Spending €300,000 on refurbishing the Provost’s saloon may, at a glance, sound exorbitant. Given that the College is under extreme financial duress – let’s not forget that it recently tried to charge students €450 to sit supplemental exams – it initially seems outrageous that such a large sum would be spent on upgrades to the Provost’s private residence. But, when you consider the value of the house – and how often the saloon is used for official gatherings – the expenditure is justified. Number One Grafton St is a historical Georgian building that has had significant architectural influence across Dublin. Ensuring it remains in good condition is a matter of public interest – not one of provostial luxury.
Since 2015, all Trinity students have been required to complete a mandatory online module on plagiarism, as part of the College’s battle to combat the practice. On every piece of academic work they submit, students must sign a declaration affirming they have taken the tutorial. If this renders somewhat unbelievable the news this week that the College has recorded an increase in instances of plagiarism, then it probably shouldn’t. Currently, there is no incentive for students to actually take the module, and requiring them to submit a signed declaration is hardly an ironclad method of enforcing the rule. There must be a better way.
It’s largely a good thing that the number of non-EU students in Trinity increased by 110 per cent in the past six years, but this assessment comes with a number of caveats. For one thing, the College, which has long placed internationalisation high on its list of priorities, has often been accused of using these students as cash cows. And in the context of an energised student movement that’s increasingly opposed to the College’s coarser money-making schemes, Trinity needs to remain cognisant of the need to cater to the needs of international students. Otherwise, it risks alienating students – Irish and international – further still.
