Your Union: Your Magazine
EXAMS: Don't lose your head! DITSU.IE - your on-line Student Hub TOAST Magazine Volume 04: Issue 05 May 2012
Exam Guide RAG Week 2012 Election Results Societies Review Travel Sports Review USI Congress And more...
Question One: A student who is caught Cheating or Plag iarising can be... EXPELLED SUSPENDED
FAILED ALL OR ANY OF T
HE ABOVE
Cheating and Pla g breaches of DIT iarism are regulations
Accidents (such a phones in pocket s notes in pencil cases, Ignorance is no exs, wrong or no referencing) or cuse. Don’t do it!
Inform yourself:
Visit ditsu.ie/rule the DIT Student As-regulations to download ssessment Regula tions
Cheating and Plagiarism: Don’t do it. For further information contact your local Students’ Union Office or David Keogan [SU Vice President Academic & Student Affairs] vpacademic@ditsu.ie
Your Union: Your Magazine
EDITORIAL From here on its all Exams and Assessments – and then in the not too distant future the summer holidays. So just hold onto that thought, ok? You’re nearly there. We’ve got loads of useful information in this issue from how to deal with stress, information of cheating and plagiarism and what to do if the exams don’t go as planned. Don’t worry there’s some fun stuff too. If you went to any of the RAG Events have a look - your picture might feature and there’s a mystery photo competition as well! It’s been quite a year, eh? Students everywhere are now truly feeling the full force of the recession – whether it’s a depleted grant, less than best stocked labs or over crowded lecture halls, it’s bad and it’s getting worse. As with every other year we’ve tried to support you the best we can. Please keep coming – if you have a problem, we can only help you solve it if we know about it. So while you’re drinking your strawberry daiquiri on some distant beach (or as you stock shelves at Tesco’s) perhaps spare a teeny tiny thought for what you’ll do next year – perhaps it’s time to start thinking about getting political, maybe it’s time to get involved? If something’s got to be done, then why not you? You can shake your head and moan over a few pints, but that’s not going to get you anywhere. So go enjoy your summer, but in September when you’re returning think about what you can do to improve DIT, how you can make your voice heard. Whatever you end up doing over the summer, we’ll be here right here waiting for you when you get back in September!
CONTENTS 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 14 15 20 22 24 26 28
A word from your SU president SU election results A word from your SU VP (ASA) Pleasetalk: 5 years on A word from your SU VP (S&T) USI congress 2012 face in the crowd exams & assessments special I Love studying rag week review student asa charter DIT Societies review DIT sports & clubs review no frontiers moving out guide
THE TEAM EDITOR: Eve donnelly SUB EDITOR: eddie corr DESIGN & Cover art: EDDIE CORR
CONTACTS GENERAL: TOAST@DITSU.IE ADVERTS: design@DITSU.IE DESIGN: DESIGN@DITSU.IE
SMALL PRINT
All rights reserved. the entire content is copyright ditsu. ltd., and cannot be reproduced in whole, or in part, without written permission. Views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily shared by DIT STUDENTS UNION.
EVE
DITSU.IE - your on-line Student Hub Get in touch! This is your magazine- and we want you involved: Email toast@ditsu.ie with your ideas!
Your Union: Your Elected Officers
SU PRESIDENT
A WORD FROM:
CIARAN NEVIN
A chairde, I’m on the way out! After seven years of ranting and raving in DITSU publications, this will be my final contribution. My term as President finishes in June, with David Keogan taking over in July. I started in DIT in 2005, and took over as President in 2010, having graduated from Mechanical Engineering. In that time, I’ve met many great people and had some wonderful experiences along the way. I want to thank each of the DITSU officers and staff members that I have worked with, down the years. Their dedication has been unquestionable, and their pride in the work that they do is enormous. Their thirst to make the lives of students in DIT better is simply insatiable. It has been an absolute privilage to serve alongside them. Serving as your President has been a great honour, and I thank you all for the opportunity. In recent times there has been huge change in DIT. Many aspects of college life have vastly improved, but there are many challenges that students, and the student movement, still face. Education is essential to economic and societal recovery. We must continue to fight for greater investment in education in Ireland, so that we might one day achieve that true Republic that President Higgins so often mentions. Unlike school, college teaches you to question things in life. Why should I vote? Why should I recycle? Why should I wear my seatbelt? Why is it that this lecturer is using notes that are 20 years old? It is only by asking questions that we can learn and make things better for everyone. For too long we have trusted our “leaders” in society, be they political, religious or otherwise. As a generation we must stand up and ask: Why is the country in such a mess? Why do both LUAS lines not connect? How are politicians getting away with blatant lies? Etc. Essentially, what I’m saying is that you should never settle for things being just the way they are. Stand-up, speak-out and work hard to make a difference. I am moving on to new challenges, but the work in DIT must continue. As a student body, you have a duty to demand more and a duty to play your part.
I wish you all the very best in the future, Ciaran.
DITSU.IE - your on-line Student Hub
Get in touch!
Contact Ciaran on (01) 402 3057 or president@ditsu.ie You can also follow his Twitter feed @ditsu_president
NEWS
Students' Union Election Results
Sabbaticals: VP Services & Trading: William Meara VP Academic & Student Affairs: Glenn Fitzpatrick President: David Keogan Convenors: Aungier Street: Ellie Walsh Bolton Street: Graham Higginbotham Cathal Brugha Street: Ian Monks Kevin Street: David Rice Mountjoy Square: Katie White Rathmines: Raymond England Elected (l-r): Glenn Fitzpatrick, David Keogan, William Meara
March saw the students of DIT take to the Ballot Boxes to vote in their SU Team for next year. There was also a new Constitution to vote on... The election count took place in Bolton Street on Thursday, 15th March 2012. The place was hopping with excitement and candidates huddled in corners with friends nervously waiting for the results to come in. As with any type of competition that must have a winner, it means that there also must be a loser. We congratulate all candidates on a fair and clean campaign trail and to those we won’t be seeing next year – we sincerely wish you all the best for the future. As for the rest, you’ll be seeing them around next year. They’ve promised to work hard for you in the most demanding of climates – so make sure they live up to their election promises! Remember each and every one was elected by you and for you. But for the moment we’ll let them do a bit of basking in glory we’ll offer nothing more complicated than congratulations!
