someone's not happy about RAG week

deRanged

there's a bunch of these hand made signs on lamp posts around the entrance to the college.


not happy about RAG week by Brian Clayton, on Flickr


not happy about RAG week by Brian Clayton, on Flickr

Liona

well i guess its not every persons dream to be surrounded by drunk students possibly vandalizing your property for a full week claiming they raise money for charity (which alright that actually happens but i guess it would be more desirable if people wouldnt use it as an excuse to get absolutely pissed)

and especially people living around the college might be really fed up with it and seeing that r&g weeks in other colleges got canceled they probably wanted to stand up for their community.
they already have to put up with partying students all term long but r&g weeks seems to be a peek time.^^

yenom

What do people expect living next to UCC, it's a terrible place to live. Shower of numpties.

cornbb

yenom wrote: »

What do people expect living next to UCC, it's a terrible place to live. Shower of numpties.

There are families in the College Road area and elsewhere that have been there far longer than students have been causing havoc. College Road could be a really lovely part of Cork if it weren't for the minority of students/landlords that turn the place into a kip.

Byron85

Those posters have been up for the three years that i've been in UCC. They're torn down and then they're back up again within a few days. You have to admire their dedication.

yenom

Them posters were up last year as well. Have the cops walking up and down the streets and we'd be flying.

Snoogans

Hang on, what's the ish with "rogue landlords"? What exactly do they do?
Als, while a lot of the UCC students don't help improve the area, they can't exactly be bitching at UCC students when they live next to Sarejevo Square.

confusticated

I'd guess the rogue landlords thing is aimed at landlords who don't care much about their property, so they don't clamp down on parties and stuff, contributes to the problem.

titan18

Cant blame them not wanting . Whilst I like the charity aspect of it, it's an excuse to get drunk for most

IHeartChemistry

I'll agree with it being an uncomfortable time to be around UCC but in all fairness, it's the minority that cause all the havoc and the drama and not all students are drunken messes. Don't judge us all with the same stick like. People do need to cop on, because at the end of it all, the week will just get ruined for all of us, which is what we don't want. The aim is to raise money for charities and to have the craic, not to be drunken eejits.

Gbear

I have a certain degree of sympathy for people living near UCC but it's been there for quite a while. Next to a college campus is simply not a nice place to live. I think eventually there'll end up being some kind of buffer zone of college accommodation and normal people will have all moved away.
Not perfect but that's just the way things are.

yenom

Seen some fella take a **** on a bonnet of a car tonight across from Moks bar, odd thing is, he had toilet paper with him, was like it was pre planned.

Nervosa

yenom wrote: »

Seen some fella take a **** on a bonnet of a car tonight across from Moks bar, odd thing is, he had toilet paper with him, was like it was pre planned.

:eek: Hope it was for charity...

Cian92

In all fairness, if you decide to live next to a University that is what you get.

The University has been here long before the current residents.

cornbb

Cian92 wrote: »

In all fairness, if you decide to live next to a University that is what you get.

The University has been here long before the current residents.

I doubt the current flavor of antisocial behaviour was normal in the 1850s or even 20 years ago.

"You should put up with people sh*tting on the bonnet of your car and generally making your neighborhood a much less pleasant place because you chose to live near a university" doesn't really excuse some of the stuff that goes on tbh.

Cian92

cornbb wrote: »

I doubt the current flavor of antisocial behaviour was normal in the 1850s or even 20 years ago.

"You should put up with people sh*tting on the bonnet of your car and generally making your neighborhood a much less pleasant place because you chose to live near a university" doesn't really excuse some of the stuff that goes on tbh.

First off, I hope your not trying to imply that I said what you have in that quote.

Secondly, the current flavour (flavor? this message board isn't based in the US) of antisocial behavior was very much the norm when my father went to college over 30 years ago, from the stories he often recalls.

Thirdly, nobody should ever have to put up with somebody sh*itting on their bonnet, the full force of the law should come into effect.

However, residents should know that by choosing to live where they do they will have to put up with more than their fair share of loud house parties, or drunken neighbours early in the day especially during RAG week.

Gbear

cornbb wrote: »

I doubt the current flavor of antisocial behaviour was normal in the 1850s or even 20 years ago.

"You should put up with people sh*tting on the bonnet of your car and generally making your neighborhood a much less pleasant place because you chose to live near a university" doesn't really excuse some of the stuff that goes on tbh.

