Something you might not hear going into this week of Zoom University is “how did you find Refreshers Week?”. Not for any bad reason though, the zeitgeist is simply too focused on pressing ahead every week as we inch closer to the end of Lockdown and the Deathly Hallows part three. This time, “unlike any year before” (obviously), Trinity is celebrating Valentine’s day with its societies and clubs. So for all you romantics and heartbreakers, this may very well be your week.
Monday
That’s clearly not to say that this won’t be your week if you’re already “spoused up” or are not feeling the love. For example, you won’t need contraception for the rest of your time in Trinity if you begin planning your submission this week for The Eagle (Trinity’s Law Gazette) on the intricacies of environmentalism as they relate to the law. You may be thinking: “But there are people out there who do MSISS?”. I see where you’re coming from – no punchline.
If you’d rather something lighter, Trinity VDP have their daily teatime hangouts from 12pm to 1pm. Later, you’ll have a choice as to whether you want to work out your knitting needles or your entire body as Knitsoc’s beginner crochet class and DU Dance’s Jazz workshop clash from 6pm to 7pm. I won’t be attending either because I’ve mastered both arts through my unhealthy TikTok obsession.
Tuesday
Had I not swindled away my attention span in favour of 15-second dopamine scratchcards I would definitely be joining in on VDP’s weekly activity of sending letters to people in nursing homes. In fact, what better week to spread some love and joy to the elders of our communities than the second one in February? To get involved simply message the society on any of their socials. Besides I’d guess the dopamine hits are probably more sustainable than Addison Rae’s best offerings.
Would you believe that Tuesday night is the new Friday? The amount of unmissable blockbuster events starting at 7pm will make you actually want to steal all the devices in your house and log onto as many Zoom calls as you can. The first one worth mentioning is Vegan Society’s thrillingly radical talk from law professor and activist Gary Francione, who will take you through his approach to abolishing “animal welfare” as a concept, because, while well intentioned, they ultimately hold animal liberation back by promoting the idea that animals can be “humanely” exploited. Alternatively, you can log onto Environmental Society’s 7pm screening of Taking Root, a film about Wangari Maathai’s campaign to plant trees during Kenya’s repressive regime in the 1980s.
On a slightly different note (but at the exact same time), Trinity Law Society is back again with their A-list guests, this time awarding Stephen Fry with their Praeses Elit Award. Most important in terms of romance, however, on Tuesday will be Cumann Gaelach’s “Oíche Vailintín” social night, where your chances of finding love aren’t much higher, but your chances of finding a Gaeilgóir definitely are!
Wednesday
Honestly, where else would you be at 1:30pm on Wednesday but at Tradsoc’s “chats and choons”? (I tried to inform them of the spelling mistake but they didn’t listen). This lunchtime hangout will reawaken that burning patriotism inside you. Afterwards, you can head over to QSoc for a cuppa at their 2pm coffee hour.
That will give you all the energy you need to get your work done before 7pm, when CEO of Women’s Aid Sarah Benson will be talking to Trinity Women in Law (TWIL) about domestic violence during the pandemic. The weekly College Historical Society (the Hist) debate starts half an hour later, and this week’s motion is “This House Regrets Feminist Icons”.
Thursday
Unlike Tuesday evening, you’ll quite easily be able to go to all of Trinity’s most exciting events on Thursday evening. Beginning at 6:30pm, you can attempt to substantiate your wine snobbery by listening to an actual champion sommelier Julie Dupouy with FrenchSoc.
At 7pm you can try out your new skills at QSoc’s Valentine’s speed friending event. Yes, it’s annoying that Valentine’s Day doesn’t actually fall on a weekday, but maybe these events will help you find the one for that special Sunday night Zoom call.
Friday
Wind down from the excitement this Friday. TradSoc will be releasing their weekly tune class on their IGTV and by email which you can enjoy between lectures or as some professor explains Pythagoras for the eighth time this week (no I don’t do STEM, but I assume that’s what you guys learn). At 12pm you can join the Hist’s Robinson Subcommittee and the Phil’s Bram Stoker Club for a collaborative paper-reading event where speakers’ topic is “Pop Culture”. Signups are still open via a Google form in the societies’ bios. I’m sure everyone would love to hear your thoughts on the last season of Game of Thrones!
Ents Officer of LawSoc Ruth Brady reminds us that, even by Friday not all is lost in terms of love and romance, with their mysterious yet exciting “Looking for Lawve” initiative: “Looking for Lawve is a speed dating event with a twist. Fill out the google form on LawSoc’s social media and bring wine on Friday night. Leave the rest with us”. If you say so!
