian adverts.”
“I’ve been caught a few times on camera,
doing positions that are just impossible.
But when you hear that base and
slide guitar going on, something weird
goes on. The quirkiest thing is probably
me bending over and not dying in the
process really. Jake showing his belly is
also another quirky thing that happens.”
I’m not sure I want to see Jake’s belly
so I quickly roll onto another topic: The
Sopranos. This is how most people
will recognise Alabama 3; the song
Woke up this morning from the opening
credits is taken from their 1997 album
‘Woke up on Cold Harbour Lane’.
To my surprise, Jake light heartedly
gives me the reasons why he is glad
the show is over.
“Now we can always have Kelloggs
Cornflakes, Smarties, and weird promotional
Albanian adverts. We can sell it
[the song] all over the world now.”
Not many people would know to look at
him, but cowboy hat wearing Jake once
studied law. He’s not envious of his
classmates from back then as he sees
them with “receding hairlines, too many
wrinkles for their age from stress, and
they’re fatter”.
Realising that he has had the college
experience, I ask him for some student
house party advice.
“If it’s the Acid house, go there!”, he
mumbles as he chomps on his burrito.
Then he gets excited about the thought
of house parties and plugs “the acid
house”, a little more to me.
And for the morning after, Devlin Love
offered some straight talking advice on
how to get people to leave your house
and not remain vegetated on your floor
or sofa for all of the following day.
“Beans. You can always eat some
baked beans and fart them all out of
the house. But I don’t know, does that
work?”, she asks me. Her mind gets a
bit flustered coming up with a solution.
This is the stuff that matters in their
rock n’ roll lives.
I’m organising a house party next week.
Alabama 3 are invited providing they
bring beans of every kind.
Alabama 3 are playing as part of the
Heineken Green Synergy Festival,
which runs from October 10th -14th in
various venues around Dublin.

are this year’s sponsors of Wired Wednesdays
Some of the great acts that will be performing
in DCU venues over the next few weeks are:
Wednesday 26th September
Delorentos, Ham Sandwich, The Flaws,
15 Minutes, Spring Break, Leo the Lion, Saccade
Wednesday 28th November
Declan O’Rourke
Thursday 13th December
East 17
Wednesday 3rd October
The Frank and Walters
Wednesday 17th October
The Fillers

WINNER BEST STUDENT MAG, SMEDIAS 07
2
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DCU.SU, Here to help