Earlier this year the Governing Council expressed a desire to review our current constitution in light of the many significant changes that have taken place in DIT, in higher education, and in the economy over the last few years. A review process took place and the Constitutional Review Group produced a draft Constitution, which was put before Governing Council. Governing Council then referred the question, on whether to accept the draft, to all students by way of a referendum. And on the 13th & 14th March you decided to pass the referendum. This will mean that there will be a number of substantial changes to the structure of the Union, how it operates, and how it is held accountable. It is believed that the new constitution will be simpler and more accessible than the previous one. There will also be a designated Postgraduate Officer and an additional Vice President – giving you greater representation. The Governing Council will become the Student Council and will be radically overhauled. There will be College Student Forums – open to all students and there will be a Deputy President – to cover for when the President is not around. These changes will come into effect during the academic year 2013/2014, but we will be working until then to make the transition as seamless as possible. If you have any questions you can contact Claire Healey at administrator@ditsu.ie.
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Your Union: Your Elected Officers
A WORD FROM:
DAVID KEOGAN
SU VICE PRESIDENT
Well! It’s that time of year again. The summer (calendar if not weather wise) is fast approaching but no one really has the time to think about it, because of exams. Plans for the summer are dreamt of while trying to stare into books and notes. Ways to keep in touch with new and old friends made in college are being devised. It’s been a long year, which flew past, but it has been a good one for many. It wasn’t without its challenges, but the importance of the student and the student experience was re-affirmed again and again by many, not least, the newly elected President of Ireland – Michael D. Higgins. Mental Health, especially among young people, took centre stage in many nationwide campaigns and discussions and long may that continue. Mental Health, be it positive or negative, affects every single one of us. The main challenge for all of us is to remove the stigma attached to looking for help and to make people aware that Talking is a Sign of Strength not weakness. This is the motto for PleaseTalk.org and should resonate throughout every section of society. Remember: If your stressed or a bit run down, or just feeling overwhelmed, have a rant or a chat or a general ‘offload’ to someone you trust. That someone can be a friend, family member or someone in the Students’ Union or the free DIT counselling service. It has been a pleasure to work for you as DITSU Vice President this past year. I have learnt so much about the challenges, opportunities and general experience that you guys face. As a recent graduate from engineering in Bolton St., I was delighted to be able to fight hard and work harder to make the students opinion the main voice in DIT’s head when they are making decisions. I was honoured to be elected as your DITSU President for next year, so I can continue that fight. Some of you are, and some of you aren’t, aware of the workhorse that is the Students’ Union. We have dedicated staff who go beyond the call of duty again and again, for one simple reason; you. From the front line staff in the offices to the managers and directors, they constantly devise ways to make your journey through DIT as enjoyable and hassle free as possible. They are a vital asset to all elected officers such as myself, because without their help and advice, we would not be able to do half the work. Once the exams are over, take care of yourselves over the summer. Keep an eye on the drink if you’re hitting up a festival or travelling abroad. If you’re working, make sure you know that you have rights as a Part Time employee. Besht of luck with the exams (check out our handy Guide in this very magazine!), have fun in the summer and I’ll be chatting to you all in September (unless your final year).
Stay Classy DIT, David.
DITSU.IE - your on-line Student Hub
Get in touch!
Contact David on (01) 402 3160 or vpacademic@ditsu.ie You can also follow his Twitter feed @ditsu_vp_asa
NEWS
PleaseTalk marks 5 years of service
DIT students taking part in a PleaseTalk Candlelight Vigil in DIT Mountjoy Sq.
Students from University College Dublin sparked the PleaseTalk initiative while returning from the funeral of a student in 2007. On April 27th of this year PleaseTalk marked its 5 year anniversary. The notion of Please Talk was thought up by students for students and with a view to reaching out and getting people in third level informed on their mental health and considering that most students fall within the most vulnerable age bracket for suicide risk this was a service that was badly needed. PleaseTalk is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and has two main aims. The Please Talk message: that ‘talking is a sign of strength’, encourages students to be proactive and to talk to someone if they’re having problems at home, at college or anywhere else. The second component of the campaign, the PleaseTalk website, www.pleasetalk. org, highlights the extensive supports available to students on campuses throughout the Island of Ireland, as well as other events, external information and services.
Celebrating five years marked just how much Please Talk has established and grown to be sustainable and relevant to the 550,000 strong students we are now reaching out to through our 34 members. A highlight of the year was the Please Talk Anniversary Celebration Event that took place on April 27th at the RCSI. This was marked with a keynote address by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. A Please Talk Video campaign was also launched in advance of the event which coincided with a professional video launched on the day itself. Students were encouraged to make their own 30 second movie and upload it to the website where they speak about ‘Who do they talk to’. Check out pleasetalk.org to view the clips. At DIT we are honoured to be the champion for Please Talk having our very own Aimee O’Callaghan (our Student Affairs Manager) as the Chairperson of the current steering committee. This year also saw the establishment of the DITSU Welfare Crew, something that we hope to build upon to sustain important campaigns such as Please Talk in DIT. A very big thank you to all of the Welfairies who took part this year in getting the Please Talk message out there.
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Your Union: Your Elected Officers Hello,
A WORD FROM
SIDENT
ERIC FITZG: ER ALD SU VICE PRE
Right, here we go, the last article I’ll ever write for Toast! I’m sure some of you are whooping with joy at the very notion, while others are fighting back the tears. Please indulge me with the inevitable thank yous and goodbyes after six years in DIT and four years as an elected officer of DITSU of some description! Thanks to all of you guys throughout the year for coming along to the events. Whether you were drenched in paint during Freshers’ Week, riding the bucking bronco at the SHAG Ball or raving away at the RAG Ball, you made some great memories which I’ll always take with me. I’ll never forget the sensation of standing in front of 2,000 students at The Wright Venue during the first Freshers’ Ball I organised back in 2010! I’ve been privileged to serve as both Class Rep Convenor for Aungier St and your Vice President for Services & Trading. Interacting with students on a daily basis and representing their needs and entitlements has been phenomenal and was the best job that I will ever have. They say that if you find a job you like, you never have to work a day in your life. DITSU was always a job where I relished coming into work in the morning. I’ve met and worked with some amazing people and established some firm friendships. It took my breath away to be elected to represent you guys and I’ll never forget the trust and faith that you showed in me by returning me for a second term. My job would have been absolutely impossible without the support and efforts of DITSU’s fantastic complement of staff. You probably haven’t met most of them and won’t ever have cause to, but they are the cogs that keep the machine running. From the frontline staff to the management team, each and every one of them are tireless in their efforts to make DIT a better place for students. It’ll be a sad moment when I finally walk out the doors of DIT for the very last time, but I’ll look back on it all fondly. Thanks for letting me represent ye all over the last two years, I’ve had an absolute ball.
