PHIZ EXPLODES IN BITTERNESS No link with UCD? - Trinity News ...

i ~ ~if::,Ji:ii ~!i:!i’ Atrinity news thursday april 13~page twotrinity news"Phiz" the c.amp squibThe saga of the Phll presidency has almost completed its fullrevolution. Stephen White, the former president of the S.R.C.,has now added the scalp of the Phil presidency to his belt and hasbecome the third Phil president in this academic year. GordonLedbetter, the heir to Brian Trevaskis, has been ousted from thechair because of his forthright letter to the "Irish Times" whichdenounced the proposed amalgamation of the Phil, the Eliz andthe S.R.C., conveniently dubed the "Phiz’.His letter to the "Irish Times" was a providential opportunityfor the scheming mini-Machiaevellians campaigning for the "Phiz"to eliminate their chief opponents. The president and the secretaryof the Phil were sacked and the leaders of the crusade (two ofwhom are members of the S.R.C.) had their chief obstaclesuprooted.The "Phiz" seems to be a white elephant since it offers fewsubstanital advantages to the student. The whole drama smacksof an S.R.C. bid for power and an attempt by the Phil to debunkthe Hist, in whose shadow it has always lurked. The S.R.C. seesthe "Phiz" as an easy path towards its eventual goal of establishinga Union at Trinity. Unsubstantiated reports suggest that the RegentHouse Library. will become a communal conversation room, administered,the S.R.C. hopes, by the "Phiz".The Eliz will gain least of all from the proposed merger. Thewomen will be allowed to use the crowded facilities of the Philand the men, much to the disgust of many women, will possiblybe allowed to use the cramped conversation room in the Eliz.There will be a pooling of financial resources and debating talents.Undoubtedly the "Phiz", uncertain of ever becoming a reality,is a damp squib and one is not impressed by the squalid politicalmanoeuvring behind the scenes by the Phil and the S.R.C. who areworking in close co-operation. The public dismissal of GordonLedbetter does not speak well of the Phil. The motives of theS~.C. in promoting the ’~hiz" are extremely dubious and despitestringent denials it appears to be a poor attempt to climb on thepower band wagon.STAFFEditor: Charles DuttonAssistant Editor and Features Editor: Andrew VeitchEditorial Board: Ken Rushton, John Armstrong, Rodney Rice, KateEllenbogen, Pepeta HarrisonPhoto Editor: Mike WelchBusiness Hanager: Geoff StoneAdvertising Hanager: Nick Sharmanl"reasurer: Colin WrightCARDS-N-NOVELTIESTHOMAS J. KELLY193 Pearse St., Dublin 2APCK37 DAWSON ST.Keep up (to date) with~~sBryson3 CHURCH LANEGOWNS, HOODS, TIES,SCARVES, BLAZERS.IILTo-night at theBooksellers16 Clare Street,co.CHRISTY’SCUT YOUR HAIR THEWAY YOU WANT ITStudentRatesK~ght of Lincoln GateGo toTHE BEST PHARMACISTP. J. O’BRIEN52 DAWSON STREET,DUBLIN 2TEL.: 74108, 72076GEOFFREY GOOLNICK reads an introductory paper Ito a Seminar on IRISH EDUCATIONIOther speakers will include schoolteachers[Brooks and GahanIAlso Noel Browne, Garret FitzgeraldI8.15 P.M. (Tea 7.45 p.m.) G.H.B. Ladies WelcomeTrinity moves into theworld of red tapeFor Trinitythedecadeofthe sixties has been one ofrapid growth in most sectors.The numberofstudentshasvery nearly doubled, andsince 1960 the student-staffratio has dropped from 21 to15, while income and expenditurehave doubled and arenow above £1 million.In the process Trinity has undergonea change which can be closelycompared to that of a family concernbecoming a public company.The two top administrative jobshad been those of the Bursar andthe Registrar which were held bymembers of the academic staff.Already part of the work had beentaken over by earlier full-time administrator,the Agent "an offshootof the old Bursar". Then in 1962and 1963 respectively the positionsof Treasurer and Secretary werecreated to take over the duties ofthe Bursar and Registrar so thatnow these top two jobs were heldby full-time administrators fromoutside College.The Treasurer, who supervisesall financial administration, nowhas a staff of about twenty. Indeedthe secretarial staff as awhole, as recorded in the Calendarhas increased from 25 in 1960 to66 last year. Some of this increasemerely means that departmentalsecretaries in most casesare now employed by the Collegeand are thus listed in the Calendarbut most of the increase reflectsfar more significant trends.Thus the rapid growth in theamount of funds, mostly in theform of State Grants which nowaccount for approximately 55)’0 ofall income, means that a greateramount of time and effort mustbe expended in keeping tabs onthe disposition of the money. Thisincrease in the number of staffalso entails an increase in the sizeof the administration