The IRFU’s decision to exclude trans women from rugby
Life pullout
The science of fireworks
21
29
Translating cultures
TRINITY NEWS ESTABLISHED 1953
Tuesday 6 September 2022
Ireland’s Oldest Student Newspaper
Vol. 69, Issue. 1
PHOTO BY EVA O’BEIRNE FOR TRINITY NEWS
College “strongly recommends” mask wearing indoors
Return to campus
Evan Skidmore-O’Reilly Staff Writer
C As one of the hottest summers on record slowly dwindles to a close, students begin returning to campus. Orientation week for returning students began yesterday, while Freshers’ Week for first year students begins September 19.
Delayed return for first year students for third year running Shannon Connolly Editor
S
TUDENTS RETURNED TO CAMPUS THIS WEEK IN A SOMEWHAT normal fashion compared to previous years. Orientation for Erasmus students and postgraduates began yesterday, Monday September 5, with another Senior Freshers’ Week in full swing for returning students from next week. While this year’s Senior Freshers’ Week does not feature a campus fair as last year, events welcoming students back to campus are being
held all week before classes begin. Teaching for returning students commences next Monday, September 12, while incoming first year students are not expected to begin classes until Monday, September 26. A delayed marking to Leaving Certificate papers has slowed the Central Applications Office (CAO) offers for secondary school students. Students who sat their Leaving Certificate this June did not receive their results until last Friday, September 2, and Round One CAO offers are not expected to be made until this Thursday, September 8. The CAO process consists of multiple rounds, where further and higher education places are
offered on points accumulated from the Leaving Certificate exams. Secondary school students typically sit seven submit exams for their Leaving Certificate, however only their top six grades are used for points. Students must pass English, Maths and Irish to pass their Leaving Certificate. Returning to campus this year is the most normal of recent years, despite a delayed junior freshman start. After the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many students did not step foot on campus for over 18 months. While a majority of students returned to come in-person teaching in September 2021, a “blendedlearning” approach was adopted
by Trinity. From September of last year, Trinity adopted a two-phase approach to the reopening of campus, which differed from other universities at the time. College placed regulations in place from the beginning of term until Reading Week, however some of these regulations were extended until March of this year. In the first half of the semester, lecture capacities were limited, and maskwearing was mandatory in all enclosed spaces. Social distancing was applied in all teaching and study areas, with small classes often sitting in lecture halls, and larger lectures being held online. These measures slowly dwindled down as the Covid-19 pandemic seemed to lessen, and mask wearing was dropped on February 28. The decision to scrap masks in indoor spaces on campus Continued on page 2>>
OLLEGE IS TO “ S T R O N G L Y RECOMMEND” the wearing of face masks in indoor settings on campus amidst concerns over the spread of Covid-19, an internal college email has suggested. Ahead of the start of the new academic year, Vice-Provost Orla Shiels said that the College community was “conscious of the worrying levels of circulation of the Covid-19 virus”, and that it will continue to have an impact on college life throughout the year. “It is important that we continue to encourage students and staff to follow all those familiar guidelines relating to hand hygiene, wearing of face masks and individual responsibility for managing symptoms or illness of any kind.” Regarding the wearing of face masks in particular, Shiels said it would be “helpful” if module Continued on page 2>>
trinitynews.ie TrinityNewsDublin Trinity_News trinitynews trinitynews