Take care, Eric.
DITSU.IE - your on-line Student Hub
Did you know?
Contact Eric on (01) 402 7647 or vpservices@ditsu.ie You can also follow his Twitter feed @ditsu_vp_ents
NEWS
DIT are Best in Show at National Congress
The DITSU Congress Team show off the silverware.
USI National Congress meets to debate and approve national policy. Approximately 30 colleges from around the country were represented by almost 300 delegates. DIT Students’ Union was awarded Best Delegation at the Union of Students in Ireland’s annual National Congress in Ballinasloe. This is DIT Students’ Union’s fourth consecutive year to win the award - an unprecedented achievement. There were 18 DIT students on the delegation, which triumphed over delegations from other colleges including TCD, UCD, UCC and NUIG. DIT Students’ Union President, Ciarán Nevin, said; “Students can be very proud of this achievement, which recognises the respect that their Students’ Union commands on a national level. Students of today will be responsible for cleaning up the mess that we as a country have found ourselves in. It is vitally important that students engage in the political process and make their voice heard.” DIT Students’ Union submitted five motions, while it co-sponsored a number of motions, including; • Technological University Status • Reform of the Irish Constitution • Continued Improvements to Lecturing Standards in HEI’s • Implementation of the HEA report from the Working Group on Student Contribution • Students with Learning Disabilities
New DITSU Website Recognised as Best SU Website in Ireland DIT Students’ Union also won the Best Students’ Union Website award for its new website which is to be officially launched on the 3rd of May. The judges were hugely impressed with the new website, which is in the final stages of construction. Guest of Honour - President, Michael D Higgins The four day conference was attended by a number of informative guest speakers, with President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, addressing Congress as Guest of Honour. President Higgins challenged the national students’ union to be to the fore in “rebuilding Ireland…with an inclusive citizenship and creative society ”, constituting a real republic, according to President Higgins. Addressing a packed congress floor with over 300 student leaders, delegates and guests, President Higgins urged the national students’ union to be “as imaginative and creative in rebuilding our country” as possible. President Higgins continued to commend the USI as an organisation that has left “an indelible mark on higher education and also on graduates [through] the benefits of its campaigns, its advocacy and representation”. 7
FACE INOWD THE CR
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FEATURE
Guide To Exams & Assessments LET’s KICK ASS(essments)! Most of us have them, most of us don’t like them, but they have to be taken none the less. Make sure that you know how to get the best out of them. When doing exams, you have enough to be thinking about with answering questions. What you don’t need are other factors making it more difficult. These other factors are sometimes out of your control. Things like the time and place of the exam being changed at the last minute, invigilators not being entirely helpful or you just feeling under the weather. There are things you can do. If the exam doesn’t go well or if you don’t think you got a fair crack of the whip, we can help. Personal Circumstances Forms (PC1) can be filled out if you experience something unforeseen, like getting sick or a serious personal issue and they will be taken into account when your result is being decided. An email to the exams office can help insure that the exam environment is as conducive as possible to get your head in the game. If the paper isn’t what you expected, year tutors and course co-ordinators can be talked to with the hope of some resolution. There is a document called the General Assessment Regulations (GAR). It is 66 pages long and sets down rules for all assessment, from the Appeals process to the exam hall procedure. We don’t expect you to know it, we already do. If you face any issues with the exam or indeed the results, come to us and we will help you. A few important deadlines for you to know if there is an issue: • PC1 forms have to filled in within 2 days the exam • To recheck your paper, the request has to be sent in within 3 working days, • A remark has to be in within 5 working days and • To appeal your result it must be in, inside 7 working days. When the results come out, you are entitled to adequate feedback. If you’re not getting it or it isn’t adequate, get on to us and, yes, we will help you out. Exam time can be a stressful time. The easier we can make it for you the better. We are there to help out in any way possible and we have the experience to do so pretty quickly. So don’t hesitate to ask. With these things, it is better to nip them in the bud, as opposed to letting it fester. Anyway, best of luck with the exams and hopefully I won’t have to talk to you at all, because the exams will go perfectly. Enjoy your summer too.
DAVID
SU Vice President (Academic & Student Affairs) 9
BEFORE EXAMS:
DEALING WITH STRESS DIT Counselling Service shares some tips...
How to cope with test anxieties.
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE TEST ANXIETY
Many students experience strong emotional, physical and behavioural reactions or anxieties when they are faced with taking tests or examinations. So if you are experiencing any adverse reactions or anxieties then you are not alone but the question you must ask yourself is what can I do about it?
There are strategies that you can use to prepare emotionally, physically and mentally for tests. However before you read about the right way to cope, it is important that you are aware of the wrong way to cope: Some students respond to feelings of anxiety by cramming. Cramming may put some information into memory but will not lead to thorough understanding of the material.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS? • • • • •
Panicky or anxious feelings Short temper or tendency to blame others Increased desire to put things off Negative self talk (see below) Physical complaints e.g. headaches
Cramming can also give rise to the “blank mind” during examinations. So cramming as a survival technique in college is about as useful as an ashtray on a motor bike! What is worse is that it causes more anxiety as students become aware of how much they don’t know.
DO YOU RECOGNISE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING NEGATIVE SELF STATEMENTS?
EMOTIONAL PREPARATION
• • • •
• • •
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They are all smarter, more intelligent than me. I shouldn’t have taken this course, I know I’ll fail. What’s the point anyway. Why can’t I do better, my whole life is failure, I’m not capable of being good at anything.
