The Student Records Office have asked all societies to submit publications before they are sent out to incoming Freshers students. The College Communications Office originally denied that this is a form of “vetting” but subsequently stated that material must be checked to ensure that the publication is used for the “intended purpose.”
The Student Records Office have asked all societies to submit publications before they are sent out to incoming Freshers students. The College Communications Office originally denied that this is a form of “vetting” but subsequently stated that material must be checked to ensure that the publication is used for the “intended purpose.”
In a recent e-mail to societies who are sending out society magazines for Freshers’ Week, the Student Records Office asked that all publications be given to them in advance for vetting before going to print. Simultaneously, the Central Societies Committee issued a list of regulations highlighting “several College policies and sets of regulations” on poster and printed materials content.
When asked to comment on these policies, the Communications Office stated “there is no ‘vetting’” and that “there is no new policy.” They told Trinity News that magazines have to be submitted to the Student Records Office for posting in order to comply with obligations under the Data Protection Acts. They cannot release the names and addresses of incoming students.
Despite the CSC e-mail outlining “college policies” on the content of printed materials, the Communications Office stated: “Guidelines on the content of magazines have not been issued and there is no intention to do so.”
CSC sent a “quick check” in their e-mail to societies, prohibiting the promotion of free alcohol at society events, and the use of derogatory photographs or insulting language. They did not state that it would be compulsory for societies to submit material for a general vetting process before going to print.
When Trinity News noted that the Communications Office’s response contrasted to the e-mail that the Student Records Office had sent, the Communications Office replied that the material had to be checked to ensure that it was used for its “intended purpose.” They did not clarify what they meant by “intended purpose” and what purpose publications would be used for other than to inform incoming students about a society’s activities.
Although the Communications Office say that there is no new policy in place, the former Secretary of Publications, David Molloy, told Trinity News, “I edited the Trinity Publications Freshers’ magazine last year, and I was never asked to submit a copy for review. I delivered this year’s magazine to the Student Records Office recently and I was told that they have always asked for material to be submitted before going to print. This was never the case in my memory.”
When asked whether the regulations sent out this year are in place as a result of events last year which led to two society publications being withdrawn or redacted, the Communications Office stated “the matter is unrelated to any article written last year.”
During last year’s Freshers’ Week, two Freshers’ magazines had to be censored due to inappropriate material. The Trinity Law School advised the Law Society to pull their Freshers’ Week magazine, The Law Shock, when a photograph of an underage committee member holding a bottle of alcohol was published. Similarly, The Philander – the University Philosophical Society’s publication – was subject to an investigation by the Senior Dean when it quoted xenophobic Austrian Freedom Party leader Joerg Haider. The comment – “Jews are always welcome in the chamber” – was included in an article that was sent out to the homes of all incoming students. The comment was later blacked out on all copies that were handed out during the week.
CSC conducted an investigation into how the comment was published, while College authorities released a statement saying, “The comments in the University Philosophical magazine in no way reflect any attitude, position or policy of Trinity College Dublin.”
