why is dcu so dull?

Flex · 26-02-2005 12:28AM

Business Studies.How about yourself?

lad12 · 26-02-2005 12:34AM

C.A. and i have to say that the computer crew aint exactly interested in going out much at all..even during rag week...very few would head out for any of the ents..i dunno why...i thought the likes of Business Studies would be different story though..

Flex · 26-02-2005 12:39AM

QUOTE]even during rag week...very few would head out for any of the ents..i dunno why[/QUOTE]

The lads I know refused to go out to any rag week event because they said it was goin to be crap (whether that was based on the general experience of DCU so far or what?), nobody from the class went out anyway, so I dont know if it was any good

i thought the likes of Business Studies would be different story though

Yeah same here.I just thought college would be more nights out and gettin to meet new people.Are there many in CA?

lad12 · 26-02-2005 12:49AM

The lads I know refused to go out to any rag week event because they said it was goin to be crap (whether that was based on the general experience of DCU so far or what?),

Its only good if ur with a crowd..no there isnt many at all..there is dem redbrick nites out...never been to one after the storys i heard..i was told ya should bring your labtop and your code to make it a good nite out

No thanks!!

Flex · 26-02-2005 12:56AM

lad12 wrote:

there is dem redbrick nites out...never been to one after the storys i heard..i was told ya should bring your labtop and your code to make it a good nite out
No thanks!!

What are ya supposed to do , drink coffee and play dungeons and dragons on the dance floor?!?The place really needs something to give it a lift or to encourage the students to go out more.Have ya got any class reps?Ya could mention it to them.

Oh yeah did ya hear about the new gym?Apparently ya have to pay a flat E190 fee for the year rather than the pay-as-you-use method.No more doing weights between all my lectures anymore!!

dregin · 26-02-2005 01:02AM

Hey, if you wanna chat with a load of DCU students online you can by clicking this link. When the security popup asppears just click "yes".

http://www.boards.ie/chat/index.php?room=dcu

See yiz there.

lad12 · 26-02-2005 01:03AM

Class Reps..They are a joke...What are urs like...like i dont mind the way things are really cos i still go out ta town wit me other friends or the few mates from my class but its just a bit disappointing..Yeah it is steep...but it includes the use of everything...and if ya can find a place cheaper in dublin with the same facilites let me kno(with a year membership)..

Flex · 26-02-2005 01:06AM

dregin wrote:

Hey, if you wanna chat with a load of DCU students online you can by clicking this link. When the security popup asppears just click "yes".

http://www.boards.ie/chat/index.php?room=dcu

See yiz there.

Clicked on it, but no security popup.What icon should ya click on after goin into it?

Flex · 26-02-2005 01:09AM

lad12 wrote:

Class Reps..They are a joke...What are urs like...like i dont mind the way things are really cos i still go out ta town wit me other friends or the few mates from my class but its just a bit disappointing..Yeah it is steep...but it includes the use of everything...and if ya can find a place cheaper in dublin with the same facilites let me kno(with a year membership)..

Our class reps are sound.They said theyd aim for 4 nights out this year, so hopin.Yeah, I know the gyms still cheap compared to elsewhere but just havin E190 on me at any moment is a little hard, it was handier when it was just E2 a go.

dregin · 26-02-2005 01:28AM

Flex wrote:

Clicked on it, but no security popup.What icon should ya click on after goin into it?

It should bring you straight into the channel. It might take about half a minute to connect to the server. Just click the link and leave it til you've joined a channel called #DCU

cravian · 26-02-2005 02:28PM

I attended 3 Universities ( in the UK ) and have worked in 2 since (in Ireland including DCU) then and without a doubt DCU scores lowest on both social life and general community spirit.

I put this down to a number of things:

1. student apathy
How did they let the only (excuse for) bars on campus be privately run? They should be run by the students for the students.
Same goes for halls.
Same goes for the sports centre.
The 'student's union' building is a ghost town most of the time.
The food is a disgrace.
Why don't you do something?

Most of the discussion on this boards tends to be from new students wondering what the hell happened when they got to DCU and they expected some kind of student life and the other small 'clique' who keep talking the place up.

2. Profiteering by the university hierarchy
Just the same as in the real world company situation. Looking after the students generates neither revenue nor success.

I guarantee in a year's time this discussion will come up again.

Granted DCU can give you a good education, but I'd look to another university for a 'student life'.

Oh, and get rid of the damn AIB and let's have some competition.

It took my all my strength to type this, having had the apathy field work on me for the past year or so...

Amz · 26-02-2005 02:38PM

What can we do though?

There are little or no oppertunities to do anything about it.

I'd have no problem trying to get involved in the SU, but I don't have the same kind of profile in the college as most people who go for these things do. I really don't think anyone would vote for me!

There's very little chance to communicate with students outside of your own faculty via e-mail etc. as all the schools are so seperate and the SU are very reluctant to send mails to all students for anything other than commercial organisations and the careers service etc.

It's a joke!