Use positive self talk and visualisations. I can succeed if I really put my mind to it. I am learning to use effective study strategies. I’m learning how to cope with pressure.
FEATURE Practice visualisation techniques.
USING TEST TIME WISELY: THE FIVE STEPS
Picture yourself being successful handling the test without excessive stress, or if you are feeling very uptight, try visualising an image or picture of a peaceful or tranquil place, such as a deserted sandy beach in summer, or the top of a high mountain, away from everyone. Picture yourself relaxing in this scene, and carry out the relaxation exercises.
As you work through the test, following these five steps for answering questions: 1. Read the whole paper through and highlight and underline important words. 2. Check how many questions must be answered in each section and read each question again, putting a mark beside all that you might attempt. Now select those that you will answer. 3. Allocate time for each question and start with the question that you are most comfortable with. 4. Plan out each answer clearly before you begin. 5. At the end always check over your answers and proof read for mistakes.
Relaxation techniques: One relaxation method is the “breathing by threes”. Inhale slowly through your nose as you count to three. Exhale slowly through your nose as you count to three. Repeat this several times. MENTAL PREPARATION Some preliminary steps that you might take would include: • • • • •
•
Seek help from your lecturer and/or counsellor about study techniques Get organised. Tidy up and organise your notes and other material. Make a special set of notes that contain summaries of information that requires more of your attention. Use study methods that give ample feedback. To help identify areas that need more review, have a friend or family member quiz you. Anticipate test questions. Use information from your notes, lectures to predict test questions. Allocate some time each day to practising answering some of the questions. Find out as much as you can about the upcoming test.
PHYSICAL PREPARATION • •
• •
Get a good night’s sleep. Allow time for a healthy breakfast. Avoid sugary foods, they may give you an “energy boost” but the effects will wear off quickly and will leave your energy level lower than before you ate. Check that you have all the necessary supplies Allow extra time to get to college the day before the test.
WHAT IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER TO A QUESTION? •
•
Use a delayed response for those answers that you don’t know right away. In other words, read the question a few times and try recall the information by linking or associating key works in the question to clusters of information that you have in your memory. Or try to visualise the notes that you made or heard when the lecturer was discussing the topic. If you are not sure of the answer, delay the response. Skip the question for now and return to it later after answering as many questions as you can. Use educated guessing when you have exhausted other options but avoid waffling.
after the test Tests are valuable learning tools. As soon as you can, after the test or assessment, make a list of the questions that confused you. Write down topics that you did not study thoroughly. Remember changing your approach to tests can take a little time. Making positive changes is a bit like climbing stairs, you have to take it one step at a time, but before long you’ll reach the top. For support/assistance, make an appointment with your local counsellor by phoning 402 3352/ (086) 082054
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AFTER EXAMS:
RE-CHECKS, APPEALS & RE-MARKS
Some advice from your VP David on what you can do if your results don't reflect your work...
FIRST STEPS: If you are disappointed with the marks you got for an assignment or exam you are entitled to get detailed feedback from the lecturers. You should contact them straight away to arrange an appointment to go through the assessment. This will allow you to go though the work in detail and discuss your performance and receive an explanation for the basis upon which marks were awarded. It is advisable to do this as soon as possible as you may wish to pursue alternative channels. If you are still unhappy with your results there are a number of options:Recheck, Remark & Appeal Make sure you take note of the deadline for each; once the time limit has passed you will have lost your opportunity and exceptions are never allowed. The clock starts ticking once the results are published online or on Pass Lists, not when they arrive in the post to your house.
RE-CHECK: Now, if you get an assessment or an exam result that you think must be wrong, you can get it re-checked. A re-check is just where the calculations on your mark are done again in the hope someone dropped a two or forgot to carry when adding up your marks. These cost €15 each and lets face it, can be a bit of a long shot. Worth it though if it turns out someone did add up wrong when marking you! If you are successful, and your mark goes up, you will get the €15 back. Don’t forget that while someone could add up your marks too low- they could have added them up too high, either. Marks can go down as well as up, so be careful! You can get the form (A/R1, if you were wondering) in the Exams Office or the SU. Fill it out and give it (with €15) into the Exams Office within 3 working days of your results coming out online!!
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FEATURE RE-MARK: This is where you get a different lecturer to read and re-mark your assessment or exam... in theory. In practice, it’s not always a different lecturer (as we have so many specialist subjects here in DIT that there is not always a second person with the knowledge to mark a paper!) so you have to be aware of that. These cost €15 and again, marks can go down as well as up! If you are right and your results change you get your €15 back... always good in these tough times! You can get the form (A/R2) in the Exams Office or the SU. Fill it out and give it (with €15) into the Exams Office within 5 working days of your results coming out online!!
APPEAL: Exams and Assessment Results can be appealed, but only on certain grounds, and they are pretty strict. You have to be approved to appeal before you can appeal. GROUNDS FOR APPEAL: That the General Assessment Regulations have not been properly implemented. A circumstance occurred that is not specifically covered by the Regulations. New attested, documented and relevant information is provided that wasn’t made available to the Exam Board, i.e.: a lost answer book/assignment that wasn’t included in your marks etc. These are the only grounds on which an appeal may be made.
That’s it! You can’t appeal because you thought you should have done better, or the format wasn’t what you expected, or because you got better in your assessments than you did on the exam. It doesn’t work like that, I’m afraid! You have to submit an appeal form, (A/A1) within 7 working days of your exam results coming out online! It costs a hefty €75 but you will get this back if you are successful... although, as I said, you have to be approved to appeal and if you are not approved that €75 is down the drain! However, if you are “considered ineligible” then you will be asked to attend a meeting of the Appeals Board to talk about it and you can bring someone from the SU to that meeting. Get the form in the SU, the Exams Office or on www.ditsu.ie. Drop it, with the money into the Exams Office.
Don’t worry guys, I’m sure none of you will need these options! Go forth and kick assessments... Your VP ASA believes in you! 13
STUDYING I love Summer Holidays. I love chilling out with my friends. I love studying. Hang on a minute! No one loves studying. Why is it that the sun always shines when you a preparing for exams?