If you're living in parts of Togher, Ballyphehane or Ballincollig, you shouldn't be surprised if people egg your house or steal your bicylce. Some areas are more desirable places to live in.
That doesn't justify bonnet-****ting or house-egging but it's a known factor when you're buying or renting the house.

cornbb

If you're living in parts of Togher, Ballyphehane or Ballincollig, you shouldn't be surprised if people egg your house or steal your bicylce. Some areas are more desirable places to live in.
That doesn't justify bonnet-****ting or house-egging but it's a known factor when you're buying or renting the house.

Well don't you think its sad that people like the bonnet-sh*tters turn College Road into a far less desirable place to live? Are you aware of how much nicer and cleaner the area gets during the summer?

Its not fair to dismiss or excuse antisocial behaviour by shrugging and saying that anyone who doesn't like it should move away, especially when those being annoyed have often lived in the area for decades and the people causing the problems are short-term residents. I have a colleague who lives in an old family home in the area with young children who is sick of it. Packing up and moving on is not an option for that family, even if it were it would be highly unjust. I'm sure there are plenty of UCC students who are sick of putting up with noise and people puking/pissing in their doorways too.

SEEMagazine

It can't help that since much of this anti-social behaviour started that the net donation to the RAG Week charities has dropped...

I did 2 years on the RAG Committee back in the 90s and we donated in excess of 110,000 irish pounds (55ish per annum) + (no pound symbol on this keyboard). I don't think they come even close to that these days. There's certainly less pride in the college as an institution by the student body at large.

PeterTwo

They should just ban it in UCC, people literally just see it as a piss-up week.

It's taken far more seriously in TCD and I think that this year's efforts have been the most successful ever.

Herb Powell

There's always "someone" who complains. I wouldn't take it too seriously/be worried about it.

yenom

PeterTwo wrote: »

They should just ban it in UCC, people literally just see it as a piss-up week.

It's taken far more seriously in TCD and I think that this year's efforts have been the most successful ever.

That's what it is and always will be.

RadioClash

Just sitting in the library some drunk clown came in being 'kerrazy'. The poorly evolved chimps posing as students really reveal themselves during this week. Props to the UCC SU team whom I saw cleaning up some of these muppets filth on college road last night. I'm sure it seems like a thankless job.

EyeSight

RadioClash wrote: »

Just sitting in the library some drunk clown came in being 'kerrazy'. The poorly evolved chimps posing as students really reveal themselves during this week. Props to the UCC SU team whom I saw cleaning up some of these muppets filth on college road last night. I'm sure it seems like a thankless job.

i hear they get very well paid for it. personally i find them to provoke more trouble than they solve.

i usually enjoy this week but this year i just seem to have a very low tolerance for the idiot drunks who want to come into my house and drink or chat to me on the street even though i don't know them
however i don't think it should be canceled, especially this year some of the events on campus have been very fun/interesting

Eod100

I know its off-topic but does anyone here have any info on the missing UCC student?

I started a thread on the UCC forum so if anyone does (or even have a picture of the missing notice), could they please post there.

Thanks very much

Aodan83

EyeSight wrote: »

i hear they get very well paid for it. personally i find them to provoke more trouble than they solve.

€70 a night. They have to take a fair bit of abuse for it too, and have little to no power. All they can really do is call the Gardaí or ask people to calm down.
Guy in my class is part of it, he was walking down College road Sunday night and someone started shouting abuse at him. When he got closer he realised it was a buddy of his, who in his drunken state had failed to recognise him. Many lols were had.

titan18

Aodan83 wrote: »

€70 a night. They have to take a fair bit of abuse for it too, and have little to no power. All they can really do is call the Gardaí or ask people to calm down.
Guy in my class is part of it, he was walking down College road Sunday night and someone started shouting abuse at him. When he got closer he realised it was a buddy of his, who in his drunken state had failed to recognise him. Many lols were had.

Tbf, they also got chased by some guy with a knife apparently. €70 aint much for 8 hours(I think)

Aodan83

titan18 wrote: »

Tbf, they also got chased by some guy with a knife apparently. €70 aint much for 8 hours(I think)

Think it was 8 hours alright. Missed the bit about the guy with the knife. Just over minimum wage is not enough to be putting up with that ****.

