158th Session (2007/08)

From UCC Philosophical Society Wiki

1 Committee
- 1.1 Elections 2007
  - 1.1.1 Results
- 1.2 Resignations
2 Meetings
3 Competitive Success
4 Society Achievements
5 Minutes

Committee

From L-R. Back row: JP Frenett, Claire O'Sullivan Greene, Eoghan McSwiney, Ross Frenett, Chris Hale, Shirley Somers, Will Sherlock, Tiernan Fitzgibbon.
Front row: Shane Lyons, Gwen Boyle, Emer Harrington, Luke Harris
(Conor O'Brien, Anna Timoney and Steven Cull are absent from this photo)

This is a list of the committee as it stood at the end of the session.

Auditor: Ross Frenett (Arts III)
External Vice-Auditor: Emer Harrington (Arts III)
Internal Vice-Auditor: Conor O'Brien (Arts III)
Finance Officer: Chris Hale (Law II)
Social Secretary: John Gleeson/Anna Timoney (Civ Eng III/Law II)
PRO: Kevin Hargrave/Claire O Sullivan Greene (Gov III/Law I)
Schools Convenor: Luke Harris (Law IV)
IV Convenor: Tiernan Fitzgibbon (Law III)
Recording Secretary: Shane Lyons (Med III)
Development Officer: Will Sherlock (Gen IV)
Projects Officer: Cian Hargrave/Shirley Somers (Arts III/Arts II)
Archives and Alumni Officer: Steven Cull (Arts III)
Schools Development Officer: n/a
Webmaster: Jean-Paul Frenett (Comp Sci I)
Ex-Officio: Gwen Boyle (Arts III)
First Year Rep: Eoghan MacSwiney (Law I)

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Elections 2007

For the first time a Re-Open Nominations option was on all ballots, meaning that there was nobody deemed elected prior to the AGM of the 157th Session. Only 2 positions were contested; Auditor and External Vice-Auditor. Ross Frenett and Cian Hargrave contested the auditorial election, with Ross triumphant. There were no less than 4 candidates for External Vice-Auditor; Emer Harrington, Danny Gleeson, Niall O'Leary and Kevin O'Toole. In what turned out to be a tight race, Emer emerged victorious.

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Results

Candidate	Votes
Auditor
Ross Frenett	46
Cian Hargrave	23
Re-Open Nominations	0

Candidate	1st Count	2nd Count
External Vice-Auditor
Emer Harrington	29	36
Danny Gleeson	25	33
Niall O'Leary	6	Eliminated
Kevin O'Toole	5	Eliminated
Re-Open Nominations	0	Eliminated

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Resignations

Throughout the course of the Year, the society had several resignations. Cian Hargrave, Kevin Hargrave and John Gleeson resigned early in the first term from their respective positions of Projects Officer, P.R.O. and Social Secretary. The resignations were spread out over several weeks, the first coming as term was begining in late September 2007 and the third one coming in late November. EGMs were held to elect replacements for P.R.O. and Social Sec, with Claire O'Sullivan Greene and Anna Timoney being duly elected. As Projects was co-opted; a replacement, Shirley Somers, was also co-opted. In the second term, Kevin O'Toole left the committee also. Owing to the late stage in the year, he was not replaced. Instead, First Year Rep Eoghan McSwiney took over his responsibilities as Schools Development Officer.

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Meetings

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1 The Animal Rights Debate

“That this House Believes The Animal Rights Movement, By Opposing Testing, Has Gone Too Far”

Boole 4, Monday 1st October ‘07

In the modern world everyone agrees animals deserve rights and needless cruelty is no longer acceptable. But the debate that centres around using animals for medical experiments is savage. Those who support it say that it saves lives and eases suffering for humans all over the world from problems like Parkinson's and cancer. Those who oppose it say it is responsible for the torture and destruction of thousands of animals - very often for little or no real benefit. Has the animal rights movement gone too far this time in opposing this research - or are they right to do so? How much suffering is one cure worth?

Proposition:
Dr. Simon Festing
Professor Tipu Aziz

Opposition:
Mel Broughton
Dr. Andre Menache

Motion was Carried

Minutes 158 1

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2 The Suicide Debate

“That this House would condemn the media for reporting on individual cases of suicide.”