Hottness just sat across from me in the library #il
The video campaign demonstrates the typical distractions and faces up to the reality of what happens when students spend the time prior to exams attempting to focus, and in some cases cram. This can cause stress and worry which is not beneficial when preparing to be assessed.
ovestudying
Most students bound for exams always feel a bit of self pity and steer for distractions when they attempt to maintain concentration for long periods of time. This year SpunOut, USI and PleaseTalk are facing up to the truth when it comes to studying for exams. No one really likes doing study but acknowledges it simply has got to be done.
Top Exam tips are available for you to consider, getting you out of the distraction and taking small actions to refocus your mind and concentration.
If you are reading this and not quite sure where to begin when it comes to study, download the Study Planner for free from www.ilovestudying.com
Remember the campaign message: No one really likes doing study but everyone acknowledges it simply has got to be done. If you do have a concern about the exam itself, speak with someone in the SU for advice.
Did you know? There is an Academic Advice Service provided by DIT Students’ Union. If you have a query that you are struggling to answer, contact academicaffairs@ditsu.ie for more information. Everyone here in DIT Students’ Union wishes you the very best of luck with your exams this year!
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I
I need #ilove
STUDYING Top Exam Tips
Quality not quantit
y
Set yourself study goa ls from topics and a realistic time frame to revise the topics.
Break it up
It is important to tak e regular study breaks and time out to relax and exercise. Going for a walk or hitting the gym are gre at ways to clear your head. Look after your body Always try to get a goo d night’s sleep and ma ke an effort to eat healthily by including eating ple nty of fruit and vegetables in your diet.
Less c
Remember the past
The past papers are the most valuable res ource that you can tap into, so use them!
Ask for and accept
supp
ort You might find it hel pful to talk to a lectur er, your Students’ Union Welfar e Officer or student sup port services. Join the conversatio n Tweet #ilovestudyin g
lo
FEATURE
RAG Week 2012: A Review
This year, DIT Students’ Union was proud to be fundraising on behalf of The Ross Nugent Foundat ion for RAG Week 2012. Now the dust has somewhat settled join us for a look back at RAG 2012... The photos are up, the dust has settled and you’re all starting into exams…so what better way to have that last big blowout than the week that was RAG Week 2012? Throughout the week you waxed, you shaved, you dyed, you handcuffed yourselves to one another, you devoured pizza, you ate the grossest of things – you went all out to do everything you could for The Ross Nugent Foundation! Come with us as we take a trip down memory lane to look at all the crazy shenanigans of RAG Week 2012!
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Monday March 26th – Rattle For Ross! O’Connell St was our base of operations for the day as we set about shaking & rattling buckets for The Ross Nugent Foundation! T-shirt clad volunteers took up spots the length of O’Connell St begging, pestering and just making a general nuisance of themselves in search of an elusive bit of change for our charity! Later on in the day, we were joined by those brave ladies from Mountjoy Square engaged in the Onesie Challenge! Spending the week handcuffed together while donning onesies was no easy task and you gave generously to those heroes! The fantastic folk at Bonza Pies were kind enough to give us some of their delicious merchandise for a bite of lunch and the day was wrapped up with an impromptu busking session in front of the GPO!
Tuesday March 27th – DIT All Stars! Second year Event Management students Sheenagh Walker, Holly Blay, Gary Melia, Aisling Kerins and Katie Callan pulled out all the stops for the DIT All Stars! The show, which showcased DIT’s best and brightest talents, took The Laughter Lounge by storm on the Tuesday night. Amongst the judges was none other than Louis Walsh (yes, he of X Factor fame!), Callum McAdam from Bipolar Empire and ! The guest MC, Lisa Fitzpatrick of TV3’s Xposé, took us through all the acts. There was some serious talent on display on the night, but DIT Rathmines’ own Louise Florence was the cream of the crop, with Paul Sheridan and No Duck At All being award joint second. Most importantly of all, the All Stars raised a whopping €1,351 for The Ross Nugent Foundation! We’ve already heard whisperings of the DIT All Stars 2013… 18
Wednesday March 28th – Race For Ross! You came in your droves to suit up and ship out to Leopardstown for Dublin’s first ever Student Race Day and DIT were out in force! In fact, DIT’s fingerprints were all over the day. The fifth race was The Ross Nugent Foundation Handicap and we had our very own DIT Bar! It was a great day’s racing and the sun was splitting the stones out at the racecourse. 50/1 outside shot Mayhem Freddy was victorious in The Ross Nugent Foundation Handicap and there were a few happy punters who took a punt on the long shot! The best story of all, however, was that Leopardstown Racecourse were so moved by the story of The Ross Nugent Foundation that they organised a further two charity race days for them. In the end, the charity was the real winner.
RAG Thanks: Many individuals and companies helped out to make RAG Week the success it was. In particular however, we would like to recognise the following:
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Thursday March 29th – The DITSU RAG Ball 2012 Well, that was an almighty session, wasn’t it? For the first time in their history, The Living Room, Murray’s and Fibber’s joined forces as The O’Connell St Complex for the first time for the DITSU RAG Ball 2012! The stage was being built from early in the morning and our crew were putting the finishing touches to what was the busiest event of the year. The doors were flung open at 2pm and in you all poured! DIT DJ Society, being the champions that they are, were spinning the decks for seven solid hours from 2pm to 9pm, with the live music kicking off outside in the courtyard at 4pm. First up were fantastic indie up-and-comers Sive, with their lead singer from DIT’s very own Commercial Modern Music course. They were followed by this year’s DIT Battle of the Bands winners Elk. Their powerful set showed off all the reasons why they were crowned this year’s winners and the assembled crowd was blown away – definitely ones to watch. The day really kicked off with the arrival of Dublin indie darlings Fox Avenue. Dara Quilty and co. really got the crowd rocking and a nice festival vibe was descending on proceedings. This set the stage for the band with arguably the most enthusiastic fanbase of the entire day, The Original Rudeboys. The rap-rockers had the crowd eating from the palms of their hands as they went through their debut album, including a brilliant cover of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”. Cries of “one more tune!” emanated from the masses after the lads finished their set. The stage was set for the main attraction, Dr Lektroluv, but we weren’t over yet – not by a long shot. A warm-up DJ set the scene for DJ Rankin to whip the crowd into a frenzy of nineties nostalgia as the rave took hold. They were good and ready for Dr Lektroluv as the big Belgian took his rightful place behind the decks, spinning ninety minutes of the finest techno you’ll hear this side of Tomorrowland. These were, of course, the highlights of RAG Week. We can’t forget the efforts that were made on a local level – from all of the Clubs, Societies and individual fundraisers. You guys are the beating heart of RAG Week and this year it was beating loudly and proudly. Pat yourselves on the back, because ye deserve it. Ross would be proud.