MaxSteele

Jesus christ ..... people still whinging about drunken antics on Rag week, when they live next to a Uni?..it's like complaining about noise pollution because planes take off in the direction of your house when you live next to the airport..It's gonna happen. Boys will be Boys. Call the guards or stand outside your house completely naked in a gimp mask with a shovel. Worked for me

LambsEye

Sigh. I used to really like rag week. Then I got old and now I'm a postgraduate and I hate it. It has to be said that anyone complaining about Rag Week has to admit to a degree of curmugeonry. I know I do. Those damn students with their youth and unconventional clothing sense.

mk6705

I saw a few of these signs. Not sure what to make of them really. What's being complained about is probably (mostly!) behavior caused by a minority of young males who haven't left their secondary school mindset (which shouldn't be destructive anyway) behind them. So while it is understandable that people are against having a second Halloween in a year, I don't really think that's any justification to ban R&G week. Really, it should just be improved. I don't know what the solution is but an outright ban is much too far and takes away from the charity work which certainly does happen.

SEEMagazine

Did someone delete a post? I was about to reply to one which popped up in my inbox...

"The university does not have any ability to control what a group of adults who happen to be students there do in their own personal time."

That was part of the post. Anyway, yes, the University DOES have the ability to control what any student does, in a fashion. Any registered student is obliged to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the reputation of the institution... UCC is well within its right to expel anyone found to have dragged the name of the college through the mud.

Of course, I've never seen such action take place...certainly it must have come close in the past. I was never Education Officer in the SU so can't say for sure.

x43r0

SEEMagazine wrote: »

I was never Education Officer in the SU so can't say for sure.

An odd thing to mention. Why would that help?

SEEMagazine

x43r0 wrote: »

An odd thing to mention. Why would that help?

Because the Education Officer would deal with any potential expulsions on behalf of the student body.

x43r0

SEEMagazine wrote: »

Because the Education Officer would deal with any potential expulsions on behalf of the student body.

Oh right didn't know that. I always thought the accom office had a part in student discipline stuff because they do mediation and stuff

Solair

Any process like that would tend to be extremely legally-involved as it would have to ensure that it allows for normal standards of due process and could be challenged in court or be subject to judicial review as it impacts upon someone's career prospects.

It would be a bit like a dismissal case in a job, you would have to tread extremely carefully.

That being said, students do agree to the college rules when they register. I'm not sure if it's still done, but until quite recently you had to physically sign them when you were registering.

Full rules are here : http://www.ucc.ie/en/media/studentrules.pdf

Some people really need to just grow up and have a bit of cop on though. If you're at third level education, you're an adult, not a teenager on the rampage.

Going crazy, getting off your face and irritating your neighbours is never a good idea in any circumstances and it will invariably come back to bite you whether you're in college or not.

I think the most disappointing aspect of all this is that the actions of a small minority are wrecking what is otherwise a really good fun event for those people who do enjoy it. It's also a very old tradition that is very much part of life at many universities.

SEEMagazine

While I am exceptionally proud of the work the Rag Week committees I served on did, I always found the stories from yesteryear to have more of a responsible feel to them...

I'm inclined to argue it's the simple progression of society which leads to this sort of anti-social behaviour. I lived on Connaught Avenue for several years and I can't say I recall the police ever needing to be called...except for that one time *I* threw a party, but that was due to spiteful action on a housemate's part rather than any complaints from the neighbours.

Listening to the antics of the current crop I definitely feel old...

rebel girl 15

Full page in today's Echo with letters of complaint from people living in the area of UCC for the past 30 or 40 years, and that it is only in the last 8 years that things have gotten too far out of hand. They are blaming the students poor behaviour but also the landlords, for renting out the rooms, and not checking up properly. And tbh, I don't blame those people for complaining about the crap that the students have pulled in their home area.

Someone mentioned about sure they are living there, then what to they expect - thats pure rubbish, these people were living there 15 or 20 years before these irresponsible students were born. They have called the Gardai on numerous occasions, but it hasn't stopped the trouble. 50 or so arrests were made for public order offences last week.

The drinking culture around RAG week hasn't changed at all - met one of my students who is about 14 years old, and she mentioned about this RAG week on in UCC, where people drink for charity.