since theadministration is concerned mainlywith providing services to the academicbody. Apart from personalservices for members of the staff,Letters to the EditorDANGER OF DRUGSSir,I have just been reading thearticle "Focus-Drugs in College"published in Trinity News, January26th. I feel that it took an undulypermissive view of drug takingand was glad to see that you drewattention to some of the dangersin your editorial of March 2nd.If drugs are as easy to come byas your writer "M.F." suggests itseems quite likely that many Trinitystudents will come in to contactwith them and may be offeredthem. Having worked in a Londonhospital in the treatment ofdrug addicts, and having first handknowledge of the mind- and bodydestroyingnature of addiction, Ifeel it particularly important thatthe dangers of drug addictionshould be made known.The major drugs of addiction,Cocaine and powerful pain relieverslike Morphine and Heroin cancause addiction after as little asone dose. Addiction to them causesdestruction of the personality, rapidand profound physical deterioration,and the death rate amongyoung addicts is high. The minordrugs of addiction, the amphetamines(pep pills), barbiturates(sleeping tablets) and marijuanaoften lead to addiction to the majordrugs and themselves produce similarchanges, though more slowly.The Psychotomimetic drugs,Mescaline, L.S.D. etc., have a reputationfor their property of producinghallucinations. Howeververy commonly no hallucinationsare produced and instead states ofand suicidal depression are experienced.In England it is suspectedthat more toxic substances are beingsold on the black market ascounterfeit for L.S.D.Tranquillizers and anti-depressantsused in psychiatry do not producesignificant sedation, euphoriaor alterations in consciousness andconsequently do not cause habituationor addiction. Neverthelessthey should never be taken exceptin accordance with a doctor’sprescription.In the article of January 26th"M.F." states that "Dublin, likeany other city, has its complementof addicts, no one seems to knowhow many, but the 2 or 3 permanentresidents in St. Patrick’sbear witness to their existence."I quite agree that Dublin probablyhas its complement of addicts,however our experience in thetreatment of addicts at St. Patrick’sHospital indicates that at presentdrug addiction in Dublin is a relativelysmall problem, and thatsuch addiction as is found is notof the type associated with theillegal drug "pusher". If "M.F."is referring to St. Patrick’s Hospitalrather than to St. Patrick’sInstitution, I am afraid that heis misinformed, for there are nopermanent, or indeed, "long stay"patients in the hospital sufferingfrom drug addiction.Yours faithfully,P. I. MELIA, M.B., D.P.M.Trinity Student Health Service andSt. Patrick’s Hospital.The Editor welcomes letters onany subject, preferably less than200 words and typed. They shouldbe sent to the Editor of TrinityNews not later than the Sundaybefore publication.THE LIBRARYSir,At the end of last term I triedto write personally to everyone whohad rallied round in January tohelp the Library staff with "OperationCement". Perhaps I can,through your columns, makeamends to those people whom forone reason or another I may havemissed out, and say thank-you tothem in this way. We are all verygrateful to the many willing helperswho gave us practical assistance andsupport when we badly neededboth.Yours faithfully,F. J. E. HURST.(LibrarianBlue LanternSteak-H0useBest Food at Best PricesChatham St. off Grafton St.10 a.m. to 2 a.m.secretaries are now provided inmost departments, whereas formerlyletters often had to be typed bythe professor or lecturer.Surprisingly, the growth in studentnumbers does not directlyaffect the size of the ~dministration,although indirect effects,such as the need to increase cateringfacilities, may do so.The Secretary, who is now advertisingfor an Assistant, looksafter most of the non-financialadministration and it is intendedthat his office should eventuallytake over most of the work of twohitherto academic offices, those ofthe Senior Tutor and SeniorLecturer.The development of a full timeadministration in College, however,makes it more necessary than everthat the student body be consultedand represented at all levels ofdecision taking.The PaperbackCentreDublin Book Lovers willfind endless delight in thisveritable Aladdin’s Cave ofLiterary treasures.20 SUFFOLK ST., DUBLINENTERTAINAT THEff o gia.oomMETROPOLEDining... DancingTable d’H6te Dinner & A LaCarteNo Cover ChargeLicensed to midnightInformal Dre.~s.Luncheons daily (exceptSundays) 12.30~3 p.m. Tabled’Hote or full A La Carte.Enjoy a drink in the/riend]y atmosphere o/p.A&’AIlSON’S42/44 BAGGOT STREET