Apathy is the biggest problem. My class rep is crap, he sends the occasional e-mail informing us of things that we've already gotten 20 mails about from the SU et al. He doesn't organise nights out, he's not approachable and I really think someone else could do a better job.

lad12 · 26-02-2005 03:29PM

Apathy is the biggest problem. My class rep is crap, he sends the occasional e-mail informing us of things that we've already gotten 20 mails about from the SU et al. He doesn't organise nights out, he's not approachable and I really think someone else could do a better job

At least he sends emails....ours does sweet f*ck-alll...its a joke...

CuLT · 26-02-2005 03:36PM

The only people who get into the SU are the people who don't bloody deserve to be there, bunch of twats.
I'm on the cmt of a new soc and I have to tell you, we're working against the flow at every god damn turn. Student "services" and the SPC are the least helpful people in the college.
Every time we try to get somewhere with event organisation we get stonewalled with waffle; "the cleaners are cleaning at that time" etc, which even after checking with the cleaners is complete BS.

We're trying to organise an event this summer which not only involves several societies in DCU, but societies from all over the country and still, we're fighting every step.

You'd think societies could use the buildings for a couple of days during the holidays without having to pay through the nose!

The whole college seems to be geared towards money generation at the expense of the student body and as such the entire atmosphere.

To sum it up, it's like wearing lead boots when you try to do anything.

</end rant>

Crucifix · 26-02-2005 03:38PM

My class is quite lucky with respect to class reps. First of all we've got two, both of whom are very approachable, and one of them could complain for Ireland. With him as class rep we shall suffer not injustice.

Amz · 26-02-2005 03:57PM

My original class reps were great, then when I repeated I had to put up with a new rep. I don't think people realise that you can change class rep. If you've problems with them you can change.

I'd love to do class rep. I'd love to have the chance to get stuck in more, but because of the apathy within my class people don't want to change.

CuLT you guys should seriously consider gietting someone from your soc or someone sympathetic to your cause onto the SPC. That way they can push from the inside.

Flex · 26-02-2005 05:34PM

Granted DCU can give you a good education, but I'd look to another university for a 'student life'.

Yeah exactly.Your college years are supposed to be great and memorable experiences.Well, DCU will be memorable for its failure to live up to expectations I suppose.Dont get me wrong, I consider myself a "DCU man" and dont enjoy bad mouthing my own , OUR, university, but its just such a crock.The fact theres no spirit in the place contributes to this.When I was in secondary school, anytime the senior team was playing a cup match or other sporting event, everyone in the school would be brought out to cheer the lads on.At first it just seemed like a handy way of missing classes, but it quickly created a great spirit of comeraderie(spelling?) and fellowship among the whole school and made ya feel like ya were a part of something big and important.DCU doesnt provide any sense of "belonging" or fraternity to its students.And like the fella on the new soc committee seems to have implied, they seem to fight any attempts by students to do so(unless youve got lots of cash :mad: ).Ive mates in UCD and DIT and they seem to enjoy themselves very much.

Lord Panic · 26-02-2005 05:39PM

Amz wrote:

What course are you doing?

I have 25 hours a week on my timetable, however I also have labs to do on top of that as well as lab reports and athlete testing etc. I have rugby training twice a week and swimming at least once. I commute from Leixlip which is an hour and a half travel minimum. It's very difficult for me to have time for a social life, especially one in DCU.

I would love to get involved more, but there's only so much I can do.

Sorry for takin ages to reply, but i'v been letting DCU entertain me! Im a third year CA, so at the minute no hours at all, just project! Woo!

And the entertainment all comes from the frisbee club!

Amz · 26-02-2005 06:12PM

That's my point, many courses in DCU haven't as many hours as science and nursing and some others. We have very little time to do anything outside of our training and study etc.

With semesterisation you've to cram a helluva lot of stuff into just 12 weeks!

Jonny Arson · 26-02-2005 08:45PM

Flex wrote:

I just started DCU this year and I have to say its not what I expected.In general, noone is interested in getting to know each other, everyones in groups of 4 to 7 people (usually people they already knew) and the lack of events makes it hard to meet new people.The concensus amongst other people in the class Ive spoken to is pretty much the same (ironically they still dont seem all that eager on changing it by meeting new people) and a number of people have already decided to reapply to the CAO because they think the place is so dull.I totally agree with the comment made earlier about lack of comradeship.Maybe this whole thing will change in time, I hate to be negative but if these first 5 or 6 months are any indication then it doesnt look likely.

PS:Im in 2socs and 2clubs

lad12 wrote:

I totally agree with you. Everyone hangs around in their own little groups with people that they know from their secondary School..The nites out in town are Non existent.I dont even bother going to them any more because there is always such a bad turn out. It could and Should be alot different.Other college's in Dublin seem to have nites out in town most wks and always get a good crowd from their college.Why is it that so few people from DCU college go to the piss-up's? :rolleyes:

Guys its totally the same out in UCD. I'm in first year out there and the place is just full of f**king cliques. Out in UCD we have different categories of people: D4/southsiders, culchies and ethnic minorities (North Dublin). The D4/southsiders all stick with their school buddies and the culchies all stick with their fellow culchies aswell so that means us Northside minorities are all frozen out. The place is full of muppets who are quite happy to spend their 3/4 years hanging around with their school buddies. Some people won't even talk to others because they are not from their territory (D4). Its totally f**ked up. These are meant to be the best years of our lives and everyone is so happy to spend all of their time with the same people, that just sounds boring to me. Its got to stage I'm just not bothered with the muppets out in Belfield and I have also filled out a CAO form partially because UCD is so sh*t.