I think students should be held responsible for their actions - its only been in the last 8 years or so that the problems have been occuring, I know it may be a small minority, but those students and the absent landlords need to be sorted. Think it also mentioned that a large number of those landlords are not properly registered with some council either

EyeSight

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

Full page in today's Echo with letters of complaint from people living in the area of UCC for the past 30 or 40 years, and that it is only in the last 8 years that things have gotten too far out of hand. They are blaming the students poor behaviour but also the landlords, for renting out the rooms, and not checking up properly. And tbh, I don't blame those people for complaining about the crap that the students have pulled in their home area.

Someone mentioned about sure they are living there, then what to they expect - thats pure rubbish, these people were living there 15 or 20 years before these irresponsible students were born. They have called the Gardai on numerous occasions, but it hasn't stopped the trouble. 50 or so arrests were made for public order offences last week.

The drinking culture around RAG week hasn't changed at all - met one of my students who is about 14 years old, and she mentioned about this RAG week on in UCC, where people drink for charity.

I think students should be held responsible for their actions - its only been in the last 8 years or so that the problems have been occuring, I know it may be a small minority, but those students and the absent landlords need to be sorted. Think it also mentioned that a large number of those landlords are not properly registered with some council either

i don't see how the landlords can check people out. also students living around the college area also have to put up with the ****. i had my window smashed.

i think most of the people causing the trouble don't even live in the area. they get VERY drunk and expect to be allowed into other students homes around college just because it's RAG week. the amount of drunken idiots who tried to just waltz into my house was astonishing. when they aren't allowed in they just drink and cause trouble outside. the house that flooded and has 10-15 grand worth of damage, i bet you any money the idiot that did that was some random guy who didn't live there

i think the real issue is the lack of action to tackle our drinking culture in general. the government think putting up the price of alcohol is the solution. its not and never has been. they need to change our habbits. have tougher punishments for drunk and disorderly offences(not prison time obviously but community service). in the UK(or parts of it) if you're taken to hospital because you're drunk, you get a yellow card, next time you get a red card and a court appearance

Solair

I do think though that there has been a massive shift in culture in the last 8-10 years and it's not just at UCC it's right across Ireland and also Britain.

I'm in my late twenties and I remember going out as an 18-19 year old and we seemed to not get as plastered as the current generation of 18-21 year olds do. I just remember that we seemed to drink more beer and less spirits and the aim was definitely not to get so drunk you didn't know what you were doing.

I find the current 18-21 year old generation seem to use alcohol in the same way as someone might use hard drugs. It seems to me that people are drinking to get off their faces drunk and they're drinking a hell of a lot of spirits and seriously alcoholic stuff rather than just sticking to beers and cider.

I'm not saying us 20-30 somethings were angels back in the early '00s. We certainly weren't, but I do think the drinking's getting totally out of hand at the moment. There's a line between having a good time and being a complete disgrace and a danger to yourself and others. I think 10 years ago, the person who regularly got totally totally obliterated on drink was the exception and the guy/girl we'd be worried about and wondering if they were an alcoholic where as now they seem to be almost the norm!

I also find it kinda worrying to hear some younger friends of mine discussing how they drink a few vodkas before they go out. They claim this is to save money, but if you're drinking to get drunk before you go out, you're showing the signs of being a total alcoholic who needs to be drunk to be able to socially interact.

All I know is that there's going to be be one hell of a demand for liver transplants in a few years if it continues the way it's going.

Maybe it'll just go full circle and getting totally off your face will suddenly look bad again. It's all about peer groups and what's considered 'normal'.

Eod100

I get what you're saying Solair.

I'm in my early 20's so not that old or anything, but I notice know that some of the lads of say 18/19 starting college seem to just not give a s*** . I know this was probably always the case but seem to notice it much more these days.

And this is even when they're sober. There's just this nasty, selfish vibe about some (and I'm using some cause I know it's not everyone) of these people.

Say something like acting the twat on a bus, I know its not exactly the worst thing in the world to do, but something about a gang of lads shouting away (as if they were in their own houses) really annoys me.

Seomra Mushie

PeterTwo wrote: »

It's taken far more seriously in TCD and I think that this year's efforts have been the most successful ever.

RAG week isn't a thing in Trinity. Seriously, I went there for six years in the noughties, no such thing as RAG week in TCD. Or if there is, no-one cares about it. I brought it up in my first week of college in 2003 and everyone was like "Buh?"