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NEWS
DITSU Launches ASA Student Charter The DITSU Academic & Student Affairs Charter was developed to offer a clear explanation of what Education and Welfare advice we offer to you as a DIT student. As a member of DIT Students’ Union, you are entitled to be represented and seek advice and information on your student rights and entitlements as per the DITSU Constitution. This charter document explains what you can expect from us as a member of the service, what we can expect from you as a user, details of the service and how to contact us. We believe it is important to manage our service users expectations, so you understand what we can inform, advise and support you on; and also acknowledge what we do not offer. We are very excited about launching this Student service charter and we welcome any feedback you have about this.
How to Contact Us: Drop In: See www.ditsu.ie for location information of SU offices. Make Appointment: By contacting your local Student Support Advisor/Information Assistant. See www.ditsu.ie for contact details. Online: Check out ditsu.ie for all office contacts and email addresses. E-Mail: E-Mail info@ditsu.ie and we will contact you. Phone: See ditsu.ie for all ASA contact details.
Feedback: We welcome feedback and all feedback is treated in the strictest confidence and will be used to improve the service, and in training identification and monitoring. Just contact us using any of the methods listed above.
Introduction: The purpose of this document is to outline what level of service (in the form of information, advice and representation), you as a member can expect from the officers and staff working within the DIT Students’ Union Academic and Student Affairs (ASA) Departments.
Mission: Article 3.1 of the DITSU Constitution (2004): The objective of the Union shall be to represent and defend on behalf of all its members, on matters primarily relating to their education and welfare and to protect and further their rights as citizens, in accordance with law.
Who are our Members?: Individuals who are registered students and ‘eligible to register’ on DIT programmes of study are members of the DIT Students’ Union and are welcome to avail of the ASA Information and Advice service.
Who are we?: The members of the team who deliver this service are; Vice-President - Academic & Student Affairs, Student Support Advisors, Information Assistants, Manager - Student Affairs and Director - Student Academic Affairs.
Our Service: We provide Information, Advice and Representation for members in relation to Student Academic and Welfare including but not limited to the following areas: Accommodation, Finance, Health promotion, Employment, Assessments, Quality Assurance, Complaints, Facilities, Disciplinary matters and Regulations. The ASA team is committed to the highest standards of this valuable service and it is our goal to deal with all our members professionally, fairly and with the utmost respect and courtesy. This Charter is being put in place to improve service to our members by setting out what our members can expect from us and what we expect from them.
What you can expect of us: In the context of the above we provide: Information which is timely, accurate and comprehensive taking into account confidentiality, Data protection and privacy issues that may be involved. Advice that is clear and relevant to your situation. Advice that will enable you to take the necessary steps to deal with your issue. Service available during lunchtime hours (any exception to this, will be posted on the website) An acknowledgement to you within 5 working days of your enquiry. Appropriate representation if required. As part of our professional service, we maintain records of transactions with students; we will record information in a fair, accurate and relevant manner as per the requirements under the relevant legislation. Records of your interaction with us in relation to Academic and Student Affairs matters are kept in a secure environment. We offer openness and impartiality in our dealings with you and treat members’ queries with courtesy and respect (we treat all queries in a non-judgemental manner). We strive to offer realistic and reasonable responses to your query or advice on your situation. We will not ‘over diagnose’ your situation. We offer consistent and professional information and advice from the Information and Advice centres at each Students’ Union office. We may withdraw ASA service if the matters in question are outside the scope of the ASA service and / or if we have exhausted all options. When all avenues have been explored we reserve the right to draw natural conclusion to case. We strive to offer privacy when you drop-in and offer a scheduled appointment with us to discuss your situation when reasonable.
What we expect of you: Honesty- you need to give us all the relevant information so that we can offer you the appropriate information and advice to that you can make an informed decision. Respect - we are a professional information and advice service and we cannot allow disrespectful or aggressive behaviour in our offices or when, dealing with a student on-line or on the phone. Punctuality - we expect you to show up on time for your appointment or if you need to reschedule to contact us let us a timely manner. Courtesy - Please be courteous and polite when dealing with members of the ASA team. If you do not have complete information at time of presenting to the ASA staff member and you are required to follow up with documentation or statement; please do so in a timely manner, and note that it is your responsibility to do so.
Withdrawal of service: In extreme and rare circumstances, we reserve the right to withdraw the ASA service and will not deal with any student especially those who exhibit violent / threatening behaviour to us or seek to have us complicit in illegal activities or actions that are in breach of the DIT’s rules and procedures. Any student who believes that services have been withdrawn unfairly has the Right of appeal: to the DITSU Deputy CEO and DITSU President. This charter sets out the function of the ASA service in accordance with: - DITSU Constitution - DITSU HR Policies and Procedures - The Equal Status Act - DIT’s regulations and procedures
Service Commitment: We will provide service in a fair, courteous and, timely manner with a focus on information and will offer advice and representation to you as required.
Confidentiality: In conditions of confidentiality we are subject to the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 and Child Care Act 1991. Such exemptions to confidentiality include; If the ASA staff member is alerted to a child at risk, as defined by the Child Care Act the staff member has an ethical responsibility to act appropriately (see Guidelines on Management of Clients Presenting with a History of Childhood Abuse/Sexual Abuse – link to follow). If the ASA staff assesses that a student is at significant risk of harming his/her self or others then that staff member has an obligation to refer the matter appropriately. The records maintained by the ASA staff may be subpoenaed by a court of law.