I really can't belive that same atmosphere exists out in DCU. I know a few people out in DCU and they have said to me that the whatever D4/southsiders are out in the place all stick together aswell .... jesus christ what is wrong with people! This whole stick with who you know mentality must exist in all f**king universities. It really shows how dull people are in general today.

Amz · 26-02-2005 09:06PM

Anyone who went to school with me who is now in DCU is doing business ... Maybe one is doing science, but I never see 'em. Only time I see people I went to school with is on the train in the morning.

Even in my class of 40ish there are cliques. Because I had a different time table to my class last year due to repeating, I didn't spend as much time with them. Therefore missed out a lot when these cliques were forming and now I'm finding it incredibly difficult to break into them, so to speak.

dregin · 26-02-2005 11:41PM

So now that there's a general agreement on what's going wrong out here, does anyone have any idea on how to go against it?I reckon it would take years to wrestle the contracts back for the S.U. to run the bars, sports complex or res. Maybe there are loopholes or long forgotten allowances in contracts that we could get a look at? Is there any chance that we have the right to end the leases due to our disatisfaction with the services provided? Mass protest would be severelt hindered by the fact that all leaflets and posters have to be stamped by the SPC (I think it is).

Anyway, yeah. Those are some thoughts. Anyone else got anything?

steveland? · 26-02-2005 11:51PM

We need the unofficial DCU Prom Queen Winters around... he'd organise stuff

thefuturehead · 27-02-2005 12:03AM

dregin wrote:

So now that there's a general agreement on what's going wrong out here, does anyone have any idea on how to go against it?I reckon it would take years to wrestle the contracts back for the S.U. to run the bars, sports complex or res. Maybe there are loopholes or long forgotten allowances in contracts that we could get a look at? Is there any chance that we have the right to end the leases due to our disatisfaction with the services provided? Mass protest would be severelt hindered by the fact that all leaflets and posters have to be stamped by the SPC (I think it is).

Anyway, yeah. Those are some thoughts. Anyone else got anything?

fair points all, but i don't think the answer lies in 'buying back' the bar. there are some intrinsic qualities of the courses and such of dcu that just don't add up to a lively enviroment. i guess we just have to live with it.

plus, we're a fairly ugly college.

Amz · 27-02-2005 12:07AM

Not any more ugly than UCD or UL though.

Everything is a money makin' operation, forms to fill out, fees for x, y and z. There's is littler or no incentive to do anything other than your hours and go home at the end of the day or finish up with your qualification.

I was really looking forward to the 35s competition when I started, 3 years later and still nothing because UL were unwilling to pay for their teams to travel to Dublin.

Something similar to that, but with another college nearer Dublin might be a good way to get people to show an interest in their college.

Flex · 27-02-2005 12:07AM

Zane from MTV2 wrote:

Guys its totally the same out in UCD. I'm in first year out there and the place is just full of f**king cliques.

I really can't belive that same atmosphere exists out in DCU. I know a few people out in DCU and they have said to me that the whatever D4/southsiders are out in the place all stick together aswell .... jesus christ what is wrong with people! This whole stick with who you know mentality must exist in all f**king universities. It really shows how dull people are in general today.

Aww crap ya serious?!?Then why the hell does everyone have this idea that college years are the best years of your life?It sounds like theyre gonna be dull, boring and lacklustre periods of time we spend achieving our qualifications.Its so ****ing stupid that this "stick with who you know mentality" exists, I mean what purpsoe does it serve and how does it provide any benefit?Christ, I hope whatever career I go into for my working-life wont be like this.My mate is in a university in the US and says its great.People all mix, interact, take their study serious but have lots of parties.

Amz · 27-02-2005 12:10AM

US Universities operate very, very differently to ours. There's no comparison.

thefuturehead · 27-02-2005 12:10AM

ah college is great.

it's just not how hollywood movies make out. mainly cos we don't have frats etc.

Flex · 27-02-2005 12:20AM

thefuturehead wrote:

ah college is great.

it's just not how hollywood movies make out. mainly cos we don't have frats etc.

Well, I just thought it would be more nights out, the people would be more open and up for a laugh and an enjoyable experience.If it wasnt for the fact Ive got mates in the college Id seriously consider studyin from home and just downloadin lectures off moodle...nah maybe not :rolleyes: .Was it always like this with Irish universities or is it some sorta trend?

thefuturehead · 27-02-2005 12:38AM

wish i knew. all i know is college has been great fun. just not in the way i thought. and i think that might make it that little bit better. as it is, i'm not exactly dying to leave college.

why is dcu so dull?

Comments