The end of the year is looming and with that means a time of reflection. What would you have done differently if given the option? What will you do differently as the dreaded countdown towards 2025 begins? Perhaps you might want to switch something up in your daily routine, try out a new activity and find a way to meet new people – what better way to do that than to join a new society!
The University Times chatted to four society chairs about their own New Year resolutions for their society and why they think you should become a member in 2025.
DUBES (Dublin Business and Economic Society)
Jane Purcell is a final year Business and Economics student and auditor of DUBES this year. Before running for auditor, she was the society’s social secretary in 2nd year and spent her last year on exchange in Korea.
Reflecting on the transition returning from exchange, Jane said “Coming back from exchange was weird … where life actually accounts for something”
I asked how she finds balancing running the society along with the stress that comes with her final year and she said that she has been “Very fortunate … I do have a grad job lined up so that takes the pressure off as I know applying for jobs is a whole other module.”
However, she also added that if someone is finding stress being on a society committee “it’s just a student society if it’s not fun for people … don’t let it take away from your life.” 
Talking about upcoming plans for semester two, she mentions activities such as the annual BESS ball which takes place in February, some speaker events, a few pub quizzes and a 3rd and 4th year night out ensuring “a healthy space for them in the basement of wigwam… people always in the final years get coupled up because we’re like ahhh! we’re running out of time.”
For anyone considering joining DUBES Jane says, “Doesn’t matter what you study, come along!” She also jokingly adds, “don’t ask me a networking question on a night out, I don’t want to talk about my summer internship or my spring weeks, I’m not gonna edit your CV right there.”
“I think coming into my final semester you just want to create an environment where people can be like I had a great time being part of this and I want to stay involved next year and the year after because that’s what happened with me in DUBES in first year.”
Check out @dubestcd on Instagram for the society’s latest events.
French Society
Róisín Northcote is a 2nd year European Studies student and the chair of French society this year. She first got involved last year as an OCM before taking over as events officer in her second semester
She describes each transition as “very smooth … .because the previous officer made the transition really easy, whenever I have a question I can contact them and they’re always there to help.”
“I think as well the CSC [the Central Societies Committee] do a good job of explaining everything as well. I never really felt like I didn’t know what to do … there’s always an answer accessible to me.”
She describes initial challenges to the role saying “most of the committee were completely new into their roles … I had to learn their roles for them and explain their roles to them so at the beginning it was tough but now we’re getting into a good pattern but its definitely difficult I don’t know how people do it in fourth year.”
“Even this year it can sometimes be a bit of a struggle, I’m like spending too much time doing French soc stuff or suddenly there’s a week that’s gone by and I’m like oh I haven’t done anything for French soc … trying to find that balance.”
She adds how much more accessible the society has become to French speakers of all levels, even to those with just the basics “it ranges from French people in the society to people like myself for example who grew up in Belgium, grew up speaking French in school and want to continue that or those who have zero French at all or have a couple of words from their leaving cert.”
On plans for her second semester, Róisín says, “bigger and better!” She adds, “We have a good relationship with the French embassy in Dublin and so we want to further improve and strengthen that relationship with them and do more events with them this semester”
She acknowledges people’s apprehension about joining a society “I know it can be so scary even if you’re in second or third year and haven’t joined a society.” Yet she encourages people, “it’s a good way meeting a new group of people that you would have never been in contact with otherwise … like you’re on different sides of campus but you meet once a week at a coffee hour and it’s really nice just to talk to someone completely removed from your course.”
Make sure to subscribe to their weekly email for the most up-to-date events and their Instagram @frenchsoc/ TikTok @frenchsocietytcd.
DU Law Society
Law Soc’s auditor James Ryan is a third-year Law Student. His first experience with Law Soc was a speaker event with Lord Burrows of the UK Supreme Court on his first day in college. He said “That sucked me in and I tried to go to as many events as I could (and was interested in). Mock Trial also sucked me in, letting me enlist my mates as fake witnesses and suspects in a murder and argue in front of actual barristers.”
James was Law Soc’s Competitions Convenor last year. He describes the transition to the society executive as a “big jump … but thankfully not one I was alone in making. The other members of the executive, Lily our Treasurer and Graham our Secretary, have been amazing as well making our transition far easier.”
“While I’m not in final year, society work can still be challenging when trying to keep up academically. I can’t imagine how difficult things would have been if I was in final year so I’m grateful I’m in the position this year.”
Reflecting on some events that Law Soc has hosted this year, James mentioned a visit from Kneecap and their 20s-themed Swing Ball.
Plans for next semester? “I want to do a few more social events for our members. Everything social we ran this semester went very well so I’d love to do a few more fun nighttime events such as our cowboy-themed night “Lawless”. I’d also like to make even better use of our social media presence and TikTok to make sure we get our events publicised as much as we can.”
He mentions Law Ball, the Junior Mock Trial which will start in late January/early February which he describes as “a highlight to see the younger students getting involved in the society” and James’ personal favourite, the Natalie Forde Memorial Debating Competition which is held in memory of the former auditor. They also have some guest speakers including Bear Grylls and a few more that are yet to be announced…
Curious about joining but not a law student? James says, “The biggest thing we always say is that you don’t have to be a Law student to join! In the same way that you don’t need to be a History or Politics student to join the GMB societies, anyone can join the Law Society and come to our events. We have a little something for everyone, from academic to social and everything in between so I’d love to see you there! For only €2, what’s the worst that could happen?”
Check out @tcdlawsoc on Instagram for the latest events.
Lit Soc
Chair of LitSoc, Niamh O’Donnell is studying an M.Phil in Public History and Cultural Heritage this year. It is her fourth year involved in LitSoc having previously served as an OCM/ assistant PRO and LitSoc’s PRO for the last two years of her undergrad in History and Political Science.
Niamh describes the transition from PRO to Chair saying, “I loved the creativity of the PRO role and that’s something I miss in my current role. However, I love the society and my time in Trinity wouldn’t be the same without it so I’m glad to have the opportunity to help shape the society this year through this role. I thought the transition from PRO to chair would be more challenging than it has proved but my fellow committee members are very supportive so that makes the job a lot easier. That being said, balancing the responsibilities of chair alongside assignments is definitely a lot! Overall, LitSoc is a hobby for me so I’m grateful to have that outlet and escape from academic life.”
Reflecting on some activities LitSoc have hosted this semester, Niamh mentions their Committee Bookshelf series and collaborations with VisArts and ChessSoc. A highlight for Niamh was their Hunger Games themed, Capitol Ball which was held in Lost Lane in November. She also mentions “LitSoc has been proud to facilitate a reading group run by a couple of our members titled the Dead Author’s Soc this semester. This is something we hope continues in LitSoc’s future, as it is at the core of what university societies are all about: bringing people together.”
On goals for the upcoming semester, Niamh says “We want to bring all of the elements we loved from the first semester with us into the new year. However, we know that student life is busy and that members don’t always have the time to read an entire book for our reading groups. Next semester we will be encouraging our members to choose what books we read and having monthly meetings instead of weekly ones. We hope that this will encourage more of our members to get involved with these recurring groups, as they are a great opportunity to get to know people as well as being introduced to great reads.”
Other plans include organising a team for UniSlam (a poetry slam competition in the UK). Niamh says “This is a funded opportunity by LitSoc inclusive of flights and accommodation so we encourage anyone interested to keep an eye on our socials in the new year. We are also still accepting submissions to our literary journal, The Attic, so any writers out there should consider submitting their work.”
“LitSoc turns 40 in the new year so it is going to be a really exciting time to be involved in the society.”
Check out @trinitylitstagram on Instagram for the latest events.