Monday 8th October, 2007

The Society was joined by Fine Gael TD Dan Neville, President of the Irish Association of Suicidology and noted campaigner, Dr Tony Bates, former senior psychologist at St James's Hospital and CEO of Headstrong, an organisation promoting mental health in young people, and Colm O'Gorman, former Senator and founder of One in Four. These experienced figures spoke about the relationship between suicide and the media. The question of irresponsible reporting on the issue of suicide and on specific cases is one which is becoming ever more important. Does the media build up a glamorised image of suicide that is harmful to society and should be stopped? Or should we avoid any censorship which would return suicide to being an unacknowledged taboo in our country?

Proposition:
Mr.Dan Neville, TD

Opposition:
Dr. Tony Bates

Guest Chairperson:
Mr. Colm O'Gorman

Motion was Carried

Minutes 158 2

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3 Ashamed of the West

That this House is Ashamed of the West

Monday 15th of October, 2007

The West consumes the world's resources, dominates the world's markets, invades or strikes any nation that threatens it - and now many Americans, British, Israelis, even Irish, have said they are not happy that these things happen in their name. They view their own nations as tyrannical, war-mongering exploiters and adventurers, responsible for the rest of the world's decline. Ted Honderich, world-renowned thinker and writer on terrorism and violence, will be explaining how we in the western world are responsible for the deaths of millions around the world and how western society is guilty of the worst crimes in modern history.

But the West is the world of secularism, liberty, democracy, human rights - should we not be proud of the great things which our nations created and gave to the rest of the world? The West which produces art and culture, women's rights, the West which gives aid and help to the oppressed and the starving all over the world; how can we be ashamed of that West? Kevin Myers will be standing up for and defending the Western world - and saying why we should too.

Proposition:
Professor Ted Honderich

Opposition:
Kevin Myers
Mr. Myers could not attend, and was replaced by Derek Doyle

Motion was narrowly defeated

Minutes 158 3

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4 Religion

That this House Believes that Religion Has No Place In The Modern World

Monday 22nd of October, 2007

Proposition:
Professor Peter Atkins

Opposition:
John Waters

Motion was defeated

Minutes 158 4

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5 Marriage (Internal Mace Final)

That this House Would End the Institution of Marriage

Monday 5th of November, 2007

Guest Chair: Dr. Garrett Fitzgerald

Proposition:
1st Proposition: Conor O'Brien & Eoghan McSwiney
2nd Proposition: Cian Hargrave-Murphy & Ross Frenett

Opposition:
1st Opposition: Luke Harris & Elizabeth Harris
2nd Opposition: Derek Doyle & Tiernan Fitzgibbon

Winners: 2nd Opposition Best Speaker: Ross Frenett

Motion was carried

Minutes 158 5

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6 This Treaty

Monday 12th November, 2007

In 1921, after three long years of war and terror, the soldiers and leaders of Ireland met to decide the future of their nation. Peace with compromise, or war to the end? The country, the IRA, and the Daíl were divided. War loomed, and the dead called out to be remembered.

This Treaty was a re-enactment of the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty Debates in the Dáil, held in conjunction with UCC Dramat, UCC History Society and UCC History Dept. This was a once off performance set in some of the most striking locations on campus involving hundreds of actors. There were five major roles being cast: Arthur Griffith, Eamon De Valera, Micheal Collins, Cathal Brugha and Countess Markievicz. Other than these five, audience members participated in the debate about the ratification of the Treaty, around which this performance was centred. Audience members were attired in the dress of the time.

Director: Ross Frenett
Michael Collins: Liam Heaslip
Eamon De Valera: Jean-Paul Frenett
Constance Markiewicz: Hazel McCarthy
Arthur Griffith: Tom Flynn
Cathal Brugha: Dave Coughlan

Minutes 158 6

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7 Celtic Tiger Debate

That This House Believes That The Celtic Tiger is a Man Eater

Monday, 26th of November '07

Proposition:
Joe Higgins

Opposition:
David McWilliams

Motion was defeated

Minutes 158 7

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8 War and Peace (UCC Maiden Speakers Final)