Third Parties: We are not in a position to offer consultation or service to the parents/ guardians or any third party relating to affairs of our members, without the members’ explicit written permission.
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s e i t e i c o S DIT ar in Review A Ye
Societies Awards 2012: The annual 12th DIT Society Awards took place in Gleeson Theatre on the 4th April 2012. The awards ceremony is designed to highlight the contribution of Societies and individual students who have made an outstanding effort in volunteering to create extra curricular life at DIT. The institute has over 80 societies and 30 special events which provide the student body with a range of cultural, social, political and creative activities. Awards were presented on the night to societies and students that have excelled in engaging the student body throughout the year. This year DIT Societies have raised thousands of euro’s for various charities. The winners went on to represent the Institute in the National Society of the Year Awards, organised by BICS (Board of Irish Colleges Societies) on the 12th of April. A huge thank you to Professor Norton for attending the event and to all the student volunteers who helped with the organisation, Gleeson Theatre looked great!
The winners: Best Photo – DIT Guitar Soc Online Presence – DIT LGBT Soc Best Course Related – Engineer Soc Most Improved Northside – Banter Soc Most Improved Southside – Film Soc Most Improved Overall – Banter Soc Best Northside Society – Engineer Soc Best Southside Society – Nutrition Soc Best New Society – Bia Mall Charity Event – DIT Christmas Appeal Best Fresher – Didi De Zwarte Civic Contribution – DIT Sign Soc Best Event – Rainbow Week, LGBT Soc Peoples Choice Award – Engineer Soc Best On-Site Event – Inclusion & Integration Week, DIT Sign Soc Best Individual – Helene Duffy, Max Federov and Siobhan Nic Uidhir Best Society – DIT LGBT Soc Outstanding Contribution Winners 2012: Gianfranco Palumbo, Tania Zorrilla, Colin Campbell, Keelan Keogh, Paul Conroy Evan Farrell, Jenny Whitehead, Ruth Hynes, Will Meara, Jess Elmes, Orla Kinsella Martin Lee, Derbhla Leddy.
Get Involved
For more info see www.socs.dit.ie and www.ditsports.ie
Your Union: Your Physical Health
s b u l C & s t r Spo Review A Year in GAA
A Year In Review: A busy year on the Gaelic Games front has seen 14 DIT teams take part in 225 collective sessions and play 122 competitive games over the year. The highlights on the pitch were the successes of the Junior Football, the Intermediate Hurling (above) and the Ladies Football teams. Other notable events that took place this season were the Dublin Colleges Men’s and Ladies Gaelic Football Cup which DIT hosted out in Ballymun. Just under a hundred DIT students played in this event. This year has been the most challenging in terms of getting Fresher footballers and hurlers out on a consistent basis, especially in the lower divisions. The GAA clubs are hoping to look at this collectively in detail but the examination period being fixed after Christmas instead of before is definitely having an adverse affect on team performance in the Championships at the end of January.
There was a number of standout and memorable games this year. The Senior Hurlers Extra time encounter with Offaly in the Walsh Shield final in Tullamore was end to end stuff. The Ladies Footballers league semi final win over DCU(2) was hugely entertaining. While the Junior Footballers All-Ireland final win over Sligo IT was especially sweet. Sligo threw everything at DIT, a few eyebrows were raised when the Sligo management team togged and came onto the pitch as subs in the second half. However an Eoin Murray penalty was the difference between the sides and DIT returned home from Tubberclair victorious 1-11 to 0-11. Both our Fresher A Football and Hurling teams went out of the Championship by one solitary point to UCC and Carlow IT respectively.
DITSU.IE - your on-line Student Hub
Get Active! Find out about what other Sports Clubs you can join next year: Visit ditsports.ie for the full list.
SHOTOKAN
A Year In Review: As the academic year comes to a close we look back on the successes of DIT Shotokan. The first success of the year was number of new and returning members that crowded the dojo as we returned to training in DIT Kevin’s Street. We had further success in November as two of our senior members Senpai Stewart Flood and Senpai Trevor Hewitt graded to 2nd Dan. Our successful O’Connor Cup campaign in Galway highlighted the standard of our club as we won the O’Connor Cup for the third year in a row (top). As the first term came to a close our members had great success grading for higher belts and training as always continued on. As we entered the second term we had our intervarsities which despite the small team that we were able to send we did ourselves and our club proud. Our third competition of the year saw us send a team out to UCD to compete with the other Dublin college clubs, Trinity, RCSI, DCU and UCD. Our Karate-kas did the club proud winning five medals, three gold medals and two silver medals. As the Easter approached our members again graded successfully for higher belts with one member double grading. Training will continue through the summer and we are hoping for continued and further success next year which will be an exciting year for us as we look forward to the first Colours Intervarsity Competition in November. For more info visit facebook.com/ditshotokan or just send us an e-mail: ditshotokan@gmail.com
LADIES GAA
A Year In Review: This year the DIT ladies footballers (top) were very successful on winning out the division 3 league against AIT. They then went on to compete in the Lynch cup championship and where successful on winning the Lynch Shield Final against DCU. The ladies camogie team (bottom) got through to the Purcell cup weekend away in Waterford this year but were unfortunate to lose their first match against Queens of Belfast. However, Grainne Smith was awarded an All Star for her performance in this match representing DIT. DIT ladies GAA would like to thank Stephen Hoary, Andy Molloy and Paddy Baker for the massive effort they put into training the the camogie team this year. We would also like to thank James Costello, Joanne Courtney and Thomas Burke for the commitment and training they have done with the Ladies footballers. Congratulations to Sinead Goldrick on receiving an All star at the DIT sports awards this year. Lastly we would like to thanks our committee for the time and effort they put into the Ladies GAA, Chairperson Carol Fitzpatrick , Treasurer Monica Bannon, Secretary Carolanne Canning and PRO Lisa McIntyre.
TRAVEL
No Frontiers
Claire Healey
As part of our regular series, our very own intrepid explorer Claire healey shares with us some advice and t ips on travelling Europe, from Absinthe to Vampires! Looking for some sun, sea and sand away from all the crowds and finding it expensive to get to destinations this summer? Why not head to beautiful, cultural and cheap Eastern Europe? With a student inter-rail pass, travel within Europe is easily accessible and won’t break financially strapped students’ bank accounts.
