Opinion Archives – The College View

Does criminalising sex work just make it more dangerous?

April 17, 2019

Aoife O’Brien questions whether the criminalisation of sex work actually has detrimental effects on the safety of sex workers.

Data regulation: Should Facebook be let off the hook?

April 17, 2019

Ross Boyd questions who should be responsible for regulating social media, the government or the social networks themselves?

Gambling: A more socially acceptable addiction?

April 17, 2019

Callum Atkison asks why gambling is seen as a more socially accepted addiction, in spite of being just as harmful as other addictions.

A more progressive Ireland: fantasy or reality

April 17, 2019

Recent referendums for abortion and less recently gay marriage make it seem like Ireland is stepping in the right direction, and away from its staunch Catholic roots, Sally Dobie asks has enough really changed?

Are elitist attitudes a problem in Irish Universities?

April 17, 2019

Clara Kelly asks if students are still judging their classmates based on accents and if bigger universities have a problem with elitist attitudes.

The Kim Jong-Nam Killing: how diplomatic ties trumped justice

April 15, 2019

Sabrine Donohoe asks whether diplomatic ties may have outweighed justice in the case of the Kim Jong-Nam killing.

Tattoos are not an indicator of the person beneath

April 3, 2019

I didn’t think that tattoos should cause me to be judged as a person, especially in the workplace. Having been in professional settings, I have always felt uncomfortable having my tattoos on show for fear of being thought less of as a person.

The importance of sports for young people

April 3, 2019

Group exercises and assignments in school and university never truly showed me the value of co-operation whereas in sport, its importance was abundantly clear.

Do all trolls have sadistic tendencies?

April 3, 2019

Trolls and sadists derive pleasure from the pain of others. However, they engage in a psychological rationalisation process to justify this pleasure to themselves. When shown pictures of individuals in pain, trolls will downplay that pain to rationalise their sadistic tendencies.

Let’s talk about sex (education) baby

April 3, 2019

Much like mental health and other difficult topics to discuss, Irish education has brushed sex education under the rug for the most part. Contraception was illegal in Ireland until 1980, but that was nearly 40 years ago. Times have changed and we need to keep up.

Has hazing culture in Ireland reached new heights?

April 3, 2019

Most college students have heard whisperings of certain societies in various colleges getting up to no good. There are plenty of these societies throughout Ireland with reputations, renowned for partying or questionable behaviour, but far too often these things go overlooked.

DCUSU should stay linked to the USI

April 3, 2019

DCUSU President Vito Moloney Burke previously argued that the USI did not step up to the plate in campaigns they were running such as Shanowen Shakedown and Save Our Shepherd.

Criticise those running for positions of power

March 20, 2019

More criticism of SU candidates and officers should be vocalised about their proposals and how suited they are to the roles. If we all sit back and regard candidates as just students trying to do their best, however true this may be, a popularity contest can instead prevail.

The pros and canines of buying or adopting a dog

March 20, 2019

By adopting, you aren’t supporting puppy farms, you can get almost any breed and you’re helping to keep the unwanted pet population down. You open up a space in the shelter that can be filled by another future pet.

Stop calling people junkies

March 20, 2019

We simply don’t understand addiction. Labeling is our cosy blanket of ignorance that protects from the cold reality. Addiction is a sickness. It’s a reaction to pain, to abuse and to loneliness.

The psychoanalysis of porn culture and trends

March 20, 2019

Blindboy was asked by a crowd member: “how much masturbation is too much?” He replied that there is no definitive amount, rather, like anything that’s addictive, it depends on your relationship with the thing. How is it impacting your life?

The crazy woman perception is another social media stereotype

March 20, 2019

Despite popular belief, women aren’t inherently insane. Yes, we can freak out, we can overreact to things, but doesn’t everyone?

The importance of speaking to journalists

March 20, 2019

When sources decide to keep quiet, to ignore the email, leave the call unanswered or miss the coffee date, journalists are unable to share their side of the story. A fresh perspective and a piece of the puzzle is suddenly missing.

Million dollar baby: how much money is too much?

March 6, 2019

How is it fair for people to earn over a million or even billion while millions are homeless across the world, on social housing waiting lists and living below the poverty line?

Trans athletes should not be banned from powerlifting

March 6, 2019

People don’t transition for glory in sports. If that was the case, wouldn’t it be easier to just impersonate a woman than to go through the extensive process of hormone replacement therapy for several years?

Is DCU holding an anti-Semitic referendum?

March 6, 2019

Look, I don’t want to be hyperbolic. I’m not saying that that if we pass this referendum in DCU, the state of Israel will be overthrown in the morning.

The power of students protesting climate change

March 6, 2019

Many of today’s adults won’t have to worry about what’s happening in about 50 years time. It is my generation, Greta’s generation and the future generations who will suffer the consequences.

A no deal Brexit is the wake-up call needed for Britain

March 6, 2019

A no deal is Britain’s best hope. It is the only way to make the consequences of Brexit real and wake the British public up from the never-ending fever dream of Brexit.

Stop putting Conor McGregor on a pedestal

March 6, 2019

Young males in particular tend to look up to Conor McGregor. Many draw inspiration from his beard, blazers or tattoos and he is certainly a man who helps determine Irish fashion. But what if young boys start to copy his aggressive behaviour or his lack of respect for women?

Does Shamima Begum show that Britain needs to focus more on preventing online grooming?

March 6, 2019

An estimated 400 people have now returned to the UK after travelling to Syria to join ISIS. The loopholes in the current law allow many to go unprosecuted.