That this House Would Put Conflict Resolution Before Justice

Monday, 3rd of December

Guest Chair: Gen. John de Chastelain

Proposition:
1st Proposition: Eoghan McSwiney
2nd Proposition: Maureen Haverty

Opposition:
1st Opposition: Lorna Greene
2nd Opposition: Shirley Somers

Winner was Maureen Haverty

Minutes 158 8

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9 The Sex Industry Debate

That This House Believes That The Sex Industy Has a Place in Society

Monday 14th January, 2008

The most natural things in the world: sex and business. Without them society just couldn't keep going. But for thousands of years people have been dubious about mixing the two. Human sexuality was the one area where big business' grubby hands were not welcome - at least not legally. Now we must ask what's so wrong with the sex industry? Should we allow ourselves to degrade sex and degrade human beings by commercialising sexuality? What kind of society is it we live in if we allow people to take advantage of other people to the extent that even the human body can become a product of marketing, of supply and demand? Do we want to allow that kind of filth? Or is it time to get over such quaint hang-ups and accept that there's nothing wrong with sex being a business? In a free society is there any reason to block a sex industry that may provide people with what they want? Are old fashioned values just out-of-date prudery and repression?

Proposition:
Dr Tuppy Owens

Opposition:
Tiernan Fitzgibbon

The motion was carried

Minutes 158 9

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10 The Republicanism Debate

That This House Believes That Irish Republicanism Has No Future

Monday 28th January 2008

Proposition:
Senator Eoghan Harris, columnist and lecturer
Mr. Harris could not attend, and was replaced by Derek Doyle

Opposition: Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President of Republican Sinn Fein

The motion was defeated

Minutes 158 10

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11 The Video Games Debate

That This House Would Censor Video Games

Monday 5th February 2008

This debate was held in association with NetSoc.

Proposition:
John Kelleher, Irish Film Censor (last person to hold that post)

Opposition:
Peter Lynch, Playza Games

The motion was carried

Minutes 158 11

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12 The Special Projects Committee Debate

That This House Would Ban the Plastics

Monday 18th February 2008

Proposition:
Conor O'Brien

Opposition:
Steve Nolan

The motion was carried

Minutes 158 12

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13 The Lord Mayor's Gold Medal

That This House Would Give Celebrities Harsher Sentences

Monday 25th February 2008

Guest Chair: Councillor Donal Counihan, Lord Mayor of Cork

Proposition:
1st Prop: Tiernan Fitzgibbon
2nd Prop: Aengus Ó Corráin

Opposition:
1st Opp: Diarmuid Early
2bd Opp: Steve Nolan

Winner was Diarmuid Early

Minutes 158 Lord Mayor's Gold Medal

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14 The Israel Debate

That This House Supports the Actions of Israel

Monday 3rd March 2008

Proposition:
Alan Shatter TD
Deputy Shatter could not attend and was replaced by Tiernan Fitzgibbon

Opposition:
Professor James Bowen

The motion was defeated

Minutes 158 13

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15 The Free Speech Debate

That This House Believes That Free Speech Should be Free from Restraint

Monday 10th March 2008

Proposition:
Derek Doyle

Opposition:
Councillor Mick Barry

The motion was carried

Minutes 158 14

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Competitive Success

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UCD L&H Vice-Presidents Cup

Deirdre Milner and Luke Harris: Semi Finalists
Tiernan Fitzgibbon and Derek Doyle: Semi Finalists
Ross Frenett and Conor O'Brien: Finalists

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Oxford IV

Conor O'Brien and Art Ward: Semi Finalists

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Trinity IV: Kingsmill Moore

Art Ward & Tony Murphy: Finalists
Steve Nolan & Nuala Kane (NUIG): Finalists
Diarmuid Early & Cormac Early (Harvard University): Finalists

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Trinity IV: Dean Swift

Conor O'Brien and Diarmuid Early: Semi-Finalists
Derek Doyle and Ross Frenett: Finalists
Ross Frenett: Best Speaker

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ESU EU Parliament IV

Art Ward and Tiernan Fitzgibbon: Finalists
Art Ward: Best Speaker

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Strathclyde Cup

Art Ward and Tiernan Fitzgibbon: Winners
Tiernan Fitzgibbon: Best Speaker

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Edinburgh IV

Art Ward & Doug Cochrane (University of St Andrews): Winners

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Galway National Law Debates

Derek Doyle: Top of Speaker Tab
Diarmuid Early & Sharon Dillon-Lyons (composite): Top of Team Tab & Semi-Finalists
Steve Nolan & Niall Kennedy (composite): Finalists
Derek Doyle & John Moriarty (composite): Winners