ALL ABOARD: Whilst most places in Europe are easy to get to, some destinations will need a change of train, so why not use that place as a stop-over for a day or two? I have narrowed down an itinerary for 5 must see destinations in Eastern Europe. With hostel rooms from as cheap as €7 per night, beer from 50c a bottle and more World Heritage Sites than you can shake your phrase book at – let the exploring commence!
CZECH REPUBLIC: Home of absinthe, world famous beers, churches decorated out of human bones and fairytale castles, this country knows how to party. From bustling Wenceslas Square (which isn’t a square at all) in the heart of Prague, a quick journey out in the countryside will reveal excellent hiking opportunities mingled with castles, waterfalls and the odd remaining communist building. Discover your bohemian side after visiting the home of Pilsner beer in Plzeň, and finish off your day listening to the buskers on Charles Bridge whilst watching the sunset over the castle in the old city.
SLOVAKIA: 18th century wooden churches, log cabins nestled in alpine hiking trails, cable cars to the second highest peak in the tatras, people watching from coffee shops in the city’s capital and renaissance squares, make Slovakia the next big place to travel to in Eastern Europe. With stupidly cheap accommodation and nights out which won’t cost the earth – this is definitely a place to put on your list of countries to visit before the hordes of Western Europeans descend on it.
HUNGARY: Take a sail along the romantic Danube River, which separates the capital city into “Buda” and “Pest”, before jumping into a Turkish-style thermal bath, followed by a funicular tram journey up to Buda Castle to watch the sun setting over the city. Hungary and Budapest have loads to offer the intrepid traveller – touted as the most beautiful city in Europe, Budapest is awash with baroque style buildings museums and parks to relax in. Get out of the city, and visit the breath-taking mediaeval village of Sopron where you will feel as though you are stepping back in time to another era.
ROMANIA: Travelling in Romania has been described as being somewhere between an eternal Halloween and the Led Zeppelin IV cover that features a twig-carrying farmer. Leave behind the communist buildings of Bucharest, and hit the countryside where you will be able to explore beautiful Saxon style villages, and of course the famous region of Transylvania, where you can visit the birthplace of Count Vlad the Impaler – of whom Bram Stoker based his book “Dracula” on exactly 100 years ago. Explore the famous castle, before psyching yourself up to visit one of the spooky graveyards, where myth transfers into every day life.
BULGARIA: The cheapest country you will find on your travels. Still trying to untangle itself from centuries of Ottoman rule to decades behind the Iron Curtin, Bulgaria is fast becoming famous for its stunning beaches along the Black Sea Coast. The scenery outside of the surprisingly cultured Capital, is largely untouched by tourism. Take a horse ride along one of the many hiking trails available, before setting off for the town of Burgas – the gateway to the Black Sea resorts – which rival any of the Greek or Spanish sea-side towns.
What’s it all going to cost? Return flights (Dublin to Prague, Sofia to Dublin) = €170 Global Inter-Rail Pass (1 train trip a day for 30 days) = €422 Approximate Accommodation Costs (30 days) = €350 Visit www.interrailnet.com for details.
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Your Union: Your Accommodation
S ' N A G O E K GUIDIENTGOOUT MOV Heading off?
HOUSE MATES?
What is your plan for Summer 2012? Heading off on the J1? Or going back home? Whatever your plans are if you’ve been renting in Dublin for the past academic year and are planning to leave a tenancy, are you sure you’re sorted?
Keep an eye on the calendar and consider your lease dates so as you know what notice you must provide. Notice varies depending on the length of time you have been in the tenancy so get informed. Visit threshold.ie for info
FINISHING YOUR LEASE LEGALLY AND HASSLE FREE
Fair play to you for taking the responsibility if you are the chief spokesperson but keep everything up to date, transparent and everyone informed.
Have you everything in place when it comes to your obligations as a tenant? At this time of year we experience a number of students fleeing from Student Accommodations in mostly privately rented lettings and sharing arrangements. It is important to have arrangements in place in good time, particularly if you are attempting to leave a contract or lease prior to the date agreed. If you unclear on your obligations and that of your landlord or agent, get in touch with your local SU office for information, advice or referral.
PLAN AHEAD AND KEEP TIMEFRAMES IN MIND At this time of year we often meet students who face deposit and contract issues, so it is worth giving it some thought in advance of exam time so that you are not distracted.
The Final Exit Those of you who made a list of all the contents in the premises when moving in, now if the time to refer to that and take stock of what is missing, what needs to be fixed and what (within reason) is something that simply requires repair and maintenance by the landlord or agent. No one likes leaving a tenancy on a bad note but if a dispute does arise, Threshold are the best service to advise on each unique situation. It is important to present them with the facts and timeline so as they can best advise you. The PRTB address disputes over the deposit specifically.
Keep an eye on the calendar and consider your lease dates so as you know what notice you must provide. Notice varies depending on the length of time you have been in the tenancy so get informed. Visit threshold.ie for info.
NEED SOME HORE HELP OR ADVICE? accommodation@ditsu.ie www.threshold.ie www.prtb.ie
DITSU.IE - your on-line Student Hub Did you know? Your Students' Union can provide Accommodation Advice- drop into an SU office and ask!
DOES MY BUM LOOK BIG IN THIS? Feedback is important for everyone! Are you getting feedback from your lecturers this semester? Are you confident that you are making progress? Do you know where you need to improve? Do you know your marks for the assignments you’ve handed up so far? Are you clear what marks you have accumulated already as semester 2 exams & deadlines approach?
The answer to all the above should be YES! The DIT Student Charter is very clear on what you are entitled to in terms of feedback, e.g. it states that as a DIT student you can expect…. “regular opportunities for discussion about your progress and appropriate studies advice…your marked assignment back to you with feedback within 4 weeks unless there is a good reason for this not to be possible…” If you are not getting feedback or need more than just the marks or percentages ask your lecturer (politely) to discuss your progress with you, ask your Tutor to assist if you are having difficulty with this or contact your local SU Office or email academicaffairs@ditsu.ie for further advice.