Student hijinks and college rivalries are alive and well in Dublin, it seems. A series of incidents at TCD and UCD show some students still have time to engage in practical jokes and wanton destruction.

The cycle of violence began in mid-February: two UCD science students entered Trinity armed with water-bombs and attacked a business economics and social studies (BESS) lecture in the Ed Burke Theatre in the Arts Block.

Soon after, a commerce lecture in UCD's theatre M was attacked by three yoghurt throwers. During the attack, the University Observer reported, "the lecturer, Mr John Sheehan of the economics department, attempted to catch the offenders but was thwarted in his efforts by the speedy getaway of the individuals involved.

"Several separate quantities of yoghurt were hurled at different parts of the lecture theatre. One was aimed at Mr Sheehan. He escaped unharmed, although according to one eyewitness account, the yoghurt missed him `by inches'.

"Some 1st Commerce students were not so fortunate however. Another quantity of yoghurt was thrown directly into a group sitting in the centre of the theatre."

A UCD spokesperson said they were aware of the incident but that the culprits had escaped before they could be identified. He could not therefore comment on speculation that they were Trinity BESS students engaged in a tit-for-tat escapade. Taking the possibility of more dairy-related incidents seriously, Trinity's boys in blue have been on duty outside the relevant lecture for two uneventful weeks.

The climate of fear and intimidation remained, however. Perhaps this explains the havoc wreaked on UCD's Earlsfort Terrace complex the Friday before last. Students taking part in Engineering Day there attempted to set fire to posters, broke down a door into the students' union office and reportedly broke a gate barrier.

One hopes this is the end of such silliness and those involved can return to the business of becoming productive wage-earners.